ã€ŠThe Greatest of all Timeã€‹


 Chapter 1 - Rewind!

    "KOKOKORIKO"

    Zachary Bemba was woken from a deep slumber by the crowing of a rooster. His eyes abruptly rolled open, zed over with the remnants of a dream or rather a nightmare.

    Zachary was first aware of the coolness of the air and its fresh fragrance. It was nothing simr to the foul polluted air he''d grown ustomed to in the suburbs of Kinshasha City.

    He was lying on an abnormally small mattress that seemed to have been crafted by inserting spiky grass into rigid sacks. It was very ufortable and hurt his back when he stirred.

    Zachary blinked as his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting in the room before propping himself up and orienting himself to the surroundings.

    He was in a room with gray y walls and a grass roof over his head. Small khaki curtains hid the shabby small window on one side of the cramped chamber¡ªjust leaving a shy peek of the banana ntation beyond. One wooden stool and a roughly made bench stood at the foot of his small bed.

    [WTF!? Isn''t this my small hut back in my ancestral vige?]

    [Why am I back here?]

    He seemed to be hallucinating about his childhood residence back in Bukavu. He had stayed with his grandma until he was sixteen before he gained some small achievements in his ser career and then went on to waste his life.

    [I am not dreaming!] He eximed inwardly after pinching the dark brown skin on his forearm.

    Thest thing that he could recall was drowning and struggling for a single breath of air in the deep waters of the Congo River. The experience was deeply traumatizing for him.

    Zachary had failed to pay back a debt he owed to a local drug lord in Kinshasha and was left to drown in the river by the thug''s sycophants. He should have already died and on his way to hell, but here he was, alive and well.

    [Could I have gone back in time? Could I have gotten a second chance?]

    "Hahaha..." Zachary''sughter was a high cold cackle, piercing the silent atmosphere.

    "I''ve got to stop following those soaps and web novels," Zachary mumbled while trying to suppress hisughter.

    But suddenly, from the small open window came a form. Levitating a foot off the dirtden coarse floor was an ash-grey translucent silhouette that shimmered with a hazy glow. Slowly, it came into focus as an object looked at through a telescope, but this phantom was close, very close, just a few meters away.

    Now Zachary could see the form of a man, with a silvery ragged line across his neck standing in his room. His skin was the color of charcoal and matched his bottomless soulless eyes. He wore a crown of leaves and grass, plus a tattered regal gown on his person.

    Zachary''s first impression of him was that he was just a hallucination and thus shook his head, trying to disperse his image from his mind. He was calm as this was not the first time he was getting delusions. His hallucinations had been getting progressively less amusing over the years due to his abuse of drugs.

    Despite his efforts, the phantom was still there, before him,ughing and performing a sort of wild ¨C prehistoric dance around his small room.

    Zachary wanted to run fast for safety¡ªout of the small wooden door, but instead remained where he was. Let''s face it; there was only one thing he could do in such a situation: Pray the phantom wouldn''t kill him.

    But suddenly, the phantom stopped its manicughter and started studying Zachary with the unwavering attention of a predator.

    The phantom''s soulless eyes creeped him out to the point of nearly peeing in his pants. But he mped down on his fears and prayed that the almighty God (if there was one) could help him out of the situation.

    "Young man!" Zachary heard the phantom''s deep voice resounding like a thunderp directly within his mind. It spoke to him without moving its chapped lips.

    "I have felt your sadness and regret."

    "I can sense your deep desire to do something for this forsakennd of ours. Your ancestors have sacrificed a lot to give you another chance. Remember; don''t waste it! I will be watching you." The voice of the phantom was as chilling as ice at absolute zero, devoid of any emotion.

    Before Zachary could register the meaning behind the words, the phantom began growing steadily less solid like it was being rubbed out of existence by some invisible eraser. One minute it was there, and the next, it was gone¡ªvanished.

    [What is happening!?] Zachary was shocked stiff by the development.

    [I need to stop smoking Cannabis sativa.] He resolved.

    "Hallucinating about my death, going back in time to my childhood, and meeting a ghost. If not marijuana, what could it be?" He mumbled while trying to calm his still bubbly emotions.

    But at that instant, he heard a voice that should have been buried deep in his past.

    "Zachary, wake up and go fetch some water," the high-pitched voice belonged to his grandmother. It was like he remembered:forting as it wrapped around Zachary and whisked him off to a world where the sound was the power that could change everything wrong in the world.

    Zachary''s eyes moistened as he jumped out of his bed and limped towards the door of the small hut. He felt some pain in his left leg but ignored it as he was eager to see the olddy who had looked after him from childhood. His grandma was the rockstar of his world, his anchor, his safe ce. But he had lost her prematurely.

    Just opening the door made Zachary''s breathing rapid and shallow. He could feel his pulse pounding in his temples as he stepped out of the grass-thatched house.

    "I am really back," he mumbled while looking at the banana ntations and pastures around him. Their homestead was on a hill allowing Zachary to see down the slope covered by the virulent greens. Cows mooed quietly in one corner of a paddock nearby, and the squeals and snorts of fat pigs came from a pen some distance away from the house. Hens pecked at the soil with clockwork rhythm while goats grazed eagerly in the meadows. Zachary''s grandma''s farm was massive, spreading across a good four acres.

    "This is a utopia," Zachary grinned while focusing his attention on his grandma.

    A tall woman, all lean and skinny and with greying hair, was washing clothes a few meters away from his doorstep. She was humming a hymn and took no notice of Zachary when he was observing her. She was his grandmother, alive and well.

    For a moment, the emotions Zachary had buried deep inside his mind came flooding forward, threatening to drown him in an endless abyss of regret and confusion. But as he continued looking at his grandmother''s form that was as real as anything tangible around him, his mood lifted.

    [Let this be real.] He inwardly prayed as he resisted the urge to rash forward and lift the woman into a hug.

    If this was just a dream, Zachary didn''t wish to wake.

    He was highly suspicious that he had gone back in time to when he was just fifteen years old.

    His hopes soared on thinking about the possibility. There were many things Zachary regretted and a lot more he could change. If there were even a slim chance that he had traveled back in time, he would use all his wasted opportunities to soar into the skies. And just maybe, he would make better decisions and be one of the greatest footballers of his generation. That had been his previous life''s wish.

    Zachary turned back and headed into the house. He needed a few minutes away from his grandmother to clear his head. But then, he noticed the mind-numbing pain that tortured his ankle bones and muscles whenever he moved.

    And then he remembered.

    He''d gotten involved in a bike ident around the time he was fifteen during his previous life. The ident had been so bad that it''d basically tore most of the ligaments in his left foot. That''d been the beginning of the end of his ser career. He had gone on to fail the trials of his school team due to the injury and then started wallowing in endless distress. He then took to drugs to suppress his sorrow and waster expelled from his high school.

    What followed was a period of being out on the streets in Kinshasha for a few months. But luckily, he was picked up by a retired footballer on the DRC National Team. With his help, he managed to get back on his feet and join TP Mazembe¡ªa local football team in Lubumbashi. With the team, he managed to gain a bit of sess in his football career.

    But his sess was short-lived. He soon rpsed back to taking drugs and was banned from the National League. One wrong decision led to another until even God could no longer save him from himself.

    However, the starting point of all his distress was the ident he suffered when he was fifteen.

    [Why would I return to a point when I was already injured?] He was distressed. He felt his mood sink as he limped back to his room to examine his left ankle.

    But at that moment, a Ding sounded in his head, and a translucent blue book flipped open before him. On its first page, a few words were being inscribed in beautiful calligraphy.

    ****

    "DING"

    ''G.O.A.T SYSTEM INITIALIZING¡­''

 Chapter 2 - The G.O.A.T System

    Zachary blinked as his eyes adjusted. He gazed at the translucent blue book, wide-eyed, mouth agape, and face frozen in wonderment.

    Zachary had read many system-tagged web novels before he''d returned to his past. He could instantlyprehend what was happening. He was sure that he might be acquiring a ''leveling-up system'' like all those protagonists in the novels. That was the dream cheat for any passionate fan of web novels.

    The system could help him level up his ser skills and make him a star yer within a few years if it was anything like in those novels.

    Since he was injured, this was the first time Zachary felt optimistic about pursuing his dream of bing an internationally recognized ser yer.

    With a system, he could be one of the best yers in Africa or even in the whole world.

    He could then easily acquire mansions, posh cars, supermodels, and big money without ever resorting to robbery and selling drugs like in his past life.

    Above all, he could secure a better future for his grandmother that was still suffering in poverty in a remote vige in Bukavu.

    The sky was the only limit.

    [Am I really awake?] Zachary wondered before once again pinching his skin. This time, he chose one of the more sensitive areas on his body to dispel all the doubts in his mind.

    "Damn, that hurt," he yelped.

    The pain he felt was as real as it could be.

    If he was asleep, then this dreamworld or fantasy had be his new reality. And that wasn''t a bad thing.

    He was d to ept it.

    Zachary calmed his mind and once again refocused on the contents of the virtual book before him.

    ****

    SPACE-TIME TUNNELING SUCCESSFUL

    ----

    G.O.A.T SYSTEM INITIALIZING

    ----

    "DING"

    NEW USER DETECTED...

    MATCHING BRAINWAVES...

    ANALYZING BODY DATA...

    ORIENTING TO NEW USER...

    ----

    ACTIVATION SUCCESSFUL

    ----

    "DING"

    ----

    Please select your desired profession to start your journey on the path to bing a G.O.A.T

    a) Musician

    b) Actor

    c) Ser yer

    d) Basketballer

    e) Other Sports

    ''NB: The system will aid you on your journey to ascend to the G.O.A.T status in any of the above professions.''

    ''Please make your choice after careful consideration. The choice is irreversible.''

    ****

    A smile slowly spread across Zachary''s face after reading through the lustrous golden words on the page. He wanted to run, to shout, to tell his grandma what was happening, but he knew he couldn''t. He had no way of exining his circumstances.

    Zachary had gone back in time and acquired a freaking system that should''ve only existed in his fantasies. The system could elevate him to the G.O.A.T status in several professions.

    He was deliriously happy, giddy even.

    Zachary carefully extended his right forefinger and tapped on choice ¨C C.

    ****

    "DING"

    ----

    USER HAS SELECTED SOCCER PROFESSION

    ''Confirm'' ''Cancel''

    (**NB: The choice is irreversible after confirmation.)

    ****

    Zachary did not think twice and just confirmed his choice of the ser profession. Ser was his love, obsession, and the only thing he''d ever managed to achieve some positive results in his previous lifetime.

    Zachary would never choose to be a singer or an actor. He would embarrass himself if he ever tried singing due to his deep hoarse voice.

    On confirming the ser option, the translucent book instantly dispersed into glittering blue particles before assembling back into a virtual screen with a spinning golden ser ball at the center. The ball then disappeared into the background before new golden words started appearing on the virtual screen.

    ****

    "DING"

    SOCCER G.O.A.T UI SUCCESSFULLY INITIALIZED

    ----

    STARTING BOOT PROCESS

    IMPLANTING QUANTUM BIO-CODE IN DNA OF USER...

    ****

    Zachary''s head throbbed while his bones tingled with a ticklish feeling. The pain felt like someone had taken a knife to his skull.

    He quicklyy down on his bed and rested his head against his pillow. Squeezing his eyes shut, he willed the pain to go away. The rest of the world became detached, and all he could concentrate on was the pain rooted deep in his head and bones.

    But soon, he heard another ding sound before the pain receded like a tide. He opened his eyes and noticed that the words on the screen had once again changed.

    ****

    SOCCER G.O.A.T SYSTEM SUCCESSFULLY BOUND TO NEW USER

    ----

    POPULATING USER INTERFACE...

    UPDATING USER STATS...

    UPDATING MISSIONS...

    ----

    SOCCER G.O.A.T UI SUCCESSFULLY UPDATED

    ----

    USER CAN ACCESS INFO BY FOLLOWING THE TAB MENUS

    ****

    The message ended there. The virtual screen once again became nk. But not for long. Shortly, glowing golden tab-menus started popting the screen.

    ****

    SOCCER G.O.A.T SYSTEM

    SYSTEM LEVEL: 1 (0/100 juju points to level-up)

    USER: Zachary Bemba

    AGE: 15 years

    TALENT ASSESSMENT: Grade-D

    JUJU-POINTS: 0

    (Evaluation: A pitiful boy far from bing a professional ser yer)

    ----

    USER MENU

    *USER STATS

    *G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    *SYSTEM SHOP (locked)

    *SYSTEM LOTTERY (locked)

    *SNOOPING TOOL (locked)

    ----

    NB: Please level up the system to unlock more functions.

    ****

    Zachary could instantly understand the contents of the system User-Interface after taking a single nce.

    It was like a User Interface of a simple android mobile game that the user could use to navigate the game menus.

    But Zachary was perturbed by the system''s assessment of his talent.

    He had been ying ser since he was eight years and felt like he was good at it. But the system was assessing his talent at only Grade-D.

    The grading was different from Zachary''s expectations. So, he tapped on the ''USER STATS'' button to understand why.

    Another list popted the virtual page as soon as his finger left the virtual button.

    ****

    *USER STATS

    ->Physical Fitness: D+

    ->Ser Technique: C+

    ->Game Intelligence: C+

    ->Mental Ability and Mindset: D-

    ->X-Factors: F

    ->G.O.A.T Skills: NONE

    ****

    "Really!" Zachary eximed. "How can my mental ability be only at ''D-''? My grading should be higher than this."

    Although Zachary was a failure in his previous lifetime, he had always thought of himself to have a strong mental fortitude that could endure any hardship. But the system''s assessment of him was different from his expectations.

    For a moment, he was distressed. But then, he remembered that he had a second chance at achieving his goals¡ªan opportunity at ascending to be a ''great'' in sports.

    [With this G.O.A.T system, what is there to fear?]

    [I will work harder and be a Grade-S talent as soon as possible.] He resolved while tapping on the physical fitness tab.

    ****

    USER STATS

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: D+)

    Bnce and Coordination: E

    Agility: E

    Strength: C-

    Stamina: C+

    Endurance Points: 990/1000 (C+)

    NB: For detailed numerical data, follow the attribute tabs.

    ****

    Zachary did not bother to continue assessing his stats. More info would confuse his head. He was never good with numbers.

    But he could still understand his skills rating.

    His highest attributes were his strength, stamina, and endurance at the moment. They seemed to be above average if the top rating was grade-S.

    Zachary was still not satisfied with his data.

    [I hope this system has a way to enhance my attributes and heal my injury in a short time.]

    [I have to be part of that trial that should be taking ce in about a month.] He thought while ncing at his Asahi digital watch beside his pillow.

    He had moved fifteen years back to the past. The date today was June 12, the year 2010. He had started to recall some events that were about to happen in the local ser scene.

    A monthter, a few scouts from France would be in attendance at the regional football trials in Lubumbashi City. They were officials of a humanitarian organization aiming at promoting ser in war-torn areas like DR. Congo.

    In his previous life, a few Congolese young yers were lucky to be selected by the scouts. Shortly after, they joined illustrious high-performance ser academies in France and ascended to the skies in a single leap.

    The other young ser yers (including Zachary) that were not part of the trial wallowed in endless regret about the missed opportunity for years.

    Zachary rubbed his palms together¡ªin anticipation as he was determined to participate and seed that time around. Thus, without any dilly-dallying, he clicked the ''G.O.A.T Missions'' tab on the system interface. If the system had a method to increase his powers and heal him, it had to be through a mission. That was a no-brainer for anyone who had ever read a system-tagged novel.

    The tab was already blinking with a red light showing that there was already a mission awaiting Zachary toplete.

    ****

    G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    #NEW MISSION: Preparations to be a ser G.O.A.T

    *Task 1: Run 70 miles within a week.

    *Task 2: Complete 100 seat-ups daily for a week.

    *Task 3: Complete 50 press-ups daily for a week.

    *Task 4: Complete four rounds of half a dozen Hatha-Yoga poses daily for a week.

    ----

    *Rewards:

    ->B-grade vitality enhancing elixir (Heals all injuries and strengthens the body. Has a chance of increasing talent.)

    ->A random G.O.A.T Skill.

    ->5 juju-points

    ----

    *Punishment in case the mission is still iplete after the stipted time.

    ->Loss of G.O.A.T system.

    ->The left leg of the user will be permanently crippled (Nopromise).

    ----

    *Remarks: A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. And that step must be taken now.

    ****

    "Now!" Zachary eximed, his eyes widening. Since he''d been through a lot in the past few hours, he was tired and spent out.

    So, he was just about to go out and rx by taking a walk around his old neighborhood. But the system swatted his ns.

    He hurriedly put on his oversized tracksuit, ate a quick breakfast, and rushed out of the house after saluting his grandmother.

    He could only rx after finishing the daily tasks imposed on him by the system. He would never allow himself to lose his leg if he had an opportunity to do something about it.

 Chapter 3 - Solo Training

    Zachary was jogging at a steady pace.

    He was mindful of neither the ever-present potholes in the dirt-roads of eastern Bukavu nor the mud heaps brought about by the rain of the previous day.

    He hummed the Chris Brown song (Don''t Wake Me Up) that was supposed to be released two yearster.

    Zachary smiled softly. He was in a good mood.

    Above him loomed the blue sky with just a few stratus clouds making their unhurried way toward Lake Kivu in the north. The sun was already a golden ball of yellow above, promising more heat as the day progressed. All in all, he could not have asked for better weather toplete the system mission.

    It had been six days since Zachary returned to the past, and he was very close topleting the tasks in his first system mission.

    He had been exercising like there was not a tomorrow in his vocabry.

    With the G.O.A.T system, he had the motivation to work hard and thus never once thought about giving up when the going got tough.

    Every morning, he would start with a routine of one hundred seat-ups, then do fifty press-ups before jogging ten or more miles around the dirt roads of Bukavu. He would thenplete his day''s training in the evening by going through six rounds of Hatha-yoga routines. His daily yoga practice always included the serpent, bow, peacock, tortoise, eagle, and Matsyendra poses.

    In his previous lifetime, he hade across an article exining how yoga was essential to improving the flexibility and body coordination of any sportsman. Zachary was determined to stick to this practice as it would reduce the risk of him getting injuredter in his career.

    He feared getting injured again the most. Injuries would diminish the yer''s form and destroy careers if not meticulously handled.

    An injury had been the start of Zachary''s downfall in his previous lifetime. But he was determined not to let it affect him in his new one.

    Throughout the past six days, his injured ankle had hurt like hell after continuing to support his strenuous exercise without much rest. It had swollen and taken on a reddish hue like that of a perfectly boiled shrimp. But Zachary had chosen to ignore the pain and continue the tedious tasks imposed on him by the system.

    A few times when he felt he could not hold on, he just had to think about the great heights achieved by some of the top athletes from poor backgrounds in his previous lifetime. Ser stars like Sadio Mane, Frank Ribery, and Cristiano Ronaldo had made it to the top by capitalizing on their talent. Through sheer hard work and their unrelenting attitude towards ser, they had almost achieved the G.O.A.T status supported by themon consensus of the pro-sportsmunity.

    Zachary believed that the pain and fatigue he was feeling at that moment was his weakness leaving the body.

    He could see the bigger picture.

    The climb might be tough and challenging, but if he ever made it to the top of the ser world, the view would be worth it. So, he decided to work harder than any athlete alive and see if he could also be one of the greats. He would try bing the best or die trying. With a cheat system aiding in his rise, he would not settle for less.

    Zachary was in the zone and felt like running was a form of whole-body meditation. He continued his steady motion at a steady pace pushing away the pain and fatigue from his mind while humming song after song to psyche himself up.

    On the nearly empty Bukavu dirt-roads, he had no worries. Zachary didn''t need to fret about high-interest loans like in his previous life, no problematic girlfriend, no therapist. It was just him cutting across the warm breeze caressing his skin.

    Stick sweat soaked his oversized tracksuit while his old second-hand Nike snickers were all covered in mud. He panted as he wiped his mouth on his sleeve. He could only imagine how badly he stunk.

    As he rounded a bend heading back towards his grandma''s farm, a Ding sounded in his head.

    The sound elevated his mood as it was the now-familiar system notification indicating that he hadpleted one of the mission tasks.

    But Zachary resisted the urge to open the system User-Interface and continued jogging across the ins, up the hill, until he was back to his grandma''s house.

    Once he stopped running, the perspirationy cool on his skin, cooled further by the noon breeze, and he began to shiver.

    He hurriedly washed up before stretching to cool down his muscles. He was then just about to start his yoga routine when he was interrupted by the high-pitched voice of his grandma.

    "Zachary," she yelled. "You''re running on that foot again. Didn''t Dr. Kazadi tell you to desist from straining it for three months? Child, I don''t have any more money to take you to the main hospital." She was speaking in Swahili - one of the localnguages in Bukavu.

    "Grandma, I''m now fine," he lied, voice humble. "I will be okay by the time school starts once again. I want to be ready for the school team trials."

    [Sorry, grandma. I can''t tell you everything now. But I''ll surprise you in the future.] Zachary vowed inwardly.

    "Are you sure?" She asked. "I wille and take a look at that foot myself. I won''t trust your words." She added.

    "No, Grandma," Zachary hurriedly yelled back while bolting the wooden door to his room from the inside. "I am currently dressing. Maybeter."

    "I can tell that you are lying," the voice of his grandma had risen a crescendo.

    "That does it. Tomorrow, I will ask Dr. Kazadi to look at your ankle again. If he says that it''s okay, then you can do whatever you want. But I don''t want to see you out running before that." His grandmother warned, voice somber.

    "Yes, grandma," Zachary replied humbly.

    [I will havepleted my mission by tomorrow. If the elixir reward can right away heal all my torn ligaments and dislocated bones, then there''ll be no need to worry.] He thought.

    He once again focused on his training and went through his Yoga routine. Today, he had woken up very early and worked extra hard to finish the mission before lunchtime. He was eager to receive the first rewards from the system. He would then be able to gauge if the G.O.A.T system was as badass as the ones in most of the web novels he had read.

    In a few minutes, hepleted the yoga routine, and the Ding sound once again resounded in his mind.

    Without even taking a minute to rx, he summoned the system''s user interface to check the changes in his stats.

    ****

    SOCCER G.O.A.T SYSTEM

    SYSTEM LEVEL: 1 (15/100 juju-points to level-up)

    USER: Zachary Bemba

    AGE: 15 years

    TALENT ASSESSMENT: Grade-D

    JUJU-POINTS: 15 (1 msg)

    (Evaluation: A pitiful boy far from bing a professional ser yer)

    ----

    USER MENU

    *USER STATS

    *G.O.A.T MISSIONS (4 msg)

    *SYSTEM SHOP (temporarily-unlocked)

    *SYSTEM LOTTERY (temporarily-unlocked)

    *SNOOPING TOOL (locked)

    ----

    NB: Pls level-up system to unlock more functions.

    ****

    Zachary instantly noticed the juju-points, G.O.AT-missions, system-shop, and system-lottery tabs blinking red on the user interface. With his expertise gained through reading web novels, he could tell that he had received new messages or status changes in those tabs.

    So, he tapped on the tab towards the top of the virtual blue screen.

    ****

    JUJU-POINTS: 15 (1 msg)

    -> You havepleted mission ¨C Preparations to Be a Ser G.O.AT. You have earned 15 juju-points.

    ----

    NB: Pleaseplete more system tasks, win matches, and gain fame to gain more juju-points.

    ****

    Zachary understood the message at first nce. He closed the tab in a way simr to that of navigating the android tabs of a smartphone and then fixed his attention on the G.O.A.T mission tabs.

    [What rewards will I get from the system?] He wondered.

    [Will the vitality enhancing elixir cure me?]

    [What if this is a dream? Am I just about to wake?] A lot of doubts ran through his mind making his brain tingle with anxiety.

    But he suppressed them and tapped on the G.O.A.T missions tab.

    ****

    "DING"

    #4 new messages

    CONGRATULATIONS

    -> You havepleted mission (Preparations to Be a Ser G.O.A.T).

    ----

    ->Mission-Rewards

    1) B-grade vitality enhancing elixir (Avable in system-shop; temporarily unlocked. NB: The user must consume the elixir within 5 seconds after being removed from system shop.)

    2) A random G.O.A.T skill (Avable in system-lottery; temporarily unlocked)

    3) 5 juju points

    ----

    ->Mission Summary

    *Task 1: Run 70 miles within a week. (74/70 milespleted; rating A+)

    *Task 2: Complete 100 seat-ups daily for a week. (Av. 200/100 seat-upspleted daily; Rating S)

    *Task 3: Complete 50 press-ups daily for a week. (Av. 64/50 press-upspleted daily; Rating A+)

    *Task 4: Complete four rounds of half a dozen Hatha-Yoga routine daily for a week. (Av. 6/4 rounds of Hatha-yoga posespleted; Rating A+)

    ----

    Overall Mission Rating: A+

    ----

    ->Bonus rewards

    You have earned 10 bonus juju-points

    ----

    ****

 Chapter 4 - First System Rewards

    Even in his previous lifetime, Zachary, as a general rule, hid his emotions. He figured they were intel he should not hand over, and so at all times, his face was nk. But today was different. Zachary had just received the first mission rewards from the system, and excitement poured out of him like sunshine through fine white linen; he glowed from the inside out.

    It felt like every fiber of his being was vibrating with anticipation when he looked at the virtual screen before him. He first rubbed his palms together and sat down on his bed before tapping on the system-shop tab that was still blinking red.

    ****

    *SYSTEM SHOP

    ->Gift Packs (temporarily-unlocked) (1 msg)

    ->Purchase Skills (locked)

    ->Purchase Elixirs (locked)

    ->Lottery Coupons (locked)

    ->Inventory (temporarily-unlocked) (1 msg)

    ****

    The Gift-Pack tab was blinking red, and Zachary right away extended his right forefinger and tapped on it. For the first time, he noticed that the screen felt tangible against his touch but did not give much attention to it.

    ****

    "DING"

    #1 new messages

    ----

    CONGRATULATIONS

    You have received a System Gift: B-grade vitality enhancing elixir.

    Please select the gift card in the inventory to retrieve the elixir.

    ----

    NB: The user must consume the elixir within five seconds after removal from the system shop.

    Remarks: Hold tight; you are in for a rough ride.

    ----

    ****

    The message was brief, but it was what Zachary was expecting. He clicked on the inventory tab and then selected the only card with the image of an apple in it. And vo, the fruit, the size of a lollipop, popped out of the translucent blue screen.

    Although Zachary had read several system-tagged web novels, he was still amazed by the spectacle before him. It was simply magic.

    But he was not the kind to concern himself with the inner workings and processes of the system, and thus, he just picked up the small apple and swallowed it right away.

    He had less than 5 seconds to act.

    As soon as the small apple entered his mouth, it dissolved like ice cream and melted on his tongue.

    [Quite sweet. Different from what I imagined!] He thought. He swallowed the melted liquid from the elixir in one gulp.

    But shortly, a tingling sensation simr to low voltage electric shocks passed through every part of his body. Before Zachary could adapt, a sharp painnced through his head and then spread out to the rest of his body. His muscles and bones ached when he made any slight movements.

    Slowly he tried to ignore the pain by thinking about something else but quickly realized how futile it was when he had to bite his lip to keep from crying out. But like a real man, he suppressed his agony and persisted through the ordeal. He would never allow himself to rm his grandma because of some pains in his body.

    Minutester, the mind-numbing soreness receded like a tide. His body tensed up and rxed before tensing up once again as it filled up with vitality and energy.

    His limbs, especially his left foot, were the most sensitive at that juncture. A mysterious force seemed to wrap around his foot and gradually started mending the torn ligaments and dislocated bones like a tailor stitching up a torn cloth.

    Zachary then felt searing fiery bursts pulsating around the injured foot, intensifying with each passing second, jarring and brutal.

    But his mind was not in agony but brimming with joy and expectation.

    He understood that his injured foot was being healed and could thus choose to ignore the pain. As long as he could be fully fit again, all the suffering would be worth it. So, he endured.

    Shortly, the pain disappeared and left his foot numb.

    [Was it healed?] Zachary wondered.

    He stood up from the bed and sensed that his limbs were stiff and seemingly paralyzed at that moment. He awkwardly ambled around his room while stretching, and soon, the feeling in his legs and arms returned.

    Zachary then felt his body permeating with unbounded strength and stamina, the likes he had never experienced even at his peak in his previous lifetime. At that very moment, he felt like a carp leaping over the legendary dragon''s gate. So, he opened the system User-Interface and then tapped on the user-stats tab to check out the changes in his body.

    ****

    *USER STATS

    ->Physical Fitness: B -

    ->Ser Technique: B -

    ->Game Intelligence: C +

    ->Mental Ability and Mindset: D +

    ->X-Factors: F

    ->G.O.A.T Skills: None

    ****

    Zachary could hardly contain his happiness. His physical-fitness, ser-technique, and mental-ability stats had all improved and pushed his talent-assessment grade from D to C.

    He was surprised that his physical-fitness had leaped over two gradings from D + to B -. So, he clicked on its tab to understand its changes.

    ****

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: B -)

    Bnce and Coordination: C+

    Agility: D +

    Strength: B -

    Stamina: A -

    Endurance Points: 3500/ 5500 (A -)

    ****

    "I have got to find a way to improve my agility before the trials," Zachary mumbled as if to himself. He was happy with the improvements in his stats except for his ''agility'' that was still below average.

    In Zachary''s short professional ser career in his previous lifetime, he had suffered on the pitch due to his slow speed and less agile movements. He was always quickly closed down by opponents and often lost the ball more times than he passed it. In due time, he had lost the trust of the coaching staff at TP - Mazembe before they terminated his professional contract.

    Zachary understood that a yer had to have perfected his body-control before trying to improve his agility. Long strides, correct running form, and a low center of gravity were indications of a high level of body control possessed by professional ser yers. It was under the category of technique rather than physical fitness. Thus, Zachary could perfect it by improving the correctness of form through training.

    But this was not something that he could achieve with just a few weeks of training.

    He only had about a month to the trials in Lubumbashi. He had to have improved all his abilities by then to stand a chance of gaining the attention of scouts by performing splendidly in the ser-trials.

    [What can I do?] He mused as he sat down on his bed.

    But then he remembered that he still had the random ''G.O.A.T-skill reward'' from the system. He hurriedly closed the physical-fitness tab and selected the system-lottery.

    Right away, three smaller virtual pages filled up the screen from the left to the right side. A big-spin-lottery wheel filled up the page at the center. The contents of the other two virtual pages remained blurry with the word ''locked'' inscribed below them.

    So, Zachary pivoted his attention to the stationery lottery-wheel that was just too huge and disappeared off into the edges of the screen at the center page. It consisted of small square sections arranged from top to bottom with small images of famous ser yers. In the middle, two purple arms were pointing to a picture of N''Golo Kant¨¦ in a tackling posture. Beside the wheel was a red button with the phrases ''spin and win'', ''*3 chances'', and ''confirm lottery'' inscribed below it.

    Zachary did not waste time on pointless deliberation. He just tapped on the red button, and vo, the wheel spun at a fast speed before stopping with the pointers locked on to the image of Iker Casis - a Spanish goalkeeper saving the ball.

    "Why is the system offering me goalkeeping skills?" Zachary mumbled inaudibly, voice tense. He was growing anxious after the first spin since he didn''t acquire his desired result from the lottery.

    Although he was a defending midfielder in the short ser career of his previous lifetime, he inwardly preferred the attacking positions. He would always opt to score goals like the likes of tan Ibrahimovich and Christiano Ronaldo rather than defending like Rio Ferdinand. Attackers had a certain ir to them that could gain them a status much higher than defenders in the eyes of the public. Thus, Zachary neither wanted to be a goalkeeper nor a defender.

    He tapped on the red button again, and the wheel spun for a few seconds before stopping at a square with Leonardo Boni - the Italian defender shielding the ball. He didn''t even bother to take a second nce and used up hisst chance to spin the wheel.

    This time the wheel spun for a little longer. And after what seemed like years to Zachary, it stopped with its pointers locked on an image of Zinedine Zidane - the famous French Footballer. He was standing with the ball at his feet but looking out into the distance.

    "Thank God," Zachary mumbled while letting out a long rxed breath of pent-up air. He was of the view that no skill from the famous Zizou could be anything but magical. Zizou could score goals and dribble like any of the world-famous number nines despite not being a forward. Thus, Zachary was looking forward to which skill he would receive from the system. It could be his ticket to bing a pro-ser yer.

    So, he tapped on the confirm-lottery button to approve the result.

    "DING"

    The familiar system notification sounded as the square with the glittering image of Zinedine popped out of the wheel a few secondster. In a burst of visual colors, it turned into a card that hovered in the front of everything else on the virtual screen.

    Zachary strained his eyes to read the words below Zinedine''s image.

    ****

    #1 new message

    ----

    CONGRATULATIONS

    ->You have won the lottery and gained one G.O.A.T-skill:

    ''ZINEDINE VISUAL JUJU''

    Tap on the skill-card to learn the G.O.A.T technique.

    ----

    NB: The user must use the skill-card within a minute. System lottery to be locked after a minute.

    ****

 Chapter 5 - Travelling To Lubumbashi

    Hope bloomed inside Zachary after reading the words below the G.O.A.T-skill card.

    Without a moment of hesitation, he clicked on the image of the skill card filling up the screen and learned the Zinedine-Visual-Juju. He was looking forward to how it could improve his budding football career.

    Instantly, he felt a pang of headache assaulting his brain as the system imnted new information into his mind. But a whileter, his head cleared, and he noticed that there seemed to be no perceivable transformation within his body or mind.

    He thus opened the user-stats tab that was already blinking red on the system User-Interface to understand the changes in his stats.

    ****

    *USER STATS

    ->Physical Fitness: B -

    ->Ser Technique: B +

    ->Game Intelligence: A +

    ->Mental Ability and Mindset: C -

    ->X-Factors: F

    ->G.O.A.T Skills: 1 (1 msg)

    ****

    Zachary''s ser-technique had once again leveled-up from the grading of B- to B+ in a single evening. His game intelligence had jumped from the C+ grade and was now an A+ after learning the Zinedine-Visual-Juju. His mindset had also experienced a minor improvement from grade D+ to C-.

    He was as happy as a kitty in a cream pie.

    After suppressing his bubbly emotions, he clicked on the G.O.A.T-skill tab to understand his new skill.

    ****

    #1 new message

    ----

    CONGRATULATIONS

    ->You have learned the G.O.A.T-Skill:

    ''ZINEDINE VISUAL JUJU''

    (1st-level: Progress -> 10%)

    ----

    (check user stats for more info.)

    ----

    NB: Watch and y more matches to level-up the skill.

    Remarks: Practice makes perfect.

    ****

    Zachary hurriedly closed the G.O.A.T-skills tab and opened the game-intelligence stat.

    ****

    ->Game Intelligence (Av. Rating: A+)

    Spatial Awareness (A+)

    Tactical Knowledge (A-)

    Risk Assessment (A+)

    ****

    "Fuck!" Zachary eximed out loud. "This is not scientific." He could not help but swear after ncing at his game-intelligence stat. It had experienced the most substantial change and was his highest-rated skill ording to the system. From a C+, it had leaped to the A+ grade. Zachary suspected that that was a grading close to the highest ratings by the system.

    [One G.O.A.T-skill could improve one of my skills by this much...] He mused.

    He could not help but daydream.

    [What if I managed to learn 5 or 10, or maybe 20?]

    [What if I obtained the dribbling skills of Ronaldinho?] He grinned.

    [I''d turn into a ser divine beast? Maybe even another Mighty Steel Leg.]

    The changes in his game-intelligence were beyond his expectations.

    Zachary understood that highly-rated game-intelligence indicated his ability to make smart decisions on the pitch and make them quickly.

    An intelligent yer always had good spatial awareness and was able to see spaces clearly across the entire ser-pitch and utilize them to his advantage.

    That was why coaches referred to spatial-awareness as the sixth sense of a ser yer. A yer with a sixth sense would remain aware of where his teammates were and anticipate where they would be just by looking at the positioning of the other team.

    The skill was not inborn but developed through experience. This was the same for the tactical-knowledge and risk-assessment skills also under the game-intelligence category.

    However, the G.O.A.T-system could improve the whole three skills just by imnting obscure ser knowledge and experiences in his head. Zachary was both mystified and filled with joy.

    [With the system, I could be one of the best.] He thought.

    He now had to work extra hard towards leveling-up the Zinedine-Visual-Juju. It was a skill that might soon raise his talent above the B grade. Although his talent-assessment had not yet improved from the C grading, he was sure that he might level it up once again before the trials.

    **** ****

    A monthter, as the day dawned crisp and clear, Zachary rode a mini-bus over the earth, his eyes on the trees that grew in their infinite patience. He felt the movement of the wheels over the bumpy road, following the curves and greeting each slope in its smooth way.

    Zachary had woken up long before dawn to catch the first public transport from Bukavu to Uvira that day. He had said his goodbyes to his grandmast night and departed from the farm before she woke. He was on his way to Lubumbashi City, not to partake in the new school term (like he had told his grandma) but to join the ADTA''s ser trials for this year.

    The trials happened once every year in July and August.

    At these trials, there were always scouts from the local clubs like TP Mazembe, RC Kinshasha, Lubumbashi Sport, and others in the Linafoot - the top-tier ser league in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    Zachary could have chosen to undergo some other ser trials at his home town''s local team - Olympic Club Muungano back in Bukavu and might have been sessful. But he would then miss out on an opportunity to perform in front of the scouts from the French academies.

    His goal was not to join the local ser-clubs, but the high-performance sports academies in Europe.

    He understood the importance of joining a good youth training program at an early age if one wanted to make it to the top of the ser industry as a pro-yer. The academies in France were famous for nurturing professional yers using cutting-edge technology and methodologies. Students at these academies would train all year round with coaches who were highly experienced in training and developing amateurs into professional yers.

    Zachary needed to join such academies if he wanted to have a chance at bing a renowned yer. There, he could earn world-ss education, develop his ball technique, and gain ess and connections to professional coaches all around the world.

    In such an academy, Zachary would not have to worry about a shortage of sports equipment like balls and ser-boots like in his previous life. He would not miss a wink of sleep or training due to an empty stomach. Above all, he would not have to worry about his security while developing his career. There were no rebels and militia groups in Europe to disturb and interrupt his progress.

    Zachary was very determined and highly motivated to win a schrship to one of the academies. The only way he knew how in the short term was through joining the trial in Lubumbashi.

    So, he had even decided to miss the first month of school (without his grandma''s knowledge) and instead opted to attend the ser-trials. If he could earn ¡ê 150,000 a week, like the professional yers in the EPL, he would study at the best Universities in the worldter in life instead of wasting away in Congo.

    The mini-bus to Uvira was anything but luxury, the seats dulled by the grime of over a decade. The metallic seats and windows shook with every small bump in the bumpy road, jostling the passengers back and forth.

    As the world slid by the window, there were asional small movements from amongst the passengers. Zachary could see some of them shifting in their seats and also hear a little cough apanied by a mild ''excuse me''. Whenever the mini-bus passed by some of the smaller towns, the brakes would at times squeak before everyone lurched forward as the vehicle came to a stop. Amid the gasps of the passengers, a few locally-dressed men and women would stream into the mini-bus after briefly bargaining with the conductor, and others would exit after paying the fare.

    Zachary soon got tired of the scenery and dozed off. He awoke six hourster as the mini-bus pulled into the station in Uvira. He followed the other passengers and alighted from the mini-bus with his metallic suitcase in tow.

    He headed to the ticket booking office of the ferry and learned that it was leaving the next day.

    Zachary slept the night in a small motel in Uvira (thanks to his ample savings) and departed with the ferry to Kalemie the next morning. He then hired a motorbike from Kalemie to Mulungo and spent two days on the road, traveling close to 300 miles southwards. After that, he alternated between a bus and a motorbike as he traveled through bumpy roads, some glistening with recent rain and others treacherous with portholes.

    Zachary was not depressed about the long journey but was brimming with happiness and anticipation the further south he moved. He was slowly but surely inching towards the city where he would begin his journey towards greatness.

    He traveled more than 1000 miles and arrived in Lubumbashi six days after leaving Bukavu. Lubumbashi was the secondrgest city in DR Congo, located in the southeasternmost part, along the border with Zambia. It was a city that held a lot of Zachary''s painful memories. It was where he had begun and prematurely ended his pro-ser career in his previous life.

    With luggage in hand, Zachary looked for a motel to spend the night and chose to think about everything else the next day. The week-long journey had tired him out.

 Chapter 6 - Start Of The Trials

    July 19, 2010: Lubumbashi ¨C DR Congo.

    The first slither of the sun peeked over the skyline in a radiant, golden form. Brilliant gold and orange hues bled like fire in the east over the rivers, forests, and beyond Lubumbashi City.

    The sun rays fell nting through Zachary''s motel-room window. He blinked a few times in an attempt to help his eyes adjust to the illumination directed right at his defenseless figure.

    "What a beautiful morning," he mumbled to himself. He had slept like a baby the previous night. Although the small motel room was very cheap by Lubumbashi''s standards, it had a mattress much morefortable than the one at his grandma''s house.

    Zachary jumped out of bed and hurried off to wash up in preparation for the day toe.

    A few minutester, he ate a light breakfast provided by the motel and headed off to the city after handing in his key. He left his luggage in his room since he had booked it for a whole week. Moreover, he wasn''t worried about thieves since there was nothing valuable to steal from his simple metallic suitcase.

    After leaving the small motel in downtown Lubumbashi, he joined the crowd heading to the city center. He wanted to buy some sports gear.

    The city was flooding with a sea of people moving in different directions. The higher-ss strutted down the high street carrying their designer handbags and wearing theirtest brands or jeans and sneakers. Whereas the lower-ss people sat down on the cold littered floor begging for money. On every street corner, buskers were singing top Ling songs that were popr in DRC. Some sang with a marvelous talent, while others sounded like a cat in a washing machine. New and old cars, motorbikes carrying two to four passengers, and men riding bicycles were everywhere swarming like locusts.

    Zachary ignored the city''s chaos and kept to himself. He walked through the different second-hand shops buying the sports gear he needed for the trials. He didn''t want to risk being chased away by the coaches because of inadequate preparations. Such situations had happened to him a lot in his previous life.

    By midday, Zachary had bought a pair of nice second-hand boots, jerseys, and shin-guards.

    He had nearly spent all the money he had won by betting on Spain winning the world cup in South Africa. With his knowledge of the future, he had made quite a few bucks when he was still in Bukavu and thought he was rich for the moment. But after one shopping trip, Zachary was nearly back to zero. But this did not dampen his mood. He was sure that he would get a lot more opportunities to make more money.

    After shopping, he retired back to his motel room to rest and prepare for the ADTA''s trials happening the next day. Zachary wanted to make sure that he was well-rested and not fatigued. He understood that only a well-rested yer could perform a hundred percent on the pitch.

    Back in his room, he went through a light Hatha-Yoga routine before opening the systems interface to check out his current progress. He was mainly concerned about his ser-technique stats that would be scrutinized by the coaches and scouts during the trials.

    ****

    USER STATS

    ->Ser-Technique (Av. Rating: B +)

    Ball Control: A +

    Dribbling skills: C +

    Passing uracy: A -

    Body control: B -

    ----

    Preferred foot: (Left and Right)

    ****

    After obtaining the Zizou-Visual-Juju and training with the locals back in Bukavu, his ser-technique had stabilized at the B+ grading. He had tried to improve the grade by utilizing all means possible, but it remained unchanged despite his efforts.

    The system did not offer any more rewards for the whole month but just punishments if he didn''tplete the daily training schedules it had stipted. Thus, Zachary was at a bottleneck in the meantime.

    "Come what may, I will not fail." He vowed.

    He was still confident that his passing, ball control, and game awareness would help him through the trials.

    **** ****

    Early morning the next day, Zachary hired a motorbike and headed to Kibassa-Maliba Stadium. It was the home of TP - Mazembe (his previous life''s club) until 2011.

    By the time he arrived at Kibassa-Maliba, there were already more than a hundred budding ser yers waiting to partake in that year''s ADTA''s trials. Some were seated on the pavilion seats and others on the running tracks. They had already donned their kits.

    Zachary noticed some noteworthy yers among them who wouldter be famous in Africa and beyond. Seated in the front row of the pavilion was the young Chris Luyinda that wouldter y for TP Mazembe, Standard Li¨¨ge, and Gtasary. Zachary didn''t have good feelings towards him as he had often picked on him when they were at TP Mazambe in his previous life.

    There were also other would be famous names like Fredric Luamba, Nike Kabanga, and Ngonda Muzinga seated on the running tracks.

    But Zachary ignored the rest and focussed on the one yer who had benefitted the most from the ADTA trials in his previous life.

    Leaning on the pavilion''s wall was a young boy who would go on to shock the ser world some twelve yearster. He was Steven Mang, the yer who joined a high-performance ser academy right after the trials at the age of fourteen. By the year 2022, he would already be renowned as the next Samuel Eto scoring many goals and bing one of the best African talents in that era.

    But too bad for DRC, Mang rejected the national team''s call before changing citizenship and ying for Belgium during Zachary''s previous life. He was cursed by many Congolese fans all day and night but continued scoring goals like a machine. Mang was the perfect example of what Zachary had wished to achieve in his previous life.

    [I will also seed this time. With the system, I will soon fly into the skies.] Zachary vowed inwardly.

    He found a ce to sit and put on his jersey and boots.

    But his sce was soon disturbed by some annoying brats. He stood up and turned around to look at two guys who had been close friends to him before he got injured. They were Patrick Luamba and Tony Majembe that were his former ssmates, and also from Bukavu. But after his ident, they distanced themselves and started making fun of him at school on a daily basis.

    "Yo. Isn''t this our famous captain - Zachary Bemba." Tony, a tallnky youth, sighed. He had a physique simr to that of Peter Crouch.

    "Sure it is," the bite-sized Patrick chimed in.

    "What is he doing here? He should be back in Bukavu eating potatoes and milking cows."

    "Maybe, he is here to see us impress the scouts and join TP Mazembe."

    "That should be the case..."

    [Empty tins make noise.] Zachary sighed.

    "Patrick, Tony," He intoned while ring at the two boys. "What''s it that you want? Do you need another beating?" He asked while taking a few steps towards the two scoundrels. Zachary was already taller than most of the other boys his age and thus looked intimidating.

    The two took a few steps back, seeming a bit panicked and asionally stealing a few nces at Chris Luyinda in the pavilion.

    [He must have put them up to this.] Zachary concluded while observing his former rival. Luyinda was always the bully in whichever team he joined. Zachary was not surprised that he was already sending his sycophants to bully him.

    "Do you want another beating?" Zachary creased a brow as he red at the boys. He wanted to make a stand and ensure that he was not disturbed by any other brats during the trials.

    "You can try," Tony stammered. "But, are you sure that you want to assault an ADTA registered candidate before the trials?" He asked.

    Zachary frowned and was about to give the boys a piece of his mind but then stopped. He was interrupted by a few coaches that started emerging from the dressing room and lining up on the grass in the center of the field.

    All the yers hurriedly exited the pavilion and congregated on the ser pitch before the coaches.

    "Good morning to you all..." A plump aged man with a long goatee bellowed. Zachary was familiar with the coach. He was Samson Damata, one of TP Mazembe''s youth development staff. He was a no-nonsense man who had trained several professional yers that went on to y for the DRC national team in its golden years.

    "I presume that everyone here has already registered as a participant in the 2010 Lubumbashi Trials. If not, I suggest that you leave right now before I call security." Coach Samson Damata added.

    None of the yers turned to leave.

    "Okay then," Samson intoned after a few seconds. "I guess everyone here has registered then." He patted his small belly.

    "But we don''t want to know your names as of yet," he yelled. "Because most of you won''t be here tomorrow," he added, voice turning dramatic towards the end.

    The voices of the youths started babbling anxiously like a mountain river. Zachary remained quiet. He was already in the know that the trials of 2010 would be different. In the past, TP Mazembe coaching staff would allow every ser yer who had registered to participate in the final ser-trials. But for this year, only a select couple of dozens would remain after undergoing screening due to the presence of the French scouts.

    "Quiet," Coach Damata bellowed, instantly silencing the youth.

    "I won''t waste my time exining our decision to you. But you have to know that we only want twenty-six yers from your group. The rest will have to go home and wait for next year''s trials."

    "We shall only be testing one thing. That''s your physical fitness. You will never be a pro as long as you are not fit. So, our test simple." Coach Damata paused while grinning.

    All the young yers gathered on the pitch became nervous.

    "You will have to run thirty-twops around this field. Those with the fastest times get to stay for the main trials." Coach Damata stated.

 Chapter 7 - A New System Mission

    "DING"

    No sooner had Coach Damata announced the first test in the trial than the familiar system notification resounded in Zachary''s mind. The translucent blue screen shimmered and then popped up in front of him without being summoned. The incident was a first as he usually had to will the screen to appear when he needed to check the user interface of the system.

    Zachary ignored the chaos around him and checked the contents of the notification.

    ****

    G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    #NEW MISSION: Lubumbashi ser trials (serial missions)

    *Task 1: Be the first in the physical fitness testing at the ser trials.

    ----

    *Rewards:

    ->B-grade agility-enhancing-elixir

    (Will make you faster and more in control of your body.)

    ----

    *Punishment in case of failure:

    ->The G.O.A.T system will go offline for three months.

    ----

    *Remarks: A G.O.A.T is a yer who should dominate his profession from the start or at the very least try to. Cheers to the beginning of your rise as a potential G.O.A.T.

    ----

    NB: Mission tasks to be updated as the trials continue.

    ****

    "What the fuck?" Zachary eximed out loud, forgetting where he was. "How will I achieve this with all the monsters partaking in the trial?" He mumbled.

    "You have anything against my instructions, young man?" Zachary heard Coach Damata bellow, his voice sounding incensed. He looked up only to find the other yers staring at him with stunned and perplexed eyes. Some like Luyinda, Patrick, and Tony were trying their best to suppress theirughter.

    [What have I done?] Zachary''s heart leaped into his throat.

    He looked towards the front and saw the dark-skinned Coach Damata wearing a scary face as he red at him, his hands akimbo.

    "Young man," he intoned. "Do you have anything against my instructions?" He once again asked, his fists clenching and rxing. Zachary could tell that the no-nonsense coach was angry. He resolved to save the situation before it escted.

    "I''m sorry, sir," Zachary stammered, trying his best to sound humble. "I quite forgot myself there and shouted out loud. I meant no offense." He added, giving a slight bow to the coach. He was aware that Coach Damata liked honest students who could acknowledge their faults rather than gloss over them. So, he decided to disclose some half-truths to gain the coach''s pardon.

    "Can you tell us what you were thinking at the time? We want to understand what could make a young man forget himself when at one of the most rewarding ser trials in the country."

    Zachary let out a breath of relief as he heard the coach''s tone lighten. He appeared to have passed the first hurdle.

    "I was thinking about how I need to best all the yers here to catch the eye of one of the scouts. I am very nervous, sir." He replied in a shaky voice.

    A titter rippled across the otherwise silent stadium. Some of the young men held on to their stomachs andughed like there was no tomorrow. The adolescents seemed very amused by Zachary''s cowardice. But this did not affect him in any way as he was only concerned about the coach.

    "Quiet," Damata bellowed once again, putting a stop to the waves of roilingughter.

    "Young man," he said, turning back towards Zachary. "I''m giving you the benefit of the doubt. I will let this slide in the meantime. But mark my words, this should be thest time an incident like this happens." The coach let his gaze roam over the yers to emphasize his point.

    None of the yers wanted to have a negative tag from the coach so, they remained quiet with their heads bowed.

    "Young man," Damata once again eyed Zachary. "What is your name?" He asked.

    "I''m Zachary Bemba, sir."

    "Zachary Bemba," Coach Damata mumbled. "That name seems abit familiar." Another coach standing to his left whispered a few words to Damata. Thetter raised his head and looked at Zachary, grinning.

    "I will be watching you during the trials. Try to do your level best." Damata intoned. He then continued giving out his directives.

    Zachary only half-listened to the rest of the coach''s instructions. His mind was mainly on the system mission. The system had offered the best possible reward for him at that moment. He needed the agility-enhancing-elixir to break through his bottleneck. But he was supposed to outrun everyone, including the boy prodigy - Steven Mang. Zachary didn''t think that he was already the best in his age group just because of a few gifts from the system. There may be yers who were already at the S grade by fifteen. Zachary suspected that Mang was such a yer.

    [But what''s there to fear?] He thought after calming down.

    [Mang is still fourteen. I have longer strides and pretty good stamina. I can definitely win.] Zachary grinned.

    He then concentrated back on the words of Coach Damata who seemed to bepleting his peroration.

    "From our records, we know that there should be 120 yers here," Coach Damata stated. "We will divide you into four groups, each with about 30 yers."

    "When coach Mande here reads your name, you''re up in the first group," he said, pointing to a thin man on his left. "Head to the tracks and wait for the whistle. And good luck."

    Coach Mande swiftly finished announcing the names of the yers in the first group. Zachary was not among and just waited on the grass with the rest. However, the likes of Fredric Luamba and Ngoda Muzinga were in the group.

    The race soon started after Coach Mande blew his whistle. Fredric led the others around the pitch from beginning to end. Hepleted the 32ps in only 41 minutes and was a couple of minutes ahead of the second rank. The other would be famous names that Zachary was familiar with were also in the top ten.

    After the coaches recorded the finishing times of the 30 participants, the second groupmenced their race. Zachary was again not selected among the participants. But he noticed that his former friends, Tony and Patrick, were in the group. They managed to finish among the top five, behind the monstrous Chris Luyinda that had almost doubled the rest of the yers.

    By noon, the third group was finishing their race. It was now finally Zachary''s turn to head to the running tracks. And as fate would have it, the boy prodigy - Stephen Mang, was also in the fourth group.

    Zachary stepped on the running tracks knowing he would have little chance to win against Mang. But if he did win, he would win an agility-enhancing-elixir from the system that would upgrade his talent. Zachary would then not have to worry about not being agile enoughter in the trials. Thus, he was more psyched up to win than anyone.

    [I''ll win this race.] He inwardly vowed while lining up with the others on the tracks. He was only waiting for the whistle.

 Chapter 8 - First Day Of The Trials

    *FWEEEEEEE!*

    In the zing midday heat, Zachary and the other participants in the fourth group set-off as soon as Coach Mande blew the whistle. Thest race in the Lubumbashi trials had started.

    Zachary did not bother to spy on his other opponents but just took off at half of his top speed. It was a race of 32ps totaling approximately 8 miles. He needed to save his energy by slowing his pace at the beginning.

    However, the noteworthy yers like Mich¨¦ Mika and Nike Kabanga were in a ss of their own. The two were unparalleled when they found clear space during the secondp. They shot forward at their fastest pace and soon led the entire pack of the 30 yers. Stubbornly sticking to them was Stephen Mang, the springy boy prodigy from Kinshasha.

    To Zachary''s surprise, a short boy he hadn''t encountered in his previous life was also part of the leading group.

    The group of four started to break away from the others, a feat that caused Zachary to worry. So, he elerated.

    He increased his pace until he was only a few meters behind them during the sixthp. However, the four stubbornly stuck to their lead despite all his efforts.

    For the next twentyps, their group elerated ahead of the rest, taking an average of 70 seconds perp. Their time was only about 10 seconds behind the top runners in the world. They came close to doubling the rest.

    Mich¨¦ Mika led wearing an Olympique Lyonnais jersey. Nike Kabanga and Stephen Mang shadowed every stride, both wearing arsenal t-shirts. The unknown boy also stuck to the group. However, he had begun losing his stamina and Zachary easily overtook him.

    He maintained his eleration and went past Kabanga and Mang as well. By the 28thp, only Mich¨¦ Mika was still ahead of him.

    With only 3ps to go, Zachary Bemba started closing the gap. Mich¨¦ Mika dug, pushed harder, and did everything to shake hispetitor. But, he was also overtaken by Zachary towards the end of the 29thp.

    Zachary was giddy with excitement but maintained his swift pace. He continued dashing along the brown y tracks of the stadium. He had no intention of losing his lead.

    The spikes underneath his boots gripped the earth in a rhythm. His strides became lyrics to an original track he had gotten a chance to y for the audience of the coaches watching from the sidelines. Droplets of sweat had long started to run down his skin.

    Zachary had been jogging an average of five miles each day for the two weeks preceding his journey to Lubumbashi. His fitness could hold up against the remaining fewps around the pitch.

    However, at the start of the penultimatep, Zachary saw a shadow sh by, leaving him in the dust. The boy prodigy, Stephen Mang, had overtaken him with only 800 meters to go.

    [Shit!]

    He also elerated but failed to catch up with him.

    [Am I going to lose?]

    Hebored to increase his pace. The pain in his limbs was an ocean of unknowable depths and lurking beasts. But, he ignored it and continued chasing Mang''s shadow.

    A feeling of dejection washed over him. He felt his legs be heavy like they were weighed down by lead.

    [I have to win this no matter what.]

    He tapped into energy reserves he never thought he had and elerated instantly.

    **** ****

    Coach Damata stood on the sidelines watching the race. He had taken a keen interest in the fourth group that included two interesting boys who had formerly been noticed by the TP Mazembe scouts. They had all participated in regional under-14 tournaments. Stephen Mang had been the best yer in the secondary schoolpetition held in Kinshasha at the start of the year. The other boy, Zachary Bemba, had been the captain of a primary school in Lubumbashi. He had won the 2008 best yer award in the Lubumbashi under-14 regionals.

    The boys did not disappoint him.

    "Mang, the new boy will take this race," Coach Mande announced from his left. "Zachary and the rest are spent and have no chance of catching up," he added.

    "Let''s wait and see," Coach Damata smiled. "Apetition is never won until the very end," he intoned. He focused back on the running forms of Mang and Zachary.

    The race''s results looked like a foregone conclusion after thest bend. Mang flew gleefully towards the finish line while Zachary desperately chased. But, with half ap to go, Zachary contorted his body and sprinted, pulling off a schoolboy imitation of a galloping horse.

    With 30 meters remaining, Zachary miraculously elerated past Mang before dashing to the finish line. He looked back at neither those behind him nor the coaches on the sidelines. His eyes remained locked on the finish line until he won the race.

    **** ****

    "Beni Badibanga, Paul Kasongo, Patrick Luamba, Tony Majembe, ...Chris Luyinda, Mich¨¦ Mika, Fredric Luamba, Stephen Mang, and Zachary Bemba." Coach Mande closed his counter book after reading out the names of the yers with the best times in the race.

    As promised, the coaches only selected 26 boys among those gathered. Those whose names had been called by Coach Mande entered the center circle of the pitch as part of the group selected to return for trial matches the following day.

    Zachary was thest to be called since he had the best time in the whole group. Coach Mande had been reading the list in descending order.

    Zachary swaggered into the center circle, earning a few frowns and harrumphs from the likes of Chris Luyinda and his former ssmates Tony and Patrick.

    He noticed that the eyes of most of the selected yers were fixed on him, unlike before. But he ignored them and found an unupied spot to sit. He still had to check out his results of the system mission.

    At the end of the race, Zachary had been too tired to even lift a finger. He had resolved to rest for a few minutes; however, the coaches had called everyone to partake in a post-race assembly.

    Only then did Zachary get time to open the system user interface. He had already confirmed that it was invisible to others. So, he boldly opened the missions tab and perused through his achievements.

    ****

    *G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    #4 new messages

    CONGRATULATIONS

    ->You havepleted 1st task in the serial mission - Lubumbashi Ser Trials (Be the first in the physical fitness testing at the ser trials).

    ----

    ->Mission-Rewards

    1) B-grade agility enhancing elixir (Avable in system-shop; temporarily unlocked. The user must consume the elixir within 5 seconds after being removed from the system shop.)

    ----

    ->Mission Summary

    *Task 1: Be the first in the physical fitness testing at the ser trials. (Finished race in a record time of 39.12 minutes; Rating A+)

    ----

    ->Overall Mission Rating: NA (avable at the end of the trials)

    ----

    ->Bonus rewards

    You have earned 2 bonus juju points

    ----

    ****

    Zachary finally confirmed that he hadpleted the mission task with an A+ grade.

    However, he did not open the system-shop to ess his reward. He closed the interface and looked up only to see the boys that had not been selected marching out of the pitch with dejected expressions. He couldn''t help but recall the times he had been part of such a group during his previous life.

    He sighed in sympathy.

    At this point in his past life, he had returned to his former school in western Lubumbashi with no hope of bing a professional ser yer. He had been rejected by the school teamter due to a recurring ankle injury. But now, he had gone through the first stage of the ADTA trials. His fate was starting to change for the better.

    [I only have to perform well in the matches tomorrow. I can then move to Europe and seriously develop my career.] He thought.

    "Listen up, everyone," Coach Damata bellowed once the unsessful yers had left the stadium.

    "Congrattions on passing the first test of the trial. Tomorrow, several renowned scouts will be here to watch you perform. Make sure you are here by eight. Otherwise, you will face immediate disqualification." The coach warned solemnly.

    "Any questions?" He asked, looking around.

    The strange boy who had also been part of the leading group in Hugo''s race instantly raised his arm.

    "Yes," Coach Damata pointed at him. "Tell us your name first before asking your question."

    "My name is Paul Kasongo, sir," the boy stammered. "What will be involved in the trials tomorrow? How should we prepare?" He asked.

    [So, he is Kasongo, the yer murdered before he left for Europe in my previous life.] Zachary mused.

    He finally understood why he didn''t recognize a highly fit yer like him. Paul Kasongo had died at the hands of a local prostitute in Lubumbashi after being selected by one of the high-performance academies in Europe. All the coaches in Lubumbashi had sighed in regret at the loss of such a budding talent.

    [I should help him this time. DR Congo needs more yers like him for international tournaments.]

    "There will only be trial matches tomorrow," Damata replied. "Eat well, rest well, ande prepared to perform tomorrow morning. That''s all."

    "Any more questions?"

    All the yers remained silent.

    "Okay, you''re dismissed," Coach Damata waved impatiently. "We''ll see you all tomorrow."

 Chapter 9 - Talent Upgrade

    After being dismissed by Coach Damata, Zachary exited the stadium and trekked northwards to downtown Lubumbashi.

    The road ahead of him shimmered in the heat of the afternoon sun. The oppressive heat beat down on his head like he was bacon under a grill.

    Suddenly, the after-effects of the race washed over him. He felt lightheaded. His knees began aching, threatening to buckle. He felt like his brain was on a five percent battery. All he wanted was to rest and soak in the calm peace of nature.

    He decided to hire a motorbike back to his motel. That tapped further into his dwindling finances. However, his state of destitution didn''t sour his mood. His fate was altering. If all went as nned, he would be swimming in dors in only a few years.

    A few minutester, Zachary leisurely walked to the public bathrooms of his motel. He felt that only a cold shower could soothe his tender muscles.

    The dirty bathroom and cold water were the best he could get with his meager funds. The pipes screeched like a ghost in a horror movie before spitting out a dribble of cold water. Zachary braced himself to prevent himself from reflexively jumping out of the stream before he''d finished soaping and rinsing his body.

    The water poured down and dripped to the floor. As his mind faded into dullness, everything became a foggy illusion. He felt like he was standing underneath an evesting waterfall. The sensation of the cold water calmed him, making him reminisce about events from his past life.

    [What could she be doing now?]

    Images of a beautiful girl that hade close to bing his wife flooded his mind. He had dated Anita for more than two years. He was about to propose to her when his life got turned upside down. The moment his contract with TP Mazembe got terminated, the girl up and disappeared. He had failed to trace her whereabouts even during hister years.

    [I need to make time and head to Kinshasha to see her.] Zachary resolved. He needed to gaze at her onest time before returning his attention to his career.

    Zachary exited the shower and headed back to his motel room. He felt refreshed and ate a light lunch before sleeping off his fatigue until evening.

    He felt rejuvenated after waking up. He was physically ready to take the elixir. So, he opened the system user interface.

    A card with an image of a fresh onion appeared on the translucent blue screen when he clicked on the temporarily-unlocked system-inventory tab.

    Once he selected it, a small onion popped out of the screen. He wasted no time in tossing it into his mouth.

    This time around, the B-grade elixir did not cause his body any pain. He only felt a slightly ticklish sensation, like he was under the ministrations of a massage therapist. But soon, the feeling passed as if it had never been there.

    [Is that all?]

    His experience with the vitality enhancing elixir was a far cry from the agility one. The former brought great pain while thetter caused only a slightly ticklish sensation.

    Zachary doubted whether the elixir had been effective.

    He clenched and unclenched his hands to see whether anything changed. However, there seemed to be no way of checking. He had no idea how raising his agility would affect him. So, he opened the system user interface to peruse through his attributes.

    ****

    SOCCER G.O.A.T SYSTEM

    SYSTEM LEVEL: 1 (17/100 juju points to level-up)

    USER: Zachary Bemba

    AGE: 15 years

    TALENT ASSESSMENT: Grade-B

    JUJU-POINTS: 17

    (Evaluation: A slightly talented pitiful boy dreaming about ying on the pro ser scene)

    ----

    USER MENU

    *USER STATS

    *G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    *SYSTEM SHOP (temporarily-unlocked)

    *SYSTEM LOTTERY (locked)

    *SNOOPING TOOL (locked)

    ----

    NB: Pls level-up the system to unlock more functions.

    ****

    "Yes," Zachary yelled excitedly after perusing through the home page. His talent assessment had finally broken through to the B grading after more than a month of toiling. He tapped on the user-stats tab to see the breakdown of the changes in his attributes.

    ****

    *USER STATS

    ->Physical Fitness: B +

    ->Ser Technique: A -

    ->Game Intelligence: A +

    ->Mental Ability and Mindset: C -

    ->X-Factors: F

    ->G.O.A.T Skills: 1

    ****

    Zachary''s physical-fitness and ser-technique stats had all increased by a single grade. He clicked on the ser technique tab next.

    ****

    USER STATS

    ->Ser-Technique (Av. Rating: A -)

    Ball Control: A +

    Dribbling skills: B -

    Passing uracy: A -

    Body control: B +

    ----

    Preferred foot: (Left and Right)

    ****

    He had expected such a result. A yer who improved his agility would also enhance both his dribbling skills and body control. The two attributes had improved by a grade after his consumption of the agility-enhancing-elixir. However, he couldn''t understand why his physical-fitness hadn''t leaped to the A- grade. The elixir was B-grade but had only caused minor changes in his physical fitness. So, he tapped on the physical-fitness tab to gain a better understanding of the changes in his body.

    ****

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: B +)

    Bnce and Coordination: B -

    Agility: B +

    Strength: B -

    Stamina: B +

    Endurance Points: 3500/ 5500 (A -)

    ****

    "My stamina has dropped!" Zachary eximed. He noticed that his stamina had fallen from the A- to the B+ grading.

    He was perplexed.

    [Maybe agility enhancement directly reduces stamina.]

    His agility had leaped from the D+ to the B+ grading. Consuming the elixir also enhanced his bnce-and-coordination from the C+ to the B- grading.

    He was now confident he would excel during the trial matches tomorrow.

    But before he could soak in the feeling of jubtion at improving his abilities, a wave of hunger washed over him. His stomach growled and rumbled. He couldn''t think of anything but food.

    "Is this a side effect of the elixir?" He mumbled while patting his tammy. He nced at his Asahi-watch; it was still six o''clock in the evening.

    Zachary cleaned up and dashed out of his room to fill up his belly. He was critically short of money and decided to head to a roadside food stall nearby. He had already resorted to meals consisting solely of pancakes and fried cassava.

    But as he stepped out of the motel, he bumped into Paul Kasongo, the strange boy that had also been selected for the trials happening the following day.

    "You''re Zachary Bemba? Right?" Kasongo asked, grinning.

    "Yes, that''s me," Zachary replied, creasing his brows. "Are you staying in a nearby motel? Why are you here?"

    Paul Kasongo was fated to be murdered by a prostitute at the end of that week. ording to the memories of his previous life, the unfortunate incident would take ce in a Lubumbashi motel room.

    "Hahaha," Kasongoughed heartily. "I''m here to visit a friend that works around here. Why would I stay in such a dump?"

    "You''re not?" Zachary breathed out a sigh of relief. He only had to ensure that Kasongo stayed out of motels in downtown Lubumbashi to prevent his murder.

    "I''m staying at the Hollybum Hotel at Kilele Avenue," Kasongo replied, smiling.

    "What the fuck!" Zachary eximed. "You''re that rich?"

    Hollybum was a hotel for filthy rich Congolese and tourists from first world countries like France. He had heard that a single night''s stay cost upwards of 150 US Dors.

    To his surprise, a boy about his age was stayingfortably in it. Zachary sighed at the unfairness of the world. He couldn''t help but gaze back at his shabby motel.

    "What can I say? I was born blessed." Kasongo spread out his arms like he was hugging the sky.

    "I''m d to make your acquaintance," he said, extending his arm.

    Zachary shook it before nodding.

    He observed the would-be murder victim more closely.

    Kasongo was almost half a foot shorter than himself. He looked to be only around five-two. He vaguely resembled a younger Raheem Sterling, the famous yer who would join Manchester City in the future. He had humorous brown eyes, round cheeks, a long face, and a dark-skin shade.

    "I feel like fate made us meet here," Kasongo intoned, voice mellow. "Come on. I''ll buy you dinner today." He added, patting Zachary''s back.

    "I''ve already eaten," Zachary lied. He didn''t want to begin relying on rich kids for his meals. That would go against the teachings of his grandma. He resented charity from strangers.

    However, his honest stomach betrayed him. It suddenly snarled and howled. A not-so-subtle undertone of pain followed. It came in waves, making him feel like his insides were digesting themselves.

    Zachary clutched at his belly, pulling it this way and that in an attempt to silence it. All his efforts were fruitless. The sounds only grew louder, earning him a few curious nces from Kasongo and passers-by.

    "Man," Kasongo creased a brow. "When did youst have a sensible meal?" He asked.

    "At lunchtime," Zachary replied honestly. He was certain the hunger and pain were an after-effect of the agility-enhancing-elixir. It seemed to have burnt through all his stored energy reserves. He urgently needed to replenish them.

    "Don''t be a sissy, man," Kasongo intoned. "Just tag along and have some food. You''ll mess up in the trials tomorrow if you go on like this."

    Zachary agreed reluctantly.

    **** ****

    Half an hourter, Zachary and Kasongo sat at a table covered with a multitude of exquisite dishes.

    They had traveled to the Lubumbashi Food za, a ssy restaurant that served exotic cuisine. It hadrge mullioned windows, long embroidered curtains, a gstone tiled floor, and dark walnut tables, each with a vase of flowers as a centerpiece. Soothing Ling music was ying live.

    It was the sort of ce that required making a reservation a week in advance. It was virtually impossible to get a table on demand. However, Kasongo did seed at reserving a table on short notice.

    A few moments after Zachary had slid into his chair and made his order, a beautiful waitress brought him an enormous tter of food. Eggs, all kinds of meat, and crispy fried potatoesy before him. A tureen of fruit had been ced in ice to keep it chilled next to them. The basket of rolls they brought as an afterthought could keep his family going for a week. He also had a ss of fruity cocktail juice.

    [Even with my experience from two lives, I can''te to terms with the existence of this side of DR Congo.]

    He sighed at the unfairness of the world.

    Many were starving in the downtown of Lubumbashi while the rich stuffed themselves with delicacies. However, he was not depressed since he hade to understand the ways of society.

    [A man has to work hard and make it or die trying.]

    He continued stuffing himself with food like there was no tomorrow. The elixir had done a number on him. It would take a lot to sate his hunger. Zachary only stopped eating after his second helping. Kasongo gave him enough time to finish eating before starting a conversation.

    "So, you''re from Bukavu?" Kasongo asked.

    "Yes," Zachary replied, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Before I forget, thanks for the meal," he added.

    "Small matter, small matter." Kasongo grinned.

    "So, where are you from?" Zachary inquired. "I haven''t seen you in any Lubumbashi youth serpetitions."

    "Hehehe," Kasongoughed. "I''m a son of Kinshasha. I used to be a teammate of yourpetitor Stephen Mang."

    "You really took us for a ride in that race," he added. "You and Mang are monsters. How do you guys train your stamina?" He asked, gazing curiously at Zachary.

    "Well, I run five miles every day," he answered. "You should try it too. It could help."

    "Why are you in these trials?" Zachary quickly asked. He was looking for some hints on what led to Kasongo''s murder in his previous life.

    "What do you mean?"

    "I can tell your financial situation is quite good. You''re living in a four-star hotel. You''re even wearing timbend boots that probably cost more than my school fees. Why don''t you tell your parents to enroll you in the ser academies abroad instead? It would be much easier to develop yourself there. Why join the Lubumbashi trials?"

    Kasongo frowned noticeably before replying.

    "My father doesn''t want me to y ser," he grumbled. "He says it''s a waste of time. He''s always talking about how the majority of Congolese ser yers in the local league waste away after retirement."

    "Oh, but that''s true," Zachary replied. "So, you came here without his permission? Where did you get the money to spend in Lubumbashi?"

    "My stepbrother sponsored my trip here. He''s the only one who knows I''m taking part in the trials."

    "He''s much older and already joined my dad''s miningpany. At least, he understands that a person should only do what they love."

    [What a naive boy. Perhaps, the stepbrother instigated his murder.] Zachary mused.

    It wasn''t umon for siblings from wealthy families to murder each other in cold blood for inheritance. Zachary found it hard to believe that a local prostitute had murdered a wealthy patron like Kasongo. There seemed to be a lot of facts that remained unknown to the public in his previous life.

    "Does your brother know you''re attending the Kibassa-Maliba trials specifically?"

    "No," Kasongo replied, smiling.

    "He only booked my hotel and left me to my own devices. He has never been a fan of ser. He doesn''t even know any of the teams here in Lubumbashi."

    "What if your father pressures him to disclose where you are? He could pull you out of the trials then. Are you certain he''ll keep his mouth shut even after your dad finds out you''re gone?" Zachary asked, locking gazes with Kasongo. He intended to coax him away from locations known to his murderer.

    "What if he pulls you out of the trial before it''s finished? You would be cklisted by all coaches and miss a shot at any other trials in DR Congo." He added.

    "You do make a good point. What can I do?" Kasongo stammered. He looked panicked.

    "You should either leave the hotel your brother booked and shift elsewhere or return to Kinshasha right away," Zachary stated. He intended to put Kasongo beyond the tentacles of his would-be murderers.

    Kasongo shook his head in dejection.

    "I can''t leave," he whispered. " I heard that international scouts will appear tomorrow."

    "You want to continue staying at your hotel?"

    "Nope," he smiled. "I get your point. I''ll move to another hotel right away." Kasongo stated. He stood up to leave.

    "That''s good," Zachary replied. He sighed in relief.

    "Make sure it''s a hotel where you can''t easily be traced. I would hate to see the career of a talented yer like you end prematurely."

    "I understand," Kasongo smiled.

    "I have already paid the bill. You should cut down on how much you eat. It''ll be hard for you to perform if you get a heartburn tomorrow." He added.

    Zachary nodded but continued stuffing sds into his mouth.

    "It was nice meeting you. See you tomorrow at the trials." Kasongo added after hearing no reply from Zachary for a while.

    "See you." Zachary waved. He would have plenty of time to talk to Kasongo the following day. Now that Paul''s case was close to being resolved, he could return his attention to what was most important, food.

    **** ****

 Chapter 10 - The Crucial Day I

    Twilight had just melted away. Gone was the open blue sky that had blessed the previous day. Abovey an unbrokenyer of white and grey, brilliant where the sunshine broke through and dark where it didn''t.

    "It may rain in a few hours," Zachary intoned as he withdrew his gaze from the sky.

    "What are you worried about." Kasongo gave a slight smile and said, "We''ll be done with the trials by then. The scouts will only stay here a few hours."

    They were at the center of the pitch amongst the 26 other yers that had passed the physical fitness test the previous day. It was already 8 AM. Every single yer on the field had already donned their ser attire. They were only waiting for the arrival of Coach Damata and his team to start the official ser trials. Zachary wasn''t bored since he was apanied by his new friend.

    "That makes sense," Zachary concurred as he took a look around the stadium. "Are you sure the scouts will being today?" He inquired, creasing his brows. There were no coaches or scouts to be seen anywhere on the field or in the stands. He was beginning to think he had misheard the actual date of the trials.

    "Rx," Kasongo stated confidently. "They''ll be here. I''m sure," heughed.

    "I forgot to ask," Zachary intoned, locking gazes with Kasongo. "Did you move out of the hotel yesterday?"

    "Of course," Kasongo patted his chest. "I have already moved into the Rabi Hotel," he said, looking pleased with himself.

    "What the f**k!" Zachary''s eyes widened. "What difference is there between the Rabi and Hollybum hotels?" He yelled, attracting a few gazes from the surrounding yers.

    "One is named Rabi, the other Hollybum," Kasongo replied seriously, counting on his fingers to emphasize his point.

    "For Christ''s sake," Zachary took a few steps towards the short guy. "How many four-star hotels are in Lubumbashi? Your father only has to check those that charge more than 100$ a night to find you. Can''t you see that?"

    "That is indeed true," Kasongo nched. "I''ll move to a different one after the matches conclude today," he assured.

    "Forget it, man," Zachary sighed. "I''ll help you select a hotel after the trials. I don''t understand why I''m even helping you." He grumbled. He didn''t want to see a talented yer die prematurely.

    "Thank you," Kasongoughed. "From the moment I saw you, I knew that you were an honorable person. What can I do to repay you? Should I link you to my sister? She is cute." Kasongo whispered.

    "If she is as short as you, don''t bother," Zachary harrumphed.

    He was about to continue his conversation with Kasongo when he heard a few yers on the field yelling. "The coaches are here. The coaches are here..." They sounded like kindergarten kids that had just seen an ice cream truck.

    Zachary ignored the excitement around him and turned towards the gate of the stadium. Coach Damata was leading a group of about 50 people towards the stands of the stadium.

    He noticed that there were about twenty Caucasians in the crowd. They wore sunsses andrge hats to shield themselves from the non-existent sun. That was what he assumed. There was also an aged man and a young girl, not much older than himself, among them. The rest seemed to be fellow Congolese, possibly from the teams in the Linafoot National League. He could recognize a few from Lubumbashi Sport and Racing Club de Kinshasa. All the scouts he had been expecting were finally here. His mood lifted.

    "I told you they would be here," Kasongo''s voice sounded from behind him.

    "Are they all from the ADTA?" Zachary asked. The African Development Talent Agency was the organization that usually sponsored students to the French and Belgian academies.

    "Of course not," Kasongo intoned. "These are scouts from the sponsoring organizations behind the ADTA. Some are even from the actual academies in France."

    "You better perform your best today," Kasongo warned. "I don''t think they will return here after today."

    "Are you sure," Zachary creased his brows. "Where did you get all this information?"

    "I have reliable sources. My info ispletely legit." Kasongo smiled.

    "All right." Zachary was excited. He felt rejuvenated after the hearty meal he had had the previous day.

    "Be sharp," Kasongo whispered.

    **** ****

    After Damata led the group of scouts to the stands, he jogged to the pitch together with his fellow coaches.

    The scouts were all seated close to the running tracks of the stadium. The Caucasians amongst them held very high tech cameras. Some had binocrs and notebooks. The African scouts, on the other hand, had their arms folded over their chests, with stern expressions on their faces. They looked like they were ready to punch someone. They carried no equipment whatsoever to keep track of the yers on the field.

    In seats at the very bottom of the stands, a young blonde girl holding an overly long Nikon camera was conversing with an aged man, also a scout.

    "Grandpa," she began. "Why did wee here. Do you know of any world-ss talents here? We should have traveled to either Nigeria, Cameroon, or Egypt. At least, they''ve been winning the African Cup of Nations. I think we''re wasting our time here."

    "Kristin," the old man smiled. "Remember, if you want to be a good scout, never overlook any ce. Sometimes, real gems are concealed in obscure ces. All we have to do is unearth them." He lectured.

    "Will we really find someone talented here?" Kristin inquired. "Because if we don''t, the other shareholders will push you out this time around."

    "Don''t worry," the old man replied. "One of the coaches is a friend of mine. He already informed me that there are two or three promising talents here. The only challenge will be snatching them from the French teams."

    "Two to three talents?" Kristin frowned. "Do you have a file on them, grandpa? Why haven''t I heard anything about this?"

    "Well, here you go," the old man handed two files to the girl. "You haven''t been around for the past two days. While you were touring the game parks and watching buffalos and chimpanzees, I was busy doing my job."

    "Don''t bring up the topic again, grandpa," Kristin implored. "How can you travel to Africa and leave without seeing the wildlife? You missed out on all the fun."

    She opened the files about the yers.

    "Stephen Mang, Zachary Bemba, and Paul Kasongo?" She spoke softly, lisping slightly. The African surnames were difficult to pronounce. "There''s basically no information about them in the file!" She looked towards the old man by her side.

    He spread out his arms. "Wee to Africa," he smiled. "Information about young yers here is non-existent. We''ll see just how good they are from their performance in the match."

    **** ****

    After the coaches returned to the pitch, they led the twenty-six yers through light warm-ups before anything else. Everyone stretched and ran short distances to warm their muscles. When they finished the exercises, they returned to the center of the field to listen to instructions from the coaching staff.

    "A good morning to you all," Coach Damata greeted, smiling.

    "Good morning, Coach Damata," the voices of the yers boomed in a chorus, returning the salutation. They all seemed enthused by the presence of the scouts in the stands.

    "I see you''re all on time," Damata grinned. "Keep up the good spirit of sportsmanship," he urged solemnly before continuing.

    "We will begin a trial match shortly. We''ve grouped you into two teams that will face off."

    "Please note the match will onlyst sixty minutes. So, you will get less than forty minutes to impress the scouts if we factor in time for substitutions. Try to do your best within that timeframe." He concluded.

    The coaches had already separated the yers into the green and red teams. Coach Mandeid down the charts with team formations on the running track, giving a chance to the yers to learn their positions before heading to the pitch tomence the match. Zachary squeezed through the crowd of yers to nce at the team charts.

    ****

    ->GREEN TEAM (4-4-2, Diamond.)

    Goalkeeper; No. 1, Jackson Lunanga.

    Right-Back; No. 2, Yannick Bang. Left-Back; No. 3, Daniel Kidinda.

    Center-Backs; No. 4, Nike Kabanga. No. 5, Samba Farouk.

    Defensive-Midfielder; No. 6, Wagaluka Francis.

    Attacking-Midfielder; No. 8, Paul-Jos¨¦ Mpoku.

    Left-Winger; No.11, Joel Ngandu. Right-Winger; No. 7, Edo Kayembe.

    Forwards; No. 9, Stephen Mang. No. 10, Ben Mngo.

    {*Subs; Leonard Busibwe, Dan Lusaka.}

    -----

    ->RED TEAM (4-4-2, Diamond.)

    Goalkeeper; No. 1, Samuel Baraka.

    Right-Back; No. 2, Awax Bondeko. Left-Back; No. 3, Patrick Luamba.

    Center-Backs; No. 4, Mich¨¦ Mika. No. 5, Frederic Luamba.

    Defensive-Midfielder; No. 6, Chris Luyinda.

    Attacking-Midfielder; No. 8, Zachary Bemba.

    Left-Winger; No.11, Tony Majembe. Right-Winger; No. 7, Paul Kasongo.

    Forwards; No. 9, Beni Badibanga. No. 10. Emmanuel Luboya.

    {*Subs; Mpoyi Mohamed, Nathan Tambwe.}

    ****

    Zachary sighed in relief after seeing the match formation charts.

    The coaches seemed to have created the line-ups basing on the historical data of the yers. Zachary was on the red team together with the likes of Paul Kasongo, Chris Luyinda, and his former friends, Tony and Patrick. The other side had most of the would-be superstars from his previous life. Joel Ngandu, Ngonda Mzinga, Stephen Mang, and several others were all on the red team.

    He had been ced in the number eight position, just behind the strikers, by the coaches. The number eight suited him well since it involved distributing through passes and deadly assists to the strikers. His Zinedine-Visual-Juju woulde in handy in that position.

    Paul Kasongo was on the right-wing, whereas Luyinda was a number six in the defensive midfielder position. Tony would be attacking from the left-wing with Patrick stationed behind him as a left-back. The rest of the yers in green bibs were too obscure for Zachary to recall.

    Zachary''s red team appeared weak on paper. However, he wasn''t going to let any obstaclee between him and a ser academy recruitment. He was ready to do his best during the match.

    "Come collect your bibs and head to the pitch," Zachary heard Coach Mande yelling from the sidelines. "The substitutes should alsoe here. They''ll get a chance to yter in the match."

    All the yers hurriedly rushed towards Coach Mande. They picked up their bibs before positioning themselves on the pitch in the 4-4-2 diamond formation. Coachability and following instructions were some of the required qualities in ser. So, all the yers arrayed themselves properly in their assigned positions, waiting for the whistle.

 Chapter 11 - The Crucial Day II

    A few minutes to 9:00 am.

    Coach Mande looked at his watch before signaling for the teams to take their positions. All the yers on the pitch, including Zachary, were waiting for his whistle to kick-off the game. It was the moment of truth that would define their destinies. Everyone was tense.

    Coach Mande had chosen the red-team to kick off the game. Emanuel Luboya and Beni Badibanga were already standing in the center circle next to the ball.

    Most of the scouts had already begun abandoning their seats in the stands. They had started moving closer to the touchline to get a better view of the proceedings. Most were adjusting their cameras to face the field to capture the moments of the match.

    Coach Mande looked at his watch again before looking towards Damata on the sideline. Thetter nodded.

    *FWEEEEEEE!*

    Kick-off!

    Emanuel passed the ball to Beni Badibanga and rushed forward into the other half without looking back.

    "Beni, pass here," Zachary called out to Beni after seeing him looking around for a teammate to pass the ball. He was unmarked and ready to receive the ball. Thetter ignored him and kicked it towards Tony Majembe in the left-wing.

    That was when Edo Kayembe, the right-winger of the team in green bibs, came sliding in with a tackle. He won the ball fair and square and instantly hammered it to Wagaluka Francis in the midfield.

    Wagaluka beautifully controlled the ball and skipped past Beni who was already tightly marking him.

    He looked up and kicked the ball high, sending a long pass towards the swift Stephen Mang who was rushing towards the box in the red team''s half.

    Zachary and his teammates did not even react as Mang received the ball just outside the 18-yard-box. Only Fredric Luamba stood between him and the goalkeeper.

    Without looking up, he drilled a powerful shot towards the bottom left corner, forcing Samuel Baraka to pull off a brilliant save. The green team had a corner.

    The red team was already under pressure due to Beni Badibanga''s poor judgment in the first minute. He had chosen to pass to Tony, who was tightly marked by an opponent, instead of Zachary. As a result, the red team had lost the ball and almost conceded a goal.

    "Beni," Zachary called out to the number-9. "Why did you not pass to me? He intoned as they ran back to their half to defend against the corner.

    "Piss off," the striker scowled. "I''ll y my game, and you y yours. Don''t get in my way." He added before increasing his pace.

    "Young kids." Zachary sighed.

    The green team took the corner quickly, but nothing came of it.

    For the next ten minutes, the game continued in favor of the green team. The boys in green dominated the midfield and had the majority of the ball possession.

    Both Wagaluka and Paul-Jos¨¦ Mpoku had already set Mang loose three times in the red team''s penalty box. Their deadly through balls could have easily turned into goals if not for the brilliant performance of Baraka, the goalkeeper.

    Zachary already had a clear picture of what was wrong with his red team. His high game-intelligence enabled him to deduce that some of the yers were choosing to iste him. They were not giving him any passes. Since he was the midfielder responsible for building up all the attacks, his teammates'' behavior was proving costly.

    In his previous life, he had faced simr istion during matches in ser trials. Such matches were extremelypetitive making it difficult for yers to show off their skills. The main reason for this was the fact that yers on the same team were stillpeting with each other. They all sought the attention of the scouts or coaches in attendance. yers would be less inclined to pass the ball to teammates who they viewed aspetition. But what surprised Zachary was the appearance of such behavior in trials involving teenagers.

    [Where is the spirit of sportsmanship?] He wondered.

    His red team was already facing another attacking threat from Mang and his green team. Zachary had resolved to move further back and counter the pressure mounted by the opponents.

    But in the twenty-fifth minute of the first half, Chris Luyinda made a rough challenge on the ferocious Edo Kayembe at the right side out of the penalty box. Coach Mande blew his whistle for a foul and awarded a free-kick to the green team.

    "What are all of you doing over there?" Luyinda shouted at his teammates. "Put up a wall and defend."

    The red team yers did not mind Luyinda''s rudeness and quietly put up a wall to defend the free-kick. Even Zachary, who had been denied any passes since the match began, joined the wall of yers.

    Coach Mande blew the whistle, signaling the green team to take the free-kick.

    Edo Kayembe, the number-7, sent a superb cross into the box where Mang was lurking. The boy prodigytched on to it, and from around the penalty spot, he nted a header past Samuel Baraka. The ball bounced off the bottom of the left post before sliding into the back of the. Mang had disyed his eye for the goal.

    The score was 1:0.

    Zachary stood with his arms akimbo, watching the others. The red yers all had dejected expressions with their shoulders slumped. He saw some of the scouts on the sidelines nodding to themselves as they eyed Mang.

    [So this is how Mang got to Europe in my previous life.] Zachary sighed. He was sure that the boy would be recruited by one of the academies after the match. He was about to say some encouraging words to his teammates but was interrupted by Chris Luyinda.

    "You useless joke of an attacking midfielder," he intoned, pointing his forefinger at Bemba. "They have taken over the whole midfield! What''re you doing?" He queried.

    "Our strikers don''t have even a single chance at goal. Why are the coaches not substituting an idiot like you?" He continued.

    "Watch it, man," Zachary intoned, moving closer to face off with Luyinda. "You haven''t been passing the ball to me. What do you expect me to do?" He questioned angrily.

    *FWEEEEEE!*

    As their argument was beginning to pick up, Coach Mande blew his whistle.

    "Anything the problem," he asked, running towards them.

    "No." Both Zachary and Luyinda responded at the same time. They jumped away from each other like scared rabbits that had seen a lion.

    "Both of you! Go to the bench and cool down." Coach Mande bellowed, creasing his brows. "Hurry up. We need to give a chance to those who take the trials seriously."

    **** ****

    "One has been substituted," Kristin observed as she ced down her camera. "Are you sure that Zachary is a talent? He has had zero impact on the match, so far!" She frowned.

    "I beg to defer," the old man smiled, sitting back down. Unlike the other scouts who had moved to the tracks, they were still seated within the pavilion.

    "Have you noticed that the other yers on his team have been isting him?" The grandpa asked.

    "What has that got to do with anything?"

    "In trial matches, yers will only iste their teammates in two scenarios," the grandpa opined. "One is when the yer is too good and able to overshadow the others and reduce their chances of catching a scout''s eye. The other is when the yercks skills and will waste the team''s chances."

    "My dear Kristin," the grandpa smiled. "Under which category do you think Zachary falls?" He asked.

    Kristin couldn''t help but raise her camera to observe the yer who was ambling dejectedly out of the pitch. He was a bit buff and tall for his age, close to five-nine by her estimations.

    His crew-cut hair that was midnight ck matched his dark brown eyes, framed by graceful dark brows. He had prominent cheekbones, a well-defined chin, and a nose that made him slightly handsome. His face was strong and defined, his features molded from granite. Kristin observed that his skin was a lighter shade of chocte brown. She thought that he would grow up into a handsome man in the future. But could he also grow into a talented yer? That was the question that upied her mind.

    "I can''t tell at the moment," she replied. "I will evaluate Zachary''s talent only when he performs on the pitch." She added, gently cing down her camera.

    "We won''t be able to snatch the Mang boy from the French clubs," the old man stated. "They have deeper coffers than our tiny Norwegian clubs. So, we should start looking at the yers they fail to notice."

    "Like Zachary and Paul?" Kristin queried, opening the file once again.

    "Yes, like them," the old man smiled. "It''s good for us that Zachary isn''t performing well. Otherwise, he would also be whisked away."

    "You''re an evil old man," Kristin jested, smiling.

    "Gotta be to seed in this business," the grandpa chortled before focusing on the match once again.

    **** ****

    Zachary''s moved back to the sidelines with shoulders slumped and his eyes cast down in a mournful gaze. His mouth was set in a semi-pout. He imagined himself bashing the face of Luyinda when he reyed the moment when Coach Mande had sent him off the pitch. He felt distraught. There was nothing left to feel, nothing left to hope for, nothing left but the void that enveloped his mind in swirling ckness. Everything he had worked so hard to achieve was about to go up in smoke.

    He dejectedly sat down on the sidelines.

    [Why did I have to square off with Luyinda on such a day?]

    [Why? Why?]

    Before the match, he thought that he was already in perfect control of his emotions, unlike in his previous life. But he had easily red up after a slight provocation from Luyinda.

    He heard the sounds of cheering and raised his head only to find that the boy prodigy Mang had just scored another goal. It was 2:0 just before half time.

    "DING"

    The system interface popped up by its self.

    ****

    G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    #NEW MISSION: Lubumbashi ser trials (serial missions)

    *Task 2: Help your red team clinch victory over the green team.

    *Task 3: Catch the eye of a ser academy official or a club scout.

    ----

    *Rewards:

    ->Snooping tool to be unlocked (Will tell you everything about your opponent. Only rted to ser.)

    ----

    *Punishment in case of failure:

    ->The G.O.A.T system will go offline for a year.

    ----

    *Remarks: A G.O.A.T never gives up.

    ****

    [What the F**k!?]

    "How does it expect me to achieve all this when I have already been suspended from the game?"

    Zachary diverted his attention and wallowed in depression until the half-time whistle sounded. He stayed slumped on the sidelines until he was called over by Coach Damata minutester.

    "How''re you feeling?" The coach asked when Zachary arrived by his side.

    "Like I want to dive into the River Congo with a stone tied to my back," Zachary smiled ruefully.

    "Hahaha," Damataughed, attracting a few gazes from the scouts nearby. "That is so subtle. You should never think like that. There are various paths one can take to achieve something." He advised.

    Zachary nodded. He nced towards the pitch and noticed that the second half had already started. The score was still 2:0.

    But Zachary was sure that the red team would concede more goals very soon. The boys in green, especially Mang, Kayembe, and Wagaluka, were too ferocious. They were still pressuring their opponents in red within their half. Their tiki-taka football was too fast for Kasongo and the others topete.

    "The red team yers have lost all motivation," Coach Damatamented nonchntly. "You and Luyinda are the major cause of this," he added.

    "I''m sorry, coach," Zachary pleaded.

    "You know that temperament is one of the most important attributes of a sportsman. You will get nowhere if you can''t rain in your emotions." Damata lectured.

    Zachary waited silently. He noticed that one of the other coaches was also talking to Luyinda.

    [Will they allow us back in?] His mood lifted. He would perform his best even if he was given just some fifteen minutes of match time. He just wanted to leave without regrets.

    The next words of the coach instantly kicked him out of hell into heaven.

    "I''ll be giving you one more chance to impress the scouts," Coach Damata smiled. "Due to your previous behavior, many of them will shun you. But you never know. There may be one among them who might like the way you y." He added.

    "Thank you, coach, for the opportunity," he bowed ceremoniously.

    "Talk with Luyinda first. You two are teammates now and also the best midfielders the red team has. If you don''t sort out your issues, both of you will never seed." The coach advised.

    "Okay, Coach," he said meekly. To seed, he would do anything. Talking to the idiot was just a minor inconveniencepared to losing everything.

 Chapter 12 - The Crucial Day III

    "Are you going back on the field too?" Luyinda asked once Zachary approached him. He had just finished his chat with the other coach. They were standing on the touchline, waiting to re-enter the pitch.

    "What do you think?" Zachary asked, the corner of his mouth lifting.

    "Shit," Luyinda cursed. "I can''t believe I''m stuck with you today of all days," he snorted.

    "Why were you isting me during the game?" Zachary asked directly, locking eyes with the defensive midfielder. He wanted to resolve the conflict between them before they rejoined the match.

    "Eh!" Surprise registered on Luyinda''s face. It seemed he hadn''t expected that question.

    "I asked," Zachary emphasized. "Why were you not passing to me during the first half? We are in a trial match, not some backyard ser."

    "You were not creating any space to receive the passes," Luyinda stammered, taking a few steps away from Zachary.

    "Seriously. What about that time when I was on your left with no green yers around?" Zachary pointed out. He had been creating space for himself to receive the ball, but Luyinda always opted for long balls that cost the red team possession.

    "Okay, okay.

    Stop bothering me." Luyinda gibbered. He looked around to see if any of the coaches were looking at them. He surrendered when he noticed that Coach Damata''s attention was on them.

    "I''ll pass to you when we are back in. But this doesn''t mean we''re friends. God! I hope this is thest time we y on the same team." He whispered.

    [What did I ever do to him?] Zachary wondered but said, "Suit yourself. As long as you pass me the ball, everything will be fine. Remember, we have less than twenty minutes to turn this around." He emphasized.

    Luyinda did not reply. He continued silently observing the match.

    Zachary did not bother him anymore. His main goal was to impress scouts not making friends.

    A minuteter, Coach Mande blew the whistle and invited them back into the pitch.

    "Luyinda," Zachary called out to the number-6. "Don''t forget your promise," he intoned before jogging confidently into the pitch. Luyinda nodded and followed.

    "You''re back," Kasongo ran to him excitedly as soon as he positioned himself in the center circle.

    "Kasongo," Zachary bumped fists with the short winger. "We need to win this game to have any chance of impressing the scouts. So, be sharp. Go back to your number and wait for my passes."

    "Okay," Kasongo replied and ran back to the right-wing. He could see the seriousness on Zachary''s face and simply did as instructed.

    Zachary started observing the positioning of every yer on the pitch. The bodynguage of both his opponents and teammates was captured in great detail in his mind.

    Samuel Baraka, the goalkeeper of the red team, was still fetching the ball to restart gamey. The ball had gone outside after Kayembe missed a shot on goal.

    In the other half, he noticed that the face of Emanuel Luboya, his team''s striker, still glinted with a hunger for the game. He was eagerly waiting for the ball deep in the green team''s half. The striker hadn''t given up yet. Zachary was relieved.

    For the first time that day, he noted that there were gaps in the opponent''s formation. He could see a lot of space between the green team''s midfield and defenders that could potentially be exploited by his team. His A+ spatial awareness was already doing wonders.

    [The opponents have rxed. Let''s y.] Zachary smiled. He turned around to receive the ball from the goalkeeper.

    Baraka quickly took the goal kick. He whipped the ball towards Beni Badibanga deep in the green team''s half. Nike Kabanga, the number-5 of the green team, jumped high in the air and headed the ball back to the other half. He had won a header against Beni, the number-9 in red, once again.

    Luyinda controlled the ball on his chest and immediately passed it to Zachary without even looking up.

    Zachary sighed in relief when he saw the ball rolling towards him. He was more confident as his istion from his teammates seemed to havee to an end.

    He controlled the ball beautifully with his left foot before turning and dashing towards the green team''s half. He had already lost Francis Wagaluka, the yer responsible for marking him. He had a few yards to run freely with the ball since no one was close to him.

    Zachary sprinted at his fastest speed and prated deep into the opponent''s half in just seconds. As he moved with the ball, he looked towards Emanuel Luboya, the center forward, dashing towards the right side of the opponent''s 18-yard-box. He seemed to be drawing the attention of the defenders in green away from Beni on the right.

    On looking closer, Zachary noticed two shadows sh out of the striker''s body. One continued running towards the right side of the goal while the second headed to the left. Zachary was perplexed.

    However, he had no time to deliberate so he quickly whipped the ball towards the second shadow that had rushed out of the tall striker towards the left. That was the space the center-backs in green had neglected. Both Nike Kabanga and Samba Farouk were marking Beni Babidanga tightly on the right side.

    Zachary hoped the forwards would interpret his intentions and make use of the pass. He knew this had a low chance of happening since the strikers had never trained or yed with him until that day.

    But surprisingly, he noticed that Emanuel Luboya had diverted his running route the moment Zachary released the looped pass over the defenders. Luboya sprinted with great vigor towards the left side of the goal. He followed in the exact footsteps of the shadow that had appeared to sh out of his body.

    The striker collected the pass inside the box and unleashed a shot that was brilliantly blocked by an outstretched leg of Jackson Lunanga, the goalkeeper. The referee signaled to the corner g.

    The red team had earned their first attempt on goal for the day. Luboya was holding his head between his hands in regret at having missed a goal-scoring opportunity.

    [The shadows rushing out of Luboya must have been a manifestation of the Zinedine-Visual-Juju.] Zachary spected.

    "That was a good ball," Lunangamented as Zachary arrived in the green team''s penalty box to attack the corner ball.

    "Don''t worry about the missed opportunity," Zachary consoled the striker. "I''ll send you more balls like those. Make sure you score." He smiled, patting the tall guy''s back.

    "I say you won''t get any more opportunities to do anything. I''ll be marking you." A new voice sounded from behind them. Zachary turned back only to find Mang standing behind him, with arms akimbo. The shady smile on his pristine face made him appear all too arrogant, like a Casanova.

    Zachary frowned but ignored thenky boy. He didn''t want a conflict with anyone else that day. He had already learned his lesson. The corner-kick that Kasongo was about to take was the only thing on his mind.

    Suddenly, he had another vision.

    A shadow in the shape of a ball came floating towards the box from the corner g. It was headed away by a different shadow from one of the opposing yers and split into three balls. Two of them zoomed towards the right and left sides, outside of the box. However, thest went right through the middle.

    [Another Zinedine-Visual-Juju vision.]

    Zachary was excited as he noticed that Kasongo was finally taking the corner.

    He stealthily started moving away from Mang who was marking him. When the ball was close to reaching its highest point, he dashed outside the eighteen-yard-box. He positioned himself before the arc and waited for the ball. He had put his chances on the ball shadow passing through the center in the Zinedine-Visual-Juju.

    Mang first frowned when he noticed his actions. However, he just smiled and ignored Zachary after seeing the floating ball from the corner. Kasongo had delivered an imprecise corner kick that was easily headed away by Wagaluka.

    Zachary, stationed just outside the box, noticed the ball flying towards him.

    [BINGO!] He thought. He had won the bet on where the ball would be heading.

    He focused on the iing ball and unleashed a missile of a shot towards the goal. He had caught the ball on the volley with the outside of his boot.

    "BAM!"

    The ball surprised everyone, including the goalkeeper. The long-range shot whooshed towards the top-right corner of the goalposts, unobstructed. 2:1. The red team had pulled one back.

    The tables were beginning to turn.

    Zachary did not celebrate his goal. He ran and picked the ball from the green team''s and returned it to the center circle of the pitch. Only fifteen minutes were remaining till the end of the match. He couldn''t spare time for pointless celebrations. He would lose a lot if he didn''t win this match.

    Coach Mande blew the whistle and restarted the game.

    For the next five minutes, the red team dominated the game. The return of Zachary and Luyinda had boosted their strength.

    The two tackled, intercepted, and released passes to the strikers every few minutes. They were dominating the midfield.

    Mang tried to mark Zachary but failed. He was an agile yer, used to running and dribbling past defenders. He couldn''t manage a physical confrontation in the midfield with Zachary who was tall and muscr. So, he returned to his number-9 position, defeated after a few minutes of trying.

    On the other hand, Zachary continued seeing shadows shing across the pitch every once in a while. Some came from balls and others from yers. He had confirmed that they were manifestations of some sort of predictive ability granted by the Zinedine-Visual-Juju. They increased his spatial awareness whenever he passed and intercepted balls during the match. They had helped him trace the ball''s trajectory when he scored the goal.

    However, there were also chances of making a wrong prediction. Zachary had found this out after distributing a pass to Kasongo making a run into the box. The real Kasongo headed in a different direction and followed the route taken by another one of his shadows. This was the case even after factoring in the positioning of the opponents and his teammates.

    In the twentieth minute of the second half, the green team managed to find their rhythm once again. Kayembe, the winger, delivered a teasing cross into the box of the red team.

    The cross found Mang, who controlled it well andshed the ball towards the bottom right corner. Samuel Baraka, the goalkeeper, was alert and pulled off a brilliant diving save. Coach Mande blew his whistle and awarded the green team a corner kick.

    Mang and his teammates had a chance to widen the lead. All the yers of the red team, including the strikers, rushed back to their box to defend. The green team''s defenders followed them.

    Zachary observed their actions before calling Kasongo over. He whispered a few instructions in his ear before dismissing him back to the edge of the box.

    The keeper, Baraka, defended the corner ball that hade in low. He punched it towards the sidelines where Zachary had been waiting.

    Zachary had sessfully predicted where the ball would end up and moved into position in advance. He controlled the ball beautifully and sprinted off towards the opponent''s half at his best speed. Francis Wagaluka came to intercept with a sliding tackle. Zachary skipped over it and passed the ball to Kasongo, running in sync with him through the middle of the pitch.

    The counterattack was on.

    Edo Kayembe used his swift pace to catch up with Kasongo and pulled on his shirt. He intended tomit a professional foul and stop the counterattack. However, Kasongo did not falter. He stayed firm on his feet until he hammered the ball towards Zachary, already into the opponent''s half and close to the touchline. There were no yers between him and the goalkeeper. All the defenders were still running from the opposite half.

    Coach Mande, the referee, waved an advantage-y even after Kayembe pulled Kasongo to the ground.

    Zachary produced a stunning solo run from the middle of the pitch to the penalty area. Heshed the ball into the bottom left corner, giving Jackson Lunanga, the keeper, no chance. Goal.

    With eight minutes to go, the score was level at 2:2.

    **** ****

    "You were right, grandpa," Kristin begun. "Zachary is all over the pitch now. His ability to control the game and pass the ball is simply unmatched. Every scout will want a ymaker like him." Kristinmented dejectedly. She sighed while watching the yers in red bibs celebrating quickly and rushing back to their half. They seemed eager to resume the match.

    The grandpa remained silent with his eyes fixed on the pitch.

    "Grandpa," Kristin crooned, pocking the old man''s shoulder with her slender finger.

    "I hear you, Kristin," the old man replied. He turned to face his granddaughter.

    "We have to get him by all means," He intoned. "I''ll talk to the coach who''s a friend of mine. Don''t worry."

    "Why does your file say that he''s more of a slow-paced yer who''s good at doing the team''s dirty work," Kristin inquired, frowning. She opened the yer file for the umpteenth time that day.

    "You''re asking me! Who should I ask?" The grandpa spread out his arms.

    **** ****

 Chapter 13 - The Trial Match Ends

    The match resumed after Coach Mande blew the whistle.

    Zachary and his teammates in red marked the forwards of the green team immediately after gamey resumed. The midfielders in green bibs like Wagaluka and Mpoku had no option but to pass the ball back to their defenders.

    Zachary''s red team was pressing their opponents within their half.

    At some point, droplets of rain had started falling from the sky. Most of the scouts returned to the pavilion to find shelter from the drizzle. But, a few remained close to the pitch, intently watching the match.

    Coach Damata, on the sideline, was speaking with Mr. Benard Christophe, the head scout of FC Nantes Youth Academy. He was responsible for deciding the results of the ADTA trials in Lubumbashi. The other French officials in the delegation had merelye to earn some per diem and sightsee in Africa. Only a few like Mr. Benard were intently watching out for young potential recruits in the trials.

    "That Mang boy is good," Christophe began. "As you mentioned before, his dribbling and finishing skills are impable," he added, his eyes never leaving the pitch. He didn''t seem to mind the rain one bit.

    Stephen Mang had just dribbled past Awax Bondeko, the right-back of the red team. He dashed into the box and unleashed a low shot which was saved by Baraka, the keeper. The boy prodigy seemed to be the only one still alive on the green team.

    Coach Damata creased his brows before replying. "What about the Zachary boy. He is the tall guy in the number-8 position of the red team." He pointed towards Bemba''s position on the pitch.

    Christophe frowned, looking towards Zachary. "I see that he''s a skilled distributor of the ball," he observed. "But we already have many such boys at the academy. His imposing physique is an advantage over those at the same age. What do you think will happen in the future when the others mature into stronger yers?" He queried.

    "I choose to go with the Mang boy. Kayembe, the winger of the green team, is also an option." He intoned.

    "Our scouts have been observing Zachary since he was twelve, and I assure you that he''s a talented young man," Coach Damata argued. "His game intelligence is at another level. That, coupled with his strong body, makes him a good product to shape into a professional center-back or a midfielder."

    Damata, as a local coach, wanted to see several young Congolese talents joining the French youth academies. That way, DR Congo would perform better in future internationalpetitions.

    "My dear coach," Christophe said, squinting up at the African in the slight drizzle. Damata knew that his efforts to forward the young talent to the Nantes Academy had met a roadblock.

    "Do you doubt my vision? Do you think we would be here in this backwater if it wasn''t for the sponsorship from the ADTA?" Christophe smirked.

    "We promised to select about four yers from the trials. Be satisfied with that. We have gathered enough information about the Zachary boy to make a decision." The left side of his red lip tugged upwards, creating a sort of sinister smirk on his aged face.

    Damata remained silent for a while, watching the proceedings of the match before asking, "Mr. Benard, aren''t you watching the match?" Damata questioned, pointing towards the pitch.

    Zachary had just released another through pass to Emanuel Luboya. The tall striker braced himself and unleashed a mid-range shot that went just over the crossbar. The green team had a goal kick.

    "We know that your boy had his left foot wasted in an ident," Mr. Benard intoned, gently shaking his head.

    "What?" Coach Damata frowned. He had heard about Zachary''s ident from one of the TP Mazembe scouts. But, it didn''t seem to be anything serious. The French scout''s focus on such an unimportant detail bugged him.

    "We wouldn''t take anyone prone to injuries, no matter how talented they are. The boy having his ankle ligaments torn ended his path to bing a professional ser yer." Mr. Benard stated.

    "Can''t you give him a chance by letting him take a medical?" Damata pleaded. "yers do get hurt, but they heal and return to the pitch."

    "Enough," Christophe frowned. "We have already done enough background investigations to decide his fate. We even went to the CMCmunity hospital, where the boy was formerly admitted after his ident, to verify the details. From the x-rays, we all concluded that his left foot is a goner." The scout added before focusing his attention back on the match.

    "You African coaches are all the same," Coach Damata heard him mumble in a voice just enough for him to discern. "You never try to check the background information about the yers. All you do is sign finished products when they y a good game or show some skill in one of your trials. You never research chronic injuries, background, family history, or how these factors might affect the career of a yer. All you do is end up wasting valuable resources on yers that will never make it. That is a weakness of the African ser talent development system." The scout sighed, shaking his head.

    "We do have yers who have recovered from such injuries even at the international level," Damata argued.

    "That is the case of one time in a million," Christophe interrupted. "Those are usually rich yers with ess to the best doctors in the world. Their clubs give them ess to the right medical treatment immediately after they get injured. What did you do for a potential young talent after he suffered an injury? You left him to tend to his wounds without any support in a hospital." Christophe scowled, his voice turning dramatic towards the end.

    He spread out his arms and asked, "Coach Damata, what did you expect to happen?"

    A grin spread over his face, wide and open, showing his over-whitened teeth. At that moment, his motives wereid bare; he was a mocker, one who enjoyed tormenting others. That was Damata''s conclusion.

    He left the scout to his own devices and started thinking about how to help the boy.

    **** ****

    Zachary was unaware of the discussion taking ce between the coach and the scout. The only thing on his mind was winning the game.

    It was still a stalemate. Two minutes remained to the end of the game, with the score still 2:2.

    Both Mpoku and Wagaluka were double-teaming Zachary to stop him from distributing any passes to the red strikers and wingers.

    He had been giving the forwards, Luboya and Beni, several deadly through passes. However, they had failed to convert them into goals.

    [I cannot lose right now.] He resolved.

    The others were all about individual performance and did not care much about the result of the game. They only wanted to catch the attention of the scouts, nothing more. But, Zachary had much more to lose since the system would go offline for a year if he lost the match. He could not afford to pay that price.

    He started surveying the pitch for any openings he could exploit. The ball was still being passed around by the defenders of his team in red bibs, steadily advancing towards the centerline. He turned towards the opponent''s half and instantly noticed something he had neglected.

    [Maybe I can try that.]

    He grinned before signaling to Kasongo and the strikers to rush to the other half.

    Like a rugby yer, he feigned forward movement but reversed directions and lost the two bodyguards (Wagaluka and Mpoku) that had been shadowing him for more than five minutes. They were reluctant to follow since he was running back to his half. They became even more confused when they saw the strikers and wingers jogging towards their goal, in the opposite direction.

    "Here, pass here!" Zachary hollered out to Luyinda who had just received the ball.

    Luyinda stayed true to his promise and instantly kicked the ball towards him. But, Wagaluka was on his heels right away, tackling him and trying to win the ball.

    Zachary made a swift turn, pulling the ball with his right leg, and spun past the midfielder. He then elerated and dashed off into the opponent''s half, dribbling past Mpoku and Edo Kayembe along the way. Zachary found himself in space with no one marking him before stepping past the center circle and prating the other half. He noticed that the forwards in red, marked by the green team''s defenders, were eagerly awaiting his pass just outside the green team''s 18-yard-box.

    "Mark him, tackle him," Zachary thought he heard Mang yelling from behind him as he continued running with the ball. However, he ignored everything behind him and focused on the goalkeeper. Zachary had noticed that Jackson Lunanga tended to stray away from his line whenever the ball was at a distance from him. He intended to exploit that error.

    From forty-five yards away, Zachary struck with his right leg, unleashing the ball on an arching path towards the goal.

    [Please go in.] He prayed.

    Everyone in the stadium watched the ball zoom over the other yers towards the goal. They sighed at the impatience of the young yer probably brought about by the approaching end of the match.

    However, not everyone shared simr thoughts. Lunanga, the keeper of the green team, had started running back towards his goalposts the moment Zachary hit the ball. But, he could not make it in time. The ball floated over his bare head, into the back of the: 3:2.

    The red team had clinched a lead for the first time that day.

    The whole stadium was silent.

    The spectators turned white as chalk as their faces froze in expressions of stunned surprise. Although they were staring straight at Zachary, they appeared not to notice him at all.

    "Shit!" Wagaluka swore from behind him. "What dog shit luck does Bemba have today?" He mumbled.

    The din soon returned to the stadium as the people finally reacted, oohing and aahing at the spectacr goal.

    But on the sidelines, Christophe sighed. "What a pity. He would have grown into a good yer." He shook his head and returned his attention to the match.

    The goal seemed to have set off a spark in the green team''s ranks. Mang, Wagaluka, and Kayembe all attacked like there was no tomorrow for the next minute. However, Zachary''s red team held out until the final whistle, with Baraka making two more spectacr saves.

    3:2 was the final score.

    "Zachary, man," Kasongo ran up to him after Coach Mande blew the whistle. "That was quite the show. There''s no doubt you''ll be selected by the scouts." He stated, smiling.

    Baraka and some of his other teammates also came along and celebrated with him for a while. Even Luyinda bumped fists with him for the first time in their history, spanning two lives.

    [This is ser. A game that should build unity among teammates rather than hatred.] He smiled as he soaked in the praises from his teammates. He felt aplished.

    "Next time, I won''t lose," a familiar voice sounded from behind him.

    Zachary turned around and found the boy prodigy, Mang, standing behind him. A smirk grew over his face like azy teacher''s checkmark, the faded "red ink" stretching up into his dimple.

    "Are you sure?" Zachary grinned.

    "Yes."

    "I''ll be waiting."

    **** ****

    Coach Damata hurried away from the touchline towards the dressing room right after the final whistle. He felt dejection wash over him when Zachary scored the third goal.

    All his efforts at convincing Mr. Christophe Benard to give Zachary a chance had proven futile. A talented yer was about to be neglected by a conservative scout due to an unverifiedtent injury.

    He had to find another opportunity for the boy before things went wrong as they usually did in Congo. He could see Zachary bing a pir of the Leopards in internationalpetitions a few years in the future.

    "Excuse me, Coach Damata. Can we talk for a minute or two?" Damata heard a familiar hoarse but mellow voice from beside him. He turned back only to find an aged Caucasian man in a sunhat and a blonde girl standing behind him.

    "Hahaha," Coach Damataughed after seeing the Norwegian.

    "Mr. Martin Stein, nice meeting you again," he said, extending his hand for a handshake. "I was about toe looking for you. I need a favor from you this time."

    "Oh, same here," Mr. Stein smiled, shaking Damata''s outstretched hand. "Can we talk in your office?" He said.

    **** ****

 Chapter 14 - A Meeting With Scouts

    "Stephen Mang, Mich¨¦ Mika, Edo Kayembe, and Samuel Baraka." Mr. Christophe Benard, the head scout of FC Nantes Youth Academy, closed his notebook. He had finished announcing the names of the four yers selected for the French sports schrship. "That''ll be all. Good luck to the rest of you." He concluded.

    "Eehh!" The rest of the yers, including some of the coaches, eximed. They started stealing nces at Zachary who stood at the very back of the group. He had scored a hat-trick and yed better than everyone else during the match. But, the scouts had left him out of the list of yers heading to France.

    However, everyone quickly forgot about the issue and returned their attention to Coach Damata who had returned to the center stage after the foreign scout left.

    "Let''s congratte the four yers who are leaving for France. They deserve to be apuded for their exceptional performance in today''s game." Coach Damata intoned, smiling. He seemed to be in a good mood.

    Most of the other yers pped half-heartedly. They were stillmenting the missed opportunity. However, a few had learned to ept rejection and failure. They were looking forward to the remaining days of the Lubumbashi trials. They still had the opportunity to impress scouts from the African teams looking for new talents.

    "Okay people. That''s the spirit." Coach Damataughed. "I usually tell my students it is okay to fail. A lot of people are so afraid of failure that they skip trials like these. They end up joining the camp of those that don''t think themselves capable of seeding as professional ser yers." He paused, letting his gaze roam over all the young men gathered before him.

    "You should be aware that many people attain their greatest sess, just after their greatest failure. Not getting selected is merely a bump in your football career. Every failure in life is a stepping stone to greater heights. I am most proud of the blessings that God has bestowed upon me as a coach. He has given me the vision to see that you can still get back on your feet after falling. That belief has kept me going as a coach all my years."

    "Will you lose all hope of achieving your dreams and join the failures after not being selected?" He asked. "Or, will you continue to pursue your dreams with newfound vigor after this momentary setback?"

    Most of the young yers responded positively to the inspirational words of the coach. They all longed to join professional teams and y ser. Ser was the only refuge in their war-torn nation.

    The few that had looked dejected seemed to have gotten a new lease on life after hearing the coach''s speech. They all had a glint in their eyes that indicated they had not given up.

    "Then, I''m relieved." Coach Damata smiled. "You''re dismissed for today. Come back tomorrow to continue the trials."

    "Just remember, never give up."

    **** ****

    Zachary remained standing at the back of the group even when the other yers started dispersing. His world copsed when the French scout announced the results. Pain circted through his mind like waves on frigid sand.

    [Why wasn''t I selected? Was it because of my outburst during the first half?]

    Several questions ran through his mind as he attempted to make sense of the scouts'' decision. He could feel the eyes of the departing yers on him. Some of them had pitiful expressions, whereas others looked on with mockery like their situation was any better. They seemed to have forgotten that they, too, had not been selected.

    "Young man," he heard someone calling him from the side in a ssic French ent that didn''t belong in Africa. He turned around to find the head scout smiling at him.

    "You''re Zachary. Right?" Mr. Christophe Benard asked.

    "Yes, that''s me, sir," Zachary replied. He had no idea why the scout was initiating a conversation with him after leaving him out of the selection.

    Zachary felt like punching the Frenchman in the face to relieve his mounting stress. However, he calmed himself after considering the repercussions. He didn''t want to be cklisted by all the scouts of the academies partaking in the Lubumbashi trials.

    "I''ll do you a favor, young man," the scout began solemnly. "With your injured foot, you''ll never make it among the pros. Just give up and find something else to do before you injure yourself again. I hate to see a young man wallow in despair after investing all his time where he''ll never seed."

    [Injured foot? Give up? Is this the reason for my not being on the list?] Zachary started connecting the dots. His mood lifted. His greatest fear had been being cklisted by the international scouts due to his unsportsmanlike behavior in the first half. But the French teams only left him out due to a supposed injury. He couldn''t help but smile ruefully.

    "I have said all that can be said. Take care." Mr. Benard moved away and disappeared into the mass of scouts leaving the stadium.

    [Did hee to tell me just that? What a busy buddy.] He scoffed.

    "Zach!" Kasongo''s voice called out to him. "What did he want? Were you selected?"

    "No. Just telling me to give up on ser." Zachary smiled, turning towards his new friend.

    "Say what? Why?"

    "He thinks I''m injured."

    "Are you?" Kasongo frowned.

    "Not at all. I''m as fit as a fiddle." Zachary smirked.

    "Then ignore the idiot." Kasongo smiled, patting his shoulder. "We still have a chance tomorrow. I heard that scouts from Raja Casanca and Ondo Pirates are also part of the delegation. So, don''t worry. We''ll be selected."

    "I know." Zachary nodded. From the memories of his past life, he knew the Lubumbashi trials were far from over. A few more yers would get a chance to join other foreign academies over the following few days. He simply had to perform his best to join their ranks.

    "Are you really okay?" Kasongo asked after seeing him spacing out.

    "I''m fine." Zachary sighed. He still felt some dejection at being overlooked. However, he understood he had to move on and prepare for the continuation of the trials the following day.

    "Let''s go. I''ll help you select a hotel today."

    "Great." Kasongoughed, jumping up like a little kid. "I''ll buy lunch," he said, patting Zachary''s back.

    They started trekking towards the gate of the stadium but were stopped by Coach Damata along the way.

    "Thank God. I managed to catch up to you." The coach smiled as he approached them. He seemed to have run up to them since he was panting.

    "I have good news," he said without giving them a chance to reply. "Kasongo, head over to Coach Mande. He''ll exin a few things to you. Zachary,e with me. I want you to meet someone."

    "I am guessing that one of the scouts must have taken a liking to you," Kasongo whispered before running away towards the pavilion.

    "Oh." Zachary was excited. Hope bloomed inside him. He turned and followed the coach into the tunnel that led to the dressing rooms of the stadium.

    They went through the dimly lit passage and reached Coach Damata''s office at the far end of a corridor. The coach pushed the door open and invited him in.

    On one of the wooden benches within, an aged man and a young blond girl sat, waiting quietly.

    Zachary ignored the old fe. He couldn''t take his eyes off the girl holding a camera from the moment he entered the office.

    He had initially noticed the girl before the match as the delegation of scouts entered the stadium. He didn''t pay much attention to her then since she seemed like one of those ''t as a pancake'' types.

    But up close, she looked like one of those models with an hour-ss figure often seen in Telemundo soap operas. Her straight blonde hair plunged over her slender shoulders, making her look like a vogue-magazine cut-out dropped onto the streets of Lubumbashi.

    "Hey, Zach? Nice to meet you." She stood up and walked up to him, extending a manicured hand. Her amber-brown eyes gazed yfully at him. They made his heart race like an inexperienced teenager that had met his crush for the first time.

    Zachary had to drop his gaze in defeat before his mind was overtaken by inappropriate thoughts. His usual swagger, gained in his past life, had fled faster than a gambler from a bookie.

    "Hey," Zachary stammered as he fumbled to take the slender hand of the girl. He realized he had taken too long to return her greeting. He looked at the floor to evade her gaze.

    The old man suddenly cleared his throat to end the awkward situation. "I''m Martin Stein. This here is my granddaughter Kristin Stein. She''s a scout in training. Nice to meet you." He also extended a hand towards Zachary for a handshake.

    "Nice to meet you too." Zachary took the opportunity to escape and returned the salutation.

    After exchanging greetings with the pair, he turned to Coach Damata for an exnation. He was beginning to grow tense under the scrutiny of the foreigners present in the office.

    "These are scouts from the Norwegian Club Rosenborg BK," Coach Damata begun. "They are interested in recruiting you into one of the academies affiliated with them. Are you interested?" He smiled.

    "Of course, I''m interested." Zachary was quick to answer. He would never pass up the chance to join a high-performance academy in Europe. As long as he was there, he could find a way to enter the European football system. Moreover, Rosenborg was one of the best teams in Norway and had a proper youth training system. They had even participated in European championships, ying against top teams like Chelsea and Valencia. He remembered betting some of their matches during his previous life.

    "Hahaha, that''s great. I like straightforward young men like you. And, it''s good you speak perfect English, unlike most people here in the Congo. You''ll find it easy to adapt to life in Norway." Mr. Steinughed, taking off his sunhat. His deep wrinkles seemed to carve a map of his life on his still agile facial features. His bright blue eyes, framed by thick white eyebrows, glittered in the dim light along with his perfect set of dazzling teeth.

    "Mr. Damata," he turned towards the coach, still standing by the door. "I would like to conclude this business before the end of today. Can you initiate the talent transfer procedures from Congo to Norway right away?"

    "I can," Coach Damata replied, smiling. "But we need to engage Zachary''s parents to kick-start the process."

    [Parents?] Zachary''s heart vibrated like a church drum in his chest.

    "Oh, that''s is understandable." Mr. Stein frowned. "Seems we won''t conclude everything today. I even wanted to take him for a medical before weplete the transfer."

    "We can still conclude if we manage to get in touch with the parents within two hours," Coach Damata assured before turning towards Zachary.

    "Zach, can you contact your parents right away? We need them to sign the consent forms allowing you to travel to Norway."

    Zachary sighed before replying, "I don''t have any parents. I''ve been living with my grandma in Bukavu for as long as I can remember."

    The other three in the room remained quiet after hearing Zachary''s deration. They regarded him with pity like he was a street kid. Zachary didn''t like their stares.

    "Oh," Coach Damata was fast to recover. "Can you get in touch with her? I mean your grandma." He asked, patting Zachary''s shoulder.

    "We both don''t have phones," Zachary stated. "But, I can try getting in touch with a doctor who''s our neighbor. Through him, we might reach her by the end of tomorrow." He sighed, beginning to regret not buying a pair of cheap phones for himself and his grandma.

    The others in the room were rendered speechless for a few seconds by his statement. Kristin especially looked surprised by Zachary''s circumstances.

    "Don''t worry about that," Coach Damata said confidently. "I''ll help youplete the paperwork before the end of tomorrow." He patted Zachary''s shoulder.

 Chapter 15 - Gearing-up For Norway

    "Please, Kasongo," Zachary beseeched. He looked up at the sky, tinged orange by the nting rays of the setting sun.

    "Just ten more balls, and we''ll go back to rest." He moved back and positioned himself just a few steps outside the arc of the 18-yard-box.

    "But these better be thest," Kasongo replied. "The training has me worn out. I''m on the verge of copsing. How do you manage to keep this up every evening?"

    Zachary ignored thement and signaled his friend to toss the ball.

    Dusk had descended upon Lubumbashi. However, the boys were still in the Kibassa-Maliba stadium. They were doing personalized training.

    Zachary was highly motivated since he was doing most of the shooting. Kasongo merely tossed balls to him.

    "Ready," Kasongo hollered out. "Set, and go." He tossed another ball with his hands towards the arc outside the 18-yard-box.

    Zachary focused on the iing ball and swung his left foot, pulling the trigger. He caught the center-bottom half of the ball, sending it whooshing at a low angle into the back of the empty goal.

    "Another!" Zachary shouted while running back to his original position.

    Kasongo tossed another ball. Zachary hit it squarely and unleashed a carpet-shot that also found the target. For the next few minutes, Kasongo tossed balls while Zachary unleashed volleys that found the target.

    "GOAL," Zachary jubted after hitting thest ball urately. He felt like he had scored in a majorpetition.

    Three weeks had psed since the day of the trial match attended by the scouts. After being selected for a sports academy in Norway, Zachary had immediately begun working on his arrow-shot. He believed he would advance it into a G.O.A.T skill after the day''s training. So, he opened the system interface to view his progress.

    ****

    ----

    USER MENU

    *USER STATS

    *G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    *SYSTEM SHOP (locked)

    *SYSTEM LOTTERY (locked)

    *SNOOPING TOOL

    ----

    NB: Pls level-up the system to unlock more functions.

    ****

    After helping his team win the trial match, the system rewarded Zachary by unlocking its snooping-tool-function capable of spying on the talents of others. However, using the tool had almost shocked him out of his boots. The day after the trials, he found out that Stephen Mang, Edo Kayembe, and Mich¨¦ Mika were all A-grade talents.

    Zachary couldn''tpete with the three of them in terms of talent alone. So, he upped his training routine after realizing he had identally unlocked another G.O.A.T skill when scoring the first goal in the trial match. If he couldn''t beat them on talent, he resolved he would defeat them through hard work and skills.

    Zachary calmed his mind and clicked on the G.O.A.T-skills tab in the User-Stats menu.

    ****

    ->G.O.A.T Skills: 2

    (i) ZINEDINE VISUAL JUJU

    (1st-level: Progress: 10.001%)

    ----

    (ii) ZACHARY-ARROW-SHOT

    (1st-level: Progress: 1%)

    ----

    ****

    Zachary''s mood lifted. He raised a fist in celebration after viewing his G.O.A.T-Skills tab.

    He had discovered another G.O.A.T skill in his user stats at the end of the trial match three weeks prior. He right away concluded that it was unlocked when he scored a goal from a long-range shot. It seemed the system could capture his best ys during games and turn them into potential skills.

    Zachary had realized that as long as he improved his individual skills beyond a certain threshold, they had a chance of being registered in the G.O.A.T-skills of the system. His arrow-shot was one such skill.

    It improved the power and uracy of his shots from outside the box.

    It had been at a measly 0.0001% when he first discovered it. However, with daily shooting practice for three weeks, he had managed to raise it to a 1st-level-progress of 1%.

    Zachary hade to the realization that his G.O.A.T-skills, whether acquired from the system or self-trained, could only be leveled up with practice and ying real matches. Even the Zinedine-Visual-Juju had improved by 0.001% after he participated in the trial match and training sessions of the TP Mazembe reserves. He was falling more in love with the system.

    "What are you looking at?" Kasongo''s voice sounded from behind him. "I often see you spacing out, especially after training. Are you okay?"

    Zachary turned around to face his friend before shing a smile and replying, "I was reying the feel of striking the ball on the volley in my mind. Doing that helps me improve my shooting form." Zachary lied.

    He couldn''t tell Kasongo he was looking at a system interface. That carried the risk of problemster on. He made a mental note to desist from opening the system around others.

    "You''ve been improving really fast with your long-range shots." Kasongo smiled. "Three weeks ago, you could only hit 1 out of 10 balls on the volley urately. But today, you were able to do it ten consecutive times. I can''t fathom why the French teams left you out."

    "Why do you keep bringing up the French teams?" Zachary frowned. He wanted to put the failure of that day behind him. However, Kasongo brought up the topic regrly.

    "Hahaha," Kasongoughed. He used his sleeve to wipe the sweat off his forehead. Tossing more than 100 balls to Zachary had tired him out.

    "It''s my luck we''ll be going to the same academy. We do make a great team." A smile as big as a crescent moon lit up Kasongo''s face.

    "Has your dad finally signed off on your trip to Norway?" Zachary inquired. Kasongo had beenining for the past two weeks about his stuck-up dad''s refusal to sign the consent forms he needed to join a ser academy in Europe.

    "Yes." Kasongo grinned. "Coach Damata helped by talking to him. He had to post a letter from Mr. Stein detailing how the sports schrship would include a study bursary. My old man only agreed after being assured that I could continue schooling even in Europe."

    "Cong''s." Zacharyughed, patting the short guy''s back. "I told you to involve Coach Damata earlier. But you kept on dying. You could have finalized all this paperwork without any hassle."

    "Is all your paperwork finished? I mean permits, visa, consent forms, and police letters?"

    "Hahaha. The coach helped me get my visa over a week ago. He even flew to Bukavu to meet my grandma for the signing of the consent forms. I''ll fly out of the country next Tuesday." Zachary grinned. He was close to achieving the first objective in his new life.

    Zachary had discussed the responsibilities and benefits he would be receiving in Norway at length with Mr. Stein. He now knew he had to train at the NF International academy, in Trondheim City, for six months before he could join the Rosenborg under-16 squad.

    Alongside all the ser training, Zachary had to take upper secondary education, also sponsored by Rosenborg. He would receive a monthly allowance of 14,000 Norwegian Kroner, provided he performed well in the academy and didn''t fail high school. That was an amount he never got a chance to earn in his past life.

    "Eehh. That fast!" Kasongo eximed. "You''re not even going to say goodbye to your grandma?" Kasongo frowned.

    "I would have loved to see her. However, I didn''t want to risk traveling back to Bukavu." Zachary smiled ruefully.

    "Why?" Kasongo looked at Zachary with confusion.

    "There are many militia groups in the surrounding regions," Zachary whispered, looking around. "What if I get kidnapped when I''m this close to achieving my dreams? The risk will be even greater if the rogues back home hear that I''m heading to Europe. They might even resort to kidnapping my grandma for ransom if I seed as a pro."

    "I''m only protecting my grandma by not visiting." Zachary sighed, smiling ruefully. In his past life, He had ignored the rogues thinking they were just simple thugs. However, he knew better in this life. Most were rebels gearing up for the M23 rebellion, an armed conflict destined to break out a year and a halfter. Zachary didn''t wish to be a hero by attempting to stop the war from happening. He had no influence whatsoever in the Congo. He needed to evacuate his grandma before the conflict began.

    He remembered that roughly a year and a halfter, she had died after being hit by a stray bullet while on a church mission to Goma.

    [I need to move her before that happens.] Zachary resolved inwardly.

    "Do you need my help?" Kasongo asked anxiously. "I could move your grandma to Kinshasa."

    "No, thanks." Zachary shook his head. "The capital has its own challenges. It''s no better than the war-torn areas especially if youck money. I''ll move her to Lubumbashi as soon as I have something saved up."

    "If you need any help, don''t forget to approach me," Kasongo intoned solemnly. "I''ll help in any way I can."

    Zachary nodded before diverting the topic.

    "When do you n to travel to Norway?"

    "Not sure yet."

    "You need to speed up your paperwork. Mr. Stein and Miss Kristin will be with me on the same flight next Tuesday. We should travel together." Zachary suggested.

    "I''ll try my best," Kasongo concurred.

    "Let''s gather the balls and head to the hotel. It''s gettingte. Mr. Stein must be waiting for us." The two had moved into a new hotel with the Norwegian scouts after being selected for the schrship. Zachary no longer had to worry about his friend''s security. His only wish was that the remaining six days would pass quickly so he could continue his journey in Europe.

    **** END OF 1ST VOLUME: ESCAPING FATE ****

 Chapter 16 - Arrival In Trondheim City

    Tuesday, August 17, 2010.

    Zachary checked the time on his watch. It was 10:00 PM.

    [Travelling sure is hard.] He sighed.

    Together with Kasongo and the two Norwegians, Zachary had taken a morning flight from Lubumbashi to Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia. That was the first stop-over on their twenty-two-hour journey to Trondheim, Norway. After a four-hour rest in the airport, they joined the boarding queue of an Ethiopian airlines flight heading to Amsterdam. Due to their well-organized paperwork, they faced no challenges going through customs. They then boarded an airport bus that transported them to the ne that would fly them to Amsterdam through the night.

    Zachary turned his attention to the nes he could see shing by through the window. Men and women in reflector jackets moved around them, towing loads of cargo or shouting instructions. A few airport vehicles, Zachary could not identify, were parked beside the nes as well.

    "Are the two of you nervous?" Mr. Stein, on his left, probed. On his backy a gigantic backpack that shouldn''t have been carried by a man his age. Zachary had volunteered to help him with the luggage, but the old man had refused.

    "Nope," Kasongo, standing opposite them, replied. He was dressed in designer clothes and shoes that made him look like a rapper rather than a ser yer. His white timbend boots were especially eye-catching in the dimly lit bus.

    "Traveling on a ne is much morefortable than a ride on a bus. I enjoyed the flight from Lubumbashi to Addis-Ababa. The food was delicious." He added, smiling.

    "Have you flown a lot previously?" Kristin asked from beside him.

    "Well, just about once a year. My dad takes us on vacations every festive season. Last year we were in France. But this will be my first time in Norway." Kasongo answered, smiling.

    Zachary chose to stay out of the discussion. He was slightly ashamed to mention his fears to the group, especially with Miss Kristin present. The truth was he was terrified by nes. No matter how luxurious the furnishings inside the airne were, it would never be more than a flying metal tube to Zachary. The fact that this was his first trip out of DR Congo amplified his fears. He was frightened by the thought of being more than 30,000 feet off the ground. There were so many things that could go wrong at that altitude.

    Nheless, he was eager to reach Trondheim City. There, he would finally begin his journey to be a ser pro on the European scene. That was the single thing he had been dreaming about his whole past life, and now it was all finallying true. It was the only thought that had kept him brave enough to endure the long journey.

    "What about you, Zach?" Mr. Stein asked, turning towards him. "Are you nervous?"

    "Well, I don''t like nes," Zachary replied honestly. "I just want the journey to end as quickly as possible."

    "We''ll get there. Don''t worry." Mr. Stein patted his back.

    They spent the rest of their short ride on the bus in silence before boarding the ne. At 10:30 PM, the ne took off. They were in the skies.

    Zachary was seated beside Kasongo in a 2-seater on the row closest to the window. The Norwegians were situated behind them in the economy ss section.

    Zachary felt better knowing that he was in Boeing-747, a jumbo jet. He''d not heard of one, en route to Europe, crashing in the year 2010 of his previous life. He ignored Kasongo who was watching movies and forced himself into slumber. Zachary woke up the next morning as the ne descended into Amsterdam.

    They didn''t spend much time in the Amsterdam airport. With Mr. Stein''s help, the two boys quickly got through the customs and immigration procedures at the airport. In a short while, they were allowed to board another ne to Trondheim, Norway.

    Zachary let out a breath of pent up air when the ne touched down on the runway at the V?rnes Airport in Trondheim after another two hours of flight.

    "Wee to Trondheim." Mr. Stein smiled at the two African boys as he got up from his seat. "How was the flight?" He asked.

    "Okay," Zachary replied.

    "Exciting," Kasongoughed.

    "That''s great." Mr. Stein smiled. "We need to get you settled in by noon today. "Let''s head to customs right away."

    The two boys followed the Norwegians and were soon out of the ne.

    "It''s very cold," Zacharymented once they were out into the open air.

    "Don''t mind the weather," Mr. Stein consoled. "You''ll soon get used to it." He led the way down the airstair of the ne.

    "I hear that in winter, the temperatures may drop to a bare minimum of -4 Degrees Centigrade," Kasongomented, wrapping his scarf tightly around his neck.

    "We won''t have any ser matches in such weather. Our seasons usually end by early December." Kristin cut in as they continued hurrying across the tarmac of the airport.

    It was 9 AM, one of the worst times for an African to arrive in Northern Europe during autumn. Zachary was assaulted by the chilly breeze cutting through his heavy jacket. He began shivering before he even reached the bottom of the airstair.

    [Coming from Africa and stepping into Europe is like descending from a warm oven into a freezer.] He mused.

    At that early hour, the lounges of V?rnes airport were very serene. The people moved with ease, quiet rivers of humanity freshly roused from their slumber. The floors were clean and white, reflecting both the early rays and the artificial lights.

    Since their group had already been through European immigration procedures in Amsterdam, they didn''t spend much time in the airport. They presented their travel documents and exited the airport only after forty minutes.

    A Rosenborg van collected them from the airport and transported them to the city. The city wasn''t what Zachary expected. He expected to see skyscrapers like those in American movies all around Trondheim. But medieval buildings covered the majority of the cityscape. Trondheim itself was beautiful and charming, with neat roads and unique urban architecture. The streets were glorious in their inception. The sidewalks made of smooth grey stones, joined with such precision that the joins were almost invisible. The buildings were nothing short of historical, the bastions of the city''s pride, stamping its status as one of the eco-cities on the. Zachary noticed that there was no garbage or sewage on the streets as they traveled through the city. The city was very cleanpared to either Kinshasa or Lubumbashi.

    "We''ve just passed the Nidelva River. That is the Nidaros Cathedral. There''s a ser pitch around there where you could train in the future." Miss Kristin pointed at a medieval grey church building in the distance as they crossed a bridge. She''d appointed herself as the guide of the two African boys.

    "Miss Kristin," Zachary intoned. "Where will we be staying?" That was his main concern at the moment.

    "Moholt student vige," Kristin replied, smiling. "We''re almost there. You''ll like the ce."

    After another twenty minutes, by Zachary''s estimation, the Rosenborg van pulled into the parking lot of the student vige. Tall brown buildings, roughly six stories high, loomed around them.

    "This is thergest student vige in Trondheim City," Mr. Stein said after they exited the van with their luggage in tow. "Usually, this ce is reserved for international students at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology." He continued.

    "However, we''ve agreed with the university''s office of international rtions. They''ve allowed us to house our international students here as well. You''ll be sharing a four-room apartment with two of our other academy yers from Sweden."

    "Come on. I''ll show you to your apartment." The old man smiled as he led the way out of the parking lot and into one of the buildings.

    Kasongo and Zachary followed while Kristin remained in the van.

    A minuteter, they stood in a well-furnished apartment on the fourth floor of the building. In the living room, there were two huge fridges, a cooker, sinks, furniture, and other household appliances Zachary didn''t recognize. The room was well illuminated by the rays of the morning suning in through a huge window that overlooked the parking lot.

    [This is utopia.] Zachary concluded.

    He couldn''t help butpare the apartment with his house back in Bukavu that had no ess to both electricity and piped water.

    "Choose one of the rooms on the right," Mr. Stein instructed. "Room 1 and 2 are already upied by your housemates who are still away on holiday." He smiled.

    Zachary selected room number four whereas Kasongo chose number three.

    "Okay then," Mr. Stein smiled. "Here are the keys to each of your rooms. You can unpack and rest today. I will be here to take you to meet your coaches tomorrow morning." He handed each of them an envelope with their names.

    "There is food in the fridge if you wish to cook. Try not to move around unless you have to. But if you need to buy something urgently, head over to the supermarket just across the parking lot where we were. The money for the week is also in the envelope."

    "Any questions before I leave?" He asked, looking at both Zachary and Kasongo inquisitively.

    "Do we start training tomorrow?" Kasongo inquired.

    "The coaches will decide after your medical tomorrow," the scout replied.

    "Zach, don''t you have any questions?"

    "Not at the moment," Zachary replied, smiling. "We can talk tomorrow about everything else." The long journey had worn him out. He needed to rest and prepare for the meeting with the coaches. There was no need for him to worry about anything as long as he had food in the apartment. He was d he had safely arrived in Europe and looked forward to beginning his ser training.

    "Okay. It''s good that you''re calm." Mr. Stein nodded. "Be ready by nine o''clock tomorrow morning. We''ll head over to the academy then. But don''t do anything you wouldn''t if your parents were around." He warned.

 Chapter 17 - The Medical

    The day dawned crisp and clear.

    As promised, Mr. Stein picked the two boys from their new apartment at Moholt student vige at 8:55 AM. Zachary and Kasongo had long been ready and were waiting for the scout in the parking lot. They''d dressed in heavy clothing to shield themselves from the morning coldness. They were eager tomence their first day as academy yers in Norway.

    "How was your night," Mr. Stein asked as the Toyota Carib they were in pulled out of the parking lot, heading into the main road. The aged scout was on the steering while the two boys sat in the back, admiring the sceneries.

    "Quite good," Kasongo was the first to reply, smiling. "I slept like a baby the whole night."

    "Same here. The night couldn''t have been better." Zachary also responded. His newfy bed, with silk duvets and cotton bed sheets, was like a heaven on earth to him. He''d entered a deep slumber right after eating a self-cooked delicious dinner the previous evening. The heater in the room guaranteed that the cold outside never affected his sleep. He already liked his new life.

    "I''m happy to hear that." Mr. Stein smiled, keeping his eyes on the road. "We''ll first head to the NTNU Sports Department where you''ll undergo a medical. Your move to Rosenborg BK won''t be finalized unless you pass the medical tests there." He added solemnly.

    "But we''re academy yers," Kasongo contested, frowning. "And we''ve already gone through mandatory check-ups in Lubumbashi. You remember?"

    "The academy coaches need to know that you''re a worthwhile investment. Of course, I trust that the two of you are fit since I was with you in Lubumbashi." Mr. Stein paused as he rounded a round-about before entering another wider street, with denser traffic. Zachary noticed that there wasn''t any traffic jam on the roads of Trondheim. Many people were on their bikes in a sidene, probably riding to work.

    Mr. Stein continued his exnation after entering the straight section of the road.

    "We''ll be trying to give the academy as much information as possible because, in the end, they''ve to decide whether they want to train you or not. The results of the medical will also help them design a better training n for you once you enter the academy."

    "But what happens if we fail?" Kasongo asked. Zachary also nodded to indicate his doubts.

    "No worries," Mr. Stein smiled. "You''ll still be allowed to spend six months at the academy before being sent back to Africa. But I have confidence in you. You won''t fail."

    They spent the rest of the minutes of their car ride in silence. The boys seemed to be worried about the medicals while Mr. Stein was busy navigating the road. A few minutester, they pulled into the parking lot of the gigantic building housing the sports department. It was roughly six to eight stories high, by Zachary''s estimation.

    "This here is St. v''s University Hospitalplex," Mr. Stein said as they exited their ride. "The offices of NTNU''s Sports Department are in the building. You''ll undergo your medical there."

    **** ****

    An hourter, Zachary sat on an exercise bike in a well-equipped room, simr to a gym. He frowned at the medical specialist. The doctor had taken him through hell as an excuse for a warm-up. Every five minutes, the resistance of the bike increased, putting more strain on his limbs. He was already in agony even before the real medicalmenced.

    [I wonder how Kasongo is doing.] He mused.

    He''d been separated from Mr. Stein and Kasongo right after meeting with the medic who was to conduct his medical. The middle-aged doctor had introduced himself as Dr. Alexander ?ystein before leading him to the gym. There, he''d requested Zachary to warm-up on the bike until he said otherwise. Zachary did notin but carried out the exercise as instructed. However, it was already close to an hour, yet the doctor wasn''t putting a stop to his warm-up. Zachary was frustrated.

    "Okay, that''s enough," Dr. ?ystein intoned. Zachary couldn''t tell from his poker face whether he was impressed or not. He hopped off the bike and waited for his instructions.

    "Next, we shall carry out the Biodex assessment, which is a test designed to test the strength between your muscle groups," the doctor exined.

    After a quick warm-up, Zachary was strapped into a white chair and instructed to extend his leg by kicking out before pulling it back to the starting position. Dr. ?ystein requested him to repeat the exercise five times, then again with more resistance for each leg. Pulling the stic strap, especially with his left leg, tired him out until he was panting like a Labrador running in the sun.

    Later, the doctor instructed Zachary to run on a treadmill at varying speeds while breathing into a mask to determine his aerobic capabilities. Zachary had great endurance that enabled him to go through all the required exercises without a hitch. His B+ stamina wasn''t only for show.

    Throughout the day, he underwent several tests, most of which seemed to be senseless to him. The doctor put him through bone scans, blood and urine tests, plus several other medical check-ups that were alien to Zachary. He spent six hours with the doctor and was only permitted to leave a few minutes after three in the afternoon. He couldn''t tell whether he had passed the medical after the doctor finished with the tests. The doctor didn''t smile even once during the whole session.

    "How was your medical test?" Zachary asked Kasongo once they met in the parking lot.

    "I honestly don''t know," the short guy replied, shaking his head. "My doctor was one of those serious people who never smile."

    "How was yours?"

    "Same," Zachary replied, fastening his jacket. "I can''t tell whether I passed or not. The doctor didn''t disclose anything."

    "Do you think that they could send us back?" Kasongo queried, frowning.

    "I don''t think so. This was just an academy medical. They don''t need us to y matches right away. So, as long as we don''t have anytent injuries, we shall pass." Zachary assured his friend.

    "I hope so," Kasongo murmured.

    "Stop worrying." Zachary patted his back. "Let''s wait for Mr. Stein. He''ll give us the results today as we are head home."

    **** ****

    Concurrently in one of the offices of NTNU''s Sports Department.

    Dr. Alexander ?ystein presented the results from the medicals to Mr. Stein and another middle-aged gentleman. The gentleman was Boyd Johansen, the interim head coach of the NF International Academy in Trondheim.

    "My Friend, Martin. You managed to acquire a perfect specimen on your trip." Dr. ?ysteinughed. He was all smiles and had done away with the poker face he had presented to Zachary.

    Both Mr. Stein and Coach Johansen didn''t reply but just waited for the doctor to continue.

    "The boy Zachary is very fit for his age. It''s like he has been through professional training over the past three months. His skeletal range of movement is simply excellent. I checked his joints and pelvic muscles and noticed that they were in great shape. I can boldly hypothesize that he has good lower-body mobility and perfect body coordination."

    "Are you sure that he wasn''t part of a professional team?" He inquired, looking doubtfully at Mr. Stein.

    "He''s just about to make sixteen. Which professional training could he possibly get in Congo? Does he have any red gs? What about his left leg?" Mr. Stein''s words came out at the pace of a machine gun. He''d heard some rumors about Zachary''s left foot being injured and wanted to confirm their validity. He even ignored the advice of the Nantes'' scout and insisted on recruiting him.

    "What injury?" Dr. ?ystein scoffed. "As a doctor, I can tell you this. The boy''s bones have never experienced any fractures. The strength of his left foot is phenomenal. I tested it several times to check for any weak spots in his leg-muscles, but there were none."

    "That''s great news for me," Mr. Stein yelled, smiling.

    "We still don''t know anything about his ser skills," Coach Johansen cut in.

    "Didn''t I hand you my report about the boy?" Mr. Stein frowned.

    "You didn''t carry out any practical tests to measure his skills." The interim head coach shook his head, sighing. "You just let him y against none professionals who might have been amateurs at ser, for all we know."

    "What did you expect? You want us to just fix him into the academy without knowing his skills?" He questioned.

    "I will test the boys myself in a real match next week. I can only determine if he qualifies for the schrship then."

    "But there are no under-16 matches this month," Mr. Stein argued.

    "There''s an under-19 friendly game with Viking on Tuesday next week. I''m adding him to the line-up." Coach Johansen smiled at the scout.

    "Are you serious? He''s just fifteen."

    "If he is as good as you make him out to be, there isn''t a need to worry. As they say, a diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure. Does he have high game intelligence? Let''s see if your boy is a diamond or a waste when he is under pressure during the game." The coach stated nonchntly.

    "Alex, help me out here." Mr. Stein turned towards the doctor after noticing that he couldn''t reason with the coach. "The boy hasn''t trained with the team yet. However, he''s now pushed into a group with members, three years his seniors. He''ll face a high risk of injury."

    The doctor turned and started typing on hisputer as if he''d never heard a word from the scout. He seemed to be implying that he wouldn''t take part in their argument.

    "Martin," Coach Johansen cut in. "My decision is final. He''ll train with the boys on Friday and Monday before taking part in the game on Tuesday. I don''t need him to do much in the game. He just has to perform above average."

    "Doctor, what about the other boy?" The coach turned his attention back to Alexander.

    "Oh, yes. My colleague tested the second boy. I''ve his report here." The doctor said, picking up one of the files on his desk. He looked through the file before continuing.

    "He''s average. Not too fit but not too shabby either. He has good lower-limb strength and good stamina. However, his body fat is slightly on the higher end. His test didn''t find any red gs within his body. So, he can join the academy." He concluded his ount, closing the file.

    "High body fat?" The coach mumbled, frowning. "I''ll give him only a month to get fully fit. Otherwise, I''ll have to send him back after six months. I hatezy yers the most."

    "Why''re you doing this?" Mr. Stein asked.

    "Doing what?"

    "Picking on the yers I''ve brought in?"

    Coach Johansen looked at the scout and shrugged. "I treat all my yers the same. As long as the two boys meet my requirements, they''ll have nothing to worry about."

    "Doctor. If there is nothing else, I''ll be heading to the training grounds. My yers are waiting." He excused himself, leaving the other two men in the room.

    "Boyd is sometimes a pain in the ass," Mr. Steinmented after the coach had left.

    "You have to understand that he''s under a lot of pressure to perform. Setting stringent selection criteria is one of the strategies he''s using to meet his goals. He''s still an interim after all."

    "Nah," Mr. Stein shook his head. "I''m guessing that he''s rted to one of my foes on the board. What do I tell the boys now?"

    "It''s as if you''ve just be a scout," the doctor eximed. "Tell them the truth."

    **** ****

 Chapter 18 - Resolution

    After the medical at St. v, Mr. Stein drove the two boys back to their apartment before disclosing the results of their tests. He then exined to the boys how they had passed but still needed to undergo one final test before they could receive the ser academy''s schrship.

    "Let me get this straight," Kasongo intoned, frowning. "We passed the medical, but the coach still wants to put us through another test before we sign a contract?" He was as outspoken as usual.

    "That''s basically it." Mr. Stein nodded.

    "Why an under-19 match for me?" Zachary asked, drumming his fingers on the dining table. The nting rays of the evening suning into the small kitchen through the opposite window highlighted the sullen look on his face.

    Mr. Stein, seated on one of the chairs on the opposite side, looked at him and smiled.

    "Are you scared?"

    "Yes, I''m," Zachary replied honestly.

    He was informed that he was to face the under-19 yers who''d been undergoing well-tailored professional training from their childhood. He wasn''t so naive to think he would best such yers¡ªtwo to three years his seniors.

    "Do you watch the English Premier League?" Mr. Stein asked, leaning back in his seat.

    The question caught Zachary off guard. He looked at the scout, wondering why he''d brought up the premiership¡ªbut nothing came to his mind at that moment. Nheless, he still decided to humor the aged scout with an answer.

    "I do." He nodded.

    Mr. Stein cast a teasing nce at Zachary before speaking.

    "Then you must have watched the Arsenal team of 2003 when Cesc F¨¤bregas made his debut for the Gunners at the age of 16. That was in an English Premiership club¡ªseveral tiers above our Rosenborg BK. But the boy Cesc started his professional career at such a young age and still managed to impress in one of the toughest leagues on the."

    "What about you?"

    Mr. Stein seemed more like a coach rather than a scout.

    "If you can''t even perform in a friendly game of the Rosenborg under-19s, how will you seed as a professional yerter on? Will you be able topete with boys, talented as Cesc?" The scout queried, locking eyes with Zachary.

    The questions hit Zachary''s psyche like a cksmith''s hammer on hot iron, molding a determination of steel he''d never possessed in the entirety of his two lives. His eyes lit up as a dozen or so new ambitions streamed through his brain. He desired to be a winner who was able topete with anybody.

    He couldn''t help but think about the greats like Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo. They had made their debuts in official matches at the ages of seventeen and eighteen, respectively. But they had shined like the stars they were, stumping their names in the histories of their clubs.

    Zachary dreamed of such glory and was determined to achieve it.

    [I need to start gunning for the top right away.] He deliberated.

    He resolved to be the greatest such that if he ever faltered, he would fall close to the top. If he set his sights on besting Ronaldinho but failed, he would at leastpare with Neymar or end up as a Mohamed Sh in the future. And that was not a bad thing for him since he was just a failure in his past life.

    With the system as support, coupled with his hard work, he believed that he would reach the top sooner orter. He just had to correct his attitude before it was toote.

    With newfound vigor, he looked at the scout with a glint in his eyes. "I understand," he said solemnly. "I''ll aim for an excellent performance during the friendly match with Viking. You won''t be disappointed."

    "Atta-boy. That''s the spirit." The scoutughed.

    "Remember that motivation is only your motor, but you have to steer toward the right destination. I have been a scout for a long time and can tell that you''re a talent. Your destination should be the top professional leagues of Europe."

    Zachary was embarrassed by the praise since he''d used a system''s vitality-enhancing elixir to improve his physique. He simply maintained a poker face as he continued listening to the scout''s words.

    "Your physique is strong enough to support you in the under-19s. You simply need to grow some extra balls, stay calm, and perform."

    "If you do, some doors you never thought existed might be opened." Mr. Stein added, voice turning dramatic at the very end.

    "What do you mean?" Zachary hurriedly inquired. He could tell that there might be a hint somewhere in the scout''s monologue.

    "You didn''t hear this from me," Mr. Stein murmured as if he was hiding his speech from a hidden entity somewhere in the small kitchen of their apartment. He lookedical.

    "If you y well, you may catch the eye of Rosenborg''s head coach. I''m sure that he''ll be present for the game since he''s looking for new yers to join the senior team. You may escape the fate of staying in the academy for a period greater than six months if he notices you."

    "Really?" Both Zachary and Kasongo eximed in unison, jumping up from their seats in surprise. They longed to y ser as professionals. Debuting quicker was their goal.

    "It''s the truth." The old man smiled slyly.

    "How can I get into the line-up of that match," Kasongo grumbled like an aggrieved housewife. "And why does Zach get all the good opportunities?"

    "Kasongo, don''t get me started on your ipetence," The scout said, frowning.

    "How can a young sportsman like you have excess body fat? What have you been eating? You better take your fitness training seriously. Otherwise, I''ll tell Coach Damata to inform your old man. You can say goodbye to ser forever." He harrumphed.

    "I''m sorry, Mr. Stein," Kasongo pleaded. "I''ll train seriously starting tomorrow morning."

    "I hope so. But hold that thought. I''ll be taking you to acquire your temporary residence permits from the police tomorrow. After that, you''ll be able to open a Norwegian bank ount where we''ll deposit your allowances."

    "When do we depart?" Kasongo asked.

    "8:30 in the morning," Mr. Stein replied. "We need to finish all your immigration procedures by noon since Zach will need to attend the pre-match training session with the under-19s tomorrow afternoon."

    "Kasongo, you''lle with me to check out the gym where the two of you will be training during your first six months here."

    "Do we need to pay for the gym?" Zachary cut in before the scout could continue. He''d already chanced upon a small gym in his building''s basement earlier that day. It could satisfy all his needs without the need to pay for expensive membership in the city center. He didn''t wish to spend his allowance on anything unnecessary.

    "You don''t have to worry," Mr. Stein replied, smiling. "As long as you use the gym between 6 to 8 AM, you won''t have to pay a single cent."

    "Oh, that''s great. I''ll be sure to check it out on Saturday." His training with the under-19s was only on Friday and Monday. He would have the whole weekend to check out the gym.

 Chapter 19 - Pre-match Training Sessions

    The next day.

    Zachary received his temporary residence permit from the police station and managed to open a bank ount. Surprisingly, Mr. Stein banked the 14,000 Norwegian Kroner that was his monthly allowance soon after. He seemed not to mind the fact that Zachary had not yet signed a contract with either the Rosenborg team or the NF Academy. When Zachary queried him about the issue, he just shed a smile before telling him to perform well during the match on Tuesday.

    At noon, Zachary returned to Moholt and ate light lunch before starting his preparations for his first training sessionter that day.

    Since the Rosenborg senior team was using the Lerkendal Stadium that afternoon, the coaches had organized for the under-19 training session to take ce at the Death-Valley Fotballbanen. It was a ser pitch owned by NTNUI¡ªthergest sports club in Norway.

    Zachary reached the pitch at around 2:30 PM. He''d no trouble locating the Death-Valley since Mr. Stein''s had already brought him there earlier that day. On arrival, he noticed that more than twenty yers were already dressed and going through light warm-ups on the sidelines. They were an intimidating bunch. The majority were Caucasians, standing at almost six feet tall, with physiques¡ªseemingly more muscr orparable to his.

    There was only a single African yer in their midst with a dark-brown skin tone and hair shaped into a mini-afro. Zachary supposed that he was probably not very famous in his previous life since he couldn''t identify him.

    Running beside him was the only yer Zachary recognized among all the boys on the pitch. He was a tall fellow with neck-length ck hair named Ole¡ªsomething. Zachary recalled Ole ying for the French team Saint-¨¦tienne in a match against Lyon during his past life. The midfielder was hard to forget since he shared a name with one of Norway''s greatest yers.

    Zachary didn''t bother the group of yers and quickly donned his new ser attire. He''d bought several sets of jerseys and a new pair of Nike boots after receiving his allowance earlier that day.

    Soon enough, Zachary, fully dressed in a light-green attire, started warming up alone on the sidelines. He started off by marching on the spot before running from one corner g to another¡ªalong the goal line. He made sure to include some forward and backward sprints in his routine when he pumped his arms up and down in rhythm with his steps.

    Salty droplets flowed down his face like soft tropical rain, dripping onto the artificial turf of the pitch. But Zachary didn''t stop the routine until he felt that his muscles were active and ready for intensive ser drills. During the short career of his previous life, he''de to understand the importance of warming the body before any intensive exercise. It would help increase his flexibility while reducing muscle soreness and lessening the risk of injury.

    Zachary concluded his warm-up with some light stretches before returning his attention to the other yers. He wanted to spy on some of their talents using the system. He was a staunch believer of the ''know yourpetitor as you know yourself'' principle.

    Zachary picked up one of the stray balls from the sidelines before clicking on the snooping-tool. He had to be in contact with a ball for the tool to function.

    "DING"

    Zachary focused on the interface as soon as the familiar system notification sounded.

    Cross-hairs simr to those of a sniper android game had appeared on the screen. A few words were above and below them.

    ****

    *SNOOPING TOOL ACTIVATED

    ->Focus the virtual scope on the subject to assess their talent.

    ----

    Allowed usage for a single month: 6/6.

    ----

    ****

    Zachary focused the virtual-cross-hairs on Ole¡ªthe only midfielder he recognized on the pitch.

    "DING"

    ****

    SUBJECT: Ole Seln?s

    AGE: 16 years

    TALENT ASSESSMENT: GRADE-A

    ----

    *USER STATS

    ->Physical Fitness: A +

    ->Ser Technique: A +

    ->Game Intelligence: B +

    ->Mental Ability and Mindset: A-

    ->X-Factors: C +

    ****

    Zachary was at a loss for words after ncing at the translucent virtual screen. He wondered whether all the yers on the team were A-grade talents. The boy Ole was just slightly older than him but with much better stats. The only stat Zachary bested him was the Game-Intelligence that he had luckily elevated due to his acquisition of the Zinedine-Visual-Juju.

    What surprised Zachary the most was the boy possessing a C+ grade for the X-Factor stat. To this point, he didn''t understand what the attribute represented. On his user-stats interface were the glittering words¡ªNo Info Avable as of yet. The system had left him with no clue about how to improve his X-Factor.

    Zachary was about to continue his spying but noticed that the coaches had arrived. They had just blown the whistle calling everyone to the center circle.

    Zachary closed the virtual screen and dashed off towards the coaches. He was eager to begin his first training with the Rosenborg under-19s.

    "Is Zachary Bemba here?" One of the two coaches hollered out after making a short address to the yers seated in the center circle.

    "Here." Zachary, seated at the back of the group, raised his arm as he replied. He''d noticed that the middle-aged bald coach who''d called his name was somewhat too tall for his build¡ªas if he stopped growing only to be stretched on one of those medieval racks a half-foot more. His face was mostly obscured by a scraggly red beard that clung to his skin like ravaged ivy tendrils.

    "So, you''re the Zachary," the coach intoned, starting to observe him with a predator''s unwavering attention. There was a hardness in his eyes, a kind of coldness married to a seriousness. It was the look of a no-nonsense coach. At that moment, Zachary knew that he was in for some tough time if he didn''t manage to impress.

    And the coach''s ensuing few words proved his conjecture.

    "Wee to the team," he said after observing him for a few seconds. "But keep in mind that you''re still in a probationary period. I hope old man Stein filled you in on this!" He looked at Zachary inquisitively.

    "Yes, he did," Zachary replied, choosing to ignore the confused expressions of the rest of the yers in front of him. Zachary supposed that they weren''t aware of his addition to the team.

    Mr. Stein had warned him not to antagonize the coach while touching upon some of the conditions he was to fulfill before sealing his move to Norway.

    "If your performance is subpar during these two training sessions, I won''t bother including you in the line-up for the match on Tuesday. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, unfazed by the coach''s words.

    During his past life, he''de to understand that coaches loved one thing the most¡ªwinning. This upational hazard made coaches prone to loving yers who performed well and lusted for victory. Zachary needed to show the coach that he was such a yer starting from his first training with the Rosenborg under-19s.

    And he did just that over the next two sessions of pre-match training.

    On that Friday, the training session focused on scrutinizing the physical condition of the yers that would partake in the match. All the yers went through fitness drills that tested their flexibility, agility, and stamina.

    Zachary vigorouslypleted all the required drills, as instructed by Coach Boyd Johansen.

    When it was time for running the speed and agility cone exercises, he did double the required number. Zachary understood the importance of physical training and decided to outdo himself with his young body.

    He''d heard that Cristiano Ronaldo managed to rise to the top by doing such inhumane fitness conditioning from a young age. Zachary had no way to verify such rumors. However, he wished to emte such hard work to keep himself fit throughout his career¡ªand above all, improve his agility.

    He silentlypleted the day''s training without wasting any time on needless chatter with the others. He had no luxury for such since he was yet to join the team. In the meantime, all he could think about was how to impress the coaches. Zachary would have all the time to bond with the other yers after performing well during the match on Tuesday.

    The Monday training session focused on drilling the match formations into the yers'' style of y. The coaches organized several 6-versus-4 team training drills that focused on passing and team y.

    Zachary tackled like a ser maniac, intercepted balls like the future N''Golo Kant¨¦, and continuously performed some crazy off-ball movement when he participated. It was as if he had endless stamina with a nitro engine tied to his butt.

    By the time drills were over, most of his new teammates were treating him with respect as a hardworking yer who was never fatigued. The training had revealed to them that Zachary was the kind of yer anyone hated having as an opponent. He was good at all the dirty jobs like the tackling needed for the team.

    However, there were a couple of the under-19 yers not convinced or, more likely, too inmed with jealousy to respect a fifteen-year-old newbie fresh from Africa.

    Some even insulted him, making sure that he heard their verbal abuse. They nicknamed him the Mindless-Shrek, either due to his extreme enthusiasm towards training or his outfit. In the two pre-match practice sessions, his default attire had been all green, from the shirt to the boots.

    Zachary did not bother with the few simple-minded teenagers.

    He''d already learned his lesson during the Lubumbashi trials and wouldn''t pick a fight. He was in Europe to y ser and make some good money. He wouldn''t let his anger get in the way of that.

    He turned a blind eye to the few boys andpleted his cooling down routine while awaiting the line-up from the coaches.

    And he didn''t have to wait long.

    A few minutester, Coach Johansen blew the whistle and beckoned everyone into the center circle.

    "Thank you for attending today''s training," he began after all the yers were seated on the smooth turf of the Death Valley.

    "I have already said all that there is earlier during the training and won''t waste your time with any long speeches." He grinned, letting his gaze roam all over the yers that were eagerly waiting for the line-ups. He seemed to relish in the tension hanging in the evening air.

    The yers, including Zachary, didn''t make any disgruntled noises to pressure the coach into rushing his address. They silently waited for him to advance at his own pace. Not a single yer would blunder in such a way on the eve of a big game.

    "Sir. It''s almost seven." Coach Johansen''s assistant, Bj?rn Peters, reminded him.

    "Oh," he said, flipping his notebook open.

    "The provisional squad for tomorrow''s game against the under-19s of Viking FK will be as follows..."

    "Goal Keepers; Even Barli, Grant Anderson."

    "Defence; Simen Wangberg, Emil R?kke, Christoffer Aasbak, Espen Schmitz, and Ulrik Balstad."

    "Midfield; Markus Henriksen, Fredrik Midtsj?, Ole Selnaes, and Zachary Bemba."

    "Forwards; Mushaga Bakenga, Jonas Svensson, and Gjermund Asen."

    "For those selected, make sure you are at Lerkendal by 3:00 PM tomorrow. We will have a team meeting before the match."

    "Those not on the line-up can try harder for the next match. Dismissed." The coach concluded.

 Chapter 20 - First Match In Europe I

    Zachary left the Death Valley right after Coach Johansen had finished naming the line-ups for the game. A weight had been lifted from his shoulders when the coach mentioned his name as part of the team. He walked taller. His stride was lighter, more carefree.

    He was looking forward to the game against Viking FK.

    The cold evening gave him a reason to rush back home¡ªto his new apartment and enjoy the warmth of the heating system in his room. He quickened his step and reached Moholt within less than fifteen minutes.

    "You''re back." Kasongo shed him a smile when he entered the small kitchen, also serving as their living room. Zachary noticed that he''d just ced some French fries and chicken breasts in the oven. The boy was someone who enjoyed his chicken. That was a conclusion made by Zachary after spending the past few days with him.

    "How was it?" He asked, looking at Zachary expectantly.

    Zachary grinned and said: "What do you think? I''m on the team."

    Kasongo sighed. "Man, you''re a lucky bastard. You''re already going to y a match in Europe, whereas I''m stuck with physicals at the gym, day in day out."

    "Just cut down on your meat consumption," Zachary advised. "You wouldn''t need the physicals if you had no excess fat."

    "Who''s says that chicken increases fat? It''s just because of my height that I''ve issues with my body fat percentage." Kasongo argued.

    "Are you in the starting eleven?" He asked.

    "I don''t know yet. The coaches will name the starting team yers tomorrow before the match. But I''ll most likely not be starting." Zachary replied.

    "That''s understandable. You''re a newbie on the team." Kasongo intoned. "Is the match going to be yed in the main Lerkendal Stadium?" He asked.

    "Yes," Zachary replied. The Lerkendal Idrettspark, owned by Rosenborg, consisted of the main stadium and three training pitches. They were well managed and strictly controlled by the club''s management. Their under-19 game against Viking Stavanger would take ce in the main stadium.

    "If you y, I will be there to cheer you on. Go and showcase the spirit of African football." Kasongo smiled. He then focused on cutting onions in preparations for their dinner. The two had resolved to cook in turns during their stay together in Trondheim. That day was Kasongo''s turn.

    Zachary didn''t talk at length with Kasongo that night. He washed up, ate dinner, and headed back to his room to sleep by 9:00 PM. He was tired mentally and physically. The training had emptied his energy reserves.

    However, he was d that he''d taken another step towards achieving his dream of bing a pro ser yer on the international stage.

    Zachary felt good as he crawled beneath the sheets. He slept well that night, dreaming of himself lying in a bed of dors.

    The day of the match finally arrived.

    **** ****

    The Nordmenn loved their ser, or rather, their football teams. The people of Trondheim were no exception. Rumors about Rosenborg''s under-19 match against Viking Stavanger had spread fast in the small city of Trondheim over the previous few days. They attracted arge number of fans that had arrived at the stadium two hours before the start of the match.

    By 2:30 PM, the stands behind one of the goalposts were already fully upied. That was the section of the stadium that often housed the staunch fans¡ªalso members of Rosenborg''s supporter club during matches.

    Kasongo could feel the adrenaline from the pitch to the stands and flowing right around the stadium. It was the sort of tension mixed with excitement that should not have urred for a simple under-19 match. He was d that he''d tagged along with a group of new friends to the stadium. And this was a particrly overzealous group of fans.

    He looked expectantly towards his friend, Zachary. He was among the Rosenborg under-19s warming-up between the goalposts that stood sentry at either end of the perfect pitch. He looked the part of a real pro in the ck Rosenborg training kit.

    **** ****

    For Zachary, it was the perfect day with the ideal conditions in which to y his first match in Europe. The weather was gorgeous that afternoon. Blue skies, no wind, ambient temperature¡ªit was more like an absence of weather. The usual autumn coldness was absent that Tuesday.

    Lerkendal Stadium was millions of perfect grass strands as eager for the start of y as the fans who had already brought the stadium to light. Zachary could hear their loud cheers fueling his eagerness to perform. But at the same time, he was a bit overwhelmed by the atmosphere. It had been a long time since hest yed in front of a crowd.

    Zachary stretched his legs and watched the Viking FK yers match into the other half of the pitch. Their light grey-training kits seemed somewhat dull to Zachary.

    As they took the field in perfect formation, a slow, steady booing filled the air. The Rosenborg home fans were already giving the Viking team hell even before the match started. Although the stadium was only a quarter full, the cheers of the fans were deafening.

    "All yers stop the warm-up exercises and head to the dressing room..." The assistant coach, Bj?rn Peters, yelled as he moved around the half of the pitch upied by the Rosenborg team.

    "Zach! Zach!"

    As Zachary jogged towards the dressing room, he heard someone calling out his name from one of the emptier stands. He looked up only to find Kristin, Mr. Stein, and another old gentleman sitting just beside the stadium tunnel entrance.

    "We are rooting for you," Kristin yelled when he cast his sight towards the trio.

    "Thank you." Zachary mouthed the words. He waved to his acquaintances before moving on towards the dressing room.

    "You know Kristin Stein?" A voice sounded from behind him once he stepped into the tunnel.

    Zachary turned around and noticed that the substitute goalkeeper had arrived behind him at some point. He was Grant Anderson, a tall Caucasian with blue eyes and a chiseled jaw. Thebination of his blonde hair, tied into a ponytail, and booming voice made him seem intimidating.

    "Yes," Zachary replied. "But just casually," he emphasized.

    Grant observed him with narrowed, rigid, and cold eyes before saying: "I hope what you say is true. Otherwise. Hmmm." He harrumphed before continuing to the dressing room.

    "Is old Grant giving you a hard time?" Ole Seln?s inquired. He''de up to him right after the goalkeeper left.

    "Nope. He was just saying hi," Zachary replied honestly. He had not taken Grant''s words seriously. Thoughts about the match were what upied his mind at that moment. He wouldn''t bother about the ravings of a teenager before his first game.

    "That''s great." Ole patted the back of his shoulder. "Keep your head in the game. I''m sure the coach will give you an opportunity today." He gave Zachary a thumbs up before continuing to the dressing room.

    Zachary found the dressing room in a state of chaos. Hoots, hollers, andughter sounded back and forth through the air, ricocheting off the lockers like metal bullets. Most of the yers were slowly putting on their white t-shirts and ck shots. That was the official home jersey of team Rosenborg.

    "Zach," Mushaga, the only other ck fellow in the room, called out to him after seeing Zachary standing by the entrance. He was the yer with an afro haircut. The coach had named him as one of the forwards for the game.

    "Your jersey is there," he said, pointing to one of the hooks beside a locker. He seemed like a friendly person to Zachary.

    "Thank you," Zachary said before picking up the jersey. Since Zachary was not yet officially on the team, he received a numberless jersey for that match.

    Coach Johansen and his assistant soon came in. The room fell into silence. The Rosenborg under-19s, dressed in their full jerseys, turned their focus on to the coach.

    "We''ll y the 4:5:1 formation¡­" He started exining the tactics right away while inscribing the squad on the whiteboard fixed to the wall.

    ****

    Goalkeeper; Even Barli.

    ----

    The center-backs; Simen Wangberg, Espen Schmitz.

    The right-back; Ulrik Balstad. Left-back; Christoffer Aasbak.

    ----

    Central-midfielders (Defensive); Ole Seln?s, Fredrik Midtsj?.

    Central-midfielder (Attacking); Gjermund Asen.

    Right-wingers; Jonas Svensson. Left-winger; Markus Henriksen.

    ----

    Forward; Mushaga Bakenga.

    **** ****

    In a few minutes, the coach expounded on the formation and tactics for the first half. The team would y with four defenders, five midfielders, and a single forward. Coach Johansen intended to shut down every passing opportunity of the opposition. Thus, the yers would attack and defend together like a pack of wolves.

    Zachary was left on the bench together with Grant, Emil, and Jonas. The other three yers seemed unhappy about it. However, Zachary was different. It was his first game with the club. He wasn''t expecting to be in the starting line-up for the game in the first ce.

    With his mind at ease, Zachary left the dressing room and headed to the technical area to watch the start of the game. He had to analyze every moment of y to search for opportunities he could exploit when he joined the game as a substitute.

    The two teams didn''t keep the fans waiting for long.

    At exactly 3:45 PM of that Tuesday, two armies of eleven walked onto the green to pitch war in the way of civilized societies.

    The match between Rosenborg U19 versus Viking U19 was finally starting.

 Chapter 21 - First Match In Europe II

    At 4:00 PM, the referee blew the whistle, signaling for the match to begin.

    Viking Stavanger kicked off the match.

    The cheering of Rosenborg fans behind Viking''s goal shook the stadium right after. They chanted some of the names of the yers entering the stadium, like Ole and Mushaga.

    The first few minutes were an affair of a scuffle in the midfield. No team managed to hold the ball long enough to make any notable impact during the first ten minutes.

    The Rosenborg boys, in white, struggled to dominate the ball possession with their five midfielders. However, they were always quickly closed down by the Viking yers in their dark blue jerseys.

    The Viking under-19s were proving to be a tough nut to crack.

    They were ying the conventional 4-4-2 formation that afforded them a solid basic structure with defensive depth and attacking numbers. All their yers had clearly marked roles.

    When the Viking team lost the ball, their four defenders and four midfielders would put eight men in front of the Rosenborg boys, covering the entire width of the field. One of their strikers often returned to help in the midfield.

    Their game-y was the typical Mourinho style when he faced the Barcelona of Ronaldinho.

    But during the 16th minute, the boy Ole Seln?s started performing like a superstar. He attracted a lot of cheers from the crowd of supporters. His ys were phenomenal, enabling the Rosenborg under-19s toe alive when he touched the ball. The other midfielders would try opening up spaces or making runs aimed at prating the opponent''s half¡ªawaiting his passes.

    His long passes were like sniper shots, always managing to find Mushaga¡ªthe center forward of the Rosenborg under-19s. The two created the first good chance of the game in the 20th minute in such a fashion.

    After receiving a quick ball from the keeper, Ole unleashed a long ball on an arching path towards Mushaga. The afro-boy had the time and space inside the box after picking up the neat pass and pulled the trigger. But his shot towards the far corner was pushed away by the outstretched fingertips of the Viking goalkeeper.

    The Rosenborg Troll Kids won the first corner of the game.

    Jonas Svensson, the right-winger, stepped up to take the corner. He whipped a teasing ball into the box, but one of the Viking defenders was alert and averted the threat.

    However, it was clear to all the spectators that the Troll Kids of Lerkendal had begun establishing their dominance in the game.

    Zachary watched the game on the sidelines from the dugout. He was seated at the furthest end from the team officials with his focus scattered, his mind brimming with nervous anticipation. His toes were itchy to kick the ball after watching the opening minutes of the match.

    "Damn it." He heard Coach Johansen curse for the umpteenth time during the first half.

    Zachary cast a nce towards him and noticed he was rubbing his bald head in frustration.

    He empathized with him.

    Jonas Svensson, the short right-winger, had just attempted to find the head of Mushaga with a promising cross into the box. However, one of the defenders of the Viking under-19s outjumped the forward and averted the threat.

    Stalemates were the worst nightmare for a coach. Although Rosenborg seemed to be in control¡ªwith higher ball possession, the match situation could change at any moment. It would take only one goal for Viking to flip the tables upon the Troll Kids. Zachary had watched Greece win the Euro of 2004 in such a fashion.

    And his predictions came true when the Viking Stavanger coach made two substitutions at the start of the second half. He brought in two yers.

    One was a right-winger¡ªnamed Yann-Erik, with quick feet and an uncanny ability to leave his opponents in the dust. The other was a ck muscr yer who came on for one of the central midfielders. He was called Landu-Landu by his teammates. Zachary noticed that the man''s chest muscles were bulging through the blue jersey and his exposed biceps balls of strength. He was a strong man.

    When the two entered the game during the 47th minute, they immediately made an impact.

    Landu-Landu marked Ole tightly and put a stop to his control of the game. He stuck to him and shadowed his every move, leaving him with no opportunity to receive and pass the ball.

    With the control tower of Rosenborg frozen, the Viking under-19s came alive.

    Teasing balls started flying in from the wings towards their two strikers. In the right-wing, Yann-Erik¡ªthe substitute could cross with either foot or cut in and threaten the goal. It seemed like he''dplete freedom to switch wings as he wished. He yed as a winger on both sides of the pitch and a third striker at the same time.

    He tortured the Rosenborg right and left-backs immediately aftering on to the pitch.

    On the sidelines, Zachary wondered why such a yer had remained obscure in his previous life. Yann-Erik had the ir, speed, and vision of a top number-7.

    Yann-Erik cemented his influence on the game in the 54th minute. The Rosenborg midfielders were exchanging neat passes and waiting for an opportunity to start an attack but made a mistake and lost possession. Landu-Landu picked up the ensuing misced pass in the center circle and sent forth a lofted long pass towards the right-wing.

    Like the wind, Yann-Erik ran onto the pass and dribbled past Christoffer Aasbak¡ªthe left-back of Rosenborg. His agile footwork was splendid as he elerated towards the box. A few secondster, he was bearing down on goal¡ªand rifled a right-footed shot into the corner of the.

    0:1. Viking FK was in the lead.

    "Damn! Damn!" Zachary heard Coach Johansen cursing while the Viking under-19s celebrated. Rosenborg had dominated the game but was a goal down with thirty-two minutes to go.

    Coach Johansen seemed frustrated. He looked towards the bench at Emil R?kke first and then Zachary Bemba, his eyes portraying his indecisiveness. He seemed to be considering which of the two midfielders he should bring on.

    Zachary waited anxiously for the coach''s decision. He understood that he would have more chances to perform, only when he entered the game early.

    Coach Johansen sighed and said: "Zachary. Go, warm up first. You have only five minutes. Come here for instructions once you finish."

    [Finally.] Zachary jubted inwardly. He released a breath of pent up air before saying: "Yes, coach."

    Call him sadistic, but he was even a little bit d that his team was losing. Otherwise, he might have gotten less than ten minutes of y. He needed a game where he could make an impact. And the one where his team was losing was his best stage to impress the coaches.

    **** ****

 Chapter 22 - First Match In Europe III

    "Your job in this match is simple. I need you to shut down that winger." He said, pointing towards Yann-Erik.

    The winger had just picked up another pass and begun dribbling into Rosenborg''s half. He crossed the ball into the box from the side of the pitch, close to the touchline.

    Luckily, Fredrik Midtsj?, one of the midfielders of Rosenborg, jumped high and blocked his cross. The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the corner g.

    "Tell Ole to adapt to the 4:3:3 formation..." the coach continued after seeing that the corner had been defended." As we did in training, Ole will remain the defensive midfielder, while Gjermund will move a little bit forward and serve the strikers. You''ll have free rein along the entire center-line to get a better handle on Yann-Erik."

    He gazed at Zachary for a moment with eyes full of skepticism.

    "Is that clear to you, or do you need me to get the board?" He asked. The coach seemed to doubt Zachary''s abilities to understand his instructions.

    Zachary locked eyes with the coach and replied emphatically: "Yes, coach. I understand."

    "Hope so," the coach muttered under his breath.

    "You were tackling and intercepting passes during our training sessions. Just do the same on the pitch and shut down the damn kid." He pped Zachary on the back, adding: "Go."

    "DING"

    No sooner had the coach pped his back than the system interface popped up before him.

    Zachary was a bit surprised and slowed down his pace as he matched towards the fourth official. He cast a nce at the translucent screen and noticed that there was a new mission from the system.

    ****

    G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    #NEW MISSION: Your Coach has given you an important task(s).

    *Task 1: Shut down a stubborn yer in the game.

    *Task 2: Impress and gain your first fans.

    ----

    ''ept'' ''Reject''

    ----

    *Rewards:

    -> 30 juju-points

    ----

    *Punishment in case the mission is still iplete at the end of the game. (None if you reject the mission now)

    ->Minus 40 Juju-Points.

    ----

    *Remarks: Opportunities don''t happen. You create them.

    ****

    Zachary didn''t hesitate to click on the ept button once he had finished perusing through the contents of the mission. It was the first mission with a hefty reward in juju-points. He had a feeling he would need them very soon.

    Zachary had resolved to umte more points to upgrade the system. From his experience reading web-novels, he knew the system would be more helpful to the host after an upgrade.

    **** ****

    Kristin was watching the game in the emptier section of the Stadium. The match had begun boring her after the Rosenborg under-19s got into a tricky situation.

    She hated losses and always felt thepulsion to leave the venue of the game whenever her team was trailing. But then, she noticed that Zachary had started warming up on the sidelines.

    A Cheshire cat''s grin lit up her face like a tallow candle in a papermp. She considered him her first project, the first yer she''d discovered at the genesis of her career as a scout. Kristin was looking forward to seeing how he would perform pitted against the Norwegian under-19s. Only then would she cast away all doubts about his talent.

    "Is that your boy?" She heard Coach Nils Eggen asking her grandpa.

    He was Rosenborg''s longest-serving manager, having led the team for 22 seasons in five spurs between 1971 and 2010. He''d won the Tippeligaen in his inaugural season, leading the team for 13 of the club''s 23 league-winning seasons. He had just won another league championship the previous year.

    Although he was about to retire, Nils Eggen still had a lot of influence on Rosenborg''s management. Kristin had once heard some rumors that his standing wasparable to that of the club chairman.

    "Yes, that''s him," Mr. Stein answered Coach Eggen''s question.

    "Oh, okay," Mr. Eggen replied before returning his attention to the match.

    **** ****

    Zachary entered the pitch after the ball went out for a throw-in.

    He''de into the pitch as a substitute for another midfielder named Fredrik Midtsj?.

    He jogged, resisting the pressure mounting on his chest. His legs felt heavy like he was wading through water. He felt very anxious since it was his first time ying on the European ser stage.

    He immediately ran to Ole and passed him the coach''s instructions before moving to the left-midfield closer to the position of Yann-Erik¡ªthe winger of the Viking team.

    He had resolved toplete the coach''s assignment with all his effort. That was the only thought running through his mind at that moment.

    In his previous life, he''d blundered when he came on as a substitute during his first professional match at TP Mazembe. He hadn''t followed the coach''s instructions and was substituted quickly after. He''d made a record of being the first substitute in the Linafoot league to be reced without an injury.

    But with a second chance presented to him, he would follow the coach''s instructions to the letter. He wanted to enter the team first and establish his status. That was his target for that match. He would think about the issues concerning his style of y and career only when he sessfully signed the contract with Rosenborg.

    Gamey resumed with Viking''s throw to the right-wing.

    Yann-Erik received the ball and yed a one-two with Landu-Landu. They advanced towards the Rosenborg goal, weaving their way past Markus Henriksen, the left-winger, and were soon inside Rosenborg''s half. Their short passes were neat and urate, allowing them to advance towards the Rosenborg goal, unhampered. If the status-quo didn''t change, Rosenborg would be in trouble.

    However, Zachary had no intention of allowing them to do as they pleased. He''d noticed some shadows of both balls and human silhouettes shing out of their bodies into different directions. The Zinedine-Visual-Juju was in action once more.

    Zachary ran towards the wing while concentrating on Yann-Erik''s sprinting figure. The winger had just received the ball and was dashing past Christoffer Aasbak, Rosenborg''s left-back, with a ir of sidesteps.

    Zachary then saw two human-shaped shadows sh out of the agile winger''s form. One headed towards the corner g after beating Christopher. The other cut the pitch diagonally¡ªdashing towards the Rosenborg goal.

    Zachary didn''t need to deliberate for long about which route to defend. He had watched Yann-Erik''s ys while he was on the bench and was sure that he would decide to cut inside. Moreover, if he got it wrong, he could still push the winger on a path away from the goal.

    However, even the one second of deliberation on his part had allowed the agile winger to move past him. Zachary resolved to take the defender out without any dy.

    Tunnel vision set in as he gauged the distance between the ball and his feet. Zachary''s ser brain, enhanced by his high A+ spatial awareness, was filled with deductions of the speed at which Yann-Erik was traveling. He was gauging the timing of his tackle.

    Zachary increased his pace and caught up to the right-winger before sliding in and thrusting his right leg to meet the ball at the winger''s feet.

    He used his tackling leg to hook around the front, dispossess the ball, and shove it away from the attacker. The very smooth grass of the pitch made his tackling easier as he sent Yann-Erik tumbling to the ground.

    Zachary felt all his anxiety fade as the ball broke away into open space before being collected by Christopher, the left-back. He''de out as the winner in his first face off against an opponent in Europe.

    "Ref... Ref..." Zachary heard Yann-Erik yelling as he rolled around in the grass, seemingly injured. However, the referee ignored him and waved for the game to continue. The tackle wasn''t a foul since Zachary had won the ball fair and square before sweeping the winger. Otherwise, the nearby linesman would have waved his g already.

    Zachary grinned at the young winger before moving back into the left midfield. He intended to use all means possible to keep the prolific winger out of the game. Smiling at his defeated opponent after their brief battle was the best way of gloating he could think of that wouldn''t attract the wrath of the referee.

    **** ****

 Chapter 23 - First Match In Europe IV

    As the game progressed, it became apparent to Kristin that Yann-Erik was losing his influence in the game. His every run into Rosenborg''s half was interrupted by Zachary. The African boy was doing a good job even in the defensive role of the midfield.

    Zachary didn''t just mark the winger tightly and shadow his every move like what Landu-Landu was doing to Ole. He would move quickly into position when Rosenborg lost the ball and ce himself between Yannick and his team''s goal. When the winger ran ahead of him, he would use a sliding tackle to sweep away the ball.

    His free reign in the midfield allowed him to help both wings when the Viking under-19s were attacking. The game reverted to a stalemate in the midfield after he stopped the runs of the agile winger.

    Rosenborg yed well with their wingers moving forward and nking Mushaga, the formerly lone central striker. The two wingers were using their speed on the wings before cutting in towards the goal. They managed to threaten the Viking goal several times but were unable to seal the deal and score.

    The 4-3-3 formation was working out well for the Troll Kids of Lerkendal.

    But what worried Kristin the most was the score. The Rosenborg under-19s were still a goal down, yet the clock hand was already approaching the 80th minute.

    If Rosenborg didn''t score in the next few minutes, they would lose the game. That wouldn''t look good on Zachary''s CV and might affect his confidence.

    "Your boy seems to be good at defending." She heard Coach Eggen say. "He has very sharp instincts and is reading the young winger like a history book. He would make a good center-back."

    Mr. Stein sighed before saying: "That''s not why I brought him to Rosenborg. He has something else¡ªeven much better?"

    "Really?" Coach Eggen seemed surprised.

    "Yes." Mr. Stein nodded. "He hasn''t even disyed a quarter of his abilities. Coach Johansen is just using him in a position that doesn''t suit him."

    "What is his natural position?"

    "The midfield," Mr. Stein replied. "But he should be in the attacking role rather than the defense. His passing abilities are simply phenomenal. He might even be better than Ole."

    "It has been long since I heard you rate a yer that highly." Coach Eggen smiled. "Now my interest is piqued," he added before returning his focus on the game.

    **** ****

    As the match progressed, a chant grew from the stands behind Rosenborg''s goalposts until it was a full-blown war song intended to fuel the performance of the Rosenborg yers.

    "Ohh. Shllla..., oh Rosenborg..." The fans sang as they jumped and danced to the rhythm defined by the pping of their hands.

    Zachary, on the pitch, was impressed by the passion of the Nordmenn in support of their team. The cheers of the fans excited his zeal to perform at his best and win the game.

    He looked around and started observing the entire width of the pitch. The Viking keeper was about to take a goal-kick. The ball had just gone out after another failed attempt at goal by Rosenborg. The forwards of the Troll Kids had already missed more than a dozen clear chances to score.

    The Viking goalkeeper kicked the ball high and sent it deep into Rosenborg''s half. One of the center-backs of Rosenborg headed it back high into the midfield¡ªtowards Zachary''s position.

    He was the only one with any space to receive the ball since the Viking under-19s were marking all the other midfielders tightly. It seemed they had taken him for a mere defender with no ability to attack and left him unmarked.

    Zachary shot forward and leaped up towards the iing ball. He controlled it with his chest as a shiver erupted through his body. His feet hit the ground¡ªand he took off towards the other half of the pitch.

    He''d just noticed a clear white line running from his position through the pitch¡ªtowards the opponent''s box. His A+ game-intelligence attributes (spatial-awareness and risk assessment) had just made him aware of a safe route to run with the ball. Zachary was determined to exploit the gap left by the Viking yers in between the midfield.

    Sweat poured down his face as his heart pounded in his chest. His lungs screamed for air as his feet flew across the green towards the box of the Viking team.

    Two defenders in blue jerseys sprang in front of him. Zachary slowed down his pace a little before faking to the left but then elerating and moving to the right with the ball remaining close to his feet. His dribbling was not anything fancy, just an asional change of pace in his long strides allowing him to weave past the defenders. Zachary simply slowed down, getting the defenders to rx a second, then took off like the wind.

    He managed to wriggle past the two defenders and continue towards the goal, shrugging off one chasing yer before getting past two iing sliding challenges.

    Zachary unexpectedly found himself stepping into the 18-yard box with only one defender between him and the goalkeeper. A deft touch took him around the defender before he fired the ball in from an acute angle. He had nothing else in his vision but the goal.

    However, he noticed the fingertips of the keeper brushing the ball and shoving it a little higher off its intended path. His heart leaped into his throat as he regretted not going for a carpet shot instead of a looped ball.

    [Please go in.] He prayed inwardly.

    However, his mood sank when he saw the ball hit the crossbar and rebound back into the pitch.

    By reflex, Zachary turned around to chase it.

    Then out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mushaga pounce on the loose ball near the penalty spot¡ªand fire off a low shot into the middle of the empty. Goal. 1:1.

    The Rosenborg under-19s had managed to equalize in the 82nd minute.

 Chapter 24 - First Match In Europe V

    The cheers erupted like an auditory volcano in Lerkendal Stadium.

    It was all quiet one second and then deafening after Mushaga scored the goal.

    Mushaga didn''t celebrate alone but ran up to Zachary, pulled him in a bear hug, and said: "That was a hell of a sprint. Thank you."

    Before Zachary could reply, the other Rosenborg yers came jumping on them and embracing them to celebrate the goal.

    Zachary''s lips curled into a smile as he tried to suppress his still bubbly emotions. It was alling back to him at that moment. His crazy run through the midfield had led to an equalizer. He wasn''t even sure how he managed to dribble past the four Viking yers.

    "Zachary, Ole. Come here." Zachary heard Coach Johansen yelling from the sidelines.

    Zachary wasn''t worried that the coach would query him for previously leaving his position. Scoring and winning games mattered the most to coaches. They would support yers who could spot the gaps in between the opponent''s formation and exploit them. Zachary had done just that.

    And indeed, the coach had called them to receive more instructions on how to win the game. He didn''t even reflect on the goal but started giving them new instructions.

    "You two will form a triangle with Asen in the midfield. In the remaining seven minutes, I want you to press them hard and get another goal. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," the two boys replied.

    "And Zachary. Do not try to dribble through the midfield once again. The Viking yers will mark you tightly for the rest of the game. Use short passes instead."

    Zachary nodded to indicate his assent. He chugged down some water before returning back to the pitch.

    The Rosenborg under-19s were on fire after the game restarted.

    Zachary followed Coach Johansen''s instructions and used only short passes instead of dribbling.

    Together with Ole and Asen, they formed a triangr midfield that dominated the ball possession. Zachary was much more involved in the passing and attacking than in the first half.

    His only task was to receive passes from Ole, the defensive midfielder, and supply them to the one striker and the two wingers. The Viking midfielders couldn''t keep him in check.

    Zachary had managed to deliver several good through passes to the three forwards, but they still failed to score.

    **** ****

    "As you said, the boy has a good game reading," Coach Eggen observed.

    "Yes, he does," Mr. Stein replied, smiling. "Do you think we can fix him into the current under-19 squad?" He asked.

    "How old is he?"

    "His 16th birthday is on the 3rd of December."

    "Martin." Mr. Eggen frowned. "He is still too young. We can''t bring him into the club yet."

    "But..."

    "Martin, no buts." Coach Eggen interrupted the scout.

    "While you were missing in action, FIFA introduced a new regtion. It prohibits international transfers involving underage yers starting this year."

    "Do those FIFA rules really matter? Clubs like Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in Spain have already signed young talents from all over the world this year."

    "This time, they''re serious about enforcing the regtions. If we don''tply and sign a minor, who''s a foreigner, we''ll be risking a transfer ban that couldst a couple of seasons."

    "That serious?"

    "Yes." Coach Eggen nodded. "We received the first notice about the regtionst year. You were still in the hospital then."

    "Then, how do we handle the boy? As you can see, he is very talented. We can''t lose him."

    "We''ll send him to an affiliated academy until he turns eighteen. NF Academy is a good choice. FIFA will have no grounds to question us, as long as he is exclusively an amateur yer. He will be on a schrship, studying in one of the upper secondary schools here in Trondheim."

    Coach Eggen smiled and added: "We basically won''t have any association with him until he is an adult. We can include him in our roster when he turns 18. That''s just a season away."

    Mr. Stein sighed. "This regtion will mess up the opportunities of many talents from the developing nations. They will most likely waste away without proper training."

    "You should already know about the previous cases of unscrupulous agents and organizations that were exploiting young talents from the developing nations. FIFA intends to reduce the number of children sent away by their families at the risk of being abandoned in Europe by such idiots."

    "I already promised him that he would get to join the under-19s if he performed well in the match."

    "Don''t worry," Coach Eggen said, smiling. "The boy will be in good hands. The period until he turns 18 will allow him to refine his techniques further. This will be good for his development."

    "I hope so." Mr. Stein sighed before focusing back on the match.

    **** ****

    The game was still at a stalemate, with two minutes, minus additional time, remaining.

    Rosenborg was always on the attack, pressing the Viking under-19s in their half.

    Jonas Svensson had just delivered a tricky cross into the box. However, it had been cleared out of y by one of Viking''s center-backs.

    It was another goal-scoring opportunity from a corner for the Rosenborg under-19s.

    Most of Zachary''s teammates headed into Viking''s box to attack the ball from the corner. Soon, more than 16 yers were tangling within the box as they waited anxiously for the corner to be taken. Most were pushing and pulling at the shirts of their opponents.

    The referee only managed to keep them in check by giving out yellow cards to two of the Viking yers.

    Zachary remained back¡ªjust a few yards out of the box. He didn''t join the fray. He wanted to try out his arrow shot from the edge of the box.

    But then he heard Coach Johansen yelling from the sidelines: "Zachary, head into the box and attack the corner. Why are you sleeping outside the box?"

    Zachary hesitated, wanting to remain in his position. He could easily take a shot at the goal from there.

    "Are your ears filled with lint? Head over into the box right now," Coach Johansen hollered at him, seeming angry.

    Zachary sighed and headed into the box after a few seconds of deliberation. He would rather lose the game than antagonize a coach at the start of his career in Europe.

    Zachary would have stayed in his position if he was sure that he would score from the edge of the box.

    However, the Zinedine-Visual-Juju wasn''t 100% perfect. It involved some guessing and deducing the path of the ball based on the observation of the juju-shadows and his game intelligence. If Zachary disobeyed the coach and missed out on scoring, he would be in deep trouble.

    When he entered the box, a tall Viking yer was instantly on him, shadowing his every step. Zachary ignored him and concentrated on Jonas, the winger, taking the corner at that moment.

    Since he was already in the opponent''s box, he wanted to try his best to score.

    However, the cross from Jonas Svensson was nothing special. The ball came in high and was directly heading into the outstretched arms of the leaping goalkeeper.

    The opportunity seemed lost¡ªand yers of both sides started rxing.

    But Zachary wasn''t among them.

    He''d just noticed that the hands of the Viking goalkeeper were in a peculiar position. The keeper was aiming for the contour catch, whereby his hands could cradle the ball, with the thumbs and index fingers forming a "W" behind it. However, the gap between his wrists was slightly wider than the diameter of the ball.

    Any other yer would have missed the small detail, but not Zachary. Using his Zinedine-Visual-Juju, he''d already deduced that the keeper would drop the ball.

    So he moved in for the kill.

    He ran away from his marker¡ªtowards the Viking goalkeeper.

    And his vision didn''t disappoint him.

    The keeper ended up mishandling the ball, allowing Zachary to pick up the round gift before slotting it into the back of the to make it 2:1. GOAL!

    A terrible mistake by the keeper had led to the goal.

    **** ****

    Kasongo watched his friend score his first goal in Europe.

    He was cheering along with the rest of the enthusiastic fans in the stands behind Rosenborg''s goal. They pumped their fists into the air as they soared to new heights of emotion.

    Zachary''s goal had shocked him since it came out of the blue, from a seemingly lost chance.

    His achievement made Kasongo want to get on the pitch, to train. If Zachary could do it, so could he. Maybe not at first. But with relentless training and determination, he would seed.

    Kasongo wished to go back and train right away. However, he wanted to see whether his friend could do any more wonders in the game.

    He continued watching the game until it ended with the score of 2:1 in favor of Rosenborg.

    **** ****

 Chapter 25 - Housemates

    The sun had sunk lower in the sky, the light of day draining away, giving way to the velvety dark of night.

    Zachary walked back home with his shoulders drooping, his brows creased, and his face tense as he reyed his conversation with Mr. Stein after the match.

    He''d just learned he wouldn''t be able to join the professional ser stage until he was 18. That implied he still had a year and a few months before he could obtain his yer''s license to y in Norway.

    The bureaucrats, based in Z¨¹rich, had decided to enforce a new regtion to prohibit the transfer of youth talents from developing Nations, iming to be protecting the rights of minors. Zachary wondered how the rights of the prospective yers would be protected when some had nothing to eat in their home countries. He was disgruntled.

    With FIFA''s new rules, there was not a chance that he could receive a license before he became an adult. Zachary remembered that some of the top clubs, such as Barcelona, had incurred the wrath of the world''s football governing body because they''d signed minors during his previous life.

    [Seems like I''ll have to dy my ns for a bit.] He mused.

    Zachary had hoped to join the under-19s after having a good game that day. He would have then gotten a lot of ying time and built up his skills and experience in official matches. But all that was no longer possible due to the damn FIFA rule.

    [Maybe, I can focus on my personalized training during the period before I turn pro.] Zachary sighed.

    He''d been keen on training some new skills which would benefit his career. However, he had always been busy preparing for the trial in Lubumbashi and then his move to Norway. However, he now had plenty of time to hone his skills.

    With the facilities present in Trondheim, he could upgrade his fitness and refine his techniques to a higher level. His goal was to turn most of his attributes into A-grades within a year. With a system that could help along the way, he was confident that he would turn into a monster by the time he debuted for Rosenborg.

    upied by his ns, Zachary made it to Moholt a few minutester. He was already feeling better, regaining his post-match jubnt mood, after the short walk through the cold evening air.

    As he was about to enter his apartment, he was surprised to hear several unfamiliar voices from behind the door. It was always just him and Kasongo in the kitchen, especially during the evening.

    He opened the door only to find two blonde Caucasians seated on one side of the dining table. Kasongo wasfortable in one of the other chairs, engaged in a chat with them.

    "Wow, therees our star," one of the Caucasians, with brown hair, eximed once he noticed Zachary standing in the doorway. He stood up and rushed to Zachary before extending his hand for a handshake. "Nice to meet you. I am Paul Otterson." He grinned.

    Zachary returned the handshake. "Zachary Bemba. Nice to meet you too." He looked towards Kasongo for rification. He wanted to know who the strangers in their apartment were.

    Paul Otterson noticed his confusion and beat Kasongo to a reply. "We''re your other two housemates." Heughed. "I''m in room 1, and Kendrick, over there, is in the other room."

    "Oh," Zachary said. "So, you are the two academy yers from Sweden?" He was enlightened. Mr. Stein had mentioned something about their housemates from Sweden being away on holiday.

    Zachary was surprised. The boy before him looked more like a movie star rather than an athlete. His short light brown hair was particrly curly and artfully tousled, matching his arched brows and sharp cheekbones that were perfectly angr. He seemed like one of those pretty-boy types in teenage romance movies to Zachary.

    "Yes, that is us," Paul replied, pointing at his pointed nose. His square chin, coupled with his small eye slits,bined to create intense facial expressions¡ªlike he was peeved about something all the time. However, the boy seemed like he was the more cheerful and fun-loving person among the two Caucasians.

    "We have been in Trondheim for a year already. We had just gone on holiday. I watched your game¡ªand your run was simply magic. How did you manage to do it?" He asked.

    Before Zachary could reply, the other Caucasian cut in. "Paul. Give the guy a break. He''s just from a match. He should be tired."

    He stood up and moved towards Zachary. "Kendrick Otterson. Nice to meet you," he said, extending his hand. The Swede looked like one of those Zenned-out folks, the modern-day hippie types, with his long shoulder-length brown hair loosely framing his face. His scruffy beard did much to help the impression along. His downcast ocean blue eyes and his quiet, thoughtful demeanor, seeming tomunicate a certain innocence about his person.

    "Nice to meet you." Zachary returned his handshake, nodding. "You two are brothers?" He asked.

    Both had ocean blue eyes and shared amonst name. But their other traits were nothing alike. Kendrick was taller¡ªabout six feet, and more muscr than Paul. Zachary couldn''t easily confirm whether they were close rtives from just their looks.

    "Yes, we are," Paul was quick to answer. "Do we look alike?" He asked, putting an arm around Kendrick''s broad shoulders. Thetter pushed him away before returning to his seat.

    "Such a bore," Paul mumbled, shaking his head like an aged man.

    He turned to face Zachary and asked: "Have you eaten?"

    "Nope," Zachary replied. Since Mr. Stein had summoned him right after the match, he didn''t get time to eat the post-match snacks with the team.

    "Great." Paul pped his hands excitedly. "Let''s eat together. I''ve cooked Lasagna." He announced.

    Fifteen minutester, the group of four settled on the four-seater dining table to have their dinner. Zachary was surprised to find thesagna cooked by Paul delicious. The salty pastayers it had, spiced up by the hot sauce, was simply amazing. Its scent was simply intoxicating and mouth-watering when Zachary cut apiece off and shoved it into his mouth.

    Kasongo, the outspoken boy, took a bite of thesagna, cheesy with dark leafy greens. He smiled, "Paul, that''s so good."

    With a boyish grin, the Swede raised his brows, opening up his eyes, "Obviously. Any food I touch is a work of art." He emphasized. He seemed like one of those narcissistic pretty boys who usually bullied people in high school movies. "So, the two of you are from Africa?"

    "Yes," Kasongo replied after swallowing a mouthful of food. "The Democratic Republic of Congo, to be specific," he emphasized, smiling.

    "Is that near Didier Drogba''s country?"

    Zachary''s mouth twitched noticeably after hearing Paul''s question. DR Congo was thousands of miles away from Ivory Coast. He wondered how a person would ask whether the two were neighbors.

    "Hell, no." Kasongo shook his head. "Congo is at the center of the African Continent, bordering countries like Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania."

    "Haven''t heard of any yer from there," Paul mumbled. "But I know Uganda. Was it the country in the Last King of Scond?"

    "Yes, we border Uganda, the country in the movie," Kasongo concurred. "So, which positions do you two y?" Kasongo skillfully diverted the topic away from his home country.

    "I y as a forward and a winger," Paul replied before looking towards Kendrick¡ªwho was quietly eating his food. The boy had been silent for arge part of the evening.

    "Goalkeeper," Kendrick answered after noticing that his brother was ncing at him.

    Zachary couldn''t recall any yers with the name Otterson¡ªwho yed the two positions on the Swedish team during his previous life. They were probably not famous in his past life.

    "What about you?" Paul turned towards Kasongo.

    "I can y on any wing," Kasongo replied.

    "Are you as good as Zachary?" Paul asked, his eyes looking expectantly at Kasongo.

    "Not yet." Kasongo sighed, smiling ruefully. "But I''ll be in a short time."

    "That''s the spirit, brother." Paul nodded. "I''m the same. I want to join the Rosenborg under-19s as soon as possible. By the way, Zach, which number did you get on the Rosenborg team?" He looked at Zachary, seated opposite him. Kendrick and Kasongo also nced at him with their eyes glittering with expectation.

    "I haven''t yet joined the under-19s..." Zachary exined the whole FIFA regtion about not allowing foreign under-18 yers to obtain a professional license away from their home country.

    "Damn! That''s unfair." Kasongo shouted when he heard Zachary''s narrative.

    "Don''t worry about the license for the meantime," Paul consoled. "We have been here for over a year, and yet we have no prospects of receiving a license before we turn 18. Scandinavian Clubs are very strict, especially with rules concerning minors."

    "But be assured that your time here will pass very fast," Paul continued. "You''ll have to attend the mandatory secondary school education here in Trondheim while also undergoing the hectic day to day training in the academy."

    "You two are in upper secondary. Right?" Zachary asked.

    "Yes," Paul replied. "We are attending the Tr?ndg International School. It is the school where the NF academy sends its students for their academic education. The coaches will most likely send you there after youplete the academy registration procedures."

    "Do we have to pass all the subjects to stay in the academy?" Kasongo asked, frowning.

    "Yes." Paul nodded emphatically. "You have to at least perform above average to stay on schrship. But don''t worry. The school designs our learning timetables to fit our training schedules. It has a coborative initiative with Rosenborg to train young football talents in Trondheim."

    The Swede went on to exin the schedules of training at the academy to Zachary and Kasongo. In addition to the daily routine ser training, the yers had a chance to participate in international training camps and under-17petitions if they performed well. The NF Academy team had even participated in the SIA Cup of Valencia and the Riga Cup of Latvia during the previous year. At suchpetitions, there were junior teams of the top clubs like Manchester City, Valencia, and PSV participating.

    Zachary was pleased with the offered packages by the academy and could not wait to start his training.

    After the hearty meal with his new housemates, he headed back to his room to rest for the night and prepare for the academy registration the next day. He was already dosing as the match had tired him out.

    Just out of habit, he opened the system interface to check out his missionpletion status for that day''s match. But when he opened the G.O.A.T-missions tab, his eyes widened in shock as he perused through its contents.

 Chapter 26 - New Perks From The System

    ****

    #8 new messages

    CONGRATULATIONS

    -> You havepleted the mission (Important tasks from Coach Johansen).

    ----

    ->Mission-Rewards

    1) 30 Juju-points

    ----

    ->Mission Summary

    *Task 1: Shut down a stubborn yer in the game. (Complete shutdown achieved; Rating S)

    *Task 2: Impress and gain your first fans. (Staunch fans gained = 16; Casual fans gained = 721; Rating S)

    ----

    Overall Mission Rating: S

    ----

    ->Bonus rewards

    You have earned 30 bonus Juju-points

    ----

    ****

    Zachary had expected thepletion grade to be an S. He''d toiled hard in the game, thereby producing an assist that led to an equalizer and scoring the winning goal. He expected an S rating for his match performance. However, what caught him by surprise was the message blinking in red below the missionpletion notification.

    ****

    CONGRATULATIONS

    -> You havepleted the hidden-mission (Create match-winning opportunities during your first game in Europe).

    ----

    ->Mission-Rewards

    1) One-year dosage of C-grade Physical Conditioning Elixir sent to system inventory (temporarily-unlocked).

    ----

    ->Mission Summary

    *Analysis: You yed like a potential G.O.A.T and managed to grab on to the rare opportunities, leading your team to victory.

    *You executed the task so well and managed not to antagonize your Coach even though you continuously moved out of your position.

    ----

    Match Statistical Rating: 9.2/10

    Overall Mission Rating: S

    ----

    ->Bonus rewards

    You have earned 30 bonus Juju-points

    ----

    ****

    Zachary felt pumped, excited, and more alive after perusing through the G.O.A.T missions status tab.

    He shook off all the drowsiness that had almost enveloped his psyche after taking a nce at the rewards. The additional 30 Juju-points were a handsome reward for him at that juncture. He then had a total of 107 Juju-points that were more than enough to level up the system. He couldn''t wait to see how the system would evolve after leveling it up.

    However, Zachary was not a very impatient person. He decided to first check out the Physical Conditioning Elixir before upgrading the system. The system''s elixirs had yed a key role in improving his ser skills. He was optimistic about the new elixir''s effects.

    Zachary closed the G.O.A.T-Missions tab and opened the System-Shop.

    ****

    *SYSTEM SHOP

    ->Gift Packs (temporarily-unlocked) (2 msg)

    ->Purchase Skills (locked)

    ->Purchase Elixirs (locked)

    ->Lottery Coupons (locked)

    ->Inventory (temporarily-unlocked) (1 msg)

    ****

    Both the Gift-Pack and Inventory tabs were blinking red. Zachary right away clicked on the former¡ªas it contained descriptions and instructions on how to use the items from the system. Zachary sought to understand the usage of the Physical Conditioning Elixir before retrieving it from the system.

    "DING"

    ****

    GIFT PACKS (temporarily-unlocked)

    #2 new messages

    ----

    CONGRATULATIONS

    ->You have received a System Gift: One-year dosage of C-grade Physical Conditioning Elixir.

    *Each dose contains all the required macro and micronutrients to support the user''s weekly high-intensity training.

    *The elixir can improve all aspects of physical fitness, depending on the training n and intensity over the given period.

    *Please select the associated gift-card every week in the Inventory to retrieve the dosage of the elixir.

    ----

    NB:

    *To receive the reward, the user must agree toplete the new system mission; Progressive Overload Fitness Training.

    *The user can only retrieve a new dosage after meeting the training requirements of the previous week.

    *The user must consume the doses within five seconds after removal from the system shop.

    ----

    -> If the user agrees with the terms and conditions, he can right away retrieve this week''s dosage of the elixir from the Inventory.

    ----

    ****

    Zachary bounced and hopped around his room on his flexing feet and rubbed his hands together after reading the system''s message. His facial expression at that moment was that of a small child with an especiallyrge Christmas present. He could hardly contain his happiness.

    The system''s reward for the hidden-mission was what he desired to advance his skills andpete with the top professional yers in the European leagues.

    Zachary understood that ser was one of the most physically demanding of all sports. His coaches in his previous life had always emphasized the importance of proper feeding when training. That was why most professional sports clubs employed food and nutrition specialists to monitor their yers'' diets.

    Zachary needed to meet the required energy requirements of his long-term training ns to improve his physical fitness. Failure to meet those increased energy needs, especially with the rmended quality of nutrition, would significantly increase the risk of impaired training status. He would end up not getting the results he deserved from the training routines.

    However, the system had saved Zachary from all that hustle by providing him with a dosage of Physical Conditioning Elixir. Moreover, it had also designed a mission that contained weekly tasks for his progressive overload fitness training. He no longer needed to wait and consult his coaches before beginning his fitness training. He only needed to follow the training n of the system.

    After calming down, Zachary closed the Gift-Pack tab and opened the system-inventory to retrieve his reward. A card with an image of a yellow banana filled up the screen once he opened the system-inventory. He didn''t deliberate for long and just clicked on the gift card to retrieve his weekly dosage. He was already used to the system''s elixirs being in the form of fruits.

    "DING"

    No sooner had he tapped on the gift card than the familiar system notification sounded in his mind as a description of a new mission popted the screen before him.

    ****

    G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    #NEW MISSION: One-Year Progressive Overload Fitness Training

    *Task 1: Run a distance of 35 miles within a week (10 miles must involve high-intensity running exercises in the outdoor environment).

    *Task 2: Complete 100 dumbbell (15 kg) squat-and-press routines (Click here to watch instructional video).

    *Task 3: Complete 60 single-leg-squats (30 for each leg) daily for a week (Click here to watch instructional video).

    *Task 4: Complete 60 push-ups daily for a week.

    *Task 5: Complete four rounds of half a dozen Hatha-Yoga poses daily for a week (Click here to watch instructional video).

    ----

    *Rewards:

    -> Next week''s dosage of the C-grade Physical Conditioning Elixir

    -> 5 Juju-points

    ----

    *Punishment in case the mission is still iplete after the stipted time.

    ->Loss of a monthly dosage of the Physical Conditioning Elixir

    ----

    *Remarks: It takes sweat and determination to be a G.O.A.T since the only ce where sesses before ''work'' is in the dictionary.

    ----

    ->The user has to ept the mission before retrieving the reward.

    ept Reject

    ----

    ****

    Zachary felt overwhelmed after perusing through the mission tasks. The physical training routines would take up roughly three hours of his time daily. Even worse, the exercises would expend much of his stamina and might even worsen the results of his technical ser training at the academy. Too much of anything was good for nothing.

    However, after thinking about the benefits of the C-grade Physical Conditioning Elixir, he right away clicked on the ept button. What was there to fear when he possessed the dietary booster from the system?

    "DING"

    The system notification sounded as the mission description disappeared and the gift card with the yellow banana once again appeared. Zachary didn''t hesitate to click on it. A mini-sized yellow banana popped out of the card, into the physical world as soon as Zachary''s finger left the translucent blue screen.

    Zachary swallowed it right away.

 Chapter 27 - Life At The Academy I

    Thursday, August 25, 2011.

    A year had passed already, almost in a blur as Zachary underwent professional ser training at the NF Academy.

    He had managed to secure a full schrship from the academy after the match against the Viking FK under-19s. Zachary was then an officially registered sports schrship student in Norway.

    His day usually started with physical fitness training each day, involving gym-work and running exercises, from 6 AM to 9 AM. He would then spend five hours at Tr?ndg International School, going through his upper secondary education sses to maintain his sports schrship. Luckily, the school days were only on weekdays, from 10 AM to 3 PM, and didn''t tire him out.

    Immediately after his sses, he would practice the agility and stamina drills in the NF training grounds near Moholt before attending the technical and tactical ser sses conducted by the coaching staff on-field or in one of the auditoriums of the academy.

    Zachary was usually as tired as a dog when he ended his day at 8 PM and headed back to his apartment to rest for the night.

    His day-to-day timetable was jam-packed except for the small breaks at lunch and dinner or when he was sleeping. Zachary had been made aware of how gruesome a task it was to maintain a strict daily routine over a long time. He had almost failed the system mission during the harsh winter months of December and January.

    Due to the extreme coldness, Zachary hadcked the motivation and zeal to wake up from bed and head to the gym or go jogging in those months. He only persevered due to the C-grade Physical Conditioning Elixir.

    The elixir was beyond marvelous. With just a dose, Zachary would have enough energy to go through the physical training routines set-up by the system every week.

    His weekly tasks often involved weight training¡ªmostly with dumbbells, forward-backward sprints,teral-band walks, medicine ball push-ups, among other routines. asionally, when he trained with either a pair of dumbbells or going through the fitness drills, he would feel his muscles strengthening and bing more flexible. But most of the time, Zachary felt like he was only tiring himself out.

    Nheless, he didn''t stop his training. The significance of the progressive overload training designed by the system was cumtive¡ªbut not always obvious. He had maintained a strict schedule ofpleting all the system tasks to better himself as a professional sportsman. His goal was to be one of the best in his age group¡ªby the time he debuted for Rosenborg.

    On that day, Zachary was going through a routine of physical conditioning toplete the system mission when Coach Boyd Johansen abruptly barged in, surprising all the under-17s that were busy exercising.

    "I can''t believe that some of you haven''t even mastered the basic dumbbell bench step-up exercise," Coach Boyd Johansen grumbled. He pulled at his overgrown red beard in frustration as he walked around the gym, supervising some of the under-17 group of yers, exercising with the 25kg-dumbbells.

    "The physical fitness coaches have already exined these exercises again and again over the past year," he continued. "You should by now be performing them by reflex. But I see several good-for-nothings who can''t evenplete a set of bench step-ups!" The coach eximed, shaking his head.

    "Herees the cranky old man," Paul Otterson, running on a treadmill close to Zachary, mumbled. "I wonder what he''s doing here at this time."

    "Shhhhh..." Kasongo, who was going through a dumbbell squat-and-press routine, sashed him. "Be careful. He may hear you. What awaits you then would be expulsion from the academy."

    "Paul. You''ll face dire consequences once you keep running your mouth like that." Kendrick Otterson, jumping a rope nearby, emphasized. His long brown hairy like a second skin over his flushed cheeks¡ªand he looked as if he was just¡ªcaught in a sudden storm. He wore the sweat from exercising the same way a hero wears rain.

    Paul snorted at his brother. "Stop treating me like a kid. I know what I''m doing. He is busy with those otherzy bums and can''t hear us."

    "Suit yourself." Kendrick scowled at Paul angrily. "The good thing is that I already warned you multiple times. If the coach cuts you from the program, don''t run back home crying." He harrumphed, continuing his rope skipping.

    Zachary didn''t break his exercising routine to listen to his t-mates'' bickering or his coach''s grumbling. He was already used to that over the past year spent with them.

    He continued his high-intensity interval training on one of the treadmills in the gym. The sweat cooled his skin and brought a deeper hue to his green jersey, yet that is how he knew everything would work out, that he would remain in good shape and proud of himself as an athlete.

    "Zach!" Paul called out as he hopped off his exercising machine and approached Zachary''s treadmill. "What are the sprinting speeds and resting intervals for the exercise you are doing?"

    "I first set the treadmill at a speed of 2 mph for 5 minutes to warm up," Zachary answered without pausing his jog on the machine. "I then adjusted it to the highest speed at 9 to 10 mph for 70 seconds andter reduced to 3 to 4 mph for 30 seconds. I''ll have to repeat the same routine 20 times toplete my training for today." He stammered as he gasped for breath.

    "Zach! Aren''t you overtaxing your body?" Paul asked, his brows creased. "You shouldn''t be running at such peak speeds for more than 30 seconds. Will you be able to train in the evening?"

    "Paul!" Kasongo cut in. "Man, leave him alone. The other day, he sprinted from Moholt to Lerkendal in eight minutes. That means he was covering roughly 400m per minute. Do you think that the simple running on a treadmill will faze him?"

    "F**k!" Paul eximed. "This guy is a monster with such stamina. I''m just wondering why the coaches are not selecting him for the under-17 matches. FIFA wouldn''t care whether he yed for the academy. He''s not part of Rosenborg and just a student studying in Norway." Paul whispered, moving closer to Kasongo. "Do you know why?"

    "He doesn''t say why!" Kasongo replied as he put down his dumbbells. "I think it is something to do with the arrangements of the Rosenborg officials. I''m guessing they don''t want to expose him to theirpetitors before he joins the team. I would do the same if I were the coach. I would hate to lose him to some other team before he ys for me."

    "The curse of being overly talented," Paul sighed. "Makes me hate FIFA rules even more. The guy should be on the bench of the first team already." He shook his head. "Kasongo! Are you done with your physical training for today?"

    "Yes." The short guy nodded, picking up a bottle of water from his backpack. "We have been here since six o''clock. Three hours are enough for me." He grinned before chugging down some water.

    "Don''t you guys get tired of waking up at such early morning hours? We are only required to be here at 8 o''clock!"

    "Man, I''m only trying to copy the training n from my role model." Kasongoughed, patting Paul''s shoulder. "Although I can''t match his crazy work rate, I''m still benefiting from following in his footsteps."

    "Oh. Wake me up too when you guys are going for training next time," Paul said.

    "Me too," Kendrick also chipped in as he joined the group.

    "You want to wake up at six?" Paulughed at his brother''s request.

    "I need to improve my fitness," Kendrick sighed. "Grant is already far ahead. He''s benching me in all the games."

    "Then, you''ll wake up at six?"

    "Yes." Kendrick nodded emphatically. "Don''t look at me like that. I''m serious this time. I''ll even be changing to a smaller mattress this week to prevent myself from oversleeping."

    "I''ll pray for you." Paul patted his brother''s back. "I do hope you achieve your dream."

    "A dream of waking up at six," Kasongo chimed in before bursting intoughter. Paul joined him. The two had tried to wake up Kendrick at seven o''clock in the morning multiple times. However, thed would always be sleeping like a log.

    "But Zach is a monster." Kendrick sighed, ignoring the irony of the two chatterboxes. "Where does he get all that stamina?" He eximed as he nced towards Zachary''s treadmill.

 Chapter 28 - Life At The Academy II

    Zachary let himself step off the treadmill when the sweat settled on his skin as newly melted snow crystals. His legs were empty¡ªand there was a rising feeling of nausea from his stomach.

    It never ceased to amaze him how the muscles that had been working so hard only seconds ago were then struggling to hold his weight. He rxed for a few seconds before jumping on the exercising machine once again to restart the high-intensity routine.

    Zachary only had that single exercise remaining toplete the system mission he had been toiling with for over a year.

    He was d about the training ns designed by the system. The high-intensity interval-training mimicked the rhythms of a real football match¡ªwhere a yer might quickly switch between walking around the pitch and sprinting into the box.

    He had been undergoing the routine for more than six months to condition his body to adapt to an efficient way of using oxygen and prepare for the sudden change of pace in games.

    The system had been gradually increasing the frequency or number of repetitions in his running routines on the treadmill.

    For instance, the system had assigned him the weekly task of 30-second high-speed sprints repetitions on the treadmill, spaced with 1-minute resting intervals during the first three months of the mission. The next months, the missionsprised shorter and shorter resting intervals to increase the exercising intensity.

    Zachary continuously increased the stress on his musculoskeletal system to gain muscle size, strength, and endurance. And his efforts had paid off over the year of training. He was stronger physicallypared to the previous year.

    Zachary was sure that he could hold his own in a physical battle against the strongest Rosenborg under-19s. He was itching for an official match to test his skills.

    Zachary had been in a good mood when his body was getting stronger as the months progressed. On a treadmill, he always felt fast up there, exhrated. To feel his strength, to feel his own body flying at such speeds before slowing down, it fed back right into the soul and kept his inner mes healthy and bright.

    "DING"

    The system notification sounded when he was on his eighteenth routine of the high-intensity exercise. That was music to Zachary''s ears as it indicated that he had finished the final task of the one-year progressive overload fitness training mission.

    Before he knew it, Zachary was smiling a little, a smile with a twist to it, like the smile of a child who was determined not to weep. He was feeling the agony of the intensive exercise coupled with the happiness frompleting the system mission. The twobined to bring him a sadistic euphoria.

    However, he didn''t pause to open the system interface. He continued running on the treadmill¡ªuntil hepleted the twenty routines of the high-intensity training for the day.

    "Okay, boys. First,e here," Coach Johansen hollered from the stretching and mobility area of the gym. He was in his usual unique style outfit¡ªin a baggy ck Nike tracksuit.

    "This is rare," Paulmented. "The coach is giving a talk early in the morning. There may be something importanting up."

    "Like a match? Or more like the cutting of certain yers!" Kasongo frowned.

    "Stop specting," Kendrick cut in. "Let''s head over and see what he has to say." He turned towards Zachary¡ªwho had just stepped off the treadmill before asking: "Are youing?"

    "Of course." Zachary smiled. He reached out and took out a bottle of water from his backpack before chugging down some water. "Oh, that was refreshing." He sighed in between gasps of breath.

    The three-hour exercising had already tired him out. But Zachary wasn''t worried. He would recover his stamina in a few hours due to the dosage of the physical conditioning elixir he had consumed earlier that week.

    "Let''s go and hear what the coach has to say this time," he said to his t-mates after he''d steadied his breathing.

    "Is everyone here?" Coach Johansen asked, his gaze roaming across the sixteen yers seated in the middle of the gym.

    "Sir," Coach Bj?rn Peters said. "I''ve already taken roll call¡ªand everyone is here." He was a man of middling height with a stern face and deep-set eyes. His regr gym work-outs made his chest, arms, and shouldersden with muscle making him resemble a bodybuilder instead of a ser coach.

    "Great." Coach Johansen nodded. "I''m d you''re now taking your physical training seriously. Had anyone been absent without reason, they would have faced the ax today."

    "I hope it''s a good morning for everyone here!" The Coach continued. "Moving on. You lot will be undergoing annual reviews in the next two weeks. We want to assess your progress over the past twelve months. So, we have organized two matches where you can showcase the fruits of your training for the past year."

    "Next Friday, you y against the Rosenborg under-19 teambined with the reserves team. The Friday after that, you''ll face off against the senior team of Rosenborg. Aren''t you excited?" The coach grinned, ncing around the gym.

    "ying against the Rosenborg senior team for our review! How are we supposed to perform against experienced yers? The academy officials are not serious..." The murmuring of the yers intensified the already tense atmosphere in the gym.

    "Quiet," Coach Johansen bellowed, creasing a brow. "This is an opportunity for you. The Rosenborg officials will be watching. You have a chance to make it into the Reserve team or even be spotted by the head coach. What are you afraid of?"

    "As long as you have improved, you don''t need to fear ying against the reserve or the senior team of Rosenborg," the coach continued. "We don''t expect you to win, but to perform at your best even when facing yers above your level. That will be a valuable experience for your budding football career."

    The yers around the gym settled down after hearing his peroration. Although they seemed to be worried, they couldn''t force the coach to change the annual review. They just had to swallow their anger and anxiety.

    But Zachary was different. He wanted to test his skills against high-level yers. Only then would Zachary gauge his progress and determine whether his skills were already good enough to join the professional league. Moreover, he was hungry for matches since he hadn''t yed a single official game in a year.

    "Coach!" One of the yers raised his arm after the coach had finished making his announcement.

    "Yes. You can ask your question, Martin." Coach Johansen nodded at the yer.

    "How many of the under-17s need to be cut from the team after this review?" Thenky, gangling boy asked.

    "You know I can''t tell you that." Coach Johansen grinned. "But we need very few yers from your team to join the under-19 group. However, if you all y a shitty game, then you''ll all be cut from the team. So, do your best."

    "Any more questions?"

    All the yers remained silent.

    "Okay, great." The coach smiled. "Let''s meet at the NF training grounds at 3:30 PM today. We''ll start our pre-match training then¡ªso don''t bete."

 Chapter 29 - Life At The Academy III

    After the gym work-out, Zachary and his tmates rode their bikes towards TIS¡ªthe Tr?ndg International School.

    He had gotten used to riding his bike outdoors for hours over the course of the past year. Riding a bike was liberating for him. It had be his go-to way of moving quickly through the streets of Trondheim.

    "F**k! When will this rain stop?" Paul, who was riding beside him, cursed out loud as they rounded a corner and headed into a narrow tarmac road connecting Festningsgata main-street to their school.

    The rain poured down from the white¡ªvelvety sky steadily and softly. The days in Trondheim were beginning to wane¡ªas the inevitable cold winter neared, each nightfall happening sooner than the one before. The warm days of summer were long past.

    "Stopining and just ride," Kendrick snapped from behind Zachary. "It''s almost 10, and we''re almostte for ss."

    "Okay, Okay," Paul yelled, ncing back at his brother. "Let''s race to see who''ll reach the school gate first. The loser cleans the bathroom this week." He grinned from ear to ear.

    "Fes, is it a deal?" He asked, bringing his bike to a sudden halt. The other three followed suit and braked beside him.

    "Deal." Kasongo and Kendrick nodded in unison before readying themselves to start the race.

    "What about you?" Paul turned towards Zachary as he fastened his jacket. The Swede was also preparing for the small race.

    "I''ll race," Zachary replied. "But no punishments or cleaning the bathroom for the loser. We have got to maintain a strict rotation of who cleans the apartment each week. That''s the only fair way."

    "Zach." Paul sighed. "You''re no fun."

    "Let''s just race without the punishment," Kendrick cut in, concurring with Zachary.

    "This time, I''m winning," Kasongo said, gripping the handlebars of his bike more tightly.

    "You wish..."

    "Guys," Kendrick interrupted, his tone impatient. "We need to get to school before ss starts."

    "Three, two, one... and go," Paul yelled before taking off and moving ahead of the others. The other boys followed suit. Their bicycle wheels rolled over the wet track, their speed bringing the cold rain sttering into their faces much harder than it would have if they had just walked. Their waterproof outer-wear had long failed at keeping their bodies dry, leaving their trunks as wet as their legs.

    Their race through the rain managed to get them to the school gate in less than four minutes. Kendrick Otterson was first, his brother second, Zachary third, and Kasongost.

    Zachary never ceased to be amazed by just how fast his two Swedish housemates could go on their bikes though they were much slower than him on foot. He asionally mused on how they might have been better off as professional cyclists rather than ser yers.

    "I win again," Kendrick dered as they passed through the gate and entered the school grounds.

    "My bike was not in the best condition." Kasongo sighed. "Otherwise, I would have covered the distance in less than a minute," he added in a serious tone. The others ignored him since it was not the first time he had med a loss on his equipment.

    They rode quietly across the school grounds at moderate speed. The courtyard was a richly nted garden with walkways of smooth white stone set in several meandering paths across it. Due to the rain, no students were lounging at the benches, talking, reading, or eating packed snacks. It seemed they were all in the three buildings, 3-stories high, surrounding the expansive u-shaped courtyard.

    Zachary parked his bike in the bike-room and removed his outer waterproof clothing. He then followed his tmates through therge ss doors¡ªinto the building containing his ssroom.

    On the inside, a hubbub of conversation from the students hustling and bustling down the corridors assaulted him. They seemed to be in one of the ten-minute breaks at the end of each lesson. A crowd of vibrant young students of various nationalities filled up the hallways. The chaos was perfect, like a movie. Friends greeted each other with hugs¡ªor yful punches while neers stood looking scared.

    Most of the students gave way when Zachary and his tmates passed through the hallway heading to the stairs at the far end of the building. Sports students on schrship garnered a great deal of respect from their peers. Zachary had rarely faced any bullying despite being rtively new to the school.

    But there were always exceptions to the norm.

    As they ascended the stairs to the next floor, a group of students, one year their seniors, blocked their advance. Grant Anderson, the substitute goalkeeper of the Rosenborg under-19s, descended the stairs ahead of his small entourage of three, his lips curling into a wide grin.

    "Well, well¡ªwhat do we have here?" He said. "Two wannabees from a third world sh*thole apanied by their two loser friends. What can I say? Rosenborg has fallen really far to list you as one of its potential yers." His sycophantsughed at thement like they had just listened to a funny monologue delivered by Eddie Murphy. Zachary wondered how a grown-up could find such nonsense funny.

    "Herees an idiot to mess up our day," Paul whispered. "I just don''t get why the school doesn''t expel him." He groaned.

    "Ignore him," Kendrick said, his voice somewhat hushed. "With the backing of his father, he will never get expelled whatever he does."

    Zachary didn''t even pause his ascent to nce towards Grant. He had long gotten used to the constant insults from the tall Caucasian goalkeeper.

    Followed by Kendrick, Zachary sidestepped the silhouette of the goalkeeper and continued ascending the stairs. He couldn''t waste his valuable time on pointless quibbles with a jealous teenager.

    Kasongo and Paul, though, stopped and glowered at Grant. Thetter licked his lips and said in a crisp tone: "Grant, one of these days, I''ll beat you up so bad that even your mama won''t recognize you. Keep insulting me¡ªand you''ll get what''sing to you." The Swede harrumphed before moving past the goalkeeper.

    "Kasongo!" Zachary turned back, looking towards the boy still squaring off against Grant, who stood at almost a foot taller than him. "Are youing? We have less than ten minutes before the lesson begins."

    Kasongo quietly ground his teeth in frustration before following Paul Otterson up the stairs.

    "Cowards born as losers, to loser mommies," Grant scoffed, as Kasongo and Paul were only a few steps away from him.

    The two paused midway up the stairs before turning back. "Say that again," Paul growled, clenching his fists.

 Chapter 30 - Life At The Academy IV

    Grant''s smile widened as he walked closer towards them. "I said you''re cowards, charity cases who are just being fed by Rosenborg here in Trondheim. One of you yed a single game and thought he was the star of the generation. But, he is just a loser like the rest of his band." He grinned viciously at Zachary, who was already atop the stairs.

    Zachary sighed audibly. He could not believe that a professional athlete with such an idiotic mindset existed in one of the top international academies of a developed nation.

    Although Grant had already graduated from the NF Academy and joined the Rosenborg under-19s, he still behaved like a child. He had started taking verbal jabs at Zachary when he noticed him talking to Kristin before the match with Viking the previous year.

    "Let''s go," Zachary said, turning away from Grant and his cronies. "We need to get to ss." Zachary felt angry, but he knew he had to ignore the fool. He had no intention of jeopardizing his sports schrship.

    "Why do you put up with his insults?" Kasongo asked once he fell into step by his side.

    Zachary nced at Kasongo and shook his head. The short boy was yet to be exposed to the ways of the world. "Let me ask you this," he said. "What would I gain from fighting or bickering with him?"

    "You can defend your dignity and honor," Paul answered as they moved away from the stairs, through the hallway, and towards their ssroom on the second floor.

    Zachary smiled. "I can''t live on either of those." He spread out his arms to emphasize his point. The others stopped pestering him once he gave them the reply. They remained quiet, seemingly in contemtion¡ªuntil they entered their small but cozy ssroom.

    Reading tables with well-padded chairs were ced around a podium with arge ckboard that ran from corner to corner of one of the walls¡ªpainted light-green.

    The rest of Zachary''s ssmates had already arrived. They stood in groups of twos and threes scattered all around the ssroom.

    "You guys are finally here," murmured a female voice, lisping slightly, drawling out consonants and vowels into an exotic Italian ent.

    Zachary turned around only to lock eyes with a stunning young woman with dark hair worn in long braids that plunged over her slim shoulders. Her brown eyes smoldered with a sensuality that could easily capture the hearts of the stoniest of men. Her dark-green ruffled silk blouse could not conceal the lush curves of her cleavage while her denim jeans clung to her hips, entuating the outlines of her thighs.

    Paul, who thought himself a Casanova, nudged himself in-between Zachary and the girl and gave her a gant little bow. "Good morning, Marta." His mannerisms mirrored the chivalry of knights in old medieval movies.

    Marta Romano gave Paul an arch look and said: "Your bows are not the least bit amusing. You''re turning into an old man."

    "But a lovely old man," said a second voice¡ªand a second beauty, indistinguishable from Marta except that she wore her hair in a ponytail. She looked like a supermodel in her fitting Rosenborg jersey. She hooked an arm over Paul''s shoulder and added: "My sister is just cranky from yesterday''s long piano practice."

    "Good morning, Melissa," Paul murmured. "You look lovely as always."

    Melissa''s mouth curved up into a soft smile. "Thank you," she said. "But you two arete today."

    "We had a meeting with our head coach after our morning practice," Paul answered, sounding cheesy. The beauty of the two Romano twins had long spellbound him.

    "Zach! How was practice?" Marta said. She had moved around Paul and her sister to stand beside Zachary once again.

    "Just the usual," Zachary replied, smiling. "How was your piano practice?"

    The two girls were among Zachary''s few ssmates. They were both students at one of the music institutes in Trondheim. They also partook in sses with special programs for part-time students at TIS.

    TIS was an international school that amodated the needs of international students undertaking their education in Trondheim. Talented students from all fields could join the school for their secondary education.

    "Same as usual," Marta replied, once again locking eyes with Zachary. "You are yet to fulfill your promise," she stated.

    "Sorry about that." Zachary grinned sheepishly. He motioned for the girl to follow him away from the others. "Training has been taking up most of my time. I couldn''t clear up time to do anything else." He added.

    "When youe to me for discussions, I''ll also im to be busy with practice," Marta mumbled.

    "Why don''t we adjust our ns to the autumn break," Zachary said. "We''ll have a lot of free time by then."

    "Is that a promise?" Marta questioned, her tone solemn.

    "Yes, it is." Zachary nodded emphatically.

    "What are the two of you whispering about?" Melissa interrupted their conversation as she positioned herself beside her sister. "Are you two...?" However, before she couldplete her question, the lecturer stepped through the door into the ssroom.

    "Settle down people¡ªand let''s learn some German," said the male lecturer, sounding dramatic.

    Zachary spent the next three hours cramming German words and sentences he could not understand. At 1 PM, he ate a light lunch with his friends before sitting back in the ssroom for algebra. Most of the students lost their vibrancy as the minutes passed. It was as if they were partaking in an intense 90-minute ser game rather than a lecture.

    Zachary was always bored by the equations and calctions during the math lessons. He would have preferred to spend all his time on the pitch rather than in a ssroom. But, he persevered to maintain his schrship.

    Fortunately, the ss onlysted an hour. At three, Zachary headed to the NF training grounds, where he started his long week prematch training with his teammates and coaches. He spent the whole evening there and only returned to Moholt at 8:30 PM after a sumptuous dinner at the ser academy.

    After freshening up, he returned to his room and opened the system interface. He was nning on making his first purchases from the system shop after saving up a considerable sum of Juju-points over the past year.

 Chapter 31 - An Upgraded System

    As Zachary was about to begin perusing through the system user-interface, his phone''s buzzer went off like an annoyed rattlesnake. He scooped it up, nced at its screen, and noticed that his grandma was calling.

    "Zachary!" His grandma''s husky butforting voice sounded from the phone when he ced it close to his ear. "Are you there?" She intoned in the Swahilinguage.

    "Ndio, bibi," he spoke into the Motor Moto-G phone. "Are you settling in well? How is the new ce?" He asked in a humble tone, maintaining a clear Swahili ent.

    Zachary had managed to move her from Bukavu after saving up half his allowance for a year. With 84,000 Norwegian Kroner, he rented her a sizeable house in Lubumbashi¡ªand hired some casualborers to work her farm back in Bukavu. Zachary had not been able to return to the Congo in the summer due to his tight training schedule. However, he had sent money to Coach Damata and tasked him with settling her in the new city. He''d even bought her a new phone, simr to his own, for easiermunication.

    "You know me," said his grandma. "I didn''t want to move to the city. It''s boring here. And my cows, my animals may be dying." Sheined. The olddy loved her farm. It had taken endless pleading on Zachary''s part in conjunction with Coach Damata''s remarkable people-skills to convince her to move from Bukavu.

    "But we agreed that you would set-up a crafts shop in Lubumbashi," Zachary said. "That should keep you busy. Moreover, don''t you find Lubumbashi safer than the neighborhoods in our vige?"

    Zachary''s grandma sighed audibly. "Enough about me," she drawled. Zachary could discern a suppressed mncholy undertone in her voice. It seemed she hadn''t gotten used to living in the new city. "Are you studying and training hard? When will I get to see you on television?" She asked.

    Zachary spent the next five minutes telling his grandma about his life in Norway. He talked about his sses, training, the weather, and a few other topics to assure his grandma that he was safe.

    He was d that he had a way tomunicate with the sole parental figure he knew in both his lives. Zachary never got tired of hearing her voice because it kept all the homesickness he felt when he was in Norway at bay.

    He hade to realize that going back in time had not turned him into a machine with only one goal; ying ser. At times, some of the feelings he had asionally suppressed in his previous life would threaten to drown his mind.

    During the Christmas break of the previous year, he''d spent hours looking at the falling white snow through his window, thinking about his grandma, all alone back in Bukavu. The snow resting upon the earth in that winter, as if it were an endless feather cushion, had made him homesick, made him long for home. That was why he had feltpelled to purchase a phone to bettermunicate with her.

    Zachary had not yet achieved the sort of steel nerves that could allow him to switch off everything else and focus solely on ser. Maybe, that was why the system still graded his mental ability at B -.

    However, Zachary didn''t wish to lose all his emotions and be a ser maniac. He wanted to experience all the things his new life had to offer whilst also bing one of the best in the ser world. That was his goal.

    After talking to his grandma, Zachary returned his attention to the system. He re-opened the user-interface after cing his phone on the bedside table and began¡ªskimming through the system menu.

    ****

    SOCCER G.O.A.T SYSTEM

    SYSTEM LEVEL: 2 (367/1000 Juju-points to level-up)

    USER: Zachary Bemba

    AGE: 16 years

    TALENT ASSESSMENT: Grade-B

    JUJU-POINTS: 367 (2 msg)

    (Evaluation: A budding ser yer)

    ----

    USER MENU

    *USER STATS

    *G.O.A.T MISSIONS (4 msg)

    *SYSTEM SHOP

    *SYSTEM LOTTERY (locked)

    *SNOOPING TOOL

    ----

    NB: Pls level-up the system to unlock more functions.

    ****

    Zachary didn''t take much time scanning the contents of the interface. He had upgraded the system a year ago and was already familiar with the level-2 interface. He extended his forefinger right away and tapped on the G.O.A.T-missions tab, already blinking red on the interface.

    "DING"

    ****

    #4 new messages

    CONGRATULATIONS

    -> You havepleted the mission (One-Year Progressive Overload Fitness Training).

    ----

    ->Mission-Rewards

    1) C-grade Physical Conditioning Elixir (Already availed to the user.)

    2) 260 cumtive Juju-Points.

    ----

    ->Mission Summary

    *Training npleted with perfection over one year.

    ----

    Overall Mission Rating: A+

    ----

    ->Bonus rewards

    You have earned 100 bonus juju-points

    ----

    ****

    The mission rewards were what Zachary expected. He''d been earning a dosage of the physical conditioning elixir and 5 Juju-points for each of the weekly training ns designed by the system.

    Over the 52 weeks in the previous year, he''d earned a total of 260 points. The system had awarded him a bonus of 100 Juju-points for his perfectpletion of the mission. He then had enough to purchase one of the skills in the unlocked system shop.

    However, he decided to check his user-stats first before opening the system shop.

    ****

    *USER STATS

    ->Physical Fitness: A-

    ->Ser Technique: A+

    ->Game Intelligence: A+

    ->Mental Ability and Mindset: B-

    ->X-Factors: F

    ->G.O.A.T Skills: 2

    ****

    Zachary managed to improve his physical fitness and ser technique by a single grade over the year of training. Due to his strict training schedule, involving yoga and meditation, his mental ability had finally improved from the C- grading to the B- grading. However, he had not managed to increase his X-factor even by a single grade over the course of the entire year. That single stat was holding back his talent assessment, yet he had no way to improve it.

    [Maybe, I should seek help from one of the coaches.] Zachary sighed. He clicked on the physical-fitness tab.

    ****

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: A-)

    Bnce and Coordination: A+

    Agility: A+

    Strength: B+

    Stamina: A-

    Endurance Points: 4500/5500 (A-)

    ****

    Zachary''s physical fitness had benefited the most from the 1-year progressive overload training. His bnce and coordination, together with his agility stats, had all leaped to the A+ grade. Only his strength stat remained shy of an A-grading among his physical stats. With his progress rate, he only had to continue with the intensive training n¡ªand one day, he would achieve the perfect physique for ser.

    Over the year of training, he had noticed that his physique was bing less buff but more slender as he toned his muscles with vigorous exercise. He had achieved a body with lean, well-defined muscles with almost no body fat. He was a bit thinner than he originally was but in better shape as a ser yer.

    He felt a sense of aplishment since his physique had attained a mixture of the mesomorph and ectomorph body types. He was more agile with better body coordination¡ªgiving him an edge when dribbling or handling the ball. His ser-technique grades for dribbling skills, passing uracy, and body control had also improved due to his refined physique.

    Zachary navigated back to the home menu of the system user-interface before opening the system-shop.

    ****

    *SYSTEM SHOP

    ->Gift Packs (locked)

    ->Purchase Skills

    ->Purchase Elixirs

    ->Lottery Coupons (locked)

    ->Inventory

    ****

    Zachary did not dawdle. He selected the purchase-skills tab on the system-shop menu right away. It was one of the features that had been unlocked by the system after its upgrade.

    He blinked as his eyes adjusted to the new contents of the screen. Only two skills were avable in the system shop. They appeared on skill cards hovering in front of everything else on the interface. One card depicted David Beckham, the famous English footballer, in a shooting posture with the ball. The other portrayed Andrea Pirlo, an Italian legend, with the ball at his feet.

    Below the two skill-cards were a few words in beautiful calligraphy.

    ****

    1) Bend-it like Beckham Juju: For setpieces. Costs 300 Juju-points.

    2) Snipe-it like Pirlo Juju: For passing. Costs 300 Juju-points.

    NB:

    *The skills are limited to a single purchase until the next system upgrade.

    *Please make your choice by tapping on the skill-card to purchase.

    ****

    Zachary didn''t need to deliberate much. He selected the ''Bend-it like Beckham Juju'' right away.

    He was already confident in his passes and only wanted to acquire skills capable of winning him games when he debuted for Rosenborg. The setpiece skill seemed like the best choice to Zachary at that moment since only a single purchase was allowed until the next upgrade of the system.

    In his past life, Celtic had depended on Nakamura''s freekicks to win several games¡ªand contend for various Scottish titles. Zachary was sure he could be a great asset to any team if he mastered the art of taking setpieces at the level of Beckham. As a midfielder, he would not need to worry about being left out of the team roster as long as he could score most of his setpieces.

    However, when Zachary tapped on the card with Beckham''s image, a system notification instantly popped up.

    ****

    *G.O.A.T Skills

    #2 new messages

    ->You are attempting to learn a G.O.A.T Skill that requires both mental and physical conditioning before achieving initial masterly.

    -> Activate the G.O.A.T Skills Simtor tomence mental conditioning by spending 2 Juju-points for 1-hour activation.

    *ept *Reject

    ****

    "So this is the use of the simtor," Zachary mumbled to himself. He was enlightened. The G.O.A.T Skills Simtor was a new feature added under the G.O.A.T-Skills menu after the system upgrade. He had been ignorant of its use until that moment.

    Without any hesitation, he clicked on the ept button to activate the simtor. He could not wait to learn new Juju.

 Chapter 32 - The G.O.A.T Skills Simulator

    "DING"

    A new system notification popped up once Zachary selected the ept button.

    ****

    *G.O.A.T Skills Simtor

    #2 new messages

    -> You have spent 2 Juju-points to activate the simtor for one hour.

    ->The system''s virtual reality simtion will activate in two minutes. Please lie down and ready yourself for the procedure.

    ****

    Zachary first locked the door of his bedroom, then closed the curtains before lying on his bed in a supine position. He calmed his mind and patiently waited for the two minutes to pse.

    When the countdown was over, new words started popting the user interface positioned at an oblique angle just before his face.

    ****

    G.O.A.T Skills Simtor activating

    ----

    Connecting System Neural Interface

    ----

    ACTIVATION SUCCESSFUL

    ****

    Zachary''s eyesight blurred as soon as thest message of the system appeared on the screen. Everything became fuzzy; then he saw nothing at all. His consciousness drifted through a space filled with a thick static. His heart pounded loudly, echoing in his ears, as he descended into a new reality. The feeling in his body drained away until finally, all was ck.

    When Zachary''s eyes recovered, he was no longer in his room or lying on his bed. Instead, he was in a dark space with only the glowing blueish system interface in his sight.

    "DING"

    The system notification sounded as new words popted the interface. Zachary blinked as his eyes adjusted to the lighting of the screen.

    ****

    *G.O.A.T Skills Simtor

    ----

    Mental Conditioningmencing...

    ----

    Bend-it like Beckham Juju training packages loading...

    ----

    Select the type of field surface to begin training the skill

    a) Artificial turf

    b) Natural turf

    c) GrassMaster

    ----

    ****

    Zachary naturally selected the GrassMaster turf since it was the mostmon field surface type in Trondheim. It was a hybrid field surface achieved bybining natural grass with synthetic reinforcing fibers. Although he was in a simtion, Zachary wanted to train on a familiar pitch to master the Bend-it like Beckham Juju quickly.

    As soon as his right finger left the system interface, a perfect green ser pitch started forming beneath his feet. It spread out and covered more ground in the formerly dark virtual space.

    In a matter of seconds, Zachary stood in a world of green with millions of perfect grass strands beneath his ser boots. His clothing had even changed into his preferred style, a kit with a green jersey and matching boots. He stood in between the goalposts simr to two white towers nted at either side of the demarcated pitch.

    The system simtor didn''t allow him any ounce of time to orient himself to his surroundings. No sooner had the ground finished forming than Zachary felt the ground below his boots move, giving him a feeling of being on a travtor. He swiftly crossed the pitch and arrived before the 18-yard box of the empty field.

    In an explosion of luminescence, a vivid 3D image of David Beckham, in a red and white Manchester United Vodafone jersey, manifested beside Zachary. Five balls lined up before Beckham soon after.

    The English ser legend waved his arm dismissively towards the goal as glowing silhouettes materialized in the box before him. They included a wall of faceless yers lined up about 10 yards away from the ball. After they had taken their positions, a goalkeeper appeared between the posts.

    Zachary could tell that the system was simting a real match scenario of taking a freekick. But he was confused about how the simtion would aid him in the mental training necessary to master the Beckham skill. Many yers watched videos of legends performing in matches. However, that didn''t guarantee they would master those skills.

    Nheless, he remained attentive, watching David Beckham readying himself to shoot. He was eager to learn the legendary setpiece technique.

    The English legend just moved a few steps back, positioned himself with his left shoulder at the 90 degrees mark facing the goal before observing the wall and the goalkeeper''s position. He then approached the ball at a controlled speed and unleashed a curling ball, around the yers and the goalkeeper, into the goal. He repeated the same procedure until all the balls were safely in the back of the.

    Zachary sighed in amazement as he analyzed the Englishman''s shooting posture. He realized that the spin on Beckham''s freekicks was nothing short of marvelous. However, he was still unsure how watching the Englishman taking setpieces would help him master a G.O.A.T skill.

    However, the system resolved his doubts soon after.

    The 3D image of the Englishman swiftly moved towards Zachary and merged with his silhouette. At that moment, Zachary lostmand of his body. He could feel his muscles and even perceive his surroundings, but he wasn''t in control.

    Zachary felt himself taking seven steps behind the five new balls that had once again materialized before the box. He analyzed the field situation, the wall, goalkeeper positioning, and distance of one of the balls from the goalposts.

    After a slow but steady approach, Zachary felt himself nt his right foot before taking a one and a half meter final jump step towards the ball. He then ced his left foot right beside the ball, cocked his right leg back, and kicked the ball with the side of his big toe. He let loose a curling shot into the back of the.

    His body, still not in hismand, continued shooting the rest of the four balls. Zachary only regained control of his body after he''d kicked thest ball.

    He had experienced how Beckham felt, perceived the surroundings, and controlled his body whenever he scored from a freekick. Zachary could tell that the system was slowly instilling the reflexes, body motions, and the other relevant knowledge necessary to learn the Bend-it like Beckham Juju within him. With just the five balls he had curled into the, he had already begun to grasp the skill.

    He only had to carry on shooting freekicks within the G.O.A.T skills simtor to advance his mastery of the skill. Thus, he continued practicing the setpieces for one hour until the system ejected him out of the simtion.

    But he''d already made considerable progress. In just an hour, he''d managed to take 30 freekicks with Beckham''s 3D-model as a guide. He could feel his knowledge about setpieces growing slowly but steadily. And all this had cost him a measly 2 Juju-points.

    Zachary opened the system G.O.A.T skills menu to check out the progress of his skills.

    ****

    ->G.O.A.T Skills: 3

    (i) ZINEDINE VISUAL JUJU

    (1st-level: Progress: 61.021%)

    ----

    (ii) ZACHARY-ARROW-SHOT

    (2nd-level: Progress: 1%)

    ----

    (iii) BEND-IT LIKE BECKHAM JUJU

    (1st-level: Progress: 0.03%)

    ----

    ----

    ->G.O.A.T Skills Simtor

    *Activate *Deactivate

    (Activation costs 2 Juju-points per hour)

    ----

    ****

    Zachary''s mood lifted when he noticed that his Beckham skill expertise had already improved by 0.03%. He knew firsthand how challenging it was to achieve theplete initial mastery of G.O.A.T skills. He had only made 61% progress towards mastering the 1st level of the Zinedine Visual Juju even after a year of training.

    However, the simtor had helped him progress by 0.03% after shooting only 30 balls in one night. That was music to his ears.

    [I wonder whether I can use the simtor to train other skills.] Zachary mused.

    He activated the simtor at the cost of 2 Juju-points once again. Zachary wanted to test whether the simtor could help him train his other G.O.A.T skills. However, only the arrow shot and the Beckham freekick skills were avable under the simtor menu.

    [So, that''s why I could master the Zinedine Visual Juju before gaining ess to the simtor.]

    Zachary couldprehend why he could begin mastering the Zinedine-Visual-Juju without utilizing the simtor. The system had only infused match experience and tactical knowledge to increase his game intelligence before using the skill. Due to his high spatial awareness stat, he had faced no obstacle inprehending and mastering the technique.

    However, the requirements for the arrow shot and the freekick skills were different. Zachary had to master the perfect body posturing and bodily motions to execute the techniques with perfection. Even a slight shift in his bnce could send the ball veering away from its intended path. The only way for the system to infuse the skills into Zachary''s muscle memory was through the G.O.A.T skills simtor.

    Zachary activated the simtor two more times that night, continuing his mental conditioning for the Bend-it like Beckham Juju. He managed to shoot 90 balls on setpieces and advanced the skill''s progress by 0.09%. He slept at 1 am, feeling aplished.

    **** ****

    The next day, Zachary maintained his routine of waking up early in the morning, heading to the gym at six o''clock, and attending school. When thest lecturer for the day moved out of his ssroom, Zachary swiftly approached Kendrick and asked for help with his freekick practice.

    He needed to practice his techniques in the real world to supplement his training within the G.O.A.T skills simtor. Only then would he achieve the perfect mental and physical condition to execute the skill wlessly.

    "You want to start practicing setpieces?" Kendrick regarded Zachary with a rxed calcting expression. "Don''t you want to prepare for the review next week?" He inquired.

    Zachary nodded. "We can practice for 30 minutes today before the coaches arrive and also during the few breaks in between the training. Could you fit this in your schedule?"

    "I''m a goalkeeper," The Swede said with a frown. "Your freekick practice will only benefit me if your shots are more on than off-target. How good are you at setpieces?"

    "I''m new to this," Zachary intoned. "But I''m confident that I''ll be able to master freekicks very quickly." He smiled at his tmate.

    "Okay, then," Kendrick said in a mild tone. "I''ll agree to be your training partner for a week. We''ll see how it goes from there."

    Zachary shed him a grateful smile. "Thank you. But we need to hurry to the pitch before the others hamper our ns." Zachary said, pointing towards Kasongo and Paul. Their two tmates were locked in a conversation with a group of girls.

    "Okay." Kendrick nodded. "Let''s move."

    Zachary and Kendrick stealthily exited their ssroom and headed to the academy training grounds on their bikes. Fifteen minutester, they were all dressed in their training kits and ready tomence their setpiece training.

    "I will set up the wall first," Kendrick announced.

    "I will help," Zachary replied. "I would like to start with freekicks that are just outside the box."

    "That''s okay," Kendrick said, pulling one of the ser-mannequins into the 18-yard box. In a few minutes, the two boys set-up a wall of five mannequins inside-but-close to the edge of the box.

    "I''m ready when you are," Kendrick said as he positioned himself in between the goalposts. "Let''s see what you got."

    Zachary smiled and ced the ball about ten yards behind the mannequins. He rxed his mind and then curled the ball towards the goal the same way he''d done in the simtion the previous night.

    However, the first ball was still off-target by a wide margin.

    Kendrick lifted his eyebrows. "Are you trying to shoot like Beckham? Why not start with some simple freekicks to get used to shooting from that position?" He asked.

    "I got this," Zachary replied, smiling. "Don''t worry. I''ve already mastered the technique¡ªto some extent."

    Zachary had felt his body positioning, at the moment he had made contact with the ball, being off by a slight margin. His supporting foot needed to be steadily nted and face the direction he wanted the ball to follow. Zachary also realized he needed to swing his hand up and backward while aligning himself at an angle of about 45-degrees before making contact with the ball. He hadn''t been perfect in executing those body motions while taking the first freekick.

    Zachary moved back and sted the ball with the inner side of his boot once again. For that attempt, he felt he had perfectly mimicked the shooting posture¡ªingrained by the system into his muscle memory. His body motions had matched what he had done in the virtual reality while possessed by Beckham. Zachary sent the ball spinning, on a curved path, towards the goal with the side of his big toe.

    Kendrick didn''t even manage to react when the ball flew past him into the top right corner.

    "Goal!" Zachary celebrated as if he had scored in a real match. He was on cloud nine. He felt confident he would master the Bend-it like Beckham Juju as long as he carried on training setpieces.

    Kendrick couldn''t hide an expression of surprise. Then he rolled his eyes. "Are you really new at taking freekicks?"

    "That was luck," Zachary replied honestly. "I need to shoot a lot more balls before I can be consistent."

    The Swede smiled. "Then I''ll also get serious," he said, cleaning his goalkeeping gloves on his ck sweat pants. "Do your best¡ªand let me show you Iker Casis in action." He grinned at Zachary.

    The two boys practiced for a whole hour before joining the rest of their teammates for routine practice. Surprisingly, Coach Johansen silently concurred with their freekick training. He didn''t call them for the warming up routines at the start of the training session that day.

    Zachary managed to score an average of two out of every ten freekicks during the session. He could feel his body adapting to the obtuse shooting posture required for the skill. He only needed to maintain a strict training routine to perfect the Beckham Juju.

    Zachary dedicated three hours of his daily schedule to freekick practice for the next six days. He spent an hour practicing with Kendrick and two in the simtor each day.

    He didn''t rx his physical and tactical training routines despite having to make time for setpiece practice.

    The week passed, almost in a blur, and it was soon time for the academy review. Zachary would have to undergo the annual medical test and y a match with both the senior and junior teams of Rosenborg for that year''s test. He was excited by the prospect of finally facing off against professional yers.

 Chapter 33 - The Annual Review

    "Listen up, young fes," said Coach Johansen, his voice deathly quiet and filled with foreboding. "I''m sure that most of you are thinking this game is just another insignificant friendly. And, as long as you perform well, you won''t be released by the academy. You''ll pass the review. Isn''t that right?" He grinned, letting his gaze roam over the sixteen yers seated in a semi-circle before him.

    The academy yers before him remained silent, waiting for their coach to continue.

    Zachary and his teammates had just finished warming up. They were in the dressing room, attending a pre-match tactical briefing for the game against Rosenborg''s second team. Their opponents were abination of both under 19s and reserves of the Rosenborg team.

    "Let me tell you this. You can''t afford to lose this game," Coach Johansen continued. "I understand that those men are a few years your seniors. They may have much more experience than you guys. But you still have to win. I hate losing¡ªand you should, too. Go out there and y like your life depends on it. Otherwise, I''ll cut most of you out of the team during the review." He took a few steps closer to the yers. "Are we on the same page?" He asked in a solemn tone.

    "Yes, Coach," all the yers, including Zachary, replied, more or less in unison.

    Coach Johansen nodded at the yers before unfolding a piece of paper. "The starting line-up for today is as follows:

    Goal Keeper; Kendrick Otterson

    Center-backs; Robin Jatta, Lars Togstad, Daniel Kvande

    Left-back; Martin Lundal, Right-back; ?yvind Alseth

    Midfield; Magnus kstad, Zachary Bemba

    Right-wing; Paul Kasongo, Left-wing; Kim Riksvold

    Forward; ?rjan B?rmark."

    Zachary turned to look at Paul, his Swedish tmate, after hearing the names on the squad. Coach Johansen had left him out of the starting line-up.

    The boy''s brows were¡ªcreased into a frown. He appeared devastated by the coach''s decision. Zachary made a mental note to console himter and returned his attention to the coach''s instructions.

    "I want to emphasize one point once more. You''re ying against a stronger team. That''s for sure. That''s why we are using the 5-4-1 formation. All of you, except ?rjan, have to defend and mark all their forwards and attacking midfielders. Center-backs! You have to maintain a high level of concentration for the whole match. You can''t let them make runs behind you."

    The coach turned towards Zachary and regarded him for a moment. "Zach boy," he said in a mild tone. "I need swift transitions, from the defense to striking, when you guys win the ball. You''re in the midfield¡ªand with your speed, you should be able to provide the wingers and forwards with through passes for counters. Right?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied. He fully grasped the strategy since Coach Johansen had been talking about it in training the entire week. The coach intended to have them y a purely defensive game and catch the opponents on the counterattack.

    "Kasongo and Kim," Coach Johansen intoned, turning away from Zachary. "You''ll be doing a lot of running during this game. The two of you have to support ?rjan in the attack, and also fall back quickly whenever we lose possession."

    "Especially you, Kim," the coach emphasized, pointing at one of the yers. "Please make sure you support Martin on the left-wing whenever we are defending against their attacks. Is that clear?"

    "Yes, coach," Kim Riksvold, the starting left-winger, replied solemnly.

    "Great. Let''s have a good match." Coach Johansen smiled. "Bj?rn, give out the jerseys," he instructed, turning towards his assistant at his side.

    Zachary and his teammates exited the dressing room once they had all donned their dark blue jerseys. On the way out of the dressing room, Zachary approached Paul Otterson and asked: "Are you alright?"

    "Why wouldn''t I be?" The Swede shed him a smile. "I''m sure I''ll get a chance to yter on in the game." He said.

    Zachary pped Paul''s shoulder as they walked through the tunnel. "That''s great. I thought you were depressed about the game. Stay positive. You''ll get a chance to y." He consoled his friend.

    Paul''s smile faded, and he lowered his voice, his expression solemn. "I suggest you take this game more seriously."

    "Of course, I will," Zachary replied, also in a whisper. "I always take every game seriously."

    "You don''t understand." Paul scowled at Zachary. "There is talk of making Coach Johansen the permanent coach of the Rosenborg II team."

    "Wasn''t he already confirmed as the head of the NF academy instead of the Rosenborg under-19s?"

    "Yes." Paul nodded. "But that''s all ancient history. Rosenborg''s Board of Directors wants to appoint him as the coach of the second team. This match may be a test set for him by the club officials. That means if we lose, he may cut most of the yers from the academy team. I''m sure you won''t be affected because of your exceptional talent." He smiled ruefully. "However, the rest of us will be in deep trouble."

    Zachary frowned. "Are the rest of the yers aware of this?"

    "Nope. I just heard this from my agency." Paul sighed. "They warned me to perform my best today because of that."

    "I''ll do my best." Zachary smiled. "Let''s hope luck is on our side today. Taking our team into consideration, we have a real chance of winning. We only need to find a way to score."

    Zachary had realized that the NF academy had a rtively strong under-18 team over the past year. The defense was almost on par with the Rosenborg under-19s''. The only challenge they faced was ack of strikers. The only forwards on the roster were Kim Riksvold and Paul Otterson. Coach Johansen''s only resort was to use the 5-4-1 formation to cover that defect.

    "Just do your best, Zach," Paul implored as they walked out of the tunnel into the pitch. "The continuation of our blissful life in the academy hinges on this game. It''s even more important than the one against the Rosenborg seniors." He patted Zachary''s shoulder and rushed off towards the technical area.

    Zachary sighed as he nced at the departing back of his tmate. He''d even forgotten that he was in an annual review¡ªtesting the performance of the yers. If their performance didn''t meet the required standards during the review week, the academy would release them and politely advise them to try their talents elsewhere. Zachary wasn''t worried since he was already assured of his position in Rosenborg when he turned 18. As long as he wasn''t involved in a terrible scandal or ident, the academy wouldn''t release him. Mr. Stein had already assured him about that.

    "Zach," A deep voice sounded from behind him as he was still in contemtion. He turned around only to find Magnus kstad, the other central midfielder selected for that day''s game, standing behind him. The number six was very tall, a clear head higher than most people Zachary would consider tall.

    "What is it?" Zachary inquired. He had never been close to the midfielder since they attended different schools.

    "I''ll cover the whole of the defensive midfield," Magnus said, smiling. "Just concentrate on attacking. We need to win this game."

    Zachary nodded. "I believe that we should be able to win. But watch out for Ole''s passes. Otherwise, we will have no chance of emerging victorious."

    "That''s true," Magnus concurred. "We can''t win this game unless we deal with Ole''s passes. But they will also have to deal with you if they want to win this game. Just look around and see how the Rosenborg yers are stealing wary nces at you." He grinned, pointing towards the other half of the pitch.

    Zachary turned around and noticed that his old acquaintances, in their Rosenborg ck and white jerseys, were glowering at him with a burning urge topete. The likes of Mushaga, Ole, Jonas, Asen, Christopher, Fredrick, and a few other yers Zachary did not recognize were already standing in their positions. They had arrayed themselves into a 3-5-2 formation, showing their intention to y an attacking game against the NF academy.

    *FWEEEEEEE!*

    The referee blew his whistle, signaling for all the yers to take their position. The match between Rosenborg II and the NF academy was finally beginning.

    Zachary''s mood lifted. It had been a full year since hest partook in a serious ser game. He was eager to test his skills against the Rosenborg second team.

    "It finally begins," Magnus grinned. "Let''s have a good game," He pumped fists with Zachary before running back to his position.

 Chapter 34 - Against Rosenborgâ€™s Second Team

    The game went exactly as Coach Johansen had anticipated in the first ten minutes. Rosenborg''s second team kicked off the game and maintained possession as they bore down on NF academy''s goal.

    All their yers were able to retain the ball and pass it around quickly. They could advance steadily towards the goal without giving the academy yers a chance to win possession. Their teamwork frustrated Zachary and his teammates viapactness and narrowness.

    The Troll Kids were ying the Tiki-Taka Barcelona style.

    They were arrayed in a 3-5-2 formation with three men in the middle of the pack supported by two wingers. Ole Seln?s, Gjermund ?sen, and Fredrik Midtsj? were the core yers in their midfield. The three midfielders controlled the overall pace of the game with their tight ball skills.

    However, the boys in white and ck seemed wary of Zachary. They yed around him instead of through him in the midfield. They so often chose to pass the ball instead of dribbling and facing off against him and his teammates.

    But that wasn''t the most threatening peculiarity about Rosenborg''s team arrangement and game n. Any one of their three central midfielders would asionally burst forward and threaten the NF academy''s box.

    Rosenborg''s second team created their first clear chance of the game in the 10th minute in such a manner. Ole Seln?s, who was supposed to be ying the defensive midfield role, exploded forth. He yed a one-two with Trond Olsen¡ªthe left-winger after receiving a fast pass from Fredrik Midtsj?.

    The duo bypassed Magnus kstad and prated deep into the half of NF academy with their smooth passing. Ole made a quick through pass to Mushaga, who was making a run behind the three center backs before they managed to react to the swift change in the game''s pace.

    The Rosenborg striker dashed into the box and found himself one-on-one with Kendrick Otterson, the goalkeeper. However, as he raised his foot, preparing to shoot, a swift silhouette came¡ªsliding in and poked the ball out of y with a green boot.

    The referee blew the whistle and pointed to the corner g.

    Zachary had saved the NF academy from conceding an early goal. He was the only yer on the academy team who had reacted swiftly to Rosenborg''s change of pace and sudden attack. He was in the central midfield when the attack started, but he''d managed to run more than 40 yards, catch up with Mushaga, and tackle the ball.

    Mushaga regarded Zachary, who was in the process of getting up from the ground, with a frown. "It seems like you''ve gotten faster and better over the past year." He mumbled.

    "That was simply luck," Zachary lied.

    Of course, he wouldn''t tell his opponent that he was capable of predicting their offensive tactics. His high game intelligence supported by the Zinedine-Visual-Juju had helped him analyze the patterns in Rosenborg''s y. He''d been able to infer that Mushaga would receive the final ball instead of John Chibuike¡ªRosenborg''s second striker.

    Mushaga creased a brow as he continued eyeing Zachary. "Whether that was a fluke, or you could predict our passes, that means nothing in today''s game," the striker stated. "You''ll lose no matter how well you y. How many times can you defend against our attacks? Wait and see." He smiled softly before walking away.

    Zachary could tell that the striker was attempting to burden him mentally and affect his game. He gave hisments no mind and readied himself to defend the corner.

    Zachary frowned at Lars Togstad, who had just returned to the box. "Don''t allow their strikers to make runs behind you. Wasn''t that what the coach said? What are you people doing in defense?"

    "They were too fast with their transition," the center-back said, smiling sheepishly. "But it won''t happen again. I can promise you that." He thumped his chest.

    "Great." Zachary nodded. "But maintain a proper backline throughout the match. You shouldmand the rest of the defenders to move up-and-down the field in unison in all defensive situations. Only then can wey a good offside trap and prevent their fast attacks from threatening our box." He advised the number-4.

    Zachary had noticed that Mushaga would have been offside if Robin Jatta, the left center-back, hadn''t dropped back and yed him onside. He didn''t expect such a rookie mistake from defenders in a professional academy.

    "Don''t worry," Lars assured. "We''ll do our best for the rest of the game. Let''s defend the corner first."

    The defender seemed like an easy-going person. Zachary was d that he''d listened to his reminder with a positive attitude.

    Jonas Svensson, Rosenborg''s right-winger, delivered a teasing ball from the corner into the box, starting the rey. Simen Wangberg, the tall center-back, outjumped NF academy''s defense to meet the resulting corner and headed the ball right down towards the middle of the goal. However, his long-range header was not powerful enough, and Kendrick Otterson, the goalkeeper, made afortable save.

    "Kendrick," Zachary yelled, dashing out of the box. "Quickly throw the ball to Kim."

    Kendrick did not dilly-dally. On hearing Zachary''s instruction, he made a long throw towards the touchline where Kim Riksvold, NF academy''s left-winger, was waiting. Zachary and most of his teammates took off swiftly towards the other side of the pitch after the ball.

    Kim, in the left-wing, controlled the ball beautifully close to the centerline. However, two of Rosenborg''s yers who hadn''t partaken in the corner kick boxed him in. They surrounded him and forced him to pass the ball back to Zachary. Rosenborg had managed to stop NF academy''s counter attack sessfully.

    Zachary received Kim''s pass as he stepped into the midfield. He was calm as his eyes were¡ªfocused on the field before him. He controlled the ball with a deft touch and dashed towards Rosenborg''s half with an explosion of long strides.

    Although he hadn''t touched the ball in the first ten minutes, he''d been observing and analyzing the entire game situation. The right-wing was open, like a highway, inviting Zachary''s pass.

    Zachary did not hesitate and whipped the ball towards Kasongo, in the right-wing. The short wingertched on to the precise long pass and took off towards the opponent''s goal as if his life depended on it.

    However, Christoffer Aasbak, the left-back, was instantly on him, forcing him to head towards the corner g instead of the box. To make the situation worse, Gjermund ?sen, one of Rosenborg''s three core midfielders, also rushed towards the wing to support his teammate. The two yers surrounded Kasongo and forced him to lose possession soon after. The only attack of NF academy in the game, so far, had resulted in nothing.

    For the next few minutes, the game situation remained the same. Rosenborg''s second team dominated y and possession, forcing the NF academy to stay put in their half.

    Fortunately, the NF academy''s defenders were alert and managed to swat most of Rosenborg''s attempts at goal. They worked hand-in-hand to set up plenty of offside traps for Rosenborg''s two forwards. Mushaga had already been offside three times by the twentieth minutes of the game. The game remained in a stalemate.

    However, Zachary soon realized a problem. The Rosenborg defense and midfield always swatted their few counter-attacks with ease.

    The Troll Kids had a basic defensive shape, denying Zachary and his team any possession or pration through the center. The Rosenborg yers werepact vertically and horizontally the few times when Zachary was on the ball.

    When Zachary would receive a pass in the midfield, Jonas Svensson or Trond Olsen, the wingers of Rosenborg, would pinch into the half-spaces. They would close off his horizontal passing routes on either side of the pitch.

    The central midfielders would¡ªthen copse and form a narrow triangle in the middle of the field, blocking any spaces that he would have utilized to make runs through the middle.

    It seemed like Rosenborg''s strategy was to mark the spaces around him instead of man-marking him. They knew that Zachary was good. They could only limit his impact on the game with their perfect team y.

    Zachary could only resort to making long passes into the wings or to the forwards. However, Rosenborg''s well-organized midfield and defense would easily box in the forwards and the wingers when they received his passes. The Troll Kids would effortlessly force them towards the touchline, preventing them from threatening their goal.

    After Zachary understood their tactics, he called Kasongo over and whispered in his ear. He then ran back to the midfield and readied himself to receive the ball from his goalkeeper.

    Mushaga had just made another long-range effort at goal. He''d struck the ball towards goal from the edge of the 18-yard box. However, his shot had shed inches wide of the right post. The NF academy was on tenterhooks.

    Zachary ran out of the midfield towards the right-wing abruptly when Kendrick was about to take the goal-kick. "Pass here," he shouted, swapping numbers with Kasongo.

    "Zachary" Coach Johansen yelled from the sideline. "Go back to the midfield. What are you doing in the wings?"

    Kendrick didn''t seem to hear the coach''s words. He whipped the ball to Zachary right away.

    Zachary controlled the ball with his left foot in the right-wing¡ªand then took off like the wind. He prated the opponent''s half soon after.

    A sense of anxiety built within him as he heard Coach Johansen yelling from the sidelines. However, he calmed himself since he trusted his vision and game intelligence. Zachary believed his decision to swap positions with Kasongo was right since there were no gaps to exploit in the middle of the pitch. NF academy would only get one chance to attack through the wings before the Rosenborg coaches realized they had left spaces in the sides of their formation.

    "Cut him off," Zachary heard one of the midfielders yelling.

    However, he shut out all the voices and continued his dash. He was fast, as fast as a bullet train. Zachary kept running and did not stop. At one point, he somehow shrugged off two simultaneous challenges from a pair of Rosenborg defenders¡ªand still emerged with the ball.

    He felt like his body was lighter as his boots flew in uniform long strides across the green. His one-year progressive overload training was showing off its wonders.

    Gjermund ?sen sprung up in front of him, blocking his running path as he changed direction and cut into the pitch, heading towards Rosenborg''s box. The midfielder was trying to force him to move towards the corner g. That was what he''d been doing to Kasongo.

    Zachary smiled. He expertly flicked the ball forward with his right leg before easily beating the Rosenborg midfielder for pace. From there, he continued to bear down on goal, sprinting to his left past Christoffer Aasbak.

    However, the Rosenborg left-back was having none of Zachary''s nonsense. He shadowed Zachary with his swift pace and tried to win the ball with a sliding tackle. The defender sent Zachary tumbling to the ground right after he''d stepped into the box.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot.

 Chapter 35 - A Penalty-Kick

    "I got the ball... I got the ball," Christoffer Aasbak groaned, picking himself up from the ground and running towards the referee.

    "You didn''t get the ball," said the referee, a big tall bald fellow, smiling softly. He withdrew a red card from one of his shirt pockets and showed it to the Rosenborg defender.

    "Ref, that isn''t fair," Christopher said, but his voice somehow subdued. "He surely dived." He shook his head.

    "I was right behind you. So, I''m very sure my decision is correct." The referee emphasized. "You should have thought about the consequences before making ast-man foul." He pointed towards the bench.

    Zachary ignored the bickering of the referee and the defender. He picked up the ball and moved towards the penalty spot. ?rjan B?rmark, the NF academy only striker, came up to him and asked to take the penalty. However, Zachary refused and held the ball firmly. He wouldn''t trust anyone else with a spot-kick that he had worked so hard to earn. If NF academy didn''t acquire a goal from his effort, Zachary was sure to face Coach Johansen''s wrath.

    "Off you go, young fe," Zachary heard the referee instructing Christopher. "We have a game to y. You need to leave the pitch."

    "The rest of you out of the box," the referee hollered. "Keeper, head back to your goal." He ordered.

    In a matter of seconds, the referee had finished organizing all the yers outside of Rosenborg''s 18-yard box.

    The only people left within the box were Zachary, standing with the ball, on the penalty spot¡ªand Even Barli, Rosenborg''s goalkeeper, in between the goalposts.

    Zachary shut out all outside disturbances.

    He ran his hand through the turf to get any clumps out of the way. He then ced the ball on the penalty marker, positioning it as high as possible on the grass to give himself a good chance of striking it clean. He wanted to ensure that no other environmental factor affected his shot.

    Zachary took a few steps back after noticing that the referee was already in position and about to blow the whistle. He continued muting out everything else and only focused on the penalty kick.

    Meanwhile, he didn''t forget to stare down the keeper who was jumping around, waving his arms, and acting confidently on his line. Zachary smirked¡ªjust a small pouting of the lips, a narrowing of the eyes, and a tilting of the head. He was as calm as a well of stars and wasn''t intimidated by the keeper in any way.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, signaling for Zachary to take the penalty.

    Zachary ran slowly towards the ball before jumping high and cing his left foot next to the ball. All the while, he kept his sight fixed on the ball without looking at the goalkeeper. He then kicked the ball underneath¡ªwith the inside of his right foot, just a small nudge of moderate power, for elevation.

    Zachary showed his unique vision and gently flicked the ball to the opposite side of where the keeper had dived. In the 22nd minute, the NF academy had scored the first goal of the match. 1:0. Unexpectedly, Rosenborg''s second team was trailing.

    Hope bloomed inside Zachary as he celebrated the goal with the rest of his teammates. With Rosenborg a man down, he could finally see a possibility of the NF academy winning the game.

    "High pressing... high pressing formation for the rest of the half," Zachary heard coach Johansen yelling from the sidelines.

    The NF academy yers arrayed themselves in a 3-4-3 formation on hearing Coach Johansen''s instructions. ?yvind Alseth and Martin Lundal, the right and left-backs, moved up the pitch, towards the midfield. Kasongo and Kim, the wingers, advanced further towards the opponent''s box to support ?rjan in striking. That was the only way they could pressure the opponent''s defense on the other side of the pitch.

    High pressing tactics required Zachary and his teammates to hungrily press the opponents in their half and win back possession as soon as possible whenever they lost the ball. They had to stop Rosenborg''s passing within their half. Only then could they nip attacks in the bud and dictate gamey.

    Zachary was not surprised by Coach Johansen''s change of tactics. The NF academy could capitalize on their numerical advantage and constantly threaten the Rosenborg goal if they became bold enough to attack more often. They had to act before the Rosenborg coaches reacted to Christopher''s red card and reorganized their formations.

    For the next few minutes, Zachary upped his game. He didn''t make any more long runs but just started supplying his teammates with passes to dominate gamey.

    He conquered the midfield and became the link between defense and attack. He was always in a position to receive and pass the ball before the Rosenborg midfielders could react to his ys. With two more forwards in front of him, Zachary had more options when on the ball. asionally, he would send in deadly through balls to the three forwards.

    In the 38th minute, Zachary chipped the ball over Rosenborg''s defense after making a yard for himself in the midfield. Kasongo picked up the pass in the right-wing and sent the ball into the penalty area. ?rjan B?rmark jumped high to meet the resultant cross and nted a header from inside the box. However, the striker''s effort smashed off the right post. Rosenborg''s second team had just survived a second goal.

    **** *****

    "Zachary is getting better by the day," Coach Bj?rn Petersmented. "I now get why the Rosenborg officials ce so much importance on him."

    Coach Johansen was silent for a moment, then nodded. "He sure is talented. But his habit of deviating from the game n will cause him problems someday."

    "But he did score." Coach Bj?rn smiled. "There was no one else who could have exploited the gaps in the wings as well as he did. His pace and dribbling skills have improved over the past year."

    "That''s the only reason he''s off the hook. If he''d lost the ball along the way, the gap left by him in the midfield would have caused us a lot of trouble." Coach Johansen sounded casual.

    The two coaches were standing on the sidelines watching the game. NF academy was dictating the pace of the match with their numerical advantage.

    Zachary had just gotten to a rebound, from a corner ball, at the edge of the box. He smashed the ball towards the right side of the goal, beating Even Barli, and scoring the second goal. It was not yet the second half, but Rosenborg was surprisingly already 2:0 down. The academy coaches were under no pressure and conversing at a leisurely pace.

    "Don''t you think that it''s a waste to leave Zachary behind for the Riga Cup?" Coach Bj?rn inquired, his tone dubious. "With him, we have a real chance of winning for the first time. That could attract a lot more talented students to the academy."

    "I know that." Coach Johansen nodded. "I''ve seen his free-kicks during training. If he perfects his set-pieces, we could threaten the giant academies during the Riga Cup. However, I need to convince that old man before the Rosenborg officials allow us to utilize him in thepetition." Coach Johansen sighed, pulling at his red beard.

    "Why is that?"

    "The sporting director of Rosenborg doesn''t want Zachary ying out of the country for the meantime," Coach Johansen replied. "They''re afraid that other clubs in Europe will poach him before he even gets to y for Rosenborg. Only Mr. Stein can permit him to y in the cup since he oversees all of Zachary''s affairs here in Norway."

    Coach Bj?rn frowned. "That''s a challenge. You don''t seem to get along with Mr. Stein. Will he allow it?"

    Coach Johansen remained silent. He was focused on the match at that juncture. Zachary had just sent in a fine through ball towards the Rosenborg box, catching their center-backs unaware. Kim Riksvold collected the ball at the edge of the box¡ªand released a tremendous shot towards the bottom right corner of the goal. However, Rosenborg''s goalkeeper anticipated the attempt and made a brilliant save.

    "Don''t worry," Coach Johansen intoned after watching the game action. "I''ll find a way for him to join us. Just register him as part of the team partaking in the Riga Cup. Leave the rest to me."

    **** ****

 Chapter 36 - A Landslide Victory

    Coach Johansen substituted Paul Otterson in at the beginning of the second half. The Swede reced Kasongo on the right-wing.

    Even though the NF academy held a numerical advantage over Rosenborg''s second team, the coach didn''t dare rece any midfielders or defenders. He still seemed wary of Rosenborg despite being two goals ahead.

    Once Otterson got on the pitch, he ran up to Zachary and said: "Zach! I need to score. I need plenty of passes from you." He was breathing hard and all sweaty despite being on the pitch for only a few minutes. He seemed very anxious to perform in that day''s game.

    "Rx and y your game," Zachary advised his tmate. "The coaches only need to see that you have improved over the past year. Go to your position and wait for my passes." Zachary smiled softly.

    The NF academy continued dominating the rest of the game. Even the yers who had gone unnoticed in the first half started impacting the match. The left and right backs were both heavily involved in the gamey and made several runs across the wings during the second half. They yed more like wingers than defenders and sent several precise crosses into Rosenborg''s box.

    However, the Troll Kids had reorganized their defense over the halftime. They adjusted their formation to four defenders, four midfielders, and one striker. Eight of their men were always behind the ball, leaving no scoring opportunities for the NF academy yers despite how well they yed.

    The score remained 2:0 until the 86th minute.

    Zachary exploited a gap left by the Rosenborg yers¡ªand made another one of his signature-runs through the central midfield.

    He picked a loose pass midway inside the center circle, knocked the ball past Ole, outpaced Gjermund ?sen, and was then in the clear, galloping towards Rosenborg''s goal.

    From there, he set off on a mazy run, dribbling towards four of the Rosenborg defenders. The defenders looked both confused and mesmerized and were unable to challenge him. He quickly found himself at the edge of the box.

    When an angle opened up, he lifted his right leg to hit the ball towards the goal. However, two of the defenders jumped-up, while their counterparts slid in to block his shot. They were that afraid of him since he had already scored a long-range effort from that same spot in the first half.

    Out of the corner of his eye, Zachary noticed a familiar shadow rush by towards his right. Without taking a nce¡ªto confirm whether the shadow belonged to a teammate or an opponent, he expertly flicked the ball towards the running path of the silhouette. All the while, his eyes were glued to the defenders.

    No look¡ªpass.

    "Shit!" Zachary heard Simen Wangberg, one of the defenders, swear. The Rosenborg yers were¡ªstill caught up in their jumps and sliding tackles. They were alreadymitted to blocking Zachary''s shot and couldn''t readjust in time to defend against the new threat.

    Zachary''s little pass had taken all the defenders out of the equation, leaving Paul Otterson, NF academy''s winger, unmarked on the right side of the box.

    The Rosenborg keeper came out to meet him, but before he could get close to the ball, the Swede, who was tumbling to the ground at the time, flicked it over him with his right foot into the. 3:0. The NF academy was three goals ahead of the Rosenborg B team in the 87th minute.

    "GOAALLLLL." Paul ran to the sidelines, shouting and pumping his legs, before doing a few backflips towards the corner g.

    Zachary''s mouth twitched noticeably on seeing the high profile celebration of his tmate. The Swede had celebrated like there was no tomorrow¡ªlike he had scored a World Cup winner.

    "Go back to your half and defend. Go back...," Coach Johansen shouted from the sidelines.

    The NF academy yers reorganized themselves into their starting formation on hearing the Coach''s instructions. But this was not before Paul came up to Zachary and said: "Nice pass. Thank you."

    Zachary shrugged. "All the credit goes to you for the nice run off their defenders. We may not have scored otherwise."

    "Any chance you can send me another good pass in the remaining minutes?" Paul grinned. "I would like to score another goal." He whispered.

    Zachary looked at his tmate sharply. "Do you think their midfielders will let me repeat that?" He asked. "Go back to your position and try to fall back and defend when they are attacking. The minutes after scoring are the most dangerous. We need to be careful and keep a clean sheet."

    The winger returned to his position¡ªand the match restarted soon after. The Rosenborg yers seemed to have received a wake-up call after conceding. They switched their strategy from just defending and started using long balls targeted at Mushaga, their lone striker.

    In the 90th minute, Ole Seln?s produced a superb long pass from deep within his half. A mistake¡ªa miskick, from one of the defenders, gifted a chance to a lurking Mushaga. The Rosenborg striker kept his cool and let loose a right-footed shot¡ªthat was saved by Kendrick Otterson''s extended fingertips. The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the corner.

    "Concentrate... Concentrate," Coach Johansen shouted from the sidelines. "The match is not yet done." He sounded angry.

    The NF academy yers sessfully defended the corner. Magnus kstad outjumped all the yers and headed the ball away from the box after beating his mark.

    Ole fired in a rebound from the edge of the box. However, Lars Togstad, one of the academy''s center-backs, blocked the resulting carpet shot, sending the ball back towards the midfield.

    Three yers in dark blue jerseys took off at lightning speed, chasing after it. Zachary was ahead of them. Fists, arms, and legs swinging, he dashed towards the ball that was yet tond in the right-wing.

    Tunnel vision set in as he focused solely on the ball that had just bounced on the ground. The cleats of his boots dug into the fine grass of Lerkendal training ground as he upped his speed and beat everyone¡ªincluding the opposing defenders to the ball. His A+ agility was no joke at the academy level of ser. Although he wasn''t the fastest, he could easily beat most of his peers for pace.

    The ball was mid bounce when he reached it. Zachary didn''t pause to control the ball. He bent down slightly and headed it to the front without slowing down one bit.

    His deft first touch with his head took him past one defender. Before long, he was sprinting away from a second, and suddenly¡ªseemingly had miles of empty space ahead of him in the right-wing.

    Gjermund ?sen, a midfielder who hadn''t taken part in the corner-kick, came rushing in to close the ball down, but in so doing, came face to face with Zachary. He had his arms spread out wide like a defending basketball yer. His eyes burnt with intensity and his body posture warned Zachary he would use whatever means to take him out no matter the consequences.

    Zachary frowned but did not decelerate. He fed the ball past the Rosenborg boy and then left the pitch immediately, taking up the outsidene. ?sen, as most defending midfielders would, sidestepped towards Zachary, hoping to block him off or maybe even upend him.

    However, his efforts were futile.

    Zachary kept running wider, navigating around ?sen, speeding faster and faster towards the ball. He left the midfielder in the dust and stepped back into the pitch without slowing his pace.

    Zachary''s lungs screamed for simple breath as he cut diagonally into the pitch and dashed towards the box, with no defender to block his advance. He kept running though, each step mattered. Then, before he knew it, he was almost into the box.

    The keeper came out to greet him. Zachary quickly nced around him for the first time since starting his run. He noticed that the tall Magnus kstad had almost matched his pace with his long strides. He had just stepped into the arc of the 18-yard box.

    He was at the lead of a pack of yers, all chasing after Zachary.

    Zachary didn''t think twice and just prodded the ball into his path. Magnus coolly slotted the ball into the back of the empty, bringing NF academy''s tally to four goals for that day.

    The tall man ran up to Zachary and tried to lift him in a celebratory hug after scoring. However, Zachary wriggled out of his embrace before the rest of the yers could join the celebration and smother him.

    **** ****

    "Don''t you think he''s more of a winger than a midfielder?" Coach Bj?rn inquired as he nced at the celebrating academy yers.

    Coach Johansen cleared his throat. "He ys both positions well. We need to advise him on where to focus most of his efforts. I don''t want him wasting his time training for more than one position. I think midfield suits him best since he likes passing the ball even when faced with the keeper one-on-one." The coach had a rare smile stered on his face.

    "We could just try him in the wing and see how he fares against the Rosenborg senior yers next Friday," suggested Coach Bj?rn. "We need to make sure he''s ying in the right position at this critical stage of his career." He added.

    "I''ll think about it," Coach Johansen said before returning his attention to the match.

    The match ended with a score of 4:0 in favor of NF academy.

    **** ****

 Chapter 37 - The Strength Of A Professional Team

    The following Friday.

    The autumn afternoon sun bathed Lerkendal Idrettspark in its warm light.

    In one of the training grounds in that iconic sports facility of Trondheim, the NF academy faced off against the Rosenborg senior team.

    The match had almost no suspense or tension.

    Whether it was the teamwork or quality and experience of yers, there was no way the NF academy could triumph over the Rosenborg senior team. Even the majority of academy yers harbored no illusions of winning the game.

    Rosenborg Ballklub was a giant among the clubs in Norway. The team had won 13 consecutive titles¡ª10 under manager Nils Arne Eggen between 1991 through 2004. Rosenborg had even participated in the European Champions League and defeated big clubs like AC Mn. There was no way that 1st-team yers of a club with such a rich history could suffer defeat at the hands of a fledgling squad from an associated academy.

    Stories of David defeating Goliath were rare in team games like ser. The game proceeded as expected, with the Rosenborg senior teampletely suppressing Zachary and his teammates.

    Rosenborg subscribed to an attacking philosophy simr to what their second team had done, faced with the academy, the previous Friday.

    Rosenborg''s gamey was driven by teamwork rather than individual brilliance. They moved the ball around the pitch with precise passes and positioned themselves following a textbook perfect 4-4-2 formation. Their team chemistry was remarkable, with each yer seemingly aware of their teammates'' position, even without looking towards them.

    Zachary was outyed in the midfield¡ªjust because the Rosenborg midfielders could easily pass the ball around him without needing to square off against him. Fredrik Winsnes and Bo?ek Do?kal (Rosenborg''s central midfielders) passed the ball quickly into the wings before Zachary got any chance to close them down. They were disciplined and tactically aware, always making sure that they did not leave their defense exposed. Zachary found almost no space to exploit during the match.

    Rosenborg was attacking with a maximum yer count of four, the wingers always moving forward to support the two strikers. They worked in tandem with the wing-backs, creating 2-versus-1 situations when advancing towards NF academy''s half.

    On several asions, they let loose teasing crosses into the NF academy''s box, creating problems for the academy team. The inexperienced academy defenders couldn''t halt the advance of the speedy wingers and backs.

    Steffen Iversen and Rade Prica, the strikers, lead the attack in Rosenborg''s 4-4-2 formation. They weighed heavily on the defenders, coordinating their movements between each other to throw the academy defense out of bnce. The two were lethal with a good sense of positioning, always outjumping and beating the academy defenders to the crosses¡ªfrom the wings.

    Rade Prica scored two goals with headers aftertching on to teasing crosses delivered by the swift wingers in the 12th and 20th minute. Steffen Iversen added to the academy''s sorrow by scoring in the 40th minute. He smashed the ball, past Kendrick Otterson, into the back of the¡ªafter he''dtched on to a lofted pass into the box.

    By the end of the first half, the academy team was already three goals down. The Rosenborg team had a ball possession of about 80%, by Zachary''s estimation.

    **** ****

    "You guys yed a shitty game," Coach Johansenined to the yers in the dressing room. Zachary and his teammates were in the half-time break, listening to the coach''s instructions.

    "Especially the wing-backs. I''m not happy with your performance. How could you allow wingers to release all those crosses into our box?" The coach frowned at ?yvind Alseth and Martin Lundal.

    "Their wingers are not making any fancy runs or dribbles. Just try blocking their crosses, and everything will be fine." The coach scowled at the two wing-backs.

    All the yers remained silent as they waited for their Coach to continue. Some chugged down water from their bottles while others satnguidly, with bleary-eyes, on the benches in the dressing room. They fanned themselves with their sweat-drenched shirts. The NF academy yers looked overly exhausted despite only ying a single half against Rosenborg.

    "The game isn''t over yet," Coach Johansen continued. "I want to remind you that you''ll get a chance to join the Rosenborg squad if you perform well in this game. You should have noticed Trond Henriksen, the assistant coach of Rosenborg, on the touchline. He isn''t here just as a coach of the first team, but to scout for potential seedlings to be nurtured by the club. So, you have to perform well or ready yourself to join third-tier clubs." The coach paused, letting his gaze roam over the yers.

    "One more thing," the coach intoned. "We''ll be using your performance in this game to determine which yers will be released by the academy in this year''s review. And, we are also selecting the main squad for the Riga Cup. If you do well, you''ll get the chance to head to Latvia and test your skills against academies from the rest of Europe..."

    The Coach continued using both promises and threats to motivate the yers during the half time break. Zachary sat on the floor in the corner, munching on some fried peanuts. He had wanted topete against the senior yers of Rosenborg. However, his teammatescked the physical capability and technical skills to challenge the experienced top league yers.

    Zachary had to find a way to score, or he would fail a system mission and lose 160 Juju-points as a penalty by the system.

    Before the match, he''d epted a mission to score a goal during the game. The rewards included 80 juju points, enough to buy him a few elixirs in the system shop. He wanted to purchase a few doses of the physical conditioning elixir to help train his agility to the next level in the following few months.

    Zachary had realized he could be a formidable yer if he could improve one of his physical stats to the S grade. His agility stat was the current focus for improvement.

    If he could further increase his speed, he would possess the required arsenal to destroy defenders even at the professional level. Being suppressed by the Rosenborg yers in the first half had only strengthened his resolve.

    The Zinedine Visual Juju relied a great deal on teammates to work its magic in a match. With strong teammates, he could stand out with his passes and vision, heavily impacting the game. However, if his teammates performed below par, he too would be affected. Zachary needed skills that could enable him to perform despite the condition of his teammates. Dribbling and speed were his best options at that moment.

    "Zach," Coach Johansen called out to him, breaking his reverie. "Are you with us?" The coach frowned.

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, correcting his posture by sitting upright. He didn''t want to give his coach the impression that he had given up on the match.

    Coach Johansen looked at Zachary sharply. "Swap positions with Kim and y on the left-wing during the second half. Leave the defense for the rest and concentrate solely on attacking. You''ll get a few chances to run at the defenders. Use them wisely and try to test their keeper before the game ends." The coach instructed.

    "Coach, what about the midfield?" Magnus asked, on hearing the coach''s instructions. He was the defensive midfielder and was right to be worried about Zachary''s swap. Removing Zachary from the midfield would increase his workload for the game.

    "Kim will y with you in the midfield," Coach Johansen replied. "Your only role is to defend and prevent the Rosenborg yers from threatening our box through the middle. If you happen to win the ball, release it towards Zachary in the wings. We need to score at least one goal before the match ends."

    Magnus frowned but kept silent. The coach''s words in the dressing room werew.

    "Kasongo." The coach turned to the short guy. "I need you to keep falling back and help in the defense against their wingers. You can switch wings with Zachary if there are opportunities he needs to exploit via the right-wing. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," Kasongo replied.

    **** ****

 Chapter 38 - A Clinical Player

    The second half started soon after. Rosenborg''s senior team maintained its dominance. The club outyed the academy yers, leaving them with no chance to create scoring opportunities for themselves.

    They dictated the gamey and created several other chances at goal in the first 30 minutes of the 2nd half. However, the NF academy had arrayed into something simr to an 8-2 formation.

    Their five defenders and three midfielders all defended desperately against Rosenborg''s attacks in their half. Eight men were always behind the ball as they withstood attack after attack from the senior team. Even ?rjan B?rmark, the lone striker, helped in the defensive midfield. Their efforts paid off¡ªand they did not concede another goal.

    Zachary was the only forward on the center-line in the left-wing. He was guarded by Jim Larsen, one of Rosenborg''s center backs, the entire time.

    "You guys are boring," Jim Larsen said, pretending to yawn. "How did you manage to put four goals past our under-19 team? It seems like they were sleeping the whole game. Those kids!" The defender''s tone was somewhat dramatic.

    Zachary didn''t reply. He had no verbal counter for the defender''s jabs. He had waited for the entire half without touching the ball. The NF Academy hadn''t gotten any shot on goal from the beginning of the second half.

    Zachary had wanted to return to his half¡ªto help his teammates, instead of conversing with the Rosenborg defenders. However, Coach Johansen continued reminding him to cool his heels without backing the defense. His only role was to wait for the ball and utilize whatever chances coulde along his way¡ªhowever scarce they were. The opportunities were close to none except in thetter part of the half.

    In the 80th minute, Zachary finally received a pass from Magnus that had caught the Rosenborg yers off-guard. The iing ball was not the best. However, it bounced in the open space in the left-wing and could be contested by anyone.

    Zachary''s blood boiled with excitement as adrenaline flooded his veins. He set off before Jim Larsen could react and bolted towards the ball. That split-second faster-reaction was all that mattered to leave the Rosenborg center-back in the dust.

    In a sh, he reached the ball before it went out of y¡ªand raced towards the Rosenborg box. He cut into the pitch unobstructed since the Rosenborg yers had all been attacking in the other half, except for their two center backs.

    Per R?nning, the other center-back came running diagonally to close down Zachary. But the number-5 had made a mistake, attempting to close down Zachary with his back facing him. Zachary flicked the ball back and forth between his left and right feet as he advanced wavily towards the Rosenborg box.

    Per R?nning kept backing off while turning from side to side until it was toote. Zachary had dribbled past the center back with just a simple change of pace and was one-on-one with the keeper. The chasing defenders could not keep up with him once he got past them.

    A feint then sent him around goalkeeper Daniel ?rlund and allowed him to slot the ball into the empty. 3:1. The NF academy had finally put one past the Rosenborg defense despite having only one shot at goal the entire match.

    "DING"

    Zachary couldn''t contain his happiness as he heard the familiar system notification going off within his mind. He''dpleted the system mission and scored a goal. He finally had enough capital to purchase some elixirs from the system shop for his next training n.

    **** ****

    Trond Henriksen, the assistant coach of Rosenborg, approached Coach Boyd Johansen after Zachary had scored the goal.

    "That''s one clinical yer," Coach Henriksen said, without bothering with any greetings. The two coaches had already met before the match began. "His efficiency and ball handling are at the level of the first team. Was he that fast when he joined?"

    Coach Johansen removed his attention from the celebrating academy yers and smiled. "I don''t think so." He shook his head. "He has been improving rapidly over the past year. He''s a very hard-working kid. I''m sure he''ll continue to get faster and better over theing year."

    "Seems like Mr. Stein''s vision is still as sharp as ever." Coach Henriksen nodded. "How old is he now?"

    "16 years and making 17 in a few months. Our doctors have already confirmed his skeletal age."

    "So, about one more year to go," Coach Henriksen mumbled, returning his attention to the match.

    Zachary''s goal seemed to have poked a hos'' nest. Rosenborg attacked with newfound vigor, applying immense pressure on the NF academy team. The balls smashed off goalposts¡ªshots missed by mere inches, as the senior team bore down on the academy''s goal.

    However, the goddess of luck seemed to be on the side of the NF academy. The team narrowly survived conceding goals in the final minutes of the game. The game ended 3:1 in favor of Rosenborg. However, NF academy had managed to score with only a single shot at the goal, courtesy of Zachary Bemba.

    "We have reviewed your request," Coach Henriksen intoned after the referee blew the final whistle. "The team management also wants him to gain some experience from international matches." The coach smiled. "However, we require amitment from him before he travels out of the country. He should understand that we are investing in him as a potential Rosenborg yer. We don''t want to hear he''s run off to another club after the tournament in Riga. You can work out the details with Mr. Stein on how to handle this."

    "Thank you," Coach Johansen said, smiling.

    "Will you be taking your position on the second team right away?" Coach Henriksen inquired, diverting the topic away from Zachary.

    "Not yet." Coach Johansen shook his head. "I would like to win one of the tournaments before leaving the academy. The Riga and SIA cups will look good on my CV." The coach smiled.

    Coach Henriksen gave his colleague an arch look. "You''re that sure that you''ll win? Those are tournaments with serious club academies like Manchester City, PSV, Valencia, and Atnta."

    Coach Johansen half-smiled. "With Zachary, we have a pretty good chance."

    "What ns do you have for him?"

    "We''ll design a good training n for him to improve his speed and ball-handling over the next few months. By February, his pace should be at another level if he continues progressing."

    "Just don''t forget to run everything by old man Stein," Coach Henriksen warned.

    Coach Johansen frowned but nodded after a moment of deliberation.

    **** ****

 Chapter 39 - The System Shop

    Nightfall came with a whisper of perfect ck that grew into a soothing chorus of stars.

    Zachary and his three tmates rode their bikes back to Moholt. Coach Johansen had dismissed them right after the match¡ªonly after a brief address. The boys were in a somber mood as they mulled over the parting words of the academy coach.

    "Do you think the coach will go ahead and still cut out some yers despite our victory over the Rosenborg reserve teamst Friday?" Kasongo asked, reducing his speed and matching pace with Zachary.

    "I highly doubt that," Zachary replied, matter-of-factly. "The coaches need yers for the Riga Cup at the beginning of February. Our team only has sixteen yers remaining. Cutting more yers before the new year would cripple the team."

    Paul Otterson half-smiled. "You say that because you were not here two years back. Coach Johansen cut loose more than ten under-17 yers from the academy. He has no obligation to train a full team of yers until they join the under-19 teams."

    "Aahh!" Kasongo shouted in frustration. "The suspense of not knowing is killing me. Will I be cut from the team or not? Why didn''t the coach announce the results today? That''s all I can think about."

    "I think Zachary has a point," Kendrick Otterson cut in. "We need a team for Riga. Factoring in our performance over the two matches, we''re not in any danger."

    The four boys fell into line as they rounded a corner and rode their bikes past Bunnpris Supermarket, heading into the narrow path leading to their t. It was a Friday evening. University students from N.T.N.U were all over the ce, probably attending one of their weekend parties. They all held little beers in their hands and swayed to the loud music ring out of a tiny basement underneath one of the apartments.

    "When will I join campus and start enjoying such parties?" Paul Otterson sighed as the group of four rode their bikes past the rowdy students.

    "Instead of thinking about how to improve your ball handling, you''re daydreaming about basement parties." Kendrick scowled at his brother. "I''ll support the coach''s decision if he cuts you from the team tomorrow." He harrumphed.

    "We need to put more effort into our training." Kasongo sighed. "The match with the Rosenborg senior team was a wake-up call."

    "Only Zachary could hold his own somewhat against them," Paul chipped in, shaking his head. "But I was relieved when we conceded only three goals. Before the match began, I was afraid we would concede more than six."

    Paul reduced his speed and fell beside Zachary, who was riding at the back. "Zach! Why don''t we start joining you on your physical training exercises?" He inquired¡ªgrinning.

    Zachary gave his tmate a soft smile. "You''re wee to join. But be warned, I won''t babysit you. I''ll be moving out at six tomorrow morning for outdoor running. I''ll also pass by the training ground and do some cone agility drills before breakfast." He said, his tone solemn.

    He had realized that his Swedish tmates were talented but often fell out of their training routine. That seemed to be the reason why they had remained obscure in his previous life. Zachary was eager to motivate them and see them develop their careers further. There was a chance he could cause one of those butterfly effects, changing the ser history trajectory in his new life.

    "I''ll also join in," The three others answered more or less in unison. Zachary nodded. He could sense a silent resolve in their tone. It seemed like his teammates were starting to take their training more seriously. He was d as he didn''t want to see them turn into failures at a sport they loved as he had in his previous life.

    The boys rode in silence for the rest of their short journey to the t. When they reached their apartment, they quickly washed up and headed to their rooms to sleep. They had already eaten dinner at the academy after the match.

    Zachary opened the system interface once he was safely ensconced in his room. Although he was tired and close to dozing, he wanted to n for the next day''s training after making some system purchases. He first clicked on the G.O.A.T-missions tab to check thepletion status of his mission.

    "DING"

    ****

    #4 new messages

    CONGRATULATIONS

    -> You havepleted the mission (Score a goal in the match against the Rosenborg senior team).

    ----

    ->Mission-Rewards

    1) 80 Juju points

    ----

    ->Mission Summary

    *Scored a magnificent goal against a senior professional team.

    ----

    Overall Mission Rating: A+

    ----

    ->Bonus rewards

    You have earned a total of 10 bonus Juju-points

    ----

    ****

    Zachary''s heart leaped with excitement. His stock of Juju points had been raised to 200 once again after the two matches against the Rosenborg teams. Each game had been a system mission that had offered him plentiful rewards of Juju-points.

    He was hungry for more Juju-points after starting his daily training in the G.O.A.T skills simtor. With two Juju-points, he could train his Bend-it like Beckham Juju or his arrow shot for one hour in the system''s virtual world. He could also make several purchases of elixirs from the system shop with more points. Juju-points were the system''s currency.

    He suppressed his excitement and opened the system shop.

    ****

    *SYSTEM SHOP

    ->Gift Packs (locked)

    ->Purchase Skills

    ->Purchase Elixirs

    ->Lottery Coupons (locked)

    ->Inventory

    ****

    Zachary tapped on the Purchase-Elixirs tab with his right forefinger. A variety of elixirs represented by different types of fruits popted the drop-down menu. Agility and vitality enhancing-elixirs of various grades were present on the list disyed on the interface. There were also mental and physical conditioning-elixirs in the shop from the D to B grades.

    However, most were expensive and beyond his stock of Juju-points. The cheapest agility enhancing-elixir, which was the D grade, cost a total of 1000 Juju-points. The elixirs for vitality enhancement were¡ªalso priced in the same range. Zachary could only afford a monthly dosage of the D to C-grade physical or mental conditioning-elixirs with his 200 Juju-points. Most of the other elixirs were in grey and inessible to him. For instance, he couldn''t see any A or S-grade elixirs on the menu.

    He chose to purchase the physical conditioning elixir right away. It would significantly improve the efficiency of his training with just a monthly dose. He''d already used up the dosage rewarded to him by the system during his one-year progressive overload training.

    Zachary aimed to improve his fitness and raise one of his physical stats to the S grade. Only by bing more physically fit could he gain the capability to learn more advanced ser skills and be a nightmare for defenders.

    Physical fitness was one of the most important aspects of ser performance. A yer could go a long way in the sport with unparalleled skill. However, without the fitness part of their game, they would not be aplete yer. Zachary''s goal was to raise his stamina until he was capable of maintaining a high level of intensity throughout the 90-minutes of a ser match.

    But more urgently, he needed to improve his agility to the S grade. His dribbling runs had helped him beat several defenders in previous matches. He was intent on developing his dribbling skills further¡ªtill he could beat any defender in any game.

    His only logical choice was the physical conditioning elixir since it would improve his agility in the short run. He couldn''t afford the more effective agility-enhancing-elixirs at that moment.

    After purchasing the elixir, Zachary spent four Juju-points to activate the G.O.A.T skills simtor for two hours. He carried out his daily routine of practicing the Bend-it like Beckham Juju before entering slumbend at 11 PM that night.

    He had an important meeting with Coach Johansen to attend the next day.

 Chapter 40 - Agility And Endurance Drills

    It was a slow grey morning the next day.

    Zachary started his day, as nned, by going outdoors for a run. His tmates remainedmitted to their words and apanied him during the exercise. The entire time, they struggled to keep up with his pace as he alternated between jogging and sprinting on the empty streets of Trondheim.

    It was still 6 AM. The streets were devoid enough of traffic to bring about any interruptions to their run.

    Zachary was training his endurance while orienting himself to running outdoors in the temperate weather. He would sprint for 100 meters and follow up with a jog for a half a kilometer as he led his tmates around Trondheim City''s streets. He was slowly limating himself to running during ser matches in the harsh outdoor weather of Trondheim.

    A ser match was more like a couple of very¡ªfast but short sprints¡ªinterspersed with slow jogging or walking. The yers never ran at a constant speed during games. By copying the system''s fitness missions, Zachary had tailored his endurance training to match the ever-changing pace of matches. He ran at such alternating speeds for 45 minutes, three times a week, to keep his body in top shape.

    "Let''s sprint the rest of the way," Zachary hollered to his tmates as they neared the NF training grounds after the long run. He didn''t wait for their responses before sprinting away.

    The cold autumn humidity of Trondheim made him feel sticky. Sweat rolled down his face in thick, salty beads. His clothes, slick with perspiration, clung to his skin.

    His heart throbbed inside his chest, and his skin felt like it was roasting. He began bouncing¡ªslightly as he sprinted, which wore him out faster. But, he didn''t slow down or break his run.

    Perhaps a year prior, he would have balked at the idea of running so far and fast. However, at that moment, he relished the prospect. He didn''t intend to break out of his training routine even for a single moment.

    He was strict on himself and had never missed a day of practice over the course of his year at the academy. Consistency was everything in sports training. He was finally beginning to reap the fruits of all his hard work. He had started getting faster and less tired after his sprinting and jogging routines.

    "Not this again," Paul Ottersonined after Zachary bolted away from them. The Swede''s rasping throat was as parched as that of a lizard in the desert sun. His head bobbed loosely from side to side with each footfall.

    "Where does Zachary get all that stamina?" Kendrick cut in, not the least bit willing to increase his pace. He was already running on a five-percent battery. His energy reserves were pretty close to running out. At least, that''s what he thought.

    "Let''s persevere and sprint for thest minute," Kasongo stammered in between gasps of breath. His feet pounded on the tarmac with all the grace of a sack of potatoes. His graceful springing steps from five miles earlier had long disappeared.

    Zachary''s tmates were all feeling spent after matching his quick pace for forty-five minutes. However, they all endured and ended the morning run with a 200-meter sprint¡ªuntil they reached the academy training grounds.

    Zachary took only a minute to stabilize his breathing even after alternating between sprinting and jogging for nearly an hour. To him, the exercise was just the typical morning run, a small step on his journey to improve his physique and be a great yer.

    He had realized that humans were creatures of habit. The more they practiced something, the more natural it became. He had long gotten used to such training routines over the course of the year. Moreover, he had taken a physical conditioning elixir before the training. He had plenty of energy reserves stored within his body.

    His tmates, on the other hand, were in a sorry state. Theyy supine on the moistened artificial grass of the NF training ground, with their arms and legs spread out wide, gasping for breath like fish taken out of water. They looked exhausted beyond belief.

    However, Zachary had no ns to go easy on them. His three tmates had agreed to let him be their instructor for personalized training. He intended to fulfill his role.

    "Wake up, fes," he said, chugging down some water from his water bottle. "We need to start the agility drills and individual ball work exercises," he shouted, imitating the husky voice of Coach Johansen.

    He looked at his Asahi watch and noticed that it was almost seven. Twilight had begun to melt away. The reddish-orange rays of a majestic sunrise had started seeping over the horizon. The light itself seemed to pour out from a molten sun.

    "Just give us a few minutes," Kasongo said, his voiceing out quieter and in a slow monotone.

    "Suit yourselves." Zachary shrugged. "I''ll go ahead and begin my training before my muscles cool down. You can take your time resting. Rest is good for improving your ball skills." He mumbled, feigning anger.

    "Okay, we are with you," Paul said, jumping up from the grass. The rest followed suit.

    "Great. That''s the spirit." Zachary smiled. "Let''s set up the cones and do some drills before the coaches arrive. Kasongo, get the trainingdders."

    The four boys spent the next hour going through several agility enhancement exercises. They started with forward-running high-knee drills through thedders ced in the center of the pitch. They sprinted with their knees lifting high through thedder,nding in each space between rungs. The exercise would help improve their foot coordination and running speed with the ball.

    They followed that up withteral running¡ªside-to-side drills. Afterward, they ran the cones and ended the session with shuttle-runs across the pitch.

    Only then did they settle down to eat their packed breakfast, awaiting the arrival of Coach Johansen and the other yers. It was a Saturday, so there were no sses. The only thing they had scheduled for that day was ser training with Coach Johansen.

    "Kendrick," Zachary called out to the goalkeeper once he finished his breakfast. "Can we put in some set-piece practice?" He asked. "We still have about 40 minutes before everyone else gets here."

    The coaches and other yers usually arrived at about 9 AM for the weekend sessions. Zachary had always been present at the training ground alone during early morning hours. That day was the only exception.

    "No problem." Kendrick smiled. "Let''s set-up the wall of training mannequins." He seemed to have recovered from his fatigue.

 Chapter 41 - Coach Johansenâ€™s Advice

    Zachary spent the next thirty minutes working on set-pieces with the Swedish goalkeeper. After spending more than two weeks training in both the system skills simtor and the field, he could put three out of ten freekicks into the back of the.

    He felt like he was progressing daily. His technique was improving slowly but steadily. His mastery of the Bend-it like Beckham Juju had advanced by 4.2%. He had already taken more than 200 set-pieces in the virtual simtor over the previous two weeks.

    "I would advise you to add more power to your technique," a voice interrupted Zachary after he finished taking one of the freekicks. He was momentarily perplexed. He had kicked the ball with grace and sent it curling, past the wall of mannequins, into the back of the. Kendrick had not even managed to react. Yet, someone was telling him to add more power to his technique.

    Zachary turned around only to find Coach Johansen observing him. He had focused all his attention on the freekick and had failed to notice his arrival.

    "Good morning, coach," he greeted.

    "Good morning." Coach Johansen nodded, his face devoid of any emotion. "I see that you are early as usual. And, you brought some of your teammates along with you this time. That''s good."

    Zachary half-smiled, nodding. "You said I need to add more power?"

    "Yes." The Coach took a few steps towards Zachary. "I can see that you are already working on your technique for freekicks. And it''s disturbingly simr to David Beckham''s. You must have practiced a lot to achieve that level of expertise." The coach nodded in a gesture of silent approval. "But, I''ve also seen you take long shots from outside the eighteen. Why not add that sort of power to your freekicks?"

    "Imagine sending a powerful shot past the wall with enough curvature on the ball," Coach Johansen continued, half-smiling. "As long as it''s on target, no keeper will ever have time to react to it."

    Zachary nodded. "I get what you''re saying. However, I need to master the technique and postures first before adding more power behind the ball." He borated. If he could achieve what the coach had suggested, he would have created a new world-ss skill. But, training a new skill was a difficult task.

    "That is a wrong approach you are taking," Coach Johansen replied. "If you were aiming to be another freekick taker like Beckham, your training would be fine. However, if you need to power-up your freekicks beyond that level, you should begin now. Otherwise, you''ll find it hard to adjust your technique once all the postures and body motions have be ingrained into your muscle memory." The coach exined, stroking his red beard. "Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, smiling wryly. He understood Coach Johansen''s reasoning to some extent. The coach didn''t want him to copy Beckham''s technique exactly. There was no such thing as a perfect technique in the whole world. He was advising Zachary to attempt to improve it. He could only make those modifications and advance his skill further before developing hard-to-break habits for the technique.

    "It is good that you understand." The coach nodded. "As much as you admire all the stars in the world, you should try to develop your unique ying style."

    "Aim to surpass the stars, but not imitate them. I would not say this to any other yer."

    "But, you aren''t just any other yer. You have got the talent to aplish such a feat¡ªthat''s if we train together for some time." The coach said before walking away.

    "Was he just talking about freekicks all the time?" Kendrick ran up to him once the coach departed.

    "Yes." Zachary nodded. "He was advising me to add more power to my set-pieces."

    "Oh, my," Kendrick eximed, mopping a hand through his long brown hair. "Does he want to turn you into a Roberto Carlos?"

    "Nope. I think he only wants me to improve my technique." Zachary sighed. "Coach Johansen is surprisingly somewhat caring in contrast to what many think of him."

    Kendrick shook his head. "That''s because you weren''t here two years ago," he said quietly.

    "Can we try a few more freekicks?" Zachary inquired, diverting the topic from Coach Johansen.

    "Just four more since the others have started arriving," Kendrick replied, running back to his goal.

    Zachary took a few more freekicks against Kendrick. He added more power to his shots, making them waver far beyond the goalposts. He realized that it would be much harder to modify the technique than he had imagined.

    Beckham''s freekick technique generated incredible power, unleashing shots with speeds over 80 miles per hour. Zachary was sure he could release curling freekicks exceeding 90 miles per hour if he mastered the Bend-it like Beckham Juju. However, Coach Johansen had advised him to add even more power to the shots, further raising their speed.

    Did the coach intend for him to unleash shots traveling at 100 miles per hour? The idea was enticing to him. That would stretch physics to its limit. No goalkeeper would ever be fast enough to react to such ball velocity.

    Very few individuals had managed to let loose such shots in recorded football history. Usually, it was by ident, not by design. Keepers would remain terrified of him as long as he could consistently smash the ball on target with that much power.

    Zachary just needed to ask the coach for advice during their meetingter that day.

    In-between his training with Kendrick, Zachary noticed that most of the yers had turned their attention to the administrative building housing Coach Johansen''s office. "Do you know what is happening?" He asked the Swedish goalkeeper.

    "Nope." Kendrick shook his head, wiping his gloves off his sweat pants. "But I do have some guesses." He smiled wryly. "Let''s ask Paul and Kasongo first. They should know more about what is going on.

    They approached Kasongo and Paul and inquired about what was going on in Coach Johansen''s office.

    Paul sighed. "The coach has called two yers into his office. Everyone suspects they''ll be¡ªcut from the team."

    "Which ones?" Kendrick asked, frowning.

    Paul''s expression darkened with what looked more like sadness or maybe sympathy. "Ivan, one of the midfielders, and Mathew Stevenson, the other goalkeeper."

    "Let''s hope the coach is in a good mood and will not call anyone else aside from those two," Kendrick said. "It''s good we still have a team of fourteen. Otherwise, we would miss out on the international tournaments once again this year."

    Coach Johansen only cut two yers from the program. They departed from the training grounds soon after.

    Zachary empathized with them. His team in his previous life had released him and simrly terminated his contract. The experience was something he never wanted to go through again. It was simply hard to hear the news that a dream you had devoted over half your life to¡ªwould never be realized. The rejection had left a mark that sealed his fate as a failure in his previous life. That was the main reason he was putting a lot of effort into his career in this life despite having a system.

    "Zachary!" Coach Bj?rn Peters hollered out from near the administrative building.

    "Here," Zachary yelled back, jogging towards the coach.

    "You can meet the coach now," Coach Bj?rn said before turning back and heading into the building.

    Zachary took a deep breath and followed him through the ss doors. He wasn''t the least bit worried he would be cut loose by the team. He was certain that he was the star yer of the academy''s under-17 team.

    After the match the previous day, Coach Johansen had assured him they only needed to meet briefly to discuss his future. Zachary expected to hear about the ns the academy had for him.

 Chapter 42 - A Contract

    Zachary followed Coach Bj?rn through a narrow corridor, up the stairs, into Coach Johansen''s office on the second floor.

    "Have a seat," said Coach Johansen. He pointed to one of the elegant sofas opposite his desk.

    "Thank you," Zachary replied as he sank into the sofa. Coach Bj?rn was seated on a padded stool next to Coach Johansen''s desk, maintaining his silence.

    Zachary let his eyes take in his surroundings. The office, painted with a light shade of grey, had a single massive floor-to-ceiling window facing the training grounds. In one corner, an air conditioner sted at low settings. It brought in the air from outside, giving off a fresh breeze. To its left stood a wooden cab with ss doors. Through the ss, Zachary could see several trophies lined up on its shelves.

    "So, how are you finding life here in Norway," Coach Johansen inquired, half-smiling. He ced his hands on his grey desk. Beside him sat a desktopputer, an open notebook, and a stack of papers held down by a ball-shaped paperweight. At the far corner of the uncluttered desk stood a framed photograph of a red-haired teenage girl, probably the coach''s daughter.

    "I''m doing well," Zachary replied politely. "The training facilities here are quite remarkable. However, I haven''t taken part in enough matches to practice my skills." He added, voice taking on a dubious tone.

    Zachary needed more official matches to gain match experience¡ªand, of course, system Juju-points. He had realized that he could earn 30 or more points from system missions in each game, depending on his performance.

    He wanted to take part in more games to rack up points and purchase high-grade elixirs to improve his physical fitness.

    Coach Johansen folded his arms across his chest, maintaining his half-smile. "That''s one of the reasons I called you in here. I can promise that in a few months, you''ll get a lot of match time. You''ll get the chance to y against other academies from the rest of Europe."

    "You mean the Riga Cup?"

    "Yes." Coach Johansen nodded. "This time, I have struck a deal with the Rosenborg officials. You can join the squads heading for the Riga and SIA cups. But on one condition."

    Zachary met the coach''s gaze and spoke quietly. "And that is?"

    Just then, the door opened behind him. Heavy footsteps moved into the room. "You started without me?" Murmured a deep voice, in a toneced with a tinge of disapproval.

    "Sorry, Mr. Malvik." Coach Johansen stood up and extended a hand to the new stranger. "But you arete. No worries, though. We were simply answering some of Zachary''s questions while awaiting your arrival."

    Zachary was confused. Was there supposed to be someone else present during the meeting? He turned to his side and observed the new arrival. He was a middle-aged blonde man in an elegant suit with the standard-issue Norwegian face, ubiquitous square shoulders, and a square chin. He looked like the stereotypical office type and seemed to have mastered his look of confidence as a money-making skill.

    The stranger took Coach Johansen''s hand and smiled. "Pardon me, coach. I came rushing here right out of court. How is your morning, by the way?" He asked, settling down on the sofa beside Zachary.

    "Fine," Coach Johansen replied, sitting back down. "I guess you remember my assistant, Coach Bj?rn?" He cocked his head to one side, observing the man.

    "Yes, yes," the stranger said, turning towards the other coach in the room. "Good morning, to you?"

    "Good morning." Coach Bj?rn nodded at the stranger, smiling.

    The two coaches were behaving in-a-way that reminded Zachary of locals back home greeting a delegate visiting their vige. They were very polite and formal, which was out of character. Zachary concluded that the stranger must be someone in an important position.

    "And this young one here is Zachary Bemba." Coach Johansen introduced himst. "He''s the yer we were talking about."

    "Nice to meet you, young man," the stranger said, turning and extending his hand to Zachary. "I''m Daniel Malvik, one of the legal advisors of Rosenborg. I''ve heard a lot about you." He smiled kindly.

    Zachary shook his hand. "Nice to meet you too." He turned towards Coach Johansen, his brows raised questioningly.

    "No need to worry," Coach Johansen replied, waving his hand. "We are here to talk about some possibilities for your future. Let''s wait for Mr. Stein before we continue our talk."

    Zachary was surprised that even Mr. Stein was attending. He had initially thought he would only talk briefly with Coach Johansen before returning to his training. However, the importance of the meeting had exceeded his expectations.

    They didn''t have to wait long. Mr. Stein soon arrived¡ªand the meeting began.

    "Okay, gentlemen," Mr. Daniel Malvik said, after clearing his throat. "I don''t like to beat about the bush. Let''s get to business right away."

    He turned towards Zachary. "Young man, I represent the club. I''m just here to seek amitment from you and your representatives."

    "What kind ofmitment?" Zachary inquired, stealing a nce at Coach Johansen. He wondered whether themitment was the condition he needed to fulfill before joining the academy teams heading to Riga and Valencia.

    Mr. Malvik smiled. "To put it simply, we need to put you under contract," he said, pulling out a few papers from his briefcase.

    "I''ll speak bluntly," he continued. "You are an asset that the club is developing. That is, of course, as a talented football yer. Correct?"

    Zachary nodded. He could understand thewyer''s logic. Rosenborg was pumping money to maintain his stay in Trondheim and turning him into a professional ser yer.

    "However, you are not under any contract. The moment you turn 18, any other club coulde and snatch you away without paying any transfer fees. We don''t want to see that happening. That''s why we are offering you a contract at an earlier date."

    "What about the FIFA regtions?" Zachary had nothing against signing a contract with Rosenborg. He wanted to y for the club that had brought him to Europe for a year or two. But, he had no intention of taking part in breaking any of the rules of FIFA.

    Mr. Malvik smiled, nodding at the rest of the men in the office. "I''m d your attitude isn''t strongly opposed to signing for the club," he said. "You don''t have to worry about the FIFA rules. We need you to sign something uplicated¡ªto ensure that you are with us after leaving the academy next year. To make certain that FIFA doesn''t catch on, you''ll have to sign an NDA, of course." He exined.

    "Just give me the contract and give me a moment to decide," Zachary interrupted. He didn''t want to spend his whole day listening to the terms of the contract.

    "Okay, here you go." Mr. Malvik handed him two sets of papers.

    Zachary quickly started reading through. One set was a four-page contractmitting Zachary to y for Rosenborg BK right after his eighteenth birthday. He would have to stay at the club for three years before moving on to greener pastures¡ªthat is, if he signed the document. The second was a Non-Disclosure Agreement. Itmitted Zachary to not divulging the contract terms to anyone else¡ªaside from the people present in that room.

    "I''ll only sign if you reduce the duration I have to y for Rosenborg to two years," Zachary said, locking gazes with thewyer.

    "Done." Thewyer smiled, picking up another set of papers from his open briefcase. He then handed them to Zachary.

    Zachary was perplexed as he received the papers. He wondered why thewyer had been so quick to agree to his bargain.

    [Did I miss anything in the contract?]

    He read through the new contract, word by word. The others left him to his own devices and started conversing among themselves in Norwegian.

    Zachary did not mind since he was already tired of being the center of attention in the room. He continued reading and quickly discovered that there wasn''t any mary remuneration from the Rosenborg team until he was 18 years. ording to the terms, Zachary would only receive another contract at the end of the following year. That was before he joined the first-team roster.

    After reading through, he weighed the pros and cons of the contract. If he didn''t sign, the Rosenborg officials would remain wary of him. They wouldn''t allow him to enter the international youthpetitions like the Riga Cup. Zachary would then be hard-pressed to rack up any Juju points, thereby slowing down his progress.

    However, if he did sign, he would only have to stay at Rosenborg for two years. After that, he would be free to go anywhere he wanted and y in the rest of Europe. But who knows? Maybe, he would perform well and garner the attention of the big clubs before then. Zachary wouldn''t believe that Rosenborg would resist a transfer deal of more than 15 Million US Dors. Their record transfer was less than 3 Million US Dors at that moment.

    "I will sign," he announced after deliberating.

    The rest of the three men turned towards him, their eyebrows lifted in expressions of nk surprise. It seemed like they had not expected him to agree right away.

    "Have you finished considering?" Mr. Malvik asked.

    "Yes." Zachary nodded.

    "Okay, then." Thewyer smiled.

 Chapter 43 - New Training Plans

    "Zachary," said Mr. Stein. "You shoulde and visit me a few times. It''s been long since west talked."

    Zachary sighed. "My training schedule keeps me from doing anything else. I fear that if I break out of routine, I''ll lose focus and disrupt my progress. That''s why I didn''t even go homest summer."

    The two of them were standing just outside Coach Johansen''s office. They had just finished attending the short meeting.

    "I truly understand. The coaches only have good things to say about you. But, remember not to overtax your body." The scout warned. "By the way, have you thought about getting an agent?" He asked in an offhanded manner.

    "Not yet." Zachary shook his head. "There is no need for me to get an agent when I haven''t begun my pro career. I''ll think about this next year."

    "That''s okay." Mr. Stein smiled. "But remember to consult with me when you do decide to get one. Do not get scammed by fake agencies when you go outside the country to y in tournaments. The situation in other European countries isn''t the same as here in Norway."

    "I''ll keep that in mind." Zachary nodded.

    "I''ll be off now. I don''t want to keep you from your training. Stay focused. The sky is your limit." Mr. Stein said before walking away.

    Zachary sighed. He couldn''t help but notice that Mr. Stein looked much older than before. His wrinkles had be more pronounced. He was even using a cane to support himself.

    [I hope he is all right.] Zachary inwardly prayed. He turned around and headed back into Coach Johansen''s office.

    "Back already?" Coach Johansen said, looking up from his notebook.

    "Yes, Coach," Zachary replied, settling himself in one of the sofas. The others had all left. Coach Johansen was the only one still present in the room.

    "You wanted to see me?" Zachary inquired.

    "Yes," the coach replied, half smiling. "I''ve watched your ying style evolving over the few matches you have yed under me. I''m convinced that we can turn you into a highly agile yer capable of beating any defender in the professional leagues. I thought up a good training n that can further increase your speed."

    Zachary was instantly at full attention. He had been searching for more effective ways to increase his speed.

    "Do you wish to add a speed training routine to your schedule?" Coach Johansen inquired.

    "Of course." Zachary nodded.

    "Then take this," the coach said, tearing out a few pages from his notebook. "Go through the speed workout three times a week. You should start seeing results within two to three months." He handed the papers to Zachary.

    "DING"

    No sooner had Zachary received the pages¡ªthan the system notification sounded in his mind. The translucent interface materialized before him, indicating he had a new system mission awaitingpletion. It seemed coaches could initiate system missions as long as they issued tasks to him. His mood lifted as soon as he realized he had another way to earn Juju-points.

    "If there is nothing else, you can return to training."

    "Coach," Zachary said as he willed the system interface to close with his mind. He couldn''t begin perusing through it in front of his coach. "I do have a few questions that have been on my mind."

    "One question. It''s almost time for tactical training."

    "Do you know anything about the X-factor in football?"

    "Oh." The Coach half-smiled. "The X-factor. Why in hell would you be researching that?" He looked at Zachary with a frown.

    "I just want to know."

    "Well, there is no harm in telling you," Coach Johansen said. "The answer is simple. The X-factor is just the ability to win matches for the team. On my side, I consider things like creativity, consistency, and even sometimes the luck of a yer as the X-factor the team needs."

    Zachary frowned. "Does that mean the most skilled yer will always have the highest X-factor?" He asked to clear his confusion. He was very consistent in all his matches. However, the system was still indicating no avable data for the X-factor stat.

    "That''s is usually the case," Coach Johansen replied. "But not always. Some yers are not that skilled on the ball but often win matches for their team. They always find themselves in strategic positions, either by design or by ident, and end up scoring match winners. They get those simple moments of individual brilliance¡ªand¡ªpa¡ªthey have won you the game." He pped his hands to emphasize his point.

    "Let me give you an example," the coach continued. "Do you remember the Manchester United squad with both Ryan Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooy?"

    Zachary nodded.

    "Giggs was very skilled with the ball and a good finisher. His ying style excited many. However, he didn''t score often enough to impact some of the seasons. However, Nistelrooy would get few passes inside the box and put the ball into the. He was the tops-scorer for several seasons at Old Trafford. I believe he had a higher X-factor on the teampared to Giggs, who was a more skilled ball handler."

    The coach smiled softly at Zachary. "To have a high X-factor, you need to perform, score, and win games. Not just once. You have to remain consistent over many matches." He spoke in a conclusive tone.

    Zachary''s confusion was growing. He''d also figured out that much about the X-factor from the literature online. He had had a significant impact on the oue of all his games since traveling back in time. He was still perplexed that the system rated his X-factor stat at Grade F. He wondered whether that was due to ack of enough data from the right number of games.

    "You should return to your training now," Coach Johansen said, his tone returning to his default somberness.

    "Coach, wait," Zachary intoned with a sense of pleading. "How can I increase the power behind my freekicks? You said something about helping me improve in the morning."

    Coach Johansen lifted his reddish-brown eyebrows."The key to improving the power lies in the back-swing speed of your shooting-leg."

    "Remember, the kick speedes from the rotation of the hips and not from the legs. I would advise you to start by making sure your hip rotation muscles are strong and flexible." He exined.

    "I''ve included some exercises in your speed workout that will help increase the back-swing speed of your kick. Just remember, your leg acts as a bow whenever you take a shot. You''ll be able to unleash a powerful and swift arrow only if you have a very strong but stic bowstring¡ªthat can snap back instantly. On the other hand, if you have a rigid bowstring, your shots will be nothing much. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach." Zachary nodded, finally getting a grasp on how to improve his shooting. He would create more spin and increase the ball''s velocity by increasing his kicking speed.

    Zachary didn''t need to make any significant modifications to the Bend-it like Beckham Juju at all. All he needed was more flexibility and strength in his hips.

    "Okay, back to your training."

    "Thanks a lot for your guidance, coach," Zachary replied politely. Coach Johansen''s pointer hade at the right time. He would have spent months figuring out which aspects of the technique he needed to improve.

    He was eager to try out the new technique within the system simtor. Then, he would be ready to attempt it in the real world.

 Chapter 44 - A Break

    Right after leaving Coach Johansen''s office, Zachary looked for a secluded spot beside the administrative building. He opened the system interface after surveying his surroundings. He had confirmed that there wasn''t a soul close by since all the yers were on the pitch going through various drills. The dropping of two yers from the team that morning seemed to have motivated all his teammates beyond measure.

    "DING"

    ****

    G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    #NEW MISSION: five-months Speed Workout from your Coach.

    *Task 1: Complete two sets of the following speed drills, three times a week, over a distance of 50 meters. High-Knees, Butt-Kicks, B-Skips, Bounds, Single-Leg Diagonal-Bounds, In-and-Out Leg-exercise (Click here to watch instructional videos).

    *Task 2: Complete twenty sets of sprints, over a distance of 20 meters, three times a week.

    *Task 3: Complete ten sets of Resistance-Band sprinting, over a distance of 20 meters, three times a week.

    *Task 4: Complete four rounds of half a dozen Hatha-Yoga poses, daily, for a week (Click here to watch instructional video).

    *Task 5: Complete four rounds of half a dozen Hip-Flexor exercises, daily, for a week (Click here to watch instructional video).

    ----

    *Rewards:

    ->600 Juju-points

    ----

    *Punishment in case the mission is still iplete after the stipted time.

    ->1200 Juju-points subtracted from the user.

    ----

    *Remarks: When you live for a dream, hard work is not an option. It''s a necessity.

    ****

    Zachary noticed that the system mission was an exact copy of the training n designed for him by Coach Johansen. He could now confirm that the coaches could initiate system missions if they gave him a task. It was like fishing for a quest from an NPC in a video game.

    However, he felt overwhelmed after ncing through the exercises. By his estimation, he would need a minimum of two hours toplete the workout each day. He was going to be busier than usual over the following few months.

    He didn''t need to watch the instructional videos for most of the drills aside from Hip-Flexor exercises. He clicked on the video to understand the routine. A ck silhouette appeared on the translucent system interface going through various poses of stretching his legs.

    To Zachary, it was almost like watching a yoga video. The human shadow, on-screen, stretched its legs into different angles, some excessively obtuse. He felt rxed after watching the video since there was no exercise in the routine he couldn''t do at that moment.

    He only needed to re-adjust his schedule to fit Coach Johansen''s training n. With the physical-conditioning-elixir from the system shop, he was confident he wouldplete the mission and earn the six hundred Juju-points.

    "Zachary! What are you doing?" A voice interrupted his musings. He willed the system screen to close and nced sideways. Paul Otterson stood to his left, his blue training jersey caked with sweat. "We''re almost starting the tactical training sessions. Won''t you be attending?" The Swede asked, wiping his sweaty forehead with the back of his sleeve.

    Zachary shed him a soft smile. "I was perusing through the training n Coach Johansen designed for me. But, I can now join you for training."

    "The coach designed a personalized training n for you?" Paul eximed, resting his hand on Zachary''s shoulder. "Lucky you. What is the training n for?"

    Zachary exined the goals of the new training routine to his tmate as they walked to join the others for tactical training sessions.

    A few minutester, the team performed passing, shooting, and tackling drills¡ªunder the watchful eyes of the coaches. The intent was for the academy yers to improve their overall gamey. The coaches tried to recreate the most effective key passes in a defensive game. Passes were directed back into the 18 repetitively with increasing pace.

    There were a dozen more coaches in the academy who helped the different yers with personalized training. But, most solely instructed the students younger than 15. Johansen, Bjorn, and another goalkeeping coach were in charge of training Zachary and his under-17 teammates.

    In the evening, Coach Johansen took them through a theoretical tactical session, analyzing recent matches yed in the top European leagues. They reviewed videos of Barcelona, the unbeaten Arsenal, and AC Mn ying against various teams.

    The Coach expounded on the techniques, formations, and remarkable performances in the games. He went on and on, highlighting the ying styles that Zachary and his teammates could learn. By the time hepleted his lecture, it was already 6 p.m.

    Zachary was feeling too worn out to go through with his new speed workout routine after the hectic training that day. He headed back to his apartment with his tmates and watched a Manchester United game. After that, he ate a light dinner and headed back to his room for the night.

    After locking the door and drawing the blinds, he summoned the system interface and selected the G.O.A.T-Skills-Simtor. Training in the simtor had turned into a pre-sleep habit the previous few weeks.

    The system''s virtual program allowed him to train in two modes. He could learn skills under the guidance of 3D models of great yers like Beckham, or he could select an option to train by himself. Zachary chose the self-training mode since he intended to attempt modifying the Bend-it like Beckham Juju.

    Over the next hour, he tried his best to improve his kick-swing speed in the simtor. He deviated slightly from Beckham''s shooting posture to add more power to his curling freekicks. The process was not as troublesome as he had first imagined.

    He didn''t manage to hit the target that night. However, his shots grew more powerful and curved closer to the goalpost after each attempt. He felt his technique improving over the hour spent in the simtor.

    However, he didn''t end his training after the hour psed. He loaded the training packages for the Bend-it like Beckham Juju and resumed practice in the simtor. Although he intended to modify Beckham''s technique, he needed a starting point. Completely mastering Beckham''s setpiece-skill in the virtual world was a good start. The knowledge would be a guidingntern to usher him through the darkness. He spent two more hours practicing setpieces before sinking back into his sheets to sleep.

    **** ****

    Weeks shed by in a blur and the days became colder and shorter. Before Zachary knew it, September had arrived. His training had kept him busy and made the passage of time barely noticeable.

    He had spent the preceding weeks sticking to a practice routine. He''d managed to incorporate the speed workout routine into his schedule three days each week. He went through every drill assigned to him by Coach Johansen without missing a single day. Step by step, he was on his way topleting the system mission.

    However, his school tasks became more demanding as the school term progressed. The upper secondary school lecturers assigned him a greater number of assignments since he was in his final year.

    Zachary would have been hard-pressed to cope if not for group discussions with Marta Romano, his ssmate. After months of mingling, Zachary had developed a solid friendship with the Italian girl. She didn''t make him feel ufortable like the rest of the European girls. She''d helped him with several assignments. His grades remained above average due to her tutoring efforts.

    He did not hope for anything more than friendship in their interactions. At that moment, his sole focus was ser. He didn''t want any distractions. However, she kept pestering him to fulfill his promise (which he would rather forget) before every group discussion. It felt like he owed her money rather than a date.

    He finally gave in and took her out for a movie at the beginning of the autumn break. Together, they watched Captain America¡ªThe First Avenger, showing that Saturday via Prinsen Kinosenter.

    Zachary had a good time. He felt his fatigue melt away after taking some time off from his training routine to have fun.

    It was the first time he had taken time out of his routine for anything other than ser or academics since his arrival in Norway. He made a mental note to fit more rxation time into his weekly schedule after the experience.

    When they finished watching the movie, they rode a bus to City Syd and had dinner together at a small restaurant there. Zachary was surprised by how expensive the food was. A simple spiced pizza in the restaurant cost 550 Norwegian Kroner, yet he could purchase it in the supermarket for just 20. Other main course dishes were in the range of 800 - 1000 Kroner.

    "Would you like me to select the dishes?" Marta asked after noticing Zachary''s hesitation. Her Italian ent weighed heavily on her words. She was seated opposite Zachary in the uncrowded restaurant.

    "I''m hesitating because everything here costs a fortune," Zachary replied honestly.

    There was no use in putting on airs, pretending he could afford such expense while he was still saving up half his allowance to help his grandmother settle in Lubumbashi. "Let''s just eat pizza," he suggested.

    Marta shed him a radiant smile. "Pizza is fine with me. You forget I''m Italian." Her presence was so maic and sensual that it distracted him for a moment. However, after remembering the system mission, he reigned in his urges. He needed to remain focused until he graduated from the academy.

    After the meal, they talked for an hour about happier things: food, gossip, academics, and goals. Zachary had a rxing evening that day.

 Chapter 45 - Friendly Matches

    "To prepare for the Riga Cup, we''ll be ying a few friendly matches against some third division teams," Coach Johansen announced. He let his gaze roam across the academy yers seated in a semicircle around him. Zachary and his teammates had just finished their training at the academy grounds that Friday evening.

    "Our goal is topete in four matches before the harsh winter sets in," the coach continued. "I expect you to put more effort into your preparations over the next few months. Our goal is to win every single game, starting with By?sen Toppfotball next Friday. Be ready..."

    **** ****

    At the start of October, Zachary and his academy teammates faced the By?sen Toppfotball Club in a closely contested game at the NF grounds. The club yed in the 3rd Division of the Norwegian Football League. They had several experienced yers, especially in their defense, who caused the academy team a lot of trouble.

    The game remained at a stalemate until the 88th minute. With a spark of individual brilliance, Zachary released ?rjan B?rmark with a teasing through-pass, from close to the center-circle, during a counter-attack.

    The NF academy''s lone striker dashed past the defenders andtched on to the inch-perfect pass behind the defenders. He proceeded to fire the ball past By?sen''s hapless goalkeeper, sealing a sweet 1:0 victory for the academy.

    However, Zachary wasn''t in the best of moods even after the win. He felt empty after failing to score against the third division team. That was the first time he had been unable to add his name to the score sheet in a game since his arrival in Norway.

    Zachary''s mind could no longer find satisfaction in simply ying the game. He felt a burning urge to score goals. So, he worked harder, aiming to better his performance in the next friendly match.

    The outdoor and gym workouts got him the fresh air he needed to put the match behind him. He could feel his lungs expand, his heartbeat stronger with each session. In those moments of pushing past his limits, he sharpened his focus and readied himself for the next match.

    A monthter, the NF academy faced-off against the NTNUI university sports club. Zachary worked hard for all 90 minutes, ying like he was in the Euro Champions League.

    Right after kickoff, he conquered the midfield. He tackled opposing midfielders, intercepted passes in the center of the pitch, and above all, let-loose several passes into the wings that caught the NTNUI''s defenders several times off-guard.

    In the 23rd minute, Zachary unleashed a defense-splitting pass towards the right-wing, catching the opposing defenders and midfielders¡ªoff-guard. The NTNUI yers couldn''t react to the threat in-time since they''d been attacking the NF academy''s box during a corner kick.

    Kasongo collected the pass in the right-wing and took off like the wind towards NTNUI''s 18-yard box. No yers stood between him and the goal except the goalkeeper. His pace was swift. He''d gotten faster after following a training n designed specifically for him by Coach Johansen.

    Zachary watched Kasongo expertly loop the ball over the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper. 1:0 in favor of the academy. He was d to see his friend score for the first time since arriving in Trondheim. He hoped the goal would bolster Kasongo''s confidence and encourage him to work harder.

    That strike opened the floodgates. Zachary and his teammates yed with newfound vigor, dictating y against the university team. Whenever they lost possession, they used high-pressing tactics to win the ball back quickly.

    The academy yers defended high up the field, pushed y wide, and prevented any NTNUI possession in the midfield. Zachary forced several turnovers and would quickly move towards the opposition''s box whenever he won the ball. His first touches were perfect, and his passes like snipper bullets, always finding their targets. His transitions were swift and fierce; he yed the link between defense and striking with perfection.

    Zachary scored twice and provided two assists that resulted in goals that day. In the 30th minute, he dribbled past four defenders using one of his signature-runs, finding his way into the box. Zachary then smashed a right-footed shot into the top right corner, making it 2:0 in favor of the academy.

    Zachary''s second goal was an exact copy of the first, the only exception being; he cut into the box from the wings. He looked unstoppable as he bolted and weaved through the gaps in-between the defenders like a sewing machine''s needle through the seams of a cloth. He sted the ball into the back of the in the 55th minute, making the score 3:0.

    As the match progressed, the NF academy sustained its dominance in all aspects of gamey. The boys in the dark blue jerseys were on fire. They were on a rampage around the pitch. Zachary zig-zagged through the defense two more times, releasing ?rjan B?rmark and Paul Otterson¡ªwho scored in the 60th and 72nd minutes of the game.

    But that was not the end of the action that Friday evening. The academy team was not going to go easy on their opponents. Not with Coach Johansen on the sidelines.

    In the 88th minute, Magnus kstad, the tall defending central midfielder, timed his run perfectly to connect with a corner kick. He then nted a close-range header close to the left post, making the score 6:0.

    The NF academy''s game would have been perfect that day if they hadn''t conceded in additional time. In the 92nd minute, poor marking within the box allowed one of NTNUI''s yers totch on to one of their rare crosses into the academy''s box. The NTNUI''s number nine powered a header into the top right corner, leaving Kendrick Otterson beaten. The match ended with a score of 6:1 in favor of Zachary and his teammates.

    But Coach Johansen was anything but happy. "I already said again and again that you must maintain a high state of concentration until the final whistle," he said, rubbing his bald head in frustration. The yers had just concluded the game. They were seated on the sidelines, listening to the post-match analysis by their coach. Some chugged down water, others fanned themselves with their shirts, while others munched on snacks to restore the calories they had burnt up during the match.

    "You can''t afford to make any careless mistakes, especially when you face some of the top talents in Europe in just a few months." The coach let his fiery gaze rest on Robin Jatta and Lars Togstad, the starting wing-backs. "How could you concede a goal like that in the final minutes?" He scowled at the two yers.

    All the yers remained quiet, waiting for their coach to continue. They had long grown immune to his antics. If one among their ranks sted a hole in the moon with the sheer power of his shots, Coach Johansen would proceed to ask why their technique couldn''t take care of the sun, too.

    They had won a game by a margin of five goals, but the ''red beard'' was still nitpicking on a single mistake. The yers only listened to the critique halfheartedly. Some kept ncing at their phones, seemingly counting down the minutes. They were all eager to be dismissed.

    Coach Johansen seemed to read their minds and frowned. "You shouldn''t be satisfied with winning against part-time professional yers in a 3rd Division team," he said, shaking his head. "When you join the Riga Cup next February, you''ll face off against some of the most clinical forwards in your age group. They''ll be able to exploit all your mistakes and use them against you."

    "I can point out several such mistakes in the match we just yed," the coach paused as if to let the information sink into the heads of the yers. "Robin, you allowed their striker to make runs behind you thrice in the game. If he''d been a little bit faster, he would have punished us for such carelessness. Magnus, you let several of their yers beat you to several high balls in the center of the field. Just imagine if there was a midfielder as good as Zach on the opposing side. We would have conceded more than two goals..."

    The coach continued pointing out the mistakes of all yers on the team. He nitpicked on every miskick and every mismatch in positioning during the game. He highlighted match situations that could have resulted in goals if the opponents had been more skilled and clinical. By the time he finished his little oration, no one was still jubnt over having won the friendly game.

    "We need to focus during the next few months," the coach said, his voice taking on a soft tone. "We shall drill into you as much tactical awareness as we can before the games in Riga. That, I can promise."

    "However, you need to do your part, especially in the remaining two friendlies against Gj?vik and Sprint-Jel?y next month. Train like professionals over the next few weeks so that you can perform beyond expectations in those two games. You are¡ªdismissed for today."

    Coach Johansen remained true to his words. Over the remaining three weeks of November, he worked the yers like oxen on the pitch. He increased their tactical passing and defensive strategy sessions by several hours each day. Most of them silently epted the training without anyints. They were eager to improve themselves, and above all, feared facing his wrath if they failed to live up to his expectations.

    The seriousness of the yers carried on into the matches. They managed to win by 3:0 against Gj?vik FC at the start of December. A weekter, they thrashed Sprint-Jel?y 2:0, ending their friendly games before the Christmas break with perfection. They''d managed to hold their own against third division teams without conceding a single goal for two games.

    Zachary maintained his perfect form and scored a goal in each of the two matches. His speed was already a nightmare for the third division teams. He was the outlier that pushed the academy team to perform beyond their level against the third division teams. His perfect control in the midfield kept the opponents at bay, denying them any chances to create opportunities to threaten the NF goal.

    **** ****

 Chapter 46 - Solo Winter Training

    The cold winter months soon arrived as nature''s orchestra came to a sudden standstill. Most of the residents of the Moholt Student vige slowly left for holidays. The few that stayed were all from outside Europe.

    "Are you sure you want to remain here alone?" Kasongo inquired, frowning. "The Coach has granted us a one-month holiday. You should also get some rest. Why not join me on vacation? You don''t have to spend the whole week there¡ªbut just two weeks of the holiday."

    "Kasongo," Zachary intoned solemnly. "I''ve already made up my mind. I''m not going back home or on any vacations until I make it to pro-level."

    He had no intention of changing his environment while amid training ns and an essential system mission. Taking a break at that moment would make himx and lessen his focus on his goals.

    On the other hand, if he stayed in Trondheim, he would be free to train all day without any interruptions. He would improve his stats much further before the rest returned from their holidays. A one-month training n could do his physique wonders, with some help from the system. Zachary wasn''t willing to give that up for anything.

    "Alright, suit yourself," Kasongo mumbled, pulling his suitcase out of the door. He was on his way to meet his family on vacation in Paris. "I wish you a Merry Christmas. Hopefully, you''ll have a memorable one here alone in an empty apartment." He added, wryly with sarcasm.

    "Merry Christmas to you too," Zachary replied, shing his tmate a smile. He didn''t mind his friend''s tone since he had rejected his invitations several times. Being turned down multiple times would sour the mood of anyone. "Remember to buy some good quality Adidas ser boots for me when you get to Paris," he added in a joking manner.

    After Kasongo left, Zachary was left alone in the Moholt student vige apartment. His Swedish tmates had already left the previous day. He felt lonely in the deste apartment for a moment, though the feeling did notst.

    Looking at the snow outside his window raised his spirits. The corner of his mouth curved into a soft smile. "Just one more year¡ªand all this training will be worth it," he mumbled to himself in encouragement. "Time to begin training."

    Zachary settled into a calm state, one that seemed to have taken inspiration from the frozen earth outside his window. Without an ounce of hesitation, he dived into an intensive training routine that helped him forget it was the Christmas holidays.

    Due to the knee-deep snow all over the city, Zachary moved all his training programs indoors. He spent most of his time either in the gym or the indoor futsal pitch, going through a speedwork routine and improving his shot uracy.

    He''d even started soaking in a cold tub of water every evening for fifteen minutes to recover faster and free more time for exercise. He would soothe his sore muscles and reduce his perception of fatigue whenever he immersed his body in the water at 4 to 6 degrees Celsius. The ice-cold water would freshen up his body and ensure it was in shape for the set of yoga and Hip-Flexor exercises he performed at night.

    Zachary was not worried about squeezing himself dry since he possessed the physical-conditioning-elixir from the system shop. By consuming a single dose, he gained enough energy to train for a week without harming his body.

    The winter gloom did not dampen his enthusiasm because he was progressing and improving in many areas. His movements were faster and sharper than they had been the previous month. His endurance was also getting better. He couldn''t wait for the Riga Cup tomence. He was itching to test his skills against teams of international academy students from all over Europe.

    Zachary sprinted, jogged, lifted weights, and conducted agility and endurance enhancing drills indoors. He didn''t neglect to juggle the ball for about an hour or two each day to maintain his deft ball control. Holidays like the Christmas break often made yers rusty. Zachary wanted to avoid losing his touch and going off form. The ball was his best friend, his route to fame and riches. He had to spend time caressing it, bonding with it as much as possible.

    Since all his friends had left, he trained on his own using a wall. He would mark out a point on the wall and shoot at it from different angles while adjusting his leg power.

    The wall soon became his perfect training partner. It would y with him whenever he wanted, and he could y with it for hours, yet it was never tired. Sometimes he would kick the ball at the wall untilte in the night, varying his kick-swing speed and practicing the Bend-it like Beckham Juju skill.

    His skills improved at a steady pace since the wall was the perfect partner. It never made a mistake. If he gave it a perfect pass, he would get a perfect ball back. His practice was a hundred times more efficient while training with the wall indoors. He didn''t need to keep running and collecting the ball in-between his shooting, as he usually did in real pitches. Due to his increased efficiency, he would usually shoot 100 times more than he would have on the field.

    By mid-January, he could easily y 400 non-stop aerial rounds of one-twos with the wall. It was as if he was ying tennis with the wall, albeit with his ser boots. Throughout the offseason, he managed to improve his already phenomenal ball-handling even further.

    Zachary had progressed in various aspects of the game by the end of the one-month vacation. He barely felt the passage of time while upied by his busy training schedule. He even managed toplete the system speed workout mission and earned a sizeable sum of Juju-points as a reward.

    He had been awarded 600 Juju-points forpleting the speed workout routine along with an additional 200 points as a bonus. He felt like a rich man sitting on a mountain of Juju-points. He possessed a total stock of 1067 points after the missionpletion¡ªdue to his previous earnings of 350 Juju-points in the friendlies before the Christmas Break.

    With such arge sum of Juju-points, Zachary had the option to upgrade the system. However, he settled for a better course of action to meet his immediate goals.

    He bought a D-grade agility-enhancing-elixir from the system shop for 1000 Juju-points. He was still in a good mood despite almost spending his entire stockpile. The remaining 67 Juju-points were enough for activating the system simtor until the opening ceremony of the Riga Cup, two weekster.

    The D-grade elixir was in the shape of a small onion, just like the C-grade version he had consumed when he initially advanced his agility. Zachary swallowed it down immediately after taking it out of the system inventory.

    An intense wave of hunger washed over him once it had dissolved into his system. However, he had made ample preparations this time around by preparing a kilogram of yummy oven-baked chicken thighs¡ªand a few other side dishes to feast on after consuming the elixir.

    Zachary got to eating right away since the hunger was bing more unbearable by the second. As he enjoyed his meal, alone in his apartment, he opened the system interface. He wanted to check out the status of his physical stats after taking the elixir.

    He had resisted the urge to check on his improvement for the entirety of the Christmas break.

    ****

    *USER STATS

    ->Physical Fitness: A+

    ->Ser Technique: A+

    ->Game Intelligence: A+

    ->Mental Ability and Mindset: B-

    ->X-Factors: F

    ->G.O.A.T Skills: 3

    ****

    ****

    *USER STATS

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: A+)

    Bnce and Coordination: A+

    Agility: A+

    Strength: A-

    Stamina: A+

    Endurance Points: 7400/9500 (A+)

    ****

    "What the f**k?" Zachary could not help but swear out loud after perusing through his physical stats data. "What is happening?" He rubbed at his Afro-styled hair like it was a bother to him, his voiceced with a tinge of frustration.

    All his physical stats had been improving steadily due to his intense fitness training routines. His strength, stamina, and endurance stats had all increased by a single grade over the past five months.

    However, his agility stat was still at the A+ grading even after the consumption of an elixir.

    He was sure it had worked since he could still feel waves of hunger washing through his body. And, he had been getting faster after exercising with Coach Johansen''s routine for the past few months. But the system still rated him below S grade in the agility department. Zachary was perplexed. He pondered whether he needed to consume an A-grade elixir to push his stats up to the S-grading.

    The only way to confirm just how much his top sprinting speed had improved was to use the electric timers. However, that would have to wait¡ªuntil the coaches returned from their holidays a few dayster.

 Chapter 47 - To Riga, Latvia

    Saturday, February 11, 2012.

    Zachary, his teammates, and the academy coaches rose early before 5:00 A.M that morning. They boarded a Scandinavian Airlines flight from Trondheim-Vaernes Airport via Oslo and headed to Riga, Latvia. They were on their way to participate in the Riga Winter Cup, set to begin the following day.

    "Captain," Paul Otterson intoned, turning back to face Zachary. The Swede had chosen a window seat positioned in the row just in front of Zachary. "Do you know which big teams will be participating?" He queried.

    "I already told you not to keep calling me captain." Zachary scowled at his tmate. "Just use my real name," he said, smiling wryly.

    Coach Johansen had named him the NF academy captain for the duration of the tournament in Riga. Paul and Kasongo had changed how they addressed him to captain right away, irritating him to no end.

    "Well, you better get used to it. Coz you''re captain from now on." Paul smiled. "Do you know which big teams will be participating? Did the coach reveal anything about the fixtures?" He asked once again.

    Zachary shook his head. "He said that all the fixtures and participating teams would be revealed during the pre-tournament meeting today evening. But, I heard him say something about VfB Stuttgart, Zenit, Tottenham, and the Genoa academies."

    "Those are some good teams," Kasongo chipped in. He was seated beside Zachary. "I hope we get an easy group. I don''t want us to meet tough opponents in the group stages." He added.

    "Don''t jinx us," Paul said, voice taking on a dramatic tone. "Saying it out loud could cause us to get dropped into the group of death."

    Simr chatter went on all over the economy section of the small ne. The yers disyed their eagerness to perform in the uing tournament. The journey passed quickly, and the airnended at Riga Airport at around half past eleven that morning.

    A trolleybus, arranged by the Riga Cup organizers picked up Zachary and his teammates from the airport. They rode the bus through the urbanndscape on their way to their hotel in the city center.

    Zachary was surprised to see plenty of snow clothed trees rising like white fairytale beings in the wintry environs along the airport highway. He''d expected to see lots of tall buildings lining the streets of Riga. However, the bus ride went-on for more than fifteen minutes before they encountered high architectural structures packed in exact grid patterns along the streets. Had it not been winter, Zachary was sure he would have seen lots of green spaces.

    A few minutester, the bus pulled up in the parking space of a majestic hotel, approximately five stories high, by Zachary''s estimation. It was called¡ªThe Monika Centrum Hotel. Their guide enthusiastically informed them that it was one of the most luxurious in the whole of Riga.

    "I didn''t expect Riga to be this cold," Kasongoined as they exited the bus. The fifteen yers crowded around the bus and waited for follow-up instructions from their coaches. "I wonder how we''ll y with all this snow around! Will they keep clearing it out of the fields during matches?" He added, folding his heavy jacket tighter around himself.

    "Indoor stadiums, man," Paul replied, smiling. "There should be plenty of them around this city. I know for a fact there''s a big indoor stadium in the Skonto Arena that hosts many games during winter."

    "Have you been here before?" Zachary inquired, surprised by his tmate''s intimate knowledge of Riga. Meanwhile, he tightened his blue scarf around his neck to protect himself from the skin-numbing coldness.

    Paul smiled wryly¡ªwhile Kendrick, a few paces away, shook his head and pretended to observe the snow-filled scenery with a newfound eagerness.

    "Well, what''s wrong?" Kasongo inquired. "Have you been to Riga before or not?" He eyed the guy with whom he shared a first name suspiciously.

    "I don''t mind telling you about our previous experience here in Riga," Paul intoned, shaking his head. "We were part of the academy team that joined the Riga Cup three years ago as under-14s. But we lost all our games by a margin of 3 or more goals. At the end of the group stage, we had zero points and a goal difference of minus-15. The academy yers who were present at that time prefer not to talk about the experience."

    "A goal difference of negative 15 goals in just three games!" Kasongo mumbled without concealing the surprise in his voice. Zachary, too, was perplexed but remained silent. Such a goal difference meant the under-14 team conceded at least six goals in some games.

    "Don''t give me that look." Paul scowled at Kasongo. "Matches here are verypetitive and yed consecutively without rest in less than ten days. The giant academies have big teams and can switch squads for every match. Our team only had sixteen yers at that time. We couldn''t match the other teams."

    "But still 15 goals..." Kasongo shook his head and let his voice trail off.

    "So, let me get this straight," Zachary chipped in. "There are also other age categories in the tournament here?" He hadn''t managed to pry much information from Coach Johansen before their departure. He was still unsure about the whole set-up of the Riga Tournament.

    "There is our group which falls into the under-18 category," Paul replied. "If I remember correctly, there is also apetition for under-12s and then under-14s. But, the matches of the under-18s are the major attractions. They involve yers that are close to going pro. So, expect a lot of fans, especially during the matches with Latvian teams."

    They continued discussing the tournament until Coach Johansen returned. He immediately instructed them to settle in their rooms after handing them electronic keys. The event organizers had allocated double rooms to all fifteen yers and staff of the NF academy. Zachary was d he would be sharing a room with Kasongo after the allocation.

    Their room was huge and contained luxuries like a thirty-six-inch TV with video and DVD and two sprawling leather sofas. At its center were two king-sized beds, adorned with pure white cotton sheets that could tempt any soul to sleep during the day. The heating system inside allowed fine control of the temperature, keeping the winter cold at bay. One side of the room was dominated by a floor to ceiling window with a clear view of the streets below.

    "They certainly got us a good hotel," Kasongomented after taking a look.

    Zachary nodded in agreement. He was also satisfied with the amodations. He could only sustain his peak state by getting enough rest in afortable environment.

    "I''ll first sleep for a while," he informed Kasongo while unpacking his luggage. "I slept quitetest night because of the preparations for today''s journey." What he didn''t add was the fact that he''d been practicing the Bend-it like Beckham Juju in the simtor until way past midnight.

    "As captain, aren''t you required to attend the pre-tournament meeting?" Kasongo asked, eyeing Zachary with a frown.

    "The Coach informed me the meeting is at three in the afternoon. Just wake me up when you''re heading out for lunch. That will give me enough time to prepare for the meeting."

 Chapter 48 - Tournament Fixtures

    That afternoon, Zachary followed his three coaches to the hotel''s conference hall to attend the pre-tournament meeting. He looked smart in his dark blue tracksuit with thebels of the NF academy. His height and the brown color of his skin made him stand out amongst the team representatives and other young captains attending the meeting.

    He''d grown taller than all his coaches during his time in Trondheim. He would have undoubtedly been the tallest yer on the academy team had it not been for Magnus, his counterpart in the midfield. He received a few curious nces from the rest of the delegates as he took his seat in the conference room.

    Zachary ignored them and surveyed the conference hall after settling in his seat next to Coach Bj?rn Peters. To his surprise, he didn''t recognize anyone. There were no famous names from his past life present in that room. He was once again made aware of just how few yers from the youth leagues would go-on to join the ranks of the best ser yers in the world. He hardened his resolve to work hard and go pro as quickly as possible. Only then would he face off against world-ss yers on a regr basis and improve himself.

    "Wee to yet another Riga Winter Cup,dies¡ªand gentlemen," said a red-haired man in a dark suit. He was standing on the arranged podium, addressing the team delegates packed in the conference room. "This is a tournament that will be full of fresh emotions, as always." He smiled and adjusted his microphone to match his height.

    "For those of you that don''t know my name yet, I''m Raimonds Laiz¨¡ns, the president of the Riga Cup. We wee all sixteen teams participating in the tournament..." His ent, simr to that of Russian characters in movies, weighed heavily on his words. He informed the team delegates, including the team captains, about the general rules to be followed.

    The Riga Cup matches would follow all applicable parts of the Latvian Football Federation rules. Teams would y in the group stages first and advance to the knockouts only if they made 1st or 2nd in their groups. There would be no draws in the semifinals and finals. Penalties would determine the winners of the knockout matches if such a situation urred.

    Zachary settled in his seat and listened with nonchnce to the thirty-minute speech. He only rose to attention when the president mentioned something about a lottery, previously conducted, to organize the participating teams into groups.

    "The organizingmittee has already conducted lottery draws and arranged the sixteen participating teams into four groups," said Raimonds Laiz¨¡ns, his mouth curving into a smile. "I want to assure you that the process was randomized and supervised by credible referees licensed by UEFA. Themittee organized the groups in advance for better scheduling and to save time during the tournament. After this meeting, you can pick the tournament program from the officials by the door."

    The president continued his oration and even introduced the sixteen teams participating in the tournament. Among the teams participating, Zachary noted some familiar names like Atnta BC, Tottenham, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, Genoa, AIK Stockholm, and VfB Stuttgart.

    After the one and a half-hour meeting, Zachary excused himself and headed back to his room. He didn''t wait for his coaches since they were still mingling with the delegates from the other academies.

    On the way back, he did not forget to pick the match fixtures from one of the tournament officials by the conference room''s door. That had been the main reason behind his attendance at the pre-tournament meeting.

    "You''re back," Kasongo intoned, jumping out from a sofa when he opened his hotel room door. Zachary noticed that both Paul and Kendrick, his Swedish tmates, were also present. "Did you get the fixtures?" Kasongo and Paul asked more or less in unison.

    Zachary shed his teammates a soft smile. "What do you think?" He waved a brown A4 envelope in front of his tmates.

    "Great." Paul grinned. "Hurry. Let''s check out the teams we''ll be facing." He held out his arm towards Zachary.

    "Give me a moment to open the envelope." Zachary hadn''t perused through the fixtures before arriving in his room. He settled on his bed before tearing open the envelope and withdrawing a set of printed papers from it. There was a detailed list of the tournament groups and a few matches on the second page.

    ****

    The Riga Cup Tournament Groups (Under-18)

    ----

    Group A

    (1) JFC Riga (Latvia)

    (2) Genoa FC Youth (Italy)

    (3) NF International (Norway)

    (4) BK Frem (Denmark)

    ----

    Group B

    (1) Zenit §ã§ê§à§â (Russia)

    (2)Tottenham (Ennd)

    (3) Atnta (Italy)

    (4) AIK Stockholm (Sweden)

    ----

    Group C

    (1) Viimsi MRJK (Estonia)

    (2) Skonto Academy (Latvia)

    (3) VfB Stuttgart (Germany)

    (4) FC Olimpiki Tbilisi (Georgia)

    ----

    Group D

    (1) ADO Den Haag (Nethends)

    (2) HJK Helsinki (Find)

    (3) SK Sturm Graz (Austria)

    (4) Jagiellonia (Pnd)

    ****

    "Group B seems like the group of death," Paulmented as Zachary looked through the contents of the second page. At one point, his three tmates had crowded over his shoulders¡ªto nce at the fixtures in his hands.

    "Zenit, Tottenham, and Atnta." Kasongo whistled, shaking his head. "That surely is the group of death. Let them exhaust themselves in the group stages. We''ll find it easier to win during the knockouts." Kasongo grinned.

    "Our group is not an easy one as well," Kendrick chipped in. "We have to face Riga, a local club, as well as the Genoa academy from Italy."

    Zachary ignored the chattering of his teammates and turned to the next page. Inscribed were the match fixtures and their scheduled times.

    "So, we face JFC Riga on Monday at 8:00 A.M," Kasongo observed. "Isn''t that too early for a match?" He frowned.

    "There''s a limited number of pitches, bro," Paul replied. "You should have noticed that there''s a game every two hours. But the fixture that worries me is ourst group match against Genoa at 7:00 P.M on Thursday."

    "Rx," Zachary cut in after he finished perusing through the fixtures. "I would rather face Genoa than either Stuttgart or Zenit. Those academies have produced some really good yers over the years."

 Chapter 49 - Squaring Off Against JFC Riga

    The next day.

    Coach Johnsen took the yers to survey the Skonto Arena first thing in the morning. It was the indoor stadium where they would face the Riga academy in their opening match.

    "I advise you to walk around and familiarize yourself with every nook and cranny of the pitch," the Coach said while leading the procession of the NF academy yers past the gates of the stadium.

    The arena''s interior design mimicked a greenhouse with a dome-shaped roof that kept out the snow. Zachary''s mood was bolstered by the well maintained artificial turf beneath his feet. He felt relieved that the pitch wouldn''t limit his performance against Riga the following day.

    After they finished the survey, they yed a short warm-up game on the turf before returning to their hotel. The organizers had only allocated them a single hour of training time in the stadium. A few other participating teams were supposed to be using the stadium after they left.

    "Rest well today," Coach Johansen intoned as they entered the hotel lobby. "Eat well, drink well, and make sure you stay away from anything that may disrupt your performance tomorrow. And stay away from alcohol." He warned solemnly, turning back to face the yers. "Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary and his teammates replied, more or less in unison. They attracted a few curious gazes from the hotel upants and the uniformed waiters/waitresses in the lobby.

    "I hope you staymitted to our purpose here. Our goal is to win. Nothing less." He gazed somberly at the yers before adding: "We''ll meet at 8:00 P.M, just after dinner for the prematch tactical session. See you then." He concluded and turned around as he moved away from the yers.

    Zachary spent most of his day in the system simtor, except for the brief periods he got meals or went to the washrooms. He was practicing the Bend-it like Beckham Juju the entire time. Since he would be facing strong and unfamiliar opponents, he wanted to have an edge, something that could win games. If his teammates defended well, setpieces would do the trick.

    After training in the evening, he ate a sumptuous dinner at the hotel''s restaurant with his teammates before heading to one of the board rooms to attend Coach Johansen''s tactical meeting.

    Zachary and his teammates found the coach in a somber mood when they entered the meeting venue. He was frowning all the time, his expression resembling Mike Tyson''s before knocking out an opponent.

    "Hurry up and settle down," he intoned. "We have very little time for this. Remember our game starts at 8:00 A.M tomorrow. I want you all tucked into your beds by 10 P.M."

    The yers hurriedly sank into their seats and waited for their coach to continue.

    "We y against Riga tomorrow," the Coach begun. "As we have practiced over the past few weeks, we will use a 5:4:1 formation in this game. I expect you to maintain your focus throughout the entire game. Especially defenders. Remember to close down all the spaces quickly, use a high defensive line to create offside traps, and above all¡ªdon''t make mistakes. We don''t want to serve out opportunities on a silver tter to our opponents..."

    Coach Johansen talked at length to the yers about the tactics they would employ in the game the following day. He then gave a pep talk to stir them up to win the game. When he finished, he moved on to the prematch routine of naming the starting lineup.

    "The starting goalkeeper is Kendrick Otterson in shirt number 1," he read out from a piece of paper.

    "We are using three center-backs: No.3 Robin Jatta, No.4 Lars Togstad, and No.5 Daniel Kvande."

    "Left-back: No.11 Martin Lundal, Right-back: No.2 ?yvind Alseth."

    "Defensive midfield: No.6 Magnus kstad." He paused, ncing towards the tall midfielder. "Don''t forget you''ll be sitting in front of the defenders full time. Keep those aerial balls away from our box." He emphasized once again.

    "Yes, coach," Magnus replied politely.

    "Moving on," Coach Johansen continued. "Attacking midfield: No.8 Zachary Bemba. Always be ready to switch to the wings when there is a need."

    Zachary nodded to indicate that he had gotten the point.

    "Right-wing: No.7 Kasongo Paul, Left-wing: No.15 Paul Otterson. Remember to fall back and defend whenever we don''t have the ball."

    "Striking: No.10 ?rjan B?rmark..."

    **** ****

    In another sports hall at the Riga Academy, a simr meeting was also taking ce.

    "NF academy is the weakest team in the tournament," said a short, slightly pot-bellied coach. He was addressing the under-18s who would face off against the NF academy the following day.

    "We need to win with arge margin in the first game against the Norwegians. That will increase our chances to qualify for the semifinals..."

    **** ****

    After the meeting, Zachary headed back to his room with Kasongo. He washed up and got into bed before 10:00 P.M. However, out of habit, he opened the system interface to check if there were any new notifications.

    He felt a sudden re of delight on noticing that a mission had appeared under the G.O.A.T missions menu once again. A system mission meant either rewards or Juju-points that could help him advance his skills to the next levels.

    ****

    G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    #NEW MISSION: Riga Cup Serial Challenge

    ->The system has detected that the user is partaking in an international academy tournament. The system has designed an associated mission for the event.

    ->The user needs to ept the mission first to stand a chance at winning rewards afterpleting the milestones below.

    ----

    *Milestone 1: Help your team qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament.

    *Milestone 2: Help your team win the semifinals of the tournament.

    *Milestone 3: Help your teammates win the finals and be the champions of the tournament.

    *Milestone 4: Be the top scorer in the tournament.

    *Milestone 5: Be the M.V.P of the tournament.

    ----

    *Rewards:

    ->Milestone 1pletion reward: 250 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 2pletion reward: 500 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 3pletion reward: 1000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 4pletion reward: 250 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 5pletion reward: B-grade Agility Enhancing Elixir

    ----

    ->The user can choose not to ept the mission.

    ept Reject

    ----

    *Punishment if none of the milestones has been achieved after the stipted time (In case the user epts).

    ->Minus 3000 Juju-points

    *The user has toplete at least one milestone before the tournament ends to escape the penalty.

    ----

    *Remarks: A potential G.O.A.T always achieves what standard yers achieve on rare asions.

    ****

    Zachary''s spirits brightened after perusing through the new system mission. He had a chance to win 2000 Juju-points and an agility-enhancing-elixir if hepleted all the milestones sessfully.

    He did not hesitate to click the ept button on the system interface. He''d been yearning to acquire a highly graded elixir to enhance his agility to the next level. Furthermore, he would get a chance to upgrade the system if he won 2000 Juju-points¡ªand still have a bnce of 1000 points left over to purchase more items from the system shop.

    **** ****

    Zachary and his teammates arrived at the Skonto Arena in the allocated team bus at exactly 7:15 A.M the next day. They quickly warmed up and headed back to the dressing room to change into their kits for the match. They donned their dark blue jerseys, with a sense of urgency, while listening to the final instructions from Coach Johansen.

    At exactly 7:50 A.M, they followed the referees and marched onto the pitch to begin the first game in the tournament.

    Cheers, mixed with asionalughter, rose into the air as the two teams trooped on to the pitch. The noises engulfed Zachary, capturing his brain, almost numbing his senses. He quickly realized there were noise problems associated with ying in an enclosed dome. He only hoped his teammates would adjust fast to the changes in their ying environment.

    The teams went through the formality of exchanging handshakes with their opponents before separating to the opposite halves of the pitch.

    *FWEEEEEEE!*

    The referee blew the whistle, signaling for the captains to enter the center circle¡ªfor the coin toss. Zachary adjusted his armband before jogging towards the referees at the center of the pitch.

    "Okay, you know the drill," said the referee. Zachary and the opposing team''s captain had just entered the center circle. "You two will choose a side of the coin first¡ªeither heads or tails. I''ll then proceed with the coin toss. If you win the coin toss, you''ll decide which goal to attack in the first half or whether to take the kickoff." He paused and looked back and forth at both Zachary and Riga''s short blonde captain, dressed in a ck jersey. "Okay?"

    Zachary and Riga''s captain both nodded.

    Riga won the coin toss and decided to kick start the ball. Zachary wasn''t the least bit disheartened by his poor luck. He shook hands with the Riga''s captain¡ªand the referees before returning to his half.

    He observed the opponents in the ck jerseys and noticed that they had arrayed themselves in a possibly 4-4-2 formation. He was not yet sure about their exact positioning as their wingers were also on the centerline waiting for the game to start.

    Meanwhile, Riga''s striker stepped towards the ball in the center circle, sending the fans into a frenzy as they cheered on their home team.

    *FWEEEEEEE!*

    A clear whistle sounded amid the cheers. The first match in the Riga Cup tournament between JFC Riga and NF international kicked off at the Skonto Indoor Stadium.

 Chapter 50 - A Counterattack

    FC Riga kicked-off the first half strongly, passing the ball around the pitch from end to end. Their yers arrayed themselves in a 4-4-2 attacking formation. The Latvian fans cheered them on loudly, boosting their morale as the scales tilted in the Riga team''s favor.

    The NF academy yers followed Coach Johansen''s instructions to the letter. Ten men stayed behind the ball and left the Riga boys to pass the ball around as much as they wished. Their goal was to lure the Riga team into a false sense of security before killing them off with counterattacks. They were ying a style simr to that adopted by Greece in the 2004 Euro Cup. They were focused on defending first and scoringter if an opportunity arose.

    The Riga team pushed Zachary and his teammates back into their half without giving them many opportunities to win back the ball. For the first 12 minutes, they held the majority of the possession, almost 75% percent by Zachary''s estimation.

    They yed short grounded passes at a leisurely pace, advancing deeper towards the NF academy''s box. None of their yers held on to the ball for more than four touches before passing it on. It was like they were fighting for possession rather than a chance to prate the NF academy''s box.

    Their four midfielders often arrayed themselves in a diamond formation to receive and distribute passes effectively. Their number-6 was the defensive point of the diamond. He ensured that Riga''s attacking midfielders always had a free back by positioning himself in front of the defenders.

    Their wingers filled the two positions on the left and right of their diamond. The wingers helped out in the middle, relieving their number-6 of the insignificant pressure imposed by Zachary and his teammates. Although the Riga passes were a bit rough around the edges, they were still fluid¡ªat least at the level of an under-18 academy team.

    Their short blonde captainpleted the diamond as the attacking midfielder. He caused Zachary and his teammates a few problems. He had a good eye for the ball and¡ªwas technically strong, sometimes letting loose teasing passes that beat the NF Academy defenders.

    In the 12th minute, he unleashed one such a lofted pass from the center circle. One of Riga''s forwardstched on to it at the edge of the box after leaving Magnus in the dust. The Riga number-9, a tall dark-haired fellow, controlled the ball with ease and unleashed a right-footed shot that smashed off the crossbar.

    The Riga number-9 cursed in a foreignnguage at the NF academy''s good luck. Zachary and his teammates, though, were not the least bit fazed by Riga''s missed chance. They had faced simr situations in their friendly matches against the Rosenborg teams a few months prior.

    Robin Jatta, NF academy''s center-back, timed the resulting ball perfectly and cleared it out of the box with a bicycle kick. Zachary chased after it, following its trajectory mid-air. Four of his teammates that had been defending against Riga''s relentless barrage of attacks also followed in quick session. The boys in blue ran like a pack of wolves with the intent to attack immediately after regaining the ball.

    Zachary had already predicted where the ball wouldnd using his Zinedine-Visual-Juju. With his long strides, in motion like the wheels of a racing bike, he got to the ball faster than all the other yers in the defensive midfield.

    He didn''t let it bounce since that would slow down his pace. He chested the ball to the side and wedged it with his angled foot, bringing it under his control with motions as fluid as water.

    He then spun and took off towards the other side of the pitch without a pause. He didn''t want to waste a single second since Coach Johansen had instructed him to utilize every counterattacking chance to catch the Riga team off-guard. He would follow the coach''s instructions to the letter and score a winning goal as quickly as possible.

    On looking ahead, he realized that ?rjan B?rmark, the academy''s lone striker, had freed himself from his mark and was running towards the right-wing.

    Zachary didn''t hesitate to kick the ball towards him without pausing his run. The two of them yed a one-two, getting past two Riga midfielders, and soon stepped into the opposing half. Their passing was seamless, exploiting the spaces in the wings, bearing down on Riga''s goal.

    Soon, Zachary decided to go solo since ?rjan couldn''t match his pace. After collecting a short pass from the striker, he bolted towards Riga''s 18-yard box like his life depended on it. He was much faster than he had been a few months prior, thanks to his grueling winter training and consumption of the D-grade agility elixir.

    A defender extended his long legs to steal the ball at his feet. However, Zachary flicked the ball to his left foot, beyond the defender''s reach, and continued his dash towards Riga''s goal. He wove past the four defenders with his formidable alternating pace, like a drifting cloud blown by the wind.

    Zachary had nothing else in his sights except for two obstacles; the defenders blocking his path towards Riga''s goal.

    He didn''t pause to dribble, but circled past them, cutting into the pitch, towards the box. He was sure they couldn''t match his speed. In his mind, he was already picturing the way he would beat the goalkeeper and score NF academy''s first goal.

    However, as he got past the second tost defender before entering Riga''s box, he felt a tug on his shirt. Zachary cursed inwardly as the defender''s foul y messed up his dribbling rhythm, slowing him down. Worst of all, the center-back would get away without a red-card since he hadn''t been thest man. NF academy''s counter would then end up fruitless unless they scored from the resulting freekick.

    He didn''t want to bet on his Bend-it like Beckham Juju since he hadn''t perfected it yet. He focused his mind, searching for a way to shake off the defender. However, the grip on his shirt tightened, pulling him back and almost taking him to the ground. Zachary''s mood sank. He started nning to dramatize his tumble, hopefully influencing the referee to send off the yer that was holding him back.

    However, in the corner of his eye, he noticed a dark shadow rushing by¡ªinto the box. The Zinedine-Visual-Juju was at work again.

 Chapter 51 - A Good Start

    Zachary smiled as he expertly flicked the ball in-between thest defender''s legs using the outer part of his boot. He made a tiny touch that pushed the ball only about a meter away from the defender, into the box.

    A figure dashed towards the ball¨Dit was Kasongo! Riga''s defenders were beaten and did not react. Kasongo remained unnoticed until he unleashed a missile of a shot towards goal.

    The ball exploded away and sped past the keeper. But to Zachary''s dismay, it bounced off the post and rebounded into the pitch. Kasongo had missed a good scoring opportunity. He held his head in between his hands in dejection.

    "The ball is still in y," Zachary shouted as he chased after the ball that had just bounced close to the penalty spot. His heart pounded louder in his chest as he strained to get to it before Riga''s goalkeeper.

    However, he wasn''t fast enough. The keeper dived incredibly towards the bouncing ball and punched it out of the box, beyond Zachary''s reach. He had jumped like an acrobat, a distance of around two meters¡ªto get to the ball before Zachary.

    "Freekick," Zachary heard one of his teammates, probably Magnus, shout from behind him. "He pulled at our captain''s shirt just in front of the box."

    *FWEEEEEEE!*

    Hope bloomed inside Zachary as the sound of a whistle followed the entreaty. He turned around only to find the referee, in a yellow uniform, pointing at the spot where the defender had pulled on his shirt. He realized he still had a chance to put the ball into the. The referee had allowed an advantage to y only because of the goal-scoring opportunity. He had recalled the ball for a freekick as soon as Kasongo missed the chance. And better yet, the setpiece was right at the edge of the box.

    The referee showed the tall center-back that hadmitted the foul a yellow card. The yer tried toin in anguage Zachary couldn''t understand, probably Latvian or Russian¡ªbut the referee was having none of his nonsense. He shooed him away and started arranging for NF academy''s freekick.

    "Zachary," Coach Johansen shouted from the sidelines. "Try to test their goalkeeper."

    Zachary nodded to indicate that he''d received the message. He picked up the ball from the referee and ced it on the ground, a few feet away from the edge of the box.

    "I''m sorry I couldn''t score," Kasongo came up to him and apologized. "Just don''t know what came over me."

    Zachary gave his friend a soft smile and replied: "Don''t mind that. Focus on the game for now. We need you to stay sharp for the entirety of the match. Even the best yers in the world miss chances asionally. You''ll do better on the next opportunity." He advised.

    "I will," Kasongo vowed, thumping his chest. "Good luck. I have faith that you''ll score." He added before walking away, leaving Zachary standing alone before the ball.

    Zachary sighed and shook his head. He understood Kasongo''s state of mind. Scoring the freekick would lessen his guilt of missing a golden opportunity.

    [I''ll try my best.] He vowed inwardly.

    The referee soon finished organizing the wall and signaled Zachary to prepare to take the freekick. In the meantime, NF academy''s yers moved back and forth around the box, attempting to destabilize Riga''s defensive line. They did their best to improve their chances of scoring without falling in offside positions.

    Zachary calmed his mind and took a few steps back from the ball. He was at the moment of truth. He could finally test the fruits of all his past training in an official match.

    He felt his heart pounding harder inside his chest. However, he suppressed his anxiety¡ªby sheer will, and focused on the setpiece.

    He then concentrated his mind and observed his surroundings, trying his best to pick out the details that would give him an edge for the freekick. The Riga goalkeeper was slightly short, maybe 5 feet 9, by Zachary''s estimation. He was shouting orders to his teammates to position themselves better to bar the freekick from reaching the goal.

    The wall was long and high, with taller yers in the middle. Zachary resolved to keep the freekick high. That way, the keeper would have no chance of saving it. He had to use his left foot since the freekick was positioned slightly to the right of the goalposts.

    When the referee blew the whistle, Zachary ran towards the ball at a measured speed. He fixed his gaze on the ball, made a final jump-step, and smashed the ball with the inside of his left boot.

    He aimed to curve the ball past the six-yer-wall. The uracy was somewhat left to chance. He hadn''t perfected his Bend-it like Beckham Juju to the level where he would reliably hit the target every single time he took a freekick.

    The shot shed past the defenders, seemingly headed straight for the outside of the goalposts, until it abruptly curved for the top left corner at thest moment. The ball went into the back of the.

    The Riga goalkeeper didn''t manage to react. He only turned and watched the ball spinning in the back of the. 1:0. The NF academy had scored the first goal in the 15th minute.

    Zachary celebrated like Paul Otterson, pumping his fists, sharing his tion of scoring the goal with his teammates. There was nothing quite like the joy of working hard towards something and finally achieving it. His setpiece technique had¡ªfinally taken shape after months of training.

    Meanwhile, a silence swept across the Skonto Arena for the first time since the beginning of the game. Zachary''s goal had silenced the cheers of the home fans.

    **** ****

    "I didn''t expect to find such a yer in a simple Norwegian academy," said a VfB Stuttgart yer of medium build in German. He was in the stands and had just watched Zachary score from the freekick.

    "What do you expect," his friend beside him, who was a few inches taller, replied. "Josh, the world is big¡ªand talents are always cropping out from everywhere. Just get used to it." He added nonchntly.

    "I would have loved topete against him. But unfortunately, he won''t make it past the group stages. His team seems like a one-man-army type."

    **** ****

 Chapter 52 - Kendrick In The Goal

    The JFC Riga team didn''t let up the pressure despite conceding a goal in the 15th minute. Instead, they intensified their attacks.

    Kendrick Otterson, the NF academy goalkeeper, took note that the opponents had increased their pace and begun bearing down more frequently on the NF academy''s box¡ªtowards his goal.

    Despite that, not many attempts from the JFC Riga team yers made it into his box. The five NF academy defenders ensured that none of the strikers, wingers, or attacking midfielders got a clear shot at the goal. They relentlessly obstructed the majority of iing efforts.

    Kendrick found himself in a situation where he only had to deal with shots with little power for the first 30 minutes.

    The Riga team was still dictating y with possession of at least 75%, by his estimation. However, their gameycked substance and execution. They failed to create that final ball that could seamlessly link their midfield to their attackers¡ªleaving their two strikers isted throughout most of the first half. The situation often forced their attacking midfielders and wingers to take shots from outside the eighteen-yard box¡ªinstead of passing the ball forward.

    However, Kendrick didn''t dare rx.

    He was a goalkeeper¡ªthe one yer that had to remain alert regardless of how the game was going. The ball could easily transition from the midfield to the box in a matter of seconds. A goalkeeper had to be fully prepared to make saves whenever anything unexpected urred.

    Kendrick was determined to do his best throughout the tournament. The addition of Zachary Bemba to the academy team had motivated him. His excellence inspired the rest of his teammates to do their best even when they were on the back foot. The NF academy yers came to life whenever he got the ball.

    They were pretty confident in Zachary. They were sure that he would score or make a good pass every time he was on the ball. All they had to do was defend adequately¡ªand vo, they would win the game thanks to Zachary''s creativity during counterattacks.

    Kendrick forced himself out of his reverie. The Riga left wing-back had just unleashed a cross into his box. He took a quick nce around him and noticed that JFC Riga''s two strikers were dashing into the box to attack the iing ball.

    For a moment, he was undecided on whether to run out and meet them or stay put between his goalposts. However, the decision was¡ªquickly taken out of his hands. One of the strikers out-jumped Lars Togstad, NF academy''s center-back, and nted a header towards the goal. The ball flew downwards, approaching the inside of the right post.

    Kendrick didn''t waste time thinking about how to handle the iing ball. He let his instinct guide him.

    He emptied his mind of everything else¡ªexcept for that single trajectory that would soon turn into a goal for the Riga team if it was left unobstructed.

    He took a small step in the direction the ball was heading, simultaneously keeping a close eye on the ball. Guided by pure reflex, he dived towards the iing ball and made afortable save.

    He scooped the ball up with ease and hugged it to his chest to keep it from rebounding back to the Riga strikers.

    From his position on the ground, he noticed that Zachary was signaling him from the midfield. Kendrick jumped up suddenly¡ªlike a person bitten by soldier ants in his delicate parts. The coach had personally instructed him to release yers as quickly as possible after repelling attacks. He could not afford to waste any time.

    He immediately ran towards the edge of the box, past one of the two Riga strikers, and made a long one-handed throw to the midfield, where Zacharyy in wait.

    The JFC Riga midfielders began running back towards their half, chasing after the ball. But the slightxity in concentration had sealed their fate. The ball traveled much faster than mortal legs.

    Kendrick saw Zachary control the ball beautifully in the midfield. He expertly fetched it from mid-air to the ground and spun around, immediately bolting for the box.

    Kendrick watched the boy prodigy leave yer after yer in the dust like he was walking through an obstacle course of stationary poles.

    He didn''t dribble with any mboyance and fancy footwork¡ªbut with candid body feints that took him past his opponents as efficiently as possible. As soon as the yers became confused by his feints, he would sh past them thanks to his incredible speed, giving them no chance to attempt tackles or intercept the ball.

    Zachary soon expertly avoided thest defender and found himself one-on-one with Riga''s goalkeeper. Kendrick began celebrating even before the African raised his foot to loop the ball over the goalkeeper who had left his line to greet him. There was little chance of Zachary failing to take advantage of a one-on-one with a keeper. That was why the coach favored him.

    2:0. The NF academy had scored their second goal in the 36th minute. Zachary made scoring look easy.

    However, Kendrick was aware that such a style-of-y required abination of body control, game vision, risk analysis, and agility at a high-level. It wasn''t easy to put up a disy simr to Zachary''s.

    Kendrick had high hopes the NF academy would finally perform beyond expectations in the annual international cup. All he had to do was defend well, and everything would be okay.

    "Come back and defend. Come back and defend." Kendrick shouted at his teammates since they were taking their time celebrating. He had always feared the moments after scoring a goal. The defenders would be excited and at their most vulnerable.

    Robin Jatta, one of the NF academy center-backs, ran towards him, grinning like a Cheshire cat. He looked happy beyond measure. "I think we might be able to qualify for the quarter-finals," he said.

    "Zachary is turning into a monster with every match. I wonder how he improved his skill by that much over such a short period!"

    Kendrick shed his teammate a half-smile. "I''m not that surprised. He trains almost 16 hours each day."

    "Has he ever told you where he trained during his childhood? How did he develop such ball control?"

    "Zachary never talks about his childhood. But I''ve heard he spent his early years in the Congo. But that''s enough chit-chat, get back into position and defend." Kendrick said, pushing away the defender.

    **** ****

 Chapter 53 - Ahead At Half-Time

    The NF academy officials followed the progress of the game closely from the technical area. They were¡ªconfined to a marked section close to the touchline, where only substitutes and officials sat during matches.

    The academy had sent three coaches, one medic, and an administrative assistant to Riga. They all had specialized roles to fulfill on the team.

    Bj?rn Peters was the coach responsible for the physical fitness of the yers. He also secretly doubled as a scout to spy on the tactics of the other participants.

    He had immediately noticed when the Riga team sealed off ways to pass to Zachary by saddling him with two marking yers. Although the action had left their wings short of one attacking yer, it looked like a fair tradeoff for them¡ªsince it was tiring out Zachary faster than usual.

    "Don''t you think we should tell Zachary to rx a bit?" He suggested, turning to look at Coach Johansen. "We should not give the other teams a chance to target him before we qualify for the knockout stages. I''m also worried about his stamina since we are ying the day after tomorrow as well."

    Coach Johansen kept his sight fixed on the game, which had just restarted, half-smiling. "Do you really believe we can hide him after this match? Just let him be." He shook his head as if he just remembered something. "You know; I checked his agility training results after the Christmas holiday. His improvement is beyond my expectations."

    "His running speed has improved once again?" Coach Bj?rn asked, without bothering to hide the surprise in his voice.

    "Yes. And by quite the margin. His fifty-meter dash now constantly falls between 6 and 7 seconds. If he continues improving at this rate, we could have one of the fastest yers in the league before next year." Coach Johansen paused, returning his attention to the game.

    NF academy had just won the ball back and was counterattacking again. It seemed like conceding two goals had sealed JFC Riga''s fate.

    Magnus received the ball in the midfield and passed it to ?yvind Alseth, NF academy''s wingback. ?yvind controlled it like an expert and advanced through the right-wing, bolting towards the centerline. One of the Riga academy wingbacks ran to intercept him; however, he quickly passed the ball to Magnus¡ªrunning in sync with him through the midfield.

    Magnus received the ball and kicked it to the left-wing where Paul Otterson was lurking. The quick switch from the right to the left side of the pitch left the Riga yers disoriented for a few seconds. They didn''t react until Paul Otterson had run with the ball for a few yards, spearing deep into the Riga half.

    One of the midfielders, marking Zachary, left his side to intercept the winger. Only one yer remained close to him. Zachary abruptly increased his pace and ran past the yer, heading towards Riga''s eighteen-yard box.

    Coach Johannsen''s only hope was for Paul Otterson to release a well-timed pass that would beat the Riga yers and release Zachary into the box.

    The Swedish kid did not disappoint. He expertly flipped the ball past his mark into Zachary''s path.

    Zachary received the ball at the left edge of the box, close to the goal line. He didn''t pause to control it. He spun around with the ball hooked to his left foot, shaking-off the defender that had been chasing after him.

    He created a couple of yards of space for himself. Only a defender stood between him and the goal. He advanced into the box, doing body feints like a boxer rather than a ser yer. He didn''t put any art in his footwork¡ªwhatsoever. The Riga defenders and goalkeeper began boogying along with his feints, moving from side to side, like they were doing some kind¡ªof ritualistic dance.

    Coach Johansen wondered why the Riga defenders didn''t just close down on him instead of making fools out of themselves. The ball was stationary at Zachary''s feet, but they wouldn''t attack it.

    Zachary flicked the ball to his right, ran forward, and made a pass back to Paul Otterson, who was unmarked.

    The winger let loose a right-footed shot towards the top right corner of the from the edge of the box.

    Riga''s goalkeeper was helpless.

    3:0.

    The NF Academy had managed to score their 3rd goal in the 44th minute of the gamey.

    Coach Johannsen didn''t bother to celebrate. He was already sure his team would win easily against Riga despite theirck of experience. He was only worried about the oing matches.

    "Did you manage to scout the yers of the other teams? Is there anyone we need to worry about in particr?" He asked his assistant.

    "I did," Coach Bj?rn replied, smiling. "The other teams look quite strong taken as a whole. However, mostck remarkable yers who perform above their levels, like Zachary. The only exception is VfB Stuttgart. They have two prodigies." The assistant coach flipped open his notebook.

    "The first is a striker called Timo Werner, while the other is a defensive midfielder called Joshua Kimmich." Coach Bj?rn continued perusing through his notebook. "One of my friends from Germany told me those two boys have already participated in several Europeanpetitions and performed like stars. There''s a chance they''ll join senior teams even before they hit 18 years of age."

    "Oh!" Coach Johansen arched an eyebrow. "Could they be at the level of Zachary already?"

    "Most likely. They also have much more experience in international tournaments."

    "Well." Coach Johansen half-smiled. "I guess that will be good for our yers, especially Zachary. ying against boys below his level may make himcent in the long run. He needs to learn that ser isn''t easy regardless of the advantages afforded him by his talents. That was the main reason why the Rosenborg officials agreed to send him to internationalpetitions."

    Coach Bj?rn sighed. "But before we think about VfB Stuttgart, we need to handle Genoa in the group stages¡ªand possibly Zenit, Atnta, or Tottenham in the quarter-finals. I hear that their yers have good chemistry."

    "I have faith that we''ll win and reach the semifinals this time around," Coach Johansen replied confidently. "Hopefully, we can avoid injuries and suspensions before then."

    *FWEEEEEEE!*

    The referee blew the halftime whistle, interrupting their discussion.

    "Let''s head to the dressing room," Coach Johansen intoned, leading the way to the dressing room.

    **** ****

 Chapter 54 - Signs Of A Comeback

    The atmosphere in the dressing room was anything but somber. It was nothing like any break during apetitive match. Gone was the tension and anxiety the yers had felt before the game.

    There was chatter among Zachary''s teammates, like old friends catching up. Everyone talked in a rxed manner and made jokes as if they had already won the match.

    Zachary was surprised since he knew one could never count matches as won¡ªuntil the final whistle. Worrisome thoughts looped around in his mind until there was room for nothing else.

    There had been many matches in history where teams madeebacks from disadvantages of three goals or more and won. Famously, Liverpool had managed to win the UEFA Champions League final of 2005 after oveing a three-goal deficit within the second half.

    Zachary didn''t want to leave the Riga team any chance of pulling off the same trick. He hoped the coach would talk some sense into his teammates before they messed up in the second half.

    Paul Otterson came up to him and interrupted his train of thought. "Why do you look worried even when we are three goals ahead? Come and join us. Why are you sitting there in the corner?" He asked while fanning himself with his shirt.

    Zachary sighed, shaking his head. He chugged down some water before answering: "I don''t like the atmosphere here in the dressing room."

    Paul grinned. "Rx. The yers know what to do when they get back to the pitch. We might even clinch this one with more than five goals. And here I thought Riga would be a tough opponent since they have the home advantage. They''ve simply been a letdown." He sighed audibly. Zachary saw that his Swedish tmate was in a good mood after scoring a goal in the first half. He decided to remain silent and keep his worries to himself.

    He''de to the realization that many yers unknown to him in his previous life were performing well in matches. For instance, the captain of the Riga team looked like a phenomenal yer. He dribbled, passed, and defended like a first-rate midfielder.

    Zachary was worried his teammates'' confidence would reduce the team''s chances against a Riga squad with such a good yer.

    The coaches came into the dressing room soon after. Coach Johannsen was in his default somber mood. His assistant Bjorn Peters was all smiles, high-fiving the yers and congratting them upon their performance.

    "Quiet," bellowed Coach Johannsen.

    All the yers ceased their murmurings and focused on the coach who stood before the whiteboard.

    "I need all of you to stay focused on the game until the final whistle. We''ll maintain the same game strategy for the second half. Just make sure you don''t concede..."

    The coachid the approach for the second half while assigning individual roles to all the yers. He expounded on the weaknesses he had observed which could be¡ªexploited in the Riga team''s formation. Once he finished delivering his talk, he sent the yers back to the pitch.

    However, Zachary still felt worried about his teammates'' mood. They were still behaving as if they had already won the game¡ªeven after listening to Coach Johansen''s address.

    As they exited the dressing room, Zachary approached Magnus, who also served as the assistant captain, to discuss the problem.

    "I think the yers are overconfident," he began. "I''m worried we will concede unnecessarily at the start of the second half."

    Magnus looked around at the rest of the yers before replying. "I''ll keep on reminding the defenders when we get back on the pitch," he said. "Don''t worry. I have your back in the defensive midfield. We only need one more goal to kill their momentum in the second half." He smiled before running to his position.

    Zachary sighed and shook his head. He pushed his unease to the back of his mind as he ran to his position.

    He resolved to work harder than ever for another goal and seal off Riga''sst chance to resurrect. He could not ept anything but a win in the opening match. 2000 Juju-points and a B-grade Agility Enhancing Elixir were at stake. If he managed toplete all the system''s milestones, he would improve his stats significantly.

    "RIGA, RIGA¡­"

    A chant from the Riga yers, in their ck jerseys, interrupted his reverie. He looked ahead¡ªtowards the other half, and saw the Riga yers in a circle yelling slogans to pump themselves up. They looked nothing like a team that was three goals down. The home fans joined in the chant and began pping, bellowing, and singing. They ended with one final sudden p that echoed off the walls of the indoor stadium like thunder.

    Zachary turned around and saw his teammates, in dark blue jerseys, standingnguidly¡ªwatching their opponents. yers like Paul Otterson, Robin Jatta, and Kasongo had their arms folded across their chests with smirks outlining their faces. They looked nothing like athletes prepared for a match, but an audience, unresponsive to their opponents.

    Zachary sighed as he madest-minute adjustments to his shin guards. He made sure to tighten his shoces as well.

    The familiar routine calmed his mind and helped him focus wholly on the game. He had a feeling that the second half wouldn''t be as easy as the first.

    The match restarted after the referee blew his whistle.

    ?rjan B?rmark, NF academy''s lone striker, kicked the ball back to Zachary, stationed right outside the center circle.

    The Riga yers did not give Zachary any time to think. They ran at him with a hunger befitting their zeal to win the ball back. Zachary passed the ball further-back, to Magnus in the defensive midfield.

    "To the right-wing," he hollered, pointing towards the right wingback.

    Magnus kstad followed his instructions and passed to ?yvind Alseth without a pause. The NF academy''s number-2 received the ball and hammered it back to Magnus¡ªwho kicked it towards Robin Jatta, the left center-back.

    However, one of the Riga strikers dashed at the center-back as soon as possible. He was as relentless as a hungry dog chasing after a bone.

    Robin yed a one-two with Martin Lundal, NF academy''s left wingback, at a leisurely pace without waiting for the Riga number-9 to close him down.

    The NF academy yers continued enjoying a rich spell of possession at the beginning of the second half. For the next ten minutes, they passed the ball slowly but steadily, between their defenders, without any urgency to transition and attack the Riga team''s half.

    They had yards of space to work with since one of the Riga strikers was¡ªtied up, shielding-off the passing routes to Zachary. The Riga number-10 kept himself positioned between Zachary and anyone with the ball in the defense or the wings.

    In the meantime, the other two Riga yers, including their captain, shadowed Zachary''s every move. They followed him all over the pitch without allowing him a single inch of space to receive the ball.

    Zachary could tell that the Riga team''s strategy for the second half was to iste him. Istion tactics were aimed at sealing off all passing routes to a yer to diminish his impact on the game. The Riga yers wanted him out of the game. They intended to put a stop to the fast-paced transitions from the defense through him. That way, they would nip NF academy''s counters in the bud.

    "Use wide areas and wing-y," Zachary heard Coach Johansen yelling from the sidelines. It seemed he had noticed Zachary''s predicament and was trying to exploit it.

    Istion also came with some marked disadvantages resulting from assigning three yers to keep an eye on a single opponent. There would be gaps left in the defensive shape of the Riga team.

    Zachary''s tactical awareness let him notice the coach''s intention to exploit the gap left by one of the Riga wingers marking him. He only needed to tie up the yers and keep them busy, creating yards of space for his teammates. Keeping his marks upied would leave the Riga formation in tatters, with plenty of gaps for his teammates to exploit.

    Zachary was confident in his pace, stamina, and endurance. He could easily take his opponents for a ride around the pitch.

    For the next few minutes, he ran around the midfield without pausing to rest. However, his three bodyguards persisted. They continued shadowing his every move as he chased the ball around the pitch. In a way, the Riga team managed to iste him.

    The game proceeded in favor of the NF academy until a slight dip in the concentration of Zachary''s teammates started to manifest in their style of y. They still dominated possession, passing the ball from wing to wing without allowing the Riga team yers to touch it. However, theycked the hunger for attacking¡ªa situation brought about by their belief of having already won the game. Suchcency led to some mistakes in thetter part of the second half.

    In the 72nd minute, Riga''s wingback picked up a misced pass from Magnus close to the touchline. The short number-2 bolted like the wind past two of Zachary''s teammates, advancing in the right-wing and piercing into NF academy''s half. He then sent a teasing cross into the penalty area. His ball-handling was swift and effective, leaving no chance for the defenders to close him down.

    Unfortunately for the Riga team, Daniel Kvande (NF academy''s number-5) out-jumped all his opponents andfortably dealt with the cross. He brushed the ball with the top of his head, guiding it a meter over the crossbar. The referee blew the whistle and pointed to the corner g.

    Zachary returned to his box to defend against the corner. The Riga team captain dutifully shadowed him back. The other yers that had been marking him remained standing at the edge of the box. However, their attention was still on him rather than their teammate taking the corner. It seemed they were still traumatized by the counterattacks in the first half.

    "Kasongo and Paul," he yelled. "Mark the two yers outside the box."

    Although the two yers showed no intent to attack the ball, he didn''t want to risk giving them a chance to score.

    However, the referee blew the whistle before his tmates could close-in. The ball was whipped in from the corner by Riga''s right wingback.

    More than fourteen yers within the box pushed and shoved, trying to out-maneuver their opponents and win the iing ball. Magnus, the tall NF academy defensive midfielder, managed to out-jump everyone else. He then headed the dangerous-looking corner ball out of the box.

    To Zachary''s dismay, the ball flew towards the two unmarked Riga yers outside the box.

    "Close them down," Zachary shouted as he set-off after it. However, he felt a tug on his shirt that slowed him down. The two yers remained unmarked¡ªwith all the time in the world to harm the NF academy.

    One of the yers confidently chested the ball to his side as Zachary tried to close him down. Before the NF academy could react to the danger, he unleashed a volley towards the goal. The ball zoomed past Zachary like a bullet and curled into the top right corner.

    3:1. The Riga team had managed to pull back one goal in the 75th minute.

 Chapter 55 - Red Mist

    The cheers rose into the air like the greatest of celebratory firework explosions. The sounds of the crowd flooded into Zachary, enhancing his dejection.

    "Fuck," he couldn''t help but swear as he watched the Riga yers celebrating. His fears during the half time break wereing to fruition. The Riga team had gained all the momentum they needed for aeback after scoring their first goal.

    "Focus, focus," Coach Johansen bellowed from the sidelines. "Defenders. You need to stay sharp and close down all the spaces," he shouted, waving his arms around like a mad man.

    The game restarted. For the next eight minutes, the Riga yers took the initiative. They utilized the entire width of the pitch to prate the NF academy''s half. Their wing-backs made several runs and unleashed several crosses that gave the defenders a hard time.

    In the 83rd minute, the Riga captain sent a teasing through-pass into the NF academy''s eighteen-yard box. One of the Riga strikers made a run behind the defenders,tched on to the carpet ball, and immediately raised his foot to take a shot towards the goal.

    However, Robin Jatta, one of NF academy''s center-backs, made an aggressive sliding challenge, sending the striker tumbling to the ground. The referee blew his whistle for a foul.

    Zachary winced as he watched the referee make a quick call and point to the penalty spot. It was a big chance for JFC Riga. The cheers and boos from the home fans exploded and filled the air as the referee walked up to Robin Jatta and showed him a direct red card.

    The center-back had denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to the Riga number-9, an offense punishable with a penalty kick. He was instantly sent-off of the field and forbidden to y for the remainder of the match¡ªleaving the NF academy down to ten men.

    As Zachary watched Robin walk off the pitch, he wondered how the game, supposed to be a sure win after the first half, had reached the verge of turning into a loss. He prayed the Riga team captain would miss the penalty, letting the NF academy maintain their two-goal advantage. Otherwise, Zachary and his teammates were in for one hell of a match-ending.

    However, the goddess of luck did not seem to be on their side. D¨¡vis Indr¨¡ns, Riga''s captain and attacking midfielder, won the battle of wills. He sent an unstoppable penalty past Kendrick Otterson¡ªinto the right side of the goal.

    3:2.

    The Riga team was only one goal down. The cheers of the fans rose to a crescendo, drowning out every other sound from the pitch.

    Zachary sighed and habitually turned towards the technical area for instructions. He noticed Coach Johansen yelling and signaling him toe to the touchline.

    He did not dawdle. He ran past the celebrating Riga yers and reached the coach after a few seconds.

    "Zachary," Coach Johannsen began. "I need you to y as a lone striker for the remaining few minutes."

    "Eehh," Zachary eximed. He was confused by the coach''s instructions since they had just lost a defender. However, the coach wanted him to abandon the midfield and y as a forward¡ªinstead of preserving NF academy''s one-goal advantage. They risked conceding more goals if they didn''t focus their efforts on defending.

    The coach smiled when he noticed Zachary''s confusion. "Don''t worry about the defense. I''m bringing in both Simen Gi?ver and Aleksander Foosn?s. The two of them will handle the midfield and the defense. Aahh! The match has turned into a disaster." He paused, pulling at his red beard in frustration.

    Zachary remained silent, waiting for the coach to continue. He was already used to the coach''s antics and mood swings. Meanwhile, he stepped into Riga''s half of the pitch so that the gamey would not restart without him. The referee would not allow a kick-off when a yer was offside in an opponent''s half.

    "You need to take the pressure to their half," Coach Johansen continued. "We can take the pressure off our defense if the three yers that have been marking you follow you into their defense. If they stay in the midfield, try your best to punish them." He added, his tone conclusive.

    Zachary remained stationary before the coach. He was sure that Coach Johansen would have one final instruction since the game was yet to restart. That was his habit.

    "One more thing," said the coach, holding on to Zachary''s shoulder. "Tell Kendrick to release long balls towards you whenever he takes our goal kicks. It will be upon you to keep their defense on tenterhooks. That is the only way to reduce the pressure on the rest of our yers. Understood?"

    Zachary nodded while chugging down some water. He also noticed that Coach Bj?rn was standing next to the fourth official registering the substitutes. The two NF academy yers had already donned their jerseys and were waiting to enter the pitch. Zachary wondered whether they had gotten the time to warm up.

    "Go and do your best," Coach Johannsen pped his back as he sent him back into the pitch.

    Zachary winced at the contact. The coach had a strong swing.

    He ran to Kendrick first and whispered the coach''s instructions in his ear. He then went around pping the NF academy yers on their backs, encouraging them to stay focused in the final minutes. He was trying to fulfill his role as a captain.

    Meanwhile, ?rjan B?rmark and Paul Kasongo trotted off the pitch, giving way for the defensive-minded substitutes. Zachary sprinted towards the center circle to start the game. For a moment, he felt nervous and out of position since he often yed behind a few of his teammates. But he took a deep breath and forcefully calmed himself while waiting for the referee''s whistle.

    *FWEEEEEEE!*

    The gamey restarted. Zachary kicked the ball towards Magnus in the defensive midfield before running towards Riga''s box without looking back. He positioned himself in-between the two Riga center-backs that were in the process of moving up their defensive line.

    The three yers that had been marking him were momentarily confused by his actions. They tried to follow him back to their defense. However, their coach''s shouts from the sidelines dissuaded them quickly. Zachary was left alone in thepany of two center-backs standing on his left and right. Meanwhile, Riga''s defensive midfielder moved back a bit¡ªtaking on the role of intercepting passes to Zachary.

    What followed was a long wait. Zachary watched the Riga team attackers use high-pressing tactics against his teammates, forcing them to lose possession on several asions.

    D¨¡vis Indr¨¡ns, the Riga team captain, was everywhere around NF academy''s 18-yard box. He became more active after being freed from his responsibility of marking Zachary. He intercepted balls in midfield and sent teasing passes into the box on several asions.

    However, the NF academy defenders seemed to have woken up from their slumber after conceding two goals. They managed to clear the dangerous balls whenever they entered the box. Riga''s chances to score often ended with desperate clearances by Zachary''s teammates.

    In the 88th minute, Riga''s captain came close to scoring. He created a yard of space for himself and tried an effort from outside the box. However, Kendrick Otterson was well-positioned and stretched to push the ball away from his goal with his fingertips. The ball smashed off the right post and flew back midair towards the outside of the box.

    One of the Riga strikers got the rebound just outside the box. But his attempt was blocked by Magnus, taking the sting and power out of the shot.

    Kendrick Otterson managed to make afortable save before quickly kicking the ball high¡ªtowards the center-line where Zachary was waiting with his bodyguards.

    Zachary instantly raced towards the ball as it descended to the ground. He could feel two of the Riga team''s center-backs shadowing him on his way to the NF academy''s half to collect the ball.

    He was desperate to relieve his teammates of the pressure they had been facing over the previous few minutes. The only way to do that was to hold the ball for as long as possible.

 Chapter 56 - The End Of The Game

    Zachary had taken long without touching the ball. So, he found himself curiously eager, carried away by the tide of excitement to perform.

    He didn''t let the ball bounce¡ªbut instead brought it down gently, like he had a ma in his boots that could attract rubber. His ball control had always ranked among his best skills from childhood. He had been juggling tins and balls woven from banana fibers since he was five, honing his ability to manipte the ball.

    However, the Riga yers didn''t allow him anytime to deliberate. One of the center-backs, marking him, crushed into his back within a second of his controlling the ball. He applied physical pressure with his body, denying him an opportunity to turn with the ball.

    Zachary protected the ball with his body, using his strength graded at A- by the system to keep the defender at bay. Meanwhile, he looked up and noticed that the other Riga yers who had been attacking his box were closing-in on him very quickly.

    Zachary was stuck between a rock and a hard ce. He was surrounded by opponents on all sides¡ªlike an ind amid an endless sea. The Riga yers had him where they wanted him. They would soon box him in, win possession, and resume their relentless attacks on NF academy''s box. That was unless he found a way out of his predicament.

    Zachary reached within himself¡ªand an instinctual awareness took over, forcing his body to function on muscle memory and reflexive motions. Adrenaline flooded his system. The movement of the yers around him seemed to slow to a crawl. His awareness heightened¡ªand out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Magnus racing towards him, shouting his name.

    Zachary smirked and nted his right leg between the ball and the Riga defender¡ªwho was increasing the physical pressure to make him lose possession, by the second. Zachary''s body was not following any logical thinking¡ªbut a set of pre-programmed motions that were stored somewhere deep within his brain.

    He drew back his left foot and feinted a pass back down the pitch¡ªtowards the approaching Magnus. At that instant, he felt the physical pressure from the defender subside, meaning that his feint had worked.

    But instead of passing, Zachary let his foot stop over the ball¡ªand drew it back behind his standing right leg. He then pivoted at the hip, toward his marker, spinning 180 degrees¡ªand shifting his weight to his left foot.

    "The Cruyff Turn!" Some of the fans in the stands yelled at the top of their lungs, more or less in unison.

    Zacharypleted the whole set of motions swiftly and seamlessly, like a fish navigating in water. His mark followed the feint and lost a few yards in-the-time it took him to recover from his slip-up.

    Zachary found himself with a yard of space and elerated towards the left-wing. The other center-back quickly closed him down, trying to bar his path to the Riga team''s box.

    Zachary continued working by instinct, letting his body flow with the ball instead of thinking about his moves.

    He pushed the ball away from himself with the outside of his right boot. He intended to dupe the defender into believing that he was going towards the inside of the pitch. Once the center-back bought the dummy, Zachary immediately wrapped his foot around the ball and then sped off in the opposite direction.

    The Riga defender sat down as if in respect for his dribble.

    "An stico," Some of the fans shouted. They were on their feet with their necks craned to get a better look at Zachary circumventing the Riga center-back.

    Zachary''s unexpected stico dribble took him past his final mark¡ªand all that remained was open space between him and the box. What followed was a race as Zachary shrugged off the chasing yers and bolted towards Riga''s goal.

    He turned the match into a parody of a 100-meter race. The Riga yers chased after him with their fists pumping, trying their best to catch up. But Zachary''s A+ agility was no joke at the youth level. He left them all in the dust and soon approached the goalkeeper that hade out to greet him.

    Zachary expertly flicked the ball around the helpless goalkeeper who remained crawling on the ground after a fruitless attempt to block his advance. Zachary found himself in space before the empty and unleashed a simple strike towards the goal.

    A shadow rushed by him: and it was Riga''s defensive midfielder. Zachary was surprised by his speed as he was only a second behind him. He judged that the yer''s speed must be close to his own.

    The defensive midfielder tried his best to slide in and save the ball¡ªbut instead, he pushed the ball further into the back of the.

    Zachary had scored his third goal in the 90th minute,pleting a hat-trick for the day. He had helped his team regain a two-goal advantage over the Riga team.

    4:2.

    The stadium instantly went quiet¡ªas if a ghost had passed through the ranks of the home fans. But as Zachary rushed to celebrate with his teammates, the crowds in the stands stood up and gave him a standing ovation. It didn''t seem to matter to them that he had scored against their team. They just apuded the skills of a phenomenal yer who had done some jaw-dropping dribbling before whipping the ball into the back of the.

    Intense waves of happiness flooded Zachary''s entire being like focused beams of light, piercing through to his soul as he celebrated with his teammates. Hey down on the artificial grass and let the joy soak right into his bones, without bothering about the weight of the other yers piling above him.

    For the first time in a long while, his mind and body rxedpletely. At that moment, he felt the joy of scoring in a highly contested match. He had never felt such delight in his previous life. He''d made it¡ªhe was a winner, on his way to bing a professional ser yer. His only wish was to have plenty more happy moments in his career.

    *FWEEEEEEE!*

    The referee''s whistle interrupted the NF academy celebration. They had toplete the match first before continuing their festivities. But, Zachary was already sure that they would win the game.

    **** ****

    Jimmy Edwards was an English scout who hated wasting his time. His bosses had forced him to travel with Tottenham''s youth team for the trip to Riga. Although he obeyed, he wasn''t happy to spend his February in Latvia. He was jealous of some of his colleagues who had traveled to South America¡ªa continent flooding with talents and¡ªof course, the fine weather.

    Hemented the bad luck that had gotten him assigned to the Baltic Region¡ªwhere he couldn''t possibly find talents for the agency. He had already been to some tournaments in Northern and Eastern Europe and failed to find worthwhile yers. He had expected the Riga Cup to follow the same trend.

    So, he had downloaded three UB-40 albums to his digital Sony Walkman before the opening match. Listening to the music of the legendary British band would get him through what he expected to be a boring opening match. Maybe¡ªprobably! To make sure he wasn''t disturbed by the noise, he had purchased a set of Sony bass headphones before heading into the indoor stadium to earn his travel allowance.

    However, 30 minutes into the game, he had already discarded the headphones¡ªand was busy asking for the name of the yer wearing the number-8 shirt of the NF academy team. He no longer looked like a scout that had been forced to the Baltic Region by his agency.

    For the entire match, he had watched the highly clinical yer take on defenders and score goals. He was mesmerized by his talent¡ªsomething that hadn''t happened to him in a decade. The yer was quick on his feet and very clinical. Only his footwork required a bit of work to turn him into another Ryan Giggs or better.

    However, his vision and ball control made his conventional footwork seem unnecessary. He could feint, run around defenders, and pass like a Maestro. What if he received training aimed at improving his dribbling skills to match up to the level of his game vision? Jimmy could not help but wonder. He resolved to get his hands on the yer by all means.

    He turned towards his colleague¡ªan intern who had traveled with him. The intern was a beautiful brte with hair that tumbled over her shoulders. However, Jimmy found himself stealing more nces at the pitch¡ªthan at his gorgeouspanion. The game had captured all his attention. He did not wish to miss even a second of the match.

    "Can you manage to make contact with him?" He asked. "We need to get to him before the other agencies notice him."

    "You''re finally taking your work seriously," said Emily Anderson. She did not turn around but continued recording the match with her Nikon Camera. She only managed a response when the game ended with a score of 4:2 in favor of the NF academy.

    "I''ll try to make contact," she said while straightening her dark brown hair. "But I can''t make any promises. yers that talented often have their own agencies even while still in academies. Plus, have you forgotten that you''re here as a Tottenham scout, not a representative of the agency?"

    Jimmy frowned, mopping a gloved hand through his scruffy brown hair. "Intern," he intoned. "Don''t try to exin this to me. I''ve been in the football industry for the past fifteen years. Every yer, agency, or team usually has a price. Your role is to find out that price. Just do your job and get in touch with him. If he has no agent, the better for us."

    Emily Anderson shed his colleague a soft smile before replying: "I''ll get right to it."

    **** ****

 Chapter 57 - Coach Johansenâ€™s Post-Match Team Talk

    After the game, Zachary received the match ball from the officials since he had scored a hat-trick. He felt a surge of happiness enveloping him since he had taken the first step towardspleting the system mission.

    He recalled the final minutes of the game when he had executed the Cruyff turn and stico dribble. He had been in a state ofplete harmony with the ball, like never before in both his lives. That seemed to be the reason he had been able to execute skills he''d only practiced in his past life. He made a mental note to investigate that state of mind further during his next game.

    There were no post-match interviews in the Riga Cup. So, Zachary and his teammates trekked silently back to the dressing room. They had expended all their stamina reserves, defending against the Riga team''s relentless attacks in the final minutes.

    When they got to the dressing room, they found Coach Johansen in a somber mood. There was a tension in his manner conveyed by the tightness of his face. His brows were creased. His eyes, rigid and cold. His mere presence seemed to chill the air in the dressing room. He immediately directed his re at the NF academy yers once they entered.

    Robin Jatta was seated at the other end of the dressing room with his face covered by his two hands. Zachary walked up to him and patted his shoulder. "We won the game," he said to the center-back before settling down beside him to remove his match attire. He didn''t want his teammate to remain saddled with guilt, thinking he''d sealed his team''s downfall. Zachary could not help but wonder why Coach Johansen hadn''t bothered to inform the defender about their win.

    The center-back turned towards him, managing a small smile. "Thank you," he whispered back, looking more rxed.

    "No need to worry," Zachary continued, his voice barely a whisper. "In this tournament, you''ll only be suspended for two games. You can return to the team in the quarter-finals."

    He tried his best to raise his dejected teammate''s spirits as he changed into his dark blue tracksuit. Coach Johansen maintained his silence, waiting for the yers to finish changing their outfits.

    All the yers, except Zachary and Robin, had quit their murmuring. They were smart enough to realize that the coach was disappointed in their second-half performance.

    "That was a truly terrible second half," intoned Coach Johansen, breaking the silence. A crypticugh, uncharacteristic of him, apanied his words.

    All the yers in the dressing room maintained their silence, waiting for him to continue.

    "You yed a good game in the first half," Coach Johansen continued, his voice t without any emotion. "You managed to keep all their attackers away from our box¡ªand the whole team maintained a high level of discipline and focus. Can anyone tell me what happened in the second half?" He paused, letting his gaze roam over all the yers in the dressing room.

    None of the yers bothered to answer since they''d long gotten ustomed to his rhetorical questions.

    The coach shook his head and sighed. "I''ve always emphasized the importance of staying sharp until the end of the game. You have to stay focused, whether you''re winning or losing. Anypse in concentration will lead to mistakes like the ones in the game today. And, when you begin making mistakes, the inevitable conclusion is a loss¡­"

    Coach Johansen''s words came out of his mouth like bullets from the muzzle of a machine gun. He lectured them about the importance of maintaining focus during games for the following 15 minutes. He pointed out several incidents during the match where a failure in concentration could have given Riga opportunities to win the game.

    Zachary could tell that the coach was trying his best to drill the message into the yers'' heads in the shortest time possible. He repeated himself several times, giving examples of how different tight situations in the match¡ªcould have been avoided. He only stopped his talk when Coach Bj?rn informed him that the next team was about toe into the dressing room.

    The coach nced at his watch before adding a few concluding remarks. "Let me end by asking you this: Do you know what would have happened if you had lost the opening match? A match in which you were already ahead by three goals in the first half!" His tone had turned soft.

    He started moving around the dressing room, gazing at each yer as he spoke. "You would not be happy with yourself because you lost the game. You would feel nothing except dejection for the next few days¡ªand would find it hard to perform at your best in the next series of games. Our tournament would likely have ended right there. Then, you would be filled with regret and have nothing to show for all your hard work."

    "Is that what you want?" Coach Johansen asked, his voice rising a little.

    The yers remained silent, under the impression it was one of his rhetorical questions.

    "Answer me," he bellowed, his voice tinged with rage.

    "No, coach," all the yers answered more or less in unison.

    Coach Johansen sat back on one of the tables, smiling softly. "I hope everyone on this team understands that we''re here to win the tournament," he said, his voice hushed. Nheless, it still carried on to every corner of the room.

    "To win a tournament, we need dedication. You have to y every single match like a final. You have to do your best in every second of the game until you hear the final whistle. That''s whether you''re ahead or losing. And, that''s the only way we can stand a chance of contesting this cup." He emphasized thest sentence.

    "Remember, we are what we repeatedly do. ying well in matches is not an act but a habit developed over a period. We have to hone this habit of ying like champions until it bes part of us. That''s how we be greats in football. That''s the only way to be great yers that canpete in professional leagues. Otherwise, you''ll forever remain amateurs or pretenders. Are we clear?"

    All the yers nodded. Some of the yers had their fists balled, their eyes glittering¡ªlike they couldn''t wait to y the next game. Zachary was d the coach had delivered such a stirring address right after the match. The message seemed to have hit home.

    Coach Johansen smiled. "Let this match be a lesson to you all. I don''t want to see any sort-of foolery in the game against BK Frem on Wednesday morning." His tone was somber.

    "We''ll meet again tomorrow in the morning for gym work. I expect all of you in the hotel lobby by 8 in the morning. We''ll leave by bus and train at one of the gyms in the city. But today, I expect you to watch the match between Genoa and BK Frem. Those are our immediatepetitors in this group. They are tough nuts to crack, but we have to face them and still win." Coach Johansen added in a conclusive tone.

 Chapter 58 - Travelling Fans

    Zachary and his teammates left the dressing room after Coach Johansen''s address. They passed by the VfB Stuttgart and Skonto Academy yers in the hallways as they exited the pitch. The two teams were¡ªted to y in the next game.

    The NF Academy squad joined the small crowd of home fans leaving the stadium. Several people craned their necks to look at Zachary. Others yelled in anguage he didn''t understand. But, he could tell they were trying to talk to him. It seemed he had gained some measure of fame among the fans of JFC Riga.

    Zachary maintained a polite smile and continued moving along with the crowd. Each person in the troop of fans moved forward as if dragged by unseen hands.

    Before long, Zachary and his teammates exited the indoor stadium.

    At the gate, he was surprised to run into Marta Romano and her twin sister, Melissa. They were standing among a group of his ssmates from the Tr?ndg International School. Most were either Italians or Spaniards that were part of the international programs at his school.

    "You guys are here!" Paul Otterson was the first to run forward to greet the entourage. "Aren''t you supposed to be attending sses?" The Swede asked, looking at the group of ten from Trondheim.

    "We wouldn''t miss this tournament for anything," Melissa replied, smiling. Like her sister, she was¡ªdressed in a stylish knee-length overcoat that obscured most of her gorgeous figure. "We arrived yesterday morning to give you some support here in the cup. As international students, we look out for our own." She added.

    Paul grinned, hooking an arm across Melissa''s shoulder. "That''s great. The tournament will be a lot more fun with you guys around. Did you watch the match?" The Swede asked, his eyes darting from person to person in the group.

    "We watched it. You guys were great." Melissa paused, turning her gaze towards Zachary. "I never knew you could y like that. You''re really good at hiding your skills. Why aren''t you ying for the Rosenborg team?" She asked, creasing her brow.

    Zachary''s left shoulder lifted in a casual shrug. He looked around and noticed that the rest of his ssmates were looking at him in awe. It seemed they had also been impressed by his performance.

    "Hello, everyone," he greeted them, trying his best to change the topic of conversation. He disliked being the center of attention whenever he was off the pitch. "It''s good to see you. It''s always nice to have some home support whenever we y."

    His ssmates returned the greeting, nodding in the process. Marta Romano winked at him when they shook hands. He mouthed the word ter'' and started looking about him, ignoring the chatter between the Ottersons, Kasongo, and the rest of his ssmates. He walked to the side and started observing the rest of his teammates.

    Most NF academy yers were either greeting their parents or siblings who had traveled to support them in Riga. They exchanged hugs and sweet nothings¡ªor whatever topics that made themugh and grin from ear to ear, as Zachary watched on. Even the always-somber Coach Johansen was busy talking to his wife and daughter, seemingly having forgotten about the Genoa match that was about to begin. Everyone was happy that their families had traveled a long way to cheer them on.

    At such moments, Zachary wished he had known his parents. He had never gotten the opportunity to see them in both his lifetimes.

    Zachary felt like a juvenile, thinking about the issue, but there was not much he could do to push away the yearning. He resolved to have a serious talk with his grandma about his parents when he returned to Congo after going pro.

    Marta Romano silently left the other group of his friends and stood by his side. "A penny for your thoughts," she said.

    "Just thinking about life¡ªand the next game," he replied with a smile, forcing himself to focus on the Italian. "I was surprised you came here with your sister. I never took you for a fan of ser, like your sister." He added, diverting the topic.

    Zachary had been under the impression she wasn''t interested in ser. Unlike her sister, she never bothered to watch Rosenborg''s matches at Lerkendal, even when free match tickets were avable.

    Marta smiled softly. "I didn''te here for the football, but to watch you y. It seems you''ve been avoiding me since we returned from the Christmas holidays. What''s up with that?" Her Italian ent colored her words.

    Zachary sighed. "I''ve been busy preparing for the tournament. We haven''t had time for sses or anything else." He paused, casting a casual nce around him. "And now, I have to go back to the hotel and shower, then watch the match between our next two opponents."

    Zachary inclined his head to get a better look at the Italian. Marta was a beautiful girl with ck hair woven into long braids, plunging over her shoulders. She had a long nose that was a perfect match with her deep ck intelligent eyes.

    "But, we can meet and talk on Friday," Zachary said. "That''s the free day after ourst group match. Is that okay with you?"

    "It''s a date then." Marta smiled. "Should I expect a tour around the city or something else?"

    "Possibly," Zachary replied. "But I have to go now. Or my coach won''t be pleased."

    He had noticed that the bus had already arrived at the gate. Coach Johansen had already finished saying his goodbyes to his family. He was standing next to the bus, waiting for the yers to wind-up their interactions. Coach Bj?rn was moving around, telling everyone to get on to the bus as soon as possible.

    Marta smiled. "Okay. Remember to text me the time of our date. I''ll be waiting. And, good luck in your next game. I''ll be rooting for you in the stands."

    Zachary, his teammates, and the coaches took the bus to the Monika Centrum Hotel. They quickly cleaned up and changed into new tracksuits in their rooms. Twenty minutester, they were already in the Olympic Sports Center. They sat in the stands, among a few fans, watching the match between Genoa and BK Frem.

    The match was a one-sided affair, with the Genoa Youth team dictating y. They attacked the Danish team from the first minute, with their wingers and midfielders making multiple attempts, at goal, within the first few minutes. Their team chemistry was perfect. It seemed they had been ying together for a long time.

    They were¡ªarrayed in a 4-3-3 formation with no marked weakness showing in their style of y. Genoa''s typical defense of two center-backs and two full-backs managed to stop the BK Frem yers from making many shots on goal.

    The Italian team yed with three central midfielders who would asionally form triangles and y with quick touches, transitioning from the defense to the striking. They conquered and dominated the midfield and sealed off most of BK Frem''s chances.

    Genoa''s attacking force consisted of three strikers, a central one and two who yed on the nks. The two strikers on the sides were all-round attacking yers with good pace and shooting ability, often using their speed on the wings to cut in towards the goal. The central striker was a powerful target man¡ªand sometimes dropped deep into the box to drag defenders away and leave space for the wide forwards to score.

    In the 13th minute, the Genoa number-11 managed to dribble from the wing and score the first goal. In the 20th minute, the central strikertched on to a cross inside the six-yard box andted the second goal. Six minutester, the third striker scored another goal.

    Zachary watched¡ªattentively as Genoa scored goal after goal throughout the one-sided match. The tall Genoa central striker quickly pulled off a hat-trick while the other forwards on the nks got a brace each. By the 80th minute, Genoa was seven goals ahead of the BK Frem team. The Danish team had yet to put one in the back of the.

    "Genoa will be a tough opponent," Kendrick, seated on the right of Zachary,mented. "We have to find a way to freeze their two wingers to win. Otherwise, we''ll suffer the same fate as BK Frem." He added, shaking his head.

    "We must win the game against BK Frem to qualify for the knockouts," Zachary intoned. "I don''t want to risk ying Genoa without six points in the bag." The Genoa team was good with a well-bnced squad that almost had no weaknesses.

    "I''m not worried about BK Frem," Kendrick said, smiling. "Look at them. They have not gotten any shots on target since the game began. Do you think we could lose against such a team?"

    Zachary creased his brow, turning to the side to gaze at his friend. "Kendrick," he intoned, his tone somber. "Are you forgetting what just happened to us in the second half? You can never be sure of winning a game until you have dominated the other side. Otherwise, bettingpanies would have run bankrupt ages ago. Do you remember the game between Senegal and France in the 2002 World Cup? Or Greece versus Portugal in the Euros?" He asked, locking gazes with his tmate.

    Kendrick was about to reply, but their conversation was interrupted by a sweet feminine voice originating from Zachary''s left side. "Hello, Zachary. Can I have your autograph?"

    Zachary was surprised. He had only yed a single game in Riga. It was a shock that someone was already asking for his autograph. He wasn''t Messi or anyone famous¡ªyet. He looked to the side and saw the delicate face of a beautiful young woman. Her blue eyes, like the sea, were calm and emotionless. She had long, wavy dark brown hair¡ªso smooth and silky, almost as if tailored from fabric.

    "Who are you?" Zachary managed a reply after a few seconds. However, his voice came out an octave higher than intended.

    Thedy smiled, her eyes gaining and exuding a slight warmth. "I''m Emily Anderson. And, I think I''m your biggest fan." She spoke in a ssic British ent¡ªlike a BBC news anchor. "Won''t you give me that autograph and maybe have a cup of coffee with me?"

    Zachary remained silent, frowning. He could feel Kendrick pocking his right side when he dyed giving thedy a reply. "Bro," he whispered. "What are you waiting for? She won''t kidnap you in broad daylight. You''re much stronger than her¡ªfor God''s sake. Just say yes. I''ll inform the Coach that you just returned to the hotel to rest."

    "I promise I''m not a con woman," thedy cut in. "And, I''ve got a lot of info about each of the teams participating in the Riga Cup. We can talk solely about football over coffee. No need to get flustered." She added, smiling softly.

    "You see," Kendrick chipped in. "A cup of coffee is good for rxation after a hectic game like the one we just yed today morning."

    Zachary first looked back at the pitch before answering. Team Genoa had just scored their eighth goal of the game. They were leading the group due to their remarkable goal difference of eight goals. There was nothing left to see in the game.

    Zachary returned his attention to the woman. He could tell that she wasn''t anything like a fangirl, following a star to get an autograph. She looked more like an office type, calcting, and good at dealing with people.

    He decided to head out with her and hear what she had to say. He had a feeling he would regret rejecting the meeting.

    "Okay," he said to thedy. "Let''s go get some coffee."

    He first told Kendrick to cover for him before leading the way out of the indoor stadium.

 Chapter 59 - A Meeting With An Agent

    Zachary took a sip of the coffee. A fleeting expression of satisfaction showed on his face¡ªand soon, he was smiling broadly. He nced down at the thick ceramic mug, slightly warm to touch. It had preserved the heat, making the drink perfect in the cold weather.

    "So, can you tell me why you wanted to talk to me?" Zachary inquired, locking gazes with Emily Anderson. They sat in a cozy coffee shop, about a kilometer and a half away from the Olimpic Sports Center. The rich deep brown cafe tables and the dark aroma of the served-coffee created a rxing atmosphere.

    Emily Anderson smiled softly. "Didn''t I just say that I''m your biggest fan," she said, pouting a bit. She seeped on her coffee before adding: "Honestly, I need your autograph. Let me get a sharpie for you."

    Zachary creased his brow as she fished around in her handbag for a few seconds before handing him a permanent marker. "Will you give me an autograph?" She drawled, looking at him pleadingly with her deep, intelligent eyes.

    "Is this one of those pranks I always see on reality television shows?" He inquired but took the marker from her outstretched hand. "Where do I sign?" He looked at her skeptically, watching for any signs of whether she was ying a joke on him.

    But the next actions of thedy surprised him. She took off her white cashmere scarf and handed it to him. "Make the autograph asrge as possible," she said, smiling, her expression emphasizing her beauty. "I would like to hang it on one of my walls when I go back home."

    Zachary nodded. He had nothing to lose by signing on the scarf. Moreover, Zachary did not use his legal signature for the autograph. He simply wrote out his two names on it and handed it back to her.

    "Thank you," Emily said, admiring the overlyrge letters on the scarf. She looked like a famous art critic admiring the Mona Lisa in the Louvre. The emotion in her eyes was fathoms deep¡ªyet they carried the warmth and life of the sunlit surface.

    Zachary looked at thedy, wide-eyed and mouth slightly agape, as she folded the scarf carefully, like a piece of art, and shoved it into her handbag. Her actions were getting more bizarre by the second. She had only seen him y in a single match¡ªagainst Riga. His performance couldn''t have been enough to convince her he would be a star in the future. Yet, there she was¡ªasking for his autograph and behaving like an infatuated fan girl.

    "Don''t look at me like that," Emily intoned as if she could see right into his mind. "I''m sure this cloth will be quite expensive a few years from now." She added, her voice calm and confident.

    Zachary smiled. He admitted to himself that giving out an autograph had pleased him to some extent.

    He shook his head, taking his focus off thedy. For a few moments, he just wrapped his hands around the ceramic coffee mug before him, letting the warmth flow to his fingers, banishing the wintry chill. He then took several bites off a Crumble Cake and seeped on the coffee. Thebination was delicious, especially after all the energy he''d expended during the match with Riga.

    "So, Zachary," thedy began. "Do you have an agent?"

    "Not at the moment," Zachary replied honestly.

    Emily shed him a smile. "I work for CAA Base Limited¡ªa reputable agency for professional footballers dedicated to shaping the ongoing development and management of their careers. At the agency, we work in teams to support our clients on and off the pitch." She paused, locking gazes with Zachary. "I''m here to recruit you as a client." Her tone was formal.

    "Oh," Zachary said, nodding. He''d guessed as much. "Where is your agency based?" He inquired.

    Thedy had been straightforward with him. He decided to do the same since he knew little about the sports agencies in the world. He needed more information about the organization that wanted to represent him.

    A slight smile twisted on her lips. "Our head offices are in London, but we represent yers from many parts of the world. We''re one of the leading sports agencies in Europe. You could easily check ourpany profile on the inte. We represent famous yers like Ashley Young and Aaron Lennon, among others."

    Zachary nodded, leaning back in his chair to lock eyes with the agent. "By the way you speak, I can tell that you work for a good agency. But I can''t make the decision right now. I need to first check out the profile of yourpany beforeing to a decision. And, that can only be after the Riga Tournament." He said.

    Mr. Stein had told him to seek his advice before making any decisions about sports agencies. Moreover, he''d heard about many cases where young yers had been enticed into bogus contracts by hical agents. Some fake agents would even put up websites and post selfies with famous football people to boost their businesses. Although Emily didn''t seem like a fake, he still had to proceed with caution.

    Emily crinkled her eyes and bit her lower lip. For a moment, Zachary thought that he saw a trace of disappointment in her bearing. However, it was gone in an instant.

    She smiled and took another sip of her coffee before continuing the conversation. "I understand that you''ve got to be careful while selecting an agent. It''s the logical thing to do before agreeing to an agency contract. But, let me remind you that you''ll require a team of agents to manage your affairs as soon as possible. Since you''re a very talented yer, it''s inevitable."

    She sounded a bit desperate. Nheless, Zachary waited for her to continue as he munched on his Crumble Cake. She needed to recruit him, not the other way round. He could afford to be willful, to some extent. That was one way of testing her credibility as a sports agent.

    Emily smiled before fishing out a set of papers from her overlyrge handbag. "I''ve decided toe all out because I need you to be my first client," she said, handing him the papers.

    Zachary lifted an eyebrow. "First client?" He looked through the papers and noticed that it was her CV. On the first page, he could see her qualifications as awyer. She was a recent graduate from the Edinburgh Law School. Moreover, she had a very high CGPA of 3.8 out of 4. Zachary could not help but wonder why she wasn''t working at a university instead of trying to be an agent.

    "Yes." Emily nodded. "I haven''t signed any yer yet. As you can see from my CV, I only graduatedst year. I''m just an intern at the CAA Base Limited. I need promising clients as soon as possible. Or else my career will be on the line. But don''t worry. I''m a hard worker and a quick learner. If you select me as your agent, I''ll represent you to the best of my abilities."

    "I believe that you''ll be getting many contract offers after this tournament," Emily continued. "If I became your agent, I would help you negotiate them to achieve the best possible oue."

    "I would be able to secure the most lucrative endorsement and sponsorship deals withpanies like Nike and Sony in the long run. I would also be in charge of organizing your TV, radio, and digital media appearances. I would do my best to help you build a perfect public image while also managing your schedules. You would only need to y football without worrying about anything else."

    She sounded like she was searching for a Job. Zachary empathized with her.

    "Do you have the drafted contract offer with you?" Zachary inquired after some deliberation.

    Emily shed him a dimply smile. "I''m awyer. I always move with contracts." She fished out another set of papers from her handbag and handed them to him.

    Zachary quickly scanned through the papers and was surprised by the favorable terms in the contract. "No representation fees until I turn eighteen?" He looked at the brte with skepticism. That would mean that she would negotiate his first professional sry contract with Rosenborg next December for free.

    "You''re still a minor," Emily intoned, favoring him with a slight smile. "We are not supposed to take money from you. Our deal only binds you to our agency for the four years after you turn into an adult."

    "Oh," Zachary nodded, enlightened. "I guess we should end the negotiations for now. I promise to look through this contract in detail and consult some of my people tonight. If what you say is credible, there will be no harm in working with you. I''ll inform you of my decision tomorrow evening." He said firmly, his tone conclusive.

    "Thank you," she said, smiling. "That''s a relief for me." She fished out another set of papers from her handbag and handed them to Zachary. "That''s all the information I''ve got on the strong teams participating in the Riga tournament. Take it as my gift to you on our first meeting." She added.

    Zachary received the papers. He couldn''t help but wonder whether her handbag housed a spatial library of documents. "Thanks a lot," he said, smiling. "We''ll talk again tomorrow."

    **** ****

    Zachary headed back to his hotel room after the meeting. He realized that Kasongo had not yet returned from watching the match between Genoa and BK Frem.

    Zachary called Mr. Stein right away. He told him about the CAA Base Limited and his conversation with Emily Anderson. Mr. Stein was surprised to hear that the agents from the internationalpany had tried to recruit him. He immediately told Zachary to scan the papers and send the soft copies to him¡ªas soon as possible.

    An hourter, he called back. His message: "Sign the contract."

 Chapter 60 - NF Academy Vs BK Frem I

    11:00 AM. Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

    The fans in the stands were a sea of smiles as they quietly awaited the beginning of the match.

    Emily Anderson craned her neck to get a better look at the yers entering the ying field. She was seated close to the bottom row, nearer to the pitch.

    "NF Academy yers," she heard thementator announce, his deep voiceing to her from arge speaker positioned a few meters to her right. "Shirt number-1: Kendrick Otterson, shirt-number-2: ?yvind Alseth, No. 16: Aleksander Foosn?s, No. 4: Lars Togstad, No. 5: Daniel Kvande, No. 6: Magnus kstad, No. 7: Kasongo Paul, No. 8: Zachary Bemba¡­" Thementator drawled a bit when reading thest name. Cheers suddenly¡ªexploded all over the stands. The fans were in a jubnt mood.

    Emily was surprised by therge turn-up of home fans and their support for Zachary. She had initially thought the match between the NF academy and BK Frem wouldn''t attract a crowd. But, on arrival at the Skonto Arena, she had been quickly proven wrong. There were more than a thousand fans in attendance. It was likely that most of them had onlye to watch her new client, Zachary Bemba, y. She was d she''d managed to sign such a promising client.

    Thementator continued reading the names after the crowd stopped cheering. "No.9: Paul Otterson, No. 10: ?rjan B?rmark, No. 11: Martin Lundal. And here is the squad of BK Frem¡­"

    He went on to announce the BK Frem squad, but Emily didn''t pay attention. She unpacked her Nikon camera, fitted in the lenses, and checked the battery to make sure it was ready for use when the match started. She didn''t want to miss capturing any brilliant performances from Zachary that could give her an edge in future negotiations.

    "What are you doing?" asked Jimmy Edwards, her immediate supervisor. "We already recorded one of his matches. No need to waste time shooting something else." He intoned, casually waving his hand to emphasize his point.

    Emily frowned, turning around to give her colleague a t stare. The scout/ agent had been in a bad mood ever since he learned about her sessful signing of Zachary. Jimmy Edwards had intended to be his immediate handling agent rather than her. She''d only been¡ªtasked with contacting Zachary. However, Emily had used her wits to beat her supervisor to the client by offering him a hard-to-refuse contract. It seemed she''d angered him as a result.

    "Are you forgetting he is already my client?" She asked with her signature soft smile for handling negotiations. "I don''t need to teach you that an agent should record any information that might improve her client''s bargaining power in negotiations." She returned her attention to the match. The yers were going through the pre-match routine of exchanging handshakes with their opponents.

    "I''ve got a feeling that Zachary will do even better in this match," she continued. "There''s no way I will miss recording this game." She said, her tone matter-of-factly.

    Jimmy Edwards frowned, then nodded sharply. "Suit yourself. However, we must have that meeting before we return to London. You obviously can''t take all the credit for signing Zachary." He emphasized.

    Emily sighed, rolling her eyes. "With all the yers you''ve already signed, what difference will one more make to your career?" She inquired. "Do you even have enough time to cater to all your clients?"

    She had grown a lot more confident in her dealings with the supervisor after her sessful signing of a promising client. Jimmy Edwards wouldn''t be able to fire her without permission from the top management.

    **** ****

    "I would like you to talk more to your teammates while on the pitch," Coach Johansen advised Zachary. "The yers respect you as a captain. Endeavor to warn them if they start losing focus¡ªlike in the previous match. I''m sure they will listen to you." He spoke slowly in a well-enunciated way to emphasize his point.

    Zachary nodded. He chugged down some water before jogging back to his position on the pitch. Coach Johansen had allowed him to return to the midfield, leaving the striking-position for ?rjan B?rmark, NF academy''s number-10.

    Zachary looked around and noticed that the yers of both teams had already taken their positions. His teammates did not appear as rxed as they had been in the second half of their previous game. It seemed like Coach Johansen''s message had gotten through to them. They jumped and jogged around their positions to keep their bodies warm while waiting for the whistle. He could tell that they were ready to perform.

    He returned his gaze to the BK Frem yers, dressed in white jerseys, on the other side of the pitch. They, too, seemed eager to start the game. Their huge loss against Genoa didn''t seem to have dampened their morale one bit.

    The referee soon blew his whistle, and the match started with a BK Frem kick-off.

    Five minutes into the game, Zachary noticed that the opponents were also using the 5-4-1 formation, with most of their efforts focused on defending. With five defenders and four midfielders protecting the goal, it was proving challenging for Zachary and his teammates to get the ball further forward. The game soon settled into a stalemate.

    The difference between the two teams turned out to be Zachary. The NF academy could afford to use the 5-4-1 formation because of his pace and efficiency with the ball. He had an uncanny ability to swiftly move through the midfield, forming a perfect link between the defense and the offense.

    He yed his typical role, helping the NF academy to dictate the tempo of the game. He was always in motion, either with the ball or ready to receive a pass. His first touches were superb, often taking him past one or two of his opponents. He didn''t let any adversaries tie him down¡ªlike they had in the match against JFC Riga.

    However, the BK Frem yers were very determined. The nine yers they kept behind the ball did their best to stop any NF academy yers from approaching their box. In particr, their defenders yed well in the first half by double-teaming Zachary and his teammates. They managed to keep the most dangerous shots away from their goal in the first half.

    The score remained tied at 0:0 by the end of the first half. BK Frem had managed to keep the attacking force of NF academy at bay.

 Chapter 61 - NF Academy Vs BK Frem II

    However, as the match progressed into the second half, NF academy cashed in on their superior possession.

    Zachary sighed again-and-again at the effectiveness of Coach Johansen''s message at the end of the previous game. All the yers were very focused and yed with ambition while taking minimal risks as they bore down on BK Frem''s goal.

    The NF academy showcased great teamwork by exchanging short passes and one-twos, waiting to open the BK Frem defense and hit them swiftly on the break.

    Zachary created the game-changing opportunity in the 54th minute when he tricked his way to the edge of the box. He managed to unleash a howitzer shot towards the inside of the right post. However, BK Frem''s goalkeeper was well-positioned to pull off a brilliant save. The ball went out of y, a few inches wide of the post. The referee pointed to the corner g.

    ?yvind Alseth, NF academy''s right wingback, took the corner, whipping a teasing ball into the box. He managed to find Magnus, who out-jumped all the defenders and tried his luck with a header from around the penalty spot. His effort was precise enough to go past BK Frem''s goalkeeper¡ªinto the top right corner of the.

    1:0.

    The NF academy had managed to score their first goal against a weaker team after 56 minutes. It seemed to open the floodgates. The BK Frem midfielders lost their morale and started making a lot of amateur mistakes.

    Zachary began noticing a lot of exploitable gaps in BK Frem''s defensive profile. In the 60th minute, he peeled away from his markers using a well-executed Cruyff turn and elerated towards the goal.

    Although he hadn''t managed to achieve the instinctual state of flowing with the ball¡ªlike in the previous match, he could still execute the move swiftly.

    He dribbled past four defenders, managing to win himself enough space inside the box and score NF academy''s second goal.

    However, he didn''t rx after scoring.

    For the following ten minutes, he was on fire. He tackled yers, intercepted passes, and dribbled past opponents with ease. He managed to score three more goals in the 63rd, the 68th, and the 71st minutes. Due to his efforts, NF academy was ahead by five goals with eighteen minutes left to y. Yet, he still had a lot of stamina left.

    Zachary felt like he was in his best shape ever. The ball listened to him, and the goddess of luck was on his side. He wanted to score more goals. That would get him closer topleting one of the milestones of the system mission. However, Coach Johansen substituted him¡ªout in the 75th minute, cutting his ying time on the pitch short.

    "You need some rest," the coach said, patting Zachary on the back. "We want you to be in your best shape when you face Genoa. That will be the true test for us." The coach added to emphasize his point.

    Zachary nodded before taking his seat on the bench. He understood the coach''s decision, but he still felt a little bit indignant. He probably had the best stamina and endurance among the academy yers, graded at A+ by the system. However, the coach had taken him out earlier than other yers who were more prone to tiring out fast.

    Zachary chugged down more water from a bottle and returned his attention to the match. His teammates were still dictating y on the pitch. They even managed to score another goal in the 85th minute. However, they wasted a lot of chances. They didn''t fully capitalize on the mistakes made by the BK Frem yers.

    Nheless, the game ended with a score of 6:0, in favor of the NF academy.

    Zachary felt that he could have led the team to a greater victory¡ªhad he been allowed to stay on the pitch. Although he''d scored four goals, he was still bitter.

    He felt mad at the coach for taking him off the pitch too early. He covered his face with his shirt to hide the frown outlined on it. He didn''t even stand up and greet the rest of his teammates when they exited the field after the final whistle.

    "Hey man," Kasongo greeted him right after the match. "You yed a nice game as usual. We now have six points in the bag and are top of our group."

    Zachary uncovered his face and noticed that his friend was looming over him, smiling. He was quite happy since he had scored NF academy''s sixth goal.

    While looking at his friend, he took a moment to reflect on his emotions. He wondered why he suddenly felt angered by a simple substitution¡ªwhich was a sound tactical decision by the coach.

    [Do I still have a problem with mood swings like in my previous life?] He mused, feeling a chill run down his spine. The thought unsettled him¡ªto some extent.

    Zachary sighed, shaking his head. In his previous life, he had fought with his coaches, teammates, and opponents regrly. His bitterness over his unsecured football career had fueled his unsportsmanlike behavior. His bad-temper had contributed to his swift exit from the squad of TP Mazembe.

    In professional sports, a yer had to be in perfect control of his emotions to seed. A single moment of instability could lead his team to a loss in an important game. Zachary had watched Zinedine Zidane, the French legend, lose a World Cup final in such a manner. He was d he had noticed such a marked weakness before it could do any harm to his career. He resolved to find a way to strengthen his mental capabilities as soon as possible.

    For a moment, he let his mind focus on his happiest moments in the past few days to chase away any lingering negativity. He soaked in the memories of the moments when he dashed past yers or scored goals in the previous matches. The action was calming, and he felt his mood lighten after a few seconds.

    "Are you okay man," Kasongo inquired, waving his hand in front of Zachary''s face. "Why are you zoning out? The referee is calling for you to receive the match ball."

    "Just a moment." Zachary shed his friend a soft smile. "I''ll be there as soon as possible. And, congrattions on scoring your first goal in the tournament, by the way." He said.

 Chapter 62 - Group Results And New Skills

    "JFC Riga managed to hold the Genoa Youth team to a 1:1 draw," Paul Otterson said excitedly.

    <i>[A draw against Genoa! How did the Riga team manage that?]</i> Zachary thought, surprised. He''d watched the match between BK Frem and Genoa and concluded that the Italian team was by far the most powerful adversary in their group. He wondered how a JFC Riga¡ªa team that lost against the NF academy by four goals had managed to pull off a draw. <i>[Doesn''t that mean...]</i>

    "Do you know what this means?" Paul continued, interrupting Zachary''s train of thought. "We''ve already qualified for the quarter-finals." He banged the table excitedly, attracting a few frowns from the rest of the diners in the restaurant.

    Excited chatters rang around the table. Zachary and his teammates were seated around the long dining tables in the Monika Centrum Hotel''s restaurant, waiting¡ªas the uniformed waiters continued to bring in trays with dinner from the kitchen.

    Words could be challenging to make out in the deep buzz of the restaurant. However, Zachary could hear his teammates chattering about which team they would face in the quarter-finals.

    They were still in a cheery mood since they''d won the match against BK Frem by a six-goal margin earlier that day. The news about Genoa''s draw with JFC Riga was like icing on the cake, fanning their euphoria even further. So, they bumped fists together, hugged each other like little girls, celebrating Genoa''s draw.

    Zachary smiled softly, his mood lifting. He''d been worried about the next game. He had already prepared to y his best against Genoa¡ªto guarantee NF academy''s qualification for the quarter-finals. Yet, Genoa had gone ahead and done him a favor. He felt waves of excitement emanating from his psyche, like a new spring bud that grows into the vibrant flower so naturally, one moment at a time. He was in a state of bliss.

    "What about the group B results?" Zachary inquired, eyeing his tmate. He''d taken a nap right after lunch and then trained in the system simtor¡ªuntil dinner time. He hadn''t gotten the chance to hear any news about the other group matches in the Riga tournament.

    Zachary''s table once again descended into silence as Paul Otterson cleared his throat. "The results of Group B are more surprising," Paul intoned, smiling mysteriously. "Zenit is leading the group after winning 3:2 against Tottenham on Monday, then going on to defeat AIK Stockholm, 2:1 this afternoon."

    Paul paused as a waiter walked over, cing a tray of food before him: yummy smoked fish with rye bread, crescent-shaped Latvian pastries, and vegetables. The sight and aroma of the dish were enough to make Zachary hungrier than he already was. He wished the waiters would hurry up and bring his meal as well.

    "Tottenham also managed to win the game against Atnta today by a score of 4:2," Paul continued, picking up a knife and a fork. "Zenit is leading their group by six points, followed by Tottenham at three points. AIK and Atnta trail with one point each. Their group seems really tough." He said, cutting off a piece of his fish and cing it in his mouth. The rest of the table mates gulped since their food hadn''t arrived yet.

    "We''ll have to face one of the two teams that emerge from that group," Kasongo chipped in. "I wonder who will be first. Tottenham or Zenit?"

    "I wouldn''t worry about Tottenham," Kendrick said after sipping on his juice. "My friends, ying for AIK, have already informed me that Tottenham''s squad isn''t in the best shape. On the other hand, it would be better if-we-could avoid facing the Zenit Youth team in the quarter-finals by all means. They have a very tight defense and are really good at scoring from corners."

    "Exactly," Paul cut in after swallowing a mouthful of food. "We should try our best toe first in our group. We''ll only have a much easier time if we y against another team from that group. Zenit has managed to beat both Tottenham and AIK Stockholm so far."

    The conversation slowed down as waiters continued bringing in food. Most of the yers turned their attention to the dinner on their tes. Meals were their favorite time of the day¡ªsince they got the chance to replenish the calories burnt after using their muscles.

    "A draw against Genoa tomorrow evening will keep us at the top of our group," Zachary observed, smiling softly. One of the waiters had finally brought his dinner. It was different from Paul''s. On his tray was a Rasol¡ªa local Latvian dish made from potato sd, with severalyers of meat, hard-boiled eggs, and vegetables, all held together with mayonnaise. He''d also ordered a smoked fish and rye bread. He got right to eating and continued listening to the conversation.

    He was pleased with the organizers of the Riga Tournament, especially in the feeding department. yers had a choice to order up to four dishes, rmended by their coaches, from their hotel''s restaurant. Zachary and his teammates always ate like nouveau-rich tourists.

    "Group C is the weirdest of the groups," Kendrickmented, in between mouthfuls of food. "VfB Stuttgart beat Skonto Academy 8:1 on Monday. Today they defeated Olimpiki Tbilisi, a team from Georgia, by nine goals to two."

    "I hear that one of their yers is also like Zachary and has managed to score seven goals in two matches," Kasongo observed. He was taking small, careful bites of food.

    "Someone called Timo Werner," Paul chipped in, sighing. "He''s a very skilled forward¡ªa natural number-9 supported by several good midfielders from VfB Stuttgart''s academy."

    "I hear they''ve got another star yer¡ªJoshua Kimmich. He has got the most assists on their team," Kendrick said, leaning forward, cutting into his fried salmon. "Their team may be the strongest in the tournament."

    Kasongo smiled softly. "It''s great that they can only possibly meet us in the semis or finals," he said before seeping on his juice.

    "Have any of you got any news of results from group D?" Zachary inquired. He was almost halfway through his meal.

    "That should have been the easiest group." Paul sighed, shaking his head. "Thest time I checked, Ado Den Haag was leading with three points. I''m not aware of how they performed in the matches today."

    "We should be worrying about the game tomorrow instead," Kendrick intoned, rolling his eyes. "I don''t want to lose against Genoa."

    "Good point, Kendrick." Zachary nodded, giving his tmate a thumbs-up. "I wonder why Coach Johansen hasn''t called for the pre-match tactical meeting. It usually happens on the day before a game."

    "I think we''ll have the meeting tomorrow morning," Paul replied. "The match is scheduled for 7:00 in the evening."

    **** ****

    After dinner, Zachary and Kasongo headed back to their room. They talked a bit about the matches for a few more minutes¡ªuntil Kasongo got tired and entered his bed for the night.

    Zachary nced at his watch, noticing that it was still 8:00 PM. He''d slept for a few hours after the BK Frem match and didn''t feel drowsy yet.

    He decided to train in the system simtor for a few hours before going to bed. So, he opened the G.O.A.T Skills tab to select the skills he would practice in the simtor.

    ****

    ->G.O.A.T Skills: 5

    (i) ZINEDINE VISUAL JUJU

    (1st-level: Progress: 72.021%)

    ----

    (ii) ZACHARY-ARROW-SHOT

    (2nd-level: Progress: 1%)

    ----

    (iii) BEND-IT LIKE BECKHAM JUJU

    (1st-level: Progress: 72.43%)

    ----

    (iv) Cruyff-turn

    (Progress: 100%, Mastered.)

    ----

    (v) Ronaldinho''s stico Dribble

    (1st-level Progress: 32%)

    ----

    ----

    ->G.O.A.T Skills Simtor

    *Activate *Deactivate

    (Activation costs 2 Juju-points per hour)

    ----

    ****

    Zachary had noticed that the Cruyff-turn and the stico-dribble had been¡ªadded to his G.O.A.T skills after the match against JFC Riga. It seemed like every skill he sessfully performed on the pitch would be included in his G.O.A.T skills tab. Most likely, he had to execute the moves on the ying field first, before the system could add them to his repertoire.

    The system would then develop a specialized training program for those skills in the simtor.

    He was in a good mood since he could practice the new skills in the system simtor. For the past two nights, he''d practiced the Cruyff-turn to aplete mastery of 100%. That was why he had been able to use it efficiently in the match against BK Frem earlier that day.

    The G.O.A.T Skills Simtor was the perfect virtual reality training program. The 3D models of football stars in the simtor could easily imnt the required body motions, postures, and reflexes needed by a yer to perform a move. That was how Zachary had managed to advance his set-piece technique in a short period.

    However, he understood that fitness was the basis of his skill development. With the help of the elixirs from the system, he was able to improve his fitness quickly, enabling him to learn the skills without much effort.

    He was sure that he would have found it impossible to master the Cruyff-turn, for instance, if he didn''t have A- graded body control. He would have tumbled to the ground on every single attempt if his bnce and coordination didn''t meet the skill requirements. That would be analogous to fitting a Bugatti engine into a Toyota Corona. It wouldn''t be able to power the car to speeds beyond 300km/hr without all the specialized systems and aerodynamic shape of the original vehicle. The vehicle would ''simply'' fall apart if you pushed it too far without specialized stabilizers, braking systems, tires, shock absorbers, and other parts.

    So, Zachary had resolved to intensify his fitness training when he returned to Trondheim after the tournament. He would have to train his body in advance before he received any more skills from the system. That was the best way to prepare for theter stages of his career.

    Zachary sighed and forcefully broke himself out of his contemtion. Physical fitness training could wait. He had to focus on the match against Genoa Youth the following day at 7:00 PM.

    He activated the G.O.A.T Skills Simtor, spent two Juju-points, and started practicing the Bend-it like Beckham Juju for the next one hour. He had a feeling that the freekick technique woulde in handy soon.

 Chapter 63 - Against Genoa Youth

    Coach Johansen called for the prematch tactical meeting only two hours prior to the match against Genoa. The yers were surprised by the change in the usual scheduling of the meeting. However, they still attended withoutint. A coach was practically a monarch in a team. yers had to follow his instructions with no objections.

    They became even more surprised when the coach announced the starting line-up. Some, like Magnus and ?yvind, even went on toin openly to the coach. The meeting room was in chaos for more than half a minute as the yers murmured their discontent among their ranks.

    "Quiet," Coach Johansen bellowed, his face hardening as he red at the yers. The room once again descended into silence as the young men waited for the coach to exin himself.

    "As I already said," Coach Johansen began, "Zachary, ?rjan, and Kendrick will all start on the bench today. We need to rest some of our key yers in preparation for the quarter-final. We are here to win the tournament, not just the group stages." He said firmly.

    "But coach," Magnus intoned. "We''ll face a tougher opponent in the quarter-final if we lose this game. Would it not be better for us to win this match and improve our overall chances in the knock-out stages? For that, we need Zachary and ?rjan to score goals."

    "What gave the impression that I''m giving away this game?" The coach queried, his frown deepening. "All of you are the same age as your opponents. You''ve got to learn how to y without Zachary. He can''t continue carrying the whole team through matches. That is a very unhealthy habit for a team that is vying for the title."

    "In this game, I will require only one thing from you," Coach Johansen continued. "Do not concede any goals. You''ve got to defend like your life depends on it. All yers, except Kim, who will y striking today¡ªhave to stay behind the ball, close down opponents quickly, and leave no gaps for Genoa to exploit. If you manage to achieve that, we''ll still be at the top of the group. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach," all the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    **** ****

    The match began at exactly 7:00 PM in the Skonto Arena indoor stadium. Zachary sat on the bench, huddled together with the rest of the subs, watching Genoa outy his team. It waste in the first half, and if Zachary had to be totally honest with himself, he would admit that he was angry at his teammates since the scoreboard read NF ACADEMY 0, GENOA YOUTH 1. He couldn''t help it. They had made an amateur defensive mistake in the first few minutes, gifting a goal to Said Ahmed, Genoa''s central striker.

    As the match progressed, Zachary could see that the NF Academy yers were trying their best to defend and mark their opponents. But they were still outssed in all areas of the game. The Italian team had faster yers who worked together¡ªlike those of an experienced professional team. Their teamwork was seamless, outshining NF academy.

    The Genoa youth team used the 4-3-3 formation, with three strikers and three midfielders continuously bearing down¡ªon NF academy''s goal. They yed with a high defensive line, typically applying the offside trap, with midfielders providing support to defenders to make more passing options avable. Their style of y, characterized by short triangr movements and passing, was a feast for the eyes. They worked the ball from left to right through abination of sideways, backward, and coordinated passes, in-between the opposition''s defensive lines.

    Genoa created most of the chances depending on through balls and performing give-and-go passes, usually involving their three midfielders. They didn''t allow the NF academy yers any breathing space. They passed the ball quickly around the pitch, looking for chances to prate the box.

    However, Zachary''s teammates remained steadfast and defended against all the attacks until the middle of the second half.

    In the 75th minute, a below-par clearance gave Genoa a chance to shore up their lead. One of the strikers, ying on the nks, picked up the loose ball right outside the box. He immediately passed to Said Ahmed, the central striker. The number-9tched on to the pin-point pass within the box and unleashed a daisy-cutter shot towards the bottom right corner.

    Zachary winced despite himself as he watched the ball sh by Mathew Stevenson, NF academy''s substitute goalkeeper, into the back of the. The Genoa team was ahead by two goals in the 76th minute.

    Zachary stood up from the bench and moved closer to the coach. A small spark in his mind hinted at a necessary change in NF Academy''s midfield. He thought the coach would substitute him in after the team had conceded the second goal. Zachary straightened his posture and performed a few stretches to show the coach that he was ready for action. He was itching to go on the pitch and y the remaining minutes.

    However, Coach Johansen gave him a t stare¡ªlike he was nothing but air before going back to shouting at the yers on the pitch. His offhandedness told Zachary all he needed to know. He wouldn''t y in the game that day.

    "Tighten the defense," the coach yelled at the top of his lungs. "We can''t afford to concede any more goals. Daniel and Lars; push the defensive line forward. You can''t let them y so close to our box..."

    Zachary slumped back in his seat on the bench, wondering whether Coach Johansen had decided to give up the match from the start.

    "I told you already that he wanted to throw this game," Kendrick said from his left side. "I could already read his intentions when he left you and ?rjan out of the starting line-up." He sighed.

    "I suspected so at the beginning butter dismissed the fact," Zachary intoned, shaking his head. "I can''t believe that Coach Johansen is one to throw matches!"

    "Me, too." Kendrick smiled softly. "I understand his target is to win the cup, not the group stages. That''s what he said. But we have got a free day tomorrow since the quarter-finals begin on Saturday. We could have yed today and still gotten enough rest before the knock-outs."

    Zachary frowned. "I heard that Zenit and Tottenham, both, won theirst group games earlier today. Maybe, he wanted to face Zenit rather than Tottenham in the quarter-finals."

    "That doesn''t make sense," Kendrick mumbled, shaking his head. "From the information your agent gave us, we can tell that Zenit is by far the hardest-to-defeat foe in this tournament, with the possible exception of VfB Stuttgart. Why would Coach Johansen decide to face such a team early in the knock-out stages?"

    "Maybe, he knows something we don''t..." Zachary let his voice trail off as he focused his attention back on the pitch. The Genoa yers showed perfect teamwork, controlling the ball with seamless short passes, prating deeper into NF academy''s half. One of the midfielders received a pass and quickly slid the ball through the defense¡ªto one of the strikers on the left nk.

    The Genoa number-11 showed brilliantposure as he entered the box. Hetched on to the precise pass and produced a glorious strike that deflected off the post into the top left corner.

    3:0. Genoa had managed to score the third goal against the NF academy in the 82nd minute.

    "Shit," Zachary swore despite himself. He rested his head in his hands since he couldn''t continue watching the match.

    He knew he would feel angrier if he continued watching his team struggle against their opponents. He''d always been a sore loser, even in his previous life. He hated losing, even in small ser games held in the backyard of his former school. However, what made the loss against Genoa more frustrating was the fact that he couldn''t do anything about it. There was nothing more frustrating than watching your team lose while on the bench.

    Moreover, he was missing out on an opportunity to achieve one of the system mission milestones. Timo Werner had scored two more goals earlier that day, lifting his total tally to nine. The German striker was ahead of him by two goals as the top scorer for the tournament. Yet, he was stuck on the bench¡ªwith no opportunity to catch up. He was frustrated.

    "Tighten the defense, mark their forwards, use long balls..." Zachary heard Coach Johansen yelling again from near the touchline.

    "He seems quite serious about the game in hismentary," Kendrickmented.

    Zachary sighed audibly, forcing himself to steady his emotions. "I guess we''ll be facing Zenit in the quarter-finals," he remarked, returning his attention to the match. The Genoa yers were still attacking like there was no tomorrow. However, the NF academy yers managed to block most of their attempts towards their goal in the final minutes of y. The game ended with a score of 3:0 in favor of Genoa.

    "We should head back to the bus," Kendrick suggested, getting up from his seat. Zachary did not reply. His focus was on the Genoa yers celebrating after the final whistle. Meanwhile, his teammates trekked out of the pitch with their shoulders slouched forward, giving off a grumpy vibe.

    Zachary was worried that the loss could have affected their confidence. He sure hoped that Coach Johansen was well aware of what he''d just put them through and had a way to lift their morale quickly before the next game. Otherwise, they were in for a depressing quarter-final against Zenit.

    Zachary sighed, shaking his head. "Let''s head to the bus," he intoned, leading the way out of the stadium. There was nothing he could do for the rest of his teammates. Coach Johansen was the best person to motivate them after their loss.

 Chapter 64 - Post-Match Recovery

    Friday was a day off for Zachary and his teammates. Even the usually no-nonsense Coach Johansen had advised the yers to get some rest after ying thest group match the previous day. They could afford to take a break since their quarter-final match against Zenit was¡ªted for Sunday afternoon.

    Zachary woke upte, at 9:00 AM, cleaned up, and had his breakfast. His muscles were tense, and he still felt sullen after the loss the previous day. However, a night of ample rest had settled his mind.

    "Zachary, there you are," Magnus called, interrupting his breakfast. "We have to go to the gym with Coach Bj?rn."

    "Isn''t this our day off?"

    Magnus smiled ruefully. "Coach Bjorn says it''s a day of rest, not a day off. There''s a difference. As part of our schedule, we have to do some exercise to recover faster from fatigue."

    "At what time are we supposed to head to the gym?" Zachary inquired, in between mouthfuls of his breakfast.

    "Right now," Magnus replied, eyeing the full te of eggs, bread, and fruits before Zachary. "Most of the other yers are already waiting at the bus. I''m rounding up the ckers. You need to hurry."

    "Crap," Zachary cursed. "Why were we not informed of this yesterday?"

    Magnus spread out his hands, his shoulders rising in a casual shrug. "I heard about this gym work today as well."

    "I''ll be there within 10 minutes," Zachary said, increasing the speed at which he was gobbling down his breakfast.

    "Okay. But hurry up. Coach Bj?rn is waiting." He added before rushing out of the uncrowded restaurant.

    Zachary smiled¡ªruefully as he emptied his ss of milk. He''d just remembered that he had a date scheduled with Marta Romano. He called her to cancel and reschedule it for the afternoon as he ran to the bus.

    "Good morning, yers," Coach Bj?rn greeted them at the gym.

    "Good morning, coach," all the yers returned the greeting more or less in unison. They were seated on mats in the weights section of the People Fitness Gym.

    "I''m sorry to call you in for some training on your day off," Coach Bj?rn began. "However, you''re academy yers above all else. It''s important that I teach you how to elerate your recovery after a tough 90-minute game. I don''t want any cases of yers limping across the hotel lobby the day after a match. The end goal of the exercises we''ll be going through is to rx your tired muscles."

    He smiled at the yers, moving through their ranks. "It''s imperative to recoup your energy reserves right after every game. We often provide you with milk chocte drinks for proteins and carbohydrates in one hit during that critical time for muscles to recover energy right after games. We''ve also advised you to soak in ice baths to get rid of aches and pains in the short term during this tournament."

    He raised an eyebrow, letting his gaze roam across the yers. "How many of you have been diligently taking ice baths after every match?" He asked after a slight pause.

    Most of the yers, including Zachary, raised their hands. Zachary had been soaking in iced water for ten minutes after every match, even in his previous life. He had found the tactic useful for fast recovery from muscle fatigue after intensive exercise.

    "That''s good." Coach Bj?rn nodded in approval. He flexed his muscles, covered by only a vest, making him look like a bodybuilder rather than a ser coach. "We''ve also been advising you to eat highly nutritious food within two hours after the match to replenish depleted energy reserves. That''s why your approved dinner and lunch menus consist of dishes rich in carbohydrates and protein and plenty of green vegetables."

    Coach Bj?rn folded his arms across his chest and continued his lecture. "I''m telling you all this to give you an understanding of the sort of routine you need to get into to recover quickly from fatigue when you go pro. Being a professional involves consecutive intensive matches like you''re experiencing in this tournament."

    "However, food and rest aren''t all you need to recover quickly after an intensive game. We''re here today to help you recover even faster."

    "We''ll start by hitting the bike for 30 minutes. Let''s keep the exercise at a moderate intensity. The goal of the exercise is to have a slight warm-up. Then, we''ll stretch all our essential muscle groups for 30 seconds for each. I''ll lead the stretching routine and use foam rollers to guide your postures. After that, our massage therapists will help you rx your muscles. Any questions?"

    None of the yers raised their hands. They''d been stretching routinely at the academy. They were familiar with the routine.

    "I expect you to pay close attention to the stretching exercises. Follow my lead, and don''t deviate. For now, let''s start with the bike." He pped his hands to shoo them off.

    They spent the next two hours following Coach Bj?rn''s routine.

    He was in charge of physical fitness at the academy. Zachary did not doubt the efficacy of his muscle rxation exercises in post-match recovery. He started with cycling, then stretched using the foam roller, following the coach''s lead.

    When he was¡ªfinished, he headed to the massage room. In that room with scented candles, pervaded by rxing music, the massage soothed his body in ways nothing else could. His body responded to the ministrations of the massage therapist. Zachary didn''t know her¡ªbut his muscles and joints were in love with her hands.

    The massage stretched out his muscles, working out knots, giving his body well-earned bliss. Even though the pressure hurt at times, it left an overall sensation of wellness. When the session ended, Zachary felt as light as a feather, all burdens on his mind eliminated.

    He had been doing a lot of exercises, which took a toll on his body. He looked great but had felt like a car in need of a service. He''d just realized that professional sports massage therapy could be the service.

    He walked out of the massage room with a swagger, rivaling that of any world-famous hip-hop artist. The massage therapy had taken him briefly out of time and space, to exist without any worries. He made a mental note to add more massage sessions in future training routines.

    "That massage was heaven on earth," Kasongomented as he fell into step with him when he was moving towards the bus. "I feel like I''m ready to face Zenit right now." He smiled like a rogue and did a few basic stretches from Coach Bj?rn''s routine.

    "I wanted more time, but the masseuse refused," Paulmented, sighing from behind him.

    Kendrick, by his side, nodded. "What will you guys do with your free time? Should we go y some table tennis?" He asked, mopping a hand through his tousled brown hair.

    "Count me out," Zachary was the first to object, raising his hands in a cating gesture. The four of them had stopped just outside the gym, waiting for their teammates.

    His friends raised their eyebrows in questioning gestures.

    "You''re not hanging out with us?" Paul asked, creasing his brows. "What are you up to?"

    "Don''t ask," Zachary replied firmly. "I''ve got a few ns of my own for today." He decided not to tell them about his date with Marta Romano. He wasn''t ready to turn into the next hot gossip topic among his teammates.

    "Why the secrecy?" Kasongo chipped in, smiling sheepishly. "Did you meet a hot Latvian supermodel you don''t want us to see and report to the coach?"

    "That''s is a possibility," Kendrick chipped in, nodding his head like a hen pecking grain.

    "With the way he''s been ying, I wouldn''t be surprised," Paul added with a serious face. The three rhymed like they were from a music band.

    "Okay, guys," Zachary interrupted. "Stop with the jests. You know me. I just need some time alone to settle my mind for the Sunday quarter-final. I think a walk around the city, on my own, will do me wonders. That''s all." He lied with a straight face.

    "Hmmm!" The guys expressed their doubt, more or less in unison.

    "Let''s get into the bus," Zachary said, changing the topic. "Coach Bj?rn just came out of the gym. I''m famished and need some lunch." He added as he led the way towards the bus.

    **** ****

 Chapter 65 - A Date With Marta

    After gobbling up his lunch, Zachary walked to a park, a short distance away from the hotel¡ªand found Marta Romano waiting. Around her, wintry iceden trees swayed like graceful ballet dancers in the seasonal gusts. The Italian wore a dark brown overcoat, skin-tight jeans, and boots that shielded her from the cold weather.

    "Have you been waiting for long?" Zachary asked, feeling a bit guilty. He feared that he waste, letting her wait in the harsh weather.

    "No worries," she replied, shing him a smile. "I just got here, only a minute ago." She gave him a simple hug.

    "That''s a relief." Zachary sighed, ncing at his watch. "I didn''t expect you to arrive earlier than we agreed. Should we go now?"

    Marta shed him a smile in response.

    And off they went on a tour of the city.

    Zachary felt surprisingly warm in the sunshine and cold, despite the presence of the chilly north wind. After the rxing massage, a walk through the city seemed like the best way to end his Friday.

    "I watched your match yesterday," Marta began. "You remained on the bench the entire time." She added, inclining her head, to get a better look at his reaction. They walked on a path by a frozen river on the far side of the park.

    "The coach decided I had to rest in preparation for the quarter-final," Zachary replied, his mind drifting. He mused on what a strange day it was to take a walk around Riga.

    He watched the river on his right in passing. It appeared tranquil¡ªyet still flowed lethargically under the ice, seemingly awaiting reinvigoration by the gentle touch of a warmer sun. Though the air bore the cold and the ground waspletely frozen, the ice atop it sparkled with the gift of each nascent ray.

    It was as if the creator (if there was one) had ensured there would be hope even on the most frigid of winter days. Zachary chose not to see the ice nket but the life-filled water flowing deep underneath, ever onward to the distant ocean.

    "Are you still with me?" Zachary''s reverie was interrupted by Marta''s voice as they trekked the footpath.

    "Sorry," he said, shaking his head and focusing on the girl. "I was thinking about our loss against Genoa yesterday. It worries me." He lied. He couldn''t tell her he was admiring a frozen river, rather than giving her his undivided attention. The loss was a credible excuse to avoid an awkward situation.

    "Does it hurt when you lose a game?" She asked.

    Zachary was confused by the question. He angled his head to get a better look at her, only to find her eyes filled with pure curiosity. "Of course, it''s always painful to lose a game," he replied, deciding on humoring her. "Some yers even cry after a loss. If I ever lost a final, I would be in the same boat¡ªI think."

    They continued making small talk as they walked, leaving the path by a river and joining a wide street. In the refreshing light of daytime, the streets had the hues of an artistic dream, soft yet bold pastels.

    "Which part of Italy are you from?" Zachary inquired. He''d never really asked about her home. He wanted to keep the conversation flowing as they moved around the city, enjoying the sights and taking the asional photograph.

    "Mn," she replied, smiling.

    "The home city of AC and Inter Mn!"

    "Yes, the one, and only."

    Zachary looked at her curiously. "Are you a fan of either of those teams?"

    "When I was younger, I used to support AC Mn," Marta replied, sighing audibly.

    Zachary noted the mncholia in her tone. "You still support them. Right?" He queried.

    "Not anymore," she confirmed, shaking her head.

    "What happened?" Zachary pressed.

    "Things happened," she shook her head, closing her eyes as if remembering some unpleasant memory. She even ceased walking for a moment.

    Zachary silently waited by her side.

    "I also used to y football when I was younger," she said, inclining her head to nce Zachary''s way. "However, things happened. I lost my love for the sport and my awe for the team."

    [Which things?] Zachary could not help but wonder. However, he didn''t press the topic. He could tell it was a bitter memory that would sour the conversation.

    They continued walking silently along the pedestrianne of the street. Traffic was sprinkled upon the tarmac that day as if the roads were a yset that came with only a few cars.

    About an hourter, Zachary spent a few Latvian Lats to buy sandwiches and hot coffee before they continued their tour. They trekked on the cobblestone streets, past sociable squares with the oldest houses and churches, all tourist attractions in Riga.

    Riga was a collection of Art Nouveau architecture, easily identifiable by its curved doorways and windows, female sculptures, whimsical gargoyles, and romantic nationalist imagery. Marta marveled at the House of the ckheads when they reached the Town Hall Square in the old town of Riga. She took several pictures of the exuberantly adorned red-brown brick building with plenty of statues hanging on its front.

    Zachary was surprised at how the day passed quicker than he''d expected. Before he knew it, the evening had arrived, prompting him to head back to his hotel for dinner.

    "So, what will you do after the academy?" Marta asked as he walked her back to her hostel. The evening sun cast long shadows on the cobbled streets.

    "y professional ser, of course," Zachary replied, his tone a matter-of-factly.

    "You''ll y for Rosenborg?"

    "That''s the n, for the moment," Zachary replied, smiling softly. "But, enough about me. How is your music school? How did you go from ying ser to bing a music student? The two fields are almost unrted!"

    Marta gave him an arch look. "That is a story for another time. You''ll have to take me out another time to hear that. We''re here." She said, pointing to a hostel building ahead. "Do you want to take dinner together at a nearby fast-food restaurant?"

    "Sorry," Zachary intoned. "The coach will not be pleased if I don''t get back by six. He even takes roll calls in the evening. I can only disappoint you."

    "No worries. I already had a good time." Marta shed him a soft smile. "My sister should be waiting for me to have dinner. I''ll go meet her," she said but did not move a step into her hostel building.

    Zachary sighed inwardly. Marta had been a close friend for over a year. But he''d never thought more of her than that. However, seeing her limned in the scarce winter sun rays, the cold Baltic wind blowing the long braids of her ck hair from her face, hugging her arms against the swell of her bosom to ward off the chill, she was suddenly a young woman. He was suddenly a young man, not a reincarnated old soul.

    His pulse quickened at the way she watched him with expectation. It seemed she expected something of him. But he reined himself in and gave her a gentle hug instead. "I''ll call you," he said before walking away.

    He decided against encouraging her feelings for him. He wasn''t sure it was the right time to pursue a rtionship. His rtionships had always been marred byplications. Complications brought about instability, and instability would slow the progress of his career.

    **** ****

    After Zachary left, Marta sighed, shaking her head before walking into her building. She found her sister, Melissa, sleeping when she entered her room.

    She smiled softly on remembering her final moments with Zachary, the way he was unbnced and undecided as he watched her before the door of her building.

    She''d seen Zachary ying against BK Frem and JFC Riga, and he struck her like one of those firm men that never doubted themselves. But she''d just realized that he was a reserved person off the pitch. Marta smiled despite herself. She was in a good mood.

    However, she felt her phone vibrating in one of her pockets. Her face paled when she read the caller-ID off the screen of her smartphone. She stepped out of her room, out of earshot of her sister, to pick up the call. She then took a deep breath, calming her nerves before speaking into the phone.

    "Hello, Grant," she said, her tone formal but also polite. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?" She had lost her signature Italian ent.

    "How far with your assignment?" The voice from the other end of the phone inquired, without bothering with any greetings.

    "I''m trying," Marta intoned, attempting to keep her voice polite. "I need more time."

    "Do I need to teach you how to get close to a young boy?" Marta winced as the voice at the other end scowled. "I''m running out of time, and I need your taskpleted as soon as possible. Have you made no progress? Nothing to offer me that I can use?"

    "I need more time," Marta replied, simply.

    "I''m running out of patience," the voice intoned, taking on a harsh but quiet tone. Don''t forget who pays for your music school and living expenses. I''ll be disappointed if you fail." The person at the other end of the line hung up right after.

    Marta''s eyes moistened as memories of how she''d ended up in her present circumstances flooded her mind. But a girl had to do what she had to do to survive. She would try her best toplete Grant''s assignment.

    **** ****

 Chapter 66 - Against Zenit CÑˆÐ¾Ñ€ I

    From the technical area, Coach Johansen watched his yers take on Zenit §ã§ê§à§â in the quarter-final. The match turned out to be as tough as he''d expected.

    The Zenit yers, in their white jerseys, had the mostpact defense in the tournament. They yed in a 4-4-2 formation, with the defenders often feeding strikers aerial balls, skipping the midfield.

    Coach Johansen kept his attention on his squad, in blue jerseys. He was looking for the asional sign ofcency¡ªcharacteristic of inexperienced yers.

    A team was like a machine, with several moving parts. The yers were supposed to function as a collective whole. They had toplement the abilities of one another in the best way they can. Anyck of focus in just a couple of yers could drastically impair the team''s performance. Coach Johansen couldn''t afford to let that happen. Not in a quarter-final match where a loss would lead to elimination from the tournament.

    So, he watched the yers, like a hawk eyeing its prey.

    Zachary was in perfect shape and well-positioned¡ªas usual, often running into free space to receive passes from his teammates. Magnus was also working hard, dealing with most of the long-range balls that threatened to find their way to Zenit''s two strikers. Kendrick was even more focused, keeping a close eye on all threats to his goal.

    All-in-all, the yers were very attentive to the ball and focused on the game. They showed no signs of thecency they had manifested in the second half of the group-stage match against Riga.

    He was satisfied.

    It seemed his gamble to expose his young yers to a harsh beating against Genoa had paid off. He''d left Zachary and ?rjan on the bench for that game, to humble his team and bring them down from their high horses.

    He had noticed a malignantcency developing in the team after they''d defeated BK Frem by a score of 6:0. At that instant, he''d decided to snuff it out before it took root in his team and ended his small chance of contesting for the Riga Cup.

    The best way to teach his yers a lesson was to use their opponents against them. Although he''d winced at every goal Genoa had scored in that game, his yers had received a timely wake-up call. They were ying much better against Zenit despite theirck of experience.

    "Those aerial balls will be the death of us," Coach Bj?rn Peters, his assistant, observed from beside him. "Look how our center-backs are struggling to mark those two tall Zenit strikers. They''re under immense pressure."

    Coach Johansen nodded without taking his eyes off the pitch. Robin Jatta, one of NF academy''s center-backs, had just made a long clearance towards the centerline. Konstantin Troyanov, Zenit''s defensive midfielder, pounced on the ball and made a first-time clearance without even bothering to bring it under control. He sted it up into the air, towards the roof of the Skonto Indoor Stadium.

    Coach Johansen sighed at the spectacle. The Russian team had yed infuriatingly for the entire game, even earning a wave of boos from the fans in attendance. The Zenit yers would not allow the ball to settle down to the ground, not even for a minute. The game had turned into a disy of clearance after clearance¡ªby the defenders and midfielders from both sides.

    Aerial balls were Zenit''s only tactic.

    Even when they decided to attack, they still relied heavily on long-range aerial bombardment. Zenit employed the tactic, repeatedly sending long¡ªsearching passes forward to opportunistic strikers. They seemed to be waiting for a lucky break, a bounce or knock-down, close to the goal.

    Such passes had extinguished the beautiful and intricate passing y style¡ªand the coordinated counter-attacks that had be characteristic of the matches in the Riga Cup. The fans booed the Zenit yers for every long clearance they made.

    However, the Zenit yers didn''t seem to care one bit. They continued to use their long-ball strategy, keeping the NF academy attackers quiet. The game remained at a deadlock, with only five minutes of y left in the first half.

    Coach Johansen was worried about how the game was progressing. If his yers remained unable to let the ball settle down and y with grounded passes, they would most likely lose against Zenit.

    "Zachary," he yelled to his captain¡ªwho had moved closer to the technical area to defend against a throw-in. "Move back a bit¡ªinto the defensive midfield. y parallel to Magnus so that you can create a ''two-man'' defensive midfield. When you win the ball, try to keep it on the ground for as long as possible."

    Coach Johansen rxed once he saw Zachary giving him a thumbs-up to indicate he''d received the message. There would be a gap left in the attacking midfield, but he was sure Zachary could do something to hamper Zenit''s long-ball strategy. He was the most likely yer to achieve the feat on the entire team.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    Coach Johansen stopped his musings when the referee blew the whistle for Zenit''s corner-kick.

    "Zenit is winning a lot of corner kicks," hemented as he watched Zenit''s right-winger heading towards the corner g.

    Coach Bj?rn sighed. "They are very good at corner-kicks. That''s how they managed to overwhelm tough teams like Tottenham in their group. They usually first frustrate the team with long balls and finish them off with corners when they get the chance."

    Coach Johansen nodded in agreement. He''d already read the reports on Zenit''s tactical strategies. "Yes, they''re good," he said. "But we''re lucky to have Zachary. He has been dealing with the majority of the corner-balls. I guess I owe our clean sheet to him, so far."

    As if to prove his point, the Zenit winger raised one of his hands and whipped a teasing corner ball into the NF Academy''s box. Zachary read the ball well. He out-jumped one of Zenit''s forwards and headed the ball out of the box¡ªto safety.

    "His game vision is astounding," Coach Bj?rnmented after the NF Academy yers had averted the threat. "It''s like he can predict the trajectory of the ball even before it''s kicked."

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the halftime whistle when the score was still 0:0. Coach Johansen followed the yers into the dressing room and gave them a small motivational pep-talk. He didn''t change his tactics.

    However, he advised his yers to try their best to stay focused for the remainder of the game. He instructed them on how they could disrupt Zenit''s long-ball strategy¡ªby using short, grounded passes or counter-attacks. He gave specific instructions to Zachary as they walked back to the pitch.

    "We only have to score a single goal, and we''ll have all the advantage," he said to Zachary. "If we score, they''ll be forced to abandon the long-ball strategy to put pressure on us. As soon as that happens, they''ll y right into our hands. So, try your best to get a goal in."

    Zachary nodded¡ªwithout replying verbally before running onto the pitch. Coach Johansen returned to the bench to watch the second half. He felt a bit nervous as he watched his yers take up their positions. He couldn''t afford to lose. Not at the quarter-finals.

    **** ****

 Chapter 67 - Against Zenit CÑˆÐ¾Ñ€ II

    The referee blew the whistle and the second half started with Zenit''s kick-off.

    Zachary moved back into the defensive midfield to intercept long aerial balls from Zenit. He was itching to score. However, he had to win the ball first.

    Zenit was still using their 4-4-2 formation with their two strikers leading the attack. Zachary noticed that they had promptly positioned themselves among the NF Academy center-backs when the game restarted.

    A long pass from the wing came whooshing in towards the box soon after. Robin Jatta, NF academy''s center back, jumped high and headed the ball back into the midfield. Zachary chased after it, struggling to get there first before Artem Simonyan, Zenit''s attacking midfielder.

    However, Artem was closer to the ball. He got there faster and sted it back towards NF Academy''s goal.

    Lars Togstad, NF Academy''s other central-defender, replied in kind, making a first-time clearance to send the ball back whence it came. For the next twenty minutes, the game was a spectacle of long balls¡ªjust like in the first half. The score remained locked at 0:0 as the clock hit the 70th minute.

    The Zenit yers had managed to iste Zachary by ''simply'' choosing to pass the ball above the midfield. They hardly yed any short or grounded passes. Zachary was at a loss at how to get the ball onto the ground in midfield.

    The opponents also defended well as a team. Markov and Sheydaev, their two strikers, did all the attacking¡ªwhile the midfielders and defenders stayed back to thwart any attempts on their goal. They double-teamed or tackled NF academy yers who were lucky enough to pick up a stray ball. More often than not, they won back possession instantly and sent forth long-balls to their strikers, without moving from their positions.

    Zachary sighed at the genius and stupidity of the tactic. Since Zenit couldn''tmit more yers forward, they were not able to score. They left no exploitable gaps in their defense but also condemned themselves to remain goalless. That was unless they could manage to take advantage of a set-piece or exploit a mistake by the NF Academy defenders.

    However, the NF Academy defenders were focused and in their best shape since the beginning of the tournament. Coach Johansen hadmitted four defenders to keep an eye on Zenit''s two strikers. Zachary was sure they wouldn''t make any mistake that could lead to conceding a goal.

    The second half was a monotonous game of long passes that annoyed most of the fans.

    The match remained 0:0 as the digital clock on the big screen slowly approached the 90th minute.

    Everyone in the stadium, including the yers, slowly started to believe the match would extend into extra time¡ªor even to penalties.

    However, Zachary never gave up his belief that he could still win the game. He believed there was still a chance to bag it before the final whistle.

    The goddess of luck seemed to favor his patience and rewarded him with an opportunity in the 88th minute. The Zenit yers had be a little bitx after a long period of concentration and running. They started making a few mistakes.

    One of Zenit''s central midfielders miskicked a ball when Zachary was close enough to pounce on it. The other Zenit yers hadn''t anticipated their teammate losing the ball at that moment. Before they could react, Zachary was already running through them, spearing deeper into their half.

    Kasongo, Paul, and ?rjan joined the lightning-swift attack, running on his left and right. They drew away some opponents from his path. He quickly advanced towards Zenit''s goal, zig-zagging around the Zenit defenders.

    Zachary seemed well on his way to scoring another goal with one of his signature runs.

    However, Zenit was an experienced youth team. Two center-backs quickly closed him down as he bolted on the green, trying to find a way into the box. They shielded his potential paths to force him towards the sidelines.

    Zachary slowed his pace slightly as the defenders approached. But when they rxed their stances, probably thinking they had him, he elerated instantly to circumvent them. He dashed past the two defenders on his way towards goal, his motions seamless.

    However, he suddenly felt a strong tug on his shirt before he could rejoice. He tried to flick the ball to ?rjan, who had just gotten ahead of him, but the defender behind wrestled him to the ground before he could raise his foot. The tall center-back wasn''t even putting any effort into disguising his foul.

    In the heat of the moment, Zachary was pissed off and turned to have a face-off with him.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew his whistle and came to separate them.

    "Cool down, cool down," the referee said to both of them, raising his hands in a cating manner. He showed a yellow card to the Zenit center-back and offered a freekick to NF Academy.

    He let Zachary go with a warning.

    Zachary was not satisfied by the punishment of the other yer. But he held his tongue and concentrated on the freekick instead. There was no point risking a red card when there was the possibility of extra time.

    The foul had urred about forty-five yards from the Zenit goal. Zachary couldn''t hit the target with a powerful shot from that distance. So, he called on the rest of his teammates to advance towards Zenit''s box.

    "All of you go forward and attack, except Kasongo," he yelled at his teammates. "This is ourst chance."

    Zachary decided to leave Kasongo back to guard against a likely Zenit counterattack. Kasongo was the only person on the team who could match his pace to some extent. Moreover, he was a short fellow and would be of little use against an aerial ball.

    "Stay in the center circle," Zachary informed Kasongo as he positioned the ball on the artificial grass. "Be prepared to react to a Zenit''s counterattack in case we fail to score. You can foul if you have to."

    "Okay," Kasongo replied with a smile. "Good luck." He patted his back before running to the center circle.

    The referee blew the whistle, signaling for Zachary to take the freekick. He''d finished organizing the wall of two yers, a few meters from the ball.

    Zachary raised his arm to signal his teammates to get ready. He took a deep breath to steady himself and observed the entire field of y before him. He took a few steps back and judged the distance to goal once again, deducing what sort of ball he could use against the keeper.

    Neen yers stood between him and the goalposts. Every single yer on the pitch, except Kasongo and Kendrick, was ready to either attack or defend-against the freekick. Zachary''s ser brain assessed the risks and deduced the best path for the ball.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle once again, prompting Zachary to take the freekick.

    Zachary decided to go with his gut. He sted the ball with the inside of his boot, sending it on a curved path. It shed past the two men forming the wall¡ªtowards Magnus, the tallest yer on the field. The long-range curving pass was pin-point urate, homing on to the number six among the ocean of yers.

    Magnus out-jumped everyone in his vicinity and brushed the ball with the top of his head. He guided it towards the top right corner, past Zenit''s goalkeeper.

    The stadium held its breath¡ªwatching, wondering whether the ball would find the back of the.

    Zachary started running towards Zenit''s box while the rest of the yers watched the ball that could end up deciding who would advance to the semifinal. He''d seen a shadow of the ball bounce of the top post using his Zinedine-Visual-Juju.

    "BANG"

    As he expected, the ball smashed off the top right corner of the goalposts. The sound of the impact was quite pronounced in the dead silent stadium.

    The fans let loose a sigh, more or less in unison.

    The NF Academy yers struggled to chase down the ball for the rebound. However, the tall center-back, who had tackled Zachary, got there first. He cleared the ball out of the box with a well-timed back-volley.

    The ball moved through midair, out of the box, with both Zenit and NF Academy yers chasing after it. Kasongo, positioned in the center circle, got ready to deal with a highly possible Zenit counterattack.

    However, they all paused their actions as Zachary met the ball about thirty-five yards from Zenit''s goal. He worked by instinct to gauge its direction and speed before it could bounce. He caught it first-time on the volley with the top of his left boot, sting it back from whence it hade.

    The ball followed a seemingly impossible curving trajectory, first traveling to the right¡ªthen suddenly, veering left at an incredible speed, spinning back towards goal. It homed into the back of the like a ballistic missile, unstoppable.

    Zenit''s goalkeeper could only look on in disbelief. Zachary had scored a screamer from thirty-five yards away using his arrow-shot.

    1:0.

    The cheers exploded suddenly within the stadium as fans marveled at the spectacr disy. In the 90th minute, Zachary had had thestugh, carrying his team into the semifinal.

 Chapter 68 - Quarter-Final Results

    "Are you guys going to watch the match between Stuttgart and Sturm Graz?" Paul Otterson asked, looking curiously at his tmates.

    "Of course," Zachary, Kendrick, and Kasongo replied more or less in unison. They were in the dressing room changing out of their match attire into dark blue tracksuits, having justpleted their quarter-final face-off against Zenit.

    "Then we''d better hurry," Paul said as he slipped his feet out of his boots. "The match will start at exactly 5:00 PM."

    Kendrick sighed audibly. "I would have liked to head back to the hotel first and clean up."

    "That''s a bad idea," Kasongo chipped in. "There won''t be any bus returning to the hotel any time soon. The coaches will also stay to watch the match. I''m sure they are expecting us to do the same and dy our return to the hotel. That''s why they got us snacks right after the match." He said, pointing to the covered silver tes ced on a table in the dressing room.

    Paul smiled, changing the topic of conversation. "We''ll be facing one of the teams from the morning quarter-final matches. Have any of you seen their results?"

    "Not yet," Zachary replied while unfastening theces of his boots. "Coach Johansen prohibited us from looking at the other team''s results before ying our match. But, I intend to go to the noticeboard and check them out before watching the Stuttgart match." He packed his jersey and walked out of the dressing room, followed by his friends.

    They trudged along, carrying tefuls of snacks through the brightly lit corridors, all the way to the noticeboard area, close to the gate of the stadium.

    When they arrived, Zachary started going through the freshly pinned posters on therge noticeboard. On the board''s top right corner, he found the group results of the tournament.

    ****

    Group A

    (1) Genoa FC Youth (Italy) 7 Pts

    (2) NF International (Norway) 6 Pts

    (3) JFC Riga (Latvia) 4 Pts

    (4) BK Frem (Denmark) 0 Pts

    ----

    Group B

    (1) Zenit §ã§ê§à§â (Russia) 9 Pts

    (2)Tottenham (Ennd) 6 Pts

    (3) Atnta (Italy) 1 Pts

    (4) AIK Stockholm (Sweden) 1 Pts

    ----

    Group C

    (1) VfB Stuttgart (Germany) 9 Pts

    (2) Skonto Academy (Latvia) 4 Pts

    (3) Viimsi MRJK (Estonia) 4 Pts

    (4) FC Olimpiki Tbilisi (Georgia) 0 Pts

    ----

    Group D

    (1) ADO Den Haag (Nethends) 7 Pts

    (2) SK Sturm Graz (Austria) 6 Pts

    (3) HJK Helsinki (Find) 4 Pts

    (4) Jagiellonia (Pnd) 0 Pts

    ****

    Zachary let his gaze roam to the sheet pinned right below the results of the group stages. The tournament''s organizers had already updated it with quarter-final results of that day.

    ****

    ----

    Tournament Schedule and Results

    ----

    Sunday, February 19, 2012

    Skonto Hall

    #Quarter-final 1 - 8:00 AM

    ->ADO Den Haag 3:2 Skonto Academy

    #Quarter-final 2 - 11:00 AM

    ->Genoa FC Youth 3:3 Tottenham

    (Tottenham win on Penalties 4:2)

    ----

    Sunday, February 19, 2012

    Skonto Hall

    #Quarter-final 3 - 2:00 PM

    ->Zenit §ã§ê§à§â 0:1 NF International

    #Quarter-final 4 - 5:00 PM

    ->VfB Stuttgart -:- SK Sturm Graz

    ----

    Tuesday, February 21, 2012

    Skonto Hall

    #Semi-final 1 - 11:00 AM

    ->ADO Den Haag vs. NF International

    #Semi-final 2 - 2:00 PM

    ->Tottenham vs. Winner QF4

    ----

    Thursday, February 23, 2012

    Skonto Hall

    #3rd ce y-Off - 3:00 PM

    ->Loser SF1 vs. Loser SF2

    ----

    Friday, February 24, 2012

    Skonto Hall

    #Finals - 3:00 PM

    -> Winner SF1 vs. Winner SF2

    ----

    "So, we''ll be facing ADO Den Haag in the semi-final then," Paul observed from his right side. "I can''t believe they managed toe this far in thepetition."

    "No one believed that our team would be in the semi-finals either," Kendrick chipped in, smiling. "I guess this will be a fight between underdogs."

    "I wish you wouldn''t call ADO Den Haag an underdog," Kasongo replied, taking his gaze away from the noticeboard. "The Dutch academies have always been among the best in the world. I wouldn''t be surprised if some yers from ADO Den Haag ended up in top teams as star yers."

    "I seriously doubt that," Paul shook his head. "If they possessed such talent, we would have heard about them already. Look at Zachary, Werner, and the other Stuttgart yers, for example. We''ve heard a lot about their achievements even at this stage of the tournament."

    "You do have a point." Kasongo nodded. "I see here that Werner is ahead of Zachary by a goal on the top scorer''s list," he said, pointing to a poster on the top left corner of the noticeboard.

    "He''s already reached nine goals," Kendrick chipped in, sighing. "If he manages to score in today''s game, he will be the undisputed favorite to take the golden boot at the end of the tournament." He added, stealing a nce at Zachary.

    Zachary didn''t bother toment. He had decided not to focus on individual des, such as the golden boot, for the meantime. He could still earn a considerable amount of Juju-points from winning the tournament, even without scoring more goals in the remaining matches.

    "I''m surprised that Tottenham managed to defeat Genoa," Paulmented. "I thought they would win for sure against the seemingly weaker Tottenham squad."

    "Either way, they won on penalties," Kendrick noted, ncing back at the noticeboard. "I really would have liked to watch that match."

    "We should go watch the Stuttgart match," Zachary intoned, taking his gaze off the results. "It''s almost five," he added, leading the way to the stands.

    Zachary and his friends made it to the stands¡ªjust before the referee blew the whistle indicating the start of y. The other NF Academy yers were already in their seats since they hadn''t bothered to check out the noticeboard. They feasted on snacks as they watched the yers on the pitch taking their positions.

    Zachary exchanged a few words with them before sinking in a seat next to Magnus. The tall defensive midfielder nodded at Zachary with a smile before returning his attention to the field.

    The match turned out to be a highly intensive one. Both VfB Stuttgart and SK Sturm Graz utilized the 4-3-3 formation, mounting attack after attack, on their opponents. They both used grounded passes and counter-attacks, making the match quite the spectacle. The fans cheered at the top of their voices from the stands as the two teams took turns attacking each other.

    Zachary was surprised by the performance of SK Sturm Graz in the early stages of the match. Despite being outyed in the opening minutes, the Austrian team took the lead through one of their strikers. He powered a shot past the Stuttgart goalkeeper in the 16th minute after the defenders failed to clear away a dangerous cross into the box.

    But, the goal looked like it had poked a ho''s nest. The Stuttgart yers yed with more vigor, continuing to mount more pressure on Sturm Graz''s defense. Shortly before the end of the first half, the referee awarded them a penalty after one of the Sturm Graz defenders handled the ball within the box.

    Timo Werner, VfB Stuttgart''s number-9, stepped up to score the penalty and level matters at half time.

    In the second half, VfB Stuttgart started right where they had stopped. Six minutes after the break, Joshua Kimmich bagged another goal, giving them a 2:1 lead.

    VfB Stuttgart''s midfielders were on fire, ying Tiki-Taka style ser. Not long after, they set up Timo Werner to score the third goal in the 60th minute.

    Sturm Graz''s disappointing evening ended with an own goal in the final minutes. They went on to lose to the German team four goals to one. Timo Werner had managed to bag two more goals, bringing his total tally to eleven. He was a step closer to sealing his position as the top scorer of the tournament.

    "We''ll need to impair the mobility of their midfield to win against them," Magnusmented from beside him right after the final whistle. "Thebination of Philipp F?rster, Timo Werner, and Joshua Kimmich makes for the strongest attacking midfield in the tournament."

    "That''s true," Zachary replied, nodding. "Their teamwork is as good as that of a professional team. They are the strongest team on paper and main contenders for the trophy."

    "The bright side is; they put little focus on their defense," Zachary continued. "If we manage to score early enough, we might be able to surprise them and possibly clinch a victory."

    "Hahaha," Magnusughed, turning to look at Zachary. "You do realize we''re discussing a team we could only possibly meet in the finals. We should focus solely on the semi-finals for the moment."

    "We''ll be facing ADO Den Haag, a Dutch team on Tuesday," Zachary said, shaking his head. "I have a feeling we''ll win that match. VfB Stuttgart, on the other hand, will be our main obstacle. So, we need to start thinking about how to beat them."

    "You''re that confident?" Magnus inquired, raising an eyebrow.

    "I can''t be a hundred percent certain about the results," Zachary replied. "But, I have to be an optimist. I''m thinking like a yer on a team making a serious attempt at winning the trophy. I can already see myself ying in the final, even before the semis have begun."

 Chapter 69 - Preparations For The Semifinal

    It was Monday morning, the day before NF Academy''s semifinal match with ADO Den Haag.

    Zachary and his teammates woke up and had breakfast early before heading to the gym for post-match recovery exercises and massage. The academy management had fully covered the fees for their gym activities during their stay in Riga. They could enjoy the facilities of the Riga People''s Fitness Gym on the days following their matches. Zachary was satisfied with the arrangement.

    The squad spent an hour at the gym going through Coach Bj?rn''s post-match recovery routine. Zachary diligently stretched using foam rollers¡ª a routine that involved rolling different parts of his body slowly over a tube. Coach Bj?rn had said foam rolling helped reduce post-match-rted soreness and muscle pain, shortening recovery time considerably.

    Zachary and his teammates left the gym an hourter, feeling more rxed after the massage session. They headed back to the hotel in a bus, chattering about their quarter-final match against Zenit. Even after an entire night, their euphoria hadn''t faded. Most of them couldn''t believe they''d qualified for the semis.

    Thirty minutester, they arrived at one of the conference halls in their hotel for Coach Johansen''s tactical briefing. He had called the meeting to discuss strategies for the semifinal game against ADO Den Haag.

    On entering the conference hall, Zachary immediately noticed arge LCD screen ced atop a table in front of the room. It appeared that, unlike in previous meetings, Coach Johansen would use video analysis to expound on tactics he intended to employ in the semifinals.

    "Good morning to you all," Coach Johansen intoned in a booming voice after the squad finished taking up their seats.

    "Good morning, coach," the yers replied in a chorus.

    Coach Johansen half-smiled. "I''m quite happy that we''ve made it all the way to the semifinals," he said. He was seated on the edge of a table in front of the room. "However, our work is still cut out for us. We still need to win both the semis and finals before bing the champions." He paused, letting his gaze settle momentarily on each yer in turn.

    "Are we together?" He asked.

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied in chorus.

    "That''s good." Coach Johansen nodded. "Winning in football is not just about tactics. It''s not just about a game n¡ªlike the one we''ll be discussing in a few minutes. What matters most is your state of mind. The focus and concentration you put in a particr game will have a marked impact on your performance."

    "If our intention is winning the next two games and bing champions, we''ve got to have the proper mindset," he continued, beginning to walk around the yers'' seats. "We have to stay focused for the entirety of these games."

    "Remember, the ability to focus makes or breaks our chances of sess in matches. Scientists have shown that an individual''s ability to establish mental focus is one of the most important predictors of future sess in life. It''s the same in sports."

    "The ability to focus in sports is perhaps one of the most significant drivers of sess, along with hard work and talent." He paused and walked back to the front of the room before continuing.

    "Mental focus can make the difference between being mediocre and being extraordinary. It helps you avoid the little mistakes that lead to losses in our matches. It helps us win matches. It''s as simple as that. Are we together?"

    Zachary nodded along with the rest of his teammates. His mind soaked into Coach Johansen''s message. He could rte to the point about the importance of mindset and concentration in sports.

    yers could only achieve true greatness when they fully-focused their attention on what they were doing at the moment. If they allowed distractions to interrupt their training or matches, their performance would suffer a great deal from it.

    On the other hand, if yers focused intensively on the work at hand, they would unlock their full potential, whether in training or matches. ying with one hundred percent concentration in tournaments would significantly increase their chances of winning. Just like sun rays igniting paper when focused by a lens, the yer''s impact on a game would improve dramatically¡ªif they maintained a high level of concentration.

    "Maintaining focus is everything in sports," Coach Johansen continued, lowering his voice slightly. "In matches, we need to stay organized in attacks and defense, for every single minute of gamey. We can take risks, but we still need organization behind the ball. All this requires a high level of concentration among you¡ªthe yers. If you lose focus for a single minute during the game, you''ll make mistakes and present our opponents with chances¡ªas you did in the match against Riga."

    "I will keep on reiterating this," Coach Johansen continued, raising a fist to emphasize his point. "For the match tomorrow, you have to y as a team, and more importantly, defend as a team. You need to stay focused and y each minute as if your life depends on it. When you lose possession and are defending, make sure to mark open spaces and opponents. When you''re on the attack, make runs and ready yourselves to receive passes from teammates. y as a cohesive unit to overpower our opponents."

    He paused, turning towards Coach Bj?rn. "Could you help us turn on the machines?" He asked his assistant, his voice taking on a polite tone.

    Coach Bj?rn nodded before busying himself with the connections and cing a disc in the DVD yer.

    "Coach Bj?rn has been scouting the matches of our opponents," Coach Johansen continued. "I want us to start our tactical session by watching the highlights of the match between ADO Den Haag and Skonto academy." He smiled softly, turning to check whether his assistant had finished setting up the presentation.

    Coach Bj?rn quickly finished connecting the banana pins, and the screen came alive with a match recording ying on it.

    Zachary blinked as his eyes adjusted to the screen''s lighting. ADO Den Haag, in their green and yellow striped jerseys, faced-off against Skonto Academy.

    Zachary fixed his attention on the screen as one of ADO Den Haag''s midfielders made a swift switch from midfield to the wings¡ª using a teasing through-pass. A wingertched on to the pass and yed a one-two with a wing-back, prating the Skonto Academy''s half. The defenders looked helpless against them. The sweeping attack ended with a cross to an ADO Den Haag striker inside the box. The number-9 nted a header past the goalkeeper¡ªinto the back of the.

    Coach Bj?rn forwarded the video to another highlight of the game. A wing-back made a solo run close to the touchline, swiftly entering Skonto Academy''s half. He dashed past the yers so fast that they had no chance to react. He finally unleashed a spectacr cross into the box, finding the central striker once again. The ADO Den Haag number-9 pulled the trigger and scored, sending the ball to the inside of the right post.

    Zachary continued watching¡ªattentively as ADO Den Haag scored the third goal using simr tactics. He realized that the wing y of his next opponents was remarkable. Their wingers and wing-backs worked together, running with the ball to deliver crosses to the strikers.

    "So, what do you think?" Coach Johansen asked after the video had finished ying.

    Paul Otterson raised his arm.

    "Yes." Coach Johansen pointed at him.

    Paul smiled softly. "Most of their attacks areing in from the wings," he said. "If we want to win against them in the semis, we need to seal that avenue."

    "Correct," Coach Johansen said, nodding. "We have to make sure that those wings be totally useless when we face them. We have to deal with the crosses from their wings decisively. That''s the only way to win against ADO Den Haag." He added in an emphatic tone.

    "ADO Den Haag has some good wingers who provide crosses and clinical finishers who convert them into goals," Coach Johansen continued. "That''s how they''ve managed to reach this stage of the tournament. We need to keep our risk minimal."

    "We can only aplish that by maintaining a high level of concentration against them tomorrow."

    "I''ve made some changes in our formation to handle ADO Den Haag''s style better," Coach Johansen intoned, moving towards the whiteboard by the screen. "We''ll y with a 5-3-1-1 formation tomorrow."

    "As usual, we''ll y with our two wing-backs forming a defensive line along with our three center-backs." He paused to draw the formation on the board. "Our defense will remain the same as before with three center-backs: Robin, Lars, and Daniel. However, we''ll use a defensive style of y based on tightly marking the opposing wingers. ?yvind and Martin, our wing-backs, will be responsible for stopping ADO Den Haag''s wing attacks before they do any harm in our half."

    Coach Johansen paused, turning back from the board, to look at the yers before continuing. "Kasongo and Paul; you''re our wingers, but you''ll y as midfielders together with Magnus during the match. You''ll also have to assist the wing-backs in case there are any wingers they can''t deal with." He turned back to the board and drew the new positions.

    "Zachary," the coach said, fixing his gaze upon him. "For this match, I want you to y behind ?rjan as both a half-striker and a half-midfielder."

    Zachary nodded silently, waiting for the coach to continue.

    "While reviewing our match against Zenit, I noticed that their long-ball strategy could serve us better with you on the team. You have good ball handling and control, and you''re quick on your feet. You''ll be responsible for collecting the long balls and holding on to them long enough to create time for your teammates to shape up."

    "I also expect you and ?rjan to keep the ADO Den Haag defenders on tenterhooks as the rest focus mostly on defense. The ADO Den Haag coaches will be wary of your runs and won''t daremit too many yers forward. That''s how we keep ADO Den Haag at bay." He said as he finished drawing the starting line-up on the board.

    "Any questions?"

    None of the yers raised their hands.

    "Okay," Coach Johansen intoned. "Make sure you rest and eat well today. You''ll not perform at your best if you''re fatigued. Let''s have a good game tomorrow." He spoke in a conclusive tone.

 Chapter 70 - Battle Of The Underdogs I

    "Remember what we discussed yesterday," Coach Johansen said to the yers in the dressing room. "Remember all your training. Remember all the hard work you''ve put into this over the past year." He lowered his voice slightly. Nheless, his words still carried to every corner of the room.

    "It is the time to go forth and reap the rewards of all your efforts. It all depends on how you handle yourselves over the next 90 minutes. Remember, if you stay focused for every single moment of the game, we''ll surely emerge as victors."

    Coach Johansen spent a few minutes reminding the yers of the game n they''d discussed the previous day. He reminded them about the individual roles they would take on in the match before sending them off to the game.

    Zachary and his teammates stepped onto the field, filled with eagerness to perform. They wished to overwhelm ADO Den Haagpletely. Coach Johansen''s pre-game pep talk had further inmed their yearning to win the game and qualify for the finals.

    If they could advance past the semis and win the finals, it would prove to be a rare feat amongst Norwegian academies. Winning a tournament meant fame, cash prizes, and increased chances of being picked up by professional teams from all over Europe.

    Zachary, too, felt eager to perform. He finished the coin toss with the referee and ADO Den Haag''s captain quickly and ran back to his half as fast as possible.

    Meanwhile, the fans cheered on, drowning the stadium in thunderous apuse. Thementators made some light jokes about the match that was about to begin. It felt like a festival in the Skonto Indoor Stadium, rather than a ser match.

    Zachary decided to call for an on-pitch team huddle before the start of the game. Although he didn''t relish the act of bossing around his teammates, he felt he had to remind them about the coach''s instructions before such an important game. Surprisingly, the squad seemed happy when he called them for the team huddle.

    "Guys," he began as soon as they formed a circle on their side of the pitch. "The coach has already said everything that needs saying about the game n and tactics. I only want to emphasize one thing. We''ve got to focus on the little things, the details that make a difference in such apetitive game. Those are the details we have to get right, the ones that we have to aplish to perfection."

    "We''ve got to carry out the roles assigned to us by the coach to the best of our ability," he added, raising his voice slightly to achieve the best effect on his teammates. "Whether defending or attacking, it''s all the same. We''ve got to stay focused until the final whistle is blown. Everyone has to do their part." He eyed the rest of his teammates in the huddle.

    "For Kendrick to do his part in the goal, Robin needs to do his part in the defense. And it''s the same for every position on the field. We all depend on one another. Right?" He paused, looking at the rest.

    He continued after seeing they were attentive. "Everyone has to y their part to perfection so that the next person can do theirs. That''s how we''ll y as a team in this game. Otherwise, we''ll crumble and lose the game, even if only a single yer rxes for a single minute."

    Zachary looked around and noticed that his teammates were listening raptly. They hang on to his words like they were golden or some precious elixir they''d been hunting for all their days. Some of them nodded with their eyes closed while others looked at him eagerly, waiting for him to conclude the team talk.

    Zachary''s tone of speech turned conclusive. "So, right now, let''s get out there and y like our lives and careers depend on it. Let''s stay true to who we are. Together, united as one on the pitch." He pped his hands for emphasis. The rest of the yers joined in chanting NF Academy''s name in deep grating voices that were hard on the ears.

    "Should we pray or something?" Kasongo asked as they were about to break up the team huddle.

    "We should," Kendrick and Magnus replied, more or less in unison.

    "Then, you should lead the prayer since you suggested it," Zachary intoned, pointing at Kasongo.

    "Why me?" Kasongo jumped away from the huddle like he''d been stung by a wasp after Zachary singled him out.

    The rest of the yersughed at his reaction.

    Kasongo raised his arms in a cating gesture. "I was only suggesting a strategy to help us seal our win. They say; praying increases a team''s chances of winning. Something like that. We don''t have to go through with the prayer if no one wants to lead it."

    Kendrick ended up leading the short prayer before the yers returned to their positions for the kick-off.

    Zachary moved close to the center circle since he was to y as a half-striker, just behind ?rjan, NF Academy''s center-forward. He started observing his teammates in dark blue jerseys. They were jogging and jumping around their positions while waiting for the referee to blow his whistle. It seemed like the team huddle coupled with Coach Johansen''s pep talks had had an effect on their mood. Their bodynguage said it all. They acted like elite professionals and approached the game with the right attitude for winning. The team''s morale was at a much higher level and nothing like at the beginning of most of the previous matches.

    Zachary stole an asional nce at the referee, standing near the center circle. He noticed that he was still signaling his linesmen to take their positions, in-between nces at his watch.

    He then turned his attention to the ADO Den Haag yers in their green and yellow striped jerseys. They, too, seemed eager to start the semifinal. He''d done some research on their squad. He instantly recognized Catalin Tira, ADO Den Haag''s center-forward, who''d already scored four times in the tournament. He was standing close to the ball, ready to kick-off the game. He also recognized Ibrahim Fofane and Tyronne Ebuehi, the two yers who''d caused Skonto Academy several problems on the right-wing.

    Zachary sighed and turned his attention back to the referee. He hoped Kasongo and ?yvind would be able to mark the wing-duo. Otherwise, their crosses would do a great deal of harm to NF Academy.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew his whistle. The semifinal between NF Academy and ADO Den Haag in the Skonto Arena started at exactly 11:00 on a cold Tuesday morning.

    **** ****

    "Zachary finally remembered to call a team huddle before a game," Coach Johansenmented, half-smiling, his eyes never leaving the pitch. "He''s finally starting to act like a captain."

    "He''s also pointing out mistakes to his teammates," Coach Bj?rn Peters observed. "That''s an improvement in his leadership skills. I guess he wants to win the match more than anybody on this team."

    Coach Johansen didn''t reply right away. All his attention was on the game. He was trying to gauge whether his yers were carrying out their assigned roles in the match. He was pleased with what he observed.

    His yers kicked-off the first half energetically¡ªclosing the ADO Den Haag yers down whenever they lost possession. They then followed his game n to the letter, deciding to sit back and wither ADO Den Haag''s attacks. They yed in a 5-3-1-1 formation and only hit back through counterattacks and long balls to Zachary and ?rjan.

    He had aimed at defending with eight men behind the ball when he''d designed the game strategy. He''d wanted to seal off all the Dutch team''s avenues of attacks¡ªespecially the wings. His five defenders were supposed to work with the three midfielders to close down any ADO Den Haag attackers quickly whenever they approached NF Academy''s box.

    ?yvind and Martin, the wing-backs, yed well in the first fifteen minutes. They marked ADO Den Haag''s wingers tightly, and on many asions, blocked crosses towards the box. Thanks to their efforts, the Dutch team didn''t manage any attempts at goal during the first few minutes.

    Coach Johansen was satisfied with their performance.

    "What a clean tackle," Coach Bj?rn eximed from beside him. ?yvind, the right wing-back, had just made a clean sweeping tackle, winning the ball from Calvin Valise¡ªADO Den Haag''s left-winger. The right-back then sprinted with the ball and tried to weave past opponents close to the touchline.

    Coach Johansen was sure that he would lose the ball if he continued his run since Robin van der Meer, ADO Den Haag''s left-back, was already closing down on him.

    "Use long balls to Zachary," Coach Johansen hollered at ?yvind. "Be fast," he bellowed when he saw the right-back still taking his time on the ball.

    ?yvind followed his instructions immediately. From right next to the touchline, deep in NF Academy''s half, he raised his right foot and whipped a long ball towards the center circle where Zachary was waiting.

    Coach Johansen rxed when he saw Zachary chest the ball to the ground and turn, taking off towards ADO Den Haag''s box. Two defenders tried to close him down immediately, but their efforts were fruitless. They''d already left him enough space to elerate away from them and couldn''t win it back. Coach Johansen was confident that few yers still in academies could match Zachary''s speed.

    His heart was pounding like a jackhammer in his chest as he watched Zachary ying a one-two with ?rjan. The boy prodigy speared deeper into ADO Den Haag''s half, past the defenders in a matter of seconds.

    Coach Johansen smiled, calming his bubbly emotions. He''d nned for a long, grueling match against the Dutch team, with almost no goals. However, if his team managed to score in the first few minutes of the game, it would be a relief. He would find it easy to clinch the victory.

    **** ****

 Chapter 71 - Battle Of The Underdogs II

    Zachary found himself cornered by two defenders as soon as he stepped into the penalty arc, a couple of meters away from ADO Den Haag''s eighteen-yard box. Without panicking, he braked instantly, stopping just in front of the two center-backs. They''d positioned themselves well so that he wouldn''t get through.

    It was in such moments that Zachary wished for a smaller physique, like the Argentinian star Messi. If he had a smaller size, he would have wriggled his way between them without much effort. But with his tall physique, he wasn''t going anywhere.

    "You''re not going anywhere," one of the defenders bellowed in heavily ented English.

    The two of them continued trying to box him in, angling their motions to direct him away from the box. They didn''tmit themselves fully to tackling the ball away. They stood their ground instead, blocking his path towards their goal.

    He could tell they were good defenders right away. Most defenders that had tried to deal with him in the past would usuallye in wholesale, with either flying tackles or big lunges, to win the ball. He found getting past such hasty yers much easier than dealing with those who stood their ground.

    Zachary kept his eye on the feet of the two defenders as he flicked the ball speedily between his feet. One of the defenders finally stuck out a leg, intending to tackle the ball. He smiled since the reaction from the defenders was what he''d been anticipating.

    A face-off between a defender and a forward was like a full game of poker, butsting only a few seconds. The first to show the intention to fold would expose his weakness, putting himself at a disadvantage.

    Zachary didn''t waste the opportunity. He flicked the ball past the defender¡ªtowards the left, attempting to circumvent him.

    However, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a sliding tackleing in from his left. It was well-directed towards the ball, and if he didn''t react ordingly, he would lose possession.

    Zachary hardened his resolve, deciding on the burdensome route. There would be very few opportunities to score in a semifinal match. So, he had to create chances for his team to the best of his ability. That involved weathering a little bit of difort.

    Zachary swiftly stuck out his left foot between the ball and the iing boot, just before the tackle made contact. He made sure not to nt his foot firmly on the ground to avoid a potential injury. He intended to either protect the ball or win a freekick if the defender went through with his tackle.

    The defender made slight contact with his left boot, as he''d expected. Zachary jumped slightly, leaving his body at the mercy of the sliding tackle from the defender. He let the defender''s momentum sweep him away beforending back down on the ground. He had controlled his fall with practiced perfection to avoid injury to his body.

    "Foul," Zachary heard Coach Johansen bellowing from the sidelines while he was still on the ground.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee''s whistle followed, confirming the foul.

    "He dived," Zachary then heard the ADO Den Haag defender disputing the referee''s decision as he picked himself from the ground.

    Zachary did not bother arguing. He''d taken a gamble, risking his body, ande out as the winner. He''d done his best to boost his team''s chances of emerging victorious in the semifinal by winning a freekick at the edge of the box. Zachary didn''t bother exining himself to an opponent. He only focused on his left foot, stretching it, and checking whether it had any damage from the challenge.

    "Are you all right?" Sigrid Olsen, NF Academy''s team medic, jogged to his side and asked.

    "I''m okay," Zachary replied, smiling. He was sure he hadn''t gotten injured after stretching his foot. However, the team medic seemed not to believe him. She eyed him with skepticism as he wriggled his foot, trying to show that he wasn''t injured.

    "I''m really okay," he emphasized.

    "The rest of you give us some space," she yelled at the other NF Academy yers who''d crowded around Zachary. The yers followed her instructions and moved a few meters away.

    "I''ll check that leg for myself," Dr. Sigrid insisted. She ced her first aid kit on the ground before kneeling by Zachary''s left foot. "Sit down," she ordered.

    Zachary stole a nce at the referee and noticed that he was also waiting for the diagnosis. Referees in youth tournaments would always put the yer''s safety above everything else. He was sure the referee would send him to the sidelines right away if he refused the check-up.

    "I''m fine, really," he repeated once again but sat down to undergo Dr. Sigrid''s on-pitch diagnosis. He wasn''t the least bit worried since he didn''t feel any difort in his left foot.

    "Why didn''t you jump over the challenge?" Dr. Sigrid asked. In the meantime, she took off his boot before starting to apply pressure on various parts of his left foot while watching his facial expressions.

    "The tackle came in fast from my blind side. I couldn''t react in time." He lied.

    Dr. Sigrid raised an eyebrow. "It seems like you''re actually fine," she said, nodding to the referee. "But, I do hope you try to avoid the head-on challenges for the rest of the match. Your career will face a long period of stagnation if you get injured. Mark my words." She warned before picking up her kit and jogging off the pitch.

    Zachary hurriedly slipped on his left boot. He looked around and noticed that the referee was in the process of showing a yellow card to Steve Van Kesteren, the defender who had made the foul.

    Zachary stretched for a bit and was back on his feet in just a few seconds, ready to take the freekick. Some fans booed him, assuming he''d dived. However, Zachary didn''t mind. He shut out the noises and concentrated on cing the ball on the ground, right at the edge of the box, while waiting for the referee to finish organizing the wall.

    He started observing the line-up of ADO Den Haag yers standing between him and the goal. His mind worked swiftly to deduce the height of the yers making up the wall, the distance from goal, plus the other parameters that might affect his freekick. He wanted to make sure he would put the freekick in the back of the.

    "You had us worried, man," a voice interrupted his musings.

    Zachary turned around and smiled at Kasongo, who''d sneaked behind him. "Why would you worry? Tackles are part of the game. We do our best to protect ourselves from them. We can also benefit from them like I just did." He added, pointing at the ball.

    "You better go back and prepare to defend against ADO Den Haag''s counterattack," he added before Kasongo could say anything more. He always made a habit of avoiding chit-chat during the middle of matches.

    "Okay, and good luck." Kasongo nodded before running back towards the centerline.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew his whistle, signaling Zachary to take the freekick. He had already finished organizing the wall of ADO Den Haag yers.

    Zachary didn''t panic since he''d been taking dozens of freekicks in the system simtor every night. He moved back a few steps following the bodily motions of the Bend-it like Beckham Juju while taking an asional nce at the cement of the opposing goalkeeper and the other yers in the box.

    Zachary decided to go with his gut and take the shot right away. However, as he began jogging towards the ball, he noticed the shadows corresponding to two of the yers forming the wall, jumping up and down. The Zinedine-Visual-Juju was in action once again.

    Zachary changed his decision instantly, altering his angle of approach as he jogged towards the ball. He then rxed his body as he took one final long stride towards the ball, only keeping the ankle of his left foot tense to make the shot. He then fired his knee forward and whipped his left foot at the ball, catching it on its mid-upper half.

    He unleashed a daisy-cutter shot that skimmed the ground, heading towards the goal. Like a bullet train, it moved with incredible speed, shing below the feet of the two ADO Den Haag yers that had jumped. It homed into the back of the after a deflection off the right post. The goalkeeper didn''t even manage to react.

    **** ****

    Emily Anderson, Zachary''s agent, was seated in the stands, on the bottom row, close to the pitch. She watched Zachary unleash a powerful carpet shot that found its way into the back of the.

    The fans around her seemed to be momentarily shocked, speechless after watching the goal. The stadium was abnormally quiet as Zachary ran to the touchline to celebrate his goal.

    "Once again, Zachary Bemba, NF Academy''s captain, breaks the stalemate¡ªscoring from a set-piece in the 18th minute," thementator announced in a booming voice, breaking the momentary silence in the stadium.

    The fans started cheering and chanting Zachary''s name. They seemed to have forgotten they''d been booing him only a few seconds earlier.

    Emily was d her client had already garnered a-great-deal of staunch fans in Riga due to his spectacr goals. His fame would trante into a profitable business after she negotiated some contracts for himter on in the year.

    "The score is 1:0," thementator continued when the loud cheering in the stadium died down. "NF Academy has managed to the first goal in this heavily contested semifinal between the underdogs of the tournament."

 Chapter 72 - Battle Of The Underdogs III

    "Even thementator calls us underdogs," Kasongo grumbled.

    "Don''t worry about thementator," Paul replied, smiling. "Let''s just do our part and show the people in this stadium that we''re top-dogs, not underdogs."

    They were in a rare break on the pitch after celebrating Zachary''s goal with the rest of the team. They had a minute or two to rest since the ADO Den Haag coach had opted to make a substitution right after conceding a goal.

    "That''s right." Kasongo nodded. "Winning this match will shut people up. Maybe our juniors will be regarded as top seeds when they travel here for next year''s Riga Cup."

    Paul smiled. "That''s a nice one. Maybe, our academy is about to wee a golden age. We''re ying in the semis."

    Kasongo didn''t proceed with the conversation. He listened to the cheers instead and felt like they were the most sublime music in the world. There was a fire in his heart that was missing at the beginning of the match.

    Not many academy yers had been expecting to reach the semi-finals when they first arrived in Riga. The possible exception was Zachary since he yed every single game like a champion. Most yers, including Kasongo, had merelye along to gain some experience. They didn''t expect to be among the top four contenders for the cup.

    They were well aware that they were an inexperienced group,peting with several top academies from around Europe. Even ''simply'' qualifying for the quarter-finals would have satisfied them. NF Academy had never made it past the group stages in past sessions of the Riga Cup.

    However, on making it to the quarter-finals, some, like Kendrick and Magnus, had begun to believe they could emerge as victors. They''d started preaching to the rest of the squad members, trying to motivate them to work towards the same dream.

    The rest of the squad had been receptive to their motivational talks, but most¡ªstill had an inferiorityplex. They felt that winning against strong teams like Zenit was nothing short of a miracle, impossible to replicate. Losing the game against Genoa had reinforced thatplex further.

    If Kasongo had to be one hundred percent honest with himself, he would have to admit that he''d been part of that group of self-doubting ipetents. But that had ended during the game against ADO Den Haag.

    Zachary''s goal had riled him up, bringing to the surface several wild ambitions in the deepest recesses of his mind. For the first time since his arrival in Riga, Kasongo felt a hundred percent confident in his squad. He believed it was capable of winning the cup.

    In the meantime, the feeling was fleeting, just a spark of hope, a ray of sunshine yet to be born, but he could feel it nheless. Perhaps that was merely optimism, the grasping for possible opportunities in the future. But, he resolved to y at his best and win the tournament to cultivate that feeling.

    Kasongo cast a cursory nce towards the touchline and noticed that ADO Den Haag''s substitute was ready toe on. "Man, you better go back to your position," he shouted, giving a light push to Paul, preventing him from continuing the conversation. "We need to keep our heads in the game," he added.

    "Okay, okay," Paul yelled back as he jogged across the pitch towards the left-wing to take his position.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew his whistle, and the match restarted after the goal and the substitution. ADO Den Haag yed with a high tempo right away, switching the ball from wing to wing, seeking to spear into NF Academy''s half.

    Kasongo noted that their wingers had great pace and dribbling ability. They often dribbled close to the touchline before striving to provide cut-backs or cross the ball into the box so that their strikers could score. They worked together with wing-backs to outnk defenders, posing the greatest threats to Kasongo and his teammates.

    As the match progressed, Kasongo noticed that the ADO Den Haag yers had shaped-up into the 4-4-2 formation, unlike the 4-3-3 attacking shape they''d utilized in the first quarter of an hour. They dominated the proceedings for the next few minutes, with the wingers and central midfielders showing ss whenever they touched the ball.

    The substitute, Danny Bakker, a very creative attacking midfielder, boosted their attacking y considerably. He often let loose pin-point passes that homed onto the ever-moving wingers like sniper bullets.

    In the 38th minute, Danny Bakker controlled the ball close to the center-circle after receiving a pass from Tyronne Ebuehi¡ªADO Den Haag''s right-back. Without even a pause, he unleashed a lofted defense-splitting pass towards the left-wing, where Calvin Valies was lurking. The switch from central midfield to the wing was so abrupt, leaving the NF Academy defenders momentarily confused.

    Those few seconds were enough for Calvin to chest the ball to the ground, uncontested, and bolt through NF Academy''s half, relying on his incredible pace.

    Kasongo closed down on him right away, trying to intercept the ball and dy the attack. He angled his body to force him towards the touchline, and in so doing, prevent the extremely agile winger from cutting back into the pitch. Hemitted himself to the defense, trying to create time for the NF Academy defenders to shape up and deal with the iing attack. Kasongo didn''t feel too worried since that was the method they''d been employing to deal with ADO Den Haag''s wing attacks throughout the entire match.

    However, the ADO Den Haag left-winger didn''t dribble as he''d expected. Calvin yed a one-two with Robin van der Meer, the left-back, bypassing him on the right-wing before cutting back into the pitch.

    By the time Kasongo turned around to give chase, Calvin was already a couple of yards away from him. Kasongo could no longer catch up with the speedy winger.

    ?yvind Alseth, NF Academy''s right-back, also tried to press him for the ball, but his efforts were futile. He had dyed his reaction for a few more seconds than necessary, gifting the winger enough space to cross the ball.

    The winger didn''t waste the rare opportunity.

    Kasongo winced as he watched Calvin Valies dribble towards the box. He then whipped the ball in a circr arc behind NF Academy''s defenders.

    Calvin''s cross was perfectly slotted in, finding Catalin Tira, ADO Den Haag''s center-forward, near the post.

    Catalin Tira showed excellent brilliance andposure in the box. He nted a spectacr diving header from a very acute angle, almost beating Kendrick to get an equalizer.

    However, the goalkeeper was alert and managed to pull off a spectacr acrobatic save. He punched the iing ball, guiding it over the crossbar. He had saved NF Academy from ADO Den Haag''s deadliest attack so far.

    Kasongo ran to him and patted his back. "Nice save, man. You really are a Godsend in our goal."

    "Enough with the chit-chat," Kendrick scowled at him. "Get ready to defend against the corner. And, stay focused." The keeper seemed to be in an unusually dark mood with only the game on his mind.

    Kasongo didn''t mind his friend''s tone and dutifully marched to the edge of the box. He understood that tensions often grew high in matches, pushing the yers into somber moods. Some of his teammates could finish an entire game without bothering to share a few words with others. They only spoke out to request passes, point out others'' mistakes, or in a few rare circumstances solely rted to the game. Zachary was that type of yer, and it seemed Kendrick was slowly following suit.

    "Let''s defend, let''s defend..." His musings were interrupted by Kendrick''s bellows, instructing the yers to mark each ADO Den Haag yer in the box.

    NF Academy sessfully defended the corner. Robin Jatta, the center-back, out-jumped the other yers in the box, heading the corner ball out of y.

    The referee pointed to the corner-g once again.

    Tyronne Ebuehi, ADO Den Haag''s right-back, moved towards the g to deliver the corner kick. In the meantime, the yers from both teams pushed and shoved their opponents, trying to outwit them. It took several warnings from the referee to put them in order so that the corner kick could proceed without a hustle.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle after he finished organizing the yers.

    Tyronne Ebuehi sent a long raking pass onto the head of Catalin Tira, who''d somehow gotten away from his mark. The center-forward made no mistake from close in and sent the ball into the bottom right corner.

    1:1.

    ADO Den Haag had managed to score an equalizer in the 41st minute. The goal couldn''t be attributed to a mistake by the NF Academy yers. It was ''simply'' brilliant y on the part of the center-forward. He had outmaneuvered his opponents to head the ball into the back of the. The defenders had done their best, but it hadn''t been enough.

    Kasongo stood with his arms akimbo, watching the ADO Den Haag yers celebrate the goal. He couldn''t believe that they''d still conceded despite having followed Coach Johansen''s game n to the letter. Kasongo had done the best he could, but his team had still conceded a goal. The cup which had been drawing closer seemed to have moved miles away in a short span of a few minutes.

    "It isn''t over yet guys..." He heard Zachary yell from somewhere at the edge of the box. "It isn''t over yet. We''re just back to square one. Let''s continue doing our best." The captain went around the box shouting at each of the NF Academy yers.

    Kasongo smiled, his mood lifting. He hadn''t lost the game yet. They could still win if they yed well and created more chances.

    "Let''s go for a win," he shouted, joining the other yers who were starting to p to hype themselves up. The game wasn''t over yet. It was just beginning.

    **** ****

 Chapter 73 - Battle Of The Underdogs IV

    The second half of the semifinal between NF Academy and ADO Den Haag ensued, running at the same tempo as the first. The Dutch team mostly used wing y to attack while the Norwegian team sat back and defended most of the time.

    Zachary was impressed with how his teammates managed to maintain a high level of focus throughout the game. They worked together admirably, using teamwork to keep ADO Den Haag at bay by disrupting most of their wing attacks.

    Kasongo and Paul, NF Academy''s wingers, helped the wing-backs¡ªwhenever they were faced with an attack by ADO Den Haag on the nks. On the other hand, the three center-backs kept a close eye on Catalin Tira and Papito Merencia, ADO Den Haag''s center-forwards. They managed to clear most of the crosses that managed to reach the box.

    In the 75th minute, NF Academy''s defense and midfield were still putting up a good fight. The score was still 1:1, thanks to their efforts.

    However, Zachary was feeling frustrated due to the scarcity of ballsing to his position. He was still ying as a half-striker/half-milder in the 5-3-1-1 formation, just behind ?rjan, the center forward. He had to wait for more than five minutes in-between touches on the ball. Zachary fancied ying in the midfield instead. That would have let him be more involved in both offense and defense.

    Zachary broke off his thought process when Robin Jatta, NF Academy''s center-back, made an incredible interception within the box. He stopped a dangerous cross from finding Catalin Tira, the ADO Den Haag forward. Without losing hisposure, he immediately cleared the ball away, towards the left-wing where Martin Lundal, the left-back, was lurking.

    Martin controlled the ball beautifully close to the touchline, skipping away from Tyronne Ebuehi with a deft first touch. He followed that up with a perfectly executed cut-back pass towards Magnus, NF Academy''s defensive midfielder, on the inside of the pitch.

    However, Danny Bakker intercepted the pass before it could make its way to its target. He controlled the ball with an adroit first touch, using the back of his heel to loop it over the towering form of Magnus, who''d closed down on him quickly before he could run away with the ball.

    He moved seamlessly like a fish navigating water, bringing the ball effortlessly back to the ground. He immediately unleashed another of his trademark raking passes to the right-wing, where Ibrahim Fofane was waiting. The creative midfielder had managed to catch the NF Academy defense unawares with a sudden switch to the wing once again.

    Uncontested, Ibrahim Fofane, ADO Den Haag''s winger, deftly chested the ball, propelling it onto the path of Tyronne Ebuehi, the right-back, who''d run into open space. The two of them exchanged short passes, ying one-twos, speeding along the touchline. They weaved through NF Academy yers before cutting back into the pitch. Their coordination was wless.

    Before the defenders could close them down, Ibrahim let loose another of his teasing crosses in-behind NF Academy''s defensive line.

    Catalin Tira, ADO Den Haag''s number-9, pounced on the ball, like a cat that''d seen some catnip.

    The number-9 had an uncanny capability to lose his marks and slip through the ranks of defenders. He showed the same brilliance at that moment, sliding in-between Robin Jatta and Lars Togstad, NF Academy''s center-backs, before tapping the ball towards the goal.

    However, Kendrick Otterson, NF Academy''s goalkeeper, had been at the top of his game the entire match. He reacted immediately by stretching out his left leg and managed to get a slight touch on the ball, driving it away from the goal.

    Zachary felt a shiver run down his spine as he watched the ball smash off the post before bouncing back into the field of y. The threat to NF Academy''s goal wasn''t over yet. Calvin Valies, ADO Den Haag''s left-winger, came speeding into the box with the intent of shoving the ball into the back of the. Kasongo was close, hot on his heels.

    [Will he be able to get to the ball away in time?] Zachary mused while following the proceedings from his advanced position, close to the center-circle. He felt a little helpless since he couldn''t return to his half to help defend against the relentless sequence of attacks from ADO Den Haag.

    He could see that Kasongo was struggling to keep up with the short ADO Den Haag number-11. However, the goddess of luck seemed to be on NF Academy''s side that day. Kasongo made a brave and timely sliding tackle, managing to shove the ball out of y before Calvin could reach it. Zachary let out a long pent-up breath, allowing his body to rx. His team had survived the deadly attack without conceding.

    The referee pointed to the corner g.

    Zachary returned to his box to help out against the corner.

    "Let''s defend, let''s defend," he shouted at his teammates. "Man to man. Do¡ªnot leave anyone unmarked in the box." He bellowed at the top of his lungs, pping his hands for emphasis to motivate his teammates.

    Zachary had a feeling that if they conceded another goal, they would probably lose the semifinal. He couldn''t ept such a fate, not when they were so close to the final. Zachary wanted to be a champion and to earn some Juju-points. He ''simply'' couldn''t ept a defeat in the semifinals. So, he continued roaring at his teammates, encouraging them to focus as they awaited the corner ball.

    Tyronne Ebuehi took the corner kick and sent the ball into the crowded penalty area. However, Magnus out-jumped the rest and headed the ball out of the box, seemingly to safety.

    Zachary immediately chased after it.

    However, amid his run, he noticed that the ball was moving on a course straight to Danny Bakker, ADO Den Haag''s dangerous attacking midfielder, who was waiting on the edge of the box. Danny was in the process of raising his foot to unleash a missile of a rebound back at goal.

    "Not on my watch," Zachary roared as he dashed towards the midfielder.

    Danny maintained hisposure and managed to st the ball towards the goal, uncontested. But luckily, Zachary had managed to get his body in front of the rebound effort in time. He jumped high and blocked the ball, driving it away from its intended course, away from the goal.

    Kasongo pounced on the loose ball and cleared it out of the pitch with a first-time volley. He''d gifted ADO Den Haag a throw-in. Once again, NF Academy had managed toe out unscathed from another deadly attack.

    Zachary''s teammates, who''d been defending from the start, were under immense pressure. What underdogs? Zachary reasoned that the phrase was utter crap. The Dutch team seemed vastly more threatening than Zenit, especially when they attacked through the wings.

    "Zachary," Coach Johansen bellowed from the sidelines. "Head back to the front and leave the defense for the rest. You''re causing more difficulties by falling back to defend. Look at that." The coach pointed towards the middle of the pitch.

    Zachary turned around and noticed the two ADO Den Haag defenders who had previously been marking him had already moved into NF Academy''s half, seemingly to join the attack.

    He understood Coach Johansen''s reasoning. If he left his half-striker position even for a single minute, he would free-up the defenders responsible for marking him. That would increase the pressure on the rest of his teammates if the freed-up defenders also joined the attacks. So, he quickly ran back to his position withoutint and waited patiently for the ball toe to him.

    Tyronne Ebuehi took ADO Den Haag''s throw-in. He unleashed a long throw, hoping to pick out Catalin Tira in the box. However, Robin Jatta managed to clear the ball out of the box with a well-timed volley. He sent the ball back to the right-wing where Kasongo was waiting.

    The short right-winger controlled the ball like a pro and unleashed a first-time cut-back pass into the midfield, towards Magnus.

    Zachary immediately ran away from the two defenders marking him, dashing towards the right-wing, without bothering to see whether Magnus had controlled the ball sessfully. He only wished the defensive midfielder could predict his run and release him as soon as possible.

    Magnus didn''t disappoint. He sent a lofted pass in Zachary''s direction.

    The counterattack was on.

    Zachary used his peripheral vision to gauge the iing ball''s trajectory while running. He noticed that the ball wasing in high and would probably go out of y if he couldn''t control it in time. To make matters worse, a defender was hot on his heels and wouldn''t allow him any time to turn and control the ball with his chest.

    He immediately realized he would have a tough time bringing the ball under control. He had to intercept it within the next few seconds to prevent it from going out of y and turning into another ADO Den Haag throw-in.

    Nheless, he didn''t panic. Continuing his run, he kept track of the ball while his ser brain quickly worked out the best options to make good use of the situation. Luckily, a solution came to him when he had almost reached the touchline.

 Chapter 74 - Battle Of The Underdogs V

    Without turning back, Zachary jumped high into the ball''s line of flight and presented his upper back as the receiving surface. At the same time, he rxed his back muscles to kill the ball''s momentum on contact. And as he expected, he felt the ball hit his back in the next second, while he was at the apogee of his leap.

    At that instant, Zachary pushed out his back muscles, cushioning the ball past the chasing defender before he started his descent back to the ground. When his feet touched the ground, he didn''t pause¡ªbut spun around the disoriented defender who was still searching for the ball.

    Zachary smiled when he discerned he''d nudged the ball in the right direction. He had directed it over the defender''s shoulder, with his back. Zachary shrugged off the chasing defender¡ªwho was trying to foul him and took off with the ball¡ªlike the wind, sprinting towards ADO Den Haag''s box. His heart pounded in his chest like he was a predator on the hunt as he dashed off, cutting back into the pitch.

    A defender sprung up in his tunnel vision, but he poked the ball in-between his legs and circumvented him with his incredible pace. Another defender closed down on him as soon as he passed the first one. He used the same trick. Without slowing down, he nudged the ball a little bit, pushing it between his legs with the tip of his boot. He then bolted past him, leaving him butt-down, on the artificial grass.

    The third defender came up soon after with a sliding tackle. Zachary decelerated a little and dug the tip of his left boot beneath the rolling ball at his feet. Without stopping, he deftly flicked the ball over the defender and then leaped over him¡ªbefore rmencing his mad sprinting across the green.

    Zachary had regained the instinctual state of mind once again. His thought process while running with the ball was lightning fast, such that the actions of the defenders seemed like part of a video in slow motion. His eyes were focused on the obstacles¡ªthe defenders before him. Yet, in some strange way, he could still perceive and react in time when someone closed in on him from his blind spots.

    He continued his advance towards ADO Den Haag''s box, weaving past defender after defender beforeing face-to-face with the goalkeeper.

    Zachary did not slow down when the keeper came out to greet him. He circumvented him with his ridiculous pace and skipped over a challenge he''d noticed in his peripheral vision. He continued his run with the ball all the way to the back of the.

    He only broke out of the uncanny state of mind when ?rjan came up to him to celebrate the goal. Then it all came back to him: How he''d somehow zigzagged through multiple defenders without so much as a conscious thought. That state of focus was simply divine.

    He tried to tap on that feeling, to pull at the instinct¡ªthe state of mind that had elevated his ying style. However, it was fleeting, ebbing like a tide away from his conscious mind. Soon, it was gone without a trace.

    [What was that feeling?] He mused as he came back to himself. He had never felt anything like that in both his lives. He wondered whether the state of mind was something all thriving athletes possessed or something born from the system. Whatever the case, he was determined to find out.

    Zachary pushed the weird thoughts out of his mind when the rest of his teammates ran into ADO Den Haag''s goal and jumped on him to celebrate the goal. His mood lifted when he remembered that he''d possibly just scored NF Academy''s winning goal.

    NF Academy was leading 2:1 in the semifinal. The digital watch on therge screen had just ticked to the 82nd minute. Zachary had put his team ahead with only eight minutes of y left, discounting injury time.

    **** ****

    "Unbelievable, unbelievable, simply magic," thementator''s deep voice boomed over the loud cheering in the stadium. "Oh my goodness me! What a magnificent goal! The genius! Are we witnessing the birth of a great here in the Riga tournament? Someone, please p me and tell me that I''m dreaming. That goal was out of this world..."

    Emily Anderson, in the stands, was ecstatic after Zachary scored his second goal. The ravings of thementator sounded like music to her ears. The cheers of the fans in attendance warmed the air around her more than any sun ever could.

    In her eyes, Zachary was like a goose thatid golden eggs. Every spectacr goal he scored would trante into a substantial amount of cashter on. There were sure to be several potential endorsement deals around the corner if he could maintain his present form.

    "Are you sure he doesn''t want to leave Norway?" Jimmy Edwards asked, yelling to make himself heard over the cheers around them.

    Emily smiled, shaking her head. "I''ve talked at length with him about moving. He says he wants to find his legs first in the easier Norwegian League. He''ll only think of moving to a bigger stage after that."

    Jimmy lifted an eyebrow. "Are you ''simply'' going to allow him to waste his time in that league? The Tottenham people just contacted mest night. They are ready to offer him a deal if he wishes to leave for London as soon as he turns eighteen. Do you want to allow him to miss such a golden opportunity?" He queried, locking gazes with Emily. "Why am I not surprised? You are an intern, after all."

    Emily frowned. "A decision to move should represent the core interests of the yer. I''ve talked with him, and he really wants to stay in Norway for now." She said, her voice firm.

    Jimmy shrugged. "Well, I need to meet him myself before the tournament ends. Try to organize a meeting with him away from the eyes of the others. Only then will I be able to determine whether what you say is true."

    "I''ll tell him about your suggestion," Emily replied. "If he agrees to the meeting, then well and good. But, if he has reservations, there''s nothing I can do."

    She smiled softly. "And FYI, the offer from Tottenham is not the only one he has received. Zenit, Atnta, and Genoa have all shown interest in him. However, he hasn''t agreed to meet with any of their representatives."

    Jimmy smiled, shaking his head. "That''s the problem with young inexperienced agents like you. There''s always a price for everyone. Our role as agents is to determine that price and push our clients to take a more profitable deal. Don''t bother with the meeting anymore. I''ll try to see if I can move things in my own way."

    Emily frowned, her mind running through all the avenues Jimmy could take to push Zachary into moving away from Norway. However, she found none, except offering him a very lucrative contract that was hard to refuse.

    However, no big club would be willing to offer a big-money-contract to an inexperienced yer still in an academy. yers could lose form as they advanced in years. A yer who was the best in the academy wouldn''t necessarily remain at the top of his game five or ten yearster. That was why ser careers were¡ªoften regarded as marathons, not sprints.

    A yer had to continue doing his best in both training and matches to maintain his form in the long run. Otherwise, he would stumble and turn mediocre before reaching the finish line.

    Club executives knew that simple truth, and in most cases, wouldn''t allow their scouting departments to offer contracts involvingrge sums of money to inexperienced yers. That was why she''d agreed with Zachary when he said he wanted to first y in Norway for some time before moving on to a bigger stage. If he managed to y well in his debut season at Rosenborg, he could fetch a sizeable transfer fee from the bigger clubs that wanted him.

    The higher the transfer fees, the higher hermission would be when she finished negotiating the transfer. Maybe after such a deal, she would be-able-to fulfill her long-time dream of starting her own sports agency. That was her target, and she wasn''t going to allow anyone to mess with her first golden goose.

    She shook her head, dispersing the daydreams out of her head, and returned her focus to the match. She was d she''d hired a cameraman for the game rather than doing it herself. She could fully enjoy the 90 minutes of ser without being distracted by the work of recording Zachary''s performance.

    ADO Den Haag was still dictating the tempo of the game despite having just conceded the goal. They continued using their signature wing attacks and delivering crosses into the box after every few minutes. NF Academy was under immense pressure and didn''t seem able to get the ball away from their half¡ªtowards Zachary and the other forward. However, they managed to hold on until the game ended 2:1 in favor of NF Academy.

    **** ****

 Chapter 75 - Feeling Triumphant

    Immediately after the final whistle, Zachary and his teammates left the stadium. They didn''t even change out of their kits first.

    It was already getting close to 1:00 PM by the time their match with ADO Den Haag ended. The other semifinal between VfB Stuttgart and Tottenham youth would be starting at 2:00 PM sharp. The two squads had already upied the dressing rooms to begin preparations for their match. That left NF Academy yers with no ce to change out of their match gear.

    The squad trekked out of the Skonto Indoor Stadium, still d in their sweatden jerseys. They walked through the brightly-lit tunnel to the gate with a swagger in their steps, looking like they owned the entire world, chattering on about the match highlights.

    Zachary, too, walked with a Cheshire cat''s grin outlined on his face. His mind went over some of the defining moments of the game. His team had managed to qualify for the final and was only one step away from bing champions.

    He was only a step away from earning a sizeable sum of Juju-points¡ªplus a tournament title that was rare in the youth careers of many professional yers.

    He couldn''t help but recall some bits of his previous life that seemed to be from a century ago.

    In his previous life, his grandma had passed on when he was only seventeen, leaving him struggling to keep himself in school. He''d then dropped out and started searching for a local club to take him on. But, he''d still failed due to the recurrent injuries that had started when he got involved in an ident two years prior.

    He had then fallen into a period of depression, taking the local brew and drugs on a regr basis to escape his problems. His sports career seemed over, and many had thought him a gone case. However, in a lucky twist of fate, he''d managed to make it to the pro level at TP Mazembe after receiving help from a retired Congolese national team yer.

    Arthur Afobe, the yer in question, had shown him a way to ovee his recurring ankle injury problems by ying smarter. He had managed to develop the unique ying-style of his previous life by following that advice. He had learned to do more with the ball with a single touch rather than running through defenders. That''s how he''d managed to develop his high-level ball control and passing ability¡ªtwo attributes that continued to serve him well even in his new life.

    He had been able to sit in the defensive midfield and unleash defense-splitting passes to help his team win games without running around excessively. He had been akin to an uing Maestro, showing a lot of promise due to his tactical vision on the pitch. That was the reason TP Mazembe had offered him a contract, even when knowing he was¡ªriddled with both injury and addiction problems.

    Nheless, he had wasted the opportunity by rpsing back to his old habits. A ss of wine, a little bit of Cannabis sativa was how his fall restarted. And before he could benefit from his sess, his career ended abruptly. What followed were events he would rather not remember.

    But just when he thought it was all over, he had been given a second chance. Mysteriously, he traveled back in time apanied by a system, to a time where he managed to grab on to an opportunity.

    From then, he had worked relentlessly to achieve his previous life''s goal of bing a pro yer in a European league.

    Things couldn''t have worked out any better. He now felt a deep sense of bliss on the field since he no longer feared injuring a weak ankle. Due to some perks of the system, he was more resilient, more agile, and more clinical with the ball than he had ever been in his previous life.

    With his unique ying style, he had managed to secure the promise of a contract from a European team¡ªRosenborg before turning eighteen. And to top it all off, his youth team had just qualified for the Riga Cup finals. Zachary was on cloud nine.

    Even with a system, he understood that the difference between ordinary and extraordinary was that little extra. He needed to continue working to surpass his own limits. He intended to be the sort of athlete who became a better version of his past self as he advanced in years.

    Zachary felt like he could rise to the very top with his system at hand. All he needed to do was earn more Juju-points and maintain his work ethic, and eventually, the whole world would be at his feet.

    "Those reporters are waiting for us once again." Zachary was broken out of his reflection by his teammate''s hollering as they approached the gate.

    "What''s the point in reporters seeking us out when Coach Johansen is just going to keep turning them away?" Paul grumbled. "What a drag," he sighed, shaking his head.

    Zachary inclined his head and noticed a varied bunch, some with cameras and microphones, waiting by the gate. They had begun stalking the NF Academy squad immediately after their win against Zenit in the quarter-final.

    However, Coach Johansen always turned them away before they could approach any of the yers. He''d even banned yers from holding private interviews with any journalist. He said he didn''t want any media attention on the team before they even won the cup. Zachary inwardly approved since the team didn''t need any more distractions in the middle of a tournament.

    The squad continued towards the gate, trudging past the reporters, who''d been pushed aside by the technical team. The reporters in Riga seemed very polite and didn''t hound the yers as they passed by.

    When the squad exited the indoor stadium, Zachary felt a cold wind stroking his skin, chilling him to the bone. The sky above was washed with a grey tone. Watery light illuminated thin patches of it to brilliance.

    Zachary alternated between watching his boots move over the frozen sidewalk''s perfect concrete bs, t and square, and observing the transfixing intery between cloud and sun above.

    The continual slippage of his feet kept returning his gaze earthward, pulling his mind to the present. Zachary was d all the Riga Cup matches were being¡ªheld indoors. He would have had a hard time ying in the cold.

    As usual, a group of traveling fans, including friends and family of the NF Academy yers, were waiting for them outside the arena. Zachary saw Marta, her sister, and their other traveling ssmates in the small crowd. It had be a habit for the squad to greet their ''fans'' right after each game. However, on that day, Coach Johansen cut the reunion short.

    "Hurry up and enter the bus," yelled Coach Johansen. "You need to get out of the cold as fast as possible. You''ll get time with your friends and family after the tournament. For now, I need all of you on the bus."

    Zachary grinned at Marta and his other ssmates, waving his hand, before boarding the bus. The rest of the yers followed suit, with renewed urgency.

    After taking their ces on the bus, the yers shed their boots and shin guards, steaming up the ss windows. Coach Johansen stood up to address them.

    "Okay, guys," he said, his voice throaty from yelling outmands at the top of his voice for the entire duration of the game. "I''m proud of you, and I want you to enjoy this win. We have made it to the finals." He raised his voice towards the end.

    Cheers erupted.

    Coach Johansen held up his hand for silence and got it immediately. "ADO Den Haag was a tough nut to crack," he intoned, half-smiling. "They were a much stronger team than you''d expected¡ªthan I''d expected. However, you managed to keep focused despite facing relentless attacks for a full 90 minutes. All of you yed as a team, and Zachary yed well, as usual, scoring our two goals."

    "Kendrick and our center-backs, plus all the others, stopped us from conceding many goals!" Zachary shouted, interrupting the coach. He didn''t like being¡ªsingled out as the match-winner. There was a chance it could negatively impact their teamwork during the finals.

    "And there, our star is scared of being the center of attention once again," Paul chipped in.

    "He doesn''t even want to be acknowledged for scoring the goals," Kendrick rhymed.

    Everyone, except Zachary,ughed.

    Coach Johansen smiled and held up his hand. "Zachary has a point," he said in a seemingly amused tone. "All of you yed well in this game. Kendrick was superb in goal. Kasongo, Robin, Lars, Magnus, and the rest of you were hungry for a win and yed at your best today. You all possessed that hunger¡ªthat determination needed to clinch the victory. And that is a lesson for us. As long as we remain focused, we can achieve anything we set our minds to. And that''s how we are going to win the cup."

    More cheers erupted, and Coach Johansen put up a hand once again. "For now, let''s move to the hotel, clean up, pick our takeaway lunches, and hurry back to watch the next semifinal match" He paused, casting a nce at his watch. "We only have roughly an hour left to the beginning of the game. So, you''ll need to be quick." He added, his tone turning somber.

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied in chorus.

    The coach sat down as the driver put the bus in gear, and they sang all-the-way back to the hotel.

 Chapter 76 - Tough Opponents

    When Zachary returned to his hotel room, he couldn''t resist the temptation to open the system interface. Despite only having a small window to clean up and pick his lunch before returning to the bus, he decided to check whether there were any marked changes in the interface.

    The magical state of extreme focus that had enabled him to score the second goal was still fresh on his mind. He had only managed to enter it twice; first, during the match against JFC Riga andter in that day''s game against ADO Den Haag.

    During both instances, he had performed at a level much higher than his baseline. However, he still didn''t have any conscious control over entering the state of mind. So, when he went into the shower, away from the eyes of Kasongo, he opened the system interface to search for clues.

    Nothing seemed to have changed since the beginning of the match. Most attributes were still in the A grading while the X-factor was still showing an F grade¡ªand ''limited information avable'' when he clicked on it.

    Zachary only saw a significant change under the G.O.A.T Skills tab. His Zinedine-Visual-Juju had jumped from a 72.021% to a 77.072% 1st-level of progress within just a span of a single game. He was shocked by the unusuallyrge increment.

    The advancement of the Zinedine-Visual-Juju seemed to have stagnated when he''d reached 70% progress. Zachary had been seeking ways to enhance its rate of improvement for months. He''d tried watching recorded matches and reading books about ser tactics to quicken the process of mastering the skill.

    Nheless, it had continued improving by only about 0.1 - 0.5% each month.

    However, in a single match where he had managed to enter the mysterious state of extreme focus, the skill had improved by slightly more than 5%. He was astounded.

    Zachary hypothesized that the state of extreme focus was somehow rted to the Zinedine-Visual-Juju.

    He wished he could master the Zinedine-Visual-Juju to a hundred percent and see whether he would gain control over achieving the state of extreme focus. However, he understood learning a skill was a slow process.

    The only skills in the system he''d managed to master to 1st-level 100%pletion so far were the Cruyff-turn and his arrow shot. That was because he''d practiced them regrly in his previous life. Otherwise, he would have taken much longer to learn them. Zachary could only wait to enter the mysterious mental state again involuntarily before continuing his investigation.

    "Zach!" Kasongo''s voice came in from behind the bathroom door, interrupting his musings. "We''re almostte for the game. You''d better hurry since we have to pick our lunch before heading to the bus."

    "How many minutes do we have left?" Zachary inquired, closing the system interface.

    "It''s now 1:30," Kasongo replied. "We have to be at the bus in 10 minutes if we wish to go with the rest of the team."

    "Okay then," Zachary replied. "I''ll be done in five. You can head down first. Please pick my lunch as well on your way. I''ll meet you downstairs in less than ten minutes."

    "Okay," Kasongo concurred. "But hurry up. I don''t know why you''re spending so long in the shower." He grumbled.

    Zachary quickly finished cleaning up. He then slipped into a fresh dark blue tracksuit and a heavy jacket before running down the stairs to catch the bus to the stadium.

    "Zach!" Kasongo hollered out to him, waving an arm as soon as he stepped on the bus. "I kept a seat for you here. Come on."

    Zachary nodded at Coach Johansen by the door, mumbling an apology before taking a seat next to Kasongo.

    Thirty minutester, they were seated in the stadium watching the game between VfB Stuttgart and Tottenham, with their lunch boxes in hand.

    The NF Academy squad members sat together with their technical team, keeping a close eye on the game''s progress. They enjoyed their takeaway lunch at the same time.

    The VfB Stuttgart yers, dressed in white, were arrayed in the 4-3-3 formation once again. They attacked relentlessly, with three midfielders oftenmitting forward to support the three forwards. They passed the ball quickly through gaps between the Tottenham yers, waiting for an opportunity to prate the box.

    Joshua Kimmich stood out in the central midfield. His positioning on the pitch was textbook perfect, making him the control tower for the whole team.

    Zachary could instantly tell why Kimmich had been so good in his previous life, going on to y for Bayern and winning a majorpetition like the UEFA Champions League. He was a very skilled central midfielder with good spatial awareness.

    Both on and off the ball, Kimmich knew the positioning of both his teammates and opponents. Zachary could feel his tenacity from watching his ying style. Other yers on the VfB Stuttgart team asionally lost out one-on-one or misced a pass, but not Kimmich.

    A single touch would take him around an unsuspecting opponent¡ªand within a matter of seconds, he would initiate an attack with a defense-splitting pass. He could spot runs made by his teammates behind opposing defenders even amid a crowd of opponents.

    That was how he managed tounch the 20th-minute attack that resulted in VfB Stuttgart''s first goal. He made a yard of space for himself by skipping past a challenge from Joshua Onomah, one of Tottenham''s central midfielders. Without even looking up, he sent a lofted pass that beat the entire Tottenham defense. Itnded right in the path of a sprinting Felix Lohkemper.

    Felix, VfB Stuttgart''s forward on the right nk, didn''t waste the extraordinary opportunity. He reacted quickly to get ahead of the central defenders and fired a close-range shot that ended up in the top right corner. The German team had taken the lead as early as the 20th minute, giving the impression that they woulde out on top after the 90 minutes.

    However, the Tottenham yers weren''t loafing. They lurked like predators, waiting for the VfB Stuttgart yers to make a mistake before pouncing on them. They created pressing zones using three yers around Kimmich, trying their utmost to destabilize the midfield control tower.

    In particr, Harry Winks, Tottenham''s central midfielder, marked Kimmich remarkably, denying him breathing space when with the ball. Harry outmuscled the German midfielder with every chance he got, sometimesmitting fouls.

    His stubbornness helped Tottenham keep the control tower at bay¡ªand his teammates came alive, ying with a spectacr counterattacking ir whenever they won the ball.

    They profited from their relentless efforts in the 38th minute. Milos Veljkovic, Tottenham''s center-back, won the ball fair and square, dispossessing Felix Lohkemper close to his box. He then quickly set loose Joshua Onomah, who was making a run in the left-wing.

    The counterattack was on.

    Joshua Onomah, Tottenham''s attacking midfielder, looped the ball over the VfB Stuttgart yers, sending it onto the path of William Miller, the left-winger.

    The left-winger had timed his run perfectly, beating the defenders for pace. He cut back into the pitch and bolted into the box. He quickly looped the ball over the keeper, leveling matters just before half time.

    In the second half, both teams continued attacking each other relentlessly. VfB Stuttgart continued using its stable style of passing the ball around the pitch, searching for opportunities. On the other hand, the Tottenham yers intensified their counterattacks. Every mistake on VfB Stuttgart''s side would trante into a deadly counter that threatened to turn into a goal.

    Tottenham came close to scoring several times as the game approached the 60th minute. But the stable goalkeeping of VfB Stuttgart''s number-1 kept matters level. He made several superb saves, denying the Tottenham forwards the chance to get on the score sheet in the second half.

    The game remained at a stalemate until VfB Stuttgart stepped up to a higher gear in the 70th minute. Joshua Kimmich, Philipp F?rster, and Sinan G¨¹m¨¹s (the three midfielders) all came alive, setting up several defense-splitting through-passes to their forwards.

    The forwards didn''t disappoint.

    Timo Werner caught the Tottenham goalkeeper napping with a brilliant, instinctive strike after receiving a fantastic pinpoint pass from Kimmich in the 75th minute.

    The forward was close to sealing his position as the top scorer of the tournament with twelve goals. He was already ahead of Zachary by two goals in the scoring tallies.

    Zachary could only sigh in dejection as he continued to watch the match.

    Felix Lohkemper, one of the other forwards, scored VfB Stuttgart''s third from a curling finish after receiving another defense-splitting pass from Kimmich.

    VfB Stuttgart then held on to win the second semifinal with a 3:1 score. They would face NF Academy in the finals.

    **** ****

    "What do you think about VfB Stuttgart?" Coach Johansen asked Zachary as they left the stadium, heading to the bus after the match.

    "They''re a better team than us," Zachary replied honestly. "Their style of y is stable, and they will most likely dictate the tempo of the game against us in the final."

    Coach Johansen nodded without any reaction. "In which position do you think you would be most effective against them?"

    Zachary was surprised since the coach had never bothered to inquire about tactics from any of his yers. But he answered nheless. "I think I''ll y better against Stuttgart if I y as a central midfielder. That happens to be my preferred position. However, I''ll need help in the center of the pitch. We need to pack our midfield with five yers to stop VfB Stuttgart''s mobility¡ªthere. Only then do we stand a chance of winning."

 Chapter 77 - Eve Of The Finals

    Thursday, February 23, 2012.

    ADO Den Haag was ted to face Tottenham Youth in the third-ce yoff that afternoon. But surprisingly, coach Johansen had scheduled a light training session for the NF Academy squad at the Olympic Sports Center instead.

    Zachary and his teammates warmed up by runningps around the indoor artificial turf in the Olympic Center. He was feeling a bit edgy from the expectations that came with the buildup to the final. He was surprised to find out that he could still get nervous on the day just before a youth cup final despite having experienced a lot in his past life.

    Zachary had been relieved when the coach had called the squad for thest-minute training session that afternoon. The session would help calm his nerves. That was better than lounging back in his hotel room, waiting for the match.

    Exercise had always brought him rxation. With just a little sweat, he could attain the state of serenity he needed to y at his best. It was his therapy.

    He ran along the course with robotic precision¡ªand organic fluidity, stride after stride, nailed to perfection, leaving the rest of his teammates in the dust. The sweat settled upon his skin as newly melted snow crystals, making Zachary feel as if the stress was rising out of his skin with each molecule of water.

    After eightps, he felt stress-free and ready for the training session. He added a few moreps to his tally at the coach''s request before joining the rest for the stretching routine.

    The squad went through neck circles, shoulder rolls, arm circles, hip rotations, and other simple exercises to stretch their muscles before beginning the training session.

    As soon as theypleted the warm-up, Coach Johansen blew his whistle, signaling them to return to the center-circle. He was looking pleased.

    Zachary had noticed that unbridled confidence had made itself a home in his features since NF Academy''s win in the semifinals.

    "Tomorrow is the day of the final," said Coach Johansen, letting his gaze roam around the yers.

    "We''ll be facing VfB Stuttgart. They''re not easy opponents. They are a better team¡ªat least on paper. In order to win against them, we will have to utilize every opportunity we get in the game to score."

    "We have to be clinical in our attacks and make use of our set-pieces. We have to make sure any corner-kicks and free kicks we win threaten their goal. We have got to keep this up for the entire duration of the game. That''s how we''ll keep the pressure on them and score."

    He paused, smiling at the yers before continuing. "For freekicks, we''re covered. We''ve got Zachary, who has a good record with them. He''ll make good use of the majority of the set-pieces we get. However, we''re stillcking in the area of taking corners kicks." He sighed, shaking his head.

    "Corner kicks can be a source of great frustration at all levels of ser," Coach Johansen continued in a somber tone. "As I mentioned in our previous training sessions, they can help you win or push you to lose games. It depends on how you handle them. In the semifinal against ADO Den Haag, we conceded a goal from a corner because we defended against it poorly. We''re here to make sure we don''t repeat the same mistake tomorrow."

    "Today, we''ll go through the corner kick drills we practiced beforeing to Riga again. We will concentrate mainly on good delivery, well-timed runs to confuse the defense, being first to the ball, and hitting the target. We''ll also work on the signals formunication while taking a particr type of corner."

    "For instance, before ying a corner short, whoever''s taking it can raise a single arm or finger to signal the rest to get ready."

    "By the end of this session, I want everyone to be well-versed with their roles during corner kicks. For example, we''ll select four of our best aerial yers to always attack the ball directly during corner kicks. Like we did back in Trondheim, they will split their runs, attacking different areas to increase our chances at goal. We''ll also choose the people responsible for pressuring the keeper, the ones to target the rebounds, etc. We''ll try to go through as many variations of corner kicks as possible to maximize our chances tomorrow."

    "That''s enough theory," Coach Johansen intoned. "Let''s start the corner drills right away."

    The yers practiced attacking and defending corner kicks for the rest of the afternoon. For the attacking bit, they ended up perfecting only five corner taking routines. Nheless, Zachary felt satisfied with the results of the training session. Their chances of winning had improved thanks to their work on set-pieces.

    After the training session concluded, they rode the bus back to the hotel. They cleaned up quickly, had dinner, and headed straight to one of the conference rooms for Coach Johansen''s pre-match briefing.

    "Tomorrow," he began after all the yers had taken their seats. "We''ll y an entirely different system. We shall y with a 4-2-3-1 formation instead of the 5-4-1 system we''ve employed so far."

    "But before I expound on that, I''ll name tomorrow''s squad. Then, we can delve into the tactics and discuss the game n." Coach Johansen said, moving towards the whiteboard.

    "The starting line-up will be as follows:

    Goal Keeper; Shirt No. 1 Kendrick Otterson,

    Center-backs; No.4 - Lars Togstad, No.5 - Daniel Kvande,

    Left-back; No.3 - Robin Jatta, Right-back; No.2 - ?yvind Alseth,

    Midfield; No.6 - Magnus kstad, No.13 - Simen Gi?ver, No. 8 - Zachary Bemba,

    Right-wing; No.7 - Paul Kasongo, Left-wing; No.15 - Paul Otterson

    Forward; No.10 - ?rjan B?rmark." He spoke as he inscribed the starting line-up on the whiteboard.

    "You should all have a clearprehension of your positions in the 4-2-3-1 formation since we practiced with it quite a lot back in Trondheim," the coach continued. "But, I''ll go ahead and exin it again in case there is anyone who has forgotten or slept through all the training sessions before the Riga Cup."

    The yersughed at that.

    Coach Johansen waited for them to quiet down before continuing. "We shall split into four bands on the pitch tomorrow. Our defensive unit will consist of the two standard center-backs and two wing-backs. Two defensive midfielders will sit in front of them, screening them as the next unit. They''ll y as the double pivot on the pitch to ensure there isn''t any exploitable space left in front of our defense." He turned back to the whiteboard, circling the position of the two midfielders.

    "I don''t need to tell you how deadly the attacking midfielders of VfB Stuttgart can be when left with plenty of space in front of the defense. You watched their game against Tottenham." His tone had turned somber.

    "So, Simen and Magnus," he paused slightly, first fixing his gaze towards the corner of the room where the two were seated. "As our defensive midfielders, you''ll have to dig in and do your best to keep both Kimmich and their other midfielders away from our box."

    "Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach," the two replied in unison.

    Coach Johansen nodded, pointing back at the whiteboard. "Ahead of our two defensive midfielders, we will have Zachary ying as the central attacking midfielder and our two wingers Kasongo and Paul Otterson on the nks. The three of you willplete our midfield together with Simen and Magnus. I expect you to mp down on any spaces in the middle of the pitch in order to impede their quick passing ability."

    "Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, nodding along with the rest.

    He was d that the coach had considered his suggestion and brought in a second defensive midfielder from the bench. If the wingers were counted, NF Academy would be able to y with a total of five midfielders. Such a set-up would make it easier to keep the VfB Stuttgart''s agile midfielders in check.

    Coach Johansen continued his talk for the next hour, expounding on the whole cement of the squad. He assigned roles to every single yer in the starting line-up, highlighting what he expected from them on the field the next day. The coach even encouraged Zachary to try to win as many free-kicks as possible in front of the box, even if it involved some theatrics. When he finished exining the game n, he answered questions from the yers and set them loose for the night.

    "I heard that Tottenham demolished ADO Den Haag 4:1 in the third-ce yoff," Paul announced to Zachary and a few others walking with him. They were ascending the stairs leading to the second floor of their hotel.

    "They managed to get four goals past ADO Den Haag!" Zachary eximed. He couldn''t hide the surprise in his voice. The Dutch side had given them a hard time during the semifinal. Yet, Tottenham, a team that lost 3:1 to VfB Stuttgart, had defeated them with a score of 4:1. Zachary could begin to imagine how strong a side VfB Stuttgart was.

    **** ****

    Concurrently in one of the conference rooms of the Riga AC Hotel...

    The VfB Stuttgart coach and yers had just finished discussing some of the tactics for the finals. Unlike in other teams, the coach of the German side encouraged independent thinking among his yers. He often let them contribute suggestions during pre-match briefings to shape their tactical prowess on the pitch.

    Usually, they were quick toe up with a game n. However, on that day, they were still debating how they would handle one of the yers on the NF Academy side during the final.

    "I say we mark him using the same tactics we''ve been using against other creative attacking midfielders back in Germany," Joshua Kimmich suggested. He was seated in the front row of the room. "Just a textbook man-on-man marking will do."

    There were murmurs, most in agreement while a few others in dissent, all around the room.

    "Wait, and let me exin," Kimmich continued in German. "If we allocate two of our yers to mark him, we''ll be leaving a gap in our formation. That gap will impact our ying style negatively. We''ll find ourselves in situations where we''re unable to pass the ball quickly around in the midfield. If that happens, we won''t be able to create many chances to score goals upfront. And, that''s uneptable."

    "Moreover, the tactic of marking him with more than one yer has been ineffective in the past." Kimmich smiled slightly at the rest of his teammates. "Zenit, ADO Den Haag, and Riga¡ªall tried to double-team him in their games against NF Academy. But he always managed to outwit his minders and score valuable goals. Since most of their attention was on him, they couldn''t free up yers tomit forward and support their attacks. That''s why they failed to score many goals. And, that''s how NF Academy managed to win against all those teams."

    "But we don''t have to do the same. We can and should ''simply'' concentrate on ying our style of football. We should focus on scoring goals instead of marking a single yer."

    He continued, his voice rising. "If he scores three goals, we score five. If he scores four, we score seven. That should be our style, and we shouldn''t change it since we undoubtedly have the best-attacking force in this tournament."

    Coach Ilija Aracic decided to interrupt the discussion at that point. He had already achieved his goal of making the yers think independently before an important match. "Kimmich has a point," he intoned, smiling at his yers.

    "We''ll stay true to our style of y and focus on attacking and scoring goals in tomorrow''s final. We shall leave Zachary to Philipp. He''ll be responsible for keeping him in check throughout the entire game. In case he gets past Phillip, the defense will have to react quickly and stop him before he reaches our box. The rest of you will y as usual and try to score as many goals as you can. That''s the best way to y against a weaker team."

    **** ****

 Chapter 78 - Game Start

    <i>"Yeah, you can be the greatest, you can be the best</i>

    <i>You can be the King Kong bangin'' on your chest</i>

    <i>You can beat the world</i>

    <i>You can win the war</i>

    <i>You can talk to God, go bangin'' on his door..."</i>

    Zachary hummed the Script''s ''Hall of Fame'' yet to be released lyrics as he sat on the bus heading to Skonto Hall with the rest of his teammates.

    It was the afternoon NF Academy would face VfB Stuttgart in the Riga Cup finals.

    The previous night, he had thought he would only grow more nervous as the match approached. Even in his past life, he had always felt agitated and tense right before games.

    But surprisingly, he''d woken up that morning in a very tranquil state, at peace, and in harmony with the world. A good night''s sleep had calmed his nerves. He had never felt more ready to perform.

    "That''s a good song you''re singing," Paul Ottersonmented. He was seated beside him on the furthest seat at the back of the bus. "Who''s the artist?"

    "The Script and Will.i.am," Zachary replied without thinking.

    "Eh!" Paul inclined his head, giving him an arch look. "Are you messing with me? I''m Will.i.am''s biggest fan, yet I''ve never heard that song in any of his albums!"

    "Oh!" Zachary was perplexed. He was about to argue but stopped suddenly¡ªas understanding dawned on him. The song had not yet been released or evenposed.

    "Oh, that was a mistake on my part," he lied, a sheepish smile outlining his face. "I mixed up the artists. Maybe, I heard it on one of the TV shows that I''m watching. I think it might have been a soundtrack. I really can''t recall." Words came out of his mouth at the pace of a machine gun as he tried to rectify his mistake. He didn''t want Paul to begin thinking he was a freak after the song came out monthster.

    He had liked the song in his previous life because listening to it gave him a feeling of aplishment even when he''d failed to seed in his sports career. It inspired him to dream he could achieve the impossible even after he had reached the lowest point in his previous life. In his new life, just before the cup final, the song seemed fitting. He had started humming the tune by reflex.

    "Maybe, we could try Shazaming it," Paul intoned, taking out his phone. "I would really like to download it and add it to my collection." The Swede seemed quite intent on finding out the name of the new song.

    Zachary cursed himself inwardly for being careless with his knowledge of the future. Nheless, he fixed Paul with his meanest stern look before saying: "Do you really want to search for music when the match is only an hour away?"

    "Oh! Sorry captain," he replied in a meek tone, pushing his phone back into his pocket. "I wasn''t thinking straight. I''ll keep focused on the match. I won''t let anything distract me."

    Zachary nodded, finally rxing. He made a mental note to mind his words in the future to avoid leaking any information that wasn''t supposed to be avable in that period.

    He spent the rest of the fifteen-minute bus ride in silence, his eyes closed, his mind solely focused on the match. His mind achieved a state of tranquility that tranted into a soft smile on his lips. He couldn''t know, for sure, whether they would win the final, but he was very optimistic and ready to y. He wanted to emerge from the match without any regrets.

    A few minutester, the bus pulled into the parking lot of the Skonto Hall. Zachary picked up his bag, alighted from the bus, and followed the rest of his teammates and technical staff into the indoor stadium.

    **** ****

    "Hurry up and change into your warm-up kits," Coach Johansen intoned once they arrived in the dressing room. "We only have forty-five minutes left. So, be quick."

    Twenty minutester, the NF Academy yers had concluded their warm-up and had returned to the dressing room. After another fifteen minutes, they had finished donning their dark blue jerseys, shin guards, and boots and were listening to hisst-minute instructions.

    Since he had alreadyid out the game n and all the tactics the previous day, he only gave a brief pep talk. He reminded the starting yers about their positioning in the new formation¡ªand warned them about remaining focused throughout the entire game before sending them out of the dressing room. He had done his best to prepare the yers for the final. The rest would be up to them.

    **** ****

    In the stands, Emily Anderson winced at the abrupt noise. The loudspeakers of the stadium boomed, and the live Englishmentary began.

    "Good afternoon, everyone!" Thementator drawled in heavily ented English. "Today, we''re here to bring you the minute-by-minutementary of the Riga Cup final between NF Academy from Norway and the VfB Stuttgart Youth team from Germany. I''m Ricardo Andres, working for the sports magazine, Mundial. I''m here with my colleague, Mr. Vincent McManaman."

    "Good afternoon, everyone!" Vincent, the othermentator, intoned in an ent that Emily couldn''t ce.

    "On one side, we have one of the best youth sides in Germany. While NF Academy, a team that has never made it to the Riga Cup finals, is on the other." Ricardo, the firstmentator, recited. "Mr. Vincent, what''s your take on the two teams?"

    "Well, we all know that VfB Stuttgart is quite a tough team. They demolished all the teams in their group and went on to defeat Sturm Graz and Tottenham in the knock-out stages. They''re the stronger side on paper since they have Timo Werner, the top scorer, Joshua Kimmich, the best performing midfielder, and lots of other skilled yers in their starting line-up. My money is on them."

    "The NF Academy, on the other hand, has Zachary Bemba. I have to admit that he may be the best yer in this tournament. But, as we havee to see, he''s mostly carrying the team on his own. If the VfB Stuttgart yers can manage to keep him in check, then they''ll surely win the game."

    Ricardo Andres, the othermentator,ughed. "So, the main question in this game remains: Can VfB Stuttgart keep Zachary in check?"

    Emily continued listening to the pre-match analysis by the twomentators until the cheers exploded in the stadium. The yers and the three match-officials were finally entering the pitch. The Riga Cup Final wouldmence in a few minutes.

    **** ****

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, signaling for the kick-off. ?rjan did not dawdle in the center-circle. He raised his leg and immediately kicked the ball towards Zachary in the midfield.

    In a sh, Zachary gauged the situation on the pitch with his A+ spatial awareness as he controlled the ball. In that instant, he noticed three VfB Stuttgart yers, dressed in white, quickly closing in on him. They were fast and would catch up to him in seconds.

    However, he did not panic. In his peripheral vision, he had noticed both Kasongo and Paul making runs in their respective wings, spearing into VfB Stuttgart''s half.

    He raised his foot and unleashed a raking pass towards Kasongo''s path on the left-wing. And, without bothering to check whether Kasongo had controlled the ball, he started sprinting towards the VfB Stuttgart''s box.

    The unexpected long-range pass had caught the VfB Stuttgart yers unawares. It seemed they had presumed Zachary would dribble instead of passing the ball. Moreover, it was still the first minute of the game. All the yers were still napping and suffering from dyed reaction times. So, the pass made its way to NF Academy''s right-winger, unobstructed.

    Kasongo controlled the ball beautifully with his chest and immediately cut inside the pitch, like the wind. Phillipp Mwene, VfB Stuttgart''s left-back, came to close him down right away.

    However, Kasongo didn''t try to dribble past him¡ªbut instead unleashed a grounded cut-back pass, finding Zachary in the middle of the pitch.

    Zachary controlled the ball without halting his sprint. He then dribbled past a defender, who''d sprung up in front of him, making a yard of space for himself. He then continued towards VfB Stuttgart''s box.

    It was a lightning-fast attack in the 1st minute of the Riga Cup finals.

    The VfB Stuttgart yers seemed to be well aware of the danger paused by Zachary. Theypressed their formation, trying to deny him any running space through the middle.

    However, in so doing, they had left a gap on the left nk. Simon Wilske, the VfB Stuttgart right-back, had already moved into the middle to help defend against Zachary, leaving Paul Otterson unmarked.

    Nheless, Zachary didn''t release the ball right away. He continued running at the defenders, drawing their attention away from Paul, on the left-wing. And when they all thought they had cornered him, he dug his left boot beneath the ball and flicked it above their heads, into the box.

    He had timed his pass perfectly. It took all the defenders by surprise, leaving Paul Otterson unmarked with the ball in the box.

    Paul showed his mettle. Hetched on to the brilliant pass and calmly rifled a first-time shot into the bottom right corner.

    1:0.

    In the 1st minute, NF Academy, the underdog, had managed to get the firstugh, even before the fans could warm up to the match. The stadium erupted into a thunderous roar.

 Chapter 79 - Game Progress

    "GOAAAAAL..."

    Zachary sighed and facepalmed as he watched Paul Otterson howling like a hungry wolf after scoring.

    Otterson spread out his hands as he weaved through his teammates like a rugby yer and ran towards the corner g to celebrate his goal. He didn''t stop at that. He added a few mboyant backflips for good measure before settling down to celebrate with the rest of his teammates.

    Zachary didn''t join in the celebrations. He instead reminded his teammates to get back into their positions. They needed to stay focused on the game since only two minutes had passed on the clock. NF Academy still had a long way to go to defeat VfB Stuttgart.

    He knew one of the most-likely moments to concede in ser matches was right after scoring. yers tended to becent after obtaining a lead. They would then end up making mistakes that could result in goals.

    **** ****

    In the stands, Emily Anderson felt excitement sparking within her after Paul Otterson scored the goal. The match had just begun, yet NF Academy had already taken the lead. She wondered what thementators who''d put their money on a VfB Stuttgart win would say after seeing Zachary''s assist.

    "Ladies¡ªand gentlemen," she heard Ricardo Andres, thementator that spoke with a heavy Spanish ent, drawling after the cheers had died down. "NF Academy has done it. Oh, my goodness me! What about that? NF Academy is leading in the second minute, no, the first minute. Vincent, what is your take on that goal?"

    Emily heard Vincent McManaman, the secondmentator, clearing his throat before replying. "As I''d said a few minutes ago, VfB Stuttgart will have to keep Zachary in check if they wish to win the final. This goal is representative of his quick thinking and brilliance in the middle of the field. It took just a couple of seconds for him to take advantage of Kasongo''s run in the left-wing. And luckily, Kasongo did not disappoint. He supplied a precise cut-back pass to Zachary. The number-8 did what he does best. He ran at the defenders, drew their attention away from his teammate, and delivered that tricky little ball over the defense. The boy is simply a genius. NF Academy is in the lead, thanks to him."

    "I have to say both Kasongo Paul and Paul Otterson were instrumental in the buildup to this goal," drawled Ricardo Andres, the firstmentator. "Even ?rjan B?rmark, the center-forward, should be given credit. Don''t you think so, Mr. Vincent?"

    "Absolutely," Vincent McManaman replied firmly. "Zachary wouldn''t have held on to the ball that long if his teammates hadn''t made runs at the VfB Stuttgart''s defensive line. They gave Zachary Bemba a lot of options to choose from when he delivered his final pass. And in so doing, they confused the defense further, winning time for Zachary to create the chance. And special credit should go to Paul Otterson, the left-winger. He timed his run perfectly, avoiding the offside trap by a hair''s breadth. He didn''t loseposure and punished VfB Stuttgart."

    "Well, let''s leave it at that," said Ricardo Andres. "The gamey has restarted, and it seems like VfB Stuttgart is trying their best to score an equalizer right away. Mr. Vincent, do you think this will be a match of many goals?"

    "I really can''t tell at the moment," Vincent McManaman replied. "If the NF Academy can manage to score another goal, we may get to see a multi-goal thriller in the finals. However, if they focus on defense¡ªlike I suspect they will, we may have to sit through a long, drawn-out match¡ªlike their quarter-final against Zenit."

    **** ****

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, awarding a throw-in. Magnus, one of the two NF Academy''s defensive midfielders, had just made a clean sliding tackle, dispossessing Sinan G¨¹m¨¹s and shoving the ball out of y.

    Phillipp Mwene, VfB Stuttgart''s left-back, took the throw-in, quickly releasing Timo Werner on the left nk. Timo used his incredible pace, bolting past ?yvind Alseth, NF Academy''s right-back, and delivered a teasing cross into the box.

    Adrian Grbic, VfB Stuttgart''s center-forward, out-jumped the NF Academy center-backs to meet the ball. He nted a powerful header towards the goal from around the edge of the box. However, his effort ballooned high over the crossbar.

    The referee signaled for a goal-kick.

    Zachary let out a breath of pent up air and turned around to head back to the center-circle. His team had survived yet another attack from the relentless VfB Stuttgart attackers.

    The NF Academy had been under tremendous pressure for the first ten minutes of the game. VfB Stuttgart''s yers hade at them like predators chasing prey, starting from the moment they conceded the goal. They attacked relentlessly using both long and short passes, searching for opportunities to spear into NF Academy''s box.

    However, NF Academy''s four defenders coordinated well with the two defensive midfielders to keep the VfB Stuttgart attackers at bay. They remained disciplined and focused on ying with a high defensive line, often catching the opposing forwards offside. The score was still 1:0 in the 12th minute, thanks to their efforts.

    Zachary was surprised as the match progressed into the 15th minute. He''d noticed that only Philipp F?rster, VfB Stuttgart''s number-8, was marking him. The rest of the midfielders minded other aspects of the game without bothering to track his movements. For the first time, Zachary felt as free as a bird on the field of y. It had been long since he''d enjoyed the freedom orded by being marked by a single yer.

    However, he hadn''t gotten many touches on the ball. The VfB Stuttgart yers had elevated their ying-style to a higher gear after conceding. They arrayed themselves in a triangr 4-3-3 formation and passed the ball through their midfield quickly, probing for weaknesses.

    Zachary noted that Joshua Kimmich was the holding central-midfielder, ced in front of the four defenders. He yed behind two attacking midfielders¡ªthat in turn yed behind three forwards.

    Adrian Grbic was the center-forward. Timo Werner and Felix Lohkemper yed on the left and right nks, respectively. Thetter, two, made runs in the wings, forming passing triangles with Sinan G¨¹m¨¹s and Joshua Kimmich¡ªthe midfielders who were not marking Zachary.

    Joshua Kimmich was exceptional as the control tower of the whole VfB Stuttgart''s formation. Zachary noticed that he was ying almost like the maverick of the German side that day. He had no defined role in the midfield and was unpredictable on the ball.

    Sometimes, Kimmich would shift the ball from right to left, setting his fullbacks free down the wing or searching for the powerful runner Timo Werner on the left-wing. Other times, he would y it cool by slowly passing the ball to his teammates, both in the defense and the midfield. And when the NF Academy yers least expected it, he could make a run through the middle.

    He managed to cause NF Academy several problems with his uncanny passing ability. In the 18th minute, he made space for himself by skipping past Simen Gi?ver, one of NF Academy''s defensive midfielders. He immediately let loose a raking pass that soared over the defense and fell right on the path of Timo Werner.

    Timo, VfB Stuttgart''s number-11, collected the sweet pass on the edge of the box¡ªand in one movement, smashed a shot towards goal. However, Lars Togstad, NF Academy''s number-4, slid in to block the ball and deflect it away from its intended path.

    Daniel Kvande, his counterpart in central defense, pounced on the resulting ball and cleared it away from the box¡ªtowards the middle of the pitch.

    Magnus, the tall NF Academy defensive midfielder, outmuscled his mark and headed the ball towards Zachary in the left midfield.

    Zachary controlled it like a pro, bringing it to the ground in a single motion. And without a pause, he spun with the ball hooked to his left foot, skipping past Philipp F?rster, his marker, before taking off like a racehorse towards the VfB Stuttgart''s half.

    Joshua Kimmich, VfB Stuttgart''s number-6, immediately closed in on him, attempting to block his run. However, Zachary didn''t try to dribble past him. He raised his leg and unleashed a grounded pass towards the left-wing, where Paul Otterson was waiting.

    The NF Academy winger seemed to be on top of his game that day and didn''t disappoint. He controlled the ball like a pro, spun around, and dashed along the touchline, bolting into VfB Stuttgart''s half like the wind. Meanwhile, Zachary continued running in sync with him through the midfield.

    Simon Wilske, VfB Stuttgart''s right-back, came up to intercept Paul Otterson once he was about a dozen yards into the opponent''s half. However, Paul maintained hisposure and unleashed a grounded through-pass towards ?rjan B?rmark, NF Academy''s center-forward. ?rjan had just escaped his marker and made a yard of space for himself at the edge of the box.

    The center-forward controlled the ball beautifully and tried to skip past VfB Stuttgart''s center-backs to step into their box. But the defenders stood their ground and didn''t give him any leeway to run with the ball.

    "?rjan," Zachary yelled as he ran towards VfB Stuttgart''s box. "Pass here."

    The center-forward didn''t dawdle after hearing him yelling. ?rjan flicked the ball onto his right and unleashed a well-timed cut-back pass towards Zachary.

    Zachary didn''t even bother to control the ball. He simply whipped it with his left foot on the first contact, unleashing a missile of a shot towards the goal.

    **** ****

 Chapter 80 - A Game Of Thrills

    In the technical area, Coach Johansen watched the ball shing towards the goal. It rose and dipped at an incredible speed, going on to veer past VfB Stuttgart''s defense and goalkeeper.

    Zachary had spotted Odysseas chodimos, VfB Stuttgart''s goalkeeper, off his line. So, he had gone for a first-time shot from thirty-five yards, using theced part of the boot.

    The keeper was helpless and beaten.

    The fans in the stands had gone quiet, watching Zachary''s long-range effort head towards the goal.

    Zachary, still at the edge of the box, raised his arms to start celebrating, expecting his attempt to find its way to the back of the.

    However¡ª

    "BAM"

    "Goddamn it!" Coach Johansen couldn''t help but curse loudly, punching the air before him, as he watched the ball smash off the crossbar and bounce back into the pitch.

    Nheless, he didn''t look away from the field of y since he''d noticed both Zachary and ?rjan chasing after the loose ball in VfB Stuttgart''s box. He hoped they''d get there first and give the NF Academy an early two-goal advantage. With the way the VfB Stuttgart yers were ying, NF Academy needed a cushion if they wished to hold on to their lead and win the final.

    "Yes," he heard Coach Bj?rn Peters, celebrating from beside him as ?rjan, NF Academy''s center-forward, got to the ball first¡ªbefore the VfB Stuttgart center-backs. With acrobatic mboyance, he nted a diving header towards the bottom left corner.

    However, the VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper was alert that time around. He dived sideways and pushed the ball with his fingertips away from his goal. He had denied NF Academy the chance to extend their lead.

    The referee blew his whistle and pointed towards the corner g.

    "Damn," Coach Bj?rn cursed from beside him. "That''s a gone opportunity. We missed the chance to extend our advantage."

    Coach Johansen nodded without saying anything. Although he could rte to his assistant''s mood, he still hoped his team would get something out of the corner kick.

    "?yvind," he yelled at the top of his voice. "Go ahead and take the corner," he added when the right-back faced towards the technical area. He didn''t forget to signal to ?yvind and the rest of his yers, instructing them on which corner-kick taking routine would be the best at that moment.

    A few secondster, he nodded in satisfaction as he watched six of his tallest yers gather at the edge of the box. They intended to make runs towards different areas to confuse the VfB Stuttgart defenders. That would vastly increase their chances of scoring. In the meantime, Magnus, the tall defensive midfielder, got close to the keeper, waiting to pounce on the loose ball that mighte his way.

    The only tall NF Academy yer that wasn''t in that box was Zachary. He stood right outside the eighteen, waiting for the rebound.

    Coach Johansen was satisfied with the positioning of his yers for the corner kick. It was up to ?yvind to deliver a good corner ball so that NF Academy could extend their lead before it was toote. The earlier they improved their advantage, the better their chances at victory.

    ?yvind, NF Academy''s right-back, didn''t disappoint. He whipped the ball in a circr arc¡ªinto the rowdy group of yers packed within the box.

    There was some pushing and shoving within the box as the ball dropped towards the far post. However, Robin Jatta, NF Academy''s left-back, timed his run superbly, outwitting his mark to connect with the resulting corner ball. He showed his brilliance in the air and managed to nt a header towards the goal, uncontested.

    Coach Johansen raised his arms, anticipating a goal.

    However, Odysseas chodimos, VfB Stuttgart''s goalkeeper, pulled off an excellent save to deny Robin the chance of fixing his name on the score sheet. He dived superbly to stop the ball headed towards the bottom right corner, sending it back into the pitch.

    Timo Baumgartl, VfB Stuttgart''s center-back, got to it first and cleared it towards the left-wing where Joshua Kimmich was waiting.

    Joshua Kimmich brought the ball under control with fluid motion like a Maestro. Without even taking a second touch, he unleashed a lofted pass across the touchline¡ªtowards the centerline where Timo Werner was lurking.

    Joshua Kimmich, VfB Stuttgart''s number-6, had just started a deadly counter right after the corner kick. All the NF Academy yers seemed to be caught unawares as the lightning-fast switch from defense to attack had taken only a single touch to initiate.

    Timo Werner, VfB Stuttgart''s number-11, chested the ball down in the left-wing¡ªclose to the touchline before bolting off into NF Academy''s half.

    The VfB Stuttgart forward was very fast, and NF Academy seemed vulnerable. Coach Johansen was about to start yelling at Kasongo to close down Timo but stopped suddenly. He''d noticed that Zachary was already chasing down the speedy winger.

    Coach Johansen watched Zachary use his incredible pace to catch up to Timo Werner as he cut into the pitch, leaving the nks. Without any suspense, Zachary slid in and shoved the ball away from Timo''s feet, sending him tumbling to the ground.

    Coach Johansen cast a nervous nce towards the linesman standing close to the two yers on the left nk. However, the match official kept his g down, putting him at ease. He let out a breath of pent-up air when he realized that Zachary''s tackle hadn''t resulted in a foul.

    "Zachary must have started chasing down Timo Werner even before Kimmich released the ball," Coach Bj?rn observed from beside him. "It''s like he can predict where the opponents will y the ball even before they initiate the attack. Doesn''t this mean that he always has aplete visual on everyone on the pitch?"

    "Maybe," Coach Johansen replied perfunctorily since all his focus was still on the match. Zachary had just picked up the loose ball and passed it back to Kendrick, NF Academy''s goalkeeper.

    However, the danger wasn''t yet over. Timo Werner, who''d just picked himself from the ground, closed him down immediately.

    Kendrick could only kick the ball high towards the midfield since there were not many NF Academy yers to pass to, close to the box.

    However, in so doing, NF Academy lost possession once more. What followed was a period of VfB Stuttgart dominancy. The German side intensified its attacks, passing the ball around, patiently awaiting an opportunity.

    Joshua Kimmich continued dictating the tempo in midfield as the control tower. Zachary had tried to mark and dispossess him on many asions but failed. The number-6 always yed it safe, opting to pass the ball before Zachary could get to him. He mostly yed two touches on the ball before unleashing through passes towards the VfB Stuttgart forwards. His style was efficient. It helped VfB Stuttgart dominate possession and build up a lot of chances in the following minutes.

    Both Timo Werner and Felix Lohkemper, the VfB Stuttgart forwards on the nks, came close to scoring after receiving defense-splitting passes from him in the 26th and 30th minutes. However, Kendrick had risen to the asion and produced superb saves. Coach Johansen was pleased with his performance.

    The NF Academy defenders were also ying at their best. They managed to block many of the goal attempts made by VfB Stuttgart''s attackers.

    However, Coach Johansen was still dissatisfied with the score. He knew well how dangerous VfB Stuttgart could be as the match progressed since he''d watched the German side''s previous two games.

    The only way he could increase his team''s chances of winning against the much stronger side was by extending his lead before half-time. So, he decided to call on his most-effective yer once again.

    When the ball went out of y for a throw-in, he called Zachary to the touchline.

    "Try to stay around Kimmich for the rest of the first half," he intoned, patting Zachary on the back after he''d arrived close to the technical area. "I''m sure you''ve noticed that a lot of action happens around him. If you keep close to him, you should be able to get an opportunity for a counter-attack if he makes a mistake."

    "That''s is if he ever makes a mistake," Zachary replied, smiling wryly. "But, I''ll try to close him down as soon as possible for the rest of the first half," he added before running back into the pitch.

    The game restarted, and Zachary followed his instructions to the letter. He moved upfront and stayed close to the VfB Stuttgart number-6, making him ufortable in the process. Whenever Kimmich would receive the ball, Zachary would pounce on him instantly without giving him any time or breathing space.

    Kimmich managed to keep hisposure most of the time. He continued ying quick passes to his teammates without allowing Zachary any chance to close him down.

    But Zachary remained patient, waiting around him for an opportunity. And surprisingly, his efforts were rewarded in the 43rd minute.

    Sinan G¨¹m¨¹s, one of the midfielders, yed a loose pass to Kimmich deep in VfB Stuttgart''s half when Zachary was nearby. It was one of those unexpected miskicks that no one could have expected from a yer of his caliber. All the yers around him, including his teammates, were caught off-guard by his rookie mistake.

    However, Zachary managed to pounce on the blind pass, intercepting it before any other yer could get to it. He then went on a solo run, weaving past Kimmich and Philipp F?rster. He swept through the midfield so fast that he was bearing down on the VfB Stuttgart center-backs in no time.

    The two VfB Stuttgart center-backs seemed to have been alerted on how to handle Zachary''s dribbling. They stood their ground before the box, blocking his path without trying to make any wild lunges at the ball.

    Zachary, though, did not try to dribble past them. He did the unexpected instead. He whipped the ball with the inside of his left boot from outside of the eighteen-yard box.

    Coach Johansen watched with nervous anticipation as the ball curled around the two defenders and spun past the goalkeeper¡ªinto the top left corner. Odysseas chodimos, the VfB Stuttgart number-1, could only turn around and watch the ball spinning in the back of the.

    2:0.

    The NF Academy had defied all odds to extend their lead to two goals just before half time. Coach Johansen could not help but celebrate like a maniac, waving his arms around and running back and forth within the technical area.

    **** ****

 Chapter 81 - A Game Of Tactics

    In NF Academy''s dressing room at half-time...

    Coach Johansen could not suppress his smile as he surveyed the yers seated before him. They had outdone themselves through sheer focus and discipline on the pitch. Thanks to their tenacity, they were two goals ahead of VfB Stuttgart in the Riga Cup Final.

    To his delight, they had maintained the air of seriousness required for a final¡ªeven after they''d returned to the dressing room with an advantage at the half-time break. All the yers silently chugged down water from bottles without chattering amongst themselves, as they''d done in previous matches.

    They were seemingly well aware that being in the lead before half-time did not guarantee victory in a match. Coach Johansen nodded in satisfaction. That was the right attitude for apetitive ser game.

    Nheless, he still felt unsure about the game n to adopt for the second half. He wondered whether it would be better to y it safe and restructure his team¡ªback to the 5-4-1 defense-oriented formation. He only needed to protect his lead for the next forty-five minutes¡ªand vo, he would win the final without any risk.

    His mind worked in overdrive, weighing the pros and cons of the defensive formation. And after a few moments of consideration, he decided to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation.

    Both wingers, Kasongo and Paul, had yed remarkably well under the new system. They had made multiple runs, spearing into VfB Stuttgart''s half on several asions before the break. They''d even managed to keep the opposing wing-backs on tenterhooks, rendering them ineffective on the nks. Additionally, the two defensive midfielders in the new formation had helped free up Zachary, allowing him more freedom in the midfield. He surely couldn''t change their ying style after such a remarkable performance.

    He cleared his throat before addressing the yers who were eagerly anticipating his half-time talk. He could see it in their eyes.

    "We will maintain the 4-2-3-1 system in the second half," he began, half-smiling at his yers. "I do hope you remain focused throughout the entire second-half, as you did in the first."

    He paused, letting his gaze settle momentarily on each yer in the room before continuing. "I can''t lie to you that this second-half will be easy. I expect the VfB Stuttgart yers toe at you with all they''ve got¡ªright from the first minute of the second half. But, you have to y the game with courage¡ªwith conviction¡ªwith purpose. You have to be steadfast and deny them any chance of aeback."

    "y at your best and make sure you leave with no regrets after the match. That''s the only way to maintain our lead¡ªand win the final. We''re just forty-five minutes away from bing champions. Don''t squander the opportunity."

    Coach Johansen continued his half-time talk for the next ten minutes. He assigned a few new roles to some of the yers and answered a few questions. He then expounded on the second-half game n to keep VfB Stuttgart at bay before sending the yers back to the pitch.

    **** ****

    In the VfB Stuttgart dressing room, the mood was more somber.

    Coach Ilija Aracic didn''t give his yers a chance to contribute tactics this time around. Things had gone so wrong in the first half. He had no option but to change the game n immediately.

    He had to admit that treating Zachary Bemba like any other talented academy yer had been a mistake on his part. He should never have agreed to the tactic of using one yer to mark such a monster. The boy was already at the level of a professional in a top league. Allowing him to y in an under-18 youth tournament was ''simply'' not fair to the rest of the teams.

    Nheless, Coach Ilija Aracic had to find a way to diminish his impact on the game. Otherwise, VfB Stuttgart would end up being humiliated in a final of such a small tournament. That was ''simply'' uneptable.

    "We''repletely changing our tactics," he began in a somber tone while inscribing the line-up on the whiteboard. "We''ll switch to a 4-4-2 diamond formation in the second half. Timo and Felix will y as the two forwards. Joshua, Kaan, Philipp, and Adrian; you''ll y as the four midfielders." He paused, turning to fix his gaze on the four yers.

    There was some indistinct chatter after Coach Ilija named the four midfielders. The coach had already benched Sinan G¨¹m¨¹s, the midfielder who had made the mistake that resulted in the second goal.

    "Two of you have to keep an eye on Zachary for the remainder of the match," he emphasized, ignoring the chatter. "Don''t make a mistake of leaving him alone, even for a moment. You have to stop him from doing what he wants when he gets the ball. Pull his shirt or something. But, don''t allow him to run through you like you''re just incorporeal. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach," the four midfielders replied in chorus.

    Coach Ilija nodded. "Our defense will stay the same. However, I expect Simon and Mwene, our two wing-backs, to make ovepping runs in the wings. Most of the time, our midfielders will be busy handling Zachary. So, the responsibility of delivering crosses to our forwards will fall most heavily on you."

    Coach Ilija continued giving his pep talk, exining the new game n for the second half. He also singled out yers who had yed sub-par in the first half and pointed out their mistakes without mincing words. He concluded the half-time break by giving a short speech for motivation before sending the squad out of the dressing room. He was sure that VfB Stuttgart could easily overturn NF Academy''s win if they yed at their best. They had done it before, and they could do it again. It all depended on the will of the yers.

    **** ****

    Back on the pitch¡ª

    "Guys," Zachary yelled at his teammates, calling a team huddle. His focus was solely on the game¡ªand nothing else. He was only a single step away from grabbing a sizeable amount of Juju points. He couldn''t let anything get in his way. So, he decided to motivate his teammates before the second half began.

    "It''s now or never," he said when the others formed into a ring on their side of the pitch. "Let''s y and leave with no regrets from the Riga Cup. Our main focus will be on not conceding any goal. As long as we defend well, we''ll get chances to extend our leadter on in the game. Are you with me, guys?"

    "Yes, captain," all the yers in the circle shouted at the top of their lungs.

    "Okay." Zachary nodded. "Let''s go and y at our best," he added, disbanding the team huddle.

    The referee and VfB Stuttgart yers had already taken their positions. They seemed to be waiting for NF Academy to take theirs. The second half of the Riga Cup Finals wouldmence shortly.

    **** ****

    In the stands, Emily Anderson waited anxiously for the second half to start. Around her, some people chattered on about the first half match highlights¡ªwhereas others discussed the yers involved.

    "I wish Riga could buy that number-8," an old man on her left intoned, sighing.

    "Zachary Bemba," a young man beside him corrected.

    "Yes, yes." The old chap nodded. "We should grab him before the other teams do." He sighed once again.

    [Dream on.] Emily thought, shaking her head. She''d already gotten offers from five youth teams present at the tournament. All of them were noteworthy clubs like Tottenham, VfB Stuttgart, Atnta, and others. Nheless, Zachary had not given them any time for even a simple introductory meeting. Yet, some of the Riga FC fans were hoping for her client toe to their club. And that was in a league rated even below the one in Norway. Emily couldn''t ept that. Not on her watch.

    Her only worry was that Zachary had signed a contract with Rosenborg without consulting awyer. She hadn''t gotten a chance to review the document since Zachary had left it back in Trondheim. However, herwyer gut was nagging her that there might be some unfavorable use Zachary had missed. She hoped she was wrong. Otherwise, she would be taking the team to court for duping a minor.

    "Ladies and gentlemen," Ricardo Andres, thementator, drawled, breaking her out of her contemtion. "The second half for the Riga Cup finals is about to start. Mr. Vincent, what say¡ªyou about this second half? Any predictions from you?"

    "I''ve given up on predicting this game," Vincent McManaman, the othermentator, replied. "All the NF Academy yers have elevated their game to another level in this final. I''m really surprised. Kasongo and Otterson, the wingers, looked very dangerous when they attacked via the nks. We ''simply'' can''t judge their performance based on previous matches. Then, there''s the phenomenal yer Zachary Bemba. About him, I have no words." Emily heard him sighing audibly through the loudspeakers. "Let''s just wait and see," he added.

    "What about your money being on VfB Stuttgart?" Ricardo Andres jested. "Have you lost faith already?"

    "Well, let''s leave the money issue out of the match," Vincent McManaman stammered. "The referee is about to blow his whistle. We wouldn''t want to miss the opening while discussing non-issues. Right?"

    **** ****

 Chapter 82 - A Game Of Twists And Turns

    The squads of both teams had already assumed their positions on the pitch. However, the kick-off had been dyed slightly by a VfB Stuttgart substitution right after the break.

    Zachary stood right outside the center-circle, studying the VfB Stuttgart line-up on the other side of the pitch. He was startled on finding out they''d changed their starting formation entirely.

    Timo Werner and Felix Lohkemper had shifted inwards from the nks. They stood on either side of the ball, on the center-spot, waiting to kick-off the second half.

    The four VfB Stuttgart midfielders had arrayed themselves in a tightly knit diamond shape,pressing the space in the middle. From the way they stood on the pitch, Zachary guessed they intended to y with a 4-4-2 formation rather than the 4-3-3 system they''d used in the first half.

    It seemed the VfB Stuttgart coach intended to utilize wing y and crosses to the two strikers. They had abandoned their signature ying-style which featured stable passing through midfield.

    Zachary couldn''t begin to predict how the change would affect the game. But he knew perfectly well that they were at a high risk of losing if they conceded even a single goal despite still holding the lead. He hoped the defenders would do their job perfectly and keep the VfB Stuttgart attackers at bay as they''d done in the first half.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally blew his whistle. The second half of the Riga Cup final started with a VfB Stuttgart kick-off.

    The attack came at NF Academy like a hurricane sweeping through a coastal vige right after kick-off. Joshua Kimmich received the ball and made a first-time pass to the left-wing where Phillipp Mwene, the left-back, was waiting.

    The left-back received the ball and swiftly advanced close to the touchline, heading towards NF Academy''s half. Kasongo, NF Academy''s right-winger, was very alert and closed him down immediately.

    However, Mwene passed the ball to Kaan Akkaya, the substitute midfielder who''de on for Sinan G¨¹m¨¹s at half time.

    The VfB Stuttgart number-16, controlled the ball beautifully in the left midfield, skipping past Simen Gi?ver, one of NF Academy''s defensive midfielders, with his first touch. He then looked up and unleashed a defense-splitting pass towards the right-wing, where Adrian Grbic, VfB Stuttgart''s former center forward, was lurking. The pass soared above the NF Academy yers and made its way to the right-wing, unobstructed.

    Adrian, the VfB Stuttgart right-winger, chested the ball down, shoving it towards Simon Wilske, the right-back.

    Simon controlled the ball mid-sprint on the right nk. He didn''t use any more time to orient himself and immediately sped off towards the corner g.

    Robin Jatta, NF Academy''s left-back, came to intercept him soon after. However, Simon immediately sent a teasing cross into the box before Robin could close him down.

    Timo Werner, one of the two VfB Stuttgart forwards, drifted into the box like a ghost, escaping his minders skillfully. He connected with the fantastic cross and attempted to surprise the goalkeeper with a snapshot¡ªoff his right boot.

    But the goddess of luck seemed to be on NF Academy''s side that time around. His shot smashed off the right post and bounced towards the left-wing.

    Robin Jatta, NF Academy''s left-back, met the ball as it moved out of the box and cleared it away to safety.

    NF Academy had narrowly survived conceding a goal only three minutes into the second half.

    "Focus, boys!" yelled Coach Johansen from the sideline. "Defenders, don''t let their forwards get ahead of you when the ball enters the box," he added at the top of his lungs, though the yers in question seemed not to be listening.

    For the next fifteen minutes, the VfB Stuttgart yers intensified their bouts of attacking. Their midfield was morepacted into a diamond shape, allowing a more stable passing style and faster release of the ball to forwards and wingers. Their backline was constantly pressed-up to the centerline, ready to send the ball back into NF Academy''s half.

    As the game progressed, Zachary realized that VfB Stuttgart had switched to a strategy simr to that employed by ADO Den Haag in the semifinals. The midfielders fed passes to the nks as quickly as possible. The wingers and the wing-backs sprinted next to the touchline, then dribbled a bit before delivering crosses behind the defense.

    The entire VfB Stuttgart squad relentlessly applied more pressure on their opponents'' defense. The NF Academy defenders and goalkeeper were constantly on tenterhooks, watching out for the crosses and runs into the box by the two VfB Stuttgart forwards. Nheless, they held on, denying the VfB Stuttgart forwards all chances to write their names on the score sheet.

    Zachary noticed a problem with his team as the clock approached the 70th minute. The defenders had started getting frustrated after weathering VfB Stuttgart''s attacks for most of the second half. A few of them began making reckless challenges, hoping to win the ball back as quickly as possible.

    In the 72nd minute, ?yvind Alseth, NF Academy''s right-back, tripped Adrian Grbic on the right-wing. He hadmitted a foul in the process of trying to stop the skipper from getting past him.

    The referee blew his whistle, signaling for a freekick.

    NF Academy defended against the freekick sessfully.

    However, that didn''t end the dilemma. Tackles continued flying all over NF Academy''s side of the pitch.

    In the 75th minute, Robin Jatta, NF Academy''s number-3, toppled another opponent, sending him tumbling to the ground on the left nk.

    The referee did not show any mercy that time around. He awarded VfB Stuttgart a freekick once more and showed a yellow card to Robin.

    "Boys, calm down, calm down," Coach Johansen shouted from the sidelines in an attempt to straighten out his yers. However, his words fell on deaf ears.

    Tempers in the final red to unbearable levels as the final whistle grew closer.

    There was no single yer in the NF Academy defense who would let any opponent get past them, especially in thest quarter of an hour on the clock. They were merely doing their best to deny VfB Stuttgart chances of scoring.

    The defenders continued muscling the VfB Stuttgart forwards, sometimes upending them, when they tried to prate the box. As a result, three more NF Academy yers had received yellow cards by the 78th minute.

    Things weren''t looking good for Zachary''s team.

    He was frustrated. He had barely gotten any touches on the ball in the second half. The four VfB Stuttgart midfielders had created a pressing zone around him. They had managed to block off most passes en-route to him. Moreover, the German side had shifted their attack strategy to the wings, pushing the game action further away from him. He was ying in a desert of balls.

    However, he didn''t mind the status quo. As long as his team maintained its lead, he would happily ept remaining isted. He understood that the more the midfielders concentrated on him, the lesser the damage they could do to NF Academy upfront.

    His thoughts had only changed when signs of frustration began manifesting in the ying style of his teammates. They were making a lot of unnecessary tackles and were running the risk of receiving red cards. He had to do something to calm their nerves. The best way to achieve that was attacking and giving them hope that they were closer to winning the game. But he had to find a way to get away from his minders first.

    **** ****

    In the stands, Emily watched the game keenly, catching every single second of y. As the match progressed, the tension she felt grew.

    She couldn''t understand why she was so deeply engrossed in the ups and downs of that match. She''d ''simply''e to watch her client y, yet she''d ended up bing NF Academy''s biggest fan.

    The experience was unnerving.

    Every part of her quivered with anxiety as she watched Zachary''s team endure VfB Stuttgart''s relentless attacks. She had never hoped more for the referee to blow the final whistle.

    Emily had lost count of how many times VfB Stuttgart hade close to scoring. Crosses endlessly flew into NF Academy''s box while shots asionally smashed off the posts after failed attempts.

    But what worried her most was the burgeoning number of foulsmitted by the NF Academy defense. She couldn''t understand why Zachary''s teammates couldn''t stay calm and y the same way they''d done in the first half.

    Only Kendrick, the goalkeeper, had maintained his high level of performance. The rest looked sub-par. Emily was contemting recruiting him as her second client from Norway. But, she intended to see more of his performances before making the decision.

    Emily sighed, shaking her head. The annoyingmentators kept yapping on about how NF Academy was most likely going to lose. Theymented on every NF Academy mistake with delight, like they wished Zachary''s team would lose. She didn''t like their voices, one bit.

    "I think the NF Academy yers are finally copsing under the pressure," she heard Andres Ricardo yell in his heavy ent. "That was a beautiful defense-splitting pass from Joshua Kimmich. But, Felix Lohkemper, the VfB Stuttgart forward, fails to score once again. Vincent! What do you think is wrong with VfB Stuttgart? We''re in the 82nd minute, yet they''ve failed to put one past NF Academy¡ªan underperforming team ever since the beginning of the second half!"

    "Ricardo, let me correct you there," said Vincent McManaman, the secondmentator. "NF Academy is not underperforming. They ''simply'' can''t handle the much stronger German side."

    "So, why isn''t VfB Stuttgart able to score?" Ricardo asked in a seemingly amused tone.

    "Maybe, some bad luck on their side of things," said Vincent, his voice steady. "I really can''t be sure. But if they manage to score even a single goal within the next five minutes¡ªthey can put two more past NF Academy in no time. They ''just'' need to get that first goal past the defense. That''s what they should focus on at the moment." He emphasized.

    "Let''s wait and..." Ricardo, the firstmentator, paused mid-sentence. "Oh my God! What do we have here? Ayi, ya¡ªya¡ªya! Oh, my goodness me! The referee is pointing to the penalty spot. What happened?"

    Emily''s attention was on the pitch at that moment. A cross hade into the box from the left-wing, threatening to find Felix Lohkemper, the VfB Stuttgart forward. However, one of the defenders stepped in and cleared the ball to safety. She couldn''t understand why the referee was pointing to the penalty spot.

    "And, there we have it," yelled Ricardo Andres, thementator, solving her doubts. His tone had turned climatic. "Daniel Kvande, NF Academy''s center-back, has handled the ball within the box. It is a handball within the box¡ªand that means a penalty has been awarded to VfB Stuttgart. But what does it mean for Daniel, the young NF Academy center-back? He already has a yellow card."

    Emily felt her mood sink as she listened to thementary. [Is my client going to lose his firstpetitive final?] She wondered, continuing to follow the proceedings in the stadium.

    "Oh, my!" Ricardo continued in a dramatic tone after a slight pause. "The referee has produced a second yellow card¡ªand now he is picking the red card from his pocket. Oh, my! What a turn of events!" His voice rose to a crescendo. "NF Academy will have toplete the game with a man down. It''s a red card in the 84th minute. Vincent, what''s your take on this?"

    "This is a chance for VfB Stuttgart to take the lead," Vincent McManaman, the secondmentator, said coolly. "They''ve got so many phenomenal yers in their squad. They can take advantage of this and overturn NF Academy''s advantage within the next five minutes plus injury time. It seems we''re set for an exciting match ending in the Riga Cup final."

    Emily could only sigh as she watched the NF Academy defender trekking dejectedly off the pitch.

    NF Academy was in a precarious situation.

    **** ****

 Chapter 83 - A Tense Moment

    Zachary felt anxiety flooding his system as he watched Lars trudge listlessly off the pitch. His heart pounded like it was trying to escape his body when he saw Timo Werner stepping up to take the penalty. The striker had always been clinical in his previous life. There was very little chance he would miss a spot-kick.

    As he silently watched the proceedings, he felt beads of sweat trickle down his brow. His throat thickened. He couldn''tin or argue with the referee over the decision, even though he had a sound argument.

    He believed the handball had been a ball-to-hand event, but there was nothing he could. The referee had already pointed to the penalty spot. He could only hope Kendrick would pull off a miracle and stop the penalty.

    Zachary had never been a religious person. But at that moment, he recited a silent prayer to the Almighty (if there was one) to help NF Academy survive the penalty.

    He hoped his team would still go¡ªon to win the final despite being a man down after the red card. He wanted the victory. He needed the Juju-points.

    He knew better than to try to give Kendrick, the goalkeeper, any advice on the approach to take against the penalty. That would confuse him instead. He even stayed away from the group of yers crowding before NF Academy''s eighteen-yard box, choosing to remain close to the middle of the field instead. At that moment, he had to trust his goalkeeper. It was the only thing he could do.

    **** ****

    In between the goalposts, Kendrick jumped around¡ªalong his line. He was waiting for Timo Werner, the VfB Stuttgart top scorer, to take the penalty.

    He didn''t forget to stare down the striker. Penalty taking was always a sh of wills. However, Timo ignored his antics, choosing to nce at the referee instead.

    If Kendrick had to be honest with himself, he would admit he was a bit anxious. NF Academy was going to y with a man down for the remainder of the game. Judging by the way VfB Stuttgart had yed from the beginning of the second half, they would significantly increase their chances of winning if they managed to convert the penalty. Kendrick was determined to stop that from happening.

    So, he smothered the tiny sliver of anxiety and focused on the ball instead.

    Zachary and Paul¡ªhis brother, had already done NF Academy a big favor by scoring two goals. It was his turn to do his part and save them from conceding. That was his responsibility as a goalkeeper.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, signaling for Timo Werner to take the penalty.

    At that moment, Kendrick had all his attention focused on the forward, trying to gauge the direction the ball would take from his kicking posture.

    His knees were bent forward slightly to give himself more spring power when he dived to make the save. He had made sure to spread his arms out wide in an attempt to make himself look ''bigger'' in goal.

    The fans quieted down, eagerly awaiting the penalty kick.

    Timo Werner finally started his short run to the ball. Without giving Kendrick much time to deliberate, he whipped the ball with the top of his right boot.

    Kendrick didn''t manage to gauge which direction the ball was heading from Timo''s kicking posture. So, he made a snap decision to go with his gut.

    As soon as Timo Werner''s boot made contact with the ball, Kendrick jumped towards his left, fullymitting himself to the dive. He fervently hoped the ball woulde his way.

    The goddess of luck seemed to have favored NF Academy that day. Kendrick smiled midair as he noticed the balling straight at him. He''d won the gamble, and all that remained was propelling the ball out of the pitch.

    However, it had been traveling so fast that it reached him before he could push out his hands. It hit him on his folded forearms and bounced off to the left side of the eighteen-yard box.

    **** ****

    Zachary had almost started celebrating after Kendrick made the spectacr save. However, he stopped himself when he noticed the ball had rebounded back into the field of y.

    The danger had not yet passed.

    Felix Lohkemper, the other VfB Stuttgart forward, came rushing in for the rebound and whipped the ball as he slid to the ground.

    Kendrick rose to the asion once again. With acrobatic mboyance, the goalkeeper picked himself from the ground¡ªand quickly blocked the shot.

    Kasongo pounced on the resulting loose ball and kicked it away from the box. His only intention was to clear it to safety without bothering to control its direction. As a result, it went almost straight towards the edge of the box, where plenty of the VfB Stuttgart yers were waiting.

    Zachary winced as he watched Kimmich meet the ball around the arc of the box and unleash a missile of a shot back¡ªtowards the goal.

    He was already regretting staying away from the box to defend against the penalty. To his delight, NF Academy survived once more.

    Magnus, the tall defensive midfielder, sprung into the path of the shot, deflecting it away from the goal.

    Since the area before the penalty box was crowded with yers, several pounced on it and ended up fumbling it.

    And once again, NF Academy was in luck.

    Zachary sprang into action when he saw Paul Otterson finally clear the ball out of the box. The Swede had kicked it hard enough to make it soar high up in the air¡ªheading towards the touchline.

    NF Academy had finally survived a penalty.

    Most of the yers were under the impression the ball was heading out of y. They thought it would result in a throw-in. That would conveniently give them a much-needed break to sort out their formation after the red card. They''d even started high-fiving Kendrick to congratte him for saving the penalty.

    But not everyone on the NF Academy squad shared the same mindset.

    Zachary had started running the moment Paul Otterson kicked the ball from the box. With his A+ spatial awareness, he''d only taken a moment to judge that the ball would bounce in the field of y before going over the touchline.

    He was determined to get to it before that happened. So, he raced across the field, his legs moving like a boxer''s fists working on a mini punching-bag.

    He didn''t forget to track the ball''s trajectory high above him as he ran to the left-wing, like a cheetah sprinting in the wild.

    His efforts paid off.

    He managed to get to the ball just inside NF Academy''s half as it was mid-bounce, only a few inches away from the touchline. It had almost escaped him, but he''d slid in to control it within an outstretched foot.

    Without wasting any moment, he picked himself from the ground and turned quickly to face the field of y. He moved swiftly, intent on taking full advantage of his freedom before the VfB Stuttgart yers closed him down.

    But he was surprised to find Timo Baumgartl, the VfB Stuttgart center-back, rushing towards him. The number-5 was fast and would be upon him in only a couple of seconds.

    Nheless, he didn''t panic. He rxed his stance and flicked the ball to his left. He made it seem he intended to run with the ball along the touchline.

    And as he expected, the VfB Stuttgart center-back bought the feint. He stretched out a leg, trying to tackle the ball from Zachary''s feet at that moment.

    Zachary smiled as he hooked the ball with his left boot, pulling it back to himself. Without a pause, he then shoved it in between the legs of the center-back. He moved as fluidly as a fish navigating the sea.

    The number-5 went down and remained seated on the ground, wondering what had happened.

    Zachary didn''t rx even one bit after getting past the defender. He went on a wild rampage instead.

    The counterattack was on.

    At that point, Zachary could have passed to Paul Otterson or Kasongo, who had joined the counter as soon as they''d seen him collect the ball on the left-wing. However, he felt like he was possessed by something that was urging him to remain in motion.

    He elerated for a while, slowed down slightly, and then madly sprinted through the few VfB Stuttgart yers that had managed to make it back to defend against his lightning-fast attack.

    The VfB Stuttgart goal was getting closer. Zachary raced on, almost in apnea. His lungs screamed for breath as he dashed past the final defender and came face to face with the goalkeeper.

    As usual, he maintained hisposure. He dug his foot under the ball and flicked it over the helpless goalkeeper.

    3:0.

    NF Academy had managed to extend its lead in the 87th minute, just after surviving the penalty.

    The detractors were shocked.

    The whole stadium exploded into a thunderstorm of cheers as Zachary found more stamina to run to the technical area to celebrate.

    **** ****

 Chapter 84 - The Six-Minute Finale I

    In the stands, Emily''s eyes sparkled as she watched Zachary celebrate his goal. Her mouth drew back at the corners into a smile as she recalled the crazy lightning-fast counterattack.

    Only a few minutes ago, she''d been brooding over the possibility of NF Academy losing the game after receiving a red card. But, in a matter of seconds, Zachary had gone ahead to extend NF academy''s lead.

    She hadn''t expected the turn of events, but she was happy, nheless. Zachary''s team was only a few moments away from winning the Riga Cup final.

    "That was unexpected," she heard Ricardo Andres, one of thementators, speak after the cheers died down.

    "Yes, that was truly unexpected," Vincent McManaman, the secondmentator, replied. "I''m truly speechless."

    "3:0," Ricardo chipped in. "That''s a score I wouldn''t have expected at the start of the final. NF Academy has a huge advantage over VfB Stuttgart. Mr. Vincent, we didn''t get a chance to review the penalty. What is your take on that missed opportunity?"

    "Well, there was nothing wrong with Timo''s technique," said Vincent, his voice t. "He picked one side and took the penalty pretty well, giving it some elevation. On a good day, a keeper wouldn''t have been able to get to it."

    "I guess today isn''t one of those good days," Ricardo Andres cut in.

    "VfB Stuttgart has been extraordinarily unlucky today," Vincent concurred. "With the chances they''ve created, they should have put at least two past the keeper."

    "But, some credit should go to NF Academy''s goalkeeper as well," Ricardo interrupted. "He has been excellent today. The way he saved that penalty, then immediately stopped the rebound from Felix Lohkemper, the other VfB Stuttgart forward, deserves a round of apuse."

    "Yes," Vincent chipped in. "But, the anomaly in this tournament is still Zachary Bemba. He reacted to that ball and saved it from going out of y when it was only a few inches from the touchline. What control¡ªwhat pace¡ªwhatposure! He''s now the joint top scorer of the tournament, tied with Timo Werner at twelve goals. This is one yer already performing above the academy level."

    "Let me remind you he''s just seventeen," Ricardo intoned.

    Emily heard Vincent sighing audibly through the loudspeakers. "That''s what makes him a monster," thementator said in a mncholy tone. "Any club that gets him will be quite lucky."

    "Let''s leave it at that," intoned Ricardo. "The coach of NF Academy has reacted right away. He''s calling for two substitutions. Martin Lundal, a defender, ising on in ce of ?rjan B?rmark, the center-forward. On the other hand, Aleksander Foosn?s, another defender, will rece Paul Otterson, the left-winger. Mr. Vincent, what''s your take on this?"

    "Well, it''s a good call," Vincent said coolly. "NF Academy has a three-goal lead, but they also have to y with a man down for the remaining minute, plus injury time. The coach intends to protect his advantage for those few minutes¡ªand vo, he''ll be champion. Bringing on two defenders is the right call in this situation."

    **** ****

    Back on the pitch¡ª

    "Guys," Zachary yelled at his teammates. "We''re almost there. Although we are ahead by three goals, don''t lose focus. We need to defend." He pped his hands for emphasis.

    All the yers had already taken their positions. They were merely waiting for the referee to blow his whistle for the resumption of y.

    Zachary tingled with excitement. He felt like the trophy was just one step away. Yet, he knew very well that the match wasn''t over. Together with his teammates, they still had a job to do.

    They had to deny VfB Stuttgart any chances of pulling off aeback, no matter how slim they were. That meant they had to y at their highest level of concentration for the remaining minutes.

    Zachary had assumed the VfB Stuttgart yers would lose all motivation after conceding the third goal. However, he was surprised to see the familiar unwavering hunger for a win in their eyes as they waited to restart the game. They hadn''t given up yet. Zachary could see it in their bodynguage.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and the game restarted.

    VfB Stuttgart''s attack was fiercer than before. All their yers seemed to have abandoned the defense and kept pressing NF Academy back into its half. Their stance ignored all protection of their goal, putting all resources into attacking.

    They yed with only two defenders, stationed at the half-way line. The rest poured forward to exert pressure on the ten NF Academy yers. They seemed fully intent on reaping benefits from their numerical advantage.

    Phillipp Mwene and Simon Wilske, the two wing-backs, had moved even further ahead. They were practically ying as wingers. The two of them caused the most trouble for Zachary and his teammates. Their frequent crosses into the box were a constant headache for the NF Academy yers.

    On the other hand, all the ten NF Academy yers had pulled back into their own half to defend against VfB Stuttgart''s relentless attacks. Even Zachary had changed positions and was ying as a defensive midfielder for the final minutes of the game.

    Magnus, the tall number-6, had moved even further back to y as a center-back. The coach had allocated him the position due to his towering height. His presence in the defense helped NF Academy against the deadly VfB Stuttgart crosses.

    Zachary felt more assured of NF Academy''s win as the clock hit the 90th minute. However, the fourth official soured his mood when he put up a board showing six additional minutes as injury time.

    Six minutes felt like ten years at that point in the game. Zachary was sure his teammates were feeling extremely exhausted. They''d been ceaselessly defending against VfB Stuttgart''s attacks right from the start of the second half.

    Moreover, Lar''s red card had added more mental pressure on them. They would tire even faster in thest stages of the game. Notwithstanding, they all continued working hard, holding up against the endless VfB Stuttgart efforts.

    In the 92nd minute, Joshua Kimmich and Philipp F?rster moved further forward and started ying as false strikers. What followed was a series of even fiercer attacks¡ªwith the German side mixing a couple of long-range shots in their goal attempts.

    In the 93rd minute, Phillipp Mwene, the VfB Stuttgart left-back, received another lofted pass from Timo Baumgartl, the center-back. Like he''d done the entire match, he yed a one-two with Kaan Akkaya, the attacking midfielder, advancing further into NF Academy''s half along the touchline.

    However, instead of crossing, Phillipp Mwene unleashed a cut-back pass towards the edge of the box. The change in attacking style caught the NF Academy yers unawares since they''d been expecting a cross into the box.

    Joshua Kimmich met the ball uncontested just outside the box and let lose a first-time shot at the goal.

    Magnus raced forward to block the ball. However, NF Academy seemed to have used up its luck. The ball was traveling too fast. It deflected off his thigh and found its way to the back of the.

    3:1.

    Joshua Kimmich had finally scored VfB Stuttgart''s first goal in the 93rd minute. Kendrick didn''t manage to react due to the slight deflection that had taken the ball off its original course.

    Zachary sighed as he watched the VfB Stuttgart yers pick up the ball from the and carry it back to the center spot. Despite all the NF Academy''s efforts, the German side had still managed to put one goal past them with a little more than two minutes remaining.

 Chapter 85 - The Six-Minute Finale II

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, and gamey restarted after the goal.

    NF Academy kicked off the game, but the VfB Stuttgart yers quickly regained possession. They then attacked even more aggressively than before. The goal seemed to have reinvigorated them, pushing them to perform at a level much higher than their peaks. They fully exploited their numerical advantage.

    Phillipp Mwene, the left-winger, yed even better. In the 95th minute, he dribbled past a tired Kasongo¡ªand delivered a brilliant lofted pass into the crowded NF Academy box.

    Felix Lohkemper, the VfB Stuttgart forward, out-jumped the defense inside the six-yard box and nted a header past Kendrick into the back of the.

    3:2.

    VfB Stuttgart was on fire.

    The NF Academy was under immense pressure.

    Zachary felt helpless. The effects of the red card had started to manifest. VfB Stuttgart had almost caught up to them, thanks to that. However, he rejoiced since the sixth minutes of injury time had nearly psed. They ''simply'' had to defend for a few seconds, and they would be champions. So, he went around, shouting at his teammates to focus on the game for that final minute.

    **** ****

    In the stands, Emily''s back muscles had already gone numb from nervous tension as she watched the final minute of the match. She''d been sure that NF Academy would win the game six minutes ago. But at that very moment, she felt like VfB Stuttgart was the team most likely to emerge as champions of the Riga Cup after the final.

    "The six minutes of added time are over," she heard Ricardo Andres, thementator, drawl in his heavily ented English. "However, the referee isn''t blowing the final whistle. VfB Stuttgart is still on the attack, knocking on NF Academy''s door. They are intent on getting an equalizer before the final whistle. What a match!" He sighed heavily.

    "The referee is just adding in the few minutes the NF Academy yers spent when restarting the gamey after they''d conceded the two goals," Vincent McManaman chipped in. "Serves them right for trying to waste time thiste in the match." To Emily, thementator seemed a little too excited.

    "Oh my!" Andres yelled excitedly. "Timo Werner, the VfB Stuttgart forward¡ªwho missed the penalty, has controlled a pass expertly inside the penalty area. He shoots. But s, a defender has managed to block the shot. He has deflected it away from the goal. The ball is out of y. The referee first looks at his watch before awarding a corner." He was intoning words so fast as he delivered thementary.

    "Oh my goodness me! What do we have here?" Andres continued. "Odysseas, the VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper, ising forward to participate in the corner kick. VfB Stuttgart is fully intent on scoring an equalizer in the 97th minute. They aremitting their entire squad forward."

    Emily felt her heart quicken as she watched every VfB Stuttgart yer crowd before NF Academy''s box.

    [Who would emerge as victors?] She wondered.

    **** ****

    "Guys," Zachary yelled at the rest of his teammates. "We''re almost there. Only a single minute remains. Let''s defend. Man-on-man. Don''t leave anyone unmarked in the box. Kasongo, you mark Kimmich at the edge of the box. Magnus mark that tall center-back over there. Robin, stay with their goalkeeper. Don''t allow him even an inch of space. ?yvind, mark the goal post." Words came out of his mouth at the pace of a machine gun as he tried to organize his teammates and ready them for the corner.

    He'' had never wished more for the final whistle in his life. He didn''t want the game to extend into extra time. If that happened, VfB Stuttgart would demolish them due to their numerical advantage.

    Moreover, his teammates were already tired after weathering the German side''s relentless attacks for the whole second half. They had to defend against the corner kick sessfully, or they would lose the final. Zachary was sure of that.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    Amid that chaos in the box, the referee blew his whistle, signaling Phillipp Mwene to take the corner. There was the asional little pushing and shoving around Zachary as they waited for the ball.

    Mwene, the left-back, served up a teasing lofted pass into the box. Odysseas, the VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper, timed his run perfectly to connect with the ball as he muscled Robin for aerial superiority. He managed to nt a header towards the goal from around the penalty spot.

    But luckily, Kendrick, NF Academy''s goalkeeper, rose to the asion. He jumped with acrobatic mboyance and punched the ball away from the goal, towards the outside of the box.

    However, the threat from VfB Stuttgart was still atrge. Joshua Kimmich met the ball at the edge of the box and unleashed a missile of a shot at goal.

    But once again, luck was on NF Academy''s side.

    Zachary had been tracing the trajectory of the ball with his high-level spatial awareness. Without any fear, he jumped into the path of the shot and deflected it away from the box.

    But he didn''t rx even after the sessful block. Instead, he chased after the ball as it flew mid-air. He was fully intent on getting to it before any other yer. He''d noticed that the VfB Stuttgart keeper was still in NF Academy''s box, trying his luck at scoring. Zachary intended to punish him for leaving his goal.

    **** ****

    Emily let up a breath of pent-up air when Zachary blocked Kimmich''s shot. But her heart quickened when she noticed Zachary trailing the ball with his incredible pace.

    "Oh my!" She heard Ricardo Andres yell, his tone climatic. "NF Academy has survived the corner kick. However, it''s VfB Stuttgart''s turn to worry. Zachary Bemba is chasing after the ball. Odysseas chodimos, the VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper, has started running back to his half. Are we about to see another swift counter from the NF Academy skipper? What a turn of events..."

    Emily''s skin tingled with excitement as she watched Zachary skillfully sidestep a VfB Stuttgart defender and continue after the ball. He got to it faster than any other yer, just a couple of a dozen yards away from his box.

    He controlled it skillfully with an outstretched foot and took a single nce at the other end of the pitch. The fans around Emily quietened as the NF Academy captain raised his foot and whipped the ball high¡ªtowards the other half of the field.

    "Oh my goodness me!" Andres, thementator, yelled at the top of his voice. "Zachary has unleashed a shot towards the VfB Stuttgart goal from deep inside his half. Odysseas, the VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper, is still racing back across the pitch. Will Zachary''s long-range effort find the target? Or will Odysseas get back first? Unbelievable..." His voice had hit a crescendo.

    Emily shut out the voices as she alternated between following the ball''s trajectory, up in the air, and watching the VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper, on the ground, sprinting back to his goal. The few seconds felt like eons as she tried to gauge whether Zachary''s effort was on target.

    The ball arrived at the zenith of its flight and started its descent at an ever-increasing speed¡ªas gravity worked on it. Without any surprise, it reached VfB Stuttgart''s box before the keeper could get back.

    Emily abruptly stood up from her seat as she watched the ball bounce once¡ªtwice¡ªand then thrice before homing into the back of an empty. GOAL.

    4:2:

    In the 98th minute, Zachary had managed to score yet another spectacr goal from over 80 yards away.

    The crowd erupted in cheers and apuse.

    A triumphant smile alighted on Emily''s lips. This time NF Academy had ''certainly'' won the finals. There was no doubt about that.

 Chapter 86 - Victors

    As he celebrated with his teammates, Zachary felt waves of happiness flow through him like warm ocean waves, washing away all his fatigue. He felt refreshed¡ªboth inside and out, even though he had been running all over the field.

    He savored the memory of when he''d scored the goal. The feeling blooming inside him was like a blissful evocation of that moment when he''d watched that ball soar into the back of the from 80 yards away. He yearned for plenty more such moments.

    He longed to score more match-winning goals and experience simr delight as his career progressed. He could easily get addicted to such joy. He hade to learn that without happiness, life was meaningless.

    The whole team, including the bench, joined in the celebration. Zachary hugged his teammates tightly, forming a sort of chaotic team huddle, singing excitedly. They didn''t care one bit about the referee¡ªwho was trying his best to get them back on the pitch. NF Academy was two goals ahead, in the 98th minute, way past the designated injury time. They had ''definitely'' won the Riga Cup final.

    "Guys," Kendrick shouted, trying to break his teammates out of the jubnt mood. "Let''s go back and finish this. We''ll celebrate after the final whistle."

    Zachary came back to himself after hearing Kendrick''s voice. "Guys," he also yelled when he noticed that none of his teammates was trying to break out of the huddle. "Let''s go back to the pitch and y the final few seconds of the match. We have all the weekend to celebrate after this final." He added at the top of his lungs.

    When his teammates heard his voice, they didn''t dawdle. They instantly returned to their positions on the field, waiting for the resumption of y. However, none of them could mask their joy. They all grinned like goris that had found themselves in a ntation of ripe bananas.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, and the gamey restarted with a VfB Stuttgart kick-off. Felix Lohkemper, the VfB Stuttgart forward, raised his leg and kicked the ball towards the left-wing where Phillipp Mwene, the left-back, was waiting.

    Zachary felt admiration for the VfB Stuttgart yers as he watched their entire squad rush forward to attack once again. They hadn''t given up even at thest minute. They swept towards NF Academy''s half like a hurricane as if they wanted to get a goal that very second. Zachary was certain they would have scored if they had been allowed an extra minute of match time.

    However¡ª

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew his whistle before they could reach NF Academy''s box. The Riga Cup final had finallye to a close in the 99th minute.

    The NF Academy yers started celebrating once more.

    **** ****

    Coach Johansen couldn''t suppress a smile while watching his yers celebrating their win after the final whistle. Watching the game from the sidelines had been like a ride on a roller coaster. His heart had leaped to his throat when VfB Stuttgart came close to scoring with theirst corner kick. However, Zachary had gone ahead and done what he does best. He had turned the entire game around within a few seconds.

    With the Riga Cup in hand, he possessed a slim chance of sessfully applying for a better position at Rosenborg. He had heard that the club was about to begin a Back-to-the-Roots-Project aimed at taking back its ce at the top of the league.

    The management was not pleased with the club''s performance after Coach Nils Eggen''s departure in 2010. Rosenborg had only managed to finish third the previous season under the new head coach, Jan J?nsson. Both the chairman and sporting director were actively searching for a coach who understood the club and its yers well. They wanted a manager who could work well with the current squad of locally grown talents to take the club back to the top. Coach Johansen was determined to contest for that position.

    He didn''t want to sit back and be manager for the reserve team the following year. He wished to be involved in the top league action instead. His goal had always beenpeting with the big names in the ser industry. With a talented prodigy like Zachary, he felt he had a chance of taking Rosenborg back to the top in his first year as manager. That was if he could sessfully get the job.

    "Coach, you''re not joining in the celebrations?" said a voice from behind him.

    Coach Johansen inclined his head and noticed that Zachary had at some point sneaked behind him. "Won''t you be joining the rest as well?" He retorted, patting the skipper on his shoulder.

    Zachary smiled, shaking his head. "I''m taking some time to rx. But mostly, I''m hiding from those overzealous reporters. They''ve been chasing me all over the field ever since the game ended." He sighed.

    Coach Johansen nodded. "But you''ll have to get used to the press if you intend to be a pro."

    "I know," Zachary intoned, nodding. "It feels so surreal to win the cup. But, I believe this victory is just the beginning for me. I hope to win more tournaments in my career."

    Coach Johansen shed him a smile. "Don''t worry. We still have the SIA and the Norwegian Youth Cups in the summer. You might get the opportunity to snap up another trophy much sooner than you expect. That''s if you maintain your current form."

    Zachary shook his head. "I don''t think I can still experience that sort of excitement against academy teams. I find facing academy yers too easy. And, I''m worried I''ll go into a slump if I don''t get a bigger challenge. I can''t wait for December to arrive so that I can join the 1st tier league."

    "Don''t rush things, or you''ll stumble," Coach Johansen intoned, half-smiling. "You''re still at the stage where you''re growing fast. You can use the remaining few months to hone your skills. You won''t get much time for that when you go pro."

    "That''s my n," Zachary replied, his tone firm.

    **** ****

    In the stands, Emily smiled when she received the recording of Zachary''s match from her hired cameraman. The footage of Zachary''s extraordinary performance in the Riga Cup final would give her plenty of bargaining power while negotiating deals.

    She felt like she''d been Zachary''s agent for over a year yet she had known him for only a week. When they had their first meeting in the coffee shop, they''d clicked as agent-and-client right away. She could barely believe her sess at being the first to grab Zachary''s signature. She was determined to do her best for her client.

    When the cameraman left, she returned her attention to the pitch. The organizers had begun setting up the temporary podium. In the meantime, the NF Academy yers ran around the pitch, singing, jumping, and performing weird dances¡ªto celebrate their victory. One of the yers was even somersaulting.

    Emily wondered where they could have gotten that extra stamina after ying for more than 90 minutes in an intensive final. They looked very energetic despite acting like sick¡ªtired goats only a few minutes ago¡ªbefore the final whistle. If they''d showed the same stamina in the closing minutes of the match, they would have won the finals easily, without any hustle.

    She strained her eyes, searching for Zachary. But she couldn''t find him in the celebrating group. She let her gaze roam around the pitch, passing over the VfB Stuttgart yers¡ªwho were in somber moods after losing the final. Her eyes continued scanning the field¡ªuntil she saw him standing close to his coach in the dug-out.

    [What is he up to when the rest of his teammates are celebrating?] She couldn''t help but wonder. He seemed to be having a serious conversation with his coach¡ªlike they were preparing for another match. That was ''truly'' unusual behavior right after winning a final.

    **** ****

    Zachary continued making small talk with Coach Johansen, hiding from the reporters, until his teammates dragged him away to join the celebrations a few minutester. He half-heartedly joined the group of jubting yers, running around the pitch to share in the joy of their victory.

    However, the tournament organizers cut their celebrations short soon after. They had finally finished setting up the podium. The awards ceremony wouldmence right away.

    A marching band yed some catchy Russian or Latvian tunes as the Tottenham yers, dressed in white tracksuits, came onto the pitch to receive their medals. They received their bronze medals first since they hade third in the tournament.

    Without wasting much time, the VfB Stuttgart yers followed suit and received silver medals. They were a sad bunch, probably still in a sour mood after losing the final only thirty minutes ago. Zachary empathized with them. He would have been in a much worse shape had he lost the final.

    "Ladies and gentlemen," Zachary heard one of thementators announce, the voiceing to him from one of the loudspeakers¡ªthat''d been set up in the pitch after the match. "Let''s wee the 2012 Under-18 Riga Cup Champions. Please put your hands together for NF Academy from Norway." The voice added, drawling in a heavy Spanish ent. It had turned dramatic towards the very end.

    The stadium burst into thunderous apuse as the NF Academy yers marched towards the podium to receive their gold medals. Zachary and his teammates were all bursting with excitement and glee. Their grins stretched from ear to ear as they received prizes from the Riga Cup president. A jubnt mood was in the air. Even the always-somber Coach Johansen was beaming like a little girl meeting Santa.

    Zachary moved on to the podiumst and first received his medallion before receiving a massive 50,000 Euro mock-check from the president.

    After that, it was the moment¡ªthe climax of the Riga Cup Tournament. It was finally time for the NF Academy captain to receive the championship trophy.

    Zachary felt his eyes begin to moisten when he held the trophy high above his head with both his hands. That was his first tournament victory since winning an under-14 tournament way back in his past life. It meant a lot to him. It was his first proof that he was en-route to bing a great ser yer.

    But the victory wasn''t for him alone. He couldn''t have emerged victorious if not for the contribution of his teammates. So, he turned around and handed the trophy to Magnus, the assistant captain.

    Magnus grinned and jumped around like a little kid as he raised the trophy high amid the thunderous cheers. He then descended the podium and ran off with the trophy to celebrate with the other NF Academy yers.

    "DING"

    Zachary was about to follow but then stopped suddenly. The system interface had abruptly manifested in front of him after the familiar notification had sounded in his head.

    Zachary couldn''t resist the temptation to nce at the translucent blueish screen.

    ****

    # 1 new messages

    ----

    ->You have yed most of the matches in a highlypetitive tournament with prize money at stake. The system has collected enough in-game data to grade your X-factor ordingly. Please click on the notification for more details.

    ****

    [Finally.] Zachary thought, smiling. He''d waited for his X-factor stat to change from the F grade since forever. He was eager to check out how his talent would change after factoring in the X-factor.

    Nheless, he willed the system interface to close since he was still standing amongst a crowd on the podium. He would explore the changes to the system interface back in the confines of his hotel room.

 Chapter 87 - Dinner Party And Individual Prizes

    The celebrations didn''t just stop in the stadium. Individual prizes still had to be announced by the organizerster that evening.

    So, the squad celebrated for only a few minutes before taking the bus back to their hotel. They changed into their formal wear before heading to the conference room for the post-tournament dinner party.

    Zachary walked with his teammates as they followed Coach Johansen through the too-clean brightly-lit corridors of the Monika Centrum Hotel. Everyone was still in a jubnt mood. They chattered loudly about the match highlights without giving a damn about what those around them thought.

    Zachary could feel a strong kinship and camaraderie with his teammates. He feltpletely at home with them, having yed alongside them throughout the tournament.

    They walked quickly, and in no time, made it to the great hall¡ªthe designated venue for the dinner party. They were greeted with hundreds of loud conversations, allpeting with the soft ssical music ying in the background. The crowd consisted of yers from teams that had taken part in the tournament, for the most part.

    Zachary could feel most of the eyes in the crowd glued on him as he walked in with his teammates. However, he didn''t panic but shed them a polite smile as he continued to the massive table with the buffet on one side of the room.

    All the yers served themselves tefuls of all sorts of Latvian delicacies and headed to their allocated tables. They focused on dining, only asionally making low indistinct chatter among themselves. They had finally calmed down to some extent after spending more than two hours celebrating their victory.

    "I wish we didn''t have to leave tomorrow," Paul Ottersonined from beside Zachary. "I could get used to this," he said, cutting a piece of fried salmon with his knife. He then stuffed it into his mouth and sipped on his juice.

    "Don''t forget we have to return to school on Monday," Kendrickmented from across the table, sighing.

    "Who cares about school right now," Kasongo chipped in, frowning at Kendrick. "Don''t sour our mood. We''re still celebrating our victory. Thinking about books right now¡­ Eew."

    Paul Ottersonughed. "I can''t believe we''re the champions. It''s so surreal. It seems like it''s the first time NF Academy has won an international cup. I wonder whether we''ll get more rewards from the academy once we get back home. Maybe, some of us will get to join the Rosenborg under-19s when we return to Trondheim."

    "Guys," Kendrick whispered, leaning forward. "Did any of you get offers from some of the teams here?"

    Zachary frowned, wondering where Kendrick was going with the topic. The NF Academy had an active partnership with Rosenborg to develop talents. Talk of transferring to other teams was strongly prohibited among yers on schrships. Yet, Kendrick was openly asking a rted question on a table very close to the one upied by the coaches. Zachary was perplexed.

    "The coaches are just right there," Kasongo whispered back, saving Zachary from doing the same. "Can we discuss thister?"

    Kendrick nodded before returning his attention to his food. They continued making small talk as they ate¡ªuntil the Riga Cup tournament president arrived on the stage.

    "Good evening,dies and gentlemen," said Raimonds Laiz¨¡ns, his voice amplified by the loudspeakers. "Wee once again to the closing dinner party for the Riga Cup tournament. Thank you foring." The president smiled.

    "First of all, let me start by congratting the NF Academy on winning this year''s under-18 Riga Cup," he continued. "Please, let''s give them a round of apuse for their extraordinary performance. They have outdone themselves in this tournament."

    Zachary''s teammates once again grinned from ear to ear as the entire hall burst into thunderous apuse.

    Raimonds cleared his throat as the pping died down. "I don''t want to waste much time," he said. "Our fellow sportsmen from the NF Academy and VfB Stuttgart are already tired since they''ve just concluded that spectacr final. So, I''ll begin announcing the individual des right away."

    "The winners, pleasee forward to receive your prize when I announce your name," he added, smiling.

    "I''ll start with the best goalkeeper. The award goes to Kendrick Otterson from NF Academy Norway. Throughout the tournament, he put up an extraordinary performance in goal to keep his team from conceding. Kendrick Otterson, pleasee forward to receive your prize."

    "Congs, man," Zachary high-fived Kendrick as he got up from his seat to receive his prize. The rest of the NF Academy yers followed suit, hugging him, in turn, to congratte him on winning the de. Kendrick marched triumphantly towards the stage and received a shiny metallic sculpture of a glove. He didn''t forget to pose for a few photographs with the president before returning to his seat.

    After that, the president continued reading out the other best performers in the tournament.

    The best defender award went to a yer from VfB Stuttgart named Timo Baumgartl.

    The best defensive-midfielder award went to Joshua Kimmich.

    The best attacking-midfielder award went to Zachary Bemba.

    The best forward award went to Timo Werner. He was still the striker with the most goals in the tournament even though he had missed a penalty in the finals. His tally was only one goal short of Zachary''s.

    The best coach award went to Boyd Johansen. He had led his team to victory in the tournament against stronger teams like VfB Stuttgart and Zenit.

    The Golden Boot award went to Zachary Bemba. He was the top scorer with 13 goals, just one ahead of Timo Werner.

    And finally, the president announced Zachary Bemba as the MVP of the tournament. Everyone in the conference hall rose to give him a standing ovation¡ªas he marched onto the tform to receive the golden ball and a 10,000 Euro check from the president.

    Once again, he felt how blissful it was to win¡ªto be a champion. At that moment, he prayed he would never be anything other than a victor throughout his career. He resolved to work harder than ever to continue winning.

    **** ****

    Zachary left the dinner party early with his prizes in hand and headed back to his hotel room. Primarily, he intended to get some sleep. Coach Johansen had already informed them they would be on an early morning flight back to Trondheim the following day.

    Secondly, the system notification had rung in his head once more at the moment when he received the Golden Ball from the tournament president. Zachary couldn''t resist the temptation to head back to his hotel room and check out the system rewards.

    "Hope there''ll be a lot of bonuses this time around," he mumbled to himself as he sat on his bed in the silent hotel room. He calmed his mind before opening the system interface.

    ****

    "DING"

    #2 new messages

    ----

    ->You have yed most of the matches in a highlypetitive tournament with prize money at stake. The system has collected enough in-game data to grade your X-factor ordingly. Please click on the notification for more details.

    ----

    CONGRATULATIONS

    ->You havepleted the system mission (Riga Cup Serial Challenge) sessfully. Please click on the notification for more details.

    -----

    ****

    Zachary smiled as he looked at the two notifications. He couldn''t contain his delight since he was about to receive rewards from the system after doing his best in the tournament. He didn''t dawdle and instantly selected the X-Factor notification.

    ****

    "DING"

    #1 new message

    -----

    X-Factor attribute unlocked

    -----

    USER STATS

    ->X-Factor (Av. Rating: B+)

    Consistency Factor: A-

    Luck Factor: A-

    Supernormal Factor: D-

    Match Winning Factor: A+

    ----

    NB: Please note that the X-Factor stats are constantly varying ording to your condition and match performance. But, remember that you''ll never be a G.O.A.T without a high X-Factor.

    ****

    Zachary was confused once more.

    He could somewhat understand the consistency factor. It seemed to be something rted to maintaining his ying form over a long period. However, the supernormal factor and the luck-factor were attributes he had never heard about in sports. [Did some yers possess more luck than the rest? Was there a way to increase the luck factor?] He couldn''t help but wonder.

    Nheless, he first pushed his thoughts about the X-Factor to the back of his mind before opening the other system notification. He could ponder on the X-Factor more after upgrading the system.

    ****

    "DING"

    #5 new messages

    CONGRATULATIONS

    ->You havepleted the system mission (Riga Cup Serial Challenge) sessfully.

    ----

    ->Mission Rewards

    1) 2000 Juju-points

    2) B-grade Agility Enhancing Elixir

    ----

    ->Mission Summary

    *Milestone 1: Help your team qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament. (Completed sessfully; Rating A)

    *Milestone 2: Help your team win the semifinals of the tournament. (Completed sessfully; Rating S)

    *Milestone 3: Help your teammates win the finals and be the champions of the tournament. (Completed sessfully; Rating S)

    *Milestone 4: Be the top scorer in the tournament. (Completed sessfully; Rating S)

    *Milestone 5: Be the M.V.P of the tournament. (Completed sessfully; Rating S)

    ----

    Overall Mission Rating: S

    ----

    Bonus Rewards

    You have earned 400 Bonus Juju-points.

    ----

    ****

 Chapter 88 - Second System Upgrade

    Zachary''s heart leaped up for joy as he perused through the missionpletion notification. He had managed to earn a total of 2400 Juju-points in one go. He could finally upgrade the system. He wasted no time in navigating back to the home tab.

    ****

    SOCCER G.O.A.T SYSTEM

    SYSTEM LEVEL: 2 (2457/1000 Juju-points to level-up)

    USER: Zachary Bemba

    AGE: 17 years

    TALENT ASSESSMENT: Grade-A

    JUJU-POINTS: 2457

    (Evaluation: A budding ser yer)

    ----

    USER MENU

    *USER STATS

    *G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    *SYSTEM SHOP (1 msg)

    *SYSTEM LOTTERY

    *SNOOPING TOOL

    ----

    NB: Pls level-up the system to unlock more functions.

    ****

    Zachary couldn''t contain his anticipation. With the unlocking of the X-Factor stat, his talent assessment had finally broken through to the A grading. He had finally caught up to his peers like Stephen Mang, who had gone to France.

    He couldn''t help but recall the moment he had realized that he''d traveled back in time about two years prior. His life had been devoid of any hope for the future whatsoever. But, with the help of the system, he had managed to elevate his skills quickly and give himself a new beginning.

    Over the previous year, he had gained a deep understanding of how the system worked. It seemed its prime purpose was the improvement of a user''s fitness, thereby enabling mastery ofplicated skills at a rate much faster than humanly possible. Zachary hade to that conclusion after consuming the system''s elixirs. They had helped him increase the rating of most of his attributes to A-grade over a scarce¡ªperiod of only two years.

    With the system''s perks, Zachary was sure he could be one of the greatest ser yers ever¡ªwith enough work. But first things first, he had to upgrade the system.

    He had finally gathered a sizeable stockpile of Juju-points. So, he didn''t deliberate for long¡ªand quickly clicked on the upgrade button, disyed in the top left corner of the translucent blue interface.

    "DING"

    A notification sounded right away as he lifted his right forefinger from the screen. A new message had appeared.

    ****

    #SYSTEM ALERT

    ----

    ->The user has chosen to upgrade the system.

    ->1000 Juju-points will be deducted to carry out the upgrade.

    ->The system will shut down for eight hours during the upgrade process. The user will not be able to use any of the system functions until the eight hours pse.

    ----

    #COMMENCE UPGRADE?

    *ept *Reject

    ----

    ****

    Zachary didn''t waste time. He had long wanted to upgrade the system. However, a constant shortage of Juju-points had held him back. He decided to prioritize the upgrade above other things.

    "Hopefully, some new functions will be added after the upgrade," he mumbled before clicking on the confirmation button.

    "DING"

    A new system notification sounded right away.

    ****

    #SYSTEM ALERT

    ->The user has confirmed an immediate upgrade of the system.

    ->1000 Juju-points will be deducted from the user''s current stock of Juju-points to carry out the upgrade.

    ----

    #SYSTEM ALERT

    -----

    SYSTEM UPGRADE INITIALIZING

    ----

    SYNCING USER DATA

    ----

    LOADING NEW PACKAGES

    ----

    REBOOT PROCESS COMMENCING IN 5, 4, 1... AND 0.

    ****

    When the countdown reached zero, the screen cked out. Zachary tried to summon it¡ªto determine whether it was still nestled somewhere within his body. However, he could no longer feel its existence. It had disappeared, leaving no trace¡ªas if it had never existed.

    Zachary didn''t panic since he was already well aware it would take a total of eight hours toplete the upgrade. So, he quickly washed up and dove into his bed for the night. He had decided to check on its progress the next day and save himself from the anxiety that came from waiting.

    **** ****

    The following morning, the entire squad woke up before 6:00 AM. They had to prepare for the return trip to Trondheim.

    Zachary checked on the system but noticed it was still inessible. It seemed the process of upgrading was not yetplete. So, he focused his attention elsewhere.

    He followed his teammates to the hotel''s restaurant and had a sumptuous early breakfast. A little less than an hourter, they boarded the bus to Riga Airport.

    By 8:00 AM, Zachary and his teammates had finished taking their seats in the economy ss section of a Scandinavian Airlines passenger ne heading back to Trondheim.

    Zachary slept throughout most of the journey and didn''t bother to join the conversations between his teammates. He only woke up three hourster¡ªas the ne touched down on the runway of the V?rnes Airport in Trondheim.

    He groggily followed hispanions out of the arrivals section, and, without any fanfare, he was back in the frigid February air of Trondheim city¡ªa few minutester.

    "It feels like we''ve been away from Trondheim for more than a year," Paulmented, falling into step with him as they moved towards the bus. "But, in actual sense, it has only been little over a week." He sighed.

    "And now, we have to go back to our old, boring lives," Kasongo chipped in, also sighing. "It''s good that the coach allowed us to join the party yesterday night. Otherwise, I would have run to one of the basement parties in Moholt this weekend."

    "But guys," said Kendrick from behind Zachary. "Where are the home fans that are supposed to be weing us? Howe no one cares that we''re lugging along such a huge trophy?" He inquired, patting the trophy in his hands.

    Kendrick had volunteered for the role of transporting the trophy back to the academy alongside Magnus, the assistant captain. Zachary had rejected the task since he wished to get back to his apartment quickly¡ªto check out the newly upgraded system. It had already been eight hours.

    "Are you forgetting we''re still nobodies here in Trondheim?" Paul Otterson chipped in, pulling his scarf tighter around his neck since the temperatures in Trondheim seemed to be much lower than those in Riga. "The people back in Riga may recognize a few of us. However, we''ll never get any recognition here in Trondheim unless we join Rosenborg and win matches. Only then will we often find paparazzi and home fans lying in wait for us at the airport."

    "Well said," a voice cut in. Zachary turned around and noticed that Coach Johansen had at one point arrived behind them.

    "The Riga Cup is just a small tournament," the coach continued, brushing a hand through his red beard. "You can only be stars here in Trondheim after you join Rosenborg and participate in highlypetitive matches." He smiled. "I hope the Riga victory won''t make any of youcent."

    "Yes, coach," the yers around Zachary replied, more or less in unison.

    "Zachary, Kendrick, Kasongo, and Paul," the coach intoned as they continued towards the bus. "Over the past year, the four of you have made remarkable progress. Whatever you''ve been doing, just keep it up. Make sure you don''t rx. Just remember, football careers are more like marathons, not sprints. If you don''t continue working hard, you''ll stumble and fall very quickly. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "I hope you understand," Coach Johansen added, nodding. "I''ve got great ns for you four. Don''t disappoint me." His tone had turned somber.

    Zachary nodded along with his friends to indicate he''d gotten the point. He''d already nned to use the remaining ten months, before turning eighteen, to improve all his attributes to the A+ grading. Only then would he be assured of performing well in the Rosenborg senior team the following season.

    He understood that sess at the pro-level required much more refined skills than he currently possessed. He couldn''t lie to himself that he would be able to run through professional defenders using his meager attributes¡ªas he''d done in the Riga Cup. He had to use the remainder of his time adequately so that he wouldn''t embarrass himself against the pros.

    "Hurry up and enter the bus," Coach Johansen yelled, breaking him out of his contemtion. "The rest of you back there," he added, pointing to Zachary''s teammates at the very back. "Hurry and move it. I want to get back home as soon as possible. Don''t waste my time."

    The NF Academy yers quickened their pace right away. They loaded their luggage and boarded the bus at their swiftest speed. And off they went, leaving the airport behind them.

    Forty-five minutester, Zachary and his three friends made it back to their t at Moholt. The bus had dropped them close to their doorstep. They didn''t have to pull their luggage across a long distance.

    When they returned to the t, Zachary quickly excused himself and locked himself in his room. He was quite eager to check on the system upgrade and use the rest of his Juju-points, plus the B-grade agility-enhancing elixir he''d earned.

    Without even unpacking his luggage, he settled on his bed and summoned the familiar translucent blue screen.

    "DING"

    ****

    #SYSTEM ALERT

    ----

    ->System upgraded sessfully.

    ----

    LOADING NEW PACKAGES

    ----

    NEW VERSION OF SOCCER G.O.A.T USER INTERFACE SUCCESSFULLY INITIALIZED

    ----

    SYNCING USER DATA

    -----

    ****

    Zachary kept his eyes glued to the screen, anxiously awaiting the cessation of the system alerts. He didn''t have to wait long, though. Only about a minuteter, the familiar system interface appeared before him once again.

    Zachary was surprised when he noticed that there wasn''t much change in the aesthetics of the interface. The familiar User-Menu appeared before him with a drop-down menu of User-Stats, G.O.A.T-Missions, System-Shop, System-Lottery, and the Snooping-Tool (all unlocked). He felt a bit disappointed since he''d expected some major changes.

    But at that instant¡ª

    "Good morning, user," a voice sounded right in his head. "This is your system''s AI speaking. Hope you''re enjoying the system!"

    [A System''s AI! Maybe, a voice interface?] Zachary''s face lit up with a grin.

    **** ****

    **END OF VOLUME TWO: THE SOCCER ACADEMY STUDENT**

 Chapter 89 - One Year Later

    **VOLUME 3: THE MAESTRO OF THE TIPPELIGAEN**

    **** ****

    Friday, March 1, 2013.

    **** ****

    The mist danced upon the streets of Trondheim, making them appear like some magical daydream. The early morning sunlight, soft and diffuse, gave way to the first rays of the day, threatening to pierce through the dreamy ambiance.

    Zachary cut across the morning chill, his Adidas sneakers kissing the pavement with a constant robotic rhythm¡ªalmost in sync with his heartbeat. He''d braved the early morning drizzle to partake in his routine six-mile outdoor run. His breath came steady, and he didn''t exhibit any signs of slowing down despite having already run four miles.

    He didn''t mind the chilly weather one bit. He''d made sure to dress in waterproof clothing and tights that kept the raindrops and the cold away from his skin. Thanks to his ample preparations, he ran as free as a hare in the wild despite the temperature being lower than 3 degrees Celsius that morning.

    In his previous life, he''d often resorted to liquor to escape his difficulties. In his new life, he had zeroed in on exercise as the most effective way to clear his mind, especially when he experienced hardship. For him, running was a dance, the way his spirit chose to weave itself into the natural world.

    He had always found the peace he needed, the serenity to ovee his problems with just a little sweat. But that morning, Zachary couldn''t stop himself from worrying about his contract negotiation with Rosenborg.

    It had already been a little over a year since his performance in the Riga Cup finals. With flying colors, he hadpleted his spell at the NF Academy. After his incredible performance in Riga, he had continued ying like a superstar¡ªgoing on to lead the academy to the semi-finals of the summer SIA Cup in Valencia. In that tournament, Zachary had showcased his incredible setpiece-taking skills. He''d scored twelve freekicks and managed toe out as top scorer despite his team being one of the weakest in that cup.

    Despite his incredible performance, NF Academy had been eliminated by Valencia, the home club, in the semis. The failure of his team to win the highly contested cup had not dampened his mood. Instead, he''d upped his training intensity after realizing his skills were not yet adequate to help his team win a simple youthpetition.

    Zachary wished for his skills to eclipse any opponents in the youthpetitions. So, he had focused his practice on the Ronaldinho stico Dribble and the Bend-it like Beckham Juju. He''d immersed himself in training the two skills like a madman, both in the system simtor and on the natural field, throughout July 2012.

    Due to his intense focus and dedication, he had mastered them to beyond 100%pletion before August. That had enabled him to use his new skill-set to shine in the Norwegian Cup of August 2012.

    Thanks to his incredible performance, the NF Academy had managed to win the trophy for their first time in history. He had also managed toe out on top¡ªas both top scorer and MVP in the tournament. That feat had even gained him some slight fame on some Norwegian media tforms. Even the Tipsdet and Mundial magazines had listed him as one of the most promising talents in Norway.

    When he had turned eighteen in December, the academy had nominated him as the sole yer that would join the Rosenborg senior team directly from the academy.

    Zachary''s heart had leaped for joy. He''d thought Rosenborg would sign him eagerly after his excellent performance in hisst academy year.

    However, the negotiations with the club had not proceeded as he''d expected. The club had only offered him a two-year contract, with a monthly sry of 60,000 Norwegian Kroner. That ie was far below the average earnings of the Rosenborg squad.

    Emily Anderson, his agent, had immediately rejected the offer, even going as far as threatening to sue the club if they attempted to exploit her client. Negotiations had broken down at that point, with neither side giving leeway to the other.

    The Rosenborg side imed to have ownership rights over Zachary as a yer. On the other hand, Emily Anderson argued that the club management had coerced him to sign a bogus contract and neglected his rights as a minor. On several asions, she had threatened to report them to the FIFA Legal & Compliance Division.

    But, the Rosenborg officials didn''t relent on their stand. They imed offering a high-sry contract to a yer fresh out of the academy was utterly unreasonable. They didn''t budge an inch in the negotiations, choosing to continue pping Emily''s face with the written agreement that tied Zachary to Rosenborg for two years. They acted with the shamelessness that matched none.

    Zachary was frustrated. It was already the beginning of March, just two weeks to the start of the Tippeligaen. However, he wasn''t close to sealing a deal with Rosenborg.

    The previous week, he had suggested that Emily agree to the 60,000 NOK deal. As far as he was concerned, that was more than enough money to sustain his monthly expenses in Trondheim. However, Emily had employed her incredible negotiating skills in persuading him to stay patient for a few more days. She had promised to get him a satisfactory sry contract before the start of the 2013 Tippeligaen season.

    Zachary had agreed since there was no harm in waiting a few more days. He was sure the Rosenborg management would insist on their contract terms despite how hard Emily haggled. He was even already training with the first team despite the pending deal.

    The club wasn''t the least bit worried Zachary would run away from Norway since there weren''t that many transfer windows still open in the rest of Europe. His only viable choice at that moment was ying for Rosenborg¡ªone of the giants in Scandinavian football that had already qualified for that season''s Europa League. The club had a rich history and had always been a major contender of every Tippeligaen season since the 1960s. The Rosenborg officials were sure Zachary wouldn''t miss out on such a golden chance.

    "Let nature take its course," Zachary mumbled to himself in between gasps for breath. "What''s the use of worrying about these issues? Whatever happens, I still get to y professional football in Europe. I''m already close to achieving my dream." He balled his fists as he rounded a corner and joined thene leading to Stj?rdalsveien, the location of his new apartment.

    For thest 200 meter stretch, he upped his pace, quickly approaching the apartment structure. He grinned, feeling his mood lighten as the familiar scenery shed by. His lungs struggled for air as he raced past a grey Bungalow. A few secondster, he finally stopped in front of a seven-storied white and grey building.

    Zachary felt a rising feeling of nausea from his stomach. He was utterly exhausted by thest sprint. It felt like his legs were empty. Nheless, he didn''t rx. He first stretched his muscles for ten minutes before ascending the stairs to his apartment on the sixth floor.

    He had moved out of his previous apartment in Moholt student vige at the start of January. The academy management had ''advised'' him to look for new housing after his graduation. So, he''d been left with no choice but to part with Kasongo and his other housemates. He had to live alone since he was the only one who''d made it to the Rosenborg senior team that year.

    Nheless, he liked his new apartment and had readily signed the tenancy agreement to pay a deposit of 20,000 NOK and a monthly rent of 12,500 NOK. Itprised arge balcony with good sun conditions, just outside the kitchen¡ªthat also acted as a living room. Additionally, it had a singlerge bedroom, a bathroom, and a storage room. What Zachary liked the most was that it was fully furnished. It containedvish sofas, arge bed,bi-cab, extra freezer, stove, dishwasher, and washing machine. That was the reason he''d agreed to pay such high rental fees that exceeded his previous life''s five months'' sry in one go.

    The rental costs would have been impossible for him to afford if he hadn''t won the cash prizes as the MVP for the Riga and the Norwegian Cups. He had managed to amass a total of 15,000 Euros¡ª10K from Riga and 5K from the Norway cup. He could afford to pay the rent for the whole year without feeling a pinch.

    Zachary hummed Imagine Dragons'' yet-to-be-released song (on top of the world) as he continued ascending the steps leading to his apartment. His mood had improved slightly after the hour of exercise. He even struck a few dance poses, spinning around and wiggling his waist as he entered the corridor leading to his front door.

    "I see that you''re in a good mood," a feminine voice interrupted him as he was trying out a ''sort of'' break-dance routine.

    Zachary jumped up in surprise since he hadn''t expected anyone outside his apartment. He immediately turned around and found Emily Anderson, his agent, waiting by his door. Her deep blue eyes were observing him with a trace of amusement.

    "Go on, don''t mind me," Emily said, mopping a hand through her wavy dark brown hair to push it backward. "Should I try to get you an endorsement with an underwearpany? You could make it big by striking such poses." She added in a serious tone.

    "You''re back," Zachary said, choosing to ignore her endorsement talk. He would never opt to model forpanies where he had to be partially nude. What would happen if his grandma chanced upon such a picture? He was better off remaining broke rather than facing her wrath.

    "Yes, I''m back," Emily replied, her face blossoming like a field of spring flowers. "And, I finally have some good news regarding your contract with the club."

    "Really," Zachary closed the distance between him and the agent in a single instant. "How good a deal did you manage to get from the management?" He inquired, locking eyes with her.

    The corners of her mouth curved into a soft smile. "I wouldn''t say that it''s the best. However, the new deal is much better than all the previous offers made by that penny-pinchingwyer. I would say a thousand times better." She emphasized.

    Zachary could hardly contain his delight. He''d been worrying over the contract for two whole months. Despite his best efforts to stay patient, he had still felt restless once in a while, wondering about all the things that could go wrong with the negotiations. But finally, there was a breakthrough. Hope bloomed inside him. He couldn''t wait to hear the new terms of the contract.

    "Let''s talk inside," he said, a Cheshire cat''s grin lighting up his face.

 Chapter 90 - 400,000 NOK

    "Have you had any breakfast yet? Would you like something to drink?" Zachary inquired after they entered the living room.

    "Yes, of course," Emily replied, settling in one of thefy sofas by the heater. "I came here straight from the airport. I only stopped briefly to drop my luggage at the hotel but didn''t get anything to eat. I''m actually quite hungry."

    "Then, I''ll make you some breakfast," Zachary intoned as he drew the curtains to let the morning sun into the living room. "But, I would like to take a shower before settling down to discuss business. Is that okay with you?"

    "Go, ahead. I also need a few minutes to sort through my papers." Emily replied, smiling. "I really admire your dedication to your training. You even wake up to run in such weather!"

    "Exercise is all about consistency," Zachary replied, nodding his head. "I have to sustain the stability of my training regimen, especially now that the start of the season is drawing closer. That''s the only way I can maintain my fitness. If I miss even a single day just because of a little rain or cold, I could significantly hamper my progress."

    "Why not just train indoors?" Emily asked. "The gym at Lerkendal is well fitted with treadmills and exercise bikes. You could easily stay in top shape by making use of their facilities."

    Zachary sighed, shaking his head. "I''m also attempting to limatize my body to the cold temperatures here in Trondheim. Fun fact; the weather here remains virtually unchanged throughout March and April. I don''t want my performance to take a hit from the cold during the opening matches of the season."

    What he didn''t mention was that he''d been running six miles daily, for the previous four months, in the cold weather toplete a system mission task. If he could finish the daily tasks of the mission, he would obtain a dosage of a B-grade mental conditioning elixir.

    The elixir had a seemingly magical property of honing one''s mind. If Zachary managed to consume it, his mind would be much more focused, improving his ability to solve abstruse challenges on and off the pitch. In other words, he would be more intelligent with time. That was a perk he coveted in his footballing career. His game intelligence attributes would probably soar soon after ingesting the elixir. So, he had toiled in the cold every single morning starting from the previous November to win the mission prize.

    "That''s a great training objective." Emily nodded, probably buying Zachary''s dubious reason (adapting his body to cold weather) as his actual motive for the intensive morning training. "But, be careful while running out there. Don''t hurt yourself on the slippery ground before the season even starts. We wouldn''t want any dy in your debut."

    Zachary smiled. "You don''t need to worry about that. I''ve already purchased several good pairs of sneakers made specifically for running on frozen ground. I won''t fall and injure myself."

    He didn''t continue chatting with Emily for long. He excused himself after a few minutes to take his shower and quickly cleaned up. He was eager to hear the new terms of the contract.

    Twenty minutester, he had finished preparing a quick breakfast of hot coffee, milk, fried eggs, and toasted bread. He joined his agent in the living room to start the official meeting concerning his contract.

    "So, how much did they offer this time around?" Zachary inquired after taking a sip of his coffee.

    Emily smiled mysteriously before raising four slender, manicured fingers.

    "140,000 per month," Zachary guessed, smiling. "That''s quite an improvementpared to their previous offer."

    Emily shook her head, maintaining a light smile. "Four hundred thousand per month. Not fourteen thousand." She emphasized.

    "Four hundred thousand!" Zachary eximed. It took a second or two for the information to sink through his skull. "Four hundred thousand!" He mumbled once again, his eyes widening.

    "Were all the Rosenborg officials kicked in the head by some donkeys?" He asked, pivoting his gaze to Emily, his expression a mixture of shock, disbelief, and sheer incredulity. "How did you manage to negotiate such a lucrative deal?"

    Emily smiled mysteriously. "I bypassed both the sporting director and the legal representatives to get the offer. I ''simply'' approached the club chairman himself and showed him videos of your past performances. He was instantly struck by your talent and took a liking to your style of y. He immediately ordered the legal department to draft a new contract with a monthly sry of that amount."

    "Really?" Zachary inquired.

    "Yes, really," she replied. "I didn''t do anything other than showing the chairman videos taken at your games. Maybe, I might have mentioned that Valencia was looking forward to gaining your services. That''s all."

    [How could negotiating a deal be that simple?] He could easily tell that Emily had probably used a few other unique approaches. But he didn''t try to probe about the whole negotiation process since he trusted her to do the best for him.

    Emily fished a couple of folders from her enormous handbag. "Here is a copy of the new contract," she said, removing a set of papers from the folder and handing them to Zachary. "Just read through and see whether the new terms are agreeable to you."

    "Anything I need to look out for in particr?" Zachary inquired after receiving the papers. He flipped to thest page and noticed that the contract had a total of 48 pages. He couldn''t read through the entire document in only a few minutes.

    "You can focus on the Rights and Obligations of Parties section first," Emily replied. "That''ll give you an idea of the duties you need to fulfill while under contract. You should also read the Remuneration section to understand your ie for the next two years¡ªthat''s if you agree to sign the contract."

    "Please note that in addition to the 400,000 NOK monthly ie, you''ll earn medical insurance, housing allowance, and a few other additional payments." She added in-between sips of her coffee. "You''ll also get match-winning bonuses¡ªdepending on your performance during the season. If you''re able to score goals in every match, you could rake in a total of 500,000 NOK from the bonuses alone per month."

    "That much!" Zachary looked at her agent, his eyes widening in disbelief. 500,000 NOK was the equivalent of more than 110 million Congolese Francs. If he earned such bonuses for ten months, he could turn into an investor on his return to the DRC, his home country. He could construct apartments, securing himself a steady ie for the rest of his life.

    "Ivar Koteng, the club chairman, epted such a deal?" Zachary probed once again, eyeing his agent with doubt. A deal with such benefits seemed too good to be true. He couldn''t help but wonder what Emily had done to force such a deal out of the chairman.

    Emily smiled mysteriously. "If you hadn''t signed that contract that tied you to the club for two years, I could have negotiated for a better bargain. But that ship has already sailed. If I try to sue the club, I''ll also harm you in the process, hindering your career''s progress. This offer is the best I could manage."

    Zachary nodded before busying himself with the document. For the next hour, he read through the sections of the contract that mattered the most. Whenever he had trouble understanding a use, Emily would expound on it, quickening his reading pace.

    "So, what is your take on the contract?" Emily asked once Zachary finished reading through the whole document. "If you find the terms of the contract satisfactory, we need to finalize the signing quickly. We don''t want the situation to change while we''re dilly-dallying."

    "Of course, I find it very agreeable," Zachary replied, lips stretching wider into a grin. "This is a much better contract than I anticipated. If we can, we should sign it today." He emphasized, locking gazes with Emily.

    "That''s great." Emily nodded. "I''ll call Mr. Malvik right away to schedule an appointment," she added, fishing her phone from her handbag.

    She spent the next few minutes on her phone, arranging the meeting with the club management. Zachary didn''t try to listen in on the conversation, choosing to trust his agent with the contract issues. He busied himself by gulping down breakfast until Emily finished talking on the phone.

    "Mr. Malvik says we cane to the club offices at 11:00 this morning," she said, shoving her phone back into her bag. "It seems the chairman has ordered him to finalize the deal as quickly as possible."

    Zachary cast a nce at his wall clock and noticed that it had just turned 9:00 AM. They still had about two hours to the scheduled meeting time. However, they needed thirty minutes to travel, by bus, to Brakka. That was where the club''s head offices were located. "We can set off at 10:00 AM if that''s okay with you." He intoned, locking eyes with Emily.

    "That''s fine," Emily replied.

    **** ****

 Chapter 91 - The Concerns Of The Club Management

    Concurrently in one of the conference rooms at Rosenborg''s Head Office at Brakka¡ª

    A Rosenborg Club management meeting was taking ce to finalize the terms of Zachary''s contract.

    Boyd Johansen, the newly appointed head coach of the Rosenborg senior team, sat on the left side of Ivar Koteng, the club chairman. A half-smile outlined his face as he listened to Mr. Daniel Malvik, the club''s chief legal advisor,ying out his arguments. Mr. Malvik was attempting to dissuade the management and board members from approving Zachary''s high-sry contract.

    "We''re taking a huge risk by offering a yer fresh out of the academy that kind of money," Mr. Malvik said, his tone matter-of-factly. "I''m aware that he has been performing well¡ªbut that doesn''t guarantee he''ll continue ying at the same level when he joins the senior team. We could end up incurring a sizeable loss if we go ahead with this deal."

    "Such arguments are baseless," Ivar Koteng, the club chairman, cut in, his tone dismissive. "I''ve already watched the video performances of Zachary during the Riga, SIA, and Norway Youth Cups. I can say this with a hundred percent confidence. Zachary''s level is far above the average yer in the Tippeligaen. What do you think, Coach Johansen?" The chairman asked, casting a nce towards him.

    Coach Johansen cleared his throat before answering. "I''ve been coaching Zachary since he arrived here in Trondheim. I support the chairman''s decision. In just two years, he has refined his skills to be one of the most promising young yers in all of Europe. The boy has boundless potential. He''s one of the few yers with the capability to im a ce among the greats."

    "Those of you who aren''t convinced should watch his match videos from the SIA or Riga Cups. He faced off against some of the best youth teams in Europe." Coach Johansen smiled softly, letting his gaze roam across the other executives on the table. "Zachary always managed to maintain hisposure and scored even when the rest of his teammates underperformed."

    "I have the utmost confidence that he''ll continue growing even after joining the senior team. If I had been¡ªtasked with drafting the contract, I would have offered him more money to motivate him more during his time at the club." He added in a serious tone.

    "I''m not trying to argue that Zacharycks talent," Mr. Malvik chipped in, shaking his head. "My main concern is about the contract terms. Although the new deal firmly tethers him to the club for the next two years, it alsomits us to keep him in the squad¡ªwhether he performs or not. If thetter happens, and we want him out of the starting roster, we would have to pay an excessive amount of penalty fees."

    The chief legal advisor locked gazes with Coach Johansen before continuing. "Coach, you must have received the results of Zachary''s medical. You should have noticed a few points of concern in his report."

    "Is there a problem with Zachary''s fitness?" The club chairman cut in, frowning.

    "No, not at all," Mr. Malvik hurriedly corrected, waving an arm for emphasis. "There''re no issues with his fitness. In fact, he''s one of the fittest youth yers that I have evere across."

    "Then what''s the problem?" The chairman probed, casting a cursory nce towards Coach Johansen.

    "There is only one concern regarding Zachary," Coach Johansen cut in, so-as-to make things clear. "He seems to have entered ate growth spurt over the past few months. In just six months, Zachary has grown a couple of inches. He should be 6, 4 feet at the moment. We''re not yet sure if he''ll continue growing." the coach exined.

    "But, I can assure you this growth spurt will not affect Zachary''s performance when he joins the senior team," he continued. "We''ll tailor him special training routines to help him limatize to his growing physique. You have my word on this." He added ardently.

    "If I may make the issue clear, Mr. Chairman," Mr. Malvik cut in, straightening his ck neck-tie. "Although I''m not a fitness coach, I''m aware that such a growth spurt is the worst nightmare for young yers entering the professional stage. Let me give an example."

    "In 2007, the Italian giants AC Mn signed Alexandre Pato from Internacional at €24 million. Pato was one of the most promising talents from Brazil that year. During his first game against Napoli, he scored a superb goal. Everyone was¡ªconvinced that he would have a brilliant career. Like our Zachary, he was fast, skilled, precise, and one of the most clinical young yers. He seemed to have the potential to win at least one Ballon d''Or in the course of his career."

    "However, only six months after his debut at AC Min, everything started going wrong," Mr. Malvik lowered his voice for emphasis. Nheless, it still carried to everyone in the room.

    "A few factors led to his marked decrease in form. Arguably, he wasn''t up to the challenge in the top league. Or maybe the temptations nurtured by earning loads of money, much higher than his previous ie, lowered his focus."

    "However, what negatively affected him the most was histe growth spurt which messed up his running and dribbling posture. Mr. Johansen, as a coach, should understand this issue better than I."

    "As a result, he started getting injured all the time due to his messed up dribbling and running posture. That was the true beginning of his decline."

    "I''m not saying that the growth spurt is the only thing that could affect Zachary," the chief legal advisor added. "There''re many other things that could go wrong and affect his performance. Maybe, a bad girlfriend, an unknown sickness, etc. We shouldn''t offer him such a lucrative contract before observing his performance and attitude at the professional level. That''s all I have to say."

    Ivar Koteng, the chairman, nodded. "I understand your worries, Mr. Malvik. However, any investment is often a risk. You may buy real estate only for an earthquake to ravage your property the next day. You may purchase shares of a listedpany, but the next month, it goes bankrupt."

    The chairman locked gazes with Mr. Malvik and added. "I believe that Zachary Bemba is a worthwhile investment. Moreover, we haven''t paid much in the grand scheme of things to acquire his services. Just imagine if we were to buy a yer of his ss from another academy. How much would we have had to pay? I would say probably a lot." Heughed, shaking his head. "Isn''t that right, Coach Johansen?"

    "Yes, chairman," Coach Johansen replied, nodding. "A yer of his caliber is valued at around 20 - 25 million Euros in the current transfer market. We''re lucky to pick him up for free."

    All the nine executives in the conference room, except Mr. Malvik,ughed at that.

    "Anyways," the chairman chipped in, leaning back in his chair. "I''m of the view that we maintain the current terms of Zachary''s contract." He paused, casting a nce towards the legal advisor. "Mr. Malvik, I''m aware of the legal implications of this deal. However, I''m willing to take a gamble on Zachary''s talent in this case. If he performs, we will have made a big profit. If he doesn''t, we will count this as another small loss for the club. No need to worry too much about it. Okay?"

    "Yes, chairman," Mr. Malvik replied.

    "Great," the chairman nodded, grinning. "Let''s prepare for the signing ceremony. Zachary and his agent should being here in about an hour. Since he''s a locally grown talent¡ªstraight out of the academy, we should do our best to wee him to the senior team."

    **** ****

 Chapter 92 - The New Contract

    Zachary and Emily arrived at Rosenborg''s head office, located in Brakka, a German-built barracks dating from World War II, at fifteen minutes to eleven that morning.

    "I wonder why they couldn''t just put their offices at Lerkendal!" Emilymented as they stood before the antique-styled white wooden building with the name ''<strong>ROSENBORG BALLKLUB</strong>'' inscribed above its door.

    "Beats me," Zachary replied, his shoulder raising in a casual shrug. "Maybe they just wanted offices that would set them apart from the rest of the clubs. We should head inside. It''s about time the meeting started."

    "Okay." Emily nodded before leading the way into the building.

    Zachary followed her through a brightly lit corridor, past framed photographs of former Rosenborg yers.

    They trekked past a few cabs with trophies, a couple of closed doors¡ªprobably leading to some of the Rosenborg offices. In less than a minute, they arrived at their destination. They stood before another set of closed doors¡ªcarved from rich, mellow wood embellished with artistic patterns.

    There Emily paused, straightening her attire briefly. She had donned what seemed to be a new suit to the meeting. There wasn''t a single discernible crease visible on it. However, Emily still seemed worried about the attire. Her behavior amused Zachary.

    "Be sharp," she intoned, turning around to observe him. "Just be yourself in there. I''ll be responsible for the contract negotiations and anything else thates up. You''re free to ask for a private chat with me¡ªin case you don''t understand any of the contents of the final contract. But don''t openly interrupt my dialogue with their representative. Are we clear?" Her tone had turned solemn.

    "Okay." Zachary nodded.

    "Then let''s head in." She smiled.

    Emily turned around and rapped on the double doors. Having knocked, she didn''t wait for a reply, or at least Zachary never heard one. She pushed the door open, stepping into the room, flooding with low chatter in the Norwegiannguage.

    Zachary did not dawdle but stepped inside after her. Coach Johansen, Mr. Malvik, and two other Rosenborg executives were¡ªwaiting for them in what appeared to be a dining room.

    "Good morning, Zachary," Coach Johansen intoned, extending his hand for a greeting. "Hope your day is going well!" He smiled, brushing two of his left-hand fingers through his red beard.

    "Good morning, coach," Zachary replied, stepping forward and taking the extended hand in a firm grip. "Thank you for hosting us today," he added, smiling softly.

    "No need to thank us," the coach intoned, waving an arm before him in a dismissive gesture. "That''s what we should do," he added before pivoting his gaze on Emily, who was standing quietly beside Zachary. "And this here must be Miss Emily Anderson, your agent. Right?"

    Emily stepped forward, offering a hand for a greeting. "Yes, Coach. I am Emily Anderson. It''s a pleasure to meet you."

    Coach Johansen returned her handshake, half-smiling. "Oh, thanks for taking care of Zachary. I hear you have been giving both our financial and legal departments hell while negotiating Zachary''s deal. But, I''m d that we have finallye to an agreement."

    Emily nodded but remained silent. She seemed unwilling toment on the negotiating process.

    Coach Johansen was about to continue, but a light cough interrupted his monologue.

    "Oh, sorry," the coach intoned, stepping to the side. "I forgot to introduce you to the Chairman and the sporting director of Rosenborg," he added, a rueful smile outlining his face.

    "Coach Johansen," intoned one of the executives behind him. "I can very well introduce myself." Heughed heartily, stepping forward to take Zachary''s hand. "Young man, I''m Ivar Koteng, the club chairman. Let me take this opportunity to wee you to Rosenborg."

    "Good morning, chairman." Zachary returned the handshake, bowing slightly at the waist. He had heard that the Rosenborg Chairman was one of the most influential men in Trondheim. But what Zachary liked most about him was his love for the football game. "It''s a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for giving me a chance to y for the Troll Kids."

    The chairman was a huge fellow, his chest bulging through his t-shirt above a slight potbelly. His head had long started balding. He carried himself with an air of authority, amplified by his sharp eyes.

    He stepped back, observing Zachary for a few moments. "Hahaha," he then burst intoughter, nodding to himself as if he''d discovered something interesting. "I see why Coach Johansen was eager to have you as part of your squad. You''re¡ªdestined to be a great yer.

    [<i>Does this chairman think that he can see through someone''s talent with just a nce?</i>] Zachary could not help but wonder. He had just given him one look over and determined he would be a great yer. That was strange since even the most astute coaches couldn''t discern talent with a mere nce. They had to observe a yer with the ball first¡ªbefore they could judge his skills.

    "Miss Emily Anderson, we meet again," the chairman grinned, turning towards her. "I''m d that we have finallye to an understanding."

    "Good morning, chairman," Emily nodded, smiling. "Thank you for having us. I hope your morning was a wonderful one!"

    The chairman beamed. "Before you arrived, it was still rather slow. But, since you''ve brought us our star, I can finally rx. Let''s take our seats and begin the meeting right away. I''ve got a few more appointmentster today."

    The chairman didn''t even allow Zachary the chance to greet the other executives. He held on to Zachary''s hand and led him to a nearby table. It seemed he was worried Zachary would escape and run away before signing the contract.

    "Well, Miss Emily Anderson," Mr. Daniel Malvik, Rosenborg''s chief legal advisor, intoned, taking on a formal tone. All the parties present had just finished another round of introductions after taking their seats around the rectangr table. "Have you and your client read and understood all the terms of the contract? Does your client find the terms agreeable?" He asked, leaning forward to lock gazes with Emily.

    Emily smiled with confidence. "We have finished reviewing the ''draft'' of the contract." She emphasized the word¡ªdraft. "Most of the uses are agreeable to my client," she said, opening the folder before her. She then withdrew a set of papers, probably a copy of the contract draft, before continuing. "However, there are still three uses that we would propose to revise. These uses are the Appearance, the Buy-Out, and Release uses."

    Zachary struggled to prevent himself from frowning on hearing Emily''s statement. They had already discussed all the terms of the contract, including the three uses. Zachary was satisfied with the deal. However, he was perplexed at his agent''s insistence on haggling at the final stage of the negotiation.

    The Appearance use stipted that Zachary had to y a total of 75 minutes in a game to receive the match participation bonus. The Buy-Out use tied Zachary to Rosenborg¡ªunless another club (not in the Norwegian league) could offer 24 million Euros during an active transfer window. Rosenborg would only allow Zachary to negotiate with another club after receiving such an offer. Additionally, there was a release use in Zachary''s contract. If any club ever made an offer of 50 million Euros, they would trigger the use and free Zachary from Rosenborg, winning his services in the process.

 Chapter 93 - Finalizing The Deal And Jersey Number

    "Miss Emily," Mr. Malvik intoned, frowning. "We already discussed the terms. Why are we going back to negotiations at this moment?" He leaned back into his chair, not bothering to mask his displeasure. The situation on the table turned gloomy as the rest of the executives red at Emily.

    Emily smiled, seemingly not bothered by the annoyance of the rest. "Mr. Malvik. If I remember correctly, we had only agreed that Zachary would gain an appearance bonus every time he was on the starting lineup. However, in the contract, you have added a use that denies Zachary this bonus unless he ys a total of 75 minutes in a game. That isn''t fair to a young yer like my client." She added, her tone somber.

    "Moving on, the Buy-Out and Release uses are highly-priced. Fifty million as the release-fee is too much for an eighteen-year-old yer. Do you want to use this fee to tie my client to your club for the next eight years until he can attract such a fee?"

    Mr. Malvik smiled softly, straightening his tie. "Miss Emily, for the past few months, you have been arguing that your client is one of the most talented footballers in Norway."

    "You specifically said that we should treat your client as a mature yer since he''ll readily adapt to the tempo of the senior team. That was the sole reason we offered a sry around the mid-tier range of the Rosenborg first-team yer earnings. Miss Emily, now that you have achieved a good sry deal for your client, why are you ying the young-yer card? Aren''t you the very same person that insisted we don''t treat Zachary as an inexperienced young yer?"

    Emily was about to reply, but Mr. Malvik held up his hand, gesturing that he hadn''t finished his argument. He flipped through the papers in front of him before continuing.

    "We have even added a wage increase use to encourage your client to perform to the best of his abilities this season. If he scores fifteen goals in a season or provides 20 assists, he''ll get a monthly sry increment of 100,000 NOK. If he manages to thirty goals, he will get an increment of 300,000 NOK. These uses will all be effective in the next month right after he has attained the stipted achievements."

    "That means your client might be earning 800,000 NOK by the end of the season. That is excluding the match-appearance bonuses and other allowances. Miss Emily, why would you even try to amend the uses for such a contract? Is it just because of the Buy-Out and the Release uses? I''m sorry to say¡ªbut we''ll scrap the deal if you make such a proposition." He concluded, his bodynguage emphasizing that he didn''t want to hear Emily''s nonsense.

    On hearing the legal advisor''s words, Zachary felt his heart sink. He wished to finalize the deal so that he would concentrate on ying for Rosenborg.

    Zachary didn''t understand why Emily was still bargaining at thest minute. Nheless, he didn''t voice his displeasure. He had promised Emily he wouldn''t interrupt her during the negotiations with the club management.

    For the next few minutes, Emily exchanged arguments with Mr. Malvik, neither party giving any leeway to the other during the negotiation. Emily insisted that Rosenborg should cut in half the fees required to trigger the Buy-Out and Release uses. She also emphasized that Zachary be¡ªcounted as having made an appearance as long as he appeared on the team. However, Mr. Malvik turned a deaf ear to all her pleas.

    Zachary and the rest of the executives watched silently as the twowyers battled with words that didn''t make sense to the rest of them. If they''d been¡ªleft to their own devices, they might have argued until the following day.

    But, luckily, the chairman held up his hand to cut short their heated verbal exchange after a few minutes. "Miss Emily," he smiled, facing her. "I want to make this brief since I have to attend another meeting in about an hour. I''ll take a step back and agree to the amendment of the Appearance use."

    "Chairman!" Mr. Malvik called out, nearly jumping from his seat.

    Mr. Koteng held up his hand for silence. "We''ll count that Zachary has made an appearance as long as he is on the starting eleven or the substitutes for the match day. However, the Buy-Out and Release use will stay the same. That''s myst offer. What say you, Miss Emily?" His deep voice resounded across the room, his tone somber.

    Emily frowned, turning to cast a nce at Zachary. Thetter ''simply'' nodded, indicating that she should take the deal. If it was him, he wouldn''t have bothered to negotiate for more uses. He would have already signed the contract thirty minutes ago.

    "Okay, deal," Emily intoned, standing and extending a hand to the chairman.

    "Great." The chairman grinned, taking her hand. "You have given us a hard time during these negotiations."

    Emily smiled sheepishly at that. "I''m only trying to do my best for my client. The good contract terms will boost Zachary''s morale, allowing him to perform beyond his limits. Surely, you can''t me me for that."

    "Well, you do have a point." The chairman nodded before turning towards Zachary.

    "Once again, I wee you to the Rosenborg team," he said, patting Zachary''s shoulder. "But please remember to continue doing your best to improve your skills. Only then will you stay in top shape and perform at the height of your abilities."

    "Yes, chairman," Zachary replied, patting his chest. "I''ll continue doing my best both on and off the pitch. You have my word."

    The chairman grinned at him. "That''s great. I do have high hopes for you. You can finalize the rest with Coach Johansen and Mr. Erik Hoftun. You still have to select your shirt number."

    Zachary continued making small talk with the executives while Mr. Malvik and Emily amended and finalized the new contract document. He got to meet the sporting director, who was a bearded fellow named Erik Hoftun. He seemed eager to initiate Zachary into the senior team that-very-day, even going¡ªforward to inquire about his choice of jersey number.

    Zachary didn''t deliberate for long and requested the sporting director to¡ªassign him the number-33 only after a moment. He wanted a unique number¡ªthat had never been worn by any famous football star in history. Moreover, the number-33 corresponded to his date of birth which was 3rd December.

    When Zachary finished selecting his jersey number, he felt like a heavyweight had been¡ªlifted from his shoulders. A light smile lit up his face as he watched Emily and Mr. Malvik editing the new contract on one of theirptops. In just a few minutes, he would be an official Rosenborg yer. He had finally achieved his previous life''s dream of ying professional football in Europe. He couldn''t contain his delight.

 Chapter 94 - Lerkendal Stadion

    Zachary''s signing ceremony proceeded without much fanfare. There were no journalists present when he put his signature down on the final contract. The only people present to witness his signing by the senior team were the four Rosenborg executives and a single photographer. However, he wasn''t disappointed in the slightest. Despite not attracting a crowd for his first professional signing ceremony, he still felt happy to confirm his employment with the top Norwegian club.

    Zachary and Emily left Brakka with Coach Johansen in his car immediately after the conclusion of the ceremony. They were¡ªapanied by Mr. Erik Hoftun, the sporting director of Rosenborg.

    They set a course for Lerkendal Stadion toplete the procedures involved in Zachary''s initiation to the senior team. He was yet to select a locker, take a tour of the stadium, and meet with the Rosenborg officials in charge of publicity.

    "Zachary," intoned Coach Johansen as he navigated a roundabout and steered his Ford Ranger into the street leading to the gates of Lerkendal Stadion. "I suggest you take a few days off afterpleting the procedures today. You should go home and do whatever you have to do today. Make sure everything in your life is in order. Then, rejoin the team for the training session on Monday at 9:00 AM."

    "I might as well continue training with the team today," Zachary replied, smiling. He had made himselffortable beside Emily in the back seat of Coach Johansen''s car.

    "Young man," Mr. Erik Hoftun, the sporting director seated in the front passenger seat, chipped in. "I advise you to take Coach Johansen''s advice. It''s a good idea to take this weekend off and rx your body and mental state. The training will feel like hell starting this Monday since we''ll bemencing serious preparations for the new season. The sessions won''t be anything like the half-assed regimens you had grown used to in the academy."

    "Yes, director," Zachary replied half-heartedly. He was reluctant to take the weekend off since he intended to acquire a starting position on the team as quickly as possible. Missing the next two days of first-team training would lessen his chances considerably. Nheless, he decided to respect the coach''s advice and stay at home for the weekend. He had been waiting three months to finalize the contract with Rosenborg. He could afford to wait two more days.

    "That''s great," Coach Johansen said without taking his eyes off the road. "I''ve been your coach for the past two years. All I can say is you''re one of the most focused young yers that I''ve ever trained. Your work ethic ismendable." He paused, stepping on the brakes as he neared a zebra-crossing.

    "Thank you for your praise," Zachary replied, nodding slightly.

    "However, I''ve noticed a problem that may affect your performance as a professional athlete, maybe sooner orter," said the coach.

    "A problem!" Zachary mumbled, frowning.

    In his two years at the academy, he had followed a strict training schedule and not wasted any time. Whether it was the coldest of winter days or the Christmas holiday, he had never missed a training session. So, he was at a loss regarding the problem that could affect his performance as a professional yer. He waited anxiously for the coach to exin himself.

    "Yes, there is an issue," Coach Johansen emphasized. "I''ve got no qualms about your work ethic andmitment towards training. However, you''ve got no social life outside of football. You''ve spent two years in Trondheim, but all you do is train and train and train."

    "A social life!" Zachary was once again perplexed. He was in Norway to y football and make money. However, the coach had just mentioned that hisck of social life was a problem that could potentially hinder his career. Was that a joke? Moreover, the so-called social life was what had destroyed his career in his previous life.

    "Yes, youck a social life," the coach continued in a somber tone. "If I may ask, do you have a girlfriend? Or do you have more than three friends out of the football field?"

    Zachary decided to maintain his silence.

    "If the answers to those questions are on the negative, then you reallyck a social life. As a coach, I''m only somewhat d that you have beenmitting all your time to your career. However, once in a while, you need to let loose and rx. Having a girlfriend is one of the ways to unwind in the hectic world of football. Otherwise, you''ll crumble, sooner orter."

    "You and your agent should create a detailed schedule for your training from now on. The timetable should include well-defined resting times for the best effect. If possible, you should hire a professional trainer to help you with this. Miss Emily, what say you?"

    "Coach, I think that''s a great idea," Emily replied cheerfully. "Before I leave Trondheim, I''ll help Zachary hire a fitness trainer. Regarding the rest issue, we could work with the club to achieve that. Moreover, there''s a use about this in the contract."

    "But even if there is a use, do you think Zachary would take a rest when he''s given a day off?" Coach Johansen asked.

    Both Emily and the sporting director burst intoughter at that.

    They continued discussing Zachary''s career as they neared the gates of the stadium. The coach continued giving Zachary advice on how to make it big on the professional stage. He even mentioned the problem of thete growth spurt that could potentially lead to injuries. He dered that he would be designing a training regimen to limatize Zachary to his growing physiquee the following week. Coach Johansen wanted to ensure Zachary''s risk of injury due to the growth spurt was reduced to the bare minimum before his debut.

    "Emily, this must be your first time at Lerkendal?" Mr. Erik Hoftun, the sporting director, inquired as Coach Johansen steered the car into the gates of the stadium.

    "You''re wrong, director," Emily replied, shaking her head. "This is like my fourth time here at Lerkendal. Most of my meetings with Mr. Malvik took ce here."

    "But, I''m sure you didn''t get a chance to tour the stadium," queried the sporting director, turning back to face Emily.

    "You''re right," Emily concurred. "This will be my first tour around Lerkendal. So, I''ll take plenty of pics for my Facebook page." She smiled.

    "Coach," Zachary chipped in as Coach Johansen steered his car into the parking lot. "I heard there are two pre-season matches against the Swedish teams, Malmo and ?rebro SK, scheduled for next week. If I perform well in the Monday training, could I get a chance to join the starting squad?"

    Coach Johansenughed, shaking his head. "Zach, we''ve got to take things slow on the first team. I know you''re very talented, but we need to handle your growth spurt problem first. We don''t want our most promising young talent to get injured in a friendly even before the season starts." He paused, opening the door and stepping out of the vehicle. The rest followed suit and stepped out of the ck Ford through their respective doors.

    "Zach," the coach continued, his tone somber. "I implore you to take your growth spurt problem seriously. You have grown a couple of inches over only a few months. That will affect your running and dribbling posture. If you don''t handle this carefully, you''ll end up getting recurrent injuries even before your career takes off. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach." Zachary nodded. "But I would like to point out that I''ve been doing a lot of agility enhancing drills over the past few months. I''m fully fit and ready to y at any time without risking injury."

    Since his graduation from the academy, Zachary had been pondering the issue of the ying style he could utilize to fit better into the first team. In the academy, he''d mainly yed as a half-striker instead of a midfielder. Zachary had often made dribbling runs through defenders to score goals. But he couldn''t continue to utilize the same style at the professional stage since the defenders were much more skilled than youth yers.

    Instead, he intended to refine his game and adopt a precise passing approach in-order-to win a starting position on the Rosenborg first team. He hoped to turn into a Maestro who could dominate the game with only a few touches rather than dribbling through defenders. That way, he wouldn''t have to worry about getting injured despite experiencing ate growth spurt. But for that to happen, the coach had to give him a chance to prove himself in a match first.

    "Well, we''ll see about that," Coach Johansen replied, picking his bag from the cabin of the Ford. "If you''re fully fit, you can join the squad sooner than expected. But you need to know that it''s not just my approval that you need to win over. You''ve also got to impress your teammates to the extent that they don''t doubt your ability. That way, they won''t question my decision when I add you to the squad. So, work hard, young man. But for now, let''s forget the squad and training. Go with Mr. Hoftun to select your locker and finish the transfer procedures. We shall deal with the rest on Monday."

    Lerkendal Stadion, the home ground of Rosenborg BK located three kilometers south of the city center, was a feast for the eyes. It was an all-seater stadium consisting of four three-tier grandstands without corners with a capacity for 21,421 spectators. About thirteen thousand were in club seating and luxury boxes on the center tier of all four stands.

    Zachary and Emily followed Mr. Hoftun as they toured the stadium. They walked through all the Lerkendal Idresspark sports facilities, including the gyms, the three pitches, and the locker rooms.

    Zachary had been training with the first team for a few months, so he was aware of most of the facilities. But he still followed the sporting director as he took him around the facilities introducing him to different club employees. By evening that day, Zachary had met the publicity secretaries, the various coaches, the gardeners, the gym attendants, and other managers¡ªresponsible for the day-to-day running of the Rosenborg facilities.

    When hepleted the tour, he had a brief meeting with Emily about his contract and hiring a personal trainer in a restaurant close to Rosenborg. He then headed back to his apartment to rest that evening, feeling fulfilled after signing the contract. He intended to purchase a new skill from the system that evening to prepare for the new season.

 Chapter 95 - State Of Zacharyâ€™s Attributes

    "System, show me my current stats," Zachary intoned as he settled into one of the sofas in the living room of his apartment. He''d just arrived home from Lerkendal Stadion. On noticing that it was getting close to 6 PM, he had decided to check out his attributes before getting on with preparing dinner.

    "DING"

    A system notification sounded right after he finished voicing hismand.

    "Generating current user stats data," the system AI''s feminine voice sounded directly within Zachary''s mind. "User data has been loaded. Please follow the drop-down menus to navigate the interface and view your current data."

    Zachary was d the system had finally manifested an AI with a mental/voicemunication function after its upgrade. He no longer needed to worry about teammates doubting his sanity whenever he used his fingertips to navigate the system menu. The system had be more user-friendly since he could call out the AI with his thoughts.

    As icing on the cake, it was a highly advanced artificial intelligence. It was capable of exining most of the data on its interface. It behaved just like a talking encyclopedia of sports science, fitness, and football information.

    With the AI, Zachary could easily design an effective training regimen to fit his current needs. He didn''t need to bother hiring a physical fitness trainer to adapt to his growing physique. The system had already designed a mission to tackle the issue of the growth spurt three months prior. He had dissuaded Emily from hiring a trainer since he already possessed the highly-capable system.

    "I should make a decision on which direction to develop my skills before the team training starts on Monday," Zachary mumbled, leaning back into thefort of his sofa. He fixed his eyes on the familiar translucent blueish system interface that had appeared before him.

    ****

    SOCCER G.O.A.T SYSTEM

    SYSTEM LEVEL: 3 (2700/10000 Juju-points to level-up)

    USER: Zachary Bemba

    AGE: 18 years

    TALENT ASSESSMENT: Grade-A

    JUJU-POINTS: 2700

    (Evaluation: A promising young professional yer)

    ----

    USER MENU

    *USER STATS

    *G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    *SYSTEM SHOP (1 msg)

    *SYSTEM LOTTERY

    *SNOOPING TOOL

    ----

    NB: Pls level-up the system to unlock more functions.

    ****

    Zachary grinned on seeing his stock of Juju-points. He had earned most of them from winning the Riga and Norway Youth Cups the previous year. Despite his colossal expenditure on elixirs and training in the system simtor, Zachary still had a whopping 2700 Juju-points in his possession. He had saved them up to buy a new skill after joining the Rosenborg senior team. Since he had finally signed the contract with Rosenborg, he could go ahead with the purchase.

    "System," Zachary instructed mentally. "Bring out my user-stats data."

    "DING"

    "User-stats dataing up on the interface," the AI''s feminine voice sounded in Zachary''s mind as the contents of the translucent blue interface changed to disy his primary attributes.

    ****

    *USER STATS

    ->Physical Fitness: A+

    ->Ser Technique: A+

    ->Game Intelligence: A+

    ->Mental Ability and Mindset: B+

    ->X-Factors: B+

    ->G.O.A.T Skills: 5

    ****

    Zachary had been using physical conditioning elixirs to strengthen his physique over the previous year. Thanks to them, his physical fitness, ser technique, and game intelligence attributes were all at the A+ grading. Only his mental ability and X-factor stats stillgged behind the rest at the B+ grading.

    Zachary had hoped to upgrade all the attributes to A+ grading before joining the Rosenborg senior team. However, he''d found it no easy task to push those two attributes beyond the B+ grading. It seemed he had stumbled upon an impermeable bottleneck, preventing him from breaking past to the next grade, especially for his mental ability.

    On the other hand, the X-factor was the most challenging attribute to develop. It solely depended on how he performed inpetitive matches. He had to participate inpetitive games on a regr basis while remaining consistent as the y-maker of his team and winning matches. Only then would the match-winning, consistency, and supernormal factors cially rise and boost his X-factor.

    Zachary deliberated for a bit before inspecting the rest of his stats. He needed to have aprehensive understanding of his abilities before selecting which new skills to purchase from the system shop. "System," he intoned. "Take me through all my stats data."

    "DING"

    "User statsing up," the system voiced as the contents of the screen before Zachary morphed into his physical-fitness data.

    ****

    *USER STATS

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: A+)

    Bnce and Coordination: A+

    Agility: A+

    Strength: A+

    Stamina: A+

    Endurance Points: 9495/9500 (A+)

    ----

    ****

    Zachary had continued his strict training schedule over the past year. He had trained hard and upgraded all his physical fitness attributes to the A+ grading¡ªwith some help from the elixirs availed by the system.

    However, he had still failed to bypass the bottleneck that impended his way to achieving the S grading in any of his physical attributes. Over the past year, he had focused on training his agility, intending to make it an S grade before his debut. He had strictly followed an agility-enhancing training regimen, day-in-day-out, but his efforts had proven futile. Even taking B-grade agility enhancing elixirs on two separate asions had not helped him to achieve the grade. All his efforts were for naught.

    He felt helpless since there seemed to be a massive bottleneck hindering him from attaining the S grade. He had sought help from the system about the issue. Instead, the AI had informed him to focus on upgrading his mental ability and mindset first. It had insisted he needed to steadily improve his mental aspect before attaining the S-grading in any of his other attributes. Zachary was confused by the AI''s advice. ording to his understanding, the mind''s development should have been utterly unrted to his physical fitness.

    Zachary pushed his worries to the back of his mind after a few seconds. The AI had switched the interface disy contents to his ser-technique data. He concentrated once again on assessing his core football skills.

    ****

    *USER STATS

    ->Ser Technique: (Av. Rating: A+)

    Ball Control: A+

    Dribbling Skills: A+

    Passing uracy: A+

    Body Control: A+

    ----

    ****

    Zachary grinned as he perused through his skills data. He had managed to push both his dribbling skills and body control further¡ªafter consuming two doses of the agility-enhancing-elixir, coupled with training intensively on both the field and in the simtor over the course of the previous year.

    Additionally, his mastery of the Cruyff-turn and Ronaldinho-stico-Dribble to a hundred percentpletion had helped him achieve the feat much earlier than he''d expected. Zachary was quite pleased with himself.

    After upgrading his dribbling, Zachary could move the ball in different directions at different speeds with both feet better than he had been able to the previous year. He could sessfully maneuver through multiple opponents without losing possession by simply relying on agile footwork.

    He hade to the understanding that superb drilling skills were essential to achieving sess in football, especially in the midfield, after facing Valencia in the SIA Cup. In that match, his speed had failed to help him beat the highly technical Valencia youth yers. The opponents had given him a hard time, especially in thetter part of the game, since his dribbling wascking. He had ended up under-performing since the defenders had managed to put a stop to his signature runs through the midfield.

    After that loss in the semi-final, Zachary had vowed to improve his dribbling skills. He had trained in the Cruyff-turn and Ronaldinho-stico-Dribble thousands of times¡ªon both the physical field and the simtor. He also performed training drills designed by Coach Johansen to improve both his body control and agility.

    He now understood the importance of body control and its effect on dribbling after consulting his coaches. Body control was the athlete''s ability to move their body fluidly to optimize bnce and coordination. It applied to the correctness of form consisting of the nature of strides, correct running-form, and the management of a low center of gravity for better dribbling.

    As Zachary''s body control and agility improved, so did his dribbling and the pace of learning the two skills. In just three months, he had leveled-up the two attributes to the A+ grading.

    "I wonder when I''ll be able to improve my ability to the S grade," Zachary mumbled, returning his attention to the system interface. The AI had just switched the interface contents to his game-intelligence and mental-ability data.

    ****

    *USER STATS

    ->Game Intelligence: (Av. Rating: A+)

    Spatial Awareness: A+

    Tactical Knowledge: A+

    Risk Assessment: A+

    ----

    ****

    ->Mental Ability and Mindset: (Av. Rating: B+)

    Ser Passion: A+

    Composure and Mental Strength: C+

    Coachability: B -

    Self-Motivation: A+

    ----

    ****

    Zachary''s game intelligence attributes had not changed much over the past year. He''d only improved his tactical knowledge from the A- grading to the A+ grading. He was only a single step away from the game intelligence of most coaches in that attribute.

    He could analyze risks and make sound decisions by himself on the pitch. The advantage gained from that had helped him win the majority of the games in his youth career. He couldn''t help but wonder what his game intelligence would be capable of if it broke through to the S-grading.

    Lastly, the AI switched the contents of the interface to his X-factor stats. Zachary leaned forward to have a better view of the attributes.

    ****

    USER STATS

    ->X-Factor (Av. Rating: B+)

    Consistency Factor: A-

    Luck Factor: A-

    Supernormal Factor: D-

    Match Winning Factor: A+

    ----

    NB:

    *Luck Factor is not constant. It varies depending on the circumstances of the user. On a good day, it can be an S grade, while on a bad one, it can easily fall to an F.

    ----

    ****

    Zachary''s frowned as he perused through his X-factor attributes. The AI had already exined to him the different stats under the X-factor. The consistency factor was rted to how he maintained his form across many matches. He had to y at his best in every single game to have a high consistency factor. Zachary had managed to achieve an A- grade for that stat since he''d only lost two games since arriving in Norway. He had lost once against the senior Rosenborg senior team and another time against Valencia in the SIA Cup.

    On the other hand, the match-winning factor referred to the rating of his contributions to his team''s performance. It was an evaluation derived from a yer''s match performance details such as the goals scored, the assists made, the shots on target, the sessful dribble attempts, the urate passes vs. total passes ratio, etc.

    Zachary had an A-grade match-winning factor because he''d been ying like a superstar in the academy. On most asions, he managed to score or make key assists even when the rest of the team was underperforming.

    "System," Zachary intoned after perusing through his X-factor data. "How can I improve my supernormal-factor attribute?"

    "The user ''simply'' has to improve his mental attributes and game intelligence," the feminine voice of the system''s AI replied apathetically. "When the mental capabilities reach a given threshold, the user will automatically unlock more aspects of the supernormal factor. The user does not have to worry since he has already unlocked a supernormal state on two asions."

 Chapter 96 - The Supernormal Factor

    "I''ve already unlocked the supernormal factor on two asions!" Zachary eximed, his mind quickly working in overdrive to deduce when that had happened. Then it all came to him. When he''d yed in the Riga tournament during the February of the previous year, he''d identally entered a state of extreme focus in two of the matches.

    Zachary could still recall the feeling of ying under that state clearly like it was just yesterday. He had yed by instinct¡ªa feat that made his dribbling and ball control flow like water. In the match against BK Frem in the Riga Cup semifinals, his thought process had been lightning fast. He had managed to score the second goal due to achieving that high level of focus. But, he hadn''t known that it was rted to the supernormal factor at that time.

    "System," Zachary intoned. "Are the two asions the times when I entered the extreme state of focus during the Riga Cup?" He asked, aching to confirm whether his conjecture was true.

    "Positive," the AI replied. "On those two asions, the user managed to achieve an extreme level of concentration called the zone."

    "The zone is a supernormal state of mind. Under its thrall, an athlete is highly focused and can easily perceive even the slightest of changes around him," the AI continued. "The user must be in the initial state of awakening the zone mental ability as he can''t control it yet."

    "When trained to a high level, the user will be-able-to create an incorporeal domain around him, say of a 3-meter radius. The user can then easily perceive anything that happens in that domain¡ªwithout even using his eyes. The spatial awareness of the user will also increase considerably. It''ll then be trivial to assess risk and the positioning of both opponents and teammates on the pitch."

    "Such an ability really exists?" Zachary queried, his eyes widening with sheer disbelief.

    "The user can be¡ªassured that the zone ability is a must-have for any high-level team sports athletes," the system confirmed. "In such team sports like ser and basketball, an athlete will have to keep track of both his opponents and teammates at all times. That way, he''ll quickly analyze risk and find the best route to the goal. So, an athlete will have a marked advantage if he possesses a zone ability. The wider the zone he can create, the better his passing ability, spatial awareness, and risk analysis."

    "I''ve to get the zone ability as soon as possible," Zachary resolved, feeling a surge of delight flowing through him. That was the dream cheat he needed to take his passing to the next level. "System, how can I develop my zone ability quickly?"

    "You should focus on improving your mental abilities," the AI replied. "When your mind develops to a certain threshold, you''ll be able to unlock your zone ability. The mental conditioning elixirs can help you in that regard."

    Zachary''s mood lightened on hearing the AI''s response. Over the past four months, he had¡ªbeen carrying out a progressive overload training system mission to limatize his body to the cold Trondheim weather. It was due the following week with the reward of a B-grade mental conditioning elixir on sessfulpletion. Zachary was confident that he would seed inpleting all the tasks of the mission. That meant he could enhance his mental toughness using the elixir, possibly unlocking the zone ability. Zachary felt quiet contentment spread through him as he daydreamed about how far his skills would skyrocket after that.

    "The user has to note that the chance of unlocking the zone ability with a B-grade mental conditioning elixir is about 2 %," the system''s apathetic voice brought him back to earth. Zachary''s mood dampened as that meant he would most likely fail than seed.

    "I should go ahead and buy a new skill to improve my chances on the first team," he mumbled, trying his best to cheer himself up. Instead of wallowing in worry about a supernormal factor with only a 2% chance of being unlocked, he was better off improving the other aspects of his attributes.

    "System," instructed Zachary, leaning back into thefort of the sofa. "Bring up my G.O.A.T Skills data."

    "DING"

    "G.O.A.T Skills infoing up on the interface," the AI sounded in Zachary''s mind. He blinked as his eyes adjusted to the new contents of the screen.

    ****

    ->G.O.A.T Skills: 5

    (i) ZINEDINE VISUAL JUJU

    (1st-level: Progress: 90.001%)

    ----

    (ii) ZACHARY-ARROW-SHOT

    (2nd-level: Progress: 1%)

    ----

    (iii) BEND-IT LIKE BECKHAM JUJU

    (1st-level: Progress: 100%)

    ----

    (iv) CRUYFF-TURN

    (Progress: 100%, Mastered beyond 100%pletion.)

    ----

    (v) RONALDINHO ELASTICO DRIBBLE

    (Progress: 100%, Mastered beyond 100%pletion.)

    ----

    ----

    ->G.O.A.T Skills Simtor

    *Activate *Deactivate

    (Activation costs 2 Juju-points per hour)

    ----

    ****

    Zachary had already mastered most of his acquired G.O.A.T skills by practicing them thousands of times over the course of the previous year. Only the Zinedine-Visual-Juju stillgged behind the rest at 90.001 %pletion since he had stumbled upon a bottleneck in his mental aspect. The system AI had informed him he would only start making progress in the skill after enhancing his mental strength.

    Zachary had been resisting the urge to buy a new skill since he was yet to master the ones already in his repertoire. He was a true believer in Bruce Lee''s focused practice and a high level of proficiency philosophy. He would rather be the man who practiced one kick 10,000 times but not one who practiced 10,000 kicks once.

    Zachary preferred to master a single G.O.A.T Skill to 100%pletion rather than half-heartedly practicing more techniques in a short period. That was the reason he could remain focused and train a skill like the Ronaldinho stico Dribble thousands of times to achieve perfection.

    However, since he''d already mastered all the trainable G.O.A.T-skills to 100 % mastery, he could afford to purchase a new skill from the system shop.

    "System," he mumbled. "I would like to purchase new G.O.A.T Skills from the shop."

    "DING"

    "Command received," intoned the AI, the apathetic feminine voice resounding within Zachary''s mind. "Data loading, please wait."

 Chapter 97 - Purchasing A New Skill

    Zachary remained silent while observing the translucent interface before him. He watched as the interface''s contents slowly morphed into the system shop menu before zeroing on to the purchase-skills tab.

    In an instant, three skill cards popted the translucent bluish screen before him. The three cards hovered before all the other contents of the interface.

    One card depicted Andrea Pirlo, the legendary Italian Maestro, with the ball at his feet. The second portrayed Cristiano Ronaldo, in a Juventus jersey, heading the ball. Thest had a picture of Robinho, the Brazilian footballer, with his right foot over the ball.

    Below the three skill cards, a few words were¡ªinscribed in beautiful calligraphy.

    ****

    1) Snipe-it like Pirlo Juju: For passing. Costs 300 Juju-points.

    ----

    2) CR7 Aerial-finishing Juju: For headers. Costs 2000 Juju-points.

    ----

    3) Robinho Step-Over Juju: For dribbling tricks and feints. Costs 2000 Juju-points.

    ----

    NB:

    *The skills are limited to a single purchase until the next system upgrade.

    *Please make your choice by tapping on the skill-card to purchase.

    ****

    "Oh, my God," Zachary could not help but exim after ncing at the cards. He had not expected that three legendary skills would appear in the system shop simultaneously.

    "Damn, why does the system limit me to only a single purchase after every upgrade?" He wondered, gazing at the cards with starry eyes. If he could, he would have wished to purchase both the Snipe-it like Pirlo and the Robinho Step-Over Jujus. The two skills could take his game to another level, pushing him closer to the top of the technique pyramid as quickly as possible. But there was nothing he could do. He could only buy one skill until he could next upgrade the system.

    "Let''s go with the Robinho Step-Over Juju," Zachary mumbled before tapping the card portraying Robinho. He made his choice quickly since he didn''t need to deliberate for long.

    Robinho''s quick sessive step-overbination was one of the most desired skills in football. With its peculiar tricks and feints, Zachary was sure that he would be able to outsmart any opponent in the Tippeligaen.

    Additionally, Robinho''s step-overbination could trick the opponent even when standing in a single ce. It was a technique that ignored the prime rule of never halting when with the ball. With just a quick flip-p of the feet, a yer skilled in Robinho step-overs could take on multiple opponents even when confined in narrow space.

    "DING"

    The system notification sounded as Zachary''s right forefinger left the translucent blue screen.

    "The user has chosen to purchase the Robinho Step-Over Juju from the system shop. 2000 Juju-points points will be deducted from the user when he confirms the purchase."

    "But please note: the Robinho Step-Over Juju is a skill that has a minimum requirement of S-grade agility and body control. Thus, the user will not be able to practice the skill until he has upgraded the two attributes to the stipted grade."

    "Does the user still want to purchase the skill?" The AI queried in its apathetic voice.

    Zachary kept his eyes on the interface as the words CONFIRM PURCHASE and CANCEL PURCHASE appeared above Robinho''s skill card.

    "System," intoned Zachary, his face morphing into a contorted expression depicting his displeasure. "Do you enjoy ying with my fragile heart? Why is the skill in the system shop if I''m not eligible to buy it?"

    "The user should note that the skills added to the system shop after every upgrade are selected randomly from thousands of skills," the AI replied, without any emotion in its voice. "I have no control over which skills will appear in the shop. It all depends on your luck and the level of the system. If you want a higher level of control when purchasing the skills, please upgrade the system. Moreover, it''s your fault for not managing to achieve the S-grade. You can only me yourself for being unable to obtain the Juju."

    Zachary sighed, shaking his head to clear his mind. Missing out on learning a skill wasn''t the end of the world. He would get other chances to acquire the Robinho Step-Over Juju in the future. He just needed to improve his fitness attributes¡ªand then, he would attain the capability to learn most of the G.O.A.T skills.

    Zachary turned his attention to the other cards on the screen after tapping on the cancel-purchase pop-up button. His gaze passed over the CR7 Aerial-finishing Juju and finally settled on the Snipe-it like Pirlo Juju. The skill was his next choice of purchase after failing to acquire the Robinho Step-Over Juju.

    Zachary was no striker, so he didn''t see the value in purchasing the aerial-finishing Juju. Instead, Pirlo''s passing skills could elevate his game to the next level, making him a Maestro in the midfield.

    "System," intoned Zachary. "You just imed that skills appear in the shop following a random pattern. But why has the Snipe-it like Pirlo Juju surfaced once again?"

    "The user should note that once a skill enters the system shop, it won''t disappear unless it''s purchased," the AI replied. "The Snipe-it-like-Pirlo Juju surfaced during the first upgrade. That''s why it''s still in the system shop."

    "Oh, that makes sense," Zachary mumbled, nodding in understanding. He felt a glimmer of delight since he could purchase the Robinho Step-Over Juju when he met the system''s requirements.

    "Let me acquire the skill first," he mumbled, tapping on the card portraying Andrea Pirlo with the ball at his feet.

    "DING"

    "The user has chosen to purchase the Snipe-it-like-Pirlo Juju from the system shop. 300 Juju-points points will be deducted from the user when he confirms the purchase."

    "Checking skill''s requirements..." The AI continued.

    "The user''s attributes meet the skill''s requirements."

    "Congrattions. The user can go ahead and purchase the skill."

    Zachary grinned like a Cheshire cat as he clicked on the confirm-purchase pop-up button.

    "DING"

    The system notification sounded once again as his finger left the screen.

    "The user is attempting to learn a G.O.A.T Skill that leans heavily towards the mental aspects," voiced the AI. "Quantum mental conditioning is required to achieve the initial mastery in the skill."

    "The user will feel a bit of difort as soon as the mental conditioning starts."

    "Should we still proceed?"

    "Yes, please proceed with the conditioning," Zachary replied in a somber tone, leaning back into thefort of the sofa¡ªjust as a safety measure. He couldn''t gauge what amount of difort he would face in the next few minutes. But he still had to be prepared for the worst-case scenario during the process.

    "Loading required data and packages," the AI''s feminine but apathetic voice resounded within Zachary''s mind. "The system will start the quantum mental conditioning in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1¡ªand 0."

    "BOOM"

    An explosion went off within Zachary''s mind as soon as the countdown ended. His brain felt like it would swell beyond the capacity of his skull. A splitting headache soon followed as tides of mind-numbing pain ravaged his cognizance. They were the kind that stopped all other traffic in the brain, as suddenly all had met with red lights.

    He couldn''t help but wonder why he hadn''t experienced such pain when he''d previously obtained the Zinedine-Visual-Juju from the system.

    He could only bite on his shirt to stop himself from screaming as he withstood the ''bit of difort'' imposed upon him by the system. He didn''t want to rm his neighbors¡ªsince as a worst-case, they could call the police. However, the feeling of bulging in his brain continued to grow, his eyes starting to see stars. Then nausea crept from his abdomen to his head, and the world went ck.

 Chapter 98 - Merging Skills

    Zachary woke with a start and sat bolt upright on the sofa. The morning sun was already beaming through the window, adorned with drawn silk curtains, on one side of his apartment''s living room. The light rays reflected off the ss-top of his ssic rectangr coffee table, blinding him momentarily because his pupils were¡ªstill dted from sleep.

    He cast a cursory nce at his wall clock and noticed that it was already 10 AM. Only then did he remember why he''d slept in the living room instead of thefort of his well-furnished bedroom.

    The previous evening he had purchased the Snipe-it-like-Pirlo Juju from the system shop. He had immediately gone through the mental conditioning required to learn the skill but had cked out during the process. He couldn''t help but tremble on recalling the mind-numbing pain he''d gone through the previous night.

    "System, did I seed in learning the skill?" He queried, standing up from the sofa and stretching his limbs. He couldn''t feel any differences in his bodypared to the previous day. He only felt a little dizzy, probably as an after-effect of the mental conditioning procedure.

    "Reporting to the user," the system AI intoned in its signature feminine but impassive voice. "Both the mental conditioning and the addition of the Snipe-it-like-Pirlo Juju data into the user''s mind was very sessful."

    "Why is it that I feel nothing different about myself?" He inquired. He then took a few steps and looked out of the window. It was a slow Saturday morning. Only a few vehicles and pedestrians were moving on the streets below his apartment building.

    "The user will feel the difference while ying football," the AI responded. "Please be rest assured that the information necessary to achieve initial mastery of the skill has already been ingrained into the user''s core instincts."

    "The user can now easily use the Snipe-it-like-Pirlo basic passing skills on the pitch."

    "Does the user wish to check his progress in learning the skill on the system panel?"

    "Yes," Zachary responded, walking back and settling into a sofa. "Please show me the skills menu."

    "Command received," intoned the system. "G.O.A.T Skills tabing up on the interface. Please wait a second."

    Zachary blinked as his eyes adjusted to the luster of the translucent bluish interface. He watched as the G.O.A.T Skills he''d mastered popted the entire length of the screen.

    ****

    ->G.O.A.T Skills: 6

    (i) ZINEDINE VISUAL JUJU

    (1st-level: Progress: 90.001%)

    ----

    (ii) ZACHARY-ARROW-SHOT

    (2nd-level: Progress: 1%)

    ----

    (iii) BEND-IT LIKE BECKHAM JUJU

    (1st-level: Progress: 100%)

    ----

    (iv) CRUYFF-TURN

    (Progress: 100%, Mastered beyond 100%pletion.)

    ----

    (v) RONALDINHO ELASTICO DRIBBLE

    (Progress: 100%, Mastered beyond 100%pletion.)

    ----

    (vi) SNIPE-IT LIKE PIRLO JUJU

    (Progress: 10%)

    ----

    ----

    ->G.O.A.T Skills Simtor

    *Activate *Deactivate

    (Activation costs 2 Juju-points per hour)

    ----

    ****

    "DING"

    The system notification sounded while Zachary was still perusing through the skill data.

    "The system has detected two skills that match in usability and learning requirements," the AI intoned. "The Zinedine-Visual-Juju and Snipe-it-like-Pirlo-Juju are the skills in question. They can be merged into one at the cost of 1500 Juju-points by the system."

    "Does the user wish to merge the two skills?"

    Zachary''s felt a surge of delight flowing through him after hearing the AI''s question.

    He''d already noticed that his mastery of the Snipe-it-like-Pirlo Juju had already advanced to 10% over a single night. That meant that he could already make use of the knacks that came with the Juju. He was already content since it would elevate his game reading and passing skills, especially in the midfield.

    But on hearing that the system could merge the skills, Zachary was momentarily stunned, speechless. He couldn''t help but wonder how such a feat was feasible when the two Jujus originated from two different yers.

    "System," he intoned. "Are there any drawbacks that''ll follow after the merging of the two skills?"

    "Yes, there are," the AI responded right away. "The user will lose some bit of mastery after the systempletes the merging of the two skills."

    [As I thought.] Zachary mused inwardly.

    "Does the user wish to merge the Zinedine-Visual and Snipe-it-like-Pirlo Jujus?" The AI prompted once again. "Please note: the resulting skill will be much better than the two skills used separately."

    "The merged skill will be better!" Zachary mumbled, stroking his chin. "Okay, proceed with the merging of the two skills." Hemanded, leaning back into the sofa. Since the system had assured him that the resulting skill would be better, there wasn''t a reason to avoid the merging. Maybe, it would be the skill that could help him rise to the top of the Tippeligaen. He ''simply'' had to take a leap of faith.

    "Command received."

    "1500 Juju-points have been deducted."

    "The merging of Zinedine-Visual and Snipe-it-like-Pirlo Jujus willmence in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1¡ªand 0."

    "BOOM"

    And once again, an explosion went off in the confines of his mind. He then experienced the familiar splitting headache that threatened to put a halt to all of his conscious thoughts. However, that time around, Zachary hardened his resolve and passed through the torment without cking out. In only a couple of minutes, the waves of pain in his head receded like a tide.

    "Zinedine-Visual and Snipe-it like-Pirlo mergingplete," the AI intoned. "The user can go ahead and name the new skill."

    "That quick?" Zachary queried, his voice a pitch higher than he had intended. He''d expected to go through tortureparable to that of the previous day. However, in just a few minutes, the system had already merged the skills sessfully. That did not make much sense to him.

    "Yes, that quick," the AI confirmed. "As there wasn''t any need for the user to go through another mental conditioning routine, the system was able to carry out the merging in only a few minutes. Please go ahead and name the new skill." The AI urged once again.

    "Just name it the Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju," Zachary said, returning his focus on the system interface before him. Since the two skills were rted to the game intelligence and mental aspects, Zachary decided to name them as a type of mental-juju.

    "Command received."

    "Naming the new skill as Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju."

    "Skill data has been¡ªupdated in the system."

    Zachary heard the AI articte as new data popted the translucent blueish interface. The number of G.O.A.T skills on the panel reduced from six to five. The new Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju appeared on the screen in the fifth position, with 49.009% mastery.

    Zachary was d his mastery of the new skill had not started at zero. With 49% progress, he could use the new Juju in a match after a few training sessions. His only disappointment was that his game intelligence and the other mental attribute stats hadn''t advanced.

    He closed the system interface after perusing through some of his other stats. After merging the skills, he remained with a bnce of only 900 Juju-points. He nned to save those for his daily usage¡ªsuch as when purchasing the physical conditioning elixirs. He would also use them when activating the system simtor¡ªthe virtual world where he trained most of his techniques.

    Zachary then quickly prepared a heavy breakfastprising oven-baked chicken thighs, French fries, a banana, milk, and juice. He was starving since he hadn''t eaten dinner the previous night. Moreover, it seemed like the mental conditioning had sapped all his energy reserves.

    Thus, he eagerly feasted on more than half a kilogram of food before going out for his routine morning jog. He needed to run eight miles so-as-toplete the system mission task for that morning. It was part of the routine to limatize his body to the cold weather, which Zachary didn''t wish to miss for anything in the world.

    Out of his apartment building, the rising sun cast a rosy hue across the morning sky. Zachary took a moment to soak into the golden rays that were so rare on a typical March morning in Trondheim. In an odd counterpoint, the morning breeze was chilly on his skin. So, he zipped his Nike running jacket, put on his woolen head sock, and started jogging a few secondster.

    He got into the zone as soon as he was out on the streets¡ªhis strides short and consistent. His body seemed to have achieved a form of whole-body meditation as he raced along the sidewalk. At times, he would explode with speed to hone his sprinting and endurance. At others, he would abruptly change directions, making consecutive tight turns, so-as-to perfect his body control.

    He ''simply'' kept running like each step mattered, whizzing past the few pedestrians on the street. Then, before he knew it, his apartment building was before him, and all that was¡ªleft to do was let his legs crumple and rest as they wanted to.

    However, he didn''t allow himself to rx immediately. He stretched for a few minutes in front of his building, therebypleting the system''s progressive overload mission task for that morning. He was then one step closer to obtaining the mental conditioning elixir as the reward for the mission.

    Zachary ascended the stairs, hoping to take a quick shower before nning-on what to do the rest of the day. He hated days when there was no training. He wished he could join the rest of the other Rosenborg yers at Lerkendal Idresspark to train. However, the coach had ''advised'' him several times to take some time off from the intensive practice that weekend.

    "I should probably buy a yStation like Kendrick suggested, to help me pass through my rest days," he mumbled. He immersed his entire psyche into his musings without bothering about his surroundings.

    "Thankfully, there is the El Cl¨¢sico today. I will watch that, maybe with the guys at Moholt."

    He continued ascending the stairs leading to the sixth floor by sheer instinct. Meanwhile, his mind shifted into a higher gear, trying to recall who had ended up winning that El Cl¨¢sico game in his previous life. Was it Real Madrid or Barcelona? But he couldn''t remember as he hadn''t watched that match in his past life.

    Along the stairs, he seemed to hear someone calling out. But he didn''t turn back since he didn''t expect any visitors or know any of his neighbors personally.

    "Zachary," the person once again called out. But that time around, he could tell that the feminine voice was calling out his name. He turned around, and to his surprise, found a girl he didn''t expect to meet any time soon, a few steps away. She stood by the door on the fourth floor, smiling at him like a long-lost friend who had finally been¡ªfound.

    "Miss Kristin Stein," Zachary eximed, feeling his heart start to race. "What are you doing here?"

 Chapter 99 - Unexpected Neighbor

    Kristinughed. "Your reaction is priceless. Why shouldn''t I be here? This is my apartment, after all." She said, pointing at the door behind her. "Instead, it is I who should be asking why you''re at my doorstep."

    Zachary gave her a look over, wondering whether she was being serious or joking. "You really live here, in this building?" He asked after a moment, his voice slightly higher than he''d intended.

    It had been close to two years since he''dst seen her, but she''d grown more beautiful. She was even more gorgeous. Her intelligent amber eyes matched her long blonde hair, which she wore in a ponytail. She had a full, womanly figure. The curves of her hips and the fullness of her bosom brought to mind the idea of perfection. Most Norwegiandies that Zachary had met were not excessively curvy. Kristin was the exception in that regard. Even her Nike Air running jacket and pair of baggy pants couldn''t hide her shapely figure.

    "Yes, that''s right," Kristin replied, the corners of her lips curling into a soft smile. "This has been my apartment for about five years. But why are you here?"

    "I live in the apartment on the sixth floor," Zachary replied. "I moved in at the start of January. However, I haven''t seen you in this neighborhood even once. Are you sure you''re a resident here?"

    "Yes, of course," Kristin replied. "But, I''ve been away for my studies sincest August. So, my roommate was alone in the apartment for the past six months."

    "But that aside," Kristin continued, tilting her head for a moment and studying him. "I heard from my grandpa that you graduated from the academyst December. That means that you must have already signed a contract with Rosenborg. Is that right?"

    Zachary sighed, folding his arms across his chest. "The negotiations with the club took longer than expected. I only managed to sign the professional contract yesterday."

    "Yeh, that''s great news," she said, pumping her fist into the air like a football yer celebrating a goal. "Have you joined the senior or the youth team?"

    "The senior team, of course," Zachary replied, beaming. "That''s at least ording to the terms of the contract."

    "Congrattions. Not many can sign a professional contract right after graduating from the academy. Academy graduates usually have to be under-19s or under-21s before joining the first team. The coaches must be very impressed with your skills since they allowed you to join the team right away. You should work hard and treasure the opportunity." She added, taking on the tone of an elder.

    "Thank you," Zachary replied, not minding her tone one bit. "I''ll try my best on the senior team."

    "If I remember correctly, Rosenborg will be ying Odds BK on the 17th of this month. That''s only two weeks from now. There must also be some more pre-season friendly matches before that. Isn''t that right?"

    "Yes." Zachary nodded in assent. "Before ying Odds BK, we''ll first face the Swedish teams, Malmo and ?rebro. The two matches will be yed in Sweden on Tuesday and Thursday this week."

    Kristin arched her brows, giving him a once-over from the head to the toes. "Then why aren''t you training with the team today? Don''t you intend to make it to the first team as soon as possible?" She asked.

    "Of course, I would have loved to train with the team today. However, Coach Johansen and the sporting director strictly advised me to take the weekend off and rest my body. That''s why I''m here jogging alone instead of being at Lerkendal."

    "Oh!" Kristin smiled, giving him an arch look. "I can see that you''re doing your best to rest your body then."

    "Jogging is a form of resting," Zachary emphasized. "There are tons of sports science articles that support this conjecture."

    Kristin smiled, raising her hand in a cating gesture. "Zach! You don''t have to be defensive with me. I''m not your manager. But be careful not to openly disobey the coach''s orders when you''ve just entered the team."

    "Would you like toe and visit me since you have got a day off?" Kristin intoned, changing the topic. "I have warm coffee¡ªthe best at warming the body after being out in the cold. Moreover, I would like to hear about your adventures in Riga and Valencia." Sheughed.

    "Not today," Zachary replied, shaking his head. "I''m still sweaty from running, so maybe I''ll have the coffee next time."

    "Oh, that''s fine," Kristin said. "We can maybe organize and have dinner some other time. Where is your friend Kasongo by the way? Is he still in the academy?"

    "Yes, he is in the academy. But he should be joining the under-19 team pretty soon. They''ll be going through the youth team trials next week."

    "So, don''t you want to brag to me about your performance in the academy," she said, giving him an arch look. "I heard that you were on fire during the international youth tournaments."

    "There isn''t much to tell about the tournaments. We worked as a team to win in Riga and reach the semis in Valencia. Of course, I was the top scorer in the two tournaments." He emphasized, wanting to look good in front of Kristin.

    "You must have worked very hard for the academy to obtain such achievements." Kristin smiled, nodding. "It''s a pity that everyone at the club believes that Coach Johansen performed some miracle to win the two cupsst year. They don''t get that it was all your doing. That was why he got the Rosenborg head coaching job despite his inexperience in the top-tier leagues. He almost didn''t face anypetition."

    "But, Coach Johansen is a great coach," Zachary argued. "Why do you sound like you''re dissatisfied with him?"

    "Really?" Kristin raised an eyebrow. "Do you think we can trust him to take the team back to the top?"

    She sighed. "I don''t want to see the team end up performing poorly likest season. To put it simply, Coach Johansen doesn''t give me confidence in the club this season."

    "That''s understandable." Zachary nodded. "But, Coach Johansen is a great coach. I have yed under him for two years. He knows how to utilize the capabilities of all his yers. Furthermore, he is not rigid and can easily adapt to novel situations quickly. You don''t have to worry about the club this season."

    "I hope so," Kristin mumbled, shaking her head. "It would be bad if we continued underperforming this season."

    Zachary couldn''t help but recall Rosenborg''s performance the previous season. The team only managed to finish third in the Tippeligaen and were even eliminated by Molde, their arch-rivals, at the fourth round stage of the Norwegian Football Cup. To make matters worse, they took a harsh beating in the Europa League¡ªnot advancing further than the group stage. The season had been a disappointment to both the fans and the management since it was unbefitting their history.

    That was why the management was eager to shake things up and change the club situation. They started a back-to-the-roots project that aimed to take the club back to the top of the Norwegian Football tournaments.

    They had appointed Coach Boyd Johansen the previous December since he''d just won two cups while coaching the academy team that-very-year. But his appointment faced a lot of bacsh from most of the Rosenborg fans since they wanted the club to hire Coach Per Joar Hansen instead.

    "Enough about the coach," Kristin intoned, interrupting Zachary''s contemtion.

    "Why don''t you work hard and help us win the league this season? My grandpa says that you''re the most talented yer he has evere across in his scouting career. So, it should be a piece of cake for you to take us to the quarter-finals of the Europa League." Sheughed, regarding him with a rxed, calcting expression.

    "You must be jesting Miss Kristin." Zachary smiled wryly. "I haven''t even made it to the starting line-up, but here you''re, asking me to take the club to the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Do you have that much faith in me?" He held her gaze.

    "Well," Kristin mumbled. "Not you. But I believe in my grandpa''s vision. He has never made a mistake about a yer''s worth. Since he regards you that highlyparing you to the likes of JJ Okocha and Yaya Toure, you should at least be able to help us win the league." She looked at him with puppy eyes, taking a step forward and holding his hands. "Isn''t that right?"

    Zachary was struck speechless.

    He had never realized that Miss Kristin had such a yful side to her. He had always assumed she was one of those ''queen-bee types'' who looked down on everyone else. But it seemed he''d been wrong.

    "Won''t you say yes to my simple request?" Kristin prompted.

    "Are you serious?"

    Kristin met Zachary''s gaze and spoke softly. "Yes, I''m serious. You ''just'' have to make this one promise of helping us reach the quarter-final of the Europa League..." She stopped mid-sentence as another voice came through her apartment''s door that was slightly ajar.

    "Kristin," the other soft voice called. "What are you doing outside? You''re about to miss the beginning of the show."

    "Monica," yelled Kristin, turning around to face the door. "I''ll be there in a moment."

    She then returned her attention to Zachary. "You should really join us at least for lunch?" Kristin once again urged. "That was my roommate in there, just now. So, you''ll get a chance to have lunch with two beautiful girls." She gave him an arch look.

    "No, maybe another time," insisted Zachary, his tone firm. "I really have to get back to my ce and take a shower. Or else, I''ll get a cold. That would affect my training on Monday morning."

    Although he enjoyed Kristin''spany, he didn''t want to spend his Saturday watching soaps and reality TV shows in a girls'' apartment. That would be even more tiring than ying an intensive football game.

    "Okay, then," Kristin said, smiling. "See you around."

    "See you around," Zachary replied before turning around and heading up the stairs.

 Chapter 100 - A Breakthrough In The Mental Attributes

    Zachary woke up early, at around five, that Monday. He quickly tossed the covers aside, slipped out of bed, and started a routine of 120 sit-ups. He''d spent most of his weekend resting and watching football matches, so the exercise didn''t tire him in the slightest.

    When hepleted the sit-ups, he immediately washed his face and went out for his routine morning run. He had to jog six miles in-order-toplete a system mission task. Even knowing he would be attending his first training session as a Rosenborg professional yer a few hourster couldn''t stop him.

    Zachary was more motivated than ever toplete the mission tasks and receive the mental conditioning elixir reward before joining the team training. He couldn''t postpone since he wouldn''t get any other free time toplete them for the rest of the day.

    So, he braved the early morning cold and ran across the streets of Trondheim. They were devoid of any traffic, save for a couple of heavy trucks. He jogged with a consistent rhythm and managed toplete his six-mile run in only 33 minutes. He then stretched for a bit in front of his building before ascending the stairs to his apartment.

    When he was back in the confines of his living room, he removed his running shoes and jacket and switched on the light. He felt fatigued after doing the 120 seat-ups plus all the running. Nevertheless, he didn''t allow himself to rest for an extended period.

    He was eager to improve his skills, especially after having signed the contract with Rosenborg. He wouldn''t let a little fatigue bar the path towards his goals.

    So, he chugged down some water and ate some glucose to refill his depleted energy reserves as he tried to regte his breathing. And thanks to the C-grade physical conditioning elixir he''d been taking for months, he could recover his energy much faster than humanly possible. In only a few minutes, he felt somehow rejuvenated.

    Without wasting time, he started going through a light yoga regimen involving a set of routines designed by the system to improve his body control.

    Zachary had been in love with yoga ever since he''d returned to his past since it could help him prevent injuries on the pitch. That was the reason he had always been motivated while practicing yoga. Moreover, it was the only exercise capable of helping him adapt to his growing physique as quickly as possible by improving his flexibility and bnce.

    Zachary went through the different yoga stances with a methodical-approach. He started with the tree-pose, then the standing-forward bend, bridge-pose, bow-pose, headstand, shoulder stand, etc. He spent a dozen or so seconds on each pose before transitioning to the next.

    Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead before rolling down and soaking his t-shirt as he exercised. Nheless, he didn''t halt the session until he had practiced all the Hatha-yoga poses he could think of at that moment. When hepleted thest posture, he copsed, only managing toy on the tiled floor supine, arms spread out as he gasped for simple breath.

    "DING"

    No sooner had he settled on the floor to rest than the system notification sounded within the confines of his mind.

    "The user haspleted the mission: Preparations to Be a Pro," intoned the AI. "The user can view the systempletion report on the interface right away."

    "Bring up the missionpletion message," Zacharymanded, grinning. He was d that he could finally obtain the B-grade mental conditioning elixir afterpleting the system mission.

    "Command received."

    "Missionpletion reporting up."

    Zachary picked up a towel from a nearby rack and wiped his face. He then settled on a stool close to the balcony before focusing his attention on the system interface.

    ****

    #4 new messages

    CONGRATULATIONS

    -> You havepleted the mission: Preparations to Be a Pro.

    ----

    ->Mission-Rewards

    1) B-grade mental conditioning elixir (Avable in system-shop).

    NB: The user must consume the elixir within 5 seconds after being removed from the system shop.)

    2) 100 Juju-points

    ----

    ->Mission Summary

    *Task 1: Run 60 miles each week (for four months) in the outdoor environment. Task goal: To help the user to adapt to ying in cold weather. (Average milespleted for each week over the past four months: 65 miles. Task Rating: A+)

    *Task 2: Complete 90 seat-ups daily during the first month, 100 seat-ups daily during the second, 110 seat-ups daily during the third, and 120 seat-ups daily during the fourth month. Task goal: To improve the user''s body control by strengthening and toning his core-stabilizing abdominal muscles. (Taskpleted sessfully. Task Rating: A+)

    *Task 3: Complete seven rounds of half a dozen Hatha-Yoga routines daily over four months. Task goal: To improve the user''s body control by enhancing his flexibility and strengthening the core muscles. (Taskpleted sessfully. Task Rating A+)

    ----

    Overall Mission Rating: A+

    ----

    ->Bonus rewards

    You have earned a bonus of 10 Juju-points

    ----

    ****

    He could hardly contain his delight after perusing through the system message. He was eager to use the elixir right away but stopped himself after a moment of deliberation.

    "System," he intoned. "Will the consumption of the B-grade mental conditioning elixir bring some difort to me?" Zachary didn''t want to end up missing his first Rosenborg training due to cking out or some other side effect of the elixir.

    "Negative," the system responded right away. "On the contrary, the user will feel refreshed after consuming the mental conditioning elixir."

    "That''s great." Zachary smiled, casting a nce at his clock. It was only 6:40 AM. He still had slightly more than two hours before the start of the training session. That was more than enough time for him to clean up, shower, and take breakfast. He could even afford to fix-in the consumption of the elixir into his schedule. Thus, he decided to get to the task right away.

    Zachary opened the gift-pack tab that was blinking red in the system shop. As soon as his right forefinger left the translucent blueish screen, a system notification sounded in his head. A new message popted the interface before him.

    "DING"

    ****

    #1 new messages

    ----

    CONGRATULATIONS

    You have received a System Gift: B-grade mental conditioning elixir as a missionpletion reward.

    Please select the gift card in the inventory to retrieve the elixir.

    ----

    NB: The user must consume the elixir within five seconds after removal from the system shop.

    ****

    Zachary was already an expert at retrieving gifts from the system. So, he clicked on the inventory tab and selected the card with an image of a lemon fruit drawn on it. And as he expected, the minuscule-sized green lemon, about a centimeter in diameter, popped out of the translucent bluish interface and dropped into his outstretched hand.

    Zachary didn''t dawdle since he only had five seconds to consume the elixir. He tossed the small green lemon into his mouth immediately.

    It tasted like the ''real'' bitter lemon on his tongue as it melted and diffused into his bodily systems.

    Zachary felt a wave of coldness wash over his mind as the elixir worked its magic. It felt like his higher brain was incapacitated, his thoughts sluggish like he''d been drinking hard liquor. But in the next instant, the feeling faded as a surge of euphoria engulfed his consciousness.

    Like the AI had promised, the effect of the mental conditioning elixir was instant rejuvenation.

    Zachary seemed to hear chimes ringing within the confines of his mind as his thoughts quickened, bing much clearer than before with every passing second. He closed his eyes, savoring and soaking into the sensation until it came to pass, and his cognition returned to normal.

    "System," he intoned. "Bring out my mental attribute data." Zachary wished to understand how much of a change the B-grade mental conditioning elixir had brought to his mind.

    "DING"

    "Command received," the AI responded.

    "Mental attribute dataing up on the interface."

    Zachary blinked as his eyes adjusted to the new contents of the translucent bluish screen before him.

    ****

    ->Mental Ability and Mindset: (Av. Rating: A-)

    Ser Passion: A+

    Composure and Mental Strength: B+

    Coachability: B -

    Self-Motivation: A+

    ****

    He felt drunk with happiness as he perused through his mental attributes. Hisposure and mental strength stat had finally broken through from the C+ to the B+ grading. It had even leaped over a grade, thereby pushing his overall mental-ability and mindset to the A- grading. He even noticed that his mastery of the Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju had progressed from 49.009% to 59.009% after his breakthrough. His only disappointment was that he seemed not to have awakened the zone ability even after consuming the B-grade elixir.

    "System," he said, standing up and heading to his bedroom. "Is there a sure way to unlock my zone ability as soon as possible?" He took off his training gear, caked with sweat, before heading into the bathroom.

    "The surest way of unlocking the user''s supernormal abilities is by consuming an S-grade mental conditioning elixir." He heard the AI articte as he stepped into the bathroom. "Since the user has already unlocked the zone ability on two prior asions, he''ll surely be sessful if he utilizes the elixir."

    "Then, how can I obtain the S-grade elixir?" Zachary pressed, opening the tap and starting to shower. He couldn''t purchase the A and S grade elixirs since they were still unavable in the system shop. They were still shrouded in grey on the shop menu.

    "The user has to aplish some achievements first, and the purchase of the S-grade elixirs will be¡ªunlocked," the IA replied. "The user can also win the elixirs afterpleting some of the system missions. The system will notify the user immediately in case such opportunities exist in the near future."

    Zachary decided not to pester the AI anymore. He ''simply'' had to y his best on the pitch¡ªand the chances to win or purchase the elixir would surely manifest before him.

    So, he focused on cleaning up. He still had to eat breakfast before heading to Lerkendal for the Rosenborg first-team training before 9:00 AM. He had no intention of beingte for his first training as a professional yer.

 Chapter 101 - First Training Session As A Pro I

    At exactly 8:00 AM, Zachary locked the door of his apartment and started descending the stairs. He was no longer fatigued after feasting on a sumptuous breakfast of yogurt, whole-grain toast, creamed rice, tinned fruit, and juice.

    He took his feeding seriously. He always made sure to stick to a diet leaning towards energy-rich foods for breakfast. The sugars and starch in the diet would be¡ªconverted to glucose, which provided energy for intensive exercise. Thanks to his feeding habits and physical conditioning elixirs, he was always able to train much longer than most of his colleagues. That was one of the main reasons why he improved much faster than his age mates.

    Zachary dashed down the flight of stairs¡ªand reached the lobby on the ground floor in no time. However, before he could open the door and move out of the building, he noticed a familiar shapely figure standing close to the mailbox on one side of the lobby. It was Kristin Stein, probably sorting through her mail. She took note of him as soon as he cast his gaze on her.

    "Good morning, neighbor," she greeted, waving an arm at him. She emphasized thest word¡ªneighbor.

    "Good morning, Miss Kristin," Zachary returned the greeting, half-heartedly waving back at her.

    "Why call me Miss?" Kristin raised an eyebrow. "The way you address me makes me seem like your boss." She pouted.

    Zachary smiled, choosing to ignore herment. "You have a lot of mail," he queried, pointing at the bulk of envelopes in her left hand.

    "These are academic documents from my former school," Kristin replied, the corners of her mouth twisting into a smile. "I''ll be using them to apply for university in theing week."

    She creased a brow like she was trying to recall something. "That reminds me. You must have alreadypleted your upper secondary education. Won''t you be applying for university soon? The deadline is almosting up in mid-April." She pressed, locking eyes with Zachary.

    "Nope," Zachary replied, gently shaking his head. "I''ll be dedicating this year to my football career. I''m swamped with a busy training schedule already. I can''t spare any time for anything else. I''ll only apply for university education after my career has taken off." He added, sounding slightly defensive. He didn''t wish to be perceived by Kristin as someone who didn''t like school.

    What he didn''t mention, though, was that he probably wouldn''t be in Norway for three years. That was the minimum period required toplete a bachelor''s course. So, he was better off waiting until settling down somewhere he would be sure to spend a long time. Only then would hefortably apply for university education.

    "Oh," Kristin said, nodding as if she understood his worries. "But you could think about taking shortnguage courses in the meantime. As a football yer, you''ll need to learn a few internationalnguages. That''s if you intend to join teams in non-English or non-French-speaking countries. There are German, Spanish, and Italian courses at NTNU. You could think about taking one of them starting from the next semester." She suggested.

    "I''ll think about it," Zachary replied perfunctorily. He nced at his watch and noticed that it was already six minutes past eight. The bus would be leaving in only four minutes. "I have to rush to Lerkendal for training now. Let''s catch up some other time." Zachary intoned.

    "Okay, okay." Kristin smiled, giving him a teasing look. "Run along to your training, Mr. Superstar. But don''t forget that you promised you would get us to the Europa League quarterfinals. I''ll be rooting for you¡ªas your top fan, of course." She said, shooing him away with her hand.

    Zachary smiled wryly, finding himself at a loss for words. He hadn''t promised to help Rosenborg reach the quarterfinals of the Europa League. To the best of his knowledge, they hadn''t concluded that conversation. But he didn''t try to dispute Kristin''s slip-up. That would take more of his already limited time and dy his departure for Lerkendal. If he missed the next bus, he would have to wait 20 minutes for another one to depart from Stj?rdalsveien¡ªhis apartment''s location. So, he said his goodbyes to Kristin and rushed out of the building like the wind.

    He slowed down when he reached the street to prevent himself from slipping on the partially frozen ground. He cast a cursory nce above and noticed that the morning had brought strings of white stratus to contrast against the blue sky. They driftedzily in the breeze without destination or purpose. The good news was that there was no sign of any grey mixed in them, meaning there probably wouldn''t be any precipitation that day.

    Zachary was d that he didn''t have to train in rainy weather. He tightened his scarf around his neck and tossed his Nike Brasilia gym-bag over his shoulder¡ªand continued jogging towards the bus stop. In only a couple of minutes, he arrived as an ATB light green bus pulled up before a group of passengers standing haphazardly in front of the bus-stop-shade.

    Zachary first nced at the Digital Information Disy Unit in the shade to double-check whether the bus would travel via Lerkendal before following the others into the vehicle. He swiped his bus-card on the automatic fare collection machine at the door and then found himself a seat next to a window. He then ced his gym-bag on hisp and pulled on his headphones as the bus started moving.

    As it sped across the well-maintained streets of Trondheim, he immersed his mind into listening to some Enya-music and watching the buildings sh by. For him, there was something about listening to the beautiful tunes and melodies that soothed him to his soul. He let his head sway gently with the beat, and slowly, he allowed the music to infuse his mind.

    He felt happy and free.

    He was finally beginning his journey as a professional footballer in one of the top Norwegian clubs. There was a pleasure like none he''d felt before in knowing that he was about to achieve his previous life''s dream of ying in Europe. Zachary leaned back into the bus seat and let the happiness soak right into his bones.

    Twenty minutester, the bus pulled into the allocated parking at the bus stop of Lerkendal. Zachary picked up his gym bag and exited the bus along with a few other passengers. Since he only had about half an hour before the training, he began hurrying towards the stadium right away. He wanted to pick his training gear first from the logistics department before joining the rest of the yers in one of the training pitches within Lerkendal Idrettspark.

    However, just as he''d taken a few steps away from the bus station, he heard someone calling out to him. He took off his headphones and turned back only to notice that another Rosenborg yer had been walking behind him all along.

    Zachary had seen him before on one or two of the Rosenborg training sessions he''d previously attended. He had typical Caucasian features with a straight but slightly upturned nose and thin lips. His dark-brown hair fashioned into a style simr to a lighter version of the funky Mohawk gave him an air of yfulness that radiated about his persona.

    "Hello," the other person said. "I''m Nicki Nielsen. I just transferred to this clubst January. You seem to be also a yer here." He extended a hand for a greeting. "Nice to meet you," he added, smiling.

    "Nice to meet you, too," Zachary replied, shaking his hand. "I''m Zachary Bemba. I have also just joined the club only three days ago, to be specific. I''m just fresh from the academy." He couldn''t help but take note of a few tattoos on the fingers of Nicki Nielson. Zachary couldn''t help but wonder why he''d also used the crowded bus instead of his car since he seemed like a person with style and a swagger.

    "Oh, so you''re an academy graduate," Nicki said, grinning. The two began to walk together towards the gates of the stadium. "It seems like I saw you during some of the training sessions in February. Howe you have just joined the club?"

    "Well," Zachary said, trying to sort out what kind of information he should disclose to a new teammate. "The negotiations for my contract took longer than expected. However, I was still allowed to train with the club before sealing the deal since I graduated from the local academy."

    "I guess congrattions are in order then," Nicki said,ughing. "How old are you, by the way?"

    "Eighteen," Zachary replied sinctly.

    "Oh, my!" Nicki eximed, inclining his head slightly and examining him. "You''re just eighteen. Then you must be very talented to be joining the senior club at such a young age."

    "I try," Zachary replied as they entered the tunnels heading to locker rooms. "So, which club were you from before joining Rosenborg?" He inquired, wishing to change the topic.

    "Virreal," Nicki responded.

    Zachary could have sworn that he detected a hint of annoyance in his tone. So, he skillfully changed the topic once again. "And which number do you y?"

    "Striking," Nicki replied, grinning. "I''m a number nine in both body and soul. What about you?"

    "Midfield," Zachary responded, a soft smile outlining his face. "Central midfielder, to be specific," he emphasized.

    "Hahaha," Nickiughed heartily, cing an arm around Zachary''s shoulder. "It''s a good thing that we don''t have topete for simr numbers. So, we can ''really'' be good friends."

    "I think so too," Zachary nodded, ncing at his watch. It was already 8:40 AM. "But, can we talkter on the pitch? At the moment, I have to first head to logistics to pick up some supplies for this month. If I don''t leave now, I''ll surely bete for training."

    "Okay, see youter, man," Nicki said, removing his arm from Zachary''s shoulder. "But better hurry. The coaches usually arrive ten minutes before the start of the training."

    "Okay," Zachary replied. "I''ll be at the pitch in 10 minutes. See you there." He waved before rushing towards the logistics department.

    Three minutester, Zachary picked up his suppliesprising a set of training jerseys, boots, shin guards, ankle guards, and several ointments from logistics. He hurried to his locker and stored the supplies before dressing up and heading to the training pitch. He was finally ready for his first training session as a Rosenborg yer.

 Chapter 102 - First Official Training As A Pro II

    Dressed in his new all-ck Rosenborg tracksuit, Zachary made it to the pitch when it was only nine minutes to nine. He let out a long pent-up breath when he noticed that the coaches hadn''t arrived yet.

    Most of the other yers had long started going through warm-up exercises on the green. Some were stretching or gathered in groups ying rondos or juggling the ball. The rest were running cone drills.

    It was still the pre-training session. The yers were free to utilize it to train in whichever way they wished. Despite theck of supervision, all of them went about their training with absolute focus, befitting their status as professional footballers of a top Norwegian club.

    Zachary let his gaze roam over the whole pitch, passing over the four goalkeepers practicing their diving and catching¡ªuntil it rested on a group going through a cone drill. He noticed Tore Reginiussen, the newly appointed Rosenborg captain, running triangles through the cones. His receding hairline and looming height of over six feet gave him a mean look. It was the sort of look that Zachary had seen on no-nonsense yers like Rio Ferdinand, Marco Materazzi, and Gennaro Gattuso.

    Contrary to his fearsome bearing, the captain was an easy-going person who didn''t get into conflict with anyone unless they made a major blunder on the field. As long as you yed to the best of your abilities, you would remain in the good books of the no-nonsense captain.

    Apanying him was Mikael Dorsin, the vice-captain, John Chibuike, the striker from Nigeria, and Nicki Nielson, Zachary''s new acquaintance. They ran through the cones¡ªat times moving backward and forward while making sessive sharp turns.

    As Zachary watched the four of them take turns running the cone drill, he guessed they were working on their quickness, reaction times, and agility.

    He had a good understanding of the drill since he''d practiced with it even in his previous life. It helped improve quickness and agility for short sprints and fast changes of direction. It taught yers how to control their bodies and maintain ready stances. Additionally, the drill improved reaction times since a yer had to wait for a partner''s cue before sprinting to a cone¡ªsimr to how one needed to react to the ball or opponent during a game. It was a very effective drill.

    Since Zachary had already run six miles that morning, he had no intentions of joining in any intensive drills. So, he found himself a spot on the sidelines and started stretching.

    He wanted to conserve his stamina by going through a lighter warm-up routine. That way, he would be able to perform at his best when the actual training sessionmenced.

    However, when he was only a minute into the routine, Mikael Dorsin noticed him and paused running the triangle cone drill. "Zachary," he, the vice-captain, yelled, waving an arm. "Come over and join us. Don''t just stretch on the sidelines alone." On hearing Mikael yelling, the other three yers training with him also turned and cast their gazes towards Zachary.

    "And here I thought I could take it easy during warm-up today," Zachary mumbled inaudibly, smiling wryly. He stopped stretching and jogged towards the center circle, where Mikael Dorsin and the rest were training.

    Although Zachary wished to avoid the drills, he couldn''t simply ignore the vice-captain''s invite. He wanted to fit into the team, and the first step to doing that was to bond over-practice.

    "A small bird informed me that you have finally joined our ranks," Mikael, the vice-captain, intoned, smiling. "Congrattions." He extended a gloved hand for a greeting.

    "Thank you, and good morning to you too," Zachary said, shaking his hand.

    Mikael had a Viking look about him, with blonde ear-length hair that was of a lighter shade. He was an imposing defender who had been a central figure at Rosenborg since 2008. If it wasn''t for his more mature age, Zachary was sure that he would still be the captain instead of Tore Reginiussen, the newly recruited number-4.

    Over the past few Rosenborg training sessions that Zachary had attended, he''de to understand that he had to be on good terms with the vice-captain to fit into the team. But luckily, Mikael cared for only one thing¡ªtaking Rosenborg back to the top. As long as you were talented enough, he would treat you as a friend both on and off the pitch. He regarded Zachary particrly well since he was one of the most promising young talents on the team.

    "Okay, let''s get back to business," Mikael said after Zachary had finished bumping fists with Nicki Nielson and mouthing a ''hello'' to the other yers¡ªTore Reginiussen and John Chibuike.

    Zachary then apanied the four senior yers as they ran the triangle drill over the next few minutes. They didn''t converse among themselves but focused solely on the training. They repeated the exercise over and over again until they were out of breath. By then, the coaches had already arrived and were setting up the training equipment in the field.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    At 9:30 AM, the assistant coach''s whistle sounded. Every yer on the pitch, including Zachary, immediately stopped whatever they were doing and got into their lines at one end of the pitch. When the assistants finally finished setting up the cones into two lines, Mr. Rolf Aas, the fitness coach, started leading Zachary and his new teammates through the dynamic warm-up.

    The Rosenborg first-team training had officially begun.

    "Let''s start slow and warm-up those sleeping muscles," said Mr. Rolf Aas as he stepped through the cones, demonstrating what he expected of the yers.

    The yers followed him, starting with slow and light dynamic actions such as stretching calves. They continued adding more vigorous movements such as frog-hops and walking-front-leg-raises as they made rounds around the cones. They made the exercise progressively more intense¡ªuntil they were sprinting and all drenched in sweat towards the end of the workout.

    By then, Zachary was already breathing like a fish just taken out of the water. He was exhausted since he''d been training intensively since before dawn. However, Zachary still forced himself to keep up with the rest until the workout ended. He understood that he could get better quicker only when he pushed himself beyond his limits. And since he possessed a cheat like the physical conditioning elixir, he was determined to utilize it to improve his fitness as quickly as possible.

    Afterpleting the dynamic warm-up, the yers were allowed a short water break. But two minutester, Trond Henriksen, Rosenborg''s assistant coach, blew his whistle, signaling for the start of passing drills.

    Zachary and his teammates didn''tin in the slightest. They started passing the ball through training-mannequins set up in rectangr formations around the field. For the next twenty minutes, they didn''t do anythingplicated. They ''simply'' kicked the ball to their colleagues when it was their turn as they moved clockwise around the mannequins. They mainly focused on practicing the basics such as passing, ball control, and positioning¡ªdoing the associated routines in the drill over-and-over-again to achieve perfection.

    Zachary was amazed once again at how professionals could use simple basic training routines to achieve their goals. But he was well aware that it was all thanks to the coaches who were supervising the yers.

    The coaches were constantly yelling at the yers to remain sharp or correct their kicking postures. They didn''t allow for anyxity, making the drill very intense and effective. When a yer made a mistake, they wouldn''t mince words with him. They would give him a mouthful of their harsh critique as they pointed out what he had done wrong.

    As the session progressed, the yers transitioned into doing moreplex movements involving many variations of give-and-go routines. Since Zachary wasn''t new to professional team training focusing on passing, he went through the passing drills without making any mistakes. He was very motivated to make an impression and win a spot on the squad heading to Sweden the following day. Moreover, his mastery of the Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju had helped refine his passing skills. Thus, he went through the drill without losing much energy since he was more efficient with the ball.

    At exactly 11:00 AM, Trond Henriksen, the assistant coach of Rosenborg, blew his whistle once again and signaled for all the yers to head to the touchline where Coach Johansen was waiting. Everyone on the pitch, including Zachary and his group, halted their drilling immediately and trekked towards the coaches.

    "Good morning to you all," Coach Johansen greeted after the yers had formed a semi-circle around him. He spoke in English since he was aware that many of the newly recruited yers hadn''t mastered the Norwegiannguage.

    "Good morning, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    "Without wasting time, we shall in a moment continue the positioning training that we started yesterday," said the coach, rubbing his red-bearded chin. "In this session, we won''t focus on any position-specific training drills, but teamwork. This session aims to help us adapt to the new 4-3-3 formation that we''ll mainly use during this season. For your information, that''s the formation we''ll be using in the friendly game against Malmo tomorrow. So, be sharp."

    Coach Johansen went on to exin what he expected of the yers during the following session. They would y an 11-vs-11 game, focusing on passing and positioning in the 4-3-3 formation. Each yer could only make a maximum of two touches on the ball before passing it on. Otherwise, he would incur a penalty for holding onto the ball longer than allowed.

    When Coach Johansen finished exining the drill, his assistant Trond Henriksen divided the yers into two teams¡ªone in the red bibs and the other in green bibs. Zachary was eager to y since it had been a long time since he''d participated in an intense match.

 Chapter 103 - First Official Training As A Pro III

    There were a total of twenty-eight Rosenborg yers attending training that day. They couldn''t all y at once in a single 11-vs-11 game session. So, the assistant coach left six of them, including Zachary, on the bench. They would only get the chance to join in on the action after the squad rotation ted to happen fifteen minutester.

    Zachary wasn''t displeased in the slightest on hearing that he wouldn''t be in either of the starting line-ups. He could use the break in training to rest and regain his strength while observing the goings-on on the green. That would help him be more prepared when it was his turn to join the game.

    So, he stood on the sidelines and chugged down some water as he observed the yers taking their positions on the field. He noticed that the coaches had divided the squad in an imbnced way. The most probable starting eleven were all in green, while the second-stringers were in red bibs.

    Zachary could easily guess the coaches'' intent. It seemed they had organized the scrimmage match with the sole purpose of improving the teamwork of the first-stringers who were in green bibs. On the other hand, the second-stringers in red bibs ''simply'' served as the perfect whetting stones for them. The coaches were only using them to sharpen the starting squad, which would y the friendly against Malmo in Sweden the following day.

    On making that realization, Zachary was even more delighted to be on the bench instead of being part of the red team. He hadn''t joined Rosenborg to be the whetting stone for others. His only wish was for the coaches to give him a chance to showcase his talent in an official game.

    As long as he could y in an official match for thirty minutes, he was sure he could convince the coaches to keep him in the squad. With his A-graded passing skills, game intelligence, and tactical awareness, he knew that he could easily rival any other midfielder on the Rosenborg starting eleven. All he needed was a chance to prove himself, and he hoped it woulde sooner rather thanter. That way, he could kick start his professional career in the best way possible.

    Zachary watched from the sidelines as Nicki Nielson, Rosenborg''s newly recruited number-9 from Virreal, took his position over the ball in the center circle. There was no trace of thexity or yfulness about his persona that had been present when Zachary had met him earlier that morning. Zachary could tell he was carefully assessing the situation all over the field as he awaited the referee''s whistle.

    His opinion of the forward increased right away.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    At 11:15 AM, Trond Henriksen, Rosenborg''s assistant coach, blew his whistle. The scrimmage match started immediately with the green team''s kick-off.

    Nicki Nielson raised his leg and hammered the ball back into his half¡ªtowards Mix Diskerud in the left midfield.

    Mix Diskerud, one of Rosenborg''s first-stringers in a green bib, controlled the ball perfectly and passed it back to the defense with his second touch. Tore Reginiussen, Rosenborg''s newly appointed captain, received it just outside the 18-yard box. He quickly flicked it to Per R?nning, his counterpart in the central defense. Thetter didn''t hold on to it for more than a few seconds. He sent it towards the touchline where Mikael Dorsin was waiting with a simple¡ªbut precise pass.

    By then, the opponents, dressed in red bibs, were already high-pressing the green team and cutting down their passing options. If it were some amateur squad of yers, they would have lost the ball since they were limited to only two touches.

    That meant that even before a yer received the ball, he would have to make himself some yards of space first by running into open space¡ªaway from his opponents. Then, he would have to control the ball while judging where to pass it with his subsequent touch.

    The yer had toplete the whole process seamlessly in a matter of seconds¡ªso that he wouldn''t get caught on the back foot by an opponent who could be lurking nearby. That was a tall order for anyone to achieve if he didn''t possess high-level ball control, in-game risk analysis, and spatial awareness.

    However, the team in green bibs wasn''t just any ordinary squad. They were the most probable starting eleven of Rosenborg for the new season. All the experienced yers like Mikael Dorsin, Mike Jensen, Tore Reginiussen, and Tobias Mikkelsen were on their side.

    So, they passed the ball from one end of the pitch to the other, with seamless one-two touches. They managed to dominate the red teamprising the second-stringers without much effort. They even bore down on the red team''s goal on several asions and unleashed several shots on target. However, the skillful goalkeeping of Daniel ?rlund, the red team''s number-1, kept the score at 0:0.

    "Ole and Fredrik, don''t let them pass the ball freely in the midfield," Zachary heard Coach Trond Henriksen yelling at the midfielders in red bibs.

    "The objective of the exercise is to hone our passing and positioning capabilities when under pressure. If you don''t press them, the workout will turn out to be pointless. So, run at them as if your life depends on it. Don''t give them any breathing space and try to win the ball back as quickly as possible." He roared at the top of his voice in-between gasps of breath.

    On hearing the assistant coach yelling, the yers in red bibs upped their game and focused their attention on pressing the green team. Ole Seln?s and Fredrik Midtsj?, the central midfielders, worked harder than everyone else, trying their best to dispossess the green team. Thanks to their efforts, they managed to force Mix Diskerud, the green team''s attacking midfielder, to take more than two touches on the ball, thereby incurring a foul.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The assistant coach blew his whistle, and the ball turned over to the red team. Fredrik Midtsj? re-started the game with a back pass to Daniel ?rlund, the red team''s goalkeeper.

    Daniel ?rlund controlled the ball well in his box before passing it down the wing towards J?rgen Skjelvik, the left-back. Thetter kicked it towards Ole Seln?s in the defensive midfield after skipping past Nicki Nielson, the green team''s center forward.

    The team in red had finally gained their first spell of possession in the game.

    For the next few minutes, they yed confidently with short but precise quick passes, trying to find their way through the green team''s highly agile 4-3-3 formation. It seemed the boys in red bibs would be the ones dictating the tempo of the game for a while.

    However, the pressing of the yers in green came at them with an intensity befitting their statuses as the first-stringers before they could even make a single shot on target. They tightly marked the yers in red and limited their passing options. They didn''t give the red team yers any breather until they forced them to y the ball high and long towards John Chibuike, the red team''s center forward.

    However, John Chibuike, the striker from Nigeria, failed to get at the end of Ole''s defense-splitting pass. Tore Reginiussen, Rosenborg''s captain, out-jumped him and headed the ball back into the midfield. Mike Jensen, the highly tactical defensive midfielder, chested the ball down in midfield before unleashing a grounded through pass towards the right-wing with his second touch.

    With that single pass, Mike Jensen had managed to catch his opponents unawares.

    Tobias Mikkelsen, the green team''s forward on the right nk, received the ball in the wing, skipping past J?rgen Skjelvik, the red team''s left-back, with a deft initial touch. He then yed a one-two with Nicki Nielson, the center forward, advancing towards the red team''s box like the wind.

    Brede Moe, the red team''s center back, hurriedly closed them down. But the two forwards were too speedy for him. Without any surprise, they skipped past him with their short and precise quick passes. They managed to step into the red team''s box in a matter of seconds.

    Zachary could only sigh as he watched Nicki Nielson receive a return ball inside the box. Without losing hisposure, he immediately fired a first-time shot into the bottom left corner. 1:0.

    The green team had managed to obtain the first goal in the scrimmage match. It wasn''t that the red team wasn''t trying. However, the green teamprising of the first-stringers was much better.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    Trond Henriksen blew his whistle once again, drawing the attention of all yers on the pitch.

    "Okay, okay," he yelled, "that was some fine y from the boys in green. However, the boys in red should have done better to stop the goal. So, as usual, the red boys should go down and give us 20 press-ups." He pped his hands for emphasis.

    All the yers and trainers on the pitchughed at that. And without anyints, the red team members started doing press-ups as the penalty for conceding the goal. When they finished, the assistant coach nodded before calling for a squad rotation since the fifteen minutes had almost psed.

    Zachary quickly tightened hisces and pulled up his stockings over his shin guards before jogging into the field¡ªtowards the assistant coach. He hoped to join the green side,posed of the most skilled yers on the Rosenborg squad. In such a team, he would easily showcase his superior passing skills and impress the coaching staff.

    However, Trond Henriksen, the assistant coach, shattered his hopes in the next moment. "Zachary, pick up a red bib from Fredrick," he intoned, his tone overbearing. "For the next fifteen minutes, you''ll y right midfield. Make sure you do your best to press when your team doesn''t have the ball. No resting is allowed on the pitch. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, trying his best to hide his disappointment. He wasn''t happy about being included in the red team, which seemed like the whetting stone for the starting eleven.

    However, Zachary couldn''t defy the coach''s orders since he was still a nobody who had just joined the team. So, he silently swallowed down his displeasure and picked up the red bib from the heavily worn-out Fredrik Midtsj?.

    Zachary then took up his position on the pitch along Ole Seln?s and Borek Dockal in the red team''s three-man-midfield. Since he had failed to join the stronger side, he would try his best to showcase his individual ability even against the starting eleven. That way, he would surely obtain the ticket to join the squad heading to Sweden the following day.

 Chapter 104 - First Official Training As A Pro IV

    Zachary abandoned all the redundant thoughts and focused on assessing the field when he stepped into his position. He started scrutinizing both his opponents and teammates carefully while waiting for the whistle to restart the game. Positioning, standing postures, facial expressions, alertness¡ªZachary took them all in.

    His brain was in overdrive as he searched for gaps in the green team''s 4-3-3 attacking formation. He also tried to anticipate future passing opportunities that could arise from the potential actions of his teammates. He had taken the first step to perform as a Maestro by beginning with the necessary on-field risk analysis even before the game restarted. That way, he would release the ball urately and quickly to his teammates after receiving a pass.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The assistant coach blew his whistle a few secondster, signaling for the red team to restart the scrimmage game.

    John Chibuike, the red team''s center forward, kick-started the game with a simple pass back to Borek Dockal, the attacking midfielder. Thetter didn''t even control the ball. Instead, he flicked it towards Ole Seln?s, the red team''s defensive midfielder, with his first touch.

    Ole controlled the ball beautifully and passed it towards the left-wing before Nicki Nielson, the green team''s center forward, could close him down.

    J?rgen Skjelvik, the red team''s left-back, received the ball near the touchline, showcasing his high-level ball control with a shy deft touch. But he was instantly closed down by Tobias Mikkelsen, the highly agile Rosenborg starting winger.

    Tobias positioned his body well while pressing J?rgen, thereby cutting off all his forward passing options through the wing.

    J?rgen Skjelvik could only choose to make a back pass to Daniel ?rlund, the goalkeeper, instead of standing the risk of losing possession.

    Daniel ?rlund then yed the ball quickly towards Ole Seln?s since Nicki Nielson was almost closing him down. Zachary could guess that his teammates were about to fall into a disadvantageous situation. Although his red team still maintained possession, he could tell that it was the opponents with the initiative. The first-stringers in green bibs were very good at creating high-pressing zones deep in the red team''s half. They had managed to keep the red team in their own half before Zachary arrived on the pitch using those tactics.

    However, Zachary wasn''t prepared to let the game situation continue following the green team''s tempo. He hoped to earn a spot on the starting squad for the match against Malmo the following day. The best way to achieve that was to make a marked impact against the much stronger sideprising the first-stringers in green bibs.

    "Ole, pass here," he yelled at the top of his voice, running back into his half¡ªaway from Mix Diskerud, the yer in green that was marking him. "Pass here."

    Ole Seln?s just cast a single nce towards him while controlling the low ball from Daniel ?rlund, the goalkeeper. Without any pause in his actions, he then raised his leg and kicked the ball to Zachary with his second touch.

    Zachary could feel his heart palpitating with excitement as the ball rolled towards him. He was finally ying in an internal scrimmage match for a professional club in Europe for the first time after signing his contract. A soft smile outlined his face as he received the ball with a simple deft touch, pushing it just a few feet in front of him in the process.

    Meanwhile, he simultaneously let his gaze survey the situation on the pitch.

    In that instant, his brain mapped the entire cement of all the yers in his field of vision. He noticed that both Ole Seln?s and Borek Dockal, his counterparts in the red team''s midfield, had already moved into open space. They were seemingly waiting for a pass from him. Daniel Berntsen, his teammate in the wing for that match, was already sprinting on the left nk, ostensibly anticipating a through ball from him. On the other hand, Mix Diskerud, the green team''s attacking midfielder, was closing him down quickly. He would be upon him within seconds if he didn''t release the ball right away.

    However, Zachary had long gotten used to ying under tense situations. He had a lot of experience under his belt since he''d already yed in two international youth tournaments and even won one¡ªthat''s was while ying on the weaker side.

    He was very confident in his skills, and even the pressing of the professionals couldn''t phase him. So, he maintained hisposure as his brain filtered out the noise and assessed the game situation at that very instant.

    Zachary''s ser brain managed to take in many other trivial situations that he would have ignored if he hadn''t mastered the Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju. His mind was in overdrive, analyzing risk and deducing the best position to distribute the ball before the opponents could close him down. Zachary managed toplete a simple vector analysis, including a summation of the easiest linear or curved routes to make the most effective pass at that moment.

    And then it all came to him. Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed John Chibuike, the red team''s center forward, taking his first step away from Per R?nning, the center-back who''d been marking him.

    A light bulb went off in Zachary''s head as he shifted his full attention towards the striker from Nigeria. Their gazes seemed to collide for a brief moment over the fifty-yard distance.

    Zachary was made aware of the intention of the forward in that instant. By instinct, he knew that John Chibuike wanted the ball, and he wanted it then.

    Thus, he didn''t dawdle. He raised his leg high and smashed the ball away from him before any opposing midfielders could close him down. Zachary even incorporated some kicking postures of the Bend-it like Beckham Juju when he''d unleashed the defense-splitting pass towards the striker. Furthermore, he''d timed it perfectly to release John Chibuike just as he was stepping away from his marker.

    The ball flew towards the green team''s half, shing above the yers in both red and green bibs. Then at thest moment, it curved abruptly, taking a nosedive and bouncing a few yards ahead of the sprinting John Chibuike.

    "Offside," Per R?nning, the center-back who''d been marking John Chibuike, raised his arm and yelled at the top of his voice. However, Trond Henriksen, the assistant coach refereeing the scrimmage game, waved his arms before indicating for y to continue. Per R?nning could only shake his head as he rushed back towards his goal to defend.

    But by then, John Chibuike was already ahead of the green team''sst line of defense by a few yards. He was sprinting towards the bouncing ball like the wind.

    He managed to reach it first and head it in front of him with his first touch. His control was perfect. He''d managed to guide the ball to the front of the 18-yard box using his head and even left the chasing defenders in the dust with only that single touch.

    Zachary smiled as he watched the striker chasing after the ball before beating the keeper with a fine strike on his second touch from the edge of the box. 1:1. The red team had managed to pull one back in the scrimmage game.

    Zachary could hardly contain his delight since he''d made a good assist and contributed towards the goal. He couldn''te to terms with how easy it was to quickly assess the ying field after learning the Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju. His only wish was that the coaches were watching him.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    **** ****

    Coach Boyd Johansen watched the scrimmage game from the sidelines. He was attentively watching out for any promising yers that could y an instrumental role in Rosenborg''s game against Malmo the following day.

    He couldn''t help but smile when he watched Zachary still performing like a superstar, even against the pros. The young yer had been making a lot of defense-splitting passes since entering the pitch. Sometimes he would unleash the ball towards the wing where one of the wingers was lurking¡ªand at others, he would y it low through the defense. He''d revitalized the red team with his uncanny passing ability. And thanks to him, the score remained only 2:1 in favor of Rosenborg''s starting yers in green bibs. That was even after ying the game for more than 30 minutes. If he hadn''t been present, the red team''s situation could have been worse.

    The boy was still a prodigy, just like he''d been in the academy.

    However, Coach Johansen knew that he couldn''t rush to use him in the official games before dealing with his growth spurt. He didn''t want to lose a promising young yer to injuries only because he was impatient to use him. Moreover, the club chairman had urged him to manage Zachary''s training with care so that the club wouldn''t incur a loss.

    Coach Johansen, though, was d that the management had already purchased the highly tactical Mike Jensen from Br?ndby IF. Thanks to that, he could afford to wait for a few months before using Zachary. So, he''d reinforced his decision of keeping Zachary out of the starting roster after watching Jensen ying.

    He smiled as he watched Zachary make another raking pass towards Daniel Berntsen, the red team''s winger. Meanwhile, his mind worked on a n to help Zachary adapt to the professional league. He resolved to design a good fitness training regimen to keep him busy and prepare him for the morepetitive stage of the Tippeligaen as soon as possible. His only hope was that Zachary wasn''t one of the impatient types who would grow frustrated fromcking first-team football.

    **** ****

 Chapter 105 - Battling With Emotions

    Zachary was devastated on hearing that he wouldn''t be part of the squad heading to Sweden the following day. Although he had given everything he had in the practice session, the coaches hadn''t even considered him as a bench candidate.

    His mood was at an all-time low.

    He left the pitch as soon as Coach Johansen released them from training. He didn''t even take part in small talk with the rest of his new teammates. He couldn''t guarantee he would be able to rein in his raging emotions while hanging out with them.

    He returned to the dressing room and quickly took a shower to calm himself. But not even the cold water provided an ounce of relief. He still felt enraged. He was furious at the coaches for not considering him even after performing better than most during that day''s training.

    He dressed in silence and walked out of the locker room before his teammates returned from the pitch. He didn''t want to face them while still in a vtile state of mind. He feared he would get into an argument or, worse, a fistfight with some of them if he lingered too long. So, he did the best he could to avoid the worst situation possible and started walking towards the stadium''s exit.

    He knew that the right thing to do was to calm down and reign in his emotions, but his mind wouldn''t listen to him. All he had to do was think about was how he hadn''t been picked for the squad¡ªthen, his temper would spiral out of his control once more. He had some self-awareness of what was happening to him. He had experienced a simr state of mind on multiple asions during his previous life. It usually came to him when he experienced a major setback. He would lose control of his emotions andsh out at everyone around him.

    In his previous life, while at TP Mazembe, he had even gotten into a fight with one of the assistant coaches after failing to make it into the starting line-up. So, he was well aware he had anger management issues. He thought he had ovee his psychological problems after returning to the past. But it seemed he''d been wrong all along.

    "Why is this happening to me all over again?" Zachary mumbled to himself, quickening his pace through the stadium tunnel. His previous life''s psychologist had ascertained that the trigger of his anger episodes had been the death of his grandma. But in his new life, she was still alive and well. So, what was the root of the problem? He mused, trying his best to push the negative thoughts out of his mind.

    After walking through the tunnels leading to the stadium''s exit for a few minutes, he had, to some extent, regained some control over his emotions. But he knew that it wasn''t nearly enough to keep himself in check while interacting with others. He could still blunder and punch someone if they said the wrong phrase. So, he quickened his pace until he''d almost broken into a full sprint as the exit appeared in front of him.

    But to his horror, Coach Johansen was waiting beside the entrance. The coach was leaning on the wall, arms folded across his chest, seemingly anticipating his arrival.

    [Why is he here? Isn''t he supposed to be in his office finalizing the game n for tomorrow?] Zachary wondered, slowing down his steps and facing the coach.

    Zachary''s emotions threatened to spiral out of control once again after he came face to face with the man who''d left him out of the squad. But he forced himself to take a deep breath, balled his fists, and in some way managed to calm down before he could do or say anything he would regret. In the meantime, Coach Johansen watched him silently without saying a word.

    "Coach," Zachary intoned, trying his best to keep his tone at the very least neutral.

    Coach Johansen regarded him for a moment more before saying: "Let''s talk in my office." He then led the way back into the tunnels.

    A few minutester, Zachary settled himself in a chair beside Coach Johansen''s desk. He silently observed the gangling red-bearded coach clearing the five-by-seven cards, where he drew the game ns, from his table. He then settled down in his chair and returned to his silent observation of Zachary.

    The silence that spanned across the next few seconds was unnerving.

    "So, why did you leave the pitch early today?" Coach Johansen asked finally.

    "Coach, I¡ª" Zachary couldn''t seem to find the right words to exin himself.

    "Was it because you were disappointed that you didn''t make the squad for tomorrow?" The coach probed, his tone t.

    Zachary didn''t like the look on the coach''s face. He could feel that the coach was about to deliver either some bad news or a harsh judgment on him.

    "Coach," Zachary intoned, his emotions getting the better of him. "Clearly, I''ve been ying better than most during training. You must also see that I''m a better yer than arge part of the midfielders. So, why was I left out?" He couldn''t help but voice out his doubts.

    He had been working tirelessly since graduating from the academy. He had soldiered through physicals on a daily basis to keep himself in shape¡ªand even attended the Rosenborg training sessions before signing the contract. He''d done all that in the hopes of quickly earning a spot on the Rosenborg starting squad.

    He believed he deserved the right to, at least, be among the substitutes¡ªthat was if he couldn''t be a first-stringer. However, the coach hadn''t considered him for even a friendly game, whose sole purpose was to prepare yers for the new Tippeligaen season. That meant that he wasn''t even considered one of the core yers for the new season.

    Zachary knew that if he didn''t get rity, his mood would sour over the next few days. What would follow would be him falling into an anger episode once more. So, he went against all reason and decided to question the coach about his squad selection.

    However, Coach Johansen''s reaction surprised him. Instead of getting angry, he smiled softly. What was up with that? He wondered. Was his plight of not being part of the squad sounding like a joke to the coach?

    Zachary clenched his fists as he felt anger threatening to stir within him. But he reigned himself in and counted backward from ten to zero, over and over, trying to calm his fragile emotions. He was barely able to prevent himself from punching Coach Johansen''s face after it stretched into a grin.

    "Zach, you know I''m on your side," the coach said after a moment, still smiling. "I understand your eagerness to join the squad as quickly as possible. I really do. But you have to remain patient while building your fitness in the meantime. You should have heard of the saying that haste makes waste! Haven''t you?"

    Zachary nodded in assent. "Is my being left out of the squad rted to my so-called growth-spurt issue?"

    "Yes," Coach Johansen replied. "You''ve yed under me for approximately two years. So, I would have liked to use you right away if there wasn''t that particr problem."

    "But coach," Zachary intoned, frowning. "I already informed you that I have full mastery over my body. I have been doing training drills, including yoga, to improve my body control and coordination over the past few months. I know that I''ll be able to y like usual, no, better than usual, if you give me a chance. That''s all I''m asking for."

    Coach Johansen held up his hand. "Zach, I''ve given this a lot of thought. I can''t put you on the squad until you deal with your growth spurt problem. That means getting clearance from the medical department. If they say that you are in the clear to y at the professional stage, I''ll start considering you for the squad right away."

    "Moreover," the coach continued, shaking his head. "You have got to use this time to adapt to the professional stage. My advice to you is to keep on training to improve yourself as you wait for your chance. Try to fit into the club by interacting with the other yers."

    "Remember that I''m on your side," he added, wordsing out of his mouth slowly but steadily. "I want you to perform well as soon as you join the starting squad. But you''ve got to remain patient and humble in the meantime. Don''t start questioning the decisions of the coaching staff, as you did just now. If a coach, other than myself, had been in this chair, you wouldn''t have gotten off lightly. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied perfunctorily. Although he still wanted to participate in the game the following day, there was nothing he could do to make that happen. The coaches had already made up their minds that his growth spurt was a problem. Maybe, they even thought that his body control capabilities had decreased over the past year due to his growing height. So, they wouldn''t be giving him a spot on the starting line-up any time soon.

    However, Zachary was sure none of his attributes and skills had declined over the past few months. He could see it on the system interface. His bnce-and-coordination and his body control were all at the A+ grading. If the growth spurt had affected him, those stats would have fallen to a lower grade. So, he wasn''t worried in the slightest that he would get injured while ying in an official game. But, he still needed to convince the coaches to allow him to show that he was fully fit. And he could only do that in an official game.

    "Did you manage to hire a professional fitness trainer?" Coach Johansen asked, breaking him out of contemtion.

    "Not yet," Zachary replied, shaking his head.

    "Why not?" He asked, frowning. "Your agent had promised to help you find one! What happened?"

    "It has only been two days," Zachary answered, not wanting to disclose that he''d dissuaded Emily from getting him a fitness coach.

    "Just forget it." Coach Johansen sighed.

    "Why not work with Coach Bj?rn Peters? He was your coach in the academy. So, you should be familiar with him."

    "If it''s him, the club will be able to keep tabs easily on your training," he added. "And if your im of being fully fit holds, you''ll get a chance to convince the guys in charge of the medicals sooner than expected. What do you think?" He locked eyes with Zachary.

    "That''s okay with me," Zachary replied, smiling. Bj?rn was an easy-going guy who cared about his students. So, Zachary was sure that he would do his best to help him get into Rosenborg''s starting line-up. There wasn''t any reason for him to refuse.

    "Great," Coach Johansen intoned, smiling. "I''ll inform Coach Peters this evening. You can link up and begin working on your fitness with him tomorrow. Work hard during this period. I expect big things from you. So, don''t disappoint me."

 Chapter 106 - Two Months

    Monday, April 29, 2013.

    **** ****

    In one of the gyms at the Lerkendal Idresspark, the home ground of Rosenborg BK, Zachary was entirely focused on his training. Salty droplets rolled down his face dripping onto the gym floor as he pushed his body up,pleting his 50th press-up. Down his back ran a dark stripe amid the light-grey color of his sleeveless Nike top¡ªa spreading map of perspiration showing the hard work he''d been putting into his workout that morning. Coach Bj?rn Peters stood at the side, watching him like a hawk and shouting instructions at the pace of a machine gun.

    There was no other soul in the gym. The other yers had been¡ªgiven the morning off since they had yed a Tippeligaen match against Sandnes Ulf the previous day.

    "Keep moving, don''t slow down," Coach Bj?rn Peters yelled, pping his hands as he moved around Zachary''s position on the floor. "You can do it. Up and down, up and down..."

    Zachary felt dog-tired. It felt like his energy reserves had gone the way of the buffalo. His vision was hazy as his entire being screamed at him to let loose and rx¡ªto take a moment and lie supine on the floor.

    At that juncture, the hard floor looked as weing as thefiest of bed in Zachary''s eyes. But, he knew he couldn''t stop before finishing the entire set of sixty press-ups. If he gave in to the exhaustion, the effectiveness of the whole routine would be¡ªdiminished. So, he squeezed out more steam from the depths of his being and forced himself toplete the 51st press-up that morning.

    It had been almost two months since the day he''d signed the professional contract with Rosenborg. He hadn''t made it into the club''s starting eleven yet. He had spent most of his time working with Coach Bj?rn Peters on his fitness. He had gone through various drills in a progressive overload regimen to enhance his body control simultaneously with his bnce and coordination.

    He had followed Coach Johansen''s advice to utilize the time before he made it onto the starting line-up to improve his fitness further. He wanted to assure the club management and coaching staff that his growth spurt wasn''t an issue and wouldn''t prevent him from performing in Norway''s top-tier league. The only way to achieve that was by going through carefully nned training drills to improve his fitness in the shortest time possible. That way, the coaches wouldn''t have to worry about him being prone to injuries due to his changing physique.

    With that in mind, Zachary had maintained a strict schedule of training with Coach Bj?rn Peters during most of the day times he wasn''t training with the rest of the Rosenborg squad. Bench presses, yoga, knee tuck ssic nks, press-ups, sit-ups, hip-flexor stretches¡ªhe''d done them all over the two months under the watchful eyes of the fitness coach.

    "Don''t slow down," Coach Bj?rn Peters yelled. "Endure. Just nine more to go, and then we can stop for a water break." He added, pping his hands at a steady rhythm, maybe to cheer on Zachary.

    Zachary, on his part, didn''t reply since he had no strength to mouth even a simple yes. All his focus was onpleting the remaining nine press-ups.

    His ck hair, tied into a loose bun, was soaking wet. He looked like he''d just pulled himself from a pool. Yet there was no water around, but only the expansive well-equipped gym of Rosenborg. He didn''t mind the sweat in the slightest and continued with the press-up routine until he finished the entire set of sixty.

    "Okay, you did great," Coach Bj?rn Peters said, smiling. "Let''s take a five-minute break before we continue." He handed him a water bottle.

    Zachary received the bottle and chugged down some water. It tasted like the rarest elixir in the world. So, he drunk it with abandon, trying to recover his stamina in the shortest time possible.

    "Next," Coach Bj?rn Peters said after a few minutes. "We shall begin the knee tuck ssic nks using a Bosu fitness ball. I''ll exin it to you once again. Keep your eyes on me so that you don''t miss a thing." He added, picking up a blue Bosu ball from a nearby shelf and cing it on the floor.

    Zachary took a few steps back to give the coach enough room for the demonstration. He then watched the coach settle into a full nk position, with palms resting on the Bosu ball and hands in line with his shoulders. From his posture, Zachary could tell that Coach Bj?rn Peters was as fit as a fiddle. He could even give some professional footballers a run for their money.

    "While doing the knee tuck ssic nks, the most important thing is to form a straight line from your shoulders to your heels," he said, turning to cast a nce at Zachary while still in the nk position. "Then, all you need to do next is brace your core and drive your right knee across your body toward your left elbow." His words came out of his mouth at a stable rate even though he was in an unnatural stance.

    "Pause at the top point for about thirty seconds¡ªand then reverse direction back to starting position," the coach continued, still demonstrating the exercise atop the Bosu ball. "Continue alternating between legs for a total of fifty repetitions. Are we clear?" He asked, picking himself up from the floor.

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, nodding.

    He could easily follow the coach''s exnation since he had been doing the knee tuck ssic nks over the course of the previous month. That was after failing to make the Rosenborg squad at the start of the season. He''d channeled all the fury he felt at that time, using it as motivation to improve his fitness as he awaited a chance to join the starting eleven. The training was a form of therapy for him. With an intense workout, he could ovee any anger episode easily without causing a scene.

    Over the previous two months, Zachary had lived only for training. He''d neither socialized with friends nor spent any time doing anything that wasn''t rted to football. He''d even declined invitations from both Kristin and Marta to have dinner together during the Easter weekend. All his focus had been on the prize¡ªgaining a spot on the first team as quickly as possible. All the other things could wait until he was a regr on the Rosenborg squad. He didn''t intend to keep watching the Rosenborg Tippeligaen matches as a spectator in the stands.

    So, he had exercised like a mad man¡ªutilizing every single moment to train with the help of the physical conditioning elixir. He''d even added several simple fitness routines in his everyday living to make the most of those otherwise stationary few seconds to work in his favor.

    When the microwave was on, he would do jumping jacks.

    When water was boiling in the kettle, he would do squats.

    When the adverts were on between his TV programs, mainly sports and music shows, he would lift hand weights.

    After washroom breaks, he would do different kinds of nk exercises.

    Thanks to those routines, he could feel his fitness improving gradually once again. The previous year, it had almost teaued, with none of his physical attributes experiencing any remarkable growth. However, with the two months of dedicated training, he could feel that he''d entered a period of rapid improvement once more. He had a feeling that one of his attributes could break into the S-grading very soon¡ªthat was if he kept up the training.

    "Zachary, are we together?" Coach Bj?rn Peters said, his voice rising slightly. "Why are you spacing out when I''m busy exining the exercising routine to you? Does this seem like something easy to you?" He frowned, seemingly annoyed.

    "Sorry, coach," Zachary replied, his voice humble. "It won''t happen again."

    Coach Bj?rn Peters nodded, his facial expression rxing a bit. "I was saying that you''re going to have to focus on stabilizing more because you''ll be on one leg at a time. You''ve got to maintain that bnce on one leg for more than thirty seconds. And don''t rx your abdominal muscles while you''re at it. Otherwise, the exercise will be ineffective. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Okay, since you''ve rested enough, go down and give me 50 sets of the knee tuck ssic nks," he said, looking at his watch. "You need to hurry and finish this in maybe twenty minutes. Coach Johansen has already informed me that he needs you to attend the match video review meeting at 11:00 AM. So, you''ll need some time to prepare before heading to the tactics room."

    "He wants me to attend the video review meeting?" Zachary asked, feeling his heart start to palpitate with expectation. Coach Johansen had not called him for such meetings for the previous two months. That was because only the yers on the previous or following match squads could attend those meetings.

    "Yes," Coach Peters replied, smiling. "Don''t think that all your hard work has gone unnoticed by the coaching staff. I have also already submitted a report to the guys in charge of your medical, telling them that you''re fully fit and ready for action. They should be calling you for another assessment within the next few days."

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary replied, reflexively bowing slightly at the waist. He could hardly contain his happiness. Rosenborg would be facing off against Strindheim IL in the second round of the Norwegian Football Cup in two days. If the head coach had called him for the video review meeting, he was most likely part of the squad for that match.

    "You''re wee," Coach Peters replied, smiling. "And this was all because of your hard work. So, keep at it and give me fifty of those knee nks right away."

    "Aye, coach," Zachary said, nodding in assent. He then settled down in the nk position on the dome-shaped upper side of the Bosu ball.

    He then drew his knee forward and started the knee nk routine right away. Since it seemed he was going to get a chance to join the match squad, after all, he was more motivated than usual toplete the workout.

 Chapter 107 - An Opportunity

    Zachary managed toplete the set of fifty repetitions of knee tuck ssic nks when it was already forty minutes to eleven. It was almost time for the match video review meeting with coach Johansen and the rest of the Rosenborg match squad members tomence.

    He quickly thanked Coach Bj?rn Peters and said his goodbyes before rushing out of the gym like the wind. He jogged the entire way through the corridors, running past a few Rosenborg employees who were cleaning or moving equipment, and finally arrived at one of the bathroom areas.

    Without wasting any time, he undressed and entered the shower right away. His actions were hurried since he didn''t intend to end upte for the team meeting ted to begin at 11:00 AM. He had only thirty-five minutes to get ready. He stood under the showerhead, letting the heated water wash away all the sweat his body had umted from the two-hour workout.

    When he finished cleaning up, he observed himself in the mirror as he dried it up with a towel.

    A face with a chiseled jawline and pronounced angr cheekbones stared back at him. It had deep-set brown eyes, just beneath a prominent forehead, that matched well with its overgrown dark hair. Below the face was a chest and a pair of shoulders, built like a tank, making the mirror image all the more imposing.

    Zachary smiled, feeling pleased with his reflection. After toiling on a daily basis over the past year, he had developed lean muscles thatpounded well with his height. His body didn''t look out of proportion or overly buff despite his looming height of six feet four. He wasn''t like a Peter Crouch, but more of a tan Ibrahimovi? body type. That, coupled with his ebony skin tone, made him look as if he was all muscles of steel.

    Zachary hummed an African Ling tune as he took extra care to rid his hair of moisture with a handheld drier. He had let it grow over the past year on just a whim to alter his image. It had grown long enough for him to easily tie into an afro-styled bun at the back of his head. Although it was a hustle to clean the overgrown hair, it was worth the effort since it made him look more dignified¡ªand different from his previous life''s self. Zachary liked that.

    When he had finished drying andbing through his hair, he donned his ck Rosenborg tracksuit in the dressing room before rushing to the canteen to grab a quick bite. Even though he was close to runningte, he still had to replenish his energy reserves after the two-hour intensive workout that morning. So, he quickly gobbled up an egg omelet with avocado spread on toast and drank some juice at the canteen while keeping a close eye on his watch.

    After finishing his meal, he felt reinvigorated and full of energy once more. He rushed to the tactics room without further ado. He was one of thest yers to arrive for the meeting. Most of the other first-team yers like Lund Hansen, the goalkeeper, Tore Reginiussen, the captain, Mikael Dorsin, the assistant captain, and Nicki Nielsen had already taken their seats in the room. But the good news was that Coach Johansen and his assistants were yet to arrive. Zachary let out a pent-up breath of air and silently slipped into the room without drawing any attention.

    None of the yers tried to invite him to join their small groups since they knew that trying to hold a conversation with Zachary was a lost cause. Over the past two months, he had built himself a not-so-good reputation in the team. He hadn''t interacted much with the other yers¡ªwhich distanced him further from them. He''d be theplete loner¡ªthe guy who came to the pitch and trained silently without involving himself in any small talk. So, most of the yers kept their distance, only talking to him when it mattered.

    Zachary, though, didn''t mind the istion since that had been his intention when he''d made the decision to limit his interaction with the other yers. After realizing that he was still prone to the anger issues that had dogged his past life, he''d decided to reduce his interaction with others.

    In that way, he would stay a neutral party since he would never get the opportunity to be angry at them. So far, the tactic had worked pretty well and even afforded him a few advantages. Thanks to his loner-type lifestyle on the team, he had more time to train than his colleagues.

    Zachary found himself a chair at the very back and started eavesdropping on the conversations around him.

    "Most of the referee''s decisions didn''t make much sense," said Mike Jensen, the starting central midfielder, from one of the seats in the middle of the room. "I can understand Tore''s sending-off since it was ast-man professional foul. But, the second yellow of Nicki, that was absurd."

    Zachary''s ears perked up, wishing to hear more of the midfielder''s take on the previous day''s Tippeligaen match. He''d watched the game from the stands since he wasn''t on the squad. It had been one of the upsets of the season.

    Rosenborg BK had lost to Sandnes Ulf 0:1 at home with the entire first-team squad present. Moreover, that was their second consecutive miserable performance. Before that game, Rosenborg had tied 1:1 against IK Start at home. Then, the troll kids had gone on to lose 3:1 against FK Haugesund away from home. Rosenborg''s situation wasn''t so good with three wins, one draw, and two losses¡ªas the results for the new season. The fans were not happy in the slightest. They''d taken to social media to express their discontent about the club''s circumstances and, of course, the poor management.

    "But we still underperformed during the game," Mikael Dorsin, the veteran defender, chipped in. "Tore''s red card came in the 66th minute. We had not managed to score a goal by then. We have no one to me but ourselves for losing that game."

    "True," Nicki Nielsen said. "During that game, I don''t know what happened to me. I couldn''t beat the keeper even when I had that clear chance in the 30th minute."

    "Let''s not dwell in the past," Mikael said, patting the striker''s back. "You tried your best in the game, but luck was not on our side. We will surely win next time."

    Zachary continued listening silently to the discussion until the coaches arrived. The match video review meeting begun then.

    "Good morning to you all," Coach Johansen greeted after cing his folder on the desk at the front of the room. Meanwhile, Trond Henriksen, the assistant coach, started setting up the video equipment.

    "Good morning, coach," the yers replied in chorus. They all stopped their conversations and focused their attention on him.

    "Did you all rest well?" The coach smiled, starting to walk around the room slowly.

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied, many of them grinning.

    "Oh, that''s great," the coach intoned. "I hope you all went through post-match recovery. You all need to be ready for the game against Strindheim." He added, continuing to move around the room.

    "Daniel, how''s the family?"

    "They are doing great. How is yours?"

    "They''re as fine as they could be."

    "...Mike, are you settling in well?"

    "...Inge, how is that leg of yours? Did you put some ice on it?

    "...Cristian..."

    Coach Johansen did not start the meeting right away as he''d always done in the academy. Instead, he first went around the room making small talk and, at times, high-fiving the yers while waiting for the assistant coach to finish connecting the video equipment. The coach took great care to ask about the affairs of all the yers. Sometimes, it was about the family, at other times an injury, or even a girlfriend. And finally, he came to the back of the room where Zachary was seated.

    "Zach," the coach said, bumping fists with him. "How do you feel?"

    "Great, and you?" Zachary replied perfunctorily. He''d developed some negative feelings about his coach after being left out of the squad for the first six matches of the new Tippeligaen season. That was even after training like a maniac under supervision for two months. The coach hadn''t even called him for a single first-team meeting for the entire period. He couldn''t help but feel like Coach Johansen had betrayed him.

    "I''m also doing okay, but just okay," the coach replied, inclining his head and studying Zachary with a thoughtful expression. "Are you ready to go into action on Wednesday?" He asked after a moment.

    "Of course, I''m ready." Zachary smiled slightly. "I''ve always been ready ever since graduating from the academy. I only need a chance to showcase my skills." He said, without minding the yers around him. He needed to let them know that he would be fighting for a first-team number with all the effort he could muster. Moreover, Coach Johansen should have been using the chance to pressure the senior yers by informing them that a new yer was joining the regrs. As a result, they would feel threatened and work harder to keep their positions.

    "That''s good to hear," Coach Johansen said, half-smiling. "I''ll be giving you a chance in the Wednesday match. I hope you do use it well."

    "Thank you, coach," Zachary replied, finally feeling his mood lighten. He didn''t mind whether Coach Johansen was just using him to pressure the yers into working harder. Nothing else mattered as long as he got a chance to y professional football.

 Chapter 108 - The Match-Video Review Meeting I

    "Okay, let''s get down to serious business," said Coach Johansen, his tone solemn.

    He had just finished moving around the room and making small talk with the yers. By then, Trond Henriksen, the assistant coach, had already set up the video equipment and was switching on therge t screen hanging on the wall in front of the room.

    "I wee you yet again to another post-match meeting where we review our most recent performances," Coach Johansen began. "However, I''m not in a good mood today. I''m still unhappy about our loss to Sandnes yesterday."

    "If we had adhered to the game n, we surely would have avoided it. But we messed up, put on a miserable showing, and lost another game. That''s cause for concern." He paused, letting his gaze roam across the yers in the tactical room.

    For a few seconds, there was utter silence in the room, save for the sound of Coach Trond Henriksen shuffling through some papers at one side of the room. The yers on their part, including Zachary, all waited attentively for the coach to continue his address.

    "I know that losses can happen in football," the coach continued, his eyes narrowing. "And I understand there is always a winner and a loser in every game. But losing a game because we didn''t give our best on the pitch is uneptable. We had all the possession against Sandnes, but we didn''t convert any of it into goals. I''m disappointed with your performance in that game."

    Coach Johansen sighed. "Let''s first talk about that one goal we conceded in the 23rd minute," he said before turning to look at his assistant. "Trond, can you set the video to the exact moment we conceded," he said to him.

    "Okay," Trond Henriksen said, putting his papers down on the chair beside him. He then picked up the remote and started fast-forwarding the match video. In just a few seconds, the assistant head coach paused the motion picture, and a Sandnes yer in a light blue jersey appeared on the screen.

    Zachary instantly recognized Freyr Thorsteinsson, the winger who''d scored the lone and winning goal against Rosenborg the previous day on the screen.

    "That''s just perfect," Coach Johansen said, nodding. "We can start watching from here. Thank you, Trond." He added, moving towards the screen.

    Coach Trond Henriksen smiled in response before ying the video once more. Freyr Thorsteinsson, the Sandnes Ulf number-23, started dribbling and raced past Mix Diskerud, the Rosenborg starting left-midfielder. Zachary watched as he circumvented two more yers in white and went on to deliver a lofted pass into the box.

    Then, one of the Sandnes strikers, a ck fellow in a number-11 light-blue shirt, out-jumped the defenders and connected with the ball. But instead of attempting to score, he headed the ball back¡ªonto the path of the sprinting Freyr Thorsteinsson, the left-winger. Freyr managed to keep hisposure and unleashed a howitzer of a shot at goal despite being marked by two Rosenborg yers.

    Lund Hansen, the goalkeeper, was helpless. He could only turn and watch the ball curl into the top corner of the goal. The video stopped there and then as the assistant coach pressed the pause button on the remote.

    "Okay," Coach Johansen said, letting his gaze settle momentarily across some of the yers in the tactics room. "Can someone tell me what we did wrong before conceding that goal?"

    All the yers, including Zachary, remained silent. Some were frowning or smiling ruefully. The rest stared at the screen with undivided attention¡ªas if their gazes could pierce through the fabric of reality and get a better view of the goings-on within it.

    "Anyone?" Coach Johansen asked once more on seeing his yers remaining silent.

    Mikael Dorsin, the veteran defender of Rosenborg, raised his hand.

    "Yes, Mikael." Coach Johansen pointed at him.

    "It''s pretty clear that we were not in a proper defensive shape when we conceded the goal. First, we let Freyr run with the ball across the wing and cut into the pitch without closing him down. We also allowed him to meet the return pass from Tosaint Ricketts and score. We didn''t even do our best to block his shot. So, we wouldn''t have conceded the goal if we had maintained a proper defensive shape."

    "Exactly, thank you, Mikael," Coach Johansen said, smiling for the first time since beginning his address. "You took the words out of my mouth. Our defensive shape was a mess before that goal."

    "Trond, first rewind a bit," he said, turning back towards the screen. The assistant coach did as instructed, rewinding the video and only pressing the pause button at the moment when Freyr Thorsteinsson received the ball. That was just over a minute before the left-wingerted the goal.

    "Take a good look at the Sandnes yers," Coach Johansen said, moving a few steps away from the screen as the video started ying once again. He leaned on a table on one side of the room before continuing.

    "Observe and see how we concede this goal. If you only take a cursory nce at this, you might decide that the goal was Mix''s fault. He lost track of the run. This guy runs across the wing and prates our half, and finally delivers a cross into the box." He added, pointing at the sprinting image of Freyr Thorsteinsson on the screen.

    "But as the crosses into the box, the center-backs don''t jump to challenge the ball. To make matters worse, Freyr Thorsteinsson somehow manages to make a 30-yard run from the wing and arrives close to our box¡ªbefore shooting and scoring. None of you tried to track down his run. What the hell?"

    "Where were the midfielders?" His voice rose slightly. "Where was the right-back? How could we allow a yer to make a run from the wing to our box uncontested? We''re supposed to be the best team in Norway, for God''s sake."

    He sighed, shaking his head. "This is uneptable for yers of the biggest Norwegian club. You''ve got to read the game. You have to anticipate any changes in the tempo and react ordingly. You have tomunicate and stay in a proper defensive shape for the entire duration of the game. That''s the only way to avoid conceding such stupid goals in theing matches."

    All the yers in the tactics room remained silent, waiting for the coach to continue. Zachary, too, watched the video with a solemn expression. But if he had to be honest, he would admit he was a little happy on the inside that the Rosenborg first team had messed up in the previous three games.

    If the club had been on form and continued winning every single match with ease, he was sure that the coaching staff wouldn''t have considered him for the squad that soon. Thus, Zachary watched Coach Johansen''s presentation with a poker face¡ªonly to fit the solemn atmosphere in the tactics room. Otherwise, he would have already started grinning if he was alone.

    After a few minutes, Coach Johansen started alternating with Trond Henriksen, his assistant, in making the presentation. The two took turns expounding on several yer mistakes in the game against Sandnes Ulf while reying the match video. They were very detailed in pointing out what the yers could have done better to achieve victory. The minutes passed quickly, and before Zachary knew it, it was almost time for the meeting to end.

    Zachary, for the most part, was a bit bored. Throughout the entire session, he struggled to keep himself from dozing¡ªsince he had woken up early and spent the most part of that morning exercising intensively. He only rose to full attention when Coach Johansen took the stage towards the end.

    "If we want to achieve anything this season, we have got to work as a team," Zachary heard coach Johansen say in an animated tone of voice. "If our goal is to win the Tippeligaen or the Norwegian Football Cup, we have to defend and attack as a team when we''re out there on the pitch. There''s simply no way around it."

    "When we get problems in the box¡ªsay two opposing forwards on the attack, we must not think our two center-backs will stop them alone. I saw that in the moments before Tore received the red card for hisst-man challenge, some of our guys were walking. They were walking." He emphasized, letting his gaze roam across a few of the yers.

    "The opposing team was attacking our goal, but about five of us were walking," Coach Johansen eximed, his tone turning a bit dramatic. "We were ying a 4-3-3, for God''s sake. The three midfielders and the two forwards on the nks should have rushed back and helped in the defense. But, all of you let Tore face two of their forwards alone, forcing him to make a professional foul."

    "Don''t get me wrong. I''m not saying that Tore should have made the tackle." He half-smiled, shaking his head. "I am only emphasizing that you shouldn''t have let him fall into such a 1-vs-2 situation alone. If any three of you could have sprinted back the moment their forward picked up the ball, I can guarantee you we wouldn''t have been¡ªsaddled with the red card."

    "You guys should thank Lund for saving the penalty. Otherwise, we would have lost by a bigger margin, not just that one goal."

 Chapter 109 - The Match-Video Review Meeting II

    Coach Johansen''s eyes narrowed as he let his gaze roam across the yers in the tactics room before continuing.

    "As you can see, we''re only missing that little bit of extra effort in our gamey," the coach said, his voice lowering. Your teammate is in trouble, but you don''t give a damn. You shamelessly leave everything to him. What the hell!?"

    "We''re ying as professionals in the top-tier league in Norway, but we''re not putting in the necessary extra effort. We''re not defending as a team, and because of that¡ªwe concede a lot of shitty goals very often. Where are the levels of concentration that are the hallmark of a pro yer?" He intoned, starting to move around the room.

    "Where is the focus required to win the league or the double? Because in thest three games, it looked like you were merely ying for fun. But this is not just ying. You guys should know this."

    "You have to remember that you''re regrs of the best team in Norway." The coach''s words came out of his mouth slowly but steadily as his tone turned stern. "You''re paid highly to win games. You''re not supposed to lose against a team like Sandnes Ulf. You''re not even allowed to lose against a team like FK Haugesund, not even Molde. All those clubs don''t have a rich history like ours." He paused as if wishing for his words to first sink into the heads of his yers.

    The coach sighed, shaking his head. "I have already said enough about our past performances," he said, moving back to the front of the room. He picked up his notebook from the desk nearby. "We shall now focus on our future performances. What''s the way forward? That''s what I''ll talk about in a moment." He flipped his notebook open.

    "First, I''ll start by announcing the squad for the Norwegian Cup second-round game against Strindheim on Wednesday."

    "Eehh!" A round of exmations went off across the whole room. Even Zachary, who had attended the meeting for the first time, was surprised. Customarily, the coaches would announce the match squad on the night before the game. The game against Strindheim was on Wednesday, yet the coach had decided to name the line-up on a Monday morning. That was an unusual urrence.

    "Don''t act too surprised," Coach Johansen said, raising a hand to indicate that he needed silence. The yers quietened down immediately. "I''ll be giving an opportunity to several yers who haven''t had any first-team football this season. So, I need to announce the squad today. That way, we can refine our game n and tactics with the selected yers during the light training session tomorrow."

    "You guys must understand that it''s always difficult for me to choose the starting line-up," the coach continued in a solemn voice. "I hate leaving talented yers out of the squad."

    "But I still have to choose the starting eleven and the seven more on the bench every single game. I understand some of you may have to stay home or watch the match in the stands. I know that you feel bad because of that. Maybe, you might think I''ve got a bias against you if I don''t regrly name you as part of the squad."

    "But all I ask is for you to believe in me," the coach said, his tone solemn. "As long as you work hard and perform to the best of your abilities, even if you''re an under-19 yer, you''ll get your chance at one point in time. I work on only one principle: rewarding hard work and merit. So, don''t feel down when you find your name missing from the squad. Instead, work harder, try to make it on the squad against Aalesunds FK on Saturday." He let his gaze roam across the yers. "Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    "Okay, I''ll name the squad now," he said, moving towards the screen.

    Zachary felt his heart start to race as Trond Henriksen, the assistant head coach, pointed the remote at the screen. Immediately, eleven white shirts arranged in a 4-3-3 attacking formation appeared on it. But they didn''t have any names.

    Zachary felt sweat beading on his forehead as every nerve in his body tingled with anticipation. The coach''s promise didn''t count much for him. He would only rx when he saw his name with his own eyes on the official match squad.

    "This will be an away game," Coach Johansen begun, eyes narrowing as he took a casual nce at his open notebook. "But we shall still y using our default 4-3-3 attacking formation."

    "In the goal, we have No.12 Lund Hansen."

    "The center-backs will be No.4 Tore Reginiussen¡ªthe captain, and No.24 Stefan Strandberg. The left-back: No.14 Inge H?nd. The right-back: No.19 Brede Moe. That will be our defense."

    "In midfield, we shall have three yers as usual. Only this time around, we''ll be giving a chance to our younger squad members. We''ll field one defensive midfielder to form a triangle with the right and left midfielders." He pointed at the screen to exin his point.

    "The defensive midfielder will be No.20 Ole Selnaes. Left-midfielder: No.21 Fredrik Midtsj?. Right Midfielder: No.33 Zachary Bemba."

    Zachary let out a breath of pent-up air on hearing his name. He had finally made it onto the squad after waiting for more than two months.

    At that moment, he could hardly contain the happiness that streaked through him like aet. He had been under the impression he would be on the bench, but Coach Johansen had surprised him and named him as part of the starting eleven.

    He was intoxicated with joy. Had he been on his own, he could have jumped around and danced like a little kid that had just seen Santa us on Christmas Eve. But, since he was surrounded by teammates, he maintained a poker face and continued listening to the coach''s instructions.

    "We will use three forwards; two on the nks and one through the center as our spearhead," the coach continued while pointing at the respective positions on the screen. "The left-forward will be No.13 Jaime Al¨¢s. Right-forward: No.10 John Chibuike. Center-forward: No.9 Nicki Nielsen. Those are the starting eleven."

    Zachary was surprised once again. The coach had left most of the first-stringers out of the starting eleven. Only Nicki Nielsen, Tore Reginiussen, and Lund Hansen remained in the starting line-up for the Wednesday match.

    "On the bench," the coach continued after a moment. "We have No.39 Jacob Storevik, No.3 Mikael Dorsin, No.2 Cristian Gamboa, No.42 Mix Diskerud, No.8 Borek Dockal, No.11 Tobias Mikkelsen, and No.17 Tarik Elyounoussi. That''s it for the line-up. We''ll refine the details tomorrow."

    "DING"

    No sooner had the coach finished naming the squad than the system notification sounded in Zachary''s mind.

    "The system has detected that the user has been added to the squad of a Norwegian Football Cup match," the apathetic feminine voice of the AI sounded in his mind soon after.

    "Conditions for a long-term serial system mission have been met."

    "The 2013 Norwegian Football Cup Serial Mission initiated sessfully."

    "Does the user wish to view the details of the mission right now?"

    "Negative," Zachary replied mentally right away. He would open the system interface once he got back to his apartment. He didn''t want to draw unnecessary attention by focusing on the system screen instead of the coach.

 Chapter 110 - A Talk With The Coach

    Coach Johansen continued discussing the line-up for a few more minutes. He pointed out the individual roles of each yer in the squad before concluding the team meeting. He released the yers for their lunch break after reminding them about the next training session¡ªted forter that evening.

    Nicki Nielson came up to Zachary''s seat right after the meeting. "Congrattions on making the squad," he said, grinning.

    "Thank you," Zachary replied, returning the smile.

    "Against Strindheim, we''ll both be in the starting eleven. I''m counting on receiving many assists from you." He patted Zachary''s shoulder gently. He didn''t show any hint of the solemn demeanor he was known for on the field.

    Nicki Nielson was one of the few squad members that had continued trying to interact with Zachary over the previous two months. That was after he had put in a great effort to distance himself from the rest of his teammates. The striker always tried to make small talk with him even after Zachary made it clear he wished to be alone.

    Even met with silence, Nicki would stand by his side and continue talking. He seemed not to mind whether he got a response or not. At first, Zachary had felt ufortable, butter, he slowly got used to the chatty number-9. That way, he became more and more familiar with his presence and even considered him as a friend to some extent.

    "Would you like to join us in the game room as we wait for lunch?" The striker inquired, still smiling at Zachary.

    The game room was the chamber close to the dressing room where yers spent time ying indoor games as a form of rxation during breaks. It was well-equipped with card and board games. However, none of the entertainment was up Zachary''s alley. He preferred to spend the time in the gym doing a light stretching routine instead of sitting through half an hour of a card game.

    He decided to reject the invitation in the most polite way he could think of at that moment. Despite not wishing to get closer to the others on the team, he didn''t want to offend them. That was why he had maintained a very polite bearing even while trying to keep his distance from the rest of the team over the previous two months.

    "Can I take a raincheck for today?" He asked. "I still have toplete some gym work."

    "Are you trying to brush me off once again?" Nicki said, raising a brow. "From my understanding, your fitness training should have ended the moment you made the squad. You''d bettere and join in on the cards. Over a game of cards, you can quickly get to know your teammates better."

    Zachary couldn''t find a counter to that. He was at a loss for words, without any way to refuse the skipper''s invitation politely.

    Over the previous month, he had found it hard to reject the invitations of a few of his teammates¡ªespecially when he didn''t have much of an excuse. Fortunately, he could still escape before joining the squad since he was undergoing progressive overload training under Coach Bj?rn Peters. The training was intense and left him without energy for anything else. All his teammates knew that simple fact and did not try too hard to push him into joining events that they imed were for the necessary team bonding. But at that moment, he had no excuse to refuse Nicki since he was already part of the squad.

    As he racked his brains, trying to find a way to brush off the skipper politely, Coach Johansen''s voice sounded, saving him from the awkward exchange.

    "Zachary, follow me to my office." the coach said as he passed his seat, heading for the door. "I want to discuss a few things with you."

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied dutifully, feeling thankful for the coach''s timely intervention.

    Without further ado, he said his regrets to Nicki in the most polite way he could muster before following the coach out of the tactics room. Two minutester, he stepped into the head coach''s office at Lerkendal Idresspark.

    He could feel a sense of adventure woven into his nervousness like he was getting the first sure-footing on a great rock climb. He had no guesses on why the coach had sought him out after the meeting. So, when he settled in a chair beside Coach Johansen''s desk, he felt his heart start to race. What if the coach had changed his mind once more? He couldn''t help but wonder. The two months out of the squad had lessened his confidence.

    "Don''t be nervous," Coach Johansen said, apparently noticing his difort. "I only called you here to discuss your aspirations in the club." He smiled, settling in the chair behind his not-so-organized L-shaped desk. Aptop, a Rosenborg coffee mug, papers, five-by-seven cards with unfinished gameys, pens, and markers¡ªZachary could see all that lying haphazardly on top of theminated surface of the desk.

    "Coach Bj?rn Peters has already informed me about the hard work you put into your training over the past two months," the coach continued with a faint smile. "I also received a report from Dr. Alexander ?ystein yesterday about your fitness. So, we can safely say that we may have partially handled the scare of your growth spurt¡ªto some extent. Since you have finally made it to the squad, I would like to know which role you wish to y on this team."

    Zachary nodded but chose to remain silent and wait for the head coach to continue.

    "Zachary, let me ask you this," he continued. "Which numbers would you wish to y on the Rosenborg starting line-up? Where do you feel mostfortable?"

    "Central Midfield," Zachary replied matter-of-factly. "The best position for me would be attacking midfield, right behind the forwards."

    Coach Johansen nodded. He inclined his head and regarded Zachary with a thoughtful expression before saying: "You must understand we have several talented and experienced midfielders in the squad. There is Mike Jensen, Mix Diskerud, Jonas Svensson, Borek Dockal, Ole Seln?s, Daniel Berntsen, Fredrik Midtsj?, Jaime Al¨¢s, and of course, now, there''s you." He listed nearly all the midfielders on the team in a single breath.

    "All those are remarkable yers capable of tearing teams in the Tippeligaen apart with just their passing skills," the coach continued. "We also can''t forget the younger midfielders that are also awaiting their chance on the reserve team. They are among the top yers of the reserve league as I speak now."

    "So, as you can see, we have plenty of midfielders. But you have to remember that for each match, I can only select three or four midfielders for the starting eleven. That creates very fiercepetition for the few spots avable in the midfield. All the midfielders have to struggle hard through weekly training to get a spot on my starting line-up."

    "But if we''re to talk about the wings, there is almost nopetition. Aside from Tobias Mikkelsen, we don''t have any natural speedy wingers on the team that can double as forwards in our regr 4-3-3 formation."

    "So, I would like to ask you." The coach leaned forward and locked gazes with Zachary. "Would you like to switch positions and y on the wings? I was your coach for two years in the academy. I understand your abilities and ying style quite well. I''m very sure you would do well on both the right and left nks since you can use both legs."

    "You''ll get a lot of ying time because of your speed and your passing uracy, which could lead to some spectacr crosses. That''s enough to help us win more games. So, what do you think about my proposition? Would you consider ying on the nks?"

    Zachary remained silent for a moment, deliberating on the issue. He understood that by the time the coach decided to ask him such a question, he had already started considering him as a yer with great potential as a winger.

    If Zachary epted the coach''s proposition, he would get to y a lot of football during his debut season since there seemed to be a severe shortage of wingers on the squad.

    But he didn''t want to y on the wings. He could only showcase his passing skills fully in the midfield. Moreover, ying on the wing had its disadvantages. Since wingers tended to run with the ball a lot more, trying to beat defenders with pace or dribbling, they got injured quite often. As a consequence, it was an unsustainable position to y in the long run, especially for a tall yer like him.

    "Coach," Zachary said after deliberating for a moment. "I would like to continue ying as a central midfielder. I can y better there than I ever would on the wings. So, I request that you give me some chances in the middle of the park. I will not disappoint you." He added, his voice unwavering.

 Chapter 111 - The Norwegian Football Cup Serial Challenge

    Coach Johansen sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Okay, have it your way," he said. "You can keep on fighting for numbers in the midfield. But remember, you''repeting with very experienced yers. So, it won''t be a walk in the park for you."

    "I understand," Zachary replied solemnly. "I''m more than ready topete for a spot in the midfield."

    He had just learned the Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju. If he continued improving his mastery of the skill, he was sure he would surpass the top midfielders in the Tippeligaen in no time. As long as the coach gave him ying time in a few matches, he was sure he would acquire a spot as one of the Rosenborg starting midfielders. He had no intention of changing his ying position just to make the team.

    "Okay, I like your conviction," said Coach Johansen, nodding. "Let''s wait and see how you perform in Wednesday''s game against Strindheim. I shouldn''t be dumping any pressure on your shoulders before your debut game, but I feel I need to remind you of a few things."

    The coach nted his elbows on the desk and looked at Zachary pensively. "Remember, you''ll get few other chances to showcase your skills on the first team. If you put up a dull performance, it will be quite hard for you to get another opportunity."

    "You must have already felt it. The atmosphere in the first team is quite different from that of the academy. The fans, the coaches, and even your teammates won''t give you chances if they feel like you''re just going to make them lose games. That''s why first impressions are everything. The better you perform in your first game, the easier it''ll be for youter on. So, try to do your best in that game."

    "I''m not asking you to y like Ronaldinho or Messi," he continued, the wordsing out of his mouth softly but steadily. "I only need you to do your part on the team. Go for a simple approach and release the ball as quickly as possible. Don''t try to put on any showy disys, like making runs from the defensive midfield to the opponent''s box. If you do that, you''ll simply be seeking injuries in your debut game. We can''t have that."

    "Remember, you are no longer in the academy. You''re now ying at the professional stage. Defenders are¡ªpaid highly to stop opponents from attacking their goals. So they''ll do everything in their power to stop you, in case you dribble a lot. That''s why I''m imploring you to y simple football in your debut game. If you do the opposite, you''ll most likely blunder, and that''s where the problems will begin."

    "Understood?"

    "Yes, coach."

    Coach Johansen narrowed his eyes and stared at Zachary intently. His overgrown red beard made him all the more imposing despite his gangly physique.

    "I have seen a few talented yers graduate with flying colors from the academy but mess up in their first season. They all have one thing inmon¡ªthey try to y like Zidane or Ronaldinho when they don''t have the necessary experience. Most of them would have done better if they yed simple football of passing¡ªgiving and going. But because they try to do more than necessary, they keep on blundering and wasting chances¡ªuntil all the fans and coaches lose confidence in them."

    "Zachary, I''m urging you, again and again, don''t follow the same trend," the coach said sternly. "Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, his tone humble. "I understand and will strictly follow your advice."

    The negative thoughts about his coach that had recently taken root in his psyche vanished instantly. From that single conversation, he could feel that the coach deeply cared about his progress as a yer. He had called him to his office and warned him about all the pitfalls to avoid in his debut game. Zachary felt very grateful to him.

    He had suffered simr pitfalls during the debut game of his previous life. He had intended to show off his skills while ying his first game for TP Mazembe¡ªbut had messed up in the process. He didn''t want to go through a simr situation in his new life. So, he would follow the coach''s instructions to the letter.

    "Okay, you can leave," the coach said, with the air of seeing a visitor out. "Don''t forget to go for yourst medical. If possible, do it today or tomorrow. We don''t want anything to stop your debut now."

    "Yes, coach," Zachary said, standing up. "Thank you for giving me an opportunity on the starting eleven. And thank you for your valuable advice." He added before walking out of the door.

    After leaving the coach''s office, Zachary headed to the canteen right away. He quickly ate his lunch before leaving Lerkendal.

    It was only half-past noon. So, there were still three hours left to the start of the training session that evening. Zachary wanted to use those three hours to rest and regain his stamina. That way, he would perform his best during the training. He didn''t want to mess up after already making it onto the squad.

    So, he boarded a bus and headed to his apartment in Stj?rdalsveien without further ado. Thirty minutester, he was safely in the confines of his living room. He couldn''t resist the temptation to open the system interface much longer. He was itching to learn about the new system mission details.

    "System," he mumbled, lying down on his bed. "Bring out the information on the new system mission."

    "Command received," the apathetic feminine voice of the system AI sounded in his mind right away.

    "Mission details have been disyed on the interface."

    Zachary blinked as his eyes adjusted to the contents of the translucent bluish screen that appeared before him. He then started reading the mission details.

    ****

    G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    ----

    #NEW MISSION: 2013 Norwegian Football Cup Serial Challenge

    ->The system has detected that the user is part of the Rosenborg BK squad partaking in the 2013 Norwegian Football Cup,monly referred to as the Cupen. The system has designed an associated mission for the event.

    ----

    ->The user needs to ept the mission first to stand a chance of winning rewards afterpleting the milestones below.

    ----

    *Milestone 1: y all matches in the Cupen. The user must be part of the starting eleven or a ying substitute for every tournament match.

    *Milestone 2: Help your teammates win the finals and be the champions of the Cupen.

    *Milestone 3: Provide the most assists in the Cupen.

    *Milestone 4: Be the top scorer in the Cupen.

    *Milestone 5: Be the MVP of the Cupen.

    ----

    *Rewards:

    ->Milestone 1pletion reward: 1000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 2pletion reward: 1500 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 3pletion reward: 3000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 4pletion reward: 4500 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 5pletion reward: Three-Month dosage of A-grade Physical Conditioning Elixir.

    ----

    ->The user can choose not to ept the mission.

    *ept *Reject

    ----

    *Punishment if none of the milestones has been achieved after the stipted time (In case the user epts).

    ->Minus 15000 Juju-points

    *The user has toplete at least one milestone before the tournament ends to escape the penalty.

    ----

    *Remarks: The role of a genius is not toplicate the simple but to simplify theplicated. And only geniuses have the potential to be the G.O.A.T.

    ****

    After reading through the mission details, Zachary didn''t click on the ept button right away as he''d always done on previous instances. Instead, he took some time to deliberate whetherpleting the various milestones was feasible.

    Firstly, he wasn''t sure if he would be in the match squads of all Rosenborg''s fixtures in the Norwegian Cup. Even if he yed well, the coaches could still decide to rotate the yers at any time¡ªand then he would fail the mission. Secondly, although Rosenborg was one of the Norwegian football giants, they could still fail to win the cup. In the previous year, Molde had easily knocked them out of the Cupen in the fourth round.

    Zachary was only sure that he couldplete the third milestone, which needed him to provide the most assists in the Cupen. With the Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju in his skills repertoire, he would find it easy to unleash defense-splitting passes that would turn into goals. Butpleting the milestone also depended on whether his team progressed further in the tournament. If it so happened that his team got knocked out of the Cupen in the second round, he would still fail even if he averaged three assists per game. Thest two milestones were even harder toplete since he had just entered the Rosenborg first team. Bing the top scorer or MVP required a good deal of luck and help from a yer''s team. Only established and experienced star yers on top team squads usually had the chance to realize such aplishments.

    "Oh, whatever," Zachary mumbled to himself and pressed the ept button after a few more seconds of deliberation.

    He was a gambler by nature¡ªa habit picked up in the bad years of his previous life. If he failed, he would merely have to look for a way to pay the 15,000 Juju-points owed. But if hepleted a single milestone, he would win a lot of Juju points right away. He would be one step closer to upgrading the system and learning another G.O.A.T skill. So, he decided to bite the bullet and ept the mission even if he couldn''t guarantee he would achieve the minimum of a single milestone necessary to escape the penalty.

    "DING"

    "The user has epted the mission: 2013 Norwegian Football Cup Serial Challenge."

    "User data updated sessfully."

    After Zachary finished epting the mission, he set an rm clock for 3:00 PM. He didn''t want to miss the training that evening. He closed his eyes and entered slumbend¡ªdreaming of himself scoring goals in one of the Tippeligaen matches.

 Chapter 112 - To The Ruta Arena I

    Wednesday, May 1, 2013.

    ****

    It was half-past four in the evening, only an hour and a half to the start of the Norwegian Football Cup second-round game between Rosenborg BK and Strindheim IL.

    Zachary stood among the other Rosenborg yers in the Lerkendal Idresspark parking lot, waiting to board the bus to Ruta Arena¡ªthe home ground of Strindheim Idrettg. Like the rest of his teammates, he was d in a full all-ck designer suit and sleek, gentle shoes¡ªlooking like he was heading to a ssy wedding dinner rather than a football game.

    He didn''t like the stuffy attire in the slightest. He preferred casual wear much more. However, he had still readily donned it since it was the sporting director''s mandate for every yer to be in their suits before the game. Wearing the outfit was a small price to pay to participate in the match. In his previous life, he would have even put on a dress if it could have guaranteed him a spot among the regrs of a pro football team in Europe.

    Two days had passed since Zachary first learned he would be in the starting line-up for the next Rosenborg fixture. However, he still felt like he was walking on clouds.

    He couldn''t help it. He was very excited to y his debut game as a professional footballer in Europe.

    Filled with anticipation and jitters, he didn''t want to talk much. Instead, he kept on checking his backpack¡ªthe boots and their studs, check; the shin guards, check; the ankle guards¡ª

    Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!

    His phone vibrated while he was still rummaging through the contents of the bag. He fished it out of the side pocket of his coat and nced at the screen. It was his grandma calling. So, he pressed the ept button right away.

    "Habari, bibi," he said, cing the phone next to his ear.

    "Hello, Zachary," she replied in the same Swahilinguage. "How are you?"

    "I''m okay, grandma," Zachary replied humbly. "Didn''t we talk the day before yesterday? Why are you calling now when I already informed you that I would be ying a match today?" He was so used to his grandma that words came out naturally without needing to think much. With her, he didn''t need to put up his guard and could easily express himself without any worries.

    "Can''t I ''simply'' call to say hello to my grandson?" She asked, her voice rising slightly. "Are you starting to feel sweet because you no longer live here with me? The next time I see you, I''ll pull those ears of yours." She added jokingly.

    "Don''t say that, grandma," he said, taking a casual nce around him. He noticed that some of his teammates had already cast curious nces towards him since he was speaking a very exotguage. So, he walked a few steps away from the rest before speaking into the phone once again. "Grandma, no more joking around. We''ll be starting the match soon. Can we talkter?"

    "Yes, we can talkter," she replied, her tone softening. "I only called to wish you luck in your game. But now that you''re doing well in Europe, always remember to remain humble. That way, you''ll continue to progress in your career. And please remember to pray before the game."

    "Thank you, grandma," Zachary replied, smiling ruefully. "I''ll do that." He couldn''t remember thest time he engaged in any praying. But to assure his grandma and keep her from worrying, he answered positively.

    "But Zachary," his grandma continued, her voice bing more solemn. "When are you nning toe back and visit us? You know that it has already been more than two years since you left."

    "Why are you asking me this once again? Didn''t I already promise that I would be returning at the beginning of June? That''s the only time when I''ll get a few days off from the team."

    "Fine," she said, her voice softening once again. "I hope you keep your promise. I''ll be waiting for you next month. So, don''t disappoint me."

    "Okay, grandma," Zachary said humbly. "But, I''ve to go now. My match will be starting soon."

    "Just a moment. One more thing, Zachary."

    "Yes, grandma," Zachary replied after taking a cursory nce around the parking lot and noticing that his teammates were yet to begin boarding the bus.

    "Are you still studying?"

    "Grandma, as I previously informed you, I''ve already finished secondary school. So, I''ve decided to take a break and concentrate on my training at the moment. You know that I have to stay focused if I wish to stay on the team. So, I can''t be doing too many things at once. But, I''ll apply for university in about a year or two. So, don''t worry, grandma."

    "I''ve heard that you can choose to study in the evening when you''re at university. Why can''t you apply for such a course then? That way, you can y your football and study at the same time."

    "Grandma," Zachary said pleadingly. "Can we talk about thister? My match is really about to begin. Okay, grandma?"

    "Okay, Zachary. May the Lord give you many blessings. I wish you the best in your match. Bye."

    "Bye. I''ll also be sending you some more airtime at the end of the week. If anything elsees up, you can talk to Coach Damata."

    "Okay, but try to save part of your money. Don''t keep sending money to me. I''m doing well here."

    "Okay, grandma, Bye. Have a good day." Zachary sighed, ending the call. Over the past half a year, his grandma had been calling nearly every week, asking him when he would be returning to DR Congo to visit her. However, Zachary had always been training, trying to improve his skills as fast as possible. He hadn''t even returned home a single time since his arrival in Norway. He felt guilty whenever he talked to his grandma because of that.

    For school, he had followed Kristin''s advice and applied for the German and Spanishnguage courses. But he hadn''t mentioned that to his grandma at that moment. Otherwise, she would have spent more than thirty minutes grilling him on the details of his education.

    He was having none of that since the bus would be departing soon. But still, talking to his grandma had calmed his mind. He no longer felt jittery and was already in the best state of mind to do his best in the game. He felt even more eager to begin the match.

    "Okay, guys, it''s time," yelled Trond Henriksen, the Rosenborg assistant head coach. "Let''s board the bus right away. We don''t want to bete." He added, pping his hands.

    On hearing the coach yelling, all the yers, including Zachary, stopped whatever they were doing and made a beeline for the bus. They looked imposing as they moved towards the bus in their well-cut ck suits. Most of them were conversing among themselves in small groups. On the other hand, the technical staff, including the coaches and the medics, had donned their jackets over simple Rosenborg tracksuits. They were thest to board the bus after all the eighteen yers on the match squad had taken their seats.

    A few minutester, the bus took off and quickly got on the E6 highway, heading towards ?stbyen. It was one of the Trondheim neighborhoods located just 4.9 kilometers away from Lerkendal. The region was home to Strindheim Idrettg¡ªthe club Rosenborg would be facing in the second round of the Norwegian Cup at 6:00 PMter that day.

    Zachary sat at the back together with Fredrik Midtsj? and Nicki Nielson. But he didn''t engage in any conversation with them. Instead, he concentrated on listening to his music while watching the fleeting scenery outside, through the bus window.

    He could feel the bus wheels rolling over the road, following the curves and smoothly greeting each slope. Soon, it rounded a corner and entered a neighborhood dominated by a natural green. As Zachary gazed absentmindedly out of the window, beyond the road¡ªacross the horizon, he felt that it was a beautiful day¡ªthe best for his debut game on the Rosenborg first team. Although it was still spring, the Trondheim roads shimmered in the glow of the evening sun. The sunlight had conjured the most brilliant mosaics, reflecting from each leaf and wisp of cloud. There was a promise of good weather that evening. Zachary couldn''t have wished for better conditions to y his debut game.

    Fifteen minutester, the Rosenborg bus pulled into the parking lot of the Ruta Arena. Zachary followed the rest of his teammates as they alighted from the bus¡ªand a minuteter, he stood before the stadium where he would y his debut game. He felt excited as he watched the fans and the few journalists struggling to get close to the bus.

    He had finally made it into the squad of a top team in Norway. If he yed well, he would also be signing autographs like the rest of his teammates within a month. He couldn''t think of a time he had ever been happier. He hadn''t even felt such emotion even while lifting the Riga and the Norwegian Youth cups. He smiled softly, letting quiet contentment spread through him.

    He started observing his surroundings, his gaze roaming across the stands holding a few early fans that had already taken their seats. The stadium was a small one, probably with a capacity of fewer than 3000 seats, by his estimation. He couldn''t help but wonder whether Kasongo and his former teammates hade to watch his debut game. But from where he stood, he couldn''t make out the faces of any of the spectators.

    Meanwhile, he noticed that the security personnel had started clearing away the fans and journalists crowding around the bus. The fans, in particr, seemed particrly enthusiastic to get close to the yers. They disregarded the security personnel and tried their best to get autographs from the star yers like Mikael Dorsin and Mix Diskerud.

    Zachary could understand why. Rosenborg was a giant in Norwegian football. Everywhere the Rosenborg yers went, they received a lot of attention from both the media and fans alike. That was even more so in Trondheim¡ªthe home city of the club. They were superstars.

    So, despite Ruta Arena being the home ground for Strindheim, there were a lot of Rosenborg fans that had stille to spectate the game. After all, it was only a 10-to-15-minute drive from Lerkendal.

    "Guys," Coach Johansen shouted after the security personnel had cleared the way into the stadium. "Let''s head to the dressing room and change into our warm-up kits as soon as possible. We only have slightly over an hour before the game. So, be quick." He added, leading the way. The yers followed after him.

    **** ****

 Chapter 113 - To The Ruta Arena II

    Kristin Stein arrived at the Ruta Arena just as the Rosenborg yers were entering the dressing room. "You see, we''rete because of your dilly-dallying," she said, using the Norwegiannguage. "I have even failed to catch a glimpse of the yers before they could enter the dressing room."

    "Rx," Monica R?nning, a slim dark-haired girl who was her tmate, said in response. "We still have an hour to the start of the game. What use is there in seeing the yers before the start of the match?"

    Kristin sighed, shaking her head. "What do you know? I wished to get an autograph from Mike Jensen and Nicki Nielsen before the start of the game. They are the two new stars of our team. But now, I''ve already missed out."

    Monica frowned on hearing that. "You''re hopeless," she said. "Can''t you ask that neighbor of ours to get you the autograph? I''ve seen you talking to him on multiple asions. Why don''t you ask him to help?"

    "We''re not that close enough for me to ask him to grab me autographs from another yer," Kristin replied. "Moreover, he has just joined the team. Asking for an autograph on my behalf would make him ufortable around his teammates. Imagine walking up to a teammate and asking for a signature. If you were in his ce, would you be able to do it?"

    "If that won''t work, you can try asking your grandpa for help."

    "Are you joking?" Kristin smiled wryly.

    "Then, you can only wait for another chance," Monica said. "But for now, let''s get our tickets first and head to the stands. The stadium is quite small. I''m worried we won''t be able to get any seats if we dy."

    "Okay, let''s buy the tickets," Kristin concurred and led the way to the gate of the Ruta Arena.

    **** ****

    Just after Kristin and Monica had entered the stadium, another group of young men and women arrived at the stadium gate. They were Zachary''s acquaintances. They had all donned ck and white Rosenborg beanies on their heads, Rosenborg scarfs around their necks, plus white Rosenborg jerseys under their jackets. They seemed like the staunchest fans of the Troll Kids. Owing to that simple fact, they attracted a few unfriendly stares from the Strindheim home fans as they made their way to the ticket office.

    "This is quite the small ce," Kasongomented right after paying for his ticket. "Are you guys sure we are in the right ce? The stadium where Rosenborg will be facing Strindheim Idrettg in the second round of the Norwegian Cup?"

    The four others around himughed at that.

    "Don''t take Strindheim Idrettg lightly," Kendrick Otterson chipped in, shaking his head. "Although their stadium seems below par, the club itself¡ªhow should I call it?" He paused, seemingly recalling some information. "They are a very famous andpetitive multisport club with sections for athletics, handball, football, speed skating, and cross-country skiing. Their cross-country ski team even has several world cuppetitors. Petter Northug Jr, one of the top athletes in Norway, is from around here. So, they aren''t just a simple football club. They deserve our respect."

    "Then, they should build a stadium befitting their status," Paul Otterson said. He had also just finished paying for his ticket.

    "But their men''s football team is only in the second division," Kendrick said, shaking his head. "And they don''t need a bigger football stadium for skiing or skating."

    "Okay, guys," said Melissa Romano, frowning slightly. "Let''s enter the stadium. At the rate at which the fans are flooding in, it''ll be full in only a few minutes. So, we''d better hurry."

    "Agreed," Marta Romano, her twin sister, said, nodding.

    "Okay, then," Kendrick said, leading the way further into the stadium. The rest followed after him¡ªand in only a few minutes, they managed to find some seats at the bottom section of the stands.

    But just as Kasongo was about to settle in one of the seats, he heard someone calling his name. He turned around and noticed that it was Kristin Stein. "Kasongo," she yelled, trying to make herself heard over the chatter of the surrounding fans. "Why don''t you and your friends join us here? We have plenty of space." She pointed at the unupied seats beside her.

    "You know her," Paul asked, eyeing him with a smile that wasn''t a smile.

    "Yes," Kasongo replied. "Don''t get any wrong ideas. She''s the granddaughter of Mr. Martin Stein, the scout who brought us to Trondheim. She''s also Zachary''s friend." He added, stealing a nce at Marta Romano.

    "Did you say, Martin Stein?" Both Paul and Kendrick eximed, their eyes widening and mouths agape. They lookedical.

    "Yes, Mr. Stein, the scout," Kasongo replied, stealing a few nces at Kristin, who was still awaiting their response. "Anything the matter? Why are you both surprised?"

    Both Kendrick and Paul sighed in unison.

    "You may not know this since you only arrived at the academy two years ago," Kendrick said. "But Mr. Stein is a legend, famous in most circles of those that have supported Rosenborg for a long time. He was an executive on the club board until three or four years ago. I can''t remember the exact time he retired."

    "I have heard that he is one of the people that have contributed a lot to the club''s sess. That''s why there''s a saying: Coach Eggen in the light, Mr. Stein in the dark. Many have imed that that has been the key to Rosenborg''s sess over the past two decades. He may still be on the management, despite not actively participating in club matters over the years."

    "Isn''t he just a simple scout?" Kasongo looked at Kendrick doubtingly. He still remembered the first time he had seen the scout back in Lubumbashi. Mr. Stein was in simple Khaki shorts, an unironed shirt, and casual sandals. He had no bearing whatsoever of a person who''d ever been part of a famous Norwegian club''s management.

    "You''re joking, right," Paul replied, frowning at him. "How can you not know this when he''s the one who scouted you?"

    "Guys," Melissa cut in, interrupting their exchange. "You better decide whether we''re going to watch the match over there or stay here. She is waiting, and the yers are about to start their warm-up. So, make up your minds."

    "Okay, okay," Kasongo said, stealing one more nce at Kristin. He noted that the five seats beside her were still unupied. "What do you think, guys? Should we watch the match from over there?" He asked the rest.

    "It''s fine with me," Kendrick said.

    "Me, too..."

    "Okay, then." Kasongo nodded after hearing the responses of the rest. "Since you all concur, let''s watch the match from over there."

    **** ****

 Chapter 114 - The Pre-Match Dynamic Warm-Up

    "Okay, guys, let''s head out for the pre-match dynamic warm-up," Mr. Rolf Aas, the fitness coach, yelled, walking around the dressing room. "Move it. Hurry up. We only have an hour to kick-off." He added, pping his hands as he passed by yers who were still dressing up.

    On hearing the yelling coach approaching, Zachary quickly tightened his shoces, pushed his gentle shoes and backpack underneath the bench, and followed the rest of the yers out of the visitor''s dressing room. He had already donned his ck Rosenborg tracksuit and green Nike boots. He was more than ready to begin warming up.

    He marched confidently through the corridors, trailing behind a few of his teammates. He wasn''t the least bit nervous. Even in his academy days, he had always found it easy to adjust his mental state before matches. While off the pitch, his mind would sometimes get clouded by fleeting thoughts. But every time he donned his match attire and boots, everything irrelevant would disappear from his mind. He would immediately begin thinking solely of the game at hand. He was d to see he could achieve a simr state even before his debut as a professional.

    "SHALALALALALALA oh Rosenborg, SHALALALALALALA oh Rosenborg, SHALALALALALALA..."

    Zachary''s ears picked up a loud chant sang in chorus by what must have been thousands of voices as he trekked through the corridors, heading to the pitch. He was surprised by the fact that it was the Rosenborg fans dominating the cheering. Despite being visitors at the Ruta Arena, they seemed to have taken over the whole venue. The chanting grew louder and louder until it reached a crescendo when Zachary and his teammates stepped onto the pitch and started waving to the passionate away fans. At that moment, cheers rose into the air like the greatest of celebratory fireworks disys. The Ruta Arena was already on fire even before the match begun.

    Zachary was surprised once more by how quickly the prior rtively empty stands had been saturated with passionate supporters. It had only been fifteen minutes since he''d entered the dressing room, but all he could see around the stadium were countless fans in their team colors. Some had even crowded around the mesh surrounding the pitch since the stands couldn''t absorb them all. They were a sea of smiles, a chorus of loud, spirited hearts¡ªeagerly awaiting the beginning of the second-round fixture of the Norwegian Football Cup.

    Zachary shifted his attention from the stands and continued walking onto Rosenborg''s half of the field. In the meantime, he observed the Strindheim yers who had long started their dynamic pre-match warm-up routine. Although they were only a second division team, they looked very imposing in their light blue training attire. They went about their warm-up with undivided attention under the supervision of their coaches. Zachary could tell they were a team intent on emerging victorious despite facing one of the Norwegian football giants.

    "Nervous?" A voice sounded from behind Zachary. He turned around and noticed that it was Mikael Dorsin, the veteran defender who''d asked him the question.

    "No, at all," Zachary replied honestly and returned to observing the opponents.

    "Did you rest wellst night?"

    "Yes, I slept like a baby for eight or more hours. I''m more than ready for the game."

    "That''s great then," Mikael said, patting his back slightly. "This is your debut game. Try to link up well with your teammates. Don''t act as if you''re alone out there. Pass the ball around quickly, and you will be okay."

    "Okay," Zachary replied. "I''ll do my best to connect with my teammates out there. Don''t worry."

    "Then, I''m d." Mikael nodded, smiling. "Come, let''s warm-up together. We usually have a few minutes of personal stretching drills before the actual pre-match dynamic warm-up begins. Let''s take advantage of these few minutes to sweat a bit. It''ll be good for you when the match begins since you''re on the starting eleven today."

    "That''s fine with me," Zachary said. He didn''t have any reason to refuse the vice-captain. Mikael Dorsin was one of the other few first-team yers, aside from Nicki, who had made an effort to keep interacting with him over the previous two months. The vice-captain seemed not to mind his off-handish behavior.

    He always acted like the Rosenborg veteran he was. He was passionate about the team and kept track of all his teammates during every training session. Moreover, he was so experienced that he was like a coach on the field of y. Zachary only saw benefits in warming up with such a yer.

    So, for the next ten minutes, he apanied the assistant captain on a simple warm-up routine. They didn''t do anything excessive orplicated but only stretched and jogged on Rosenborg''s side of the pitch.

    Zachary soon became engrossed in the exercise, forgetting everything around him and focusing solely on getting his body ready for the match. Before he knew it, the fitness coach blew a whistle, indicating it was time for the official pre-match dynamic warm-up to begin. That part of the warm-up was led entirely by the fitness coach.

    Everyone followed the fitness coach''s lead as he guided them on every stretch and every movement in the routine. They started with a light jog and progressed into upper body stretches. They went through the arm circles, alternating them up and down before doing body twists. When they finished with the upper body, they focused on warming up their legs and lower bodies for the next twenty minutes.

    Since the session was necessary for preventing injuries in the field yers, the fitness coach was extremely strict with the starting eleven. He watched them like a hawk as they went through basic lunges, calf stretches, quad stretches, and other simple light dynamic routines useful for the lower limbs. He didn''t allow any starting yer for that day to rx or engage in conversation for the entire course of the exercise.

    Zachary had gotten used to highly intensive exercises over the previous two months. So, he breezed through the workout without even feeling out of breath.

    When the dynamic warm-up session finally ended, he picked up a ball¡ªand then started juggling while moving slowly across the green. He mostly used his legs but sometimes utilized his head and shoulders to keep the ball under control. He was only trying to feel out the ball and prepare himself for the action that was about tomence a few minutester.

    Meanwhile, he could hear the cheers of the fans bing more animated as the kick-off drew closer. But he ignored them and forced himself to focus solely on his ball work. He wanted to utilize every single minute of the session to ready himself for the match. That way, he could perform at his best when the game started.

    "Okay, guys," he heard Trond Henriksen, the head assistant coach, yell after a few more minutes. "Let''s head back to the dressing room. We only have about thirty minutes to prepare. So, wind up whatever you''re doing." He added, moving around Rosenborg''s half of the field.

    Zachary immediately stopped his juggling and looked around. He couldn''t believe that the 30 minutes of pre-match warm-ups had slipped by so quickly while he was immersed in his ball work. However, he reacted immediately and followed his teammates back to the dressing room. The team only had 30 minutes to prepare. So, he hurried, jogging all the way back, since he was eager to listen to the coach''s pre-match address.

 Chapter 115 - The Pre-Match Tactical Briefings

    On reaching the dressing room, Zachary quickly dried his face with a towel and then changed out of the warm-up gear. He ignored the chatter around him and carefully picked up the hanger with his jersey from a nearby wall hook.

    A smile lit up his face, softening his features as he held his ck Rosenborg Jersey up in front of him for the first time before a match. He was pleased as a punch at having almost fulfilled his previous life''s dream. In only a few minutes, he would y his debut game as a professional in Europe. It all seemed so surreal.

    Only a few months prior, he had had to properly fold his jersey and shove it in his backpack before heading to the venue of a match. But since he was already a professional, on contract with Rosenborg BK, he could finally enjoy the taste of finding his jersey already prepared in the dressing room. Moreover, even if he required new boots for a match, the club would prepare them. Being a pro had its perks.

    Without caring about the coaches and fellow teammates in the dressing room, he held the jersey in front of him¡ªand then looked it over for a while. It was the typical ck trefoil 3-stripes t-shirt with the words REMA 1000 inscribed on its front.

    Zachary decided that it wasn''t the best of designs since his name was disyed in smaller letters below therge 33 number on the jersey''s backside.

    But he had no right toin about the club''s fashion. That was the job of the club''s marketing and public rtions personnel. So, he quickly slipped on his jersey and nodded to himself after noticing that it was the perfect size for him¡ªnot overlyrge and not tight in any ce. It seemed the club''s fashion handlers had done their job well. He was content.

    "Hurry and finish up," Zachary heard Trond Henriksen, the assistant head coach, yelling after a few more minutes. "The pre-match tactical briefing will start in two. Be ready."

    Zachary looked up and noticed that Coach Johansen had already started inscribing the formation on the tactics board at the front of the dressing room. So, without further ado, he quickly tightened his ankle guards and pulled on stockings before slipping into his green boots.

    He could finally let go and rx since he was fully prepared to begin the game. He knew he was in good condition. He could feel it right into his bones that he had more than it took to y well in his debut match. So, he leaned back on the bench and started sipping on water while waiting for the coach''s pre-match tactical briefing.

    **** ****

    After sketching the starting formation on the tactics board, Coach Johansen took a moment to observe his yers. Most of them had already finished donning their away-match outfits and were only waiting for his briefing tomence. They all had a confident air about them and seemed quite eager to start the match.

    Coach Johansen nodded in approval, a soft smile outlining his face. He was pleased with the high energy levels his yers were projecting. For the Norwegian Football Cup second-round game, he had mainly selected the line-up from second-stringers. He intended to rest his starting eleven for the match against Aalesund the following weekend. Aalesund had been performing well since the new Tippeligaen season started. Under their new manager, formerly a Rosenborg coach, they had yed good football in the first six matches¡ªand as a result, were even in the top four of the table.

    So, Coach Johansen couldn''t take the next Tippeligaen fixture lightly. He didn''t want to risk losing a third consecutive time in the league. He had readily switched out all his starting midfielders against Strindheim, the second-division team.

    But he wasn''t worried in the slightest. The young yers he had selected were all in top shape and with a high-enough match condition index based on how they''d been performing during training. If they managed to maintain theirposure, they would demolish the second division team with little effort.

    Coach Johansen looked at his watch and noted there wasn''t much time remaining before the kick-off. "Okay, fes," he shouted, pping his hands. "Eyes on the board. Let''s go over the main points of our game n once again before we go out into the field."

    The yers in the dressing room instantly quietened down and focused solely on him. He nodded before saying: "Today, we''re ying Strindheim Idrettg in the second round of the Norwegian Football Cup. We''re the stronger team¡ªthe team with a rich history in Norwegian Football. We can''t be losing to a second division team in the second round of the Cupen. So, my instructions are to y with confidence and to y as a team. As long as we do those two things right, we''ll win this game, hands down. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    "I already discussed the game n yesterday night¡ªso I won''t delve much into it again," the coach said, caressing his chin.

    "But remember: we''re ying with a 4-3-3 attacking formation." He pointed at the tactics board. "We need to be highly agile, especially in the midfield."

    "Ole, Zach, and Fredrik," he intoned, his gaze resting on the three yers. "I expect assertiveness and quick thinking in the middle of the pack. I need swift transitions from defense to attack. You''ll need to work together and cover each other to achieve such efficiency. y smart, release the ball with uracy, and set up the forwards quickly. That way, we''ll tear Strindheim apart easily. Are you with me, Zach, Ole, and Fredrik?"

    "Yes, coach," the three yers replied spiritedly.

    Coach Johansen nodded, half smiling.

    "For the forwards," he continued, waving a casual hand across the tactics board. "As I mentioned during yesterday''s training, the two on the nks will have to keep falling back to help the defensive backs. You can''t just rx when we don''t have the ball. I don''t want to see what happened against Sandnes repeating itself in this game. y like professionals, not like a bunch of kids out for fun."

    "Jaime, John, and Nicki," he said, sweeping his gaze over the three Rosenborg forwards for that match. "Are you with me?"

    "Yes, coach," the three replied.

    "In case the Strindheim yers decide to hold possession within their half, you¡ªthe three forwards will need to press them as quickly as possible. Pressure their defenders with high pressing zones around here." He paused slightly, tapping rhythmically at the attacking positions of the three strikers on the tactics board. "Force them to lose the ball. That way, we can always win back possession quickly and rmence our attacks."

    "For the defenders: keep it cool, y with confidence, and always clear away from goal when you don''t have options. I don''t want to see any dribbling close to our box. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "The rest is all up to you as yers," he said, half-smiling.

    "Are there any questions?" The coach asked, sweeping a nce over the dressing room. "Zachary, Ole, John, any questions?" He singled out a few of his yers on seeing the whole squad remain silent.

    "No, coach, no, coach..." All three singled-out yers replied with negative responses.

    "Okay, then," Coach Johansen said, the corners of his mouth morphing into a smile. "Let''s go out and win the game. We are aiming to be champions. We''ll not be¡ªstopped at this round of the Cupen."

    "ROSENBORG, VICTORY, VICTORY, TROLL KIDS VICTORY..."

    The yers started chanting their routine dressing room victory slogan after Coach Johansen hadpleted his pre-match briefing. He noted that most of the starting eleven and the substitutes sang with animated voices, clearly excited about the game that was about tomence. He wasn''t surprised since that was how Rosenborg yers always boosted their morale before every fixture they yed.

    But what bugged him slightly was that Zachary didn''t take part in the victory chanting to boost himself up. Instead, he remained seated on the side with his eyes closed. Coach Johansen couldn''t help but wonder whether the boy was praying or if the pressure of his debut match had caught up to him.

    He''d observed that the boy had been in a quiet mood¡ªdifferent from his academy self over the previous month. Although he was a workout addict back in the academy, he had still tried to interact with a few of his teammates before each game. He''d even had three close friends on the academy team.

    [Is it because he wasn''t on the starting line-up for two months?] The coach wondered, still observing Zachary. But he didn''t want to mix in different issues when the kick-off was only minutes away. So, he made a mental note to have a small chat with him after the game. He didn''t want any unstable factors on the squad.

    **** ****

    Concurrently in the dressing room of Strindheim IL¡ª

    Finn Morten Moe, the head coach, was giving the concluding remarks of his pre-match briefing. He repeated his tactical analysis of Rosenborg, albeit a summarized version of it, for the umpteenth time that day.

    "We have an advantage since they''re only fielding their young yers in the midfield," the coach said, his tone solemn. "I have even heard that one of their central midfielders is an 18-year-old fresh graduate from the academy. He hasn''t even yed a single game for Rosenborg. That means they''re taking us lightly." He grinned, folding his arms across his chest.

    "But we can use that against them," he said after a moment.

    "So, Emil, Preben, and Sindre, I want you to give their midfielders hell," he said, casting a nce at the three yers. The three were the central midfielders in his 4-3-3 starting line-up. "I want you to run at those young yers whenever they have the ball. Give special care to that 18-year old, show him the difference between the academy and the pro stage. If we can do that, we''ll surely create several good chances in the first half. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied in chorus.

    Finishing his tactical breakdown of the opponent''s weaknesses, the coach swept a nce over all his yers. He noticed that they were very confident and stable¡ªat least from their bodynguage. The excited looks on their faces were obvious.

    The coach nodded in satisfaction before continuing. "I know that Rosenborg is a strong team. They y a steady game and will be the fiercest opponent we have faced so far this season. But believe in your selves. Believe that you can score and win the game."

    "But above all, give your best while enjoying your football," he added, smiling softly at some of his yers. "Give the best you have. That means putting in one-hundred-and-twenty percent effort. Remember the hard work you have put in during the offseason. Don''t leave any regrets on the pitch. That''s all I''m asking. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied in chorus, their voices full of energy.

    "Okay then, let''s go out and create history," the coach said, pumping his fist into the air. "Strindheim!" He shouted after a few moments.

    "STRINDHEIM, STRINDHEIM, VICTORY..." The yers roared out loud¡ªtogether in a huddle and ran out of the dressing room. They were eager to start the game and give the Troll Kids hell.

    **** ****

 Chapter 116 - Debut Game I

    Kristin nced at her watch. It was twelve minutes to six¡ªthe official kick-off time. "The teams should being out right about now," she said excitedly to Monica R?nning¡ªher friend seated on her right.

    Before Monica could voice her reply, the stadium''s loudspeakers came alive, booming over and dwarfing the chatter around her. And without any dy, the livementary in Norwegian began.

    "Good evening, everyone! Today, we''re bringing you the Norwegian Football Cup¡ªthe tournament that''ll determine the Norwegian Football Champions for this year," the melodic voice of a femalementator sounded from the loudspeakers.

    "I''m Anne Rimmen, your lovelymentator, bringing you the livementary for this Norwegian Cup second-round game alongside our special guest Harald Brattbakk, a former Rosenborg yer and legend. He''ll be our pundit for today''s match. Mr. Brattbakk, can you say hello to our listeners?"

    "Good evening, everyone," Kristin heard the booming voice of Harald Brattbakke to her through the loudspeakers.

    "Hehe," Anne Rimmen, the firstmentator, chuckled. "We''re pleased to have you here, Mr. Brattbakk."

    "Thank you, Anne."

    "For this second-round match, on one side, we have Strindheim Toppfotball, a club doing quite well in the second division. On the other, we have Rosenborg Ballklub, Norway''s most sessful club. They have won the Cupen eleven times as I speak now. So, what''s your take on these two teams, Mr. Brattbakk?"

    "Well, I think I don''t need to give an in-depth analysis of Rosenborg," Mr. Harald Brattbakk replied. "They''re a team that has been performing well in the top league for the past two decades. There''s no doubt that they''re the favorites to win this second-round fixture of the Norwegian Cup. With the form Nicki Nielson, their center forward, is on, they can score goals at any time. We only have to hope that Mr. Boyd Johansen, the new head coach, does his job well. Rosenborg shouldn''t have any trouble winning the game."

    "Then, Strindheim..." Anne Rimmen probed.

    "Oh," Mr. Harald Brattbakk said. "Strindheim is a good team. They really are and have been doing well in the second division. They won against Steinkjer FK in the first round of the Cupen with a score of 7:0. That should say something about the talent of the yerspared to others in the lower divisions. Bute on. They are facing Rosenborg here. To win, they would need a great deal of luck on their side."

    "Does this mean that you believe that Rosenborg will win this game?"

    "You can''t be one hundred percent sure in football," Mr. Harald Brattbakk replied. "All I''m saying is that Rosenborg has a very high chance of winning the game. It all depends on how the new coach handles the game."

    "Okay, thank you, Harald," Anne Rimmen said. "Let''s now focus on the game at hand and..." She stopped mid-sentence as the lilting cheers rose to a brief crescendo, jamming out every other sound in the stadium.

    The crowds came alive suddenly, releasing pent-up energy at the long-awaited kick-off. For the next minute, the chanting of the fans was deafening.

    However, Kristin wasn''t in any way disturbed by the noise.

    She had been a Rosenborg fan for as long as she could remember and had attended countless matches ever since she was young. She always felt at home in the stadium crowd and could sing and celebrate freely with the rest of the Rosenborg supporters.

    So, she pped her hands, following the rhythm of the crowd. But she didn''t forget to keep her eyes fixed on the exit of the dressing room. She was eager for the match to begin.

    "Led by the three-match officials, the two teams are entering the field of y," Anne Rimmen, thementator, announced after a few moments amidst majestic music.

    Kristin immediately noticed that the yers of both teams had finally appeared. They marched onto the pitch in two lines, holding hands with adorable young kids d in the two teams'' match jerseys. Among the Rosenborg yers, she could pick out the very tall Zachary in his ck Rosenborg away jersey. He walked at the back of the rest of the yers¡ªhis head held high with a somber expression on his face.

    "In yellow jerseys, blue shorts, and yellow stockings, is Strindheim Toppfotball, the home team." Kristin heard Anne Rimmen, thementator, begin the introductions as the yers lined up to shake hands on the field.

    "In Strindheim''s goal, there''s Ole Naess, the number-1 and captain."

    "In the defense, there are four yers. The center backs are No.14 Mats Ingebrigtsen and No.15 Vidar Giske Henriksen. The left-back is No.24, Mathias Hegna, while the right-back is No.4, Kristian S?rli."

    "Coach Finn Morten Moe seems to have also gone for a 4-3-3 formation this time around. In the midfield, there are three yers¡ªnamely: No.3, Emil R?kke, No.26, Sindre Kjos-Wenjum, and No.8, Preben Hammernd."

    "And finally, the Strindheim forwards are No.22, Christopher Moen, No.16, Eirik Nend, and No.22, Sondre Stokke. In ck jerseys, we have the team everyone is familiar with; Rosenborg..."

    Kristin listened intently as thementator announced all the yers. She nodded in approval on hearing the names¡ªTore Reginiussen, the new captain, and Nicki Nielsen, the center forward. The two had been ying well since the beginning of the new season. But what worried her was that most of the other usual Rosenborg first-team members were missing from the line-up.

    Benching one or two midfielders would have been okay. However, the coach had risked using only the younger yers without much experience in the midfield. He seemed to be taking the game lightly, and that was anything but assuring as far as she was concerned.

    "Zachary seems like he''s going to war," she heard Kasongo say jokingly after thementators announced Zachary''s name. "Look at that expression of his; it''s like he wants to kill all the Strindheim yers. His opponents won''t stand a chance as far as I can tell."

    The four friends seated on his leftughed at that.

    "I feel sorry for Strindheim," Kendrick Otterson, a former teammate of Zachary, said, shaking his head. "ying against Zachary when you have never seen him working with the ball is the worst mistake any club can make."

    "True," Melissa Romano concurred. "I''ve just recalled the goals he scored against Valencia in the SIA Cup. If he can one like that, he''ll be a Rosenborg superstar right away. I wonder if he''ll still remember us after that."

    "Do you guys really think Zachary will be able to hold his own in this match?" Kristin couldn''t help but ask after seeing the rxed atmosphere Kasongo and his friends were projecting. They seemed not the least bit worried about Zachary, who was ying his debut match and supposedly their friend.

    Kasongo smiled, casting a fleeting nce at her. "When did youst see Zachary ying?" He asked.

    "About two years ago, I guess," Kristin replied honestly. "Why do you ask?" She had been traveling a lot and studying over the past two years. So, she hadn''t been able to make time to watch academy matches.

    "Then, get this from us who have been ying with Zachary for the past two years," Kasongo said. "He''s not a perfect person off the pitch. But when the ball is at his feet, he turns into something else. You only have to wait and see. He should give us plenty of surprises in this game."

    **** ****

    At exactly 6:00 PM, the referee blew his whistle.

    On hearing the whistle, something seemed to click in Zachary''s mind. All the background hubbub vanished instantly from his mind, leaving him in a tranquil state. The loud cheering of the fans seemed like a faraway din to him at that moment. His focus was entirely on the match, without any random thoughts running through his mind. In that state, he watched Sondre Stokke, the Strindheim center forward, raise his leg high and kick the ball back to his own half.

    The Norwegian Cup second-round game had finally started with Strindheim''s kick-off.

    Preben Hammernd, the Strindheim attacking midfielder, received the ball in midfield with a simple touch. He then pulled it back with his right foot and passed it across the field to Mathias Hegna, the left-back.

    Thetter immediately controlled the ball close to the touchline on Strindheim''s left nk. With very swift motions, he kicked it towards Christopher Moen¡ªthe left-forward. In the first minute of the game, Strindheim was already on the attack. It seemed the Strindheim yers were intent on scoring an early goal by attacking through the nks.

    Zachary adjusted his position in the midfield, moving towards the right when he saw Christopher Moen skip past John Chibuike, Rosenborg''s right-forward. With his high game intelligence, he''d smelt some ''danger'' as soon as the forward had touched the ball. Christopher was one of those fast wingers that could beat any defender for pace.

    Zachary''s ser intuition was already warning him that if the skipper wasn''t stopped in the wing, he would be a problem for the Rosenborg center backs.

    So, with a one-track mind, he went into action right away. He decided to stop the winger before he moved any further towards Rosenborg''s goal. As a midfielder in a 4-3-3 formation, he couldn''t simply think of attacking. He also had to help the team defend against possible threats to the goal. Otherwise, Ole Seln?s, Rosenborg''s central defensive midfielder, would have problems with the unmarked opposing forwards.

    So, he started tracking Christopher''s run from the touchline¡ªhis mind quickly processing all the possible routes the forward might take towards the goal. In the meantime, his A-graded spatial awareness and risk analysis enabled him to make a mental map of the other Strindheim yers around him.

    When he established that there wasn''t any unmarked Strindheim yer in his vicinity, he raced across the pitch towards the sprinting Christopher Moen like the wind. He elerated to his top speed in an instant, his legs pumping like the pistons of a race car. In no time, he cut off the left-forward as he skipped past Brede Moe, Rosenborg''s right-back.

    Zachary maintained hisposure, slid in, and tackled the ball without making any physical contact with Christopher''s legs. He''d made sure to hook the ball when the skipper had just made a turn, cutting back into the pitch¡ªtowards goal.

    The challenge was sessful.

    Zachary stopped the ball with an outstretched left foot and sent the skipper tumbling to the ground.

    Zachary was sure he''d gotten the challenge right.

    He didn''t even cast a second nce at Christopher, who was in the middle of faking an injury on the grass.

    He quickly picked himself from the ground and passed the ball to Ole Seln?s in defensive midfield right away.

    He didn''t want to make anyplicated ys while the game had just started. He would follow Coach Johansen''s advice and grow into the game slowly. He wanted to y it simple until he''d established the skill level of the opponents. That way, he would avoid repeating his previous life''s mistakes.

 Chapter 117 - Debut Game II

    It was the eighth minute of the second round of the Norwegian Football Cup. Strindheim regained possession once again after Nicki Nielsen failed to connect with Ole''s long-range pass. The Strindheim yers, in yellow and blue, were on fire in the first few minutes of the game.

    Mats Ingebrigtsen, one of Strindheim''s center backs, had outjumped the Rosenborg forward and cleared the ball away from the box.

    Without any dy, the Strindheim yers resumed their attack. Sindre Kjos-Wenjum, the left-midfielder, picked up the ball from the Ingebrigtsen''s clearance. He chested it down to the grass and made a through pass to Christopher Moen, the left-forward.

    With skillful footwork, Christopher Moen skipped past Brede Moe, Rosenborg''s right-back, once again. He dashed across the touchline, prating deep into Rosenborg''s half in only an instant.

    Zachary had been on the alert and had carefully tracked the forward''s movement since he''d gotten ahold of the ball. He had already noted that the Strindheim yers seemed to favor the left-forward since they kept feeding him passes. So, Zachary had long prepared himself to get into action and stop the striker once more.

    The coach had repeatedly emphasized the midfielders'' responsibility to help the defense in thwarting threats to goal throughout the match. For the first eight minutes, Zachary had observed those simple instructions to the letter. Whenever the opponents got on the attack, he would fall back into his half and adjust his position ordingly. That way, he had managed to stop three Strindheim attacks in the first few minutes of the game.

    As a midfielder, he had to y smart, using his brain to wear down opponents rather than relying solely on tight-marking and tackling. So, at all times, he always made a mental map of all the yers around the field in order to position himself perfectly.

    Moreover, he had realized that it was easier to keep track of both opponents and teammates ever since he''d learned the Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju. He could analyze the risk on the pitch quickly and react ordingly. Thanks to that, he had slowly grown more confident in his defensive capabilities as the game progressed.

    So, he wasn''t afraid of meeting Christopher Moen in a one-on-one encounter. He had stopped him in his tracks before¡ªhe could stop him again.

    However, Zachary changed his decision only after a few seconds. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Tore Reginiussen, the Rosenborg captain and center back, racing from his position and darting towards Christopher like a bullet.

    The center back ran so fast that he caught up to the left-forward in only a few seconds. He didn''t reduce his speed even when he reached the sprinting Christopher. He instead slid in and tackled the ball, shoving it out of the field of y.

    In the meantime, Christopher was¡ªsent tumbling to the ground by yet another Rosenborg yer. He was having a nightmare of a game. It was the third time he''d been sent to the ground as he raced across the touchline.

    "Ref," he shouted, waving his arms in the air as he picked himself from the ground. "High boot, high boot..." He added, running towards the referee. However, the referee just ignored him and indicated for Strindheim to take their throw-in.

    Zachary smiled at seeing Christopher''s reaction. He could tell that the skipper was too used to dribbling past defenders using his pace and footwork. But it seemed he''d forgotten that he wasn''t ying a second division game but facing Rosenborg. His dribbling attempts were like child''s y in front of the Tippeligaen''s top defenders like Tore Reginiussen.

    Zachary shook his head and jogged towards the right touchline to defend against the throw-in.

    He made a mental note to prevent himself from falling into a situation like Christopher''s. He would only try out the dribbling when he was sure his pace and skills¡ªcould best any defender in the Tippeligaen. Otherwise, he would be looking to embarrass himself.

    "Brede!" Zachary heard Tore Reginiussen yell out loud as he settled into position close to the touchline. "That was the third time you failed to stop that kid. What are you doing on the pitch? Are you sleeping? Get your head into the game. Stop creating a mess for us." The captain seemed angry at the right-back and didn''t mince words with him.

    Brede Moe just smiled ruefully, shaking his head before concentrating on marking his man once again. He didn''t seem the least bit disturbed by the captain''s yelling at him.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew his whistle after giving a verbal warning to Christopher Moen for his arguing.

    Mathias Hegna, the Strindheim left-back, took the throw-in. After a short dash, he nted his feet on the touchline and threw the ball across the line¡ªtowards Christopher Moen.

    However, that time around, Brede Moe was alert and managed to stop the left-forward. He jumped high and headed the ball, directing it towards the midfield¡ªin Zachary''s direction.

    Zachary sprang into action right away. He raced towards the ball like the wind and brought it under control with a simple deft touch, skipping past a Strindheim yer in the process. His actions were seamless¡ªlike those of a veteran midfielder, not a fresh graduate from the academy.

    He didn''t feel any pressure despite that being his debut match. Instead, he felt his heart throbbing with excitement as he turned with the ball hooked to his left foot. He intended to release the strikers as quickly as possible since he had noticed that most of the Strindheim yers had been on the attack in Rosenborg''s half.

    It was a perfect chance for a counterattack. He couldn''t understand why, but he could feel it in his bones. He was sure of it. However, two of Strindheim''s central midfielders closed him down quickly, even before he could release the ball.

    [What the hell?] Zachary couldn''t help but curse inwardly.

    He wondered why the Strindheim midfielders had been closing him down quickly ever since the game started. Whenever he was on the ball, they would be upon him in just a matter of seconds.

    At the beginning of the game, he''d thought nothing of it since he believed that that¡ªwas the tempo and intensity befitting the professional football stage in Europe. However, as the match progressed, he hade to notice that the opponents were targeting him specifically. It seemed like they had taken him as the weak link in Rosenborg''s midfield and were intent on forcing him tomit blunders so they could reap profits. In other words, they were giving him special treatment as a newbie fresh from the academy. That time around was no different.

    Although Zachary didn''t like the feeling of being identified as a weak link, he forced himself to focus on the task at hand. He had a choice to make. He couldn''t let the slight bit of displeasure disturb his state of mind.

    At that moment, he decided that he could y it safe and pass the ball back to the keeper¡ªthe safest option. Or he could take a risk and try to pass the ball beyond the zone of intense rival pressure. That way, he could release the strikers quickly and initiate a counterattack.

    Zachary was a gambler by nature. So, he took the riskier but most rewarding action. He raised his leg high and faked a pass towards Lund Hansen, the Rosenborg goalkeeper.

    But instead of passing the ball back, he pulled it towards himself with his left boot¡ªthereby initiating one of his Cruyff-turn variations. He''d trained the skill to a high level of mastery and could use it in any situation, even under pressure.

    Zachary spun around with the ball, skipping past one of the Strindheim midfielders. With that simple Cruyff-turn, he''d created a yard of space for himself. But he needed to act within seconds, or else the opponents would be upon him once again.

    Zachary didn''t wish for that to happen. So, he didn''t dawdle and looked up across the field. His eyes quickly darted across the two Rosenborg forwards¡ªpositioned beyond the zone of intense rival pressure. In his mind, a mental map with the open linear routes for passing the ball appeared instantly. All the while, his A-graded game intelligence coupled with the Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju helped him deduce the best ce to distribute the ball in nothing more than a sh.

    Zachary''s mind had worked so fast, probably in overdrive, that he managed to find the best passing route in only a span of a second. Thanks to that, he managed to notice that Nicki Nielsen had just stepped away from his marker in Strindheim''s half.

    Zachary didn''t dilly-dally any longer. He raised his right foot and unleashed a raking pass with the outside of his boot just before the Strindheim midfielders could close him down. He didn''t rx, though, but followed after the ball.

    The ball flew mid-air through the gaps in-between both opponents and teammates on the pitch, heading towards Nicki Nielsen. Emil R?kke, the Strindheim defensive midfielder, tried to intercept it close to the center circle. He even dived, trying his level best to stop it from reaching Nicki Nielsen with his head. However, all was in vain. The ball seemed to be controlled by a high-tech missile guidance system. It shed by him at a distance of mere centimeters, continuing onwards to Nicki¡ªwho had long started sprinting towards Strindheim''s goal.

    The cheers in the stadium died down momentarily as Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s center forward and number-9, controlled the ball just in front of Strindheim''s box. The fans in the stands waited with nervous anticipation¡ªtheir eyes fixed on the number-9 as he stepped into Strindheim box uncontested.

    Zachary''s defense splitting pass had helped him gain an advantage over the opposing center backs. So, he had long left them in the dust even without being offside.

    Zachary, too, watched with nervous anticipation as the Strindheim goalkeeper came out of the goal to greet Nicki Nielsen. Although he knew the number-9 was a talented striker who had been on form since the beginning of the new season, he couldn''t rule out the possibility that he could still miss the opportunity. If that happened, Zachary would lose his chance of making his first assist on the professional stage. So, he was on tenterhooks.

    Fortunately, the goddess of luck seemed to be with Nicki Nielsen, Zachary, and the whole of Rosenborg. The number-9 maintained hisposure like the talented striker he was. He chipped the ball over the helpless goalkeeper and managed to put Rosenborg ahead in the 13th minute.

    1:0

    The cheers of the Rosenborg fans exploded like a thunderstorm in the Ruta Arena.

    **** ****

 Chapter 118 - Debut Game III

    The cheers around the stadium were deafening.

    Rosenborg had managed to score its opening goal in the 13th minute of the second round of the Norwegian Football Cup.

    Kristin celebrated the goal with the rest of the Rosenborg fans in the stands. She could sense that all the supporters around her seemed to be venting their pent-up frustration since their club had lost its previous two fixtures.

    "Okay, there we have it, the first goal of Rosenborg Ballklub," Kristin heard Anne Rimmen, thementator, say, the voiceing to her through the stadium''s loudspeakers.

    "That was some incredible finishing from Nicki Nielsen, as usual." Thementator chuckled softly.

    "The Troll Kids are ahead by one goal. Nicki was asposed as ever in front of the goal. But the assist was even more spectacr. It was the hallmark of quality from Rosenborg''s young midfielder¡ªZachary Bemba." She drawled, trying to pronounce thest name correctly.

    "But what we would like to know: was that pass a fluke, or did he intend it? Harald, what do you think?"

    "Well, all that matters is that he made the assist that resulted in a goal," Mr. Harald Brattbakk replied. "Moreover, we can''t know for sure whether that was luck or pure skill since it is our first time seeing this young midfielder in the Rosenborg colors. We don''t have any basis for any inferences."

    "Oh," Anne Rimmen said, seeming slightly disappointed. "But if you''re to analyze that fifty-yard pass that was the assist, do you think he can replicate that again?"

    Haraldughed. "You''re a persistent one," he said.

    "Yes, I''m."

    "Well, from the moment Zachary Bemba touched the ball in his half, you could tell that he intended to release the forwards as quickly as possible for a counterattack. You can see that from the way he made that incredible Cruyff turn to lose the two midfielders that were closing him down."

    "He is a very talented midfielder. That I can tell. Just look at the way he made that yard of space for himself in that crowded defensive midfield. That shows us that he has good game reading and can spot opportunities quickly."

    "However, that raking pass was something else," Mr. Harald Brattbakk continued. "You have to see how it flowed through the defenders and dropped right into a great position behind Strindheim''s defensive line. There might have been some luck involved. But who knows? Maybe we shall get to see some more of the same from Zachary in the future."

    "Luck," Kristin heard Kasongo scoff from beside her. "Those people haven''t seen anything yet."

    The friends around himughed at that.

    "For a moment there, I thought he would go ahead and run through the opponents with the ball," Melissa Romano said, her words colored by her Italian ent.

    "This is the professional league, not the academy," Kendrick said, shaking his head. "Dribbling would be quite hard for him at this stage."

    "Well, you never know," Kasongo said. "If anyone can do it, it''s Zachary. He''s phenomenal."

    Kristin was getting more and more curious about Zachary''s current level of skill. From the way his former teammates talked about him, it seemed they believed he could establish himself on the Rosenborg starting roster in no time. They made it seem like making crazy assists was merely a walk in the park for him.

    Kristin was surprised. Although she believed in her grandpa''s vision, she had thought that Zachary needed time to mature before he could be of any help to Rosenborg.

    She''d only been teasing him when she previously requested him to help Rosenborg reach the Europa League quarter-finals. The Troll Kids couldn''t even defeat Molde the previous season in the Norway Cup''s fourth round. So, it wouldn''t be easy for them to go past the group stage of the Europa League.

    But if Zachary did have the skills to unleash passes like the one he''d just made, Rosenborg would soar in the following seasons. They already had Mike Jensen, who''d arrived at the club from Br?ndby IF the previous February. If they could add on another good midfielder, then they had a chance to go beyond the group stages of the Europa League. She could feel her heart beating much faster than usual as she thought through the possibilities.

    "The yers have taken their starting positions once again," she heard Anne Rimmen''s melodic voice from the loudspeaker. "The celebrations have ended, and the game will be restarting in a few seconds. Harald, do you think since Rosenborg has already scored in the 13th minute, they''ll surely win this game?"

    "As I already said, you can never be one hundred percent sure in football. Anything can happen."

    "Strindheim has had its bouts of attacking spells in the opening minutes. They must be dominating possession by at least 52% if my estimation is right. However, theyck one key factor. They haven''t been able to prate the final third and score. Their forwards can''t seem to connect with their midfielders. If they could correct that simple w, they could give Rosenborg a run for their money."

    "On the other hand, Rosenborg is now quitefortable after securing that goal," Mr. Harald Brattbakk continued. "They could sit back and rx¡ªand weather Strindheim''s attacks. And when there''s an opportunity, they could hit Strindheim on a counterattack. They''re the stronger team. So, they can achieve this easily. However, it will all depend on whether the young midfielders can continue holding their own in the middle of the field of y."

    "Okay, thank you, Harald," Anne Rimmen said. "For now, let''s take you back to the live-action. The game has just restarted, and it''s Strindheim with possession."

    Kristin smiled, returning her entire focus to the goings-on on the pitch. A Strindheim center back had just received the ball close to his box. However, before he could release it, Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg number-9, was upon him.

    Nicki closed down the defender and angled his body to block all the possible passing routes forward. The Strindheim center-back could only distribute the ball back to the goalkeeper due to the pressure.

    However, Nicki Nielsen didn''t let up the heat on the Strindheim defense. He seemed to have gotten more energy after scoring the goal. He continued chasing after the ball until he pressurized the keeper to release the ball wide towards the left-back.

    The Strindheim left-back received the ball but was also instantly closed down by John Chibuike, the left-forward. The left-back looked around to find a safe ce to release the ball before the Rosenborg number-10 could dispossess him. But he was unsessful. All his nearby teammates had already been tight-marked by the highly agile Rosenborg forwards and midfielders. So, he could only kick the ball high towards the Rosenborg half, trying to pick out the Strindheim forwards with a long-range pass.

    But, all was still in vain. Tore Reginiussen, the Rosenborg captain, was in top shape in the defense. He out-paced the Strindheim forward and headed the long ball safely back to the keeper. Rosenborg regained possession in that way.

    For the next ten minutes, Kristin watched intently as the Rosenborg yers dictated the game''s tempo. Whenever they didn''t have possession, they would use high-pressing tactics to force the Strindheim yers to y the ball high. The highly tactical Rosenborg defenders and midfielders would then out-muscle the opponents and easily regain the ball that had been¡ªreleased. Rosenborgpletely overwhelmed Strindheim in the few minutes after the goal.

    The young midfielders performed very well in the middle of the field. Their passing was pinpoint-urate and reminded Kristin of the Tiki-Taka ying style of Barcelona. They''dpletely dominated the midfield with that style of y.

    Zachary especially stood out. He could tackle and defend. He was also good at running into free spaces, cing himself between opponents, and opening up to receive passes. His sense of positioning on the field and his vision were incredible.

    He didn''t look in any way like someone ying his debut match. He looked confident and connected with his teammates¡ªto y splendid flowing football. All the midfielders and forwards around him came alive whenever he was on the ball.

    By the 25th minute, Rosenborg had managed to push back all the Strindheim yers into their own half because of their dominant midfielders. It had been a long time since Kristin hadst seen Rosenborg bullying another team, whether strong or weak, in such a manner.

    In the 28th minute, Zachary intercepted a Strindheim long-range pass once again. He chested it down close to the center circle and let loose a grounded through-pass towards the wing where Jaime Al¨¢s was lurking. And as he''d done throughout the entire game, he dashed forward towards Strindheim''s box after releasing the ball.

    Jaime Al¨¢s, the Rosenborg left-forward, got to the end of Zachary''s through-pass close to the touchline. He didn''t pause to control the ball since it hadnded directly onto his sprinting path. Instead, he fed it past Kristian S?rli, the Strindheim right-back, with a deft first touch¡ªbefore beating him for pace.

    Jaime Al¨¢s shrugged off the left-back¡ªwho was desperately trying to pull his shirt and chased after the ball like the wind. He got to it close to the goal line on the left nk and sent a teasing grounded pass into the box.

    The cross came in so fast that it left the Strindheim center backs without much time to prepare for it. Even the Strindheim goalkeeper didn''te out from between the posts to intercept the ball. The defense of the men in yellow and blue was in shambles.

    Nicki Nielsen took advantage of thepse in defense and sprang into action like a hungry predator that had spotted prey. He skipped past Mats Ingebrigtsen, the Strindheim center back, and slid towards the goal to tap the ball into the back of the.

    It was the best chance Rosenborg had created in minutes. All the fans, including Kristin, stood up from their seats, anticipating another goal from the forward.

    However, the number-9 was a second toote. The ball skimmed across the goal''s mouth, between the keeper''s outstretched hand and Nicki Nielsen''s foot by mere inches. It then continued onwards past the legs of a few other yers and towards the right nk.

    "Oh, my goodness me," Anne Rimmen, thementator, yelled out¡ªher voice dwarfing the sighs of the Rosenborg fans in the stadium. "What a missed opportunity. That should have been 2:0. Wait..." She paused for a second. "Rosenborg''s chance is not over yet. Brede Moe, the Rosenborg right-back, has picked up the ball close to the touchline. He is going to feed it back into the area..."

    Kristin''s whole attention was on the field of y. She saw Brede Moe skip past Christopher Moen and then unleash a lovely lofted cross into the box.

    The second time around, all the yers in the box, including Rosenborg''s Nicki Nielsen and John Chibuike, jumped high to connect with the iing cross. All the while, the two tried their best to out-muscle the Strindheim defenders.

    However, the Strindheim Keeper, who had just recovered, jumped high and beat them to the ball. He showed great determination and out-muscled all the other yers mid-air¡ªbefore punching the ball away from the box with a strong arm.

    Kristin''s eyes followed the ball as it flew in an arc¡ªover the yers in both ck and yellow jerseys¡ªbefore bouncing a few yards away from the box.

    "There it''s, it''sing," Kristin heard Kasongo shout excitedly from beside her. She wondered what the African was talking about, but she didn''t have time to probe the issue. Instead, her eyes remained trailing the loose ball that was still bouncing away from Strindheim''s box.

    She was almost letting loose a sigh about the missed opportunity. But then, she saw a tall figure meet the ball that was mid bounce with a left boot, sending it back from whence it''de. The figure was Zachary, and he''d just unleashed a missile of a shot towards goal on a half volley from twenty-eight yards away.

    Kristin was surprised. [How had he gotten there so fast?] She wondered, blinking by reflex. The ball was traveling like a bullet bound for the goal. By the time she reopened her eyes to follow its trail once more, it was just smashing off the crossbar and bouncing on the green¡ªinto the back of the.

    2:0. Kristin fell in a trance, mouth agape as she couldn''t believe what she''d just witnessed. She could sense that even Zachary''s friends, who knew him best, were surprised by the goal.

    "Oh my goodness me," thementator shouted, waking her from the trance. "What a touch of brilliance? What a shocker? Glorious, glorious, magnificent goal! What about that? Zachary Bemba has braced us with an absolute beauty in his debut game. Oh, my! I can''t believe it." Anne Rimmen''s intoned words in Norwegian at the pace of a machine gun.

    The stadium burst into loud cheers once again.

    **** ****

 Chapter 119 - Debut Game IV

    Intense waves of delight flowed through Zachary after he scored the goal. When he saw the ball nestled in the back of the, joy overcame him. A wide grin softened his often-intense facial features.

    Before unleashing that shot, he had thought he''d been the most content after making it into the starting eleven of Rosenborg and stepping onto the pitch to y his debut game. But he''d been mistaken as nothing beat what he felt afterting the goal. So, he ran towards the corner g and pumped his fists repeatedly¡ªto let loose and not go mad with pure bliss.

    He finally understood why yers always celebrated like they''d gone mad after scoring. Over the past two months, he had built up some pent-up frustration because he couldn''t make the squad. Moreover, he always felt like an invisible line was separating him from his Rosenborg teammates since he hadn''t participated in any matches yet. However, after having yed and scored, he felt the frustration dissipate. He could finally rx and let the deep sense of contentment from scoring swell within him.

    "Way to go, man. That goal was out of this world." Nicki Nielsen was the first to run up to him and p (not pat) his back to congratte him. "Whatever you took before the match, just give me some," he added jokingly, throwing an arm around his shoulder. The other yers also came and patted his back slightly to celebrate the goal.

    Zachary felt the sense of alienation he''d previously felt among his teammates start to vanish. He was surprised by their team spirit. He hadn''t interacted much with them over the past two months, but they''d still regarded him as a teammate during the match. They hadn''t isted him and had even celebrated the goal with him. He finally felt like he''d fully integrated into the team.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, signaling the yers to retake their starting positions. The match restarted soon after with Strindheim''s kick-off.

    Zachary didn''t let the feeling of brief sess cloud his head. He understood he would have to put up a better than a perfect disy to make it into the Rosenborg starting eleven. Providing an assist and scoring a single goal against a second division team was probably not sufficient for that. He needed to show his coaches and teammates that he was reliable and had a surefire ability to win matches. Only then would they stop taking him for granted.

    So, he got rid of any redundant thoughts and forced himself to focus solely on the game. He continued ying simple football, passing, running into spaces, and receiving passes in the midfield. He didn''t do anythingplicated like trying to dribble past more than two opponents, as he''d always done in the academy. When a Strindheim yer attempted to close him down, he would release the ball immediately. He felt like he was bing more in control of the midfield as the game progressed.

    As the match proceeded towards theter stages of the first half, Zachary noticed that the Strindheim yers had arrayed themselves in a 4-5-1 formation instead of the 4-3-3 they''d yed in at the start of the game. Both their right and left forwards had moved a bit backward into their half in order to better deal with Rosenborg''s nonstop attacking spells. It also seemed they wanted to limit the impact of the Rosenborg midfield on the game. So they''d narrowed their formation by pinching into the spaces and crowding the midfield.

    However, their strategy couldn''t stop Rosenborg''s dominance. The Rosenborg midfielders no longer tried to y the Tiki-Taka style in the middle of the field¡ªbut instead started ying the ball wide as quickly as possible. Whenever Zachary or any other Rosenborg midfielder was on the ball, they would always pass towards the wings¡ªthereby releasing the left and right forwards. That way, Rosenborg was able to continue dominating the game through wing y.

    Another goal-scoring chance soon arrived for Rosenborg in the 33rd minute. Tore Reginiussen, Rosenborg''s center back, intercepted another long-range pass that had failed to connect with the Strindheim forwards deep in Rosenborg''s half. He headed the ball back towards the middle of the crowded midfield.

    Zachary went after the ball right away. He jumped high and out-muscled Preben Hammernd, the Strindheim attacking midfielder, before heading the ball towards Ole Seln?s, Rosenborg defensive midfielder.

    Ole controlled the ball beautifully before passing it towards the nks where Brede Moe, the right-back, was lurking. Brede ran with it along the touchline and dashed past Christopher Moen, the Strindheim left-forward, before unleashing a cut-back pass into the middle of the pitch where Fredrik Midtsj? was waiting.

    Fredrik Midtsj?, Rosenborg''s left-midfielder, controlled the ball well, skipping past Emil R?kke, one of Strindheim''s defensive midfielders, in the process. Without any pause, he then relinquished it to Zachary, who had just positioned himself behind him.

    Zachary received the pass and yed a couple of one-twos with both Ole Seln?s and Fredrik Midtsj?¡ªas the three of them continued to spear deep into Strindheim''s half.

    The Rosenborg midfielders were on fire. They were not just passing the ball quickly among themselves¡ªbut intelligently and quickly interchanging positions¡ªso that they could create space and passingnes for others to exploit. They were merely using their superiority and fluidity of positioning to ovee their opponents. They managed to generate overloads in one section of the field, forcing the defense to tilt unevenly to the right side. Thanks to that, Jaime Al¨¢s, Rosenborg''s left-forward was left unmarked.

    Zachary, of course, spotted him as he received a return pass from Ole while stepping into the final third towards Strindheim''s box. So, without any dy, he chipped the ball over the zone of intense rival pressure. Since he''d used the tip of the boot, the ball flew in an impossible arc¡ªover many of the Strindheim defensive yers¡ªbeforending in the left nk, where Jaime Al¨¢s was lurking.

    Jaime Al¨¢s controlled the ball without any hardship and without facing any immediate pressure. He then fed it forward and raced towards Strindheim''s box like a bullet train. He was so fast that he managed to reach the edge of Strindheim''s box in mere seconds.

    He raised his leg like he was about to unleash a shot, causing all the Strindheim defenders to jump up or slide towards him to block the ball. But instead, the left-forward kicked the ball backward, letting lose a cut-back pass into the middle of the box.

    Nicki Nielsen was there in the box as always. However, he didn''t react to the ball since it had been¡ªyed behind him. Instead, it came straight to Zachary, who had just stepped into the box. He''d started sprinting from the midfield as soon as Jaime Al¨¢s had controlled the ball on the left nk. That way, he had created for himself another perfect scoring opportunity.

    However, the Strindheim defenders reacted instantly and blocked all his shooting angles. Zachary still raised his foot to shoot but slowed down slightly a momentter. Out of the corner of his eye, he''d noticed John Chibuike also arriving into the box.

    So, he made a snap decision right away. He continued swinging his leg downwards as if he was about to unleash another missile of a shot. All the defenders before the Rosenborg goal jumped or slid in to defend the ball once again. However, they were soon disappointed.

    Zachary missed the ball intentionally, letting it continue onwards towards John Chibuike, the Rosenborg right forward¡ªwho waspletely unmarked.

    John Chibuike didn''t hesitate tosh home from inside the box. He hit the ball precisely into the bottom right corner, and it nestled in the. The Strindheim defense couldn''t even react. They had been owned and bullied by Rosenborg''s fluid passing and positioning.

    3:0.

    Rosenborg had managed to score the third goal in the 36th minute. The stadium exploded into cheers once again.

    **** ****

    Coach Johansen watched the game from the technical area. He was satisfied with the performance of his yers since they had dominated Strindheim in all areas of the field.

    But he was also pretty surprised by how Zachary had dominated in the midfield. It had only been a few months since he graduated from the academy. However, the boy had already evolved his game to fit the professional stage in such a short period. He no longer ran and dribbled the ball for long distances like he''d done back in the academy. Instead, he''d developed his passing and game vision to another level. His new ying style was the best fit for a professional team since football wasn''t a one-man''s game.

    Coach Johansen had been worried that Zachary would try to show off and blunder during the game. He''d feared that the boy would make one of those signature runs of his and maybe attract an injury. But it seems he''d been worried for nothing. The boy was simply a genius and had already evolved his game to another level.

    Coach Johansen was quite pleased and shocked by Zachary''s performance. A soft smile outlined his face as he continued watching the game until the referee blew the whistle for half-time. By then, the score was still 3:0 in favor of Rosenborg.

    **** ****

 Chapter 120 - Debut Game V

    Zachary followed the rest of his teammates to the dressing room when the referee blew the whistle for half-time. He could still feel the excitement ofpeting with pro yers in a match even after leaving the field.

    "Well done, Zachary," Coach Johansen said, patting his back as they walked through the corridor back to the visitor''s dressing room. "Keep doing what you''ve been doing through the second half, and you''ll be fine." He smiled, matching his step.

    "Thank you, coach," Zachary replied, smiling lightly. He continued to trail after his teammates while chugging down some water. He intended to use every minute of half time to regain his stamina.

    When he entered the dressing room, some of his teammates, like Mikael Dorsin, stood up and said a few words of congrattions on his remarkable performance. Others gave him light pats on the back as he made his way to a seat.

    They looked very sincere and made him feel more at home. The mood in the dressing room was a lighthearted one. The yers chatted like they were taking a break from a daily training session rather than the second round of the Norwegian Football Cup. They joked amongst themselves andughed about some of the awkward moments of the first half.

    Zachary''s ''overzealous'' celebration also became a topic of discussion and a butt of many jokes. His teammates mimicked the celebration amid waves ofughter in the dressing room. To avoid any trouble, Zachary had to pretend not to be hearing anything and busy himself with sipping on his water.

    "Okay, guys," Coach Johansen said, his gaze sweeping over the entire dressing room. "Let''s focus and discuss the main points of our game n in the second half. Please take your seats."

    When all the yers took their seats, Coach Johansen started giving his half-time pep talk. He didn''t make any marked changes in the tactics or the overall game n for the second half. He only insisted that the yers remain focused and make sure they didn''t concede throughout the remainder of the game.

    Additionally, he outlined what he needed from each field yer, especially the defenders and midfielders, before sending them back to the pitch for the second half.

    **** ****

    The mood in the home team''s dressing room was entirely different from that of Rosenborg''s. All the yers and coaching staff of Strindheim had dejected looks about them.

    Some were frowning, others smiling ruefully, while the rest had their heads held between their hands like they''d suffered personal tragedies. They seemed to have given up on the game after conceding the three goals against Rosenborg during the first half.

    Coach Finn Morten Moe frowned slightly on seeing the condition of his yers. "Okay, guys," he said, starting to move around the dressing room. "Let''s forget the first half."

    "Let''s begin the second half like we''re ''just'' starting the game afresh. Forget that we''re 3:0 down. Let''s begin anew and y at our best during the remainder of the game. Are you with me, guys?" He yelled at the top of his voice.

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    The coach nodded on seeing some of his yers regain some vigor. "We''ll continue ying a 4-5-1 formation for the second half. The five midfielders will have to try their level best to close down all the spaces in the midfield. They''ll also have to help in defending. We don''t want to concede any other goal. That''s our first objective."

    "Let''s start the second half by taking the Rosenborg midfielders out of the equation. I agree that they are talented yers. However, they stillck the necessary experience to adapt to shifts in the game situation quickly. So, use your brain to keep them on their toes. Vary your ying style from one moment to the next. When they expect short passes, y it high. When they think we''re about to prate through the middle, y it through the wing."

    "Emil, Sindre, and Preben," the coach continued, letting his gaze settle momentarily upon the three yers. "You''re our midfielders. Your job is to stop their midfielders from ying freely and limiting their impact on the game. But you haven''t fulfilled your roles so far. In the second half, try to y like men. Rough those young midfielders a bit and don''t allow them an inch of space."

    "Preben, take note of that tall African. You allowed him to y at his own pace in the first half. That can''t happen again in the second half. Make sure you mark him tightly. Annoy him if you want to. But you can''t let him keep in control of the midfield. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach," Preben replied solemnly.

    "Okay, guys," Coach Finn Morten Moe said, smiling slightly. "Let''s go out there and y at our best. Let''s not leave any regrets on the pitch. Are you with me?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    **** ****

    When the second half started, Zachary instantly discerned that Strindheim had tightened their midfield. The Strindheim yers were¡ªstill arrayed in the 4-5-1 formation. However, they were morepact and more aggressive than they''d been in the first half. They would run at any yer about to receive the ball, giving them no chance to control it without pressure. They reacted like hungry scavengers catching the scent of food for the first time in weeks. They were able to halt Rosenborg''s dominancy in the middle of the field at the beginning of the half.

    But all that didn''t faze Zachary in the slightest since he understood there were peaks and lows of team y for any football game. So, he remained patient, continuing to y at his own pace while doing his best to receive and pass the ball as quickly as possible.

    He remained as stable as he''d been in the first half, except for not ying the ball forward as frequently as he would have liked. Strindheim''s second-half defensive shape limited his options to a greater extent. All the Rosenborg forwards were tightly marked by Strindheim defenders every single minute. Nicki Nielsen had it especially tough with two center backs shadowing him like bodyguards wherever he went on the field. Zachary couldn''t release any defense splitting passes to him.

    He and the other Rosenborg midfielders barely had it easier since they had to deal with five Strindheim yers in the middle of the field. The only yers that had space to y the ball at their own pace without any pressure were the defenders since Strindheim was using only one striker in the second half.

    So, Zachary moved back to the defensive midfield in the 60th minute, forming a line with Ole Seln?s right in front of Rosenborg''s defense. He then started ying short and precise passes with Ole and the defenders in the backfield, enabling Rosenborg to have a spell of possession.

    However, that didn''tst for long. In the 70th minute, the Strindheim yers altered their shape anew, allowing two of their midfielders to move forward and apply more pressure on Rosenborg. Preben Hammernd, Strindheim''s attacking midfielder, specifically targeted Zachary even when he didn''t have the ball. The midfielder followed him around the pitch, sometimes fouling him and pulling on his shirt to disrupt his control of the midfield.

    Zachary was a little annoyed by his antics, especially when the referee failed to call out his fouls. However, he stayed calm and focused on his game.

    He was surprised to find out it wasn''t too hard to control his emotions while on the field. All he had to do was recall the moment he had scored the goal for all the negativity to fade out of his mind. Although the game had be tougher for Rosenborg, he continued to enjoy his football.

    **** ****

    Kristin frowned slightly after ncing at her watch. It was already the eightieth minute, yet Rosenborg had not yet scored another goal. During the first half, she had thought her team would go on to bag at least six goals by the end of the game. However, Strindheim hade out of the dressing room tougher than they had been in the first half.

    Since the break, they''d been ying textbook defensive football of isting the forwards and limiting the mobility of Rosenborg''s midfield. They had managed to contain Rosenborg and avoid conceding another goal.

    "Oh, my," Kristin heard Anne Rimmen, thementator, yell. "It''s another tackle on Zachary Bemba close to the center of the field. I guess this is it. The referee has finally shown a yellow card to Preben Hammernd, the Strindheim number-8. Harald, what do you think about the fouls the Strindheim yers aremitting?"

    "Well," said Mr. Harald Brattbakk, the othermentator and live pundit for that game. "I wouldn''t me Strindheim formitting a few fouls here and there in the midfield. They''re only doing their best to stop Rosenborg from dominating the game and scoring another goal. If they hadn''t toughened up and yed a man''s game in the second half, they would have already conceded three more goals."

    "Don''t you feel like they''re specifically targeting Zachary Bemba with their fouls?" Anne Rimmen inquired.

    "That seems to be the case," Mr. Harald Brattbakk replied. "He was the best performing yer in the midfield during the first half. He was involved in all of Rosenborg''s three goals. If I were the opposing team''s coach, I would have also gone after him to destabilize his game. So, we can''t me Strindheim for roughing up Zachary a few times. You can tell that they aren''t doing anything malicious¡ªbut just trying to limit his time on the ball."

    "Well, what do you think the Rosenborg coach should do in such a situation?"

    "If I were the Rosenborg coach," said Mr. Harald Brattbakk, "My priority would be protecting Zachary at all costs. We have all seen that he''s quite the talented yer. You wouldn''t want to lose such an asset on his debut game due to some injury. Since less than eight minutes are remaining on the clock, I''m guessing that there will be a substitution pretty soon. And Zachary will probably be the yer leaving the field of y."

    "Well, thank you, Mr. Harald," Anne Rimmen said. "Let''s get back to the game, which has just restarted after that foul on Zachary Bemba. And as Mr. Harald has predicted, Mix Diskerud, Rosenborg''s often-starting midfielder, has started warming up along the touchline. Maybe, we''ll see Zachary, the young but talented central midfielder, off the pitch within the next few minutes."

    Kristin sighed and returned her attention to the pitch.

    **** ****

    On the pitch, Zachary noticed that Mix Diskerud had started warming up. At that instant, he knew that the coach would be taking him off the field in a few minutes.

    However, he remained calm andposed and continued to y at his own pace. He understood that coaches hated jumpy yers who tried out risky ys sote in the game.

    Rosenborg had already won the game, and that was all that mattered. Zachary could feel that his teammates were simply managing the game to prevent Strindheim from scoring any goals. There was no reason for him to be so hung up about finishing the entire duration of the match since he''d already earned his appearance bonus for that day.

    Moreover, he already knew that he''d put on a good performance for that game since he had been involved in all Rosenborg''s three goals. That seemed sufficient to get him into the squad of the next match. As long as he continued getting ying time, he was sure he would be able to seal a spot on the starting line-up. So, he continued ying calmly until the referee blew the whistle, calling for his substitution.

 Chapter 121 - The Match Ends

    The Rosenborg yers controlled the game well in the final minutes to extend their lead against Strindheim Idrettg. Just after Zachary left the field, Nicki Nielsen scored an unexpected goal from a difficult position. The number-9 leaped high to connect with a cross from John Chibuike and powered a header towards goal from right outside the box.

    Ole Naess, the Strindheim keeper, didn''t react quickly enough. He could only watch it slip by his outstretched hand and enter the back of the. Strindheim Idrettg had conceded yet another goal in the 86th minute. Rosenborg was on fire.

    After that, the Rosenborg yers slowed down the pace of gamey to run down the few minutes left on the clock. They wasted time whenever they could, ying short but aimless passes¡ªuntil the referee blew the final whistle.

    At that instant, the stadium exploded into a wave of cheers as Rosenborg fans celebrated their victory. They had managed to keep a clean sheet, win the second-round game 4:0, and qualify for the next round. All the yers, including Zachary, were excited and celebrated after the match. They ran all around the field, waving at the away-fans to thank them for their support.

    Rosenborg BK would be facing their next opponents in the third round of the Cupen at the end of May. But before then, they would have a very tight schedule. They had to y six Tippeligaen matches in a span of four weeks, starting with Aalesunds the following Saturday.

    Everyone was aware that they only had two days to prepare for the away game against Aalesunds Fotballklubb. That was the bare minimum time required for a practical pre-match training regimen. So, no one indulged in the post-match celebrations for too long.

    When the bus dropped the Rosenborg yers at Lerkendal, they quickly cleaned up and had a team dinner. They made quick work of the food¡ªand in only a few minutes, most of them had packed their bags and returned to their homes. They needed to rest well and ready themselves for the team training the following evening.

    Zachary, though, didn''t leave immediately. The coach had asked to meet with him in his office after the team dinner. He was surprised by the call at such ate hour, but he still had toply. The coach had finally given him an opportunity to y on the professional stage, so he was eager to find out what he had to say. He was hoping to possibly get amitment from the coach to turn him into a regr, starting from the next game. So, he marched to Coach Johansen''s office eagerly after taking a shower.

    When he got there, he found the coach making final notes on the just concluded match. Several five-by-seven cards and charts with yer formations and movements littered the L-shaped desk in the office. Zachary could even see his name and number-33 jersey circled in yellow on one of the cards. He stared and remained silent, appreciating how difficult a job coaching was. Even after the match was over, coaches didn''t forget to make records and analyze them for future reference.

    "Have a seat, Zachary," Coach Johansen said, cing down his marker and pointing to the chair beside him.

    Zachary smiled and settled into it.

    "How do you feel after ying and scoring in your debut match?" The coach inquired, leaning back into his chair and smiling at Zachary.

    "Terrific, of course," Zachary replied. "I love football. ying at the professional stage makes me feel aplished. So, I would love to participate in a lot more matches."

    "That''s good to know." The coach nodded. "You yed well out there. Keep up the spirit, and you''ll surely seed on this team. Now, let''s talk about why I called you here." The coach''s gaze turned solemn.

    Zachary didn''t like the look on the coach''s face. He could feel like some bad news wasing. "Coach, is there anything wrong?" He asked, frowning slightly.

    "Not at all," Coach Johansen said, shaking his head. "I only want to know how you''ve been. You seemed pretty detached from the rest of the team before the game. Is there anything that has gone wrong in your life? Did some girl break your heart? What happened to you over the past month?" The coach fired questions slowly but steadily, keeping his eyes locked on Zachary''s face.

    Zachary was surprised by the direction the conversation was taking. He couldn''t believe the coach would decide to have such a talk with him right after his debut match. Nheless, he replied genuinely in order to stay in the good books of the coach.

    "It was just the frustration of not making the squad for the past two months that was affecting my mood," he said. "However, I''m okay now. Football, always helps me calm down."

    "Oh," the coach said, ncing at Zachary pensively. "I didn''t know that keeping you off the squad could affect you in such a way."

    Zachary smiled ruefully.

    He was at a loss for words because he himself couldn''t understand what had been the trigger of his anger episodes. He suspected that it could be one of the tragic incidences in his past life or childhood¡ªbut he wasn''t sure yet. However, he felt it was no longer an issue since he''d started feeling better over the previous week. So, there seemed to be no point in worrying about it.

    "You can alwayse and talk to me if you have any doubts in the future," Coach Johansen said, smiling. "Remember, I''m on your side. I want you to perform and help the team win trophies. But you can''t do that while your mind is elsewhere. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach." Zachary nodded. "I will do that."

    "Okay, great," Coach Johansen said. "That reassures me. Now the next issue. Because you put up an incredible performance today, you''ll be in the squad for the Tippeligaen match against Aalesunds next Saturday. You''ll start on the bench, but I''ll give you a chance to join the game as a substitute."

    "Thank you, coach," Zachary replied, smiling. "I''ll do my best if given the opportunity."

    Coach Johansen nodded. "However, you have to remember that this is a fixture between two clubs in the top four of the Tippeligaen. The intensity will be very different from what you''ve faced in today''s game. That means you''ll have to be in an above 95% match condition to partake in that game. For that to happen, you need to go through proper post-match recovery. But that could be challenging since the game is only two days away."

    "So, you should pass by the medic tomorrow to have those thighs and calves checked," the coach continued. "They received quite a few knocks, and we don''t want them to turn into a problem before Saturday. Since you have just experienced a growth spurt, you should go for the check-ups as regrly as possible. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied. "I''ll go tomorrow." Although he felt that he was fully fit, he needed to continue reassuring the coaches by having check-ups. He wouldn''t lose anything by doing that, so he ''simply'' agreed.

    "Good," Coach Johansen said, smiling. "I also called you here to guide you on how to make your post-match recovery more efficient and effective. I know we already covered this back in the academy, but I''ll go ahead and discuss it again. You need to take great care to rx your muscles so that they can recover after the match. That is especially very important for you who is just starting out on the professional stage..."

    Zachary leaned back in his chair as he continued listening to the coach''s advice. For the next few minutes, the coach talked about several popr methods used by professional athletes to enhance recovery after games. He advised Zachary to utilize hydrotherapy, stretching,pression garments, massage, sleep, and nutrition after every game. That way, he would remain in tip-top shape and maintain his form evente in the season.

    Zachary already had some prior knowledge about the techniques. So, the discussion went by very quickly. And in about ten minutes, he thanked the coach for his advice and exited the office.

    Zachary walked with a spring in his step towards the stadium''s exit. He was in a good mood since he already knew that he would be on the squad for the game against Aalesunds Fotballklubb. That, coupled with the fact that he''d managed to score in his debut, made him feel like he was walking on clouds.

    When he left the stadium, he hurriedly made his way to the bus stop. He wanted to return to his apartment as soon as possible and begin his post-match recovery session. He didn''te across any other souls until he made it to the Lerkendal bus stop.

    It was already ten in the evening, and there wasn''t much traffic on the streets of Trondheim. He had to wait thirty minutes for the bus heading to Stj?rdalsveien, the location of his apartment.

    As he rode the bus to Stj?rdalsveien, Zachary resolved to buy a car a soon as possible. With a personal vehicle, he would be able to move at his leisure at any time. He could go to Lerkendal at any time and practice without any worry since he would be¡ªassured of his transportation. Zachary found that prospect quite attractive. And since he had the money, he could no longer resist the temptation of obtaining his vehicle.

    Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!

    Zachary''s phone vibrated as the bus pulled into the Stj?rdalsveien bus stop. He hurriedly fished it out of the pocket of his tracksuit as he alighted from the bus. When he was out on the sidewalk, he nced at the screen¡ªand noticed it was a call from an unknown international number beginning with the area code +33. Although he didn''t know to which country the code belonged, he still picked it up anyway.

 Chapter 122 - The 2013 Tippeligaen Serial Challenge

    "Hello," Zachary spoke into the phone.

    "Hello, Zachary," a familiar female voice said from the other end of the line. "It''s me, Emily. Just calling to ask how your debut match went."

    "Oh, Emily," Zachary said, smiling. He threw his gym bag over his shoulder and started walking towards his apartment. "You called using a different number. I was about to reject the call."

    "Then you would have missed out on hearing my lovely voice," Emily countered jokingly.

    "So, how are you?" Zachary inquired, wishing to change the direction of the conversation immediately.

    "I''m doing well," Emily replied. "But tell me, how did the match go? It wasn''t¡ªbroadcasted anywhere. So, I couldn''t watch it. Sorry about that."

    "No problem," Zachary replied, rounding a corner and entering thene heading to his apartment building. "I yed for roughly 80 minutes, managed to score one goal, and also made an assist."

    "Oh, my," Emily eximed, her voice rising slightly at the other end of the call. "Way to go, Zach. Congrattions. With that, I believe the coaches won''t leave you out of the squad anymore."

    "I think so too. The coach has even already promised me I''ll be part of the squad for the next match."

    "When is your next match?"

    "Saturday. Next Saturday."

    "Oh, no." Emily sighed audibly over the phone call. "I won''t be able to make it to that match too. I''ll still be in France handling some business. When is the next one after that?"

    "Wednesday, May 8th," Zachary replied right away since he''d crammed the next ten fixtures of Rosenborg in his head. "We''ll be facing Troms? Idrettg at home."

    "Great," Emily replied, sounding excited. "I''ll surely be there for that game. If you manage to keep performing well, we can start talking about some smaller endorsement deals."

    "Okay, that''s fine," Zachary replied, starting to ascend the steps of his apartment building. "I''ll wait for you, then. What are you doing in France?" He inquired. After hearing Emily mention France, he couldn''t help but recall his four country-mates who had departed for the Nantes academy. He wondered how far their skills had progressed after training in France for two years.

    "Just some agency business," Emily replied sinctly. "I''ll maybe tell you about it when we meet. But, I''ve got to go now. It''s alreadyte. So, try to rest and keep your body healthy. We''ll talk more when I''m in Trondheim next week."

    "Okay, have a good night then," Zachary said as he reached the door of his apartment. "See you next week."

    "Good night," Emily said before hanging up.

    Zachary shoved his phone back into his side pocket and unlocked the door to his apartment. He was only thinking of going through his yoga regimen quickly to start his post-match recovery as soon as possible.

    He hurriedly slipped out of his sneakers, threw his gym bag to the side, and headed to the living room, where he usually went through his yoga routine. However, a system notification sounded in his mind as he walked into the room.

    "DING"

    "The system has detected that the user has been added to the Rosenborg''s squad ying in the 2013 Tippeligaen season," the system AI''s apathetic voice sounded in his mind soon after.

    "Conditions for a long-term serial system mission have been met."

    "The 2013 Tippeligaen Serial Mission initiated sessfully."

    "Does the user wish to view the details of the mission right away?"

    "Yes, bring out the details now," Zachary replied, settling into one of the sofas in his living room. "But why did you dy to announce the system mission? The coach promised to add me to the squad over forty minutes ago! But the mission notification has just appeared now. Why did it take longer than it usually did?"

    "The system has adjusted to the user''s behavioral patterns," the AI replied. "The system will only bring out its notifications when the user is where he feels mostfortable and most safe. At this moment, it is this apartment. But the user can choose to override this setting at any time."

    "Does the user wish to override this setting?"

    "Negative," Zachary replied. Of course, he didn''t wish to keep getting notifications when he was in thepany of others.

    Ever since he''d gone back in time and obtained the system, he had stopped taking the world lightly. He reasoned that since he possessed the system, there was a remote possibility that other people might also possess preternatural talents. It would spell trouble for him if one of those individuals existed and noticed that he had a system. He didn''t know whether he was just paranoid. But he decided to remain on the safe side of caution. It was better to be safe than sorry.

    "DING"

    "Attention user," intoned the AI.

    "Mission details have been disyed on the interface."

    Zachary leaned back into the sofa and began to peruse through the information disyed on the translucent blue system interface that had appeared before him. He was eager to learn the new mission details.

    ****

    G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    ----

    #NEW MISSION: 2013 Tippeligaen Serial Challenge

    ->The system has detected that the user is part of the Rosenborg BK squad partaking in the 2013 Norwegian top division football league,monly referred to as the Tippeligaen. The system has designed an associated mission for the event.

    ----

    ->The user needs to ept the mission first to stand a chance of winning rewards afterpleting the milestones below.

    ----

    *Milestone 1: y 70% of the fixtures in the 2013 Tippeligaen season. The user must be part of the starting eleven or a ying substitute in at least 21 of the 30 matches of the 2013 Tippeligaen.

    *Milestone 2: Help your teammates be the champions of the 2013 Tippeligaen.

    *Milestone 3: Provide the most assists in the 2013 Tippeligaen season.

    *Milestone 4: Be the top scorer of the 2013 Tippeligaen season.

    *Milestone 5: Be the MVP of the 2013 Tippeligaen season.

    ----

    *Rewards:

    ->Milestone 1pletion reward: 2000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 2pletion reward: 2000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 3pletion reward: 4000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 4pletion reward: 5000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 5pletion reward: A dosage of A-grade vitality enhancing elixir.

    ----

    NB: There will be additional rewards if the user realizes any other milestones that can unlock hidden missions.

    ----

    ->The user can choose not to ept the mission.

    *ept *Reject

    ----

    *Punishment if none of the milestones has been achieved after the stipted time (In case the user epts).

    ->Minus 20000 Juju-points

    *The user has toplete at least one milestone before the tournament ends to escape the penalty.

    ----

    *Remarks: All progress takes ce outside thefort zone. And no passion can be found ying small¡ªin settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.

    ****

    Zachary clicked on the ept button right away. He didn''t even try deliberating on whether he would aplish the minimum of one milestone to escape the penalty.

    He just took the gamble and hoped for the best reward. Since the coach had already promised him ying time, he had a high chance of achieving the first milestone at the very least.

    Moreover, the reward for the fifth milestone was an A-grade vitality-enhancing elixir. That elixir could heal injuries and even improve his physical fitness attributes by arge margin. He had already consumed a B-grade version of it and understood its benefits quite well. It had healed his injured leg in no time when he had returned to the past some two years prior. He intended to try to achieve the milestone and win the elixir.

    "System," Zachary said. "What happens if I incur the penalty and don''t have the required Juju-points to pay for it?"

    "The penalty will turn into a debt burden for the user," the AI replied. "There will be 100% interest (reducing) added on the debt every year."

    "That''s too high." Zachary frowned. "Can''t it be lower?"

    "No, the system has a fixed rate of 100%," the AI replied. "No bargaining is allowed. The user only has to make sure not to incur the penalty. Then everything will be fine."

    Zachary smiled wryly on hearing that. It seemed the system didn''t tolerate failure in any way. He had noticed that on every mission, there was a penalty of some sort. But that didn''t faze him in the slightest. Instead, he was thankful since he needed the pressure to grow his skills quickly.

    He closed the system interface after confirming his eptance of the mission with the AI. He then went through a light session of yoga to stretch his muscles and enhance his post-match recovery process.

    When he finished, he soaked in an ice bath to rx his muscles before eating ate-night snack. He didn''t consume a lot of food since he''d already eaten dinner back at Lerkendal. Moreover, eating a lot after a match wasn''t advisable. So, he only swallowed down a few bananas and energy bars to replenish his diminished stamina reserves.

    After eating, he could finally let loose and go to bed. However, he didn''t fall asleep right away. Since he had made it onto the regr squad, he needed to keep refining his skills on a daily basis. So, he activated the G.O.A.T Skills Simtor using two Juju-points and began practicing his Bend-it-like-Beckham Juju for the next hour. He understood that if he hoped to score a good number of goals in the Tippeligaen, he would have to rely on his set-piece technique at some point. So, he was hell-bent on improving it to the highest level humanly possible.

 Chapter 123 - Preparations For The Next Game

    The following day Zachary woke up at 8:00 AM and continued with his post-match recovery routine. After sleeping like a baby for the entire night, his body had started to recuperate from the match fatigue. But, he knew he had to put in a lot more effort in order to return to his peak state in only two days.

    So, he resolved to use every minute before the match against Aalesunds to return to top shape. He followed Coach Johansen''s instructions and started his day with another light yoga routine to stretch his sore muscles. He didn''t attempt anything overlyplicated. He limited himself to poses like the downward-facing dog posture that stimted blood cirction, especially in the lower limbs.

    When he finished the yoga regimen, he drank some tart cherry juice and chocte milk to restore the glycogen in his body. That was to reduce the oxidative stress he''d umted from the previous day''s match, stimting muscle repair and recovery.

    He had always understood that without proper nutrition, all the recovery techniques in the world were ineffectual. So, ever since his academy days, he had always eaten a proper diet along with a weekly dose of the physical conditioning elixir from the system to recover faster from fatigue.

    Since joining the ranks of professional football yers, he had grown even more strict with himself. He intended to continue the same habit to prevent himself from suffering chronic fatigueter on in the season. So, he didn''t just stop at drinking juice and chocte milk for breakfast. He also feasted on vegetables, meat, and bread. Afterward, he soaked into a cold bath for fifteen minutes and took a shower before setting off for Lerkendal.

    He arrived there at around 9:00 AM. By then, a few senior yers like Mikael Dorsin and Borek Dockal, who hadn''t taken part in the previous day''s match, were already on the pitch working with the ball. Zachary said hello to them before continuing to the gym.

    He was surprised to find Mr. Rolf Aas, the fitness coach, already in the gym, instructing a few yers. Zachary could tell he was guiding them on post-match recovery. The likes of Ole Seln?s, Brede Moe, and Tore Reginiussen were all carefully applying pressure on their thighs and calves using the foam rollers on the floor.

    "Zachary, you''re here," Mr. Rolf Aas, said smiling on noticing him at the door. "Good morning! Why not join us in our session? You know with exercise, the more, the merrier."

    "Good morning, coach," Zachary first greeted the coach before adding: "Of course, I''ll join in. Let me change into my training gear first." He walked to the dressing room to change.

    Mr. Rolf Aas was one of the most skilled fitness coaches in Norway. Zachary couldn''t reject an opportunity to participate in an active post-match recovery session directed by him. So, he spent the next hour in one of the Rosenborg gyms working his body over a foam roller. At the end of the session, he felt more rxed and refreshed. The foam rolling had helped relieve the tension in his sore muscles and stimted their recovery from the match fatigue faster.

    Zachary thanked the fitness coach and said goodbye before leaving the gym to take another cold bath. He was intent on recovering faster than everyone else on the team.

    He didn''t want to waste any second of his time. So, he rested for only an hour after attending the match video review meeting that morning before going through another active recovery routine in the gym.

    By the time the team training session startedter that evening, he was full of energy. He felt like he could y another match immediately. A soft smile outlined his face as he marched to the training ground that evening. His efforts had paid off. He had almost fully recovered.

    The team practice session began at 3:30 PM. Zachary was in high gear and gave everything he had. He breezed through agilities, running as if his life depended on it¡ªwhile others moaned and groaned, still sore from the previous day''s exertions. Only the yers that had remained on the bench could match his pace when going through the drills.

    He didn''t care one bit about the few unfriendly looks from teammates suggesting that he back down because he was making everyone look like ckers. That was his intention. He waspeting for a position on the starting line-up and had to outshine his teammates at all costs.

    As practice went on, Zachary got more confident in his stamina. He realized that the slight post-match fatigue that had still lingered and bagged him at the beginning of the session had vanished. So, he upped the intensity with¡ªwhich he approached the drills until the coaches called him out and requested him to slow down a bit.

    He had to exin that he''d already recovered, for them to let him be. But that was on the condition that he saw the team physician before the end of the day. Zachary, though, wasn''t the least bit afraid of being subjected to another physical fitness medical check-up once more. He knew his body well and was sure there would be no problems with the medical. So, he maintained a high level of intensity until training ended that day.

    The next day, which was a Friday, he went through a simr routine. He woke up early, did yoga, stretched using a foam roller, and went through the team training prepared by the coaches to refine the game n for the match against Aalesunds the following day.

    Throughout the entire day, he was in a state of intense focus. He followed the instructions of the coaching staff to the letter throughout all the sessions. When they said run, he ran, and when they yelled pass, he passed. The hours passed by quickly, and before he knew it, it was evening.

    It was finally time for Coach Johansen to announce the squad for the following day. Zachary made his way to the tactics room after taking a shower. He sank into a seat at the very back of the room and waited silently for the coach to begin his address.

    "Good evening to you all," Coach Johansen said to the yers when they had all finished taking their seats in the Rosenborg tactics room.

    "Good evening, coach," all the yers replied, more or less in unison. They''d stopped chattering and had their attention focused solely on the coach.

    Coach Johansen nodded. "Tomorrow, we y Aalesunds FK away at the Color Line Stadion," he said. "This is a tough fixture, and we''ll have to give more than a hundred percent if we want to get maximum points."

    "You all know that we can''t afford to lose another game in the Tippeligaen. So, we have to y as a team and win this game. Otherwise, our chances at contesting for the league title this season will greatly lessen. Are we together, guys?''" He yelled, sweeping his gaze across the yers.

    "Yes, coach."

    "Let me just ask you one thing," the coach continued, a soft smile outlining his face. "Who is the strongest, physically, here?"

    All the yers, including Zachary, remained silent, under the impression that the coach had asked a rhetorical question.

    "Come on, don''t be shy," the coach said jokingly. "Okay, who thinks he''s strong enough to bully any opponent out there using just his physique?"

    A wave of lightughter cut across the room as some of the yers raised their arms. Coach Johansen pointed to one of them. "Tore, I also believe you are quite strong," he said. "Too bad you''re still on suspension and can''t be part of tomorrow''s game." The coach sighed. "But please doe here for a moment. Let''s do this real quick so that we can go back to nning for the game."

    The captain marched to the front of the tactics room confidently¡ªamid cheers and whistles of his teammates.

    "We have twelve pencils in this box," Coach Johansen said, raising the pencils and showing them to his yers. "Tore, take the first pencil and break it into two. Come on, show me that grip strength of yours." He instructed, pumping his fist as if to cheer Tore on.

    Tore Reginiussen, of course, followed the coach''s instructions. He took the pencil and broke it into two as his teammates cheered him on in a joking manner.

    "Okay, I see you''re the man, Tore." Coach Johansen smiled, patting the captain''s back. "Now, please take these eleven pencils and try to break them apart, like the first one." He said, handing him the set of pencils.

    Zachary smiled, facepalming when he saw Tore Reginiussen take the pencils from the coach and use all his strength, trying to break them apart. However, as expected, his efforts were in vain. The pencils remained intact, however much he tried.

    "The result is obvious to you all, I believe," Coach Johansen said, signaling Tore to go back to his seat. "If we y as individuals, we''ll be as weak as the first pencil. The opponents will easily break us apart. But, if we y as a team of eleven, nothing can break us." He held out the eleven pencils for all to see.

    "Nothing can break us if we y as a team. Strengthes from numbers. Every yer brings a unique aspect to the game, and together¡ªthe team is like a well-oiled machine showcasing phenomenal football. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach," all the yers replied in chorus. Zachary could tell the mood in the tactics room had turned from solemn to rxed after the coach''s pencil talk.

    "Okay, great," the coach said. "I want us to take that spirit to Color Line Stadion tomorrow. I guarantee you guys that we''ll walk away with three points from that game if we''re true to that. Are we on the same page, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Okay." Coach Johansen nodded. "Now on to the squad. Although Aalesunds ys with a 4-4-2 formation, we shall still use our default 4-3-3 to face them tomorrow." He pointed at therge screen in front of the room where the formation had just appeared.

    "We''ll y attacking football and focus on scoring goals throughout the entire game. Remember, like we said earlier today, offense is the best defense. So, I expect everyone to be agile on the pitch..."

    Zachary listened intently for the next few minutes as Coach Johansen expounded on the game n and tactics. Although he had already heard them during the training session that evening, Zachary listened carefully to catch any new points that came up. The seconds and minutes passed by quickly, and soon, the coach started announcing the squad.

    "For the starting eleven," the coach said, pointing at the screen. "We have Lund Hansen as the keeper. Mikael Dorsin, Verner R?nning, Stefan Strandberg, and Cristian Gamboa as the four defenders. Mike Jensen, Mix Diskerud, and Jonas Svensson as the three midfielders. And finally, we have Tobias Mikkelsen, Tarik Elyounoussi, and Borek Dockal as the three forwards."

    "On the bench," the coach continued. "We have Daniel ?rlund, Brede Moe, Jon Inge H?nd, Ole Selnaes, Zachary Bemba, Daniel Berntsen, and John Chibuike. That''s it for the squad."

    Zachary smiled on hearing his name among the squad members. He wasn''t the least bit disturbed by the fact that he was only a substitute. There was nothing to worry about since the coach had already promised to give him ying time during the match.

    "Any questions?" Coach Johansen inquired, ncing around after he finished announcing the squad.

    All the yers, including Zachary, remained silent.

    "Well, then," the coach said, pping his hands. "Let''s call it a day then..."

    "Just one moment, please," Trond Henriksen, the assistant head coach, interrupted him before he could send off the yers.

    "Yes, Trond," Coach Johansen said.

    "I would like to remind all of the yers here that the journey to ?lesund is quite a long one," Trond Henriksen said, taking on a formal tone. "We''ll need about six hours to travel from Lerkendal to the Color Line Stadion. So, we''ll be departing by bus from the parking lot of Lerkendal at 8:30 AM sharp. Pleasee early and don''t bete. Thank you."

    "Thank you, Trond," Coach Johansen said, smiling. "I guess that marks the end of today''s session. If you didn''t make the squad, keep working hard and don''t give up. Your turn wille sooner than you expect if you stay true to your goals. For the yers on the squad, have a good night''s sleep, and see you tomorrow. And, of course, don''t bete." He pped his hand for emphasis.

    **** ****

 Chapter 124 - Against Aalesunds Fotballklubb

    "AALESUNDS, *p*p*, AALESUNDS, *p*p..."

    In the Rosenborg technical area, Coach Johansen''s frown deepened as the chanting and pping of the Aalesunds FK home fans rose to a crescendo. His team had just conceded a second goal in the 52nd of the game.

    Fredrik Ulvestad, the right-midfielder in Aalesunds'' 4-4-2 diamond formation, had just unleashed a shot at goal from outside the 18-yard-box. He had managed to beat Lund Hansen, the Rosenborg goalkeeper, scoring the second goal for the men in orange and blue.

    Things were looking bad for Rosenborg as the second half progressed. They were two goals down with only about thirty-five minutes left on the clock. Coach Johansen''s face had long morphed into a scary frown as he observed the goings-on on the field.

    His team had arrived in ?lesund Town in high spirits that afternoon. All the yers had been in top shape as they warmed up and prepared for the match. Even the absence of top stars Nicki Nielsen and Tore Reginiussen due to suspension had seemed trivial at the time. They''d been in great shape before the game started. Coach Johansen had been pleased with their energy levels¡ªand thought they would grab the three points from Aalesunds FK. That would have marked the perfect start to their ascent back to the top of the Tippeligaen table.

    However, he couldn''t have been more wrong.

    As soon as the game started, the Rosenborg yers had found it challenging to settle down and y their usual fast-flowing attack-minded football. Many of their usually sessful coordinated ys became misses due to ack of focus on the field. They started losing possession intermittently and conceded the first goal in the 26th minute of the first half.

    Coach Johansen had not lost his cool over that single goal. He knew very well, from experience, that any strong team could experience below-par performance spells during a game and find themselves trailing their opponents. However, what mattered most was the way yers reacted after encountering the situation.

    So, during the halftime break, he had given a motivational pep talk about focusing and giving more than a hundred percent effort to stage aeback in the dressing room. The field yers had reacted well to it, putting his mind at ease. So, he had returned to the visiting team''s dugout for the second half with a smile on his face. He was sure his yers had straightened their attitude and would do their utmost to score and win in the second half. However, seven minutes into the second half, Rosenborg had conceded yet again.

    Coach Johansen was close to suffocating on his fury. His yers had made yet another amateur mistake allowing Aalesunds to score once again. "What to do?" He mumbled to himself, rubbing his bald head in frustration.

    His mind worked in overdrive, trying toe up with a solution to Rosenborg''s on-pitch tactical problems. All the while, his eyes followed every y on the field as his mind tried to find a spark that could light up the way and help his team stage aeback. The worst result he could tolerate against Aalesunds FK was a draw. If Rosenborg lost another game, he would be in deep trouble and probably be at risk of being fired by the end of the following week. He couldn''t lose.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, breaking him out of his deep state of concentration.

    "That''s no foul and no yellow card," Coach Johansen shouted at the top of his lungs, punching the air before him repeatedly. Mike Jensen, the Rosenborg defensive midfielder, had just made a sliding tackle against Fredrik Carlsen, Aalesunds number-8, close to the edge of the box. The referee had shown a yellow card to Mike for his overly aggressive challenge and awarded Aalesunds FK a freekick at the edge of the box.

    "I don''t know what the matter with referees is these days," Coach Johansenined to Trond Henriksen, his assistant. "That shouldn''t have even been a foul. But the referee has gone ahead and shown Mike a yellow card! I don''t understand." Coach Johansen scratched his red beard in frustration as he kept his eyes locked on the field of y.

    Trond Henriksen smiled wryly, shaking his head. "Maybe we should start thinking about bringing in another striker so that we can create more chances at goal," he said, his tone imploring. "What do you think?"

    "I''ve my considerations," Coach Johansen replied, keeping his eyes focused on the field. "Let''s first watch the freekick. We''ll decide what to do from there."

    "Okay, then," Trond Henriksen, the assistant head coach of Rosenborg, replied, nodding. He also returned his gaze to the field of y.

    **** ****

    Zachary was watching the game from the visitor''s dugout. He was surprised by how the on-pitch situation had swiftly gone from bad to worse for Rosenborg as the match progressed. He couldn''t understand why the yers seemed unable to connect well on the field of y. During training, they''d worked together, ying fluid flowing football. But out there in the game, they were being owned by a weaker team. He felt frustrated since he didn''t want to see his team lose a game just after he''d made it onto the squad.

    "Facing our former coach is really problematic," Zachary heard Brede Moe, the substitute defender,ment from his left. "Jan J?nsson knows us well in and out. It''s no surprise that he was able to devise effective tactics to mess up our game n."

    "But that''s no reason for us to concede two goals," Daniel ?rlund, the veteran goalkeeper, chipped in. "We haven''t even created any clear chances at goal. I guess Nicki and Tore''s suspension messed up our team cohesion."

    "I don''t think so," John Chibuike, the substitute forward, said. "It''s just one of those days when things don''t work out. We''re still dominating possession, but we can''t seem to find opportunities to score. On the other hand, Aalesunds only has three shots on target but two goals."

    Zachary kept on listening but also kept a keen eye on the happenings on the pitch. At the edge of Rosenborg''s box, Fredrik Carlsen, the Aalesunds number-8, took a few steps back¡ªaway from the ball. He was readying himself to take the freekick.

    Before him, five Rosenborg yers had already formed a wall to defend against the setpiece. Zachary saw that Rosenborg was in a bad situation since the freekick had been awarded in a dangerous position. Fredrik Carlsen, the Aalesunds attacking midfielder, had just ced the ball in the arc right outside the 18-yard-box. He could use either foot to find the target and widen Aalesunds'' lead.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle. Fredrik Carlsen jogged towards the ball and took the freekick with the inside of his right boot. He unleashed a curling ball around the defense that tore towards the goal like a missile. The Aalesunds number-8 had taken the freekick well. Tensions ran high in the visiting team''s dugout. Conceding another goal would almost certainly seal Rosenborg''s loss.

    However, Lund Hansen, the Rosenborg keeper, was very alert and came to the rescue. He leaped high and made a brilliant save, shoving the ball out of y with an outstretched arm. Rosenborg had survived conceding another goal. Most of the yers on the bench let out sighs of relief.

    But the danger wasn''t over yet. The referee pointed towards the corner g, awarding Aalesunds FK a corner kick. The benchwarmers, including Zachary, could only wait anxiously for Rosenborg to defend against the corner. Since they were not on the pitch, there was nothing much they could do to change the game situation. They could only cheer on their team and hope for the best without touching the ball. That was the sorrow of a benchwarmer.

    The referee blew the whistle¡ªand without any dy, Andreas Nordvik, the Aalesunds left-back, took the corner.

    Zachary watched with rapt attention as Andreas delivered a teasing corner ball towards the crowded box. The yers in the box were shoving and pulling at each other¡ªas they struggled to out-muscle one another and answer the iing cross. The situation in the box was chaotic, but the referee didn''t blow the whistle.

    Zachary could only hold his breath as he watched the situation in the area with distress. Abderazak Hamdah, the Aalesunds number-9, jumped high and connected with the cross after losing his mark. He let loose a header from around the penalty spot, clearly bound for the inside the right post.

    Zachary felt his heartbeat quicken as he realized the keeper was already¡ªbeaten. He could judge that the header would probably result in a goal. But to his relief, Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg veteran defender, appeared at the right time. He intercepted the ball close to the goal post and kicked it away to safety.

    Rosenborg had survived once more. But, the excitement on the field wasn''t over yet. Mike Jensen, the Rosenborg defensive midfielder, picked up the ball from Mikael''s clearance around the edge of the box. Without any dilly-dallying, he looked up and unleashed a grounded through-pass in the direction of Tobias Mikkelsen, who''d long started making a run towards Aalesunds half.

    The counterattack was on.

    Tobias Mikkelsen, the Rosenborg left-forward, turned around and controlled the ball well close to the centerline on the left nk. Around him were yards of space to work with since most of the defenders were still in Rosenborg''s half after the corner. So, without any dy, Tobias took off towards the Aalesunds box like a rocket. He was so fast that none of the two defenders that had stayed back to defend could match his pace.

    Tobias sprinted¡ªand in no time, was at the edge of Aalesunds box. He made a cut-back pass to the edge of the box where Mix Diskerud, the Rosenborg attacking midfielder, had just arrived.

    Mix Diskerud did well to control the pass at the edge of the box. He then unleashed a shot towards the roof of the without any pressure. All the yers on the bench, including Zachary, stood up, anticipating a goal since that was by far Rosenborg''s best chance from the start of the game.

    However, the goddess of luck seemed to have abandoned Rosenborg that day. Although the Aalesunds goalkeeper was out of position, he still managed to leap high and make a brilliant save. Rosenborg squandered the chance to score their first goal during the 59th minute of the highly contested Tippeligaen game. The yers and the coaching staff in the visiting team''s dugout all let loose sighs at the missed opportunity.

    Zachary was about to return to his seat on the bench¡ªbut then noticed that Coach Johansen seemed to be regarding him with a pensive expression. A jolt of excitement straightened his spine. He felt the slight displeasure he''d felt watching Rosenborg put up a sorry performance slipping away at that moment. He could guess that the coach was about to make a substitution.

    But he wasn''t sure whether the coach would still keep his promise and give him ying time even when the team was trailing by two goals. So, he could only try to express that he was ready by making eye contact with the coach.

    "Okay, Zachary and John, you are up," Coach Johansen intoned. "Dress up and start warming up right away. You have five minutes to get ready."

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, taking on the tone of a soldier answering themand of his superior. He lookedical and attracted a fewughs from his teammates on the bench. However, he didn''t mind in the slightest.

    He was finally going to make his first appearance in the Tippeligaen. Nothing else mattered as long as he could y football on the professional stage. A soft smile outlined his face as he tightened theces of his boots and readied himself to begin warming up. He could hardly contain his happiness.

 Chapter 125 - The Dangerous Substitute I

    "Zachary and John, I mainly want you to do two things once you get on the field," intoned coach Johansen, gazing at them intently. They had just finished dressing up after their warm-up. They were already in their full ck Rosenborg away-jerseys, ready to enter the field.

    "Number one: The two of you should try to connect with the rest of your teammates so that our football can flow again," the coach continued. "That means that you''ll have to be involved in the build-up and y a lot of one-twos with the center forward and the other midfielders to create goal-scoring opportunities." He raised his voice slightly to make himself heard over the cheers of the Aalesunds'' fans.

    "Especially you, Zachary; I want to see creativity in the final third as we pressure the opponents. Make sure you keep the football flowing in the attacking midfield. Use quick but precise passing to break down their diamond-shaped midfield. Give it your all, Zachary, and let''s start by dominating that midfield. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied while doing arm stretches. He was utilizing every minute before entering the game to warm up his body in the proper way. That would minimize the risk of getting injuries on the field of y.

    "John," the coach said, turning to the substitute forward from Nigeria. "Try to make runs behind their defensive line whenever you get the chance. I''m sure that Zachary will always try to release you as quickly as possible whenever you show the intention of making a run. When you receive the ball in the final third, link up with the other forwards, and do your best to keep their defense on tenterhooks. Are we together, John?"

    "Aye, coach," John Chibuike replied.

    "Task number two," said the coach after stealing a nce at the proceedings on the pitch. "I want the two of you to try shooting at goal whenever you get a chance. Zachary, if you spot the keeper of his line from 20 yards away, release that heavy shot of yours. John, the same goes for you. Try to test the keeper as much and possible by making many attempts. That''s the only way to get a chance to score and begin oureback. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Zachary," Coach Johansen continued, cing an arm on his shoulder. "When you get on the field, inform Mikael to y with a high line right away. Also, tell him that he can start moving forward along the nks to help John during our attacks. Make sure you let him know that I expect good crosses from him into the box. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied.

    Coach Johansen nodded. "Any questions?" He swept his gaze momentarily across Zachary and Chibuike.

    "No, coach."

    "No, coach. Everything is clear."

    "Okay, then," Coach Johansen said, nodding. "Go ahead and join the game. I wish you good luck, and may we win the game. Make sure you do your best." He pped both their backs before pushing them towards the fourth official, who was already on the touchline, waiting to make the substitution.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and motioned for an Aalesunds'' throw-in. The fourth official finally got the chance to put up the board, calling for substitutions.

    Zachary reced Mike Jensen, the defensive midfielder who had already received a yellow card. John Chibuike, on the other hand, came in for Tobias Mikkelsen, the left-winger that hadn''t performed at his best since the beginning of the match.

    Zachary first ran to Mikael Dorsin and whispered the coach''s message in his ear before taking his ce in the right midfield, close to the centerline. Meanwhile, Jonas Svensson, the yer that had previously upied that position, moved a few yards back and took up a spot in the defensive midfield. John Chibuike, on the other hand, settled on the left nk. In just a few seconds, Rosenborg had adjusted their formation to a wide 4-1-2-3 formation with the addition of the two substitutes.

    Zachary took a cursory nce around the pitch as he waited for the throw-in. He noticed that the Aalesunds FK yers were still¡ªarrayed in the 4-4-2 formation. He wasn''t surprised, considering that they''d been using the arrangement from the beginning of the match. They hadn''t even made any substitution or adjusted their game n since they were ahead by two goals.

    Since Zachary had been watching the game from the sidelines, he didn''t spend much time analyzing the positioning of the yers. He''d done that while still on the bench and could easily make a mental map of both teammates and opponents in his mind. So, without any worries and with a calm mind, he returned his attention to Hugues Wembangomo, his countrymate from Kinshasha, who was about to take the throw-in for Aalesunds FK.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle. Hugues Wembangomo, the Aalesund''s FK right back, threw the ball along the line, trying to find Fredrik Ulvestad, the right midfielder. Thetter ran along the line, trying to connect with it, but all was in vain. Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg left-back, beat him to it. He slid in and tapped the ball out of y with an outstretched left foot.

    The linesman raised his g, signaling for another Aalesunds throw-in. However, the men in orange and blue were not in a hurry to take it. They made sure to waste a bit of time before restarting the game once again.

    Zachary could tell they''d started managing the game to run down the clock since it was already the 64th minute. They hoped to slow down the tempo and prevent Rosenborg from gaining momentum and scoring a goal.

    However, none of the Rosenborg yers would stand for that. After Hugues Wembangomo took the second throw-in, Mikael Dorsin sprang into action right away. He out-muscled Fredrik Ulvestad, the Aalesunds number-23, and headed the ball towards the defensive midfield where Jonas Svensson was waiting.

    Jonas Svensson, the Rosenborg defensive midfielder, reacted immediately and connected with the ball, directing it towards the right nk with a deft second touch.

    Cristian Gamboa, the right-back, received it close to the touchline in the right-wing with a simple but skillful first touch. Without any pause, he then started sprinting towards Aalesunds half. He was quite a fast yer and managed to dash past Fredrik Carlsen, the Aalesunds left midfielder, before continuing to the other side of the field.

 Chapter 126 - The Dangerous Substitute II

    Zachary reacted immediately on seeing Christian Gamboa, the right-back, running with the ball. He lost his marker, opened himself up within the midfield, and started matching Gamboa''s run. All the while, he made sure to stay in parallel sync with the right-back as he raced towards Aalesunds'' half through the center of the field.

    Thetter noticed him a few secondster and relinquished the ball to him.

    Zachary received Gamboa''s pass as he stepped into Aalesunds'' half. He then continued sprinting towards Aalesunds'' half as if his life depended on it.

    He intended to fulfill the coach''s expectations of him by first helping Rosenborg dictate the game''s tempo. So, he ran with the ball to attract the attention of the opposing midfielders and create space for his teammates.

    Jason Morrison, the Aalesunds defensive midfielder, soon came to close him down. However, Zachary didn''t try to dribble past the defensive midfielder since he was still conscious of the fact that he was new to the Tippeligaen.

    So, he looked across the field and then let loose a grounded through pass towards the left nk, where John Chibuike was waiting. He didn''t halt his run¡ªbut circumvented Jason Morrison and continued pushing on towards Aalesunds'' box.

    In the meantime, John Chibuike, the Rosenborg left-forward, controlled the ball like the pro he was on the left nk before speeding off into a wavy run towards Aalesunds box.

    Hugues Wembangomo, the right-back, tried to tackle him and pulled at his shirt as he cut into the pitch towards the goal. However, his speed was no match for the Rosenborg number-10 from Nigeria. John Chibuike flicked the ball forward with his left boot and beat the Aalesunds right-back for pace. He was soon bearing down on their goal with only two opposing center backs standing between him and the goalkeeper.

    John Chibuike, though, was in a tight angle and didn''t try to shoot and score. Instead, he let loose a lofted pass into the middle of the box where Tarik Elyounoussi, Rosenborg''s center forward, was lurking.

    The pass into the box found Tarik Elyounoussi unmarked. Without any dy, he carefully ced a shot towards the bottom right corner. However, the Aalesunds goalkeeper made a brilliantst-ditch save, pushing the ball slightly away from the goal with his fingertips.

    Nevertheless, Rosenborg''s chance wasn''t over yet. The ball smashed off the right post and bounced back into the field of y. The situation in the box soon turned chaotic as yers in both ck and orange jerseys chased after the ball.

    Regardless, John Chibuike made it there first. He managed to get to the ball before any other yer and unleashed another shot at goal with his left foot.

    An Aalesunds defender sprung into its path and blocked the ball, deflecting it away from the goal. Tensions were running high in the box. All the yers in the area turned to chase after the ball. But it was already far beyond them heading to the outside of the 18-yard-box.

    Zachary had not joined the fray inside the area. Instead, he''d positioned himself at the edge of the 18-yard-box and waited for an opportunity. He was a gambler by nature and was simply betting on the balling towards him when he picked out the spot. However, the goddess of luck seemed to not be on his side that day. He had been waiting for a few seconds, yet the ball was still in Aalesunds'' box. He''d been getting impatient.

    However, when he was about to head into the box and struggle for the ball with the rest of his teammates, he finally saw it deflect off a defender ande towards his direction. He smiled inwardly, thinking that he''d finally won a gamble once again.

    But an instantter, he realized the ball wasing to him on an awkward trajectory¡ªat above the head-level. With his A-graded spatial awareness, he deduced that it wouldnd behind him in nothing more than a sh. Furthermore, he could easily infer that he needed to jump high and chest the ball to the ground¡ªbefore unleashing a shot at goal. But the opposing defenders would never give him that time when he was so close to their box. Thus, he made a snap decision at that juncture, choosing to try out something he''d never attempted before.

    With his heart racing and adrenaline flooding his system, he turned around¡ªand tracked after the ball''s trajectory using his peripheral vision. When he judged that it had started its descent, he pushed off the ground with his left foot,unching and flipping himself into mid-air to meet it on the back-volley.

    **** ****

    "What the f*ck?!" Coach Johansen could not help but swear out loud on seeing what had happened on the pitch. With eyes wide, mouth agape, he watched the tall Zachary contort his six-foot-four frame mid-air and dip his upper body backward for an audacious bicycle kick just outside the 18-yard box.

    Coach Johansen couldn''t believe it.

    Zachary seemed to hang in the hair for an imusibly long time before making the perfect timing and sweetest of connections with the ball that had just deflected off the defender. What followed was an incredible upside-down finish with the boot above his head.

    Coach Johansen was shocked beyond measure as he watched the ball whizz above the yers in the box before nestling into the back of the.

    EXCITEMENT! SHOCK! And then EXCITEMENT once again! That summarized Coach Johansen''s state of mind at that moment.

    2:1.

    Rosenborg had managed to pull one back in the 67th minute. The few Rosenborg fans that had traveled to ?lesund to watch the game all started cheering a momentter. They seemed to have taken a second or two to recover from the shock of seeing Zachary''s stunning goal.

    The corners of Coach Johansen''s lips curled into a soft smile as he watched Zachary hurriedly collect the ball from the and return it to the center spot even without celebrating. He was d the boy still knew that the priority was equalizing the score as quickly as possible. It seemed that Rosenborg had a chance to make aeback. He could feel it.

    **** ****

 Chapter 127 - Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju In Action I

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    All the yers had taken their starting positions on the field. The referee looked around the pitch one more time before blowing the whistle and motioning for the match to restart.

    Leke James, one of Aalesunds'' forwards, kicked the ball back to his half, starting the game once again. Jason Morrison, the defensive midfielder in Aalesunds'' 4-4-2 diamond formation, picked the ball up deep in his half¡ªand instantly yed it towards Hugues Wembangomo, the right-back. For the next few seconds, the Aalesunds yers passed the ball around their backfield, trying their best to slow down the game''s tempo.

    However, Rosenborg was having none of that. Their yers swarmed into Aalesunds'' half like locusts and closed down nearly all the passing routes of the opponents. They yed like they had consumed a dose of some freakish energy-enhancing elixir. They were in overdrive.

    Whenever an Aalesunds yer touched the ball, a Rosenborg opponent would be upon him instantly, forcing him to relinquish it to a teammate. If the other yer received the resultant pass, another Rosenborg yer would also do the same.

    Nheless, the Aalesunds yers remained patient and continued trying to pass the ball in their backfield even under pressure. However, the Rosenborg yers also didn''t let up the heat.

    They continued using high-pressing tactics whilepressing their 4-3-3 formation to narrow down the spaces in the middle. Rosenborg continued creating an intense atmosphere around whichever opponent had the ball, making it difficult for the Aalesunds yers to distribute or receive passes.

    That way, team Rosenborg managed to force their opponents to y the ball high and long towards their two forwards. But that was what Zachary and his teammates had been anticipating.

    Verner R?nning, Rosenborg''s center back, sprang into action and intercepted the long ball before the two Aalesunds forwards could reach it. He headed it back to Lund Hansen, the keeper.

    Rosenborg had regained possession for the first time after scoring the goal. Lund Hansen didn''t dilly-dally, though. He ran towards the edge of the box and made a long throw towards the left nk where Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg number-3, was waiting.

    Mikael received the ball with a deft touch and let loose a cut-back pass to the middle of the field¡ªin the direction of Jonas Svensson, the Rosenborg defensive midfielder.

    On seeing Jonas Svensson receive the ball, Zachary ran into an open space beyond the zone of intense rival pressure. Jonas spotted him an instantter and passed the ball to him. But just as he received the pass, Fredrik Carlsen, the Aalesunds left midfielder, was upon him.

    Zachary looked around, searching for a teammate to give a pass. To his surprise, the opponents had already marked all the Rosenborg midfielders. Even Jonas Svensson, who''d just passed to him, had already been closed down by one of the Aalesunds forwards.

    It seemed the opponents had decided to use the high-pressing strategy to pressure Rosenborg into losing possession of the ball. They were marking the Rosenborg yers tightly deep in their own half.

    However, Zachary didn''t panic because of the pressure. Instead, he brought the ball to the ground with his back facing the Aalesunds left midfielder, who was almost upon him.

    He then faked going to the right, forcing Fredrik Carlsen to buy the dummy and follow his body feint. But an instantter, he braked momentarily and reversed directions, going to the left with the ball glued to his right foot. With that single move, he''d managed to lose the Aalesunds left midfielder, creating a yard of space for himself in the process.

    However, he didn''t let himself rx just yet. His ser instincts were screaming at him that Fredrick Carlsen had retraced his steps and would be upon him once more in mere seconds. So, he didn''t dilly-dally and flicked the ball further left, gaining an extra yard of space.

    Adrenaline flooded his system as he assessed the situation across the field. His mind went into a higher gear to utilize the Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju and construct a mental map of all the yers in his field of vision. All the while, he kept in motion, stepping further away from the opponents surrounding him.

    In nothing but an instant, three linear passing routes connecting to a few of his teammates appeared in his visual field. They appeared as nearly intangible threads, extending from him towards his teammates. Furthermore, Zachary realized that they were not in his mind, like the mental maps he used to keep track of other yers, but were¡ªprojected where his eyes had roamed.

    Zachary was surprised for a moment since it was the first time he''d faced such a situation. The threads almost dazzled him to the point of blundering andmitting the amateur mistake of leaving the ball behind. But luckily, he had already stepped a couple of yards away from Fredrick Carlsen, the Aalesunds midfielder. And thus, he took a couple of seconds to recollect himself and bring the ball under control before it was toote.

    In the meantime, he also used those few seconds to observe the linear passing routes and decide where to distribute the ball as quickly as possible. He could tell that the three threads in his visual field were¡ªlinked to the zones around his teammates, who were unmarked or had yards of space to work with the ball.

    Zachary smiled inwardly, realizing that the threads were the perfect guides revealing the best and most suitable passing options avable to him on the pitch. But he still had to decide where to pass since the threads were only visual guides.

    As a midfielder, he still had to use his game intelligence to determine which of the three passing routes projected in front of him would yield the best result. He could not simply base the decision on his teammate being open to receiving a pass. If he did that, he would end up distributing the ball to a teammate that was totally off form. That was uneptable. What he had to consider, though, was the performance of that teammate during that game. Only then could he release long-range passes that could have a marked impact on the match situation.

 Chapter 128 - Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju In Action II

    Zachary continued observing the threads and noted that one of them extended into an empty spot behind the Aalesunds defensive line. In nothing but an instant, he matched the thread with the mental map in his head, and everything clicked at that juncture. He managed to deduce that John Chibuike was the yer most likely to make a run from the left nk into that position behind the Aalesunds defenders.

    Zachary decided to follow the thread and pass towards the position right away since he knew well that John Chibuike, the left-forward who''de on as a substitute, was on form. The forward had even been instrumental in the build-up of Rosenborg''s first goal. There was no reason not to trust him to beat the defenders and connect with his pass.

    So, he smiled, flicking the ball further left and shrugging away Fredrick Carlsen, who''d already caught up with him once more. Without any pause, he angled his body sideways and let loose a curling lofted pass towards the other side of the field.

    The whole process of Zachary receiving the ball and releasing the pass happened over only a span of a few seconds. The Aalesunds defenders could not react quickly enough to the instant transition from midfield to attack by Rosenborg.

    As soon as Zachary unleashed the pass, John Chibuike broke away with ease from the left nk after losing Hugues Wembangomo, the Aalesunds defender marking him. He cut in behind the Aalesunds defensive line from the wing, running his life depended on it.

    In no time, he connected with Zachary''s pass after beating Aalesunds'' center backs by sheer pace. He headed the ball forward, directing it ahead of him¡ªand soon was darting like a bullet train bound for Aalesunds box. The keeper came out of the goal to meet him, but John Chibuike circumvented him with a deft touch and slotted the ball into the empty.

    2:2.

    Rosenborg had managed to score another goal in the 70th minute, equalizing the score against Aalesunds Fotballklubb. John Chibuike ran up to Zachary in the middle of the pitch and gave him a bear hug. "Nice pass and vision," he said.

    "Thank you, that was some spectacr finishing there," Zachary replied, smiling. He was in a good mood after finally improving his mastery of the Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju. He had even used it to make an incredible assist during a game.

    John Chibuike smiled and was about to reply but stopped the next instant. The rest of the Rosenborg yers had finally caught up to them and started jumping on them to celebrate the goal.

    In the meantime, the few Rosenborg fans in the Color Line Stadion started cheering and singing as if they''d already won the match. The visiting team was on fire.

    "Okay, guys," Mikael Dorsin, the acting Rosenborg captain for that match, shouted, pping his hands. "We have a match to win. Let''s go back to our positions and do our best. We shall celebrate on the bus back home after the match." He first paused for a second, like he was preparing himself to do something momentous before shouting. "ROSENBORG! VICTORY!"

    "ROSENBORG, *p*p*, ROSENBORG..."

    The rest of the yers, including Zachary, shouted in a chorus before returning to their positions on the pitch. They were all eager to restart the match and try their best to win the game.

    **** ****

    In the visiting team''s technical area, Coach Johansen''s face was all smiles as he watched the game restart. Rosenborg''seback seemed so surreal to him.

    It had only been a few minutes since he made the two substitutions. But his team had already scored two goals and equalized the score with about 20 minutes left to the final whistle. Moreover, the yers that had scored were the ones he''d just introduced into the game. Coach Johansen could feel contentment swelling within him as he followed the proceedings on the pitch.

    "I think we can now safely conclude that Zachary is a genius at distributing the ball," Trond Henriksen, the assistant head coach, said, grinning. "I still can''t believe he was able to spot thexity in Aalesunds defense and connect with John to create that goal. He''s surely going to be the man of the match if we win this game."

    "Well, let''s wait until the game ends then," Coach Johansen replied, his gaze still following the goings-on on the pitch. "In the meantime, tell Ole to warm up. We may need to rece Jonas before the game ends. He seems tired already."

    "Alright," Coach Henriksen concurred, still grinning. "I will inform him right away."

    "Thank you," Coach Johansen said, returning his attention to the pitch. He didn''t want to miss any changes in the game situation.

    Rosenborg had just regained possession after using high-pressing tactics to force Aalesunds'' defenders to y long balls once again. Jonas Svensson, Rosenborg''s defensive midfielder, jumped high deep in his own half and headed the ball back¡ªtowards Aalesunds side of the pitch.

    Zachary reacted immediately and chased after the ball. He used his tall physique to out-jump Fredrik Carlsen, the Aalesunds number-8, and headed the ball onwards to Aalesunds'' box.

    Tarik Elyounoussi, the Rosenborg center forward for the day, tracked after the ball and managed to control it with his chest in the attacking third, even while under pressure. He brought it to the ground while holding off an Aalesunds center back solely with his incredible physique.

    An additional Aalesunds yer came to close him down soon after. However, Tarik made the proper decision and passed the ball back to the middle third, where Zachary was waiting. The African boy had just opened himself up to receive the ball from the striker. Coach Johansen nodded in approval due to the boy''s magical sense of positioning on the field of y. He could always find gaps between the yers while easily losing his markers.

    In the middle third, Zachary controlled the ball with a deft first touch, looping the ball over Fredrik Carlsen, the Aalesunds midfielder, in the process. He worked the ball so naturally that Carlsen couldn''t have expected the simple loop over his head and ended up disoriented for an instant.

    Zachary quickly circumnavigated him while tracking after the ball. He then brought it to the ground with swift, seamless motions. However, before he could move a step further, Fredrik Carlsen managed to retrace his steps and pulled at his shirt. The Aalesunds midfielder gripped Zachary by the shirt, bringing him to the ground like they were in a rugby match rather than a football game. It seemed Zachary''s loop over his head had annoyed him quite a bit.

 Chapter 129 - A Perfect Comeback I

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle for a foul and awarded Rosenborg a free-kick. But he didn''t forget to show a yellow card to Fredrik Carlsen and give him a verbal warning.

    "Zachary is on form in the midfield," Coach Henriksenmented. "He''s cool-headed and the most active yer on the pitch. He is trying to get on the ball as much as possible, and you can literally see the enthusiasm in his y. What a yer! We should introduce him into the starting eleven permanently."

    Coach Johansen nodded. "I thought he would take longer to mature. But it seems I was wrong. The boy is..." He stopped mid-sentence as all his focus had returned to the field of y.

    At that instant, Zachary had just taken an unexpected lightning-fast free-kick, catching the Aalesunds yers by surprise.

    Tarik Elyounoussi, the Rosenborg center forward, got to the end of Zachary''s cheeky free-kick in the final third. He controlled the ball well even before the opponents could organize themselves into a proper defensive shape. Without any dilly-dallying, he flicked the ball forward and tried to beat the keeper, who was off his line, with a shot from mid-range. However, the keeper managed to retrace his steps quickly before punching the ball out of y.

    The referee pointed to the corner g, awarding Rosenborg a corner kick. Aalesunds had just survived conceding the third goal in the 74th minute.

    "F*ck, why are we so f*ckng unlucky," Coach Johansen couldn''t help but mumble a curse, scratching his bald head in frustration. It was the first time in years since he had intoned that many profanities during a game. He was on tenterhooks since his job was still on the line if he failed to win the match.

    "Should I tell Ole to get ready," Coach Henriksen, his assistant, asked.

    "Not yet," Coach Johansen replied, his tone firm. "I have a feeling that the opponents may start targeting our yers using fouls. It would be irresponsible not to leave a substitute on the bench as insurance against injury." He added, all the while keeping his focus on the match.

    For the next ten minutes, Rosenborg continued dictating the tempo of the game. The Rosenborg yers showcased great teamwork by keeping possession and producing pin-point passes from yer to yer. It was all Rosenborg for the time being as their football had gained rhythm and was finally flowing.

    Zachary was especially active, ying long passes, seamless short passes, and quick one-twos¡ªto grind down Aalesunds'' defense. The opposition''s yers were finding it very difficult to intercept and win back possession from him. He yed so well and even managed to unleash a long-range pass into the box in the 87th minute.

    Tarik Elyounoussi, the Rosenborg forward, out-jumped the defense and connected with the pin-point cross to nt a header towards the goal from around the penalty spot. However, Sten Grytebust, Aalesunds'' goalkeeper, was in top shape for that match. He managed to save yet another attempt at goal from Rosenborg.

    Coach Johansen was getting more fidgety and impatient as the clock on the big screen approached the 90th minute. His yers had yed well for sure. However, the goddess of luck seemed not to be on their side. They had dominated Aalesunds in theter stages of the game¡ªbut couldn''t seem to put the ball into the back of the. Balls smashed of goalposts or deflections in the Aalesunds'' box happened. But the score remained tied at 2:2 as the fourth official put up the board to indicate that there would be four minutes of added time.

    "More pressure and more crosses into the box," Coach Johansen shouted at the top of his voice, trying to rouse his yers into action. "Don''t just pass the ball around in the middle third. Feed it forward. John, start making a lot more runs into their box and help out in attack." He yelled words at the pace of a machine gun.

    **** ****

    On hearing the coach yelling, Zachary opened himself up by losing his marker in the midfield and received a return pass from Jonas Svensson, the defensive midfielder. Without wasting any time, he kicked the ball towards the other side of the pitch¡ªwhere the Rosenborg forwards were lurking.

    Tarik Elyounoussi escaped his mark to meet the long-range pass in the final third. He chested the ball down before spinning around an Aalesunds center-back. Without any pause, he flicked the ball to his left and stepped away further from the center-back. He had gained a yard of space for himself and could easily attempt a shot at goal since he was just outside the arc of the 18-yard-box.

    Zachary felt his heartbeat quicken as he watched the Rosenborg center forward raise a leg to make a shot that could potentially turn out to be the match-winner. However, to his dismay, Jason Morrison, the Aalesunds defensive midfielder, came sliding in and sent him tumbling to the ground. The challenge was so rough that Tarik even cried out loud in pain.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and awarded Rosenborg a free-kick. However, before he could do anything else, several Rosenborg yers were upon him in an instant, shouting in his face andining about the brutal foul. The referee had to take some time to calm down the yers before showing Jason Morrison a yellow card.

    Zachary, on his part, didn''t join the fray. Instead, he approached Mikael Dorsin, the acting Rosenborg captain for that match, while the other yers were stillining to the ref.

    "I want to take that free-kick," Zachary said to the veteran defender as soon as he reached his side.

    "You want to take the free-kick?" Mikael inquired, raising an eyebrow and ncing at Zachary with a pensive expression.

    "Yes," Zachary replied, his tone firm. "I''m good at taking free-kicks. I have been practicing them every day for the past two years."

    Mikael Dorsin creased a brow, first stealing a nce towards some of the other yers like Tarik Elyounoussi and Borek Dockal. Those were all suitable candidates to take the set-piece. He then returned his gaze to Zachary. "Are you confident?" He asked.

    "Yes, I''m very confident," Zachary replied solemnly.

    "Oh, well," Mikael said, smiling. "This will be hard since you''re a new yer. There are already set-piece takers in the team. However, I''ll still make it happen. You owe me a favor." His smile blossomed into a grin as he walked away towards the position of the free-kick.

    **** ****

 Chapter 130 - A Perfect Comeback II

    "They''re giving the free-kick to Zachary!" Coach Henriksen eximed after seeing Mikael call Zachary over to the position of the free-kick. "What''s wrong with Mikael today? It''s already the 92nd minute, for God''s sake. We need to convert this setpiece sessfully." He frowned, seeming quite agitated.

    "Just because he can pass the ball well doesn''t mean he can take free-kicks. He probably won''t be able to convert since free-kicks need to be practiced frequently over a long time. Zachary has been doing physicals! Where could he have gotten the time to practice setpieces?"

    "Rx," Coach Johansen said, caressing his red beard. "If there is one yer who can perform at such moments, it''s Zachary. He managed to be the top scorer of the SIA Cup by relying mainly on his free-kicks. Let''s hope he still has his touch from the academy."

    "This..." Trond Henriksen was about to continue voicing his argument but sighed and stopped himself the next instant. Coach Johansen was his boss and had the final say on the tactics and game n of Rosenborg. If he''d already made up his mind, then it was pretty useless to argue with him.

    So, Coach Trond Henriksen calmed his mind and returned his attention to the field of y. He could only hope that Zachary was as good at free-kicks as he was at passing. Otherwise, Rosenborg would have squandered their best opportunity to win the game.

    **** ****

    "My decision as captain is final," Mikael said, picking the ball from Tarik Elyounoussi, the Rosenborg center forward, and handing it to Zachary once again. "You should all have realized that there isn''t a yer among us who could have matched his level during this game. He has already scored an incredible goal and made the assist that resulted in our equalizer. As for you, Tarik, you have failed to put the ball in the back of the on multiple asions. It seems like luck is not on your side today. So, why can''t we bet on Zach, who seems to be on fire today?"

    "Have it your way," Tarik grumbled, stepping away from the free-kick position. "But don''t say I didn''t warn you." He added, turning towards Zachary. "Goalkeepers at the professional stage are unlike those in the youth levels. If you don''t use enough power, you''ll be squandering our only chance to score. But, I do wish you all the best." He turned and walked into Aalesunds box.

    "Okay," Mikael said, smiling. "They all have no issues with you taking the free-kick. So, please do your best and hit the target at the very least. And may luck be on your side." He patted Zachary''s back before also heading into the box.

    Zachary smiled slightly when his teammates agreed to leave the free-kick to him. He''d been practicing the Bend-it like-Beckham Juju in the system simtor every single day for the past year. He had long mastered it to the one hundred percent level after repeating the practice thousands of times on the natural field. It was finally time to reap the benefits of his training.

    He could feel his heart throbbing with excitement as he ced the ball on the green just outside the arc of the 18-yard box. He walked a few steps back and took a few deep breaths to calm himself.

    In no time, his mind was as stable as the sea before a storm. Feeling that he was in the right state, he started observing the situation ahead of him in Aalesunds'' box.

    It was quite a crowded area. Six yers in Aalesunds'' orange jerseys had already lined up a few yards away from him, forming a wall to defend. The rest, from both teams, had also squeezed themselves into a line just inside the box to avoid being offside while trying to connect with the iing free-kick. The situation in the area was chaotic, with tensions rising high as yers jostled each other in anticipation of the free-kick. The referee had to show yellow cards to two of Aalesunds'' yers to dissuade them from continuing their rough handling of opponents in the box.

    Zachary moved his attention to the goalkeeper after he finished analyzing the wall and the rest of the yers in the box. He observed how the tall goalkeeper moved across his line, the way he organized his defense, and his standing posture. Zachary took in all the information that could be useful to him when taking the free-kick. He didn''t want to blunder and mess up his first opportunity on a setpiece. It would be hard toe across another chance if he failed to make the free-kick count.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle after arranging the yers in the box. Zachary stopped observing the happenings in the box and took a few steps away from the ball.

    Taking a deep breath, he started with a light jog towards the ball. He then took a final jump step and angled his body at almost 45 degrees to the ground before smashing the ball with the inside of his left boot. All the while, he kept his eyes focused on the ball.

    Zachary managed to set loose a curling ball that darted around the wall of six Aalesunds yers, seemingly heading for the outside of the left post. However, while mid-flight, the spin on the ball seemed to increase. And to everyone''s surprise, it made a sharp curve¡ªtowards the inside of the left post before homing into the top right corner. The Aalesunds goalkeeper didn''t react. He remained stationary and perplexed, wondering what had just happened.

    2:3.

    Rosenborg had managed to take the lead for the first time in the 93rd minute. Zachary could hardly contain his happiness. He ran to the corner g to celebrate and even removed his shirt and threw it towards the few traveling Rosenborg fans.

    He was like a mad man yelling at the top of his lungs. He even kicked the corner g a few times due to the sheer bliss he was feeling.

    However, he wasn''t alone. The rest of his teammates came and jumped on him a momentter to celebrate the goal. They yelled like drunkards while pping his back. Meanwhile, the two hundred or so Rosenborg fans in the stands cheered on their team, singing and pping to celebrate Rosenborg''seback. A few of them near the corner g struggled to snatch Zachary''s match jersey from one another. For a while, it was pure madness in the Color Line Stadion.

 Chapter 131 - First Yellow Card & Match Ending

    "You shouldn''t have done that, my friend," Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg acting captain, said to Zachary as soon as they''d finished celebrating the goal.

    "Done what?" Zachary queried, trying to understand what the veteran defender was getting at.

    "Taken off your shirt," Mikael replied, pointing at Zachary''s bare chest shaped like a tank. "You''ve earned yourself a pointless yellow card for that. Congrattions!" He added, shaking his head.

    "Oh, crap," Zachary couldn''t help but curse out loud on hearing Mikael''s inference. He inclined his head and looked back towards the middle of the pitch. He noticed that the referee was dutifully waiting for him with a yellow card in hand. "It was just in the heat of the moment. I totally forgot about the damn FIFAw about not removing one''s shirt for a goal celebration." He tried his best to exin to the acting captain.

    The rest of the Rosenborg yers around him whistled andughed at that. They were still in a jolly mood after achieving the perfecteback with only a minute to the final whistle.

    "Oh, well, I understand as I would have done the same if I was in your shoes," Mikael said, grinning and patting his back. "I''m sure the coaches will too. However, you''ll get a problem with the sporting director and the publicity guys. That was a match-winning jersey you just gave away without consulting the club. They''ll be on your case since they would have preferred to use it in one of the promotional events."

    "Oh!" Zachary frowned, stealing a nce at the stands, where one of the fans¡ªan obviously teenage boy had just grabbed his shirt. He was already folding it like a prized possession and seemed ready to stow it away. "Should I request him to return it?" He asked the acting captain.

    "Oh, no, you can''t do that," Mikael said, his voice rising a little. "Once a jersey goes into the fans, then it''s no longer ours¡ªbut theirs. That''s an unwritten rule everyone follows. So, forget about it and pick another jersey from the bench. You better hurry coz the ref seems quite impatient."

    "Okay, then," Zachary concurred before making his way out of his teammates and jogging towards Rosenborg''s technical area. Without wasting any time, he picked up a new number-33 ck Rosenborg jersey from a grinning Trond Henriksen, who said a few congrattory words to him. In only a few seconds, he returned to his position in the middle third of the pitch and was ready for the match restart.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    However, no sooner had he settled into his position than the referee blew his whistle and ran up to him. Zachary could only smile wryly as the stern-looking referee presented him with the first yellow card in his professional career. He couldn''t believe he''d gotten his first booking from a goal celebration. Nheless, the card didn''t dampen his mood in the slightest. He still felt drunk in happiness after scoring the goal.

    The match restarted a few seconds after Zachary had received the yellow card. The Rosenborg yers didn''t allow Aalesunds any opportunity to dictate the game. They fought hard to get back possession immediately after the restart. When the ball returned to them, they slowed down the game''s tempo by exchanging abination of one-touch or two-touch passes in the defensive and middle thirds of the ying field. That way, they managed to keep the opposition at bay and held on to their one-goal lead.

    When the referee blew the final whistle, every Rosenborg yer on the pitch went mad with excitement. Some of them ran around the field like a bunch of kids who''d seen Santa on Christmas Eve. Others came up to Zachary and gave him bear hugs to celebrate the victory.

    Zachary felt like he''d integrated further into his team after ying the match. He had grown to love the few Rosenborg fans that had traveled so far to give the team their support and felt at home among his teammates.

    It was a feeling unlike before, where he had been only ying as hiredbor without having the team at heart. At that moment, he saw how the fans were waving at him excitedly as he went around the stadium. Zachary realized that he''d started regarding the team as a new home.

    The celebrations ended after few minutes. The Rosenborg yers began leaving the pitch after shaking hands with the referees and opponents. Zachary trailed after a few of them, intending to return to the dressing room, take a shower as quickly as possible, and cool down his sore muscles. However, Coach Johansen intercepted him at the entrance to the tunnel.

    "Nice game," the coach said, giving Zachary a bear hug. He seemed much happier than ever before. "That was some incredible performance. You''re the man of the match for this game. How do you feel?"

    "Terrific, of course," Zachary replied, grinning. "However, more than anything, I would like to quickly take a shower and then swallow down some water and energy bars."

    Coach Johansenughed at that. "That''ll have to wait as duty calls. You''re with me for the post-match interviews and press conference. Come along. The press guys are already waiting for us." He said, leading the way.

    Zachary trailed after him, frowning. "Do I really have to go? Can''t someone else, like the captain, for instance, go?" He asked after he''d fallen into step with the coach.

    "Of course not," Coach Johansen replied without stopping. "The press will want to interview the new star of Rosenborg¡ªthe person that helped us stage aeback aftering on as a substitute. That person is you and, there''s no way around this. You can be absent for the press conference, but you have to take the post-match interview since you were the man of the match."

    "Oh," Zachary said, continuing to match Coach Johansen''s step.

    Coach Johansen seemed to realize that he wasn''t that excited about meeting the press and stopped for a moment. "Why do you seem down when you are going for your first interview?" He asked, inclining his head slightly to observe Zachary''s face.

    "It''s not that I dread the press or anything like that," Zachary replied. "It''s just that I''m not excited by a press meeting after a game. What''s even the point? The fans and pundits already saw everything on the field of y! Why ask the yer about it again right after the match? Moreover, I have seen a few journalists ask annoying questions during press conferences and interviews. I wouldn''t want to be on the other end of those."

    Coach Johansenughed at that, patting his back. "Be honest. Are you sure that you''re not just scared by the thought of being in front of a camera? That was a hell of a lot of words for a simple question!"

    "Not at all," Zachary replied, making sure his voice remained firm. "Let''s just go for the damn press conference." Of course, he wouldn''t admit that he was a ''little'' scared of standing in front of the camera. It was his first time getting called to a post-match interview in both his lives. So, he was at a loss of how to approach it.

    "Okay, then," Coach Johansen said, smiling. "Don''t worry about anything unnecessary. Just be yourself, and reply with brief answers. I''m sure you''ll do okay." He then led the way to the area designated for the press.

    **** ****

 Chapter 132 - Post-Match Interview & Analysis

    "That bicycle kick was something else," Paul Otterson said, shaking his head. "Zachary has already elevated his skills to a level we can''t even imagine."

    "The setpiece was even more refined than in his days back in the academy," Kendrick Otterson chipped in. "He must have put in a lot of effort to reach such a level."

    "Nah," Kasongo said, shaking his head. "It''s not just effort, but talent. No matter how much you train, if youck the talent, you won''t manage to make such an improvement in a year."

    The other two sighed at that before casting their gazes back at the LCD-TV t-screen atop one of the tables on one side of their kitchen at Moholt. The three of them had watched the match via the TV2 Sportskanalen¡ªone of the leading Norwegian sports channels since they couldn''t travel all the way to ?lesund.

    When Zachary scored the first goal with a bicycle kick, they''d all jumped up in shock. Based on his academy days, they couldn''t have imagined he would try such a stunt during an official game. On the other hand, they hadn''t been surprised in the slightest by the second goal. They knew how good Zachary was at taking setpieces. He could even hit the goal post twenty out of twenty times from the edge of the 18-yard-box if he so desired on a good day. Finding the back of the was merely a walk in the park for him.

    "Guys," Kendrick said, shaking his head. "We should up our training intensity during the next few months. I feel like if we don''t make it to the Rosenborg team this year, we''ll never get a chance to y with him again."

    "True," Paul said, smiling wryly. "But we still can''t rush things. He develops much faster than us, that''s for sure. But if we keep on training with the intent to catch up to him, I believe that we''ll one day also y at the same level as him."

    "Oh, my!" Kendrick eximed, gazing at his brother''s face intently. "What is that in your eye?" He asked, seemingly agitated.

    "Did you notice an abnormality in my eye," Paul probed, his voice rising a bit.

    "Let me take a look," Kendrick replied, moving closer to his brother. "Is that a flicker of intelligence that I see in your eyes? That''s truly weird!"

    "Kendrick," Paul yelled, standing up and balling his fists. "I''ll fight you today. I''m tired of your verbal jabs."

    Kendrickughed at that, not the least bit worried about his brother''s threats.

    "Guys," Kasongo chipped in, pointing at the screen. "Zachary is on TV. You have to watch this. He''s the one representing the team for the post-match interview."

    On hearing Kasongo''s reminder, the two brothers stopped their squabbling¡ªand returned their attention to the TV screen, where Zachary''s solemn face had just appeared.

    "Aya," Paul said, smiling. "He still looks like he wants to beat up someone. Why can''t he smile for the camera?"

    "Shhhhh!" The two others shushed him, more or less in unison.

    "The press conference is starting. Let''s listen to Zachary first." Kendrick said, increasing the volume on the television with the remote.

    "Zachary, there was quite a lot going on in the second half," the reporter said, his voiceing to them through the TV speakers. "How do you feel aftering on as a substitute and helping your team stage the perfecteback?"

    "Well, I feel excited," Zachary said sinctly and solemnly.

    "What went through your mind at the time when your coach asked you to head onto the pitch? Did you believe that you would score two goals and make an assist at that time?"

    "Of course, I believed that my team, Rosenborg, could stage aeback and win the game," Zachary replied, still wearing a stern expression. "But I wasn''t even 50% sure that I would score. Football is a team sport. There are eleven yers on the field. Anyone can get the goal and help the team win. It just depends on who gets the opportunity."

    "So, you believed you could win at the time?"

    "Yes, of course," Zachary replied, his voice firm. "I always head into every game with the sole belief that I''ll emerge as the victor. When I entered the game, all that was on my mind was how to create opportunities and score. I had been watching the game from the sidelines and already knew we could do it. That was what drove me to give my all out there on the pitch."

    "This is only your second game in Rosenborg colors. Didn''t you feel any pressure when you came on at such a time when your team was two goals down?"

    "Nope," Zachary replied. "Just excitement at finally getting the opportunity to perform."

    "Let''s talk about the goals," the reporter continued. "Your first goal was really out of this world."

    "Oh, yes," Zachary replied, smiling for the first time on screen. "I just tried my luck with a bicycle-kick and luckily hit the target. I also couldn''t believe it at the time. It was my first time trying out something like that."

    "Then the second goal..."

    "For the second goal, it was easy for me since it was in a very suitable position. I merely had to focus and hit the ball right to score."

    "We saw quite a bit of contention amongst you and your teammates before you took the free-kick. What was going on?"

    "Nothing much," Zachary said solemnly. "We were only discussing the best strategy for taking the free-kick amongst ourselves. And you should know that since it was the final minute, things can get intense as everyone on the team tries to offer their advice."

    "Was that really it?"

    "What else could it have been?" Zachary countered with a question, frowning slightly. But the expression made him seem all the more like he was about to punch someone.

    "No worries, Zachary," the reporter said hurriedly. "I was only asking to determine why you were the person to take the free-kick out of all your teammates."

    "That''s simple," Zachary said, his expression softening. "I was given the responsibility to take the free-kick because I was the yer with the best luck on the team at that moment."

    "Luck?"

    "Yes, my luck was the highest at the time," Zachary said solemnly.

    "Moving on," the reporter intoned, seemingly defeated by Zachary''s response. "Are you really eighteen, as they say? We saw you bullying the Aalesunds midfielders out there, sometimes by simply relying on your physique. You didn''t look like an eighteen-year-old out there."

    "Well, how old do you think I am, then?" Zachary countered with a question, smiling slightly. He appeared to have already gotten used to standing in front of the camera.

    "At first nce, I would say you''re at least twenty-five," the reporter said jokingly. "That is especially so since we got to see your well-defined muscles when you were celebrating your second goal."

    "Well, I eat well. There''s nothing much to it."

    The reporterughed at that before saying: "Zachary, it was a pleasure having you here. Congrattions on bing the man of the match. I wish you a sessful career. May we see you here again, soon."

    "Thank you," Zachary replied, and his image disappeared from the screen¡ªreced by the three live television pundits in the studio.

    "There you have it," Samantha dset, the female presenter, said, using the Norwegiannguage. "That was Zachary Bemba having an interview with v Brusveen¡ªour reporter at the Color Line Stadion in ?lesund¡ªwhere the match between Aalesunds Fotballklubb and Rosenborg Ballklub has just ended."

    "Zachary is a yer that likes to win," she continued, the corners of her lips curling into a smile. "And, of course, he''s a yer who eats well. Those were his words."

    The other two in the studioughed at that.

    "Harald," Samantha said, turning towards a male in a suit on her left. "You were the on-pitch pundit for Rosenborg''s game against Strindheim during mid-week. What do you make of him?"

    "The boy is talented, for sure," Harald Brattbakk, the Rosenborg legend, said, smiling. "Mid-week, he produced that incredible assist and scored that shocker from outside the 18-yard box. We all said; oh well, he was just against a second division team. But this time around, he was against Aalesunds, the team currently on top of the table. Yet, he still managed to dominate the midfield and even score two incredible goals. What a yer!"

    "You''re absolutely right, Harald," Andr¨¦ Rekdal, the other pundit for the day, chipped in. "I have just taken a look at his game stats just now. He yed for 29 minutes. In those 29 minutes, he made 72 touches on the ball and had a 97% passpletion rate. He produced five key passes, which all resulted in clear shots on goal. He also won quite the number of ground and aerial duels in midfield, helping his team dictate the tempo. And of course, we can''t forget his incredible assist and the two goals. What a yer, indeed!"

    "Do you think that the two goals will make it into Tippeligaen''s monthly best list?" The presenter inquired.

    "Absolutely," Andr¨¦ Rekdal replied right away, his tone confident. "Especially the first goal. That was a shocker that we haven''t seen here in the Tippeligaen in forever. Have we?" He looked at Harald inquiringly.

    "Not in any of the matches that I can remember," Harald replied, shaking his head.

    "Well, I thought so too," Andr¨¦ said, smiling. "That bicycle-kick was a shocker that should be among the top goals of the season. The second goal was also out of this world. The way Zachary applied that spin on the ball to curl it over the defense was simply genius. I really don''t know where Rosenborg has been hiding this boy. Harald, can you enlighten us?"

    "Funny question." Haraldughed. "I''m not on Rosenborg''s management. They''re simply my former employers."

    "To answer that question," Samantha dset, the presenter, cut in. "Zachary has been in the NF Academy for the past two years. He yed in some of the smaller internationalpetitions like the Riga and SIA Cups and performed quite well."

    "Of course, we can''t forget his performance in the Norway Youth Cup," Harald chipped in, smiling. "That was the first time I saw him on the pitch. He was the MVP of that tournament."

    "There''s too much that we don''t know about Zachary." Samantha chuckled. "But Coach Johansen says that he''s one of Rosenborg''s secret weapons for this season."

    "But not so secret, any longer," Andr¨¦ said, grinning. "The other teams are now aware of the threat he poses on the pitch. I''m guessing that plenty of them are already devising means on how to handle him during the next few games."

    "Yes, exactly," Harald concurred. "In the past two games, I felt like he was allowed free reign in the middle of the field since very few were aware of his skill level. But he should be facing some hard times when the coaches start targeting him."

    "Well, let''s wait and see how he performs against Troms? mid-week," Samantha chipped in. "For now, let''s check out the table standings after the first two matches of the Tippeligaen''s Match-Day-7. Rosenborg has moved into third ce with 13 points after their victory today. Ahead of them is Str?msgodset Toppfotball in the second position, also with 13 points, but they y tomorrow. And in the first ce is still Aalesunds Fotballklubb also at 13 points. This quite the table! Three teams tied at 13 points."

    "The Tippeligaen is turning out to be verypetitive this season," Andr¨¦, the pundit, chipped in. "It''s no longer the old days of the Harald''s where Rosenborg used to dominate everything."

    "True, that," Harald replied, smiling. "But with the new secret weapon, who knows? Maybe, this is another golden age of Rosenborg..." His voice died away mid-sentence as Kendrick had reduced the volume of the screen.

    The three boys then sat in silence, mulling over the info they had just gotten. They were too shocked by Zachary''s performance after hearing his detailed match stats.

    "Tomorrow, I am waking up at five to train," Kendrick said after a moment.

    "Me too," Both Kasongo and Paul Otterson replied, more or less in unison. They had set their priorities straight after watching Zachary''s performance on the professional stage.

    **** ****

 Chapter 133 - A Day-off I

    Zachary woke up quitete the morning after the Aalesunds game. He was suffering from post-match fatigue and wished he could justy in bed all day without a care for anything in the world.

    He stretched out an arm and picked his phone from the bedside table. When he switched it on to check the time, he was startled to find out that it was already past eleven in the morning. For the first time since arriving in Norway, he''d broken his routine and woken upte due to sheer exhaustion.

    The previous night, they''d left the Color Line Stadion in ?lesund when it was already 9:00 PM since the match against Aalesunds Fotballklubb had ended a few minutes past 8:00 PM. The journey back by bus had taken more than five hours. They''d only managed to arrive at Lerkendal close to three in the morning. Although Zachary had yed less than thirty minutes in the game, he still felt dog tired because of the long journey and going to bedte. He didn''t feel like doing anything that day.

    He felt like he had a hungover and yearned to dislocate his spirit from his body¡ªjust to let his soul go wherever souls go to be Zen. Then he wouldn''t have to feel the brunt of the exhaustion he''d umted from the previous day''s exertions.

    However, he knew he couldn''t give in to the temptation of closing his eyes and entering dreand once again. He understood he had to go through his post-match recovery routine immediately¡ªso that he could ready himself for the next Rosenborg fixture on Wednesday.

    So, he forced himself to get out of bed and begrudgingly started doing the needful. He understood he had to put in a lot of sweat, effort, and determination if he needed to improve his skills quickly. He couldn''t just depend on the system.

    So, he went through his post-match yoga routine to stretch his sore muscles, took a cold bath, and then destroyed a sumptuous breakfast in a matter of minutes. A little whileter, he washed up and settled in a sofa to rx. He''d recovered to some extent and regained some energy to face the day. But he was at a loss of what to do for the next few hours.

    Coach Johansen had given all the yers who''d participated in the match apulsory free day that Sunday. He had insisted that every yer take the day off to rest and only return to training the following Monday. So, Zachary didn''t need to go to either the gym or the training ground that day. But since he was so used to practicing all the time, he couldn''t decide¡ªhow to use thepulsory free time.

    Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!

    His phone vibrated on the nearby table as he was still thinking about his dilemma. He picked it up and nced at the screen. It was Marta Romano, his former ssmate, calling. He let it continue vibrating, hoping that the caller at the other end would get the impression he wasn''t avable at the moment. He didn''t want to deal with Marta, especially with the fatigue he was battling that morning. Nevertheless, Marta didn''t stop calling until he was¡ªforced to pick up on the third time around.

    "Hello, Marta," Zachary spoke into the phone, leaning back into the sofa and crossing his legs on the table. "Long time, no see," he added.

    "Hello, Zachary," Marta''s voice, colored by an Italian ent, said from the other side of the line. "Yes, it has been quite a few months since we linked up. So, can we meet up, maybe at City Syd? And don''t try to turn me down by iming that you have training. I know for sure that yers are given days off after ying away games."

    Zachary could only smile wryly. "Okay then, let''s link up at City Syd for a coffee," he said. If he had to be honest with himself, he would admit he wanted to see Marta once again.

    They''d been acquaintances ever since they''d joined the Tr?ndg International School for their upper secondary education. She''d even tutored him whenever he found hardships in some subjects. However, things started going south and awkward between them when Marta''s disposition, especially when around him, took an unexpected turn.

    The previous year, just after the Riga Cup, Marta had been so forward with him, trying to express her feelings. Zachary, of course, was tempted by her advances since it somehow felt good to be chased after by a beautiful and charming girl who was also easygoing.

    But every time Zachary was about to take thatst step, there was always a voice in his head, dissuading him fromplicating his rtionship with the girl. It was simr to the inner voice he''d always heard¡ªback when he was about to do something wrong during his younger years.

    At one time, he''d almost stealthily stolen a spoon of sugar from his grandma''s stash, but the voice had appeared and discouraged him from going ahead with the deed. He''d experienced a simr situation when he thought about bing intimate with Marta.

    Moreover, he wasn''t so head over heels for her that he would ignore his base instincts. So, he''d created some distance between them and tried to maintain their just-friends connection. But Marta hadn''t been dissuaded by Zachary''s offhandish behavior at the time. Instead, she''d upped her attempts at flirting with him. Zachary had felt a bit ufortable at the time¡ªthat he outright started avoiding her. But he still missed herpany.

    "Zach, are you still there?" Marta queried, her voice rising slightly.

    "Yes, of course," Zachary replied, recollecting his thoughts. For a moment there, he''d lost himself in the not-so-good old days. "What time should we link up?" He inquired after a moment.

    "Let''s say 2:30 PM," Marta replied. "Is that okay on your side?"

    "That''s okay with me."

    "Then great," Marta said excitedly. "See you in thirty minutes, then."

    Thirty minutester, the two of them sat opposite each other in one of the coffee shops at City Syd. They sat in silence for a while, with neither trying to break the ice.

    "Would you like to have anything," a waitress came up to their table and asked.

    "A coffee would be nice," Zachary replied, inclining his head and shing a smile at the waitress. He was thankful for her timely interruption to break the awkward moment.

    "Anything to eat?" The waitress probed, smiling back.

    "I''ll have a sour cream coffee cake. Also, add on a few bacon strips. Thank you."

    "And what will you be having, miss?" She asked, turning towards Marta on the other side of the table.

    "The same as he''s having," Marta replied, shing her a brief smile.

    "Okay, your order will being up in a minute or two," the waiter replied before walking away.

    As soon as the waiter departed, the same awkward silence from before descended on their table once again. The silent atmosphere around their table at that moment was too nerve-wracking.

    "How have you been?" Zachary said, wishing to put a halt to the awkward moment.

    "Same as always," Marta replied, a smile that seemed forced rather than natural, outlining her face. But her brown eyes that matched well with her dark hair made her look more beautiful, nevertheless. "And you?" She queried after a moment.

    "I have been doing okay," Zachary replied, wishing more than anything to make the atmosphere between them less awkward. "I''m now ying for the senior team. I guess I''m partway to fulfilling some of my dreams."

    Marta smiled more naturally that time around. "I watched your game on TV with my sister. That was some incredible performance you put up¡ªout there against Aalesunds. Your two goals were out of this world. They''re even bing a sensation on social media." She sighed and then smiled.

    "Oh," Zachary said, first at a loss of what to say in reply to all thepliments. But he seemed to remember his manners a momentter and added: "Thank you. I only tried doing my best in the game, and things just worked out."

    When they started talking about football, the conversation started flowing more naturally. For a while, the two discussed Rosenborg, the Tippeligaen, the Norwegian Football Cup, and even the uing Europa League. A little bit afterward, the waitress brought their orders, and they ate while continuing their discussion. That way, half an hour passed by in a sh, and they seemed to have covered everything that they could about the current news in football. The awkward atmosphere returned to the table once again.

    "By the way," Marta said, breaking the awkwardness that time around. "I wanted to meet you to tell you something." She had an air of mncholy about her like she was about to deliver some bad news.

    "Oh." Zachary creased a brow, wondering whatever it was Marta wanted to discuss. He couldn''t help but wonder whether she was about to suggest that they try going out first and then cultivate their feelings together at ater stage.

    "It''s not what you''re thinking," Marta hurriedly said, seeming to have read his mind. "I only wanted to meet you to say my goodbyes. I''m leaving Trondheim soon. I''ll be leaving tomorrow, for good." She added, sighing.

 Chapter 134 - A Day-off II

    "You''re leaving Trondheim!" Zachary eximed, his voiceing out slightly higher than intended. "What happened? What about your music school? Didn''t you say you still had a few more years toplete your studies there? Don''t tell me it was me¡ª" He stopped mid-sentence, inclining his head slightly to hold Marta''s gaze for a brief moment.

    "Oh,e on, Zach!" Marta said, the corners of her lips curling into a smile. "You''re not such an Adonis to make me lose myself and escape from Trondheim because of you. At least not for the moment." She added, her tone filled with honesty.

    "Oh," Zachary said, raising a brow.

    "You seem to doubt me," she said, pouting. "I only wished for us to get together since we were both single and seemed to get along well at the time." She paused for a moment as if she was trying to recall past fond memories. "But when you showed no interest in me, I stopped bothering you," she continued. "Isn''t that so, Zach?" She held Zachary''s gaze.

    "That''s true," Zachary agreed, nodding. For the past few months, he didn''t get any odd messages from Marta. So, maybe, what she''d said was true. "But why are you leaving Trondheim, then?"

    "That''s actually thanks to you," Marta replied, smiling.

    Zachary frowned, wondering what she was getting at. She was moving in circles, saying that it was not his fault she was moving away¡ªthen a whileter, she said the opposite. Zachary was in a state of emotional disarray.

    "Don''t get the wrong idea," Marta hurriedly said. "I''m just leaving to chase my true dreams in Italy once again. That''s because I saw how you were performing and ying in Rosenborg. Do you remember when I told you that I used to y football?"

    "Yes." Zachary nodded. He recalled that at one time, Marta had mentioned something about being a fan of AC Mn and ying football when she was younger. But she had lost the love of the sport due to some setbacks.

    "Well, I''ve finally resolved to head back to Mn and restart my career as a youth league football yer," Marta said, smiling slightly.

    "Oh," Zachary said, feeling a burden off his heart. If she was heading back home to chase her dreams, that could be a good thing. "What about your music?" He asked after a moment of deliberation.

    "Music was never my dream," Marta replied, her tone firm. "That was my sister''s dream. I only followed her here because of the circumstances at the time. Sorry, I don''t want to talk about those now. They''re a bit too personal. My childhood dream, though, was always to turn professional and maybe represent Italy one day." Her voice was brimming with hope and confidence.

    "Then go for it," Zachary said, smiling. "But are you going to be able to catch up with the rest? You know that football is the sort of sport where you have to train daily to maintain and improve your skill."

    Marta smiled. "I''m not sure about that," she said, "but I''ll try anyway. When I saw you scoring those two goals, I couldn''t resist my passion for the sport any longer. So, I''ll give it my all and try to seed."

    "Okay, then," Zachary replied. "I wish you luck and will miss you."

    "Oh, that warms my heart," Marta said jokingly. "But will you really miss me? Mn is just five hours away from here. You cane and visit at any time."

    "We''ll see," Zachary said perfunctorily. "Is your sister going with you?"

    "No, she will remain here in Trondheim chasing her dream," Marta replied, shaking her head. "I tried to get her to leave with me back to Mn, but she refused. She has long fallen in love with the lifestyle here."

    The two of them continued making small talk for a few more minutes until it was finally time to say their goodbyes. Zachary wished her good luck and a safe journey while hugging her. Marta, on the other hand, requested him to keep in touch while returning the hug. After that, they parted their ways on a good note.

    **** ****

    As Marta Romano was leaving City Syd, she received a call from Grant Anderson. She frowned, cursing inwardly as that was the umpteenth time he was calling her that day. But she decided to halt first on the sidewalk, pick up the call, and clear up the issues with him for once. Otherwise, her troubles would fall onto her sister when she left Trondheim the following day.

    "Hello, Grant," she spoke into the phone after epting the call. "What else do you want? Haven''t we already cleared everything?" She asked, making sure to keep her voice calm and steady.

    "Oh, my little Marta," the voice at the other end said, taking on a cryptic tone. "I already said that no one escapes from me. It doesn''t matter whether you already repaid your debt. What you did wrong was that you didn''t fulfill one of your promises to me? And I''ll have you meet the end of your promise in any way I can. That includes using your sister." He added, seemingly amused.

    Marta did not seem surprised by the caller''s threat but instead smiled. "I knew you might say that. So, I left you a present in your mailbox. When you see it, I''m sure you''ll have a change of heart."

    "What present?"

    "You''ll know when you open your mailbox," Marta replied in a cheerful voice, ending the call afterward. She then hummed an Italian song as she rmenced her trekking towards the bus stop.

    Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!

    Her phone vibrated once more when she was about to make it to the bus stop. She picked up the call without looking at the screen because she already knew who was calling. "Yes, Grant," she said.

    "Damn, bitch," the voice at the other end yelled to the point that she''d to move the phone away from her ear. "Where did you get that ledger? We''re not ying games here. Where''s the original?"

    "The original is somewhere away very safe," Marta replied, halting mid-step and smiling. "If you keep out of my way, it''ll remain that way. But if you mess with me again, I''ll let all that''s in the ledger blow up in your face."

    "I could just kidnap your sister and easily get the ledger from you."

    "But if you do that, you''ll attract the attention of your old man and the others," Marta said, struggling to keep her voice firm and steady. "I believe I don''t need to tell you what will follow if that happens."

    "Believe me when I say that I''ll get you back for this one day," the voice at the other end said. "Mark my words."

    "But until then, you can do nothing to me," Marta intoned, "Goodbye," she ended the call, taking a deep breath to calm herself down. Talking to grant had robbed her of all her energy.

    "Let''s hope things remain calm until I can get a better solution," she mumbled, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. She continued to the bus stop. She had to prepare to leave Trondheim with the first flight the following day.

    **** ****

 Chapter 135 - First Time On Starting Line-Up

    After Zachary''s day off on Sunday, he spent the next couple of days training like a maniac. As a supplement to the team training sessions, he spent the rest of his time either in the gym or going through additional training drills alone at Lerkendal. On Monday evening, he even stayed on the training ground all the way until eight in the night, steadily working on his set-piece-taking skills.

    Zachary understood that if he honed his set-piece techniques to the highest level possible, he would surely obtain a starting position on the starting line-up. There was no doubt in his mind about that. As long as he sustained a high conversion rate with free-kicks, there was no way the coach would leave him on the bench since a good set-piece taker gave the team a surefire option to goals. So, Zachary spent a lot of time practicing either on the pitch or in the G.O.A.T Skills Simtor.

    Time shed by quickly, and it was soon Tuesday evening. It was time for Coach Johansen to name the match squad once more.

    "Good evening, everyone," Coach Johansen said after everyone had taken their seats in the Rosenborg tactics room.

    "Good evening, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    Coach Johansen nodded. "I believe that we''re ready to face Troms? Idrettg tomorrow at 7:00 PM here at Lerkendal. We''ve already refined the tactics and game n in the training sessions during thest two days. Haven''t we?" He swept his gaze across the room.

    "Yes, coach."

    "That''s good," the coach said, smiling slightly. "We were able to perform well in the second half of the game against Aalesunds on the weekend. I need us to build on that momentum and continue winning. I need focus and creativity on the pitch. Remember that we''re a strong team. We don''t need to fear the opponents. They are the ones who should be scared of us. So, y with confidence, y with zeal, and above all, y as a team. That''s the only way to keep on winning and return to the top of the table. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach."

    Coach Johansen nced at his watch before continuing. "It''s alreadyte. We already spent the whole evening on those corner kick drills, and I''m sure you must all be very tired. So, I won''t take up much of your time this evening." He smiled, stepping towards the screen where a 4-3-3 formation had just appeared.

    "We''ll still y with the 4-3-3 formation during tomorrow''s game," the coach said, pointing towards the screen. "However, I''ve made a few changes to the formation to help us amodate new promising yers in our first team. Instead of ying with one holding midfielder here¡ª" He paused for a moment point at the position on the screen. "We shall y with two holding midfielders. That means that the two holding midfielders will remain defense-oriented until I say otherwise. The rest will y as nned with no changes to what I require from them on the pitch..."

    Zachary listened intently as the coach continued borating on the main points of the formation and game n for the next few minutes. Although he''d promised he wouldn''t take long, he still went over even the simplest of points, trying to exin them to the yers. It seemed he hoped to imnt the information into his yers'' minds by sheer force of will.

    Nheless, none of the yers, including Zachary, raised a singleint. They were all on their best behavior and listened with rapt attention. They all wanted to be in the good books of the coach. That was especially so since the coach was about to announce the squad for the next fixture. Not a single one of them would risk annoying him with somexity in attention during the meeting. With that kind of atmosphere in the tactics room, the minutes shed by¡ªand a whileter, Coach Johansen got to the point of naming the match squad for the game against Troms? Idrettg.

    "Okay, I will now begin naming the starting eleven in our 4-3-3 formation," the coach intoned, smiling slightly.

    "Lund Hansen will be our keeper, as always. The four defenders will be Mikael Dorsin, Tore Reginiussen, Stefan Strandberg, and Cristian Gamboa. Our two defensive midfielders that will act as the double-pivot during the game will be Mike Jensen and Jonas Svensson. Zachary Bemba will y as our attacking midfielder behind the forwards toplete our triangr midfield." The coach paused, casting a nce at Zachary, who was seated at the very back. "Are we together, Zachary? Is everything clear?" He asked.

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied solemnly. "Everything is clear." Although he was wearing a stern face, it was just a facade to match the atmosphere in the room. But he was bursting with joy on the inside as it was his first time making Rosenborg''s starting eleven. His spirits were already bounding higher when he thought about how he would be starting the match against Troms? Idrettg the following day. Nevertheless, he forced himself to calm down and continue listening to the coach.

    "And finally," Coach Johansen continued, "we have Tobias Mikkelsen, Tarik Elyounoussi, and Nicki Nielsen as the three forwards. Nicki will y as the center-forward through the middle, while Tarik and Tobias will be on the left and right nks, respectively. That''s is it for the starting eleven."

    "On the bench," the coach continued without a pause. "We have Daniel ?rlund, Brede Moe, Verner R?nning, Ole Selnaes, Mix Diskerud, Borek Dockal, and John Chibuike. That''s it for the squad."

    "Any questions?" Coach Johansen asked after announcing the squad.

    All the yers, including Zachary, remained silent. The coach had gone over the game n several times over the past three days. Everyone was already tired of hearing it. And, of course, they wouldn''t dare question the coach about the line-up since that was a forbidden thing to do in a football team. The coaches had the final say about the line-ups. No one else, not even the club chairman, had the right to question the coach about them. The yers couldn''t do so either.

    Okay, that''s great then," Coach Johansen said, smiling. "Since there are no questions, let''s call it a day. Those that didn''t make the squad, please work harder. As I promised, I''ll surely give you an opportunity if you keep true to your football."

    "For yers on the squad, the game is starting tomorrow at 7:00 PM. So, we''ll meet at two in the afternoon to begin preparations. Don''t bete. Have a good night."

    As soon as Coach Johansen concluded his address, the yers began making their way out of the tactics room. Zachary exchanged a few words with some of his teammates, like Mikael Dorsin. They congratted him on making the squad before they exited the tactics room.

    A whileter, Zachary left Lerkendal and reached his apartment thirty minutester. No sooner had he stepped into his living room than a system notification sounded in his mind.

    "DING"

    "The user haspleted a hidden system mission: Join the Rosenborg Starting Eleven before Match Day 9 of the Tippeligaen," the AI''s voice sounded in his mind.

    "The user has earned 500 Juju-points forpleting the mission."

    "Please continue working hard to unlock more hidden missions."

    **** ****

 Chapter 136 - Endorsement Deal Offers I

    Wednesday, May 8, 2013.

    **** ****

    Zachary nced at his watch and realized it was already 8:30 AM. So, he made quick work of his breakfast, brushed his teeth, and exited his apartment with all the haste he could muster. The previous night, Emily, his agent, had informed him over the phone that twopanies were interested in entering endorsement contracts with him. He was on his way to meet with her and discuss the way forward.

    However, he''d just realized he was almost runningte since he had first taken the time to go through a stretching routine.

    Despite his excitement over the prospect of winning an endorsement deal, his football career was still his priority. He needed to keep his muscles warm and ready for the gameter that evening. He couldn''t break his pre-match conditioning routine just for an appointment. So, he had only managed to leave his apartment with only thirty minutes left to the scheduled time of the meeting.

    He descended the stairs of his apartment like the wind¡ªand was out into the city''s fresh air in a matter of seconds. He noticed that the just-risen sun, shining softly on the streets, had already brought with it a flurry of early-morning activity to Trondheim. Traffic was busy that morning as if the roads were a yset that came with many automobiles and pedestrians.

    Zachary didn''t continue to the bus stop, as usual. Instead, he stopped by the roadside, waiting for his taxi to arrive.

    He had already called the taxi service before leaving his apartment. He couldn''t wait for the bus since he was already runningte.

    He didn''t have to wait long since the taxipanies in Norway were very efficient. Only two minutester, a ck Audi pulled up beside him. Without any dy, he boarded and paid the fee. A whileter, he was on his way to Trondheim Square¡ªto meet up with Emily.

    The taxi driver used several shortcuts, evading the streets with bustling traffic that morning. Zachary managed to reach his destination in only twenty-five minutes. He strengthened his resolve to buy a car as soon as possible after experiencing the convenience of a private vehicle in Trondheim firsthand. He had long started feeling that using the bus was troublesome due to his busy schedule.

    When he got out of the taxi, he hurried on, pushing past the other pedestrians on the streets. He was¡ªheaded to the cafe, where he was supposed to meet Emily. After rounding a few corners, he ascended some stairs and reached his destination on the second floor of a mall near Trondheim Square.

    "You''rete" was the first sentence that came out of Emily''s mouth as Zachary settled into a seat opposite her.

    "But, only a few minutes," Zachary replied, smiling sheepishly. "I forgot about the passage of time when I was going through my stretching routine. It usually happens to me when I''m focused on exercise. Sorry about that."

    "No worries," Emily replied, her expression softening a little. "But it wouldn''t look good if we were meeting apany representative and you arrivedte. Do take note of that in the future." Her intelligent blue eyes searched Zachary''s face, waiting for a response.

    "I''ll do that," Zachary replied solemnly, leaning back into his seat. He felt his emotions calm down as the homey ambiance of the cafe drew his soul into its cocoon for a few blessed moments. He smiled at Emily and said: "Good morning! How was your journey, by the way?"

    "I''m good, and the journey was as fine as it could be," Emily said in a t voice.

    "About the endorsement offers: you said there are twopanies that would like to enter endorsement deals with me!" He said, getting straight to the point of the meeting. He wanted to be done with the endorsement deal business as fast as possible¡ªso that he could head to Lerkendal to continue his pre-match conditioning.

    "Yes, that''s right," Emily replied, sipping on her coffee. "But first, would you like to order anything. I''ll be buying today."

    "Just orange juice will do," Zachary replied, grinning. "I already had a heavy breakfast back at my apartment. I don''t want to perform poorly this evening just because I failed to regte my food consumption. Imagine missing a match due to heartburn or a bloated stomach. That would be embarrassing."

    Emily chuckled at that. "Okay, then," she said, beaming. "Let''s get you some orange juice then." She then called over a waitress and made the order before focusing on Zachary once again.

    "We have two offers," she began, her voice taking on a formal tone. "It seems your performancest weekend caused quite a stir in Norway. It seems you managed to raise your fan base, especially here in Trondheim. That should be the reason somepanies here are intent on getting your signature and betting on your future. But don''t expect a lot since you''ve only just started ying."

    Zachary nodded, indicating that he''d gotten the point as he waited for his agent to continue.

    "One of the offers is from Red Bull, thepany with the highest market share of any energy drink in the world today," Emily continued. "They''re offering 300,000 NOK per year, for five years, to get your signature as one of the athletes on their endorsement marketing roster for Norway. The money seems small, but they promised that they would improve the terms if you continue performing well in the Tippeligaen."

    "Three hundred thousand," Zachary mumbled, frowning on hearing Red Bull''s offer. "That''s 25,000 per month. Isn''t that offer insincere?"

    He knew well that some of the biggest sporting stars earned the majority of their money without having to kick, bounce or throw a ball at all. That all came down to one magical word. Endorsements. Athletes could even receive tens of millions of dors per year from endorsement contracts alone. Even the not-so-popr athletes had deals worth tens of thousands of dors from the popr brands in their respective countries. Yet, Red Bull, the world''srgest energy drink supplier, had made him an offer in Kroners, not even dors or Euros. Zachary knew that they were notmitted to securing his signature.

    "Yes, the annual pay they''re offering is quite dismal," Emily replied, nodding. "But there are good points to the deal. For instance, if you manage to be the top scorer in the Tippeligaen within the years under contract, the money you receive will multiply sixfold. And, in case you manage to be the best yer in the Tippeligaen, the money would be multiplied twelve times. There are even more provisions for further achievements. But, I don''t think those are important at the moment."

    "So, it''s a good deal, then?" Zachary queried, inclining his head to lock eyes with Emily.

    "ording to me, it''s a good deal in the long run. What Red Bull is betting on is your potential to be popr. They hope to ride that wave to increase their energy drink sales here in Norway. If you work well with them, they could turn into long-term partners."

    "Would you like to read through their offer now?" Emily inquired after seeing Zachary''s hesitation.

    "Not now," Zachary said, shaking his head. "I don''t want to add too much into my head right now. I have to y a gameter today. What about the other offer?"

    "Oh," Emily said, sighing. "The other offer is kind of weird. It is from a bettingpany called BetNet International. They serve most of Europe¡ªincluding Ennd, Italy, Cyprus, and Austria. They are now expanding into Scandinavia." She paused for a few moments as the waitress had finally brought Zachary''s juice.

    Zachary mouthed a thank you to the waitress as he picked up his juice. He then sipped on it as he waited eagerly for his agent to continue.

    "They are offering 6 million Kroner per year as the start-up sry for you to be their ambassador," she said after the waitress was out of earshot. "I don''t know the reason, but mywyer instincts are warning me not to consider the offer."

    "Oh," Zachary said, raising a brow. "Why is that? They seem to be more serious than the Red Bull people."

 Chapter 137 - Endorsement Deal Offers II

    Emily shook her head, smiling wryly. "You''ve just yed two games," she said. "Even though you''ve performed well, that shouldn''t be enough for apany to go on and give you such a deal. It''s kind of fishy when you think about it. So, I''m proposing we reject them right away."

    "Moreover, I only agreed to meet with them on impulse after finding out that their representative was a Rosenborg executive. What was funny, though, was that he had a simr second name to mine."

    "Who was it?" Zachary interjected, surprised by the fact that one of the club''s executives was a representative of a bettingpany.

    "It''s someone called Johan Arne Anderson. The name further enticed me to meet with him¡ªonly to find out that he was a representative of BetNet international¡ªand wanted to offer you a deal to be their ambassador."

    "Johan Arne Anderson," Zachary mumbled, mulling over the name. "I''ve never heard of such a person being part of the club''s management. But then, I don''t know everyone at the club. He may be one of those working behind the scenes."

    "He''s should be," Emily intoned. "One of my colleagues has already confirmed this. There''s no question about it. What I have doubts about is thepany behind him. We wouldn''t want you associating with any brands that may put your name through the mud at some point in the future. We''re better off remaining broke for the moment than taking the risk."

    "Well, that''s true," Zachary said, smiling. "I concur with your proposition to avoid the bettingpany for now. I know that they pay well, but since your instincts are telling you to reject them¡ªlet''s do it that way."

    "I''m d that you agree," Emily said, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "If my work ethics were not against keeping offers from you, I wouldn''t have even mentioned it. I had even prepared a long speech to convince you to drop the deal. But, it seems I was worried over nothing."

    Zachary beamed back at her. "So, what''s the way forward?" He asked. "Should we take the deal from Red Bull? To be honest: I don''t find it lucrative enough for me."

    "I think so too," Emily replied, her voice slowly growing bubbly. "What we can do is wait for a while until you y more matches. Do you have the confidence to keep putting up exceptional performances for the next few games?"

    Zachary sighed, shaking his head. "That I can''t tell or promise. Football is the sort of game where you may find yourself underperforming in some matches. You can''t maintain consistency throughout every fixture of the season. But I''m sure that as long as I keep getting set-piece opportunities, I can continue scoring even if I don''t manage to perform well during matches."

    "Then that''s all that matters," Emily said with a sparkle in her blue eyes. "As long as you keep scoring for Rosenborg, your poprity will rise until those brands can''t ignore you any longer. In the meantime, I''ll initiate talks with Red Bull and start the initial phases of negotiations as we wait for you to grow your reputation here in Norway."

    "That''s a good n." Zachary nodded. "Waiting is the best option, I think." He was already earning 400,000 NOK before bonuses each month. There was no need for him to rush into an endorsement deal that wasn''t attractive enough.

    "Before I forget," Zachary continued, inclining his head to lock eyes with Emily. "Is there any chance that you are good with cars?"

    Emily sat bolt upright on hearing Zachary''s question. "Did you finally decide to buy a vehicle for yourself?"

    "Yes," Zachary confirmed, smiling. "I need something simple to move around Trondheim."

    "I''m not an expert," Emily said, a feeble smile outlining her face. "But I have a friend who is good with cars. The good thing is that he is here in Norway."

    "What does he do?"

    "He is a professional race car driver." Emily beamed. "There are a few better informed than him when ites to cars."

    The corners of Zachary''s mouth twitched slightly on hearing Emily''s response. "I only need a car to move around Trondheim, not to go racing," he said, shaking his head. "Why bother a professional race car driver for that. Let''s just forget it. I''ll find another way."

    "He''s a simple person," Emily said, her voice taking on a seemingly imploring tone. "Moreover, buying cars is what he enjoys most. So, don''t worry. You won''t be putting any burden on him."

    "Just forget it," Zachary said, his tone firm. "By the way, let me give you the match tickets before I forget." He added, fishing a small brown envelope from his gym bag.

    "Did the club give you a lot of tickets?" Emily inquired, looking at Zachary''s bag with a glitter in her eyes.

    "They gave me twelve this time around," Zachary replied. "That''s because this is my first home game for Rosenborg. Otherwise, I would have received only six like the rest of my teammates."

    "That''s great," Emily said excitedly. "Can you give me four? I have a few friends who would like to attend your game today evening?"

    "Just take these away," Zachary replied, handing her the printed tickets. "I only need six for a few friends of mine. The rest, I was going to give them away on the bus to Lerkendal after here."

    "Then give me the six. I do have use for the tickets."

    "Okay," Zachary concurred, giving her two more printed tickets. "I guess I''ll see you tomorrow then. I''m heading to Lerkendal now to start my match preparations."

    "Okay," Emily said, a soft smile outlining her face. "I wish you luck in your game. Go, score so that we can make more money¡ªsorry so that you can win the Tippeligaen."

    Zachary creased a brow, wondering whether all agents were the same¡ªalways thinking about money. But he didn''t dwell on the point since his agent was doing her best to earn him some cash. So, they said their goodbyes, and Zachary left for Lerkendal. Along the way, he didn''t forget to call Kasongo and the rest of his friends to pick up their tickets before 1:00 PM that day.

    After that, he rxed and settled into Rosenborg''s pre-match condition routine at Lerkendal while eagerly awaiting 7:00 PM¡ªwhen he would y his first home game for Rosenborg.

    **** ****

    When Zachary was starting his pre-match conditioning routine at Lerkendal, one of the officials in one of Rosenborg''s top offices at Brakka received a call. He was Johan Arne Anderson, the BetNet representative that''d offered Emily an endorsement deal.

    Johan picked up the phone and nced at the screen before smiling to himself. "Did they take our bait?" He mumbled to himself before picking up the call.

    "Hello Miss Anderson," he spoke into the phone. "It''s nice to hear from you so soon. Did you consider?"

    "I pitched the offer to my client, but he didn''t agree," Emily replied politely, getting straight to the point. "He says that he wants to focus solely on football without thinking about anything else. So, he won''t be entering any endorsement deals any time soon."

    "You wish to turn down such an offer without even any negotiation?" Johan inquired, his voice rising slightly. "You know we are willing to adjust the terms to fit the client better."

    "It''s not about the terms," Emily countered from the other end of the line. "My client only wishes to develop his skills first before anything else. You should be happy about that since he''s ying for your team. Right?"

    "Yes, of course, I''m d that such a yer is on our team," Johan replied, keeping his voice steady. "That''s why I''m even working hard to find him a good endorsement deal so that he can be morefortable on the team."

    "Oh," Emily said. "Then you don''t have to worry. He''s quitefortable at the moment. You can see that from the way he''s performing. But nevertheless, thank you for the offer. Goodbye." She ended the call right after.

    Johan nced at his phone for a moment before throwing it against the wall. He balled his fists, taking in deep breaths before straightening his tie and sitting down in one of the sofas in his office. But despite his efforts to calm himself down, he was still furious at the agent. She''d turned him down without any negotiation. He wondered whether the sum offered had not been to Zachary''s liking, but that didn''t make sense. He''d made an offer that most mid-level yers in the Tippeligaen would find hard to reject.

    "Let''s start by increasing the offer and see what happens?" He mumbled, smiling like a rogue. "Money is usually the best solution for simple challenges."

    Johan had to find a solution to get Zachary''s signature as soon as possible. Otherwise, he would face it rough when he met with the rest of his colleagues.

    **** ****

 Chapter 138 - First Game On Home Ground

    When Emily walked into the stands of Lerkendal Stadion that Wednesday evening, her brain stuttered for a moment, every part of her going on a pause. The momentum of the Rosenborg fans around her was astounding. They''d already gone crazy, chanting various Rosenborg songs as they waited for the match against Troms? Idrettg tomence. She was quite amazed by the passion on disy.

    "This match seems to be quite exciting already," Ryan Bellmore, her race car driver friend, yelled from beside her, trying to make himself heard over the noise. "Although the stadium is a bit small, the atmosphere can match that of White Hart Lane during some of the less popr match days."

    "I told you," Emily replied, pushing past some of the fans and heading further into the stands. "Norwegian fans are very passionate. There''s no way we''ll fail to enjoy the match in this kind of atmosphere."

    "That''s unless Rosenborg loses." Ryanughed as they started ascending the stairs and heading towards the seats in the middle.

    "That won''t happen," Emily said, her voice full of confidence. "You must have already seen the video of my client from the previous game. If he''s starting, there''s almost no chance for Rosenborg to lose."

    "You have so much faith in him," Ryan said, beaming. "But I''m surprised that you allowed him to stay in the Norwegian league if he''s that talented."

    "It was his choice," Emily responded. "There wasn''t a thing I could do about it without going against his wishes behind his back. That''s against my working ethics as an agent. Where are the rest, by the way?" She asked, changing the topic.

    "They should already be in the stadium," Ryan replied. "Let''s find our seats first. We''ll call them afterward."

    **** ****

    In the home team''s dressing room of Lerkendal Stadion, Coach Johansen was going over the main points of the game n for the umpteenth time that evening.

    "By all means," he said, sweeping his gaze across the entire room. "Let''s do our best to keep a clean sheet during this game. We have been conceding a lot of goals over the past few games. That ispletely uneptable for a team of our caliber. So, the defenders and the holding midfielders¡ªplease, try your best to close down all the spaces in our defensive third when we''re not on the ball. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Jonas and Mike," the Coach continued, turning towards the two. "You two are our double pivots¡ªthe holding midfielders. Please do your best to shield our four defenders from their attacking midfielders, especially from the iing high balls. Don''t allow their attacking midfielders, especially that Thomas Bendiksen, any room near our box."

    "We also need to dominate possession and hold on to the ball for as long as possible so that we can create more chances. When we''re not on the ball, we''ll be using high-pressing tactics to win it back quickly before Troms? can manage to mount an attack on us. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Zachary," he said, turning his gaze on him. "In this game, their defensive midfielders are likely to target you both in the middle and attacking third of the ying field. Don''t panic when that happens. Just continue ying at your own pace¡ªeven if you don''t touch the ball for long spells. Remember that attracting the attention of their defensive midfielders is your goal. Leave the rest for your teammates. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied solemnly.

    "Okay, then." Coach Johansen nodded, smiling. "The rest, you should all know what to do. y with confidence, keep it simple, and don''t make mistakes. If you follow the game n, I''m sure we''ll win this game without any hustle. Any questions?"

    All the yers, including Zachary, remained silent as everything the coach said was crystal clear. The coach had been going over the game n for the previous three days. So, the yers had long crammed every part of it and could probably recite it in their sleep. They didn''t need to ask any questions and remained silent. Zachary, on his part, started tightening hisces and then pulled up his stockings to ready himself for his first home game in the Rosenborg''s white and ck colors. He was eager to start the game and wished the coach would conclude his address immediately.

    **** ****

    Meanwhile, Mr. Agnar Christensen, the head coach of Troms? Idrettg, was also concluding his pre-game pep talk in the visitor''s dressing room.

    "If my predictions are right," he said, smiling at his yers. "Rosenborg will most likely use their new boy, Zachary, as their attacking midfielder, while Mike Jensen and Jonas will y in the defensive midfield."

    "Using the three midfielders, they''ll try to dominate us with quick passes in midfield while switching to wing y a few times during the game. They''ll also try their best to disrupt our defensive shape by holding on to possession. That way, they could find a way to prate our defensive third if we lose our stability. Be that as it may, we don''t have to y ording to their tune." He paused, sweeping his gaze across his yers.

    "We don''t have to dance to their tune," the coach continued, smirking. "That''s why we''ll be using our second game n. Instead of man-marking, we''ll utilize zonal marking against their yers. When any Rosenborg yer is on the ball, we''ll use one of ours to close him down, whereas the rest will quickly close down the spaces around that given yer. When shifting and pressing, we''ll need to remain stable and prevent opening any holes in our midfield. That way, Rosenborg will find it hard to prate our defensive third. Are we together, my boys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    Coach Agnar Christensen beamed at his yers. "We only have to sit back and close down the spaces in our defensive third. Whenever there''s a chance, we''ll hit Rosenborg either on the counter or with unexpected long and high balls to our forwards. That''s how we win this game and return home with three points."

    "And for Zachary Bemba, the new boy," the Troms? coach continued.

    "Since he performed very well in the previous game, my friend¡ªCoach Johansen is most likely thinking that we''ll target the boy in today''s match. But who are we?"

    "We''re Troms?, the boys of the North," all the yers shouted in chorus, their chant reverberating across the dressing room like thunder.

    Coach Agnar Christensen shrugged whimsically, his eyes crinkling behind his sses. "Yes, we''re Troms?, the boys of the North," he said, his voice lowering. "We do what the opponents least expect us to do. So, we shall only use Ruben to keep the boy under check. No need to tight-mark him because I don''t believe he is good at dribbling. However, when he is on the ball, we have to mark all the yers, spaces, and passing routes into our defensive third."

    "We must not allow any Rosenborg yer to remain unmarked near our box when Zachary is on the ball. Otherwise, we shall get many troubles from his defense-splitting passes. Are we together, the defenders and holding midfielders?"

    "Yes, coach."

    The coach smiled and was about to continue¡ªbut suddenly, there was a knock on the door. One of the match officials slipped into the dressing room and said: "Coach, it''s time. I hope you''re ready."

    Coach Christensen smiled at the match official, first casting a nce at his watch before replying. "Sorry, we''ll be out in a few seconds. As you can see, we''re already more than ready."

    "Good, but please hurry up," the match official said, still maintaining a polite smile. "As you can see, it''s already 12 minutes to seven. We''re already runningte." He added before exiting the dressing room.

    "Okay, boys," Coach Christensen said, his voice turning solemn. "I believe I''ve already said everything there''s to say about how we''ll approach the game. The rest will be up to you as yers. When out there, use your brains, mark the spaces, and we shall leave Trondheim with three points in the bag. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Okay, off you go," the coach intoned. "Off you go. We don''t want to keep the match officials waiting. Do we?"

    The yersughed at that and started exiting the dressing room.

    **** ****

    When Zachary stepped onto the pitch, the noise from the standspletely engulfed him, seizing his brain and rendering any logical thought or deduction impossible for a brief moment. He was at a loss for words as he observed the chaos in the stands of Lerkendal Stadion.

    "Shllla... oh Rosenborg, Shllla... oh Rosenborg, Shllla... oh Rosenborg..."

    As Zachary walked on to the pitch, he could clearly perceive the chorus of loud cheering that had long reverberated across the stands in the stadium. At times, it would transition into a wave of insane excitement that washed over the entire crowd as the fans sang at the top of their lungs while pping their hands. Their energy levels were something else¡ªlike they were high on some freakish drugs. They seemed more eager for the game whenpared to the yers themselves.

    "Nervous?" Mikael Dorsin inquired from beside him as they lined up in front of the tunnel, preparing to begin pre-match team handshake.

    "Not at all," Zachary replied honestly. "I''m quite excited, instead."

    "That''s great," the veteran defender said, his eyes still on the crowd in the stands. "Don''t worry about the fans and y your own game. I''m sure you''ll do great once again."

    "Okay, thank you for your advice," Zachary replied, nodding.

    A whileter, the yers of the two clubs performed the team handshake and soon took up their respective positions on the pitch. The Tippeligaen match between Rosenborg Ballklub and Troms? Idrettg was about to start at the Lerkendal Stadion in Trondheim.

    **** ****

 Chapter 139 - A Tricky Opponent

    Kristin had been one of the first few fans to take up their seats in the stadium that evening. She was eagerly waiting for the kick-off as she enjoyed the cheery mood in the stadium.

    "Wee, everyone!" She heard thementator say, his mellifluous voice booming over the chattering and cheering that''d been underscoring the entire stadium.

    Kristin felt her spirits brighten on hearing the voice as it belonged to Kjell Roar Kaasa, one of her favoritementators on the Norwegian football scene.

    "Today is match-day 8 of the Tippeligaen," Kjell Roar continued. "It is an exciting meeting between the Troll Kids and the Boys from the North. Rosenborg Ballklub is facing off against Troms? Idrettg in a fixture that could have a marked impact on the progress of the two teams throughout this season."

    "If Rosenborg wins, they''ll have umted 16 points and will move on to the second position of the Tippeligaen table. They''ll only remain in second ce due to Str?msgodset''s superior goal difference. On the other hand, if Troms? wins, they''ll have umted 13 points, enough to take them to the third position. That''s at least until the rest of the teams y their games tomorrow. With me is Harald Brattbakk as the pundit for today''s game. Harald!"

    "Good evening, everyone," Kristin smiled on hearing Harald Brattbakk''s voice. He was one of Rosenborg''s legends. Very few couldpare to him when it came to the goals he''dted for Rosenborg.

    "Coach Boyd Johansen has made a few changes to his squad from the weekend game," Kjell Roar said after a while. "Nicki Nielsen and Tore Reginiussen return to the starting eleven after that one-match suspension. Zachary Bemba, Rosenborg''s new star, makes his first start for Rosenborg. The eighteen-year-old gets another chance to shine after his incredible performance on the weekend. Harald! What''s your take on all this?"

    "Well," Harald said. "The Rosenborg coach has done a good job selecting his starting eleven. All Rosenborg''s starting yers are on form and can easily beat any team out there in the Tippeligaen at the moment. At least, they''re the better team on paper."

    "Troms?, on the other hand, is a hard team to defeat," he continued. "It''s one of the most disciplined sides in the Tippeligaen. The boys from the North are good, especially when defending and disrupting the tempo of their opponents. I have this feeling that Rosenborg could find it hard to score any goals during this game."

    "Do you have a prediction for us, Harald?"

    "Not at the moment," Harald replied. "I can''t make any predictions before the match begins. But if I were a gambler, I would be cing all my money on Rosenborg without a doubt."

    "Of course, you would," Kjell Roar said jokingly. "With Rosenborg being your former team, I wouldn''t be surprised."

    Haraldughed at that.

    "Okay, everyone," Kjell Roar hollered, his voice booming through the loudspeakers like thunder. "The referee has finally blown his whistle, and this incredible match between the Troll Kids and the Boys from the North is underway..."

    **** ****

    Nicki Nielsen kicked the ball back into his half as soon as the referee blew the whistle. Zachary received it at the edge of the middle third of the ying field¡ªand without any pause, he passed it towards Mike Jensen, one of Rosenborg''s holding midfielders. Mike didn''t dawdle and flicked it on to Jonas Svensson, the other holding midfielder in Rosenborg''s 4-3-3 double-pivot formation.

    But by then, a few of the Troms? yers had already rushed into Rosenborg''s half. They didn''t allow Jonas to receive the ball without any pressure. Zdenek Ondrasek, the Troms? center forward, ran at him as if his life depended on it. Jonas could only turn back and pass back to the goalkeeper because of the intense pressure from the opponent.

    As soon as Lund Hansen, the Rosenborg keeper, received the pass from Jonas, Zachary ran into space and opened himself up to receive the ball in the midfield. To his surprise, the Troms? yers didn''t try their level best to chase after him¡ªbut remained in their positions, marking the spaces before their defensive third.

    Although Zachary found it odd, he didn''t bother himself to understand why that was happening. Instead, he ran further into his half, making sure to dash into a position where the Rosenborg goalkeeper could easily pass to him without interference from any other yer.

    As he expected, Lund Hansen spotted him a momentter. Without any dilly-dallying, the goalkeeper passed the ball to him before any Troms? yer could close him down.

    Zachary received the pass from Lund Hansen in Rosenborg''s defensive third. However, he wasn''t without pressure. Thomas Bendiksen, the Troms? number-8, closed in on him right away.

    But Zachary controlled the ball well and exchanged a couple of one-touch passes with Mike Jensen and Jonas Svensson to maintain possession. For the next few minutes, he yed like a maestro, running into spaces, receiving the ball, and ying short-but-precise passes as he helped Rosenborg dictate the game''s tempo.

    With those simple passes, the three Rosenborg midfielders managed to bring the game under their control. As a result, Rosenborg started to dominate possession as they passed the ball in the backfield, trying to draw the Troms? yers out of their defensive shape.

    Nevertheless, the boys in blue jerseys didn''t take the bait. Instead, the Troms? yers remained highly organized and maintained their 4-2-3-1 formation as if they weren''t the least bit interested in winning the ball back. Only the one forward and the three attacking midfielders tried to put pressure on Zachary and his teammates. The rest stayed back, defending in front of their defensive third, without ever actively chasing after the ball.

    "Push forward," Zachary heard Coach Johansen bellow from the sideline when the ball went out of y for a throw-in. "y the ball forward or into the wing when you get a chance. Don''t just y in our own half. Take the pressure to their side. Remember, this is not a contest for possession but goals." The coach yelled at the top of his lungs. He seemed angry and agitated by his team''s performance even though they were dictating the proceedings.

    On hearing the coach yelling, Zachary instantly opened himself up¡ªby escaping from his mark. He wished to carry out the coach''s instructions immediately.

    He understood the coach''s point as Rosenborg had not even once managed to prate Troms?''s defensive third and approach their box. The Troms? yers had properly marked all the spaces around the Rosenborg forwards ever since the match began.

    They seemed to be sitting back and concentrating on defense without bothering so much to hinder Rosenborg''s control of possession. Because of that, Zachary hadn''t managed to find any defensive gap in their formation that he could exploit and deliver the ball to the forwards.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, signaling for Rosenborg to take their throw-in. Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg left-back, threw the ball along the line¡ªtowards Tarik Elyounoussi, the Rosenborg left-forward, without any dy.

    Tarik controlled it with his chest while shrugging off Hans Norbye, the Troms? right-back, with his brute physique. He then spun with the ball hooked to his left leg and passed the ball towards Zachary, who''d long started running in sync with him through the middle.

    Zachary controlled the ball, skipping past Ruben Jenssen, the Troms? holding midfielder, as he stepped into the middle third of the ying field. Without even a single pause, he unleashed a return pass towards Tarik Elyounoussi, who''d long escaped his mark and was already racing across the left touchline like the wind.

    Tarik controlled the ball with a deft first-touch, pushing it further forward as he continued racing across the left nk. He managed to step into Troms?''s defensive third in a matter of seconds. However, there, he found an imprable roadblock of Troms? yers. They''d already organized themselves into a suitable shape to deal with the speedy Rosenborg winger.

    Tarik could only pass the ball into the middle since going forward would most likely result in him losing possession.

    Zachary, of course, had long been anticipating Tarik''s pass. With a deft first touch, he controlled the ball like an expert¡ªand without any dy, continued pushing on towards Troms?''s box.

    But he was soon closed down by Ruben Jenssen, one of Troms?''s holding midfielders. The Troms? midfielder had already retraced his steps to defend against Rosenborg''s lightning-fast attack. Ruben was upon Zachary in seconds, denying him the chance to travel with the ball for more than a yard of space.

    Zachary looked around to find a teammate as an outlet for the ball. However, the highly disciplined and tactical Troms? yers had already checked all the Rosenborg forwards and attacking midfielders around him.

    The Troms? yers had left one man to keep him in check while the others closed down any gaps around his teammates. Zachary could immediately tell that they were trying to counter his passes with zone marking. They wanted to eliminate all the avable ball-receiving options so that they could render his passing skills useless. That way, they would be able to deny him many chances of impacting the game.

    Despite that, he didn''t panic since he''d long gotten used to running and dribbling in almost every match during his academy days. He wasn''t the least bit scared of facing the Troms? yers head-on.

    **** ***

 Chapter 140 - A Sigh

    In the stands, Kristin Stein watched the proceedings on the pitch with rapt attention as Zachary got cornered by a mean-looking Troms? midfielder. With her ample experience of spectating football matches, she could easily guess that the opponents were trying to silence Zachary by closing down all his passing options.

    "There we have it," she heard Kjell Roar yell out loud, his booming voiceing to her from a nearby stadium loudspeaker. "Troms? is clearly defense-minded in today''s game. Their marking in their defensive third is astounding. Zachary Bemba, the Rosenborg number-33, has been isted by the highly disciplined Troms? defense. He has no passing options. Oh! What will he do?" Kjell Roar added, his tone turning dramatic towards the very end.

    "If I were him, I would just take it easy and pass back to my defenders or goalkeeper," Harald Brattbakk chipped in. "Rather than risking..." he stopped mid-sentence as if he''d been interrupted by something.

    "Oh! What have we here," Kjell Roar yelled after a moment.

    Kristin''s focus was on the pitch the entire time. She watched as Zachary flicked the ball to one side before bolting past Ruben Jenssen, Troms?''s defensive midfielder, with his incredible pace born from his long strides. In a matter of seconds, he gained himself a few yards of space and found himself bearing down on Troms?''s defensive line.

    He kept running towards Troms?''s box until Josh Pritchard, the other holding-midfielder, was¡ªforced to leave his position to close him down. But that was what Zachary had been anticipating as Josh had left an exploitable gap in Troms?''s defensive line.

    Thus, no sooner had Josh left his position than Zachary flicked the ball towards Nicki Nielsen, who''d long escaped his mark. Nicki didn''t disappoint since he was then only marked by one defensive yer rather than two. He controlled the ball well, stepping further away from another opponent¡ªand soon, was on his way, racing towards Troms?''s box like the wind.

    Kristin felt her heartbeat quicken as Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg number-9, dashed past another Troms? yer. Like the rest of the fans around her, she stood up from her seat, not wishing to miss any moment of Rosenborg''s first chance at goal. However, a momentter, Miika Koppinen, the Troms? center back, rushed at Nicki, slid in, and tackled the ball away from his feet. He sent the forward tumbling to the ground a couple of yards away from the box.

    "Oh, my!" Kjell Roar, thementator, yelled at the top of his lungs, his voice smothering all the sighs and curses of the Rosenborg fans in the stadium.

    "The captain of Troms? has justmitted a foul in a rather dangerous position at the edge of the box. The referee has shown him a yellow card and awarded Rosenborg a free-kick. Harald! Do you think we may get to see another masterpiece from the young Zachary this early in the match?"

    "As you can see from the screen, even Troms?''s coach is clearly displeased and frustrated by the foul in such a position," Harald, the pundit for the game,mented. "That set-piece is only a couple of yards further away from goal than the one Zachary scored against Aalesunds FK on the weekend. He should be able to produce something spectacr here if he''s given a chance. That''s the reason Coach Agnar Christensen''s facial expression has morphed into a scary frown. I''m sure that he''ll have a lot to say to his captain at halftime."

    Kjell Roarughed at that. "But we have tomend the decisiveness of the Troms? captain. If he''d left Nicki Nielsen unchecked, he would have still made his way into the box. And that would still spell trouble for the boys from the North."

    "True that," Harald replied. "Had he not made the foul, Nicki might already be celebrating another one of his goals for this season."

    "Okay, then," Kjell Roar said. "Let''s take you back to the action. The referee has finished organizing the wall. And as we had expected, it is Zachary Bemba standing on the set-piece. Will he produce another incredible finish like the one on the weekend? Let''s wait and see."

    **** ****

    Zachary took a few steps back after assessing the positioning of the yers in the box. That time around, his teammates had unanimously allowed him to be the set-piece taker due to his weekend''s performance. Thus, he wished to live up to their expectations and help his team convert the set-piece.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, motioning for Zachary to take the set piece. Zachary took a deep breath and slowly gathered momentum. He soon started jogging towards the ball while barring out any outside noise from affecting his delivery. Using his highly mastered Bend-it like-Beckham Juju, he took a final jump step and then walloped the ball with the inside of his left boot.

    All the while, he kept his eyes focused on the ball as he made contact, unleashing a curling free-kick towards the goal.

    **** ****

    Kristin''s eyes followed the ball as it curved around the wall of five Troms? yers, whizzing towards the goal like a stinger missile out of itsuncher. She felt her heartbeat quicken and raised her arms as the ball made an impossible curve before dipping as it whirled towards the inside of the post. Kristin could tell that Zachary had taken the free-kick well as it was clearly bound for the back of the.

    However, before she could celebrate, the Troms? keeper jumped high like he had wings and touched the whirling ball slightly with his fingertips. The ball deviated from its intended course and smashed off the crossbar before bouncing back into the field of y.

    "Oh, my," Kjell Roar yelled at the top of his voice. "What an unbelievable save from Marcus Salman, the Troms? number-1. That''s some incredible stuff here. Fantastic effort from Zachary! He did everything right and delivered a set piece that was clearly heading for the top right corner. However, what a phenomenal save. In the 17th minute, Zachary has been denied the chance to put Rosenborg ahead."

    Kristin could only sigh at the missed opportunity.

 Chapter 141 - Unlucky

    "Rosenborg''s chance isn''t over yet, though," Kjell Roar, thementator, yelled at the top of his lungs. "Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg number-9, has just pounced on the ball that has just smashed off the crossbar. What have we here?"

    Kristin''s eyes were still following the ball. She quivered with anticipation as she saw Nicki Nielsen skip past Miika Koppinen, the Troms? captain, and direct a diving header towards the inside of the right post from around the penalty spot. She could feel it deep in her bones that Rosenborg was about to score.

    However, the goddess of luck seemed to have abandoned team Rosenborg. Marcus Sahlman, the Troms? keeper, sprang into action once more. He leaped from the ground like a leopard and intercepted Nicki''s effort with an outstretched arm.

    "Oh, what a chance¡ªand what a save!" Kristin heard Kjell Roar utter words at the pace of a machine gun. "Nicki Nielsen was the quickest to the rebound. He managed to nt that beautiful diving header towards the goal. But the ball is just shy of the right post by mere centimeters after being intercepted by the keeper''s strong arm. The linesman points to the corner g, awarding Rosenborg BK a corner kick."

    "This is some unbelievable stuff from Marcus Sahlman, the Troms? goalkeeper. He has managed to make two incredible saves within a span of a single minute. I can''t believe it. Harald!"

    "Well," Harald, the pundit, chipped in, his voice thundering over the sighs of the dejected Rosenborg fans in the stadium. "Yes, I agree with your conjecture. At the moment, it''s Rosenborg versus Marcus Sahlman. The way he managed to cover ground across his line and save Zachary''s effort was something out of this world. But what was better was how quickly he reacted to intercept Nicki''s rebound effort and deny the Troll Kids from taking the lead in the 17th minute. He is in top shape today."

    "Thank you, Harald," Knell Roar said. "Let''s take you back to the action. Jonas Svensson, the Rosenborg holding midfielder, is getting ready to take the corner..."

    **** ****

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, signaling for Rosenborg to take the corner. Jonas Svensson took the corner-kick and delivered a teasing cross into the crowded box.

    Zachary assessed the trajectory of the corner ball in nothing but a sh. He then shrugged off his mark and pushed through the rest of the yers with the intent to meet the descending ball. All the while, he kept his eyes locked on it as his mind worked in overdrive to judge the best way he could connect with it.

    He''d already practiced a variety of corner drills with his teammates during the pre-match training sessions. He was sure that his running wouldn''t affect or interfere with the rest of his teammates when attacking the corner ball in team Troms?''s box.

    So, he confidently took advantage of his looming height, pushed off the ground like an amphibian, and then out-jumped all the other yers in the box to connect with the ball. He managed to shrug off one of the opposing center-backs in midair and nted a header from around the penalty area towards the inside of the right post. [Please go in.] He thought to himself as he started his descent back to the ground.

    "BAAM"

    But no sooner had his feet touched the ground than he saw the ball smash of the right post before bouncing back into the pitch¡ªtowards the right nk. Zachary didn''t dawdle¡ªbut chased after it by sheer reflex. But Miika Koppinen, the Troms? captain, beat him to it and cleared it to safety. The referee pointed to the corner g once again.

    Zachary could only punch the empty air before him in dejection while sighing inwardly at the missed opportunity. The goal post had denied Rosenborg a chance to take the lead once more in the 21st minute. The deadlock between the two sides was still on.

    **** ****

    In the home team''s dugout, Coach Johansen frowned on seeing his team miss another chance. Nicki Nielsen had managed totch on to a precise through-pass from Zachary Bemba before firing a low shot towards the right side of the. However, Marcus Sahlman, the Troms? keeper, leaped like a salmon to deny him with an outstretched foot. Troms? had once again survived conceding a goal in the 42nd minute just before halftime.

    "We''re quite unlucky in this game," Coach Johansen said to Trond Henriksen, his assistant. "On a good day, the two attempts by Zachary should have turned into goals. Even Nicki''s rebound effort should have found its way to the back of the. But in this game, they were just mere shots on target. We''re quite unlucky."

    "Yes," Coach Henriksen said. "By my estimation, I believe we''re dominating possession by 70% and above. We even have more than ten shots on goal. However, we have still failed to score, and this is turning out to be quite the hard game."

    "Exactly, we need to score soon, or else¡ªwe''ll face problemster on during the game," Coach Johansen concurred, still following the proceedings on the field of y.

    Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s number-9, had justtched on to the cross from the corner kick. He was the first yer to get to the rebound from the corner ball¡ªbut the Troms? keeper managed to save the day once again. The keepermitted himself to a full-body dive and made afortable save.

    "Their goalkeeper''s form is also a problem for us today," Coach Trond Henriksenmented. "I''m proposing that we switch to the 4-3-3 attacking and lose the double pivots in our defensive midfield. That way, we''ll be able tomit more bodies forward and test the keeper more frequently than we have been doing ever since the start of the match."

    "We can''t do that with Troms?," Coach Johansen replied, shaking his head. "I''m sure that Coach Agnar Christensen has been waiting for us to do exactly that. If we dare move even a single defensive yer forward, we''ll regret it. I have a feeling that Troms? can beat us easily on the counter."

    "So, what are we to do then?"

    "Let''s be patient with the boys," Coach Johansen replied, his eyes still following the goings-on on the pitch. "We are still tied at 0:0. So, we''ll try to motivate the attacking midfielders and forwards to work harder and create more chances during the second half. All that matters is that we get a goal as soon as possible. I believe that one goal will be enough to kill the defensive momentum of Troms?."

    "Okay, then," Coach Trond Henriksen replied, nodding.

    **** ****

    Emily Anderson, Zachary''s agent, started feeling quite agitated as the match proceeded on to theter stages of the second half. She''d hoped that Zachary would score another goal and heighten his reputation among the Rosenborg fans. That way, he would be able to attract more endorsement deals. But the match had progressed in an undesirable way, beyond her expectations.

    Rosenborg had yed good attacking football, pressurizing all the Troms? yers back into their own side of the pitch ever since the beginning of the second half. Balls always seemed to smash off the crossbar¡ªwhile at other times, the Troms? keeper made mboyant saves to deny Rosenborg any chance of taking the lead. Thanks to that, the game still remained at a 0:0 deadlock with only five minutes to go. Emily could feel the frustration slowly starting to pulse through her veins.

    "Although Rosenborg has failed to score, your client has still put up quite a good performance," Ryan Bellmoremented after seemingly noticing her frustration. "So, cheer up already."

    "A good performance doesn''t mean much if it doesn''t trante into match-winning opportunities," Emily replied, her eyes still following the goings-on in the game. "For instance, if Rosenborg fails to win or worse, loses the game¡ªthen all that the fans will remember will be the team''s poor performance. Nothing else will be on their minds since they care most about the results."

    "Oh, I see," Ryan replied, nodding. "But you should know that if your client were to score in such an intense game, where his team is struggling, the effect would be much more impactful on the Rosenborg fanbase. He would be able to grow his reputation in an instant as the match-winner."

    "I''m also hoping for that," Emily replied, smiling. "It pains me that I haven''t been able to get him a single endorsement deal within two months. I hope this situation changes soon. Otherwise, I''ll have failed him as his agent."

    **** ****

    Zachary received a return pass from Mike Jensen as he stepped into the middle third of the ying field. He controlled it like a pro, skipping past Ruben Jenssen, one of Troms?''s defensive midfielders.

    He could feel that the game was almost ending and knew well that he couldn''t afford to dilly dally with the ball. He needed to distribute it to the forwards so that they could create goal-scoring chances for Rosenborg immediately. He didn''t want his first game at Lerkendal to end in a draw or worse¡ªa loss.

    So, he looked up the field¡ªand an instantter, he managed to spot Tarik Elyounoussi, the Rosenborg left-forward, unmarked in the left-wing. Zachary smiled to himself before flicking the ball further forward and loming his way past a sliding tackle from one of the opponents. A momentter, he smacked the ball¡ªwith the outside of his boot, sending it on a swerving trajectory towards the left-wing, where Tarik was waiting.

    Tarik controlled the ball beautifully and sped off in a wavy run across the left touchline, spearing deeper and deeper into Troms?''s half with his incredible pace. He managed to dash past a couple of Troms? yers even before they could react. In a matter of seconds, he stepped into the final third and started cutting into the pitch, heading towards Troms?''s goal.

    Tarik seemed to have gained an extra boost of energy. He skipped over a sliding tackle, bringing the ball with him before continuing his mad dash towards Troms?''s box. It seemed like he could keep going with the ball and score by depending on his incredible pace. However, his run was soon brought to an end by Miika Koppinen, the Troms? captain, a whileter. Mika galloped towards the sprinting Tarik like a runaway horse and slid in, sending Tarik tumbling to the ground in the left nk.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew his whistle and awarded Rosenborg a free-kick. He then ran up to Miika Koppinen, the Troms? captain, and showed him a second yellow card. After that, the referee awarded him a red card and asked him politely to leave the field of y. Rosenborg then had the one-man advantage over Troms?.

    **** ****

 Chapter 142 - A Flawless Curveball

    "In the 87th minute, Rosenborg has gained a one-man advantage over Troms? due to a red card," Kristin heard Kjell roar say. "Can Rosenborg capitalize on this advantage and punish Troms? within the remaining three minutes plus injury time? Or will Coach Agnar Christensen and his boys from the North keep Rosenborg at bay for the remainder of the game? Harald! What say you?" The voice of thementator boomed over the loud chattering and cheering through the stadium''s loudspeakers.

    "My money is still on Rosenborg," Harald, the pundit for that day''s game, replied. "The Rosenborg yers have been exceptional when moving forward ever since the start of the game. They have dominated possession and have over twenty shots on goal. Nicki, Zachary, and Tarik have all hit the crossbar or goal post at one point in the game. I feel like they have been truly unlucky for the score to remain deadlocked at 0:0."

    "But we can''t take away anything from team Troms?''s performance," the pundit continued. "The boys from the North have remained true to their tactics and very disciplined when under pressure. I reallymend them for their efforts. But since their captain has received a red card, it will be quite a challenge to continue keeping the Troll Kids at bay. Troms? is not the same without Miika Koppinen, their center back and captain."

    "Thank you, Harald," Kjell Roar said. "Let''s take you back to the action. The referee has almost finished organizing the wall and the yers in the box. But quite a few Rosenborg yers are still in a huddle, discussing how to take the free-kick, which is in a very tight angle, by the way. Will it be Zachary once again on the set piece? Or will Rosenborg go with Mike Jensen or probably Tarik?"

    Kristin Stein returned her full attention to the field of y. In the left-wing, close to the box, she could see Zachary, Tarik Elyounoussi, Mike Jensen, Tore the captain, and Mikael Dorsin huddled together over the ball. They seemed to be deep in discussion, strategizing on how to convert the free-kick. As the pundit had said, the set-piece position was in a very tight angle, only a few meters away from the goal line. It was also close to Troms?''s box, only three to five meters, by her estimation. But Kristin was still in doubt whether any yer could manage to convert it from such an angle.

    **** ****

    Contrary to what thementators had said, Zachary and co were not discussing the strategy for the set-piece. Instead, they were still debating on who would take it.

    "Zachary," Tarik, the left forward, said, smiling slightly. "I think you should leave this one to me. After all, you''ve already taken one during the first half."

    ''...and failed to score'', Zachary thought inwardly, a wry smile outlining his face. Unlike in the first half, all the yers had not unanimously agreed to let him take the set-piece. Both Tarik Elyounoussi and Mike Jensen wanted a go at it since they also had proven track records of converting free-kicks.

    "Let''s do it like this," Mikael Dorsin chipped in. "Let''s leave this one to Zachary. Tarik, you can take the next one while Mike will take the one after that. We shall continue the rotation in the next match. Let''s not continue the debate since we need to concentrate on sessfully converting the set-piece. After all, the referee has almost finished organizing the wall."

    "I second that," Tore Reginiussen, the Rosenborg captain, said. He then turned to Zachary. "This free-kick position needs a good right leg. But I''ve noticed that you mostly use your left when shooting. How confident are you?" He asked, raising a brow.

    "My right is as good as my left," Zachary replied, voice filled with confidence. "So, I have a pretty high chance of sessfully converting the set-piece if the keeper doesn''t perform abnormally like in the first half."

    "Okay, then," the captain said, nodding. "You''ll be the man to take the set-piece. Do your best and try to convert sessfully." He patted Zachary''s back.

    "Thanks a lot," Zachary replied. "I''ll try my best."

    "Well, then," Mikael chipped in, smiling. "Since we have already decided on who will be taking the set-piece, should we move on to the strategy?"

    "No need," Zachary said, starting to position the ball on the green. "I''ll be going directly for the goal. Just try making runs towards the goalposts, just in case there''s a rebound."

    "Okay then, let''s leave you to your preparations," Mikael said, wiping the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand. "The referee has finished organizing the wall. If you can, go for a hard one close to the far post. Trust me: you''ll surely beat the keeper that way. We wish you good luck." He added before turning around and starting to head into Troms?''s box.

    "Thank you for your advice," Zachary said, smiling. "I''ll try my best."

    "Good luck..."

    "Good luck..."

    The rest also said a few encouraging words before following Mikael into Troms?''s box. Both Mike and Tarik didn''t seem the least bit displeased by the captain''s decision on who was taking the set-piece. Nevertheless, Zachary was sure that should his attempt fail to meet their expectations, they wouldn''tpromise with him that easily when there was another set-piece situation in the near future.

    So, he took a deep breath and calmed his mind, making sure to do away with any redundant thoughts that could cloud his thought process and affect his delivery. He needed to be in a highly focused state if he wanted to convert the set-piece sessfully.

    When he was sure his mind had achieved a proper tranquil state, he started scrutinizing the positioning of the wall and the yers in Troms?''s box. In the meantime, his mind worked like a supeputer, trying to deduce the best way to take the free-kick.

    Since it was the 88th minute, tensions were high among the yers in the box. They were either pushing or pulling at each other, trying their best to outmaneuver their opponents and connect with the iing free-kick.

    Even the Troms? yers making up the wall were no different. They tried on multiple times to shorten the distance between themselves and the set-piece position. For a minute, disorder and confusion were all there was inside Troms?''s box. The referee had to give plenty of verbal warnings and confer three yellow cards to yers from both teams to calm the situation.

    Zachary took all that in with a rxed and detached gaze as he waited for the whistle to take the set-piece. His lips bore the semnce of a smile¡ªjust enough to show that he was enjoying his thoughts.

    He had be as calm as the sea before a storm because of his well-earned self-confidence born from practicing the Bend-it-like-Beckham Juju thousands of times. He was a yer unburdened and free from any tension at that moment.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally blew the whistle after organizing the situation in the box.

    Zachary didn''t dilly-dally since he''d already finished his preparations. He took a few steps back from the ball and angled his body in such a way that he was facing in the direction of Rosenborg''s goal.

    He then took a peek at the corner g and noticed that it was very still. At that moment, he could safely conclude that there was no wind to affect his shot.

    For a slight moment, the corners of his mouth stretched further into a brief suppressed grin as he realized he didn''t need to factor in the breeze into his set-piece technique. The absence of a breeze would make his job less demanding. So, he began his short run-up to the ball without any needless worries.

    With his eyes locked on the ball, he angled his body and connected with the ball with his instep while having his ankle locked. He hit the ball slightly on the side, just below the center, with the inside of his right boot to make it spin as it flew through the air. Zachary felt like he had executed the Bend-it-like-Beckham Juju with the greatest of perfection at that instant.

    **** ****

    Coach Johansen felt his heartbeat quicken as he watched Zachary take the free-kick after making an angled run towards the ball. The African boy unleashed a beautiful yet simple inside of the boot curveball that soared past the wall¡ªinto the air, seemingly targeted towards the crowd of yers in Troms?''s box.

    For a moment, Coach Johansen thought that Zachary had decided to cross the ball into the box for his teammates to make the finish. But an instantter, he noticed the curveball dipping slightly once again before curling further to find its way into the top right corner, beyond the reach of the keeper.

    1:0.

    Zachary had managed to put Rosenborg ahead with his wlessly executed curveball from an impossibly tight angle in the 88th minute.

    Coach Johansen raised his arms in the air and ran around the technical area like he''d gone mad. He could hardly contain his happiness. He''d been waiting for his team to score for an entire eighty-eight minutes. But his team had failed on multiple asions to put the ball in the back of the even after having long spells of dominating possession.

    Coach Johansen had been frustrated and thought the game would end up as a draw. But then, with Zachary''s goal, he could finally let go and rx. So, he pumped his fists in the air a few times before returning his full attention to the corner g where his yers were celebrating the goal.

    But to his dismay, Zachary had removed his shirt once again and thrown it into the stands. At that moment, a few Rosenborg fans were busy struggling to get their hands on the number-33 jersey. Coach Johansen''s previously beaming face morphed into a scary frown. A yer taking off his shirt tranted into a pointless yellow, which would affect his squad as the season progressed.

    "Didn''t any of you inform him not to take off his shirt once again?" He questioned Trond Henriksen, his assistant.

    "We did," Trond Henriksen replied, still grinning after celebrating the goal. "But I guess he couldn''t keep himself in check since he was too happy after scoring."

    Coach Johansen sighed. "Those are two yellows in two matches now. We need to make sure this doesn''t happen again. Otherwise, Zachary will be facing suspension soon due to umting yellow cards."

    "Sure," Coach Henriksen replied. "I''ll have a serious talk with him before the next match."

    **** ****

 Chapter 143 - A Dead-Ball Specialist I

    "Zachary, *p*p, Rosenborg, *p*p*, Zachary, *p*p..."

    The fans around Kristin had long gone mad with euphoria. After Zachary scored that perfect free-kick from the tight angle, everyone around her had jumped up in joy and started pping their hands while singing his name.

    A storm of excitement had taken over the sections of the stands with Rosenborg fans, and it hadn''t died down ever since the moment of the goal. Kristin, too, joined in on the cheering and celebrating as she felt like the golden age of Rosenborg had returned once again. She couldn''t believe that the simple boy, who''de to Europe only two years ago, could put up such a disy within a week after making his debut for Rosenborg.

    "Well then, that was some incredible stuff from Zachary Bemba," Kristin heard Kjell Roar, thementator, yell out loud. He seemed to be trying to make himself heard over the loud singing and cheering that''d taken over Lerkendal Stadion.

    "Okay, even I, as amentator, I''m at a loss for words after having witnessed that free-kick," Kjell Roar continued. "Simple but effective from a tight angle and boom¡ªthe ball is in the back of the, beyond the reach of Marcus Sahlman, the keeper. That was genius from the 18-year-old Rosenborg number-33. Harald! You''ve been smiling to yourself ever since Zachary scored that goal."

    "Yes, of course," Harald Brattbakk chipped in. "I''m quite sure that anyone who enjoys football will smile orugh when they get a chance to witness such a goal..."

    "Let me correct you there," Kjell Roar interrupted him. "I''m sorry to say, but not everyone could smile and appreciate the goal the way you did. Take a look at the stands with the Troms? fans and tell me if they are pleased after having witnessed the goal."

    Haraldughed at that before continuing. "My bad, then. As I was saying, that goal was a result of a wlessly executed effective curveball. I''ve to say that Zachary is one yer with bottomless talent. His technique when taking the free-kick was the epitome of perfection. Textbook perfection, if I''m to say. I was amazed by his angled run-up to the ball and then hisposure when making contact to unleash that curve beyond the wall and into the top right corner. What was better was that he went for the far post. Everything was textbook perfect, and he kept the keeper guessing until the veryst moment."

    "Zachary must have practiced this technique countless times on the training ground," the pundit continued. "For me, this signifies the making of a great yer."

    "Does his technique remind you of someone?" Kjell Roar inquired.

    "Well, yes," Harald was quick to reply, his voice animated. "His set-piece technique has an uncanny resemnce to that of David Beckham. But I believe he has made the technique his own. You can see that from his uracy. He can find the back of the from any angle around the box. Last weekend, against Aalesunds, heted one from the edge of the box in front of the arc. This time around, he has scored one from a tight angle close to the goal line. He''s one hell of a dead-ball specialist."

    "Thank you, Harald," Kjell Roar said. "Let''s take you back to the live-action, where the game has just restarted after the goal. Coach Agnar Christensen has reacted quickly and brought on Adnan Causevic, another defender, to cover for the gap left by his captain after the red card. Team Troms? are slowly passing the ball in their backfield..."

    Kristin returned her attention to the ying field after calming down from all the excitement of celebrating Rosenborg''s first goal. She continued following the match proceedings as the Troms? yers tried to hold on to the ball in their backfield.

    But Troms?''s efforts to horde possession were fruitless. The Rosenborg yers didn''t let up the heat even after taking the lead. Instead, they increased their counter-pressing intensity. They ran at any of the opposing yers with the ball like tireless madmen, never giving them even a second to rx with the ball. A whileter, they managed to force the Troms? yers to y the ball high towards their center forward. The boys from the North could no longer take the pressure from Rosenborg in their backfield.

    Kristin smiled, thinking that Rosenborg would soon regain possession and resume attacking once again. But to her dismay, Jonas Svensson, one of Rosenborg''s defensive midfielders, mistimed the long ball when he tried to intercept it.

    The color drained out of Kristin''s face as she watched the ball bounce into Rosenborg''s defensive third, beyond the reach of Tore Reginiussen, and towards Zdenek Ondrasek, the Troms? center forward.

    The tricky long ball had taken out the two holding midfielders and one center back from the equation, leaving Zdenek Ondrasek unmarked for a brief while. Rosenborg was in deep trouble for the first time since the match started.

    Zdenek Ondrasek pounced on the ball like a cat that had detected some catnip and controlled it like the pro he was. Without any wavering, he spun around with the ball hooked to his left foot, skipping past Stefan Strandberg, one of Rosenborg''s center backs, in the process. He then fed the ball forward and took off towards Rosenborg''s box, leaving the Rosenborg defenders in the dust.

    "Oh, my, what have we here," Kristin heard Kjell Roar yell, his voice turning dramatic. "A long ball has magically found its way to Zdenek Ondrasek, and he''s bolting towards Rosenborg''s box like a bullet train. Lund Hansen, the Rosenborg keeper,es out to meet him. Zdenek chips the ball over the keeper. Oh, my! What a missed opportunity! The Rosenborg goalkeeper managed to get his fingertips on the ball, pushing it away from his goal. What a save! It''s a corner kick for Troms?."

    Kristin let out a pent-up breath of air as she watched the ball sail out of y, missing the goalpost by mere centimeters. In the 91st minute, Rosenborg had survived conceding a goal.

    "I guess the Rosenborg defensive yers have been asleep for too long," Harald, the match pundit,mented in a t voice. "That missed ball that allowed Zdenek Ondrasek to gain that game-changing opportunity was due to apse in the concentration of the Rosenborg yers. I didn''t expect suchxity to appear here in this top level of football."

    "Talking about thexity in concentration," Kjell Roar chipped in. "Coach Johansen has reacted immediately. Ole Seln?s, another young yer of Rosenborg, has started warming up. He should being on for Jonas Svensson, the defensive midfielder, who mistimed that long ball and created all the trouble."

    "Well," Harald said. "We only have four minutes of added time for this game. If I were Rosenborg''s coach, I would also start making substitutions at this juncture. He only needs to protect the one-goal lead and shouldn''t allow for any risks of conceding a goal to happen. Substitutions can help him waste some time while giving the yers a few seconds to rx from the intensity of the game."

    "Let''s take you back to the action," Kjell Roar said, his voice rising a bit. "Hans Norbye, the Troms? right-back,unches a powerful cross from the corner into the box. But Tore Reginiussen, the Rosenborg captain, out-jumps the rest of the yers and intercepts the ball, heading it to the outside of the box..." Thementator intoned words at the pace of a machine gun while switching from English to Norwegian and back a couple of times.

 Chapter 144 - A Dead-Ball Specialist II

    Kristin''s entire focus was on the field of y. She watched with nervous anticipation as Mike Jensen, one of Rosenborg''s defensive midfielders, shrugged off an opponent before heading the just-cleared ball further away from his box. He managed to direct it towards the right-wing, where Tobias Mikkelsen was lurking.

    Tobias Mikkelsen, the Rosenborg left-forward, controlled it well close to the touchline in the right-wing. And without any dy, he fed it past Saliou Ciss, the Troms? left-back, before beating him for pace. He was soon rushing across the touchline, heading towards Troms?''s half like a bullet train on the rails.

    The counter-attack was on. The fans around Kristin rose from their seat due to the lightning-fast intensity of the counter-attack.

    Josh Pritchard, one of Troms?''s defensive midfielders, soon rushed at the sprinting Rosenborg left forward to close him down. Tobias didn''t try to dribble past him. Instead, he flicked the ball onto his right foot and unleashed a cut-back pass into the middle of the pitch where Zachary had just arrived.

    Zachary controlled the ball mid-sprint without slowing down. Without wasting even a single second, he continued bolting like a cheetah towards Troms?''s side of the field. He was so fast that he managed to race across the middle third of the pitch in just a couple of seconds.

    Ruben Jenssen, the other Troms? defensive midfielder, came to close down Zachary''s run as he stepped past the middle third. Zachary flicked the ball to Nicki Nielsen, who''d long run into space and opened himself up to receive a pass in the left-wing.

    Nicki Nielsen didn''t disappoint. Hetched on to Zachary''s pin-point pass before cutting into the pitch and making a diagonal run at Troms?''s defensive line like the wind. He was upon one of the defenders in a matter of seconds.

    Nicki didn''t lose hisposure when faced with the blockade by the defender. Instead, he started flicking the ball from his left to right foot as he slowly approached the box from the nks.

    "Pass! Pass!" Kristin heard many of the Rosenborg fans in the stadium start yelling at Nicki Nielsen. That was because he''d held on to the ball longer than necessary and held back Roseborg''s lightning-swift counter-attack. Down the field of y, Zachary, Tarik, and Tobias Mikkelsen had already arrived¡ªand were eagerly waiting for a return pass from Nicki.

    However, the number-9 seemed not to have heard the imploring calls of the fans. Nicki Nielsen continued trying to dribble past Jarow Fojut, the Troms? center back, until thetter was¡ªforced to push out his leg to make contact with the ball. The action seemed to be what Nicki had been anticipating. The next instant, Nicki elerated, trying to bolt past Jarow Fojut and step into Troms?''s box.

    But the Troms? center back was having none of his nonsense. He shifted his body slightly, nting himself into the sprinting path of the number-9. That way, Jarow Fojut managed to bar the striker from entering his box.

    Kristin winced as she watched the Rosenborg number-9 collide head-on with the Troms? center back before ricocheting backward and copsing supine on the ground.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, awarding Rosenborg yet another free-kick in a dangerous position at the corner of the 18-yard-box. But none of the Rosenborg yers celebrated as Nicki was still lying on the ground after bearing the full brunt of the collision with the Troms? center back. He seemed to be in a lot of pain.

    "That was some nasty full-body block by Jarow Fojut on Nicki Nielsen," Kristin heard Kjell Roar, thementator, say. "The referee has shown a yellow card to the Troms? center back for that nasty obstruction. He''s lucky to have escaped a red card."

    "You are right, Kjell," Harald chipped in. "The center-back was thest man barring Nicki from the keeper and the goal. In my opinion, it should have been another red for Troms?. But he got away lightly with a yellow."

    "But still," Kjell Roar cut in, "Rosenborg has gotten another chance to have a go at Troms?''s goal with another set-piece from yet another dangerous position. We might get a chance to see more magic from Zachary this evening." He added, his voice animated.

    Kristin returned her full attention to the pitch. The medics had arrived and were helping Nicki Nielsen off the pitch. In the meantime, Zachary had already picked up the ball and seemed ready to take the set-piece once again. Kristin could feel the fans around her getting animated as they waited for Zachary to perform his magic once more.

    **** ****

    On the pitch, on the left nk, Zachary bent down and positioned the ball just outside the corner of the 18-yard-box. The rest of Zachary''s teammates had unanimously agreed to let him take the free-kick once again. Not even Mike Jensen or Tarik Elyounoussi, the other set-piece takers on the team, had raised aint. It seemed like they''d finally recognized his skill as a dead-ball specialist.

    "Young man, don''t try to act smart by shortening the distance," the referee said, interrupting him. "Move the ball a little bit back. The foul wasmitted a couple of meters from the box. Not at the edge."

    Zachary could only smile wryly on hearing the referee. Without anyints, he picked up the ball and moved it a few meters back from the edge of the box. Zachary wasn''t the least bit worried as the extra distance wouldn''t affect his uracy by that much. He''d spent hours training how to convert set-pieces from various areas of the attacking third. He was confident he would hit the target as long as he was anywhere near the opponent''s box.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew his whistle after organizing the wall and the rest of the yers in the box. Zachary reacted instantly, taking a deep breath to calm himself down before stepping back from the ball.

    For the third time during that game, he made his short angled run-up to the ball by following the motions of the Bend-it like Beckham Juju. He then took the final jump step and made his desired ideal contact with the ball, sending it spinning on a curling trajectory towards the inside of the top left corner.

    The ball soared into the air, flying over the wall and then dipping slightly before curving further outside¡ªout of the goalkeeper''s reach. And without any surprise, it homed into the back of the like a ballistic missile finding its intended target. The Troms? keeper couldn''t even react and stayed rooted in one position, seemingly wondering what the hell had happened.

    2:0.

    The cheers that rose in Lerkendal Stadium were as loud as the greatest of celebratory firework explosions. Rosenborg had managed to score its second goal in the 93rd minute, with only a single minute off added time remaining on the clock.

    Zachary felt a sudden re of joy streak through him like aet after seeing the ball nestled in the back of the. Like the previous times, he ran to the corner g to celebrate and express his delight afterting the goal. However, before he could reach his destination, Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg assistant captain, intercepted him along the way.

    "If you dare take off your jersey, I''ll fight you," the assistant captain yelled after pulling at Zachary''s shirt to stop him from continuing to the corner g. "You''ll get a red card this time around."

    "Oh," Zachary said, smiling sheepishly and cooling down. "But I wasn''t going to take off my shirt..." He stopped mid-sentence as the rest of his teammates had arrived and started jumping on them to celebrate the goal.

    **** ****

 Chapter 145 - Another Post-Match Interview

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    Emily''s eyes sparkled with delight when the referee blew the final whistle, bringing the proceedings on the field to an end.

    Inside, she was smiling as a cacophony of pping, coupled with cries for joy, broke out in the stands of Lerkendal Stadion. In the seats all around her, the Rosenborg fans wore grins of giddy jubtion as they savored their team''s sweet, sweet victory.

    The Troll Kids had managed to maintain their 2:0 lead against Troms? Idrettg, ending the night with three points in the bag. Better yet, it was Zachary, her client, who''d scored the two goals that helped Rosenborg im the victory. Her spirits soared as she thought about the possible implications of another one of Zachary''s incredible performances.

    "Your client''s set-piece technique is something," Ryan Bellmore, her race car driver friend, intoned from beside her. "I suggest you encourage him to move to White Hart Lane before the other top teams spot him."

    "Ryan," Emily said, raising a brow. "I''ll be introducing you to himter. Don''t mention any needless things, like him moving away from his current team when you meet him."

    "No worries," Ryan replied, grinning. "I''ll only suggest we go racing for a few days. Nothing more." He added jokingly.

    "Ryan!" Emily intoned, giving him a sideways nce.

    "Okay, okay," Ryan said, still grinning. "I''m a responsible athlete. No worries. By the way, why not approach automobile and phonepanies regarding endorsements. They have better offers than the rest of thepanies, especially here in Norway."

    "I''ll see," Emily replied perfunctorily, not wanting to delve further into the topic.

    Another wave of cheering soon washed over the stadium as Zachary and his teammates moved around the field, waving at the fans to show appreciation for their support. The cheers and apuse slowly grew to a crescendo until they mingled together into a single sustained roar¡ªthat shook the stadium, seemingly almost blowing off the roof. It was pure madness in the stands¡ªnot mindless crowd mania, but an intense wave of pure bliss and joy brought on by Rosenborg emerging victorious from a hard-to-win fixture.

    The corner of Emily''s mouth quirked up as she rose from her seat like the rest of the fans and started pping to give a standing ovation to the Rosenborg yers. She felt at home in the crowd even though she couldn''t understand the Norwegian words being chanted by the fans around her. But a few times, her ears managed to pick up the words Zachary Bemba from the noise and chatter around her.

    Emily was sure her client''s reputation had risen to a higher level after the match that day. She could already picture various brand representatives with endorsement deal offers starting to approach her in droves over theing weeks. She could smell the money already.

    **** ****

    Zachary felt contentment swelling through him as he made his way to the area designated for the press after the final whistle. He''d just gotten word from the coach that he needed to take the post-match interview once more since he was the man of the match. His spirits were flying high. He had managed to score another two goals for Rosenborg, bringing his tally to five goals. Everything felt so surreal to him at that moment since he''d only made his professional debut a week prior.

    Zachary found the press people eagerly waiting for him on one side of the pitch. Since he already had experience dealing with them, he remained calm as he approached the cameras. The journalists noticed him while he was still a dozen or so steps away from the area designated for them. With all the haste they could muster, they all began focusing their camera lenses on him, trying to capture his image.

    He didn''t feel rattled by the attention since he had already experienced the press during his post-match interview on the weekend. He only had to think of the media people as another group of fans in order to escape the pressure of being in front of the cameras.

    "Wee back, Zachary," a TV2 Sporten correspondent said as soon as Zachary stepped before the cameras. "We''re d to have you here once again." He added, smiling.

    "Thank you," Zachary replied, smiling back. He recognized the reporter, v Brusveen. He was the same one that had interviewed him over the weekend after the Aalesunds FK game.

    v Brusveen was a perfect example of the archetypal TV personality. He had deep blue eyes and a neatly trimmed dark beard that matched well with his sleek hairbed to one side. Some folks wore a smile, but the guy himself was the smile. Everything about him radiated a soft and understated joy as he shook Zachary''s hand, weing him to the press area.

    "You made a strong start as a team," v said, going straight to business as soon as the interview started. "You were on the front foot right from the start. You dictated the tempo and kept Troms? under pressure throughout the entire duration of the first half. Nevertheless, you couldn''t manage to get that early goal and gain any advantage over the boys from the North. But all that changed in the final minutes because of you. You''re the man of the match once again. How do you feel, Zachary?"

    "Obviously, I feel great," Zachary was quick to reply. "I came into this game with the sole objective to win. I''m d that I got the opportunity to be the person that provided my team with the edge they needed to take the game. But I can''t forget the contributions of my teammates. Both Nicki and Tarik were on fire and worked hard to force those fouls out of the defenders in the final third. The two of them were very brilliant during the game."

    "Your two free-kicks," v continued, smiling at Zachary. "Could you have hit them any better at all?!"

    Zachary beamed on hearing the question. "Obviously, not any better. I tried my best, and they went into the back of the. Didn''t they?"

    "Yes, of course, they did," v replied. "The two goals were phenomenal to the point that a few people are associating your set-piece technique to that of David Beckham. How big of apliment is that?"

    "Oh!" Zachary replied, trying to organize his words. "That''s a really nicepliment. I''ve always admired the Englishman''s set-piece technique. Honestly, I''ve even been training using some of his videos as tutorials. I''m d that my work is finally paying off. But there''s still a lot of work to do to get to his level."

 Chapter 146 - Dead-Ball Specialist Juju

    "Those are five goals for you in three matches," v Brusveen, the TV2 Sporten correspondent, chipped in to continue the post-match interview. "You seem to be flying. It''s quite surprising, especially since it has just been only a week since you made your debut. Zachary, how do you do it?"

    "Well, I train a lot," Zachary replied in a t voice. "I also feel good while I''m on the pitch. So, it''s easy for me to convert chances when theye to me during the game."

    "Not because you eat well?" v probed jokingly.

    Zachary smiled on hearing that. "Of course there''s that," he said. "Eating well is one of the most important requirements for a professional footballer." He added, his facial expression turning solemn.

    "Oh, that''s good to know," v said, still smiling. "Tonight, Rosenborg took another step towards returning to the top of the table and probably the title. Your team has umted 16 points, the same as Str?msgodset Toppfotball. Rosenborg is only in second ce because of Str?msgodset''s superior goal difference. Are you confident with regards to winning the Trophy this season?"

    "The team''s atmosphere at the moment feels great," Zachary replied right away. "We''re the strongest team in Norway. There''s no doubt about that. So, we''re confident that we can continue gaining victories until we win both the Cupen and the Tippeligaen this season. Of course, that is if we continue putting up our best."

    "Best team in Norway, you say!" v said, his eyes glittering as if he''d finally caught something newsworthy. "Not Molde, not Str?msgodset! The Tippeligaen fans may not agree. One team is the champion forst season, while the other has been one of the table leaders ever since the season began."

    "Of course, we are the best," Zachary replied, his voice oozing with confidence. "We''ll soon surpass Str?msgodset and return to the top of the table. And there''s no need to mention Molde. If I recall correctly, they should still be at the bottom of the table with two points from seven matches this season. Isn''t that right?"

    "Yes, you''re right," v replied, a Cheshire cat''s grin lighting up his face. "They''ve not won any game ever since the season started. Their two points are from two draws."

    "Then, there''s no need forparison," Zachary said seriously, wishing to bring the matter to a close. He''d already felt that the reporter was focusing on non-issues instead of asking about the just-concluded match.

    v nodded, still beaming. "Thank you, Zachary, for your time," he said, extending his hand. "It was great having you here once again. I hope to see you once again next week."

    "Thank you, too, for having me," Zachary replied, taking his hand and concluding the post-match interview. He then exchanged handshakes and a few words with a few other media people before heading to the dressing room.

    Since it was long past nine in the night, Zachary quickly cleaned up, had the team dinner, and said his goodbyes to the rest of his teammates before leaving Lerkendal with haste. He took thete bus back to Stj?rdalsveien, and by 10:15 PM, he''d already returned to his apartment.

    All that was on his mind was getting on with his post-match recovery routine and going to bed. He couldn''t allow himself to give in to the exhaustion before hepleted his post-match physical conditioning to quicken his recovery. He needed to be ready for the away game against H?nefoss Ballklubb the following Monday.

    But no sooner had he entered his living room than a system sounded within his mind.

    "DING"

    "Congrattions," the AI''s apathetic voice soon followed.

    "The user haspleted a hidden system mission¡ªby remaining consistent and managing to score in three consecutive matches by relying on set pieces. The user has earned 100 Juju points and unlocked a new passive skill: Dead-Ball Specialist Juju, effective immediately."

    "The user can view the skill details in the system interface. Does the user wish to view the details right now?"

    Zachary paused mid-step for a moment, trying to process the new information. "Dead-Ball Specialist!" He mumbled, mulling over the name of the new skill. "Isn''t that simr to the Bend-it like-Beckham Juju?"

    "Not at all," the AI replied. "The Dead-Ball Specialist Juju is purely a passive mental skill. On the other hand, the Bend-it like-Beckham Juju is an active skill concerned with urately controlling the body to initiate postures for taking perfect free-kicks. The two skills are different."

    "Oh!" Zachary said, caressing his chin. "I need to see this for myself. Bring up the skill info right away." He added, throwing his gym bag to the side before settling into a sofa.

    "DING"

    "The skill details have been brought up on the interface."

    Zachary nodded to himself before perusing through the skill details on the translucent blue screen that appeared before him.

    ****

    #1 new message.

    ----

    New Skill (Passive): Dead-Ball Specialist Juju (100% mastery)

    ----

    Skill Details

    ->The user will possess nerves of steel before taking any set piece, whether a penalty, corner-kick, or free-kick. The user will enter a state of extreme focus, undisturbed by any outside interference at that juncture.

    ->When the user activates the skill, he will gain a brief boost in the spatial-awareness and risk analysis core attributes before taking a set-piece. The two stats will rise to the next small-grading after the user has activated the Dead-Ball Specialist Juju.

    ----

    NB:

    ->The user can only use the skill just before set-pieces.

    ->The skill will always cost the user ten Juju-points to activate for 10 seconds before taking the set-piece.

    ****

    Hope bloomed inside Zachary after reading through the details of the skill. One of the most challenging requirements for any professional footballer was remaining calm in the midst of game-changing opportunities on the pitch. The pressure, born from intense periods, could easily affect a yer and hamper his ability to perform in such moments. For instance, a top-notch yer could miss a penalty or a free-kick due to pressure, even when he had been converting every set piece on the training ground. The Dead-Ball Specialist Juju was simply the ideal cheat to help any footballer bypass that kind of pressure.

    Zachary was sure he could remain consistent and continue performing at his best on set pieces with such a cheat. His conversion rate of free kicks would significantly increase since he wouldn''t face any pressure with such a cheat in his repertoire. Moreover, two of his game-intelligence stats would rise to the S- grade as long as he activated the skill. Zachary looked forward to that, as being in that state even for only ten seconds would give him a glimpse of how top athletes usually viewed the game. That way, he would be able to adjust ordingly and grow his skills to the next level.

    Zachary''s heart leaped up for joy as he thought about the various advantages of the skill. Nheless, he still had one concern.

    "System," Zachary mumbled, starting to take off his sneakers. "Will activating the skill have any impact on the development of my other stats or attributes?"

    "Negative," the AI replied right away. "Rather than slowing down the user''s rate of progress, activating the skill will enable the user to develop the attributes leaning on the mental side much faster than before. The user shouldn''t worry."

    "That''s great then." Zachary smiled after hearing the AI''s response. As long as the skill had no adverse side effects, he would dly use it to win games. He was looking forward to using the Dead-Ball Specialist Juju.

    **** ****

 Chapter 147 - Post-Match Interview Video Went Viral I

    The golden sunlight streamed through Kristin''s window in a well-mannered announcement of the rising sun. Kristin''s eyes flickered open, and she woke from deep slumber to yet another day that brought with it new hopes and aspirations. The golden rays of thete morning sun shone into her still bleary, sleepden eyes, irritating them. She quickly brought up her hands to guard them. She let out a suppressed yawn, her eyes closing once more as she took a few moments to enjoy the brief darkness. The beauty of the fresh new day wasn''t tempting enough to goad her out of bed.

    She''d sleptte the previous night after attending a post-match get-together with some of her friends. Everything about her, from her arms to her feet, still felt heavy. Nevertheless, she reopened her eyes a momentter to steal a nce at the pointless rm clock, glowing red, on her bedside table. She didn''t want to sleep up to midday even though she was still tired.

    But on noticing it was just 9:30 AM, she gave in to the temptation of sleep and went under the covers once more. She could afford to sink back into her dreand for another hour or two since she had nothing scheduled for that Thursday morning.

    But circumstances couldn''t always go as one wished or wanted. No sooner had Kristin closed her eyes, intending to sink back into slumber, than her phone buzzed and vibrated on her bedside table. She still ignored it for a few seconds, trying her best to condition her mind into sleeping once again. She believed that whoever was calling would give up and wait after a few rings. However, the buzzing soon transitioned into her catchy Taylor Swift''s <We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together> ringtone.

    Kristin could no longer ignore her phone with that much noise close to her bedside. She stretched out an arm, intending to pick it up while cursing at herself for not putting it into silent mode when she was going to bed the previous night. All that was on her mind was to switch it off immediately and return to doing the needful, which was sleeping off her fatigue. She didn''t wish to interrupt her morning beauty sleep just because of a call.

    But on taking a peek at her smartphone''s glowing screen, her eyes fully flickered open, stirring to full attention within an instant. Her thoughts quickly switched into a very high definition as she forced herself out of bed. Without a moment of dy, she pressed the "ept" button to receive the call.

    "Hello, Kristin," A deep and slightly raspy voice said from the other end of the line. "How''s your morning? Did I wake you?"

    "Good morning, grandpa," Kristin spoke into the phone, making sure to keep her voice steady and devoid of any lingering signs of sleep. "I didn''t expect your call today. I woke up earlier but was in the shower."

    "Oh, okay," Martin Stein, her grandpa, replied. "No worries. I only wanted to check on you. It has been a long time, probably two months, without you visiting. Did you follow up with the sporting director about the possibility of taking a few months as an intern at the club? I had already mentioned it to him. He''d promised that he would consider you for some of the volunteer positions during the period before you start university."

    "Oh, that," Kristin said, walking towards therge window that took up arge section of the wall on one side of her room. "I already met Mr. Erik Hoftun, and he promised that he would bring me on board during summer. If all goes well, I''ll be attached to the publicity office."

    "Okay, that''s great, then," Mr. Stein said. "If you get any challenges there, call me. Although I''m already out of the management, my words still carry some weight at the club."

    Kristin''s smile faded on hearing that. She took a moment to organize her thoughts as she peered out of the curtains, noticing that there was already a pearly glow in the sky. But a momentter, she closed the curtains once again as the sun outside was too intense for her still bleary eyes.

    "Grandpa," she said after a moment. "Did you find out if the new coach was involved?"

    For a few seconds, there was silence at the other end of the line. But just as Kristin started getting worried that she''d caused her grandpa to hung up, his voice came through her phone''s speaker once again. "Kristin," Mr. Stein said, his tone somber. "I''ve already confirmed that the new coach isn''t one of them. It seems like they didn''t get a chance to recruit him because of how fast he switched from being the academy coach to the manager of the senior side."

    "Did you find out about the rest of the people involved?" Kristin probed, retracing her steps and sitting back on her bed.

    "Yes, I have one suspect," Mr. Stein replied. "But let''s not talk about this on the phone. And please don''t try to ask the other club employees about this when you meet them. Stay out of this and focus on getting an internship. It''ll be good for you if you''re ever going to manage an agency in the future. Okay?"

    "Yes, grandpa," Kristin replied, her tone humble.

    "That''s great," Mr. Martin said, his voice seemingly taking on a rxed state. "If you get some time,e and see me, and I''ll tell you all about the issues. Also, try to get that Zachary to visit me when you''reing. It has been a long time since Ist saw him. I also need to warn him about such issues."

    "Okay, grandpa," Kristin replied. "I''ll tell him. How is your health, by the way? Are you feeling better after the surgery?"

    "Don''t worry," Mr. Stein replied. "I''m getting better with each passing day. Soon, we shall be making trips to the rest of the world like before." He added jokingly.

    "That''s great," Kristin said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "But don''t push yourself too much. Take it slow, and you''ll get well in no time."

    "Okay, take care," Mr. Stein said. "But please do go back and visit your family once in a while. They may not understand your dreams, but they still care about you. Okay?"

    "Yes, grandpa," Kristin replied perfunctorily. "I''ll try."

    "That''s my granddaughter," Mr. Stein replied excitedly. "I hope you do it soon. Goodbye." He added and ended the call right after.

    A troubled smile outlined Kristin''s face as she took one final nce at the screen of her iPhone before throwing it onto her bed. She didn''t like it in the slightest when her grandpa requested her to visit her folks.

    She could talk to her grandpa without any needless worries. After all, he was one of the few people in her family who truly understood her since he also enjoyed sports. Talking to the rest of her family members was another matter. She dreaded the idea of having to face them once again. She couldn''t sit together with them in a room without an argument breaking out in a few minutes.

    She hoped to avoid them as long as possible since they were set against her dream to be part of the sports industry.

    When she was younger, they had continuously discouraged her from getting too involved in any sports. She couldn''t remember a single time they''d taken her love for skiing, chess, and football into consideration. They''d always asserted that she needed to study and learn to handle the family businesses rather than wasting her time in fields where she had no talent.

    At one time, when she''d stood her ground and insisted on joining some of the professional skiing clubs, they''d used their influence and blocked her from getting a membership. They''d even shipped her off to a boarding school in Switzend soon after, citing that they needed to correct her rebellious attitude before it was toote. Had it not been for her maternal grandpa, she would have never gotten a chance to get involved in any sports, whether chess or football. She would have remained cooped up somewhere, reading ounting books and other boring stuff.

    "Kristin, are you awake yet?" The voice of Monica R?nning, her tmate, sounded from behind her bedroom door, apanied by a couple of loud knocks. "Would you like to eat breakfast with me? I''ve made eggs, veggies, and some cookies."

    "Okay," Kristin replied, yelling back. "I will be out in a few minutes. Give me a few minutes to freshen up."

    Ten minutester, Kristin sat opposite her tmate on their small dining table, feasting on a light breakfast. Their dining room carried a happy vibe interwoven with the aroma of their meal which soothed Kristin to the bone. She felt her thoughts clearing further¡ªall her worries forgotten as she enjoyed her breakfast.

    "You didn''t go for training today!" She said to her tmate after finishing her breakfast.

    "Day off," Monica R?nning responded, her eyes never leaving her bowl of cereal. "You didn''t y the game yesterday?" Her tmate queried after a while, in-between mouthfuls of cereal.

    "I was watching Rosenborg''s home game untilte," Kristin replied, leaning back in her chair and sipping on her juice. "I came back very exhausted and couldn''t concentrate."

    "Oh," Monica said, ncing up for the first time to observe Kristin. "You''ll fall in the rankings."

    "I don''t mind," Kristin replied, the corners of her mouth turning up. "I don''t want to ascend the chess rankings so quickly. That would attract the attention of my folks even before I can join uni."

    "Well, up to you," Monica said. "By the way, have you checked v Brusveen''s Facebook page today? I mean v, the TV2 sports journalist."

    "No," Kristin replied, raising a brow. "Why?"

 Chapter 148 - Post-Match Interview Video Went Viral II

    Monica chuckled, inclining her head to lock eyes with Kristin. "You''ll love this," she said. "v posted something about what Zachary said during the post-match interview yesterday. Both the Molde and Rosenborg fans have gone crazy over the post on many social media tforms. Check your Facebook."

    "You don''t say," Kristin smiled, picking up her phone to view the post. She hurriedly navigated to v''s page, which had over ten thousand followers, all sports lovers from Norway and a few neighboring Scandinavian countries.

    "WE ARE THE STRONGEST TEAM IN NORWAY - THERE''S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT," says Zachary Bemba, Rosenborg''s new star. That was the title that greeted Kristin on opening v''s page. She nced up from her phone to Monica, wondering why such a statement could send the fans into a frenzy.

    Zachary hadn''t said anything wrong as Rosenborg had the most glorious history in Norway. Most Norwegians silently agreed that Rosenborg was the best team at the bottom of their hearts. Thus, the reaction of the fans was puzzling.

    "Watch the video first," Monica said, seemingly guessing her thoughts. "It''s the way he phrased it. You''ll understand."

    Kristin nodded before fixing her earphones into ce and clicking the y button on the Facebook video. The seven-minute well-edited motion picture started by showing the highlights of Zachary''s performances in his previous three games. It showed all Zachary''s goals, including the bicycle-kick against Aalesunds and his two free-kicks against Troms?. When the highlights ended, Zachary''s stern face popted the whole screen as the post-match interview from the previous day started showing.

    ****

    "Your team has umted 16 points, the same as Str?msgodset Toppfotball," Kristin heard the reporter, probably v Brusveen, say. "Rosenborg is only in second ce because of Str?msgodset''s superior goal difference. Are you confident with regards to winning the Trophy this season?"

    "The team''s atmosphere at the moment feels great''" Zachary replied. "We''re the strongest team in Norway. There''s no doubt about that. So, we''re confident that we can continue gaining victories until we win both the Cupen and the Tippeligaen this season."

    "Best team in Norway, you say!" The voice of the reporter queried,ing to Kristin''s ears through the earphones. "Not Molde, not Str?msgodset! The Tippeligaen fans may not agree. One team is the champion forst season, while the other has been one of the table leaders ever since the season began."

    "Of course, we are the best," Zachary replied confidently. "We''ll soon surpass Str?msgodset and return to the top of the table. And there''s no need to mention Molde. If I recall correctly, they should still be at the bottom of the table with two points from seven matches this season. Isn''t that right?"

    "Yes, you''re right," v replied. "They''ve not won any game ever since the season started. Their two points are from two draws."

    "Then, there''s no need forparison," Zachary said seriously, and the interview section of the video ended.

    v Brusveen''s elegant face appeared on her phone screen next.

    "There you have it," the TV2 Sporten reporter said. "That was the post-match interview from yesterday''s Rosenborg''s game with Zachary Bemba. The new star of Rosenborg is very confident that Rosenborg will continue racking up more victories to win the double this season. All the other teams need to watch out as this is one yer that means what he says. His goals speak for themselves. Thank you for watching. If you liked the video, please like our page, and please doment to make your opinions known." v said in a conclusive tone, ending the seven-minute video.

    ****

    Kristin chuckled after she finished watching the video. "This guy seriously needs a publicity secretary or something," she said, shaking her head. "How can you say that there''s no need forparison just because Molde is at the bottom of the table. The Molde fans will eat him alive when they chance upon him." She added, scrolling on to thements below the video.

    A lot of people had alreadymented on the video. Kristin could only read thements with the most likes just below the video.

    ****

    Rolf Petersen''sment with 614 likes: ''I''m a Viking FK supporter, and I usually don''t like to get into the rivalry between Rosenborg and Molde. But I have to intervene this time around. Saying there''s no need forparison between Molde and Rosenborg is outright nonsense. Molde are the champions forst season. They also eliminated Rosenborg at the Fourth Round stage of the Cupenst year. Where does this young boy get the confidence to say that Molde can''tpare to Rosenborg? Is it just because he has scored a few goals for Rosenborg?''

    ----

    Sindre Hestad''sment with 613 likes: ''Who cares about what he said. If any Molde yer can score a goal simr to his bicycle-kick against Aalesunds, he''ll get a free pass. He can say anything he wishes to say during the post-match interview, and we''ll spend the whole morningmenting about it. Oops! I just forgot that Moldecks any star yers who can attract this kind of attention. My bad. Sorry about that.''

    ----

    Svein Hagen''sment with 506 likes: ROSENBORG! ROSENBORG! ROSENBORG!

    ----

    Jarl Lunde''sment with 503 likes: ''@Sindre_Hestad @Svein_Hagen; yourmentsck any substance. Let''s wait for Monday 20th. We shall solve this at Lerkendal. Don''t forgetst season''s lesson and no need for pointless arguments.''

    ----

    RonaldinhoIsFromAkerStadium''sment with 492 likes: ''Well said @Rolf_Petersen and @Jarl_Lunde. We Molde fans don''t need to argue over pointless stuff. When wee to Lerkendal Stadion on May 20th, we shall show you who the boss is.''

    *****

    Kristin continued browsing through thements and noticed that majority supported Zachary''s statement of Rosenborg being the best in Norway. However, there were also arge number of fans that were dissing him and promising him hell when he faced Moldeter that May. She browsed a few other sports pages and noticed that they were all discussing the same topic of Zachary, his goals, and his post-match interview. Zachary had be a sensation in both the wrong and good ways. Kristin was both surprised and amused.

    "Do you think that Zachary has seen that video?" Monica inquired after noticing that Kristin had finished watching.

    "I highly doubt that," Kristin replied, her eyes still on her phone''s screen. "I remember him saying something about not being on Facebook or Twitter. He must still be in the dark about this. But there''s nothing wrong with what Zachary said in the video. It''s good publicity for both him and Rosenborg."

    "Let me correct you there," Monica said, smiling. "It''s good publicity only if he can make his imse true by continuing to perform well and helping his team to gain more victories. Should he lose against Molde or Str?msgodset¡ªand then fail to win any trophy, he will be the biggest joke in the Tippeligaen this season."

    **** ****

 Chapter 149 - An Incident On The Bus

    Zachary felt the difference when he was on the bus to meet Emily and her race car driver friend the morning after the match. People were doing that thing where he would nce their way, and they would pretend they hadn''t been looking at him. When he would look away and focus on the passing scenery outside the bus window, he would again feel their gazes locked on him. The situation within the bus remained awkward for a while until one brave blonde-haired kid, probably an 11 to 13 years-old-male, walked up to his seat and tapped his arm.

    "Hello, Mister," the kid said, looking up at his face with puppy eyes.

    "Yes, hello, young man," Zachary replied, inclining his head slightly and shing the kid a toothy grin. He could see that the kid was fidgeting and didn''t want to frighten him. "How may I help you?" He asked, making sure to keep his voice as soft and gentle as possible.

    "I''m sorry to disturb you, mister," the kid said, shifting his weight from one leg to the other while ncing at the floor. "But may I ask if you''re Zachary Bemba, the Rosenborg number-33? You do look a lot like him?"

    "Oh, that''s me," Zachary responded, surprised for a moment that the kid had recognized him. Arge part of his face was¡ªcovered by the hood of his jacket and his cap''s visor. He hadn''t expected that anyone would be able to guess his identity.

    "Great," the kid said, pping his hands excitedly. "I told my friends back there that it was you. But, they all argued that it couldn''t be you, iming that there was not a chance for a Rosenborg yer to be on the same bus as us. We''re all huge fans of yours and Rosenborg. It''s nice to meet you in person." The kid intoned words at the pace of a machine gun, grinning from ear to ear.

    "Nice to meet you, too," Zachary replied, patting the kid''s shoulder. "I''m d that you''re a Rosenborg fan. What''s your name, by the way?"

    "Josh," the kid replied. "Joshua Simonsen"

    "Oh, nice to meet you, Josh," Zachary said. "Do you y football?"

    "Yes, I do," Josh was quick to reply. "I''m one of the under-13s at the NF Academy. Everyone there regards you as an idol. They''ll die of envy if I tell them that I met you on the bus."

    "Oh!" Zachary said, at a loss for words. "That''s great," he added, only trying to keep the conversation flowing. He had just realized that talking to a fan was not an easy task. Too manypliments could creep out anyone, even the bravest of celebrities.

    "Zachary," Josh said after a while. "Is it possible to get your autograph?" He asked, his voice taking on an imploring but formal tone.

    "Yes, of course," Zachary replied, wishing to quickly sign for the boy and send him back to his seat. "Where can I sign for you?"

    "Thank you, here is the marker," Josh said, grinning. He then removed his jacket and turned around. "You can sign on my shirt." He added, pointing a finger towards his back.

    A wry smile outlined Zachary''s face on seeing that the boy wanted the autograph on his well-ironed white shirt. At that moment, he couldn''t help but recall the times when his grandma had pulled his ears because he had dirtied his school uniform. Although the kid in front of him wasn''t in uniform, Zachary was still hesitant to mess up the kid''s neat attire.

    "Don''t you have something like a notebook where I could sign for you?" He asked. "Your mom may not like it when you go back home with a shirt stained with ink."

    "No worries," Josh said, without turning back. "My mom won''t even notice. I have many shirts. Moreover, notebooks don''tst. An autograph on a shirt is way better."

    "Oh!" Zachary said, caressing his chin. "Then we don''t need to stain your shirt with marker ink. I''ve got one of my Rosenborg jerseys in my gym bag. I''ll sign my name on it and give it to you. How''s that for a solution? Isn''t that better than staining your shirt?"

    "Wow," Josh said, finally turning around and facing Zachary once again. "You''re giving me a signed jersey? Is it a number-33?" He asked, his voice rising to the point of attracting a few more curious gazes from the other passengers on the bus.

    "No need to be loud," Zachary said, maintaining a smile. "It''s a number-33 jersey, the only one I have at the moment. Well, what say you? You better decide fast coz I''m almost reaching my destination."

    "Of course, I want it," Josh said, his blue eyes glittering with pure excitement. "Thank you, Zachary. My teammates at the academy are going to be super jealous."

    "Okay, then I''ll get the jersey," he said, picking up his gym bag from beside him. He then fished out his only number-33 jersey, carefully wrote a few encouraging words to Josh, and finally signed his name.

    "Here you go," he said, folding and handing the signed jersey to Josh. He''d just realized that he had finally started acting as a role model to younger yers in his former academy. He was feeling good on the inside.

    Josh carefully received the jersey and unfolded it before giving it a once over. He then shed Zachary a grin, saying, "Thanks a lot, thanks a lot..." He mumbled several thank-yous agitatedly. The boy seemed genuinely happy, and Zachary could have sworn that he''d seen a tear or two at the corner of his eyes.

    "Keep working hard in the academy," Zachary said, patting the boy''s shoulder once again. "You''ll be ying for Rosenborg in no time if you stay true to your football."

    "Thank you," Josh said, his eyes still on the jersey. "I''ll treasure your words." He then folded the jersey as if it was his most prized possession in the world before returning to his seat.

    Zachary let out a pent-up breath of air as soon as the kid departed. Dealing with emotional youngsters that were also passionate fans was not a part of his set of skills. But he had to put in the effort since the kid loved football. Maybe, his words could help the boy mature into a highly skilled footballer in the future. That was his intention. As his grandma had often said: "A good deed would never be lost in time. The person who sowed courtesy by doing good always reaped friendship, while the one who nted kindness would gather love." Zachary was d that he''d sown another portion of good karma in his new life. Maybe, he would see the benefits soon.

    A soft smile lit up his face as he leaned back in his seat to enjoy the rest of his bus ride to the town square. He only had to meet with Emily and her race car driver friend that day and had nothing else nned. But surprisingly, he felt rxed and thankful for a day off from his hectic schedule. He''d finally learned to treasure his off-days after having yed three intense matches within a span of a week. Had it been a month back, he would have still been on the field or in the gym training even on such days.

    He was about to pull on his headsets to enjoy some music for the rest of the short journey to Trondheim Square. But to his dismay, a few more fans began appearing beside his seat, asking for his autograph in a systematic manner. He couldn''t help but wonder how his fame had exploded within a single night to the point of attracting fans even when he was on a bus. He understood that it took time for any yer to build a reputation among the fans. Although he was in Trondheim, the home city of Rosenborg, the fans shouldn''t have easily recognized who he was since he''d only yed three games for his club. Zachary was in a state of confusion as he signed his name on several notebooks of passionate Rosenborg fans, both young and old¡ªuntil he reached his destination.

 Chapter 150 - A Meeting With Emily And Ryan

    When Zachary alighted from the bus, he pulled the visor of his cap further down to hide his face. He didn''t want to be held down by any other passionate Rosenborg fans that wanted an autograph from him.

    He cast a nce at his watch and noticed that it was 10:16 AM, only 14 minutes to the scheduled time of his meeting with Emily. So, without further ado, he quickly began making his way towards Trondheim Square, where he was supposed to be meeting Emily and her friend.

    As he walked down the street under the morning sun that warmed his skin, he felt that the day was postcard perfect. Pedestrians walked like shoals of fish in myriad directions, not a single one of them in heavy clothing. Zachary smiled as he took in the sights around him. He liked the Trondheim with the warmer days better.

    A few minutester, he made it to the cafe close to Trondheim Square, where he usually held meetings with Emily. But to his surprise, Emily was yet to arrive. So, he settled down in one of the seats of a corner table and ordered some cherry juice as he waited for his agent to arrive.

    But he didn''t have to wait long. Emily arrived together with her friend shortly after. Zachary did a double-take on seeing the man beside him.

    He was the typical Brad Pitt look-alike with a perfect square jaw, blue eyes, and Achilles-golden hair coiffed to perfection. He could have been the ideal male model with his androgynous looks that could easily dazzle the fairer sex. But he had one shoring. He was short, probably 5-feet-three, by Zachary''s estimation. The man''s height betrayed his exquisite appearance.

    "Sorry we''rete," Emily said as soon as the two of them arrived at Zachary''s table. "We got caught in traffic."

    "No worries," Zachary replied, standing up and extending his hand for a greeting. "It''s only a few minutes. So, I don''t really mind."

    "That''s great," Emily said, taking his hand. "How is your morning?" She inquired.

    "Slow," Zachary replied, smiling at her. "I have the day off today. So, a bit bored."

    "Then let''s help you solve that boredom," Emily said, turning to the short man beside her. "This one here is the friend I previously mentioned. He''s Ryan Bellmore, a race car driver. He spends quite a lot of time in Norway."

    "Nice to meet you," Ryan Bellmore chipped in, extending his hand for a greeting.

    "Nice to meet you, too," Zachary replied, taking his hand. "I''m Zachary Bemba."

    "Oh, I know who you''re," Ryan said, a sunny smile outlining his face. "There''s no need for introductions. I watched your match yesterday and that viral post-match interview video of yours this morning. You''re something."

    "Viral post-match video!?" Zachary probed, settling back into thefort of his seat.

    "Yes, your post-interview video that''s making headlines around Norway," Ryan said, settling beside Emily in a seat opposite Zachary''s.

    Zachary''s eyes went round on hearing the short guy''s response. He inclined his head and searched Emily''s face for confirmation while wondering when post-match videos had be so popr to the point of going viral in Norway.

    "Oh, gosh, Zachary!" Emily eximed, seemingly noticing his surprise and iprehension. "Don''t tell me you haven''t watched it!" She probed, holding Zachary''s gaze.

    "Nope," Zachary replied, shaking his head. "This is the first time I''m hearing about the post-match video going viral. It was just another pointless interview where the journalist asked me a few questions about my club and its aspirations. I didn''t even expect it to make any news since I found it boring."

    Ryan and Emilyughed at that, shaking their heads as if their ears had picked up the world''s funniest joke.

    "Here, go ahead and watch it," Emily said, holding out her phone to Zachary from across the table. "Tell me how off-handedly dismissing one of Norway''s most flourishing teams can fail to make the news. You''ve got to learn that the press loves chaos. If you say anything controversial, they''ll capitalize on it because that''s what makes good headlines. Your post-match interview was exactly that."

    "Oh, but that wasn''t my intention," Zachary said, receiving the phone from Emily''s outstretched hand. He then started watching the post-match video on Emily''s phone.

    After watching for a few minutes, he realized that the reporter had omitted some of his statements to make him look more domineering in the video. For instance, he''d only said that he was sure that Rosenborg could continue racking up wins as long as he and his teammates could continue doing their best. But v, the reporter, had neglected the "as long as we continue putting up our best" part. v made it look like Zachary didn''t put the rest of the Tippeligaen teams in his eyes. For the first time in his career, he realized that journalists were sly foxes, especially when setting people up. The way v had edited the video to show his highlights, then seamlessly fixed his statements close to the end, was ingenious. It showed that he was one crafty guy¡ªfully intent on pitting him against the Molde and Str?msgodset fans.

    "Do you understand now?" Emily queried on noticing that Zachary had finished watching the video.

    "Yes, I do," Zachary replied, handing the phone back to her. "The guy who edited the video was a pro. That exins the incident on the bus when I was on my way here."

    "What incident?" Emily queried, narrowing her eyes.

    "Well, it''s something small and not so serious," Zachary replied. He then went on to tell them about how he spent most of the time on his bus ride to town signing autographs for a few Rosenborg''s passionate fans.

    Emily chuckled after listening to his ount. "Then this video is good for us," she said. "The more your fame increases in Norway and among the Rosenborg fans, the better our situation will be. We''ll be able to get juicier endorsement deals if there''s nothing controversial about your reputation."

    "Maybe," Zachary replied, smiling back at her. "But I still don''t get why this went viral. What I said in the interview is already known to every Tippeligaen fan. Rosenborg is the best team in Norway. Just think about it this way: would the Dutch fans have any reaction if a yer was to say that Ajax Amsterdam was the best team in the Eredivisie? I don''t get why the fans here are overreacting!"

    "Well, they would have ignored it if it was any other time of the season," Ryan chipped in, mopping a hand through his golden hair as if to straighten it further. "However, it''s only eleven days remaining to the most heated fixture of the season. That''s one of the games between Rosenborg and Molde. At the moment, the Molde fans are sensitive to anything said about their team by any Rosenborg yer. They are even more jittery because their team has been performing poorly since the start of the season. That was why your statements irked them so much that they''ve taken to social media to defend their team. So, get ready to face the music and the booing when your team goes against Molde. The Molde fans have already marked you as an outlet for their dissatisfaction."

    Zachary smiled. "I''m not afraid of them, not even their team," he said, shaking his head. "Not the way they are ying this season."

    Ryanughed at that. "You know they''ve got that guy, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as their coach," he said, caressing his spade-shaped goatee. "The guy has got an uncanny way of raising his team''s morale and performance, especially when there are big matches. I don''t know how he does it. You need to watch out."

    "No worries," Zachary said. "I''ll let the coaches worry about defeating him. Don''t you guys want to order anything, by the way?" He asked, sweeping his gaze across both Emily and Ryan.

    "Nope," Emily was the first to reply. "Let''s not waste time and get right to business. Ryan!" She added, turning to look at the short man beside her.

    Ryan cleared his throat and smiled. "So, Emily tells me that you need to buy a good car right away," he said, inclining his head slightly to observe Zachary''s face.

    "Yes, I would like to buy one," Zachary replied, nodding. "Emily convinced mest night that you''re the go-to man when one needs to buy a good machine. But I still feel guilty for taking up your time. Are you sure that this won''t affect your schedule! As a race car driver, you must be really busy."

    "Not at all," Ryan replied, his smile stretching further into a grin. "Emily must have already mentioned that shopping for cars is one of my hobbies. Moreover, what she forgot to mention is that I''m also a part-time dealer. I''m what you call a middleman when buying things."

    "Middleman!" Zachary probed, raising a brow and turning toward Emily for confirmation. Thetter nodded, validating the statement.

    "Yes, a middle man," Ryan continued. "When I''m not on the racing tracks, I work as an intermediary of sorts. I help people buy things. Whether it is housing, cars, art¡ªI can find them all as long as they are within Europe. So, if you ever need to buy anything in the future, you can always find me. I''ll always be able to help you. That''s onmission, of course."

    "Oh, now that makes sense since you''re a middleman," Zachary said, nodding. "I''m now at ease. But how do you bnce racing with being a middle man? As far as I know, every sport is quite demanding, especially with regards to time."

    "Yeah, it''s hard bncing the two," Ryan replied, shaking his head. "But I have to since I''ve got to raise money for my dream, which is racing. Finding organizations interested in motorsport sponsoring is bing increasingly difficult. Last year, I had to fund myself through four of the races. Had I not made some good money on the side through my intermediary business, I would have gone broke to the point of even sleeping on the streets. Anyways, that aside, if you need my help this time around, I''m ready to help."

    "Okay, I think I''ll need your help on this," Zachary said, smiling. "But what''s yourmission?"

    "We''re offering 1000 Norwegian Kroner for this," Emily chipped in before Ryan could reply. "Since it''s the first meeting, you shouldn''t have even charged Zachary for your help."

    "A man got to eat, but that''ll do," Ryan replied, a sheepish smile outlining his face. "Zachary, which kind of vehicle do you need? A sporty one or a sleek one? Do you have any preference for any manufacturers? And what''s your budget?"

 Chapter 151 - An Offer From An Unexpected Party

    "I need something simple, something that can blend into the crowd without attracting too much attention," Zachary replied. "I don''t mind the car brand, and the price range should be around 150,000 to 250,000 NOK. Do you have any suggestions for me?"

    "With that budget, you''ll surely be able to get a good new machine," Ryan said, smiling at Zachary. "But you can even get a better one in second hand. Do you wish to consider used cars?"

    "Nope," Zachary replied, shaking his head. "I''ll go with a new one." He already had more than 700,000 NOK saved up in his bank ount. At times, he was at a loss for how to make use of his savings. His monthly wages plus bonuses were already equal to the money he could use for ten years in his previous life. So, he reckoned spending a portion of it on purchasing a good car would be a good outlet for the cash from his bank ount.

    "Okay, then," Ryan said after a moment. "May I suggest we go with Audi, then? Since you need something that blends in with the crowd, that would be the best car for you here in Trondheim. But you may have to add about 50K NOK to your budget to get a new one from the outlets here in Trondheim. What say you?"

    "An Audi is okay with me," Zachary concurred after deliberating about the issue for a moment. "Adding 50K to my budget is also not a problem. But, how long will you need to find one?"

    "If you can increase your budget, there''s no need to dilly-dally," Ryan said, grinning. "I''ve got a fewrades in the Autosport and M?ller Bil car dealers. They''re the outlets with a diverse collection of cars when ites to Audi and Volkswagen. I can even call them right now, and we can go there right after. That''s if you''re ready, of course." He added, looking at Zachary eagerly.

    Zachary smiled back at him. "I''ve got nothing else nned today," he said and then turned towards Emily. "What about you?" He asked her.

    "I''m only in Trondheim because of you," Emily replied, beaming. "Wherever you go, I go. Don''t mind me."

    "Then, let''s conclude this business today since I''ll be resuming serious training tomorrow," Zachary said, turning towards Ryan. "I need to finish this car business quickly. I hope we won''t have to spend the rest of the day looking at cars."

    "Don''t worry," Ryan said, his eyes glittering. "As long as you have the funds, getting a vehicle here in Trondheim is quite simple and doesn''t take a lot of time. We''ll havepleted the whole business even before you know it. Let me first call them so that they can be ready for us." He said, standing up and moving away from the table.

    "He doesn''t seem like a race car driver," Zachary said to Emily once Ryan was out of earshot.

    "Don''t worry," Emily replied. "He''s one, and I trust him, especially when ites to cars. I''m sure he''ll get you something good. You''ve to remember this since you''re now an uing star. If you can get a skilled person to do your bidding by spending a little bit of cash, don''t hesitate."

    She smiled softly, holding Zachary''s gaze before continuing. "That''s why I waspletely against you handling the purchase of the vehicle yourself. Just imagine spending days searching dealerships for a car when there''s someone who can do it within a couple of hours at a small cost. It''s not worth it as the time would be better¡ªspent on your training or resting. That''s the way of celebrities. They don''t waste time on any small issues¡ªbut get people to do them for them. So, you have to get used to it. Do you understand?"

    "I understand," Zachary replied. "Why do you two seem very acquainted, yet it seems he stays in Norway for extended periods of time?"

    "He''s originally from London," Emily replied. "I''ve known him for quite a long time since we lived in the same neighborhood. He only moved away to look for easier races. That''s why he''s here in Norway, I think."

    "Oh, okay," Zachary replied.

    "By the way," Emily said, leaning forward and holding Zachary''s gaze once more. "The BetNetpany has increased their endorsement deal offer to us. They have raised it from 6 to 8.5 million Norwegian Kroner a year."

    "Oh," Zachary said, his eyes widening. "They''re quite fast to respond and seem very sincere. They should be thinking that we''re ying the hard-to-get card."

    "But I still insist that we wait for a bit before trying to negotiate with them," Emily said, her voice lowering. "I''ll first get someone to check them out."

    "It''s up to you," Zachary replied, smiling. "Honestly, I''m not in any immediate need of money at the moment. What I earn is enough. So, let''s take our time and wait until I''ve established myself here in Norway. We can get a better offer, then."

    "My thoughts exactly," Emily said, smiling back at Zachary. "I''m happy to wait as long as it''s okay with you. Let''s work on your public image first. And that reminds me. We should set up a few social media pages for you tomunicate with your fanbase. But for the moment, the Twitter ount should be enough."

    "Oh," Zachary said, smiling wryly.

    "You seem against the idea!" Emily probed, raising a brow.

    "A little bit," Zachary said. "I''m a footballer, not a poet or a politician. What will I post? Match videos of myself from my performances! That seems cheesy and wrong in some way."

    Emily chuckled at that. "Don''t worry," she said. "You don''t have to post about yourself or your personal life. You can post anything that makes youfortable and doesn''t take much of your time, even if it''s the Tippeligaen table standings or the Rosenborg fixtures. That''ll help you maintain a close rtionship with your fans. And a close rtionship with your fans trantes into more money from endorsements."

    "Okay," Zachary concurred, nodding.

    "Do you know how to open up a Twitter ount, by the way?" Emily queried, raising a brow. "Or do you need some help from me?"

    "Are you joking?" Zachary said, his eyes going round. "It''s a social media ount, not space science!"

    "Okay, okay," Emily said, raising her arm in a pacifying gesture. "I meant no offense but was only trying to be a good agent. I should be able to help my client with anything he doesn''t understand. That''s especially so if that client of mine may not have an active email address at the moment." She added jokingly.

    "I do have an email," Zachary said, shaking his head. "I opened one when I was applying for my Schengen residence permit."

    "Oh," Emily said, her face blossoming into a sunny smile. "Then I''ll have to find time to thank the Norwegian immigration authorities for doing my client a favor."

    Zachary shook his head and countered with another retort in a joking manner. The two of them continued making small talk for a few more minutes until Ryan Bellmore returned from making the call.

    "Well, how did it go?" Emily inquired after Ryan had settled into the seat beside her once again.

    "Things took a turn that I didn''t expect," Ryan replied, beaming at both Emily and Zachary in turn. "You''ll never guess what happened."

    "Tell us," Emily said, her voiceced with impatience. "You know I hate suspense the most."

    Ryan smiled at her once again. "I have talked to one of my acquaintances at the M?ller Bil," he began. "I was only asking her to help me get a vehicle for a client of mine at our agreed-upon price range. She then asked for the details of the person who needed the vehicle. When I mentioned that it was a Rosenborg yer, and that yer was Zachary Bemba, I would never have guessed how things escted in an instant." He grinned, pausing, maybe to build the suspense.

    "Do you wish for me to pull those ears of yours?" Emily said, frowning.

    "Okay, okay," Ryan intoned, his arms rising in a cating gesture. "When my acquaintance heard that it was Zachary Bemba, the Rosenborg number-33, who needed the vehicle, she called the manager of the dealership. I guess the manager of the dealership quickly called the marketing person of Audi here in Trondheim. In only a couple of minutes, the dealership connected me to that marketing person..." He was intoning words at a pace rivaling that of Eminem, the hip-hop star, as he described his phone call.

    "Can you get to the point?" Emily interrupted, breaking his verbal flow.

    Ryan smiled sheepishly before continuing. "I talked to the marketing person of Audi here in Trondheim for quite a while. She says that their automobilepany would like to work with Zachary to promote their brand in Norway. She asked me to request you for a meeting, and she promised that if you agree, then there''s no need to bother paying for the vehicle."

    "That''s quite a surprise," Emily said, giving Ryan an arch look. "And I''m guessing they promised you something in return. That is if you can get Zachary to sit down with them. Isn''t that right?"

    "I didn''t initiate anything," Ryan said, smiling wryly. "I only called asking for a vehicle in the price range of 200K to 300K NOK. The whole endorsement business came from their side."

    "Don''t worry," Emily said. "I understand. So, did they hint about the kind of offer they''re willing to give to Zachary?"

    "Nope," Ryan replied, shaking his head. "They only requested me to organize a meeting with Zachary''s party. They didn''t give me any details. Guys! What do you think? Are you going to consider, or should I continue looking for a vehicle in our price range?" He queried, turning his head from side to side to nce at both Emily and Zachary a couple of times.

    "Zachary," Emily said after a moment. "What do you think?"

    "I''ve got no problem with seating on the table with them," Zachary said, holding Emily''s gaze. "From my understanding, Audi is one of the most popr brands here in Norway. So, there should be no harm in looking at their offer. Right?"

    "Exactly, my thoughts," Emily responded, a soft smile outlining her face. "Let''s meet them briefly and see what they have to say. Leave the negotiations to me."

    "That''s great, you guys," Ryan said, putting an arm around Emily''s shoulder. "I think this is a good one. You guys will like it." He grinned from ear to ear, his blue eyes seemingly twinkling with excitement.

    "Why do you appear more excited than the person receiving the endorsement offer?" Emily inquired, removing the arm from around her shoulders.

    "It''s a good feeling to initiate a deal," Ryan said, still beaming. "There''s nothing much to it. Should we get moving? My car is¡ªparked near Trondheim Torg if we need to use it. I can call the Audi people when we''re on our way."

    "Okay," Zachary said, downing the remainder of his cherry juice. "Let''s get moving and see what these Audi people have to say."

 Chapter 152 - Meeting A Damsel

    After leaving the cafe, Zachary and co quickly pushed through the morning human traffic of Trondheim Square with all the haste they could muster. There were no avable parking spaces for private cars near the Square. So, they trekked through the streets for about five minutes to get to the Trondheim Torg parking lot, where Ryan Bellmore had left his vehicle.

    "Good car," Zachary said as soon as he''d set eyes on Ryan Bellmore''s vehicle. He was surprised to find out it was a Mercedes Benz G-ss cross-country model, one of the most luxurious brands in the Norwegian automobile market. It was a beast of a ck machine that stood out even in a ce like Trondheim Torg, where many of the city''s well-to-do characters often parked their vehicles.

    "Thank you for yourpliment," Ryan replied, grinning from ear to ear. "It cost me quite arge fraction of my annual iest year?"

    "How much?" Zachary probed, slowly starting to move around the Benz to examine it.

    "350K Norwegian Kroner," Ryan replied, matching Zachary''s step. "But I was lucky to get it in second hand. While still new, it may even go for more than twice the price here in Norway."

    "Oh, I guess that''s cheap for a Benz considering the prices of luxurious items here in Norway," Zachary said after making a round around the vehicle. "Don''t tell me you use this for racing coz that would be truly weird."

    "Of course not," Ryan was quick to reply. "I have another machine that I use for races. It''s a Ford Mustang sports car, to be more specific." He paused for a bit, moving closer to Zachary.

    "If you wish," he continued, his voice lowering. "I could invite you to my next race at the end of June. You''d get a chance to see me racing in my powerful machine and also meet several socialites from the whole of Scandinavia. You''ll surely like it. Whether it''s hot girls, filthy-rich potential investors, plus good food and drinks¡ªthey can be all be chanced upon at these races. So, do you wish to go?"

    "Guys," Emily yelled from the other side of the vehicle, interrupting them before Zachary could give a reply. "Let''s get moving. Zachary has to return and rest. Remember he yed a matchst night."

    "Aye, boss," Ryan yelled back before turning back to Zachary. "Think about it," he whispered before pulling the car door open and getting into the driver''s seat.

    Zachary, too, made himselffortable in the back seat beside Emily. And off they went to the M?ller Bil car dealership to meet the Audi marketing personnel. Traffic wasn''t busy that morning, and they managed to arrive at the dealership in only twenty minutes.

    "This is the ce," Ryan announced as they pulled into one of the few empty spots in the M?ller Bil parking space with a "Reserved for Customers" sign. As soon as they alighted from the vehicle, they found an elegant slim blondedy in a suit waiting for them, only a few paces away.

    "Wee to M?ller Bil," she said, extending a hand to Zachary for a greeting. "I''m Annah, and also Ryan''s friend here at the dealership. We''re d to have you here." She added, smiling.

    "Thank you," Zachary replied, taking her hand. "I''m Zachary Bemba. Thank you for having us." He smiled back at her.

    "The pleasure is all ours," she said and then went on to greet Emily before mouthing a few words to Ryan. Her way of handling people showed she was a professional who''d long perfected the art of dealing with customers.

    "The Audi person should be waiting for you in one of the conference rooms," Annah said after they''d finished exchanging greetings. "If you''re ready, I can take you there right now."

    "She''s already here?" Ryan asked, seemingly surprised. "It has only been around 20 minutes ever since I called."

    "She got here ten minutes ago," Annah replied, smiling. "She seems very eager to meet Zachary. Should we go inside now? Or would you like to first take a tour around the showroom before the meeting?" She probed again, her tone formal and professional.

    "Let''s head inside first," Emily replied after stealing a nce at Zachary. "We shall decide what to do from there."

    "Okay, follow me," Annah said before turning to lead the way into the dealership. Ryan immediately matched her step and started conversing with her. On the other hand, Emily didn''t follow them but tapped Zachary''s arm before pulling him back for a small chat.

    "When we get inside," she said, her tone solemn. "Leave all the negotiations to me. We''re just going in to assess their offer. So, don''t get enticed into any deal before we properly review it. Okay?" She queried, inclining her head slightly to hold Zachary''s gaze.

    "Sure, I got it," Zachary replied. "Don''t worry. I''ll do as you say."

    Emily''s face blossomed into a beautiful smile. "That puts my heart at ease. Then let''s go inside." She said and trailed after Ryan and Annah.

    When Zachary walked through the entrance into the dealership, he was¡ªblinded by the diverse amount of glittering sleek machines aligned there. Parked across the showroom in neat lines were various models of Audi and Volkswagen car brands. Be it SUVs, convertibles, or Sportbacks¡ªthey were all there, waiting for eager filthy-rich customers to snatch them up.

    "Can I first take a look around?" He asked Annah after taking in the sights around him. "That''s if we still have time before the meeting."

    "Go ahead," Annah said, smiling. "The Audi marketing manager instructed me to follow your wishes. And I''m sure that she''s still discussing a few things with the manager. So, don''t worry. Take your time. Would you like me to give you a tour?"

    "Nope, but thanks," Zachary said, beaming back at her. "I''ll move around alone and won''t take long. I''ll probably havepleted the tour in a minute or two." He added before breaking away from the group.

    He started making his way slowly around the showroom, passing by a few other customers while marveling at each of the machines with a glitter in his eyes from time to time. Since it was his first time in a dealership, he felt a bit overwhelmed but, at the same time, also excited.

    He''d been a broke fellow in his previous life and couldn''t have afforded even the cheapest of new cars. On many asions, he''d often failed to raise enough money to meet his basic needs. But after ying a few matches for Rosenborg in his new life, he could manage to buy a new car that he''d only dreamed about in his previous life. He couldn''t help but sigh, feeling that everything before him was so surreal.

    He quickly wrapped up the tour and was about to return to his group. But, he turned around and retraced his steps after noticing that he''d missed a fine sporty machine parked on the far side of the showroom.

    At first nce, it looked like any other two-door vehicle that was amon sight in Trondheim. But on taking a second nce, he felt like there was something more to it. So, he hurriedly pushed past a few other people in the showroom and approached the ck vehicle while slowly admiring its bodywork, rims, and sleek curves. When he was before it and traced a hand over its smooth bo, cold to the touch, he instantly liked it and desired to have it.

    "Do you like what you see?" A feminine voice sounded from behind him while he was still admiring the machine.

    Zachary turned around, and the word "wow" was all that repeatedly kept ying through his mind. He felt a slow tingle run down his spine, his heart starting to race as his eyes refocused.

    A woman, no ady, breathtaking and hot as chili pepper, was standing behind him. Her hair was a rich shade of brown, tumbling over her shoulders in waves as if to adorn her glowing porcin-like skin. In her formaldy''s dress suit, she was picture perfect, the epitome of perfection with all the curves in the right ces.

    For a slight moment, Zachary couldn''t take his eyes off her as he felt an intense urge to catch her attention. For a second or two, he lost himself, studying those bright emerald-green eyes of hers that seemed to brighten the world.

    But a momentter, he became conscious of the fact that he was staring a bit too much. His eyes darted from the stunningdy''s face, down her legs, and finally to another nearby vehicle on sale as he tried to find something else to distract him.

    "Do you like the machine?" The woman probed once again, the corners of her full lips lifting into a charming smile. She seemed to have not noticed Zachary''s staring, or if she did, she just ignored it.

    "Yes, of course," Zachary replied, going into poker face mode. "It is good on the eyes, and I have a feeling that it''s a powerful machine."

    "Yes, it''s," thedy said, still smiling softly. "This is an Audi TT model, one of ourtest from justst year. As you can see, it''s a two-seater convertible, easy on the hands due to its highly advanced automated manual transmission system." She intoned English words with an exotic ent that Zachary couldn''t ce. But, to some extent, it somehow resembled that of the female actors in those old Russian movies.

    "Its transmission shifts seamlessly and quickly, and you''ll never feel any turbog while on the steering," thedy continued. "It has a powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces enough power for almost any situation. Overall, the car is very responsive, with a strong throttle response and a near-instant torque delivered from that engine. It''s the right car for any man with style."

    "Oh!" was all that Zachary could manage as he was at a loss for words after hearing several new terms within a span of a few seconds.

    "Would you like to take it for a test drive," the woman queried, taking a step towards the vehicle and tracing a manicured hand over its bo. Her every motion was sensual but also elegant. "I can exin more about the car''s excellent performance during the test drive."

    "Oh, not at the moment," Zachary replied, still in poker face mode. "I have a meeting with someone here right now. Maybe some other time."

    "Okay, maybe some other time," the woman said, her face blossoming into a radiant smile. "I''m Cami, by the way. Cami Schneider. It''s nice to meet you." She added, extending her hand.

    "Zachary Bemba," Zachary replied, finally smiling. "The pleasure is all mine. So, do you work here?" He queried.

    "Sort of," Cami replied. "Here is my business card with my phone number. If you wish for a test driveter or in the future, do not hesitate to look for me. I''ll be d to help as I''m a huge fan of Rosenborg." She said, handing out a business card to Zachary.

    "Okay, I''ll do that," Zachary said, receiving the business card. "Thank you for taking the time to exin to me the information about the car," he added.

    "That''s a no biggie," Cami said, waving an arm in a dismissive gesture. "It''s my job to help our customers. You should probably get going for that meeting of yours. I wish you good luck." She added and started moving away immediately, maybe to handle some other customers.

    Zachary first nced over his shoulder, his eyes fascinated by the slow sway of thedy''s hips as she walked away. "Now that was quite strange," he mumbled before focusing on the business card within his hand once more. Inscribed on it was Cami''s name, phone number, address, and the words "Audi and M?ller Bil Marketing Team, Norway" in in font.

    "What''s weird?" Another voice interrupted him.

    "Just talking to myself," Zachary replied, hurriedly shoving the business card into the pocket of his jacket. He then turned around to face the approaching Emily. "You''re also taking a tour around the showroom?" He queried, wishing to divert the topic.

    "Nope," Emily replied. "I just came looking for you. Have you finished your tour? Should we go and meet the Audi people?"

    "Okay, let''s go," Zachary replied, smiling at her.

    **** ****

 Chapter 153 - Audiâ€™s Sincerity I

    When Emily and herpanions entered the conference room, they found the two Audi representatives waiting for them.

    One was a graceful older blondedy who seemed to have just reached the point where age had just begun to encroach on her incredible looks. Nevertheless, she was still a beautiful and elegant woman with a confident air about her persona. She seemed like a typical office-type that was always in charge.

    By her side was a much younger stunning alluring woman, probably in her early 20''s. Although Emily had met countless good-looking women, the one before her stood out in particr. She was so unimaginably attractive, the sharp lines of her oval face that matched well with her deep brown hair and green eyes, reminiscent of the idea of perfection. Emily could find no viableparison to her beauty as ity in the unspoken, in the unknown realms of the miracle of gics.

    "Good morning and wee," the olderdy said right after they''d entered the conference room. She stood up from her seat, moved around the table, and extended a hand to each one of them, starting with Zachary, then Emily, and finally Ryan.

    "I''m Susanne Berdal, the head of marketing and publicity for Audi here in Norway," the woman continued after the handshakes. "I''ve been looking forward to this meeting for quite some time. I''m d that Ryan made it possible for us to meet earlier than I''d expected." She paused, first taking a step towards Zachary.

    "It''s nice to meet you, Zachary," she said, smiling.

    "It''s nice to meet you too," Zachary replied, his tone polite and respectful. "Thank you for having us."

    "And this here should be your agent, I presume," Susanne said, turning her gaze to Emily. "It''s a pleasure having you here. I hope we can work together to make this happen quickly." She added, stepping towards Emily and patting her shoulder.

    Emily had already noted that everything about Susanne Berdal projected confidence born from the experience of having chaired meetings for a long time. But, she didn''t let herself feel the least bit intimidated by the olderdy''s dignified air. Instead, her spirits soared higher since she was close to negotiating a deal between her client and one of the most popr automobile brands in Europe.

    "Thank you for having us," she replied, a polite smile outlining her face. "I''m Emily Anderson. And yes, I''m Zachary''s agent. I also hope this works out. But that''ll depend on what you''re willing to offer." Her voice came out of her mouth with a steady rhythm as she tried to counter the self-assured air projected by the olderdy. The negotiations had already begun with the handshakes. As an agent, Emily didn''t want to lose any ground even before the actual meeting to discuss the endorsement deal couldmence.

    Susanne chuckled before turning away from Emily towards the stunning younger woman behind her. "This one is Cami Schneider, one of my assistants," she said. "She''ll be handling most of the issues between Audi and Zachary here in Trondheim. That is, of course, if we cane to an understanding. Cami! Come say hi to our guests." She added, motioning thedy over from her seat.

    Cami''s face lit up into a smile. "Nice to meet you," she said, extending a hand to greet Emily and Ryan one after the other. "I already met Zachary in the showroom. So, I guess there is no need for any more introductions or greetings."

    "You already met!" Both Emily and Susanne eximed in unison.

    Emily, in particr, was surprised as Zachary had only left their group for a few minutes. She couldn''t help but wonder when he''d gotten time to link up with a hot youngdy. Or maybe, thedy was trying to entice Zachary into a deal without her knowledge. The doubt started running through her thoughts. Her mind stirred to full attention as she inclined her head to observe Zachary''s reaction to the question.

    "Yes, we met in the showroom," Zachary said, maintaining a soft smile and his voice steady. "She was telling me about the specs of one of the cars that''d captured my attention. But I would never have guessed that she was a member of the Audi marketing team I was supposed to be meeting."

    Emily let out a pent-out breath on noticing that there was nothing unusual in Zachary''s response. "Well, we should get on with business since we seem to havepleted the introductions?" She asked, a soft smile still outlining her face.

    "Since we''re already acquainted, we can start on the business at hand," Susanne concurred. "Please take your seats."

    "Thank you," Emily and co said, more or less in unison before settling down in thefort of the office seats at one end of the conference table.

    "I''m d that we''re finally taking this step," Susanne said after also settling into her seat on the other side of the table. "We would really like to work with Zachary to promote our brand here in Norway."

    "Thank you," Emily said, smiling at Susanne. "Since we already know what we both want, can we get right into the thick of it? As you know, Zachary here yed a match yesterday evening. He needs to head back and recover in preparation for his next game." She added, patting Zachary''s back.

    "Of course, of course," Susanne replied, nodding. "We can get into business right away. But first¡ª" she paused, turning towards Ryan.

    "Ryan, would you be a dear and first go and check on that engine that Annah had talked about," she said, her tone formal. "We need to talk to Emily and Zachary alone for a few minutes."

    "Of course," Ryan was quick to reply, a sunny smile outlining his face. "I''ll be going now. Emily! You can call me when you finish up here. I''ll be waiting for you in the service department." He added before rushing out of the conference room like the wind.

    "I''m sorry about driving your friend away from the meeting," Susanne said, her tone apologetic. "It''s just that we don''t want the details of our negotiations to end up in some tabloid or the web before next month. The only way of ensuring that there''s no leakage is by dealing with as few people as possible during the negotiation process. So, we usually don''t allow any unrted parties into our business meetings. Justpany policy. Hope you understand!" She added, sweeping her gaze over both Emily and Zachary.

    "Yes, of course, wepletely understand," Emily replied, smiling back at her. "In fact, if you hadn''t asked him to leave, I would have done the same before starting the actual negotiations."

 Chapter 154 - Audiâ€™s Sincerity II

    "I''m d we''re on the same page," Susanne said, her voice taking on a rxed tone. "Let''s move on to the business at hand right away. As I was saying, we would like to endorse Zachary and add him to our team of ambassadors here in Norway. We''re willing to bet on his potential and sign a three-year contract with him right away." She smiled.

    "Go on," Emily said, leaning back into her chair.

    "I''ve already done my research to ascertain his potential," Susanne continued, also leaning back into her seat. "I''ve even talked to Mr. Martin Stein, one of Rosenborg''s most experienced scouts. He assured me that even he couldn''t see the limits of Zachary''s potential. So, I''m dead serious when I say that we wish to bring him into our team of ambassadors." Her tone had turned solemn.

    "You know Mr. Martin Stein?" Zachary chipped in, eyes widening.

    "Yes, we''re quite close," Susanne replied, beaming. "You can ask him about me when you next meet him. That is if you don''t believe me."

    "It''s not that," Zachary said, shaking his head. "Doubting you was not my intention. I was just surprised."

    Susanne chuckled softly. "No worries," she said. "I was only joking with you there. There''s no need to take it seriously. Anyway, I wanted to assure you that we have some understanding of your potential." She added, holding Zachary''s gaze from across the table.

    "So, I''m not going to try to cut down the wages we''re offering by citing issues like he''s young and so on," she continued, turning towards Emily once more. "Since we have decided to invest, we willmit fully as long as Zachary agrees to fulfill a fewmitments during the contract period."

    "Okay, we''re d to hear that," Emily chipped in, leaning forward to hold Susanne''s gaze. "Could you give us a summarized breakdown of the sort of offer you have in mind and its attached conditions first?" She wanted to hear Audi''s offer immediately in order to determine whether it was worth Zachary''s time.

    "We''re willing to offer 7.5 million Norwegian Kroner per year to bring Zachary on to our team of ambassadors here in Norway right away," Susanne stated. "The offer we''re bringing to the table is for three years, and we''re willing to pay 4.5 Million first¡ªthat is as soon we''ve put pen on paper to finalize the deal." She paused, sweeping her gaze over both Emily and Zachary.

    Emily reached out from under the table and tapped Zachary''s arm to calm him down while waiting for thedy to continue. She didn''t want her client to have an over-the-top reaction to the offer even before the Audi team had stated the conditions attached to the deal.

    "We''ll only request that Zachary fulfill three conditions," Susanne continued after failing to elicit any marked reaction from Zachary or Emily. "The first condition is to drive only the Audi brand of cars for the entire time he''s under contract. Of course, we''ll provide one vehicle of his choosing to him for free as soon as he signs the contract."

    "Secondly, we need him to participate in some of our promotional activities like our Motor shows where we present the new models of our brand here in Norway. You don''t have to worry about scheduling conflicts since we''ll only call him for two or three shows each year. A few times, we may call on him to partake in the production of video ads or posters. But we shall pay extra for that. And we won''t force him to film any inappropriate content that may harm his reputation just because we''ve got him under contract."

    "Thirdly, we need to reserve the priority to retain him as our ambassador when the contract period ends."

    "What?" Emily cut in, frowning. Reserving the priority to retain her client meant that he would always stay tied to Audi even after the contract period had ended. Zachary wouldn''t get a chance to sign for any other automobile brands in the future as only the Audi team would have the power to dismiss his services. Emily would never agree to it since it would be harmful to her client in the long run.

    "Are you serious?" Emily probed, shaking her head. She didn''t even try to mask the displeasure in her voice. "This use will be what chases us away from the negotiating table," she added, holding Susanne''s gaze from across the table.

    "First listen and don''te to any conclusions before I finish," Susanne said, raising her arm in a cating gesture. "We at Audi have already gauged Zachary''s potential and would have wished to offer him a long-term contract. But there are still some considerations rted to the internal working of ourpany we have to take into ount. So, we can''t offer him a deal for a period longer than three years at the moment."

    "But, we''ll be willing to match the offers of any other automobile brands and retain Zachary as our ambassador after the three years of the contract pse. So, we''ll want Zachary tomit himself to remain with us if we make such a lucrative offer. Let me give a hypothetical example. For instance, say Mercedes Benz offers Zachary 12 million Norwegian Kroner per year after the three years of our contract have psed. But then, we manage to match or top their offer. We shall have the privilege to retain Zachary''s services as our ambassador over the Mercedes Benz car brand, which in this case, is ourpetitor."

    "As you can see, there is no potential harm brought to your client by this use," Susanne continued, a confident smile outlining her face. "Do you understand?"

    "Yes, I do," Emily replied, nodding and scribbling down some notes in her notebook. "The condition is not harmful to my client in any way. But I have to ask one thing, though. This deal would apply solely to automobilepanies. Isn''t that right?"

    "Yes, of course," Susanne replied, nodding. "As long as a brand isn''t an automobilepany¡ªthat is, ourpetitor, we won''t care. We won''t care about any other endorsements Zachary gets into as long as they don''t put his reputation through the mud."

    "Then that should be fine," Emily said and scribbled down a few more notes in her notebook. "But you haven''t considered Zachary''s growth potential. What if he''s to be the best yer in Europe next year? Will you still keep him at 7.5 million Norwegian Kroner a year?" She queried in a joking manner.

    Susanne chuckled at that. "Well," she said, still beaming. "We''ve already considered that. And I can promise that when we''re drafting the final contract document, we''ll include uses that will cover situations brought about by Zachary''s growth potential."

 Chapter 155 - Audiâ€™s Sincerity III

    "Remember, we want Zachary to continue improving so that he can better market our brand," Susanne continued. "So, he doesn''t need to be the best yer in Europe to earn a higher annual wage from our contract next year. There''ll be bonuses and wage increments even if Zachary bes a top scorer or even the best yer in the Tippeligaen. As long as he keeps improving and keeps his reputation clean, he''ll be able to earn more from our deal over time. That''s the kind of endorsement contract we''re willing to draft."

    "Okay, then I''m d," Emily said, her face lighting up into a smile. "From my initial assessment, I believe that we''ll be seriously considering this offer. But we need to look at the final contract document before we can make any major decisions. So, may I ask when you can have this draft of the contract ready?"

    "Cami!" Susanne didn''t reply right away but first turned to her assistant.

    "We''ll have it by tomorrow afternoon," Cami said to her, smiling.

    "You heard it yourself," Susanne stated, turning back to Emily. "Tomorrow, we''ll have the draft ready for you. Finalizing the deal will then depend on how fast you add your inputs."

    "That''s okay on our side," Emily said, first stealing a nce at Zachary. "But for the next few days, I''ll be the sole person having the meetings with you as my client has serious training throughout the rest of the week. He''ll only meet you for the final signing ceremony. Of course, that is if the status quo remains the same and wee to an agreement. Is that all right with you?" She asked, turning towards Susanne once more.

    "That''s okay with us," Susanne replied, smiling. "The only thing we want from Zachary is his signature on the final contract. In the meantime, we can work together to update the terms in the contract document. Is that agreeable, Zachary? What do you think of our offer, by the way?"

    "It''s good," Zachary replied, nodding. "But as my agent just said, we shall make the final decisions when the final contract document is out. And she can represent me fully in negotiating all matters rted to our deal when I''m not around."

    "Okay, then," Susanne said. "I promise to work with your agent to make you an offer that you can''t resist. But in the meantime, I want to show you my sincerity by presenting you with a gift tomemorate our first meeting."

    She first held Zachary''s gaze before continuing. "You can pick any 2012 Audi Model in the showroom for free. You only have to pay the taxes, and we shall meet the other costs for the machine. How do you see this gift, Zachary?"

    "Does this gift require anymitment from us right at the moment?" Emily chipped in before Zachary could respond.

    Susanneughed. "Not at all," she said, waving an arm in a dismissive gesture. "It''s a gift from us, the marketing team of Audi, to Zachary. The keyword is a gift. So, don''t worry. There are no attached conditions."

    "Oh, okay," Emily said, smiling back at her. "Then that puts my heart at ease. But you''re too generous."

    "No, I''m not," Susanne countered. "I''m only representing Audi when presenting this gift. And we''re simply investing in a potential long-term partner of ours. So, guys, what do you say? Will you ept my simple gift?" She inquired, her tone imploring as she swept her gaze from Emily to Zachary and back.

    The corners of Emily''s mouth twitched on hearing the question. She couldn''t help but sigh on the inside as she thought about all the customers in the various dealerships around the world struggling to bargain for a few pounds off their car purchases. She''d faced the same situation when she was buying her second-hand vehicle only a year prior. Yet, in one of Norway''s high-profile Audi outlets, a marketing manager had just begged a customer to take a car for free. Emily had to take a few moments to organize her thoughts. She was astounded by the absurdity of the situation.

    "We will take the car," She said after a while since she knew Zachary wanted it. "But mark my words: if the final offer is not to our satisfaction, we''ll reject the deal. We won''t even take into consideration this gift of yours. I hope that is fine with you!"

    "As I said, it''s just a gift," Susanne said before turning to her assistant. "Cami, take Zachary to select a vehicle. Coborate with the manager to help himplete the procedures as quickly as possible. Remember that professional athletes are always short on time. So be fast and efficient. In the meantime, I''ll continue discussing some more business with Emily here. Is that okay with you, Emily, Zachary?" She probed.

    "I don''t mind," Zachary was quick to reply. Emily had already discerned that he was starting to get bored by the dry proceedings. And, it seemed Susanne had noticed it too. That should have been the reason why she''d suggested that her assistant take Zachary to select a vehicle in the showroom before they could conclude the negotiating process.

    "That''s okay with me, too," Emily concurred after deliberating for a while. She then leaned towards Zachary and whispered: "I will text Ryan to meet you in the showroom. Seek his advice while selecting your vehicle. Okay?"

    "Okay," Zachary concurred, nodding.

    "Since everyone agrees, let''s not waste any more time," Susanne said from across the table. "It was nice meeting you, Zachary. I do hope we be long-term partners." She stood up and extended her hand to Zachary.

    "It was a pleasure meeting you," Zachary replied, also standing up and taking her hand. "Thank you for having us. And, of course, thanks for the gift."

    "You''re wee," Susanne said, beaming. "Okay, Cami, my new partner is in your hands. Off you go. Come and inform me when youplete the procedures."

    "Yes, madam," Cami replied, her tone solemn. "I''ll do my best toplete everything as soon as possible." She stood up and led the way out of the conference room.

    **** ****

 Chapter 156 - Selecting A Vehicle I

    "Man, let me assure you," Ryan said, patting Zachary''s back. "If you''re free to select any 2012 model, then it has got to be an Audi R8 GT. You have to forget about this garbage that''s the TT or whatnot. The two machines are iparable in performance. The R8 GT is the sky, while the TT is the earth. That''s why the R8 GT costs more than twice the price of the TT. Are you getting me, my friend?"

    "Ryan," Cami chipped in before Zachary could respond. "Don''t forget that not all customers love sporty cars. Some are just buying vehicles for the convenience they''ll bring into their day-to-day lives. So, we need to establish first which type of car Zachary needs instead of trying to force a choice on him."

    "Bullshit," Ryan said, waving an arm in a dismissive gesture. He seemed to have lost all reason after beginning his car debate with Cami. "You know very well that the R8 GT is a much better machine, even when taking the average user into consideration."

    "Let me tell you this," Ryan continued, his voice animated. "Whether it''s the horsepower generated by the engine, the aesthetics, the braking system, or thefort and quality, there is no way an Audi TT will ever match an R8 GT. It''s a machine in the mid-engine supercar territory. Even its base model can elerate to 100 kilometers per hour in just 4.4 seconds. It has a top speed of 320 km/h and horsepower of over 420 from its 4.2-liter V8 engine. We''re still talking about the R8 GT base model here. So, tell me, how can a TTpare to such a machine?"

    "Guys," Zachary chipped in before Cami could reply. He had just realized that he''d run into two car-loving gearheads. "Since I have already seen the TT, maybe I should first take a look at this R8 GT. Maybe, I will like it as well. Is that possible, Cami?"

    "Good call, brother," Ryan said, smiling and giving him a thumbs-up. "Since you''re getting something for free, you''d better aim for the best model in the line-up. You may never get this chance again." He added, smiling like a rogue.

    "Well," Cami said, maintaining a polite smile. "There are only two R8 GT machines here in the showroom. One is in grey while the other is blue. Like the TT, they''re also clutchless, with automated manual transmission. The R8 GT model itself has the R-Tronic on board, which can be¡ªcontrolled via paddles on the steering wheel. That is if the driver so wishes."

    "This is the second time you''re mentioning this automated manual transmission," Zachary chipped in. "But what does it mean? Is it manual or automatic?"

    "I can answer that," Ryan was quick to reply before Cami could give her response. "An automated manual transmission is mechanically simr to a manual transmission, except that the sensors and actuators perform the clutch work and shift gears. That''s why vehicles with such a transmission system don''t have a clutch, but only an elerator and a brake pedal."

    "So, in simple terms, the whole point is to automate the manual transmission so that the job of pressing the clutch to shift gears via a stick no longer rests with the driver," Ryan continued. "An R8 GT has such a system, and it''ll be quite easy for any driver to handle while still having the ability of a supercar. That''s why I''m advising you to grab it for yourself. It''s literally a super high-performance machine modified for the normal user."

    "So, in other words, it''s like the normal automatic when you take away all the fancy terms," Zachary queried, caressing his chin. "Isn''t that right?"

    "Yes, you can put it that way," Ryan replied, smiling. "But it''s much moreplicated than that."

    "Then that''s good," Zachary replied, nodding. "I''m far from a racing enthusiast, and I don''t like to stress my mind, especially on days after intensive training sessions or matches. So, you guys have to note that I prefer an automatic since it won''t stress me on the road."

    "You''ve got to trust me on this, Zach," Ryan said, still smiling. "The R8 GT is easy on the hands. You can set it in such a way that theputer does nearly all the work, leaving you only with the role of steering and braking. You''ll surely enjoy it."

    "Then let''s take a look at this R8 GT model," Zachary said, turning towards Cami. "As long as I don''t have to always struggle with stepping on the clutch to shift gears, I''ll probably like it."

    "Okay," Cami said, the corners of her mouth lifting into a charming smile. "I''ll take you to the side showroom where the two R8 GTs are parked. Follow me." She added before leading the way across the showroom to the next one.

    Zachary and Ryan trailed after her¡ªand a whileter, they stood before two gorgeous cars. They were the sort of sleek, sporty machines Zachary had only seen on TV in his previous life. They projected a racy ambiance, with their wide sculpted fenders,rge air intakes at the front and sides, and low-sloped rooflines. Everything about them melded together in perfect design harmony.

    Although Zachary hade to the dealership hoping to buy a simple vehicle that could blend in with the crowd, he''d instantly changed his mind after seeing the two German machines. He''d already fallen in love with the aesthetics of the two automobiles.

    "So, will you be taking one of these?" Cami inquired after walking up to the blue R8 GT and tracing a hand over it. She seemed much more alluring standing in front of the sleek machine. Leaning next to the car, she looked like the perfect muse for any photographer or artist out there.

    "I love the grey one," Zachary replied, forcing himself to look away from Cami. He didn''t know what had happened to him that day. Her beauty was captivating him in ways that he couldn''t understand. Even a soft smile from her would send his heart racing.

    "Grey is good," Ryan said, breaking Zachary out of his reverie. "Now, this is the machine that somehow matches your status as an uing Rosenborg star. It''s stylish, stable on the road, powerful, and of course, quite fast. Anything else wouldn''t have quite cut it."

 Chapter 157 - Selecting A Vehicle II

    "So, Zachary," Cami chipped in. "Should I go ahead and start the procedures and rted paperwork to transfer the grey R8 GT into your names?" She inquired, holding Zachary''s gaze.

    "If the machine is in perfect condition, then please go ahead and start the paperwork," Zachary replied, going into poker face mode.

    He didn''t want Cami to notice he was behaving awkwardly in her presence. He was sure that if he could just ignore her until he left the dealership and returned to his ce, he would forget about her in a week or two.

    He didn''t like being close to a girl with so much sway over his emotions. He had had bad experiences during his previous life. Anita, the fianc¨¦e of his past incarnation, had had such an effect on him. But when she''d left, he''d been emotionally torn into pieces.

    Zachary didn''t want a simr incident to happen in his new life. Not when he was beginning to make something of himself with his football career. So, his coping mechanism was "running away and forgetting" in order to spare himself from hurting once again. He wanted toplete the procedures for the vehicle quickly so that he could run away from the dealership, or rather, Cami.

    "Wouldn''t you like to take the car for a test drive to understand it better?" Cami inquired, smiling at Zachary.

    "Nope," Zachary was quick to reply since getting out of the dealership¡ªaway from the alluring Cami took precedence over everything else. "Since you have both assured me that the machine is perfect, I''ll take your word for it. Moreover, why should I be picky when I''m getting the car for free?"

    "But, I have to warn you about something before you confirm your decision," Cami said, moving closer to Zachary and lowering her voice. "Some of the test drivers of the R8 GTined about its automated transmission system. They imed there was always ag, as if theputer was cutting the vehicle''s power when shifting gears. I''m a bit worried that you won''t get to enjoy this vehicle because of its transmission system since some of its early customers areining about it."

    "In actual sense, that is not a problem," Ryan cut in before Zachary could respond. "I have driven an R8 GT of a friend myself, and I''ve felt first-hand what you''ve just mentioned. When you are driving the R8 GT, you get some horrendous shifts. You feel as if there''s a turbog¡ªas if theputer is cutting the power and the machine is pulling you back because of the R-Tronic automated single-clutch system."

    "But all you have to do is put the car in sport mode to do away with that small issue," Ryan continued. "It''ll make a huge difference, and you''ll no longer notice anygs. As long as you don''t wish to go racing, the car will meet all your needs, Zachary."

    "You sound more of a car salesperson than me, Ryan," Cami said in a joking manner. "I couldn''t have known that the transmission problem could be¡ªsolved that easily, in such a kind of way. And you do have quite a lot of knowledge about the R8 GT." She added, her words colored by her exotic ent.

    Ryan smiled sheepishly at that. "It''s just that I helped out a friend who faced a simr problem to the one you''ve mentioned," he said. "That''s why I know a few things about the R8 GT."

    "Oh," Cami said, nodding. "So, Zachary, will you still be taking this machine? The choice is in your hands now."

    "Well, yes," Zachary agreed, nodding. "Since Ryan has rmended it to me with such confidence, then there''s no need for any more considerations. I''ll take the machine. But my only concern is whether my long legs will fit in such a small vehicle."

    "You don''t have to worry about that," Ryan chipped in once more. "I''m sure that even tall basketball yers like Shawn Bradley and Yao Ming can drive the car without facing any problems. But to calm your heart, you can first take the driver''s seat and experience thefort of the car yourself."

    "Okay, then," Zachary said, stepping towards the grey R8 GT. "Cami, I''m allowed to enter the vehicle even if I don''t end up taking it?" He asked when he was beside the car''s door.

    "Of course, there''s no problem," Cami replied, also stepping closer to the vehicle. "As I already promised, I can even take you out on the roads for a test drive. That is if you wish to understand more about the car."

    "That won''t be necessary," Zachary replied, shaking his head. "I only want to check whether there''s enough leg space for a person like me at the front. I''m not worried about anything else. I''m quite sure that Audi wouldn''t put something faulty in its showroom." He added before pulling the door open and getting into the front seat.

    As Ryan had said, Zachary found the inside of the R8 GT surprisingly roomy since there were only two seats in the whole vehicle. He found no fault with the space avable at the front and could even afford to stretch his legs when he adjusted the driver''s seat a bit backward. But that was not all that excited him about the R8 GT. The interior design was nearly all ck but very luxurious, with a low cowl and easily located controls. They all blended seamlessly with the car''s fine materials to give a sporty, refined finish to the German machine.

    Zachary loved everything about the car''s interior. He pushed the door open and alighted from the vehicle with a smile on his face. He could hardly believe he was about to obtain such a sleek vehicle at almost no cost. That elevated his mood.

    "So, what say you?" Cami probed, stepping closer to Zachary. "Do you like the R8 GT? Will you be taking it? Or should we look at something else? Don''t feel pressured into making a choice. The decision is in your hands."

    "I like everything about this machine," Zachary was quick to respond. "I''ll take it. No need to look at anything else."

    "Then great," Cami said, her face lighting up with a charming smile that stabbed at Zachary''s heart like a nail prating a piece of wood. "I''ll start the procedures and paperwork right away. You won''t have to wait for long." She said before swishing her way out of the side showroom.

 Chapter 158 - Proud Owner Of An R8 GT

    Zachary was surprised by Cami''s efficiency. She managed toplete all the vehicle ownership transfer and registration procedures within an hour. A few minutes to 1:00 PM, she was already handing him the registration papers of his new Audi R8 GT in the M?ller Bil customer service area.

    On receiving the papers, Zachary started grinning from ear to ear. He took a defiant joy in the fact that he''d finally managed to acquire his first vehicle in both his lives. For a moment, happiness swelled inside him as if the noonday sun had warmed up his soul.

    But on scanning through the papers a momentter, his smile faded, his brows drawing together into a frown. He was shocked to discover that he was still liable for over 386,000 Norwegian Kroner as the tax on the car purchase, insurance, and registration fees. That meant that if Audi hadn''t given him the vehicle for free, he would have had to cough out more than 1.5 million NOK to acquire a car with the specs simr to an R8 GT. The Norwegian taxes on luxurious vehicles were egregious.

    Nheless, he would never dream of giving up such a sleek machine just because of the tax. So, he braced himself, paid the 386K NOK, andpleted all the transfer procedures without much deliberation. He could afford to ssh the cash since he was already receiving 400,000 NOK as his monthly sry from Rosenborg, not counting bonuses.

    "Do you have a driving license?" Cami asked Zachary as she handed him the Audi R8 GT keys. "Or would you prefer we make arrangements for a driver to take the car back to your ce?"

    "No need for a driver," Zachary replied, shaking his head. "I already have a driving license and can drive the car back myself."

    Although it was his first time owning a car, he was sure that he wouldn''t have any trouble driving it. He''d already taken the mandatory driving lessons just after graduating from the academy so as to receive his Norwegian driving license. Moreover, he had on a few asions driven a heavy-goods truck when the going had gotten tough during his previous life. So, he was confident in his driving skills¡ªat least while maintaining a speed of less than 60 km/hr.

    "Okay, then," Cami said, smiling. "Our mechanics have already finished fine-tuning your R8 GT. They have moved it to the parking lot. Your new car awaits you. Thank you for considering Audi as a potential partner. If there''s nothing else, I''ll have to say goodbye to you since I have to report to my boss now. So, is there anything else?" She queried, her bright green eyes looking at Zachary eagerly.

    "Not at the moment," Zachary replied, shifting gears into poker face mode. "I think you''ve alreadypleted all the procedures perfectly. Isn''t that right, Ryan?" He added, turning towards the short guy beside him.

    "Oh, yes," Ryan said, nodding. "That should be everything. Unless you would like to install additional essories in the car, we can consider this purchaseplete."

    "That should be it," Zachary said, turning back towards Cami. "I don''t need anything else. You''ve alreadypleted everything that needspleting to perfection. Thank you."

    "Then, I''m d," Cami said, her whole face lighting up. "I''ll have to go report to my boss now. In case you get any problems with the vehicle, please call me. I''ll try to help you as best as I can. Otherwise, it was nice meeting you, Zachary." She said, extending her slender hand to him.

    "It was nice meeting you too," Zachary replied, taking her hand. "Thank you for all your help today." He added, inwardly sighing with relief since he was finally about to leave the dealership.

    "You''re wee," Cami said, still smiling. "Should I inform your agent that you''re waiting for her here?"

    "Yes, please do," Zachary replied.

    "Okay, I''ll inform her," she said. "I think you won''t have to wait long. I believe they''ve alreadypleted negotiations. Otherwise, have a good day. And don''t forget to call in case there''s a problem with the R8 GT."

    "Yes, of course," Zachary concurred, nodding solemnly. But on the inside, he was already nning on casting away the business card and never meeting Cami again.

    "Then, all the best, and may you enjoy your new ride," she said before turning away and strutting out of the conference room.

    Zachary let out a pent-up breath on seeing her figure disappear through a sliding ss door at the far side of the customer service area. He could finally let loose and rx.

    "You like her?" Ryan queried from beside him.

    "No, I don''t," Zachary was quick to reply, sounding defensive.

    "Yes, you do," Ryan said, smiling like a rogue. "You don''t have to worry. She also seems to find you pleasing to the eyes."

    "And how would you know that?"

    "She gave you her number," Ryan replied. "Didn''t she?"

    "Her business card, not her number," Zachary responded, shaking his head. "It''s only for business issues like when I get any trouble with the car. There''s nothing much to it."

    "Then how do you exin her constantly smiling whenever she was talking to you?" Ryan probed, grinning and rubbing his hands together. "Not even once did she cast a smile towards me. Don''t you find that odd?"

    "She is a car saleswoman," Zachary countered. "She''ll always smile at anyone buying a vehicle. So, will you leave this alone?"

    "If you say so," Ryan said, patting Zachary''s back. "But believe me, I''ve got an eye for these things."

    "And who are you? Cupid, Yue Lao, or Freyja? Leave it alone. Will you?"

    Ryan chuckled at that. "Then, should we check out that R8 GT of yours first? We can take it for a short spin nearby."

    "Let''s wait a bit," Zachary said, casting his gaze towards the sliding doors at the far side of the customer service area. "Emily will be here soon. I''m sure she will emerge as soon as she hears that we have concluded all the procedures rted to the vehicle."

    "Okay, then," Ryan said. "It''s your call since I''m only a middleman onmission."

    "That reminds me," Zachary said, turning towards Ryan once more. "Remember to text me your bank details so that I can transfer the 1,000 NOK to you. Thank you for your help today."

    "No problem, man," Ryan replied, grinning. "You can always call me when you need to buy any property in the future. If it''s something in Europe, I''ll be able to get it for you. Even if it''s the goodies from outside Europe, I''ve got a few colleagues that can help me acquire them. Emily can vouch for me on this."

    Zachary nodded. "That''s okay," he said, smiling. "I''ll remember that if there''s anything I need in the future. You can also contact me before your next race. I would love to attend and see you drifting over the race tracks."

    "Are you for real?" Ryan probed, inclining his head as if to search Zachary''s face for confirmation.

    Zachary nodded in response.

    Ryan grinned. "Then I''ll send you an invitation when it''s two weeks to my next race," he said. "Please don''t forget."

    "Don''t forget what?" Another voice said from behind them.

    Both Zachary and Ryan almost jumped up in shock as they''d not expected Emily''s voice to sound from behind them.

    "How did you manage to sneak up on us?" Ryan asked, turning around to look at Emily.

    "Have you forgotten I''m awyer by profession," Emily replied, beaming.

    Ryan sighed, giving Emily an arch look. "So,w schools these days teach their students how to sneak up on people. Where''s the world headed?"

    Emily chuckled. "Susanne''s assistant just informed me that you guys have already finished all the paperwork," she said, turning towards Zachary. "Is that right?"

    "Yes, the car is already in my name," Zachary replied, grinning. "All the procedures are done, and I''m already one of the proud owners of an Audi R8 GT. We were only waiting for you so that we can set off."

    "Congrattions," Emily said, patting Zachary''s back. "We should celebrate this asion. Shouldn''t we?"

    "I''ll take you out for Pizza at Tyholt Tower after here," Zachary said, grinning. "That should be enough of a celebration for today."

    "Tyholt Tower," Emily mumbled, seemingly mulling over the name. "Isn''t that the ce where people go to enjoy meals in a rotating restaurant 74 meters above the ground?"

    "Yes, that''s it," Ryan chipped in, rubbing his hands together. "They''ve got really good pizza, probably one of the best in Trondheim."

    "Then I would love to go there," Emily said, smiling at Zachary.

    "Have you finished up with Susanne?" Zachary queried.

    "Yes, we havepleted the outline of the contract document," Emily replied, her voice taking on a formal tone. "But we''ll be meeting again tomorrow to discuss the individual uses in the contract. I''ll keep you posted about the progress of the negotiations. So, don''t worry and focus on your training."

    "Okay," Zachary agreed. "But what is your take on this deal?"

    "I think it''s perfect," Emily said, beaming. "Audi sponsors a lot of athletes in Norway and Europe atrge. So, they are a good option as one of your long-term partners. But let''s first finish the negotiations. I''ll have gotten the exact picture of their sincerity towards you by then."

    "Then, I''m d," Zachary said. "Thank you for your hard work."

    "You''re wee," Emily replied. "And that''s exactly my job. I''m famished. Should we leave this ce and go enjoy that Pizza, then?"

    "Agreed."

    "Agreed."

    Both Zachary and Ryan concurred. And they set off from the dealership, heading to Tyholt tower for Pizza. They drove in a convoy¡ªnever exceeding 40 Km/hr, even on sections of the road with less boisterous traffic, to give Zachary a chance to limatize to his new machine.

    **** ****

 Chapter 159 - Another Chat With Coach Johansen

    Zachary forgot everything else and plunged himself back into his training with a single-hearted devotion after acquiring his vehicle. He was dedicated to sustaining and improving his fitness in order to cement his ce on Coach Johansen''s starting line-up. He had no intention of missing Rosenborg''s next fixtures with H?nefoss BK and Sarpsborg FF only because he had rxed and fallen out of shape.

    So, whether it was dynamic warm-ups, passing drills, or agilities training, he soldiered through diligently with single-minded devotion, day in, day out, without anyints.

    In that way, four days passed by in a sh, and it was soon Sunday evening. The time for Coach Johansen to announce his squad for the next Tippeligaen game had arrived once more.

    However, Zachary didn''t feel any pressure since he knew that he''d been doing well in training. He was looking forward to the pre-match tactical session as he was almost certain he would make the squad once again.

    Nevertheless, he put one more hour into refining his set-piece technique on the training ground after the team training session ended that evening. He managed to take more than fifty free-kicks before rounding up his practice. By then, the evening had started to cast its dusky gown, giving way to the darkness of the night.

    When Zachary looked around and noticed that he was the only one remaining on the training ground, he quickly gathered the training balls and then started to make his way towards the locker room. He wanted to take a quick shower before heading to the tactics room for Coach Johansen''s pre-match tactical briefing. But just as he was leaving the pitch, he ran into Coach Johansen, himself, along the way.

    "There you are, Zach," the coach said, smiling at him. "Were you still working on your set-pieces?"

    "Yes," Zachary replied, wiping the sweat off his face using the back of his hand. "I have to practice on a daily basis to perfect my shooting posture. As you know, practice always precedes perfection, and the best form of practice is repetition."

    Coach Johansen smiled, nodding. "I''m d you still remember what we taught you in the academy. You''re turning into quite the yer because of your dedication and hard work. I''m proud of you, and I hope you manage to stay focused on your game. If you can do that, you''ll surely reach great heights in the near future."

    "Thank you, coach," Zachary replied, smiling. "I''ll continue doing my best. I only hope I can continue getting more ying time on the team. I''ll be able to improve faster that way."

    Coach Johansen half-smiled. "Let''s talk in my office briefly," he said. "There are a few things I wish to discuss with you before the pre-match tactical briefing."

    "Oh, okay," Zachary concurred. He was curious about why the coach needed to meet him. "But can you allow me to ce my gym bag in my locker and also wash my face first?"

    "Yes, of course," Coach Johansen gave his agreement. "Go and clean up first. You cane to my office right after."

    "Okay, then," Zachary said. "Thank you. I''ll be there shortly."

    Five minutester, Zachary arrived at Coach Johansen''s office as promised. He pushed the door open after a couple of knocks and found him intently watching a football game on hisptop.

    "Have a seat, Zachary," Coach Johansen said, ncing up from hisptop. "Let''s talk for a bit."

    Zachary nodded before settling down in a seat opposite that of Coach Johansen.

    "How are you finding the team''s atmosphere?" Coach Johansen probed, folding hisptop. "It has been slightly over a week since you made your debut. Are you enjoying yourself?"

    "Yes, of course," Zachary replied, a smile softening his features. "The past week has been good for me. So, I''m really enjoying myself."

    "That''s good," Coach Johansen said, nodding. "You''ve alreadyted five goals in three matches. That makes you one of our top scorers. I''m d to have you on the team."

    "Thank you," Zachary replied.

    "Have you looked at Rosenborg''s uing fixtures for the rest of the season?" Coach Johansen asked, leaning back in his chair.

    "Yes," Zachary replied, nodding.

    "How do you find the schedule?"

    "Fine, I guess," Zachary said. "We''ve got at least three days between each of the fixtures. There''ll also be three weeks of rest between May 30th and June 19th. So, I''ve got no problem with the schedule."

    Coach Johansen smiled. "But you do understand that we still have quite the busy schedule this season," he said, holding Zachary''s gaze. "Think about it. We''ve got to y a lot of matches in the Tippeligaen, the Norwegian Cup, and then the Europa League qualifiers. And all that is before September. Don''t you think that''s quite a tight schedule?"

    "Yes, I can see that," Zachary responded, still in doubt about where the coach was taking the conversation. Even if Rosenborg had a tight schedule, there was no need for the Coach to mention it to him.

    "Then, you should understand that with tight schedules, we''ve got to rotate the squad if we wish to continue winning games," the coach said, taking a moment to caress his red-bearded chin. "Isn''t that right?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, nodding and finally understanding the coach''s purpose.

    "Zachary," Coach Johansen intoned, leaning forward and locking eyes with him. "I would like you to know that you''re now a key yer in my squad. You''ve got great spatial awareness in midfield, and you can even make assists and score. You''re the kind of match-winning yer that every team desires in their starting line-up."

    "But," the coach continued. "You can''t y matches every three days without taking a rest. So, we shall rotate you out of the starting eleven for the games against H?nefoss on Monday and Sarpsborg 08 on Thursday. If there''s a need, you''ll only be able toe on as a substitute for those two games."

    "Oh!" Zachary said, nodding. Although he understood the coach''s viewpoint, he was still a bit disappointed by the coach''s decision not to y him in the away game against H?nefoss the following day. He waspetitive at his very core. Being on the pitch andpeting against opponents made him feel whole. He didn''t want to miss even a single fixture throughout the entire season.

    "I can see that you are disappointed," Coach Johansen said. "But don''t worry. Keep focusing on your training. We''ll be facing Molde in 8 days¡ªon May 20th and V?lerenga on May 25th. If we win those two, we''ll most likely seal our position at the top of the league table. So, I need your legs fresh and well-rested for those two fixtures. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, his tone solemn.

    "Then, I''m d," Coach Johansen said. "I promise you that by the end of the season, you''ll be thanking me for rotating you out of the squad a few times. You, yourself, will reach the extent of requesting a vacation so that you can rx and recover from the fatigue umted from ying games throughout the whole season."

    "Oh," Zachary said, feeling at a loss of what to say to the coach. He felt like putting in aint requesting that the coach consider him for the starting eleven the following day. But at the same time, he couldn''t follow through with the thought since he felt a bit guilty.

    The coach had yed a psychological game on him by calling him in for a private chat to exin exactly why he couldn''t be part of the starting eleven. He''d given Zachary special treatment, usually reserved for the key yers on the team. But in actual sense, he''d called in Zachary and informed him that he was benching him for the next two games. Zachary was feeling conflicted on the inside.

    "That aside," Coach Johansen continued, his voice turning solemn. "The team physician informed me that you didn''t go for your routine medical after the game against Troms?. You should really go after the next game. Believe me; it''s for your own good since you''ve just experienced that growth spurt of yours. We don''t want to get any problems with your fitness when we''re having such a busy schedule."

    "Okay, I''ll do that aftering back from the game tomorrow," Zachary concurred, nodding. "I think if there''s nothing else, I''ll go take a shower now and prepare for the pre-match tactical briefing."

    "Just one more thing before you go," Coach Johansen said, sighing. "In case you manage to score any more goals in any of the uing matches, please control yourself. The publicity and marketing guys are alreadyining about you giving away those jerseys. Moreover, you''ve picked up two yellow cards from those celebrations. So, please do take note. Okay?"

    "It won''t happen again, coach," Zachary replied solemnly.

    "Then, I''m d," Coach Johansen said, grinning. "And before I forget, congrattions upon getting that new car of yours. It''s really a good machine. But please don''t go racing or speeding anywhere in Norway. Always put safety above everything else when on the road. Are we together, Zach?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, smiling wryly. "Not a single time have I gone faster than 60 km/hr. So, you don''t have to worry."

    "Then, I''ll sleep a little better today," Coach Johansen said in a joking manner. "You know it''s hard for an old man like me to find any sleep knowing that one of his yers might be speeding on one of the mountain passes somewhere." He sighed.

    "Okay, you can go back and prepare," he said after a moment. "See you in about 30 minutes in the tactics room then," he added, waving his arm in a dismissive gesture.

 Chapter 160 - To Aka Arena

    After Zachary departed from Coach Johansen''s office, he quickly cleaned up and had a simple dinner at the canteen. After having his fill of smoked salmon, vegetables, and pasta, he headed to the tactics room feeling reinvigorated, his hunger sated.

    The pre-match tactical briefing started a few minutes after he arrived. As usual, Coach Johansen began going over every detail of the game n for the match against H?nefoss BK. He took his time exining even the smallest of things, be it the positioning of the yers, how to take corners, and how to shape up into the 4-3-3 formation on the pitch.

    Coach Johansen stayed true to his word and left Zachary out of the starting eleven when he named the line-up. But whatforted Zachary was that the coach had even benched both Mike Jensen and Tobias Mikkelsen¡ªthe other yers who''d been performing very well during training. That implied the coach was indeed rotating the squad in preparation for matches ahead.

    Zachary left the tactics room at 9:00 PM with a light heart after the coach''s address. His mood had lifted on verifying that the coach was only resting him to prepare for the next game rather than some other bias.

    After exchanging a few words with his teammates, he got into his R8 GT and cruised out of Lerkendal. He drove under the nket of stars looming over Trondheim City, the headlights illuminating the way ahead. He could feel the firm grip of the car''s new treads on the cktop. He elerated a bit and rushed through the roads like the wind, traveling towards Stj?rdalsveien, the ce he''de to call home for the past few months.

    As he steered the car around a corner and joined thene heading to his apartment building a few minutester, a feeling of happiness swelled within him. He''d already begun reaping the benefits of possessing his own private means of transportation. The journey back to his apartment that had previously taken him 30-45 minutes by bus¡ªonly took him a little over 12 minutes in his new car.

    A short whileter, Zachary packed his car in front of his apartment building and began to slowly ascend the stairs, heading towards his home on the sixth floor. But along the way, he ran into Kristin, dressed casually in baggy pants, with two stic garbage bags in her hands. She seemed to be taking out the trash from her apartment.

    "You''re back veryte," she said when she was still a few paces away from Zachary. "Personal training?" She probed, shing Zachary a smile.

    "No," Zachary replied, smiling back at her. "There was a pre-match tactical briefing since we''ll be ying an away game against H?nefoss Ballklubb tomorrow. I rushed here as soon as the meeting was over."

    "Oh," Kristin said, cing the garbage bags on the stairs. "I''m sure that you''ll win against H?nefoss. You''ll even emerge victorious in the next game against Sarpsborg 08. But what worries me is the game against Molde after those two fixtures. Do you feel confident enough to guarantee Rosenborg''s win against them? We need revenge since they knocked us out of the Cupenst year."

    Zachary sighed. "If they y the same way they have been ying since the start of this season, then there''s no need to fear them. Moreover, we''ll be at Lerkendal this time around. So, they should be the ones getting scared, not us."

    "That''s great," Kristin said, beaming. "I''ll be rooting for you in the stands. And before I forget, my grandpa was hoping you''d visit him. Do you think you can apany me to his ce in Bergen, maybe at the start of June when there''s a break in the season fixtures?"

    "That may not be possible," Zachary said, shaking his head. "I''ll be back home in DR Congo by then for my holiday. So, we can either go and see him a bit sooner or wait until I return from my vacation. That''ll be at the end of June."

    "Then, why not go, visit him sooner rather thanter," Kristin said. "We could go on May 21st, the day after your match with Molde. We can fly to Bergen and be at his ce early in the morning. That way, we''ll be able to return to Trondheim by nightfall."

    "That should be okay, I guess," Zachary said, nodding. "We usually have a day off after games. So, I think we can use that time as long as wee back that same day."

    "Of course, we''ll be able toe back the same day," Kristin said, beaming. "I''ll be informing my grandpa about our visit. So, please don''t forget."

    "I won''t forget," Zachary intoned solemnly. "You have my word."

    "That''s great, then," Kristin said. "But since you have a match tomorrow, let me say good night and leave you to rest. Good luck in your game." She added, beginning to pick up the garbage bags from the floor.

    "Thank you," Zachary replied, smiling back at her. "Do you need help with that?" He queried, pointing at the stic bags in her hands.

    "Not at all," Kristin replied, her voice firm. "I can handle this myself since the dumpster is only a few meters away from the building. You, on the other hand, should focus on resting and preparing for tomorrow''s game. How are you moving to H?nefoss, by the way? Bus or ne?"

    "We''ll go by ne this time around," Zachary replied. "So, we''ll be flying out by around noon tomorrow."

    "Then I believe it''s high time I say good night to you," Kristin said, the corner of her lips lifting into a soft, radiant smile. "I wish you all the best in your match tomorrow. I''ll not be attending, but I''ll still follow the game on TV."

    "Thank you," Zachary said, returning her smile. "And good night to you too." He added before walking past her and continuing to ascend the stairs to the sixth floor.

    A few minutester, he was already safely in the confines of his living room. He went through his customary pre-bedtime yoga routine before eating a light snack and heading to bed for the night. Although he was on the bench for the match against H?nefoss Ballklubb the following day, he needed to rest early. That way, he would be ready if the coach needed him to enter the game as a substitute.

    **** ****

    The next day, Zachary traveled together with his teammates who''d made Coach Johansen''s squad to H?nefoss town in the southern part of Norway. They arrived at H?nefoss Airport, Eggemoen, at around three in the afternoon. Without any dilly-dallying, they got on to a bus and headed to a nearby training ground.

    When they arrived, they went through a light session of pre-match fitness drills under the guidance of Rolf Aas, the fitness coach. As usual, he was very strict and didn''t allow any yers to rx during the session. Whether it was leg-lifting, lunges, or full sprints¡ªhe watched Zachary and his teammates with undivided attention. If any yer dared to cken, he would give him a mouthful of a lecture without mincing his words.

    That way, the minutes and hours quickly shed by¡ªand soon, it was almost 6:00 PM. Zachary and his teammates concluded their light training session before heading to Aka Arena for the game against H?nefoss.

    **** ****

 Chapter 161 - Against H?nefoss Ballklubb

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle at exactly 7:00 PM, and the matchmenced immediately.

    Coach Johansen''s face was all smiles as his yers managed to dominate the game, starting from the very first minute. Even the fact that they were ying at an away ground seemed not to matter to them as they dictated the tempo on the ying field.

    They were totally tearing the H?nefoss formation apart with their passing on multiple asions. Whether it was the three forwards, the three midfielders, or the four defenders¡ªthey all yed as if their lives depended on the game.

    In particr, Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s center-forward, was on fire. In the 31st minute, he tore through the H?nefoss defense like a knife through butter and unleashed a right-footed shot to score Rosenborg''s first goal of the day.

    Coach Johansen could hardly contain his glee as he celebrated the goal. He felt like the squad was finally shaping up under his guidance. Even the bench yers on the Rosenborg squad at that moment could rise to the asion given a chance to start in an official game. He felt he could go ces and win many trophies with such a team. His hopes had already soared.

    After the goal, the Rosenborg yers gained more momentum. They yed creative wless one-touch or two-touch football and managed to push back all the H?nefoss yers into their own half. Whenever theycked options in the middle, they would switch to using wing y and delivering crosses into H?nefoss'' box to create scoring chances.

    For the next few minutes, the H?nefoss keeper made a couple of incredible saves, and several shots smashed off the goalposts as Rosenborg continued to apply more pressure on their opponents.

    Nevertheless, the score remained 1:0 until the 43rd minute when Tarik Elyounoussi, Rosenborg''s left-forward,tched on to Ole Seln?s''s defense-splitting pass close to the 18-yard box of H?nefoss. Without any hesitation, he fired home with his left foot from around the left corner of the box and scored Rosenborg''s second goal just before half-time.

    At the Aka Arena, it was all Rosenborg for the moment.

    **** ****

    Zachary followed the proceedings on the pitch from the bench within the visiting team''s technical area. He thought Rosenborg would win the game for sure since his teammates on the pitch had been bullying the H?nefoss yers for the entire 45 minutes of the first half.

    But he changed his view as soon as the second half started.

    Team H?nefoss was like an entirely different side after half-time. The yers in green and white managed to turn the pressure on Rosenborg by using the long and high ball strategy. They used wing y and high balls to deliver balls to their two forwards until they managed to score in the 50th minute, just five minutes after the start of the second half.

    Riku Riski, one of the two forwards in H?nefoss'' 4-4-2 formation, was the man that managed to convert and reduce Rosenborg''s lead. Zachary could only sigh as the game that''d seemed like a sure win for Rosenborg before half-time had turned into another tough fixture.

    For the next twenty minutes, the Rosenborg yers struggled to hold possession. Even worse, they failed to get shots on target as they''d done during the first half. They seemed to have left all their skillful ball-handling and creativity in the dressing room at half-time. Zachary could hardly believe what he was witnessing on the pitch. But since he was on the bench, there was nothing much he could do to change the game situation. He could only hope that the coach would be quick to react before Rosenborg conceded an equalizer.

    **** ****

    H?nefoss continued giving Rosenborg a hard time until the unfavorable game situation forced Coach Johansen to call for two substitutions in the 75th minute. He substituted in Zachary for Mix Diskerud, the Rosenborg defensive midfielder, and Tobias Mikkelsen for Borek Dockal on the right nk.

    Coach Johansen noticed the change immediately after making the two substitutions. He let out a pent-up breath as Rosenborg managed to stabilize the game once again within a short while.

    Zachary yed like usual and managed to settle in his new defensive midfield role within a minute after entering the game. He won several aerial and ground duels by relying on his tall physique, thereby sealing off team H?nefoss'' long-range ball strategy. After that, he began unleashing passes left and right¡ªinto the wings like a true Maestro. That way, Rosenborg started dictating the tempo for the first time during the second half.

    Coach Johansen could only sigh at Zachary''s on-pitch tactical ability and game awareness, especially in the midfield. Even in a rtively newer position, he could still y like usual and outsmart opponents much more experienced than him. Coach Johansen was quite thankful to have such a phenomenal yer on his squad. But at the same time, he felt gratified. He wondered how Rosenborg would manage to keep such a talent with such uncanny consistency.

    In the 88th minute, Zachary intercepted another one of the H?nefoss long-range passes deep in Rosenborg''s half. He chested the ball to the ground and skipped past an opponent with a deft second touch. Before the opposing midfielder could react, he unleashed one of his signature defense-splitting through-passes towards the right-wing where Tobias Mikkelsen was lurking.

    Tobiastched on to Zachary''s incredible pass before dashing past a few opponents with his astonishing pace. The right-forward raced along the touchline like the wind and soon stepped into the final third. In some miraculous way, he cut into the pitch, lomed his way past a couple of more opposing defenders¡ªand soon was one-on-one with the keeper. Tobias had managed to create Rosenborg''s best chance during the entire second half by just relying on his incredible pace.

    For a second or two, silence fell across the Aka Arena. The H?nefoss home fans believed that the Rosenborg right forward would surely convert the goal. But a momentter, they started jubting once again as the H?nefoss keeper managed to save Tobias'' effort with an outstretched foot.

    Coach Johansen couldn''t ept the situation. He couldn''t believe how a professional forward could miss such a chance after dribbling through the whole defense. He shook his head and made a mental note to include shooting drills on the weekly training menu of all his forwards and midfielders.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and pointed to the corner g.

    Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg left-back, took the corner-kick and floated a teasing ball into the crowded box. Tore Reginiussen, the Rosenborg captain, out-jumped the rest of the yers and connected with the corner ball to nt a header towards the goal from around the penalty spot.

    But once again, the keeper jumped high and shoved the ball away from his goal. As luck would have it, the ball moved straight towards Zachary, who''d positioned himself close to one of the goalposts. Coach Johansen felt his heart start to race as he realized it was yet another clear goal-scoring chance. There wasn''t a single yer between Zachary and the open goal.

    "What!?" Coach Johansen yelled after a moment. He couldn''t believe what he''d witnessed on the pitch once more.

    Zachary had just failed to direct the ball into the back of the with his head¡ªeven when there was no opposing yer to defend the goal. The coach shook his head once again and could only sigh with regret after the ball sailed past the left goalpost by mere centimeters. His yers seemed to be having a spell of bad luck in the final minutes of the game. They''d failed to convert two clear chances into goals within a span of two minutes.

    However, they managed to hold on to their narrow 2:1 lead until the final whistle. Coach Johansen''s mood lightened as the victory had lifted his team to 19 points and sealed their position as second on the Tipeligaen table. Str?msgodset IF was only ahead of them in the first position due to a superior goal difference.

    **** ****

 Chapter 162 - Against Sarpsborg-08 I

    Three dayster, on a rainy Thursday evening, Zachary was on the bench once more as Rosenborg faced off against Sarpsborg-08 at Lerkendal Stadion.

    He watched the game free from any worries since the coach had already promised that he would be in the starting line-up for the next fixture against Molde. So, he leaned back into his chair within the home team''s dugout to enjoy the proceedings on the field of y.

    Backed by the cheering of the enthusiastic home fans, the Troll Kids put up quite the performance to steadily tear the formation of their opponents apart in the first half. They possessed the motive to strike from the first minute and once again yed wless passing football under the millions of rain droplets falling from the sky that evening.

    Zachary judged that they''d executed coach Johansen''s game n to perfection in all areas of the field. They''d shaped up in the 4-3-3 attacking formation to mount attack after attack in waves, never giving the Sarpsborg-08 any second to rest throughout the entire first half.

    Nicki Nielsen was on fire once again. He skillfully connected with Mix Diskerud in the 33rd minute,tching on to a pinpoint pass before firing and scoring Rosenborg''s first goal for the day. A minuteter, in the 34th minute, he expertly skipped past the Sarpsborg center-backs and connected with Mikael Dorsin''s cross from the wing¡ªto beat the keeper with a header from around the edge of the penalty box.

    Within a span of two minutes, Rosenborg had extended its lead by two goals. The home fans in Lerkendal went wild as their team seemed well on their way to furthering their winning streak to five matches in a row.

    But at the start of the second half, Zachary was astounded as the Rosenborg yers started underperforming. They became a mess in the midfield and started giving away possession more frequently. Although they would manage to create a few chances in the final third on a few asions, they still couldn''t convert them into goals. They couldn''t extend their lead and found themselves in a situation simr to the one they''d been in during the second half of the game against H?nefoss.

    As a result, the Sarpsborg-08 yers capitalized on thexity in Rosenborg''s ying intensity to settle down and be morefortable in the game. Their defense and midfield stabilized in a short while as they turned the tables on the underperforming Rosenborg squad in the first few minutes of the second half. They steadily built up momentum and managed to hit Rosenborg on the counter using the long-ball strategy to their two forwards on multiple asions.

    In the 52nd minute, Magnus Olsen, one of the Sarpsborg-08 forwards in their 4-4-2 formation,pleted a lightning-fast switch of y from defense to attack by getting on to the end of a long ball deep inside Rosenborg''s half. He showed his ss as a Tippeligaen professional forward by skipping past Stefan Strandberg, one of the Rosenborg center-backs, with his deft footwork before firing home and scoring Sarpsborg-08''s first goal.

    But that wasn''t the end of Rosenborg''s troubles for the day. In the 64th minute, Martin Wiig, the other Sarpsborg-08 forward,tched on to a through-pass from one of his teammates in the final third¡ªbefore trying to dribble past Stefan Strandberg, the Rosenborg''s center-back.

    However, Stefan was having none of his nonsense. He slid in wholesale and tried to tackle the ball away from the Sarpsborg-08''s forward''s feet. But as bad luck would have it, he missed the ball by mere centimeters and caught the speedy forward on the left ankle. The referee immediately blew his whistle and awarded Sarpsborg-08 a free-kick only a couple of yards away from Rosenborg''s box.

    Gudmundur Th¨®rarinsson, Sarpsborg-08''s left-winger, stepped up and sessfully converted the free-kick to score the second goal for the visitors. The stands of Lerkendal with the seats of the home fans went quiet for a moment as Rosenborg was once again in a precarious situation after conceding the equalizing goal.

    **** ****

    Coach Johansen immediately reacted after Rosenborg had conceded the second goal. But that time around, he didn''t opt to bring Zachary into the game.

    The boy had yed four consecutive games over the span of 12 days and needed to rest his legs. That was the only way he would be ready and in good shape for the Molde fixture in four days.

    So, the coach substituted in Ole Seln?s and Mix Diskerud to strengthen his team''s midfield. He then brought in Tobias Mikkelsen, the speedy winger, to boost Rosenborg''s attacking y.

    A few minutes after Coach Johansen had made the substitutions, the situation for Rosenborg on the pitch stabilized. Tobias Mikkelsen started cutting across the wing and delivering crosses into the box until Tarik Elyounoussi, Rosenborg''s left forward, connected with one of them to score Rosenborg''s third goal.

    The cheers of the home fans rose to a crescendo, seemingly almost blowing off the roof of Lerkendal Stadion. The Rosenborg yers had managed to get themselves out of a precarious situation. They''d scored in the 84th minute to secure their lead once again.

    Coach Johansen was all smiles as he celebrated the goal in the technical area. But he made a mental note to find an immediate solution for his team''s usuallyckluster performances, especially at the beginning of the second half.

    In the previous few games, Rosenborg had been dominating during the first half. But after halftime, it always seemed like his yers had left their ying boots in the dressing room. That was the reason Rosenborg conceded most goals during the first twenty minutes of the second half.

    "Should we tell the yers to shape up and defend our one-goal lead?" Trond Henriksen, his assistant, inquired from beside him. "We should be doing our best to avoid conceding another goal in these remaining minutes."

    "Don''t worry," Coach Johansen replied, shaking his head. "Our yers y at their best when on the attack. So, telling them to defend would be like taking away their best quality, which is their creativity when hunting for goals."

    "But isn''t that too risky?" Coach Trond Henriksen probed.

    "Not at all," Coach Johansen responded. "We''re the better team. So, we''ll not y the type of football that is conservative against a weaker team. Moreover, attacking is the best¡ª" He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes fully focusing once more on the proceedings on the field.

 Chapter 163 - Against Sarpsborg-08 II

    Coach Johansen felt his heart racing as he watched the action in Sarpsborg-08''s half. Tobias Mikkelsen, the substitute right forward, had just cut into the pitch from the wing before delivering a grounded through pass to Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg number-9, just outside the box.

    Nicki managed totch on to the beautiful through-pass, skipped past a Sarpsborg-08 center-back, and soon stepped into the box. But just as he raised his leg to shoot, another center-back came sliding in to win the ball and sent him tumbling to the ground. The referee immediately blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot.

    "Yes, yes..." Coach Johansen yelled and celebrated like a kid after letting out a pent-up breath of air. His team''s performance had declined during the second half, and he''d been on tenterhooks.

    He''d been under immense pressure the entire second half to the point that he was about to call on Zachary''s services once more. But since his team was about to widen the lead again, he could finally rx.

    **** ****

    Zachary continued following the game from the bench within the home team''s technical area. He watched Nicki Nielsen make an angled run towards the ball before shooting and beating the keeper from the penalty spot. The Rosenborg number-9 was burning hot and had managed to score a hat-trick for the day.

    Zachary was happy for him as he was one of the yers close to him on the squad. But on the other hand, he felt a bit disappointed as he couldn''t join in on the action.

    Missing a game meant that he was a step closer to failing to realize one of the system''s Tippeligaen mission milestones. He''d to y 21 of the 30 league matches to aplish the first milestone of the serial challenge. But he''d missed seven already and was only remaining with two to go to fail that part of the mission. So, he was feeling conflicted on the inside.

    Nevertheless, he didn''t show any displeasure on his face. At that moment, he was happy that his team was winning and keeping the hopes of the trophy very alive. So, with a soft smile on his face, he continued watching the game until it ended with Rosenborg still leading by four goals to two.

    After the game, he immediately left the pitch, intending to head back to the dressing room to take a quick shower and then head back home. But along the way, he ran into v Brusveen, the TV2-Sporten reporter, as he was about to enter the tunnel. He was together with his camera crew, seemingly waiting and ready to interview some field yers.

    But Zachary was at a loss concerning why v had intercepted his trek back to the dressing room since he hadn''t even yed a single minute of the just-concluded game. Instead, the reporter should have long been on his way to the area designated for the press to interview Nicki Nielsen, the man of the just-concluded match.

    "Good evening, Zachary," the reporter greeted, extending a hand to him. "How is your evening?" He added, motioning for his camera crew to start recording or to move closer, whatever the case may be. Zachary couldn''t ascertain what the hand signal of the man of the press implied.

    "Good evening to you too, v," Zachary replied, smiling and taking his hand. "The evening is as fine as it can be. What can I do for you?" He was slightly on guard in front of the reporter after seeing the edited video he''d posted on his social media pages.

    "Do you have anyment about today''s match?" The reporter probed, holding up a microphone towards Zachary.

    "We won the game," Zachary said, smiling. "The team yed well, and we managed to win by a whole four goals to two. We''ve gained three more points and are a step closer to the top of the table. So, I''m quite excited."

    "You''re excited even if you didn''t y?" v probed, looking at Zachary''s face pensively.

    "Of course, I''m in quite a jolly mood," Zachary replied, half-smiling. "It''s always about the team. As long as we keep winning, I''ll be able to ride the wave and win the double. That''s good for both the team and me. So, why shouldn''t I be happy?" He added, hoping for the reporter to end the interview as soon as possible.

    "Have you noticed that Rosenborg tends to underperform and concede plenty of goals at the start of the second half?" v inquired.

    "Well," Zachary said, trying to organize his thoughts. "We have had several moments at the beginning of the second when we have performed below par. That is for sure. But we are working together as a team to rectify this problem. We should be able to improve as the season progresses."

    "You were on the bench during this match," v said, smiling slightly. "Some of your fans are wondering whether you''re injured or if there''s another issue with your health. Were you not given a chance to y because you missed that chance at the open goal during the match against H?nefoss BK? We''re all in doubt and would like to know the reason you''re not ying."

    "Oh," Zachary said. "Rosenborg has the best and most diverse squad in the whole Tippeligaen. With the high number of talented yers on the line-up, it''s inevitable that I''ll have to sit on the bench during a few of the games. But, I''m neither injured nor facing any other troubles."

    v smiled, nodding. "In four days, you face Molde," he continued, oblivious to Zachary''s impatience. "Do you think you can win?"

    "How did Molde perform in today''s game?" Zachary countered with a question instead of replying directly.

    "Molde lost at home by five goals to one against FK Haugesund," v was quick to reply.

    "Then the match before!" Zachary continued probing the reporter, his face taking on a stern expression. "How did they perform?"

    "They tied 0:0 in an away game against Sandnes Ulf," v replied dutifully, seemingly not minding that Zachary was hijacking his role as the interviewer.

    "Then, what is their current position on the Tippeligaen table?"

    "16th, the bottom of the table."

    "Then, let me ask you myst question," Zachary said, the corner of his mouth curling into a smile. "Considering all that, do you think we can lose at Lerkendal? Think about that. I know you know the answer deep in your heart." He said before walking past the reporter and his camera crew towards the tunnel. He didn''t want to risk staying with v longer than necessary since he could unknowingly end up saying something improper and jeopardize himself.

    **** ****

 Chapter 164 - Big Money Around The Corner

    "You''ve made the headlines once again," Emily said to Zachary when they met at a cafe near Trondheim square on the morning after the Sarpsborg-08 game. "You''ve got a unique charisma about you that is characteristic of celebrities. Everything you say makes waves on social media sites and sports blogs all around Norway. I''m amazed by your charms." She added jokingly.

    "Stop kidding around," Zachary said, sipping on his warm cappino.

    He didn''t buy the whole part of having a natural charisma. In his previous life, he''d faced the booing of TP Mazembe fans back in his home country¡ªuntil he couldn''t lift his head in any public ce. So, there was no way he possessed the kind of natural maism that could easily turn him into a celeb as a person. That quality was for a select few in the world, like the Kardashians, for instance.

    He was well aware that his budding fame was the sole result of his football. As long as he continued ying well, people would feed off every word he said. But if it so happened that he lost his skills, he would end up like his previous incarnation, alone and helpless. That was why he was so focused on training and advancing his skills to avoid facing the same predicament in his new life.

    "Tell me why I''m making headlines again," Zachary probed after taking a moment to savor the incredible vor of his cappino. "Is it my interview with v that is making waves? Or is it my being on the bench for the past two games?"

    "It''s your interview after yesterday''s game," Emily replied, shing him a smile from across the table.

    "Did Ie out like an arrogant-got-it-all yer in the video once again?"

    "Not at all," Emily said before also sipping on her coffee. "It''s quite the opposite this time. You projected a good image as an unselfish yer who cares about the team. The Rosenborg fans loved everything you said and are even calling for the coaching staff to start using you in every game. You''ve got the favorable impression of the fans on your side. That''s quite the achievement."

    "Oh," Zachary said, cing his coffee cup back onto the table. "It seems like the interview with v was good for me this time around."

    "From what I''m hearing from Ryan and a few of my other colleagues here in Norway, that seems to be the case," Emily said, still beaming. "But not everyone liked your post-match interview. The Molde fans are out for your blood on social media. That reporter, v, has been setting you up against them. Some of them are calling you arrogant, and some other not-so-friendly names. A couple of times, they''ve even mentioned the goal you missed against H?nefoss BK. They im your spell of good luck is over, and they''ll handle you when you face Molde next week."

    Zachary smiled, shaking his head. "As long as the Rosenborg fans don''t have a problem with me, I don''t mind what anyone else says. Moreover, they''ll shut up if I manage to y well in my next game."

    "Well said, Zach," Emily replied, her voice animated. "I''m d that you''re confident. As long as you maintain your focus and keep ying well, then they can''t take anything from you, however much they bber on¡ªon social media. They''ll all go silent if you continue performing well. I''m rooting for you to shut them up with your incredible skill." She added, pumping her fist into the air between them.

    The corners of Zachary''s mouth twitched a bit on witnessing how Emily was trying to cheer him on. She could be the most spirited of fangirls if she so wished. Zachary sighed, shaking his head to stop himself fromughing out loud.

    "But this v keeps focusing on me even when I''m on the bench," He said, lifting a brow. "Yesterday, he should have interviewed Nicki, who was clearly the man of the match and also scored a hat-trick. But he still ended up pursuing me¡ªthe person that didn''t even get to y for a single minute in the game."

    Emily chuckled. "I''m only guessing that the fans and the press are fascinated by you only because you''re an anomaly in the league," she said. "Think about it. You are only 18 years old. Yet, you have already made a debut for Rosenborg¡ªthe top club in Norway. You have evented five goals in your first three games. Those stats are crazy¡ªand because of your incredible performance, the Norwegian footballmunity is expecting a lot from you. But, try to avoid being pressured by what everyone is saying. Instead, focus on improving yourself and let everything else be background noise. If you do that, you won''t face any problems."

    "Exactly," Zachary concurred. "I''ve been trying to keep myself away from the media. I don''t want the press to influence my life, and that''s the reason I have no social media ounts at the moment."

    Emily smiled, leaning back into her seat to lock gazes with Zachary. "But hiding from the fans and what the public is saying about you is not a solution in the long term," she said. "Most of the celebrities and even professional athletes out there read articles about themselves, maybe for motivation or some other reason. But in so doing, they also get limatized to facing public opinion and handling negative criticism. You should try doing the same. What do you think will happen when you get extremely popr and can no longer hide?"

    "I''m not hiding," Zachary countered. "I merely don''t see a need to read about myself in the news or follow a post on social media criticizing my game. I don''t want such distractions."

    "If you say so," Emily said, sipping on her coffee. "But that reminds me. Have you set up that Twitter ount we talked about?"

    "Not yet," Zachary replied, smiling ruefully. "I was busy with training these past few days."

    "But opening an ount takes a few minutes," Emily countered, sighing. "We can do it even now, that is if you agree. With a Twitter ount, you''ll be able to get ahead of what the press is saying about you and make some rifications to shape public opinion. That''s good for your public image, and that trantes into more endorsement offers."

    "Oh," Zachary said. "We''re turning the good football career into showbiz. It''s quite weird when you think about it. I''m only in wonder whether the likes of Pele and Maradona had to think about such issues in their times."

    "Of course, they had to," Emily replied confidently. "And they had to do it the hard way by visiting their fans to make public addresses or spare a day for an autograph session. But in your case, all you have to do is tweet something from thefort of your home, and your fans will grow close to you and remain happy. Tell me: aren''t you one lucky bastardpared to them?"

    Zachary could only smile wryly at that.

    "Zach, you''ve got to believe me," Emily continued in a tone simr to a preacher ministering to a group of believers in doubt. "It''s a good thing to keep in touch with your fans. Social media is the best way to do it as it won''t cost you anything. So, should we go ahead and open an ount right now? It won''t take more than a couple of minutes."

    "Why not first discuss the business at hand," Zachary said, smiling at her. "You called me here to discuss the endorsement deal. Didn''t you? We can think about Twitter and the other issues afterward."

    Emily sighed. "There you go again, trying to bail out of opening a social media ount," she said, shaking her head. "But okay, let''s discuss business first. So, where should I start? The good news, the better news, or the best news?"

    "You can start with anything you like," Zachary replied, his shoulder lifting in a casual shrug. "I don''t mind."

    "What a bore," Emily said, pouting a bit. "Well, the deal with Audi has finally shaped up. Over the past week, I''ve been working together with Susanne and Cami to draft the final contract document. We''ve already added and revised all the uses that matter to put together the final contract. And all I can say is that this endorsement deal is the best we can get at this moment."

    "Thanks for your hard work," Zachary said, leaning back into his seat and smiling at her.

    "You''re wee," Emily replied, beaming.

    "So, how much are they offering this time around," Zachary asked after a moment.

    "I was just about to get to that," Emily said, cing her coffee cup on the table. She then sank a manicured hand into the handbag beside her seat before fishing out a folder of documents. "Susanne didn''t relent in the slightest regarding the money they are offering us. So, their offer still stands at 7.5 million Norwegian Kroner per year for three years. Does that match your expectations?" She probed, first inclining her head to study Zachary''s face.

    "The money is quite okay on my side," Zachary said to assure her. "It''s more money than I''d expected to make in the whole of my first season as a pro footballer. So, don''t mind about me and go on."

    Emily smiled. "Then, I''m d," she said. "So, their offer still stands at 7.5 million per year, but Susanne has agreed to pay us a whole six million instead of the previous 4.5, right after you''ve signed the deal."

    "Six million right after signing," Zachary eximed, grinning from ear to ear. "That''s some good money. I think I''ll be sleeping on a bed of Norwegian Kroners soon."

    Emily chuckled. "Cut down the excitement, will you? We''ll be getting much better endorsements in the future. This deal is just the beginning."

    Zachary sighed. "Then, I need to start thinking hard about where to put all that money," he said.

    "But you have to remember that on that six million, there are taxes and my 6%mission as an agent," Emily said, holding Zachary''s gaze. "So, you''ll end up getting around 5 to 5.2 million. But that is, of course, after you agree to the offer and sign your name on the contract."

    "Of course, I''ll sign," Zachary was quick to reply. "Why would I reject such a lucrative deal? Five million is still a good amount, and I''m d that you can finally make some money when helping me. Did any of the other terms in the contract change?"

    "No," Emily responded, smiling at Zachary. "All the terms are quite simr to what Susanne described in our meetingst Thursday. Audi will offer you another vehicle right after you sign the deal. Furthermore, they''ve added several wage-increase provisions into the contract¡ªthat is to factor in your growth potential. All I can say is that this deal is a juicy one. We should take it."

    "Then, why can''t we go ahead andplete the signing today," Zachary queried, lifting a brow.

    Emily chuckled. "That''ll depend on how fast you can read through this document," she said, handing Zachary a set of papers from across the table. "Here is a copy of the contract document. Endeavor to read it and understand it quickly. As soon as you finish, we can arrange to meet the Audi representatives and negotiate the deal."

 Chapter 165 - Agreeing To Open A Twitter Account

    "How many pages?" Zachary inquired after receiving the contract document from Emily.

    "Don''t worry," Emily replied, smiling. "It''s just sixteen pages and much simpler in context than your contract with Rosenborg. So, you can even read it in less than an hour. That''s, of course, if you manage to concentrate."

    "And we canplete the signing of this contract as soon as I finish reading it, even if it''s today morning?" Zachary queried, taking a quick scan through the pages of the document. "Is that right?"

    "Yes, that''s true," Emily replied. "Susanne has already promised that we can get in touch andplete procedures right after you finish going through the terms. So, if you wish to receive millions of money quickly, you better get to reading."

    "When there are millions at stake, I can even fly a rocket," Zachary said, grinning. "So, give me a few minutes to read through the terms. I''ll be lightning fast."

    "But please make sure you understand everything," Emily advised. "If you don''t, please ask me. We do want you to sign anything you don''t understand either now or in the future."

    "Don''t worry, I''ll do that," Zachary concurred before concentrating on reading through the contract document.

    Like Emily had said, it was a much simpler versionpared to his contract with Rosenborg. It had uses that allowed Audi to utilize Zachary''s name for advertising purposes in both Norway and the rest of the world¡ªif there was a need.

    Additionally, it specified the amount of annual ie Zachary would get and themitments he needed to fulfill while under contract as the brand ambassador. It also outlined the conditions under which he could apply and receive wage increments from Audi during the contract period.

    A soft smile grew on his face as he continued reading through the document. In addition to the favorable annual ie, there were more detailed provisions to factor in his growth potential. If he made any achievements in his football career during the three years under contract, he would get more mary benefits from Audi. For instance, if he managed to be the top scorer or the best yer in the Tippeligaen, his annual ie from the German car brand would more than double.

    Zachary was quite contented since all he had to do was drive an Audi model, take part in the production of a few ads¡ªand then, he would get millions at the end of each year. He was satisfied with every use of the contract and had yet to find any reason to reject it.

    "I''ve finished reading," He announced after reading all the paragraphs in the document a few minutester.

    "You''re done?" Emily eximed, her eyes widening. "It has only been a little over twenty minutes. Did you understand everything?"

    "Since you had already exined most of the uses, I managed to understand them without much effort," Zachary responded, smiling at her. "The only thing I don''t understand is the section about Force Majeure. There''s no exnation for it throughout the whole document." He drawled a little, trying to pronounce thest word.

    "Oh, Force Majeure!" Emily intoned, nodding. "That section solely exins what would happen if an unforeseeable catastrophe that is natural or unavoidable interrupted the expected course of events and prevented you or Audi from fulfilling obligations in the contract. It removes liability for such an event for which not a single party is the cause¡ªand thus, no party in the contract can be held ountable. For instance, if you get into an ident¡ªboth on and off the pitch¡ªand fail to meet obligations, then there''s no way Audi can hold you ountable."

    "But remember that events that constitute Force Majeure must be unforeseeable, external to the parties of the contract, and unavoidable," Emily continued exining with a slow but steady voice. "For instance, if you get into an ident while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, then you''ll still face the consequences of breaching the contract. That''s because your actions are the cause of the very ident that stopped you from fulfilling the terms of your agreement with Audi. Is my exnation clear enough?"

    "Yes, I understand now," Zachary replied, smiling. "Thank you."

    "You''re wee," Emily said, beaming back at him. "Anything else you haven''t understood in the contract? Don''t feel pressured into making a choice. A slight dy on our side won''t affect the deal that much. So we''ve got until Monday to make a decision."

    "I don''t have any problems with any of the uses," Zachary responded right away. "So, you can go ahead and contact the Audi representatives. Let''splete this deal so that I can get back to training and you can also travel back to Ennd. I''m guessing you''ve got a lot of responsibilities there. Isn''t that right?"

    "Don''t worry about me," Emily said, brushing off his question. "This is my job, and I have to do it well, no matter how long it takes. Moreover, I''ve already freed up my entire schedule this month so that I can negotiate your deals without any distractions. So, I''m still in Trondheim until the beginning of June."

    "Then, I''m d," Zachary said, shing her a smile. "I enjoy having you around. I rarely get bored when you''re around¡ªin Trondheim."

    "Oh," Emily said, the corners of her mouth lifting into a charming smile. "But don''t fall for me. You''re my client and somewhat like a younger brother to me." She added humorously.

    "Cut it out," Zachary said, shaking his head. "And to be honest, I think you''re not my type. So, you would be dreaming if you ever find yourself thinking that I''ll make a pass at you."

    "Ouch, that hurt," Emily said, her deep blue eyes crinkling at the corners. "And what is this type of yours? Cami, that hot neighbor of yours, or the mature Susanne?" She chuckled, her pretty face slowly morphing into a smirk.

    "That, I can''t tell you," Zachary countered, wondering how Emily even knew about his neighbor. He was pretty sure that he''d never talked to her about Kristin.

    "Why?" She queried, pouting a bit.

    "It''s a secret," Zachary replied, ncing at his watch. "Anyways, can you try calling the Audi representatives? It''s already 10:08 AM. If you intend for us to meet them before the day ends, you''d better act now."

    "Okay, then," Emily intoned, her voice taking on a formal tone once more. "Give me a moment to call Susanne. I''m pretty sure that she''ll want us toplete the deal today. She seems like someone that moves very fast while doing business."

    "Okay," Zachary said. "Please go ahead. I can''t wait to swim in dors."

    Emily chuckled at that before fishing out her phone and starting to make the call. Zachary left her to her work and beckoned a waitress over to their table. He ordered two more cappinos, one for himself and another for Emily, before leaning back in his seat to await the news from the Audi representatives.

    He didn''t have to wait long, though. A minute or twoter, Emily ended the call and ced her phone down on the table before smiling at Zachary.

    "Well, what did Susanne say?" Zachary probed, not masking his enthusiasm.

    "Susanne agreed to meet us at two in the afternoon toplete the deal," Emily replied, smiling. "She seemed quite pleased by how fast we had responded to the offer."

    "That''s great, then," Zachary intoned, also smiling. "So, I guess I should go put in some few hours of practice to pass the time before the meeting. We can then link up at around 1:00 PM and head to the Audi outlet together."

    "Don''t you have a day off today?" Emily queried, lifting a brow.

    "Well, officially, yes," Zachary answered. "But since I didn''t get to y yesterday, I''ve got fresh legs and can put in a few hours of training."

    "But aren''t you forgetting that we have to finish up something before you leave?" Emily inquired.

    "We have to finish up something!" Zachary probed as he was momentarily at a loss of what she was implying.

    "Twitter," Emily whispered, grinning.

    "Oh, that," Zachary said, sighing.

    "Yes," Emily said. "Let''s register that ount for you right now. It''ll give you a tform to connect on an individual level with your fans. They''ll soon be heavily invested and loyal and get a chance to see that you''re actually human and rtable by getting a glimpse into you as a person. That''ll make them closer to you than ever before. And I can promise that you''ll be able to reap both mary and non-mary benefits out of the ount. If it gets too much for you to handle, we can get someone to manage the ount for you. So, please take out your phone."

    "Well, I do hope that opening this ount will be worth it," Zachary said, fishing his Motor G-phone from the side pocket of his trouser. Even in his previous life, he''d not been a technically savvy person. He didn''t like sharing information about himself on the inte. But since his agent had assured him that the ount had the potential to make him money, he, of course, had to give it a try.

    "Do you need some help?" Emily queried from across the table.

    "No need, I can handle this myself," Zachary replied, his eyes still focused on his Motor Moto-G phone. He then typed the word "Twitter" into his Google y search bar to look up the app.

 Chapter 166 - Name Already Taken

    The inte speed in the cafe was quite fast, and within a second, the Twitter app page popted his screen after searching for it. He wasted no time quickly installing it and starting the procedure of registering for the ount.

    But he ran into a problem just afterpleting the signing up process. Twitter didn''t give him his own name but was instead forcing him to use handles like @ZacharyBemba22, @ZacharyBemba23, and so on. He even tried to change it to @ZacharyBemba_33, but that handle, too, was already taken.

    He couldn''t help but wonder how his name had be somon and widespread to the point that it was no longer avable on Twitter. He sighed, shaking his head as he''d lost all the motivation to open the ount.

    "What happened?" Emily queried on seeing him ce his phone on the table. "Did you open the ount?"

    "Not yet," Zachary replied, a wry smile outlining his face. He then went ahead and told her about the problem he''d run into when signing up for the Twitter handle.

    "Oh," Emily said, smiling, on hearing his ount. "Those must be people that are trying to make a quick buck using your name. That will be easy for us to handle. We only have to prove that the people using your name are scammers and parodies with no connection to it. That way, Twitter will verify your ount and offer the handle with your name back to you."

    "Oh," Zachary said, lifting a brow. "People can use other people''s names to make money on Twitter! How''s it even possible to make money on Twitter?"

    "They really do," Emily replied, voice confident. "If they can use a celebs name to get a lot of followers, then they can use the ount to make some good bucks through marketing gigs, among other things. As long as their handles are famous, other people will offer them cash to Tweet about their businesses so as to market them." She paused a bit as the waitress had finally brought their two cappinos.

    Both Emily and Zachary thanked the waitress and sipped on their warm vored cappinos before resuming their discussion.

    "So, since your fame is still budding, I was quite sure that some people would use your name for such purposes," Emily continued, cing down her cup. "That was one of the few reasons I was so insistent that you open the Twitter ount and get it verified as quickly as possible. When it''s out there on the web, all your fans will be aware of it in a short time and be followers. That way, you''ll cripple those fake ounts that might harm your reputation in the future."

    "Then how should we handle this?" Zachary inquired, leaning back into his seat.

    "Don''t worry," Emily said. "I''ll use your details and ID to get you a verified ount on Twitter. You''ll be able to acquire a handle in your real names in just a couple of days, at most. Which handle do you wish to use, by the way?"

    "ZacharyBemba_33," Zachary replied.

    "Oh," Emily said, lifting a brow. "Why the 33, though? Do you intend to wear shirt number-33 for the rest of your footballing career?"

    "If possible, yes."

    "That''s quite strange," Emily replied. "I thought that footballers preferred the smaller jersey numbers. Why is your preference so different from the rest?"

    "Shirt number-33 is rare," Zachary replied. "Not many famous yers use it. So, I''ll be able to get it easily anywhere in the world. That way, I''ll have my unique brand of a name such as Zachary-33 in the future."

    "I suggest we go with just ZacharyBemba," Emily said, smiling. "This is from purely a marketing point of view. Clubs usually make better jersey sales with the smaller shirt numbers. So, I''m pretty sure that any team will want you to wear the numbers from 1 to 18 as long as you''re a star on their team. Even your current team, Rosenborg, may suggest that you change to a shirt number eight or six soon. That''s if you continue performing well."

    "Oh," Zachary said, leaning back into his seat. "Then, let''s go with ZacharyBemba if that''s the case."

    "That''s much better," Emily said, her face blossoming into a smile. "I''ll send Twitter an email right away from my work ount. We should be able to get you a verified handle within a few days, or even sooner."

    "Okay, then," Zachary said, cing down his cup. "I''ll now be moving to Lerkendal to put in two hours of training. I can''t let myself rx since I will probably be starting in the next game. I have to say goodbye for now."

    Emily smiled. "Then, I hope you enjoy your training. You''ll still find me here after your training. In the meantime, I''ll start on the procedures to have that Twitter ount of yours verified. But pleasee back before 1:30 PM as the meeting starts at exactly 2:00 PM. We don''t want to bete for our first endorsement contract signing."

    "Don''t worry," Zachary replied, smiling back at her. "I won''t bete."

    "Okay, then see you," Emily said, shooing him away from the table.

    "See you in a bit," Zachary said before standing up and heading out of the cafe.

    When out of the cafe, he pulled his cap''s visor further down and pushed through the human traffic in Trondheim Square as he made his way towards Trondheim Torg, where he''d left his vehicle. He got there in a little less than five minutes¡ªand without any dilly-dallying, got into his R8 GT and cruised to Lerkendal Idresspark like the wind. Only twelve minutester, he parked his machine within one of the free spaces in the stadium''s parking lot before heading towards one of the training grounds and beginning his physicals.

    He hoped to enhance his speed so that he would gain more flexibility on the pitch. He was sure that he would acquire the ability to beat most defenders in the Tippeligaen if his agility stat could breakthrough to the S-grading. So, over the previous few days, while he''d been on the bench, he''d began going through a few agility enhancement drills.

    It was just another day of his training regimen, and he didn''t want to rx his practice just because he was about to sign a deal. So, he spent the next two hours going through a few fitness drills to enhance his sprinting speed, body control, and reaction speed.

    Be it forward-running-high-knee drills,teral-plyometric jumps, and shuttle runs¡ªhe went through them all with an intensity befitting of the exercising maniac he was. By the time Emily called him to remind him about the meeting, he was already sweating and out of breath. So, he quickly cleaned up and hurried back to Trondheim Square in his R8 GT to link up with Emily once again.

    **** ****

 Chapter 167 - Preparations For The Game Against Molde

    Zachary signed the endorsement contract with Audi that very afternoon. It didn''t involve much fanfare. Susanne, Cami, and Emily were the only other people present when he put pen on paper. Nheless, he was as happy as a punch after having managed to secure his first endorsement contract in both his lives.

    Susanne had already promised that Audi would wire the six million NOK to his ount within the week. He was about to start swimming in a pool of Norwegian Kroners.

    That wasn''t the only benefit he''d gotten out of the deal, though. Audi had also offered him the opportunity to select another car from their 2012 models once more.

    At first, he had thought of requesting that Susanne offer him money in ce of the vehicle since he already had the convenience of an R8 GT in Trondheim. But after a bit of deliberation, he decided to grab himself an Audi Q7-SUV and ship it back home to Lubumbashi.

    The Q7-SUV was the perfect machine for the bumpy roads back in DR Congo. It had a Quattro four-wheel-drive system as standard and a turbocharged engine to power it through the trickiest situations one might encounter on the road. He would be able to use it himself whenever he traveled back home or gift it to his grandma¡ªif she would ept it. Thus, he contacted Ryan to help him with the shipping details right after picking it out from the dealership.

    When he finished signing all the necessary papers for the car, he hurriedly said his goodbyes to the Audi team and left the M?ller Bil dealership. Emily was still polishing the details of some of the addendums to the contract¡ªso he left her there. Without dilly-dallying, he got into his R8 GT and drove to Lerkendal to rmence his training.

    The match against Molde was Monday, three dayster. He needed to remain in top shape and maintain a perfect match condition in order to perform at his best in the game. He couldn''t afford to get distracted and miss another clear goal-scoring chance as he''d done during the match against H?nefoss. He was intent on using every second of free time for training.

    **** ****

    Sunday, May 20, 2013

    **** ****

    "Tomorrow, we''ll be facing Molde," Coach Johansen said to the Rosenborg yers seated in the tactics room at Lerkendal. "This is a game we must win. We can''t afford to slip up and lose points when we''re so close to returning to the top of the table. So, I need us to be solid and remain highly focused during the game tomorrow. I won''t tolerate any amateur mistakes. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary and the rest of the Rosenborg yers replied, more or less in unison.

    As usual, Zachary was seated at the very back of the tactics room. He listened intently to the pre-match briefing since he didn''t want to miss any details.

    He had already noticed that the coach appeared to be more agitated than usual and knew better than to test his patience by losing focus right in the middle of the session. So, he remained on his best behavior throughout the session, like an A-grade student attending ss.

    Coach Johansen took a moment to sweep his gaze across the entire tactics room before continuing. "For the game against Molde, I won''t ept anything other than a win," he said, his tone somber. "We''re now a point behind Str?msgodset since they managed to pick up a draw from their game in hand against Brann. If we lose points in our fixture tomorrow and they happen to win theirs, the gap between our positions will have widened by arge margin. We can''t afford to let that happen since our aim is to be champions."

    "Over the past two games, we''ve developed a habit of rxing and losing concentration at the start of the second half," he continued, his brows drawing together. "Against both H?nefoss and Sarpsborg-08, we conceded goals within the first twenty minutes after the break. We started the second halves of both games ying like real amateurs. We had no zeal, and wecked focus. I was disappointed that you lost all your professionalism in just the span of a few minutes. We were merely lucky to win those two games."

    "I know that I''ve talked about this a lot during training over the past few days," the coach continued, a half-smile outlining his face. "But I feel that I should remind you once more because I don''t want to see the same thing happening in tomorrow''s fixture. Thexity in our game approach at the start of the second half is caused by you, yourselves, prematurely thinking that you''ve won the game before hearing the final whistle."

    "When you manage to score a goal or two during the first half, you be overconfident. You then rx and lose concentration. That''s when we start conceding. That is the sort of habit that I wouldn''t have expected to see in a professional team that is supposed to be the best in Norway." He paused, letting his intense gaze settle momentarily on some of the yers in the tactics room.

    "Tell me," he continued after a moment, starting to move slowly around the room. "Have you seen the yers of teams like Barcelona or Bayern rxing after scoring a few goals? Have you?"

    "That''s a big no," the coach immediately replied to his own question, shaking his head. "The likes of Messi, Iniesta, Franck Rib¨¦ry, and Arjen Robben will never rx before hearing the final whistle. They''ll continue attacking like madmen even when they''re four goals ahead. That''s how yers in big teams handle games, and we should learn from them. We shouldn''t assume that the three points are already in the bag afterting only one or two goals. That''s the way of amateurs, and I won''t tolerate that kind of unprofessionalism on this squad. Are we together, guys?" He asked, his voice stern.

    "Yes, coach," all the yers replied in chorus.

    "That''s good," Coach Johansen said, nodding. "I''m d that we''re on the same page. But please heed my words. I''ll regard any yer that acts in such an unprofessional manner, especially during tomorrow''s match, as an enemy of the entire team. And be warned: I never treat my enemies kindly. Is that clear?" He swept his gaze across the room once more.

    "Yes, coach."

    "Then, I''m d," he said after a moment. "Now, I''ll go ahead and announce the line-up for tomorrow''s game." He stepped towards the t screen at the front of the tactics room, where white shirts in a 4-2-3-1 formation had already appeared.

    "I''ll begin with the starting eleven for tomorrow," the coach announced. "Lund Hansen will be our goalkeeper, as usual. Mikael Dorsin, Tore Reginiussen, Stefan Strandberg, and Cristian Gamboa will handle our defense. Mike Jensen and Jonas Svensson will act as our two double-pivots or holding midfielders¡ªjust in front of our defensive line." He added, pointing to the two positions on the screen.

    "Zachary Bemba will be our only attacking midfielder, just behind the center-forward for this game. Tarik Elyounoussi and Tobias Mikkelsen will y on the wings. And finally, Nicki Nielsen will y as our center-forward toplete our 4-2-3-1 formation."

    "Moving on," Coach Johansen said after a moment. "On the bench, we''ll have Daniel ?rlund, Per Verner R?nning, Jon Inge H?nd, Ole Selnaes, Mix Diskerud, Borek Dockal, and John Chibuike. That''s it for the starting squad for tomorrow."

    "Do you have any questions regarding the line-up?" The coach asked, sweeping his gaze across the room.

    None of the yers dared to question the coach''s final line-up. They all remained silent, waiting for the coach to continue. Zachary, on his part, was very excited since he''d managed to make Coach Johansen''s starting eleven once again. He wished the hours could go by faster so he could y the game he loved so much once more.

    **** ****

 Chapter 168 - Pre-Match Excitement

    Zachary felt at ease as he steered his R8 GT through the streets of Trondheim towards Lerkendal Stadion the following afternoon. He was on his way from his apartment in Stj?rdalsveien to partake in the pre-match conditioning routine for the game between Rosenborg and Molde scheduled forter that evening.

    A faint smile outlined his face, softening his features as he savored the feeling of the fresh breeze circting through the car from the outside. It blew against his face, bringing with it the freshness ofte autumn. He felt like he was living in a dream.

    Nice car, steady ie, and professional football in Europe¡ªhe already had it all despite being only eighteen. He was in a good mood that day¡ªa sentimentpounded by finally being able to start another home game in Rosenborg''s colors.

    Everything about him projected a rxed air. His head swayed in sync to the beat of the Gym ss Heroes'' hit song¡ªthe fighter, ying on the five-speaker stereo system of his R8 GT. He looked more like a tourist on a countryside vacation rather than a yer heading for one of his team''s toughest fixtures of the season. He was a yerpletely unburdened from pre-match pressure due to the confidence born of his skill and growing experience at the professional stage in Europe.

    Zachary cast a nce at the digital clock on the dashboard of his car and noticed it was already 2:57 PM. Only a little over three hours were remaining to the kick-off of the game. So, he stepped on the elerator and dashed through the streets to Lerkendal, only making sure to maintain a velocity slightly below the speed limit. After a few minutes, he slowed down again as he joined thene leading straight to the gates of Lerkendal Stadion.

    He was surprised to find that the passionate fans had already started flooding towards the stadium in droves. The majority of them were in Rosenborg''s traditional white and ck colors. They sang and chanted as they slowly made their way towards the gate under the guidance of security personnel. The excitement that preceded the game between Molde and Rosenborg was at levels Zachary had never experienced during Rosenborg''s prior fixtures.

    One of the security guys soon noticed his vehicle and waved him over, perhaps intending to guide him into ane reserved for yers. But that was a mistake on the security guy''s part. The special treatment made the fans aware that the car of a Rosenborg yer was passing by.

    The passionate crowd wasted no time swarming around his vehicle. They even tried to peer through the tinted windows to see who was inside the R8 GT. What followed was the sort of chaos no one had expected before the stadium''s gate as the supporters struggled to inch closer to the vehicle.

    The stadium security personnel tried their best to clear the way for Zachary¡ªbut the fans were already agitated and didn''t relent in the slightest. Since they were within arm''s reach distance of one of their stars, they all hoped to get an autograph, at the very least, before they could free the vehicle.

    Zachary liked their enthusiasm and didn''t want to disappoint them. He could see that they were the most dedicated and hard-core of fans¡ªthe kind that would cheer Rosenborg to victory during the toughest fixtures. But after stealing a nce at the digital clock on the car''s dashboard and noticing that it was already 3:15 PM, he resisted the urge to move out and greet them.

    He needed to get to the pitch a.s.a.p. and start his pre-match conditioning with the rest of his teammates. So, he sat quietly in his vehicle with all the doors locked and waited for the police and stadium security personnel to clear away the fans.

    He didn''t have to wait long, though. In about five minutes, they cleared a narrow path for him through the sea of fans, all the way to the stadium''s gate.

    Zachary didn''t waste any time. He immediately stepped on the elerator and guided the vehicle to the gates of Lerkendal at moderate speed. Under the guidance of the security personnel, he managed to arrive at the parking lot reserved for yers in only a minute.

    He let out a breath of pent-up air at managing to make it to the stadium before 3:30 PM¡ªthe scheduled time for the start of the pre-match conditioning session.

    But just after alighting from his vehicle, one of the security guys, who''d first noticed his car before the gates, approached him. He was a huge guy and seemed more like a wrestler rather than the usual security officer.

    "Hello, Zachary," he greeted, smiling.

    "Hello," Zachary replied, nodding at him.

    "You really made our job quite difficult out there," the security guy said, his tone formal. "Thene you just used to enter the stadium is specifically for the fans on match days. So, you being there is not a wise decision right before a match. The fans could have gone out of control and possibly injured you during the resulting chaos."

    "Oh," Zachary said, his eyes widening. "Sorry about that. I didn''t know that yers weren''t supposed to use thatne. I''ve been using it to enter the stadium daily."

    "I understand," the security guy said, smiling. "But if you arrive a few hours to the start of the match like today next time, use the other gate below. That would make our work easier."

    "Okay, I''ll do that," Zachary replied, nodding. "Thank you for reminding me. But now, I''ve got to get to the pitch as soon as possible. Otherwise, the coach will roast me alive." He added before turning around and starting to pick his gym bag from the passenger seat.

    "One more thing," the security guy said after a few moments.

    "Yes," Zachary replied, turning around to face him once again. "Is there anything else?"

    The big fellow first looked left and right, then front and back, before leaning forward¡ªtowards Zachary. "Is there a possibility that you can take a selfie with me?" He whispered, his tone imploring. "It''ll make my young son happy since he''s a huge fan of yours. He''s already in the stands, eager to watch your match today."

    "Oh," Zachary said, first stealing a nce at his watch. "Okay. But please hurry. I''m about to runte for the pre-match dynamic session."

    "Thank you," the security guy said excitedly. He hurriedly fished out his phone, inched closer to Zachary, and then snapped a selfie with him in a matter of seconds. He then took a look around their surroundings before mouthing another thank you to Zachary and stepping away. It seemed he didn''t want his colleagues to notice his actions.

    Since Zachary was in a hurry, he put the security guy''s antics at the back of his mind. He threw his gym bag over a shoulder and walked further into the stadium with all the haste he could muster.

    A few momentster, he arrived in the locker room and quickly changed into the all-ck warming-up outfit for the day. Without wasting any time, he joined his teammates on the pitch for a light exercise session.

    He spent the next hour going through a dynamic routine of leg lifting, jogging, and stretching with the other Rosenborg yers that had managed to make Coach Johansen''s squad.

    He went through all the exercises with the highest concentration he could muster since he wanted to warm up his muscles adequately. He didn''t want to perform below his best or, worse, get injured just because he hadn''t focused during the pre-match dynamic session.

    About an hourter, at around 4:30 PM, the Molde yers, too, arrived on the pitch in their light blue training kits. Zachary observed them for a while as he continued going through his stretching routine. They were an intimidating bunch and exuded the confidence characteristic of the reigning Tippeligaen champions.

    Of course, the passionate home fans were not impressed and started booing them right away. However, the traveling Molde fans also rose to the asion and began pitting their cheering against the booing. Together, the two groups formed a chaotic, noisy harmony that caused the entire stadium to vibrate like it was experiencing an earthquake.

    Zachary was at a loss for words after feeling the energy exuded by the supporters. But he didn''t let all the cheering distract him. He remained focused, going through the dynamic warm-up until Rolf Aas, the fitness coach, called for a halt to the session.

    By then, the gigantic clock on the stadium''s big screen was already pointing to 5:05 PM, indicating that only fifty-five minutes were remaining to kick-off. Zachary trailed after his teammates as they left the pitch to prepare for the start of the game. But just as he was about to enter the tunnel, he noticed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the coach of Molde, standing on the sidelines and supervising the warm-up session of his yers.

    Zachary felt a stroke of excitement ignite within him as he was about to face a coach that woulde to manage one of the best clubs in the world in only a few years. He couldn''t help but wonder how his skills would fare against the defensive tactics developed by such a manager.

    Nheless, he didn''t halt his trek out of the pitch for the meager purpose of taking a look at the future Manchester United manager. Instead, he forced himself to calm down and continued towards the tunnel to prepare for kick-off.

    **** ****

 Chapter 169 - Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer In Action

    When the Molde yers concluded their pre-match dynamic warm-up session, they, too, headed back to the dressing room to prepare for kick-off. Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did not give his yers even a minute to dress before starting to go through the game n for the umpteenth time that week.

    "Listen up,ds," he said, his brows drawing together. "If we hope to end our spell of poor performances this season, we need to start with this game. If we manage to beat a team like Rosenborg, we''ll build up an unstoppable momentum. We''ll acquire the sort of confidence that can destroy our remaining opponents throughout the season."

    "I know that we''re at the bottom of the table. Most of you have started losing a bit of your confidence because of that. But, please don''t give up and y this game as if your life depends on it."

    "y smart," the Molde coach continued, his tone somber. "And please remain focused and keep your heads in the game for the entire 90 minutes. If you do that, I can assure you,ds, that we''ll emerge victorious with three points from this fixture. Are we on the same page,ds?"

    "Yes, coach."

    Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer nodded. "Moving on: v, Even, Martin, and Kristoffer, I want you to staypact in defense throughout the entire game. That Nicki Nielsen has been on form for the past few games¡ªso please mark him tightly and don''t allow him even an inch of space when he''s near our goal. I do not want to see us conceding five goals once again, even if it''s against a team such as Rosenborg."

    "Magnus and Magne," he continued after a moment, his voice growing spirited. "You two are our double-pivots in this game. You''re the holding midfielders and the people who''re supposed to shield our defense from their creative midfield. So, I want you to create a pressing zone around that Zachary Bemba to reduce his impact on the game."

    "Hmmm..."

    A wave of murmurs washed across the visitor''s dressing room as soon as the coach announced the n to seal Zachary. It seemed the Molde yers didn''t see the need to tight mark an 18-year yer fresh out of the academy.

    "Quiet," Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer yelled, pping his hands for emphasis.

    All the Molde yers shut up and switched to the convenient poker face mode as they waited for the coach to continue.

    "I know what you might all be thinking," the coach said, shaking his head. "Most of you believe that Zachary Bemba is just another budding teenage yer who only got lucky and managed to score in a few of his matches. But let me tell you this: He''s the kind who''ll punish us if we make any mistakes in our defensive third."

    "I have watched some of his past performances and noticed that he almost has no weaknesses in midfield. He''s very clinical and quite creative with the ball, especially in the final third. That''s one of the reasons he has managed to enter Rosenborg''s starting line-up at only eighteen. He has even scored five goals within a little over a week after making his debut."

    "And don''t get me started on those free-kicks of his," the coach continued, starting to move around the visitor''s dressing room. "If we concede a set piece near our box, we''re goners. That is for sure, considering how efficient he''s on set-pieces. Are you guys aware of that?"

    All the yers remained silent, waiting for the coach to continue. They were all at their best behavior since the coach was agitated after their 5:1 loss to FK Haugesund the previous Thursday.

    Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer swept his gaze across the room before continuing. "Please don''t get fooled by his young age and growx while marking him. That would be a mistake that would end up costing us dearly. You should, instead, treat him like the most dangerous of opponents."

    "We can''t let such a dangerous yer get his way with us at any point in the match. So, my advice to youds is to destabilize him before he settles into the game. Make it hard for him to receive or distribute the ball by pinching and narrowing down the spaces around him. That should start right from the very first minute. And however hard it may be, please try to avoid conceding unnecessary free-kicks in our final third. We don''t want to gift him any goals and fuel his confidence. Are we on the same page?"

    "Yes, coach."

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer nodded. "It''ll be easy for us to kill Rosenborg''s momentum if we manage to destabilize their midfield. So, you also have to apply pressure on their holding midfielders. Our forward yers and wingers will be responsible for the counter-pressing strategy. Please do your best to run at both their double-pivots and defenders when they''re on the ball. That way, we''ll be able to break Rosenborg''s spells of possessions and hit them on the counter. Any questions?"

    "Coach," Jo Inge Berget, a midfielder with a huge beard, said, raising his arm.

    "Yes, Jo," Coach Solskjaer said, pointing towards him.

    "Mine is not a question but more of a suggestion," the bearded fellow said.

    "Suggestions at this time, only twenty minutes to kick-off, Jo," Coach Solskjaer eximed, shaking his head.

    "This won''t affect the game n," Jo chipped in. "I''m only suggesting that you let me mark that Zachary Bemba. Instead of using three of our yers to make pressing zones around his position, why not let me guard him. I''ll not allow him even an inch of space. He will not manage to settle down and get any peace of mind on the field of y if I keep on watching him like a hawk throughout the entire match."

    "What about your attacking responsibilities?" Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer queried, raising a brow.

    "Hoseth is there," Jo replied, grinning.

    Solskjaer turned towards Magne Hoseth, the captain of Molde FK, seated at the other end of the dressing room. "Are you up for this?" He asked.

    "Yes, of course," Hoseth replied, a soft smile outlining his face. "Since Rosenborg has changed its formation to using one attacking midfielder and wing y, we can target Zachary and reap some benefits. If we can properly seal him, we''ll surely kill off Rosenborg''s momentum and dictate the tempo. And the best man for the job is either me or Jo."

    Coach Solskjaer nodded, caressing his chin as if he was deep in thought. "Okay, you can go ahead with that n since it almost doesn''t have any adverse effect on our entire game n," he said after a moment. "Jo, you''ll be responsible for marking Zachary Bemba. But remain on guard and ready to switch back to attacking midfield at a moment''s notice. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," Jo replied, grinning. "I''ll do that. Thank you for putting your trust in me."

    Coach Solskjaer nodded. "That''s great, then," he said, stealing a nce at his watch. "It''s almost time. So, let''s go out there and perform at our best. Remember, we defend as a team and attack as a team. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," all the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    "Then let''s go," the coach said once more before leading his yers out of the dressing room. It was finally time for the match between Rosenborg and Molde tomence.

    **** ****

 Chapter 170 - A Lightning Fast Counter-Press

    Under the fire of the setting sun, Zachary stood in his position outside the center circle, eagerly awaiting the referee''s whistle to kick off the match. He was already in a highly focused state as the longing to kick the ball had already soaked right through his bones. Remaining on the bench for the previous two fixtures had birthed a burning hunger and desire for the game.

    As the kick-off time drew closer, his anticipation grew until he could feel the muscles in his legs tingling with excitement. He had long developed an intense urge to wage war with the ball and defeat whoever stood in his way.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally gave the go-ahead at 6:00 PM sharp. The match started immediately with Molde''s kick-off. Daniel Chima Chukwu, Molde''s center forward, immediately kicked the ball back to his teammates in the midfield.

    Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s center forward, chased after the ball as if his life was on the line, trying to gain possession as quickly as possible. However, Magne Hoseth, Molde''s captain and defensive midfielder, controlled the ball with ease and passed it on to Jo Inge Berget before he could make it there.

    Zachary sprang into action as soon as he noticed that Jo Inge Berget, Molde''s attacking midfielder, was about to receive the ball. Heart thumping fast, he pushed forward like the wind, stepping past the centerline¡ªtowards the attacking midfielder at his fastest speed. He intended to follow Coach Johansen''s strategy to the letter¡ªby helping his team win possession as soon as possible using counter-pressing tactics.

    Jo Inge Berget didn''t panic when he noticed Zachary quickly approaching. He even managed to look up briefly to sh Zachary a toothy grin before flicking the ball towards Magnus Eikrem, the other Molde midfielder.

    Zachary outright ignored Jo''s antics and continued tracking after the ball. His legs pumping like the pistons of an Audi R8 GT, he changed directions immediately¡ªand started bolting towards Magnus Eikrem even before he could receive Jo''s pass.

    With his high game intelligence, he''d already deduced that he would make it to the midfielder''s position before he could manage to control the ball properly. He was intent on winning possession for Rosenborg there and then.

    "L?p mot ballen..."

    "Skjerm ballen med kroppen..."

    Zachary seemed to hear some of the Molde yers yelling in Norwegian as he raced towards Magnus. But he ignored them and continued rushing towards the direction the ball was heading like a bullet train on the rails. The desire to win back possession had flickered to life within him, growing into a burning hot fighting spirit that fueled his sprint.

    Without any surprise, Zachary made it to Magnus'' position in a couple of seconds, just as the defensive midfielder was pushing out a leg to receive the pass from Jo Inge Berget.

    Zachary didn''t allow the midfielder even a second to bring the ball under control. With his eyes locked on the ball, like a hawk tracking prey, he slid in wholesale to sweep it with a sliding tackle, sending Magnus tumbling to the ground in the process.

    "Aaahhh, foul, foul..." Zachary heard Magnus yelling from the ground. But he didn''t even cast a single nce towards the Molde defensive midfielder. He was sure he hadn''t incurred a foul since he''d caught the ball before sweeping the midfielder off his feet.

    So, he picked himself up from the ground with the agility of a cat that had sensed some catnip. Without any dy, he brought the ball under control with a deft touch as he swept his gaze across the pitch, looking for suitable passing options. Since he''d managed to win back possession, he intended to make it count before the Molde yers could settle down into the away game''s hostile atmosphere.

    In a sh, he managed to pick up the position of Nicki Nielsen, who''d long opened himself up, just on the border of the final third, seemingly anticipating a pass from him.

    So, Zachary flicked the ball onto his left foot, skipping past a sliding tackle to create a yard of space for himself. Without any dilly-dallying, he dug his boot under the ball, chipping it over the zone of intense rival pressure¡ªtowards the Rosenborg number-9.

    Zachary''s cheeky pass managed to catch the Molde yers unawares, giving Nicki Nielsen enough time to control the ball in the final third. With skillful handling befitting the professional center-forward he was, Nicki chested it to the ground and flicked it towards the right nk where Tobias Mikkelsen was lurking.

    Tobias controlled it mid-sprint and fed it past Martin Linnes, the Molde left-back, trying to beat him for pace. The Rosenborg right-winger raced after the ball, possibly intending to cut into the pitch and deliver a cross into the box.

    But Martin Linnes managed to turn around and retrace his steps quickly enough to slide in and halt Tobias'' run before he could prate further into Molde''s defensive third.

    The referee immediately blew the whistle and awarded a free kick to Rosenborg, close to the touchline on the right nk.

    "I got the ball," Zachary heard Martin Linnes trying to argue his innocence. "That was clearly not a foul," the Molde left-back argued.

    "No, you didn''t even make any contact with the ball," the referee replied, showing the Molde left-back a yellow card. "I was right behind you. You caught Tobias on the shin with a high boot instead. That can''t go unpunished. You should understand that."

    A few more Molde yers also arrived at the scene and tried to argue against the referee''s decision. But the referee was having none of their nonsense and shooed them away without considering their arguments.

    Zachary stayed away from the chaos. He instead picked up the ball to ready himself for the free kick. He couldn''t help but wonder why professional yers were wasting time disputing a free kick that was very far away from their goal. Instead of protesting the referee''s decision, they were better off organizing their defense to ensure that it was in good shape before the set-piece.

    [Is their defense in proper shape before the set piece?] Zachary mused, a light bulb going on in his head. He hurriedly looked around the pitch and noticed that most Molde yers were still out of position. They were still unprepared to defend against the free-kick.

    Zachary could already smell an opportunity as he turned his gaze towards the edge of Molde''s box, where Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg number-9, was lurking. He narrowed his eyes slightly as he made eye contact with the forward from over twenty-five yards away. In that moment of locking gazes, they managed to understand each other''s intent immediately¡ªwithout a need for words.

    So, Zachary sprung into action right away. While trying his best to remain calm andposed, he swept his gaze around the pitch once more to assess the game situation. He immediately noticed that the linesman was attentively watching the position of the free-kick. On the other hand, the Molde yers were yet to shape up properly.

    So, he hurriedly ced the ball on the ground before raising his leg and unleashing a grounded through-pass towards just the inside of Molde''s 18-yard box.

    Nicki Nielsen went into action right away on noticing Zachary taking the lightning-fast free-kick. He stepped away from Even Hond, the Molde center-back, and met the iing ball on a half-volley with his right boot. He fired home from just inside the 18-yard box and managed to beat the keeper and score Rosenborg''s 1st goal for the day in the fourth minute after kick-off.

    Zachary first stole a nce at the linesman to see whether the goal was valid or not. A momentter, his smile blossomed into a toothy grin as the linesman''s g stayed down. Even the referee was already pointing to the center spot, indicating that the goal would count. So, he joined Nicki in his celebration as a wave of mad cheering washed over the stands of Lerkendal Stadion.

    **** ****

 Chapter 171 - The Perfect Start I

    As usual, Kristin was present for the match in the stands of Lerkendal together with her tmate. She jumped up from her seat and started cheering with the rest of the fans when Nicki Nielsen, the highly clinical Rosenborg number-9, put the ball into the back of the.

    "It is only the fourth minute, and Rosenborg is already ahead by one goal," she heard Kjell Roar, thementator, say. His mellifluous voice boomed through the stadium''s loudspeakers, dwarfing the loud cheering of the Rosenborg fans in the stadium.

    "Thanks to the quick thinking of Zachary and Nicki, the Rosenborg yers have themselves a perfect start in this highly contested Tippeligaen fixture," thementator continued as the cheering started to die down. "What incredible stuff from the Rosenborg number-33, Zachary Bemba. The vision andposure to spot that possibility and take the free-kick quickly while the Molde yers were still sleeping was simply genius. I''m at a loss for words regarding the ingenuity of this 18-year-old yer."

    "No, you aren''t," Kristin heard the voice of Harald Brattbakk, the pundit for the day, chipping in. "If you''re at a loss for words, then what about the Molde fans or even Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer himself? One look at him on the visitor''s bench, and you''ll understand what it means to be at a loss for words."

    Kjell Roarughed at that. "I wouldn''t me the coach, though," he said, his voice lowering. "Conceding that goal was without a doubt the fault of all Molde yers. Why on earth is it that none of them kept an eye on Zachary when he picked up the ball? Instead, they kept arguing with the referee and didn''t even bother to mark Rosenborg''s two most dangerous yers. I''m really perplexed."

    "Why do you sound like a Molde fan?" Harald, the Rosenborg legend and pundit for the day, queried.

    "No, I''m not," Kjell Roar was quick to reply. "It''s just that it has been a long time ever since I witnessed such a goal. For a moment there, I thought the referee would cancel it since he hadn''t yet arranged the wall when Zachary took that lightning-fast free-kick."

    "That must be the thought running through the heads of all the Molde fans watching the game both live in the stadium and back at home on their screens," Harald cut in. "But, let me assure you: the goal is a hundred percent legit. Zachary managed to make that assist without breaking any of the rules of the game."

    "Think about it for a moment," the pundit continued. "Zachary just took advantage of the situation and delivered the ball to Nicki when the Molde yers were still sleeping. He didn''tmit any punishable offense, such as a foul, during the entire process."

    "Nicki, who was clearly onside, took the opportunity and did what he does best. He put the ball in the back of the without any pressure. So, remind me why the referee should cancel the goal."

    Kristin heard Kjell Roar chuckle at that. "Tell that to the Molde yers," he said. "They''re all over the referee, still arguing against the quickly taken free-kick. But the referee is still standing firm regarding his decision."

    "Let''s talk about Zachary for a bit as we wait for the match officials to solve the chaos on the field," Kjell Roar said, his voice steadily growing spirited. "Over the past few days, he was quite outspoken regarding what he thought about Molde. And today, he has backed his words with actions by providing that assist in the fourth minute. What do you think about this, Harald?"

    Harald chuckled. "I watched Zachary''s two post-match interviews," the pundit replied. "And as you said, Zachary was quite outspoken regarding Molde. I understand that some might think that he was a bit arrogant in the interviews, but I have a different opinion. Have you considered that he might not be that self-important but outright confident?"

    "Look at the game today," the pundit continued, without giving Kjell a chance to answer the question. "He stated that there was no way Molde would defeat Rosenborg considering their past fixtures, especially at Lerkendal. In the fourth minute, Molde has already made a mistake and conceded a goal. And that goal was in part created by him. So, tell me: is he arrogant or confident?"

    "Well," Kjell Roar said. "The game has just started, and we''ll have the answer to that question at the end of the 90 minutes. For now, let''s take you back to the live-action. The game has just restarted with Molde''s kick-off. However, the yers in blue still seem rattled. They haven''t managed to settle down into the game after conceding the early goal. Their passing and positioning are messy beyond measure, and they''re finding it hard to hold possession. Is this really Molde, the reigning Tippeligaen champion and the team coached by one of the Norwegian legends of the game?"

    Kristin returned her full attention to the pitch after the cheering died down. She watched as Molde tried to hold on to the possession, passing the ball through the middle with quick one-touch and two-touch passes. For the next few minutes, they gave the impression that they were trying their best to settle into the game and dictate the tempo.

    But the Rosenborg yers didn''t let them. The troll kids had taken the counter-pressing strategy to the extreme. They ran at any Molde yer with the ball as if their lives were on the line, trying their best to win back possession as quickly as possible. They didn''t allow the yers in blue any second to settle down with the ball. Thanks to that, they managed to force the Molde defensive midfielders to y the ball high towards the other side of the field.

    Hope fluttered inside Kristin''s as she watched Mike Jensen, one of Rosenborg''s double-pivots, control the ball while skipping past a Molde yer. Without wasting time, he kicked it towards Zachary, who''d already opened himself up beyond the zone of intense rival pressure in the center circle.

    But just as Zachary was about to receive the pass, Jo Inge Berget, the Molde attacking midfielder, was instantly upon him. He collided aggressively into Zachary''s back, trying to win the ball back for his team.

    Kristin winced despite herself as she thought Zachary might lose possession soon due to the pressure from Jo Inge. But she was once again surprised after a moment.

    Zachary received the pass beautifully with a simple deft touch, while managing to hold off the bearded Jo Inge with his incredible physique. He then faked a pass down the field before spinning around and initiating an exquisite Cruyff-turn that threw off the midfielder, leaving him disoriented and ignorant of what had happened.

 Chapter 172 - The Perfect Start II

    "What mboyant skills we''ve just seen from Zachary Bemba!" Kristin heard Kjell Roar yelling out loud, his mellifluous voice dwarfing the excited cheering of the fans around her. "Absolutely incredible with that beautiful Cruyff-turn. Dazzling stuff from the 18-year Rosenborg number-33. He has managed to lose Jo Inge Berget, the Molde attacking midfielder, and has now gotten himself some space to work with the ball."

    Kristin''s hopes kindled as she watched the goings-on on the pitch. She saw Zachary lift his head for a moment and sweep a brief gaze across the field. Using the outside of his boot, he let loose a raking through-pass towards Nicki Nielsen in Molde''s defensive third. The cheering of the Rosenborg fans in the stadium grew to another level after Zachary''s creative disy.

    "Once again, Zachary has managed to catch the Molde defense sleeping with a wonderful lofted pass over the midfield," Kristin heard Kjell Roar holler out loud. "Nicki Nielsen hastched on to Zachary''s defense-splitting pass. He chests the ball to the ground and riffles a first-time shot towards the goal."

    "Oh, my God! ?rjan Nnd, the Molde goalkeeper, has managed to get his fingertips onto the ball, deflecting it slightly from its intended course. Nicki''s shot smashes off the right post before slipping out of y for a corner. What a chance. In the 14th minute, just ten minutes since scoring, Nicki and Zachary have broken apart Molde''s defense once more. But this time around, the keeper hase to the rescue, keeping Molde in the game."

    "That was some incredible chemistry from Nicki and Zachary once again," Harald, the pundit for the day, chipped in. "It is the second time the two have linked up to create something out of nothing for Rosenborg. Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his boys will face a lot of problems today if they don''t find some way to keep those two in check."

    "Exactly my thoughts," Kjell Roar cut in. "And, let''s not forget about Zachary''s individual brilliance today. The way he created that yard of space for himself by skipping past Jo Inge Berget was out of this world."

    "Well," Harald said. "Zachary has been phenomenal in these first fourteen minutes. He''s ying with a lot of energy in this game. It seems the bench did him some good. Let''s hope he keeps up his incredible performance throughout the entire 90 minutes."

    "Molde would be in trouble if he maintained such mboyance throughout the game," Kjell Roar said. "Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has got a lot of work to do if he wishes to pick up at least a point from this fixture. Let''s hope that he can produce the kind of brilliance he had way back when he was still a yer at Manchester."

    "ying and coaching are two different things," Haraldmented in a t voice. "Unless Ole, himself, enters the field of y and marks Zachary Bemba, I don''t see much hope for Molde."

    Kjell Roar chuckled at that. "I would love to see such a match up," he said. "But for now, let''s take you back to the action. Jonas Svensson, one of Rosenborg''s two defensive midfielders, has just floated a teasing ball into the crowded box."

    "There is some pushing and pulling among the yers, but the referee doesn''t blow the whistle. Oh, my! Tore Reginiussen, the Rosenborg captain, has out-jumped his mark and unleashed a header towards the goal from around the penalty spot. The keeper punches the ball away from his goal¡ªtowards the outside of the box."

    "Oh, my goodness me! The ball has in some way moved right towards Zachary, positioned at the edge of the box. He meets it with a first-time volley and unleashes a rocket of a shot towards Molde''s goal."

    "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch. The heavy missile from Zachary collides with Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Molde''s defensive midfielder, before shing past the left goalpost by mere centimeters. The referee points to the corner g immediately. What intensity from Rosenborg. And what power behind the shot from Zachary. Magnus has just gone to the ground, writhing in pain."

    "That may be another blow to Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his yers," Harald chipped in. "From Magnus'' expression, you can see that he''s in a lot of pain. The ball hit him on the lower thigh, possibly causing a quadriceps contusion. He may not be able to continue."

    "In the meantime, Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has called the rest of his yers to the touchline," Kjell Roar said. "It seems he wants to straighten his team''s attitude right away. Let''s wish him some luck because we don''t want this game to be one-sided. That would be too boring."

    **** ****

    "Jo Inge," Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said, his brows drawing together into a frown. "You''re the very person that suggested that you would mark Zachary. But what''s happening on the field? The boy has been creating problems for us without facing any pressure. So, Jo, what are you doing? Should I give the task to someone else?"

    "No, coach," Jo Inge was quick to reply, shaking his head. "I''ll be able to mark him. He just caught me off guard in the first few minutes. But that won''t happen again."

    "It better not happen another time," Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said, his forehead furrowed. "And the rest of you: what exactly are you doing on the pitch? Why can''t you settle down and y football? Your ying is sh*t. Your passing is messy. You haven''t even managed to counter-press to win back possession. Are you really professional yers?" He swept his gaze across his yers right outside the technical area.

    "My advice to you is simple," the coach continued after a moment. "y simple football. Keep passing, and don''t panic when Rosenborg uses counter-pressing tactics against us. Just take it as if you''re in a rondo and look for a way to keep the ball moving. y as a team and run back to defend whenever Rosenberg gets possession. Only Daniel Chima should stay up front to keep the Rosenborg defenders on tenterhooks while others remain on defense. If you follow that simple advice, I can assure you,ds, that Rosenborg will find it quite hard to score another goal against us. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied in chorus.

    "Then head back into the pitch and do your best," Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said, waving them away with a dismissive hand gesture. "y like reigning champions, and do not disappoint me."

    **** ****

 Chapter 173 - An Irksome Opponent

    Zachary felt a little guilt coursing through him when he watched the medical personnel help Magnus Wolff Eikrem, one of Molde''s defensive midfielders, off the pitch. He hadn''t meant for anyone to get injured when he''d unleashed that shot towards the goal. He was only trying to score when he''d caught the Molde defensive midfielder in the middle.

    Even though Magnus was an opponent, he couldn''t help but feel a bit conflicted as he knew first-hand what an injury meant for a professional football yer. That was thanks to the experience he''d umted as an injury-prone yer during his previous life.

    Be that as it may, he also understood that football was the sort of game that came with the usually unavoidable risk of injury. When he gave it his all to win, whether when shooting, tackling, or even faking a foul, he would end up hurting another yer at one point. That case was no different. So, he forced himself to push the negative thoughts to the back of his mind¡ªand focused on Jonas Svensson, the Rosenborg defensive midfielder, who was about to take the corner.

    Together with the rest of his teammates, he''d gone through several repetitions of practicing various corner drills over the previous week. They''d even rehearsed the hand signals for each kind of corner kick in preparation for the Molde game. So, when Zachary saw Jonas Svensson raise an arm as the signal preceding the corner, he instantly became aware of what type of corner was iing.

    Without any dilly-dallying, he immediately feigned going left before going right¡ªand then pushed through the crowded group of yers in the box to wee the corner. He managed to lose Jo Inge Berget, the yer marking him for the day, before jumping to meet the iing corner ball close to the far post.

    But just as he angled his body to nt a header towards the goal, he felt a tug on his shirt, and his upward momentum instantly diminished¡ªalmost to zero. He tried to shrug off the yer holding his shirt by iling his arms around, but all his efforts were fruitless. The person holding his shirt didn''t relent in the slightest and kept dragging him back towards the ground.

    So, he watched helplessly as the ball shed by him, missing his head by mere centimeters. He could only quiver with indignation, sighing at the missed chance, as his body descended andnded back on the green. Had it not been for that tug, he would have, without a doubt, connected with the corner kick and made an attempt at goal.

    Eyes zing with fury, he locked his intense gaze on Jo Inge Berget, the Molde midfielder that''d just pulled his shirt to deny him from connecting with the ball. To his astonishment, the yer had the gull to smile or smirk at him instead of mouthing an apology. It seemed he was trying to provoke Zachary on purpose by gloating over the foul. To make matters worse, the referee didn''t notice the foul and just blew the whistle, motioning for the Molde goalkeeper to take the goal kick.

    But since Zachary had had a good game since the start of the match, he was still in a jolly mood and didn''t let the Molde midfielder''s antics spark his rage. So, he sighed, shaking his head slightly before shoving Jo Inge out of the way and moving towards the referee.

    "Ref," he intoned once he intercepted the referee close to the center circle. "There was a tug on my shirt by that Jo Inge when I was jumping to head the ball. That was why I missed the ball. Surely, that should have been a foul."

    The referee smiled. "I''m watching," he said, without halting his movement across the pitch. "So, don''t worry and focus on the game. Just leave the refereeing to me, young man."

    Zachary sighed with resignation as he halted in the center circle and turned around to prepare to receive Molde''s goal kick. At that moment, he so wished that FIFA would introduce the video assistant referees (VARs) sooner. Had a VAR been present, he was one hundred percent sure he would have won a penalty after the onfield check. Even Jo Inge, the yer that''d pulled his shirt, wouldn''t have received a yellow or red card after the review.

    But as much as he wished for the quick introduction of the VARs, he knew well that they would onlye into being in 2017¡ªording to his previous life''s memories. That was unless he did nothing to quicken the process of their inception. He forced the thought to the back of his mind before returning his entire focus to the match.

    ?rjan Nnd, the Molde goalkeeper, took the goal kick after wasting a few seconds. He kicked the ball with all his power, delivering it high over the midfield¡ªinto the defensive third of Rosenborg.

    Mike Jensen, one of Rosenborg''s defensive midfielders, was ready for the ball. He tracked after it just as it started its descent. He got to it first and outjumped Daniel Chima Chukwu, Molde''s center forward, to head it back towards the center of the field.

    In an instant, Zachary estimated that the ball wouldnd near him, probably a meter away, with his A-graded spatial awareness.

    Like the wind, he took a step to the side and superimposed himself on its course in mere seconds before any other yer could react.

    While keeping his eyes locked on the ball, he then pushed off the ground, intending to jump high and bring it under control with his chest. But just as he''d started rising, he felt another tug on his shirt.

    The person pulling his shirt was so relentless and shameless that he managed to cut short his leap, making him miss the ball by mere inches. Moreover, it was the same yer, Jo Inge Berget, that''d just fouled him for the second time. And yet, the referee had simrly not blown his whistle that time around.

    Zachary tried his best to keep his frustration in check as he raised his arms in a silentint.

    But the referee just ignored him and waved for y to continue, without even trying to listen to his grievances. Zachary could feel a wave of intense anger pulsing through his veins and threatening to spill out of his entire being.

    But he was well aware that the match had just begun¡ªand better yet, his team was still in the lead. So, he took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down before chasing after the ball, which was already back in possession of one of the Molde defenders. He couldn''t let his anger blind him to the point of making him incur a yellow card caution, or even a red, due to an argument.

    "You are stronger than I expected," Jo Inge Berget said, grinning after he''d matched his step as they jogged across the pitch towards the ball. "But mark my words: since I''m staying with you throughout the entire duration of the match, you won''t get another chance to do anything remarkable in this game. I''m sure about that."

    "Oh," Zachary said, his gaze never leaving the direction of the ball. "Then let''s wait and see. Hope you don''t regret your words." He added before increasing his speed and leaving the midfielder behind. He''d already decided to fight his opponents using the ball instead of verbal insults or punches. So, he remained deaf to Jo Inge''s provocations.

    **** ****

 Chapter 174 - A Magical Moment

    Coach Johansen''s smile faded, his brows snapping together into a frown when he saw Jo Inge, the Rosenborg midfielder, foul Zachary once again. The two yers had been at each other''s necks, trying to outmuscle and outmaneuver one another since the 15th minute of the game. The two of them had turned the game into a physical battle of fouling and pitting body-against-body as they fought for dominance in the midfield. But most times, it was Jo Inge doing the fouling while Zachary was on the receiving end.

    Jo Inge''s fouling was so skillful and stealthy that he managed to get away with fouls more times than he did not. He would only pull on Zachary''s shirt or kick his calf when the referee''s eyes were elsewhere. Thanks to that, he hadn''t even incurred a yellow card¡ªeven after ying a rough dirty game for more than 40 minutes.

    Coach Johansen felt a sh of irritationpounded by a pang of distress coursing through him as he continued following the proceedings on the field of y. He''d already noticed that Zachary was beginning to be ufortable due to the constant harassment from the Molde man.

    The African prodigy was no longer unleashing his signature defense-splitting passes, and Rosenborg''s dominance in the middle was slowly slipping away. Even worse, his touches on the ball had continued to reduce steadily as the match progressed. The situation on the pitch had already started to worry the coach even though his team was still leading 1:0 against Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer''s side in the 43rd minute.

    "I think it''s quite easy to solve Zachary''s predicament without even making a substitution," Trond Henriksen, his assistant,mented from beside him.

    "Oh," Coach Johansen said. "What is your suggestion, then?" He queried after a moment, his eyes never leaving the field of y.

    "We need to get Zachary to start reacting dramatically to Jo Inge''s fouling," the assistant head coach said, half-smiling. "It''s hard to convince the referee that there''s foul y if Zachary doesn''t go to the ground. For instance, he didn''t go down even when Jo Inge was almost tearing off his shirt a few minutes ago."

    "That may work," Coach Johansen said, a smile outlining his face. "You can go ahead and instruct Zachary on how to go about it during the half-time break. Maybe, we can get a few set-pieces out of Jo Inge and extend our lead."

    "Okay, I''ll make sure he understands how to handle Jo Inge before he gets back on the pitch for the second half," Coach Henriksen said, grinning. "But are we going to stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation during the second half? I''m worried about our habit of starting slow during the second half. So, maybe a highly defensive shape would be better for us."

    "We''ll stay with the 4-2-3-1," Coach Johansen said, his tone firm. "Changing to another formation during the second half isn''t a long-term solution to our second-half difficulties. Instead, we should be honing the winning mentality of our yers to do away with the problem for good. It''s just that simple."

    **** ****

    A soft smile outlined v Brusveen''s face as he followed the happenings on the pitch with rapt attention befitting the professional TV2-Sporten journalist that he was. He didn''t wish to miss any newsworthy details that might ur at any moment of the game between the two Norwegian football giants. That was especially so since Zachary, the new darling and golden goose of the Norwegian press, was partaking in the game that day.

    By his side stood the members of his camera crew, following the game through the lenses of their cameras. They, too, knew how important the game was and went about their duties without a need for supervision. They were possibly capturing each and every moment of the action on the field¡ªwithout even resting for a single second.

    "Did you get a close-up of Zachary''s facial reaction after that tackle?" He asked one of the members of his camera crew, his gaze never leaving the field of y.

    "Of course, we did," one of the cameramen replied, his eyes still following the game through the lenses of his humongous Nikon camera.

    "Excellent," v said, grinning. "We''ve got ourselves a good number of images for our blog tomorrow. Keep up the good work."

    He was in a jolly mood as he''d already obtained more than enough discussion points that could potentially turn into trending headlines the following day. For instance, the on-pitch rivalry between Zachary Bemba, the young Rosenborg prodigy, and Jo Inge Berget, the Molde midfielder, was one such point. It could elicit a good reaction from the masses and foster a trending online debate to fuel its poprity. But that was depending on how it was dressed and presented to the public. The more details he could add to the story, the more popr it would get. So, he kept his eyes focused on the field of y as the time for the half-time break slowly drew near.

    But v abruptly stood up from his seat when the clock on the stadium''s big screen indicated that it was the 45th minute. On the pitch, Zachary had just received a pass from Mike Jensen, one of Rosenborg''s defensive midfielders. For the first time in like a quarter and hour, he managed to skip past Jo Inge, his bodyguard, with a deft couple of touches.

    Jo Inge tried to pull at his shirt and stop him from stepping further away from him¡ªinto Molde''s half. But Zachary seemed to have already gotten used to the midfielder''s bothersome fouls. So, he shrugged Jo Inge''s arm away with a handoff¡ªbefore stepping out of the center circle and racing towards Molde''s box like the wind.

    But just after he''d moved a couple of yards, two of Molde''s defensive yers closed him down and barred his path towards their box. And to make matters worse, Jo Inge, the relentless Molde midfielder, had also retraced his steps and managed to catch up with Zachary once more. For a moment, the three yers in blue had Zachary surrounded close to the middle of the pitch.

    v thought Zachary would do the usual and unleash a lofted pass towards the wing or kick the ball back to his defense to escape the predicament. But he did quite the opposite of what most people in the stadium expected.

    In some magical fashion, he started dancing his way in and out of the three Molde yers¡ªhis body going left and then going right, with the ball glued to his boot. His movements were artistic, fast, but above all, unpredictable as he lomed his way through the confused group of yers.

    v couldn''t even understand the entire process. One minute Zachary was amid the group of yers, and the next, he was slipping out as seamlessly as a fish navigating the calm waters of ake.

    And without any pause, he then continued racing across the field like a bullet train on the rails.

    The cheers of the Rosenborg fans resounded across the entire stadium like thunder, slowly growing to a crescendo as Zachary raced across the middle third. In a matter of seconds, he skipped past a couple of challenges before finally stepping into the final third with only the Molde defensive line between him and Molde''s box.

    v watched with undivided attention as Zachary smiled softly before setting loose a teasing through-pass into space, just behind the Molde center-backs. At first nce, it wasn''t anything special¡ªbut a simple ball that could be unleashed by a five-year-old.

    But Zachary had managed to time his release with perfection, making that simple through-ball the ideal weapon to beat the Molde defense. He made the whole process look so easy as he set loose Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg number-9, behind the defensive line.

    "Did you capture all that?" v asked his camera crew, his eyes still locked on the field of y. He watched Nicki connect with Zachary''s defense-splitting pass before racing towards the goal like the wind. And without any surprise, the on-form Rosenborg striker fired home from the edge of the box, chipping the ball over the keeper to score Rosenborg''s second goal.

    "Did you capture all that?" v inquired once again as the Rosenborg yers headed to the corner g to celebrate their second goal. But that time around, he had to yell to make himself heard over the cheers of the passionate fans that''d long reached a climax. Rosenborg was already two goals ahead in one of their toughest fixtures of the season. The fans were almost going mad in the stands as they sang the popr Rosenborg chants.

    "Of course, we did," A female member of his camera crew finally yelled back after a few seconds. "Second by second of everything, including facial expressions, footwork, reactions of opponents¡ªwe have captured it all. So, don''t worry. We''re professionals, after all." She grinned.

    "Great," v said, beaming as quiet contentment spread through him. "Thanks for your hard work. But don''t stop and keep on filming. The more images we have, the better stories we can develop for tomorrow''s news after editing. I''ve got a feeling that this match might be a defining moment for both Zachary and Rosenborg. So, please don''t miss anything." He added before returning his attention to the pitch where the Rosenborg yers had just finished their celebrations.

    **** ****

 Chapter 175 - In A Tough Spot I

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle for half-time at exactly 6:48 PM. That was after having added an extra three minutes topensate for time spent on set-pieces and goal celebrations during the first half.

    On hearing the whistle, Zachary immediately started to make his way off the field. His spirits were flying high since he''d managed to make yet another assist. He couldn''t help but walk with a slight swagger in his step since he could hardly contain his delight.

    "ROSENBORG, *p*p*, ROSENBORG, *p*p..."

    "Zach-33... Zach..."

    "Nicki Nielsen... Nicki..."

    Like a hurricane, a wave of cheering and chanting washed across the stadium when the Rosenborg yers neared the tunnel entrance.

    Zachary''s ears managed to pick out the names of a few yers, including his, from within the rhythmic pping and chanting around the stadium. A smile lit up his face when he heard the loud voices of the passionate fans. He enjoyed the feeling of ying in front of a humongous crowd. It raised the stakes, making the game more exciting.

    The cheering was the perfect catalyst to stir him into performing at his best, especially during home games. He appreciated the passionate hardcore fans for that. So, he took a moment to wave to them before jogging into the tunnel entrance and continuing to the dressing room.

    "Way to go, man," Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg assistant captain, said to Zachary as soon as they entered the dressing room. "You were brilliant during the first half. The way you kept connecting with Nicki in the final third was incredible. You''re the true definition of the most dangerous Troll Kid ever when on the pitch." He grinned, patting Zachary''s back.

    "Thank you," Zachary replied, grinning. "You were good as well. You managed topletely bar Emmanuel Ekpo, that Molde right-winger, from delivering even a single cross into our box. And that was throughout the entire 45 minutes of the first half. That''s quite something, especially considering how fast that Nigerian can be on the ball."

    "That wasn''t the case," Mikael said, shaking his head. "I waspletely bored on the left nk. You guys in the middle have dominated the whole game and left nothing for us to do." He added jokingly.

    Zachary continued exchanging small talk with Mikael and a few other teammates until Coach Johansen took the stage to give his half-time briefing. The coach''s face was all smiles as he stepped towards the tactics board to begin his address.

    "That was quite a nice game," the coach said right after all the yers had quietened down and settled atop the benches around the dressing room. "I''m quite impressed with the way you controlled the tempo and hogged most of the possession during the first half. All of you were excellent on the pitch, and that''s why we are leading by two goals. I''m quite proud of you. But for the second half, we''ll need to add more effort if we wish to hold on to our lead and go home with the three points at the end of the match..."

    As the coach started to delve into what he expected of the yers during the following 45 minutes of the game, Zachary took a few moments to chug down some water. He intended to use every second to recover his stamina reserves before heading back to the pitch. He didn''t want his performance to diminish in the second half simply because he hadn''t used the half-time break to rest himself properly.

    Nheless, he also kept a good fraction of his attention on the coach. Since he didn''t want to miss any details, he continued listening to the tactical briefing raptly.

    For the next seven minutes, the coach covered everything from the tactics, the individual roles of the yers, and how to approach the game during the second half. He emphasized that the yers remain focused and y at their best even if they were two goals ahead. He also urged them to try their best to avoid their habit of losing focus at the start of the second half before sending them back to the pitch to rmence the game.

    **** ****

    Anxiety poured through Coach Johansen, like some sort kind of electrical storm roiling in his brain as he followed the proceedings on the pitch from the home team''s technical area. It was already the 55th minute, 10 minutes into the second half, and yet the game was not proceeding ording to n.

    Coach Johansen had never been a superstitious person in his entire life. But for the first time ever, he started doubting the world, wondering whether one of his yers had recently attracted bad luck from somewhere else and passed it on to the team. He couldn''t find a usible exnation for his team conceding goals at the start of every second half.

    For the game against Molde, his yers had followed his instructions to the letter and maintained a high level of focus right after the half-time break. The midfielders had even managed to quickly build up momentum by working together with the forwards and wingers. Starting from the very first minute of the second half, they''d managed to begin mounting a series of relentless attacks on Molde''s goal.

    In those first ten minutes of the second half, Coach Johansen had been in a good mood. His yers had yed some good football, exchanging passes with quick precision as they bore down on Molde''s goal. They''d clearly been the better team and outssed Molde in all areas on the field of y. Be that as it may, their lead had been cut short to only one goal through a corner kick when the clock on the big screen had just indicated that it was the 50th minute. That was when the situation on the pitch had started flipping in favor of Molde.

    Although the Rosenborg yers continued creating chances and dictating the tempo due to their creative midfield, they kept falling short of finishing in the final third. Thanks to that, Molde slowly grewfortable in the game and started to look more dangerous on the counter-attack.

    And then, in the 55th minute, Coach Johansen felt like the entire world was working against his team after narrowly surviving another dangerous attack from Molde. The situation on the pitch was getting worse by the second. The yers in blue had already counter-attacked thrice,ing close to scoring twice during the preceding five minutes of y.

    What made everything worse was that his yers were no longer looking asfortable as they''d been during the first half. They were already starting to make amateur mistakes during crucial moments of the game. Coach Johansen was undecided on whether to make an immediate substitution or wait it out and hope his yers would settle down as the match progressed.

    "Maybe, we should introduce an extra center-back or defensive midfielder to strengthen our side at the back," Trond Henriksen, the assistant head coach, advised from beside him. "As long as we manage to maintain our lead for the next twenty minutes, we''ll be on track to win. Basing on our previous performances, we''ll most likely score during thest ten minutes of the second half. So, at the moment, we need a defensive-minded yer on the pitch to help us weather the next few dangerous minutes."

    "Okay," Coach Johansen said, taking a deep breath and cocking his head slightly to observe his assistant. "I''ll go with a defensive midfielder. So, you can go ahead and inform Ole Seln?s and Mix Diskerud to warm up." He added before returning his entire focus on the field of y. Although he didn''t like how his assistant kept on trying to interfere with his management style, he still had to admit that he was right that time around. Adding a defensive-minded yer like Ole would most likely make it harder for Molde to hit Rosenborg on the counter-attack.

    **** ****

 Chapter 176 - In A Tough Spot II

    Within the area designated for the press, v Brusveen, the TV2 Sporten reporter, continued following the proceedings on the pitch. His signature soft smile outlined his face as his mood wasn''t the least bit affected even after Rosenborg had conceded a goal. The more chaotic the match became, the better the headlines he would fish out for his blog the following day. Excitement had long started to swell through him as the game progressed in a much more unpredictable way.

    "It''s the 60th minute, and Rosenborg is still leading 2:1," he heard Kjell Roar, thementator, say, his voiceing to him through the stadium''s loudspeakers. "Rosenborg is on the ball again. Mike Jensen just controlled the ball in the defensive third before passing it on to Jonas Svensson, the other defensive midfielder, on his right."

    "Jonas skips past Magne Hoseth, the Molde captain, before flicking the ball towards Zachary¡ªwho has just opened himself up close to the center-line on the left nk. It''s all Rosenborg once again. The yers in white and ck are slowly bearing down on Molde''s goal like predators on the hunt..."

    v Brusveen turned his entire focus to the field when Zachary controlled the ball close to the touchline on the left nk. Without any dilly-dallying, the young Maestro turned around and started ying a couple of one-twos with Tarik Elyounoussi, the Rosenborg left-winger.

    Their passes let them seamlessly get past Kristoffer Vatshaug, the Molde right-back, as they continued spearing deep into Molde''s half through the left nk. v eximed again and again at Zachary''s potential. His creativity as a yer was growing steadily with every passing minute on the pitch.

    The cheers of the Rosenborg fans around the stadium exploded as Zachary received a return ball from Tarik and finally stepped into the final third. But just as he was raising his leg, probably with the intention of passing, Jo Inge, the relentless Molde midfielder, slid in with a sweeping tackle to dispossess him.

    However, Zachary managed to flick the ball quickly beyond Jo Inge''s reach before the tackle could connect. He then followed that up with a lofted diagonal pass over Molde''s defensive line to pick out Tobias Mikkelsen, the Rosenborg right-winger, on the other side of the field. With that defense-splitting pass, he''d managed to set Tobias loose on a clear path towards Molde''s goal.

    Everyone in the stadium, including v Brusveen himself, thought that Tobias would surely put the ball in the back of the. Zachary had timed his pass perfectly to help the Rosenborg right-winger beat the defenders and leave them in the dust without much trouble. Tobias only needed to control the ball behind the defense and run for a couple of yards before firing home and widening Rosenborg''s lead once more.

    But the goddess of luck wasn''t on his side at that moment. v''s eyes widened in surprise as he saw ?rjan Nnd, the Molde goalkeeper, save Tobias'' right-footed shot with an outstretched foot. The referee pointed towards the corner g and awarded Rosenborg a corner kick.

    "Isn''t this like the second or third time Tobias is missing a chance at goal when he''s one-on-one with the keeper this season?" He asked one of the members of his camera crew that was closest to him.

    "It''s the fourth time, to be specific," the cameraman replied, eyes still following the match through the lenses of his camera.

    "Oh, that''s interesting," v said, inclining his head to one side to observe Coach Johansen in the home team''s technical area. The bald and read-bearded coach was aical sight. He was busy mouthing what seemed to be numerous curses while gesticting frantically at Tobias for missing the opportunity.

    v instantly decided the coach would make a good topic for one of his articles the next day. "Make sure that you start taking some shots of Coach Johansen''s facial reactions as the match progresses. Don''t just focus on the field of y." He added.

    "Don''t worry, man," the cameraman closest to him said. "Eirik is already covering the shots of the technical staff and some of the fans. In the meantime, the rest of us are covering everything else on the field of y."

    "Excellent," v said, beaming. "We''ve got ourselves a lot of content for tomorrow''s headlines. I wonder how the match¡ª" He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes snapping wide open and focusing back on the field of y.

    ?rjan Nnd, the Molde goalkeeper, had just made another incredible save, denying Nicki Nielsen from benefitting from the corner kick and scoring a hattrick with a header.

    But that wasn''t the end of the excitement on the field of y. ?rjan Nnd quickly picked himself from the ground¡ªand without any dilly-dallying, made a long one-handed throw towards the left nk. With his strong arm, he managed to connect with Mattias Mostr?m, the Molde right-winger, who''d long started making a run across the touchline.

    The counter-attack was on. The Molde goalkeeper had caught the Rosenborg yers unawares with that brilliant throw of his. Most of them were still in Molde''s side of the pitch since they''d just been attacking the corner. So, it was two-against-three in Rosenborg''s half during the 64th minute.

    The stadium went quiet as Mattias Mostr?m controlled the ball mid-sprint and continued across the wing, stepping past the center-line and prating deeper into Rosenborg''s half.

    Cristian Gamboa, the Rosenborg right-back, homed in on him immediately, trying to stop the lightning-fast counter-attack. But the Molde left-winger didn''t try to hold on to the ball or dribble. Instead, he just flicked it towards Daniel Chima Chukwu, the Molde center-forward, who''d long started running in sync with him through the middle. He then pushed past Christian Gamboa and continued sprinting towards Rosenborg''s goal like a bullet right out of a sniper muzzle.

    Daniel Chima Chukwu received Mattias'' pass, without slowing down, as he''d just stepped into Rosenborg''s defensive third. Without a moment of dy, he chipped the ball over the two Rosenborg yers that''d been trying to intercept him. He was so quick in setting it perfectly onto the path of the bolting Mattias to beat the Rosenborg defense.

    Mathias used his fast pace to bolt past the two yers in white and ck before connecting with the ball. Without any pause, he headed it forward¡ªtowards Rosenborg''s goal and then followed after it¡ªspeed like that of a predator on the hunt. He was so fast that he managed to step into the 18-yard box in a matter of seconds before chipping the ball over Lund Hansen, Rosenborg''s keeper, to score Molde''s second goal for the day. 2:2.

    v heard the traveling Molde fans start yelling and cheering like there wasn''t a tomorrow even from where he stood, within the area designated for the press¡ªclose to the tunnel entrance. Molde had finally managed to equalize and even the score against Rosenborg in the 65th minute.

    v was in a good mood as he was enjoying every moment of the game. The thrill involved within every minute on the field was what would feed and enrich his stories the following day. He looked forward to interviewing both sides right after the game.

    **** ****

    Zachary gave a bitterugh and cast a nce heavenward as the Molde yers celebrated their second goal. He couldn''t understand how his team was close to losing a game that had seemed like a sure win only half an hour ago. They''d been two goals ahead at the end of the first half, yet they''d lost that lead within the first 20 minutes of the second half. Yet, all the yers on the team had been performing at their best. Zachary was almost choking on his frustration.

    "Guys," he heard Tore Reginiussen, the Rosenborg captain, yelling at the top of his lungs, seemingly to make himself heard over the loud cheering in the stadium. "There''s plenty of time for us to regain our lead. So, get your heads back into the game, and let''s y some football. We haven''t lost yet. Nicki, Zachary, and Tobias: hurry and get back into position. Let''s win this game." He pped his hands to motivate his teammates.

    On hearing the captain yelling, Zachary immediately cast the negative thoughts out of his mind before jogging to his starting position, right outside the center circle. He understood that football was the sort of game where things could go wrong even if one did everything perfectly. So, Zachary shut out all the unnecessary distractions and focused back on the match with single-minded devotion. He''d decided to do his best and leave with no regrets on the pitch.

 Chapter 177 - Frustration

    The referee blew the whistle, and the match restarted as soon as the Molde yers finished celebrating their second goal. Nicki Nielsen immediately raised his leg and kicked the ball back to Zachary in the midfield.

    Zachary controlled the ball with a deft first touch a few yards away from the center circle before casting a nce around, searching for possible passing options. But he instantly noticed that the Molde attacking yers were already starting to throng into Rosenborg''s half with newfound motivation and energy born from having scored an equalizer. They seemed to have already altered their strategy to high-pressing tactics so as to stop Rosenborg from dictating the proceedings on the field of y once again.

    Zachary''s sharp eyes managed to catch a glimpse of the sturdy figure and bearded face of Jo Inge Berget, the Molde midfielder, running towards him. The sight of the Molde man was like a case of a racing horse dashing towards the finish line on a racetrack¡ªthe finish line being him in that case.

    Nevertheless, Zachary wasn''t intimidated since he''d already estimated that the midfielder would need a couple of seconds to reach his position. So, he shed the rapidly approaching Jo Inge a grin before flicking the ball to his left foot and passing it towards Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenberg left-back.

    Without any dy, he ran into another space to allow himself to receive a return ball before his pass could connect with Mikael. His immediate goal was to help his team re-establish dominance by ensuring that Rosenborg would continue dictating the tempo within the midfield. So, he was determined to do all the hard work and make all the necessary runs across the pitch to make that happen as quickly as possible.

    Mikael Dorsin received Zachary''s pass close to the touchline on the left nk. He handled the ball beautifully and then relinquished it to Mike Jensen, one of the two Rosenborg''s defensive midfielders on the field.

    Mike Jensen received it and passed it to Jonas Svensson, the other defensive midfielder, who''d positioned himself on his right. Jonas didn''t even try to control the ball since Magne Hoseth, the Molde captain, was closing in on him like a predator on a hunt. Instead, he passed it to Tore Reginiussen, the Rosenborg captain, with his first touch.

    Zachary immediately stepped further away from his mark and created enough space for himself to receive the ball when he saw Tore get to the end of the pass from Jonas. The Rosenborg captain was a yer with good vision. In an instant, he managed to spot Zachary from the crowd of yers within the midfield and then passed the ball to him in the next second.

    Zachary brought the ball under control with his right foot. He then pushed it forward, moving further away from Jo Inge Berget to create a couple of yards for himself. However, just as he was about to take another step and dash into Molde''s half, Etzaz Hussain, the substitute Molde midfielder, closed him down and barred his sprinting path.

    Zachary didn''t try to dribble, though. He was one hundred percent sure that Jo Inge, his bodyguard for the day, was somewhere right behind him. So, he flicked the ball to his left foot before passing it towards the left nk, where Tarik Elyounoussi had long started making a run along the touchline.

    Tarik controlled the ball mid-sprint and continued his dash across the touchline, dashing past Kristoffer Vatshaug, the Molde right-winger, in the process. He then cut into the pitch for a couple of yards before passing the ball back to Zachary in the midfield. Zachary controlled it beautifully on the edge of the final third before unleashing a first-time lofted pass towards Tobias Mikkelsen, the Rosenborg right-winger lurking on the right nk.

    Tobias chested the ball down with style, befitting the swift winger that he was. He immediately fed it past Martin Linnes, the Molde left-back, before beating him for pace. But just as he began cutting into the pitch, racing towards Molde''s 18-yard box from the wing, he came across a roadblock in the form of Knut v Rindar?y, the center-back in blue.

    Knut v Rindar?y timed his tackle perfectly to slide in and steal the ball off Tobias'' feet in some inexplicable way. And without a moment of dy, Knut picked himself from the ground and kicked the ball hard and high¡ªtowards the other side of the pitch.

    Close to the center circle, Zachary started running back to his half to defend as he watched the ball fly high above him, heading towards Rosenborg''s box. He didn''t want to allow the Molde yers to mount another sessful counter-attack.

    However, he couldn''t travel faster than the ball, and his speed couldn''t help him move between two ces within an instant. So, he could only watch helplessly as the ball reached its highest point before starting its descent into Rosenborg''s defensive third. And to make the situation worse, Daniel Chima Chukwu and Mattias Mostr?m, Molde''s dangerous attacking yers, were already lurking like thieves around the area where the ball was heading.

    Zachary immediately upped his speed and continued on track towards Rosenborg''s half. He was well aware that his teammates in the defense hadn''t stabilized yet after conceding two goals. So, his immediate intention was to make it back to the defensive third as fast as possible¡ªto help defend against the new threat.

    But even before he could cover a dozen yards, he saw Daniel Chima Chukwu, Molde''s center-forward, connect with the long pass. He outmaneuvered Stefan Strandberg, one of Rosenborg''s center-backs, for aerial superiority and then chested the ball down to Mattias Mostr?m, the Molde left-winger.

    Mattias pounced on Daniel''s pass before the other Rosenborg defensive yers could react and then took off like the wind, circumventing Jonas Svensson, the Rosenborg defensive midfielder. With his fast pace and nimble footwork, he lomed his way past three more Rosenborg yers, including Tore Reginiussen, and was soon on a highway route towards goal.

    However, Tore Reginiussen, the Rosenborg captain, didn''t allow him to do as he pleased. He tracked after the swift Molde winger and managed to get to him close to the edge of the box. Without any hesitation, the captain slid in wholesale and managed to drive the ball out of y. But during the process, he also tripped Mattias Mostr?m, sending him tumbling to the ground, just within the boundaries of the 18-yard box. The referee immediately blew the whistle and pointed to the penalty spot as the stands upied by the Rosenborg supporters quietened down to almost a total silence.

    Molde had managed to win a penalty in the 69th minute, just four minutes after scoring their second goal. But that wasn''t the worst thing that had happened to Rosenborg at that moment. The referee refused to listen to Tore Reginiussen''s pleas and showed him a straight red card for thest-man professional foul he''d justmitted. The situation on the field of y was a horrific nightmare that managed to rattle all Rosenborg yers on the pitch, Zachary included.

 Chapter 178 - A Light At The End Of The Tunnel

    Zachary sighed, shaking his head on seeing Tore Reginiussen hand over the captain''s armband to Mikael Dorsin before quietly marching out of the pitch. He didn''t me the defender for making that tackle since he would have done the same if he''d been the one in that situation. Nheless, he was still depressed by the progress of the match.

    All the Rosenborg yers had yed great passing football from the first minute of the game, yet they were on the verge of losing. No matter how much they''d tried attacking Molde, they just hadn''t managed to break their spell of bad luck and had kept on missing opportunities. On the other hand, their opponents had gotten much fewer opportunities and a small portion of the possession. Yet they''d managed to score two goals within the first 20 minutes of the second half and had just then won a penalty. Zachary couldn''t help but wonder whether it was inevitable for Rosenborg to lose that match. But a momentter, he shook his head to clear his mind and rejected the thought right away.

    He would never give up on a match before hearing the final whistle. He''d watched teams like Liverpool, Barcelona, and Manchester United make incredibleebacks even when they were three or four goals down during his previous life. So, he intended to continue giving his all even when his team was already a man down. As long as he didn''t give up, anything could happen at any moment of the game¡ªand just maybe, his team would walk away with the three points at the end of the night. So, with a soft smile framing his face, he started to make his way towards the edge of Rosenborg''s box to prepare for the penalty kick.

    "Now that''s Molde for you," Zachary heard a voice behind him just as he''d moved a couple of yards and stepped into Rosenborg''s defensive third. "Did I hear someone say that Molde can''tpare to Rosenborg during some interview? Let''s see if that someone can say the same thing after this match..." The voice continued humorously.

    Zachary immediately turned around and noticed that Jo Inge, his bodyguard for the day, was behind him. The Molde midfielder had fallen into step with him at some point and was busy throwing out verbal jabs to annoy him.

    Zachary just gave him a once-over and shook his head without bothering to make anyment. He turned around and increased his pace, leaving the midfielder behind as he continued towards Rosenborg''s box. The match was yet to end, and he didn''t want to exchange needless words with an opponent.

    During his previous life, he''d watched great yers like Zinedine Zidane and Mario Balotelli get themselves into trouble just from conversing with an opponent during the tense moments of the game. Zachary didn''t want to be like them since he knew that he wasn''t the best at controlling his temper. So, he''d already made it a point to avoid talking to opponents, especially at the professional stage where yers could do almost anything to win.

    **** ****

    In the stands, Kristin covered her eyes with a manicured hand after seeing Mattias Mostr?m step into Rosenborg''s box to take the penalty. The tension of the game had long twisted her heart to the point that it''d started beating erratically. She didn''t even have the guts to continue watching the proceedings on the pitch, especially when Molde had a great chance to score and take the lead from a penalty kick.

    The score was 2:2 in the 70th minute. If Molde managed to score, her team, Rosenborg, would find it hard to equalize when they were a man down due to the red card. So, she hoped that Lund Hansen, the Rosenborg goalkeeper, would pull a miracle and keep the score level for the moment. That was the only chance Rosenborg would have at walking away with any points from that game.

    "Huge moment," she heard Kjell Roar, thementator, intone after a few seconds. "Mattias Mostr?m, the Molde number-9, steps up to take the penalty. He is against Lund Hansen, the Rosenborg keeper, during this decisive moment. Oh, my! And he saves it. Oh, my! Crucial, crucial, crucial save. What a brilliant save by Lund Hansen..."

    Kristin moved her hand away from her eyes as a wave of cheering washed across Lerkendal, drowning out the mellifluous voice of thementator. But she sighed with regret as she''d already missed the best part, which was the save by Lund Hansen. She could only wait to watch it on the shbacks on the big screen as the match progressed. Nheless, her hopes had soared since Rosenborg still had a chance of walking away with at least a draw from the fixture.

    **** ****

    On the pitch, Zachary''s spirits were on cloud nine. His face was all smiles as he congratted Lund Hansen upon saving the penalty, together with the rest of his teammates within Rosenborg''s box. He couldn''t believe that his team had managed toe out of the tense situation unscathed. He felt like running towards Jo Inge and gloating but stopped himself after a bit of deliberation. At that moment, he only needed to concentrate solely on the game and keep away from all the factors that could potentially harm his concentration.

    "Guys," Mikael Dorsin, the acting Rosenborg captain, yelled at the top of his voice, pping his hands. "We still have about twenty minutes to go. Let''s focus and defend. We don''t want to waste Lund''s incredible save. So, focus, focus, and focus. I believe that if we give it our all, Molde will never threaten our goal again. But first, let''s begin by defending against this corner."

    On hearing the acting captain''s animated roar, all the Rosenborg yers returned their full attention to the game as they prepared to receive the corner.

    Zachary''s spirits brightened on noticing his teammates regain their fighting spirit even when they were at a numerical disadvantage due to the red card. As long as his teammates didn''t give up, he was sure that Rosenborg could walk away with at least a point out of the game. So, he, too, focused on marking an opponent within the box with renewed vigor.

    **** ****

 Chapter 179 - The Amazing Rosenborg Fans

    With a quick gesture, Coach Johansen motioned for the fourth official to make the substitutions quickly before Molde could take the corner kick. Dejection, Depression, Distress, and several other capital Ds had long whispered through his thoughts, tranting into a scary frown that''d already hardened his facial features.

    Even though his team had just survived conceding a goal from a penalty, he still regretted not having made a substitution much earlier¡ªbefore the red card. Had he done precisely that, just maybe, his team would never have had to go through the remaining twenty minutes when with a numerical disadvantage.

    Be that as it may, he refused to resign himself to losing, even when ying with the numerical disadvantage born of the red card. That was the reason he''d decided to introduce both Ole Seln?s and Verner R?nning that were all defense-minded yers at the core of their ying style. He wanted them to help the team defend against the relentless attacks from Molde during the remaining eighteen minutes, plus added time. He was hopeful that his team would walk away with a draw if the two of them followed his instructions to the letter and yed their defensive roles perfectly.

    "Can you just make the substitutions," he yelled at the top of his lungs on seeing the fourth official taking his time to put up the substitutions board. "Why are you dying when the ball is clearly out of y? Your dilly-dallying may cost our team dearly. So, can you please act like a professional and do your job properly?"

    On hearing the coach, the fourth official just smiled wryly before putting up the board to signal for the substitutions. And to Coach Johansen''s relief, the referee immediately halted the proceedings on the pitch right before the Molde yers could take their corner kick.

    "Remember my instructions," Coach Johansen yelled at his two substitutes just before they were about to enter the field. "And don''t forget to pass on my instructions to the rest."

    "Yes, coach," Both Ole and Verner replied in unison, clearly delighted by the prospect of getting a chance to y an official Tippeligaen game.

    Coach Johansen could see that they were brimming with energy and excitement to perform, even though Rosenborg was a man down. He felt a slight wave of relief flood through his system on noticing their zeal and eagerness for ying time. So, for the first time, like in fifteen minutes, he smiled as he watched the two of them rece Tobias Mikkelsen and Tarik Elyounoussi, the two wingers. Maybe, with that energy they were projecting, they could do some wonders when they got on the pitch. That was what he hoped.

    **** ****

    As soon as the two substitutes stepped into their positions, the referee blew the whistle immediately and motioned for Martin Linnes, the Molde left-back, to take the corner kick.

    Zachary reacted instantly, shutting out everything else and concentrating solely on marking his man. His mind was already working in overdrive, trying to deduce what kind of corner the Molde left-back would deliver into the box. He was determined to do his part on the team¡ªby giving it his all to prevent Molde from scoring their third goal and taking the lead. So, he even started yelling at his teammates to close down the unmarked yers within the box in preparation for the corner.

    But Martin Linnes, the Molde number-14, didn''t give Rosenborg any more time to prepare. He quickly delivered a teasing ball into the horde of yers waiting inside the penalty area from the corner.

    Zachary sprung into action on noticing that the ball was on course towards his position. He pushed off the ground like a basketballer, outmuscled Jo Inge in a battle for aerial superiority by relying on his incredible physique¡ªand then headed the ball out of y. The referee blew the whistle and pointed to the corner g once again.

    Martin Linnes quickly delivered another corner into the box with all the haste he could muster, probably not wanting to waste any time. But that time around, Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg center-forward, outjumped the rest of the yers within the penalty area and cleared the ball with a well-timed header, guiding it to the outside of the box.

    Zachary immediately took a step, intending to chase after the ball after noticing that it was about tond outside the box. He hoped to get to it quickly before anyone else¡ªand then mount a counter-attack on Molde.

    But just as he was taking the second step, he felt a tug on his shirt for the umpteenth time during the match, and his forward momentum instantly reduced. Without looking back, he knew right away that it was his old bodyguard, Jo Inge, who''d pulled at his shirt to prevent him from getting to the ball. Since he was determined to do everything necessary to help his team get a positive result against Molde, he decided to go with Coach Trond Henriksen''s strategy. He threw himself to the ground in a dramatic fashion¡ªand cried out loud in order to convince the referee that an opponent had fouled him.

    "Ref, ref," he shouted at the top of his lungs while rolling on the ground to catch the referee''s attention.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee immediately blew the whistle before jogging towards his position. "Are you okay?" The referee asked, raising his arm and motioning for the medical team toe onto the pitch.

    "Jo Inge yanked me back by pulling at my shirt," Zachary replied, his face contorting into an expression that was the true definition of a person in pain. "I think I sprained a ligament when I tumbled to the ground," he added, holding on to his ankle. On the inside, he was happy to stay on the ground since the more time he could waste, the better his team''s chances would be.

    "Are you okay, man?" The team physician asked as soon as he''d knelt beside him. "Where does your leg hurt? Can you still move it?"

    "We need to waste a bit of time since the team is in a tight spot," he whispered to the physician after noticing that the referee had moved out of earshot¡ªtowards the linesman. "So, please y along, and let''s win ourselves some time to organize ourselves."

    "No need to worry, I know what to do," the team physician replied, without a flicker in his expression. He then continued to check out Zachary''s ankle with all the seriousness befitting the seasoned doctor that he was.

    Zachary could tell that he''d been in simr situations probably countless times. His acting when diagnosing Zachary''s ankle could win an Oscar. Together with Zachary, the two of them acted out a scene that was so convincing. It was to the point that even some of his teammates came over to check on his situation. But Zachary only winked at them before continuing to nurse his supposed injury.

    **** ****

    A wave of panic surged through Emily when she saw Zachary go to the ground, clearly in pain. She''d never seen Zachary stay down for more than a couple of seconds, even after facing the hardest of challenges. Emily was sure that Zachary was in pain just from seeing his expression.

    But a minute or twoter, she finally rxed on seeing Zachary get to his feet before being helped out of the pitch by the medical personnel. She''d realized that he wasn''t seriously injured since he could walk. So, with a light heart, she returned her entire focus to the field of y to continue following the game.

    But then again, she was taken aback after a moment. She noticed that Zachary seemed to have returned to full fitness right after stepping out of the field and receiving a pain-relieving spray on his ankle. Without any dilly-dallying, he then chugged down some water before returning to the pitch even before Rosenborg could take the free kick. Emily gave a bitterugh on realizing that Zachary had just yed everyone, including her, for fools. He wasn''t seriously injured¡ªbut had only been wasting a bit of time.

    "BOO! BOOO!! BOOOO!!!..."

    Emily''s ears picked up a gradually increasing wave of booing rising from the stands upied by the Molde fans as soon as Zachary stepped back on the pitch. The Molde fans seemed quite ticked off with his antics and were making it known through their voices.

    But the Rosenborg fans around the stadium replied in kind with their own cheering to counter the booing. Emily''s bewildered ears drank in one long, thundering "Zach! Zach! Zach-33!" and then her hearing seemed drowned, incapable of making sense of any of the sounds. The whole mass of the Rosenborg fans in the stands rose as one, stamping their feet and pping their hands to match the roar of their voices. They sustained a regr and rhythmic wave of cheering that shook the whole Lerkendal¡ªthe collective sound seeming like the one made by an approach of a frightening army.

    Emily sighed in wonder after experiencing the energy and intensity of the Rosenborg fans. All around her, it was a wild burst of yelling and cheering¡ªprolonged fiercely to the limit to drown out any booing that might emerge from the Molde supporters. With just their enthusiasm and passionate support, they had battled the Molde fans and emerged as the victors. Their level of dedication to their team was something she had only experienced a few times.

    **** ****

 Chapter 180 - Tension Across Lerkendal

    Coach Johansen cast a quick nce at his wristwatch and noticed it was alreadying to the 78th minute of gamey. He let out a pent-up breath of air, rubbed his hands together, and returned his full attention to the proceedings on the field of y.

    He''d never yearned for the time to pass by quicker before that moment. He hoped for the match to end soon so that his team could at least walk away with a point.

    The pressure his yers were facing on the field due to Tore Reginiussen''s red card was immense. The Molde yers had fully capitalized on their numerical advantage during the few minutes after the red card. They''d managed to keep Rosenborg''s ten men on tenterhooks, leaving them without a single moment for a breather.

    Coach Johansen had already noticed that a few of his yers were almost out of breath. He could tell that their stamina reserves were close to depletion from their reaction times. He was worried they would cken and start making mistakes. So, he decided to motivate them.

    "Don''t rx," he yelled at the top of his voice, pping his hands for emphasis. "Keep on defending. You''re doing a good job so far. Nicki, stay on the centerline and wait for the ball there. You don''t need to keep heading back to defend. Your job is to keep their defenders under pressure and scoring when you get an opportunity. Zachary, be sharp and strategic when marking the spaces in front of our defensive third..." He intoned words at the pace of a machine gun while still following the match with rapt attention.

    **** ****

    The tension on the pitch was at a level that tickled at Kristin''s taught nerves irritably. Like the rest of the Rosenborg fans within the stands of Lerkendal Stadion, she was the image of anxiety itself as she forced herself to continue following the proceedings on the pitch.

    The Molde yers continued to mount attack after attack on Rosenborg''s goal at an interval of nearly every two minutes. They''d switched from their counter-attacking strategy and were now utilizing wing-y to deliver diagonal balls and crosses into Rosenborg''s box.

    With the change, they''d managed to connect seamlessly with their attacking yers, with a fast and relentless ying style that was the trued definition of attack-minded football. That way, they''d managed to push almost all the Rosenborg yers back into their defensive third, leaving only Nicki close to the centerline.

    Kristin''s anxiety mounted with every passing minute as she watched the game. A couple of times, Molde hade close to scoring a third goal through their attacking yers. However, Lund Hansen, the Rosenborg keeper, had done a phenomenal job stopping two attempts from Daniel Chima Chukwu, the Molde center-forward, in the 75th and 78th minutes. Furthermore, another shot from Mattias Mostr?m, the winger, had smashed off the crossbar after taking a slight deflection off one of the defenders in the 80th minute.

    "Martin Linnes, the Molde left-back, showcases his great technique and produces a teasing cross into the box," Kristin heard Kjell Roar, thementator, yell out loud. "Oh, my goodness me! Mattias Mostr?m, the Molde winger in shirt number-9,tches on to the urate cross within the 18-yard box and unleashes a strong shot towards the goal. But Lund Hansen, the Rosenborg keeper, is well-positioned and dives to make an incredible save. What a match we have here! Harald! You''re quiet! What''s going on? What is your say on the progress of the match?"

    Kristin heard Harald Brattbakk, the pundit for the day, sigh audibly. "Truly unfortunate for Tore, the Rosenborg captain, to get that red card in the 69th minute. The tables have turned due to his sending off¡ªand we now have the Molde yers dictating the tempo due to their numerical advantage. Rosenborg is barely hanging on to keep things level here at Lerkendal, and yet six minutes, plus added time, still remain to the final whistle. Truly unfortunate."

    "The million-dor question is one," Kjell Roar said. "Do you think Rosenborg will manage to resist Molde''s attacks until the final whistle with the way they''re ying?"

    "That''s a question I can''t answer at the moment," Harald replied in a t voice. "This is football, and it''s highly unpredictable. For instance, in the first half of this game, it was Rosenborg dictating the proceedings. The Troll Kids led by two goals at half-time, and we all thought they were sure to win. But look at the situation right now. That''s the unpredictability of football. So, maybe, the game will end as a draw or, possibly, a win for Molde. But what we also can''t rule out is that Rosenborg can also win even if they are at a disadvantage considering numbers."

    Kjell Roar chuckled at that. "The Rosenborg fans would go mad if that happened. But let''s wait and see how the match progresses. We''re entering thest five minutes of official time. It''s still all Molde on the field. Emmanuel Ekpo, the Molde right-winger, just got on the end of a diagonal ball from Magne Hoseth, his captain. Oh, he twists and turns¡ªand fires a rocket towards goal. But it''s a pity that Mike Jensen, one of Rosenborg''s defensive midfielders, stands in the way. The Rosenborg man manages to block the shot and direct the ball away from the goal. But not far enough..."

    Panic surged through Kristin. Her hands became cold and mmy as she watched the deflected ball bounce at the edge of the box¡ªtowards Magne Hoseth. The Molde captain had been lurking around the arc of the 18-yard box,pletely unmarked. Without losingposure, Magne met the ball on the volley with his left foot¡ªand unleashed a shot towards goal before any of the Rosenborg yers could react.

    Kristin''s body went cold with dread as she watched the ball sh through the crowd of yers in the box, heading towards the goal like a bullet out of a sniper rifle''s muzzle. "Please don''t go in," she mumbled, her hands squeezing into fists. At that moment, she wished for telekic powers so that she could will the ball to deviate away from its course. She didn''t want to see her team lose after holding on to the draw until thest four minutes of the game.

    The goddess of luck probably sympathized or maybe took pity on all the other Rosenborg fans in Lerkendal. Lund Hansen, the Rosenborg goalkeeper, jumped high andmitted himself to a full-body dive. He just managed to punch the ball away from the goal. With a strong fist, he managed to propel it all the way to the right nk. Rosenborg had survived conceding once more.

    **** ****

 Chapter 181 - An Electrifying Counter-Attack

    Zachary reacted immediately on seeing Lund Hansen punch the ball away from the goal. While still gasping for breath, he bolted from the box and chased after it, his long strides eating yards of space across the green in mere seconds.

    As he was mid-sprint, he felt someone try to pull at his shirt. He instantly knew his old bodyguard was trying to pull off his antics once more. So, without turning back, he stepped from side to side, his body moving from left to right and back, repeatedly¡ªto shake himself away from his opponent''s intended grip. He also upped his pace and was soon close to the bouncing ball near the touchline on the right nk¡ªlong before any other yer, whether opponent or teammate.

    From there, he didn''t even halt to control the ball. Instead, he flicked it ahead with a deft first touch and chased after it, his stride frequency peaking to propel him forward like a rocket just out of a grenadeuncher.

    The counter-attack was on. Most of the Molde yers, save for a few defenders, had all been mounting relentless attacks on Rosenborg''s goal. They''d grown confident and, just maybe, thought that Rosenborg no longer had the capability to threaten them.

    Zachary was intent on taking advantage of thatxity and creating a match-winning opportunity for his team.

    So, he forced his mind to forget all about his fatigue and ran with the ball across the touchline. He zoomed towards Molde''s half with incredible pace. At that moment, he felt that he could probably give Usain Bolt a run for his money if both of them ran with the ball.

    Knut v Rindar?y, one of Molde''s center-backs, soon closed him down, intending to halt his run with a reckless sliding tackle.

    However, Zachary slowed down a bit before digging his right boot beneath the ball and flicking it over the defender. Without any pause, he jumped high¡ªover the defender and then continued following after the ball amid the steadily growing cheers of the Rosenborg fans.

    Etzaz Hussain, a defensive midfielder that had also stayed back to defend, was the next person to try to put a stop to Zachary''s mad dash. But that time around, Zachary didn''t try to dribble. Instead, he quickly passed to Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg number-9, who''d long opened himself up to receive the pass in the middle of the field.

    Zachary didn''t halt, though, after relinquishing the ball to Nicki. Instead, he circumvented Etzaz Hussain and continued rushing across the left nk. To his relief, Nicki reacted fast and flicked the ball to the space ahead of him immediately.

    Zachary managed to get to the end of Nicki''s through-pass. He began cutting into the pitch, approaching Molde''s goal like the wind.

    He could already feel his stamina reserves starting to dwindle and empty as he stepped into the final third. But he held on with sheer determination and continued racing towards Molde''s box.

    ?rjan Nnd, the Molde goalkeeper, came out of his goal to meet him. But Zachary was already in high gear and wouldn''t let anyone stop him at that moment. He circumvented the goalkeeper by relying on his long strides and keeping hisposure. He followed that up by firing home from around the edge of the box to score Rosenborg''s third goal, sending Lerkendal into a frenzy of wild cheering.

    After scoring, Zachary didn''t halt. He continued his run¡ªmaking his way around the goal to the corner g to celebrate the goal. By the time he made it there, his heart was already working in overdrive and his happiness so intense that it scared him.

    But he still managed to remember the coach''s warning and resisted the urge to take off his shirt and throw it to the fans. Instead, he spread out his hands as if he was the sole owner of the world. He closed his eyes to savor the feeling of scoring in a very tough-to-win fixture. But his teammates didn''t allow him the time to immerse himself in the moment of joy by himself. They soon reached him and jumped all over him to celebrate the goal.

    **** ****

    Tears of joy shimmered in Kristin''s brown eyes as she craned her neck to watch the on-pitch celebrations. The corners of her mouth lifted into a smile when she saw the Rosenborg substitutes and technical staff join the onfield yers to celebrate the goal. At that moment, she could hardly recall a match that had made her happier and given her a level of satisfactionpared to the one that day.

    "In the 88th minute, Rosenborg has managed to score and retake their lead," She heard Kjell Roar, thementator, yell out loud. His loud voice even dwarfed the wild cheering and pping of the passionate Rosenborg fans. "It is now three goals for Rosenborg and two for Molde. Unbelievable stuff on the field today. Rosenborg has done what was almost impossible and managed to take the lead once again. Not even the red card can stop the Troll Kids from disying their brilliance here in Trondheim."

    "What a night for both Nicki and Zachary. The two of them have worked well together and created all of Rosenborg''s three goals for today. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his boys should be in tears now. What a game! Harald! I can see you smiling once again."

    Kristin heard Harald, the pundit, chuckle softly. "When I recall that lightning-fast counter-attack, I can''t help but smile," he said. "That run across the right nk by Zachary was truly electrifying. What pace! Whatposure! I''m at a loss for words."

    "Zachary has already scored two goals with the potential topete for the goal of the season award," Kjell Roar chipped in. "And he should also be on course to win the yer of the month award this May. His tally at the moment is six goals and five assists in five matches. I think no other yer in the Tippeligaen has yed better than him this month."

    "Yes, I agree," Harald concurred. "He should be the top candidate for the award if we factor in that bicycle kick of his a few weeks ago plus today''s performance. Moreover, if Rosenborg can hold on and win this game, he''ll end the night as a hero in the hearts of the Rosenborg fans."

    "Then let''s wait and see how the match ends," Kjell Roar intoned, his voice rising. "For now, let''s take you back to the live-action on the pitch. The match has just restarted with Molde''s kick-off..."

    **** ****

 Chapter 182 - Match Ending

    In the home team''s technical area, Coach Johansen''s face was all smiles as he watched the final few minutes of the game. He was satisfied with the levels of concentration exhibited by his yers on the field, especially thatte in the game. They were all ying as if their lives depended on those few minutes. Even though the Molde continued attacking relentlessly, they still managed to hold on to their 3:2 lead until the 90th minute.

    But to Coach Johansen''s dismay, the referee added five minutes of stoppage time to the second half. So he decided to make his one remaining substitution in the 91st minute to waste some time and strengthen his defense. He brought on Jon Inge H?nd, the only defender on the bench, in ce of Jonas Svensson, the already tired defensive midfielder.

    The match rmenced soon after. The Molde yers continued attacking, looking for an equalizer in those few minutes. They floated in cross after cross into the box, trying to wear down Rosenborg''s defense.

    But the ten Rosenborg yers, left on the pitch, yed like there wasn''t a tomorrow as they defended against those attacks. In that way, the minutes slowly passed, and finally, the referee blew the match-ending whistle in the 96th minute.

    At that instant, the stadium exploded into a wave of cheers once again. For the following few minutes, Lerkendal was on fire as the Rosenborg yers and technical staff started making rounds around the field.

    Coach Johansen ran onto the pitch to celebrate with his yers after shaking hands with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Molde coach. He went around the pitch, giving the field yers bear hugs while mumbling a few words of encouragement and appreciation to them. He was in a good mood after having secured another three points from a hard-to-win fixture.

    **** ****

    Zachary let the feeling of contentment soak right into his bones as he moved the entire length of the pitch, waving to the passionate Rosenborg fans.

    It was so strange to feel that great dness in his heart as he savored the inexpressible delight of triumph. He, who''d been dirt poor and hopeless during his past life, was finally feeling that he''d established himself in a European team. So, he was feeling dizzy with excitement.

    "You were great out there," Coach Johansen said to him as soon as he''d finished making rounds around the pitch. "If you can maintain your form, you''ll soon be the best yer in Norway or even in Europe. So, keep up the hard work." The coach patted his back.

    "Thank you for yourpliment," Zachary replied, smiling. "I''ll try my best to improve. My only wish is to have enough ying time so that I can quicken my development as a yer."

    Coach Johansen chuckled at that. "Don''t worry," he said. "You''ll get to y plenty of matches his season. But for now, you should go together with Nicki to the press area. The two of you are the ones who''ll handle the post-match interview today."

    "Oh," Zachary said, sighing. "Then I better go, right away. Do you have any tips on how I should go about the interview?"

    Coach Johansen smiled. "Just be yourself and say what you really feel," he said. "But avoid negativements about third parties, whether opponents or teammates. If you do that, you should be okay."

    "Thank you for your advice," Zachary replied, beaming. "Then, I''m off to see the press." He added before turning around and trekking towards the area designated for the press.

    **** ****

    Emily was in the best of moods as she rode a taxi cab from Lerkendal back to her hotel after the game. Zachary''s shocking counter-attack that''d resulted in the winning goal was still ying through her mind, like a song looped on a rey. With that goal, he must have managed to establish himself among the Rosenborg fans. His fame had increased, and that would prove beneficial while negotiating new endorsement deals for him.

    Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!

    Her phone vibrated, rousing her up to full attention. She frowned, wondering who could be calling her thatte in the evening. When she fished it out of her purse and looked at the screen of her smartphone, she was even more surprised. The person calling was one of the Red Bull representatives that she''d formerly been in touch with to discuss another potential endorsement deal for Zachary.

    "Mr. Friedrich," she said, after cing the phone next to her ear. "To what do I owe the pleasure of receiving your call thiste at night?"

    Mr. Jerome Friedrich, the person at the other end of the line, chuckled. "Surely, it isn''tte at all," he said. "ording to my watch, it''s just 8:30 PM. And that''s the best time for discussing business, especially over drinks. Isn''t it?"

    "Yes, it is," Emily replied. "But that''s if it''s just business. So, why are you calling?" She queried, hoping to get straight to the point.

    Mr. Friedrich sighed audibly from the other end of the line. "I''m calling about Zachary. My bosses have finally given me the go-ahead. But they would like to meet with you first before continuing the negotiations. So, do you have time tomorrow?"

    "As long as it''s business, I can make time," Emily replied, beaming. "But if they wish to meet my client tomorrow, that''s another story. I would have to first consult with him before getting back to you."

    "That''s not the case," Mr. Friedrich was quick to reply. "For tomorrow, they solely wish to meet with you alone. So, you don''t have to worry about your client''s schedule."

    "They don''t want to meet with Zachary yet!" Emily eximed, raising a brow. "Why?"

    "You''ll find out when you meet them tomorrow," Mr. Friedrich said with a bit of humor. "Don''t worry. We''re the leading energy drink brand in the world. So, believe me: we''re not trying tond your client into any trouble. My bosses value his potential greatly. They only wish to have a simple chat with you and discuss potential business. And believe me, that business is greatly beneficial to him."

    "Okay," Emily said, looking out of the taxi cab window and noticing that she was close to her hotel. "I think there''s no harm in that. So, what time do you suggest I meet them, then?"

    "I would rmend 9:00 AM at the Scandic Nidelven Hotel," Mr. Friedrich replied. "Is that okay with you?"

    "Yes, that''s fine," Emily said. "I''ll be there."

    "Great," Mr. Friedrich said, his voiceced with a hint of excitement. "I''ll see you tomorrow then. Good night."

    "Good night to you, too," Emily replied before quickly ending the call. She leaned back into the back seat and savored the feeling of contentment that had swelled within her entire being. She was delighted by the fact that Zachary was starting to attract lucrative endorsement contracts. With the six percentmission from Zachary''s deals, Emily could see herself turning wealthy by the end of the year. She would then be able to start up her own agency and fulfill her long-time dream. That was what she hoped.

    **** ****

    When Kristin returned to her apartment after the match, she quickly switched on her TV. She wanted to rewatch the highlights of the game as soon as possible. So, when she settled herself within thefort of her sofa, she immediately picked up the remote and navigated to the TV2-Sporten channel.

    She rxed when she found the studio pundits still discussing the game while also ying the short clips of the highlights. At that moment, they were analyzing Zachary''s assists during the first half.

    "The connection between Nicki and Zachary during this match was incredible," Andr¨¦ Rekdal, the studio pundit for that match, said. "For me, that connection was the only factor that gave Rosenborg an edge over Molde."

    "Let''s not forget about Zachary''s brilliance," ?rjan Berg, a former Rosenborg yer and also the other pundit, chipped in. "That lightning-fast free-kick in the fourth minute was simply out of this world. Then there''s the assist close to half-time and his goal in the 88th minute. What a night for the young Rosenborg number-33!"

    "There''s one thing the two of you are forgetting," Samantha dset, the female presenter, cut in. "That''s concerning the decisions of the referee during this game. He ignored most of the fouls against Zachary and a few other Rosenborg yers in both halves. What''s your take on this?"

    Both Andr¨¦ Rekdal and ?rjan Berg sighed in unison on hearing that.

    "All I can say is that the refereeing today was below par," Andr¨¦ Rekdal intoned, shaking his head. "After watching this match, I really wish that FIFA approves the proposal to introduce VARs soon. Otherwise, we''ll never do away with the human error factor, even at crucial moments."

    "My thoughts exactly," ?rjan Berg concurred. "Had there been a video assistant referee during today''s game, Rosenborg wouldn''t have had to toil much to win this game. But I''m guessing that the referee will get a suspension for his negligence when on the pitch."

 Chapter 183 - Post-Match Analysis

    Kristin raised the TV volume when the pundits started discussing the referee''s decisions. "And what is your take on Tore Reginiussen''s red card?" She heard Samantha dset, the TV2 Sporten presenter, ask the two pundits in the studio. "Do you think the referee got that one right? Should it have been a straight red card? What do you think?"

    "I think he got Tore''s red card right," Andr¨¦ Rekdal, one of the pundits in the studio, said. "We can try to argue that there wasn''t any malicious intent in Tore''s tackle. But the fact remains, he tripped a yer bound for the goal within the box. For me, that''s a straight card without question."

    "I concur," ?rjan Berg, the other pundit, chipped in. "That was a correct decision. But I wish that he would have acted with the same sharpness during the instances when Jo Inge fouled Zachary. I know that a lot is always going on during a game. The referee can miss a few things once in a while. But this was a scuffle between the two yers that started from the very beginning of the match. The referee should''ve paid a lot more attention to the two. I''m even more baffled by why the linesmen missed the fouls. What were they doing during the game? They could have cost Rosenborg the three points in such an important fixture."

    Samantha dset chuckled softly. "Maybe, it''s Zachary''s looming physique that gives a wrong impression to the referees," she said with a bit of humor. "Think about it. He is six-four. Even if someone pulls at his shirt, he remains stationary like an immovable boulder. If I were the referee, perhaps, I would also miss out on a few fouls on him during the game."

    "I highly doubt that," ?rjan Berg said, shaking his head. "The referees are trained to spot even the slightest fouls on a yer with or attacking the ball. Missing all those fouls, especially in a big game like the one between Rosenborg and Molde, is quite strange."

    "Maybe, Samantha is right," Andr¨¦ Rekdal chipped in. "The referee did blow the whistle when Zachary went to the ground during the second half."

    Samantha dset chuckled. "But was he in pain, or was he pretending?" She queried.

    "Who cares?"

    Andr¨¦ Rekdal said, beaming. "Maybe, he was injured since the physician helped him off the pitch. Or maybe, he was pretending. But the fact remains: he managed to win his teammates a few minutes to rest and organize themselves during that period. Moreover, he went on to score the winning goal. He''s surely the man of the match, and we can''t take that away from him."

    "Sure," Samantha dset said. "He was simply phenomenal on the pitch. But before we continue with the analysis, let''s first hear from the man of the match himself. He''s taking a post-match interview with v at the moment."

    Kristin''s face lit up with a smile as she saw Zachary''s face appear on the screen. He''d yed like a star and helped Rosenborg secure three points for the night. It was hard for Kristin toe to terms with his growth potential. Despite all that, she was happy he was at Rosenborg. She could see her team returning to trophy-winning ways with such a talented yer on the squad.

    "Zachary, wee back again," Kristin heard v, the reporter, say.

    "Thank you, v," Zachary replied, nodding.

    "I know that I''ve said this again and again," the voice of v continued after a moment. "You''re just eighteen, Zachary. But you''re already on the top of the club game. Not bad. Is it?"

    "Well," Zachary said, smiling slightly and scratching at his chin. "I just can''t put the feeling in words. But all I can say is that I''m enjoying every bit of my time with Rosenborg."

    "Let''s talk about the game," v said. "The first half was really in sailing for you. You linked up well with Nicki to create those two goals in the first half. We all thought you would win by at least 4:0 at the time. But then the second half happened. What went wrong?"

    "I think it was one of those days when luck wasn''t on our side," Zachary answered, his expression turning solemn. "Think about it. Before Tore''s red card, we were the dominant side. We were dictating the tempo and had already umted around 14 shots on goal."

    "16 shots on goal, to be specific," v chipped in to correct him.

    "Yes, thank you," Zachary said, smiling slightly. "16 shots on goal, it is. And how many did Molde have by then?"

    "Three shots on goal," v replied.

    "We had sixteen shots on goal, yet they had only three shots on goal," Zachary said, sighing. "But with those three shots, they managed to score twice. Yet, we couldn''t get anything out of our chances even though we were ying well¡ªup front. And then the red card happened, and things went south from there. But I''m really delighted that we finally came out on top and managed to end this night with the three points in the bag."

    "Nicki," v said, and Kristin saw the image of Nicki Nielsen''s face rece that of Zachary on the screen. "You managed to score two more goals today. You''re clearly on track to be the top scorer. That''s if Zachary doesn''t beat you to the de." The reporter chuckled.

    "Well," Nicki said, a sunny smile lighting up his face. "If it''s him, I really won''t mind. Above all, we''re teammates that are working together to win trophies. Individual dese second."

    "Most of the football fans are impressed by how the two of you linked up to create all the three Rosenborg goals today," v said. "Do you do some extra training to hone that connection between the two of you? What''s your secret?"

    "Very funny," Nicki said, chuckling. "We train as a team on most days of the week. And that''s enough for a genius yer like Zachary to observe me and pick up my habits. So, I''m always confident that whenever I run into space when he''s on the ball, he''ll spot me right away and pass to me. It''s just that simple."

    "Zachary," v said, and Zachary''s face appeared once again on the screen. "There was a scuffle that was always going on between you and Jo Inge throughout the entire game. What was up with that? Do you have any bad blood between you and the bearded Jo?"

    "Well," Zachary said, shaking his head. "There''s really nothing to it. Both of us were trying our best to do our part and help our teams win the game. It was inevitable that we ended up colliding a few times during the tense moments. So, I''ve nothing against Jo Inge, especially since I managed toe out on top and win the game. But I really wish the referee would have done a better job. That''s all I''ve got to say."

    "Do you still think that no other team in Norway canpare to Rosenborg, especially after this game?" v probed.

    "But we won, even when we were a man down," Zachary replied. "So, I''ll still hold on to my belief that I''m ying for the best team in Norway. You don''t expect me to say there''s another team better than us! Do you?"

    v chuckled at that. "Thank you, Zachary and Nicki, for your time," he said. "And congrattions on your win and incredible performance in today''s game." He added as the images on the screen switched back to the TV2 Sporten studio.

    "And that was Zachary and Nicki, the two heroes of Rosenborg, having an interview with v at Lerkendal," Samantha dset, the presenter, said. "Zachary is alsoining about the referee. We all expected that. Didn''t we?"

    Both ?rjan Berg and Andr¨¦ Rekdal, the pundits, chuckled at that.

    "But Nicki did raise a good point during the interview," ?rjan Berg said after a moment. "The way Zachary manages to pick out his teammates with his passes when on the pitch is simply genius. His game vision, especially at such a young age, is simply out of this world. I''ve just taken a look at his stats. His pass uracy in this game was over 90%, and he managed to make six key passes during the ny minutes. These are the stats of a Maestro in the making."

    "Hold that thought," Samantha dset cut in before the pundit could continue. "Let''s first take you back to Lerkendal, where v is about to interview Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Molde''s manager." She smiled, and then Kristin saw Solskjaer''s face appear on the screen.

    "Ole," v said. "You nearly made an incredibleeback in today''s game? But what happened?"

    "I would say Zachary Bemba happened," Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replied, smiling a bit. "He''s one phenomenal yer, the likes I have only seen in the very top leagues of the world. His impact on this game was incredible. He is the sole difference between Rosenborg and us today. But that aside, we also didn''t do enough¡ªto score and win the game during the second half. We missed quite a few opportunities that would have turned the game in our favor."

    "What exactly is happening at Molde?" v probed. "You''re the champions ofst season, yet you''re now at the bottom of the table with only six points. And that is after having yed eleven matches."

    Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sighed at that. "Well," he said. "Football is highly unpredictable, and sometimes things don''t turn out in your favor. We''ve struggled with a few injuries here and there. And a few times, luck hasn''t been on our side. It''s quite a difficult season. But I believe we''ll recover and start performing again. That''s what I can promise our fans out there."

    "Okay, then," v said. "We do wish you all the good luck for the rest of the season. And thanks for your time." He ended the interview, and the screen switched back to the TV2 Sporten studio.

    **** ****

 Chapter 184 - Good News

    The morning after the match against Molde, Zachary woke upte, feeling fatigued. He opened his eyes and noticed that the golden rays of the morning sun were already streaming into his room through the drawn curtains. They lit upon his well-polished light-green bedroom wall, reflected off the surfaces of the pricy iid furniture, and asionally left bright shimmering patterns on the coffered ceiling.

    Zachary stared at it all, his mind reying some of the scenes from the match against Molde the previous day, including the moment when he''d scored the winning goal. Even though hours had passed since the end of the game, his mind remained locked in those moments. He couldn''t help but think his life was beautiful. Very few things could make him feel as contented as he did that very morning¡ªafter winning an important match.

    A rxed smile outlined his face as he looked around his bedroom until his gaze settled on the clock hanging on the opposite wall. When he registered that it was already 8:30 AM, he got out of bed at a leisurely pace. After washing his face, he went through his customary morning yoga routine to quicken his post-match recovery. For the following thirty minutes, he concentrated on stretching his fatigued muscles through yoga poses until he was sweating all over. He then took a shower before settling into one of thefy sofas in his living room to pass the time. Since it was the aftermath of a game, the whole team had been given a day off from training. He could afford toze around and think about nothing the entire day. So, he reckoned that watching an entertaining TV program would be a tolerable way to pass the time.

    But just as he''d sat down and picked up the TV remote, he remembered something that had bugged him during the match the previous evening.

    "System," he said, leaning back into the sofa and crossing his legs on the table before him. "Yesterday, I felt like my overall agility had already improved to another level. Yet, ording to the system interface, I''m still stuck at the A-grading! Why is that?"

    "The user must understand that there is quite a big divide between the A and S grades," the system AI replied in its apathetic feminine voice. "Footballers in the A-grading can have abilities that significantly differ from each other, despite being in the same grade. For instance, both yers may have A-graded agility, yet one is a lot quicker than the other. So, what you are feeling right now¡ªis your abilities slowly developing as they approach the bottleneck to the S grade."

    "Oh," Zachary said, frowning. "So, how far is my agility from the S-grading if we base on my current rate of improvement?" He probed, switching on the TV with the remote.

    "You''ll need roughly two years to reach the S grade," the AI replied. "But that is if we''re basing on your current rate of improvement."

    "What!?" Zachary eximed, almost jumping out of his chair. "Two years to the S-grading! That is more than the time spent improving all my stats, from the lower grades to the A grading."

    "The user must understand that raising any given ability to the S-grade is a tremendous task that is almost impossible to achieve," the AI intoned. "One needs talent, dedication, hard work, and more than a little luck to achieve such a feat. That is the sole reason the majority of footballers fail to develop any of their stats to the S grade throughout their entire careers."

    "Is there any way to make my progress faster?" Zachary queried. He''d already begun feeling like his speed was hindering his performance on the pitch. In the Tippeligaen, he''d found it almost impossible to run through opponents the same way he''d done during his academy days. So, he yearned to improve his agility and speed to the S grade within a short time. That way, he could gain the ability to do the same deeds at the professional stage.

    "The only way to quicken your improvement is by relying on the system to some extent," the AI replied. "If you can acquire and consume an agility-enhancing-elixir at the S-grading, your agility will breakthrough to the next level for sure. But you would have to achieve some incredible feat to win such an elixir from the system."

    "I hope it isn''t something like winning the next Europa League with Rosenborg," Zacharymented. "That is surely almost an impossibility."

    "Good guess," the AI replied right away. "The system rewards great feats that can help you cement your status as the GOAT in the future. It''s that simple. So, if you can win the next Europa League, there is a possibility of winning such an elixir. Or even better: you might acquire an S-graded vitality-enhancing-elixir, which can help you improve two of your stats to the S grade within a short while."

    Zachary sighed. "I would need immense luck to win the next Europa League," he said, shaking his head.

    Many top teams from the top leagues of Europe had already qualified topete in the next Europa League, the most notable ones being Sevi FC, VfB Stuttgart, Tottenham Hotspur, ACF Fiorentina, and Spartak Moscow. So, he could see almost no hope of Rosenborg beating such powerful opponents to emerge victorious at the end of the next Europa League tournament.

    "A footballer aiming to be the GOAT should focus on achieving exploits thought to be impossible by themon man," the AI intoned in its apathetic voice. "Otherwise, what would be the difference between the GOAT and the greatest yers in various generations or eras? The user has to start aiming for the difficult trophies. That way, the user will manage to establish himself as a great yer in a short time."

    Zachary sighed once again. He understood the system''s logic as he was well aware of how hard it was to ascend to the GOAT status, especially in a team sport like football. During his previous life, there had been plenty of debates on the issue. The Portuguese, Manchester United, and the Real Madrid fans all thought that it was Cristiano Ronaldo without a doubt. Maybe, all South Americans thought it was Messi, others Pele or Diego Maradona, or even Ronaldinho. And there were the French who believed with all their hearts that it was Zinedine Zidane. But there had never been aplete public consensus on who the actual GOAT was¡ªlike what happened with Usain Bolt in sprinting or Serena Williams in Tennis. But had Lionel Messi won the World Cup twice, that would have been another story since he''d been the closest to cementing his GOAT status.

    So, Zachary understood that if he wished to join the ranks of potential GOATs, he would have to start raking in trophies and individual des that seemed almost impossible to acquire. Only then would he establish himself as one of the greatest yers and start thinking aboutpeting for the GOAT status. But to achieve such a feat required incredible luck since football was a game yed by eleven yers. He understood that even if he performed at his best, his team would still lose if one of his teammates made a simple mistake at a crucial moment.

    Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!

    His phone vibrated while his mind was still mulling over the requirements needed for a yer to ascend to GOAT status. Without any dilly-dallying, he picked it up from the table beside him and nced at the screen. A smile lit up his face as he noticed it was Emily, his agent, calling. His hopes soared since he knew that Emily usually called with good news.

    "Hello Emily," he said, cing the phone next to his ear. "How is your morning?"

    "It''s one of my best mornings in the year," Emily replied, sounding excited. "Can you guess why?"

    "Audi has raised my annual wage in the contract we just signed?" Zachary replied, deciding on humoring her. "Or maybe, your other half has proposed, and you''re calling to tell me the news. Which one of the two is it?"

    "I can see that you have started learning a bit of humor," Emily replied, sounding amused. "But it''s none of what you''ve just mentioned. I''ve got something better. I''m meeting the Red Bull representatives this morning¡ªand my contact in the energy drink giant has promised me that they''re willing to offer a lucrative contract to you. They may also wish to take you on as a long-time partner."

    "Oh, the deals are starting toe in fast!" Zachary eximed. "Have the Red Bull people hinted on how much they are offering?" He probed.

    "Not yet," Emily replied. "But they should be making an offer when I meet them today morning. Do you want to attend? If you wish, I can organize for you to be there."

    "Do they wish to meet me this early¡ªduring the inception of the negotiation process?" Zachary countered with his own question.

    "To be honest, they requested to meet me alone," Emily said, her voice lowering at the other end of the line. "So, if you don''t mind, I''ll go ahead and see what they''ve got to say. I''ll then inform you about the discussion afterward. Is that okay with you?"

    "That''s okay," Zachary replied hurriedly. "I trust you. So, go ahead and try to negotiate another good deal for me. We shall talk afterward."

    "Thank you for your trust," Emily said, her voice rxing. "And one more thing. Susanne, the Audi representative, called and informed me that they wired your money yesterday. So, it should be able to arrive in your bank ount within three days."

    "Oh, that''s really great news," Zachary said, his voice rising. "Thank you for negotiating this deal."

    "That''s my job," Emily replied. "And before I forget. Twitter has replied to my appeal regarding the fake ounts using your name as their handles. They have consented to grant the handle with your full name back to you. They''ve also sent the verification code for the ount to your email. So, please check your inbox and open that ount today. I know you have a day off. So, don''t give an excuse that you''re busy."

    "I''ll open it right away," Zachary replied. "Don''t worry."

    "Great," Emily said. "Then talk to youter. For now, I''m off to meet the Red Bull representatives." She added before ending the call.

 Chapter 185 - Instant Popularity On Social Media

    Zachary''s smile blossomed into a full grin after he ced his phone down on the table beside him. He was about to receive more than five million Norwegian Kroner. He even felt a bit dizzy trying to conceptualize such a vast sum of money. It was probably enough tost him an entire lifetime if he resorted to living a humble life back in DR Congo. With that amount of money, he could even put up arge building in Lubumbashi and live off the proceeds from its rent for the rest of his days.

    But he first pushed his excitement to the back of his mind, deciding to work on opening the Twitter ount before thinking about anything else. He didn''t want Emily to keep bugging him about the issue. So, without any dilly-dallying, he rose from his seat¡ªand then walked across the room to pick his newptop up from a nearby cab.

    He''d bought theputer only a week ago so that he could easily search for information on the inte at his own convenience. Since he was about to acquire some big money, he wanted to use his knowledge from his past life to acquire more assets and make himself wealthy in the process. He had learned the hard way during his previous life not to put all his legs in one basket. He wanted to remain self-sufficient throughout his entire life, even in case of the remote possibility that he got challenges in his career and lost the system.

    Zachary had thought about investing for quite some time and came up with a few ways to make big money. First, he''d decided against touching anything rted to gambling.

    As a pro footballer, the eyes of the press would be on him at almost all times. So, if he invested in betting and continuously won big money, someone would eventually notice the abnormality. That would attract unwanted attention, which he didn''t wish upon himself. Moreover, the press could tag him as someone involved in match-fixing if his winnings became too unreasonable.

    With all that in mind, he''d decided to go with investing inpanies that were about to go public or selling shares. Although he wasn''t so much interested in IPOs and stocks during his previous life, he still had a bit of knowledge about the famouspanies that''d gone public between 2008 and 2014. That was thanks to one of the web novel group chats he''d joined in his previous life. Zachary remembered one person in the chat listing all thepanies he would invest in if he ever got the chance to go back in time.

    From the chat, Zachary had obtained information about famouspanies like Twitter and Te Motors, which had shares listed at low prices during 2013. For instance, Twitter would IPOter that year. It would perform well for a few years and cause a sensation due to its sess. But then, its price per share would dip below its IPO prices in 2015, thereby disappointing the majority of its investors. So, he was nning on buying the Twitter shares and then selling them the following year¡ªthat''s before the prices could start declining. On the other hand, he was well aware that the price per share of the Te Motorspany would skyrocket over the next twelve years. So, he intended to invest most of his money in thepany before other investors could start noticing its potential.

    "Let''s start by opening this Twitter ount," Zachary mumbled, settling down back on his sofa and opening hisptop. He then quickly booted it up and connected it to the inte before going through the motions of registering a Twitter handle once again.

    With the verification codes sent by Twitter, he managed to open the ount without any hustle that time around. He managed to fill in all the required information within a minute. He then took a selfie and posted it as his profile picture toplete the registration. He''d finally opened his first social media ount in both his lives. He sure hoped it was worth all the trouble.

    Zachary was about to close hisptop and return to watching the TV but then stopped suddenly. Out of the corner of his eye, he''d noticed a lot of activity going on with his ount. The notifications were popting his screen at the rate of bullets moving out of a machine gun''s muzzle. A bit curious, Zachary leaned forward and clicked on the notification tab to view what was going on.

    ****

    Notifications (32)

    ----

    All Mentions

    ----

    * Nicki Nielsen and 20 others followed you.

    * Marta Romano and 15 others followed you.

    * Emily Anderson and 30 others followed you.

    ....

    ....

    * Emily Anderson sent you a direct message.

    * Mina Rose sent you a direct message.

    ....

    ****

    For the following two minutes, Zachary watched with mouth agape as notifications flooded hisputer screen. Within that short time, his followers had already increased to more than a hundred. He couldn''t help but wonder whether Emily had put up an announcement somewhere that he would be opening an ount that morning. Otherwise, he could not find a reasonable exnation of why he was gaining followers and receiving messages at an abnormal rate. But Zachary decided to first open Emily''s message before thinking about anything else. So, he clicked on the message tab right away before opening it to view its contents.

    ****

    <- Emily Anderson

    @Emily_Anderson

    ----

    A Football Agent that is working for CAA Base Limited. Also, awyer by profession.

    12K following 30K followers

    Joined March 2009

    ----

    Hello Zach,

    Congs upon opening the ount.

    Ignore the notifications and messages and trying tweeting something for a start. It can be the Tippeligaen table, your picture, or anything else that rtes to you.

    Cheers,

    Emily, your agent.

    ****

    Zachary closed the message tab and then deliberated for a moment about what to post. Since he didn''t want to post anything too personal, he decided to go with the Tippeligaen table.

    So, he just searched for its image on the inte before uploading it as his first tweet on his verified ount. When hepleted the process, he leaned back into his sofa and observed his handiwork.

    ****

    <- Tweet

    ----

    Zachary Bemba

    @ZacharyBemba

    ----

    I just looked at the Tippeligaen table and got more motivation to train with all my effort this week. We''re almost back to the top. #Rosenborg #Tippeligaen.

    ----

    1 Str?msgodset 26

    2 Rosenborg 25

    3 Aalesund 20

    4 Viking FK 20

    5 Brann 18

    6 Haugesund 17

    7 Troms? IL 15

    8 Sogndal IL 15

    9 Sarpsborg-08 14

    10 H?nefoss 13

    11 V?lerenga 13

    12 Lillestr?m SK 12

    13 Start 12

    14 Sandnes Ulf 10

    15 Odds BK 8

    16 Molde 6

    ****

    No sooner had he posted the table with the teams and their respective points than the number of notifications from his new followers started increasing. His eyes couldn''t even take it anymore. Some followers were retweeting his post, othersmenting, while a few were sending him direct messages. But since Zachary didn''t want to get in a battle of words with his new followers, he closed the browser and shut down theptop before starting to watch the morning sports news on his TV. In the meantime, he made a mental note to request Emily to hire someone to manage the ount. Otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to handle all the notifications and messages from his fans¡ªthat''s if they were to continue flooding his ount at such a fast rate.

    **** ****

    Emily arrived at the restaurant of the Scandic Nidelven Hotel at exactly 8:45 AM, to the minute. She found the three Red Bull representatives waiting for her on one of the tables at the far side of the eating ce.

    Among the three representatives, Emily recognized only one: Mr. Jerome Friedrich, the person in charge of marketing for Red Bull in Norway. He was a giant of a man, probably six feet tall, and with a big face and bushy beard. He appeared to be aical and fun-loving person. Emily at least thought so. His face was always outlined by a warm smile whenever she chanced upon him.

    "Good morning, Emily," Jerome said as soon as Emily approached the table. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with us today." He added, extending his giant hand for a handshake.

    "Good morning to you, too," Emily said, taking the hand without any hesitation. "Thank you for having me."

    Mr. Jerome Friedrich smiled, nodding. He then turned to the two middle-aged men beside him. "Allow me to introduce my friends first before we get down to discussing business," he said, his tone casual. "This here is August Fassbender. He is the head of marketing for Red Bull GmbH in Germany. The thin man next to him is Thomas Koch. Don''t just judge him by size alone. He''s the overall head of marketing for the entire Red Bull GmbHpany all over the world. I think with this line-up, you can see how serious we''re about Zachary." He added with a bit of humor, triggering amused smiles from the two men.

    "Oh" was all that Emily could manage. She hade hoping to meet some marketing people from Norway and possibly a local CEO. But instead, she was face-to-face with the overall head and another representative of the energy drink from Germany. Emily''s mind couldn''t process why Red Bull, an energy drink giant popr all over the globe, wouldmit such a line-up to negotiate a simple endorsement contract. Moreover, that contract was for a budding footballer that''d just started his professional career in Norway. It was simply absurd.

 Chapter 186 - Red Bullâ€™s Tempting Offer

    Emily exchanged brief greetings with the two Red Bull executives before settling down in a seat opposite theirs. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure of meeting three of the top dogs of Red Bull here in Trondheim?" She asked, her signature professional smile outlining her face.

    Jerome smiled before tilting his head and making eye contact with Thomas Koch, the overall marketing head of Red Bull, who was seated beside him. Thetter nodded at him as if they were exchanging some bit of mentalmunication in that brief moment.

    Jerome then turned back towards Emily and said: "First, we''ll start by making an offer to your client before discussing anything else." He grinned.

    "I''m listening," Emily said, fishing out a notebook from her handbag.

    "But first things first," Jerome said, a grin still outlining his face. "Shouldn''t we order some breakfast first? I don''t think it''s a good idea to discuss business on an empty stomach."

    "Agreed."

    "Agreed."

    August Fassbender and Thomas Koch, his two colleagues, immediately echoed one another, agreeing to his proposition without allowing Emily a moment to reply.

    Emily could only smile and shake her head before also agreeing to order the breakfast first. She didn''t mind spending more time with the Red Bull big shots. She understood she could negotiate a better deal for her client if she could get onto their good side. So for the next half an hour, they didn''t talk about anything business-rted but just concentrated on enjoying their meal. They were simply like old friends that were making small talk over breakfast. That way, they soonpleted their sumptuous breakfast¡ªand without dy, Jerome initiated the topic about endorsements once again.

    "So, as I already said," he began, "We value Zachary''s potential greatly. We''re very serious about signing him as our ambassador. To show our sincerity, we''re willing to offer Zachary 12 million Norwegian Kroner a year¡ªthat''s if he agrees to sign a five-year endorsement contract with us. We''re also willing to pay the 10 million of the first year right after signing."

    "Oh," Emily replied, raising a brow. "That is quite the offer. But why do I feel that there seems to be a catch on this deal?"

    Jerome smiled before turning to Thomas Koch once more. Thetter nodded before locking eyes with Emily. "I can assure you that your guess is wrong," he said, smiling a bit. "We''re only offering such an amount to establish a good rtionship with your client. We won''t even attach any strict conditions to the 12 million endorsement deal."

    "Then, what are you after?" Emily probed, her brows drawing together into a frown. "It doesn''t make sense for two Red Bull representatives, one from Germany and another from Austria, to be the ones negotiating a 12-million-Kroner deal. So, I''ll ask again: What are you after?"

    "Then I''ll get straight to the point," Thomas Koch said, half smiling. "The thing is this: A few years back, ourpany bought the ying rights of SSV Markranst?dt, a fifth-tier German team, with the intent of advancing a new club to the top-flight Bundesliga within a few years. We named the new club RB Leipzig and are now looking for young yers to join the side. We''ve identified Zachary as a yer with great potential and are willing to build our fast-growing team around him. If he agrees to join us, we shall offer him the best contract money can get. That''s my promise."

    "Oh," Emily said after a moment, leaning back into her seat to observe the marketing manager''s face. "If I may ask, in which division of German football is this RB Leipzig ying at the moment?"

    Thomas Koch smiled, a few wrinkles forming on his forehead. "We have just qualified for the 3rd Liga after winning the Saxony Cup this month," he replied. "We''ve also qualified for next season''s DFB-Pokal after winning the cup. So, you don''t have to worry that your client won''t get to y against top footballers if he joins our club..."

    "Wait, wait," Emily said, raising her hand slightly to interrupt the man. "Let''s not get ahead of ourselves here. I really appreciate the endorsement offer Red Bull is making to my client. Twelve million Norwegian Kroner a year is not a small sum, especially for a yer at his age. It''s quite a good deal for sure. But my client will most likely reject your deal because of that extra condition. Think about it. Do you think he will leave Rosenborg, a team where he''s performing well and developing at a fast rate, for a third division team, in apletely new country?"

    "First listen," Jerome chipped in, his signature smile outlining his face despite the situation. "Let me also ask you this. Have you ever seen any teams under Red Bull performing poorly in their respective leagues? The answer is no. So, I can promise you that RB Leipzig will grow into a European giant in only a few years. That''s without a doubt. If your client joins us, he''ll be well on his way to starting a unique legacy in apletely new ce. And as Mr. Koch said, we''ll ensure the coaches build the team with him as its core. We''re very willing to build him into someone like Barcelona''s Messi in Leipzig."

    "I do get your point, Jerome," Emily said, smiling. "But the question remains: do you think my client will even think about leaving his club for a third division side? Mind you: he previously refused offers from Zenit and Tottenham."

    "And that''s the very reason we''ve decided to first meet you instead of him," August Fassbender, the other Red Bull representative, cut in. "As an agent, you should be able to see the trends of most things in football. If you do a bit of research about Leipzig, you will notice that the team has immense potential. In two to three years, we''ll most likely be entering the Bundesliga. For instance, thising season, we''ve already signed several promising yers that will most likely help us win the 3rd Liga. If Zachary can join us, we would surely make it to the Bundesliga within two years. He would then have the chance to y against teams like Bayern and Dortmund. Tell me why you, as an agent,

    would say no to such an opportunity for your client? Can''t you see the possibilities that are there, especially within a team supported by Red Bull itself?"

    "I do get your point," Emily said, sighing and shaking her head. "But, it''s not me that can make this decision. It has to be my client. I can only promise that I''ll bring up the issue to him and see how he reacts. But don''t get your hopes up, as his answer will most likely be negative. How much are you willing to offer him as his sry, by the way?"

    "You''ve got to understand that money has never been a problem for Red Bull," Thomas Koch said, smiling a bit. "Let''s say that if he can join us during this summer transfer window, we''re willing to even offer him 40,000 Euros as his starting sry. And that''s weekly, not monthly, like what he is getting at Rosenborg. So, tell me: Haven''t we been sincere enough?" He asked, his voice taking on a pleading tone.

    Emily chuckled. "I''m not buying into that poker face of yours, Thomas," she said. "That''s quite the sum of money, especially for a yer at his age. But you''ve got to remember that money isn''t everything. He may not wish to join your team even if you offer 300K per week to him. That aside, he has just signed a contract with Rosenborg. Do you guys expect him to abandon his team in the middle of the season? You people are putting me in a difficult position."

    "We only wish for you to focus on convincing Zachary," Thomas Koch said, grinning. "As you have just said, he may be totally against the idea of joining a third division side. But I believe that you can make him see reason¡ªthat''s if you try. You can then leave the issue of dealing with the Rosenborg higher-ups to us."

    Emily frowned as she deliberated about the issue for a moment. She wasn''t totally against the idea of Zachary joining a rapidly rising German side and earning more money in the process. She was well aware that the Red Bull Energy Drinkpany was a miracle worker when investing in sports. The teams under them, such as New York Red Bulls and Red Bull Salzburg, were doing well in their respectivepetitions. So, she didn''t doubt Thomas Koch in the slightest when he dered that Leipzig would make it to the Bundesliga in two to three years.

    If the Red Bull higher-ups could keep their promise and make Zachary the core of their team, he would be someone with the fame like that of Barcelona''s Messi a few yearster. He would for sure be a legend, like no other, if he got involved in the rise of such a fast-developing team. But the challenge was that Zachary was steadily beginning to fit into his current team. As his agent, Emily didn''t want to mention any prospects of moving to another club to him, as that might destabilize his growth. So, she was in a bit of a dilemma.

    **** ****

 Chapter 187 - Running Into A Friend

    When the clock hand pointed to 11:00 AM that morning, Zachary immediately switched off the TV, put on his sneakers, and exited his apartment. Even though it was his day off, he didn''t want to spend all his free time cooped up indoors, within his living room. There was nothing much else to do to pass the time at home since watching TV had already started to bore him. So, he''d decided to utilize his free hours to hasten his post-match recovery by going for a massage in town and heading to the Lerkendal gym for a simple workout afterward.

    But just as he began descending the steps¡ªon his way out of the apartment building, his phone vibrated. When he fished it out of the side pocket of his tracksuit and noticed that it was Emily calling, he immediately epted the call.

    "Hello Emily," he said, cing the phone close to his ear while continuing to descend the stairs. "What''s up? Have you finished meeting the Red Bull representatives already?"

    "Hello Zach," he heard Emily''s voice from the other side of the line. "I''ve just concluded the meeting with them right now. So, can we meet so that I can brief you about my discussion with them? Where are you right now? I cane to you right away if you''re not too busy at the moment."

    "I''m quite free and was just leaving my apartment to look for something to do¡ªto pass my free time," Zachary replied. "So, why don''t Ie to you instead? Remember, it''s easier for me to move around Trondheim." He added, deciding to change his ns within the heat of the moment. He was very excited to hear about whether the Red Bull representatives hade through and offered him another good endorsement contract.

    "That''s even better," Emily said. "You can find me at our usual meeting ce¡ªat the other cafe near Trondheim Square."

    "You mean Caf¨¦ le Fr¨¨re?" Zachary asked for confirmation. He slowed down his steps as he approached the exit of his apartment building.

    "Yes," Emily said. "That''s the name, I think. I''m just heading there right now. I will get there in about ten minutes."

    "Okay, let''s link up there," Zachary said, halting beside the exit. "I should be able to make it there in about fifteen to twenty minutes, depending on traffic. But that means that you''ll have to wait a bit for me."

    "That isn''t a problem," Emily was quick to reply from the other end of the line. "If you don''t mind, I''ll go ahead and order a cappino and a cake for you as I wait."

    "That''s okay," Zachary said. "Can you also order some fried bacon and fries? I had a really light breakfast this morning. I''m already feeling famished."

    "Okay, then," Emily responded before ending the call.

    Zachary immediately shoved the phone back into the side pocket of his tracksuit trousers. He then pushed the doors, intending to quickly get into his car and head towards Trondheim Square to meet Emily.

    But just as he was about to take a step out of his apartment building, he came close to bumping into someone. He almost collided head-on with a youngdy, dressed in a formal ck skirt suit, who was rushing back inside.

    Zachary immediately reacted with the swiftness of a pro athlete. He jumped to the side and gave her a hand to stop her from tumbling to the ground.

    But a momentter, he noticed that it was Kristin, his neighbor from the fourth floor, who''d almost crashed into him. He hadn''t recognized her immediately since she''d changed her entire look. She seemed almost like a different person. She looked prettier and much more mature¡ªafter having changed her hairstyle and wearing a bit of makeup that matched well with her formal attire.

    "Sorry about that," Kristin said, clearly still recovering from the incident. She even didn''t seem to have recognized Zachary yet. "I was just in a rush, and my mind was wandering..." She stopped midsentence as her eyes finally settled on Zachary''s face.

    "So, it''s you, Zachary," she eximed, her brown eyes crinkling at the corners. "Good morning!"

    As soon as Zachary locked eyes with her, his mind immediately jolted awake. He then recalled that he''d promised to go with her to see her grandpa in Bergen on the day after Rosenborg''s match with Molde. But the subject had totally escaped his mind that morning. So, he was feeling guilty at that moment.

    "Yes, it''s me," Zachary said, returning her smile and hoping that she''d forgotten about the promise. "And good morning to you too."

    "By your expression, I''m guessing that you''ve just recalled that we had to travel together Bergen today morning," Kristin said with a smile.

    "I''m really sorry," Zachary replied, smiling ruefully and shaking his head. "But that is exactly the case. The week leading up to the Molde game was quite a busy one for me. So, Ipletely forgot about the trip."

    "I''m really feeling down right now," Kristin said, pouting a bit and holding his gaze. "You can''t even remember a small promise to me."

    "But the fault doesn''t entirely rest with me," Zachary countered with a smile. "You didn''t even remind me about the trip yesterday. And you don''t look ready to head to Bergen right now. Maybe, you also forgot about the trip."

    "But that doesn''t exempt you from breaking your promise," Kristin countered back, still smiling. "If I recall correctly, your exact words were along the lines: you have my word, and I won''t forget. But you clearly forgot!"

    Zachary could only smile ruefully at that.

    Kristin chuckled on seeing his reaction. "I got you this time around," she said. "So, how are you going to make it up to me?"

    "I can make time next Sunday so that we can go and visit your grandpa then," Zachary said. "That''ll be the day right after our game with V?lerenga. So, I''ll be free and won''t forget this time around."

    "Aren''t you supposed to be heading back home to Congo after the match?" Kristin queried. "As I recall, the V?lerenga game is thest match before the break. Isn''t it?"

    "Yes, it is," Zachary replied, nodding. "But I can first take a trip with you to Bergen before returning home. I can even take my flight back to Congo from Bergen Airport."

    "Then, it''s a deal," Kristin said, beaming. "This time around, I''ll remind you two days before time so that you don''t forget."

    "That will be best," Zachary said. "But tell me the truth. Were you actually ready to head to Bergen with me today? Basing on your attire, you look like you''re heading to an office."

    Kristin smiled. "I''ve got to go now," she said, pushing past Zachary and starting to head towards the stairs. "If you wish, we can talk moreter in the evening. But for now, I really have to go. And congs on your incredible performance against Molde yesterday."

    "Thank you," Zachary replied, turning around to watch her start to ascend the stairs. She looked even more stunning from his new vantage point. "And please be careful along the way. Don''t go knocking over people while opening doors." He added with a bit of humor.

    Kristin chuckled on hearing that. She then halted at around the fourth stair before turning around to face him. "Where did you put my very always-earnest Zachary," she questioned, still beaming. "Are you sure that you''re not some alien imposter that has taken over his mind? The Zachary I know would never tease a girl who''d just been so close to getting involved in an ident."

    "Maybe, you don''t know that Zachary well," he replied, scratching at his chin. "I''ll be happy to introduce him to you. That is if you wish."

    "You''ve said it yourself," Kristin said, beaming. "I''ll be happy to hear all about this new Zachary over dinner at my ce today evening. Are you up for it?"

    "Why wouldn''t I?" Zachary said, matching her smile.

    "Then, see youter," Kristin said. "Don''t go making any excuses now. I''ll start preparing dinner very early today. So, you have got to attend by hook or crook. Are there any specific foods that you don''t eat?"

    "Yes, there''s one," Zachary said, his voice solemn. "I don''t eat chicken feet. That''s a big no for me."

    Kristin chuckled. "Don''t worry," she said, casting a nce on her wristwatch. "I won''t be cooking any chicken feet today evening. Okay, then. I really have got to go now. See youter then." She waved before quickly jogging up the stairs.

    Zachary sighed, shaking his head on seeing her figure disappear. Since his mind had calmed down a bit, he couldn''t help but wonder why he''d said so much to Kristin and even agreed to eat dinner at her ce. [Is the boredom from this morning taking a toll on me?] He mused, casting a fleeting nce at his watch. On noticing that it was already seven minutes past eleven, a light bulb went on in his mind. At that moment, he remembered that he''d promised to meet Emily in about eight minutes. So, without any dilly-dallying, he rushed out of the building and quickly got into his car. A minuteter, he''d already pulled out of the parking space beside the apartment building and begun cruising like the wind towards Trondheim Square to meet with Emily.

 Chapter 188 - Zacharyâ€™s Stand

    "Did you make it all the way here running?" Emily asked as soon as Zachary settled in a seat opposite hers at a corner table within Caf¨¦ le Fr¨¨re. "Why do you look so out of breath?"

    Zachary just smiled at her without bothering to reply. He''d run from the Trondheim Torg parking lot to avoid beingte for the appointment with Emily, but he was sure as hell not going to mention that to her. He didn''t want to go into further exnations of what exactly had dyed his arrival.

    On seeing him remain silent, Emily just shook her head. "In any case, that doesn''t matter," she said, smiling. "I''ve already ordered the food. But for now, we can go ahead and discuss the business at hand as we wait. Is that okay with you? Or should we wait for the food and first eat?"

    "Let''s get straight to business," Zachary was quick to reply. "I''m eager to hear what the Red Bull representatives had to say."

    "Well, then," Emily said, nodding. "As I''d already spected, Red Bull is quite interested in signing you as one of their ambassadors. They are even offering quite arge sum as an initial wage plus a very tempting lucrative contract." She paused for a few seconds as the waitress carried their dishes of choice over and began cing them on their table. When she finished arranging the food between them, they thanked her and then savored the taste of their meal before returning to their discussion.

    "So, how much is Red Bull offering?" Zachary probed as soon as the waitress was out of earshot. He was already feeling his heart start to palpitate with excitement after hearing that there was a possibility of signing another endorsement contract. Moreover, it was with another world-famous brand.

    "They are offering 12 million a year," Emily said after sipping on her cappino. "But don''t get excited. The deal is a front to build a rtionship with you and get you to sign for one of their clubs. I guess you are aware of Red Bull and its keen interest in investing in sports. Aren''t you?"

    "Yes, of course, I know about their sports investments," Zachary replied, nodding. "So, which of their teams do they want me to join? Is it the Austrian club, Red Bull Salzburg, or the German one, RB Leipzig?"

    "You seem to be quite informed about the Red Bull teams," Emily said, raising a brow. "You even already know about RB Leipzig. I just got to know of it today. How is it that you already have this information? Did the Red Bull representatives contact you?"

    "Nah," Zachary said, smiling wryly. "I just did some digging on the inte after hearing that you were meeting the Red Bull representatives. I wanted to understand what kind ofpany they were and ended up chancing upon the information." He decided to lie since he couldn''t admit that the information about Red Bull wasmon knowledge to every football-lover during his previous life.

    "RB Leipzig is the club they would like you to join," Emily said, cing her cup on the table and locking eyes with Zachary. She then went ahead to narrate the entire discussion with the Red Bull representatives, even going into details about what kind of weekly wage they were willing to offer. She even told him about Red Bull''s master n to quickly advance the new club to the Bundesliga within a maximum of three years.

    Although Zachary was already privy to the info about RB Leipzig from his previous life, he still listened with rapt attention¡ªso as to not miss any small details.

    A soft smile outlined his face, softening his often intense features, as Emily started going over more of the promises Red Bull had made so as to convince him to join their team. His spirits brightened as he felt waves of contentment washing through him.

    He could tell that the Red Bull officials were quite sincere in making their offer. They really wanted to sign him to their team. And that made him proud of his recent achievements in the Tippeligaen. He was even more confident that he was on the right track to bing a great yer in a short time. But he also understood that he couldn''t rush his career progress in any way. Otherwise, he would stumble and fall before facing down a fate full of hopelessness like that of his previous life.

    When Emily finished her narration, she leaned forward and made a steeple of her fingers. "So, what do you think about this offer?" She asked, her voice solemn. "Is there any possibility you would consider joining RB Leipzig before the end of August? That is when the transfer window in Germany will be closing."

    "Their entire offer is quite tempting," Zachary said after deliberating for a moment. "But the timing is quite wrong. I only signed my contract with Rosenborg two months ago, in March. So, there isn''t a possibility that I''ll leave my team in the middle of the season. That would be a bit unprofessional and irresponsible. Moreover, leaving a club before achieving anything doesn''t sit well with me. Had the offere a yearter, I would maybe promise to think about it. But right now, it''s a different story."

    "Oh," Emily said, smiling a bit. She didn''t seem bothered in the slightest by Zachary''s answer. "Don''t you even wish to sit down with them and listen to what they''ve got to say?"

    "Nope," Zachary was quick to reply. "I''m not good at out-and-out rejecting people. If I meet those representatives, I may get tempted by them and end up joining their club, especially considering the money they''re offering. So, it''s better for me to stay far away from them to avoid such a scenario from happening." He smiled, shaking his head.

    If he was to be one hundred percent honest, he was pretty much tempted by the 40,000 Euros a week offer. But if he agreed to join Leipzig within that very transfer window, he would be abandoning his team even before the middle of the Tippeligaen season. That would affect his reputation and credibility as a professional footballer to a great extent. For the next few years of his career, the other clubs that wanted to acquire his services would wonder whether he would abandon them right after signing a contract.

    Moreover, he was well aware that switching clubs at the genesis of his career was not an advisable course of action. During his previous life, he''d watched Nics Anelka, a yer with immense skill and incredible talent, fail to reach his full potential partly because of a simr reason. The French striker went through several transfers very early during his career that destabilized his development as a professional footballer. Zachary didn''t want to follow the same path.

    He was not against transferring to a different club when the time was right. But for the moment, he wanted to develop his skills in a familiar environment before thinking about joining the bigger stage. That way, he would minimize all the external factors that might destabilize his growth until a few of his stats progressed to the S grade.

    Emily nodded expressionlessly on hearing Zachary''s response. "Since you seem to be very sure and clear about this, I''ll go ahead and reject Red Bull''s offer," she said. "But you have to be sure that it''s what you want. Otherwise, if we go ahead and reject them, and then you change your mindter, that''ll be quite problematic."

    "Don''t worry," Zachary replied, his voice firm. "I''ve thought about the issue for quite some time, even before today. I''m sure that I want to continue developing my skills at Rosenborg before thinking about joining any other clubs."

    "Then, that''s good," Emily said, a smile lighting up her face and dissolving the solemn atmosphere on the table. "I''ll go ahead and do the needful. However, you''ve got to remember that we can only bar the parties that want to sign you¡ªonly if they approach us. It would be an entirely different story if they decided to deal with the club directly¡ªand then trigger your release use. You''ve got to be ready for such a scenario, especially considering the form you''re on at the moment."

    "Then we can go ahead and ask for some abnormal personal terms during the negotiation process if such a scenario develops," Zachary replied, grinning like a rogue. "For instance, you could ask for 90K Euros per week and then request for a use in the contract that promises regr first-team football. If the interested parties could fulfill such conditions, I would force myself to forget my worries and then transfer. But otherwise, I''ll remain a Rosenborg yer for some time."

    "That''s a good idea," Emily said, a soft smile still outlining her face. "I''ll watch out for such an opportunity in the future. But the endorsement offer negotiations are not dead yet. Red Bull might still want to take you on as a brand ambassador even if you reject the prospect of transferring to Leipzig. But that way, they''ll get many opportunities to badger you and try to convince you to change your mind and join their club. Are you willing to ept their endorsement offer of twelve million Norwegian Kroner a year even after knowing that?"

    "If they can remove the condition of transferring to Leipzig during the following transfer window, then I''m okay with the deal," Zachary replied confidently. "I can easily withstand their badgering if they''re paying me that twelve million a year."

 Chapter 189 - Emilyâ€™s Concerns

    "That''s good to know," Emily said, beaming. "I''ll keep that in mind. But putting endorsement deals aside, will you be returning to your home country during the uing break in the Tippeligaen season?"

    "Yes, of course," Zachary replied matter-of-factly. "I haven''t been back even once ever since I arrived in Norway to start my training at the academy. So, I''ll surely be going back this time around."

    "Oh," Emily said, sipping on her coffee. "But I''ve recently heard some news that there''s a rebel conflict going on in DR Congo. Are you sure that it won''t affect you when you go back?"

    Zachary smiled. "The rebel conflict is currently taking ce in the eastern part of DR Congo," he borated. "It is mainly around the regions of North Kivu, Goma, and Beni. But, I''ll be heading to Lubumbashi, which is in the southern part of the country. The two ces are over 1,500 Kilometers apart. So, there isn''t a chance that I''ll get affected by the civil strife."

    "That''s reassuring," Emily said, running a hand through her wavy dark brown hair. "What about Lubumbashi? Is it safe?"

    "It''s very safe," Zachary was quick to reply with a confident tone. "The city is one of the safest in DR Congo. You have to know that it''s in the far south, close to DR Congo''s border with Zambia. It''s quite peaceful and hardly ever experiences any armed conflicts."

    Emily sighed. "Then howe that I recently chanced upon some news of a militia group consisting of one hundred fighters attacking Lubumbashi and seizing a United Nationspound?" She queried, her brows drawing together into a frown. "Moreover, this attack was only two months ago, in March. From what I heard, the attack was a deadly one. It even resulted in an armed face-off between the militants and the Congolese soldiers. And there were even some fatal casualties and deaths from the fighting."

    Zachary''s eyes widened on hearing that. "You know quite a lot about Congo, for someone that is from the UK," he said. "Are you a part-time journalist or something?"

    Emily chuckled. "You''re my client," she replied, her voice softening. "So, I conducted a bit of research about your home country. And what I discovered was quite worrying. It''s my wish that you avoid the ce until thing things settle down."

    "It''s my home," Zachary said, shaking his head. "I''ve got to go back and visit my grandmother this time around. You don''t have to worry, though. The situation in the country always looks worse in the news than what is actually on the ground. The conflict is not as serious as the press is making it out to be. So, I''m sure I''ll be safe there."

    "Let''s hope so," Emily said, nodding. "But you''ve got to be careful when you go back. We don''t want anything bad to happen to you when you are just starting to solidify your status as a pro athlete."

    "Don''t worry," Zachary replied. "I''ll be extra careful. Moreover, no one should recognize me when I''m back there. The locals don''t watch the Tippeligaen matches. So, I shouldn''t have any trouble moving around since I''ll almost be anonymous."

    "Then, I''m assured."

    For the next few minutes, they continued making small talk as they ate their light meals. They discussed how Zachary would train during the break and made ns for when he would be returning to Trondheim from DR Congo. They evenid strategies on how to attract more endorsement offers. That way, they slowly emptied their cups and tes and then said their goodbyes.

    Zachary immediately headed to the Lerkendal gym to put in some light exercise. As an exercising maniac, he always felt like he wasn''tplete on the days he didn''t work out and expend some sweat. So, for the next hour, he stretched his muscles on a foam roller and did some weight lifting to quicken his post-match recovery. He only stopped when he felt light-headed and almost out of breath. But Zachary could already feel his mind bing more active due to the intense exercise. He was pretty pleased with the results of the session.

    After the gym work, he immediately headed to the training ground. Since he was already on the pitch at Lerkendal, he decided to add a bit of exercise. He came across a few of his teammates, mostly those on the second team, on the field. They were also putting in some hours of extra training with undivided attention.

    Zachary waved to them in greeting before concentrating on going through agilities and endurance-enhancing drills close to the goalposts on one side. As usual, he put all his focus into the routine¡ªuntil he was sweating all over.

    At around 2:00 PM, he ended his session by practicing his shooting from different angles in the final third. He then took a shower and cruised back home to rest for the day.

    He spent the rest of the dayzing off in his apartment until it was six in the evening. Without any dilly-dallying, he took a shower, donned one of his better-looking tracksuits, and headed downstairs to Kristin''s apartment for dinner.

    He didn''t expect much when heading there. He was even anticipating that he would have to make an excuse and escape after spending a few minutes at Kristin''s. But he was pleasantly surprised as the dinner progressed. The evening was pleasant and even made him forget the passing of time.

    Zachary got to eat a very well-cooked sumptuous feast in thepany of two beautiful girls. One was Kristin, herself. The other was her tmate, Monica, a professional skier working hard to make the Norwegian team for the Winter Olympics scheduled for the following year. He enjoyed theirpany since they were also quite interested in sports¡ªhis principal hobby. They talked at length about the previous year''s world cup, the Tippeligaen season, and even delved into discussing Rosenborg''s prospects in the following Europa League tournament.

    That way, the hours quickly passed as Zachary enjoyed himself for the first time in quite a while. By the time he was saying his goodbyes to the two girls, he''d already recovered from the post-match fatigue. Zachary felt as light as a feather while moving up the stairs back to his apartment. His mood was lighter, and his mind refreshed. He couldn''t believe that talking to people over a meal would cure fatigue almost as well as a massage. But he was d that he''d discovered another way to deal with mental burnout.

 Chapter 190 - Against V?lerengen Fotball

    Chapter 190: Against V?lerengen Fotball

    Saturday, May 25th, 2013.

    **** ****

    "V?lerenga... *p*p*... V?lerenga... *p*p*... Rosenborg... BOOO!"

    It was craziness beyond imagine prior to the match between V?lerenga and Rosenborg that was supposed to havemenced at 6:00 PM within the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo.

    Mouth agape, Zachary stood close to the center circle, watching the passionate and wild V?lerenga fans in the stands. Some were waving blue gs, others lighting firecrackers and throwing them behind the goalposts, while the rest sang at the top of their voices. They were a chaotic blend of passion and mayhem.

    [What the hell is happening?]

    The question ran through Zachary''s mind.

    He''d previously thought that the Rosenborg fans were the most intense and crazy supporters during matches. But right after stepping into the Ullevaal Stadion, V?lerenga''s home ground, he''d immediately cast that assumption out of his mind. That evening had shown him just how extreme football fans could be.

    His mind was still in shock after witnessing the insanity of some of the V?lerenga fans. Their passion was clearly way beyond what a sane person would consider reasonable support for their team.

    A few minutes prior, just moments to the scheduled start of the game, two V?lerenga fans had stunned everyone present. They''d somehow managed to get through security and race onto the pitch, catching most of the yers by surprise. What was even more shocking was that they''d managed to snatch Rosenborg''s g from Mikael''s outstretched arm¡ªjust as he was about toplete an exchange with the other captain.

    Before the Rosenborg acting captain could react, the two fans had already left him in the dust, leaving him in a state ofplete shock. Mikael Dorsin had been left to watch them helplessly as they bolted across the pitch¡ªand made their way back towards the stands, speed like the wind. The two men somehow managed to escape the pursuit of the policemen, who''d tried to stop them, long enough to throw the g to their counterparts in the stands.

    A few of the V?lerenga fans in the stands had reacted right then. They''d wasted no time receiving the g and then setting it on fire to send the whole Ullevaal Stadion into chaos.

    The traveling Rosenborg fans reacted immediately by throwing various items, including firecrackers, onto the pitch. It was sheer madness¡ªthe likes of which Zachary had never experienced.

    The referee had immediately decided to postpone the kick-off as the security personnel tried to bring the chaos under control. Ten minutes had already psed since the burning of the g, yet the fans had not settled down yet. The yers had even assembled in their respective halves of the pitch to wait for the disorder to pass.

    "Do you think there''s a chance the game will be postponed?" Zachary asked Mikael Dorsin, Rosenborg''s acting captain, who was doing a few stretches beside him. Even though he''d just faced an assault by the fans, he didn''t seem rattled in the slightest. Mikael behaved as if the incident had happened to someone else while continuing to go about his business. He acted with theposure befitting the veteran Rosenborg defender he was. Zachary could only sigh in admiration as he witnessed how he''d handled the incident.

    "Nah," Mikael replied, shaking his head. "I hardly doubt that the officials will postpone the match. The fans will settle down after a few more minutes, and then we''ll be able to y. So, make sure you keep your mind sharp¡ªand your body warmed up as you wait for the chaos to pass."

    "Oh, okay," Zachary said. "Is it always like this every year?" He queried as he started doing his own stretching routine.

    "The chaos has never escted to this level during my time with Rosenborg," Mikael replied, switching from a forward-bend posture and starting to do some leg lifting. "But the V?lerenga fans have always been very energetic whenever we y them. They have always supported and cheered their team on as if their lives depend on it. The sheer intensity of the yells from the fans can even cause you to make a few mistakes if your head isn''t totally into the game."

    "Makes me wonder what they would do if their team managed to be champions!" Zacharymented, starting to go through a routine of leg swinging.

    Mikael chuckled on hearing Zachary''sment. "But our fans aren''t bad either," he said. "They''re even more passionate than the V?lerenga supporters. That''s if you take away all the craziness. You''ll notice their intensity if we manage to win a cup this season."

    Zachary continued making small talk with Mikael as they continued stretching. Since he''d already warmed up before the scheduled time of the match, he was only focused on his lower body to keep it ready for the action that would start any time.

    The session turned into a serious one a few minutester. A few other teammates joined them in the exercising routine as they waited for the fans to settle down. In that manner, fifteen minutes quickly passed, and order returned to the stadium.

    **** ****

    Within the visiting team''s technical area, Coach Johansen felt a bit unsettled as he watched the referee finally blow the whistle, signaling for the start of the match at exactly 6:30 PM. He feared that the disturbance that''d preceded the kick-off might have disrupted the focus of his yers. So, he decided to motivate them before they made any mistakes that could cost the team dearly.

    "Focus and keep your heads in the game," he yelled at the top of his lungs as soon as he saw Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg center-forward, kick-start the game with a pass back into the midfield. "First, concentrate on settling down and holding possession. y with a swift passing style and don''t allow the V?lerenga yers to win possession easily."

    Coach Johansen continued shouting at the Rosenborg yers until he made sure that all their heads were in the game. He finally rxed and started studying the formation of the opposing team.

    Kjetil Rekdal, the V?lerenga coach, had also used the 4-3-3 attacking formation. It was simr to his in every detail. V?lerenga had fielded four defenders, one defensive midfielder, two attacking midfielders, and one center forward¡ªshaping up into mostly triangles as the game progressed. Moreover, he was also using high-pressing tactics, most likely in an attempt to pressure Rosenborg into losing possession much more quickly. Even in the first four minutes of the game, his attacking yers were all over the Rosenborg defenders, running at them whenever they received the ball in the backfield.

    Furthermore, the V?lerenga coach had organized a pressing zone around Zachary and Jonas Svensson, Rosenborg''s two attacking midfielders. Whenever any of the two was on the ball, two of the V?lerenga midfielders would double team the one in question¡ªand then manage to nip Rosenborg''s attacks in the bud. Moreover, V?lerenga was ying a high defensive line, probably to counter Zachary''s through-passes to Nicki, which coulde at any time.

    Coach Johansen instantly decided that his opponent was not an easy man to defeat, considering his choice of tactics. Kjetil had almost sealed off all the strong points of Rosenborg. Coach Johansen anticipated a tough 90 minutes because of that.

    The first fifteen minutes passed by quickly as the two teams tried to establish their dominance on the field. Zachary yed well as usual. He was unleashing passes left and right¡ªinto both wings to initiate a few Rosenborg attacks. When there weren''t any passing options, he coordinated well with the other midfielders to help Rosenborg dictate the tempo as the game progressed. Thanks to his incredible vision and passing ability, Rosenborg started hoarding all the possession amid the growing booing of the V?lerenga fans.

    However, the game remained deadlocked at a score of 0:0 until the 20th minute, when an unfavorable change urred. Christian Gamboa, the Rosenborg right-back, made a mistake and lost possession just after receiving a pass close to the centerline. It was a simple mistake born of a bit ofxity while controlling the ball. But it cost Rosenborg dearly.

    Diego Calvo, V?lerenga''s left-winger, pounced on the loose ball before any Rosenborg yer could react. Without any pause, he controlled it mid-sprint before continuing to bolt across the green. He managed to race along the touchline on the left nk for more than a dozen yards before the Rosenborg defensive yers could organize themselves into a proper defensive shape.

    Amid the rising cheers of the home fans, the left-winger sent a lofted teasing cross towards Rosenborg''s box just as he was about to step into the final third.

    Mustafa Abdeoue, the V?lerenga center-forward, managed to get to the end of the cross and nt a header into the top left corner from around the edge of the box. With that attempt, the tall forward seeded in beating Lund Hansen, Rosenborg''s goalkeeper, to score the first goal.

    1:0.

    V?lerenga IF, the pride of Oslo, had managed to strike and draw first blood in the 21st minute. The V?lerenga fans even became crazier than they''d been. They jumped up and down in the stands while shouting and pping their hands to celebrate. The goal sent them into a frenzy of wild cheering that shook the entire Ullevaal Stadion to its very core.

    Coach Johansen sighed, shaking his head as he watched the V?lerenga yers celebrating their first goal. What he''d feared had happened. Some of his yers were clearly still unfocused, mainly because of the chaos that''d ensued at the start of the game. That was why a few of them were starting to make amateur mistakes that early in the match. So, he decided to take a harsh decision and make a substitution right away to shake them up a bit.

    **** ****

 Chapter 191 - The Worries Of The Acting Captain

    Mikael Dorsin, the acting Rosenborg captain, sighed with frustration as he watched the V?lerenga yers celebrate their goal on the sidelines. Just because of the mistake of one teammate, his team was already on the back foot very early in the game. God! He hated to lose the most. He could feel his emotions all over the ce as he recalled the goal. He would have liked to run to Christian, the yer that''dmitted the amateur mistake, and given him a mouthful of what he felt. But he swallowed down his frustration and instead turned to the technical area to observe Coach Johansen''s reaction to V?lerenga''s first goal.

    But his eyes widened with surprise a momentter. He instantly noticed that Verner R?nning and Ole Seln?s, two of Rosenborg''s defensive-minded yers on the bench, had already started warming up on the sidelines. He was baffled and concerned by the coach''s rashness and impatience.

    "The coach seems to be quite angry," Mike Jensen, Rosenborg''s defensive midfielder, said after walking up to him. "He''s even nning to make a substitution this early in the game!"

    "But we can''t me him," Mikael said, tamping down his irritation. "We yed poorly on the defensive end. Most of us aremitting simple mistakes that are slowly causing our downfall. If I were the coach, maybe, I, too, would be thinking about a substitution right now."

    "But surely you don''t believe that substitutions this early in the game is the answer to our problems," Mike Jensen said, shaking his head slightly. "We''re only a bitx when on the ball because of ying at an away ground in an unfamiliar environment. Moreover, you''ve got to understand that the V?lerenga fans aren''t making it easy for us to focus on the game."

    "I''m sure that all our yers will grow into the game soon¡ªand get used to this environment within the next few minutes," the defensive midfielder continued. "They will then start performing as usual, and we''ll score. Don''t forget that we have Nicki, Tarik, and above all, Zachary upfront. They can create goal-scoring opportunities at any moment. So, I don''t believe there''s any need for substitutions right now."

    "I concur with you on that," Mikael said, caressing his chin while observing his teammates. "But why are you telling me all this? I''m not the coach."

    "You can try talking to the coach about this," Mike Jensen replied, smiling slightly. "He''ll listen to you since you''re the captain."

    "Hahaha..." Mikael gave a bitterugh. "Do you think that I''m Zachary, Tore, or Nicki? You''ve got to know that aside from them, the rest of us on the starting eleven are easily expendable. So, I''m not going to irritate the coach further by telling him how to do his job."

    Mikael was also quite worried about how things were progressing.

    He also believed a substitution that early in the game was not the best solution tobat thexity of the Rosenborg yers on the field of y. A change in yers could lead to more disorganization within the team, bringing about more tactical difficulties. That was even more so since they''d conceded a goal only a minute ago.

    So, Mikael was determined to prevent such a scenario from happening. But he wasn''t going to achieve that byining to the coach. He had his way of doing things using the vibrant voice that whoever had created the world had given him.

    "Guys," he shouted at the top of his lungs as he began moving around the pitch¡ªthrough the ranks of his teammates. "Let''s not lose morale because of a single goal. Let''s not mind the fans and first concentrate on stabilizing our game. We''re the stronger team. We''ll surely be able to score if we y like usual..."

    **** ****

    On hearing Mikael yelling, Zachary immediately jogged back to his position in the left midfield. He hoped for the game to restart as quickly as possible. He was eager to help his team get an immediate goal¡ªand bring proceedings back to a level ground within the Ullevaal Stadion. However, the V?lerenga yers were taking their time celebrating the goal. They were clearly wasting time and dying the restart.

    Zachary was already feeling impatient from the long pause in the game. Nevertheless, he remained in his position awaiting the referee''s whistle without anyint.

    He didn''t want to get on the wrong side of the highly vtile V?lerenga fans by protesting against the wastage of time to the referee. To a certain degree, he was rattled by their intensity. He believed catching their attention in the wrong way was a fate worse than waiting a couple of more minutes for the game to restart.

    The referee acted harshly to resolve the time wastage crisis. He showed yellow cards to two of the V?lerenga yers before sending them back to the pitch for the restart after the goal. But the booing that resulted from those two cautions was so loud that it flooded out any other sound in the stadium. Zachary could only sigh again and again at the intensity of the fans.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and motioned for the Rosenborg yers to restart the game in the 24th minute. Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg star striker, immediately passed the ball back to Jonas Svensson in the right midfield.

    Zachary reacted right away on seeing Jonas, his counterpart in attacking midfield, control the ball. He opened himself up by running further left into space on the left nk¡ªwith the intention to escape the reach of Christian Grindheim, the stocky V?lerenga attacking midfielder, who was quickly approaching him.

    To his relief, Jonas, the other Rosenborg attacking midfielder, managed to spot him right away. Without any dilly-dallying, he relinquished the ball to him before the opponents could react.

    Zachary felt his heart palpitating with a blend of excitement and anxiety as he watched the ball approaching the space in front of him. He was feeling anxious because of the booing by the V?lerenga fans. But at the same time, his spirits had already brightened since he was about to receive the ball.

    He was in a messy state of mind that he didn''t fancy in the slightest. He preferred to remain cool-headed and confident on the pitch. So, he forced himself to calm down as he controlled the pass mid-sprint before continuing to run towards V?lerenga''s half amid the rising booing from their fans.

    Kristofer H?stad, the V?lerenga defensive midfielder, quickly closed in on him, blocking his sprinting path. However, Zachary did not attempt to dribble. He immediately fed the ball to Tobias Mikkelsen, the Rosenborg left-forward, who''d long started making a run along the touchline. Zachary didn''t stop his run, though. Instead, he circumvented Kristofer and continued to push on deeper into V?lerenga''s half.

 Chapter 192 - A Missile For An Equalizer

    Tobias Mikkelsen didn''t hold the ball for long after receiving Zachary''s pass. He instead dashed across the touchline for a couple of yards before passing it back to Zachary, who was running in sync with him a few meters to his right.

    The two of them continued ying a one-two''s, racing past a couple of other V?lerenga yers and cutting into the pitch. They connected well to exchange quick and seamless passes, magically approaching the opponent''s box, like predators on the hunt. They moved so fast and were upon the defensive line in mere seconds.

    Zachary received another return pass from Tobias, just as Simon Larsen, one of the V?lerenga center-backs, was about to close him down at the edge of the box.

    But he didn''t panic, though. He had several passing options around him and wasn''t the least bit afraid he would lose possession. So, with a deft touch, he pushed the ball out of the center-backs'' reach with his left foot. His mind was already working in overdrive to deduce how to make the most out of the attack.

    He understood he couldn''t dy even for a single second while in front of the opponent''s box since the defenders were already bearing down on him fast. So, his first idea was to y a through-pass to Nicki Nielsen, the on-form Rosenborg center forward. He could set him loose on a path towards the goal if he could time the release perfectly.

    But out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the V?lerenga keeper standing off his line before he could follow through with the thought. It was as if the keeper was inviting him to try his luck from the edge of the box. Of course, he wouldn''t disappoint the keeper by refusing such a gift.

    He first slowed down a bit to draw in the two defenders, who were almost upon him once again. He then pushed the ball slightly beyond him with the outside of his left boot, making sure to angle his body in the same direction. It looked like he intended to dash into the box by taking advantage of the space left by the defenders on his left. But while he was mid-motion, he changed his contact surface to the inside of his boot, initiating an stico dribble and leaving the defenders confused for a few moments.

    Before the defenders could recover, he flicked the ball to his right to create more space for himself. And with quick movements, he smashed the ball with the inside of his right boot¡ªsending it on a curving trajectory towards the goal as the entire stadium turned quiet. For the first time since the match began, the V?lerenga fans stopped making noise as a moment of silence descended upon the Ullevaal Stadion.

    A soft smile outlined Zachary''s face as his eyes followed the ball. It soared over and around the defenders before spinning inwards and then bounding towards the goal. It was like a missile heading for its intended target.

    At that moment, Zachary was confident he''d scored with his attempt since the keeper was still about two meters off his line. So, he raised his arms to celebrate the equalizer. But in the next moment, he let them dangle at his side as an abrupt change urred.

    Gudmund Kongshavn, the V?lerenga goalkeeper, had managed to backtrack in some magical way. He leaped, contorting his tall frame backward and punching the ball over the crossbar. With that incredible save, the keeper sent the stadium into a frenzy of cheering once again.

    The referee immediately blew the whistle and pointed to the corner g.

    Zachary could only sigh in despondence as he watched the V?lerenga yers celebrating together and congratting their keeper upon the incredible save. He had done everything right while taking that shot, but he''d still failed to score. So, he was feeling a little downcast.

    But then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg acting captain for that match, stealthily picking up the ball and then cing it in the corner spot. Zachary''s hopes immediately reignited, the disappointment of missing a chance to score all forgotten within an instant.

    Before the V?lerenga yers could organize themselves into a proper defensive shape, he started making his way towards the corner g, speed like a horse on a racetrack. To his satisfaction, Mikael spotted him immediately. The Rosenborg acting captain quickly took the corner short and passed the ball to him amid the growing booing of the fans.

    Zachary received the grounded pass just as he''d traveled a few meters out of the box. Without any slight pause, he spun around, with the ball hooked to his left boot, and was once again facing V?lerenga''s goal before any opponent could close him down. It was a god-sent opportunity for Rosenborg to score. Zachary felt he had all the time he needed to work with the ball. It was another moment of truth to test V?lerenga, and he knew it.

    Adrenaline started flooding through his system, quickening his heartbeat as he flicked the ball forwardunching it a few meters in front of him. With the deft touch, he managed to push it closer to the corner edge of the box. He could hear the booing of the V?lerenga fans rising to a crescendo as if they were trying to disrupt his focus.

    But he forced his mind to push away all the outside interference and concentrated on the issue at hand. In a sh, he raised his head and cast a fleeting nce at the situation in the box to determine his next course of action. He noticed that a few of the V?lerenga yers were already rushing towards him like mad, but he didn''t mind. He had all the time in the world to do the needful.

    Without losing hisposure, he took a step after the ball, raised his leg, locked his ankle¡ªand then swung down hard and strong¡ªto unleash a missile of a shot towards the goal.

    "BAAM!"

    He smiled as his ears managed to pick up the sweet sound of his boot smacking the ball when he made his intended contact. He then raised his head once again to observe the results of his attempt.

    That time around, he hadn''t applied any fancy tricks, like a spin, while shooting the ball. So, it shed through the yers on a straight trajectory towards the goal as if it was a bullet leaving a sniper''s muzzle. In about a second or two, it homed into the top right corner, sending the Ullevaal Stadion into another moment of deathly silence. The keeper couldn''t even react and stayed rooted in one position because of how heavy and fast the shot was.

    1:1.

    Rosenborg had managed to react immediately and score an equalizer in the 27th minute, just three minutes after conceding. Zachary raised his arms where he stood, at the corner edge of the box, to celebrate the goal. His teammates soon rushed towards him and joined the celebration amid the rising cheers of the few Rosenborg fans that''d traveled to Oslo to watch the game.

    **** ****

 Chapter 193 - Game Progression

    Kristin was immensely relieved when Zachary scored the equalizer to tie the score at 1:1. She hadn''t been able to travel to the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo to watch the match live since she was busy preparing for her trip to Bergen with Zachary the following day. Instead, she had watched the game on TV¡ªback in thefort of her living room.

    When V?lerenga had scored the first goal, she''d thought that Rosenborg was in for a tough 90 minutes. So, she''d felt anxious. But when Zachary scored the equalizer only four minutester, she cast her concerns aside.

    She''d started believing that as long as Zachary was on form, Rosenborg would find it very hard to lose even if they wanted to. As long as he was present on the pitch, he could create and bag goals at any moment to destroy their opponent. So, there was no use for needless worry.

    "He''s getting better and better with every match," Monica R?nning, Kristin''s tmate, said, her eyes never leaving the screen. She was seated on the same sofa as Kristin, also following the progress of the game. On the table before themy various snacks and drinks to enhance their experience of viewing the match.

    "On screen, he looks a lot different from how he usually does," Kristinmented.

    Her mind went back to the night they had had dinner with him a few days prior. "He''s almost like an entirely different person."

    "How so?" Monica asked, leaning forward and picking a few snacks from the table before her. "I don''t see the difference."

    "Maybe, it''s because you''ve only seen him a few times," Kristin observed. "But the difference is there for sure. On the pitch, he appears to be a confident, no-nonsense person. But outside the field, he loses all his assurance and acts shy. Don''t you remember he barely spoke during the first few minutes of our dinnerst Tuesday?"

    "Oh," Monica said, smiling a bit and cocking her head to observe Kristin. "Aside from being a little too quiet, I don''t see much difference. Unless he only acts that way when he''s alone with you. And you know what that means. Don''t you?"

    "Are you trying to tease me again?"

    "Nah," Monica said, shaking her head. "I''m not kidding. If he''s acting that way around you, then he might really be interested in you. Try to gain his attention the next time you see him if you want to test that theory."

    "Didn''t you say you''d be going with him to Bergen tomorrow?" Monica asked when her friend stayed quiet. "That will be the perfect opportunity to test out my theory."

    "Can you stop with the jokes, please?"

    "I''m dead serious here," Monica said, sighing. "I''m your friend. So, I''m just giving you a little bit of advice. Remember: with how fast his fame is rising, you''ve got to act fast. Otherwise, some other hottie will grab him quicker than you can snap your fingers. But that is¡ªonly if you have feelings for him. If not, pretend I didn''t say anything."

    "Let''s watch the match," Kristin said, hoping to change the topic. Even though she liked Zachary, she didn''t want toe off like a stereotypical fangirl by throwing herself at him. That was a big no for her.

    Moreover, she wasn''t entirely sure whether the favorable impression he''d left on her was due to him being a Rosenborg yer. She wasn''t confident she was genuinely interested in him on a personal level. So, she had no intention of following her friend''s advice.

    "But, tell me one thing," Monica continued, her eyes crinkling at the corners. There was mischief in her eyes when she gave her friend a sideways nce. "Was he as good as he is now back when you first saw him? I find him impressive. I would grab him for myself if I''d been you back then."

    "What do you mean?" Kristin was quick to reply. She inclined her head slightly to observe her friend, her gaze probing. "Are you referring to skill with the ball?"

    "What else would I be talking about?" Monica answered and chuckled. "Of course, it''s about his skills as a footballer."

    "Oh!" Kristin said, nodding and returning her gaze to the TV screen. "Seriously, I''m also amazed by his rate of progress. When I first saw him in DR Congo about two years ago, he was good, yes. But he wasn''t this freakishly good. His improvement over the past two years has been truly incredible. I really don''t know how he trains to..." She stopped mid-sentence and abruptly raised the TV volume with the remote. Since Rosenborg was on the attack once more, she forgot everything else around her¡ªand concentrated on following the match progress.

    "It''s Zachary on the ball now," she heard thementator speaking, the voiceing clearly to her from her home theater system. "He skips past Christian Grindheim, the V?lerenga captain, before feeding the ball to Borek Dockal, Rosenborg''s right forward."

    "Borek on the ball. He twists and turns and ys the ball back into midfield¡ªto Jonas Svensson. Jonas quickly passes the ball to Zachary once more."

    "Zachary on the ball. He wriggles past Kristofer H?stad, V?lerenga''s defensive midfielder, before passing the ball into the right-wing with a diagonal ball over the midfield. Oh! What a beautiful switch of y. Rosenborg continues to build momentum on the attack! The Troll Kids are on fire. Even the booing of the V?lerenga fans can''t stop their drive to attack..."

    Kristin''s attention was entirely on the screen. She watched Rosenborg grow more dominant in the game and start dictating the tempo.

    All the Rosenborg yers had begun ying fantastic one-touch or two-touch football after the goal. They were tearing the V?lerenga formation apart with extreme technicality while moving the ball fluidly around the pitch. Their ying style was a feast for the eyes as they continued mounting more pressure on V?lerenga''s goal.

    Kristin enjoyed watching the new Rosenborg. She enjoyed watching the games with Zachary on the lineup. He helped the side y a lot better with his creativity on the field of y.

    The minutes passed quickly. Soon it was the 44th, only moments away from the end of the first half. But Rosenborg had still failed to score a second despite continuing tounch waves of attacks at their opponent''s box. Both Nicki Nielsen and Borek Dockal had even missed clear chances at goal. So, Kristin thought the match would go into half-time without any more drama, with the score still deadlocked at 1:1.

    She was finding the ending of the first half a bit anticlimactic. She was about to reduce the TV volume¡ªto return to her conversation with Monica. But then, she saw Zachary make a sliding tackle and win back possession for Rosenborg¡ªjust close to the center circle.

    Her heart began beating hard with anticipation as she ced the TV remote back on the table. She remembered both Zachary and Nicki were most dangerous during the final minutes of either half. There was no way she would miss out on the final moments of the first half.

    After winning back possession with a sessful tackle, Zachary immediately picked himself from the ground before passing to Jonas, the other attacking midfielder, who was already running in sync with him.

    Jonas controlled the ball mid-sprint in the right midfield. With a deft touch, he fed it between the legs of Morten Berre, V?lerenga''s left midfielder, and circumvented him. He continued dashing towards V?lerenga''s box like the wind amid rising cheers from the few Rosenborg fans present in the Ullevaal Stadion.

    Giancarlo Gonz¨¢lez, the V?lerenga center-back, came up next to close down Jonas. But Jonas didn''t try to push past him. Instead, he flicked the ball to his right¡ªto Zachary, who''d already matched his run, bearing down on V?lerenga''s goal like a wolf chasing prey.

    Zachary didn''t even pause to control the ball. He immediately passed it on to Nicki, who''d already escaped his marker within the final third. Nicki received it perfectly with a deft touch and spun around to face V?lerenga''s goal.

    Kristin felt it was another goal-scoring opportunity created by the perfect teamy of Zachary, Jonas, and Nicki. The three of them had worked together well to prate V?lerenga''s defensive shape with seamless passes.

    She felt a wave of excitement wash through her as she saw Nicki dash past Simon Larsen, the other V?lerenga center back. He then continued bolting towards the box, like a bullet train on the rails, with the ball staying close to his feet.

    "That''s surely another goal," Monicamented from beside her. She was slowly munching on potato chips as she watched the match. "The V?lerenga defenders have allowed Nicki to rush past them! He won''t miss, not with the form he''s on."

    "Shhhh," Kristin instantly sashed her tmate. She didn''t want to miss the moment Nicki unleashed a shot at goal.

    She kept her eyes fixed on the screen as Nicki ran like mad and stepped into the box. The number-9 then tried to chip the ball over the keeper, and Kristin almost jumped up to celebrate since she, too, believed Nicki couldn''t miss. But the following few words of thementator stopped her in her tracks.

    "Oh, my! What a superb save by Gudmund Kongshavn," she heard thementator say, his voice rising and bing more animated. "What an incredible run that was from Nicki before trying to chip the ball over the goalkeeper. But¡ªhowever, Gudmund managed to get his fingertips on the ball and push it away from his goal. The referee points to the g for a corner kick."

    **** ****

 Chapter 194 - Corner-Kick

    "How could he even miss that?" Coach Johansen eximed, shaking his head as he watched Mikael Dorsin walk to the corner g.

    He wasn''t angry with Mikael, the acting captain, who was about to take the corner kick. Instead, he was immensely exasperated by Nicki wasting a clear goal-scoring opportunity when he was one-on-one with the keeper.

    "Damn!" The coach let out a few more expletives¡ª of the sort that couldn''t be said in front of children, to vent his frustration. Despite being the coach, some happenings on the pitch asionally managed to sour his mood immensely. Missing a clear goal-scoring chance was close to the top of the list of those urrences.

    But as a coach, he had to remain alert to every single change in the game. He couldn''t let negative thoughts like frustration influence his decision-making as the match progressed. So, he tried his best to push the irritation to the back of his mind as he returned his focus to the field to continue following the game.

    Despite his still bitter mood, he couldn''t help but smile when he saw Mikael trying to take the corner short and quick once again.

    However, the V?lerenga yers had learned their lesson and were on the alert for his antics. Within a few seconds, they marked every Rosenborg yer that could connect with the corner. They were not giving any Rosenborg yer even a single inch of space within the box.

    Based on their reactions, it seemed the corner-kick that had resulted in Zachary''s goal a few minutes prior was still very fresh in their minds.

    Coach Johansen''s soft smile morphed into a frown as he continued observing the situation in V?lerenga''s final third. He could tell that his yers were not yet ready for the corner. So, with a hand sign agreed upon before the match, he motioned for Mikael, his acting captain, to dy restarting gamey. In the meantime, he shouted at his yers, trying to motivate and organize them with his words.

    "Focus, focus, focus on the corner," he yelled at the top of his lungs. "Zachary! Join the rest in the penalty box and ready yourself to directly attack the corner. Don''t just stand at the edge of the box. Move!" He waved an arm before him for emphasis.

    Coach Johansen couldn''t help but sigh as he watched Zachary begrudgingly trek towards the box. With his looming height at 6''4, he could turn into a nightmare for defenders during set-pieces.

    With a bit of effort, he could transform into an assassin within the box. He could be someone like Marouane Feini or tan Ibrahimovi? if he put some effort into training his heading technique.

    Coach Johansen could even picture all teams in the Tippeligaening to fear him in the near future¡ªjust because of that physique of his.

    But the only problem hindering that scenario from developing was Zachary''s attitude. The coach couldn''tprehend why the boy didn''t fancy heading into the area to attack corner kicks whenever there was a chance. It was against all reason and a clear waste not to utilize such a clear height advantage. So, he made a mental note to have a word with Zachary about the issue when a chance arose in the near future.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and motioned for Mikael to take the corner after trying his best to stop the turmoil in the box. But still, the yers continued to pull and push at one another, all trying to outmaneuver their opponents. Even some of the Rosenborg yers had startedmitting fouls despite being on the attack.

    "Stay calm, guys," Coach Johansen yelled anew, stepping close to the boundary of the technical area. "Don''t get sucked into their fouling. Just focus on attacking and leave the rest for the referee to handle. We only have a minute or two to half time. So, focus and make the most out of this corner."

    Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg acting captain, finally floated a teasing ball into the congested area.

    But coach Johansen was not satisfied with its trajectory.

    He sighed with a little despondence, thinking Mikael had taken a sub-par corner. That was because it didn''t match any of the corner drills they''d practiced during the training sessions before the game. By following its course, he''d quickly judged that it would descend on the far side¡ªclose to the boundary of the box. He doubted any of the Rosenborg yers would get to it that far away from goal.

    But his heart started racing and palpitating with anticipation the next moment¡ªas the ball began descending fast, heading close to the far post. He''d just noticed that Zachary had already broken away from his marker and positioned himself in the exact spot where the corner ball was heading. The African prodigy had seemingly anticipated the delivery¡ªand reacted fast¡ªbefore any other yer, winning himself a second or two ahead of his mark.

    He pushed off the green like a basketball yer out to make a dunk¡ªand jumped high to meet the corner ball. Two V?lerenga yers that''d managed to reach his position tried to stop him a momentter. But he outmuscled them by relying on his incredible physique and continued rising into the air.

    Coach Johansen could hear a momentary silence descend upon the stands within the Ullevaal Stadion when Zachary emerged victorious in a battle for aerial superiority to connect with the corner ball. He believed Rosenborg would surely score since it was Zachary making an attempt.

    He raised his hands when he saw Zachary thrust his head forward to nt a heavy header towards the inside of the right post. But the next moment, he let them dangle at his sides before repeatedly punching the air in front of him. His team, Rosenborg, had just missed another goal-scoring chance.

    The ball had smashed off the right post after a slight deflection on one of the V?lerenga yers within the box.

    It was frustrating for Coach Johansen to watch such missed opportunities. He could feel anxiety thrumming through his veins as the ball bounced back into the field and headed towards the right side of the box.

    But he didn''t stay irritated for long as he noticed that it was once again on a straight course towards Zachary''s position.

    "You better not mess this up again, Zachary," Coach Johansen mumbled, obviously not expecting the yer to hear him. He was only psyching himself up to prepare for what was toe as he watched Zachary get to the rebound before the confusion in the box could settle down.

    And God, did he pull the trigger!

    Coach Johansen''s hopes sored as Zachary raised his leg and swung it down to meet the ball on a well-timed half-volley. He sted it with his left boot so forcefully that it looked like he intended to send anyone that got into its path straight to the hospital. The ball flew straight into the top right corner of the.

    Since Zachary had unleashed the shot so close to the goal, it was unstoppable. Gudmund Kongshavn, the V?lerenga keeper, didn''t even manage to react in the slightest. He could only turn around and watch the ball dancing in the back of the after a few seconds. By then, Zachary had already started running to the corner g to celebrate.

    1:2.

    Rosenborg had managed to score and take the lead in the 45th minute, just before half-time.

    [What a way to score! Power to ovee all obstacles.]

    For a moment, Coach Johansen was at a loss for words. The moment Zachary made contact with the ball kept reying in his mind. He''d even forgotten to celebrate the goal as he mulled over Zachary''s uncanny connection with the rebound.

    As a coach, he was well aware that timing volleys and unleashing first-time shots at goal were difficult feats to achieve when luck wasn''t on one''s side. But Zachary made it look easy even while near crowded spaces on the field. He never lost hisposure. He could always time the ball perfectly¡ªand take the shot first-time despite the situation around him. The boy was simply a genius beyond geniuses considering his possession of such an incredible ability.

    "Coach," a yell beside him interrupted his thought process. He inclined his head to the side and found both Verner R?nning and Ole Seln?s, the two substitutes he''d previously instructed to warm-up, standing by his side.

    "What''s the matter?" He asked, looking at the yers inquisitively.

    "Should we continue warming up?" Verner queried, scratching at his chin. "Or should we take a few moments to rest?"

    "Just continue warming up," Coach Johansen was quick to reply. "You know how badly we''ve been performing at the start of the second half during the past few games. So, I want you to be ready since I might require you to enter the match and stabilize the situation at any time. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach," both yers replied more or less in unison.

    "Then, off you go," Coach Johansen said, shooing them away with a wave of his hand. "But keep the warm-up light so that you don''t tire yourselves out before entering the game. And don''t forget to take some water."

    "Yes, coach."

    **** ****

 Chapter 195 - System Milestone Within Sight

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle for half-time in the 47th minute, just a little over a minute after Rosenborg''s goal. The V?lerenga yers had just initiated an attack after the restart when the referee mercilessly brought the first half proceedings to an end.

    Zachary immediately exchanged high-fives with the teammates close to him before starting to make his way towards the dressing room for the half-time break.

    A soft smile yed over his face¡ªa clear tell-tale sign of the mood he was in at that moment. He''d managed to score twice against V?lerenga that day, taking his overall tally for both the month and the season to eight goals. He was only a goal behind the two top scorers: Nicki Nielsen, Roseborg''s number-9, and Frode Johnsen, an Odds BK center-forward.

    At first, before he''d made it to the starting line-up, he''d thought that fulfilling the system mission would be a hard-to-achieve endeavor. But after ying a few games on the first team, he''d developed solid confidence and great belief in himself. He was sure he could reach the system''s milestones for the Tippeligaen mission. He believed he couldn''t fail to aplish at least a single milestone if he continued ying as a starter in most of Rosenborg''s games.

    "Nice game, Zach," Coach Johansen said, patting his shoulder as he walked into the dressing room. "You were amazing out there."

    "Thank you, coach," Zachary said, smiling.

    "But please strive to keep up the hard work during the second half," the coach said. "And continue shooting and testing their keeper whenever you get the chance. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied dutifully. "I''ll do that."

    "Then good." Coach Johansen nodded. "You can sit down and get some rest, Zach." He added, looking around, seemingly to check whether all the yers had already arrived in the dressing room.

    Zachary left the coach to his devices and settled on a bench in the far corner of the dressing room. He concentrated on quickly recovering his stamina by chugging down water and taking a light snack as Coach Johansen started his half-time address.

    "Nice y during the first half," Coach Johansen said, sweeping his gaze across all the yers. "Although we started off slow, we managed to recover and take the lead thanks to Zachary''s brilliance up front." He smiled.

    "But we haven''tpleted the task at hand yet," the coach continued, his voice bing animated. "We still have to maintain our lead throughout the second half and try to score a few more goals if we want to go back home with all three points. I don''t want to see us conceding goals at the start of the second half¡ªlike we''ve done the previous few matches. So, I''ll be making a few changes in the squad for the second half to make sure we don''t falter like usual."

    Coach Johansen''s eyes narrowed as he nced around. "Verner R?nning wille on for Cristian Gamboa while Ole Seln?s will rece Jonas Svensson in midfield."

    "We shall then immediately switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation so that we be more solid at the back. Zachary will remain as the only attacking midfielder and y right behind Nicki upfront. Ole and Mike Jensen will y as our double pivots and defensive midfielders¡ªwhile Borek and Tobias will both pull back and y as real wingers."

    "Please remember," Coach Johansen continued, his voice taking on a harsh tone. "I don''t want to see any careless mistakes on the field of y during the second half. If you receive the ball and find you have no space to maneuver, pass it on. It''s just that simple. Don''t y around like amateurs and cause problems for the team. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "This is ourst game before the break," the coach intoned, his voice lowering. "So, please give your all so that we can win and have a good holiday. But should we lose, then the circumstances will force me to organize specialized training for you guys when the rest of the teams are on holiday."

    A wave of chaotic murmurings washed over the room as soon as Coach Johansen started talking about infringing on the yers resting time. It clearly showed they were against continuing training during the uing Tippeligaen break.

    "Quiet! Listen closely." The coach was surprisingly sharp, and all the yers in the dressing room quietened down.

    "I''m not ying around by saying what I''ve just said," he continued after a moment, his gaze darting across the room with unconcealed harshness. "If you didn''t hear me well the first time, I''ll repeat myself once again. There won''t be any holidays for you if I notice that you''re still sub-par as professionals during the uing second half. Circumstances will force me to organize specialized training for you to raise your skill level. It''s as simple as that."

    "So, go into the second half and concentrate," he continued, half-smiling. "Give your all and y your best football today. I''m very sure we''ll win, hands down¡ªif we do that. Remember, we''re the better team. So, there shouldn''t be any possibility of us losing if we y like close to our best. Are you with me? If you understand me, reply, ''Yes, Coach.''"

    There was an awkward and slightly out-of-sync reply of "Yes, Coach" from the yers in the dressing room. It seemed the yers were still unhappy about the coach''s threat to cut their holiday time short.

    Zachary was surprised. He would readily go for the specialized training without anyints if the coach did follow through with his threat. Moreover, he would even be a little d. He couldn''t help but wonder why his teammates seemed so against the prospect of practicing during the break when they were professional footballers too.

    "I couldn''t hear you all," Coach Johansen said, his voice rising after hearing the awkward response from the yers. "You sound like people who haven''t eaten in days. So, please repeat after me. ''Yes, coach. We do understand."

    Zachary couldn''t help but smile when he heard the yers do a better job at replying in sync that time around.

    He could see the reasoning behind the coach''s weird approach towards motivating the team. Rosenborg had been conceding a lot of goals after half-time over the previous few games. The coach was intent on ensuring that such a scenario didn''t develop that day. So, he''d just utilized a mixture of hard and soft tactics to try and motivate them to y at their best during the second half.

    "Okay then," Coach Johansen said, a sunny smile outlining his face. "That was the kind of response that I would expect from yers on a team aiming to be champions. Remember: we won''t be able to perform if we''re in low spirits. So, cheer up and go back to the pitch for the second half. I''ll be watching each one of you from the sidelines." He added, his tone conclusive.

    **** ****

 Chapter 196 - Unexpected Deadlock

    Coach Johansen stayed true to his word regarding changes in the line-up after half-time. Immediately, after exiting the tunnel for the second half, he went ahead and signaled to the fourth official to introduce both Verner R?nning and Ole Seln?s as substitutes.

    He couldn''t let any mishaps happen when his team was already in the lead. So, he decided to take a guarded approach and introduce two defensive-minded yers to reduce the likelihood of the opponents scoring.

    "Make sure you stay solid at the back," he said to the two substitutes as they were going through the mandatory routine of being checked by the fourth official. "Always make first-time clearances¡ªand please, avoid making mistakes close to our defensive third. If there are opportunities, try to pass the ball to Zachary. He''ll be our ymaker for the second half. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach," the two yers replied in sync just before the fourth official raised the board to announce their entry.

    "Remember my words and pass them on to the rest of the team," Coach Johansen yelled just as Ole, the first substitute, was heading into the pitch. "And please be mindful of the possibility of counterattacks. We must not falter during this game."

    "Yes, coach," Ole shouted as he ran towards his position in Rosenborg''s defensive midfield. Verner, the other substitute, followed after him shortly and took up the right-back position in the new 4-2-3-1 formation.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle soon after.

    Mustafa Abdeoue, V?lerenga''s center forward, responded immediately¡ªand passed the ball back to his midfield to kick-off the game after half-time.

    The second half began at breakneck speed, with Rosenborg flying forward at will and the V?lerenga yers looking explosive on the counter. The magnificent end-to-end exchanges saw Nicki Nielsen, Tobias Mikkelsen, and Borek Dockal¡ªall pass up good opportunities to score for Rosenborg in the opening seven minutes of the half. On the other end, Mustafa Abdeoue, the V?lerenga center-forward, also failed to score after a swift lightning-fast counter in the 57th minute.

    It was an exciting second half for sure, but not for the coaches of both teams.

    Coach Johansen had already grown tense as he watched V?lerengaunch more frequent counterattacks. He couldn''t let the situation be. So, he decided to motivate his yers with the power of his words once more.

    "Focus on maintaining possession," he yelled from the sidelines. "Try to avoid needless mistakes and focus on dictating the tempo. Don''t be impatient while attacking." He was shouting at the top of his lungs to make himself heard over the loud cheering in the stadium.

    "Ole! Move back a bit," the coach continued as he paced the entire length of the boundaries of the technical area. "You''re a defensive, not an attacking midfielder. So, no need to move forward. Tobias and Borek! Please start falling back and supporting the backs when we lose possession. You''re no longer forwards but wingers now. And please do watch out for those counters..."

    He was vocalizing words at the pace of a machine gun as he tried his best to organize his team into a proper shape so as to guard against V?lerenga''s counterattacks. He only stopped yelling when they started growing more dominant a few minutes afterward, in the 60th minute. By then, he''d already rxed, thinking Rosenborg had weathered the most dangerous minutes at the start of the second half. He couldn''t have been more wrong.

    Although team V?lerenga looked down and out, it was suddenly back in the game with a bolt from the blue from Christian Grindheim, the captain, in the 75th minute. The V?lerenga midfielder produced a sublime long-range effort that stunned the Troll Kids with only fifteen minutes left on the clock. He managed to score and bring proceedings back to level ground, sending the entire Ullevaal Stadion into a frenzy of wild cheering.

    2:2.

    "Damn!" Coach Johansen could not help but curse out loud as he watched the V?lerenga yers celebrate. His yers had yed well on the attack, for sure. They''d followed all his instructions to the letter but still conceded after an unexpected long-range shot.

    The game situation was close to prompting him to switch his strategy back to pure attack by sacrificing a part of the defense. He was thinking of instructing Ole Seln?s to push forward and y as an attacking midfielder. That way, his team would constantlymit more numbers forward and increase the chances of scoring.

    "Maybe, we can wait it out and see how our yers react," Trond Henriksen, the assistant head coach, said to him when he was still mulling over the possible change.

    Coach Johansen frowned a bit as he realized that his assistant had seemingly read what was on his mind.

    [Have I be that much of an open book?]

    Coach Johansen felt a little embarrassed at failing to keep hisposure despite being the head coach. He realized he''d be very impatient and strayed close to changing the whole game n only because of the frustration born of watching his team concede an equalizer.

    At that moment, he understood that he still had a lot to learn concerning being the coach of one of the biggest teams in the Tippeligaen. At the very least, he needed to grasp how to conceal his emotions and hide what he was thinking at all times.

    "Thank you," he said, nodding at Trond Henriksen. "We shall go with what you have suggested. Let''s hope our yers cane through and take the lead once again."

    "I think they will," Coach Henriksen said, smiling a bit. "I don''t think yers like Zachary will let the game end like that. So, let''s have some faith in them and see how they get themselves out of this. We should also remember that it''s good sometimes to let the yers have some freedom on the pitch."

    "Okay, I''ll try to do exactly that," Coach Johansen replied before returning his attention to the pitch.

    A few minutester, he acknowledged that his assistant had guessed right. The Rosenborg yers had not let the fact that they''d conceded an equalizing goal dampen their mood. Instead, they''d continued pouring forward and generated even more goal-scoring chances.

    But, their efforts were continuously thwarted by some outstandingst-ditch defending by the V?lerenga back-four.

    Nicki Nielsen came closest to scoring with a thumping volley in the 80th minute. But his strike was wonderfully saved by Gudmund Kongshavn, the on-form V?lerenga keeper. That was even after a deflection that left him wrong-footed.

    Coach Johansen could only sigh after watching yet another missed opportunity. He''d already grown numb to the fact that his yers were repeatedly missing chances. So, he didn''t yell out a word¡ªbut kept watching the match with a forced poker face.

    Rosenborg''s probing continued as the game approached the 85th minute, though to no avail. That was thanks to nearly all the V?lerenga yers moving back to defend. They only left Mustafa Abdeoue, their center forward, upfront. The rest of the nine yers in blue would always remain behind the ball whenever Rosenborg gained possession.

    They were clearly ying the ''park the bus'' tactic, making it harder for Rosenborg to score. Thanks to their shameless method of defending, the score remained deadlocked at 2:2 as the game progressed to the final four minutes.

    "Start floating in more crosses into the box," Coach Johansen decided to break his silence once again on seeing the situation on the pitch. "Zachary! Try testing their keeper using long-range efforts whenever you can. Nicki! Remain standing close to their final man as you wait for an opportunity. Focus! Focus!" He yelled, pping his hands for emphasis.

    **** ****

 Chapter 197 - Outdoing Himself

    Zachary immediately opened up himself to receive the ball when he heard Coach Johansen yelling. Mike Jensen, one of Rosenborg''s defensive midfielders, spotted him and passed to him right away.

    Zachary fought down rising frustration as he controlled the ball close to the center circle. He was well aware that only about five minutes were remaining until the end of the match. So, he knew he had to do his best to create a scoring opportunity as soon as possible. Otherwise, Rosenborg would fail to end the night with three points in the bag and fall further behind Str?msgodset, the team leading the Tippeligaen table.

    Casting a nce across the field of y, he instantly noticed that Borek Dockal, Rosenborg''s right-winger, had just stepped away from his marker on the right nk. With the help of the Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju, he judged right away that Borek was the best option to receive his pass at that moment.

    So, without any dilly-dallying, he flicked the ball to his left and stepped away from a tackle from Morten Berre, V?lerenga''s left-midfielder. He then kicked the ball hard with the outside of his boot to unleash a raking pass towards the right-wing. He didn''t stop there, though, but pushed forward¡ªtowards V?lerenga''s box, even before his pass could reach its intended target.

    Borek Dockal utilized his incredible pace to race past Jan Lecjaks, V?lerenga''s left-back, and connected with Zachary''s through-pass. He controlled the ball mid-sprint with a deft first touch before continuing to spear into V?lerenga''s box through the right nk.

    "Borek!" Coach Johansen hollered out from the visiting team''s technical area. "Quickly cross into the box. Don''t hold the ball for too long..."

    The Rosenborg right-winger quickly followed his coach''s instructions. He floated a teasing cross towards V?lerenga''s box just as he was stepping into the final third.

    Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg number-9, who was always present in the opponent''s box at the right time, reacted immediately. He escaped his mark and jumped high to connect with the iing cross¡ªand then nt a header towards the goal from around the penalty spot. However, his effort towards the inside of the right post wasfortably rebuffed by the keeper.

    Before Nicki could react and pounce on the rebound ball once more, Simon Larsen, the V?lerenga center-back, cleared it further away from the box. He kicked it hard and high towards the center circle enlisting some passionate apuse from the home fans.

    Mike Jensen, Rosenborg''s defensive midfielder, jumped high and headed the long ball to Stefan Strandberg, the center-back. Stefan received it and kicked it to Ole Seln?s, Rosenborg''s defensive midfielder, who''de on as a substitute.

    Ole controlled the ball beautifully close to the border of Rosenborg''s defensive third before passing it quickly to Zachary.

    Zachary received the pass close to the centerline on the left nk and skipped past a sliding tackle with a deft second touch. Without a pause, he bolted towards V?lerenga''s box before any of the opponents could react.

    Morten Berre, the V?lerenga left midfielder, was soon upon him with a sliding challenge. But, Zachary simply flicked the ball to his left before skipping past the tackle and continuing towards the opponent''s goal through the middle.

    As his long strides ate away at the yards of space across the middle third, he looked up ahead, intending to find a teammate as an outlet for the ball. But then he heard Coach Johansen yelling from the sidelines.

    "Try shooting from a distance, Zachary," the coach yelled from the sidelines.

    Of course, Zachary concurred with the coach to try his luck from outside the box. He''d already noticed that the final third was jam-packed with plenty of yers in blue. It was clearly a zone of focused, intense rival pressure resulting from V?lerenga''s ''pack the bus'' tactic during the final minutes.

    With his high game intelligence, he judged that there was a little-to-no-chance Rosenborg could break down such a defense¡ªand go ahead and manage to score in the remaining few minutes. So, he reckoned the best way to test the V?lerenga keeper at that moment was by utilizing long-range efforts or crosses into the box.

    Oning to that conclusion, Zachary immediately decided to take action right away and unleash a long-range shot at goal.

    But just as he was raising his leg to smash the ball towards goal, he felt a slight tug on his shirt. Without any moment of deliberation, he went down to the ground and started crying ''ref'' soon after.

    The referee immediately blew his whistle and awarded Rosenborg a free kick in a position around thirty-five yards away from V?lerenga''s box.

    "BOOO! BOOOOO! BOOOO..."

    Zachary could hear the booing of the V?lerenga fans rising to a momentous crescendo as he picked himself from the ground. But he didn''t mind them in the slightest.

    He was in a good mood since he''d just increased his team''s chance of scoring by winning a free kick in the final third. He was smiling on the inside and wasn''t the least bit mindful of the fans. Instead, all that was on his mind was how to make the most out of the free kick.

    "Zachary," Mikael Dorsin, the acting captain, said after walking up to him. "You''re taking the free kick?" He asked.

    "Of course," Zachary replied, picking up the ball.

    "Good," Mikael replied, nodding. "But the set-piece position seems a bit far. Don''t you think that we should maybe try floating the ball into the box for others to head?"

    "I don''t mind the distance," Zachary replied, smiling slightly and observing the situation in V?lerenga''s box. He noticed that the referee had already started organizing the wall in preparation for the set piece. "As long as it''s within the final third, I can always find the target. So, don''t worry." He added, tone confident.

    "Okay, then," Mikael said. "Try your best then. I wish you luck."

    "Thank you," Zachary replied. "But I''ll need both you and Borek to stand with me on the ball. That way, we''ll be able to keep the keeper guessing until I take the free kick."

    "We can do better," Tobias Mikkelsen, the Rosenborg left-winger, chipped in after walking up to their position. "Since there is some distance to the goal, why don''t we try out one of those routines we had previously practiced for set-pieces?"

    "Let''s not get ahead of ourselves here," Mikael, the acting captain, said. "Since Zachary is taking the free-kick, he should be the one to decide on its strategy. The rest of you are only distracting him with your suggestions."

    "Aye, captain," Tobias replied, smiling.

    "So, Zachary," Mikael said, looking towards him. "Would you like to include some a simple routine before the free-kick, or will you take it directly?"

    "I don''t mind," Zachary said. "Let''s do it."

    "Good," Mikael said, smiling. "Let''s show the V?lerenga keeper the power of teamwork during a set piece."

    The four of them discussed several routines to use for the free kick. Both Tobias and Borek had a lot of suggestions. However, Zachary ended up rejecting most of them since they were overlyplicated. He ended up picking a simple enough one, involving only three yers, just as the referee finished organizing the situation in the box.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally blew the whistle and motioned for the Rosenborg yers to take the free-kick in the 87th minute.

    At that instant, Zachary took a few steps back from the ball.

    Meanwhile, Borek also moved back a bit before starting to run towards the ball once immediately afterward. His expression was dead serious as he lifted his leg and swung it down like he intended to take the set-piece himself. He even managed to fool the yers in the wall to jump up and attempt to block his effort.

    But instead of smashing the ball, Borek slightly flicked it to his left, where Tobias Mikkelsen was waiting. Tobias didn''t do much¡ªbut just brought it under control, setting it up perfectly on Zachary''s path.

    Zachary immediately met the ball mid-roll and rifled a superb left-footed strike from around thirty-five yards away from goal. He was in a hyper-focused state since he''d just activated the Dead-Ball Specialist Juju prior to starting his run towards the ball. His risk analysis and spatial awareness stats had momentarily rocketed to the S grade, making him feel like he had everything under control at that moment. So, it was easy for him to find gaps in the defensive shape of the opponent and make use of them. Moreover, the skill had helped him to shut out all the booing from the V?lerenga fans. He was in his best state when he unleashed the missile towards the opponent''s goal.

    **** ****

    "Oh, it''s Zachary taking the free-kick," Kristin heard thementator say. "Oh, my goodness me! Sensational! Why am I not surprised the ball is in the back of the. In the 88th minute, Zachary Bemba manages to score and help Rosenborg take back the lead from a set piece. The score is 2:3 in favor of Rosenborg. What a shocker! That''s a hattrick for the young Rosenborg number-33. What an incredible night for him..."

    Kristin had already jumped up from her chair to celebrate. She jumped around in the living room as she mumbled the phrase: ''we''re going to win'' repeatedly¡ªover and over again. She was like a little girl that had just seen Santa on Christmas Eve.

    "Will you please settle down," Monica, her tmate, said to her. "The rey ising up. You''re most likely going to miss it if you don''t sit back down."

    "Rey," Kristin''s mumbled, her eyes widening with anticipation. She settled back into the sofa, besides Monica, to continue following the game. To her relief, the rey of the goal came up a few seconds after. She watched as Zachary''s unleashed his stunning long-range effort and beat the keeper from thirty-five yards away. A soft smile had already outlined her face since watching the highlight in slow motion made it much more exciting.

    "I think we''ll be the champions this season," Kristin announced after watching the rey. "With the way the team is ying, that shouldn''t be hard at all."

    "With the way Zachary is ying," Monica corrected, smiling a bit. "That''s a hattrick for him today, and he has managed to rescue the team from an unfavorable situation yet another time. If I were him, I would already be asking for a wage increment. But have you considered that Rosenborg might not be able to keep him at the end of the season?"

    Kristin sighed, shaking her head. "Let''s not think about that, now," she said before returning her attention to the match on screen.

    Zachary''s stunning goal wasn''t the final highlight for the match. In the 91st minute, the V?lerenga center-back Giancarlo Gonz¨¢lez made a terrible error of judgment and gave the ball straight to Rosenborg''s center-forward Nicki Nielsen.

    The on-form forward wasted no time smashing the ball into the back of the to make the score 2:4 with only two minutes of added time remaining on the clock. The Rosenborg yers then went on to hold on to their two-goal lead and end the night with three points in the bag.

    **** ****

 Chapter 198 - Post-Match Excitement

    A deep sense of contentment swelled within Zachary when he was presented with the match ball by the referee right after the final whistle. He had managed to bag three goals in a single match, aplishing his first-ever hat-trick on the professional stage. Moreover, he''d moved closer to the pinnacle of the list of top scorers. Only Nicki Nielsen stilly ahead of him by a single goal.

    "Zach," Mikael Dorsin, the acting captain, hollered out to him. "You don''t have to keep gawking at the match ball. It''s not going anywhere."

    Zachary could only smile wryly in response to the acting captain''s verbal jabs. He didn''t want to respond since any reply from him would elicit more teasing by the entric veteran defender.

    "Anyways," Mikael continued after seeing him remain silent. "Jokes aside. Come, join us. Let''s thank our fans for traveling so far to support us."

    All the yers on the squad, including substitutes and training staff, joined hands and raised them towards the stands upied by the few Rosenborg fans that''d managed to travel to Oslo.

    The passionate fans responded in kind by chanting "Shlla Oh Rosenborg" ¡ª over and over again. They sang at the top of their voices, pped their hands, and stamped their feet¡ªuntil the whole stadium was shaking. At that moment, it felt like the stadium was weathering an earthquake.

    After celebrating with the fans, Zachary immediately headed to the press area. Since he''d scored three goals and became the man of the match, the coach had delegated him the role of handling the post-match interview once more.

    He was under no pressure as he already had plenty of experience dealing with the press. Be that as it may, he was still shocked stiff when he reached the press area.

    v wasn''t the only one waiting for him. Instead, he found a chaotic horde of journalists armed with cameras and microphones waiting to interview him. Even stadium security was involved in trying to bring order to the area.

    "Order, order, please," Zachary heard one of the security personnel yell out loud. They were doing their best to organize the reporters while he was only a few steps away. "Only the TV2 Sporten people have rights to all post-match interviews. Everyone else, please vacate immediately."

    He stopped in his tracks on hearing that. The entire chaotic situation forced him to wait a couple more minutes for security to finish clearing out the other reporters before he could step up for his interview.

    "Wee, Zachary," v Brusveen said, officially starting the post-match interview. "Well yed. You got the match ball by scoring those three goals and achieved your first hat-trick in your professional career. How special a night is this for you, Zachary?"

    "Well," Zachary said, scratching his chin and smiling slightly. "Scoring three goals makes the night special, sure. But what makes it even more special is that Rosenborg, my team, won. The fans are happy, my teammates are happy, and the coach is also happy. Everyone is happy, and that makes me even happier."

    "Nine goals for you this month, including eight in the Tippeligaen and one in the Cupen this season, so far," v said, maintaining his signature professional smile. "If Nicki had not managed to score in the final minutes today, you would be leading the list of the top scorers for this season. Moreover, you even have three assists in the Tippeligaen alone. What a month this has been for you, Zachary! How did you manage to achieve all these feats in your debut month? What''s your secret?"

    "The secret is simple," Zachary replied, grinning. "Hard work and luck."

    "Hard work and luck," v repeated as if mulling over the words, his smile never wavering. "I think you''re the first yer I''ve interviewed who keeps on mentioning luck as a contributor to some of your achievements. You''re an odd yer, Zachary."

    Zachary chuckled slightly at that. "But luck is a factor that ys a major part in one''s achievements," he said. "If I hadn''t been lucky in today''s match, that corner ball wouldn''t havee towards my position. Then, I wouldn''t have scored that header. So, I still believe luck is a major factor in any yer''s sess."

    "What are the other factors, then?"

    "Of course, talent and hard work."

    "So, do you believe that you have all the three factors on your side? Is that the reason you have had a very sessful debut month?"

    "Well, yes, in a way," Zachary replied, nodding. "I''ve been working hard on and off the pitch. And I truly believe that with the way I''m ying, I''ve got a bit of talent. And we can''t forget that luck has also been on my side. But of course, I''ve also received lots of support from my coaches, agent, and teammates. They have been very supportive and greatly encouraged my growth with the team."

    "Oh," v said. "With all those factors backing you, do you have hope that you''ll be able to score more goals and win the Golden Boot this season? Or maybe, will we see you be the youngest MVP or yer of the season¡ªever in the Tippeligaen?"

    Zachary could only smile wryly at that. "I''ve got no definite answers for that question, v," he replied. "Football is a team sport yed by eleven yers. Anyone on the pitch can score the goals and help the team win. So, I cannot stand here and im I''ll be the top scorer for sure. But what I can say is that Rosenborg will continue doing its best to win all matches and emerge as the Tippeligaen champions this season. At least, I have some confidence when saying that."

    v chuckled. "I like your team spirit, Zachary," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "But the match aside. A little bird told me that you might be thinking about leaving Trondheim for the bigger stage during the uing Tippeligaen break. Is this true, or is it just some rumor flying around?"

    Zachary frowned slightly on hearing that. "That little bird of yours must have fed you some misleading information," he said, sighing and shaking his head. "Thest time I checked, which is now, I''ve got no ns to leave Rosenborg. I hope you didn''t pay for the info since it''spletely false."

    "Is that right?" v said, raising a brow. "Then, I guess that little bird surely gave me some wrong information. Anyway, Zachary, thank you for your time once again. Congrattions on your incredible performance in today''s match. And we hope to see you many more times here next month."

    Zachary immediately trekked to the dressing room after the interview. On the way, he kept wondering where v had gotten the information that he was transferring out of Rosenborg. Was Red Bull spreading rumors about him to encourage his transfer? Or was there another party intent on harming his reputation with the Rosenborg fans? He kept mulling over the issue as he walked through the tunnel¡ªbut no answer came to mind until he reached the visiting team''s dressing room.

    "Therees today''s star," Nicki shouted as soon as Zachary had entered the locker room. "First hat-trick! How are you feeling?" He asked, taking on a reporter''s tone.

    "Great," Zachary replied, deciding on humoring him. "And how did you feel when you scored the fourth goal in the final minutes, Nicki?" Zachary countered with his own question, also imitating v Brusveen''s tone.

    The rest of the yers in the dressing room either whistled orughed at that. They were all still in a celebratory mood after securing their seventh consecutive win. They''d managed to maintain their position as second on the Tippeligaen table¡ªjust one point behind Str?msgodset IF, the table leader.

    "So, where are we celebrating today''s victory?" Nicki probed after a while. "Since we''ve got free days ahead of us, we should make this night something memorable. Don''t you think so, guys?"

    "Well," Mikael said, grinning. "A small get-together at the usual ce when we get back to Trondheim is not a bad idea."

    Zachary continued undressing and opted not to join the conversation since he usually didn''t participate in any team after parties. At that moment, he was only thinking of getting back to Trondheim quickly to prepare for his trip with Kristin to Bergen the following day. But his teammates had other ns for him.

    "Zachary," he heard Mikael call out to him. "This time, you should also attend. We haven''t gotten a chance to initiate you properly into the Troll Kids family. So, this is your chance."

    "A party!" Zachary mumbled, shaking his head. "That''s not for me. Moreover, have you forgotten that I''m below the legal age for entering most bars in Norway? Even if I go with you, I won''t be able to enter any night parties with you." He added, sounding defensive.

    "Come on, Zachary," Nicki said. "We''re not going to bars to drink hard liquor or anything. FYI, we''re also professional athletes. We''re only going to some other interesting ce to celebrate our win and have a get-together before our break. There will be some nice food, a few lighter drinks, and beautiful girls to help us wind down after our hectic schedule this month. You have toe this time around. That''ll be a good way for you to rx and bond."

    "He''ll be there," Zachary heard someone else reply even before he could deliberate the issue. He turned around, intending to confront the person making decisions for him but changed his mind the next instant.

    "Coach," Zachary said, locking eyes with Coach Johansen.

    "Don''t give me that look," Coach Johansen said, grinning. "Since it''s a post-match team get-together, it doesn''t hurt for you to be there. That way, you''ll be able to rx before you head into the break. For your information, I also n to be there."

    Zachary noted that Nicki''s expression changed slightly when the coach said he would also be at the post-match get-together. But since the coach was nearby, he let the matter slide and returned to the issue at hand.

    "If I attend," he said, "I can only be there for an hour. I''ve to return home early and prepare for a trip tomorrow."

    "That''s okay," Coach Johansen said, smiling. "We''ll only have a one-hour dinner at the ce organized by Mikael when we get to Trondheim. After that, you''re free to go anywhere you like."

    "Then great," Zachary said, pulling off his boots and stockings. "But won''t we arrive in Trondheim veryte? For your information, it''s already 8:20 PM."

    "There''s no need to worry," Trond Henriksen, the assistant head coach, chipped in. "Our flight is at exactly 9:15. We shall be in Trondheim by 10:15 PM and have dinner. By 11:30, we should be releasing you to do your own things."

    "Please note," Coach Johansen cut in, starting to move around the room. "I''m only fixing this dinner into our schedule so that we can get time to discuss a few relevant issues before heading into the break. That way, we won''t have to meet tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach," all the yers in the dressing room replied, more or less in sync. They seemed to have gained more energy after hearing that the coach would be releasing them for the break that very night.

    "Then, that''s great," Coach Johansen said, smiling. "Hurry and wash up so that we don''t miss our flight back. Remember: the earlier we head back, the sooner we can finish the dinner, and then¡ªyou can do our own things. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach."

 Chapter 199 - Coach Johansenâ€™s Advice I

    Zachary and his teammates arrived at V?rnes Airport in Trondheim on a Scandinavian Airlines flight at exactly 10:05 that night. They went quickly through procedures at the airport, and by 10:20 PM, they were already on a bus back to the city center.

    Zachary was in the best of moods as the bus traversed the familiar airport road. He was still soaking in the delightful feeling of scoring a hat-trick to help his team return home with three points at the end of the night.

    He felt like singing the Survivor band''s hit song ¡ª ''Eye of the Tiger'' out loud. But he was well aware that his voice wasn''t good enough to pull off such a catchy tune without attracting some mockery from his teammates. He could only rock his head from side to side following its beat as it yed in the deepest confines of his mind repeatedly.

    "So, where will we be having this dinner, Mikael?" Zachary heard Coach Johansen ask as the bus emerged from a tunnel and continued along the road from the airport. The coach was seated closest to the door, in the row right before Zachary''s seat. "I hope it''s not somece chaotic. I''m way too old for that." He added, sighing like he was really an old chap.

    "Don''t worry, coach," Mikael, seated beside Zachary, was quick to reply. "We''re heading to a cozy ce called Una Pizzeria Bar in Solsiden. There won''t be any noise or chaos since we''ve booked it for the entire night."

    "Una Pizzeria Bar," Coach Johansen mumbled as if mulling over the name before turning his head around to look at Mikael. "Is that the ce that sellste-night Italian Pizza with drinks?"

    "Yes, exactly," Mikael replied. "I selected it because they''ve got quick service. So, we''ll be able to conclude our dinner quickly and then go home to sleep before it''s toote."

    "Oh," Coach Johansen said, turning back to face the front of the bus. "That should be fine, I guess. Thank you for making the arrangements."

    "It''s my pleasure," Mikael said. "I hope everyone gets to enjoy the night. That includes you, Zachary." Mikael said, turning towards him.

    "I love Pizza," Zachary replied. "So, I''ll certainly enjoy the night. Thank you, Mikael."

    Thirty minutester, the whole Rosenborg squad sat in the cozy Una Pizzeria Bar, feasting on good food washed down with drinks. Mikael had gone ahead and invited the yers that hadn''t been on the match squad as well. So, it was nearly a full-house, with the entire Rosenborg team present at the Pizza bar.

    Out of everything going on, Zachary particrly enjoyed eating the pizza.

    He ignored the chatter around him and focused on gouging himself with Italian pizza. The match had drained his stamina reserves. So, he was intent on replenishing them before dinner ended. But he made sure to steer clear of alcoholic drinks since he was well aware they could hinder his future growth as a yer.

    The minutes went by fast as he savored the unique taste of the food, and soon it was time for Coach Johansen to give his address.

    "I hope all of you are enjoying the evening," the coach began, standing up and snapping his fingers to draw everyone''s attention. "Anyone bored?" He probed, sweeping his gaze across the yers.

    "No, coach," the yers replied, but not in sync.

    "The dinner is perfect. We should do this more often..."

    "We''re only missing the chairman and the sporting director¡­"

    "..."

    For the next few seconds, the yers responded to Coach Johansen''s probing with various answers, some of which were totally off-topic.

    "Okay, guys," Coach Johansen said, raising his arm to request silence. "I know that we are all happy after winning the match. But let''s quieten down first¡ªso that I can first finish delivering my message to you. We don''t want to spend all night here."

    The yersplied without any questions since it was their coach speaking.

    "Starting today, May 25th, until June 18th, we''ll be taking a short break," the coach continued after a short pause.

    "Yesss, it''s a holiday!" One of the yers shouted. It seemed he''d lit a fuse among the rest of the souls within the Pizza bar. For the next minute, they pped their hands and cheered excitedly just because the coach had freed them for the break.

    Zachary, though, did not join in. He continued feasting on his pizza since he didn''t see the whole point in celebrating themencement of a break.

    Instead of resting, he would have preferred to continue ying matches and training to improve himself using Rosenborg''s first-rate facilities. Even when he returned to Lubumbashi in Congo, he nned on doing just that. At the very least, he would train with his old club, TP Mazembe, to keep himself fit and in tip-top shape.

    "Quiet," Coach Johansen snapped. He was surprisingly sharp, and the yers quietened down immediately. "We don''t have all night. So, first, listen." He added, frowning slightly.

    "As of right now, we''re beginning our short break frompetitive football," the coach continued, ncing around. "So, you''re free to do whatever you like or go wherever you wish to go¡ªsince you''ll have nomitments to the team during the break."

    "But I expect you to continue leading proper lifestyles befitting professional athletes even during the holiday," the coach emphasized, narrowing his eyes. "Don''t ingest any illegal substances. Don''t drink excessive alcohol or, if you can, avoid itpletely. Continue working out and exercising with the ball on a regr basis."

    The coach paused for a moment, taking a hearty sip from a ss of wine. "Do as I say, not as I do," he mumbled, cing his ss back on the table, and the yersughed at that.

    "I want you all to remember that there''ll be a medical right after the break," he continued after a moment. "Should we find that you''re out of shape or you have been doing anything you shouldn''t have, you will be an enemy of mine right away. And being an enemy of mine means that you might not see your name on the match squad for the rest of the season. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good." Coach Johansen nodded, half-smiling. "I''m d we''re on the same page. But there''s one more thing. Even though the official break is up to June 18th, I expect you to return to Trondheim for the official start of team training on the 15th. That is a must for any yer that wishes to be part of my starting line-up. Please do not bete. Not even for a single day." The coach''s tone had already turned solemn and melted the festive mood in the Una Pizzeria Bar.

    "Are we together, guys?" He shouted, ncing around.

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good, good," Coach Johansen said. "Since we have finished discussing all the important stuff, I guess you can go ahead and enjoy tonight. But only tonight. Don''t get too used to just enjoying. Instead, you''ve got to continue working hard as professional athletes so that you can maintain your fitness over the break. Are we together,ds?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary heard the rest of his teammates reply a bit too enthusiastically, maybe be because the coach was nearing the end of his address. It seemed they couldn''t wait for him to conclude so that they could go¡ªdo their own things, whatever those were.

    "Zachary!" Coach Johansen said, turning toward him abruptly. "Can you step out for a minute? I want to talk to you about a few things."

    "Oh!" Zachary said, cing down his small chunk of pizza. "I''ll be right out. Just a minute." He said, starting to pick up his gym bag.

    "Okay, I''ll be waiting for you on the balcony," the coach said. He then turned around and started walking out of the room.

 Chapter 200 - Coach Johansenâ€™s Advice II

    "Where are you taking the bag?" Nicki quickly stopped Zachary''s actions as soon as the coach had stepped out of the room. "Dinner will continue as soon as you finish talking to the coach. Don''t tell me that you''re going to trek home at this time. Are you?" He probed, raising a brow.

    "I was thinking of calling a taxi cab," Zachary replied. "My one hour that I should be spending on the dinner is almost done. So, I''m thinking of leaving soon."

    "You can''t leave," three or four voices of his teammates echoed together when they heard his deration.

    "Have you forgotten you didn''t get the chance to be properly initiated in the Troll Kid family?" Mikael whispered after moving closer to him. "Tonight is the night. You can''t miss it. It''ll be fun."

    "Oh, okay," Zachary finally agreed, giving in to the peer pressure. He couldn''t just brush away all the invites from his teammates. That might sour their impression of him to some extent. So, he decided to brace himself, attend their initiation, whatever that may be, for about an hour, before heading back home¡ªto his apartment.

    "Great," Nicki said, patting his shoulder. "First go and hear out the coach. We shall be waiting for you here."

    "Okay," Zachary said, cing his bag down¡ªbeside his seat. "I''ll be back in a moment," he added. He then stepped away from his teammates and walked towards the balcony.

    "You took your time," Coach Johansenmented as soon as he arrived. "Are you having fun?"

    "Yes," Zachary replied, sighing. "I got held up by the others for a few moments."

    "Oh," Coach Johansen said, inclining his head to observe Zachary. "Is anything wrong? Do you need some help?"

    "No," Zachary said, shaking his head. "What did you want to talk about?"

    Coach Johansen took a step closer towards the rails of the balcony and started observing the streets below. Zachary followed his gaze and noticed that they were nearly empty, with very sparse traffic, since it was already eleven in the night.

    "You''re heading back to your home country, DR Congo?" Coach Johansen broke the silence after a while.

    "Yes," Zachary replied, his gaze still on the streets below.

    "When?"

    "Most likely, the day after tomorrow."

    Coach Johansen turned to his side to observe him once again. "I was looking at the FIFA international timetable this week and noticed that your country is scheduled to y some World Cup qualification matches this month. Do you n to participate? That''s if you get called for international duty, which I''m sure you will."

    "If I get called, I''ll y, of course," Zachary replied. "But I highly doubt the coaches have already noticed me since the Tippeligaen is not that popr in Africa."

    "They must have," Coach Johansen said, smiling a bit. "Otherwise, they are very ipetent at their jobs. Would you like to hear some advice from me before you go and join the international matches?"

    "Sure, go ahead," Zachary replied, nodding. Of course, he wouldn''t refuse to listen to his coach''s advice.

    "You know that you have just experienced that growth spurt of yours," Coach Johansen began. "You may think that you''ve already limatized to your new physique because you have yed well for over a month at the professional level. But thinking like that would be a mistake on your part."

    Coach Johansen started caressing his red beard as he continued. "You must understand that the morepetitive matches you y over a short period, the more your muscles wear and tear. This damage to muscles or even bones will umte if they don''t rest over long periods. And that will lead to certain parts of your body, especially your joints, getting weaker over time. That''s what leads to chronic injuries that end careers."

    "I guess you must have heard stories of the great yer Marco van Basten ending his career at only twenty-eight¡ªbecause of recurring injuries. If he had taken some time to rest when he was still at the height of his career, maybe he could have avoided it. Are we together, Zachary?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, smiling wryly. Of course, he already knew where the coach was going with his advice.

    "So, Zachary," the coach continued, patting his shoulder. "You''re only eighteen years old. You''re at a stage where you''re likely to experience the most growth throughout the entire duration of your career. So, my belief is that you should take this time to train your skills properly and elevate them as much as possible through personalized training. You can first rx on the international duty until you''re twenty, or better, twenty-two. By then, you should have already turned into a machine that can handle both international and club duties in a single season. That is if we''re going by your current rate of growth. Are we together, Zachary?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied. "But what do I say when my country''s coaches knocking on my door?"

    "The answer is simple, Zachary," Coach Johansen said, half-smiling. "You''ve just experienced a growth spurt, and you''re at a very high risk of easily getting injured. The club physician has rmended that you keep taking rests of one to two weeks after partaking in highly intensive matches continuously for about a month. You won''t be able to participate in the qualifiers. That''s the truth and also a good reason to keep you away from international duty for some time."

    Zachary could only smile wryly once again on hearing that. He wasn''t so patriotic to the point that he wanted to y for his country at all costs. Patriotism was almost extinct in countries like DR Congo. It was just that he enjoyed ying football so much and wanted to y as manypetitive games as possible. The very thought of pitting his skills against new opponents made his blood boil and excited him. In the deepest confines of his mind, he had been hoping to y some matches when he returned home.

    "You seem down after hearing my advice," Coach Johansen probed after noticing Zachary''s reaction. "Do you really wish to partake in qualifiers? Remember: when you return to Trondheim after the break, there''ll be the Tippeligaen, the Norwegian Cup, and then the Europa League qualifiers. Think about this carefully. Do you believe that you can y all these matches without breaking down?"

    "Well, I guess I can," Zachary replied in sotto voce. "But, maybe, my efficiency on the field of y would go down."

    "Then, let me tell you this," Coach Johansen chimed in, fast. "If you yed all those matches, you''ll most likely break down before the end of the season. And we don''t want that. I don''t want that. So, please, consider my advice. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, nodding. "I''ll try to consider it."

    "Then, good," the coach said, grinning. "You can go back to the rest of your teammates. If you can, try and rx with them for today. It''s a good way to wind down after a hectic month. But remember, no alcohol. It would be best if you avoided it."

    "Yes, coach."

    "Okay, off you go," he said, shooing him away with a hand gesture. "I wish you a safe journey back home."

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary said, smiling.

 Chapter 201 - Merrymaking Time I

    After the chat with Coach Johansen, the night proceeded in a way Zachary could not have envisioned. It all started with Mikael and Nicki suggesting that the team check out another happening ce to continue having a good time right after the coaches'' departure. At the urging of the majority, Zachary and a few other teammates that were initially against the idea, of course, went with the flow. That marked the start of a wild night.

    Aftering to a consensus, the squad made quick work of the remaining slices of pizza. They finished eating within fifteen minutes and headed to a more popr pub called Familien on the team bus.

    On reaching there, Zachary was surprised by the long queue they encountered at the entrance. It was a dazzling sight, beginning at the entrance and extending in one long stretch all the way to the far boundary of another block. Zachary was about to suggest finding another ce rather than waiting in line to enter the pub. It seemed like a good excuse for him to ditch his peers and head back to his apartment to grab some sleep. Despite agreeing to check out the pub, he still had reservations about partying immediately after a match.

    But, unfortunately for him, both the bouncers and the people waiting in line recognized that it was the Rosenborg squad that''d just arrived almost immediately. What followed were a few moments of turbulent excitement at the entrance of the Familien Pub. And Zachary could no longer escape.

    "Shlla Oh Rosenborg... Shlla Oh Rosenborg..."

    "Zachary, nice y in today''s game..."

    "Nicki, nice goal..."

    Among the party-goers in the long line, there seemed to be a good number of Rosenborg fans. Those fans soon started chorusing Rosenborg''s victory chants and yelling out the names of some of the yers. Some even decided to leave their ces in line to get closer to Zachary and his teammates. It became increasingly chaotic at the front of the bar to the point that the bouncers had to wave Zachary andpany¡ªinside right away¡ªto prevent the situation from escting. The bouncers didn''t even ask for identity cards before letting them through the entrance.

    **** ****

    "Did you guys notice that Zachary was with the group of Rosenborg yers that just entered?" A short ck young man close to the back of the queue at the Familien Pub entrance asked his two counterparts. He was Kasongo Paul, and with him were the two brothers, Paul and Kendrick Otterson, all Zachary''s former tmates and teammates back in the academy.

    "I think that was him, certainly." Paul Otterson responded, his voice tinged with astonishment. "That tall frame that looms above everyone else, plus his Afro hair and brown skin¡ªthat''s Zachary."

    "Did the sun set in the East today?" Kendrick asked, smiling. "How is it that Zachary is at a nightclub? That''s a miracle in itself."

    "My thoughts exactly," Kasongo replied, grinning. "He must be super excited after scoring that hat-trick. Maybe that''s why he''s out to celebrate tonight."

    "I doubt that," Kendrick said, shaking his head. "Zachary is the sort of person who would celebrate his hat-trick by adding more hours to his training sessions. He wouldn''t go to a nightclub just because he managed to bag three goals in a match. It has never happened before. I''m pretty sure he would rather be doing yoga right now instead of being here at Familien."

    "Have you forgotten there''ll be a break in the Tippeligaen fixtures for the next few weeks," Kasongo said. "Since he''s got a lot of free time on his hands, maybe he decided to celebrate with his teammates."

    "Or maybe, he''s here for a girl," Paul chimed in, grinning like a rogue. "Hot girls are the only thing that can make intense yers like him break their habits."

    "Zachary here for a girl!" Kendrick said, giving his brother an arch look. "That''s even more unlikely."

    The othersughed at that.

    "So, do you guys think we should change ces since he''s already inside?" Paul Otterson queried, furrowing his brow.

    "Why?" Both Kendrik and Kasongo asked, fixing their gazes on him.

    "Of course, to avoid him, silly," Paul replied, shaking his head. "If we run into him here, he may start lecturing us on how we''re ignoring our own training and instead choosing to club all the time? So, I suggest that we find another ce for today."

    The other two fell silent for a moment, seemingly giving earnest thought to Paul Otterson''s proposal as the queue at the pub entrance continued moving forward.

    The three of them had just made it onto the under-19 team two days prior. They''d decided to go out and celebrate that Saturday. But they didn''t expect toe across the Rosenborg senior team, which had just yed an away game against V?lerenga in Oslo only a few hours prior.

    Moreover, Zachary, their former captain, who they had also taken as a role model, was among the yers that''d just entered the club. Since they didn''t want toe off as party-goers neglecting their duties as athletes, they were considering switching to another discotheque like Downtown or Studentersamfundet to avoid running into him.

    "So, guys," Paul Otterson said after a while. "What do you think? Should we go somewhere else? You guys need to decide quickly because the line is moving forward fast."

    "Nah," Kasongo replied, smiling and shaking his head after a while. "After giving it some thought, I don''t think we should change ces. Moreover, I''m sure Zachary won''t judge us solely based on our going into a club to celebrate our advancement to the under-19 team. Instead, he''ll be happy for us and might buy us a few drinks."

    "I think so too," Kendrick echoed. "Avoiding a friend just because we don''t want him to think badly of us is simply childish. We should instead be looking forward to seeing him when we get inside. It has really been long since west saw him."

    "Okay, then," Paul said, sighing. "But if he asks whose idea it was for us toe here, we shall all say Kasongo. We have to agree on that, at the very least."

    "Rx," Kendrick said, patting his brother''s shoulder. "He isn''t our coach. So, will you cut down on the pressure and rx?"

    "Guys," Kasongo said from in front of them. "It''s almost our turn to enter. Get ready."

    "Okay."

    "Okay."

    **** ****

 Chapter 202 - Merrymaking Time II

    Immediately after setting foot within the Familien Pub, Zachary''s eyes widened in wonderment as he was epassed by the vibrant mood within. There were hundreds of conversations going on in loud voices, eachpeting with the pop-electronic music that dominated the atmosphere. Everyone inside was swimming in the music like happy rainbow fish. For a few moments, Zachary stood close to the entrance, transfixed by the scene before him.

    "Come on, Zachary," Nicki yelled, trying to make himself heard over the loud music. "Don''t just stand there. Let''s find some seats and get this night started by ordering some drinks."

    Zachary nodded and followed after him, his physique helping him push through the thick crowd with little effort. He concluded that the DJ for that night was at the top of his game. She/he, whoever it was, was doing a good job mixing records ¡ª based on the vibrancy of the crowd. A good number of people, including beautiful girls in skimpy clothing, were already on the dance floor, wriggling their bodies to the rhythm of the electrifying beats.

    As Zachary moved through the crowd of party animals ¡ª following after his teammates, he noticed that there were even a few couples that''d already melted into each other''s arms. Despite it being so early in the night, they rocked their bodies against each other, performing dances that were clearly not safe for viewing by anyone below eighteen. They were enjoying themselves and didn''t give a damn about anyone around them.

    "Well," Nicki yelled again from in front of him once more. "We''re quite lucky. It seems Mikael already instructed the staff to save us some seats in the corner. Let''s head there."

    A minuteter, the whole entourage of yers took up more than five tables at one end of the pub. Everyone started to order drinks, and Zachary followed suit by ordering a non-alcoholic cocktail. And as part of his initiation ritual, he ended up being the one to cover the entire bill for the team.

    It wasn''t much since he had more than 5 million Norwegian Kroner in his ount from just the Audi endorsement deal. So, he didn''t even flinch in the slightest as he swiped his card and ended up spending more than 10,000 NOK just a few minutes into the night.

    Immediately after that, his teammates apuded him and mouthed out-of-sync wees to the Troll Kid family. They toasted to his hat-trick against V?lerenga before downing their drinks. That was how they started the festivities for the night with a bang.

    In the beginning, Zachary thought he would be bored and end up leaving early. But then, the DJ continued doing a good job, so he remained seated, swaying his head from side to side, and immersed himself into the captivating music. As the minutes clocked by, the sounds of the crowd be part of the happy center of his brain, reaching in and pulling out the joy within him. He enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere of the ce for sure while asionally sipping on his non-alcoholic cocktail and observing the people going crazy on the dance floor. It was a refreshing adventure for him to experience the nightlife of Trondheim.

    An hour into the night, a few brave girls approached their tables and then started warming up to some of the yers. Most of the yers responded with positive attitudes to the advances of the beautiful girls. Some got up and headed to the dance floor, apanied by their new acquaintances of the fairer sex. However, Zachary remained seated as the straightforwardness of the party-going girls was a very new concept to him. Their ferociousness in flirting with his teammates was beyond what he would categorize as sane.

    asionally, his ears would pick up phrases like: "Dear! Should we leave this ce and go get wild somewhere private?" That made him ufortable, and he kept on rejecting their advances, choosing to remain a spectator for the night.

    Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!

    Zachary felt his phone vibrate as he was still seated, observing the party-goers around him. He fished it out of his jacket pocket and nced at the screen. He was surprised after noticing that it was Kasongo who had sent him a message.

    ----

    ''Hello, Zach,'' the message from Kasongo read, ''Where are you at the moment?"

    ----

    ''Why are you asking?'' Zachary typed a reply, ncing around. ''Are you also at Familien? It''s quite weird that you''re sending me a text right at this time.''

    ----

    ''Hehehe!'' Kasongo replied almost immediately. ''Good guess. Look to your left, across the dance floor, towards the DJ''s Booth. You''ll be able to see us there. Come, find us there coz the bouncers have stopped us on multiple asions from approaching your table.''

    ----

    ''Okay! Just wait a moment. I''ll be there.''

    ----

    Immediately after typing the response, Zachary stood up and excused himself from his teammates. He pushed through the crowd on the dance floor and trekked towards the DJ''s booth, where he found Kasongo and the Otterson brothers waiting.

    "Hello, Zach," Kasongo was the first to greet him. "Congrattions on scoring your first hat-trick today."

    "Thank you, Kasongo," Zachary replied, patting the short guy''s back. "How are you guys doing?"

    "We''re doing okay," Kasongo replied, grinning.

    "And you, Paul, Kendrick!" Zachary said, turning towards the Otterson brothers. "You seem abnormally quiet! What''s the matter?"

    "We''re fine," Paul said, smiling at Zachary. "But man! You have grown way too tall. You''re almost double the height of our friend here." He added, patting Kasongo''s back.

    "I eat well," Zachary replied, grinning. "But aren''t you guys supposed to be having an academy training session tomorrow since it will be a Sunday? Why are you here instead of resting to prepare for the session?"

    The three friends exchanged nces and smiled on hearing Zachary''s question.

    "Guess what!" Kendrick was the one to reply after a short while. "We''re no longer academy students. We got promoted to the under-19 team just this week. So, we''re budding professionals now."

    "Oh," Zachary said, smiling. "I guess congrattions are in order then."

    "Thank you," the three fellows replied, more or less in unison.

    "So, when do you start ying the under-19 league?" Zachary probed. "I would love toe and watch your debut game."

    "Our first game is in two weeks," Kasongo replied excitedly. "It would be great if you coulde."

    "Too bad," Zachary said, shaking his head. "I''ll still be in Congo by then. So, I won''t be able to watch your game."

    "You''re heading back to Congo during the break!" Kasongo eximed, eyeing Zachary with surprise.

    "Yes, of course," Zachary replied matter-of-factly. "Why do you seem bewildered? Does my going back surprise you that much?"

    "That''s because you''ve never desired to return ever since arriving here in Trondheim," Kasongo countered, grinning. "I almost thought that you were thinking about changing your citizenship status and bing a Norwegian resident for good."

    "Stop joking," Zachary said, shaking his head. "Guys! Do you think we should settle down somewhere before continuing our chat?"

    "My thoughts exactly," Paul chimed in. "Let''s get ourselves some seats. Zachary! Maybe, you can also buy us drinks to celebrate our reunion. This is the first time we''ve seen you since you started ying professionally."

    "That''s okay," Zachary replied, looking around. "As long as it isn''t anything alcoholic, you''re free to order whatever you want. I''ll meet the cost."

    "Great," Paul said, rubbing his hands excitedly. "Let''s try to get ourselves some seats."

    "Maybe, you should return with me to my former table," Zachary suggested, ncing around. He''d already noticed that almost no free tables around the whole pub. So, it would be hard for them to find a seat at that time of the night. "I can see that the section reserved for the Rosenborg yers is the only section of the pub with a bit of breathing space."

    "That''s a no," Kendrick responded, shaking his head. "We''ll only embarrass ourselves if we try to get near your table. Haven''t you noticed that aside from the bouncers, waitresses, and a select few beautiful girls, there''s no one else that can approach your tables?"

    "Now that you mention it, that seems to be the case," Zachary said, ncing around. "Let''s squeeze ourselves somewhere there." He added, pointing to the tables just beside the DJ''s booth.

    "That''s okay."

    They immediately headed over to the table closest to them. Without any problems, they managed to acquire some seats and order some non-alcoholic drinks soon after.

    "So, how are you finding life as a pro, Zachary?" Kendrick asked after a while. "Is the training as hectic as that in the academy?"

    Zachary smiled, cing down his ss on the table. "I wouldn''t say that training is more hectic. The team training sessions onlyst a few hours and are shorter than those we used to go through at the academy. But after the team sessions, most of the yers go through their own personalized training to maintain their fitness. Some even have their private coaches to help them train. So, they will end up doing significantly more work than what the average academy yer is used to."

    "Oh, that''s interesting," Kendrick said after taking a sip from his ss of non-alcoholic wine. "So, one has got to be self-motivated to survive at the pro-stage, then."

    "Exactly," Zachary replied, nodding. "You can''t depend solely on the team sessions to keep yourself fit. Those aren''t enough to keep any yer in top match condition. Since you three have be pros, you''ve got to endeavor to work hard by yourself during your free time. Otherwise, you''ll lose your fitness and drop out of the squad only after a few weeks. Thepetition among the pros is quite fierce."

 Chapter 203 - Running Into An Acquaintance

    "Zachary," Kasongo chimed in, yelling a bit to make himself heard over the loud music. "Will you be ying the World Cup qualifiers for our home country?"

    "I don''t know yet," Zachary replied, shaking his head. "The coaches haven''t yet contacted me. So, I guess I might not be on the squad."

    "What!" His three friends eximed, eyes widening.

    "If you''re not on the squad, then who is?" Paul said, shaking his head. "If it so happens that they don''t invite you by the end of this month, you can think about changing citizenship and ying for Sweden. I''m sure our coaches there will wee you with open arms." He added jokingly.

    "Paul," Kasongo said, punching the Swede lightly on the shoulder. "You do love yourself a lot. You''re even starting to poach my country''s yers even when you''re not yet on the Swedish squad."

    "But it''s a viable proposition," Paul said, grinning. "Since he hasn''t officially yed for DR Congo, he can sessfully change citizenship. Moreover, that''ll increase his chances of winning the World Cup and other internationalpetitionster. That way, he''ll cement his status as a great yer."

    "And who says that Zachary can''t win the World Cup with DR Congo?" Kasongo countered, frowning a bit. "For your information, we do have a good number of yers ying in Belgium, France, Turkey, and other top leagues in Europe. So, winning the World Cup is not an iplete impossibility."

    "Hahaha," Paulughed and took a sip on his drink. "That is surely almost an impossibility. If I might ask, when did Congost qualify for the World Cup?"

    "1974," Kasongo replied.

    "You see," Paul said, shaking his head. "That''s way before we were even born. I''ve got nothing against your home country. But I''m just being realistic here and saying that it will be hard for your national team to qualify for World Cup. It''ll be even much harder to put up good performances in thepetition if they do qualify. A team like that would hold back Zachary''s rise to the top of skilled footballers if hemitted himself to y for them. Do you see my point?"

    "Nothing is ever set in stone," Kasongo intoned, sighing. "You never know. Maybe, Zachary''s participation might be the spark that lights the way for DRC''s ascent to the top rankings of the football world. Do you remember Senegal''s first participation at the World Cup in 2002? The Senegalese managed to reach the knock-out stages after defeating France, the reigning champions, in the group stages. They then went on¡ªto beat Sweden, your home country, in the round of sixteen and managed to qualify for the quarter-finals. In the quarter-finals, they managed to put up a good performance. Turkey only managed to defeat them after scoring a golden goal during extra time. So, who says teams new to the World Cup can''t put up proper performances? Senegal is a good example of a team that was only a few minutes from reaching the semi-finals on its first appearance."

    "Had they qualified, they would havee across either Brazil or Germany," Paul Otterson observed. "They would have still gotten eliminated, nheless. So, they had no chances of winning the World Cup."

    "Then, let me remind you of another example," Kasongo said, cing his ss back on the table. "Do you remember the Greece team in the Euros of 2004? The Greeks managed to defeat big teams like France and Portugal to emerge as European champions after the tournament."

    "That was a once in a century urrence," Paul countered. "Moreover, Greece was a well-knownpetitor in the football world. It wasn''t obscure like your home country."

    "When will you, guys, stop discussing this issue?" Kendrick chipped in before Kasongo could reply. "Moreover, I doubt that whatever you two say will influence whether Zachary will y for his home country or not. So, you''re boring us with the topic."

    "Well said," Zachary added, leaning closer to his three friends and lowering his voice. "This is a sensitive topic that we shouldn''t be discussing in a bar. If we''re not careful, the sports headlines for most blogs tomorrow may turn out to be something like: ''Zachary to abandon his home country as he searches for better prospects to win the World Cup.'' I really wouldn''t want to handle the bacsh from that sort of news, especially when I''m about to return to Congo."

    "Oh," Paul said, smiling sheepishly and scratching at his chin. "Sorry. Please forgive us for being so inconsiderate. But please do consider my proposition if you wish to contest for the World Cup."

    "You''re still as yful as ever, Paul," Zachary said, shaking his head. "Anyway, since you guys have graduated from the academy, where are you nning to live now? Have you searched for apartments yet?"

    "Not yet," Kendrick replied. "But we''ll start looking for one next week since SIT has already informed us to vacate our Moholt apartment by the end of June."

    "So, you guys will continue living together, or you''re thinking of getting separate apartments?"

    "Of course, we''ll continue living together for the time being," Kendrick responded. "Our wages aren''t that much to warrant us to rent individual apartments. So, we have to continue sharing until we rise to the senior team. I do hope that that will be soon."

    "Don''t fret," Zachary said, smiling at him. "As long as you continue working hard, you''ll make it to the senior team in at most a year. I''ve confidence in all your skills."

    "Thank you," Kendrick replied, grinning. "So, we were all wondering how you ended uping here. I would have never pictureding across you in a pub."

    Zachary sighed, shaking his head. He went ahead to tell his friends the entire series of events that led to his arrival at the Familien Pub. After that, they continued making small talk, discussing mainly sports until it was almost 2:00 AM in the night. By then, Zachary was feeling quite tired and starting to doze. So, he was about to excuse himself and head back home to rest for the night. But then he felt a slight tap on his shoulder.

    "Hello, Zachary," a sweet feminine voice, colored by a Russian ent, said from over his shoulder. "Long time no see. How have you been?"

    Zachary winced slightly despite himself after hearing that voice.

    "Oh, my!" Paul Otterson whispered from across the table. "What a hotdy! Zachary, how did you manage to get acquainted with such a beauty?"

    "Don''t be rude, Paul," Kendrick chipped in, pping his brother''s back. "She can hear you, silly." But he also kept on stealing nces at the girl standing over Zachary''s shoulder.

    Zachary ignored his friends'' reactions and slowly turned his head around while maintaining a polite smile on his face. He felt his heart start to race when his gaze settled on a perfect oval face adorned by the most captivating eyes he''d ever seen in both his lifetimes. They were emerald-green and seemed to brighten the entire pub when he gazed into them. [What a beauty!] Zachary sighed inwardly, standing up from his seat to greet thedy he''dst seen at the Audi showroom at M?ller Bil Trondheim.

    For the first time, he couldn''t help but be conscious of the fact that she was surprisingly tall for a woman. Her lean body stood almost at shoulder-level with him¡ªgiving rise to an enchanting figure that could rival that of any supermodel out there. She was the true definition of wless beauty in her short ck party dress.

    "Hello, Cami," Zachary said, going into porker face mode right away. "I''ve been well. What about you?"

    "Sad and feeling less confident about myself these days," Cami replied, pouting a bit and giving him a one-armed hug.

    "Why?" Zachary queried, deciding on going with the flow and returning the hug.

    "You took my number, but you didn''t even send me a text¡ªnot even once," Cami said, leaning closer into Zachary. "Am I that unappealing that I totally failed to catch your interest? Why didn''t you keep in touch?"

    "Have been busy," Zachary chose to go with the age-old excuse. "The training at the professional level doesn''t leave me with much time to do anything else. For instance,st year, I ended up forgetting my birthday because my schedule was too hectic."

    Cami chuckled at that. "But now your schedule should have freed up since you''re going on a break," she said, her face blossoming into a charming smile. "So, would you like to share a drink with me? We can find a table and maybe even catch up on some business. You know, I''m supposed to be your contact person with Audi. Or have you already forgotten?"

    "I would love to have a drink with you," Zachary said, smiling wryly. "But the problem is I''m with my friends right now. So, I can''t abandon them and leave with you at the moment."

    "Zachary," Paul Otterson''s voice called out to him as soon as he''d just finished voicing the excuse. "Some of our teammates are here, and they''re calling us to join them right now. So, we have to leave you for now. But since you havepany, I hope you won''t mind that."

    "You''re leaving now?" Zachary said, turning away from Cami to face his three ''unreliable'' friends.

    "Yes, we''ve got to go," Kasongo hurriedly replied, grinning. "Hello, there," He added, ignoring Zachary''s frown and waving to Cami.

    "Hello there, guys," Cam replied, waving back at them. "So, you''re Zachary''s friends. Nice to meet you."

    "The pleasure is all ours," Paul Otterson quickly chimed in, bowing slightly at the waist. "But I''m afraid we can''t get better acquainted since we have to leave right away."

    "Oh, too bad," Cami said, tone regretful. "I would have loved to interact more with Zachary''s friends. But since you''ve got to leave, I guess that can''t be helped."

    "Well, then, Zachary," Kasongo cut in. "We''ve got to say our goodbyes now. We shall talk tomorrow." He added. The three of them stepped away from the table and disappeared within the crowd a few secondster.

    "So, can we get ourselves some seats and have that drink?" Cami probed, hooking her arm with that of Zachary''s. "I would like to get to know you better."

    Zachary sighed in resignation, ming his situation at that moment on his friends who''d abandoned him at the first sign of trouble. "Okay. Let''s find ourselves some seats," he said after a short while. "I''ll buy you a drink."

    "Great," Cami said, leaning closer into Zachary as the DJ started ying ''I Need Your Love'' ¡ª a recently-released catchy song by Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding.

    **** ****

 Chapter 204 - Relaxing

    After buying Cami a drink, Zachary was surprised to find out she was fun and easy-going. That wasn''t typical of other gorgeous girls he had ever met. She was very proactive throughout the evening and dictated the entire flow of conversation. Her personality was charming. She kept initiating discussions about different topics and kept the atmosphere lively.

    They talked about almost everything, including sports, endorsement deals, the business world, and life in general. They asionally whispered sweet nothings to each other while enjoying the catchy music ring on the speakers. Time flew as they spiraled deeper into their own world and kept the conversation flowing like water. A whileter, they headed to the dance floor and got wild ¨C their bodies swaying in sync with the beats of the viral hits the DJ was ying.

    It was a refreshing experience for Zachary. He simply enjoyed himself and forgot about his hectic daily life. But, the very idea of diverting himself from his career also scared him. He was momentarily struck with the fear that he would fall back into old habits of his previous life if he got too used to having fun. But a whileter, he reckoned that enjoying himself for a single night wouldn''t hurt his progress as an athlete by a great deal. So, for the first time in a long while, he totally let loose and surrendered himself to the ecstasy of the Trondheim nightlife in thepany of a beautifuldy.

    When it was close to clocking 3:00 AM, Cami hinted she was tired and wanted to leave. Zachary immediately offered to escort her out of the bar. He, too, was feeling exhausted after the long day and hoped to head back home and rest for the night.

    But circumstances spiraled out of his control right after they stepped out of the pub. Cami became even more straightforward in her advances. He quickly discovered he didn''t have the willpower to resist the allure of a dazzling, charming beauty throwing herself at him.

    Since he was but a normal man, he, of course, slipped. Very soon, he was at the mercy of her whims.

    One thing led to another, and soon, the two of them were making love on the king-sized bed in Zachary''s apartment. It was an intense session with very few words exchanged between them. But Zachary enjoyed it nheless. He immersed himself in the intimacy and only ended up getting to sleep close to 4:45 in the morning.

    **** ****

    "Dingdingdingdingding! Dingding!"

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    A chaotic blend of the persistent ringing of the doorbell, intermingled with vibration from his phone, roused Zachary from deep slumber a few hourster.

    He awoke suddenly, every thought in high definition. His eyes took in every ray of light from the morning sun. Without a doubt, he knew he''d slept a lot longer than he''d initially intended. His ears could already pick up the bustling noises of the city''s inhabitants getting on with their day outside. The mor beyond the walls of his apartment was already in full swing, traffic seemingly heavy on the roads.

    He propped himself up using his elbow and cast his eyes upon the lean and alluring figure lying beside him, covered only by a white silk bed sheet. For a moment, the scenes from the previous night reyed through his mind as he admired the well-proportioned outline that could easily tempt the most steadfast of men. He couldn''t help but smile. He had really enjoyed Cami''spany.

    "Dingdingdingdingding! Dingding!"

    But the next moment, the doorbell began ringing once more, breaking him out of his reverie.

    "Who is that ringing the doorbell so persistently so early in the morning?" He heard Cami ask from beside him, her words colored by her delightful exotic ent. "Are you expectingpany this early?" She stretched and shifted like azy cat beside him. In the process, the bedsheet covering her slipped slightly to the side ¡ª and a shy fraction of the alluring figure beneath came into full view under the morning light in the room.

    Zachary felt his heart starting to race, his imagination running wild, as he took in the morning optical nutrition. His body started reacting as it should. He even forgot to respond to Cami''s question as more scenes from the previous night began flooding his thought process.

    "Should we just ignore the doorbell and continue where we left offst night?" Cami probed, batting her eyshes after noticing his gaze. "Whoever''s at the door will surely go away after a few minutes. So, we don''t have to mind them."

    "No, we can''t do that," Zachary responded, shaking his head and forcing his eyes away from Cami''s captivating frame. He''d just recalled that he was supposed to be traveling to Bergen with Kristin to visit her granddad. So, most likely, rather than not, it was Kristin that had been ringing the bell repeatedly. So, he couldn''t just keep on ignoring it.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    That time around, it was his phone that began vibrating once again. He acted immediately by jumping out of bed and wrapping a towel around his waist. He immediately started searching for it. He checked every pocket of the clothes he''d thrown haphazardly across the floor the previous night in the throes of passion. A few secondster, he managed to find it in one of the pockets of his leather jacket. After ncing at the screen, he couldn''t help but smile wryly and shake his head when he confirmed that it was indeed Kristin calling.

    "Excuse me for a moment," he said, ncing over at Cami. "I need to take this right now."

    "The caller seems really persistent," Cami said, giving him an arch look. "Could that be your girlfriend calling?"

    "Of course not," Zachary replied matter-of-factly. "If I had a girlfriend, I wouldn''t be here with you. It''s just a friend that I had an appointment with this morning. So, I have to take the call." He added before walking out of the room and leaving Cami to her own devices. He firmly closed the door behind him before pressing the ept button.

 Chapter 205 - The AIâ€™s Suggestion I

    "Hello Kristin," Zachary spoke into the phone as he walked into his living room. "How is your morning?"

    "My morning is terrible," Kristin was quick to reply in a t voice. "We are supposed to be traveling to Bergen together today. Why haven''t you been answering your phone or even your doorbell?"

    "Are you still at my door?"

    "No. I returned to my apartment when you didn''t answer the door. I was about to try contacting your agent as I thought that something was wrong with you."

    Zachary winced slightly on hearing that. "Sorry," he said, tone apologetic. "I went to bed sote the previous night after spending some time at a get-together arranged by my teammates. So, I was still in deep slumber and couldn''t hear my phone vibrating. If you hadn''t rung my doorbell, I would still be sleeping."

    "So, has the n changed?" Kristin probed, sounding frustrated at the other end of the line.

    "Not at all," Zachary replied hurriedly. "We''re still heading to Bergen today. But that will have to be a bitter so that I can first prepare a few things. And to make it up to you and apologize for the inconvenience caused, I''ll pay for our ne tickets."

    "So, what time should we be leaving, then?"

    Zachary first cast a nce at the clock hanging on his wall and noticed that it was just 9:13 AM. "I would suggest we depart for the airport at midday. That way, we can be on the 1 o''clock flight and be in Bergen by 2:15 in the afternoon."

    "And how long will you be spending in Bergen then?"

    "I can spend the night there," Zachary replied. "That is if your grandpa wishes for me to stay longer."

    "Then, that''s perfect," Kristin said, her voice finally regaining its usual warmth. "We shall go with your n. But this time, let it be midday, please. Don''t bete. Okay?"

    "Okay," Zachary confirmed. "I''ll start preparing right away so that we can leave at midday. Sorry once again for the inconvenience caused."

    "Then see you a few minutes to midday," Kristin said. "And goodbye." She then cut off the call.

    "DING"

    A system notification sounded within Zachary''s mind as soon as he finished removing his smartphone from beside his ear. He couldn''t help but do a double-take on noticing the translucent bluish system screen manifesting before him. His heart immediately started racing with growing anxiety. Without any dilly-dallying, he immediately wheeled around to cast a nce towards the bedroom door. He only let out a pent-up breath of air and rxed after noticing that the door was still firmly locked into ce.

    "The user doesn''t have to worry," the system AI intoned, seemingly deducing what was on his mind. "There isn''t any other party paying attention to the user at this very moment ¡ª that is whether by utilizing conventional or supernatural spying methods."

    "Are you sure?" Zachary queried, stealing one more nce at the door to his bedroom.

    "Of course, the system is sure," the AI said in its apathetic feminine voice. "There isn''t any entity spying on this living room at the moment. That''s unless the other party is omniscient."

    "Okay, then," Zachary said, finally fully rxing.

    Ever since ying the Riga Cup back in Latvia, his base instincts had always been screaming at him not to let any other soul know about the system. Because of that, he''d grown paranoid with time. He was sure that any slight exposure of the system''s functions would bring him endless trouble. It might even lead to his end since the system products like the elixirs were miracles that would surely elicit greed from endless parties.

    That was why he''d resolved to never summon the interface when in the presence of another soul. That''s even if the other party was his closest rtive. Only by doing that would he keep himself safe and keep the system a secret throughout his football career.

    "Does the user wish to listen to the new notifications now?" the AI questioned after a while. "Or does the user wish to wait until he''s totally alone?"

    "Please go ahead and bring up the notifications," Zachary replied, walking towards therge window and drawing the curtains to let some light into his living room. Since it was almost the official start of summer, the morning sunlight was quite bright. Zachary couldn''t help but smile as the beautiful radiance apanying the change of seasons warmed his skin.

    "Congrattions," the AI''s responded after a short while. "The user has managed toplete two hidden system missions. One: the user has finally bagged a hat-trick for the first time¡ªever at the professional stage. Two: the user has managed to raise his X-factor to the A-grading for the first time in his career."

    "The user has thus earned 1000 Juju-points and a 1-month dosage of B-grade physical conditioning elixir," the AI continued after a slight pause. "The user should continue putting up more incredible performances to unlock more hidden missions."

    "Oh," Zachary eximed inwardly, feeling his mood bing much brighter all of a sudden. "My X-factor has finally broken into the A-grading. System AI, please bring up the data for my X-factor stats."

    "DING"

    "Command received," the AI intoned. "X-factor statsing up on the interface right away."

    Zachary turned his gaze away from observing the outside scenery through his window to focus on the translucent bluish screen before him.

    ****

    USER STATS

    -> X-Factor (Av. Rating: A-)

    Consistency Factor: A+

    Luck Factor: A-

    Supernormal Factor: D+

    Match Winning Factor: S-

    ****

    Zachary smiled on noticing that his Match Winning Factor had broken through to the S-grading. The high grading for that specific stat indicated that he''d performed excellently during his past few matches. That was proof enough he was on the right track to bing a great yer.

    However, he also hoped his supernormal factor would likewise breakthrough into a higher grading soon. That would unlock more abilities and enhance his effectiveness when on the field of y.

    "System," hemunicated to the AI mentally so that Cami, who was next door, wouldn''t overhear him. "Aside from elixirs, are there any other methods I can use to improve my supernormal factor and unlock the zone ability quickly?"

    "There is one method that the user can try," the AI replied, its apathetic voice sounding directly within Zachary''s mind. "But it will require the user to face extreme risk."

    "There is!" Zachary eximed, pleasantly surprised. "Which one is that?"

    "The user can try cing himself into extremely¡ªdangerous situations repeatedly," the AI responded. "That will induce an adrenaline rush through the user''s body system. If lucky, there''s a chance that that will trigger the unlocking of the zone ability."

    "You mean like constantly cing myself in life-threatening danger?"

 Chapter 206 - The AIâ€™s Suggestion II

    "Exactly," said the AI. "One way to go about it is by trying out extreme sports. A person doing those sorts of sports cannot afford to make even a single mistake. For that very reason, that individual''s mind will be in a very highly focused state to establish total control over their faculties. That, coupled with the adrenaline rush, have a chance of catalyzing the strengthening of that individual''s mental capacities."

    "In the user''s case," the AI continued exining, "There''s a good chance of triggering the zone ability since the user has already experienced being in a state simr to the zone before. Moreover, the extreme danger element involved could also help the user develop a greater connectedness with his inner sense, with nature and surrounding environment at a given moment, and his own sense of existence. That''ll also quicken the development of the user''s mental abilities. So, it''s worth a try."

    "If I go ahead with this method, will I unlock the zone ability for sure?" Zachary probed, stealing a nce at the bedroom door once more. "Or is there a chance that I''ll still fail?"

    "The method will surely help the user grow his mental attributes," the AI responded. "For instance, the user''sposure and mental strength will grow after constantly doing extreme sports. But there''s a chance that the user will still fail to unlock the zone ability."

    "Then, I don''t want to try out that method," Zachary replied quickly after listening to the AI''s exnations. "I would rather wait for my abilities to grow on their own than risk my life on something that might not work. Is there any other method that''s less risky?"

    "Negative," the AI answered. "The user must understand that with the mind, the riskier the method, the more the rewards one can reap. So, the best way to strengthen the mental aspect is by facing difficulties over and over again. There''s no way around that."

    "Then what about the mental-conditioning-elixir? How is it that the elixir managed to enhance my mental attributes without exposing me to any risk?"

    "The conjecture of the user is wrong," the AI responded right away. "The mental-conditioning-elixir works by inducing a certain level of stress and tension deep in the subconscious ¡ª and that is by enhancing the emotions associated with specific stressful memories in the recipient''s mind. For effectiveness, that process has to be bolstered by a few artificially synthesized hormones that boost the growth and fortification of the mental aspect. That''s how the mental-conditioning-elixir works. So, there''s still a risk of experiencing depression, mood swings, and even insanity if the user takes a highly graded dose of the elixir."

    "Oh," Zachary eximed, his eyes widening. "Was that the reason why I was always in a bad mood after my mental attributes had broken through previously?"

    "Yes," the AI replied. "Mood swings and surging emotions are some of the side effects of the mental-conditioning-elixir."

    "Doesn''t that mean that I''ll go insane if I ever take an S-grade mental-conditioning-elixir?" Zachary inquired, recalling the ordeal he went through after previously taking a B-graded mental-conditioning-elixir. At that time, he''d even thought that he was re-experiencing anger episodes simr to the ones he''d always¡ªbattled during his past life.

    "Negative," the AI replied after a short while. "With the help of the system, the elixirs will never have any considerable negative effects on the user. So the user should not worry."

    "Let''s hope so," he mumbled, still troubled by what the system''s AI had just disclosed. But just as he was about to ask a follow-up question, his ears picked up the sound of his bedroom door opening. He closed the system interface right away and turned around. As he''d expected, he found Cami standing in the doorway, her captivating figure wrapped in a white bed sheet.

    "Are you still on the phone?" She asked, smiling at him.

    "No. I''ve just concluded the call."

    "Is everything okay? Have you managed to resolve things with your friend?"

    "Yes, everything is fine and resolved," Zachary replied, shing her a smile. "But we need to prepare and have breakfast as quickly as possible. I''ve got a flight to catch at around noon."

    "Are you heading back to Africa today?" Cami probed, raising a brow.

    "No. I''m traveling to Bergen to see the scout that brought me to Norway to y football. I''ll be heading to Africa probably the day after tomorrow."

    "Oh," Cami said, pouting a bit. "I was really starting to enjoy yourpany. Why are you leaving so fast? And here I thought we could have a little more fun this morning."

    "It''s not like I''m going away forever," Zachary said, grinning. "I''ll be returning to Trondheim in a few weeks."

    "Then, can you promise to call me when you return?" She said, strutting across the room and walking up to him. "I''ll be eagerly waiting." She added, using her forefinger to trace circles on his chest.

    "Sure," Zachary replied, ncing into her liquid green eyes. "I''ll call you immediately when I return to Trondheim. But let''s have breakfast first so that I won''t bete for my flight. Okay?"

    "Okay, then," Cami said, matching his gaze. "But we can do that after having a bit more fun. Isn''t that right?" Her exotic ent gave vor to her words as she drew closer to Zachary ¡ª until there wasn''t even an inch of space between the two of them. And by then, Zachary could no longer resist the spell cast on him.

    **** ****

    "Did you finally manage to get a hold of Zachary?" Monica R?nning asked Kristin when she saw her lounging on the couch in their living room with a suitcase beside her.

    "I managed to talk to him on the phone about an hour ago," Kristin replied, sighing. "But he says that he slept veryte after attending a get-together arranged by his teammatesst night. So, we have to dy our trip until midday since he said that he needs a few hours to prepare."

    "But that should still be fine, then," Monica said as she settled in a position beside her tmate on the couch. "At least he didn''t cancel on you. That would have been very disappointing."

    "If it weren''t for my grandpa pestering me to bring Zachary over to him, I would have already canceled the trip," Kristin said, shaking her head. "I feel like I''m forcing him into something he clearly doesn''t want to do."

    "Why say that?" Monica probed, giving her friend a sideways nce. "Hasn''t he already exined that he attended a get-together with his teammates? If it were you, would you be able to wake up early and travel after partying the night away?"

    "I would never go to a party when knowing that I have to travel early the following morning," she said before standing up and moving towards the window covering an extensive fraction of an opposite wall. "Did you go for training today morning?" She asked, wishing to change the topic.

    "Yes, I did," Monica replied, standing up and trailing after her friend. "But we did only physicals and didn''t do any skiing today. What about you? Did you y your match yesterday?"

    But no response came from her friend even after waiting for a while. She immediately noticed that Kristin was intently gazing out of the window, probably into the streets below.

    "What are you looking at so intently?" Monica asked, taking a few more steps and standing beside Kristin to have a proper look at what''d captured her friend''s attention. She then noticed that Zachary was escorting ady to an Audi convertible parked in the street below. Even from a distance, Monica could tell that thedy was gorgeous to the point of being otherworldly.

    "Could that be his agent?" She queried, her voice lowering slightly. "If I recall correctly, his agent is a youngdy about that age."

    "I don''t know," Kristin replied in a hush. "But at least now I know the reason why he couldn''t wake up in time for our trip. Anyways, let''s get away from the window. I don''t want him to notice us staring. That would make things awkward."

    "Oh, okay," that was all Monica could manage. She was at a loss of what to say since she couldn''t figure out what was running through her friend''s mind.

    **** ****

 Chapter 207 - Meeting Mr. Stein Once Again

    Zachary was able to keep his promise to set off at exactly noon with Kristin from their apartment building. The two of them took a taxi and made it to V?rnes Airport only forty minutester since the traffic on the roads was less boisterous on Sunday afternoons.

    From V?rnes, they traveled on a Norwegian Air flight as business-ss passengers to Bergen. Kristin was especially quiet that day and often seemed lost in her own thoughts. She was not her usual charming and fun self. Consequently, the trip was dull from Zachary''s perspective. So, he focused on getting a few minutes of sleep in ¡ª and only managed to emerge from slumbend when the ne was touching down on the runway at Bergen Airport.

    "So, where are we headed from here?" Zachary asked Kristin as soon as they walked out of the airport''s sliding doors with suitcases in tow.

    "The Fjellsiden neighborhood," Kristin replied in a t voice without slowing her step. "It''s about twenty kilometers from here." She added and continued pulling her suitcase, moving away from the sliding doors. She didn''t bother to pause and hear him out.

    "Will we be traveling by taxi, or will we be taking a bus?" Zachary probed, trying his best to ignite a conversation between them.

    "Someone will be picking us up," she replied crisply once more. "We''re going to meet them in one of the parking spaces. Just follow me."

    "Okay, then," Zachary said, matching her step. Within a few minutes, they descended to a lower floor on an esctor. Kristin continued to be quiet and off-handish throughout their short trek to the parking space. She kept on giving brief answers to Zachary''s questions without putting any effort into maintaining the flow of conversation between them.

    After a couple more minutes of walking in almost total silence, Zachary couldn''t stand the stiff atmosphere between them any longer. It had inexplicably devolved into something dull and awkward. So, he decided to find out what was going on with his travelingpanion. He sorely missed the usual easy-going banter between them.

    "Is something wrong?" He probed, giving her a sideways nce as they finally started marching through the spaces reserved for parking at the airport. "Why are you so quiet today?"

    "I''m just a little tired," Kristin replied, quickening her pace. "I''m not in the mood for talking right now. But I''ll be fine once I get some rest. Please don''t mind me."

    "Oh, all right," Zachary said, wondering whether she was mad at him for rescheduling their morning trip toter in the day. But after some deliberation, he doubted that was the case since she had seemed fine when he''d talked to her on the phone earlier that day. She''d seemed to be in quite a good mood towards the end of the phone call. So, he was totally at a loss to exin what was wrong with her. Perhaps, she was indeed tired, as she''d said.

    "It seems my grandpa is very eager to meet you," Zachary heard Kristin say as he was still mulling over the cause of her unusual mood.

    "Why do you say that?"

    "Because he didn''t send the driver," Kristin replied, a soft smile outlining her face for the first time since they began their trip. "Instead, he came to pick us up, himself. That''s him over there talking with the guy dressed in a white jacket, next to a ck SUV. He''s wearing a sun hat and a Khaki shirt." She added, pointing towards the distance.

    "Maybe, he was missing you, and that''s why he made the trip," Zachary said, looking up¡ªahead to follow the direction of her finger. He immediately noticed that it was indeed Mr. Martin Stein standing a couple of dozen meters away ¡ª just next to an M-ss Mercedes Benz. He was deeply immersed in conversation with a short, stocky guy and didn''t even notice their approach.

    "Grandpa," Kristin shouted, spreading out her arms for a hug as soon as they reached his position.

    "Kristin, you''ve finally arrived," Mr. Martin Stein said, smiling. He returned her bear hug. "How is my beautiful granddaughter doing today?"

    "Fine, but just tired," Kristin replied, still in her grandpa''s embrace. She seemed to have returned to her usual cheerful mood.

    "That''s good," Mr. Stein said and finally turned his gaze towards Zachary. "I''m very excited to be in the presence of the most dazzling star in the Tippeligaen for the month of May. It has been a long time Zachary. How have you been?"

    "I''m doing well," Zachary replied, grinning. "It''s quite fun ying at the professional stage, especially for Rosenborg. I''m grateful to you for bringing me to Norway."

    "No need to be so formal and serious, Zachary," Mr. Stein said, waving his arm about him in a dismissive gesture. "I''m d you''re happy at Rosenborg. But, you should continue working hard and make sure you don''t rx. If you stay focused on what is important, I''m sure that you''ll be among the best footballers ying in Europe in just a few years."

    "Thank you for your advice," Zachary said humbly. "I''ll try my best to meet your expectations."

    "That great then," Mr. Stein said, finally pushing Kristin away from his embrace. "Ever since I first saw you y in Lubumbashi, I''ve had great confidence in your raw talent. I''m sure that the sky is your limit."

    "Ahem, ahem," it was then that the stocky middle-aged, with broad shoulders and a square chin, gave a light cough, drawing everyone''s attention.

    "Oh my," Mr. Stein said, face-palming. "Where are my manners? I even forgot to introduce my friend here." He added, patting the stocky man beside him on the shoulder.

    "This is Fredrik Helge," Mr. Stein continued. "He is one of my closest partners in the scouting world and sports agency business. Kristin, I''m sure you recall him from when the two of you met a couple of years back in Trondheim."

    "I think I do remember him," Kristin said, taking a few steps forward and extending her hand towards Fredrik. "Good afternoon, sir!"

    "Good afternoon to you too, Kristin," Mr. Fredrick returned the greeting and shook her hand. "You''ve grown a lot taller since thest time we met. Are you still chasing your dream of bing a professional scout?"

    "I''m trying to," Kristin replied perfunctorily. "But things are not all in-sailing. I''m starting to realize it''s easier to make a living as an agent rather than a professional scout. So, I''m thinking of pursuing both careers simultaneously."

    "That''s a good idea," Mr. Helge observed. "You can be both a scout and an agent at the same time. That would even increase your effectiveness, given the current state of the sports industry. It requires versatility on the part of those involved."

    "That''s the idea," Kristin said, nodding and stepping back.

    "Zachary!" Mr. Stein chimed in. "If you need any help with anything sports-rted, you should consider seeking Fredrik out. He knows the Scandinavian sports industry quite well. He''ll be able to aid you in solving almost any concern in the football industry."

    "Oh," Zachary said, nodding and turning towards the stocky middle-aged man. "How are you doing, sir?" He greeted, extending a hand to the other party.

    "I''m terrific," Mr. Fredrik Helge replied in a cheerful tone and took Zachary''s hand for a firm handshake. "Your reputation precedes you, Zachary. It''s a great pleasure to meet you."

    "Are you a Rosenborg fan?" Zachary inquired after seeing how passionate he was in his greeting.

    Mr. Helge chuckled on hearing that. "Sorry," he said, still smiling. "I grew up in Drammen. So, even though I enjoy watching you y for Rosenborg, I''m still a hardcore fan of Str?msgodset Toppfotball."

    "Then, I guess you''ll enjoy our match right after the break since we''ll be facing your team, Str?msgodset," Zachary remarked.

    "Yep," Mr. Helge said, nodding. "I even intend to watch it live at Lerkendal. And, this time around, we''ll defeat you since our team has been on form since the start of the season."

    "Is that so?" Mr. Stein chimed in before Zachary could give a response. "Don''t be too sure about that. Rosenborg''s current squad is very versatile ¡ª to the point that it can evenpete on the European stage. So, you can forget about any chances of winning."

    "Have you forgotten that we''re the current table leaders?"

    "That doesn''t mean anything since you''re only a single point ahead of Rosenborg. You''ll lose the top position after the next fixture."

    "Gentlemen," Kristin chipped in before the two men could continue bickering. "I think we should first head home before the two of you continue the discussion. Some of us are quite tired after our journey."

    "Oh," Mr. Stein said, smiling sheepishly. "Please, go ahead and put your suitcases into the boot so we can head home. Zachary! That''s a massive suitcase! How long do you n on staying in Bergen?"

    "I''m only here for a single night," Zachary replied, pulling his suitcase towards the back of the vehicle. "I prepared this much luggage because I''m heading back to Congo directly from here tomorrow."

    "That exins everything," Mr. Stein remarked. "But why head back in the middle of the season? Why not wait until the end of the season so that you can return home for the Christmas break?"

    "I''m feeling a little homesick," Zachary replied, lifting his case and cing it into the boot of the Mercedes. "I haven''t been back even once ever since I arrived here in Norway."

    "Well, that''s understandable," Mr. Steinmented, adjusting his sun hat. "Fredrik, we have to part ways for now since I''ve got to take these kids home. I suggest we link up on Wednesday to continue discussing business?"

    "That suits me best," Mr. Helge replied. "By then, I''ll have sorted out things on my side."

    "That''s perfect." He extended a hand to the stocky man. "See you on Wednesday, then."

    "Okay." Mr. Helge smiled, taking the proffered hand.

    "Zachary! Kristin, it was nice meeting you," he said right after. "And Zachary, please do get in touch if you need help with anything sports-rted. Here is my card." He added, handing out a business card to him.

    "Sure," Zachary replied, taking the card and shoving it into his shirt pocket. "In case I need anything, I''ll let you know. It was nice meeting you." He also extended a hand to the stocky man for another handshake.

    "The pleasure is all mine," Fredrik said. "Hopefully, we''ll meet again soon."

    After Fredrick departed, the three of them got into the vehicle. Mr. Stein navigated it out of the airport parking space and eased it slowly onto the highway. Soon, they were well on their way to the Fjellsiden neighborhood of Bergen in thefort of Mr. Stein''s luxurious M-ss Mercedes.

 Chapter 208 - The Club Managementâ€™s Stand

    "So, Kristin," Mr. Stein said without looking back as he steered the vehicle around a corner and continued onwards along the highway to Fjellsiden. "You''ve been bugging me about going back to Africa for the past two years. Why don''t you travel with Zachary this time around? That is if he doesn''t mind." He added, stealing a nce at Zachary through the rearview mirror.

    "I don''t mind," Zachary was quick to reply.

    "What are your thoughts about my proposition, Kristin?" Mr. Stein probed, eyes never leaving the road ahead.

    "Hmmm!" Kristin said, creasing a brow. "Don''t I need to get a visa and a yellow fever shot before traveling to Congo? That could take a bit of time, and I don''t think it''s good for Zachary to dy his trip waiting for me."

    "That isn''t the case," Mr. Stein stated. "Since there''s no resident DRC embassy here in Norway, you can travel without the documentation and obtain the visa on arrival at the airport. That''s how I''ve always done it. For the yellow fever vine, you''ll need only about thirty minutes to get it from a clinic tomorrow. So, I''m sure that you won''t dy Zachary''s journey in the slightest."

    "Then I''m fine with going on the trip," Kristin said, a soft smile ying on her face. She finally seemed genuinely happy.

    "But, when does your internship at Rosenborg begin?" Mr. Stein inquired. "I hope this trip won''t interfere with your starting date."

    "The internship begins at the start of July. By then, I should be back. Isn''t that so, Zachary?"

    "Yes, that''s right," Zachary responded. "I should be returning to Trondheim around the middle of June to begin training with the team.

    "Then, the n is perfect," Mr. Stein said. "Kristin can travel with you to Africa and return to Norway after three weeks. I''ll talk to some of my friends over in Lubumbashi to make arrangements for her when we get home. So no need to worry that she''ll be a burden to you."

    **** ****

    At the Rosenborg head office at Brakka, Coach Johansen had just settled down in one of the conference rooms for a meeting with Ivar Koteng, the club chairman, along with a few other club executives.

    "Erik, please go ahead and introduce the issue at hand today," Ivar Koteng said, leaning back into his chair.

    "Thank you, chairman," Erik Hoftun, the Rosenborg sporting director, said. "A few days ago, I received a call from a representative of RB Leipzig, a German club that''s going to be ying in the 3rd Liga next season. We talked at length on the phone, and he informed me his club has a great interest in securing the services of our yer, Zachary Bemba. He also stated that they''re willing to offer 25 million Euros if we allow him to move to their side during this German transfer window."

    "Absolutely not," Coach Johansen said right away, shaking his head. "Why would we even contemte giving up our best yer during the middle of the season? Instead of thinking about possible transfers, you people should be discussing a possible contract extension for him. What''s wrong with you people?"

    "Coach Johansen," Ivar Koteng, the chairman, said, raising his hand in a cating gesture. "Please allow Erik to exin himself first. I''m sure he has a good reason for calling this meeting. Okay?" He inclined his head to lock gazes with Coach Johansen.

    "Okay, then," Coach Johansen replied, his toneced with a bit of frustration. "But we shouldn''t be discussing this."

    Ivar Koteng could only smile wryly at Coach Johansen''s response. "Erik," he said, returning his gaze on the sporting director. "Please continue with your address."

    "Thank you, chairman," Mr. Erik Hoftun said, nodding. "I''ve had a few days to do a bit of research on this club, RB Leipzig. I managed to find out that Red Bull, the energy drink giant, owns 99% of the club''s shares. So, even if we request 30 million Euros, they would be able to raise it. That''s why I called this meeting to put across a proposition that we consider selling Zachary."

    "I know that Zachary is a great yer, for sure," the sporting director continued, sweeping his gaze across the other three seated around the meeting table. "He''s very talented, consistent, and a sure match-winner on the field of y. But with the fast rate at which he''s progressing, I''m sure our club won''t be able to keep him even for a year. So, I was thinking: why not sell him for a considerable fee? Right after doing that, we''ll be able to use the resulting money to purchase several other yers that''ll stay with the club for a longer time."

    "But none of those yers will have half the technicality and brilliance of Zachary on the pitch," Coach Johansen grumbled, shaking his head. "So, why in hell are we even discussing this?"

    "Daniel!" Ivar Koteng said, choosing to ignore Coach Johansen''s grumbling. "What''s your take on Erik''s proposition?"

    "Well," Mr. Daniel Malvik, Rosenborg''s chief legal advisor, said, leaning forward to nt his elbows on the table. "This time around, I''m also totally against selling Zachary within the course of this year."

    "Thank you," Coach Johansen said excitedly.

    "Daniel, please borate," the club chairman said, choosing to ignore Coach Johansen''s antics once more. "Why do you think that we shouldn''t sell Zachary?"

    "The reason is actually simple," Mr. Malvik said, smiling and looking around. "Zachary has a two-year contract that ties him with us until March 2015. So, there is no need for us to rush into selling him right now. Moreover, if we remain patient, his value might significantly rise over the next few months. That way, we''ll be able to fetch a higher fee out of his transfer."

    "Oh," Ivar Koteng said, caressing his chin, looking deep in thought. "Coach Johansen! You''ve been grumbling for a while regarding the issue of Zachary. What''s your take on this?"

    "Of course, I''m totally against any idea that involves selling Zachary," the coach was quick to reply animatedly. "Over the past few matches, Zachary has been exceptional on and off the pitch as a professional athlete. In all those games, he has been the deciding factor that has helped us to continue winning and achieve a seven-match unbeaten run. He''s the sort of yer thates along once in a generation. So, we should be thinking of offering him a more lucrative contract to tie him to our club for a longer period of time rather thaning up with ways to make a quick buck off him."

    "Do you think that we''ll be able to match the sort of money that a club backed by Red Bull can offer him?" Mr. Erik Hoftun, the sporting director, queried. "Why would he sign a contract covering a longer period if we can''t match the terms that ourpetitors can offer him?"

    "Are you forgetting football is not all about money, sometimes?" Coach Johansen said, shaking his head. "As a coach, I''ve been observing Zachary. He has grown morefortable on the team and doesn''t seem to have any intention of leaving any time soon. So, why don''t we let him be so that he continues ying for us? Remember: it''s significantly easier to win games and tournaments with him on the squad. So, gentlemen, please! Can you stop this absurd discussion about selling our best yer?"

    "Oh," the club chairman said, smiling a bit. "You do have a point, Coach Johansen. But so does Erik. So, after some deliberation, I''ve decided that we put off the selling of Zachary until further notice. Since he still has almost two years on the contract, we can at the very least afford to wait until the end of this season. Hopefully, by then, a better offer will havee along."

    "What about we consider offering him better terms so that we can extend his contract?" Coach Johansen queried, matching the chairman''s gaze.

    "Not yet," the chairman replied, shaking his head. "We can only consider doing that when he does a bit more for the club. Otherwise, we may cause some dissatisfaction among the rest of the squad. Isn''t that right, Erik?"

    "Yes, those are my exact thoughts," Erik Hoftun, the sporting director, replied. "We shouldn''t offer him any wage increments until after he has helped the club win a lot more games and possibly a tournament. But that aside, what should I tell the RB Leipzig representatives after the meeting?"

    "Tell them that Zachary isn''t for sale," Ivar Koteng said, tone firm. "You can go ahead and warn them not to approach him at any given moment before getting our consent. That''s unless they intend to trigger his release-use of 50 million Euros. Tell them that we shall sue them for sure if they ignore our warning and approach our yer. You have to make sure they understand our position clearly since we don''t want their representatives putting errant thoughts in our yers'' heads. Okay?"

    "Okay," Mr. Erik Hoftun confirmed, nodding. "I''ll call them tomorrow morning to ry our stand."

    "Good," the chairman said, nodding. "Since it''s a Sunday, I guess we should end this impromptu meeting and go rest. That''s unless someone else has another issue to discuss."

    Everyone remained silent, without bringing up any other issues to review. So, the meeting between the Rosenborg Club executives ended shortly after.

    **** ****

 Chapter 209 - Mr. Steinâ€™s Proposition I

    Zachary wasn''t surprised when he found out Mr. Stein lived in a modern four-story wooden house situated in a cozy, old alley on the Fjellsiden mountainside. He already knew the old gentleman was affluent and owned a number of businesses ¡ª including a sports agency, gyms in Trondheim, and several retail stores.

    So, he wasn''t the least bit startled by the fact that the old scout was literally living in a mansion by Bergen standards. However, what shocked him was Mr. Stein mentioning he lived alone in the massive house.

    "Does he really stay alone here throughout the year?" Zachary asked Kristin, his voice toned down to a whisper when Mr. Stein stopped to answer his phone. They were right in the middle of removing their suitcases from the boot after the twenty-eight-minute trip from the airport.

    "Yes," Kristin replied, sighing. "He has lived alone since he separated from my grandma several years ago."

    "Oh," Zachary said, at a loss for words, as he lifted Kristin''s suitcase from the boot and ced it on the paved ground ¡ª besides the SUV. "Where is your grandma, then?" He asked after a short while.

    "She lives in Oslo with an uncle of mine," Kristin replied in a hush. "But my grandpa''s situation is not as bad as it seems. Beforest year, he was constantly traveling. He only used to spend the asional free weekend here. And, on those rare asions, I would visit him to keep himpany."

    "So, why did he stop traveling, then?" Zachary probed, also lifting his suitcase from the boot. "I remember he looked okay when he found me in DR Congo. What changed?"

    "He became ill, and the doctor rmended that he stop traveling for some time," Kristin said, her voice tinged with a bit of frustration. "Up to now, he''s still in recovery."

    "Oh," Zachary said, sighing. "Sorry to hear about that. I wasn''t aware of his condition."

    "It''s okay," Kristin said, waving a hand about her in a dismissive gesture.

    "You should find him a nurse at the very least instead of letting him stay alone while he''s still recovering."

    "He is totally against having to stay under the care of a nurse, or anyone else, full time. But, there is a medic who checks on him from time to time to see how he''s doing."

    "Guys," it was then that Zachary heard Mr. Stein calling out to them. He had justpleted his conversation on the phone. "Can you bring the luggage up into the house?"

    "Yes, grandpa," Kristin replied. "Just a moment."

    "Better hurry and clean up cause I would like to take you out to a good ce for dinner," Mr. Stein said, walking towards them. "And Kristin! Don''t forget to prepare one of the empty rooms on the second floor for Zachary."

    "Okay, I''ll do that," Kristin replied, tone humble. "Don''t worry, grandpa."

    "Good."

    "Zachary," Kristin said, turning towards him immediately after. "Follow me. I''ll show you to your room." She pulled her suitcase and led the way into Mr. Stein''s residence.

    On walking through the front entrance, Zachary immediately felt at home. The house had a cozy and weing atmosphere about it ¡ª despite being almost devoid of any human presence. The floor was an old-fashioned parquet with a blend of deep homely browns, and the walls were the greens of summer gardens meeting a bold white baseboard. All that blended with the opulent furniture to birth a well-maintained antique-styled interior that was a wonder to behold.

    Upon the walls hung photographs of children of varying ages, couples, and men and women ¨C probably rted to Mr. Stein in one way or another. In one of the photos, Zachary noticed the old scout standing next to Nils Arne Eggen, Rosenborg''s longest-serving coach. It seemed to have been taken in front of the club''s head offices at Brakka.

    "So, what''s the position of your grandpa in Rosenborg Ballklub?" Zachary asked Kristin as the two of them began ascending the stairs to the second floor.

    "He was a scout and one of the executives a few years back," Kristin replied whileboring to pull her suitcase up the stairs. "But he''s now retired." She added after a while, seeming out of breath.

    "Can I help you with that?" Zachary said before taking a few steps and grabbing the suitcase with his free arm. God! It was heavy to the point that he almost missed a step. He couldn''t help but wonder whether Kristin had added a few stones. But since he was a professional athlete with a sturdy physique, he quickly limatized to the weight. Without expending a lot of effort, he helped Kristin carry the suitcase up the stairs ¡ª while also bringing along his own.

    "Thank you," Kristin said, smiling after they''d reached the top of the staircase. "You can take the room at the end of the corridor. There are towels and bedsheets in there. Make yourself at home, and feel free to ask if you need anything. But, we need to hurry and clean up since my grandpa is probably waiting for us downstairs."

    "Okay, thanks," Zachary replied, smiling back at her. "I will try to hurry." He then started to pull his suitcase towards the bedroom Kristin had allocated him.

    "Just a moment," it was then that he heard Kristin speak just as he''d taken a few steps. He immediately turned around and noticed that she was still standing in the same position, observing him.

    "Can I ask you something, Zachary?"

    "Yes, go ahead and ask," he replied, wondering why she looked like she was treading on pins and needles. "You don''t have to be so formal."

    "Is your agent in Trondheim?"

    "Not at the moment, I think," Zachary responded. "If she didn''t alter her schedule at thest minute, she must have left the country yesterday morning. I''ll have to call to confirm whether she traveled. Why do you ask? Would you like to meet her to get some advice on how to make it in the sports agency business?"

    "Yes, that''s the case," Kristin replied in a hush.

    "Well," Zachary said, smiling. "I''ll call her and let her know that a friend of mine wishes to talk to her. You can then arrange and meet when you''re both in Trondheim."

    "Okay, thank you," Kristin said. "I''ve got to go and clean up now. So, see youter." She then opened the door closest to the stairs and disappeared through it without another word.

    [Why does she seem moody again?] Zachary wondered. But he pushed the thought to the back of his mind a momentter. He assumed she was tired and in need of some rest.

    Without any more dilly-dallying, he headed into the room allocated to him and quickly cleaned up. After donning a fresh tracksuit, he descended the stairs ¡ª only to find Mr. Stein already waiting for him in the living room below. The old gentleman was no longer in Khaki shorts. He had changed into a pair of jeans and a light jacket, seemingly ready to head out and enjoy the evening.

    "Are you done?" he asked as soon as Zachary walked into the room.

    "Yes," Zachary replied, shing him a smile. "I''ve finished all my preparations. I''m ready to head out."

    "Let''s go then," Mr. Stein said after ncing at his watch. "We need to go early ande back early."

    "What about Kristin?" Zachary queried, looking around. "Isn''t sheing with us?"

    "No," Mr. Stein replied, raising a brow. "She says she''s tired and also needs to prepare for the trip with you to Africa. I thought that she''d already informed you. Didn''t she?"

    "No. I was in the shower. Maybe, that''s why."

    "Okay, then," Mr. Stein said, half-smiling. "It will be just us. But, don''t worry that I''ll bore you. I''m quite an interesting person, you know." He added jokingly.

    "Of course, I''m not worried," Zachary replied, grinning. "As long as there''s good food, I''ll certainly enjoy the evening. Where are we headed, by the way?"

    "A good ce called the Horn of Africa," Mr. Stein replied, grinning. "They have some good African dishes there. I have already booked a table for us there."

    "Then what are we waiting for?" Zachary said excitedly. "Let''s go."

    "Good."

    **** ****

 Chapter 210 - Mr. Steinâ€™s Proposition II

    Thirty minutester, they were seated opposite each other in the cozy restaurant with their meals set before them. They had already begun dining on their pick of the delicious African dishes, including spicedmb, vegetables, and various stews that Zachary couldn''t identify.

    "This food is really delightful," Zachary said after swallowing down a piece ofmb. "It reminds me of home."

    "That''s why I selected the ce," Mr. Stein said, looking up from his te and fixing his gaze on Zachary. "You seem to really miss your home."

    "Home is not what I miss, to be exact," Zachary said, shaking his head. "Rather, it''s my grandma that I miss. She must be living alone in Lubumbashi, and I feel guilty for leaving her there."

    "Don''t worry about her," Mr. Stein said, sighing. "I''m sure that what makes her happiest is seeing you seed rather than keeping herpany. I''m saying this from experience as a parent who''s also a grandparent."

    "I hope that''s the case," Zachary said, forking another piece ofmb and cing it in his mouth.

    "So, have you gotten any endorsement offers since starting your career?" Mr. Stein asked after a short while.

    "Yes, I got one from Audi," Zachary replied. "Their representative who dealt with my agent seems to know you. She''s ady called Susanne Berdal."

    "Oh, I know Susanne," Mr. Stein said, smiling. "Going by her character and usual way of doing things, she must havee to you with a good offer."

    "Yes, she did," Zachary confirmed after sipping on his juice. "That''s the very reason I epted Audi''s offer right away."

    "Audi is a good partner, especially in the Scandinavian sports industry," Mr. Stein remarked. "If you handle them well, you''ll reap plenty of profits from them in the near future."

    "That''s what I''m targeting," Zachary said. "Let''s hope they remain good partners."

    "So, have you thought about investing part of the money you''re earning?" Mr. Stein probed, matching Zachary''s gaze. "You know that if you invest adequately, in a proper way, you''ll surely lead a good life."

    "I just signed my first professional contract about three months ago," Zachary said. "So, I haven''t thought seriously about making any investments yet."

    "Oh, that''s not good," Mr. Stein said, shaking his head. "May I present you with a business idea? You can first listen and then decide whether it''s worth investing in afterward."

    "Please go ahead," Zachary said, cing his fork to the side. Of course, he wouldn''t refuse to take advice from one of the people he respected most in the entire world. Moreover, he had a feeling that pitching the business proposal to him was probably the main reason Mr. Stein had invited him to Bergen.

    "Since you''re from Africa, why not think about starting a sports agency and talent development center based there?" Mr. Stein asked, his voice low but steady. "I''m sure you''ll continue growing as a footballer with time. In a few years, you''ll most likely be world-famous. By then, your name alone will be able to market your agency, and a lot of young talented yers from around Africa will flock to your organization. Coaches around the continent will want to work for you and bring more yers to your agency."

    "With that, you will be able to kill two birds with one stone," the old scout continued. "One: you''ll help many talents around your home country develop their skills and get some exposure through your agency. And two: you''ll make a lot of money in the future after having done all that good."

    "Can such a business really be profitable?" Zachary asked, his tone skeptical. "Why do I feel like I''ll make losses if I implement your idea?"

    "I''m quite sure that you won''t be making a loss," Mr. Stein said assuredly. "Think about it this way. You''ll be able to make a profit even If you''re only able to discover a single gifted yer ¡ª among the young talents at your agency once every five years. Moreover, you can even employ high-profile scouts to move around and search for talents all around the continent. That way, you''ll never make a loss."

    "So, if my agency manages to discover a talented yer once in a while, I''ll be able to make good money?" Zachary asked, feeling his heart start to race.

    "Yes, of course," Mr. Stein affirmed after taking a sip on his wine. "If one of your scouts discovers a gifted yer, you''ll go ahead and invite them to your talent development center. And since you''re most likely going to turn into a highly skilled world-famous yer, those talents won''t reject your offer."

    "Your reputation alone will force those prospective talents to fight for ces at your academy," he continued. "What you''ll do is train them for some time and then connect them to professional clubs afterward ¡ª that''s for a fee, of course. You can even have your agency represent them to make more money off them. That''s a simple business idea that I''ve always wanted to implement for as long as I can remember."

    "That seems like an incredible idea when you put it like that," Zachary said after a moment of deliberation.

    He''d just recalled that since he''d clear knowledge of the future, he could use it to find a lot of the soon-to-be-famous talented yers that were still rising in the ranks of their home leagues. If he could create an agency and represent them, maybe he would make good money when they became high-profile stars in the near future. But there was only one problem, though.

    "Mr. Stein," he said, sighing. "I like your idea. But the problem is that I''ll have to wait until I make some more money before thinking about implementing it. I''m sure that building all the associated facilities, hiring staff, and even the marketing ¡ª all need a great deal of capital. I don''t think I''ll be able to raise that sort of money any time soon."

    "That brings me to my next point, Zachary," Mr. Stein said, smiling amiably. "It''s understandable that you don''t have enough money to make such a huge investment at the moment since you''ve just started your career. But what if I helped? Would you be willing to think about implementing the idea?"

    "What do you mean?" Zachary asked, leaning forward to nt his elbows on the table.

    "What I mean is simple," Mr. Stein stated after sipping some more wine. "We could partner up to start the business. Going by my initial estimates, such a project would need approximately 80 million NOK tounch. That''s slightly over 7 million Euros ¡ª if I''m doing the calctions right. So, my idea is to contribute the startup capital of approximately that amount. We shall then go ahead and go through all procedures with the aim of starting the implementation at the beginning of next year. What do you think?"

    Zachary could not help but let out a breath of pent-up air after listening to Mr. Stein''s proposal. "I''m overwhelmed," he said after a short while. "That''s quite the big-money project you''re proposing."

    "Please, don''t get overwhelmed by the figures," Mr. Stein said, smiling kindly. "I''m sure that you''ll be able to make that kind of money in only a few years. Just take a moment to think about the proposal as you enjoy the food. You don''t even have to give me a response now. There''s no pressure."

    Zachary nodded and took a sip on his juice as he mulled over the matter. "If you provide the startup capital," he said, "then who''ll be the owner of the business after it''s registered?"

    Mr. Stein smiled on hearing that. "As I already exined, we cannot sessfully implement the idea if weck a renowned football star to boost it up. And that football star is, in this case, you. Because of that, I cannot start the business alone. So, I''ll only request that you let me own 45% of the business ¡ª the reason being that I''ll be providing the startup and bringing my experience to the table. And for you, who will be the sole attraction of potential clients, can own 55%. I think that''s a good offer. Don''t you think so?"

    Zachary smiled wryly on hearing that. "To tell you the truth, I''m not sure that I can make a rational decision about your proposal right away. I don''t have any experience starting up apany and don''t know what to make of your proposal. So, I''m requesting that you give me a few days to think it over."

    "Sure," Mr. Stein was quick to reply. "Take your time and do some research when you head back home. There''s no pressure. You can give me a response when you return to Trondheim after the break."

    "Okay, then," Zachary said, smiling. "Thank you for your understanding."

    "One more thing," Mr. Stein said, his tone turning somber. "Please do take note and avoid epting endorsement contracts from non-reputablepanies. Don''t just ept any endorsement contract just because they are offering you some good money. You''ll fall in trouble sooner orter if you keep on doing that. Okay?"

    "Oh," Zachary said, creasing a brow. "What kind ofpanies are you referring to?"

    "Some bettingpanies which are not reputable for one. There are also shell corporations without active business operations or significant assets. They may not affect you directly but can tarnish your reputation if they use your name for questionable purposes. To avoid falling prey to them, you can always consult your agent and hire some experts to review the endorsement offers for you. Mr. Fredrik Helge, the guy we just met at the airport, can especially help you with that. That is because before joining the sports industry, he was a forensic ountant."

    "Okay, then," Zachary said, nodding. "I''ll take note."

    "Good." Mr. Stein smiled. "Since the business discussions are over, let''s get back to enjoying some food."

    **** ****

 Chapter 211 - Returning Home I

    After spending a day of enjoyable time visiting Mr. Stein in the exclusive neighborhood of Fjellsiden, Zachary finally set off for DR Congo with Kristin on the following morning.

    As he gazed out of the airne window, watching the neat city of Bergen fade away, he couldn''t help but feel his life was like a dream ¡ª a pretty amazing one at that.

    It hadn''t even been three years since his initial arrival in Norway as an academy yer. Even before turning neen, he''d already established himself on the Rosenborg senior team as a consistent member of the starting lineup.

    His football skills were already eons better than they''d been at his peak during his previous life ¡ª thanks to the system. He was even on the list of potential top scorers in the Tippeligaen just from his wildly sessful debut month.

    "Look at this," Kristin suddenly said from the seat beside him, holding out her smartphone towards him. She had returned to her cheery self after a day''s rest. "It says here that you''re the favorite to win the ''Best yer'' award for May. The only other seriouspetitors for the honor are Nicki Nielsen, your teammate, Stefan Johansen, a Str?msgodset midfielder, and Frode Johnsen from Odds BK. Though, I''m pretty sure you''lle out on top since none of theme close to matching your form these past few matches. So, I guess congrattions are in order."

    "Is that so?" Zachary said, leaning closer to Kristin to look at the phone screen. Indeed, he could see a headline listing him and a few others as the best performing yers for the first half of the football season in Norway. The article also mentioned he was one of the three Rosenborg yers included in the Tippeligaen team of the month. However, it also stated that the list was only provisional and was subject to changes after the meeting of the votingmittee. So, it was basically gossip with nothing confirmed.

    "That''s quite a long list," he said, withdrawing his gaze from the phone screen. "I don''t think it''s a sure deal that I''ll receive the honor. If I recall correctly, Stefan Johansen, the guy from Str?msgodset, seems to have some crazy stats, especially when considering the number of assists he has. So, it will solely depend on the votingmittee. And you know how those people can be."

    "Well," Kristin said, withdrawing her phone. "At least the press has already epted you as the best yer for May. The leaders, coaches, yers, and officials of the Tippeligaen will probably follow suit and do the same soon."

    "All we can do is wait for the official announcement," Zachary said, shaking his head. "There is no need for spection. But that aside, what are your ns when we arrive in Lubumbashi? Do you want me to host you, or should we check you into a hotel?"

    "One of my grandpa''s associates has already booked me a hotel room in Lubumbashi," Kristin replied. "So, there''s no need for you to be my host."

    "That''s convenient, I guess," Zachary said, inclining his head to give her a brief nce. He couldn''t help but think that perhaps the saying ''to get over someone, you should get under someone'' had some truth to it.

    After getting intimate with Cami, he was no longer the least bit ufortable in Kristin''s presence. The raging emotions he had previously felt every time heid eyes on her had disappeared as if they had never existed in the first ce.

    "Is there something off about my face?" Kristin queried after noticing his gaze. "Why''re you looking at me so intently?"

    Zachary sighed deeply. "I was just admiring your pretty face and thinking to myself: it would be nice to host her in Lubumbashi," he said jokingly. "What a letdown to find out you already have arrangements."

    Kristin reacted immediately, inclining her head to give Zachary a daunting ''are you serious?'' look. She seemed genuinely shocked by his attempt at humor.

    "So, do you want me to be your host or not?" Zachary asked, scratching his chin, hoping to dispel the awkward atmosphere between them.

    "Forget it," Kristin muttered in a barely audible voice as she finally turned away. "What if your girlfriend finds out? I don''t want to be enemies with someone I don''t even know personally."

    "What?" Zachary eximed, giving her his full attention once more.

    "I said forget it," Kristin said, a soft smile then ying on her face. "From my previous experience, hotels are the safest ces for foreigners in Lubumbashi. Maybe, you should also consider checking into a hotel. You''re now basically a foreigner in Congo since you''ve spent more than two years away from the ce."

    "That is a big no for me," Zachary said, shaking his head. "If I sleep in a hotel, I''ll miss my grandma''s cooking. I''ll only be spending tonight in a hotel because we''ll be arriving in Lubumbashite. After that, I''ll head home and spend some quality time there. That''s my n."

    "Well, suit yourself," Kristin muttered, leaning back into her seat and suppressing a yawn. "I''m starting to feel tired. I need a few hours of sleep. Please don''t wake me in the next couple of hours."

    "Sweet dreams, then," Zachary said, nodding.

    **** ****

    Zachary and Kristin exited the ne with their hand luggage in tow after itnded at Lubumbashi International Airport at eleven on the night of the same day. When they stepped out into the open, the warm tropical breeze, blowing gently across the airport tarmac, immediately assaulted them, refreshing their numb senses, despite the hour being sote.

    Zachary looked up at the nket of stars that stretched to infinity ¡ª then at the numerous aircraft spread out across the cktop of the airport. He finally rested his gaze on the terminal leading to the arrivals hallway. He couldn''t help but smile. The feeling of being back home was blissful.

    However, he didn''t dilly-dally immersing himself in the sensation. He moved quickly, together with Kristin, to collect their luggage and finish the necessary procedures at the airport. A few minutester, the two of them were already rushing to the immigration offices.

    Two male officials stood in the booth, which served as the immigration control office, looking tired since it was alreadyte in the night. They didn''t give Zachary a hard time as he was a very ''understanding'' client and knew how things worked in DRC. Without batting an eyelid, he tipped the officials to motivate them to work on him pronto.

    After receiving the bribes, the immigration officials seemed to have experienced an energy refill. Their lethargic looks quickly disappeared.

    A momentter, they were all smiles as they helped himplete his paperwork and processed Kristin''s temporary visa.

    "Here you go, sir," one of the officials said, handing Zachary his travel documentation after a few minutes. "And here you go, beautiful madam," he added, turning to Kristin and bowing slightly at the waist. "Please, enjoy your stay in Lubumbashi."

    "Thank you, sir," Kristin replied, smiling and receiving her visa.

    "You''re wee," the official said, smiling back. "Is there anything else you need help with, sir, madam?"

    "Well," Zachary said, smiling at the official. "Could you maybe direct us to where we can hire a taxi cab?"

    "Oh, that''s easy," the official said, tone humble. "When you are just heading out of the airport exit, you''ll see the taxis for hire in the parking space on your left. You can''t miss them since the drivers will all swarm towards you the moment you walk out of the exit."

    "Okay, thanks a lot for your help," Zachary said, shaking the hands of the two officials, one after the other. Since he was pleased with their efficiency, he, of course, gifted them a few more Euros. They were ecstatic and thanked him emphatically as they pocketed the money.

    "That was quick," Kristinmented just after they''d departed from the immigration control office. The two of them were towing their suitcases, headed for the airport exit. "Thest time I was here with my grandpa," she continued, "We spent more than four hours going through the procedures."

    "Well," Zachary said, inclining his head to smile at her. "Money moves everything here in DRC. If you can gift the person working on your case a few dors, he''ll be more efficient in handling your case."

    "You gave them money!" Kristin eximed, raising a brow. "When was that? Howe I didn''t notice?"

    "That''s the idea," Zachary said, grinning. "No one is supposed to notice."

    Kristin sighed, giving Zachary a sideways nce as they trekked through the airport hallway. "But isn''t that like illegal?" She whispered.

    "Well, no one cares?" Zachary said. "This isn''t Norway. Moreover, they didn''t ask for bribes. It was solely my decision to tip them so as to encourage them to work on us faster. It''s like how you go to a hotel and tip a waitress after she has given you good service."

 Chapter 212 - Returning Home II

    Kristin chuckled as they continued towing their suitcases towards the airport exit. "Well, that''s some justification you have there for taking part in bribery. Howe no one recognizes you here? Shouldn''t you be like famous in your home country?"

    "I have only been ying professionally for a month," Zachary replied. "Moreover, it''s in the Tippeligaen ¡ª a league that has almost no viewership in Africa. So, I would be surprised if people here knew me."

    "Oh, then your chances of being called for the national team duty must be quite minimal," Kristin remarked.

    "That''s true," Zachary confirmed, sighing. "But if there''s a coach who has been closely following my progress in Norway, then I might get a chance."

    "So, are you going to spend the night in a hotel, or will you be heading directly home?"

    Zachary nced at his watch. "Since it is already close to midnight, I''ll have to postpone returning home until tomorrow morning," he said. "I don''t feel at ease traveling into the far-off neighborhoods thiste at night."

    **** ****

    Zachary ended up checking into the Hollybum Hotel with Kristin and spending the night there. The following morning, right after he had taken some breakfast, he called Coach Samson Damata to inform him of his arrival in Lubumbashi.

    The coach had been Zachary''s go-to person to handle any business or arrange anything his grandma needed in Lubumbashi. He''d sessfully managed most of Zachary''s affairs during his absence and even helped purchase his grandma''s house so she could move from Bukavu to Lubumbashi. He was a trustworthy person and hadn''t yet tried to cheat him in any way. Besides, he was the only coach that had made an attempt to link Zachary to a professional team way after his trials. So, he was eager to meet him again after a long separation of more than two years.

    "Wee back home, big man," the plump, aged coach said,ughing heartily, as soon as he approached Zachary''s table in the Hollybum Hotel''s restaurant. "How are you?" He asked, speaking in French.

    "I''m more than fine, coach," Zachary replied, using the samenguage and rising from his seat to give the man a bear hug.

    "That''s great," Coach Damata said, returning the hug. "You''ve grown very tall since thest time I saw you. It seems you''re eating well there in Europe. Your grandma will be thrilled when she sees you." He gave a heartyugh once more and stepped back.

    "How is she?" Zachary asked, also taking a step back and returning to his seat. "Has she finally managed to settle down in her new home yet?"

    Coach Damata chuckled, giving Zachary an arch look. "She has long gotten used to the new residence," he replied, also settling down in a seat opposite Zachary''s. "She''s having a good time there. When you return home, you''ll understand what I mean."

    "Oh. Then, I''m relieved. What about you, coach? How have you been doing, and how''s everything on your side?"

    "I''m fine but often tired these days," Coach Damata replied, sighing. "It''s the same old hustle here. We''re trying to organize for the uing World Cup qualifying matches against Libya and Cameroon."

    "Oh," Zachary said, raising a brow. "Are you on the organizingmittee?"

    "Yes. But just as an assistant, of course."

    "Then you must have some knowledge of the squad selection. Don''t you?"

    "Yes, I do," Coach Damata replied, sighing. "For the match against Libya, scheduled for June 6th, the coach has decided to go with a more experienced squad. He mainly selected the yers who participated in the previous African Nations Cup back in January. So, your name is not on the list this time around."

    "Oh," Zachary said, feeling a little disappointment streak through him like aet. Although he''d already suspected he wouldn''t make it onto the national team, confirming it still soured his mood. At the very back of his mind, he''d been hoping he would get the chance to y in another tournament other than the Norwegian leagues in the near future. But it seemed the DR Congo national team coaches had not yet recognized him as fit enough to represent the country.

    "I know you must be feeling disappointed," Coach Damata said after noticing his change in mood. "It''s quite a letdown to not make the squad even after the way you''ve been performing since making your debut. But you''ve got to know that coaches rarely follow the goings-on in the Norwegian leagues. That''s why they are going with midfielders like C¨¦dric Makiadi and Lomana LuaLua ¡ª who are from well-established clubs."

    "Well, I understand," Zachary said, letting out a breath of pent-up air and forcing a smile onto his face. It was never good to face rejection of whatever kind. But, after recalling Coach Johansen''s advice a momentter, he finally rxed, pushing the matter of the national team to the back of his mind. At the very least, he would get to keep his coach happy by keeping his ying time minimal.

    "I''m d you''ve taken the news well," Coach Damata said, still observing him closely. "But I promise over the next few months, I''ll start showing videos from your matches to the rest of the coaching staff so that this doesn''t happen again."

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary said, shing the aged man a grin. "You don''t have to do all that. Moreover, I probably wouldn''t have agreed to the call."

    "Oh, why is that?" Coach Damata probed, creasing his brow.

    "The team physician back in Norway has rmended I keep my match count to the bare minimum since I''ve just experienced a growth spurt. You must have noticed the problem based on my current height. I''m way taller than I was during the trials." He''d decided to give a reason in order to avoid burdening the old coach with more issues. He was already doing enough by asionally checking on his grandma from time to time. So, he didn''t want to add more to his te.

    "Oh, a growth spurt!" Coach Damata eximed, giving him a once-over from across the table. "Is that why you missed most of the opening matches of the season?"

    "Yes, that''s why the coaches kept me out of the squad for some time."

    "Are you okay now?" Coach Damata inquired, seemingly very concerned. "Do you feel any joint pains or any difort in your muscles?"

    "Not at all," Zachary replied, shaking his head. "As I said, the coaches are keeping my match count low. So, I''ve managed to deal with it without anyplications."

    "That''s good, then," Coach Damata said, seemingly rxing. "Your health is paramount. So, don''t try to y when you''re feeling any difort. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, nodding. "I understand."

    "Good," Coach Damata said, grinning and caressing his long goatee. "So, should we go see your grandma? I''m sure you''re eager to get a look at her new residence in Lubumbashi."

    "Yes, we can go right after I say goodbye to my friend who traveled with me back here," Zachary said. "I''m sure you know her as well. She is Kristin, the granddaughter of Mr. Martin Stein, the scout who took Kasongo and me to Norway."

    "You mean the young girl who imed that she was a scout in training?"

    "Yes," Zachary replied, nodding. "That''s the one."

    "Could she be here on another scouting mission?" Coach Damata asked, his voice rising a bit.

    "No," Zachary said, shaking his head. "She''s just here as a tourist on tour. So, don''t try to bother her with any football-rted stuff."

    "Oh! What a letdown! How''s Mr. Stein, by the way? Howe he''s no longering to visit us in Lubumbashi?"

    "He''s doing okay," Zachary said, in the spirit of not disclosing any personal information about the old scout. "When I go back, I''ll tell him to contact you."

    "That''ll be good," Coach Damata said, grinning. "If he could scout more yers from here, it would do our country good."

    "Before I forget," Zachary said, "What''s the status of the vehicle I shipped here a few weeks back? Has it arrived yet?"

    "Yes," Coach Damata replied, nodding. "The Audi arrived in Lubumbashi two days ago. I had someone drive it and pack it at your grandma''s residence. After that, I left the keys with her."

    "Oh, thanks a lot for your help," Zachary said, grinning. "I don''t know how I would have managed the shipment without you here in Lubumbashi to receive it."

    "You don''t need to say thanks," Coach Damata said, waving an arm about him in a dismissive gesture. "Your grandma and I are good friends. Helping her grandson is a pleasure."

    "But thanks anyway," Zachary said, standing up from his seat. "I''ll quickly say goodbye to my friend upstairs, and then we can be on our way. Do you want to order anything in the meantime?"

    "No," Coach Damata said, tone firm. "I just had some breakfast. Just go and finish up. Don''t worry about me. I''ll wait for you here."

    "Okay, thanks," Zachary said. "I''ll be back in a minute."

 Chapter 213 - Returning Home III

    A thousand memories flooded through Zachary''s mind as they traversed the familiar roads of Lubumbashi in Coach Damata''s Datsun pickup truck, heading for his grandma''s residence. They had just passed some familiarndmarks from his previous life. Among them were the TP Mazembe Stadium and the little market where he used to shop with his ex-fianc¨¦, Anita.

    He couldn''t help but sigh as he recalled the hard life he''d lived before his return to the past. The story of his previous incarnation was so tragic that it could feasibly be turned into a best-seller. He''d lost everything, including his fianc¨¦e, talent, career, and his close family. But luckily, he''d gotten a second chance. Because of that, he was resolute in pursuing the goals he had set for himself in his new life. He was determined to make sure he never fell into simr dire straits.

    Sad memories aside, the city of Lubumbashi looked just the way he remembered it. All the neighborhoods they drove through on their way up north had a distinctly Congolese vor. Buildings were ced haphazardly all over the ce and overlooked potholed roads.

    As they drove through bustling streets, Zachary''s ears picked up sounds ofughter and noise from hawkers peddling their wares ¡ª all with a backdrop of catchy Ling music. He couldn''t help but smile as he relished the feeling of returning home. There was a simplicity to the way of life his countrymen followed that he''d almost forgotten after living in Europe for more than two years. Everything was different and down to earth.

    But asionally, his nose would detect the foul smell of garbage, or he would see street children begging by the roadside. That reminded him of the sub-par service delivery and poor governance that was the tune in most of his home country''s cities.

    "We have arrived," Coach Damata said after a few more minutes of driving. He steered the truck off the murram road to a narrowerne.

    "Oh," Zachary said, feeling his heartbeat quicken as he gazed out of the window. Along thene were small but neat houses surrounded by perimeter fences. He could tell right away that his grandma''s residence was located in a very cozy neighborhood by Lubumbashi''s standards.

    "I can see you managed to find a good and neat neighborhood close to the town center," he said after taking in the scenery around. "That''s good. Thank you very much for everything."

    "No problem," Coach Damata said, steering the vehicle off thene ¡ª towards the gate of one of the small residences encircled by a solid perimeter wall. "This is the ce. Wee to your home, Zachary." He added, smiling and hooting.

    Half a minuteter, a young boy, who looked about 10 or 12, opened the gate and yelled, "Coach Damata is back," in Swahili. He opened the gate winder with a big grin on his face. Nheless, his actions did not stop him from continuing to announce the coach''s arrival at the top of his lungs.

    "You seem very popr here," Zachary remarked, inclining his head to look at Coach Damata. "Who is he?" He asked since the boy was certainly too young to be aborer at his grandma''s ce.

    Coach Damata smiled on hearing the question. But just as he was about to answer, five more kids of ages varying from about five to twelve swarmed the gate. They joined the first in yelling the same slogan: ''Coach Damata is here'' repeatedly. It seemed seeing Coach Damata''s Datsun truck had long turned into a great source of joy for them.

    "Okay, now I''m confused," Zachary said, looking at all themotion ahead of them. "Are you sure we''re at my grandma''s residence or some daycare? What are all the kids doing here?"

    "This is the ce," Coach Damata said, slowly steering the vehicle into the gate, past the excited kids. "You should direct those questions at your grandma. She''s the owner of the ce, and I''m usually just a visitor."

    "Oh, okay then," Zachary said, nodding and checking himself.

    A few secondster, Coach Damata pulled up in front of the garage of the neat house. Zachary said his thanks before exiting and lifting his case from the cabin of the pickup truck. But, before he could take a single step towards the front entrance, he heard one of the kids shouting again in the distance.

    "Grandma," he yelled in Swahili from somewhere behind the house. "Coach Damata hase with a very tall man with long hair like a Rasta''s. He''s carrying a massive suitcase with him."

    "Grandma!?" Zachary mumbled, raising a brow and giving Coach Damata a ''what''s going on?'' look. During his previous life, he''d rarely met any of his cousins. That was because there had barely been any guests at his grandma''s farm in Bukavu. So, he was startled to find several kids at his grandma''s new residence.

    Coach Damata shrugged in response to his question, waving to one of the kids in the distance. "It seems they''re a bit intimidated by your height. Otherwise, they would have already swarmed me by now." He said before approaching the front entrance.

    Zachary followed suit with his suitcase in tow. His heartbeat raced in anticipation of a reunion with the sole parental figure he''d ever known. Thankfully, she was still alive and well in his current life, unlike in his past one.

    An aged woman stepped out of the door onto the front shade before they could make it there. She looked exactly like Zachary remembered ¡ª with the same warm smile that could warm his soul from the inside whenever he was before her.

    "Coach," she said, smiling as she stepped further out of the door. "Wee! The kids are telling me that you brought along a tall giant..." She stopped midsentence and did a double-take as her gazended on Zachary.

    "Grandma, I''m back," Zachary said, smiling but standing still in ce. "How have you been?"

    "Is that you, Zachary?" She asked in Swahili, moving closer to him and observing him.

    "Of course, it''s me," Zachary said, feeling a bit awkward. All the thrill of meeting his grandma evaporated after that question. "Who else could it be?"

    "Then, howe I don''t recognize you?" She said, moving around him, seemingly to observe him more closely. "Are you sure you''re Zachary? Or, as the kids say, you are some giant that Coach Damata picked up from somewhere."

    Coach Damata couldn''t help butugh from beside him at the aged woman''s reaction.

    "Stop with the teasing and jokes, grandma," Zachary said, sighing with frustration. He''d almost forgotten that even in her old age, she enjoyed ying pranks on people.

    "I got you with that," she said, finally smiling and pulling him into a hug. "Wee back home, Zachary. How have you been doing?"

    "I''m fine," Zachary said, bending slightly and allowing himself to soak into his grandma''s embrace. "How have you been, grandma?"

    "I''m doing well, but I miss my farm and animals," she said, stepping back. "You have grown, Zachary. With that height of yours, you''re starting to look more and more like your..." She trailed off midsentence, looking away.

    Zachary raised a brow at that. But he still chose to move the conversation in another direction since he knew that they weren''t in the right ce to discuss more personal issues.

    "So, how are you finding the new ce, grandma?" He asked, smiling at her.

    "Although it can''tpare to my farm back in Bukavu, it''s still fine," she replied, smiling back at him. "Please,e inside. We shouldn''t continue talking in front of the door as if we''re strangers."

    "Coach Damata!" She continued, turning towards the plump, aged man. "How''s your morning? Sorry for keeping you waiting outside."

    "My morning is fine, Mrs. Bemba," Coach Damata replied, grinning. "I don''t mind standing outside. Weing your grandson after more than two years should take priority."

    "Well, thank you for bringing him home," Zachary''s grandma said, smiling. "But, let''s enter the house first."

    "Thank you," Coach Damata replied. "But I need to return to town to handle some urgent business. So, I won''t be entering the house. But I''ll return to visit after a while."

    "Won''t you eat something before you leave?" Zachary''s grandma asked, raising a brow. "How can I let you leave on an empty stomach after visiting me?"

    "No, Mrs. Bemba," Coach Damata replied, shaking his head. "I''m needed at the stadium in around fifteen minutes. So, I''ve got to run."

    "Grandma," Zachary chimed in on seeing her insistence. "The coach has important duties to perform for our national team. So, we can''t dy him."

    "Then I guess it''s a goodbye, for now, coach," she said. "And thanks again for giving Zachary a ride here."

    "He''s one of the greatest football talents that I''ve evere across." Coach Damata said, smiling. "So, it''s always my pleasure to help him."

    "Is that so?" Zachary''s grandma questioned, turning towards him. "Are you as good as the coach says? Howe I haven''t seen you on TV?"

    Zachary could only smile wryly at that since he knew that she was back into her teasing mode. He chose to ignore her and turned towards Coach Damata. "Thank you for everything. But I think you should make a move on it, or you''ll bete."

    "Okay then, Zachary," the coach replied. "Don''t forget to call if you need anything. I''ll also call you if there are any new developments with the national team."

    "Okay, great."

    **** ****

 Chapter 214 - A Talk With The Grandma I

    A week flew by while Zachary enjoyed the homely atmosphere at his grandma''s ce. He grew to appreciate the saying ''East or West, home is best'' with every passing day.

    He felt so loved and relished every moment he spent there. His mind totally rxed from its usual tense state as he took on a free-spirited mood like a bird soaring in the skies.

    His grandma was as perfect a host as he remembered. She treated him like the most cherished of guests, spoiling him with her delightful cooking, which could rival that of the most famous chefs in Lubumbashi. Be it dishes like fried goat''s meat and steamed bananas, or delicious sauce like mushroom soup, Zachary feasted on it all in the first few days of his stay there.

    During meal times, Zachary would tell her about his experiences in Europe. By the eighth day, he''d already narrated almost everything to her, starting from his academy days and ending with histest Tippeligaen fixture performance.

    Her reactions to some of his stories often left him at a loss for words. She would regrly interpose and say: ''Stop deceiving me'' or ''Howe I haven''t seen you on TV?'' On such asions, Zachary found it hard to continue the story. He would then often head off to his room to rest without another word.

    On the ninth day, at the dinner table, Zachary finally mustered the courage to ask his grandma about some issues that''d been bugging him since his arrival. Since the young kids had already gone to their rooms to rest for the night, he reckoned it was the perfect opportunity to make his queries.

    "Grandma," he began, looking at her from across the table covered with mouth-watering African dishes.

    "Yes, Zachary," she replied, raising a brow. "Why do you seem so nervous? Just go ahead and ask whatever you have to ask? Don''t act like a young girl."

    "Well, grandma," he said, smiling wryly. "I was wondering about the cousins of mine staying here. Who are they exactly?" He asked, tone cautious.

    "Well, they''re your cousins, of course," she replied matter-of-factly. "Two of the kids, Joel and Joshua, belong to your aunt, who is currently in the United Arab Emirates for work. The young girl, Lily, is the child of the cousin of the husband of that same aunt of yours. She also apanied your aunt to UAE. The remaining two, Tr¨¦sor and Yannick, belong to another aunt of yours."

    "Oh," Zachary said, surprised and worried. He was afraid that taking care of all the kids would tire out his grandma. There was a chance it would affect her health and well-being if she wasn''t careful. But since his grandma had always been a kind person by nature, who''d raised him single-handedly, he decided not to mention the issue.

    "Why do you seem displeased?" His grandma probed, closely watching him from across the table. She''d apparently noticed his slight shift in mood.

    "Zachary, do you not want me taking care of the kids?" She continued in a somber tone after not getting a response. "Would you prefer that I send the kids away from here to the streets?"

    "I didn''t say anything, grandma," Zachary was quick to reply while raising his hand in a pacifying gesture. "Those are your own spections."

    "Then, why did you raise your left eyebrow?" She demanded, seemingly amused. "You only do that when you''re frustrated or angry. So, don''t lie to me."

    "I was only thinking about other stuff, not the kids," Zachary replied, sounding defensive.

    "Then tell me," she said, fixing her gaze onto his face. "What has been on your mind over the past few days? I''ve noticed that you''ve been looking for an opportunity to ask me something. But then, you always stop at thest minute. So, go ahead and spit it out."

    Zachary sighed on hearing his grandma''s very urate assumptions. She was as sharp as ever.

    "I''ve always wanted to ask you about my parents," he said, voice lowering. "Where are they right now? Howe you''ve never said anything about them before?"

    "Oh my, Zachary," she said, sighing. "Is that what has been bugging you over the past few days? Why didn''t you ask me sooner instead of continuing to worry about the issue? I would have disclosed everything since you''re now old enough to hear the entire truth."

    "So, where are my parents right now?" Zachary probed once again, trying his best to keep his voice stable.

    He didn''t want her to get sidetracked since the unsolved question of his identity had been one of the greatest regrets of his previous life. He''d met his end without ever knowing the people that had brought him into this world and left him with his grandma. But in his present life, he was determined to get some answers in order to get some closure.

    "Just give me a moment, Zachary," she said, looking at him kindly. "I need to pick a few things from my room, and then we can have this talk. Understood?"

    "Yes, grandma," Zachary replied. "I''ll be waiting here."

    "Good," she said, standing up from her seat. She then left the dining room without another word.

    Zachary did his best to keep his emotions in check by focusing on his food as he waited. But, he quickly found out he''d somehow lost his appetite. He pushed his te to the side and continued waiting for his grandma''s return in silence.

    Fortunately, he didn''t have to wait long.

    His grandma walked back into the room after a few minutes. She was carrying a small wooden chest in her hands. Without a word, she ced it on the table beside the dishes and settled back into her seat.

    "What''s that?" Zachary asked, looking at the chest lying on the table.

    "This, Zachary, contains your father''s possessions," she said, patting the chest and looking at him fondly. "At least, it includes all the possessions that I''m aware of."

 Chapter 215 - A Talk With The Grandma II

    "Oh," Zachary said, looking at the wooden chest. "So, where is my father now?" He probed, shifting his gaze from the chest to his grandma''s face and back.

    "He already left this world," his grandma said in a in voice, not projecting any emotion. "He has already passed on."

    "Oh," Zachary said, letting the information sink in.

    To his surprise, he didn''t feel any grief after hearing the news. He was a bit disappointed, yes, but that was all. It wasn''t as bad as the time he''d heard about the death of his grandma during his previous life.

    "Then my mother?" Zachary asked in a hush after another few seconds of silence.

    His grandma sighed audibly on hearing that. "I never got a chance to meet the woman that should be your mother," she said, sighing again and starting to open the wooden chest.

    "What do you mean?" Zachary asked as he watched her start to scan through the contents of the chest. From his position across the table, he couldn''t clearly make out what was inside it. But he could guess it mainly contained papers and books ¡ª basing on the sound he heard as his grandma''s hands shuffled through the contents.

    "What I mean is that I''ve never met your biological mother," his grandma said, finally fishing out what seemed to be a few old photographs from the chest.

    "Oh," Zachary said, his emotions then, in a jumbled mess.

    "Your father, my son, was a budding musician who was just beginning his career before his passing," she said in a t voice. "He''d made a breakthrough in his career by the time he was twenty and had started traveling to other African countries to promote his music."

    "But, one day, he returned from a trip abroad with you in his hands," she said, her voice low but steady. "He presented you to me and said that you were his son ¡ª my grandchild. I was happy, of course."

    "I asked where your mother was. The man just scratched his chin and said she was somewhere abroad. He also imed she wasn''t Congolese and promised to introduce me to her when the opportunity arose. But that was after I''d promised to help take care of you for some time."

    The aged woman paused, looking away as if she was trying her best to muster her emotions. She then faced Zachary and continued, "But then, he went and got himself killed in the 1996 - 1997 war to overthrow the Mobutu regime. And that was together with my husband, your grandfather. Even up to this point, I don''t understand how they got involved in that armed conflict. All I know is that it imed their lives. But that aside, your father passed away before telling me where I could find your mom."

    "Oh!" was all that Zachary could manage. He was totally at a loss for words for a few moments. But then he checked himself and decided to console his grandma before anything else.

    "Grandma," he said, his voice taking on a sympathetic and concerned tone. "I''m sorry to hear all that. I can''t even begin to understand what you''ve been going through all this time. But I want you to know that I''m always here for you."

    "Thank you, Zachary," she replied, shaking her head. "But, it''s okay. It has been a long time since they left this world. You have to know that by the time of their passing, you were only two years old. So, I''ve long gotten used to not having them around."

    "What about my mother?" Zachary asked after a few moments of silence. "Is she alive?"

    "That, I don''t know," she replied, finally handing out the few photographs within her hands to Zachary from across the table. "What I know about her is that she might not be Congolese. She also got together with your father when he was abroad. That''s her in your father''s photographs."

    "Oh," Zachary said, receiving them and fixing his eyes on them.

    In one of the photographs, he could see a tall big man, carrying a guitar, standing together with a beautiful Africandy in a party dress. They seemed happy together in the picture. So, Zachary couldn''t help but wonder why his dad had had to bring him to his grandma''s ce instead of leaving him in the care of his mother.

    "Do you have her name or any other information about her?" He asked after a while as he nced up from the photos.

    "Do you want to look for her?" His grandma countered with her own question, raising a brow.

    "Maybe," Zachary said, sighing. "I only need to get some closure about the issue. If I don''t find out more, I''ll only remain in emotional limbo, wondering whether she''s alive or dead and why she abandoned me. That will keep torturing me from the inside and deny me any peace of mind. I can''t have that."

    "Oh," his grandma said, a genuine soft smile outlining her face for the first time since the start of their chat. "I''m d you''re still calm even after hearing all that. It seems living alone in Europe has helped you be more mature. I''m proud of you, Zachary."

    "Thank you, grandma," Zachary said, smiling back. "So, do you have any more information about her? I mean about my biological mother."

    "I only know her name. And that''s from the only letter from her that I managed to find in your dad''s stuff. Unfortunately, there''s no return address on it since it was only an informal note. Otherwise, I would have tried reaching out to her long ago."

    "Where is it?" Zachary asked, trying his best to keep calm. If he could find out her name, perhaps, he could find her if he hired the right people.

    "In here," his grandma replied, patting the chest beside her. "But are you sure you want to read that letter? I previously had someone read it out to me, and I noticed it was her parting message to your dad. She seemed to have penned it just after you were born. So, it may be quite painful for you to read."

    "Don''t worry, grandma," Zachary said, shing her a forced smile. "It''s not like I''m a ten-year-old. I can take it."

    "Good," she said and then fished a folded letter pad from the chest. "Here you go." She handed it over to him from across the table.

    "Thanks, grandma," he replied, receiving it.

    On taking a closer look, he could immediately tell that it was from a long time ago. It was already yellowing and had many creases on its surface. But what mattered to him the most was the message inside. So, without any dilly-dallying, he unfolded the note and then started reading the letter that his biological mother had penned down in French.

    ****

    "Dear Samuel,

    You are fascinating as a person, and I have always envisioned a future with you. I know we could have been happy together if circumstances were different.

    But I can''t do this anymore.

    It hurts right now, but I believe this is what''s best for both of us. Please take care of our son. And don''t contact me since that will create more problems on my side.

    Please forgive me.

    C¨¦leste."

    ****

    Zachary could not help but fall into a daze after reading the letter. He''d found out the name of his biological mother. But there wasn''t any other information to help him find her location. So, he was at a loss of what to do. Moreover, it didn''t feel good at all to find out that the woman who was supposed to be his mother had abandoned him, leaving him in the sole care of his other parent.

    "Don''t be sad, Zachary," his grandma said from across the table. "Finding your biological mother won''t add anything to you. Look at you. You''re already a big star in Europe, even without getting any help from her. So, cheer up and rx."

    "Thanks, grandma," Zachary said, a forced smile outlining his face. "And thank you for telling me everything."

    "Did you get the closure you needed?"

    "To some extent."

    "That''s good enough," his grandma said. "Here is your dad''s chest. You can keep it since it was meant to be yours in the first ce. But be careful while searching for your biological mother. Make sure you don''t bring any trouble to yourself. Do you get what I mean, Zachary?"

    "Yes, grandma."

    "Then, that''s good. Go ahead and finish your dinner before you head to bed."

 Chapter 216 - Resolving Concerns

    Zachary spent the week following his talk with his grandma practically in a daze. Initially, he''d presumed that the news about his parents wouldn''t affect him in any way. That was because he''d never gotten to know them on a personal basis.

    But as the days passed, he realized that his initial assumption couldn''t have been more wrong. He would often find himself wondering about his mom and dad and what could have been if he''d grown up in their care. Their images, he''d only recently seen in a few photographs, would flood his thoughts whenever he tried to focus on anything productive.

    Soon, he found himself feeling depressed and started regretting why he''d opened an emotional Pandora''s Box by asking his grandma to tell him about them.

    He wasn''t even in the mood to apany Kristin on her visits to wildlife reserves and zoos close to Lubumbashi City. He felt guilty about that ¡ª which made him all the more depressed until he could no longer focus on training.

    After a few more days of struggling with the issue, he finally couldn''t take it anymore and decided to do something about it.

    He couldn''t allow himself to return to Norway ¡ª to ying professional football when his mind wasn''t in the right ce. So, he started taking the necessary steps to get some more answers about his parents.

    He especially needed to find out where his missing mom was ¡ª and whether she was alive and well ¡ª before he could put the whole saga to rest. He hoped that he would have found the peace of mind to carry on with his life by then.

    On a Wednesday morning, just four days to his scheduled return to Norway, he dialed the number of a private investigations firm called the International Counterintelligence Services (ICS). It was a high-profile international firm that was rmended to him by his agent, Emily, only a few days prior.

    Emily had imed that ICS employed high-profile detectives and investigators who were the best of the best across the globe. She''d mentioned that those professionals were capable of finding a missing person in any part of the world, whether alive or dead. And that it would only take a couple of years at most.

    The only downside was they charged high fees for their services. However, that wasn''t a concern.

    He had the money, and the only thing on his mind was finding out the current status of his biological mother.

    "Hello, thank you for calling the International Counterintelligence Services," a polite feminine voice said from the other end of the line as soon as the call connected. "You''re now talking with Roselyn McConnell, one of the customer service staff at the firm. How can I be of help to you?"

    "Hello," Zachary replied, first standing up and properly locking his bedroom door. He didn''t want anyone to eavesdrop on his phone conversation.

    "Hello," the feminine voice emerged from the phone ced close to his ear once more. "Are you there? How can I help you?"

    "Hello," Zachary replied, settling back on his bed. "I''m Zachary, calling from Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo. A friend of mine rmended your agency to me. She told me that you''re capable of helping me locate a missing person anywhere in the world. Is that true?"

    "Yes, that''s true," Roselyn, the customer servicedy, was quick to reply in a confident tone. "You''ve called the right firm with the right people to help you out with your issue, Zachary. But if I may ask, how''re you rted to this missing person you''re searching for?"

    "She''s my biological mother."

    "Have you ever met her in person?"

    "No."

    "Sorry to hear that, Zachary," the customer servicedy said in a seeminglypassionate tone. "But worry not. We should be able to help you locate her. But can I first have your full names, age, and ce of work. We require the details to open up a file for your case."

    "Okay," Zachary said. "But could you please handle my case with the utmost confidentiality? I don''t want any other party finding out about it."

    "You don''t have to worry, Mr. Zachary," Roselyn said. "We treat the information from our clients with confidentiality. That''s why the firms we manage are among the best in the world. We wouldn''t have risen to such a position if we weren''t doing at least that much."

    "Good," Zachary said, letting out a breath. "My legal name is Zachary Bemba. I''m eighteen years old and a professional footballer, ying in the Norwegian top league."

    "Oh, an eighteen-year-old professional football yer!" The voice at the other end rose up a notch. Its owner seemed surprised. "If you want the utmost secrecy, such that no other party can ever get a hold of your case details, then it''s better for one of our people to meet you in person. Would you prefer that, sir?"

    "No, let''s get this over with," Zachary replied. "I''m sure we can talk safely on my phone. It''s a new line, and it isn''t registered in my name."

    "Then, okay," Roselyn said. "Do you have any information that we can use to track your biological mother? Or has anyone else close to you seen ore into contact with her?"

    Zachary went ahead and told thedy all the information he had ¡ª which was just her first name and a few photographs of her. He also told her about the timeline for her rtionship with his biological dad and then mentioned that she might not be Congolese.

    "That''s not a lot of information to go by, Zachary," Roselyn said after listening to him. "Is there anything else that you might have forgotten that could be of help in finding her?"

    "That''s the only information I have got on her," Zachary said. "Unless you want me to send you a scan of her photos right now?"

    "You can send the photos by email after our phone call," she replied. "With them, we can at least start searching most databases and social media sites and see what we can get. But before that, we should talk about the consultation fees."

    "Okay," Zachary said.

    "For your case, we''ll charge US Dors 12,000 since it''s a case that might take us to several countries. Moreover, we have limited information to go by and find your biological mother. So, our investigators will need to work extra hard if we want to find any information quickly. But you''ve got to understand that we might request more moneyter ¡ª after getting a handle on your case."

    "USD 12,000 is around 100,000 Norwegian Kroner," Zachary said, trying to do the currency conversion in his head. "Is that right?"

    "It''s 105,000 Norwegian Kroner if we round it off," thedy replied after a few moments.

    "Then, that''s fine," Zachary said. "I''ll wire the money using a direct bank transfer right after our phone call. But please make sure you give me a heads up in time if you wish to request more money during the investigation."

    "Good, we''ll do that," she said. "Thank you for choosing CSI. We''ll handle your problem with the utmost care. We shall keep giving you updates every three months until we managed to solve your case. Is that okay with you, Mr. Zachary?"

    "Yes, that''s okay," Zachary replied. "But how long do you think it''ll take for you to locate her whereabouts?"

    "That, I can''t tell," she replied. "We have very little information on her. So, I cannot predict the exact timeline for solving your case. But what I can promise is that we''ll update you as soon as we get anything concrete."

    "Okay, I understand," Zachary said.

    "Okay, sir," Roselyn McConnell said. "Thank you again for choosing CSI to handle your case. We shall send confirmation and start working on your case as soon as we receive the photographs of the subject and, of course, the payment. You can get our bank details from our website before you make the transaction."

    "I''ll wire the money and send the photographs right away," Zachary said. "Have a good day, madam."

    "Good day to you, too, Zachary," she replied and then ended the call.

    After cing his phone on the bed, Zachary immediately opened hisptop and connected to the inte using his phone''s tethering function. He first sent the soft copies of his biological mother to the CSI email. He then opened his bank''s website and wired the consultation fees to the ount listed on their website.

    After receiving the confirmation that CSI had received the money a few minutester, it felt like someone had lifted a heavy weight off his shoulders. With the help of an international private detective agency, he hoped he would find information about his mother within a short time. He was in a great mood and had even managed to regain the motivation to carry on with his strict training schedule.

    Without any more dilly-dallying, he packed his gym bag and said his goodbyes to his grandma. He got into his Audi Q7 and drove out of his grandma''s residence, heading towards the TP Mazembe stadium to carry out some serious training. He was determined to use the remaining days before returning to Norway to get back into perfect condition. That way, he would be in a position to continue performing at his best when the league restarted during thetter half of June.

 Chapter 217 - Unexpected Advancement

    The next few days passed like a vivid dream for Zachary. As his scheduled return to Norway drew closer, he became increasingly convinced that he''d made the right decision by hiring the ICS to find his biological mother. He was finally at ease since he knew professionals were working on finding his mother.

    So, he returned his attention to getting his body back to tip-top shape. He followed a strict training schedule and consumed a weekly dosage of B-grade physical-conditioning-elixir. He was hard on himself and used every avable minute of the next three days to practice with the intent of being fully match-fit before returning to Norway.

    He would wake up early at 6:00 AM and jog between eight and fourteen miles to hone his endurance. After that, he would take breakfast and head to the TP Mazembe stadium to carry out some weight training ¡ª and go through agility drills.

    In the afternoons, just after having lunch, he would practice his set-piece technique, sometimes with TP Mazembe yers¡ªif they were present. Without wasting any time, he wouldmence wall training to sharpen his ball control for the following hour. He would then conclude the session by running with the ball through carefully arranged cones to whet his dribbling skills.

    In the evenings, just before going to bed, he would go through an hour of yoga to stretch his tired muscles. With the routine, he would also improve his flexibility plus body control. After that, he would finally retire for eight hours and resume the same schedule the following day. The days passed by quickly under the intense training. They felt like scenes from a fast-forwarded movie from Zachary''s perspective.

    Soon, the day before his scheduled return to Trondheim arrived. But, he still woke up early and decided to put in a few hours of running. When the clock hand pointed to six in the morning, he jumped out of bed and donned his tracksuit and sneakers.

    A minuteter, he rushed out of the house without waking anyone after having a light snack. Shortly, he was on the street, his strides eating meters of murram road with every passing second.

    He wasn''t worried that he would tire out quickly. He''d already consumed a weekly dosage of B-grade physical conditioning elixir and consequently had plenty of stamina. So, he''d decided to run to his heart''s content.

    Even the morning darkness didn''t bother him in the slightest. He''d already put all his focus into maintaining the proper stride frequency so that his jogging was effective.

    As he upped his speed and turned south ¡ª heading towards the direction of the city center, he realized he still didn''t feel out of breath. He wasn''t exhausted even after having run for more than seven kilometers. So, he decided to raise the intensity of the exercise up a notch by mixing in a few more routines.

    For the next two kilometers, he kept on breaking into short sprints, covering hundreds of meters in only a few dozen seconds. He also slowed down asionally to do simple exercises like leg lifting and frog jumps while still in motion. Those routines drained his stamina reserves quickly, and he soon found himself struggling for simple breath.

    However, he didn''t slow down one bit since he knew halting would drastically reduce the effectiveness of his entire workout. Instead, he wiped the sweat off his face with the sleeve of his tracksuit and then continuing jogging at a constant speed.

    Some minutester, the sun rose in the east, like a massive flower unfurling to shower its beauty on the city of Lubumbashi. Sunlight slowly started to fill the sky with golden radiance, fighting to illuminate every nook and cranny of thend.

    Zachary''s felt his spirits brighten as he watched the beautiful sunrise. He rounded a corner and started jogging back to his grandmother''s residence.

    For the return journey, he didn''t attempt to mix in any routines into his running. He focused solely on jogging and was able to cover the entire distance in only twenty minutes.

    After arriving at his grandma''s ce, he noticed he wasn''t nearly as tired as he usually was after his previous morning runs. Despite having justpleted a 14-kilometer run, he felt he still had enough stamina reserves to cover a lot more distance. It was a strange feeling. For a moment, he was tempted to run a few more kilometers to explore how much further he could go. But after deliberating for a few more seconds, he remembered he had to prepare for his trip back to Trondheim. So, he pushed the matter to the back of his mind. But that was after having convinced himself that the sensation was a result of his ideal state of mind.

    "Zachary is back! Zachary is back..."

    His cousins at home had already woken up when he arrived. They started shouting and pping their hands as he rushed into the gate.

    They''d warmed up to him and even started calling him big brother Zachary after he bought them a few balls, boots, and jerseys. They were always excited whenever he returned home. It seemed they always expected him to arrive with more gifts.

    "How was your run, big brother Zachary?" Joshua, the oldest one, asked in Swahili with a smile.

    "It was enjoyable," Zachary replied, shing him a smile. "How is your morning? Why are you all up so early today?"

    "We also want to follow big brother Zachary''s example and be footballers in the future," Joshua was quick to reply as he fidgeted and scratched at his chin.

    "Oh," Zachary said, sweeping a nce over them before fixing his gaze on the girl. "Even you, Lily! Do you also want to be a footballer?"

    "Yes," the young girl, Lily, replied in her childish voice. "I would also like to be a footballer and drive a good car like yours."

    Zachary smiled and pinched the girl''s cheek lightly. "Then you guys have got to keep working hard every day," he said, ncing at the rest. "That includes running five kilometers at least every three days. Are you ready for that?"

    "Yes, we are," It was Joshua, the oldest, who was quick to reply once more in an animated voice. "We have also justpleted our morning run around thepound."

    "Then, that''s great," Zachary said, giving him a thumbs up. "Keep up the hard work, and you''ll all soon mature into skilled footballers. But don''t forget about school when you start training. Okay?"

    "Yes, big brother," Joshua replied, smiling.

    "Then, good," Zachary said before starting his stretching routine.

    For the next few minutes, he focused on loosening and cooling down his muscles. He went through a textbook warming down routine that included progressive stretching of the shoulders, torso, neck, quadriceps, and hamstring.

    In only a few minutes after delving into the routine, he felt his muscles rxing and his fatigue from running fading away. But, he continued stretching for fifteen minutes to finish the session perfectly.

    As soon as he''dpleted the session, he headed back to his room, thinking of quickly taking a shower and going to the Hollybum Hotel to check on Kristin after breakfast.

    But just after he''d closed his bedroom door to undress before showering, a system notification chimed in his mind. Before he could even react, the system''s translucent bluish interface manifested before him as more notification sounds went off in his mind.

    "DING"

    "Congrattions," the system AI intoned in its apathetic feminine voice immediately after. "The user has managed toplete a hidden system mission. For the first time, the user has advanced two of his core attributes to the S- grade."

    "Which ones," Zachary asked hurriedly, feeling his heart race.

    Without losing a second, he fixed his eyes on the system interface before him.

    He''d been waiting for a long time for his stats to make a breakthrough and was too impatient to listen to the AI''s slow emotionless voice. So, he decided to read the notifications directly from the interface and ignore the AI.

    ****

    #4 new messages

    ----

    CONGRATULATIONS

    -> For the first time in your career, you have managed toplete a hidden system mission by upgrading two of your core attributes to the S grade. Your Stamina and Endurance physical fitness stats are now at the S- grading.

    ----

    -> Mission Rewards

    1) 5000 Juju-points

    ---

    -> Mission Summary

    *Analysis: You have managed to bypass a great bottleneck by upgrading your stamina and endurance through hard work. You have jumped over the greatest divide that separates the excellent from the ordinary yers. You are well on your way to bing a great among footballers. Congrattions.

    ----

    -> Bonus Rewards

    As a bonus for your hard work, you have earned a monthly dosage of an A-grade physical-conditioning-elixir. It will help you stabilize your stamina and endurance at the S-grading.

    -----

    -> Remarks

    Advancing the endurance and stamina attributes to the S-grading is just the beginning. You still have a long way to match the skills of any yer that has ever made it to the list of yers with the potential to be the G.O.A.T. So, please continue working hard.

    ----

    ****

 Chapter 218 - The First S-Graded Core Attributes

    "System," Zachary mumbled, trying to keep his emotions in check after reading the system notifications. "Please show me the rest of my data."

    "DING"

    "Command received," the system AI replied right away. "User dataing up on the interface."

    ****

    SOCCER G.O.A.T SYSTEM

    SYSTEM LEVEL: 3 (7253/10000 Juju-points to level-up)

    USER: Zachary Bemba

    AGE: 18 years

    TALENT ASSESSMENT: Grade-A

    JUJU-POINTS: 7253

    (Evaluation: A promising and sensational young professional yer)

    ----

    USER MENU

    *USER STATS

    *G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    *SYSTEM SHOP

    *SYSTEM LOTTERY

    *SNOOPING TOOL

    ----

    NB: Please level up the system to unlock more functions.

    ****

    Zachary didn''t linger on the home page for more than a couple of seconds. With a quick nce over the interface, he''d already noticed that there weren''t any recent marked changes in the contents of the home menu. Only his stock of Juju-points had increased significantly since thest time he checked the menu.

    So, without wasting time, he clicked on the User-Stats tab before navigating to the Physical-Fitness sub-menu.

    ****

    *USER STATS

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: A+)

    Bnce and Coordination: A+

    Agility: A+

    Strength: A+

    Stamina: S-

    Endurance Points: 4943/18,000 (S-)

    ----

    ****

    Zachary felt exhrated after perusing through his physical fitness stats. Over the past couple of months, he''d started getting anxious since he''d taken long without making any marked improvements. But after two of his core attributes making a breakthrough to the S-grading, he''d finally put all the worries to rest.

    At least, he could be sure he was still on the right track. He was still making improvements, and that thought brought a smile to his face.

    However, he was still confused about one detail.

    "System," he mumbled after settling down on his bed. "I''ve been getting faster and faster over the previous few months. I''m pretty sure my speed has risen by arge margin. Howe my endurance and stamina attributes have made breakthroughs to the S-grading first? Why didn''t my agility improve instead?"

    "The stamina and endurance attributes were the user''s highest-graded stats prior to obtaining the system," the AI replied, its voice sounding directly within Zachary''s mind. "That implies that the user was originally talented in those two attributes. So, the user will always find it easy to upgrade those two attributespared to the others. Besides, the physical-conditioning-elixir that the user has been consuming for over two years has helped him advance the two stats faster than expected."

    "The user must also understand that upgrading the stamina and endurance stats to the S-grading first is a good thing," the AI continued in its apathetic voice. "Otherwise, the user wouldck the necessary stamina reserves to support the high rate of consumption while using the S-graded agility or skills."

    "Oh," Zachary said, a light bulb going on in his head after hearing the AI''s exnation.

    He''d not considered that the higher the grading of his attributes or skills, the more stamina they would need as fuel. So, for instance, if he''d upgraded his agility to the S-grading first, he would, of course, get faster with the ball. But he would also find it hard to sustain his top speed for extended periods of time since he would be burning through his endurance faster.

    "I understand," he mumbled, letting out a breath and closing the system interface. He decided to consider using the A-graded physical-conditioning-elixir only after using up his current dosage of the B-graded one.

    His mind was at ease as he headed to the bathroom. He quickly washed up and donned a fresh tracksuit. A few minutester, he finished eating his breakfast and said his goodbyes to his grandma. Without dilly-dallying, he got into his Audi Q7 and drove to the Hollybum Hotel to check on Kristin.

    "Long time no see, Zachary," Kristin said as soon as he''d settled into a chair opposite hers in the Hollybum Hotel''s restaurant. She was in the middle of taking her breakfast and seemed to be in a good mood ¡ª basing on the smile that was framing her face. "How have you been?" She asked, cing her cup on the table.

    "I''m fine, Kristin," Zachary replied, shing her a smile. "You seem quite happy. What have you been up to these past few days that has lightened your mood?"

    Kristin''s mouth curved upwards into a genuine smile at the corners. "I''ve visited the Lubumbashi zoo, the TP Mazembe stadium, and even traveled to the outskirts of Katanga to look at the wildlife."

    "You even moved to the outskirts of Katanga!"

    "Yes. I hired a reputable tourpany rmended by my grandpa to take me around the ce. So, I''ve already hiked in the wild on several asions. I''ve also done some mountain climbing and experienced a lot more fun things. But my trip here would have been a tad bit more enjoyable if my travelpanion had taken the time to check on me ¡ª maybe once or twice over the past couple of weeks."

    Zachary sighed, shaking his head on hearing her indirect verbal jab. "Sorry, Kristin," he said. "I had quite a lot on my te back at home. I didn''t even get enough time toplete the entire training schedule that I''d nned for this vacation."

    "Oh," Kristin said, creasing a brow. She looked genuinely concerned. "What happened? Is everything okay at home?"

    "A week ago, my mind wasn''t in the right ce," Zachary replied. "But I''m now well and ready to head back to Trondheim and y football."

    "Then, that''s good, Zachary," she replied, leaning back into her seat and holding his gaze. "I''m d you''re now okay."

    "You know," she continued, "Many of my friends have assured me I''m quite a good listener. So, if you have anything that you want to unburden from your mind, you can talk to me, and I''ll listen."

    "Thanks, Kristin," Zachary replied, smiling at her. "That means a lot. But I''ve already managed to handle what was bugging me. I''m fine now."

    "That puts my heart at ease, Zachary," she said. "So, is the n still the same? Are we traveling back to Trondheim tomorrow? Or should we stay here in Lubumbashi for a few more days?"

    "You seem to be enjoying yourself here," Zachary remarked.

    "As I said, I''m notining. The sights around here are quite spectacr. I would love to spend some more time here."

 Chapter 219 - A Prospective Publicity Secretary

    "Sorry, but we can''t spend any more days here," Zachary said, shaking his head. "The coach needs me back for official team training on Monday, June 17th. We''remencing with preparations for the match against Str?msgodset IF then."

    "Oh, Str?msgodset, the table leaders," Kristin said, her voice rising slightly in excitement. "Do you have the confidence to destroy them? As long as we beat them, we''ll surpass them and top the table since they''re only one point ahead of us."

    "That I know," Zachary said, sighing. "I''m sure we''ll be able to score goals during the match. We have Nicki, Borek, Tarik, and John Chibuike upfront. They''ve all been on form and can score at any time."

    "Please don''t forget to put yourself on that list," Kristin chipped in. "For the past few matches, you''ve always been the ymaker on the team. That''s why we''ve managed to go seven matches unbeaten over the past month."

    "Okay, okay, and myself, Zachary Bemba," he said, deepening his voice and grinning.

    Kristin chuckled at that.

    "So, as I was saying," Zachary continued, "We have very high chances of scoring during the game against Str?msgodset. But what I''m not sure about is whether we can avoid conceding."

    "You do have a point there. Over the past few months, you guys have been conceding many goals despite winning matches. I wonder what''s wrong!"

    "You didn''t hear this from me, and you shouldn''t repeat it to another soul," Zachary said, leaning forward and lowering his voice. "I think our defenders are usually fatigued since they y in every match ¡ª whether on the weekend or during midweek. That''s why they usually lose their stamina by the 50th minute. And that''s when we start conceding goals."

    "Oh, that might be the case, indeed," Kristin said, nodding pensively. "It seems there''s a shortage of fit defenders on the first team. But the question is: what is Coach Johansen doing about it?"

    "I''m not sure," Zachary said, sighing. "But maybe, he''ll bring in another defender during the uing mid-season transfer window. As long as two more central defenders arrive, our line-up will be stronger and more bnced."

    "Let''s hope the management will be cooperative and let him sign the defenders," Kristin said, sighing. "They''re usually very reluctant to spend money, especially in the middle of the season. But that aside, how did DR Congo perform during the qualifiers?"

    Zachary sighed on hearing the question. "They drew 0:0 against Libya. They''ll face Cameroon on Sunday evening ¡ª that''s tomorrow but one. By then, we should already be back in Trondheim."

    "I''m still surprised, though, that they didn''t call you for national duty," Kristin remarked after sipping on her coffee. "With you on the squad, they would, at the very least, have gotten a goal. And that would have won them the match."

    "I can''t totally me them," Zachary said. "I''ve only been ying for a month. Not many people in Africa and even the rest of Europe know about me."

    "Oh, that''s too bad," Kristin said, shaking her head. "Maybe, you should hire me as your publicity secretary to help you raise your poprity. I''m sure a lot of people around the world will get to know about Zachary Bemba by the end of this year if I''m managing your publicity."

    "Are you serious?" Zachary asked, raising a brow. "Or are you simply joking? You should know that being a publicity secretary can be quite taxing at times. You''ve got to manage my social media ounts, edit and post my match videos online, and organize my interviews, among other things. So, let me ask again: are you serious, Kristin?"

    "Why would I joke about something so serious, Zachary?" She countered with her own question, matching his gaze. "If you need someone to manage your publicity for some time, I can help you out until you get a professional. It''ll be good practice for me since I intend to work in the sports industry."

    "Moreover, I''m good with social media, photography, and video editing," she continued in a confident tone. "So, I''ll be able to update your neglected Twitter ount with amazing posts such as well-edited videos and photographs ¡ª to get you more followers. I''ll also try to manage your media presence on several other tforms so that I can raise your poprity within a short time."

    "Oh," Zachary said, surprised. "You can even edit videos?"

    "Yes, I''m quite good with Blender. I''ll be able to edit out some good clips from your match videos toe up with video posts."

    "You''re quite skilled, Kristin," Zachary said, sighing. "How much would you be willing to work for every month? That''s, of course, if I decide to hire you after discussing with my agent."

    "I would say 2000 NOK," she said, watching his reaction very intently. "But that''s too little. Isn''t it? I''ll charge 4000, no 5000 Norwegian Kroner to manage your publicity per month. I hope that isn''t too costly, Zachary?" She held his gaze like she was searching for the correct answer within his eyes.

    Zachary almostughed on seeing her fidget with setting the price. But he controlled himself and deliberated about the issue for a few moments before giving a reply.

    "Let''s do it like this," he said. "I will get my agent to draw up a three-month contract for you as my publicity secretary. For those three months, you''ll be under probation. But you''ll still earn 5000 NOK per month for the entire duration of the contract."

    "If you perform your duties well within that period, and also manage to convince my agent, I''ll get her to draw up another contract for you ¡ª covering a period of one year. We can even think of doubling your wage then. Can that work for you, Kristin?"

    "Yes, that''s excellent," Kristin replied excitedly. "You won''t be disappointed."

    "Then that''s good," Zachary said, observing her from across the table. "I''ll call my agent today evening. We should have a contract for you ready by next week."

    "That''s perfect," Kristin said, beaming. "In the meantime, should I start working on that Twitter ount of yours? You''ve abandoned it for quite a long time!"

    "No need to rush, Kristin," he replied. "For now, you need to prepare for our trip back tomorrow. We''re departing at 8:00 PM from Lubumbashi Airport tomorrow and should be in Trondheim the day after ¡ª on Sunday morning."

    "Okay, then," Kristin said, still smiling. "I''ll try toplete all my shopping today so that I''m ready to travel by tomorrow evening."

    "Good, then I''ll meet you tomorrow in the afternoon," Zachary said, standing up from his seat. "We can then set off to the airport together."

    "That sounds like a n," Kristin replied, creasing a brow. "But why are you in such a hurry to leave? At least have some coffee before you set off. I''m buying, so you shouldn''t say no."

    "We need to take a rain check on that, Kristin," Zachary said, shaking his head. "I''ve got to visit a lot of people in Lubumbashi before I depart. So, I need to run and start moving all over the ce. But don''t worry. I''ll make it up to you by taking you for Pizza at Tyholt when we''re back in Trondheim. Okay?"

    "That''s okay," Kristin said, beaming once again. "But, I''ll constantly be on your case if you dare forget."

    "I won''t forget."

    "You better not."

    "I won''t, Kristin. See you tomorrow."

    "Okay."

 Chapter 220 - Back To Trondheim

    The evening of the following day, Zachary and Kristin flew back to Trondheim as nned. There were no unexpected incidents on their trip back. So they managed to arrive safely at V?rnes Airport the following morning.

    They went through airport procedures quickly with the intent of heading back home as soon as possible. They both wanted to have some hours of proper rest after the long journey.

    However, just as they were on their way to the baggage im area, a few passionate Rosenborg fans recognized Zachary. He ended up signing several autographs and taking the asional selfie with the fans before managing to escape and collect his luggage.

    But since he didn''t want to get entangled by any more fans, he donned an oversized cap and pulled its visor down to cover part of his face as he exited the airport.

    "Good sweet, Trondheim," Kristin said with a sigh as they were pulling their cases towards one of the parking spaces. "You''re so popr here, unlike in Lubumbashi, where no one could recognize you. It''s good you took the time to sign autographs for those fans. It shows that you care about them, and that''ll lift your public image gradually."

    "Oh," Zachary said, inclining his head to nce at her. "I can see that you''re already in publicity secretary mode. By the way, I talked to my agent yesterday morning before we departed from Lubumbashi. She''ll be in Trondheim next week to follow up on another deal of mine. Maybe, you could meet her then and finalize your contract details."

    "That''s okay with me," Kristin said with a smile. "I''ll be spending a lot of time in my apartment until Imence my internship with Rosenborg next month. So, I''ll surely be avable to meet her next week."

    "That''s perfect then," Zachary said as they walked into the parking spaces for the taxi cabs for hire. "I''ll confirm the n with her when I talk to herter. You can start working on the Twitter ount then."

    "Do I need to prepare anything in particr?" Kristin queried, giving him a sideways nce.

    "No," he replied, shaking his head. "Just make sure you''re notte when meeting her. If she needs anything, she''ll request you to prepare it during the meeting."

    "Okay."

    **** ****

    A soft smile outlined Kristin''s face as she watched Zachary help her carry her suitcases and arrange them properly in the boot of the hired taxi cab. She was in a good mood. The trip to Lubumbashi had been a productive one.

    Aside from visiting the attractions there, she''d gotten the opportunity to work as Zachary''s publicity secretary. She was eager to start working since she was a hundred percent certain that he would turn into a big star in the future. Working for him would open more doors and get her more contacts in the sports industry.

    Besides, her new job would enable her to spend more quality time with him ¡ª and that was a possibility that made her smile on the inside. But then she checked herself a momentter.

    ''What am I thinking?'' she wondered, shaking her head. ''When did I be so desperate and hopeless?''

    "What''s the matter?" She heard Zachary ask from beside her. He''d finished arranging all the suitcases in the boot and was watching her face intently.

    Kristin could see that he was genuinely concerned. It seemed he was still trying to make up for neglecting her for weeks when they were in Lubumbashi together. However, a momentter, she recalled seeing him escort a beauty from his apartment and banished the thought from her mind.

    "Is everything okay?" He asked again, looking all worried and imposing. "Why are you shaking your head like you''re facing some dilemma? Are you okay?"

    "I''m fine," she replied, shing him a smile. "Don''t mind me."

    "Oh," he said, raising a brow. He didn''t seem convinced.

    "I just recalled a few artifacts that I forgot to buy in Lubumbashi since I was in a hurry," she lied, still maintaining a smile. "I was just regretting missing out on them a moment ago."

    "Oh," Zachary said, nodding. "Maybe, I can tell a friend to buy them and send them here¡ªto Trondheim if you wish."

    "That''s not necessary, Zachary," she said, still maintaining a smile. "But thanks anyway. Shouldn''t we get into the taxi now and head home? We seem to be dying the driver."

    "Okay," Zachary replied, nodding.

    **** ****

    Zachary returned all his focus to training for the next few days after his return to Trondheim. He was fully intent on stabilizing his endurance and stamina attributes at the S-grading before the Str?msgodset match. That would leave him in tip-top shape and set him up for a good performance against the table leaders.

    He even consumed the weekly dosage of the A-graded physical conditioning elixir in addition to exercising like a maniac. His workout routine involved running about eight kilometers and then going through an hour of weight training at the Lerkendal gym before attending the team''s training sessions. During the team sessions, he would runps around the stadium, go through cone drills, and practice shooting and passing under the guidance of the coaches.

    The days flew by quickly, and soon it was the evening before the match against Str?msgodset IF.

    Zachary headed to the Rosenborg tactics room to listen to Coach Johansen''s pre-match tactical briefing after training. He was eager to take part in an official match again after spending almost a month without ying.

    "Good evening, everyone," Coach Johansen said as soon as the yers had settled down in their seats.

    "Good evening, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    "Let''s get right to business," he said, ncing around. "Tomorrow, in the evening, we''re facing Str?msgodset IF, the current table leaders. They are only a point ahead of us. So, if we win, we''ll surpass them and top the table. This is a match we must win. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good," Coach Johansen said, half-smiling. "To make sure we don''t falter and concede needless goals tomorrow, I''ve adjusted the line-up a bit to bolster our defense. We''ll utilize a 4-2-3-1 formation with two double pivots to boost our defensive line. But, before I delve further into the tactics, let me start by announcing the line-up."

    "Daniel ?rlund will be our goalkeeper for this match," he continued, moving towards the tactics board and starting to draw the formation. "In defense, we''ll have Mikael Dorsin, Stefan Strandberg, Verner R?nning, and Cristian Gamboa. Our two double pivots in the 4-2-3-1 formation will be Mike Jensen and Jonas Svensson. Zachary Bemba will y in front of them as our only attacking midfielder. Tarik Elyounoussi and Tobias Mikkelsen will y in the left and right wings, respectively. And finally, Nicki Nielsen will y as our lone striker."

    "Moving on," the coach said, stepping away from the tactics board after drawing the entire line-up. "On the bench, we''ll have Lund Hansen, Mix Diskerud, Ole Seln?s, Fredrik Midtsj?, Daniel Berntsen, Borek Dockal, and John Chibuike. That is it for the line-up."

    "Any questions?" He asked, sweeping his gaze across the entire room. But none of the yers raised an arm.

    "Okay," he said after a while, moving back towards the tactics board. "Let''s move on to the game n and tactics. As I already said, we''ll mainly be defensive-minded during the game against the table leaders tomorrow. Our two double pivots will have to do their best to protect our defense from aerial balls while also checking the runs of Str?msgodset yers through the middle."

    "Additionally, our two wingers will have to constantly fall back to support the back whenever we lose possession. With such an arrangement, I believe that we''ll be able to avoid conceding. That is if every yer ys out his role perfectly. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good," Coach Johansen said, nodding. "To score, we''ll mainly depend on counterattacks. We''ll not try to dominate possession like we usually do tomorrow. Instead, we''ll sit back and weather their attacks while awaiting an opportunity. If we manage to win the ball ¡ª pah, pah." He pped his hands, ncing around.

    "We immediately hit them on the counter ¡ª without giving them a chance to react," he continued. "For that tactic to work, we''ll need the wingers and the attacking midfielder to be very creative and link up well while on the counter. Are we together, Zachary, Tarik, and Tobias?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied along with the other two wingers.

    "Zachary," the coach continued after a while, ncing at him. "You''ll be ying a free role tomorrow. It''ll be solely up to you to decide where you''re most needed on the pitch and then move there. You have got to keep on your toes so as to make sure that you don''t miss out on any opportunities while also anticipating the danger posed by the opponents. Are we together, Zachary?"

    "Yes, coach," he replied, nodding.

    "Good," the coach intoned, still looking at him. "Since we''re relying on counterattacks, you''ll have to constantly run back and forth between the two halves throughout the entire game. That''s because you''ll be the main man linking the defense to both the wings and the attack. But don''t worry. If you get tired, John or Borek will be avable to take over your position. You only have to make sure that you create some goal-scoring opportunities for us before you tire yourself out. Are we together?"

    "Coach, I understand," Zachary replied, matching the coach''s gaze. "But I''m sure that I won''t tire myself before the match ends. I''m very confident about that."

    "Oh," Coach Johansen said, seemingly surprised by his confidence. "I was only making a deduction based on the amount of work you''ll have to do in the first half. Mounting counterattacks over and over again while also defending at times is likely to consume your stamina. But, of course, it''s my wish that you manage toplete the match without depleting your stamina, Zachary."

    "I will, coach," Zachary said confidently once again. He''d just upgraded his stamina and endurance to the S-grading. So, he was almost certain that he wouldn''t tire himself out before the 90 minutes of the game psed.

    "Then, I''ll look forward to your performance, Zachary," the coach said, smiling. "But you''ve got to remember that there''s no pressure. As long as you y your role perfectly, even if it''s for just the first half, that''ll be enough. Do you understand what I mean, Zachary?"

    "I understand, coach."

    "Good," the coach said, finally turning away. He continued discussing the game n while asionally pointing out the individual roles of different yers. He spoke in great detail and only released the squad when it was close to nine in the evening.

    After the pre-match tactical briefing, Zachary said his goodbyes to his teammates and got into his R8 GT. He cruised at a leisurely speed, heading home to rest for the night. All the while, a soft smile outlined his face. He was very pleased with the role that the coach had assigned him. He hoped the night would pass quickly.

 Chapter 221 - An Incredible Start

    "ROSENBORG! *p*p* ROSENBORG! *p*p..."

    Zachary could feel his heart beating hard with excitement as he soaked in the cheers of the Rosenborg fans. He''d already taken his spot in the attacking midfield position and was only waiting for the referee to blow the whistle to signal the kick-off.

    "Zachary," he heard Coach Johansen yelling at the top of his lungs from the sidelines. "Don''t let that Stefan Johansen befortable in the midfield. Try to check him once in a while so that you can throw him off his game."

    Zachary gave the coach a thumbs and nodded his head to indicate he''d received the message. He cast a nce across the pitch ¡ª towards the other half and noticed the yer in question.

    Stefan Johansen, the defensive midfielder who''d beaten him to acquire the May yer of the month de, also seemed to be observing him at that moment. So, their gazes collided for a moment, and Zachary felt an intense urge to battle from him.

    But Zachary just smiled before looking away ¡ªtowards the referee who was preparing to blow the whistle.

    He wasn''t scared in the slightest by Stefan Johansen''s intimidating gaze since he''d grown more confident in his skills over the preceding month. He was no longer intimidated by the yers in the Tippeligaen since he knew they would find it hard to keep up with him throughout the 90 minutes of the game. That was even more so after his endurance and stamina attributes had broken through to the S-grading.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally blew the whistle at exactly 6:00 PM to signal for the start of the battle between the first and second of the Tippeligaen table.

    At that moment, the cheers across Lerkendal rose up a notch to hit a crescendo as Nicki Nielsen kicked the ball back into midfield¡ªtowards Zachary.

    Zachary sprung into action right away and sprinted forward to meet it before it could reach him. He controlled it mid-sprint and continued his dash towards the other half before the Str?msgodset yers could close him down.

    A momentter, his heart was already beating with anticipation as he looked up across the field to find a suitable passing option. To his surprise, he noticed that the Str?msgodset yers had not yet reached peak concentration. They weren''t even trying their best to check the Rosenborg attacking yers who were already making runs deep inside their half.

    Zachary, of course, wouldn''t let such an opportunity to exploit an apparent weakness go to waste. So, without any dilly-dallying, he kicked the ball hard and let loose a raking pass towards the right-wing.

    By relying on the Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju, coupled with his high-level passing skills, he managed to deliver a teasing pass behind the yet-to-shape-up Str?msgodset midfield.

    Tobias Mikkelsen, Rosenborg''s right-winger, managed to connect with Zachary''s sweet pass just a meter away from the touchline. He fed the ball past Lars Christopher Vilsvik, the Str?msgodset left-back and then beat him for pace.

    Tobias raced very fast along the touchline on the right nk and soon began cutting into the pitch. He was on a straight course towards Str?msgodset''s goal.

    However, the Str?msgodset defenders responded quickly and blocked his sprinting path before he could make it close to their box. They''d managed to react with swiftness befitting the professional yers that they were and arrayed themselves into proper defensive shape to counteract the threat from the right-wing.

    "Tobias, I''m open here," Zachary yelled at the top of his voice as soon as he noticed that the Rosenborg right-winger was in sort of a bind. He''d also long started making a run into Str?msgodset''s half and had even already positioned himself to receive a return pass from Tobias.

    On hearing Zachary''s yell, Tobias immediately flicked the ball to his right ¡ª out of the reach of the outstretched foot of one of Str?msgodset''s defenders. Without losing a moment, he looked up and passed the ball back into the middle ¡ª towards Zachary''s position.

    Zachary once again met the ball in motion. He controlled it with a deft first touch, skipping past Stefan Johansen, the Str?msgodset defensive midfielder, in the process. Without dy, he flicked it further forward and unleashed another raking pass to the left wing.

    With that teasing pass over the zone of intense rival pressure, he''d switched y within a couple of seconds and managed to catch the Str?msgodset defenders unawares.

    He''d already noticed that their defensive line was still in an awkward shape that was skewed to the right. That was because they''d been concentrating their efforts there only a moment prior. So, there were plenty of gaps to exploit on the left nk where Tarik Elyounoussi was lurking.

    Tarik Elyounoussi, Rosenborg''s left-winger,tched on to Zachary''s pin-point pass while under no pressure. He immediately set off on a wavy run towards Str?msgodset box, flowing like the wind.

    Before the Str?msgodset defenders could shape up, he unleashed a lofted pass across the mouth of the goal ¡ª seemingly intent on finding Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s central striker.

    However, Adam Kwarasey, the Str?msgodset goalkeeper, managed to get to the ball before Nicki could connect with it. He punched it with an outstretched fist, directing it away from the striker''s reach ¡ª to the outside of the box.

    Zachary immediately adjusted his course slightly after judging that the ball was approaching his general direction. However, he wasn''t the only yer after the rebound. Aside from him, two other Str?msgodset yers were also sprinting on course to intercept it.

    Of course, Zachary wouldn''t allow them to get to it first. He intended to make the best of the attacking opportunity against the table leaders before they managed to settle down into their game.

    So, he upped his speed and shot after the ball, sprinting like a predator on a hunt. With his long strides, he reached it first before leaping high to chest it down onto the ground.

    By then, the first one of the two Str?msgodset yers was arriving. However, Zachary didn''t panic. He made the gentlest of touches on the ball before it couldnd on the green, sending it just barely over the head of the approaching opponent.

    But, the second Str?msgodset yer was upon him just as he was circumventing the first one.

    Zachary remained calm andposed since he had the initiative. He brought the ball to the ground with swift and seamless motions before slowing down slightly ¡ª to draw in the second approaching opponent.

    When he noticed that the defender had seemingly rxed, he elerated within an instant, leaving him in the dust. He was soon inside the opponent''s box.

    At that moment, the cheers of the Rosenborg fans rose to new heights. They almost drowned out every other sound around the stadium. But Zachary remained calm and flicked the ball quickly between his left to right foot repeatedly, trying to find a gap to exploit within the box.

    Just then, one of the defenders blocking his path to the goal stretched out his leg to tackle the ball from his feet. But that was what he''d been anticipating. He immediately raised his foot and pulled the trigger, unleashing a carpet shot through the defender''s legs towards the goal.

    At that instant, silence descended across Lerkendal stadium as the ball rolled close to the ground, shing past several outstretched legs before homing into the bottom left corner.

    **** ****

    ROSENBORG BK 1 : STR?MSGODSET IF 0

    That was the score showing on therge screen above the stands on one side of Lerkendal Stadion.

    In the third minute, Rosenborg had managed to draw first blood against the table leaders.

    Lerkendal exploded into a Tsunami of cheers that caused intense vibrations across the entire stadium. The noise was at an astronomical level. It felt like the whole of Trondheim was experiencing an earthquake right after the goal.

    Kristin was all smiles as she joined the rest of the fans in the stands to celebrate the lightning-fast goal. Atst, her team was well on its way to returning to the top of the table.

    She felt her mood lifting as she watched Zachary head to the corner g before raising both arms in the air like he was hugging the sky. The guy was amusing as ever, even during his goal celebration. She immediately decided his celebrations needed some work if he intended to use them to boost his poprity around Europe. She made a mental note to bring up the issue when they next ran into each other.

    "Well, that was unexpected," she heard Anne Rimmen, thementator, say after the cheering had started dying down. Her voice was loud and clear through the stadium''s loudspeakers.

    "It''s just the third minute," she continued, "But Zachary Bemba, the Rosenborg number-33, has already managed to score the first goal. The young midfielder even seems sharper than he wasst month. What''s your take on this, Harald?"

    "Well," Harald Brattbakk, the pundit of the day, said. "From that one attack, I can already tell that Zachary Bemba is much more lethal than he was during the Tippeligaen matches in May. He initiated the whole chain of attacks by switching y and linking up with the wingers. He then ended the attack by taking that shot through the legs of a couple of defenders."

    "Moreover, we cannot forget that deft second touch, just as he was about to loop the ball over the defender," the pundit continued. "For me, that was magic, and it was the defining moment that made me realize that the young prodigy has improved yet again."

    "Now that Rosenborg has scored, do you think Str?msgodset still has a chance to turn this around?" Anne Rimmen, thementator, inquired.

    "That, I can''t predict," Harald was quick to reply. "We all know that Rosenborg''s is strong up front, for sure. They''ve got the likes of Nicki, Tarik, and above all, Zachary Bembaunching and handling their attacks. That''s why Rosenborg has averaged above two goals during the previous month."

    "But that aside, the team also concedes many goals," he continued. "Over and over again, we''ve seen the Troll Kids take the lead in the first half and thene close to losing it during the second half. So, winning or losing will depend on whether the Rosenborg defense can shape up ¡ª and make sure Str?msgodset doesn''t score. Otherwise, Zachary and co will have to score at the very least four goals to win against the table leaders from Drammen."

 Chapter 222 - An Impeccable Execution Of The Game Plan I

    The match restarted with the sound of the referee''s whistle. Str?msgodset''s kicked off proceedings following Rosenborg''s goal celebrations.

    Kristin grew more confused as she watched the Rosenborg yers gradually settle back into their half and concentrate all their efforts on defense. They were obviously the stronger team and had the initiative since they were one goal ahead. But to her dismay, they let the Str?msgodset yers continue attacking them like they were the weaker team for the next twenty minutes. They were clearly following Mourinho''s infamous tactic of ''parking the bus'' ¡ª which the ''special one'' had employed against Ronaldinho''s Barcelona. It was the sort of football Kristin did not enjoy.

    "It seems Coach Johansen has directed his yers to focus on defense while remainingpact as a team," she heard Anne Rimmen, thementator, say. "The Troll Kids are now ying with nine men in front of the goal whenever they''re without possession."

    "Only Nicki Nielsen, the number-9, is staying forward waiting for an opportunity to counterattack. However, he has barely gotten on the ball since all the action is taking ce in Rosenborg''s half."

    "What a strange tactical approach we''re seeing from Coach Johansen, despite his team having a more versatile squad!" She continued. "It seems he''s letting the opponents dictate the tempo! Harald, please enlighten us. What''s your take on Coach Johansen''s defensive strategy?"

    "Well," Harald, the pundit for the day, said after clearing his voice. "Coach Johansen is intent on emerging out of this fixture with the three points to take his team to the top of the table. But to achieve that, he has to tackle the problem of his team conceding needless goals. What we''re seeing on the pitch at the moment is his solution to the problem."

    "By focusing on defense, his yers have managed to weather Str?msgodset''s constant barrage of attacks without conceding for the past twenty minutes. That probably wouldn''t have been the case if most of his yers moved forward to attack as usual. That would have left gaps in the defense, possibly allowing the boys from Drammen to score."

    "If the Rosenborg yers manage to maintain their focus and discipline throughout the game," he continued, "then they''ll surely emerge as victors. It won''t even matter if they don''t score another goal."

    "Let''s wait and see how the match develops," Anne Rimmen said in her vibrant voice. "But for now, it''s Str?msgodset dictating the proceedings on the field of y. Stefan Johansen, the May yer of the month, has just received the ball in defensive midfield. He drives forward, trying to prate Rosenborg''s half for the umpteenth time during the first half. But, oh my! He has met a roadblock in the form of Zachary Bemba, the young Rosenborg number-33..."

    Kristin''s whole attention was on the field of y at that moment. She watched with undivided attention as Zachary closed down on Stefan Johansen quickly ¡ª and slid in to tackle the ball off his feet. She couldn''t help but wince since she thought that he''dmitted a foul. His tackle seemed on the verge of being reckless. She assumed that he was perhaps starting to get frustrated by Rosenborg''s continuousck of possession.

    But a momentter, she let out a pent-up breath and rxed. The referee had not blown his whistle, meaning Zachary had either notmitted a foul or escaped the penalty.

    Her heart began racing as she watched Zachary pick himself from the ground with the swiftness of a cheetah. Without wasting a second, the young Maestro quickly unleashed a through-pass to the right-wing ¡ª seemingly to no one in particr.

    "Oh, my!" She heard Anne Rimmen, thementator, yell as the cheering rose to new heights all around Lerkendal. "Zachary Bemba has initiated a Rosenborg counterattack after sessfully dispossessing Stefan Johansen, the Str?msgodset defensive midfielder. Tobias Mikkelsen, Rosenborg''s right-winger, manages to connect with Zachary''s through pass on the right nk. His pace is incredible. It''s Rosenborg on the counter..."

    Kristin could not help but jump up from her seat as she heard thementary. She could not remain seated since the Rosenborg fans in the row in front of hers were already on their feet, craning their necks to get a clearer view of the counterattack. She had to follow suit to avoid missing the first captivating gamey from Rosenborg in over twenty minutes.

    "Oh, my goodness! Tobias Mikkelsen manages to skip past Jarl Andr¨¦ Storbaek''s sliding tackle. He''s dashing along the touchline and spearing deeper into Str?msgodset''s half."

    Anne Rimmen, thementator, continued describing the thrilling action on the field of y. Kristin watched Tobias bolting along the touchline with the ball with a hundred percent focus. He seemed intent on keeping the Rosenborg counterattack alive. However, just as he''d started cutting into the pitch ¡ª heading towards the box, he was closed down by J?rgen Horn, the Str?msgodset center back in shirt number-5.

    However, Tobias didn''t try to dribble past the tall defender. Instead, he passed the ball towards the middle to find Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg center forward, who''d long escaped from his marker.

    Nicki received the ball mid-sprint, skipping past a sliding tackle by Abdism Ibrahim, the Str?msgodset midfielder, who had tracked back to defend. Without a pause, the number-9 unleashed a backheel pass back into the midfield before any other opponents could surround him.

    The center-forward had passed the ball without looking. That evoked a wave of excited cheers from the fans around Kristin. But she didn''t join in on the excitement since all her attention was still on the field of y.

    Zachary met Nicki''s backheel pass without slowing down in the slightest. He didn''t even attempt to control the ball. Instead, he simply kicked it into space ¡ª just behind the Str?msgodset defensive line on the right nk. Once again, it looked like he was passing to no one in particr.

    But a momentter, Kristin saw Tobias Mikkelsen dash past J?rgen Horn, the Str?msgodset center back, and connect with Zachary''s well-timed pass. Without wasting a second, the right-winger bolted into the box and let loose a right-footed shot that homed into the top right corner. It was a close call. The effort had just barely sailed past the outstretched hand of the goalkeeper.

    "GOAAAAAAL...."

    Kristin shouted along with the rest of the fans as they celebrated Rosenborg''s second goal. Her heart was racing just from the memory of the lightning-fast counterattack. The way Zachary, Tobias, and Nicki had linked up to create the goal was magical.

 Chapter 223 - An Impeccable Execution Of The Game Plan II

    "Oh, my, what an electrifying counterattack from the Rosenborg yers," Kristin heard Anne Rimmen, thementator, say as the cheers started to die down. "Just in the 31st minute, it''s Rosenborg 2 Str?msgodset 0. I''m at a loss for words. Harald! What''s your take on this goal?"

    "That attack was the true definition of perfect attacking chemistry in football," Harald said, his voice animated. "Not a single moment was wasted by any of the three attacking Rosenborg yers during the counterattack. It was Zachary to Tobias, and then Tobias to Nicki. Then Nicki performed that backheel to Zachary¡ªand then the young number-33 immediately set lose Tobias with a perfectly-timed pass, sending him well on his way to score."

    "Moreover, the whole counterattack didn''tst longer than eleven seconds," the pundit continued, his voice lowering. "To me, this is Rosenborg at its best. I can see this team going on to be champions if they maintain this form after today''s game."

    "Let me take you back for a bit, Harald," Anne Rimmen, thementator, chipped in. "Do you think Zachary''s initial tackle on Stefan Johansen, the Str?msgodset defensive midfielder, was a foul?"

    "I don''t think so," Harald was quick to reply in a confident tone. "From the rey, you can easily see that Zachary managed to make contact with the ball first ¡ª before sweeping Stefan Johansen. That''s not a foul in my book. Moreover, the referee was positioned right behind them. I believe he would have immediately blown the whistle if there was any foul y."

    "That exins everything then," Anne Rimmen said. "For a moment there, I thought it was a foul. I guess we''ll look more into it at the end of the game. For now, let''s take you back to the live-action."

    **** ****

    Coach Johansen was all smiles as he watched his team finish the first half after executing his game n to perfection. The shift from attacking to a defensive mindset had enhanced the concentration of his yers considerably. They had remained focused, not even allowing the Str?msgodset yers a single shot on goal. His mind had been at peace throughout the entire first half. He couldn''t remember thest time he''d been so rxed while watching his team ying an official game.

    However, he was well aware his yers still needed to do a lot more work to win the game and secure the three points they needed to get to the top of the table. There were still 45 minutes of y remaining. That worried him since his team had recently been susceptible to conceding needlessly during those tricky minutes of the second half.

    So, during his halftime address, he repeatedly urged the yers to stay focused and continue following the game n. He only sent them back to the pitch for the second half after making sure he''d drilled the message into their heads. But he was still a little worried since he was well aware that the root cause of the issue was the shortage of defenders on the team. Moreover, Tore Reginiussen, his captain¡ªand first-choice center back, was still on suspension. That left him with limited defensive options.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and the second halfmenced with Str?msgodset''s kick-off. The boys from Drammen were on fire from the first minute after the break. They arrayed themselves in a 4-3-3 attacking formation tounch waves of attacks on Rosenborg''s box.

    On a few asions, they almost managed to score. However, the Rosenborg yers kept theirposure and averted all threats without conceding.

    Stefan Johansen, Str?msgodset''s defensive midfielder, was on fire. He worked very hard and kept on releasing defense-splitting passes to the back of Rosenborg''s defensive line whenever he got the chance.

    If it wasn''t for Zachary, who stayed hot on his heels and kept him in check, Coach Johansen was sure the midfielder would have caused a lot more trouble for his team.

    What surprised Coach Johansen the most was Zachary''s insane work rate. The young Maestro had been making runs all over the pitch. He''d even made several tackles in both the attacking and defensive midfield, winning the ball plenty of times. However, he didn''t seem the least bit out of breath as the game approached the 75th minute.

    "Has Zachary hired any professional personal trainer over the previous month?" He asked Trond Henriksen, the assistant head coach of Rosenborg, who was standing beside him.

    "I don''t think so," Coach Henriksen replied, shaking his head. "He only trains with Coach Bj?rn Peters from the academy once in a while. Why do you ask?"

    "His work rate has gone up considerably after the break," Coach Johansen replied, sighing. "For a moment, I thought he was on a specialized training regimen to increase his stamina and endurance."

    "Even if he were on such a kind of regimen, his endurance would still take long to improve," Coach Henriksen said. "My guess is that he''s in a period of rapid development as an athlete. And that''s very good for us since he''ll be able to y many more matches."

    "That might be the case," Coach Johansen replied, his eyes still following the proceedings on the pitch.

    His yers had just averted another Str?msgodset attack without incurring any damage. They weren''t conceding since they''d stayed true to the game n even as the game entered thest twelve minutes. But, that hade at the cost of weakening the attacking prowess of his team.

    "We need to bring in a few defenders to stabilize the squad during the mid-season transfer window," Coach Johansen said, lowering his voice.

    "Careful," Trond Henriksen said quickly to interrupt him. "The cameras are always focused on you during matches. You may give away needless gossip to the journalists if they manage to read your lips."

    "Oh," Coach Johansen said, caressing his red beard. "But I haven''t said anything wrong or harmful to the team. It''s what we intend to do."

    "You''re right," Coach Henriksen said, nodding. "But we can discuss this after the game. By then, we should be at the top of the table. I believe the management won''t give us any hard time if we wish to sign a few more yers."

    "Good," Coach Johansen said, ncing at his watch. It was already the 81st minute. So, he decided to make a couple of substitutions to give a boost to his counterattacking options. He still needed one more goal to seal the lips of all the doubters who wereparing Rosenborg to other teams in Norway. ughtering the table leaders by three or more goals would shut them up for sure.

    "Tell Borek and John to start warming up," he said to the assistant head coach. "I want them on the pitch within five minutes at most."

    "Oh," Coach Henriksen said, raising a brow. "Who are they recing?"

    "They''ll go in for Tobias and Tarik, our two wingers," Coach Johansen replied, his gaze still fixed on the field of y. "They''re almost out of stamina since they''ve been running back and forth across the wings. That''s why our counters over thest few minutes have been failing to produce any results."

    "That''s a good call," Coach Trond said, smiling. "I''ll tell them to hurry and warm up."

 Chapter 224 - An Impeccable Execution Of The Game Plan III

    Zachary nced up at the digital clock on the big stadium screen and noticed it was already the 85th minute.

    He had a few seconds of rest from the intensive action while waiting for Str?msgodset to take a throw-in. That was right after Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg acting captain, intercepted another Str?msgodset attack through the right-wing to send the ball out of y with a sliding tackle.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    It was then the referee blew the whistle and signaled for a substitution.

    Zachary immediately nced towards the sidelines and noticed that both John Chibuike and Borek Dockal were on the touchline waiting to enter the field of y. For a moment, he could not help but frown, thinking that the coach was about to substitute him out of the game.

    But a momentter, when the fourth official raised the substitution board, a smile returned to his face as he instantly rxed. Tobias Mikkelsen and Tarik Elyounoussi, the two wingers, were the ones to give way to the two substitutes.

    He was d the coach had chosen to keep him on since he wasn''t feeling tired even after ying 85 minutes of intense football. He was certain he still had a lot to give on the pitch. That was especially so since both his stamina and endurance attributes had made a breakthrough to the S-grading.

    "Zachary," he heard Borek Dockal, the first substitute, call out to him just as he was making his way towards the left-wing to defend against the throw-in.

    "Yes, Borek," he replied, braking instantly to hear out his teammate.

    "The coach has a message for you," Borek said, smiling. "He wants you to have a few moments of rest by ying as a winger on the left nk. He says that you can only do that while away from the midfield."

    "Oh," Zachary said, raising a brow and looking towards the Rosenborg technical area. He could indeed see that Coach Johansen was busy gesturing for him to take up the position on the left nk.

    "And who is going to y my number in the attacking midfield if I switch?" He asked, looking away from the sidelines and returning his focus to Borek.

    "Me," Borek replied, pointing at himself and smiling. "Before I forget, the coach also mentioned that you should try to use your pace to break through the wing. He says the Str?msgodset yers on the nks are starting to look fatigued. So, if you y your cards right there, you''ll most likely create another goal-scoring opportunity for us."

    "Oh, okay," Zachary replied, letting out a breath. Without another word, he trekked away from Borek and moved closer to the left touchline to take up his new position.

    At the bottom of his heart, he wasn''t happy with the Coach''s instructions. He didn''t like leaving his position in the midfield ¡ª not even for a single minute. He feared the coach would start to routinely consider cing him in the wing if he yed well there. He couldn''t have that happening to him in the future.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, signaling for the Str?msgodset yers to take the throw-in right after John Chibuike, Rosenborg''s second substitute, took up his position on the field of y.

    Zachary immediately forgot all his displeasure and returned all his focus to the game. It was as if all the other thoughts had disappeared, leaving him in a trance and ready to defend against the Str?msgodset throw-in. Without wasting a second, he marked Adama Diomande, Str?msgodset''s right-winger, who was the yer closest to him.

    Lars Vilsvik, the Str?msgodset right-back, did not waste time after hearing the referees whistle. He immediately made a long throw ¡ª towards Rosenborg''s box where P¨¦ter Kov¨¢cs and Gustav Wikheim, the two Str?msgodset attacking yers, were lurking.

    P¨¦ter Kov¨¢cs, their center-forward, immediately jumped high to meet the ball after having outmaneuvered Stefan Strandberg, the Rosenborg center-back. He chested the ball, bringing it under control before flicking it to Gustav Wikheim, his attacking counterpart.

    Gustav Wikheim didn''t hesitate in the slightest when he received it. He immediately let loose a missile of a shot towards the Rosenborg goal from just outside the box.

    It was the first decent shot on goal from the Str?msgodset yers in over ten minutes of gamey. However, Daniel ?rlund, the highly experienced Rosenborg goalkeeper, made an incredible leaping save, pushing the ball out of the field of y.

    The referee blew his whistle right away and pointed to the corner g.

    Zachary immediately started making his way back to the box to defend against the corner kick. But just as he''d taken a few steps, he heard Coach Johansen yelling.

    "Zachary," the coach hollered out to him. "You don''t need to head back into the box to defend. Stay put and open in the left-wing. I want you ready to initiate a counterattack in case there is an opportunity."

    Zachary immediately gave the coach a thumbs up before making his way back to the left nk. However, a momentter, he noticed that Abdism Ibrahim, one of the Str?msgodset midfielders, had followed him there.

    "Do you really believe we''ll leave you alone and unmarked even though it''s us taking the corner?" the midfielder asked as he approached his position. "If you''re hoping for a counter, forget it since I''m here now."

    "So, don''t you want to score?" Zachary asked, stepping away from the defender who was already standing too close to him.

    "Of course we do," the midfielder replied, "but we don''t want to concede either." He stepped closer to Zachary once again, seemingly intent on denying him even an inch of space on the field of y.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    It was then that the referee blew the whistle, signaling for Str?msgodset to take the corner. Jarl Andr¨¦ Storbaek, the left-back, immediately took it, floating a teasing ball into the crowded Rosenborg box.

    P¨¦ter Kov¨¢cs, the Str?msgodset center-forward, reacted quickly to meet it. He escaped from his mark and leaped high to nt a header towards the top right corner from around the edge of the box.

    Zachary winced slightly despite himself as he watched the ball sail past the goalkeeper''s outstretched hands. He could even hear a momentary silence descend upon Lerkendal. The ball looked to be on a straight course to the back of the.

    But luckily, it seemed to change its course at thest moment, smashing off the crossbar and bouncing back into the crowded box. However, the danger had not yet passed.

    Panic welled up within Zachary as he watched Adama Diomande, Str?msgodset''s right forward, pounce on the rebound ball and poke it back towards goal with an outstretched boot.

    But once again, Daniel ?rlund, the experienced number-1, came to the rescue. Hemitted himself fully, making a diving save that denied Str?msgodset the chance to score once more.

    "Daniel, Daniel, pass here quickly..."

    Zachary started running away from his mark, yelling for the ball, after seeing the goalkeeper make the save.

    The experienced goalkeeper sprung up from the ground with the agility of a cat that''d just caught the scent of catnip. Without wasting time, he then raced to the edge of the box before making a powerful one-handed throw towards space in the left-wing before the opponents could react.

    Zachary elerated in an instant and shrugged off Abdism Ibrahim, the Str?msgodset midfielder, who''d already caught up to him once more.

    Heart thumping hard as adrenaline coursed through his system, he connected with Daniel ?rlund''s long throw just as it was about to head out of y. From there, he didn''t look back as his long strides consumed yards of space along the left touchline within seconds.

    The Rosenborg counterattack was on once again.

    A Str?msgodset defender came to close down Zachary soon after. However, he didn''t lose his cool since he''d already grown ustomed to the pace of the Tippeligaen football over the preceding month.

    After taking in the posture of the defender, he slowed down slightly before pulling the ball towards himself with the inside of his right boot. He looked like he was about to take the left side and continue dashing across the touchline. But a momentter, he pushed the ball away from himself and flicked it through the approaching defender''s legs with the outside of his boot to initiate an stico dribble variant.

    The defender did not expect the seamless and almost instantaneous flip-p y from Zachary. So, hended on his butt, seemingly still confused by what had just transpired.

    Zachary didn''t give the defender any further attention and kept running. At one point, he somehow skipped past two simultaneous challenges from a pair of Str?msgodset defenders, emerging with the ball still in his possession. Unbelievably, seconds after leaving his half, he found himself bearing down on goal as the cheers in Lerkendal rose to thunderous heights.

    A deft touch took him past the final defender before he expertly looped the ball over the keeper from around the edge of the box to seal the deal. Without halting, he continued to the corner g to celebrate Roseborg''s 3rd goal.

    **** ****

 Chapter 225 - Winning By A Landslide

    ---- ----

    Rosenborg BK 3: Str?msgodset IF 0

    ---- ----

    Coach Johansen nodded to himself in satisfaction after ncing at the score on the stadium''s jumbotron. His mood had lightened after his team managed to solidify their lead in the 87th minute of gamey.

    He was satisfied with Zachary''s quick reaction that enabled him to escape his minder and connect with Daniel ?rlund''s long throw.

    The prodigy was as sharp as ever and had clearly made some improvements over the short break. Even in the final minutes of an intense game, he''d managed to make a captivating solo run and score without running out of stamina. He was growing at an incredible pace as a professional footballer.

    "Zachary could easily turn into a great yer in the wings if we y him there," he heard Trond Henriksen, the assistant head coach, remark from beside him. "That will give us a lot more options up front. Don''t you think so?"

    "Yeah, he was also good on the nks during his academy days," Coach Johansen replied, nodding. "But the problem is that he doesn''t want to change his position from the midfield. So, we can''t begin considering him as a potential wing yer."

    "Oh, that''s too bad, then," Coach Henriksen said, sighing. "Then, why did you switch him to the nk just now? Aren''t you worried that he will be dissatisfied with the team?"

    "I won''t force him to y the wing if he doesn''t want to," Coach Johansen replied, half smiling. "For this game, I only wanted to demonstrate to him the possibilities that could open up if he agreed to y on the wings. Maybe, after scoring, he''ll fall in love with the position and ask us to y him there regrly."

    Coach Trond Henriksen could only smile, shaking his head on hearing that.

    **** ****

    The match restarted right after Rosenborg''s goal celebrations.

    Zachary immediately noticed that the concentration of the Str?msgodset yers had dipped after conceding the 3rd goal. They started making a lot of amateur mistakes and lost the ball to Rosenborg on several asions. As a result, their attacking threat level reduced considerably as the match progressed into stoppage time.

    Zachary and his teammates didn''t miss out on the chance to capitalize on thexity of their opponents. They began ying more boldly and quickly dictated the tempo for the first time since the start of the game.

    In the 90th minute, just as the fourth official was raising the board to indicate the number of stoppage-time minutes added, Rosenborg got another opportunity.

    Mike Jensen, the defensive midfielder, dispossessed Abdism Ibrahim, one of Str?msgodset''s midfielders, at the border of the middle third. He wasted no time in unleashing a long-range defense splitting pass which found Nicki Nielsen.

    The Rosenborg number nine did not let the pass go to waste. He brought the ball under control with his chest while holding off two Str?msgodset defenders with his incredible physique.

    However, the defenders were already frustrated after conceding three goals. They didn''t allow Nicki to have his way. They collided into his back and denied him space to maneuver the ball. He could only pass to John Chibuike, who was open on the right nk, to avoid losing possession.

    John Chibuike, the substitute who''de on as a right-winger for Tobias Mikkelsen, looked full of energy as he met Nicki''s pass. He controlled the ball mid-sprint and continued spearing deeper into Str?msgodset''s half.

    He soon started cutting into the middle, heading straight for Str?msgodset''s goal. However, a few secondster, just as he was a few yards from the box, he ran into a reckless sliding challenge from Jarl Andr¨¦ Storbaek, the Str?msgodset number-5.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle right away and awarded a free kick to Rosenborg in a position just a few yards away from the edge of the box. He also showed a yellow card to the center-back and immediately started to organize the wall.

    "Zachary," Coach Johansen shouted from the sidelines. "Make sure you test the keeper. I''m counting on you to hit the target."

    Zachary gave the coach an okay sign with his thumb before picking up the ball and cing it on the green. He took a few steps back and activated the Dead-Ball-Specialist Juju while observing the situation in the box.

    The next second, he entered a state of extreme focus, and all the noise around the stadium disappeared. He noticed several gaps in the defense that he could exploit, which he hadn''t managed to spot a moment prior. Thus, he was full of confidence as he prepared to take the free kick.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle after organizing the wall and making sure the yers were not involved in any foul y.

    Zachary immediately made a short angled run towards the ball before smashing it with the inside of his boot to unleash a curling shot towards the top-left corner. The whole process of taking the free-kick felt trivial since he''d practiced the Bend-it-like-Beckham routine more than ten thousand times over the course of the previous two years. So, he was confident he''d hit the target even before the ball could sail over the wall.

    **** ****

    "There it is again," Kristin heard Anne Rimmen, thementator say, as she watched the ball soar over the wall and dip slightly to home in on the top left corner.

    "GOAAAAAL," thementator continued the next moment as the cheering rose to a thunderous crescendo across Lerkendal. "It''s Zachary Bemba with another perfect curveball over the wall to beat the goalkeeper. The young Rosenborg midfielder has managed to bag the second hat-trick of his career with his textbook-perfect set-piece technique. What a night for the young yer."

    "In the 91st minute, it''s Rosenborg 4, Str?msgodset 0. I was expecting a thriller between the first and second on the table. But the match has turned into a one-sided affair. The Troll Kids are at their best today and have totally torn apart the team from Drammen. Harald! What is your take on this unusual score?"

    "Well," Harald, the pundit for the day, chimed in. "As I said earlier, Rosenborg has the most lethal attacking force in the whole Tippeligaen. On their starting line-up, they have Zachary, Nicki, Tobias, and the list goes on¡ªand on. All these are phenomenal attackers capable of bagging goals at any moment during a game if you give them any chance. That''s the very reason they have managed to score four goals against the former table leaders."

    "But what was out of my expectations is Rosenborg not conceding any goals during this match," the pundit continued. "For this, I have tomend Coach Johansen for totally altering his tactics and switching to a defensive-minded 4-2-3-1 formation. He really made an excellent gamble. With the shift to a defensive mindset, he has managed to solve the imbnce between his forward and defensive yers. As a result, his team has managed to keep a clean sheet while also allowing his highly clinical attackers to go on a counterattacking rampage against Str?msgodset."

    "Thank you for your analysis, Harald," Anne Rimmen chipped in. "We''ll continue the discussion in a couple of minutes after the end of the match. But for now, let''s first take you to the live-action which has just rmenced after Rosenborg''s fourth goal celebrations."

    **** ****

    Rosenborg managed to hold on to the 4:0 lead until the end of the game. They remained solid at the back throughout stoppage time and didn''t let the Str?msgodset attackers make any goal attempts.

    After the final whistle, Zachary received the match ball from the referee since he''d scored his second career hat-trick. He then made his way to the area designated for the press. There, he found his old friend v Brusveen, the TV2 Sporten reporter, eagerly waiting to interview him.

    "Wee back, Zachary," v said, smiling and holding the microphone out to him right after he''d stepped in front of the cameras.

    "Thank you, v," Zachary replied, smiling back at him.

    "You''re the man of the match again, Zachary," he said, maintaining a smile. "Your performance during the match was beyond even my wildest imaginations. You scored yet another hat-trick, taking your tally for the season to eleven goals. You''re finally at the summit of the list of top scorers for this season. How do you feel, Zachary?"

    "Terrific, of course," Zachary responded matter-of-factly. "But I''m more thrilled by the fact that my team, Rosenborg, has returned to its rightful ce at the top of the table."

    v raised a brow on hearing that. "Right ce at the top of the table, you say! Could that imply that you''re sure that Rosenborg will go on to maintain the number one position and be the champions at the end of the season?"

    "Well," Zachary said, taking a moment to sort out his words. "Since we''re finally back to the top, other teams will find it very hard to surpass us in points for the rest of the season. Every Rosenborg yer is highly motivated to win more matches and help the team emerge as the overall champion at the end of the season."

    "Let''s talk more about today''s game, Zachary," v chimed in. "Your second goal from the solo run was simply out of this world. That was some world-ss brilliance on the ball you showcased there. Can you tell us what was going on inside your mind during those few seconds?"

    "Well, I was only thinking of creating a goal-scoring opportunity for my team at that moment. Nothing else was on my mind. So, I just kept running and circumventing obstacles until I found myself one-on-one with the keeper and then scored. It was as simple as that."

    "Oh," v said, nodding. "You''re an incredible yer, Zachary. Congrattions upon your incredible performance, and I wish you the best." He said, ending the post-match interview.

    **** ****

 Chapter 226 - July Player Of The Month

    Winning against Str?msgodset Toppfotball, who had been table leaders, by andslide boosted the morale of the entire Rosenborg team. It was as if the Troll Kids had finally acquired the wings to fly off and leave the rest of the teams in the dust. All the yers were highly motivated and performed like monsters whenever they got the chance to be on the starting line-up for an official game.

    They began by walloping Levanger Levanger Fotballklubb in a Norwegian Cup away fixture 5:1 on Tuesday, June 25th. It was another thrilling game where Zachary contributed a brace, converting two set-pieces during the second half. Nicki Nielsen, Tobias Mikkelsen, and Ole Seln?sted the other goals to send Rosenborg well on its way to the Round-of-Sixteen in the Cupen.

    The Sunday after that, on June 30th, Rosenborg faced off against Viking Fotballklubb in another away fixture at the SR-Bank Arena in Stavanger. The match was a slow-paced one that remained goalless until the 65th minute. Borek Dockal scored the first goal on a sessful counterattack after receiving an assist from Zachary. Six minutester, Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg number-9, scored the second to ensure that Rosenborg returned with the three points to Trondheim that night.

    The following Wednesday evening, on July 3rd, the Rosenborg yers finally returned to Lerkendal, their home ground, to face off against Troms? Idrettg in the Norwegian Cup Round-of-Sixteen. Coach Johansen benched both Zachary and Nicki Nielsen to give them some rest. But the Troll Kids still put up an incredible defense-minded performance to defeat the boys from the North 1:0 ¡ª even with their star attackers absent.

    The fans were growing more exhrated by the ridiculous form of Rosenborg by the day. As a result, Lerkendal Stadion was packed to the brim for Rosenborg''s Tippeligaen fixture against Lillestr?m Sportsklubb on the evening of Sunday, July 7th.

    In front of the eyes of 21,450 fans, Zachary and his teammates yed another thrilling match that impassioned the ecstatic fans further. They sessfully hit Lillestr?m Sportsklubb on the counter thrice to score three goals and emerge as victors at the end of the night.

    Zachary was as brilliant as ever and scored two goals in the first half ¡ª one on a counter and another on a set-piece. With that performance, he took his tally to 13 goals for the season. John Chibuike, the striker from Nigeria,ted the third to kill off all Lillestr?m''s chances of making aebackter in the second half. After that, the Rosenborg yers continued ying defensively to keep the score goalless and secure the three points.

    The win helped them extend their lead at the top of the table to five points since Str?msgodset had lost yet another game against Fotballklubben Haugesund the day before.

    So, the yers were even more motivated as they headed into the next fixture at home against Odds Ballklubb scheduled for Sunday, July 14th. They ended up thrashing the team from Skien 4:2, further sealing their position at the top of the table after Str?msgodset lost a second consecutive game.

    Zachary scored another goal from a set-piece and provided two assists in the game against Odds Ballklubb. With fourteen goals in the Tippeligaen and three in the Cupen, he was close to sealing his position as the undisputed top scorer in allpetitions.

    So there was a lot of hype and spections about him in the news. Some newspapers were even reporting with a hundred percent certainty that he was about to leave Rosenborg and head to greener pastures. However, Zachary ignored the rumors and focused solely on football.

    He didn''t let the fame get to his head and continued training with a hundred percent focus with the sole aim of improving his core skills as fast as possible. He would only rx from his tight schedule on the rare evenings he spent in Cami''spany. He devoted the rest of his time to football.

    Another Tippeligaen match day for Rosenborg arrived on the evening of Sunday, July 28th, after a two-week international break. The Troll Kids continued their fine form and thrashed Sportsklubben Brann 5:0 despite ying at an away ground.

    The walloping started in the 6th minute when Zachary created space in the midfield and unleashed one of his signature through-passes to Nicki Nielsen. The Rosenborg number-9 didn''t disappoint and connected with Zachary''s sweet pass, producing a fine finish to give Rosenborg their first goal.

    Soon after, Zachary converted yet another set-piece and scored the second, taking his Tippeligaen tally to 15 goals. As a result, he forced the SK Brann yers toe out of their defensive-minded shell andunch a series of attacks, hoping to make aeback. But that left gaps in their defensive shape ¡ª which Zachary and co exploited to score three more goals and extend their winning streak to fourteen matches.

    **** ****

    The day after the SK Brann match, Zachary woke upte because he was fatigued. He immediately started going through his morning yoga exercises to quicken his post-match recovery. But just a few minutes into the routine, he heard his phone vibrate on a nearby table, where he''d ced it before the session.

    Of course, he didn''t halt his practice to check his phone. He continued going through yoga poses for a few more minutes until he was sure he''dpleted the entire exercise perfectly. By then, he could feel his tired and tense muscles begin to rx. So, he was in a good mood as he picked his phone from the table to nce at the screen.

    There were a couple of unread messages. Zachary perused through them all quickly until his eyes rested on thetest one.

    ****

    ''Mr. Zachary Bemba,'' he started reading the text message. ''Congrattions upon your incredible performance during the July Tippeligaen matches. You have been selected as the July yer of the Month by the Tippeligaen coaches, captains, and the media. You can choose any of the following ways to collect your bronze statuette.

    1) We can send it directly to your team''s mailing address.

    2) We can present it to you before the first Rosenborg home game for the month of August.

    3) You can decide to pick it up at the headquarters of Norsk Toppfotball (NTF) in Oslo, Norway.

    You can call all reply to us by text on this number to inform us about your decision within a maximum of three days. Congrattions once again upon winning your first yer of the month de. We wish you a sessful career.

    Cheers

    Norsk Toppfotball''

    ****

    "DING"

    A system notification sounded within Zachary''s mind right after he''d finished reading through the message from Norsk Toppfotball.

    "Congrattions to the user onpleting a hidden system mission," the AI''s apathetic voice followed immediately after. "For the first time, the user has won the best yer of the month de. That implies the user has finally gotten recognition for his football skills from his peers and the authority that governs the Norwegian professional football league. For that, the system has awarded the user 2000 Juju points. The user needs to keep working hard to win more awards. The more awards the user collects, the higher his chances of making it to the list of yers with the potential to be the G.O.A.T."

    "Oh, my!" Zachary mumbled, feeling his heart starting to beat faster. He was gleeful after earning the first true de in his professional career spanning two lifetimes. Nevertheless, he managed to calm himself before replying to the text message.

    He''d already decided to receive his prize right before the next Rosenborg home game since that would help grow his poprity with the fans. So, he sent the reply text to the indicated number and ced his smartphone back on the table. Without further ado, he started making his way to the bathroom to take a shower.

    But just as he''d taken a few steps, his phone vibrated once again. When he picked it up and nced at the screen, he couldn''t help but do a double-take. It was one of those rare calls from Coach Johansen.

    "Hello, coach," he said, cing the phone close to his ear after epting the call. "How''s your morning?"

    "My morning is fine, Zachary," the Coach replied from the other end of the line in his deep husky voice. "How''s yours?"

    "Fine, coach. I''m just trying to recover from yesterday''s post-match fatigue as quickly as possible."

    "That''s good," Coach Johansen said. "Did you get any text from Norsk Toppfotball today?"

    "Yes, coach. I just received a message a few minutes ago. It was about me being the July yer of the month. How did you get to know this, coach? I haven''t informed anyone yet."

    "I have my sources, Zachary," Coach Johansen replied in a rxed tone. "But that aside, congrattions. I''m happy for you, Zachary, and I hope you go on to win more des throughout your career."

    "Thank you, coach," Zachary replied, tone humble.

    "That aside, can youe and see me in my office," Coach Johansen said after a moment. "I need to talk to you about something."

    ''Here ites," Zachary thought but said: "What time should Ie to your office, coach?"

    "Come at eleven," Coach Johansen replied. "Will you be able to make it here by then?"

    "Yes, I''ll make it," Zachary replied.

    "Good," Coach Johansen said. "See you in two and a half hours then." He then ended the call without another word.

    **** ****

 Chapter 227 - Coach Johansenâ€™s Worries

    Coach Johansen could not help but sigh, shaking his head after ending his call with Zachary. He was happy that one of his yers had finally won the heavily contested yer of the month de. However, he was also bothered by the attention Zachary had started garnering from all around Europe.

    The young Maestro had been on fire since his debut. He''d been instrumental in Rosenborg''s winning streak of fourteen matches. Thanks to his incredible form and consistency, bordering on the realms of almost being inhuman, he''dted eighteen goals and provided ten assists in a period shorter than three months. But as a result, he had attracted several scavengers from all over Europe intent on signing him from Rosenborg. The most worrying of them was RB Leipzig, a team from Germany, which had decided to trigger his release use.

    Coach Johansen was distressed by the whole development. After milling over the issue for a few days, he''d decided to have a one-on-one with Zachary to gauge his stand. He could then n ordingly and avoid falling into difficultiester if his best yer suddenly decided to leave.

    He hoped he would seed in making Zachary see reason and convince him to stay with Rosenborg for a while longer by showing him some sincerity. One way to go about that was to discuss some of the ns he''d already set in motion to strengthen the Rosenborg squad. But he had to determine whether Zachary had any thoughts of leaving Trondheim before deciding on the best course of action.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    His phone started vibrating a momentter ¡ª as he was still deliberating on how to handle Zachary''s situation. He couldn''t help but smile for a bit after picking it and ncing at the screen. It was his old colleague and friend Carlos Alberto Miguel calling. He was one of the most reliable scouts, good at unearthing talented but affordable yers from all around Europe.

    Coach Johansen had tasked him with searching for talented defenders for Rosenborg only a week prior. He was eager to ascertain whether the scout had finally found some of them.

    "Hello, Carlos," he said after epting the call and cing his phone close to his ear. "How is your morning?"

    "My morning is fine, Boyd," Carlos replied from the other end of the line with a Spanish ent. "But, please forgive me. I''m calling with some not-so-good news."

    "Oh," Coach Johansen said, feeling as if his mood had sunk into an abyss. "Did you fail to get anyone?"

    Carlos sighed audibly from the other end of the line. "Boyd, you''ve got to understand that there''ll always be some good defenders all around Europe whenever you need them. But the problem is with your budget. You can''t get the sort of quality you''re looking for with the money you have."

    "Moreover," the scout continued. "Most of the yers I''ve chanced upon don''t want to join a Norwegian side. They would rather stay in the lower divisions of the top leagues than move to Norway."

    "Not even when there is the promise to y in the Europa League?"

    "That also doesn''t help your case," Carlos replied, sighing once again. "Basing on your history, most yers on the market don''t believe that you have a chance in hell to even make it out of the qualifying round. So, that promise of the Europa league has no impact on the talented yers that hope topete against the best."

    "Oh," Coach Johansen said, frowning and leaning back into his chair. He''d believed that with a budget of five million Euros, he would be able to acquire the services of at least two good defenders who could improve the strength of his team at the back. But the scout had just crashed his hopes. So, he was feeling down at that moment.

    "Boyd," Carlos said after a while. "My advice to you is this. You can either increase your budget by maybe three million Euros. With around eight million, you''ll be able to get defenders who can really strengthen your defense and enable you topete fairly in the Europa League. Otherwise, I really can''t help you."

    "Okay, let me talk to my bosses first," Coach Johansen said after a while, letting out a breath. "Thanks a lot for your help."

    "It''s my pleasure, Boyd," Carlos replied coolly. "Feel free to call me when you finish preparing things on your side. I''ll be ready to help at any time."

    "I will," Coach Johansen said. "Thanks again, and have a good morning."

    "Likewise."

    Coach Johansen could not help but sigh for the umpteenth time that morning after ending the call. One of his ns to strengthen the Rosenborg squad and help the teampete in the Europa League seemed to be already going downhill.

    He didn''t even try to call the club chairman to ask for more funds. He was well aware that the chairman would reject his request without giving it any thought.

    The chairman had already exined that the club was in a tight spot financially. That was why the other executives were considering selling Zachary to RB Leipzig for around fifty million. With that sum, they would solve the club''s financial difficulties and possibly acquire several more yers to strengthen the squad.

    So, Coach Johansen was in a sort of a bind because of the limited funding. He could only start making calls to a few other scouts and former colleagues to request their help.

    He spent the entire morning on the phone, inquiring whether he could acquire the services of two good defenders at the price of five million. But even after two hours, he didn''t manage to get a positive and satisfying response.

    All the avable defenders in the range of around 2 - 2.5 million Euros didn''t meet his criteria. He was better off without them, considering that signing them wouldn''t help him achieve his goals. So, he ended up wasting the whole morning without making any progress in solving his defensive problems. He was still in a dilemma.

    **** ****

 Chapter 228 - Four Talented Young Players

    Zachary managed to make it to Coach Johansen''s office ten minutes before 11:00 AM ¡ª their scheduled meeting time. Just as he was about to knock on the door, he overheard Coach Johansen talking on the phone. So, he decided to wait at the door until the phone call ended.

    But even while outside the room, Zachary could still pick up some bits and pieces of the conversation. The coach seemed to be discussing a few potential transfers to Rosenborg with some other party.

    ''Is the coach finally bringing in new defenders to the squad?'' Zachary wondered, leaning closer to the door. But the next moment, the coach ended the conversation before he could hear anything more. He immediately stepped away from the door for a few moments before knocking.

    "Come in," he heard Coach Johansen say from inside his office after a short while. Zachary pushed the door open and stepped into the spacious office.

    "Have a seat," the coach said, ncing up from the screen of hisptop. He seemed like he hadn''t slept for a couple of days. He looked a little ragged and a little shadowy beneath the eyes, while his usually neat red beard was shabby and out of ce.

    "Thank you, coach," Zachary replied, smiling. He pretended he hadn''t noticed the coach''s frazzled appearance and settled in one of the empty seats in front of the desk.

    "So, the Norsk Toppfotball guys finally got their act together and awarded you the yer of the month de," Coach Johansen remarked, half-smiling. "Congrattions once again, Zachary. I''m really happy for you."

    "Thanks, Coach," Zachary replied, leaning back into his seat to make himself morefortable.

    "So, when are they presenting the yer of the Month Bronze Statuette to you?"

    "Before our next Tippeligaen home game," Zachary responded. "That''ll be on Sunday, August 4th, before our game against Sogndal IL."

    "That''s good," Coach Johansen said, nodding. "The fans will be excited by the presentation. That''s good for us in terms of publicity. But that aside, I summoned you here to discuss another important issue, Zachary."

    "Oh, please go ahead, coach," Zachary said, folding his arms across his chest.

    "You know that I don''t like beating around the bush," Coach Johansen said after a moment, holding Zachary''s gaze. "So, please tell me. Have you received any contract offers from any other teams recently?"

    "No," Zachary replied honestly. Aside from the Red Bull people approaching him before the Tippeligaen break, there wasn''t any other. However, the Red Bull offer couldn''t be termed as a recent one. So, he chose not to mention it.

    "Oh," Coach Johansen said, raising a brow. He seemed not to be convinced.

    "Why are you asking me this, coach?" Zachary inquired, matching the coach''s gaze.

    "Well," Coach Johansen said, still observing him. "There have been several teams tabling offers to sign you from Rosenborg of recent. I was wondering if they''ve tried contacting you. And if they have, what are your ns? Are you still with me, with us, here at Rosenborg? Or do you intend to switch to another team if there is a good offer?"

    "I certainly don''t have any ns of leaving Rosenborg in the middle of the season," Zachary was quick to reply. "I''ll only think of leaving after winning a few trophies."

    "That puts me at ease, Zachary," Coach Johansen said, grinning. "Even though the offers from some of the famous clubs can be quite tempting, I hope you remain with us a while longer. As long as you''re a Rosenborg yer, I''ll always respect you and do my best to help you grow as an athlete."

    "Don''t worry, coach," Zachary said assuredly. "I''m still a Rosenborg yer in both body and mind. My entire focus is on training and the preparations for the uing Rosenborg fixtures. I haven''t given even a single thought to transferring out of Rosenborg."

    "I''m d," Coach Johansen said, suppressing a chuckle. "So, are you ready for the Europa League qualification match against Crusaders on Wednesday?"

    "Yes, of course, I''m ready," Zachary said confidently.

    "Good," Coach Johansen said, sighing. "If we y our cards right, we''ll be able to make it far this season. That''ll give you a chance to y against some of Europe''s top teams. I''m actually trying my best to sign a few more defenders to bolster our team so we canpete seriously in the tournament."

    "Oh," Zachary said, trying his best to act surprised. "Have you managed to get any?" He asked.

    "Not yet," Coach Johansen replied. "I have tried searching in several countries across Europe. But all the avable defenders are expensive and exceed our budget. But don''t worry. I''m sure we''ll get a few talented ones before the transfer window closes. Just focus on your training and leave the squad to me."

    "Okay," Zachary said, nodding. "But have you tried searching in Africa, South America, or even Asia for defenders? I''m sure that there must be talented ones who''re still waiting for a chance to y for a team in Europe."

    "I have already engaged some of the scouts that I know all over the world, including a few in those three continents," Coach Johansen said, sighing. "But I''m still waiting for the results."

    Zachary nodded as his mind started wandering. He tried to recall some of the yet-to-be famous African defenders that were about to make a breakthrough and receive offers from European Cubs.

    He reckoned that Rosenborg would have a chance of signing those as long as they could promise them regr first-team football and a chance to y the Europa League. But he didn''t mention anything to the coach right away since he wasn''t sure whether the yers in question had already joined famous clubs at that moment.

    "One more thing before you go, Zachary," Coach Johansen said, breaking him out of his reverie. "Remember to inform your agent to engage with the Rosenborg executives so that they can raise your wages. But remember, this wasn''t my suggestion. Do you get my meaning, Zachary?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary said, nodding and grinning. "Thanks for informing me."

    "Good," Coach Johansen said, half-smiling. "Okay, off you go. I have to get back to my work now. See you during tomorrow''s training session, I guess."

    "Yes, coach."

    **** ****

    When Zachary ended the meeting with Coach Johansen, he returned home ¡ª to his apartment. After having a light snack to sate his hunger, he immediately started searching for more information about the soon-to-be-famous defenders in 2013.

    He sat on theputer for more than three hours and googled all the famous names he could recall from his previous life. He didn''t limit the search to Africa ¡ª but also South America, Asia, and Eastern Europe. Using a systematic method of eliminating any yer who already possessed some media presence, he narrowed down the list of defense-minded yers to four.

    The first was Eric Baily ¡ª a yet-to-be famous Ivorian center-back, still struggling to get regr ying time on the Espanyol B team in the Segunda Divisi¨®n B. He was a yer who would get to y for teams like Manchester United and Virreal in the future. So, Zachary was sure that if Rosenborg managed to sign him, he would be a fine addition to the team even though he was only neen.

    The second was Yerry Mina ¡ª another center-back who''d already made his debut as a professional yer for Deportivo Pasto, a team in Colombia. Although he was still around neen years of age, he would bring a lot to the Rosenborg squad if he agreed to join. Zachary had no doubts about Yerry Mina''s capabilities since he was supposed to end up ying for both Barcelona and Everton a few years from then.

    The third was William Troost-Ekong ¡ª a Nigerian center back, still fighting for a chance to get some first-team football action in a Dutch team called Groningen. He was a fine defender who''d impressed Zachary while ying for Nigeria in an African Cup of Nations tournament. He, too, would bring a lot to the Rosenborg squad if Coach Johansen signed him.

    The fourth andst yer on the list was not a pure defender but a very talented defensive midfielder. He was Thomas Teye Partey, a natural number-6, yet to cement his position on the Atl¨¦tico Madrid B sidepeting in the lower Spanish league divisions. Zachary saw him as the most suitable to join the Troll Kids among the four. He was a beast in midfield since he would go¡ªon to y for the Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s senior side and Arsenal in a few years. He was the right man for Rosenborg''s defense if Coach Johansen could acquire his signature before other teams could spot him.

    **** ****

    By the time Zachary finished searching for information about the yers, it was already four in the evening. But he still dialed Coach Johansen''s number and informed him that he would like to see him right away.

    As soon as Coach Johansen epted, Zachary immediately got into his R8 GT and cruised to Lerkendal to meet him. He believed that it was best not to dy some issues. So, he decided not to sleep before handing over the list of potential signings to the coach.

    "What is the matter?" the Coach asked, looking up from hisputer screen as soon as Zachary entered his office. "You seemed panicked on the phone. Is anything wrong?"

    "Don''t worry, coach," Zachary replied, smiling and cing down the list of four potential signings on his office desk.

    "What''s this, Zachary?" Coach Johansen asked, his gaze alternating between the piece of paper before him and Zachary''s face.

    "That''s a list of four very talented yers that I''ve chanced upon while watching a few football videos," Zachary replied, settling down in a seat before Coach Johansen''s desk. He then went ahead and told him some concocted info on the four defensive-minded yers. He talked at length and colored their skills to capture the Coach''s interest.

    "Oh," Coach Johansen said, raising a brow after hearing him out. He then picked up the paper and nced at the list. "These are the names of the talented yers." He stated, seemingly unconvinced.

    "Yes," Zachary replied emphatically. He knew the coach would not readily believe him since he was just an eighteen-year-old in his eyes. Zachary had to try his best to have his list taken seriously. Otherwise, Rosenborg would find it hard to even make it through the group stages of the Europa League.

    "Okay then," the coach said, surprising Zachary with his prompt decision. "I''ll tell some of my associates to check out the yers. Thank you for providing the list, Zachary."

    "You''re wee, coach," Zachary said, matching his gaze. "But please do take that list seriously. You have to act fast when checking out those yers. They''re the sort of talents that won''t stay in small teams for long. So, as we speak now, some other team may be close to signing them."

    "Oh," Coach Johansen said, taking another nce at the piece of paper in his hands. "That''s quite some high praise from you. Are they really that good?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied solemnly. "I would never joke about something like that. Just check them out quickly, and you''ll understand."

    "Okay, I''ll do that, Zachary," Coach Johansen said, his eyes still on the list. "Don''t worry."

    "Then that puts my heart at ease, coach," Zachary said, standing. "I have to go now and prepare for tomorrow''s training."

    "Okay, have a good evening."

    **** ****

 Chapter 229 - Imminent New Signings I

    Coach Johansen was still in a state of amazement as he watched Zachary step out of his office after their brief chat. He couldn''t juste to terms with the fact that his best yer had also taken on the role of a club scout.

    When Zachary had first disclosed the information about the four yers, he''d taken him lightly. He found it almost unbelievable that a young eighteen-year-old yer could discover four incredible young talents by watching some football videos.

    But he started having second thoughts after recalling the sort of superhuman capabilities and vision the young Maestro possessed on the ying field.

    It was a no-brainer that a footballer of Zachary''s caliber would have very high standards when looking upon the talents of others. The yers he considered gifted were sure to be phenomenal or unique in some aspects. So, he decided to check out the list before putting the whole issue to bed.

    Without further ado, he immediately contacted his friends in Barcelona to send him some information about Eric Bailly, the first yer on Zachary''s list. He was a center-back ying for the Espanyol-B side in the Segunda Divisi¨®n-B League at that moment. So, his friends managed to find a sufficient amount of data, including some match videos of the young yer in action promptly. They managed to forward it to him even before he could leave his office that very evening.

    "Let''s get this over with," Coach Johansen mumbled as he opened the email with Eric Bailly''s data. Some of his contacts in Barcelona had already mentioned that the center back was only neen years old and thus inexperienced. That was a downer for the coach since young defenders were always impulsive and prone to making mistakes when the stakes were high. So, he didn''t expect much as he clicked on the dropbox attachment containing all the digital files.

    However, after a few minutes of watching the videos and reading through Eric Bailly''s profile, he cast away all the negative thoughts.

    He was stunned, speechless.

    Eric Bailly was as good as Zachary had described. He was solid in defense and with an incredible work rate that could rival that of the most experienced defenders in Europe. He was, without a doubt, the sort of yer that could immediately bolster Rosenborg''s defense.

    Coach Johansen was determined to have his signature if Espanyol could agree to sell him. So, without any dilly-dallying, he contacted one of the Rosenborg scouts and sent him to Spain on a mission to initiate talks with the defender.

    But he didn''t stop at that. He quickly looked through the information of the other three young yers on the list and sent scouts after them the following morning. He didn''t rest easy until he''d made sure that all the Rosenborg scouts had set off and were well on their way to negotiate with the four yers. He then crossed his fingers and started waiting for the results while also preparing for the Europa League Qualification match against Crusaders Football Club.

    **** ****

    On one of the training grounds of the Espanyol reserves team in Barcelona, Spain, a young African man had just finished his personal training for the day. After gulping down some water to sate his thirst, he cast his gaze above, at the setting sun, that seemed to be mocking him, and then shook his head. He was feeling a bit low at that moment since he hadn''t managed to make it to the senior team for another season.

    He''d put everything into his training, even going ahead to practice eight hours a day during the off-season. But the coaches were still not considering him even for the starting eleven on the reserves team. "Eric, you''re still not yet ready," they would often say. "Be patient and stay true to your training. You''ll eventually get your chance."

    Eric Bailly was starting to grow frustrated by the statement.

    Be that as it may, he didn''t darein to any of the coaches. Despite not making it to the senior team, he was still earning an ample sum of money as a sry from Espanyol. That was enough to keep him quiet and patient until he could get a chance to showcase his talents.

    "Eric," he heard someone call out to him while he was still thinking about life in general. "There you are," the familiar voice continued. "I was looking all over for you. Why aren''t you picking up your phone?"

    Eric Bailly turned around at a leisurely pace to face Graziano Battistini, his agent. "I was training and didn''t have my phone with me," he said, smiling at the man in a suit. "Sorry about that."

    "Well, no matter," his agent said, nodding. "How is your training going, and how are you doing?"

    "I''m okay, and training is going on well," he said, maintaining a polite smile. "But why are you here? I''m guessing that you''re not here to discuss my personal training. Are you?"

    "I have some hopeful news," the agent said, smiling. "But should we find somewhere to sit before we can discuss?"

    "Here is fine," he replied, suppressing his excitement. "So, go ahead and shoot."

    "Okay," the agent said, nodding. "I''m just from a meeting with a representative from a club called Rosenborg in Norway. The club is interested in signing you and offering you regr first-team football."

    "A team from Norway!" Eric mumbled, frowning slightly as his mood soured. He couldn''t believe that his agent had brought him an offer from a team from some unknown league. He would rather stay in the Espanyol reserves team until he got the opportunity to join the senior team.

    "Don''t be quick to make a decision," his agent said hurriedly after seemingly reading his mind. "I also had that very same reaction when I first heard that Rosenborg was interested in you. But the representative managed to sway my mind after promising me that you would y regr first-team football and even participate in the Europa League."

    "The club is ying in the Europa League!" Eric eximed, matching his agent''s gaze. "Howe I haven''t heard much about this Rosenborg then?"

    "Rosenborg usually qualifies for the Europa League," the agent said, sighing. "But the only problem is that it usually gets eliminated quite early on ¡ª even before the group stages."

    "Oh," Eric said, frowning.

    "But the Rosenborg representative managed to convince me that things will be different this season," the agent continued. "He showed me some videos of the highlights for their past few matches. That''s when I immediately decided to contact you."

    "So, you believe they will go far in the Europa League this season?" Eric asked, raising a brow.

    "Yes, and that''s why I''m here," the agent replied matter-of-factly. "I''m telling you, Eric, you''ve got to watch those highlights of Rosenborg. They have a ridiculous young yer on their squad ¡ª the kind that is sure to win many matches if he has a good defense on his team. I don''t even understand what he''s doing in such a small team. You need to watch those videos first, Eric. You''ll understand what I mean."

    "Okay," Eric said, nodding. "Did you bring the videos with you?"

    "Of course, I did," the agent replied, smiling. "I even brought the match data of that ridiculous yer. We only need somece quiet to go through them."

    "Okay, then," Eric said. "We can watch from a nearby cafe."

    "Good."

    A few minutester, the two of them were huddled together before aptop screen, watching Zachary''s highlights for the months of May, June, and July. They both almost jumped from their seats when they watched Zachary score the goal from a back-volley and then sighed at his insane rate of converting set-pieces. They reacted like people watching the most thrilling blockbuster movie in the world when they moved on to his July performance. They were beyond shocked by Zachary''s prowess.

    "I want to join this club," Eric Bailly said after they''d finished watching some of the videos. "But it has to be on condition that this Zachary is still on the team. Otherwise, I won''t even consider it."

    "Don''t worry about that," the agent replied, grinning. "I even talked to the Rosenborg coach at length over the phone. He assured me that Zachary Bemba has promised to stay at Rosenborg for quite some time. Moreover, we''ll add a use that will void the agreement between you and Rosenborg in case Zachary leaves the team."

    "Oh," Eric said, nodding. "Then go ahead and negotiate the deal. But what about my contract with Espanyol? How are we going to handle it?"

    "Don''t worry about that," the agent said. "I already talked to the sporting director about your situation. He says that you can transfer as long as Rosenborg can offer the right price."

    "Then good," Eric said, nodding. "Then you know what to do. My terms are very few, as my sole aim is to obtain some exposure by ying for Rosenborg. One is regr first-team football, and two is plenty of ying time in the Europa League. For the sry, you can negotiate as you see fit."

    "Okay then," the agent said, nodding. "I will go ahead and initiate the process. But you better start getting prepared for the medical. I have a feeling that this will be a swift deal."

    "I''m always ready for any medicals," Eric said, giving his agent a sideways nce. "So, go ahead and negotiate the deal. Don''t worry about anything else."

    "Okay."

    **** ****

    In a few other parts of the world, simr scenes were taking ce as the Rosenborg scouts used nearly the same tactics to engage the agents of the young yers. First, they would show them the match videos of Zachary and his insane match statistics to cultivate their interest in Rosenborg. Then, they would go in for the kill by promising them regr first-team football plus Europa League action. As a result, they''d made considerable progress in signing the four young yers on Zachary''s list even by the end of that very day.

    **** ****

 Chapter 230 - Imminent New Signings II

    Tuesday, July 30, 2013.

    **** ****

    "Brrring! Brrriiiiiiing! Brrring! Brrriiiiiiing..."

    The sound of the phone ringing broke the silence in Coach Johansen''s office, instantly forcing him out of his deep state of concentration. He smiled since he''d been anticipating the call. He immediately pushed aside his strategy game cards before picking up the phone by pressing the ept button ¡ª almost by reflex.

    "Yes," he said after cing the receiver next to his ear.

    "Coach Johansen, how is your evening? It''s me, Kristoffer, calling from the city of San Juan de Pasto in Colombia."

    As expected, it was the scout he''d sent to Colombia to initiate talks with Yerry Mina, one of the defenders on Zachary''s list.

    "I was expecting your call, Kristoffer," Coach Johansen replied, leaning back into his seat and smiling to himself. "Did you manage to make any progress with Yerry Mina?"

    "Yes, coach," Kristoffer Nielsen, the Rosenborg scout, replied. "He has finally agreed to make the switch. But first, his agent, who also happens to be his uncle, has requested to video chat with you over Skype before they can put pen on paper. He still doubts my identity and thinks I might be a con artist trying to dupe them into a shady deal."

    "Well," Coach Johansen said, smiling to himself. "That''s understandable. I''m okay with having a chat with him at any time if that can verify your identity. Go ahead and set up the time for the video meeting."

    "Ahh, coach," the scout said in an indecisive tone.

    "Yes."

    "The thing is this," the scout said. "There''s no need for us to set up the time for the meeting."

    "Why?"

    "That''s because both Yerry Mina, his uncle, and father are all here with me. They insisted that I call you right away, or they would call the police and have me sleep in jail. Moreover, I had to put you on the loudspeaker while making the call in order to assure them that I''m genuine and sincere. So, sorry about that, coach."

    "Oh" was all that coach Johansen could manage for the next few moments.

    He couldn''t help but wonder whether his scout, Kristoffer, looked like a thug. None of his other scouts had run into issues while initiating talks with the other yers. They''d all produced very positive results within a short time and even began the process of negotiating personal terms. On the other hand, Kristoffer was still trying to establish his identity so that the young yer could take him seriously. The coach was perplexed.

    "Coach," the scout said from the other end of the line after a few more seconds of silence. "Are you still there?"

    "Yes, I''m still on the line," Coach Johansen replied. "I was just surprised. Do they want to have a video chat right now? We have to do it quickly since I have a pre-match tactical meeting to preside over in thirty minutes."

    "Yes," Kristoffer replied emphatically. "They want to have the video chat immediately. But if you''re busy, I can try to convince them to wait until tomorrow morning, Norwegian time."

    "No, no, it''s all right," Coach Johansen replied, sighing. ''Being a coach is really hard.'' He thought to himself. "You can call me right now on my Skype. I''ll talk to them right away so that you can start moving the negotiations forward. We don''t have a lot of time since the Europa League is starting tomorrow."

    "Okay, coach," the scout replied, his voice seemingly rxing. "I''ll call you in about a minute. See you then." He ended the call.

    A few minutester, Coach Johansen received a call from Kristoffer''s Skype ID. He immediately epted it.

    "Yes, Kristoffer," he said, ncing at the bearded face of the scout, which had just popted the screen. "Put them on. I don''t have much time."

    "Aye, coach," the scout replied before stepping away from the webcam. A momentter, three smiling faces with dark skin popted the screen. "So, you''re the coach of Rosenborg who wants to recruit my nephew?" The one that seemed like the oldest of the three inquired. Surprisingly, he spoke fluent English, although he was from South America.

    "Yes, that''s correct," Coach Johansen replied, nodding. "I was the one who sent Kristoffer toe and negotiate with Yerry Mina. We want to recruit him into the Rosenborg squad because of his incredible defensive talents."

    "Oh, okay," the man remarked, without any noticeable reaction. No excitement or anxiety! The man was the true definition of stone-faced as he kept his eyes locked with those of Coach Johansen through theputer screen. "So, how can we verify that you''re the coach of Rosenborg? Please understand. This deal appeared out of thin air. So, we have to be careful to avoid sending Yerry to some people who might want to harvest his kidneys."

    Coach Johansen chuckled despite himself after hearing that. "Well, that''s simple," he said after a while. "You can try googling my name and title, Boyd Johansen - the coach of Rosenborg. You''ll be able to see my picture on the club website and on a lot more sports pages in Scandinavia. I think that should verify my identity. Shouldn''t it?"

    "Yes, that should be enough verification, coach," the man who seemed like Yerry''s uncle and his agent replied, finally smiling. "Sorry for taking up your time. You know you can never be too careful in these parts of Colombia. But that aside, I''m d you managed to take some time to talk to us. It shows that you really care about Yerry. And that puts our hearts at ease."

    "You don''t need to be so polite and apologetic," Coach Johansen said. "It''s my pleasure to straighten out potential misunderstandings that may negatively affect my team..."

    Coach Johansen continued chatting with the other party for the next ten minutes and outlined why he needed to sign Yerry Mina. They went over almost all the details regarding Yerry''s potential move to Rosenborg, including his work permit and visa issues,nguage issues, plus his role on the squad. By the time the coach ended the call with the other party, they''d already agreed to the move.

    So, with a lightened mood, Coach Johansen closed hisptop and then made his way to the tactics room for the pre-match tactical meeting.

    "Good evening, everyone," he said, sweeping his gaze across the whole room when the yers finished taking up their seats. He could see that they all looked attentive since it was the meeting preceding the first game of Rosenborg''s Europa League campaign.

    "Good evening, coach," they replied in unison.

    "As I already said earlier today," he began, half-smiling. "We will y our first Europa League qualifying match against Crusaders Football Club in Belfast tomorrow."

    "But before we delve into the tactics, I would first like to take the opportunity to announce the squad that will be traveling to Northern Irnd tomorrow morning."

    "On the starting line-up," the coach continued without a pause. "We have Daniel ?rlund as our keeper. Our defense willprise Mikael Dorsin, Verner R?nning, Tore Reginiussen, and Peter Ankersen. Our midfielders will be Mike Jensen, Ole Seln?s, and Zachary Bemba. In striking we will have John Chibuike, Borek Dockal, and Steffen Iversen."

    "On the bench, we''ll have Nicki Nielsen, Lund Hansen, Jonas Svensson, Jon Inge H?nd, Fredrik Midtsj?, and Mohammed-Awal Issah. That''s it for the squad. Any questions?"

    All the yers remained silent and didn''t raise their hands.

    "Good," the coach said after sweeping a nce around. "I''m d that we''re on the same page. Now to the tactics."

    "Since we''re ying away, we shouldn''t take our opponents lightly," he continued. "We''ll utilize our usual 4-3-3 defensive formation and focus on hitting them on the counter. I expect all of you to remain focused, creative, and hardworking for the entire duration of the game. Every man on the pitch, except the center-forward, has to rush back and defend whenever we lose possession. If you do that, I believe we''ll crash the Crusaders team like a bug tomorrow. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "That''s good."

    For the next hour, the coach continued expounding on the game n. He discussed the movements he expected the yers to make on the pitch and went over their roles in great detail. He concluded the meeting by informing them that they would be taking the early morning flight to Belfast before sending them home.

    **** ****

 Chapter 231 - The 2013\/14 Europa League Serial Mission

    After the pre-match tactical meeting, Zachary exchanged a few words with his teammates before making his way out of the tactics room and heading to the parking lot. He then got into his R8 GT and cruised home at a leisurely pace.

    He managed to arrive at his apartment building in less than half an hour since traffic was light on the road. He alighted from his vehicle and then ascended the stairs, deciding to first head to Kristin''s apartment on the fourth floor. He had just recalled he had an appointment with her that evening.

    "Hello, Zachary," Kristin said with a smile right after opening her door. "Wee, and pleasee in."

    "Thank you," Zachary replied, stepping through the entrance and into the living room of Kristin''s cozy apartment. The set-up of the ce was not very dissimr to the one in his apartment. However, hers felt more exquisite ¡ª because of the more elegant furniture and the beautiful paintings hanging on the walls.

    "Your ce is neat as usual," Zachary said, settling down in one of thefy chairs. "How''s your evening?"

    "My evening is fine," Kristin said, smiling and settling on a sofa opposite his. "And thanks for appreciating my ce. Did you juste from training?"

    "Not exactly," Zachary replied, shaking his head. "We had ate tactical meeting since we''re ying our first Europa League qualifier tomorrow."

    "Oh," Kristin said, raising a brow. "Is that the match against Crusaders, the team from Northern Irnd?"

    "Yes, that''s the one," Zachary replied, nodding.

    "Do you think you''ll win?"

    "Of course, we have no choice but to win," Zachary replied matter-of-factly. "Otherwise, we won''t get to participate in the actual Europa League. Moreover, Crusaders is a much weaker teampared to us. So, the odds are on our side."

    "You didn''t answer the question, Zachary," Kristin remarked.

    Zachary just smiled at her before saying, "You mentioned that you wanted to discuss something over the phone earlier. What is it?"

    "Yes," Kristin said, leaning back into the sofa and holding Zachary''s gaze. "It''s about the rumors about you in the media. As your publicity secretary, I hope youe out and make your stand so that you can put a stop to them."

    "Oh," Zachary said, creasing a brow. "You mean the recent talk on the inte that I''m transferring out of Rosenborg?"

    "Yes," Kristin replied, nodding. "The whole thing is getting out of hand, and it''s causing needless worry for your fans. You should see the messages I''m getting on both Twitter and Facebook. A lot of your followers are asking whether it''s true that you''re leaving Rosenborg. That''s why I would like you toe out and rify the situation."

    "Okay," Zachary said, nodding. "You can tweet or post that I have no intentions of leaving Rosenborg at the moment. You can then mention that all messages insinuating that I''m close to making a transfer out of Rosenborg are baseless. That should close down the rumors. Shouldn''t it?"

    "Yes, that''s good enough," Kristin said, her face blossoming into a smile. "That''ll really put your fans at ease."

    "Then, that''s good," Zachary said, nodding. "Is there anything else? If not, I would like to head upstairs and get some sleep. We''re setting off for the airport at six tomorrow morning. So I have to go to bed early."

    "Just one more thing," Kristin said, voice lowering. "Have you talked to my grandpa recently? I think he''s still waiting for you to give him a reply to his proposal."

    "Oh, my!" Zachary said, face-palming. "Me and my forgetfulness! That''s another thing thatpletely escaped my mind due to the crazy June and July schedules."

    "I understand, Zachary," Kristin said, nodding. "No need to try exining to me. But try to call him soon and give him a response. Whether it''s positive or negative, he won''t hold anything against you. Okay?"

    "Okay," Zachary confirmed, nodding. "I''ll give him a call the day after tomorrow. That''ll be the morning right after the match. Thanks for reminding me."

    "Then good," Kristin said, beaming. "I guess that''s everything for today. I wish you all the best in tomorrow''s game. May you annihte the other team by scoring a double hat-trick."

    "Ha-ha," Zachary gave a forcedugh on hearing that. "I think that I need to remind you that I''m taking part in a football match, not a basketball game. But thanks anyway. I''ll try my best as always."

    Kristin smiled at that. "Since it''s you we''re talking about, I wouldn''t be surprised if you scored eight," she said in a solemn voice. "Anyway, goodbye and have a goodnight. Don''t stay upte."

    Zachary nodded, standing up from his seat. "Good night to you too," he said, starting to match towards the door. "By the way, how many followers do I have on Twitter now?" He asked, pausing mid-step.

    "Guess," Kristin said, smiling mysteriously.

    "50,000," Zachary said, deciding on humoring her. He had had about 20,000 followers when he handed the ount over to Kristin for management. So, he assumed the numbers had just about doubled since then.

    "You couldn''t be any more wrong," Kristin said, suppressing a chuckle. "As of today, your Twitter ount has more than 420,000 followers."

    "420,000!" Zachary eximed, turning around to nce at Kristin. He was well aware that a good fraction of famous footballers didn''t have that many followers on Twitter. So, he couldn''t help but wonder what Kristin had done with the ount for it to garner such attention and poprity within less than two months. "How did you do it?" He asked, giving her a sideways nce.

    "I have my ways," Kristin replied with a mysterious smile. "You better go and rest. Otherwise, you won''t be at your best during the match tomorrow. And that will spell trouble for us."

    "Okay, okay," Zachary said, nodding. "I''m off. I don''t know what you''re doing to gather that many followers on Twitter. But thanks for the hard work."

    "You''re wee. Good night."

    Zachary ascended the stairs at a leisurely pace and soon returned to his apartment on the sixth floor. But no sooner had he walked through the entrance ¡ª heading into the living room than a system notification sounded within his mind.

    "DING"

    "The system has detected that the user has been added to Rosenborg''s 2013/14 Europa League squad," the system AI''s apathetic voice sounded in his mind soon after.

    "Conditions for a long-term serial system mission have been met."

    "The 2013/14 Europa League Serial Mission initiated sessfully."

    "Does the user wish to view the details of the mission right away?"

    "Positive," Zachary replied, settling into one of his sofas. "Bring out the details right away."

    "DING"

    "Attention user," intoned the AI as the translucent bluish system interface manifested before Zachary.

    "Mission details have been disyed on the interface."

    Zachary nodded to himself before leaning back into the sofa and beginning to peruse through the information disyed on the interface. He wasn''t too excited since he knew winning the Europa League was no walk in the park.

    ****

    ----

    G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    ----

    #NEW MISSION: 2013 Europa League Serial Challenge

    ->The system has detected that the user is part of the Rosenborg BK squad taking part in the 2013/14 Europa League knock-out tournament. The system has designed an associated mission for the event.

    ----

    ->The user needs to ept the mission first to stand a chance of winning rewards afterpleting the milestones below.

    ----

    *Milestone 1: y over 80% of the fixtures in the 2013/14 Europa League tournament for Rosenborg.

    *Milestone 2: Help Rosenborg qualify out of the group to the round-of-sixteen of the 2013/14 Europa League tournament.

    *Milestone 3: Help Rosenborg qualify for the quarter-finals of the 2013/14 Europa League tournament.

    *Milestone 4: Help Rosenborg qualify for the semi-finals of the 2013/14 Europa League tournament.

    *Milestone 5: Help Rosenborg qualify for the finals of the 2013/14 Europa League tournament.

    *Milestone 6: Help Rosenborg be the overall champions of the 2013/14 Europa League Tournament

    *Milestone 7: Provide the most assists in the 2013/14 Europa League tournament while ying for Rosenborg.

    *Milestone 8: Be the top scorer of the 2013/14 Europa League Tournament while ying for Rosenborg.

    *Milestone 9: Be the Best yer of the 2013/14 Europa League Tournament while ying for Rosenborg.

    ----

    *Rewards:

    ->Milestone 1pletion reward: 2,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 2pletion reward: 5,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 3pletion reward: 30,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 4pletion reward: 50,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 5pletion reward: 100,000 Juju Points

    ->Milestone 6pletion reward: A dosage of S-grade vitality enhancing elixir.

    ->Milestone 7pletion reward: 20,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 8pletion reward: 40,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 9pletion reward: A dosage of S-grade mental conditioning elixir.

    ----

    NB: There will be additional rewards if the user realizes any other milestones that can unlock hidden missions.

    ----

    ->The user can choose not to ept the mission.

    *ept *Reject

    ----

    *Punishment if none of the milestones has been achieved after the stipted time (If the user epts the mission).

    ->Minus 120,000 Juju-points

    *The user has toplete at least one milestone before the tournament ends to escape the penalty.

    ----

    *Remarks: Only by imagining, believing, and attempting the impossible can one aplish the impossible.

    Moreover, the word impossible should never appear in the vocabry of any footballer vying for the position of the G.O.A.T.

    ****

    Zachary sighed after looking through the mission notification message. As expected, the rewards for the Europa League milestones were very enticing. Any of the S-graded elixirs could help his rted attributes make a breakthrough to the S-grading. So, he wanted to acquire them.

    However, he also understood that realizing more than two mission milestones would be a tall order even if Rosenborg managed to sign more yers. Even big teams like Arsenal, FC Porto, Ajax, and Manchester United usually found it hard to win the tournament. So, he couldn''t be sure about what stage his team would manage to reach.

    Nheless, he was determined topete by giving his very best in thepetition. So, he decided to click the ept button. Besides, he believed he would achieve the first milestone of ying more than 80% of the matches in the Europa League for Rosenborg. So, he wasn''t afraid he would incur the penalty forpletely failing the mission.

 Chapter 232 - Against Crusaders Football Club

    The following day, the Rosenborg squad traveled to Northern Irnd by ne ¡ª to face Crusaders FC in the opening fixture of the 2013/14 Europa League qualifying round.

    It was Zachary''s first overseas trip as a Rosenborg yer. So, he was eager to test his skills against a team from outside Norway. His heart was already pounding hard and fast with anticipation as the ne touched down on the runway of Belfast International Airport at eleven that Wednesday morning.

    "Rosenborg yers," an airport official said as soon as the Troll Kids stepped out of the ne into the warm summer air of Northern Irnd. "Wee to Belfast. We have already organized transportation to your hotel. Please, follow me. I''ll guide you through the airport."

    "Thank you," Coach Johansen, who was leading the Rosenborg entourage, replied. "Please lead the way."

    The yers followed the airport official through the airport procedures, which, surprisingly, weren''t overlyplicated, in Zachary''s opinion. They practically walked through customs without any need to show passports or identity cards.

    Twenty minutester, they were on a bus to the Belfast Hilton Hotel, weaving through traffic on the wide streets of the magnificent port city of Belfast. Zachary was seated close to the back. Throughout the trip, his eyes had remained fixed on the sights outside the bus window. He was captivated by the artistic charm of the port city.

    It had a distinctly European feel, with balconied buildings overlooking broad avenues and small ces to sit, eat, and rx as folk went about their day. However, traffic wasn''t so boisterous on the streets, giving the city a sense of tranquility absent from most other ces. Zachary was fascinated by it all. He was even considering Belfast as a potential ce to set up a residence when he eventually retired from professional football.

    "You can take a two-hour rest in your respective rooms," Coach Johansen said, his voice loud and clear, as the bus was pulling into the parking lot of the Hilton Belfast Hotel. "We''ll then have lunch at half-past one before heading to the training ground to make some final preparations for the game. So, please don''t oversleep."

    The yersughed at that as the bus came to a halt. However, they wouldn''t dare disobey the coach''s instructions. Without further ado, they exited the bus before quickly checking into the hotel and then heading to their respective rooms to rest.

    Zachary slept for the entirety of the two hours since he''d woken up at 4:30 that morning. He escaped from slumbend to have a light lunch before joining the rest of his teammates on a nearby training ground for the pre-match practice drills.

    The hours passed by quickly, and it was soon six in the evening ¡ª only an hour to the scheduled start of the match. Zachary and his teammates took the bus to Seaview Stadium, the venue for the first leg of their first Europa League qualification fixture against Crusaders.

    "Okay, guys," Coach Johansen said, sweeping a nce across the yers after they''d settled down in the visitor''s dressing room. "We''ll be ying Crusaders Football Club in about thirty minutes. But please do not take our opponents lightly, even though they seem like a small team. I want you all a hundred percent focused from the first minute until you hear the final whistle. y smart football, fulfill your roles perfectly, and don''t make mistakes. If you do that, I''m sure we''ll thrash them like bugs. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied more or less in unison.

    "That''s good," Coach Johansen said, nodding. He then went over the game n one more time before sending the yers to the pitch.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, signaling for the official start of the game at 7:00 PM. It was like he''d just poked a hos'' nest and set its upants upon the yers of Crusaders FC.

    Zachary and his teammates startedunching waves of attacks on the team from Northern Irnd from the very first minute. They arrayed themselves in the 4-3-3 formation to move the ball forward quickly, giving the opponents no time to rx.

    Coach Johansen''s counterattacking strategy was already starting to look pointless even in the early stages of the first half. The match was already turning into a one-sided affair with Rosenborg dictating proceedings. There wasn''t any need or opportunity to counterattack.

    Zachary was once again as brilliant as ever. With his stamina graded as the S- by the system, he was all over the pitch, acting as the perfect ymaker to link defense and attack.

    Thanks to his resourcefulness with the ball, the Troll Kids grew more dangerous with every passing minute. They created their first solid chance at goal in the 19th minute.

    After receiving a pass from Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg left-back, Zachary pushed forward, loming his way past a couple of defenders before pulling the trigger. He unleashed a shot from right outside the box that moved towards the goal like a ballistic missile homing on its target.

    However, Sean O''Neill, the Crusaders'' keeper, was alert. He managed to make a diving save and push the ball away from his goal with out-stretched fingertips. The referee pointed to the corner g right after the ball had sailed past the post by mere centimeters.

    Zachary went against the wishes of his coach and decided to take the corner. By relying on the Bend-it-like-Beckham-Juju, he floated a superb curling ball into the crowded box as soon as the referee blew the whistle.

    Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg left-back, immediately out-jumped the rest of the yers in the box to meet the ball at the edge of the box. He brushed it with the side of his head, altering its path by a slight margin and sending it to the inside of the right post.

    1:0.

    Rosenborg had managed to strike first in an away game through Mikael Dorsin, their assistant captain. A momentary silence seemed to descend upon the Seaview Stadium immediately after ¡ª as Zachary and his teammates celebrated the goal.

    But that wasn''t the end of Rosenborg''s spell of dominance.

    The Rosenborg yers continued dictating the tempo of the game after the goal celebrations. They grew bolder and started attacking more frequently after the Crusaders failed to generate any form of sustained pressure on them. It was all Rosenborg for the next few minutes.

    Zachary continued ying his role perfectly in the midfield. He was always in motion whenever he had the ball, running into spaces or at opponents whenever Rosenborg lost possession. He worked like a tireless madman throughout the match and, as a result, managed to create Rosenborg''s second goal early in the second half.

    In the 61st minute, he managed to win an aerial battle against Jordan Owens, one of the Crusaders'' midfielders, in the middle third. Before the rest of the opponents could react, he unleashed one of his signature defense-splitting through-passes to Borek Dockal, the Rosenborg right forward.

    With that immediate switch from defense to attack, he caught the opponents napping and sent his teammate well on the way towards the goal.

    The Crusaders could not react as Borek Dockal connected with Zachary''s sweet pass on the edge of the box and unleashed an unstoppable curling effort beyond the despairing dive of the keeper.

    But the Rosenborg yers didn''t take the foot off the gas right after scoring the third goal. They continued pushing forward in droves and forced the opponents into a series of desperate situations.

    Consequently, fouls started flying across the pitch with an ever-increasing intensity as the Crusaders grew more frustrated. They soon conceded a series of set-pieces in the final third, gifting Zachary the perfect chance to further seal Rosenborg''s ce in the next Europa League qualifying round.

    With the Dead-Ball Specialist Juju in his skills repertoire, he didn''t disappoint. He sessfully hammered two more nails in the Crusaders'' coffin by converting two set-pieces ¡ª one in the 72nd and another in the 74th minute of gamey. With those, he''d managed to establish the perfect start to his Europa League campaign with a brace.

    **** ****

    ---- ----

    CRUSADERS FC 0 : ROSENBORG 4

    ---- ----

    Coach Johansen couldn''t help but smile after casting a nce at the stadium jumbotron. His team had finally shaped up and started putting up consistent disys even in away matches. He could hardly contain his happiness as he followed proceedings on the field of y.

    "Coach Johansen," his assistant, Trond Henriksen, said from beside him. "Don''t you think we should substitute some of the starters? We need to rest them for the game against Sogndal on Sunday. And, of course, we don''t want them getting injured in the final minutes of this game."

    "You''re right," Coach Johansen replied without taking his eyes off the field of y. "We shouldn''t risk our key yers for a game that we''ve already won. So, go ahead and inform Jonas, Fredrick, and Jon Inge to start warming up. I want them on for Zachary, Borek, and Mikael within a few minutes."

    "That''s a good call," Coach Henriksen replied. "I''ll inform them right away."

    **** ****

    Zachary didn''t feel any displeasure after being taken out of the field of y in the 80th minute. He understood the coach was trying to rest him for the next game three dayster.

    Besides, he had also scored two goals and made a perfect start to his Europa League campaign. He felt like he was walking on clouds and didn''t have any space in his being to feel any irritation. So, with a light heart, he returned to the bench and continued watching the game until it ended 4:0 in favor of Rosenborg.

    **** ****

 Chapter 233 - Plans For The Upcoming Matches

    After spending a night at the luxurious Hilton Belfast Hotel, Zachary and his teammates returned to Trondheim the following morning in a jubnt mood.

    The excitement of crashing Crusaders Football Club in the Europa League qualifying round had not worn off even after a night of celebrating. The yers were all smiles as they exited the bus at the parking lot of Lerkendal Stadium with their luggage in hand.

    "Okay, guys," Coach Johansen hollered out loudly, pping his hands, right after all the yers had exited the bus. "Can I have a bit of your attention before you leave?"

    Zachary and the rest of the Rosenborg yers immediately started moving quickly after hearing his yell. They acted with a practiced urgency, evolved over months of responding to the coach''s instructions. In a few seconds, they''d assembled around him.

    "Wee back home," the coach said, smiling. "But first, let''s congratte ourselves again upon winning the first leg of our first fixture in the Europa League qualifying round. We managed to destroy the Crusaders without giving them a chance to breathe. We''re ROSENBORG! ROSENBORG! ROSENBORG¡­" He ended his little speech with a victory cheer.

    All the yers responded by pping and yelling their versions of victory chants after hearing the coach. They continued singing and dancing for the next few seconds like they were high on alcohol. Each one of them was in a festive mood.

    "Okay, that''s enough," Coach Johansen yelled at the top of his voice, raising his arm to request silence after a while. The yers, of course, obeyed and stopped the cheering.

    "That was some incredible disy you guys put up against the Crusaders in Belfast," the coach began, still smiling. "You were brilliant, precise, and intense while on the attack. Your intensity and drive during that game could rival that of some top teams in Europe. That is why we managed to win the game with four goals to none, even while ying at an away ground. I''m really proud of your performance."

    "But," the coach continued, sweeping a nce across his yers. "We must not rx after winning the game. We now have to put the victory behind us and focus on recovering and preparing for the uing matches."

    "We''ll y Sogndal at home on Sunday evening, just two days from now ¡ª that''s if we''re not counting today. Then we''ll have to wee the Crusaders to Lerkendal for the Europa League return leg next Wednesday. After that, we''ll face Str?msgodset away in Drammen the following Sunday. So, as you can see, we have a very tight schedule for the next few days. That''s why we now need to return our focus to training and start prepping for those three fixtures. You''ve got to remain focused if we are to continue winning. That''s all I''m asking from you. Are you with me, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    The coach nodded and folded his arms across his chest before continuing in a solemn voice. "We''ll only be taking today off to recover from match fatigue. You can go home, or go shopping, or do anything else that helps you rx. But that is only for today. Tomorrow, I expect you here early in the morning for gym work with your fitness coaches. After that, we''ll immediately start the official preparations for the next three games. I expect you to be at your best throughout the entire training session. Otherwise, don''tin when you don''t make the squads for any of the uing matches. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    "Good," Coach Johansen said, nodding. He then touched on a few other issues concerning the training schedule over the next few days before releasing the yers for their day off.

    Zachary immediately got into his R8 GT and steered it out of the stadium''s parking lot, intending to head home and rx for the entire day. But just as he was joining the main street, en route to Stj?rdalsveien, he heard his phone vibrate from the passenger seat beside him.

    But he didn''t dare pick it up since there were strict regtions against mobile phone usage while driving in Norway. Instead, he cast a nce at the rearview mirror before pulling up into a nearby parking space. Without further ado, he grabbed his smartphone from the passenger seat and then nced at the screen.

    He couldn''t help but smile after noticing that he''d just received a text message from Cami. He was excited to hear from her since they''d spent more than a week without meeting.

    ''Hey, honey," he started reading the text message.

    ''Wee back, and congrattions upon your incredible performance in Belfast. My heart was racing when I watched the highlights of your game against the Crusaders. Would you like to go out and celebrate? Today or tomorrow is fine. I''m really looking forward to hugging you, kissing you, and taking a walk with you again. I miss you so much, darling.''

    ''Cami.''

    Zachary''s smile blossomed into a grin as he started preparing a response. He''d long warmed up to her over the two months they''d spent interacting. He really enjoyed herpany.

    ''Hey, Cami," he typed. "Thanks for reaching out. I miss you too. But luckily, I have a day off today. We can go out for lunch or maybe dinner. You can pick a ce and time."

    ''Great," Cami replied almost immediately. ''I''m still at work right now. I''ll get off at 3:00. Let''s meet then and make ns."

    ''Okay, then,'' Zachary replied by text. ''I''ll pick you up from M?ller Bil at around 3:00 PM. See you then.''

    ''Great. Can''t wait to see you. Have a good day.''

    Zachary felt his mood lighten as he ced his phone back on the passenger seat. Cami''s timing was as great as ever. She would only call when he had some free time and never bothered him when he was busy with training. She''d never tried to interrupt his schedule since they''d started spending time together. Zachary liked her for that.

    **** ****

 Chapter 234 - Zacharyâ€™s Decision

    Coach Johansen had decided to put in a few hours of work in his office after sending away his yers. He had a tight schedule with all the Europa League, Tippeligaen, and Norwegian Cup matchesing up in August. He didn''t have the luxury of rxing and resting ¡ª at least not until he''d won some trophies with Rosenborg.

    However, just as he''d entered a deep state of concentration, designing the game n for the match against Sogndal, Mr. Erik Hoftun, the sporting director, burst into his office. The man seemed pretty angry at that moment.

    "Boyd," he said, creasing a brow and holding the coach''s gaze. "What''s this I''m hearing about you initiating the process of signing four unknown and inexperienced yers? Howe I know nothing about these transactions?"

    "Erik, have a seat first," Coach Johansen replied, raising an arm in a cating gesture. "We can discuss slowly after that. Okay?"

    "Hmmm," the sporting director harrumphed at that. But he still settled down in one of the free chairs in front of Coach Johansen''s desk. "I''ll ask again. Howe you''re about to sign four yers from who knows where? We haven''t even assessed them to see if they can fit in Rosenborg, yet, you''ve already negotiated personal terms with them."

    "The chairman gave me the go-ahead to utilize a budget of 4 million Euros to strengthen my squad," Coach Johansen replied, matching the sporting director''s gaze. "That''s what I did. I went ahead and searched for four yers that I''m sure will boost the defensive capabilities of my squad. So, where am I wrong, Mr. Director?"

    "Stop with the sarcasm, Boyd," the sporting director said, also matching the coach''s gaze. "You know very well that you can''t sign the yers without first consulting me. But you''ve gone ahead and offered inexperienced yers promissory estoppels in the name of Rosenborg. What''s wrong with you? What if you find they aren''t as talented as you expected? What then?"

    "They are very talented young yers," Coach Johansen insisted confidently. "I''m sure about that. Just wait and see. You''ll understand what I mean when they start ying for Rosenborg. Moreover, we can refuse to offer them any contracts if they don''t pass the medicals. So, what are you worried about?"

    "You''re that confident," Mr. Erik said, raising a brow. "But have you considered that if you''re wrong, your job will be in jeopardy? You''re about to spend 3.8 million dors on inexperienced yers that might or might not perform. That''s a risky venture that can negate all your achievements with Rosenborg if it doesn''t bear fruit."

    Coach Johansen could only sigh without giving anyments. He was aware that he was treading on thin ice after deciding to make the purchases. Buying a young inexperienced yer was like casting a bet. You never really knew whether it would result in a profit or a loss in the long run. But he was prepared to try since he trusted Zachary''s vision and his own intuition.

    "Who the hell even picked that list of yers?" Mr. Hoftun continued after noticing that Coach Johansen was choosing to remain silent. "Why are you so confident in signing them? Is it Mr. Stein? Why didn''t you consult any other executives before offering them the promissory estoppels?" He was firing questions at a rate of a machine gun while matching the coach''s gaze.

    "Mr. Erik," Coach Johansen said after a short while. His tone had finally turned very solemn. "If you wanted me to buy established and experienced yers, you should have increased my budget to at least 12 million. I''m only working with the money I have ¡ª the same funds that you allocated to me, to the best of my ability. Yet, here you areining! So, what do you want me to do?"

    The sporting director could only sigh on hearing the question. "Boyd," he said, shaking his head. "I know that you''re doing your best for the club. But before you make major decisions, at least consult the legal advisor or me first. Okay?"

    "I understand," Coach Johansen replied, voice softening. "But I needed to offer these four yers a legally binding promise of a contract right away. Otherwise, I would have lost them to some other party. That was why I was quick to act. However, they are very talented. I promise you that."

    "If you say so," Mr. Hoftun said, shaking his head. "One more thing. Did Zachary''s Twitter post, the one about having never thought of leaving Rosenborg, have something to do with you?"

    "Why would you ask me that, Erik?" Coach Johansen countered with his own question. "Zachary is an adult with his own agent. He has his own thoughts about which clubs he would like to y for."

    "But you''ve been his coach from the academy years," the sporting director argued, holding the coach''s gaze. "You do have some sway over his decisions. Don''t you?"

    "Do you really believe that I can convince a yer as talented as him to remain with us if he doesn''t wish to?" Coach Johansen said, shaking his head. "It''s his own decision to stay at the club. And since he has already made it public, you better put a halt to your thoughts of selling him. Otherwise, you''ll antagonize the entire Rosenborg fan base right in the middle of the season."

    "Coach Johansen," Mr. Erik said, letting out a breath. "I hope you know what you''re doing. Have a good day." He stood up quickly and walked out of the office.

    Coach Johansen could only sigh and shake his head after the sporting director''s dramatic departure. He could guess that the rest of the executives were against the signing of the young yers ¡ª perhaps due to the club''s financial situation.

    Nevertheless, he was determined to follow through with the signing, even if he risked antagonizing the whole bunch of them. He preferred winning trophies to making profits or cutting losses as a football manager. He was a coach, not a businessman.

    **** ****

    After returning to his apartment, Zachary immediately feasted on a sumptuous breakfast to sate his hunger ¡ª before going through his morning yoga routine for the next hour. He then cleaned up and settled on a sofa, intending to rx while training in the system''s G.O.A.T Skills Simtor.

    But just then, he recalled he''d made a promise to Kristin the night before Rosenborg''s Europa League match against the Crusaders. Without any more dilly-dallying, he picked up his phone and dialed Mr. Stein''s number.

    "Hello, Zachary," Mr. Stein intoned after picking up the phone almost instantaneously. "How have you been? Is everything okay?"

    "I''m fine, Mr. Stein," Zachary replied. "What about you? How''re you doing?"

    "I''m okay and just enjoying retirement," Mr. Stein replied. "Did you give some thought to my proposal? What is your view on the idea?"

    "Well," Zachary said, trying to organize his thoughts as quickly as possible. "I''ve thought about the idea for quite some time now and also made some consultations. It''s a good idea, yes."

    "But?" Mr. Stein said from the other end of the line as if he could read his mind.

    Zachary sighed on hearing that before continuing. "But I think it''s too early for me to be thinking about establishing an academy. I really don''t want to take my focus away from football, especially during this period when I''m still growing as an athlete."

    "Oh," Mr. Stein said in a rxed tone. "That''s understandable."

    "But I can still consider implementing the idea in like two years," Zachary continued. "That''ll even be better for us since I might have already established myself as a world-ss footballer by then. Don''t you think so, Mr. Stein?"

    "That''s a good way of thinking, Zachary," Mr. Stein replied. "We had to wait until you were ready either way. But don''t forget me when your fame explodes and you be famous all over the world." He added jokingly.

    "That''ll never happen," Zachary said.

    "Okay, that puts my heart at ease," Mr. Stein replied. "Thanks for calling, Zachary. If there''s nothing else, I''ll have to say goodbye since I was in the middle of a meeting."

    "Okay, have a nice day, Mr. Stein," Zachary said.

    "Have a nice day, too," Mr. Stein replied and then ended the call.

    Zachary let out a pent-up breath of air after cing his phone on the table. He always found it hard to say no to people, especially those close to him.

    Nheless, he was d that he''d finallymunicated his decision to Mr. Stein after battling with it for close to two months. He could finally rx and focus on football.

    With a light heart, he activated the G.O.A.T Skills Simtor at the cost of two Juju-points. He practiced his dribbling and shooting skills hundreds of times inside the virtual world created by the system until it was almost time for his date with Cami.

    **** ****

 Chapter 235 - Hanging Out With Camilla I

    Cami Schneider had promised herself she would never fall for another guy ever again. She''d experienced a painful heartbreak at the hands of a dashing Casanova while she was still at the university in Freiburg. He had been perfect in every way ¡ª a true gentleman in the eyes of her naive former self. But that hadn''t stopped him from shattering her heart to pieces, leaving her an emotional wreck.

    From that day, she''d practically developed a phobia for rtionships. She was all for the fun part without any of the earnest stuff. But over the past weeks, she''d found herself growing more and more attached to Zachary, although he was like six years her junior. He was like a storm sweeping her off the ground. She could hardly resist.

    When they''d first met, she''d initially been captivated by his imposing and manly physique that could rival that of any male model out there. At that time, she''d only wanted to have fun with him without getting into anything serious. However, the more time she spent with him, the more she liked him.

    She found him attractive and ever so considerate, from the depth of his eyes to the gentle expressions of his voice. He was caring from his generouspliments, though rare, to the tender touch of his hand upon her own ¡ª whenever they were intimate. Moreover, he was a very talented footballer who was rising fast in the ranks. She was finding it more and more difficult to resist his grace and charm.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    The sound of her phone vibrating broke her out of her reverie. Her face couldn''t help but bloom into a beautiful smile when she nced at the screen. Without hesitation, she epted the call.

    "Hello dear," she spoke into the phone after cing it next to her ear.

    "Hello, Cami," she heard Zachary reply from the other end of the line. She couldn''t help but frown, wondering why he always called her by name and never by honey, dear, or any other nicknames. That wasn''t a good sign.

    "How are you?" Zachary continued almost without a pause.

    "I''m fine," Cami replied, her spirits brightening once again. "Just missing you. I''m waiting."

    "Oh," Zachary said after a slight pause. "I miss you too. I''m on my way to M?ller Bil right now. Let''s meet outside¡ªin the parking lot, in about 15 minutes? Are you ready to move?"

    "Yes," Cami was quick to reply. "I''ll wait for you there. See you in a bit."

    "See you," Zachary replied before ending the call. It seemed he was driving since she could hear the sound of engines roaring in the background. She guessed he would be arriving very soon.

    So, she quickly shut down herputer, organized her office desk, and said goodbye to her workmates. She then rushed to the washrooms, where she touched up her lips in the bathroom mirror and made sure there was nothing amiss with her appearance. A short whileter, she was in the parking lot awaiting Zachary''s arrival.

    "You look nice," Zachary said with a smile when he arrived a few minutester.

    "Thank you," she replied, feeling her heart begin to race. "Too bad I can''t say the same for you." She added jokingly, hooking her arm with his.

    He was, of course, tall and imposing and exotic ¡ª all things she relished about him. However, he was wearing a tracksuit, a jumper with a hoodie, and running sneakers ¡ª which was about as dressed up as he ever got whenever they were together.

    "Why is it that you only wear tracksuits whenever we''re together?" She pressed on before Zachary could respond.

    "I find themfortable," Zachary replied, scratching at his chin. "Are you saying I don''t look good in tracksuits?"

    "That''s not it," Cami replied hurriedly, shaking her head. "I''m sure you would look nice even if you''re just in a pair of boxers or even rags. But I''m just wondering why you never try to dress up in anything else aside from tracksuits."

    "Oh," Zachary said, scratching at his chin. He often did that whenever he was at a loss for words or didn''t want toment on an issue.

    "Let''s go shopping," Cami heard herself say. "Let''s go shopping," she repeated, inclining her head to nce at him.

    "You want to go shopping?" Zachary queried, raising a brow. "Don''t you want us to go for dinner?"

    "Of course, I still wish to have dinner with you," Cami replied, shing him a smile. "But since it''s still quite early, we can squeeze in a shopping trip, maybe at City Syd, and still have time for dinnerter. I''ll help you pick out a few articles of clothing, and it won''t take us long. And one more thing. I''m the one sponsoring the shopping trip."

    "Oh," Zachary said, his eyes widening as he inclined his head to nce down at her face. "You want to buy me some clothes?" He asked, pointing at himself. He seemed genuinely surprised.

    "Is it so shocking that I want to buy you something?" Cami said, pouting. "You can simply take it as a girl buying a present for the guy he likes. It''s as simple as that."

    "Oh," Zachary said, caressing his beard and seeming defeated by the statement.

    Cami couldn''t help but chuckle at his reaction. It was priceless. It seemed like he was searching for the right words for the situation.

    "Why are youughing?" Zachary asked, cocking his head to look into her eyes.

    "I''m just happy, Zachary," she replied, holding his gaze. "I''m happy to be in yourpany. So, can we first head to City Syd to do some shopping? Don''t worry. We''ll be lightning-fast¡ªfaster than a Rosenborg counterattack."

    He chuckled at that. "How can I say no to some free designer clothes? Let''s go." He led her to his R8 GT parked a short distance away.

    Half an hourter, they were walking into a big clothing store in City Syd. Cami wasted no time picking a few designer jeans, t-shirts, caps, and sneakers for Zachary. She insisted on him trying them on first so that the two of them could assess whether they looked good on him. Naturally, she also wanted to get to admire him in designer clothes.

    Zachary epted begrudgingly and tried on a few outfits. God! He looked even more dashing in jeans and t-shirts. With his 6''4 physique, he could practically work as a model for any famous clothing brand.

    "I can now say that you really look nice," Camimented after he''d tried on the fourth set of clothing. "You should wear jeans more often. They suit you better."

    "Thank you." Zacharyughed, admiring himself in the mirror. "So, Miss Sponsor," he said with a bit of humor, turning towards her. "Are we going to purchase all these? Isn''t it a bit much?" He pointed at the heap of clothes on the cashier''s desk.

    "Why are you worried?" Cami asked, pouting. "I''m the one buying this time around. Have you seen meining when you take me out for expensive dinners?"

    "Oh, then thanks, I guess," he said, smiling at her.

    "You''re wee." Cami returned his smile. "You look good in those clothes. They are much better than your tracksuits. Let me pay, and we can then go for dinner."

    She went ahead and swiped her card at the cashier''s, spending slightly over 120,000 NOK on the clothes and shoes. But she didn''t flinch since that amount of money wasn''t an issue for her. Instead, she relished the feeling of finally having done something for Zachary. As an aplished woman, she didn''t like the feeling of being pampered by him without giving anything substantial in return.

    ''Maybe, he''ll think of me whenever he wears those clothes,'' she thought as she turned around after making the payment. ''It''s a good investment.''

    **** ****

 Chapter 236 - Hanging Out With Camilla II

    Zachary kept stealing nces at Cami as he was arranging the shopping bags in the boot of his R8 GT. He was used to always being the sponsor in all the rtionships of his past life. It had, thus,e as a shock to him that Cami was willing to spend over 120,000 NOK on him. She sure was strange.

    ''Do I really look shabby in my tracksuits?'' He wondered whether that was what hadpelled her to purchase the clothes for him. He stole a few more nces at Cami as he continued cing the bags in the boot.

    "Is there something on my face?" Cami asked after noticing his weird behavior.

    "I''m just admiring your beauty," Zachary said, sighing and closing the boot. He''d finally finished arranging all the shopping bags in the vehicle. "Am I not allowed to do that?"

    Cami chuckled, stepping towards him. "Let''s go for dinner," she said, giving him a peck on the cheek. "After that, you can admire me all you want." She said in a sensual voice that tickled at Zachary''s senses before stepping back.

    Zachary could only let loose a deep sigh as he admired her from his vantage point at arm''s reach. The corners of her full lips had just curled up into a megawatt, no a gigawatt of a smile that entuated her beauty under the rays of the setting sun. In her flowing cashmere summer dress, which matched the green in her eyes, she looked otherworldly. Zachary was starting to believe she was the most astonishing girl he had ever met in both his lives.

    "Let''s head to dinner," he said after a short while, letting out a breath. He then opened the passenger door of the R8 GT for her. He''d decided to put all the etiquette he''d learned watching James Bond movies into practice.

    Cami chuckled, beaming. "Thank you," she said as she stepped into the vehicle with grace.

    But just then, Zachary''s sharp ears seemed to pick up the snapping sound of a camera shutter. He quickly looked around, frowning. But he didn''t see anyone with a camera nearby. All the people in the City Syd parking lot were busy doing their own things. They weren''t giving him any second nces since a good fraction of his face was covered by the visor of his cap. He concluded that his ears had heard wrong, and he was worrying over nothing.

    "Is anything the matter?" Cami asked from the front seat of the R8 GT.

    "It''s probably nothing," Zachary replied, taking one final nce around. "Let''s go have dinner." He got into the driver''s seat and steered the vehicle out of the parking lot.

    **** ****

    An hourter, the two of them were already seated in the cozy restaurant of the Scandic Nidelven Hotel, enjoying a sumptuous French dinner.

    Cami was having a wonderful time listening to Zachary''s narration of Rosenborg''s match in Belfast ¡ª while asionally admiring the reflection of the moon on the waters of the Nidelven River through the window. The food was delicious, the ambiance of the ce exquisite, and thepany the best she''d had in a long time. It was a perfect evening, and she hoped it could end even better.

    "So, I''ve always wanted to ask but never gotten the perfect opportunity," she heard Zachary say, his voice wavering.

    "Go on and ask," Cami said, shing him an encouraging smile.

    "Where exactly are you from?" He asked, looking up at her face. "Is it Russia?"

    "Oh my, God, no," Cami replied, suppressing a chuckle. She was d Zachary had finally started asking her some more personal questions. "What gave you the impression that I''m from Russia?"

    "Your ent. It''s unique."

    "I get that often," Cami said, sighing. "But I''m not Russian. My mother tongue is not even Russian but the Czechnguage. It''s quite different from Russian."

    "Oh," Zachary said after sipping on his juice. "So, you''re from the Czech Republic then?"

    "Yes and no," she replied, ncing at him from across the table. "My mom is from Prague. So, I spent my early years there with her. That''s the reason for my ent. But Iter moved to Germany to live with my dad during my teenage years. So, I''m both a citizen of Germany and the Czech Republic."

    "Oh," Zachary said, smiling. "I really believed you were Russian. But then, that still leaves the mystery; howe you''re working here in Norway now?"

    "That''s because Audi posted me here in Norway," she replied matter-of-factly. "I''ve actually been in Trondheim for only about a year and a half. Is there anything else that you would like to know about me? Just go ahead and ask." She gave him an encouraging smile.

    Zachary then went ahead and asked her about her career. She replied honestly, telling him she had previously worked as a model while still in school, long before joining the marketing team of Audi. She exined why she''d abandoned her modeling career, citing the pressure from her family.

    The minutes passed by quickly since she was doing the narrating, and soon it was time to head home. Zachary, of course, covered the bill, and a few minutester, they were well on their way to Cami''s apartment in Lade.

    "Thanks for the wonderful time, Zachary," she said after he''d pulled up in the parking space in front of her apartment building. "I really enjoyed the evening."

    "I''m d you enjoyed it," Zachary replied, smiling at her.

    "Do you want toe up and have a coffee?" She said, inclining her head and looking into his eyes. "It''s not yet even eight in the night. So, we still have a lot of time on our hands."

    "Oh, okay," he said, nodding solemnly and stepping out of the car. "Let''s go up and have that coffee."

    "Great."

    But they ended up having a different version of coffee.

    As soon as they''d stepped through the entrance of her apartment, Zachary grabbed her and started kissing her. The next instant, they were falling all over each other, knocking over the furniture in her living room. A few minutester, Cami found herself drowning in an endless, gratifying tunnel of ecstasy. She was without a care for the world as they explored each other''s limits until shey limp in his arms.

    **** ****

 Chapter 237 - Receiving The July Player Of The Month Accolade

    Zachary left Cami''s ce the following morning, feeling refreshed and charged with boundless energy. He felt like he''d just returned from another vacation. So, he didn''t waste time immersing himself back into an intensive practice routine to prepare for the game against Sogndal.

    For the next few days, he focused solely on training and forgot all other distractions and pastimes. As a supplement to the official team sessions, he continued jogging five kilometers in the morning and refining his shooting in the evening. He also didn''t forget to practice within the system simtor''s virtual world to hone his dribbling and set-piece skills. He was the living definition of an exercise maniac ¡ª to the point that some of the coaches expressed worry about his schedule.

    "Zachary," Coach Henriksen called out to him as he was practicing his set-piece technique on the Saturday evening before the match against Sogndal. "I think you''ve already practiced enough. You should go home and rest so that you can be at your best during tomorrow''s game. You''ll burn yourself out if you don''t take rest seriously."

    "Don''t worry, coach," he replied, dispatching another curling free-kick over the training mannequins ¡ª towards the empty goal. "I only need to shoot ten more balls to finish my practice for the day. So, I''ll be resting very soon." He added, smiling and nodding to himself after the ball had homed into the back of the.

    He was obviously not worried that he would burn himself out because of the simple free-kick training. He''d already consumed a weekly dosage of a B-graded physical conditioning elixir. So, he was brimming with what seemed like an endless amount of energy at that moment. Besides, his stamina and endurance had already made breakthroughs to the S- grading. He was sure he could handle a few extra hours of training each day.

    **** ****

    Coach Henriksen, the assistant head coach of Rosenborg, could only sigh and shake his head after hearing Zachary''s response. The young Maestro was talented and highly motivated for sure. But he also had a weakness of immersing himself in training and forgetting about his resting schedule. Out of the entire squad, he spent the most time on the ying ground, practicing simple routines over and over again for hours.

    That evening was no different.

    Coach Johansen had conducted the pre-match tactical meeting earlier that day to give the yers plenty of time to rest before the match the following evening. However, Zachary had gone ahead and utilized that time for free kick practice. He seemed to have even forgotten he was part of the starting line for the uing game that was only hours away.

    Coach Henriksen was worried Rosenborg''s best yer would injure himself if he didn''t tone down his training. So, he decided to bring up the issue to the head coach when they''d just concluded a nning meeting the following morning.

    "Let him be," Coach Johansen replied after hearing him out. "I''ve observed Zachary from his academy days, and I''m sure that he has got an almost total awareness of the functioning of his body. So, if he''s putting in a few more hours of free-kick training, it means he can handle it. So, don''t worry too much about him."

    "Oh," Coach Henriksen said, sighing. He''d done his part and informed the coach of a potential problem. If he didn''t want to address it, there was nothing that he could do.

    "Zachary''s issue aside," he continued before the coach could rush off back to his office. "There are three promising young yers on the under-19 squad. We should assess them to see if they are ready to join the senior team."

    That stopped the head coach in his tracks. "Who are they?" he asked, turning around to give Coach Henriksen his full attention once again.

    "One is an African called Kasongo Paul," Coach Henriksen replied right away. "The other two are brothers from Sweden. They go by the names of Paul and Kendrick Otterson."

    "Oh," Coach Johansen said, smiling. "Those are Zachary''s friends. But they were not as hard-working and talented as he was during their academy days. Have they finally shaped up into skilled yers after joining the under-19 team?"

    The corners of Coach Henriksen''s mouth could not help but twitch slightly on hearing the head coach''s remarks. He wondered how the coach couldpare any other young yer with a monster such as Zachary. That was pure madness for sure.

    "The three of them have been phenomenal over the past few months," he said with a smile after a moment. "Kasongo possesses great pace on the nks and will mature into a very talented winger in the near future. He has scored four goals and made six assists since his debut for the under-19 team."

    "Kendrick Otterson, the goalkeeper, managed to seal his position as the starting goalkeeper for the under-19s right after his debut," he continued without giving Coach Johansen a chance to interject. "He has incredible reflexes that make him very exceptional in goal. You need to see him for yourself in action to understand what I mean."

    "Paul Otterson seems to be the least talented of the three on paper. But after watching a few of his performances, I discovered something delightful. He has a great sense of positioning, especially in the box. He''s a natural number-9. He gives me simr vibes to those of a yer like Ruud Van Nistelrooy on the pitch. He''s a bitid back, yes, but he''s a phenomenal finisher."

    "Oh, that''s great news," Coach Johansen said, his face morphing into a smile. "Let''s do it like this. You can go ahead and continue assessing their performances over the course of this month. If they maintain their form throughout the entire month, I''ll give them a chance to train with the first team."

    "That''s a good call," Coach Henriksen said, nodding and grinning. "I''ll go ahead and inform the under-19 coach to give them plenty of opportunities during this month."

    "Good."

    "There is one more thing, Coach Johansen," Coach Henriksen continued. "How far with the acquisition of new defenders? Are you making any progress in the transfer market?"

    "Yes, there''s some considerable progress," Coach Johansen said, grinning. "Four talented young yers will be joining our ranks very soon. I can''t be sure exactly when, but they''ve promised to arrive in Trondheim by the third week of August. So, we can finally say goodbye to our defensive struggles."

    "Oh," Coach Henriksen said, eyes widening. "Those are some lightning-fast transfer deals. Are the yers really talented?"

    Coach Johansen smiled. "From what I have seen, they''ll surely boost our defensive capabilities in a short while. I''ve got no doubt about their skills and talents."

    "Then that''s some good news," Coach Henriksen said, nodding. "I''m d you managed to find them. That puts my heart at ease."

    "Okay, if there''s nothing else, I''ll have to head back to the office and do some work," Coach Johansen said. "In the meantime, you can take charge and make sure everything is in order for the match against Sogndal today evening."

    "Don''t worry, and just focus on your work," Coach Henriksen replied with a smile. "I''ll ensure that everything is in order as soon as possible."

    **** ****

    That very Sunday evening at six, Zachary and his teammates weed Sogndal Idrettg at Lerkendal for the 18th match of the Tippeligaen season.

    Zachary was surprised by the passion of the fans as he walked out of the tunnel onto the pitch. They were already going crazy and singing popr Rosenborg victory chants even before themencement of the game. He couldn''t help but feel sorry for his opponents, the Sogndal yers, who had to y under such a hostile atmosphere.

    "Please give a round of apuse for Zachary Bemba, the best yer for the month of July," thementator announced right after the teams had finished exchanging handshakes in the middle of the pitch. "He will be receiving his bronze statuette from the Norsk Toppfotball officials before the kick-off today."

    "Zachary, *p*p*, Zachary, *p*p*, Zachary, *p*p..."

    The fans became even more animated after hearing the announcement. They chanted Zachary''s name at the top of their lungs and pped their hands rhythmically like there was no tomorrow. For the next minute, it was sheer madness in the stands upied by the Rosenborg supporters.

    Zachary was intoxicated with joy when he took in their cheers. Even in the center of the ying field, he could feel their passion and intensity as they chanted his name. So, he waved at them before slowly making his way to the sidelines to receive his award.

    "Congrattions upon your amazing July performance," an aged man that Zachary couldn''t recognize said after handing him the yer of the month bronze statuette. "Keep up the good work, and you''ll soon rise to great heights." The man patted his back.

    "Thank you," Zachary replied, receiving the prize. He posed with the aged man and the bronze statuette for a few photographs. Without wasting a second, he handed his award to one of the coaching assistants for safekeeping before jogging back to his attacking midfield position on the pitch.

    "Congrattions, Zachary," Nicki Nielsen said after walking up to his position right outside the center circle in Rosenborg''s half. "You deserve the award as you were beyond incredible during July."

    "Thank you,'' Zachary responded with a smile.

    "But you know one thing, Zachary," Nicki said, grinning like a rogue.

    "Yes," Zachary replied, raising a brow.

    "They say that every yer who receives a best of something award will have a below-par performance immediately after," Nicki continued with a bit of humor. "That''s unless the athlete first moves around his home team''s ground dancing with his award. So, you better do the same ¡ª if you don''t wish to lose your form during today''s game."

    "Go away and don''t jinx my game," Zachary said, raising his leg as if he wanted to kick the Rosenborg number-9.

    Nickiughed, jumping away from Zachary. "Don''t say that I didn''t warn you," he said, still grinning and stepping further away. "I''m only looking out for you, man."

    "Just return to your position and leave me alone, man," Zachary said, shaking his head. "Those superstitions don''t work on me. I''m sure I''ll y like usual."

 Chapter 238 - Against Sogndal Idrettslag

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle at exactly 6:00 PM. The Tippeligaen match between Rosenborg Ballklub and Sogndal Idrettgmenced immediately.

    ??

    Coach Johansen was pleased with the performance of his yers right from the very first minute. They seemed to still be on form and began the game strongly byunching a series of deadly attacks.

    They quickly grew into the game and rendered the Sogndal yers helpless with brilliant wing y and lightning-fast counterattacks. As a Result, Rosenborg''s first solid chance to score came very early in the first half.

    In the fifth minute, Stefan Strandberg, the Rosenborg center back, made a mistake while passing the ball to the keeper. He misced his backpass, which resulted in a Sogndal corner. Luckily, it came to nothing, and on the break, Zachary found Mikael Dorsin via Nicki Nielsen on the opposite wing. The Rosenborg signature counter was on.

    The cheering in Lerkendal rose to a thunderous crescendo.

    Sogndal''s defense tried to press Mikael Dorsin on the left nk but paid dearly. Mikael managed to find Nicki Nielsen at the far post with a low teasing cross that left the keeper helpless.

    Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s number-9, didn''t disappoint. He volleyed the ball low into the, leaving Erik Dahlin, the Sogndal goalkeeper, stranded.

    "GOOAAAAL...."

    In Rosenborg''s technical area, Coach Johansen shouted at the top of his voice. His spirits were flying high. His yers had managed to make another incredible start, scoring in just the 9th minute. Nicki was already en route to the corner g to celebrate. But the next moment¡ª

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    He heard the referee blow the whistle, and then the cheering started dying down. It was as if a sinister force had slowly washed across the stands of Lerkendal Stadium, snuffing out the passionate voices of the Rosenborg fans.

    Coach Johansen looked around, confused. "What happened?" he mumbled, finally ncing towards the linesman to ascertain the cause of the confusion. His eyes widened the next instant as he finally registered the fact that the linesman''s g was up.

    "What the f*ck? Offside?" He roared the next moment, cing his hands at the back of his head. His face had already morphed into a frown so foreboding. It could even have worked well as a Halloween costume. "How is that an offside? Clearly, Nicki was still onside when Mikael was releasing the ball. How can that be an offside?"

    He was momentarily disconcerted. He ran to the fourth official to protest and rectify what he thought was a crystal-clear refereeing mistake. But, the fourth official just waved away hisints and sent him back to the technical area like he was a nuisance.

    For several seconds, Coach Johansen could practically feel rage pulsing through his veins. He was sure the referees had made an incorrect decision in denying his team a goal. But, since he was an experienced coach, he managed to suppress his anger and continue watching the game after a few more minutes.

    However, the progress of the game over the next thirty minutes did little to improve his mood. It was like the referee''s decision to deny Nicki''s effort had jinxed the game for the Troll Kids.

    The Rosenborg yers continued pushing forward in droves,unching non-stop attacks on the opponents. Be that as it may, the Sogndal yers remained unwavering in their defense and kept Rosenborg at bay for the entire first half. They''d even double-teamed Zachary and managed to reduce his impact on the field of y.

    The score was still 0:0 as the yers headed to the dressing room for halftime.

    "Guys, can I have your attention," Coach Johansen yelled as soon as his yers finished settling down in the dressing room. "Let''s get on with this since we have limited time."

    The yers responded quickly, taking their seats around the dressing room while chugging down some water. Coach Johansen could tell that their morale was low. He went ahead and gave them a ten-minute pep-talk to lift their spirits before touching on the game n once again and sending them off to the field of y.

    But, even after the halftime pep talk, the score remained deadlocked at 0:0 as the game progressed to the final minutes of the second half. Rosenborg''s yers continued to put up an incredible disy, sustaining the pressure on their opponents throughout the second half. They attacked with an intensity that kept all the fans and the coaching staff on tenterhooks.

    It always seemed Rosenborg was close to scoring the opening and winning goal. However, it never materialized. The ball smashed off the post countless times, giving rise to a chorus of collective sighs from the stands of Lerkendal Stadion. At other times, the keeper made incredible saves, causing the Rosenborg yers more frustration.

    Coach Johansen was at a loss of what to do as the game entered extra time. He couldn''t me the score sheet on the yers since they''d dictated the tempo from the very start. They''d done their best ande close to scoring several times. But it seemed luck wasn''t on their side that evening.

    **** ****

    "For the first time like in like forever, Rosenborg has failed to obtain maximum points from a Tippeligaen fixture," Kasongo and the Ottersons heard the TV2 sports presenter announce. They''d just switched on their television right after returning home from ate practice with the under-19 team.

    "Rosenborg has failed to defeat Sogndal!" Paul Otterson, Zachary''s former teammate in the academy, eximed, casting his gaze on the screen. "How could that happen?"

    "Shhhh!" The other two silenced him with a wave of their hands. Their gazes were also on the television screen.

    "Not even the likes of Zachary and Nicki Nielsen managed to prate Sogndal''s defense in today''s game," the presenter continued, his voice loud and clear through the television speakers. "This is a shocking result that has brought Rosenborg''s prolonged winning streak to a halt."

    "Moreover, after this draw, the point gap between the Tippeligaen table''s first and second has reduced from eight to six points. Rosenborg has taken their tally to 44 points and is still the table leader. On the other hand, Str?msgodset has 38 points after winning the game against Sarpsborg-08 earlier today. If Str?msgodset can win against Rosenborg next Sunday, they''ll lessen the gap to only three points."

    "What is your take on the table, Kjell?" The presenter asked, turning towards one of the pundits in the studio. "Do you think Str?msgodset can cut down the point difference further and put some pressure on Rosenborg?"

    "That can indeed happen," Kjell Roar answered. "Rosenborg has a busy schedule in these final few months of the season. For instance, they have to y Crusaders in the Europa League qualifying round on Wednesday before facing off against Str?msgodset away the following Sunday. Justst Wednesday, they were ying away in Northern Irnd. These consecutive matches are likely to cause the performance of their yers to go down a notch as fatigue levels start building up. So, I''m making the bold prediction that Rosenborg will lose points again very soon."

    "Oh, thank you for your analysis, Kjell," the presenter said, smiling. "But before we dive into the analysis of the game," the presenter continued. "Let''s first take you back to Lerkendal Stadium, where our reporter, v Brusveen, is about to interview Boyd Johansen, the head coach of Rosenborg. Stay tuned."

    The next moment, the studio image disappeared from the television screen. Within an instant, the frowning face of Coach Johansen, with his signature red beard, popted the entire screen.

    "Good evening, coach," the reporter said, holding up a microphone to Coach Johansen. "Could you tell us your assessment of the game? I''m sure all the supporters were expecting anothermanding Rosenborg performance in today''s match. But your yers only managed a draw. What happened?"

    "Well," Coach Johansen replied with a sigh. "It''s football, and anything can happen on the pitch. Sometimes it''s up to luck. Other times, it''s up to the referees to influence the result. What a team can do is to go on the field of y and do their best. They can only leave the end result to a higher power or the referees, in some instances. And I''m proud of my yers for doing just that. They dictated the tempo from the very first minute and created several chances at goal. They were clearly the better team on the ying field, despite not getting that winning goal."

    "Do you think that the draw could have resulted from fatigue building up among the yers?"

    "Did you watch the match?" Coach Johansen countered with his own question, frowning slightly.

    "Yes," the reporter replied.

    "Then tell me," the coach said, tone demanding. "Did those Rosenborg yers look fatigued to you on the ying field?"

    "No, coach," the reporter replied.

    "Then why are you asking me this question?" The coach said, seemingly displeased. "You shouldn''t make baseless conclusions. Rosenborg has the most versatile squad in the whole Tippeligaen. Because of that, we can easily make rotations and keep the squad fresh and energetic throughout the entire season. So, fatigue is not a word in our vocabry."

    "Okay, thank you, coach, for taking the time to answer our questions," the reporter said. "We wish you good luck in the uing fixtures."

    Coach Johansen''s image then disappeared from the screen and was reced by a close-up of the TV2 Studio.

    "Kjell, I think that you are wrong this time," the TV2 sports presenter said with a smile. "Coach Johansen has made it clear that the word fatigue does not exist in the Rosenborg vocabry. So, can you please withdraw your opinion and stop misleading our viewers."

    "Well," Kjell Roar, the pundit, said, smiling. "I do hope that our good coach is sure about what he''s talking about this time. And I''m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt if he can beat the Crusaders during mid-week and Str?msgodset next Sunday. If he can do that, I''ll withdraw my prediction on-air and apologize to him. But for now, I still believe that my conjecture is the most likely reason for Rosenborg''s below-par performance in today''s fixture."

    ****

    "Do you guys think Rosenborg is in trouble?" Kendrick Otterson asked the other two after turning down the volume of the television.

    "Nah," Kasongo replied, tone confident. "They''ve got Zachary on the squad. So there isn''t a need to worry. He will manage to find a way to help Rosenborg win a lot more often.

    **** ****

 Chapter 239 - Once Again Against Str?msgodset

    Coach Johansen decided to bench his star yers for the Europa League return leg fixture against the Crusaders Football Club the following Wednesday. Zachary Bemba, Nicki Nielsen, Mikael Dorsin, Tobias Mikkelsen, Tore Reginiussen, and Borek Dockal watched the game from the sidelines. But, the Troll Kids still managed to put up an outstanding defense-minded performance to beat Crusaders 1:0 despite the absence of most of their regr first-team yers. Peter Ankersen, a right-back usually on the bench, scored the only goal for the Troll Kids, sending them into the next stage of the Europa League qualifying round.

    Coach Johansen was in a good mood since the win cast away the shadow of the weekend''s goalless-draw against Sogndal. It practically reignited the spirits of the Rosenborg yers. So they headed into the Sunday Tippeligaen fixture against Str?msgodset with boundless momentum. They were eager to thrash the team from Drammen again and extend their lead at the top of the table to nine points.

    ??

    **** ****

    "Oh, my goodness me!" Erik Bailly eximed, his gaze roaming across the passionate fans around the stands of the Marienlyst Stadion in Drammen. "What an electrifying atmosphere! These Rosenborg fans are incredible. They can manage to be this energetic even when their team is ying away!"

    "That''s a given," his agent replied, smiling and also looking around. "Rosenborg has dominated Norwegian football for a very long time. So, it has quite a number of passionate fans spread all over the country. Moreover, this is a match between the first and second on the table. That could have also added to the excitement."

    "Oh!" Erik Bailly said, smiling and nodding. "It would be exciting to y for Rosenborg if the fans are always this passionate."

    The young Ivorian center-back had just arrived in Trondheim a day before for a medical. That was after agreeing on personal terms with the Rosenborg representatives. But he''d decided to travel to Drammen and watch a live Rosenborg game first ¨C to ascertain whether he was making the correct decision. His heart wouldn''t rest easy until he''d witnessed Zachary''s prowess with his own eyes.

    "Hello there," he heard a voice calling out to him just as he was about to take his seat beside his agent. He turned around and was surprised to find a familiar face standing just behind him.

    "You''re Thomas, Thomas Partey?" He probed without masking his astonishment. He''d, of course, already met the young Ghanaian defensive midfielder when his team, Espanyol B, had faced off against Atl¨¦tico Madrid B the previous season. But he was just perplexed to see him at the Marienlyst Stadion in Drammen, Norway.

    "That''s me," Thomas replied, grinning and extending his hand. "It''s nice to meet you again, Erik. How have you been?"

    "I''m fine," Erik replied, also grinning and taking the hand for a firm handshake. "But what are you doing here? Aren''t you supposed to be training with the

    Atl¨¦tico Madrid B side to prepare for the Segunda Divisi¨®n B season opener?"

    "I could ask you the same thing," Thomas said as he settled in a seat right beside him. "Aren''t you supposed to be in Barcelona, training with the Espanyol B side? What are you doing here in Norway?"

    Erik Bailly couldn''t help but grin on hearing the Ghanaian defensive midfielder counter with his own question. For a brief moment, he held Thomas'' gaze, and the two of them smiled as they seemed toe to a sort of understanding.

    "So, did you watch the videos too?" Erik queried after a short while, also settling down in his seat.

    "Yes, I did," Thomas was quick to reply. "In this generation of ours, I have only seen two yers before who could y like that when they were still eighteen years old. That guy is surely a monster. I decided to join Rosenborg right after watching him y."

    "Oh," Erik said, his eyes widening with surprise. "So, have you already signed for Rosenborg?"

    "Yes, of course," Thomas replied matter-of-factly. "I signed the contract on Friday afternoon. I''m already searching for an apartment in Trondheim."

    "Eehh," Erik said, giving the Ghanaian defensive midfielder a sideways nce. "You''re quite decisive."

    "Why would I dilly-dally after being offered a chance to be on the same team with such a monster?" Thomas countered with a question of his own once again. "So, I take it that you haven''t signed for Rosenborg yet?"

    "That''s right," Erik replied, sighing. "I wanted to watch today''s game first before taking the medical tomorrow. But seeing you here came as a great shock to me. By the way, this man here is Graziano Battistini, my agent." He added, patting the shoulder of the suited man on his left.

    "Oh," Thomas said, inclining his head to observe the man in a suit. "I''m Thomas Partey. Nice to meet you, sir." He extended his hand over Erik''s legs.

    "Nice to meet you too, young man," the agent replied with a smile, taking the hand. "I''m d to make your acquaintance..."

    But before he could continue the conversation, a thunderous cheer rose from the stands around them, drowning out all the other sounds in the stadium. At longst, the yers were matching into the pitch. The three of them could only halt their discussion since the game''s opening ceremony was about tomence.

    **** ****

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle at exactly 6:00 PM to signal the start of the game between Str?msgodset IF and Rosenborg BK. Without any dilly-dallying,  Kamara, the Str?msgodset center-forward, kicked the ball back into his midfield as the cheers around the Marienlyst Stadion rose to a thunderous crescendo.

    Both teams were highly motivated since they were vying to be Tippeligaen champions that season. The Rosenborg yers wanted to cement their position at the top of the Tippeligaen table by taking their tally to 47 points. On the other hand, Str?msgodset hoped to win the game and cut down the point difference between themselves and Rosenborg to only three points. Thus, the energy levels on the pitch were incredible. Both teams struggled to dictate the tempo early in the first half.

    Zachary had rested the entire week since he hadn''t participated in the mid-week game against Crusaders Football Club. He was brimming with energy and was all over the pitch, ying the role of a ymaker to link defense and attack. He even managed to initiate Rosenborg''s first chance at goal in the 12th minute.

    After receiving a lofted pass from Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg left-back, he skipped past a sliding tackle from Abdism Ibrahim, the Str?msgodset right midfielder, managing to create a yard of space for himself in central midfield. He immediately dashed across the middle third like the wind, loming his way past two more opponents.

    Before any more opponents could close him down, he unleashed one of his signature through-passes into space ¡ª just behind the Str?msgodset defensive line. With that well-timed ball, he managed to send Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg number-9, on a straight course towards the goal.

    Nicki Nielsen connected with Zachary''s sweet pass just at the edge of the box. Without any dilly-dallying, he stepped into the box before looping Adam Kwarasey, the Str?msgodset keeper, to send the ball towards the back of the.

    However, before the ball could cross the goal line, Lars Christopher Vilsvik, the Str?msgodset right-back, came sliding in to send the ball out of y. A collective sigh rose from the stands upied by the Rosenborg fans as the referee pointed to the corner g.

    In the 13th minute, Rosenborg had missed a clear chance to take the lead in the highly contested game between the first and second on the Tippeligaen table.

    **** ****

    "I already told you to mark both Zachary and Nicki throughout the entire game," Ronny De, the Str?msgodset head coach, roared from the sidelines. He was still anxious even though the ball had gone out for a Rosenborg corner kick.

    "Why aren''t you guys following my instructions and doing the needful? Concentrate. Don''t allow any of them even an inch of space when we aren''t on the ball."

    "Abdism and Nana," the Str?msgodset coach continued yelling. "You two should double team Zachary whenever we lose possession. Make sure he doesn''t release those passes of his behind our defensive line. And stop him from making any runs through the midfield..."

    He kept on shouting as he paced the length of the technical area to make sure his yers were in shape before the rmencement of the game.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally blew the whistle and signaled for Rosenborg to take the corner after organizing the yers in the box.

    Coach Ronny De could feel his heart hammering hard with anxiety as he watched Mikael Dorsin float a teasing ball into the crowded box. His muscles grew even tenser as he watched Tore Reginiussen, the Rosenborg captain, outjump the rest of the yers in the box to connect with the corner ball. The coach really thought that Rosenborg was about to score and take the lead early in the first half. But the next moment¡ª

    "BANG!"

    The ball smashed off the right post before bouncing back into the field of y. Coach Ronny De let out a pent-up breath of air as his team had narrowly survived conceding in the 15th minute. But his eyes narrowed the next instant as he watched a Rosenborg yer pounce on the rebound after outmaneuvering two Str?msgodset yers. The danger had not yet passed.

    **** ****

 Chapter 240 - On The Back Foot

    Zachary reacted as soon as he saw Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg center-forward, pounce on the rebound from the corner ball. He shrugged off Abdism Ibrahim, the Str?msgodset midfielder marking him ¡ª and stepped into a pocket of free space in the crowded box. With his nearly instantaneous reaction, he''d managed to open himself up to receive a pass in the next two seconds ¡ª before the opponents could close him down once more.

    His chemistry with Nicki on the pitch had always been incredible. The number-9 managed to spot him almost instantly. Without wasting time, the center forward relinquished the ball to him with a teasing flick over the head of an opposing yer.

    Zachary was aware that the opposing yers would be upon him the next second. So, he didn''t even pause to control the ball. He just smashed it on it volley right away ¡ª to unleash a missile of a shot towards goal from around the edge of the penalty area.

    Regrettably, a couple of Str?msgodset yers threw themselves in the path of his shot the next instant. They managed to block the ball, sending it out of y to deny Rosenborg another chance to score in the 17th minute. The referee immediately pointed to the corner g once again.

    Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg left-back, took the corner quickly. He floated another tricky ball into the crowded box. However, J?rgen Horn, the Str?msgodset number-5, managed to outwit his opponents and leap high to clear the corner ball away from his goal with a powerful header.

    The ball soared high above the yers in the box before starting its descent towards the touchline on the left nk a few secondster. It was a rare chance for Str?msgodset to counterattack since almost all the Rosenborg yers hadn''t reorganized themselves into a proper defensive shape yet. They''d just started making their way from Str?msgodset''s box after the corner kick.

    Muhamed Keita, the Str?msgodset left-forward, who hadn''t taken part in defending against the corner kick, reacted immediately to the clearance from his teammate. He bolted like a cheetah on a hunt and managed to bring the ball under control with an outstretched boot ¡ª just before it could move out of y for a throw-in.

    From there, he didn''t look back as he initiated a rare Str?msgodset counterattack. He rushed along the touchline like a bullet train on the rails, leaving both opponents and teammates in the dust. His pace with the ball was incredible. It enabled him to step in the final third a couple of secondster amid the rising cheers of the Str?msgodset fans.

    Without losing a second, he began cutting into the pitch, skipping past a challenge from Stefan Strandberg, one of Rosenborg''s center-backs, and continuing on towards Rosenborg''s goal like a whirlwind. He went on to unleash a through-pass behind the rest of the defenders.

    The cheers around the Marienlyst Stadion rose to a booming crescendo as  Kamara, Str?msgodset''s center forward, shrugged off another Rosenborg defender and connected with the through-pass. Without losing a moment, he raced towards the goal and was soon one-on-one with the keeper.

    Zachary could feel his heart hammering hard with tension in his chest as he raced back towards Rosenborg''s box. He hadn''t yet given up on defending against the Str?msgodset counterattack.

    But before he could cross the boundary of the middle third, he saw  Kamara lift his foot and smash the ball towards the goal. So, he immediately stopped in his tracks, sighing with resignation as he watched the ball curl past the despairing dive of Daniel ?rlund, the Rosenborg keeper. As expected, it deflected off the left post before homing into the back of the.

    **** ****

    STR?MSGODSET IF 1 : ROSENBORG BK 0

    ****

    Kristin sighed, shaking her head after taking a nce at the score on the stadium''s jumbotron. She''d traveled to Drammen together with Monica R?nning, her tmate, with anticipation of watching her team thrash the second on the table once again. But the game was progressing in a way Kristin hadn''t expected. Rosenborg was already on the back foot ¡ª even early on in the first half. That made her anxious and jittery since she feared that her team might lose points once more.

    "Str?msgodset has done it," he heard Kjell Roar, thementator for the day, yell at the top of his voice as the cheers started dying down in the stands of the Marienlyst Stadion. "The boys from Drammen have gone ahead and given team Rosenborg a taste of their own medicine. They managed tounch a counter sessfully against the counterattacking kings themselves. They''ve scored a brilliant opening goal in this Tippeligaen fixture. I can still feel my entire being pulsing with excitement on recalling the lightning-fast counter."

    "Yes, I feel the same way," Ragnar Dokken, the pundit for the day, chipped in. "That was counterattacking football yed to perfection. Both Muhamed Keita, the Str?msgodset left-forward, and  Kamara, the center-forward, were incredible and clinical during the attack. That''s why Str?msgodset is already leading by a goal to nil in the 19th minute."

    "But the fault also lies with the Rosenborg squad," Kjell Roar chimed in with an audible sigh. "I''m finding it hard to believe that Rosenborg, a team that thrashed Str?msgodset 4:0 in the first leg, can concede a goal on such a counter. Maybe, the yers are really starting to get fatigued by the tight schedule."

    "Nah," Ragnar Dokken said. "Any team, whether strong or weak, can concede on the counter. It all depends on how efficient the opponents are during the counterattack. The Str?msgodset yers were super effective in driving the ball forward to score. I believe that this goal resulted from the brilliance of the Str?msgodset yers, particrly Muhamed Keita and  Kamara. I also believe that the Rosenborg yers weren''t at fault since they''ve been dictating the tempo from the first minute..."

    "Exactly," Kristin concurred on hearing the pundit''s match analysis. She was in total agreement that the goal had nothing to do with the negligence of the Rosenborg yers. She believed Str?msgodset had just been lucky to score on the counter.

    "As things stand right now, the difference between the first and second on the table is only three points," she heard Kjell Roar continue hismentary. "Str?msgodset now has 41 points while Rosenborg is still stuck on 44 points on the live Tippeligaen table. The Str?msgodset yers will be back in the race for the Tippeligaen trophy if they can maintain this lead until the final whistle..."

    "Dream on," Kristin mumbled, shaking her head. She believed with a hundred percent conviction that Rosenborg would emerge as the victors at the end of that Tippeligaen season. With Zachary, Nicki, and Tore on the team, she was sure the Troll Kids would win at the very least nine out of the remaining eleven fixtures. So, unless Str?msgodset could win all their remaining games, they had to forget about that season''s Tippeligaen trophy. With a light heart, she returned her focus to the proceedings on the field of y.

    **** ****

    As the game progressed towards thete stages of the first half, Zachary noticed that Nana Boateng and Abdism Ibrahim, the two Str?msgodset attacking midfielders, were double-teaming him. When he would rush to the wings, they would follow. At other times, when he would head back to his own half ¡ª to defend, they would still follow. They were practically not allowing him even half a yard of free space by shadowing his every move on the ying field.

    In the meantime, the rest of the Str?msgodset yers had arrayed themselves in a defensive t 4-5-1 formation. At every point in the game, there were always five yers forming almost a straight line in the defensive midfield to shut down the passing angles of the Rosenborg yers. Even when their two attacking midfielders would follow Zachary to the Rosenborg half, the two yers on the nks would pinch into the spaces to ensure that the formation remained intact. They seemed keenly intent on defending by parking the bus ¡ª to hold on to their 1:0 lead until the final whistle.

    However, Zachary didn''t want to let them have their way. He started making erratic and unpredictable runs across the pitch ¡ª to tire out the two midfielders shadowing his every move. He was sure he would outrun them by relying on his stamina and endurance attributes that''d already made a breakthrough to the S- grade.

    As expected, the two Str?msgodset yers began losing focus after the first fifteen minutes of the second half. They allowed Zachary a couple of yards after failing to keep up with his pace on several asions. Zachary didn''t disappoint and managed to run with the ball for a few yards before unleashing defense splitting passes to Nicki on those instances. However, the Str?msgodset defense that consisted of basically seven yers was sharp and managed to thwart Rosenborg''s chances of scoring an equalizing goal.

    Zachary didn''t mind, though. He was confident he would create a goal-scoring opportunity very soon since his markers were already on theirst legs. However, the Str?msgodset coach snuffed out his confidence in the 65th minute.

    Ronny De, the head coach of Str?msgodset, introduced two substitutes in ce of Nana Boateng and Abdism Ibrahim, the two midfielders that''d been marking him. Without losing a moment, those introduced midfielders started shadowing his every move once again.

    ''What to do?'' Zachary mused, tamping down his irritation and stepping away from the two overly energetic Str?msgodset midfielders.

    He was back to square one once again.

    He had two new bodyguards who had fresh legs on the ying field. Yet, he couldn''t use the tactic of tiring them out once more. If he did that, he would exhaust himself rather than the two substitutes.

    "Zachary," Coach Johansen yelled from Rosenborg''s technical area after the ball had headed out of y for a throw-in. "Come here for a moment. Hurry before y restarts."

    Zachary, of course, reacted to the summon immediately. He raced to the sidelines like the wind and was soon standing before the coach.

    "Come closer," Coach Johansen said, beckoning him towards himself. "I don''t want those clowns to listen to what I''ve got to say to you."

    "Oh!" Zachary said, casting a nce behind him. He was surprised that his two bodyguards had followed him to the sidelines. He couldn''t help but wonder what kind of instructions they''d received from their coach. That was because they were like mindless robots that followed him everywhere ¡ª even towards the technical area. They were taking their defending task to the extreme.

    But he quickly pushed the astonishment aside and lent an ear to the coach. He only had a few seconds to receive instructions before the game restarted with a Rosenborg throw-in.

 Chapter 241 - A Comeback

    "Zachary," Coach Johansen began as soon as he stepped before him. "We need to change our entire approach to this game. Otherwise, we''ll lose to Str?msgodset today. To prevent that from happening, we have to switch to a 4-4-2 formation and adjust our tactics to the long ball strategy for the final twenty minutes of the game. That will enable us to put more pressure on the Str?msgodset backline with two forwards."

    "I want you to partner up with Nicki upfront as a second forward in the new formation. We''ll be able to create more chances to score with you working together with Nicki on striking."

    "Moreover," the coach continued uttering instructions at the pace of a world-famous rapper. "We''ll destabilize the Str?msgodset formation if those two clowns that have been shadowing you decide to follow you to your new position. Are we together, Zachary?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, chugging down some water. "I understand."

    That time around, he wasn''t the least bit dissatisfied with the coach''s decision to switch him to the striking position. He could tell that Coach Johansen''s strategy was the quickest way to get Rosenborg out of its predicament.

    If they yed their cards right in a 4-4-2 formation and yed the long-ball strategy, they would be able to apply tremendous pressure on the Str?msgodset backline. The ensuing lofted passes over the midfield towards the back of the defense would render Str?msgodset''s ''park-the-bus'' tactic ineffective.

    As a plus, Zachary would get rid of his two bodyguards after the switch. That was because they were ying as midfielders in the Str?msgodset squad. They would presumably not want to leave gaps in the midfield by following him upfront.

    If the two midfielders stubbornly insisted on escorting him to the new position, Rosenborg would still gain an edge by exploiting the holes they would be leaving in the midfield.

    Zachary was determined to do anything necessary to get his team out of its predicament by following the game n to the letter. It seemed to be the perfect way for Rosenborg to score against their defensive-minded opponents at that juncture.

    Of course, he preferred ying in midfield to being a forward. But he understood that if he didn''t y up front, his team would lose a vital game against the second-ced on the table.

    "That''s good," Coach Johansen said, nodding after hearing Zachary''s response. "Tell the others our defense will remain the same. Mike Jensen and Jonas Svensson will be the midfielders in the new formation. John Chibuike and Tobias Mikkelsen will continue ying on the nks. You and Nicki will be our two spearheads on striking toplete the formation. If you understand the whole strategy, go back and ry my instructions to the rest."

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, nodding. He quickly threw the water bottle aside and ran back to his position on the field.

    The gamey had already rmenced since he''d spent more than a minute on the sidelines receiving the coach''s instructions. He had to wait for the ball to go out of y before rying the coach''s orders to the rest of the squad.

    After receiving the coach''s new instructions, the Rosenborg yers immediately shaped up into a 4-4-2 attacking shape. Mike Jensen and Jonas Svensson, the two central midfielders in the new formation, began unleashing defense-splitting long-range passes deep into Str?msgodset''s half from the get-go.

    John Chibuike and Tobias Mikkelsen, the two wingers, also began crossing the ball into the box whenever they got the chance. In a matter of minutes, the Rosenborg squad transitioned seamlessly to the new formation, catching Str?msgodset off-guard. With the sudden change, they managed to send the boys from Drammen into momentary disarray.

    The two yers that had been marking Zachary''s and shadowing his every move were even more confused. To begin with, they weren''t defenders. So they proved ineffective in stopping Zachary from prating through the Str?msgodset backline. As a result, they only followed him to his new position in Rosenborg''s striking line for a few more minutes before giving up and returning to their rightful spots in midfield.

    Zachary''s hopes soared when his two bodyguards stopped shadowing him. He immediately gained a lot of space to receive and maneuver with the ball. He started connecting with more and more passes and crosses from his teammates as the game progressed into the final eight minutes.

    He was like a tireless maniac on the striking line, his feet nevering to a halt as he chased after every long ball released into the Str?msgodset defensive third. His relentless efforts put the Str?msgodset defenders under immense pressure, creating several half-chances for Rosenborg.

    The defining moment of his brilliance on the pitch came in the 85th minute.

    He reacted almost instantaneously on seeing Mike Jensen, one of the Rosenborg midfielders, unleash another long-range defensive-splitting through-pass towards the Str?msgodset box. He shrugged off Jarl Andr¨¦ Storbaek, Str?msgodset''s center-back, and then chased after the ball like a whirlwind. Thanks to his long strides, he managed to get to it first, right on the edge of the box.

    He immediately turned around and leaped high, bringing the ball under control with his chest. However, he felt a Str?msgodset yer colliding into his back just as his feet were touching back onto the ground. He could tell that the yer marking him was aggressive and seemed to have no intention of leaving him any time or space to turn and face the Str?msgodset goal.

    In an instant, Zachary took in the scene around him, searching for a teammate while holding off his opponent with his physique. However, Nicki Nielsen, the only yer in his proximity, was closely guarded by two defenders as well at that moment. On the other hand, the rest of the Rosenborg yers were still far from the box. So, he decided to flick the ball from his left foot, back to his right, repeatedly ¡ª to draw in the defender. He also began twisting his body from side to side, executing full-body feints to elicit a reaction from the defender.

    As expected, the defender couldn''t sit still since he thought Zachary was about to break into a full sprint and rush towards the goal. So, he spread out his arms before stretching out a boot to tackle the ball off Zachary''s feet.

    Zachary smiled, feeling his hopes soar when he noticed that the defender had fallen for his gambit. Without wasting even a moment, he brought the ball to a halt between his legs while still holding off the defender with his physique. The next instant, he lifted his foot and smashed the ball with the back of his heel, unleashing an unexpected shot at goal through the defender''s legs. The stadium descended into a momentary silence immediately.

    **** ****

    Coach Johansen could feel his heart pounding like a jackhammer within his chest as he followed the proceedings in Str?msgodset''s box. He fought down a pang of rising anxiety, half-raising his arms like a crab-man dancing, as he watched the ball burst through the defender''s legs, heading towards the goal. "Please go in, please go in," he mumbled, clenching his fists.

    "GOAAALLLLL...."

    The next moment, he jumped up as he watched the ball streak past the goalkeeper''s outstretched arm and nestle itself into the back of the.

    1:1.

    Rosenborg had managed to equalize in the 85th minute through Zachary''s brilliant efforts. With a glorious back-heel, he''d caught the keeper sleeping, bringing matters back to level in the Marienlyst Stadion.

    "Keep on attacking," Coach Johansen yelled from the touchline, right after the Rosenborg yers finished celebrating. "Don''t let up the pressure. Continue using long balls to Zachary and Nicki. Zachary and Nicki: try to test their keeper more often with long shots..." He wanted his yers to push for a second goal before the final whistle.

    The Rosenborg yers didn''t disappoint when the game restarted. They continued attacking with renewed intensity in the closing minutes of the game. By relying on long balls and crosses from the wing, they managed to push almost all the opposing yers into the final third.

    However, the Str?msgodset yers remained steadfast in their defense, dealing with every Rosenborg attack like the professionals they were. They even started double-teaming Zachary again ¡ª to prevent him from connecting with the passes and crosses from his teammates in the final third.

    However, Zachary showed great determination and created another goal-scoring chance for Rosenborg. He didn''t rx in the slightest in the final few minutes of the game. He continued running into spaces and receiving long-range passes from his teammates to apply tremendous pressure on the Str?msgodset defensive line.

    The majority of the Str?msgodset defenders started focusing on him since he was the most active in their box. They seemed to have forgotten about Nicki Nielsen, the other forward in Rosenborg''s new 4-4-2 formation.

    Nicki, of course, came close to punishing them for their error. In the 89th minute, he got to the end of a teasing cross from Tobias Mikkelsen, the Rosenborg winger. Uncontested, he jumped high to nt a header towards the goal from around the edge of the box.

    However, Adam Kwarasey, the Str?msgodset keeper, was alert. Hemitted himself to a full acrobatic dive, punching the ball away from the goal with an outstretched fist. Coach Johansen felt his mood sink as he watched Rosenborg miss their chance to take the lead. He was on a razor''s edge of panic since he understood Rosenborg would find it harder to score as the game progressed into additional time.

    But the next moment, his eyes widened in wonderment. He felt his heart start to race again as he watched Zachary rush to meet the rebound from the keeper. Without even trying to control the ball, the boy prodigy met it on the volley with his left boot, unleashing a missile towards goal from twenty yards away.

    The keeper couldn''t even react as he watched the ball curl around a few defenders with an incredible spin before homing into the back of the.

    1:2.

    The cheers of the Rosenborg fans in the Marienlyst Stadion rose to thunderous heights, drowning out every other sound in the stadium right after. Rosenborg had managed to score and take the lead in the 90th minute through Zachary once more.

    Coach Johansen was all smiles as he watched his yers celebrate in the middle of the field. At longst, he could rx. His team was close to obtaining the vital three points that would extend their lead at the top of the table.

    **** ****

 Chapter 242 - Another Hat-Trick

    "Okay, he''s good," Erik Bailly said to his agent as he watched Zachary celebrate with the rest of the Rosenborg yers close to the corner g. "The first goal with a backheel was incredible, yes. But I like his second better since I know how difficult it is to execute such a curling shot on a first-time volley. His timing and vision to meet that rebound ball were out of this world. What an incredible technique!"

    "He must have used the outside of his boot to apply the spin and curve the ball beyond the goalkeeper''s reach," Thomas Partey, the newly-signed Rosenborg defensive midfielder, remarked. "But what I''m not sure about is whether that was intentional or simply a rare stroke of luck."

    "He must have intended it," Graziano Battistini, Erik Bailly''s agent, chipped in, smiling. "For your information, that wasn''t his first time scoring a goal like that on a volley. So, he must be very skilled in timing and meeting such rebound balls on a volley."

    "Then he''s something else," Thomas Partey, the Ghanaian defensive midfielder,mented. "I can''t wait to y on the same team as him."

    "Me too," Erik Bailly chipped in. "With him on the squad, Rosenborg might be able to surprise many in the Europa League. I''ll also be signing the contract as soon as possible."

    "Have you finally decided?" His agent asked, giving him a sideways nce.

    "Yes," Erik Bailly replied, smiling. "I won''t change my mind this time around. You can go ahead and finalize my contract details with Rosenborg as quickly as possible." He was eager toplete his transfer after witnessing Zachary''s prowess with his own eyes.

    "That''s good," Graziano Battistini, his agent, replied, grinning. "I''ll finalize everything with Rosenborg tomorrow morning. You should be able to take the medical immediately after."

    **** ****

    The Str?msgodset yers seemed to have lost all their motivation after conceding the second goal in the 90th minute. They started making amateur mistakes in their defensive third as the game progressed into the additional four minutes of extra time.

    Zachary didn''t fail to capitalize on the sloppiness of his opponents. He became bolder and started making more runs through the defense with the ball whenever he got the chance. He''d turned into a beast on the striking line, relentlessly keeping the Str?msgodset defense on tenterhooks.

    Rosenborg got another chance to score during the 93rd minute. After getting to the end of a low cross from John Chibuike, the Rosenborg left-winger, Zachary lomed his way into the box, skipping past two sliding tackles in the process. Without wasting a second, he unleashed a carpet-shot towards the inside of the right post.

    The ball skimmed over the green like a serpent, shing past an outstretched boot and then the keeper''s despairing dive ¨C before smashing off the right post and homing into the back of the.

    Zachary immediately rushed off to the corner g to celebrate as the cheers of the Rosenborg fans in the stands of the Marienlyst Stadion rose to a booming crescendo for the third time that Sunday evening.

    **** ****

    STR?MSGODSET IF 1 : ROSENBORG BK 3

    **** ****

    Kristin felt a momentary surge of delight streaking through her like aet after taking a nce at the stadium''s jumbotron. Her team had finally made a perfecteback to beat the second on the table in the closing minutes of the game. In only a few seconds, the referee would be blowing the final whistle, and her team would head back to Trondheim with the vital three points in the bag. She could hardly contain her excitement at that moment.

    "The Troll Kids have done it again," she heard Kjell Roar, thementator, yell as soon as the cheering started dying down. "They''ve managed toe from behind and win the game by a score of three goals to one through their star yer Zachary Bemba. It''s yet another incredible night for the young Rosenborg number-33. Even after switching to an unfamiliar striking position, he still managed to score yet another hat-trick, taking his Tippeligaen tally for this season to eighteen goals. He will surely emerge as the top scorer this season at the rate he''s going."

    "I feel that that''s a given," Ragnar Dokken, the pundit for the day, chipped in. "Zachary is ahead of Nicki Nielsen, the second on the list by six goals. He''s definitely the favorite to take the golden boot if he manages to maintain his form."

    "I also believe he will win the best yer of the Tippeligaen de at the end of this season," the pundit continued without a pause. "He has more than ten assists and twenty-three goals in allpetitions. I don''t see any possibility of another yer beating him to the award if he can maintain his form."

    "You''re absolutely right," Kjell Roar, thementator, said. "With this win, Rosenborg has taken its tally to 47 points. That means the Troll Kids are nine points ahead of Str?msgodset, the second-ced team on the table. They are on track to emerge as champions considering the form they''re on and the versatility of their squad. That will only increase Zachary''s chances of winning the best yer of the season award. If he can put up some good performances in the Europa League, he''ll be uncontested for the de..."

    Kristin smiled as she followed thementary while also keeping an eye on the proceedings on the ying field. Even though it was the final minute of the game, Rosenborg was still putting the team from Drammen under pressure.

    The game eventually ended with a score of 1:3 in favor of Rosenborg.

    **** ****

    Zachary was all smiles as he headed back to the dressing room after the post-match interview with v Brusveen, the TV2 reporter. The fact that he''d managed to score yet another hat-trick elevated his mood.

    "Herees the man of the match," Mikael Dorsin yelled, opening a champagne bottle and spraying it on him as soon as he stepped into the dressing room.

    Since Zachary was unprepared, he could only watch helplessly as the drink spattered down onto his face and drenched the rest of his attire. But since he was in a good mood, he swallowed down his difort and then soaked in the victorious atmosphere in the dressing room. He joined his teammates in their celebrations for the next few minutes before heading to the bathroom to take a shower.

    "Can I have your attention guys," Coach Johansen said as soon as Zachary had stepped out of the bathroom. All the yers, including Zachary, reacted immediately by taking their seats around the visiting team''s dressing room. In a matter of seconds, the chatter in the room died down.

    "That was an incredible performance you guys put up in the second half," the coach began, smiling and looking around. "We managed to win, and we''re now nine points ahead of the second-ced Str?msgodset on the Tippeligaen table. I have to emphasize that you guys were absolutely incredible, especially in the final ten minutes of the game. I dare say that if you could y like that in every game, we might win a treble this season." He added with a bit of humor.

    The yersughed at that.

    "But," the coach continued, sweeping his gaze across most of the yers in the dressing room. "We still have a lot of work to do before we can end our season sessfully. On Wednesday, we''ve got a tough fixture at Lerkendal against St. Johnstone Football Club in the second round of the Europa League qualifying round. If we don''t win, our hopes ofpeting in the Europa League tournament will end thising week."

    "We can''t have that," the coach continued, stroking his red beard. "Our main priority this month is to qualify for the Europa League group stage. So, I expect you all to remain focused and ensure that we win both the home and away games against St. Johnstone. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    "That''s good," Coach Johansen said, nodding. "We must also keep our domestic priorities in mind. We''ve got to remain in tip-top shape to maintain our position at the top of the table. We only have eleven games left before weplete the Tippeligaen match schedule. So, I expect you all to put out two hundred percent effort so that we can emerge as champions at the end of the season. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "You guys have to believe in yourselves," Coach Johansen said with a smile after a short while. "You''re a strong team that can go ces if you remain focused throughout the entire season. So, continue working hard, y every game like it''s a final, and we''ll be able to create history at Rosenborg this season. Are you with me, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good," Coach Johansen said, nodding. "For now, let''s prepare and head back to Trondheim first. I expect to see you at Lerkendal for training tomorrow afternoon since we need to prepare for the mid-week Europa League game."

    **** ****

 Chapter 243 - A Good Run Of Four Games

    The following Wednesday, Zachary and co faced off with a tricky St. Johnstone side at Lerkendal Stadium in the second round of the Europa League qualifiers.

    The Troll Kids were in high gear since they''d just defeated Str?msgodset with a score of 3:1 over the weekend. They were at the top of their game from the very first minute. However, they couldn''t make their dominance count and missed a hatful of chances during the first half. The score remained 0:0 as the yers headed into the dressing room for halftime.

    The game was more open after the break, with Zachary first testing St. Johnstone Football Club''s keeper with a low drive in the 49th minute. However, the number-1 was alert and managed to make a fingertip save to push the ball away from its intended course.

    The St. Johnstone yers gradually started growing into the game. They began mounting a series of attacks on Rosenborg''s goal ¡ª with ever-increasing intensity by relying on their phenomenal wing y. They came close to scoring in the 60th and 65th minutes of gamey. But, on both asions, Daniel ?rlund, the Rosenborg keeper, was alert and managed to save the day and keep matters level at Lerkendal Stadion.

    Rosenborg then took the lead abruptly in the 70th minute through a sensational counterattack. It was all started by Daniel ?rlund, the keeper, quickly bowling the ball out to John Chibuike, the left-winger, after iming a St. Johnstone cross. The Troll Kids flew forward like a pack of wolves on the hunt, leaving the opponents in the dust. Possession soon fell to Zachary, who curled home a superb effort from the edge of the box to score Rosenborg''s opening goal with only twenty minutes to the ny-minute mark.

    Steven MacLean, the St. Johnstone center-forward, got a golden opportunity and came close to scoring an equalizer five minutester. But he somehow failed to seal the deal and instead kicked the ball over the crossbar when he was one-on-one with the keeper.

    Despite that, the St. Johnstone yers didn''t let up the pressure. They continuedunching attack after attack on the Rosenborg backline for the next ten minutes. They seemed pretty intent on equalizing and getting the vital away goal in the first leg of the Europa League qualifiers. However, bymitting more men forward, they left themselves open at the back. As a result, they gifted Nicki Nielsen a chance to score Rosenborg''s second goal in the 86th minute of the game.

    After that, the Rosenborg yers continued ying defensively and managed to thwart all St. Johnstone''s efforts to score. They practically resorted to the park-the-bus tactic and kept the score 2:0 until the final whistle. They were halfway to qualifying for the third round of the Europa League qualifiers.

    The Troll Kids rested for two days before weing V?lerenga Fotball at Lerkendal on a rainy Saturday evening. For that game, Coach Johansen decided to bench some of his star yers since they had to y the return leg against St. Johnstone Football Club the following Wednesday. Zachary, Nicki Nielsen, Mikael Dorsin, and Tore Reginiussen were all on the bench for that fixture. However, Rosenborg still managed to beat V?lerenga Fotball club 1:0. Alexander S?derlund, the substitute center-forward, scored the sole goal, ensuring Rosenborg maintained its 9-point lead at the top of the table.

    After resting for three days, the Rosenborg yers traveled to the city of Perth in Scond. In front of ten thousand hostile Scottish spectators, they faced off against St. Johnstone in a heated second-round Europa League qualifiers.

    The game was hard-fought, with the club from Perth mounting pressure on Rosenborg from the very first minute amid the passionate cheering from their fans. However, the Troll Kids still put up an incredible performance and kept St. Johnstone at bay. They yed a defensive-minded game, keeping the score 0:0 until the referee blew the final whistle. That way, they eliminated the team from Scond with an aggregate score of 2:0 to qualify for the third round of the Europa League qualifiers.

    After the win, the yers headed into the next fixture three dayster with boundless motivation. They managed to thrash V?lerenga 3:1 in the quarter-finals of the Norwegian Football Cup. Alexander S?derlund, Mikael Dorsin, and Nicki Nielsen scored the three goals for the Troll Kids, sending them into the semi-finals of the Cupen. Zachary was phenomenal as usual and provided two assists in that game.

    **** ****

    The day after the V?lerenga game, Zachary woke up early as usual. Without wasting any time, he immersed himself in his post-match recovery routine for the next hour. He then washed up before taking a heavy breakfast to sate his hunger.

    After that, he settled on his sofa and started training in the G.O.A.T Skills Simtor to rx. In the virtual world created by the system, he trained tirelessly, refining his set-piece and dribbling techniques by practicing them hundreds of times. He only withdrew his mind from the system simtor a few hourster when it was time for lunch.

    Without any dilly-dallying, he feasted on a light lunch before getting into his R8 GT and cruizing to Lerkendal for that day''s official team training. Since Rosenborg had a tight schedule that month, the coach had already encroached on the rxation time of the yers. They had only been allowed half a day of rest after ying in each official game since the start of August. However, none of them raised aint about the hectic schedule. They all understood that it was necessary to give their all to win trophies that season.

    "Can I have your attention, guys," Coach Johansen yelled at the top of his voice as soon as all the Rosenborg yers had assembled on the training ground. "Come over here. I have an announcement to make."

    All the yers, including Zachary, immediately put a halt to their training routines. Without wasting any time, they started jogging across the green ¡ª towards the center circle.

    Zachary couldn''t help but do a double-take as he approached the coach''s position. Standing beside the coach were three famous yers from his previous life. They were all dressed in Rosenborg training kits, observing the rest of the yers making their way to the center circle.

    ''How did Coach Johansen manage to sign all three of them?'' Zachary wondered as he joined the rest of his teammates in the center circle. He was surprised since he''d initially assumed the coach would only manage to acquire the services of one of the defenders on his list.

    "Okay, guys, pipe down," Coach Johansen intoned, raising his hand in a gesture to request silence. His tone was sharp andmanding, and the yers immediately quietened down.

    "Good afternoon to you all," the coach began with a greeting. A soft smile outlined his face.

    "Good afternoon, coach," the yers replied in chorus.

    "I''ve gathered you all to introduce three new yers who have joined Rosenborg during this transfer window," the coach said after a moment. "Standing on my right are two defenders: Erik Bailly and William Troost-Ekong. On my left is the defensive midfielder: Thomas Partey. The three of them have already finished all the necessary transfer procedures. They''ll start training with the main squad today. Please join me in weing them to the team."

    All the yers forming a semi-circle around the coach started pping, more or less in unison, to wee their three new teammates.

    "Moving on," the coach said after signaling for the three new yers to join the rest of the squad. "We''ll be ying FK Minsk on Thursday in the third round of the Europa League qualifiers. I''m sure this will be a tough fixture since we''ll be away in Brus. But we have to give our all and make sure that we emerge as victors after the two legs."

    "If we lose, our journey in this season''s Europa League wille to an end. But should we win, we''ll have qualified for the group stages of the Europa League. And I believe that I don''t need to tell you about the benefits of participating in the Europa League for you yers. Are we on the same page, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good," Coach Johansen said, nodding. "Since everyone is on the same page, let''s get right to business. Today, we''ll start with a light dynamic session, focusing on recovering from yesterday''s match fatigue as quickly as possible. We''ll then work with the ball by ying some Rondos before officially starting our positioning training for our Thursday match against FK Minsk. I expect you all to remain focused throughout the session since we have less than two days left to the game."

    "Any questions?" The coach asked, sweeping his gaze across all the yers in the semi-circle.

    Mikael Dorsin, the assistant captain, raised his hand right away.

    "Yes, Mikael." Coach Johansen pointed at him.

    "Thank you, coach," Mikael said with a smile. "When are we departing for Minsk? Will it be on Wednesday or Thursday morning?"

    "Wednesday in the afternoon," Coach Johansen replied right away. "The flights from Trondheim to Minsk usuallyst more than nine hours. That''s why we need to travel the day before, to give ourselves enough time to rest before the game. Anyone else with a question?"

    All the yers remained silent that time around.

    "Since there are no more questions," Coach Johansen said, sweeping his gaze across the yers, "Let''s get down to business. Head back to the other end of the pitch so that you can start on your dynamic warm-up session with Coach Rolf Aas." He added, shooing away the yers with a wave of his arm.

    **** ****

 Chapter 244 - Against FK Minsk I

    Before themencement of the first leg of the Europa League qualifiers third round, Vadim Skripchenko, the head coach of FK Minsk, had thought that he''d made ample preparations for the match. He''d assumed that his team was more than ready to face off against Norwegian giants Rosenborg and advance to the group stages of the mainpetition. However, only ten minutes into the game, one yer on the Rosenborg side had shattered his views and crushed his hopes with his sheer brilliance on the field.

    Zachary Bemba, the Rosenborg number-33, was in beast mode in the attacking midfield, rendering all FK Minsk''s strategies ineffective. He was all over the middle section of the pitch, tackling and winning both aerial and ground duels to help Rosenborg dictate the tempo early in the first half. If the FK Minsk yers dared to rx and leave a slight gap in their defensive shape for a moment, he would immediately unleash a defense-splitting pass behind the backline. Or worse, he would run at the defenders to rump up the pressure on FK Minsk.

    It wasn''t long before he managed to set up Rosenborg''s first real chance at goal with his incredible vision and brilliance on the ying field.

    In the 13th minute, Zachary brought the ball under control with his chest after winning an aerial duel against Nikita Bukatkin, one of the FK Minsk defensive midfielders, close to the center circle. He immediately spun around with the ball hooked to his left boot, shrugging off Nikita Bukatkin, who was still trying to upend him.

    From there, he didn''t look back. He raced with the ball across the middle third, eliciting a wave of thunderous cheers from the traveling Rosenborg supporters in the stands of the GOKTsOR Stadion in Minsk, Brus.

    Coach Vadim Skripchenko could tell Zachary''s speed across short distances wasn''t that impressive. However, the young Rosenborg number-33 had an incredible vision andmand of the ball while racing across the green. It was as if he could find the openings in the defensive shape of his opponents in an instant before immediately exploiting them to carry the ball forward and advance the attack. Due to his uncanny ability, he was able to step in the final third only a few seconds after initiating the attack.

    Sergey Kozeka, the other FK Minsk defensive midfielder, soon came up to block Zachary''s run. He closed down on Zachary with the intensity of an apex predator ready to draw blood after tracking down its prey. He also didn''t forget to spread out his arms and angle his body in a way that cut off all Zachary''s paths of advance towards the Minsk box.

    In response, Zachary decreased his speed slightly, seemingly to assess the obstacle before him. The next instant, he controlled the ball to slide up¡ªover his heel towards his left calf while keeping his eyes on the approaching defender. Without losing a moment, he swung his leg backward with the ball secured to his heel before his opponent could tackle him.

    "Oh my, what the f*ck!" Coach Vadim Skripchenko could not help but let loose a loud curse as he watched Zachary loop the ball in an arc over both himself and the approaching opponent. The young number-33 even managed to elicit another wave of thunderous cheers across the FK Minsk home stadium after executing his move with an uncanny soft touch using his back heel.

    ''Why does he seem more dangerous than in the videos of Rosenborg''s previous matches?'' Coach Vadim Skripchenko wondered as he watched Zachary approach the box and unleash a right-footed shot through the crowd of opponents towards the goal.

    Coach Vadim Skripchenko could feel his heart practically beating hard with anxiety as he watched the ball shing towards the bottom right corner. It was like a bullet out of a sniper muzzle about to hit home on its intended target. But the next instant, the FK Minsk coach let out a pent-up breath of air as he watched dimir Bushma, the goalkeeper, make an incredible save. The number-1 had managed to punch the ball out of y and keep matters level in the 14th minute of gamey.

    However, before the coach could rx, he saw Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg left-back, take the corner kick quickly, even before his yers could shape up.

    "What the f*ck are you guys doing?" Coach Vadim Skripchenko bellowed at the top of his voice, immediately racing towards the touchline. "Hurry up and close them down. Don''t allow them close to our box."

    However, before the FK Minsk yers could array themselves in a proper defensive shape, he saw Zachary receive the short corner ball from Mikael Dorsin. He flicked the ball forward, skipping past a sliding challenge by Aleksandr Sachivko, the FK Minsk center-back. Zachary then passed it to Nicki Nielsen, the center forward a short distance away, before driving forward ¡ª into the box like a whirlwind.

    Coach Vadim suppressed a rising wave of panic as he continued following Rosenborg''s attack. But despite his best efforts, he was still shuddering in trepidation when Zachary received a return pass from Nicki Nielsen inside the box. Without losing hisposure, the young Rosenborg number-33 flicked the ball forward ¡ª and then released a right-footed shot towards the goal from around the edge of the penalty area.

    As expected, the attempt was a tricky one, spinning around the despairing dive of dimir Bushma and homing into the back of the. The score was then 0:1, with Rosenborg taking the lead in the 15th minute.

    Coach Vadim Skripchenko felt a re of frustration as he watched the Rosenborg yers celebrating in the middle of the pitch. Rosenborg''s opening goal had been a result of thexity in the concentration of his yers. They''d let the Rosenborg yers take the corner kick quickly, allowing them to score the vital away goal in the first leg of the Europa League qualifiers. As a result, FK Minsk''s chances of qualifying had gone down.

    "Focus, guys," Coach Vadim Skripchenko hollered out loud after a short while, pping his hands to get the attention of his yers. He was a professional coach. He knew that he needed to motivate his yers and straighten out their attitude before y restarted. Or else, FK Minsk would find itself conceding more goals in the following few minutes.

    "Don''t let the goal put you down," he continued yelling without a pause while pacing the entire length of the technical area. "We still have more than 70 minutes to score and bring the match back to level ground. So, let''s forget that we have conceded and proceed with our game n. Sergey! Stick to that number-33 like glue, and don''t allow him to do as he pleases in midfield. The rest of you stay sharp and close down all the spaces in the midfield and defense..."

    **** ****

 Chapter 245 - Against FK Minsk II

    The game restarted right after Zachary had finished celebrating the goal with the rest of his teammates. Roman Vasilyuk, the center-forward in FK Minsk''s 4-2-3-1 formation, immediately kicked the ball back into midfield, sending the stadium into raptures.

    Even though FK Minsk was trailing a goal to nil, Zachary''s ears could still pick up the loud and rhythmic chanting of the home fans within the stands of the GOKTsOR Stadion. It seemed that conceding a goal had not dampened their morale in the slightest. They were still as passionate as they''d been at the start of the game, cheering on their team like there wasn''t a tomorrow.

    Zachary blocked out all the noise and focused solely on the pitch. He believed he could get a few more golden opportunities to create goal-scoring chances for his team. That was because he was ying against opponents unfamiliar with his capabilities.

    Moreover, he was in tip-top shape that day. He even felt that his agility had improved by leaps and bounds. It was fast-rising towards the S-grade bottleneck. Probably within less than a year, he could make another leap in his abilities and advance another attribute of his to a higher grade. But that was if all the other factors remained constant.

    A steady surge of confidence burned within him, fuelling his performance in the game. With a calm mind, he''d decided to give his all for the remainder of the match.

    Whenever Rosenborg would lose possession, he would rush back into his half and defend with the rest of his teammates. Other times, when there was a chance for a counterattack, he was the first to race across the green to the other side of the field.

    He was determined to help his team qualify for the group stages of the Europa League. He had no intention of being penalized for failing to achieve even a single milestone of the system''s Europa League serial mission. He was the perfect example of a hardworking yer on the field for the entire match. He could have even given the future N''Golo Kant¨¦ a run for his money when considering his work-rate alone.

    Rosenborg enjoyed long spells of possession with him in the midfield. He linked well with Mike Jensen and Thomas Partey, the two defensive midfielders in Rosenborg''s 4-2-3-1 formation, to dictate the tempo and create a few more goal-scoring chances.

    With an insatiable appetite for destruction, Zachary initiated another Rosenborg counterattack in the 74th minute,te in the second half. He raced back to Rosenborg''s half and executed a perfect sliding tackle, winning the ball from Vitali Kibuk, the FK Minsk attacking midfielder. He immediately passed to Thomas Partey, the Ghanaian defensive midfielder in open space some few yards away.

    But he didn''t stop at that. He quickly turned and raced along the touchline towards the other side of the field even before Thomas Partey could receive his pass. He was like a bullet train on the rails, his long strides eating yards of space as he shrugged off the opponents tracking him. He was only hoping Thomas had already developed the vision to pick out his run and send him on his way towards the goal.

    Thomas Partey, the young defensive midfielder destined to achieve great things with his football career a few years from then, didn''t disappoint. He managed to unleash a defense-splitting pass over the zone of intense rival pressure ¡ª into the space ahead of Zachary on the left nk. With that well-timed ball, he managed to take out almost all the entire FK Minsk defense from the equation.

    Zachary couldn''t help but smile as he watched the ball bounce a few yards ahead of him. He was delighted that his bet on the young Ghanian defensive midfielder had paid off. However, that didn''t slow him in the slightest. He met the ball with his head and flicked it forward, continuing his run towards the FK Minsk goal like a human version of a hurricane.

    He was intent on destroying and snuffing out all the chances of FK Minsk making aeback. So, he gave his all to up his speed as he started cutting into the pitch.

    Sergey Sosnovski, the FK Minsk center-back, came to close him down after a short while. But Zachary didn''t even bother to slow down to draw in the defender. Instead, he fed the ball past him before beating him for pace and continuing towards the box, speed like the wind.

    However, the next instant, he realized that he''d taken a heavy touch while beating thest defender. The keeper was already rushing out of the goal and would probably get to the ball before him.

    Zachary felt a sudden re of frustration as he realized he might not manage to score. But he immediately crushed it and upped his speed, continuing towards the keeper like a racehorse. He''d decided not to give up the chase, at least not until the keeper had imed the ball.

    The time seemed to freeze the next instant since he was on a straight collision course with the gigantic keeper, who was nearly as tall as him. But, he hardened his resolve and observed the keeper closely ¡ª while continuing his mad dash.

    As if in slow motion, he watched the keeper stretch out his hands, readying himself to collect the ball. It was at that moment that he stretched out his left boot to make the slightest touch on the ball, which was about to find its way into the keeper''s hands.

    He then braked instantly, stopping himself from colliding with the keeper while still keeping an eye on the ball.

    A soft smile lit up his face the next instant as he realized that his simple touch had been enough to nudge the ball away from its course towards the keeper''s hands. It had rolled past his side beforeing to a halt a yard or two before the goal line in FK Minsk''s box.

    It was then a fair ball for anyone to im.

    Zachary sprung into action immediately with the agility of a cat that had caught the scent of some catnip. He circumvented the goalkeeper with all the haste he could muster before pouncing on the ball with a sliding tackle.

    He managed to reach its position just a couple of milliseconds before an FK Minsk defender could get there. He then nudged it into the back of the with an outstretched boot to score Rosenborg''s second goal in the 75th minute.

    **** ****

 Chapter 246 - An Unforeseen Incident

    **** ****

    FK MINSK 0 : ROSENBORG BK 2

    **** ****

    Coach Johansen nodded to himself, suppressing a smile after taking a fleeting nce at the stadium''s jumbotron. His yers had put up another incredible disy to dominate FK Minsk while ying away. As a result, Rosenborg was leading 2:0 in the 80th minute against the tricky Brusian side in the first leg of the Europa League qualifiers third round.

    Zachary was as brilliant as ever. He''d put up amanding performance in the attacking midfield and even scored both of Rosenborg''s goals. Coach Johansen wasn''t the least bit surprised. He''d long grown numb to seeing the young prodigy perform miraculous feats on the field.

    What had amazed him instead was the disy put up by Thomas Partey, his new signing, in the defensive midfield position.

    The Ghanaian was a natural-born mechanic on the pitch. He could tackle, jump high to win aerial duels, and also pass the ball brilliantly. Coach Johansen was already d he''d decided to bet on Zachary''s list and secure the four defensive-minded yers. He couldn''t wait to test the skills of the other three in a real game since he''d already deemed them incredible talents during training.

    ''I wonder how Zachary managed to spot such talents!'' He mused, sighing. He was still in awe that the 18-year old prodigy, who spent almost all his free time training either in the gym or at Lerkendal, could manage to scout out four talented yers. Moreover, that was all in one go. Even the most seasoned scouts, like Mr. Stein, would find it nearly impossible to aplish such a feat.

    "Coach," Trond Henriksen, the assistant head coach of Rosenborg, intoned from beside him, breaking him out of his reverie. "Have you noticed that Zachary has been running with a slight limp in his stride since he scored the second goal? I''m guessing he took a knock during the collision with the defender. Maybe, we should substitute him out and have him checked by the medics to avoid future problems."

    Coach Johansen''s eyes narrowed, his heart starting to race with anxiety on hearing his assistant''s assessment. He immediately cast his gaze on Zachary, who at that moment was jogging back towards the Rosenborg half to defend against an FK Minsk corner. To Coach Johansen''s horror, the young prodigy was limping slightly for sure.

    "Immediately signal for the fourth official to announce a substitution right away," he ordered, his voiceced with urgency. "Hurry up! Also, tell Jonas Svensson to start warming up. I need him on the pitch, in ce of Zachary, immediately." The coach spat out words at the pace of the machine gun. He was worried that Zachary would worsen his injury if he stayed on the field any longer. He had no intention of losing his best yer.

    "I''ll talk to the fourth official right away," Trond Henriksen replied solemnly. "We should be able to make a substitution within three minutes at most."

    "Make it two minutes."

    "Okay, I''ll try," Trond Henriksen replied as he walked away, leaving Coach Johansen with a head pounding with nervous tension.

    **** ****

    Zachary suppressed a rising panic as he leaped high to defend the corner. He could feel a sharp, stinging pain in his thigh as his feetnded back on the ground after heading the ball out of y for another FK Minsk corner.

    ''Oh my, not this! Have I gotten injured?'' He mused, frowning.

    Ominous thoughts spun at the back of his mind as he stretched out his leg a few times to determine whether something was amiss. To his terror, he could still feel a mind-numbing pain in his thigh muscle every time he moved his leg around. It caused him an immense amount of difort that tickled at his nerves, making even simple leg movements all but impossible.

    "Is something wrong, Zachary?" Mikael Dorsin, the assistant captain, inquired after arriving beside him a short whileter. "You seem to be experiencing some difort! What''s wrong?"

    Zachary could feel that his tone was filled with sincere concern. So he honestly told him about the sharp pain in his thigh.

    "Oh my, sorry to hear about that," Mikael said, eyeing his right leg. "When did you first experience the pain? Don''t tell me it''s when you collided with the defender before you scored the goal."

    Zachary sighed, nodding. He''d silently confirmed the assistant captain''s guess since he''d first noticed the pain while he was celebrating his second goal. Over time, it''d grown to an unbearable level, especially after leaping to head the corner ball out of y.

    "Oh, my!" Mikael eximed, narrowing his eyes. "Then, why didn''t you say anything? Sit down, first. I''ll signal the medics toe over before the FK Minsk yers can take the corner. We can''t let you continue running on that injury."

    Zachary nodded as he lowered himself onto the ground. He couldn''t believe that he''d gone ahead and injured himself right before qualifying for the mainpetition of the Europa League tournament. His only hope at that moment was for the system to have an immediate solution for his predicament. Otherwise, he would have it rough over the following few weeks since he couldn''t imagine a life withoutpetitive football.

    The referee stopped the gamey right after Zachary had sat on the green, within Rosenborg''s box. Within a matter of seconds, the Rosenborg medics had rushed on to the pitch and started checking his right thigh. As expected, they immediately hypothesized that he''d hurt his thigh muscle when he collided with the FK Minsk defender. So, they conducted some first aid procedures on his thigh, mainly cooling it with an ice pack, before advising him to get off the pitch without any dy.

    ''Why is this happening now?'' Zachary wondered, watching the sky as hey on a stretcher, being pushed out of the pitch by the two medics. He could hear the Rosenborg fans pping their hands rhythmically and shouting his name at the top of their voices, probably to send him off.

    But he wasn''t in the mood to revel in their passionate apuse at that moment. Instead, he''d broken his iron rule and startedmunicating with the system''s AI mentally. He was trying to ascertain whether the system had an immediate solution for his injury. That was because he''d recalled that a system vitality-enhancing-elixir had cured his ankle injury when he''d just returned back in time. So, he was hoping that the system would help heal him once again. That way, he would be able to partake in Rosenborg''s uing games without any need for any medical attention.

    However, the system''s AI crushed his hope the very next instant.

    "It''s unfortunate to hear that the user has gotten injured," the AI said in its feminine apathetic voice, nd without any trace of emotion. "And yes, even a B-grade vitality-enhancing-elixir can cure your injury within a short period if you consume it. However, the user must understand that such an elixir is among the highest prizes in the system store. Thus, the system can only offer it to the user as a reward after he haspleted a corresponding system mission. That is an iron-core rule in the core programming of the system. It cannot easily be changed unless the user can upgrade the system to the highest grade possible to unlock more privileges."

    Zachary felt his mood sink. He ceased all mentalmunication with the system AI after discovering it couldn''t help him recover immediately. He could only gnash his teeth and wait for the medics to make a more detailed diagnosis before finding out how long he would take to ovee the thigh injury.

    "Don''t worry about anything and take a moment to rest," Coach Johansen said, cing a hand on his shoulder when he arrived in Rosenborg''s technical area on a stretcher. "Just rx and leave the game to the rest of your teammates."

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied.

    "Status report," Coach Johansen then said, turning to the medics.

    "He seems to have hurt a thigh muscle," one of the medics said. "But we need to carry out a more detailed diagnosis in the hospital to find out more. We rmend taking him to the hospital right away."

    "Oh!" Coach Johansen said, frowning.

    "Is it possible to first finish watching the game before heading to the hospital?" Zachary could not help but interrupt after hearing the rmendation from the medic. "Only seven minutes are till the end of the game."

    The medic frowned slightly at Zachary''s request. He seemed to ponder on it for a few seconds before begrudgingly nodding his head in consent. "It''s okay to watch the remainder of the game. But stay still, and don''t try to move your leg until we''ve made a full diagnosis. Okay?"

    "Okay," Zachary concurred, nodding. He then propped up his head from the stretcher and started following the proceedings on the pitch from the sidelines.

    The FK Minsk yers had grown bolder and startedunching prolonged attacks on Rosenborg''s goal. But the Troll Kids were putting up an incredible defense-minded performance to deny the Brusian side any chance of scoring.

    Thomas Partey, the newly signed defensive-midfielder, was especially impressive in thest minutes of the game. His sense of positioning on the pitch was incredible. On several asions, he managed to intercept dangerous through-passes at the edge of Rosenborg''s defensive third, further frustrating the efforts of the FK Minsk yers. He was a yer destined to mature into a beast in defensive midfield, for sure.

    With all the Rosenborg yers giving their all to defend against the FK Minsk attacks, the score remained 0:2 until the referee blew the final whistle. But that was after an intense six minutes of added time.

    "Zachary, let''s head to the hospital," the medic said, cing an arm on his shoulder immediately after the game had ended. "We shouldn''t dy any longer."

    "That''s okay, doctor," Zachary said,ying his head back on the stretcher and closing his eyes. "We can leave right away."

    He''d calmed down considerably after watching his team go on to win the game. At least his teammates were trying their best to keep Rosenborg''s Europa League hopes alive, even in his absence. That put him at ease.

    **** ****

 Chapter 247 - An Injury

    "You''ve experienced a severe muscr contusion to the quadriceps at the front of your thigh," Zachary heard the middle-aged radiologist announce with a slight Russian ent. "We''ve also discovered a moderate contusion to the bone beneath the damaged tissue. However, the good news is that there''s no fracture or torn muscle in your thigh. So, your injury will heal pretty quickly as long as you avoid strenuous activities, get proper rest, and take other necessary recovery measures."

    Zachary let out a pent-up breath of air after hearing the diagnosis. For the previous thirty minutes, he''d been lying on one of thefy recliner chairs in an imagingb at the Minsk Regional Clinical Hospital, anxiously awaiting the radiologist''s verdict.

    His greatest fear had been the possibility that he''d fractured a bone or tore a ligament. He''d found it hard to stay calm as he waited since he understood that injuries of such severity could take even longer than four months to heal. Furthermore, the progress of his career would have been significantly slowed down as he struggled to regain match fitness after the recovery period.

    A smile lit up Zachary''s face for the first time since his arrival at the hospital in the Minsk city center. After hearing from the radiologist that the injury wasn''t too severe, he felt like he''d unloaded a massive weight from his shoulders.

    "How long will an injury like this take to heal?" He asked the radiologist. His main concern at that moment was how quickly he could get back to yingpetitive football.

    "Between six to nine weeks," the radiologist responded right away. "The exact recovery time varies from individual to individual. So, I can''t give any specifics. But since you''re a professional athlete, you should take an eight-week rehabilitation rest to avoid any futureplications arising from the injury. That should be enough time for both the muscle and bone contusions to heal without any problems."

    "Oh," Zachary said, frowning and feeling his mood sink again. Eight weeks of recovery meant he wouldn''t partake in any Rosenborg games untilte October. By then, the season would be close to conclusion. He would only get the chance to y in three or four fixtures before the closure of the Tippeligaen in early November. Moreover, he would also miss out on the Europa League group stages if his team managed to qualify. That frustrated him to a great extent.

    "Don''t worry about any unnecessary stuff, Zachary," Eivind Pedersen, one of the Rosenborg medics that had apanied him to the hospital, chipped in. "You need to put all your focus into recovery if you hope to heal as quickly as possible. Forget about everything else and focus on healing. We''ll be there to support you the entire time."

    "Okay," Zachary said, nodding. Although he was still in low spirits, he saw the wisdom in the medic''s words. From experiences in his past life, he understood he needed to have a positive attitude and put in a great deal of effort if he hoped to speed up his recovery. Those elements were essential in any professional athlete''s injury rehabilitation program. So, after calming down, Zachary forced himself to forget about the injury itself and the matches he would have to miss ¡ª so that he could pivot all his attention onto his recovery. That was what mattered the most at that moment.

    **** ****

    ''ROSENBORG''S YOUNG STAR, ZACHARY BEMBA, OUT FOR TWO MONTHS AFTER PICKING UP AN INJURY IN THE THIRD ROUND OF THE EUROPA LEAGUE QUALIFIERS.''

    ****

    Kristin couldn''t help but frown and shake her head repeatedly after reading the headline on the sports page of the Friday Adresseavisen newspaper. Her frustration spiked as she realized what a blow Zachary''s injury could be to Rosenborg''s hopes that season.

    Since Zachary was out for two months, he wouldn''t y in Rosenborg''s second-leg Europa League game against FK Minsk scheduled for the following Wednesday. He would also miss the semifinals of the Norwegian Cup and Rosenborg''s uing eight Tippeligaen fixtures. He would only return to full fitness for thest two Tippeligaen games and the Norwegian Cup final in early November.

    She wasn''t confident Rosenborg could maintain their remarkable form throughout all those games in Zachary''s absence. She was distraught by the news of his injury.

    "What''s the matter, Kristin?" Monica R?nning, her tmate, asked from across the table covered with a variety of dishes. The two of them were having breakfast in the living room of their apartment in Stj?rdalsveien.

    Kristin sighed, shaking her head after hearing her tmate''s question. "Zachary picked up an injury in yesterday''s game against FK Minsk," she said, returning her gaze to the newspaper article. "The medics estimate that he''ll need about two months to recover fully."

    "Oh, my!" Monica eximed, her eyes widening. "That''s just unfortunate. What sort of injury did he pick up?"

    "It''s a contusion to the thigh quadriceps and bone," Kristin replied, her eyes still on the newspaper page. "He picked it up during a collision with a defender right before he scored Rosenborg''s second goal. He''s truly unlucky this time around."

    "A muscle and bone contusion!" Monica mumbled, inclining her head slightly, deep in thought. "I picked up a simr injury while skiing in Swedenst November. It''s not a severe type of injury. Everything depends on how he manages it. His injured leg should regain motion quite quickly ¡ª probably in a couple of weeks as long as he rests and applies ice. However, it will take him at least six weeks to recover fully. I''m guessing the medics have added two more weeks to allow Zachary enough time to regain full fitness after the recovery period. That must be why they quoted two months rather than six weeks as the period he''ll be out."

    "Oh, that''s some good news atst," Kristin said, finally looking up from the newspaper. "All that''s on the web is negativity. Some people are already specting that the injury could affect Zachary''s form negatively, especially since he''s a young yer. They im he''ll find it hard to recoverpletely and that Rosenborg will lose its ce at the top of the table. I''ve even seen posts saying the Troll Kids will fail to qualify for the group stages of the Europa League after the return leg against FK Minsk next week."

    "Well," Monica said, smiling a bit. "I think they''re right. Rosenborg will find it more difficult to win games in Zachary''s absence for sure. Just imagine a Rosenborg without Zachary for the entire season. You guys would be like third or fourth on the table without his goals and assists."

    "That''s true," Kristin concurred, sighing. "However, I believe the rest of the team will rise to the asion and keep winning. None of our opponents in the Tippeligaen can stop our momentum thiste in the season."

    "Moreover," Kristin continued without a pause. "Coach Johansen has signed four new yers that look quite promising. One of them is Thomas Partey, a defensive midfielder. He put up a brilliant performance in his debut game against FK Minsk yesterday. With him on the squad, we have a good chance of winning our remaining games and maintaining our lead at the top of the table. The onlypetition that worries me is the Europa League. Without Zachary, I don''t see us qualifying out of the group stages."

    "Let''s hope the mighty Coach Johansen has a solution to all this," Monica said before changing the topic. "I''m guessing Zachary''s social media ounts must be experiencing a surge of activity. His followers should be expecting an official update on his status. How are you handling it?"

    "I''ve chosen to ignore them until I manage to get in touch with him," Kristin replied, smiling ruefully. "I''ll not post anything on his behalf before talking with either him or his agent."

    "Zachary is truly unlucky this time around." Monica sighed. "He would have been the leading contender for the golden boot and best yer awards this season if he could have maintained his form over the next few games. However, with the injury, I don''t see that happening."

    "Let''s just hope that he recovers fast. That''s what matters most at the moment."

    **** ****

    After spending a night in Minsk, Brus, the Rosenborg squad returned to Trondheim the following evening. Coach Johansen immediately decided to head to his office after sending off his yers at Lerkendal. He hoped to prepare the game n for the match against Sandnes Ulf two days away before heading home to rest.

    However, after settling in his office chair and opening up hisptop, his mind started wandering. Zachary''s injury hade at the worst possible time ¨C just when Rosenborg was close to qualifying for the Europa League.

    Coach Johansen understood that Rosenborg would find it hard to realize its goals in the Europa League without Zachary''s attacking prowess. Only a yer like Zachary, who possessed world-ss talent, could maintain his consistency even against the top teams in the Europa League. Coach Johansen had been banking on him to help Rosenborg through the group stages with his brilliance.

    "*Knock*Knock*Knock..."

    The sound of knocking on his office door broke him out of his reverie. "Come in," he said right away, not feeling any surprise. He was expecting Trond Henriksen, the assistant head coach, to pass by with another update on Zachary''s injury.

    "Good evening, Coach," Trond Henriksen said with a polite smile right after stepping into the office the very next instant.

    "Good evening to you too, Trond," Coach Johansen replied, half-smiling. "How is Zachary? Has he started treatment at St. v''s yet?"

    "Yes, he has," Trond Henriksen replied. "The doctors at St. v''s have also given a diagnosis simr to the one from Minsk. His quadriceps is slightly damaged and will need roughly four weeks to heal. The bone contusion is more problematic and requires about six weeks to heal properly. Zachary should return to full fitness in about two months if all goes well. The doctors have promised to do their best to help him through the recovery process."

    "That''s good," Coach Johansen said, nodding and leaning back into his chair. "Now, we only have to try our best to continue winning even though Zachary is out for two months. Have you been monitoring the three under-19 yers that you previously mentioned?"

    "Are you referring to the Kasongo boy and the Otterson brothers?" Trond Henriksen inquired, raising a brow.

    "Yes," Coach Johansen said, nodding. "How have they been performing of recent? Are they ready to join the senior team?"

    "Yes, they are," Trond Henriksen was quick to reply with a smile. "Kasongo has been exceptional throughout August. He has scored two more goals and also provided two assists on the Rosenborg under-19 team. Paul Otterson is also good in his own way and has also scored two goals this month. But I believe the most promising among the three is Kendrick Otterson, the oldest. I''ve realized that Kendrick is a natural-born goalkeeper who can make impossible saves even while under pressure."

    A soft smile lit up Coach Johansen''s face on hearing his assistant''s assessment. His mood lifted since the three new yers were ready to join the senior team. Coach Johansen hoped they would be the spark that could revitalize the Rosenborg team spirit. That way, the Troll Kids would continue winning even in the absence of Zachary.

    "You can arrange for them to join first-team training starting this weekend," Coach Johansen said after a short while with a smile. "I hope they surprise me and emerge as new stars on the team."

    **** ****

 Chapter 248 - Two Months

    Zachary put all his focus into the recovery process immediately after the game with FK Minsk. He avoided making any unnecessary movement and began using crutches to protect his leg from further harm. He was set on following his doctor''s instructions to the letter.

    In the first week of recovery, he routinely applied ice to his thigh ¡ª and kept his leg elevated most of the time to speed up the healing process. He took great caution while caring for his injured leg to avoid harming his thigh further. As a result, the pain had almostpletely subsided by the third week.

    He then started going through simple leg exercises to stretch and strengthen his quadriceps. Throughout the third week, he executed pain-free static contractions on a daily basis. His routine included four sets of ten repetitions of straight leg raises without weights. The exercises were aimed at enhancing the flexibility of his quadriceps muscle and helping him regain mobility in his right leg.

    The rehabilitation was quite tedious, considering he could aplish most of the exercises while seated or standing in one ce. They bored him beyond measure, giving rise to the spirit of giving up on a few asions. However, since he hoped to recover as quickly as possible, he persevered and went through the rehabilitation withoutint.

    Under the supervision of the Rosenborg medics and the doctors from St. v''s, he slowly started regaining mobility in his right leg. By the fourth week, he started training with weights to bolster his recovering muscles further. He even began swimming for an hour or two daily as a bonus.

    He was regaining his fitness at a rate faster than the doctors had initially expected. However, they still advised him to avoid all intensive exercise until his sixth week of recovery psed.

    In the seventh week of rehabilitation, he finally started going through intensive exercising routines targeted towards enhancing the fitness of professional footballers. Push-ups, jogging, agility drills, weights, and ball work ¡ª he started doing them all under strict supervision by the Rosenborg medics. He was intent on returning to the starting line-up before the end of the season. So, he practiced with more than a hundred percent effort during the eighth week of his rehabilitation.

    **** ****

    Monday, 28th October 2013.

    **** ****

    Thete autumn sunlight streamed golden through the window in a well-mannered announcement of the just risen sun. It was just eight o''clock in the morning. However, Coach Johansen was already in his office at Lerkendal, reviewing Rosenborg''s previous match statistics on hisptop. He would asionally frown, sigh, or smile, depending on the match he was analyzing. But if he was observed from a close distance, it was easy to notice that he had smiled more times than his face had morphed into a frown that morning. That was because the coach was quite pleased with his team''s performance over the previous two months.

    Rosenborg had faced some tough fixtures in thest quarter of the Tippeligaen season after Zachary''s injury. It had been a tough two months ying without Zachary, for sure.

    The Rosenborg yers had performed poorly in a few matches. They''d tied against opponents like Troms? Idrettg, FK Haugesund, and H?nefoss Ballklubb during September. They''d even suffered a loss to Molde in their second-leg game, giving rise to tension and dissatisfaction among the supporters.

    During those times, Coach Johansen had been on tenterhooks, thinking his team would lose its position at the top of the table. However, the Rosenborg yers had continued giving Coach Johansen pleasant surprises. They always bounced back after a poor result and put up incredible performances to win most games. They were resilient and overflowing with the Rosenborg team spirit.

    Due to their efforts, Rosenborg was still ahead of the second-ced Str?msgodset on the Tippeligaen table by five points ¡ª with only two games to the end of the season. Rosenborg only needed one more point ¡ª which equated to one more draw in the remaining two matches ¡ª to be crowned as 2013 Norwegian Champions.

    Coach Johansen could hardly contain his happiness. He was on the cusp of winning the Tippeligaen Trophy during his first season as manager. He couldn''t have hoped for a better result after Zachary''s unfortunate injury in August.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    His phone vibrated a short whileter, breaking him out of his intense concentration. He picked it up leisurely from his office table and cast a single nce at the screen before cing it next to his ear. "Yes, hello, Dr. Pedersen," he spoke into his smartphone after clearing his voice. "How''s your morning?"

    "My morning is fine, coach," Dr. Eivind Pedersen, one of the Rosenborg medics, replied from the other end of the line. "I have called to deliver some good news."

    "Oh," Coach Johansen said, his heart starting to race with anticipation.

    "Zachary has recovered fully from his injury," Dr. Pedersen continued almost without a pause. "He haspleted his rehabilitation and can participate in the team training starting this week."

    "That''s great," Coach Johansen said excitedly. "How''s his fitness? Is he ready to ypetitive games?"

    "Yes, he is," Dr. Pedersen replied almost immediately. "From our tests, we can conclude that he has already regained full match-fitness. His thigh contusion has recovered without any problems. You can test his match condition yourself when he appears at Lerkendal for training."

    "Thank you, doctor," Coach Johansen said, tone polite. "That''s the best news I''ve received over the past few weeks. I''m d Zachary can finally return to the squad."

    "There''s no need for any thanks since that''s my job," Dr. Pedersen said from the other end of the line. "But you''ll need to watch out for one issue after Zachary returns to intensive team training. As you know, a sports injury has both physical and psychological consequences for an athlete. The mostmon post-injury psychological response is an elevated level of fear of reinjury. So, Zachary may underperform in the first few weeks after recovery. But worry not. He is a tough guy and should ovee it in a short period of time."

    "That''s understandable," Coach Johansen replied. "I''ll observe how he performs during training this week. If I notice any signs indicating that he has developed some phobia, I''ll send him to a sports psychologist immediately."

    "That''s good," Dr. Pedersen said. "Let me say goodbye for now. I wish you all the best during the remaining matches of the season. We''re all waiting for the Troll Kids to emerge as Norwegian champions once again this year."

    "Thank you," Coach Johansen said, leaning back in his chair. "But you don''t need to worry. We''ll be champions. That''s for sure since Zachary has returned to the squad."

    "That''s great," Dr. Pedersen said. "I''ll start preparing the champagne since I now have your assurance. Let me say goodbye for now. I have to return to work."

    "Goodbye, and thanks for the call."

    Coach Johansen grinned as he ced the phone back on his office table. With Zachary back on the line-up, Rosenborg''s chances of winning both the Tippeligaen Trophy and the Norwegian Cup had gone up a notch. It was like a higher power had cast blessings onto them ¨C to ensure they would win the double. Coach Johansen''s spirits were flying high on realizing Rosenborg was very close to winning the two most prestigious Norwegian Trophies.

    "*Knock*Knock*Knock..."

    The sound of someone knocking on his office door broke him out of his reverie once again. "Come in," he said almost immediately, leaning back in his chair.

    The next moment, he saw the door open before the tall Zachary with an overgrown afro marched into his office. The boy prodigy was as imposing as ever. He was garbed in the official Rosenborg training kit and seemed ready for that day''s morning training.

    "Good morning, Zachary," Coach Johansen said, standing up and extending a hand. "Wee back. We missed you on the team."

    "Thank you, coach," Zachary replied, taking the hand. His tone was humble. "How have you been, coach?"

    "I''m fine, Zachary," Coach Johansen said, settling back in his office chair. "Please, have a seat. How was your holiday? You got two months of rest, and I almost envy you for that." He added with a bit of humor.

    Zachary sighed audibly, shaking his head on hearing the question. "The holiday was too boring and almost unbearable," he said. "Imagine sitting at home for two months and doing nothing productive. All I could do was watch TV and go through some light exercising routines. It was the worst possible hell for me."

    "Sorry about that," Coach Johansen said, half-smiling. "But it''s good you''re back. You can now y to your heart''s content throughout this uing month of November. However, are you ready for action?"

    "Of course, I am," Zachary replied, tone confident. "I started going through more intensive exercise routines to regain my fitness two weeks ago. I feel confident, and I''m more than ready to participate in Rosenborg''s uing match against Viking Stavanger next Sunday."

    "That''s good, then," Coach Johansen said with a smile. "Let''s see how you perform during this week''s training. But please make sure that you don''t push yourself too hard. Take it slow until you feelfortable with the ball once again. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, nodding. "I understand."

    "Good," Coach Johansen said. "You can go ahead and join the rest of the team in the gym for the morning fitness session directed by Coach Rolf Aas. I''ll then see you on the training ground in the afternoon for the team session."

    "Till after lunch then, coach," Zachary replied, standing up and then heading towards the door.

    Coach Johansen couldn''t help but sigh as he watched him walk out of the office. At that moment, he couldn''t help but envision how Rosenborg''s season could have progressed if Zachary hadn''t gotten injured.

    ''Maybe, Rosenborg would have won the three opening games in the Europa League group stages,'' he mused, turning his gaze towards the outside scenery through the window. ''We shouldn''t be in such a bind, hoping for a miracle to qualify for the next stage of the Europa League.''

    After Zachary had gotten injured, the rest of the yers had still managed to put up an incredible performance against FK Minsk in the second leg of the Europa League qualifiers third round. They''d managed to beat the team from Brus 1:0 to cement their ce in the Europa League group stages.

    All the fans, yers, and coaches were ecstatic since Rosenborg had managed to qualify for the main Europa League tournament. Morale had been very high as the yers prepared for the second most prestigious international teampetition in Europe. However, due to the shortage of creative world-ss attacking yers, the Troll Kids had ended up losing their three opening games in the group stages.

    They kicked off their campaign with a 1:2 away loss to the Belgian team ¡ª Standard Li¨¨ge. They then faced off against Red Bull Salzburg, a team from Austria, at Lerkendal and lost 1:0. After that, they were defeated by IF Elfsborg 1:0 in an away game yed in Bor?s, Sweden. They were at the bottom of the table, having failed to secure even a single point in the group stages. At that moment, they were already trailing Red Bull Salzburg, the leaders of their group, by nine points ¡ª and were six points behind second-ced Standard Li¨¨ge.

    Coach Johansen had already considered giving up on the Europa League since Rosenborg''s campaign was going miserably. He had thought about cutting his losses and focusing on the Tippeligaen and Norwegian Cup. He had had little to no hope of Rosenborg making up the six-point deficit in the remaining three games of the group stage to qualify for the next round.

    However, since Zachary had regained fitness, Coach Johansen could finally see a ray of hope amidst the gloom. The youngster was a magician on the field. He was a winner and would do his best to avoid a loss as long as he was on the ying field. If he could ovee his post-injury phobia quickly, he would perhaps inspire Rosenborg to qualify for the next stage.

    "Let''s see how he performs in the next five days of training," Coach Johansen mumbled, sighing. "As long as he puts up an above-average performance, I''ll give him time during the weekend game against Viking Stavanger. That should be enough to prepare him for the match against IF Elfsborg the following week."

    **** ****

 Chapter 249 - Return To The Starting Line-up I

    After departing from Coach Johansen''s office, Zachary immediately trekked to the locker room to change his sneakers before heading to the gym for the fitness session.

    He walked at a moderate pace, asionally slowing down to look at the posters lined up on the walls of the brightly lit hallways of Lerkendal Stadium.

    The posters were pleasing to the eye and gave the stadium''s hallways a uniquely majestic feel. They mostly depicted past Rosenborg squads that had managed to win des. A few portrayed retired Rosenborg legends that put up incredible performances during their time on the team. Just by looking at them, one could envision the glorious history and past grandeur of Rosenborg. The only blemish was that the radiance didn''t include any European aplishments.

    Nheless, Zachary always enjoyed gazing at them. He''d often wondered if he would get the chance to have his poster on the walls of Lerkendal Stadium as well.

    He was confident in his skills ¡ª but he knew he could only spend a few years of his football career at Rosenborg. He nned on spending two or three years in Norway before moving on to greener pastures. He wasn''t that self-assured that he could match the achievements of the other Rosenborg legends and have his poster stered on the walls in such a short time frame. It looked even more unlikely after he''d taken two whole months off to recover from an injury.

    ''I can only start slow and try to do my best for the remainder of the season,'' Zachary resolved. ''As long as I perform well during this week''s training, I''ll be able to make the squad for the Sunday game against Viking Stavanger. That should be the beginning of myeback.''

    Zachary quickened his pace after taking a nce at Coach Nils Arne Eggen''s portrait. In a matter of minutes, he arrived in the locker room. He''d assumed it would be empty since all the yers were supposedly in the gym, attending Coach Rolf Aas'' morning fitness session. But to his surprise, he found Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg assistant captain, changing his attire right beside his locker.

    "Hoho!" the assistant captain said, clicking his tongue on seeing Zachary. "Wee back. We missed you here. How are you?" He stepped forward and gave Zachary a bear hug.

    "I''m okay, Mikael," Zachary replied, epting the hug. "And you? How are you doing?"

    "I''m fine," Mikael replied, smiling and stepping away from Zachary. "It''s nice to see you again. Is your injury finally healed? And have you managed to regain full fitness?"

    "Yes. The doctors cleared me to return to training this morning. I''m as fit as a fiddle."

    "That''s awesome," Mikael said, settling on one of the benches in the locker room. "Your return will certainly boost our morale when we face off against Viking Stavanger on the weekend. If we win or draw that game, we''ll be champions. So, if you had dyed your return by even a week, you would have missed out on the victory celebrations."

    "I can see that you''re confident," Zachary said, also settling on one of the benches and starting to change out of his sneakers. "But then you should be since we''re the best team in Norway. Although Viking Stavanger is a tricky side, we''ll still win by a wide margin as long as we y at our best as a team. How is the team''s morale at the moment?"

    "The morale is a bit on the low side," Mikael replied, shaking his head. "We lost to Moldest Saturday and also faced defeat while ying against IF Elfsborg during the previous Thursday''s Europa League fixture. Most of the yers on the team have been in low spirits because of those two consecutive defeats. I was even worried we might fail to win the weekend game against Viking Stavanger. But since you''re back, I''m relieved. With you on the team, there''s no way we can lose to a side like Viking Stavanger."

    "Don''t count on me too much," Zachary said hurriedly, shaking his head. "I have been out of action for two whole months. I''ll try my best in training and the uing games for sure. But I''m just not that confident I''ll regain my previous form immediately."

    Although Zachary wasn''t sure he would return to his peak state right after his two-month injury, he still had high hopes for Rosenborg''s uing games. As long as he managed to make the starting line-up, he was sure he would impact the results, even when not at his best. That was because his game didn''t just depend on dribbling and sprinting through opponents. He was also a Maestro ¡ª good at passing, unleashing long shots, and taking free-kicks.

    Zachary had trained his passing and free-kick techniques in the G.O.A.T Skills Simtor during his two-month recovery period relentlessly. As a result, the mental aspect of his game was sharper than ever. He was confident he could still unleash tricky passes behind the defense and score free kicks whenever he got the opportunity in apetitive game.

    As long as the opponents rxed and gave him some breathing space on the ying field, he would punish them. Even in critical moments, he was sure he would be able to take an entire defense out of the equation with a single defense-splitting pass. Moreover, if defenders dared tomit any fouls close to their eighteen-yard box, he would still manage to discipline them with his set-piece technique.

    "All that matters is that you try your best," Mikael said, shing Zachary a smile. "But remember not to force your way back into the game. Instead, you should ease back into training slowly until you feelfortable and confident whenever you''re facing an opponent with the ball."

    "That''s what I n to do," Zachary replied, starting to pull on his stockings. "Thanks for the advice. But why are you here and not with the rest in the gym? Do you n on dodging Coach Rolf Aas'' fitness session?"

    Mikael smiled on hearing that. "I received a knock to my ankle during the game against Molde on Saturday. So, I had to pass by the hospital first ¡ª to have it checked out. That''s why I''mte for training."

    "Is everything okay, then?" Zachary inquired hurriedly. "Don''t tell me that you''re also injured, now."

    "There''s no need to worry about me," Mikael replied, tone nonchnt. "It''s not a big deal. The doctors have assured me it''s just a bruise. It''ll heal in one or two days at most."

    "That''s a relief," Zachary said, letting out a breath. "We wouldn''t want to lose you at this critical pointte in the season. We still have two more matches in the Tippeligaen. Then, we have to y the Norwegian Cup finals, plus the three remaining Europa League group stage games. We can''t afford to lose any yer right now."

    Mikael chuckled on hearing that. "I''m not going anywhere. But that reminds me about our Europa League campaign. I always get depressed just by thinking about our performances in the opening three games of the tournament. We couldn''t even manage a single draw in all the games! We were truly miserable." He sighed audibly.

    "But we still have a chance to qualify," Zachary said, also sighing. "As long as we win our remaining three games, we''ll have a good chance to qualify for the knock-out stages. We have toe back with a bang ¡ª by defeating Red Bull Salzburg, the table leaders, on November 7th. As long as we win that game, we''ll have the necessary momentum to thrash the rest of the group."

    "That''s a lofty goal, and I like it for sure," Mikael said, sighing. "But you have to remember that Red Bull Salzburg is quite the powerhouse in the Europa League. Moreover, we''re ying away in Austria. That game will be a very tough battle for us."

    "That doesn''t matter," Zachary replied, tone emphatic. "As long as we don''t give up and try our best, we have a good chance of winning. We must y that game like it''s a final. We can''t afford to lose."

    Zachary would face a penalty from the system if Rosenborg failed to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Europa League. He would have to pay a total sum of 120,000 Juju points if he couldn''t aplish any milestone in the system''s 2013/14 Europa League Serial Mission. It was one hell of a system penalty that he couldn''t afford to incur in the short term ¡ª without hindering the smooth progress of his career.

    He had already failed toplete the first milestone of ying at least 80% of Rosenborg''s Europa League fixtures. He could only set his sights on the second milestone ¡ª which necessitated him to help his team qualify for the knock-out stages. That was the only way for him to escape the penalty.

    "Let''s not set our sights at those far-off lofty goals for the moment," Mikael said, standing up. He''d already finished donning his training attire and seemed ready for the fitness session. "Instead, we should focus on the next Tippeligaen fixture."

    "We have to put up our best performance to win against Viking Stavanger next Sunday," the assistant captain continued. "We''ll be the 2013 champions if we can win or at the very least acquire a draw in that game. After that, we''ll have gained all the momentum to face off against Red Bull Salzburg. Moreover, our schedule will free up considerably since we won''t have to table our main squad during thest game of the season against Lillestr?m. So, we''ll have all the time to prepare for the other two remaining Europa League group games without any interruptions."

    "You''re right," Zachary concurred, also standing up. He''d also finished donning his gym attire and switching his sneakers. "It all starts with us winning the Sunday game and bing the 2013 Norwegian champions. Otherwise, we won''t have the necessary capital to challenge Red Bull Salzburg or Standard Li¨¨ge."

    "I''m d you understand," Mikael said, patting his shoulder. "And I''m also d that you''re back, Zachary. We have missed your contributions to the team."

    "Thanks, Mikael," Zachary said, grinning. "We should probably head to the gym now. Otherwise, we might have to face Coach Rolf Aas'' wrath if we dy any longer."

    "Okay," Mikael said, cing his bag in his locker.. "Let''s go do some gym work."

 Chapter 250 - Return To The Starting Line-up II

    Zachary gave his all during the next few days of practice. He worked harder than ever to regain his peak fitness by following a strict and carefully nned exercise regimen.

    His daily practice sessions included gym work, agilities, endurance training, team passing drills, and ball work. He worked at everything with hundred percent dedication and noints under the guidance of the Rosenborg coaches.

    Zachary only encountered a few minor problems as he immersed himself back into the hectic team training sessions. He''d realized that his body control and dribbling skills had diminished considerably over the two months of recovery. So, he found it quite arduous to dribble past any of the Rosenborg first-team defenders. Moreover, on a few asions when the defenders tried to tackle the ball from his feet, he would panic and sometimes end up losing possession. He subconsciously feared suffering another injury.

    He was aware that it was just some mental trauma resulting from the injury. But even though he understood the core of the problem, he couldn''t do much about it. So, he decided to switch his entire ying style to one-touch or two touch-passing without bothering to dribble past even a single yer during training.

    Whenever he would receive a pass, he would control the ball before immediately relinquishing it to a teammate without dy. He would then run into space the next moment and wait for the ball to return to him. With his high game intelligence, graded at A+ by the system, he switched to a ying style that limited the possibilities ofing into contact with the opponents in a matter of days. By the fifth day of training, he''d managed to evolve his game to fit his new state of mind so that he wouldn''t be affected by his post-injury phobia.

    **** ****

    Saturday, 2nd November 2013.

    **** ****

    The sunset slowly but steadily blossomed upon the horizon as if a million scarlet blooms had ignited. On that autumn evening, Zachary was still on the training ground at Lerkendal training his set-piece technique.

    "That''s set-piece number forty into the back of the," Paul Otterson yelled excitedly from the sidelines after Zachary managed to dispatch another free-kick into the top right corner. "Kendrick," the Swede continued with a bit of humor. "Why aren''t you diving or trying to make any saves? You''re just standing there and allowing Zachary to put more free-kicks into the back of the. Don''t you feel any shame?"

    "If you think you can do better than me, you''re wee toe and stand in my ce, between the posts," Kendrick yelled in a dismissive tone. "Otherwise, shut up and return to your training. Remember that you haven''tpleted the required gym work for today evening. Coach Johansen will demote you back to the under-19s if you keep on lousing around."

    "Guys," Zachary yelled, cing another ball right in front of the box. He was preparing to send another free-kick over the wall. "It''s alreadying to 4:30 PM. Coach Johansen will be calling us for the prematch tactical briefing very soon. So, we can''t afford to waste any time."

    "Paul and Kasongo!" He turned towards his two friends. "You guys don''t have to stand there, watching me taking free-kicks. You can utilize this time to do agilities or jog around the stadium. Or, you can even start on some simple passing drills together. Remember that time waits for no man. Okay?"

    "Yes, sir," the two of them replied in unison as if Zachary was their coach.

    "Then, off you go," Zachary said, shooing them away with a wave of his hand. "Go busy yourselves with your training and stop bothering us here. We''ll link up again when we''re heading to the tactics roomter." His tone was sharp andmanding. The two of them could only smile ruefully before begrudgingly walking away to train in another part of the ying field.

    "They are still as yful as ever," Kendrickmented as soon as the boys had moved out of earshot. "It''s like they don''t feel any pressure even when faced with the wholepetitive atmosphere on the first team."

    "I''m sure that they are under tremendous pressure," Zachary replied, shaking his head. "Joking around is their way of coping. Let''s hope their yfulness won''t affect their training in the long run." He sighed.

    His three friends from his academy days had made tremendous progress while ying for the Rosenborg under-19 team over the first half of the year. As a result, Coach Johansen had invited them to begin training with the team at the end of August, just after he''d gotten injured.

    Kendrick Otterson, the goalkeeper, had quickly gotten into high gear and easily adapted to the intensive atmosphere on the first team. He was very hardworking and had managed to improve his skills considerably over the previous two months. On the other hand, the other two, Paul and Kasongo, were still as yful as ever and not taking anything seriously. They weren''t doing their best to improve their skills during their spare time. They would immediately lose all motivation as soon as the official training sessions ended.

    Zachary worried that their skills would regress¡ªand as a result, the coaches would demote them back to the under-19 team. That was a fate he didn''t wish upon his friends.

    "The disturbances have gone away," Zachary said after noticing that both Kasongo and Paul had started runningps around the stadium. "Let''s get back to training. I need to take twenty more free-kicks before Coach Johansen calls us for the tactical meeting."

    "I''m ready when you are," Kendrick replied from in between the goalposts. "This time, I''ll do my best to stop you."

    "Dream on!" Zachary said, grinning at the goalkeeper. The next moment, he abruptly raised his leg and smashed the ball, sending it spinning¡ªon a curving path towards the top left corner. He''d employed his high-level Bend-it-like-Beckham Juju to take the free-kick.

    "You''re not scoring this time," Kendrick roared, leaping high and stretching himself into a full-body dive. He was really trying his best to thwart Zachary''s attempt at goal. However, all his efforts were just in vain. The ball shed by his outstretched hand by mere inches, homing into the back of the.

    "That''s free-kick number 41 into the back of the," Zachary said, imitating Paul Otterson''s voice as Kendrick picked himself from the ground after failing to make the save.

    "Your conversion rate with set-pieces is out of this world," Kendrickmented, shaking his head. "I feel sorry for all the goalkeepers who''ll have to face against you during the uing matches. Let''s continue."

    "Okay," Zachary said, smiling and cing another ball before the eighteen-yard box. Without taking a breather, he continued taking set-pieces even when the sun had disappeared beyond the horizon in the west. He only concluded his session when Coach Johansen summoned the team to the tactics room for the prematch briefing at 6:00 PM.

    **** ****

    "Good evening, everyone," Coach Johansen said, smiling and sweeping his gaze across all the yers in the tactics room. He was in a good mood since training had progressed without issues over the past few days.

    "Good evening, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    "Tomorrow evening, we''ll face off against Viking Stavanger in our secondst fixture of this Tippeligaen season," Coach Johansen said, tone pensive. "It''s a game we have to win if we wish to be the Norwegian champions tomorrow. We can''t falter at this crucial point of the season. Are we together, guys?" He yelled.

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied, their voices brimming with enthusiasm.

    "That''s good," Coach Johansen said, nodding. He could tell that the morale of the team was at a very high level. The yers seemed highly motivated, probably because they were only a step away from clinching the Tippeligaen trophy.

    "We''ve spent the entire week going over the game n," Coach Johansen continued with a smile, lowering his voice. Nheless, it still carried to all the twenty-four yers in the tactics room. "So, I won''t waste time discussing the tactics again this evening. Instead, I''ll announce the squad for tomorrow and then send you home for the night. I want all the yers on the squad to have ample time to rest today night. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good," the coach said, unfolding his notebook. "We''ll use the 4-2-3-1 formation, and our starting line-up is as follows. Daniel ?rlund will be our goalkeeper. Tore Reginiussen, Mikael Dorsin, Eric Bailly, and Yerry Mina will y our defense."

    "In our defensive midfield, we''ll have Mike Jensen and Thomas Partey while Zachary Bemba will y as our only attacking midfielder. Our wingers will be Tobias Mikkelsen and Alexander S?derlund, while Nicki Nielsen will y as our center-forward."

    "That''s it for the starting line-up," Coach Johansen said, looking around. "I expect all the yers on the starting line-up to put up their best from the very first minute. I don''t want to see any of you cking off on the pitch. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "That''s good," the coach said, half-smiling. "Moving on. On the bench, we''ll have Lund Hansen, Cristian Gamboa, Stefan Strandberg, Ole Seln?s, Mix Diskerud, John Chibuike, and Pal Andr¨¦ Hend. That''s it for the substitutes." Coach Johansen nced up from his notebook.

    "Tomorrow," he said, letting out a breath. "Let''s do our best to against Viking. We''re at home at Lerkendal, so there shouldn''t be any reason for us to underperform. We have to win, and we have to win by andslide. We must destroy Viking Stavanger tomorrow and emerge as champions. For we are ROSENBOORGGG!!!!" He ended his speech with a cheer.

    "WE''RE ROSENBOOOOORGGGG, ROSENBORG..." The yers chimed in, singing at the top of their voices in chorus. They were in high gear and highly motivated for the game the following day. They were eager to be crowned champions.

    **** ****

 Chapter 251 - Against Viking Stavanger

    Dusk approached and slowly began creeping over the bustling city of Trondheim. The setting sun seemed to have ignited the sparse clouds, painting Lerkendal Stadium in a multitude of crisscrossing dreamy colors.

    It was still 3:56 PM, with more than two hours left to the scheduled start of Rosenborg''s game against Viking Stavanger. However, an immense crowd had already flooded Lerkendal, filling up the seats within the stands of the home ground of Rosenborg Ballklub. The home section of the stadium was already like a sea of people in ck and white colors, singing and cheering at the top of their voices like there was no tomorrow.

    Kristin Stein swept her gaze over the passionate supporters around her ¡ª and then over the Rosenborg yers warming up on the pitch until her eyes rested on Zachary. She couldn''t help but smile as her mood lightened. ''Thank God he managed to recover before the end of the season without any issues,'' she mused.

    Rosenborg''s chances of winning the trophy that night had increased considerably due to Zachary''s return. There was little to no chance that the Troll Kids would lose the uing game with the phenomenal number-33 back on the starting line-up.

    "It has been a while since Ist watched a live Rosenborg game," Emily Anderson, Zachary''s agent, said from beside her. She, too, was in Rosenborg''s colors, looking pretty in a long-sleeved white top, a ck and white scarf, and a chic Rosenborg cap. "I see quite a number of new faces," she continued without a pause, casting her gaze onto the pitch ¡ª towards Zachary''s position. "Who are the two ck yers standing with Zachary?"

    A soft smile lit up Kristin''s face on hearing her question. She''d grown close to Emily over the previous few months of working as Zachary''s publicity secretary. She respected her as a football agent and enjoyed herpany as an acquaintance.

    "One is Thomas Partey, a very talented defensive midfielder," Kristin replied. "The other is Eric Bailly, an incredible defender. The two of them have managed to capture the hearts of the Rosenborg supporters within just two months of making their debut. They are truly phenomenal yers, the likes that will go wayster in their respective careers."

    "Oh," Emily said, raising a brow. "How talented are they? Are they on a level simr to that of Zachary?"

    "Nah," Kristin replied, shaking her head. "Zachary is in his own world regarding skills and talent. However, you shouldn''t belittle the two of them. Thomas Partey is just 20 years of age. However, he has already made it into the top defensive midfielders in the Norwegian League this season. The other yer, Eric Bailly, seems to be even more talented. He''s just 19 years, but he has already put up several great performances and sessfully defended against a few top forwards in the Norwegian League. He is like an imprable bastion on the defense."

    "It seems Coach Johansen is pretty good at spotting talented young yers," Emily remarked, seemingly deep in thought.

    "He sure is," Kristin chipped in, sighing. "Aside from those two, he also managed to sign two more talented young defenders during the mid-season transfer window. They have also been doing great over the previous two months."

    "He managed to sign four talented young yers in a single go!" Emily eximed, her eyes widening. "He''s quite something, then. Rosenborg will surely go ways with him as a coach. And maybe, I should try getting some scouting advice from him."

    Kristin nodded in agreement. Like the rest of the Rosenborg fans, she''d also been shocked by Coach Johansen''s insight. He''d gone against most of the Rosenborg executives to sign four unknown yers. Yet, in only two months, those insignificant yers had performed beyond expectations and captured the hearts of most of the Rosenborg fans. It was a marvelous feat in the highlymercialized modern footballndscape.

    Coach Johansen''s shrewdness when scouting yers was remarkable. Kristin truly admired his vision, especially since she, too, was aspiring to be a professional scout in the future.

    "Let me take this opportunity to wee everyone to Lerkendal Stadion," Kristin heard Kjell Roar, thementator for the day, yell out loud a short whileter. His voice was loud and clear through the stadium''s loudspeakers. "Wee, everyone. I hope you''re all having a great evening and ready for some football action! It''s match-day twenty-nine. The Troll Kids are about to go up against Viking Stavanger in the secondst game of this year''s Tippeligaen season."

    "I''m looking forward to the start of the match since today might be the climax of Rosenborg''s season," thementator continued without a pause. "The Troll Kids only need a draw to be the Norwegian Champions in today''s fixture. They are at 65 points, five ahead of second-ced Str?msgodset. With one more point, they''ll win the league with a game to go before the end of the season. And the good news is that Zachary Bemba, the talented young number-33, is back on the starting line-up after taking off two months to recover from a thigh injury."

    "Harald! What is your take on this match? Do you think the Troll Kids can pick up the needed point and be the 2013 Norwegian champions today night?"

    "Well," Harald Brattbakk, the pundit for the day, began. "The Troll Kids should be more motivated than ever to win this game. They will surely want to end the season early. Let''s not forget that they still have to y three more games in the Europa League and then face off against Molde in the Norwegian Cup final before the end of the year. So, I''m sure they''ll do their utmost to win against Viking in today''s game. Moreover, I can''t just picture any chance of Rosenborg losing with Zachary back on the starting line-up. That''s almost an impossibility."

    "So, your prediction is a win for Rosenborg, then?" Kjell Roar queried.

    "Yes," Harald replied in a confident tone. "My prediction is 2:1 in favor of Rosenborg."

    "Hehe," Kjell Roar chuckled, seemingly amused. "Pray that you''re right. Otherwise, hmm."

    "I should be right this time," Harald said with a solemn tone. "The score might not be the correct one. But this is a match that Rosenborg will win for sure."

    "Let''s talk about Zachary, then," Kjell Roar intoned after a short break. "We all know that the young prodigy has been out of action for an entire two months with a thigh injury. Today is the night of hiseback. He is back on the starting line-up and will surely be looking to score and force his way to the top of the list of the Golden Boot contenders again. He has already managed to 18 goals during this Tippeligaen season. Should he score one more, he''ll tie with Frode Johnsen, the current top scorer. Harald! Do you see this happening? Can Zachary Bemba regain his form and score his 19th goal in the Tippeligaen this season?"

    "That is a question I can''t answer," Harald Brattbakk, the pundit, said with an audible sigh. "Zachary has missed out on a lot of action over the past two months. So, I''m guessing he''ll most likely not be at his best in today''s game. But I might be wrong."

    "Oh, why?" Kjell Roar chipped in.

    "The reason is simple," Harald, the pundit, replied. "I have learned never to judge yers like Zachary with simplemon sense after a number of experiences. Zachary is a brilliant yer who can easily create miracles on the pitch. Maybe, he might return with a bang in today''s match and end up scoring a brace to help Rosenborg clinch the title. But we can''t know for sure until we see him perform in the opening minutes of this game."

    "I have to disagree with you on that point," Kjell Roar chimed in once again. "I, for one, believe that Zachary isn''t ready to return to the starting line-up. He should be rusty since he has been away for two months. If I were Coach Johansen, I would have ced Zachary among the substitutes today. I would only give him a few minutes of ying time ¡ª to ensure that he takes the necessary baby steps to regain his match fitness and form. That would be the right way of doing things to ensure that our young prodigy regains his confidence at a slow but steady rate without taking any unnecessary risks."

    "But I just don''t know what is up with our friend, Coach Johansen," thementator continued. "Why the rush? Why is he in a hurry to y Zachary even when he has just recovered from an injury? Zachary''s return to the starting eleven is a bit too hurried for sure. So, I''m guessing he''ll underperform in today''s fixture."

    "You might be right with your analysis," Harald said after a short pause. "But as I already mentioned, you can''t judge Zachary by normal standards. He is the sort of yer who''s an outlier. He''s a hardworking and brilliant athlete that can perform beyond expectations even when the odds are stacked against him. The coach must have his reasons for cing him on the starting line-up. So, we can only wait and see how he performs after kick-off."

    "Then, let''s wait and see."

    **** ****

    Kjell Jonevret, the head coach of Viking Stavanger, swept his gaze across all the yers in the visitor''s dressing room before nodding to himself in satisfaction. They were all waiting eagerly for his pre-match address. He could tell that they were highly motivated and ready to face off against the tricky Rosenborg side.

    "In a few minutes, we''ll sh against Rosenborg," he began with a smile. "I won''t bother to go through most of the tactics once again. I''ve been talking about the game n on rey over the past few days. By now, all of you should be very familiar with the tactics. So, I''ll only touch upon a few crucial points before sending you to the pitch for the game."

    "First," he continued, stroking his chin. "You''ve got to y this game as if your lives depend on it. We can''t just allow Rosenborg to trample all over us so that they can be champions. We have to put up a fight and give them a game of their lives. So, I want all of you to disy two hundred percent in today''s match. y as a team, and we''ll surely seed and defeat Rosenborg here at Lerkendal."

    "Second, I want our two holding midfielders to give some tough love to that Zachary Bemba. Please, make sure that you don''t allow him any space within our final third. Be aggressive and close him down quickly whenever he receives the ball. Mark him tightly, and we''ll be able to nip all Rosenborg''s attacks in the bud. Moreover, there isn''t much that he can do since he has just returned from an injury. Thus it should be quite easy for you two to mark him. Are we together, Christian and Andr¨¦?"

    "Yes, coach," the two defensive midfielders replied.

    The coach nodded before sweeping his gaze around the dressing room again. "Third," he said. "Try your best to limit their crosses into our box. You have to stay calm and make first-time clearances whenever there is an attack on our goal. Additionally, our center-backs must mark Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg center-forward, tightly since he''ll be the key man in this game. If we freeze him, we''ll limit Rosenborg''s chances to score to the bare minimum. That way, we''ll create time for ourselves to settle into the game and thenunch our counters against Rosenborg. That''s all. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    Coach Kjell Jonevret nodded. "Then, let''s go out there and give Rosenborg a game they''ll never forget. Let''s y to our heart''s content and frustrate them to the best of our abilities. And above all, let''s enjoy the game." He smiled, pping his hands to motivate his yers further.

    **** ****

 Chapter 252 - A Deadlock

    The referee blew the whistle at exactly 6:00 PM to the digit that evening. On the center spot, Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg number-9, didn''t dilly-dally in the slightest. He immediately flicked the ball to Zachary before sprinting off towards Viking Stavanger''s half like a whirlwind.

    The much-anticipated secondst game of that Tippeligaen season was finally underway. The Rosenborg fans started cheering and singing Rosenborg''s victory chants at the top of their voices. It was as if they were sure they would win the league that very day.

    Zachary felt his heart starting to race with excitement as he received Nicki Nielsen''s pass in the center circle. He couldn''t help but immerse himself in the passionate cheers of the home fans as he brought the ball under control.

    The feeling of ying in front of the home crowd once again was truly fulfilling and pleasant beyond measure.

    It had been slightly more than two months since he''dst yed professionalpetitive football. After toiling day in and day out through recovery, he was finally back on the starting line-up ¡ª in a game that could sum up Rosenborg''s entire Tippeligaen season.

    The Troll Kids had a chance to win the league that very evening. Either a draw or a win against Viking Stavanger would cement their position as the 2013 Norwegian champions.

    Zachary yearned to do his best and put up an incredible disy to mark his return to the starting line-up. However, he also understood that he had to remain patient, especially when with the ball. He had to let himself grow slowly but steadily into the game before trying out any daring ys against the opponents.

    His motto for that game was limited face-offs against the opponents to maximize efficiency while lowering the risk of reinjury to the bare minimum. That was his n to regain his confidence and put the injury behind him without taking any unnecessary risks.

    Thus, after receiving the ball from Nicki, he immediately relinquished it to Thomas Partey in the defensive midfield before running into space to await a return pass.

    Thomas Partey didn''t even take a few moments to bring Zachary''s grounded pass under control. He flicked it to Mike Jensen, the other defensive midfielder in Rosenborg''s 4-2-3-1 formation, without a moment of dy. Mike Jensen did the same and relinquished the ball to Mikael Dorsin before the opponents could close him down.

    Rosenborg was already off to amanding start.

    For the first six minutes of the game, the Rosenborg yers managed to dictate possession by exchanging short but precise passes within the backfield. They utilized their superiority on paper and grass to deny the Viking Stavanger yers any chance of touching the ball in those few minutes.

    Be that as it may, the Viking Stavanger yers remained defensive and didn''t use any high pressing tactics to win possession from Rosenborg. The visitors just sat back and defended in front of their final third, leaving only two yers upfront to do all the pressing. They were ying a 4-4-2 defensive formation, with eight men always behind the ball at every moment of the game.

    Zachary couldn''t help but sigh inwardly after grasping Viking Stavanger''s game n. The Viking Coach had utilized the pure 4-4-2 defensive formation to neutralize Rosenborg''s fast-flowing counterattacking football. It was a simple yet effective strategy that managed to freeze the entire attacking force of Rosenborg.

    However, Zachary wasn''t the least bit discouraged by Viking Stavanger''s tenacity. He remained true to his game and utilized his high game intelligence, coupled with the Zinedine-Pirlo-Mental-Juju, to y simple one-touch or two-touch football.

    Even as the clock approached the 30th minute of the game, he didn''t push himself into making any unnecessary risky ys. He remained patient as a hunter watching his prey while exchanging passes with his teammates like a true Maestro.

    His football was simple and nothing spectacr. As a result, he blended into the rest of the Rosenborg yers ¡ª without any marked visible impact on the ying field. Even the opponents soon started ignoring him since his performance seemed to be just barely average.

    **** ****

    v Brusveen, the TV2 Sporten correspondent, was seated in the area designated for the press ¡ª just beside the tunnel exit, watching the match intently. He was one of the many people in Lerkendal at that moment that had wished for Zachary to put up a phenomenal disy to mark his return after his recovery.

    However, after watching the first forty-five minutes of the game, v couldn''t help but sigh and shake his head with unmasked disappointment.

    ''The injury really did a number on him,'' the reporter thought, sighing and shaking his head for the umpteenth time that evening. ''There goes my headline for tomorrow. What a pity!''

    The young-number-33 hadn''t managed to have any marked impact on the pitch throughout the entire first half. Aside from relinquishing and receiving passes in the middle of the field, he hadn''t aplished any other feat that was newsworthy.

    Zachary was too casual on the pitch and hadn''t tried a single time to gain distance with the ball, even when Rosenborg was on the attack. He was clearly not the Zachary of two months ago. He was no longer the yer that could always keep the opponents on tenterhooks just by being on the ying field.

    "I already mentioned this before the game," v heard Kjell Roar, thementator for the day, intone. "It was simply a mistake for Coach Johansen to ce a yer as young and inexperienced as Zachary on Rosenborg''s starting eleven immediately after his recovery."

    "Just by looking at the way he''s ying, you can easily tell that hecks the confidence to take on any opposing yers," thementator continued without a pause. His mellifluous voice was loud and clear over the wild cheering in Lerkendal through the stadium''s loudspeakers. "That should be a result of some psychological trauma brought about by the injury."

    "Zachary has only put up a below-par performance throughout the first half, without creativity in the final third. Look at him passing the ball around¡ªin the middle of the field. His passingcks any intent. Itcks that phenomenal brilliance of the Zachary from two months ago. That''s why I still insist that the coach should have started Zachary on the bench in today''s game."

    "I have to disagree with you on that point, Kjell," Harald Brattbakk, the pundit, chimed in. "Zachary''s performance has been okay during the first half. He''s always solid whenever he''s on the ball and hasn''t made any mistakes so far. And let''s not mention his passing and work rate since those aspects of his game have been truly incredible from the very first minute. For me, the Zachary in this game has yed as a true central midfielder. Rosenborg is dominating possession by seventy percent as we head into the halftime break because of his solidmand of the midfield."

    "Thus, I''m in full support of Coach Johansen''s decision to y Zachary in today''s game," the pundit continued. "With such a solid performance during the first half, he truly deserves to be on Rosenborg''s starting line-up."

    "However, I also have to admit that Zacharycks that touch of brilliance he possessed two months ago. Hecks the boldness of taking chances and unleashing defense-splitting passes that we''vee to love about him. But what do you people expect? He has just recovered from an injury, for God''s sake. And off course, his form has taken a slight dip due to the injury."

    "So, let''s give this young man a break to recover and regain his confidence," Harald continued with a somber tone. "I''m confident that he will regain peak form very soon if he continues yingpetitive football. And that''s another reason why I support Coach Johansen ying Zachary in today''s game. I am delighted by the coach''s decision to let him go out there ¡ª onto the ying field to rediscover his football. In my book, that''s the best way to help Zachary regain his form at this moment."

    "I understand where you''reing from," Kjell Roar said with an audible sigh. "And I can rte to Coach Johansen''s decision to y Zachary in today''s match. However, let''s hope that that decision won''t cost Rosenborg the chance to win the league today. For now, let''s take you back to the live-action where Rosenborg is still dominating possession in the added minutes of the first half. However, the score remains deadlocked at 0:0, and it seems it''ll stay that way until half time."

    "The good news is that Rosenborg will win the league if the score remains 0:0," Harald reminded with a chuckle.

    "But that would be anticlimactic," Kjell Roar said. "Wouldn''t it?"

    "As long as we''re champions, the rest doesn''t matter. It''s only the results that matter, not how you achieve the results."

    "If you say so."

    **** ****

    Coach Johansen didn''t panic in the slightest when his yers ended the first half without scoring even a single goal. He''d already braced himself for a tough battle against Viking Stavanger. The 0:0 first-half draw hadn''t touched his bottom line in the slightest. He was very rxed and carefree as he headed towards the dressing room to address his yers during the halftime break.

    On entering the dressing room, he immediately swept his gaze slowly but steadily across all the yers. He could see that they were all doing their best to recover from the first-half exhaustion by gulping down some water and munching on energy bars. From the glint in most of their eyes and the solemn atmosphere in the dressing room, Coach Johansen could tell that they were in a good state of mind. It seemed that the failure to score in the first half hadn''t affected their confidence in any way. They appeared more than ready to return to the ying field ¡ª to do their best in the second half. At that moment, they possessed the mindset of champions and still believed that they could win no matter what.

    "Zachary," Coach Johansen said after taking in the situation of the dressing room.

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied almost immediately, cing down his water bottle.

    "In the second half, I would like you to move further upfront so that you can offer better support to Nicki when we''re on the attack," Coach Johansen said with a smile. "I prefer that you be bolder in your ying style. Try creating some opportunities in the final third and testing their keeper with longshots whenever you get a chance. I''m sure that you can do it if you try. I have confidence in you. Are we together, Zachary?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied solemnly. "I understand."

    "Good," Coach Johansen said, nodding and looking around. He truly wished for Zachary to return to the top of his game as quickly as possible. That way, he could utilize the boy prodigy in the Europa League match against Red Bull Salzburg the following Thursday.

    "Okay, guys," Coach Johansen said a minuteter, taking his ce in front of the tactics board. "Let''s use the remaining few minutes of the break to refine some of our tactics so that we can fare better in the second half. We need to win this game and be champions today. Are you guys with me?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers yelled, more or less in unison. "We''re with you."

    "That''s the spirit of Rosenborg," the coach said, nodding. Without any more dilly-dallying, he started giving his halftime pep talk with the intent to bolster the yers'' confidence and energy levels.

    As words flew out of his mouth at the pace of a machine gun, he emphasized a few crucial points of the game n and then assigned new roles to a few yers in a matter of minutes. He concluded his address with a loud Rosenborg cheer before sending the yers back to the ying field for the second half.

    He''d already done his best to prepare the yers for the game. The rest was up to them. Whether they could win the league that day solely depended on their efforts.

    **** ****

 Chapter 253 - A Bolt From The Blue

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, and the match restarted after the break with Viking Stavanger''s kick-off.

    The Lerkendal crowd exploded into thunderous cheers, drowning out every sound in the stadium. The atmosphere was festive in the home ground of the Troll Kids as the fans sang at the top of their voices to egg on their respective teams.

    From the first minute of the second half, the Viking yers tried to dominate possession by ying slow but steady passing football in the backfield. They looked much morefortable than they had in the first half as they moved the ball from one side of the pitch to another without trying to mount an attack on Rosenborg. It seemed they intended to grow slowly into the game without taking risks.

    However, the Rosenborg yers didn''t allow the opponents to do as they wished in the backfield. The men in white and ck flooded Viking''s side of the pitch like locusts applying tremendous pressure on their opponents.

    They forced the Viking yers to constantly y the ball long towards Rosenborg''s half by utilizing high pressing tactics. As a result, Viking Stavanger quickly lost their momentum and stopped dominating possession. After that, the visitors found it hard to contain the predatory Troll Kids ¨C who started dictating the tempo once more.

    Rosenborg''s two wingers were on fire in the early stages of the second half. Both Tobias Mikkelsen and Alexander S?derlund constantly made runs along the touchline that ended with teasing crosses floating into the Viking Stavanger box. Their wing y was impable and caused a lot of confusion within the Viking Stavanger defense.

    With crosses constantly flying into the box like guided ballistic missiles, Rosenborg managed to whittle down Viking''s tenacity by the 55th minute.

    Spaces started appearing within the final third, and Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg number-9, started causing plenty of problems for the Viking defense and creating several half-chances. He was simply a beast on the striking line. He even came close to scoring in the 56th and 60th minutes of the game. However, the Viking keeper was alert on both asions and managed to make incredible saves to keep the score level.

    Zachary had heeded coach Johansen''s advice and pushed further forward to support Nicki Nielsen upfront from the very first minute of the second half. He wasn''t exactly at the forefront ¡ª but ying behind Nicki Nielson as a half striker toplete Rosenborg''s 4-4-1-1 formation. He still had to manage his attacking midfield responsibilities while constantly making runs into Viking''s box to bolster Rosenborg''s attacks.

    It was a tiring position to y in, especially during a highlypetitive game. However, Zachary loved it since he could utilize his high-end stamina and endurance attributes, graded S- by the system. He was hyperactive throughout the early minutes of the second half, running at the defenders like there was no tomorrow. He didn''t perform any spectacr deeds ¡ª but utilized his remarkable sense of positioning to pressurize the defenders whenever he got an opportunity.

    Rosenborg looked more and more dangerous on the attack with him on the striking line. However, he didn''t manage to make even a single shot at goal even as the game approached the 70th minute. He was clearly still having problems adapting to the pace of thepetitive games in the Tippeligaen after his injury.

    **** ****

    Thomas Partey, Rosenborg''s defensive midfielder, jumped high and intercepted another Viking long ball close to the border of the defensive third in the 75th minute. Without losing a moment, he flicked it back towards the backline with his head, delivering it to Tore Reginiussen, the center-back. The Ghanaian then stepped away from one of Viking''s forwards before running into space.

    "Pass here, hurry!" He shouted with a sense of urgency in broken Norwegian after taking a nce around the ying field.

    Thomas Partey wanted to prevent his teammates from wasting time passing the ball around in the backfield. His only goal at that moment was to initiate another Rosenborg attack right away without wasting a second. That way, he would help his teammates sustain the pressure on the opponents, thereby strengthening Rosenborg''s chances of scoring and breaking the deadlock.

    Tore Reginiussen, the center-back, didn''t disappoint after receiving the ball. He immediately kicked it back to Thomas Partey before the opposing center-forward could close him down.

    Thomas Partey cast a fleeting nce towards the other side of the pitch as he controlled the pass from Tore. In a sh, his eyes took in the positioning of most of his teammates. All the while, his mind was processing the best outlet for the ball at that moment.

    After spending more than two months at Rosenborg, he''d gotten used to the habits, weaknesses, and strengths of all his teammates. So, he was aware that most of them had a low probability of making much of an impact at that crucial moment since they weren''t first-rate yers. However, there was one yer who was a unique entity ¡ª an enigmatic wonder on the team. That yer had been a monster before he''d suffered an injury two months prior.

    Thomas had watched that yer perform feats akin to miracles on the ying field some two months ago. That was why he''d decided to join Rosenborg at the time. Thomas immediately elected that that yer was the perfect outlet for the ball at that moment.

    Without wasting much time, Thomas Partey raised his leg high and unleashed a long-range pass towards the other side of the pitch where Zachary was lurking.

    **** ****

    Zachary reacted immediately on noticing the ball approaching his position. He immediately ditched the Viking defender marking him ¡ª and set off after the ball like a wolf on the hunt. His near-instantaneous reaction helped him get to the ball just at the border of the final third before any other yer.

    By reflex, he stretched out his boot ever-so-slightly to bring the descending ball under control before it could bounce on the green. His ball-control was wless, giving the impression that his boot was a ball ma. He could have even given Lionel Messi a run for his money with the way he controlled the ball at the moment.

    "Zachary, *p*p, Zachary, *p*p..."

    The Rosenborg fans started singing his name after he expertly controlled the ball, boosting his confidence. Without losing even a second, he turned around with the ball hooked to his foot, skipping past an approaching Viking defender with a deft second touch. His movements were seamless, like a fish navigating the waters of a clearke as he elerated towards Viking Stavanger''s box.

    At that moment, he felt totallyfortable with the ball since he''d managed to create a few yards of space with his initial prompt turn. He even forgot his fear of suffering another injury as his mind took in the wild cheering of the Rosenborg fans. There was nothing else on his mind ¡ª except hunting for a goal for Rosenborg. He was like a tiger back in the mountains after spending months in captivity. He longed to unleash carnage on the opponents.

    Zachary expertly kept the ball close to his feet while racing towards Viking Stavanger''s box like a whirlwind. A momentter, after skipping past another opposing defender, he took the briefest of nces right ahead, trying to find a teammate. That was because he understood that it would almost be impossible to prate the opposing defense without the support of a teammate.

    However, before he could find an outlet for the ball, he noticed the keeper off his line at that crucial moment of the game. It was like the Viking number-1 was inviting him to take his chances at goal from outside the 18-yard box.

    Zachary had no intention of missing out on exploiting suchxity by the Viking goalkeeper. Without losing a moment, he slowed slightly and drew his leg back like a bowstring in preparation to fire towards the goal.

    "Close him down, guys! Block him!" He distantly registered someone, probably the Viking coach, yelling in the background. However, that didn''t make him rethink his intentions.

    He swung his leg down like a whip, smacking the ball towards one side, with proficiency perfected from practicing in the G.O.A.T Skills Simtor over the previous two months.

    "BANG!"

    A soft smile outlined his face as he felt his left boot make the sweetest of connections with the ball, sending it on a curling trajectory towards the goal. It was like an arrow let loose from a bow, reaching incredible velocity within a mere instant. It floated over the defenders in the box before dipping slightly and curling into the top left corner.

    Rune Jarstein, the Viking keeper, had tried his best to track back and save the ball. However, his efforts were fruitless due to the incredible swiftness of the ball.

    1:0.

    In the 76th minute, the deadlock had finally been broken. Rosenborg had scored first in the tightly contested match against Viking. Zachary could hardly contain his joy. He sprinted towards the corner g with a finger ced on his lips to celebrate.

    **** ****

    "That came out of nowhere," Kristin heard Kjell Roar, thementator, say with a sigh after the thunderous cheers started dying down. "With a bolt from the blue, Zachary has managed to catch the keeper sleeping and score Rosenborg''s first goal. I have to admit I didn''t expect that. That was some incredible stuff from the young number-33. That reminds me of the Zachary from two months ago. Harald! What''s your take?"

    "The goal was more than incredible," Harald Brattbakk, the pundit, replied. "Just when everyone was starting to believe that the game would end 0:0, Zachary goes ahead and unleashes a missile to score from thirty yards away. He''s as sharp as ever when it matters, and his celebration says it all. With that incredible goal, he has managed to shut down all those, like a certain someone, specting that he has lost his form after his injury. What a yer!" Harald chuckled.

    "Well," Kjell Roar said with an audible sigh. "I have nothing to say to that. Zachary has managed to his 19th goal this Tippeligaen season. He''s now tied with Frode Johnsen as the top scorer for this season. Indeed, what a yer!"

    "Let''s not forget that Rosenborg has now moved to 68 points," Harald said, sounding excited. "If the Viking yers can''te up with a way to prate Rosenborg''s defense and score two goals, the Troll Kids will be crowned as champions tonight. That will bolster Zachary''s chances of being crowned as the best yer of the season."

    "Well," Kjell Roar cut in. "If It were up to me, I would simply give him the season MVP de without going through the voting process. Time and time again, he has managed to prove that he''s a ss of his own throughout this season. He can still score even when he isn''t at his best, like during today''s game. He surely deserves the de. Let''s hope that the awardmittee is listening." He chuckled.

    "Weren''t you the one criticizing Coach Johansen''s decision to include Zachary in the line-up?" Harald queried with a bit of humor.

    "That was then, and this is now," Kjell Roar said in a solemn voice. "I''ve already admitted that the boy is probably the best yer in Norway this season. So, can you let me off?"

    "Hehe," Harald chuckled. "Then, let''s get back to the live-action. We still have thirteen minutes plus added time to the end of the game. Can the Troll Kids hold on to their lead and win the league today? We''ll have the answer very soon."

    **** ****

 Chapter 254 - One-Two

    The game restarted soon after the goal celebrations.

    Coach Johansen stood on the sidelines, watching his yers array themselves in a defensive 4-5-1 formation to defend against the more frequent Viking Stavanger attacks. The visitors seemed more proactive in their ying style after conceding the goal.

    However, that didn''t dampen Coach Johansen''s mood in the slightest. He could hardly contain his joy since he was less than a quarter of an hour away from winning the 2013 Tippeligaen.

    Rosenborg would win the league trophy that evening as long as his yers defended well and prevented Viking from scoring two goals in the final few minutes of gamey. Coach Johansen could even already picture himself lifting the trophy a few minutes from then. That elevated his spirits, making him feel like he was high on century-old wine.

    "Maybe, we should think of introducing a few substitutes to bolster our defense and prevent the opponents from scoring," Trond Henriksen, the assistant head coach, suggested from beside him. "That''ll also enable some of our key yers to gain some much-needed rest before our Thursday''s Europa League away game against Red Bull Salzburg."

    "That''s okay," Coach Johansen replied in a carefree manner. "You can go ahead and tell Ole Seln?s and John Chibuike to start warming up. I need them on the pitch in less than eight minutes."

    "Okay," Trond Henriksen replied with a smile. "But, who are you thinking of recing?"

    "Zachary and Nicki Nielsen for the moment," Coach Johansen responded, his eyes still following the proceedings on the field of y. "They should be tired already since they have been working hard as a pair of oxen throughout the entire game. So, I need to give them some time to rest. However, I''m not nning on making the third substitution yet as insurance against possible injuries in the final minutes of the game."

    "Okay, then," Trond replied. "That''s a good idea. I''ll start prepping the substitutes right away." He then stepped away and headed towards the substitute''s bench.

    Coach Johansen returned his full attention to the action on the ying field immediately after. He started stroking his red beard, deep in thought as he watched the Viking Stavanger yers mount yet another hair-raising attack on Rosenborg''s backline.

    The visitors had totally changed their entire game n after conceding the goal. They were no longer ying defensively. Instead, they mounted a series of attacks using wing-y and long ball strategies to prate Rosenborg''s defense. They even changed to a 4-2-3-1 formation, seemingly with the intent of dominating the midfield and dictating the tempo. They were clearly keen on scoring and bringing proceedings back to equal terms as soon as possible.

    At that moment, Trond Olsen, the Viking Stavanger left-forward, was dribbling along the touchline, moving towards Rosenborg''s box like a bullet train on the rails. His speed was otherworldly. With a lot of ease, he skipped past a sliding tackle from Tobias Mikkelsen, the Rosenborg right-winger, before continuing his mad dash on the left nk.

    However, a few secondster, Trond Olsen ran into an imprable bastion in the form of Eric Baily, the Rosenborg right-back. The Ivorian defender cornered him at the borderline of the defensive third, leaving him without a chance to cut into the pitch or cross the ball. Eric applied tremendous pressure on the right-winger and won the ball, fair and square, with a brilliant sliding tackle that elicited a wave of booming cheering from the home fans. With that incredible disy from the Ivorian, Rosenborg managed to regain possession once again.

    Eric Bailly didn''t dilly-dally in the slightest. He picked himself from the ground and kicked the ball towards Mike Jensen, the Rosenborg defensive midfielder. Mike Jensen received it beautifully and flicked it on to Thomas Partey, the other defensive midfielder.

    Thomas Partey immediately unleashed a lofted pass towards the right-wing, where Tobias Mikkelsen was lurking. With that, the Ghanaian managed to initiate another Rosenborg attack. The Troll Kids flew forward like a pack of wolves on the hunt.

    Tobias Mikkelsen, the Rosenborg right-winger, received the ball mid-sprint close to the touchline. He continued towards Viking Stavanger''s half like a whirlwind, leaving both teammates and opponents in the dust. He was like Usain Bolt on the race track, dribbling and skipping past a couple of challenges like mad. The fans even began singing his name due to his incredible disy.

    J?rgen Skjelvik, the Viking Stavanger left-back, soon closed him down and interrupted his mad dash soon after. Tobias, though, didn''t try to engage the troublesome left-back. Instead, the Rosenborg right-winger yed it safe and unleashed a lofted cut-back pass into the middle of the pitch where Zachary was lurking.

    With that brilliant and quick switch in y, the Viking Stavanger defensive yers were caught unawares once more.

    Zachary received the ball mid-sprint close to the center circle. Without halting his run, he chested the ball down onto the green before circumventing an approaching Viking Stavanger midfielder with a deft second touch. From there, he didn''t look back ¡ª but continued towards the Viking box, bolting through the middle like there was no tomorrow.

    Coach Johansen could feel his heartbeat starting to race with anticipation as he watched Zachary exchange a couple of one-twos with Nicki Nielsen. Their teamwork of ''giving'' and ''going'' was impable. They steadily made their way through the crowd of opposing defenders. They were as sharp as hawks, exploiting the smallest of gaps within the defensive third. They approached Viking Stavanger''s box, like two apex predators on the hunt.

    "Damn it! Close them down. Close the gaps, and don''t let them approach our box..."

    Kjell Jonevret, the Viking Stavanger head coach, roared out loud, like an enraged beast, from the visiting team''s technical area. He was so loud to the point of causing some difort for Coach Johansen on the sidelines. It seemed thexity of his yers in the defense had angered him greatly.

    However, his yelling didn''t stop or slow down the Rosenborg attack in the slightest. In some magical way, Nicki Nielsen managed to circumvent Indridi Sigurdsson, the Viking Stavanger center-back, as he received a return pass from Zachary. He then slipped through a gap left by a center-back before stepping into a narrow pocket of space within the Viking Stavanger box. With that expert move, he''d managed to beat the entire defensive line and was one-on-one with the keeper.

    Coach Johansen couldn''t help but lean his towering physique forward ¡ª towards the touchline while clenching his feasts at that moment. His head was pounding with nervous anticipation as he watched Nicki Nielsen lift his foot to unleash a shot at goal.

    ''Surely this is it,'' Coach Johansen thought, his eyes never leaving the field of y. He was ny percent confident his star striker would deliver again and convert to score Rosenborg''s second goal. The coach was even already picturing the ball nestling perfectly into the back of the.

    However, something unexpected transpired the next instant. Johan Bj?rdal, the other Viking Stavanger center-back, came sliding in to sweep the ball away, sending Nicki Nielsen tumbling to the ground.

    "What the f**K!?" Coach Johansen mumbled as he took a second to process what had just transpired on the field of y ¡ª within Viking Stavanger''s box. For a moment, he found it hard to believe that an opposing defender had made ast-man challenge and fouled Nicki Nielsen within the box. Surely, the center-back had just gifted Rosenborg a golden chance to win the game with ten minutes of ''normal'' ying time remaining to the end of the game. That was a little bit moronic in Coach Johansen''s view.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    As expected, the referee blew the whistle soon after and awarded Rosenborg a penalty kick in the 80th minute of the game. However, he didn''t just stop at that ¡ª but also showed a straight red card to Johan Bj?rdal, the center-back who had made thest-man tackle on Nicki Nielsen.

    Coach Johansen could feel his tension melting away as he continued following the proceedings in Viking Stavanger''s box. With the red card, Viking was down to ten men. At that moment, the coach was almost a hundred percent certain he would win the game.

    **** ****

    "You should take the penalty," Nicki Nielsen said to Zachary after picking himself from the ground in Viking Stavanger''s box. He seemed okay, without any signs of an injury, after getting some help from the Rosenborg medics.

    "Are you sure about this?" Zachary queried, raising a brow and ncing squarely at Nicki with unmasked skepticism. It was customary on the Rosenborg team for the attacking yer who''d created the penalty to take it. Thus, he was surprised when Nicki Nielsen, a striker who was always hungry for goals, offered him such a precious opportunity to take the spot-kick.

    "Don''t look at me like that," Nicki said with a dismissive wave of his hand. He then picked up the ball from the referee and handed it to Zachary. "I don''t want a yer from another team to win the golden boot. So, you should take the penalty and make sure you be the top scorer."

    "Thanks," Zachary said, receiving the ball from Nicki''s outstretched arms.

    Without waiting for any response from Nicki, he moved towards the penalty spot to ready himself to take the penalty kick. Hope had already bloomed inside him since he was close to cementing his position as that season''s top scorer with his 20th goal of the league. He was on the cusp ofpleting one of the most rewarding milestones in the system''s Tippeligaen serial challenge mission.

    **** ****

    Kristin was already standing on the tip of her toes as she waited anxiously for Zachary to take the penalty. Seconds felt like hours as she watched the towering number-33 take a few steps back from the ball while facing the Viking goalkeeper. All the fans around her were silent. She could easily make out all thementator''s words, loud and clear, through the stadium''s loudspeakers.

    "It''s Zachary against Rune Jarstein, the Viking Stavanger goalkeeper, at this crucial moment of the game," she heard Kjell Roar, thementator, intone. "Can he score and extend Rosenborg''s lead in this crucial game that is the climax of Rosenborg''s season?"

    Kristin craned her neck slightly as she watched Zachary make an angled run towards the penalty spot. Without any suspense, he managed to send the keeper diving the wrong way and fired into the back of the to score Rosenborg''s second goal.

    "GOAAAALL...."

    A wave of thunderous cheering exploded throughout the entire stadium, drowning out thementator''s voice the very next instant. The fans around Kristin jumped up and down and hugged each other like the best of friends as they sang Rosenborg''s victory chants at the top of their voices. The entire Lerkendal was on fire, vibrating intermittently, as Zachary dashed towards the corner g to celebrate the second goal.

    Kristin, on her part, could feel her eyes moistening. She didn''t jump around like the rest of the Rosenborg supporters to celebrate the goal ¡ª but settled back on her seat, letting the contentment spread within her with every passing moment. She felt dizzy with excitement since her team was about to win the league that evening. Her only regret was that her grandpa wasn''t with her to share that incredible moment. It was really a pity.

    "Are you okay, Kristin?" Emily Anderson asked from beside her. "Why aren''t you celebrating with us?" The agent was also jumping and waving her scarf around in the air to celebrate Zachary''s goal. She was in high spirits.

    "This is my way of celebrating this time around," Kristin replied, letting out a breath and leaning back into her seat. "I''m scared that I might go crazy with excitement if I dare do anything else." She added with a bit of humor.

    Emily chuckled on hearing that. "I get what you mean," she said, her face blossoming into a smile. "I''m also slowly growing insane with excitement since we can now safely confirm that Rosenborg has won the league. By the way, did you hire anyone to record Zachary''s performance in today''s match?"

    "Yes, I did," Kristin replied almost instantaneously. "I hired two cameramen before themencement of the game. They should be somewhere in the lower stands recording the action as we speak now."

    "That''s awesome," Emily said, also settling down back in her seat. "Zachary''s performance today will be good for his publicity. Thank you for the hard work."

    "There''s no need for you to say any thanks since that is my job. I''m always d to do my job."

    **** ****

 Chapter 255 - First Silverware On The Professional Stage

    Coach Johansen decided to y it safe and make three substitutions immediately after his yers had finished celebrating the second goal. He switched out Zachary, Nicki Nielsen, and Mikael Dorsin ¡ª with the prime intention of giving them a little bit of extra rest before the following Thursday''s Europa League game. He brought in the hardworking trio of Ole Seln?s, John Chibuike, and Stefan Strandberg to snuff out any possibility of Viking Stavanger lucking out and making aeback.

    "Narrow down the spaces in the middle," he yelled at his yers as soon as the game restarted. "I want you to remainpact and prevent them from prating our defense through the middle. We have less than ten minutes remaining. Stay focused and mark every opponent in our defensive third..."

    Coach Johansen spat out words at the pace of a machine gun, trying to organize his team into the perfect defensive shape to weather Viking''s barrage of attacks in the final minutes of the game.

    Fortunately, his yelling motivated his yers, prompting them to work harder than ever before. The minutes flew by quickly, with them exhibiting a high level of discipline in defense. The Viking Stavanger forwards weren''t able to make any shots on goal.

    However, the Rosenborg yers didn''t just stop at defending well. They mounted another tantalizing counterattack in the 89th minute after defending against a Viking Stavanger corner kick.

    John Chibuike, the substitute center-forward, streamed forward through the middle like a whirlwind, leaving both teammates and opponents in his wake. He then passed the ball ahead into space on the right-wing ¡ª seemingly to no one in particr.

    His perfect initiation of the counterattack had left the Viking yers without any time to reorganize themselves into a proper defensive shape. He''d managed to set loose Tobias Mikkelsen, the right-winger, on a straight course towards the goal with that well-timed defense-splitting pass.

    Tobias Mikkelsen didn''t disappoint. He met the ball mid-sprint and continued racing towards the box like a bullet out of a sniper rifle''s muzzle. In a matter of seconds, he shrugged off the single Viking defender that had been tracking his run and found the bottom left corner of the with his weaker right foot.

    The score then was 3:0, and the Troll Kids had taken yet another firm step towards winning the league in the 89th minute of gamey.

    Be that as it may, the Rosenborg yers didn''t rx in the slightest, even after the third goal. They continued ying defensively throughout added time and denied the visitors any shots on goal. They maintained their 3:0 lead until the referee blew the final whistle after four minutes of added time.

    **** ****

    "Shllla... ohhh Rosenborg, Shllla... ohhh Rosenborg..."

    Zachary remained seated on the bench for a minute or two, immersing himself in the passionate cheers of the fans after the final whistle. His team, Rosenborg, had just won the league with a match left to the end of the season. At longst, he''d won the first silverware in his professional career.

    He felt much more alive than ever before. He could feel a quiet sense of contentment washing through him like a warm ocean wave, wiping away the stress of the entire season. He couldn''t help but smile as he leaned back into his seat to savor the moment.

    "Zachary," he heard Coach Johansen calling out to him a few secondster. "Don''t just sit there alone. Come and celebrate with us." A Cheshire cat''s grin outlined the coach''s face as he dragged Zachary from his seat and gave him a bear hug.

    "You were incredible in today''s game," he continued, "Your tremendous efforts have helped us be champions at an earlier date, with a match to go! Thanks for your hard work."

    Zachary responded with a few polite words before stepping away from the coach and joining the rest of his already frenzied teammates. He felt like he was on cloud nine for the next few minutes while basking in the glory of winning the first silverware of his professional career.

    A few minutester, the entire Rosenborg team, including Zachary, started moving around the stadium to thank the fans who''d cheered them on throughout the season. The fans responded enthusiastically, giving the team a standing ovation while screaming Rosenborg''s victory chants repeatedly.

    Zachary enjoyed the moment, soaking himself into the excitement of winning the league. He gave away his jersey to a young passionate fan, seated close to the corner g. At that moment, he was already drunk with resurgent joy, without any consideration to what Rosenborg''s publicity and marketing departments would say.

    **** ****

    v Brusveen, the TV2 Sporten reporter, was all smiles as he dragged Zachary away from the frenzied group of Rosenborg yers for an on-pitch post-match interview. He wanted to get the first scoop on the boy prodigy''s take on the just-concluded season.

    "Zachary, congrattions upon winning the 2013 Tippeligaen," he said, holding out a microphone towards the young number-33.

    "Thank you," Zachary replied, grinning.

    "How do you feel about winning the league in your first season at Rosenborg?"

    "Of course, I feel terrific. Words can''t even describe the happiness I''m feeling at this moment."

    "You were amazing throughout the season," v said. "Time and time again, you managed to help Rosenborg win and continue keeping their hopes of winning the league alive. Should we expect to see the same performance from you here at Lerkendal next season?"

    "That''s a given," Zachary replied almost instantaneously, seemingly not giving much thought to the question. "I''ll continue doing my best to improve myself so that I can put up more brilliant performances next season. For me, I believe winning the league is just the beginning, but not the end."

    "You''ll be heading to Austria to face off against Red Bull Salzburg in the fourth game of the Europa League group stages next Thursday," v continued. "What are your thoughts about that uing match? Do you think you and your colleagues can put up another incredible performance and keep Rosenborg''s hopes of qualifying for the next round alive?"

    "Hehe," Zachary chuckled, scratching at his chin. "This isn''t the right time to answer questions about the uing matches. v! Can''t you give me some time to immerse myself in the feeling of winning the league before asking me about anotherpetition?"

    "Well," v said with a smile. "I believe that most of the Rosenborg fans would like an answer to that question. So, can you please give us your take on that match?"

    "All I can say is that we''re professional yers," Zachary said in a solemn tone. "We''ll always do our best to win every match thates our way. That''s the spirit of Rosenborg."

    "I, for one, still believe we have a chance to qualify for the Europa League knock-out stages," he continued without a pause. "If we manage to win all remaining three games in the group stages, then we''ll get to qualify for the next round. So, I still haven''t given up. I still believe. For every minute I''m on the pitch during the remaining group matches, I''ll fight my hardest, even for the slimmest of possibilities, so that my team can qualify. I''m sure my coaches and the rest of my teammates feel the same way. They, too, will do their best in the uing matches."

    "Thank you, Zachary, for taking the time to answer my questions," v said, extending his hand for a handshake. "And congrattions for winning the league once again. I wish you the best in your uing matches."

    "Thank you, v," Zachary replied, taking the hand.

    **** ****

    Many of the reporters didn''t just stop at speaking with Zachary. They flooded the stadium like locusts to interview all the Rosenborg yers and the staff members that they could get ahold of at that moment. Even the people responsible for cleaning the stadium hallways managed to attract the attention of the press.

    However, the reporters'' manic behavior didn''tst long. The festivities in Lerkendal stadium moved on to the next stage.

    The members of the organizingmittee began making preparations for the trophy presentation. They quickly set up a temporary podium, with a sparkling and glittering trophy sitting from across it. The long-awaited moment had finallye.

    Without further ado, the chairman of Norsk Toppfotball, the governing body of Norwegian football, awarded the medals to Zachary and his teammates, sending Lerkendal into a frenzy of passionate cheers.

    After that, the exciting moment truly arrived. Tore Reginiussen, the Rosenborg captain, received the 2013 league trophy from the Norsk Toppfotball chairman. The whole atmosphere in the stadium peaked when he lifted it up with both his hands the next instant.

    The coach and yers took turns holding the trophy before running with it across the green like madmen. What followed was a wild night of celebrations. The Rosenborg fans, staff, and yers immersed themselves in the joy of bing the 2013 champions after a year of hard work. It was a fantastic night for the footballingmunity of Trondheim.

    **** ****

 Chapter 256 - Mission Milestones Within Sight

    An rm sounded, waking Zachary from a deep slumber. Eyes still closed, he extended his hand by reflex to turn off the bedside rm clock. He''d sleptte the previous night after partying with teammates to celebrate Rosenborg''s first trophy of the season. He was still feeling dazed and hoped to stay in bed a bit longer.

    Moreover, he had the day off and wasn''t worried that he would bete for any training sessions with the team. Thus, he went back under the covers, intending to put in a few more hours of sleep after silencing the annoying rm clock. However, just as he was beginning to sink into slumbend again, his phone started ringing, rousing him to full attention.

    "Who could be calling at this time of the morning?" He mumbled under his breath, shifting and rolling around under the covers. He was feeling irritable after the annoying interruption of his sleep.

    Nheless, he couldn''t ignore the call. He knew there was a chance it could be something important. Thus, he begrudgingly extended his arm out of the covers and picked up the annoying phone from the bedside table.

    "Hello," he said in a t voice, cing the phone close to his ear. He didn''t even bother to look at the screen.

    "Hello dear," a familiar voice, full of charm and pleasing to the ear, sounded from the other end of the line. "Did I wake you up?"

    "Not at all," Zachary replied, his grogginess melting away. "How are you? Are you enjoying your trip?"

    "I''m doing well and trying my best to enjoy the trip," she responded. "Congrats upon winning your first trophy, by the way. I''m really happy for you."

    "Thank you."

    "I miss you so much, and I''m feeling down after missing your match yesterday."

    "Ohhh! I miss you too," Zachary said, his tone softening. "But it''s good you''ll be back in a few days."

    "That''s the only thing that''s keeping me going," she murmured softly, but her voice still carried to Zachary''s ear. "Knowing that I''ll be able to see you in a few days is my greatest motivation. I''m working hard toplete my assignment in the shortest time possible."

    "That''s sweet of you," Zachary said. "But please don''t be rush so that you can avoid making unnecessary mistakes on the job. You don''t have to worry. I''m not going anywhere. I''ll be here when you return."

    Cami had left on a fortnight-long business trip to Canada a few days prior. She had missed Rosenborg''s match against Viking Stavanger and the ensuing victory celebrations the previous night. So, Zachary told her about everything, including his two goals and the happenings at the post-match dinner party. The minutes shed by quickly as they conversed, and their phone call unknowinglysted longer than an hour.

    Zachary was full of energy after the call. He stole a nce at his bedside clock and realized that it was already past ten. He didn''t dawdle in bed much longer.

    He got up, hastily washed up, and went outside for his routine morning jog. The morning sun had already risen above the horizon in the east. Its boundless multi-colored rays illuminated every nook and cranny of Trondheim.

    Zachary relished the feeling of jogging in the mildly chilly air ofte autumn. He raced across the streets of Trondheim like a free-spirited bird riding the winds. He didn''t stop for anything until he made it back to his apartment forty minutester.

    By then, he was in high gear, the feeling of fatigue from the previous day long forgotten. Without wasting time, he dove into his yoga routine. For the several minutes that followed, he wholly immersed himself in stretching his muscles to quicken his post-match recovery. He enjoyed exerting himself unworriedly after making a full recovery.

    "DING"

    The system notification chimed within his mind right after he''dpleted his daily yoga routine.

    "Congrattions to the user uponpleting this month''s progressive overload training mission," the system AI''s apathetic voice sounded in his mind immediately after. "The system has awarded the user 300 Juju-points and a one-month dosage of a B-grade physical conditioning elixir. The user should check the system interface for more details."

    "Another routine system missionpleted!" Zachary eximed as he wiped away his sweat with a clean white towel. Without further ado, he summoned the system interface to check out the specifics.

    ****

    #4 new messages

    CONGRATULATIONS

    -> You havepleted the mission: Progressive Overload Training to Regain Fitness after Injury

    ----

    ->Mission-Rewards

    1) B-grade physical conditioning elixir (Avable in system-shop).

    NB: The user must consume the elixir within 5 seconds of removal from the system shop.)

    2) 200 Juju-points

    ----

    ->Mission Summary

    *Task 1: Complete 60 seat-ups daily during the first week, 80 seat-ups daily during the second, 100 seat-ups daily during the third, and 120 seat-ups daily during the fourth week. Task goal: To improve the user''s body control by strengthening and toning core-stabilizing abdominal muscles after an injury. (Taskpleted sessfully. Task Rating: S-)

    *Task 2: Complete seven rounds of half a dozen Hatha-Yoga routines daily over four weeks. Task goal: To improve the user''s body control by enhancing flexibility and strengthening core muscles after an injury. (Taskpleted sessfully. Task Rating A+)

    *Task 3: Run 80 miles in an outdoor environment during the fourth week. Task goal: To help the user strengthen leg muscles after recovering from injury. (Milespleted: 90 miles. Task Rating: S-)

    ----

    Overall Mission Rating: S-

    ----

    ->Bonus rewards

    You have earned a bonus of 100 Juju-points

    ----

    ****

    A faint smile made its way onto Zachary''s face, softening his intense features after he''d reviewed the missionpletion notification. It was a rare urrence for the system to offer him 300 Juju points and a physical conditioning elixir as rewards for aplishing a minor training mission. He was thus feeling quite content at that moment. Nevertheless, he quickly moved on to studying the rest of the info under the G.O.A.T MISSIONS tab.

    There were three missions still pending on the system interface. The first was the 2013 Tippeligaen Serial Challenge which Zachary was about toplete. He''d already won the league with Rosenborg and realized one of the system milestones. With that achievement, he''d met the lowest missionpletion requirement and also escaped the penalty.

    However, he was still eagerly awaiting Rosenborg''sst match of the season against Lillestr?m SK the following Sunday. He could onlyplete the rest of the mission milestones and receive the associated rewards after the final matchday. That caused his heart to caper with excitement since more than 7000 Juju points plus a dosage of an A-graded vitality-enhancing-elixir were imminent.

    The second pending mission was the Norwegian Football Cup Serial Challenge. Rosenborg had defeated FK Haugesund in the semi-finals of the Cupen and qualified for the finals in his absence. As a result, he was on the cusp of realizing most of the milestones of that mission. As long as he helped his team defeat Molde in the finals, he would earn a bountiful sum of Juju points from the system.

    The third pending mission was the 2013/14 Europa League Serial Mission. Zachary was far from realizing any of its milestones. His team, Rosenborg, had lost all its opening matches in the group stages of the Europa League in his absence. He was on the verge of suffering a system penalty after failing to realize even a single mission milestone for that mission.

    Zachary''s expression darkened every time he took a nce at the Europa League mission details. However, he''d already vowed to stop sobbing over spilled milk. What mattered the most at that moment was putting up his best performance to help his team qualify for the knock-out stages. That way, he could escape the system penalty of 120,000 Juju points.

    "It all starts with the match against Red Bull Salzburg next Thursday. As long as we win, we''ll keep our hopes of qualifying for the next round alive. I won''t give up as long as there is even the slimmest hope of realizing the goal."

    Zachary let out a pent-up breath and switched to the home page of the system interface. Without further ado, he started examining the information on the page.

    ****

    SOCCER G.O.A.T SYSTEM

    SYSTEM LEVEL: 3 (3900/10000 Juju-points to level-up)

    USER: Zachary Bemba

    AGE: 18 years

    TALENT ASSESSMENT: Grade-A

    JUJU-POINTS: 3900

    (Evaluation: A remarkable young professional yer)

    ----

    USER MENU

    *USER STATS

    *G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    *SYSTEM SHOP (1 message)

    *SYSTEM LOTTERY

    *SNOOPING TOOL

    ----

    NB: Please level up the system to unlock more functions.

    ****

    Zachary hadpleted several minor system missions over the past eleven months. As a result, he''d already amassed a bit more than 1000 Juju points in rewards, bringing his total stock to 3900 points.

    He was a moderately wealthy man with regard to Juju points. Moreover, as long as he realized a few more milestones of the pending missions, he would have enough capital to upgrade the system. He would then get the chance to unlock more system functions.

    "It all begins with the match next Thursday," Zachary mumbled, pumping his fist to motivate himself. Without further ado, he closed the interface and headed to the shower to clean up.. He still had to meet with his fitness trainer, then Emily and Kristinter that day.

 Chapter 257 - New Fitness Coach I

    Zachary exited his apartment after feasting on ate sumptuous breakfast that morning. A few minutester, he was nestled in his R8 GT and well on his way to the Lerkendal gym to continue his training. He navigated thete morning traffic at a steady and unhurried pace, pondering his training priorities for the uing few months.

    His long-term target was leveling up his core attributes, including strength, body control, and agility, to the S-grading, preferably before the forting season. That would put him in the perfect position to perform better and much more consistently while minimizing the risk of injury throughout the entire season. To achieve that goal, he''d even hired a professional fitness coach to guide his training over the course of the following few months.

    As a professional, Zachary had long understood that football was an intensive sport that involved a great deal of running. A first-rate midfielder like the future N''Golo Kant¨¦ could cover a distance of 10 to 13 km, including a great deal of sprinting, during particrly intense matches. So, Zachary had long tuned his training priorities towards the technical aspects of the game while also focusing on improving his cardio levels. As long as he wasn''t injured, he would never miss out on going through agility or endurance drills, even on the most hectic of days. That had helped improve his skills and fitness at an insane rate over the previous two years.

    With such a prodigious rate of improvement, he had previously not seen any need to alter his training regimen or hire a professional trainer. He''d been self-assured right until the moment he suffered an injury two months prior. Right after that, he''d realized that his training regimen was inadequate for the professional level.

    Zachary had finally been forced to admit that hecked the technical know-how to design a training regimen involving carefully nned measures to reduce the risk of injury. Thus, hiring a fitness trainer was the first thing he''d done after his recovery. He was on his way to meet the trainer thatte morning.

    A few minutester, he carefully steered his R8 GT in one of the allotted parking spaces for official team yers at the Lerkendal parking lot. Without dilly-dallying, he picked up his gym bag from the boot and made his way to the gym at a steady pace.

    The time had already clocked half-past eleven, and thete morning sun was already shining brightly upon the nearly empty majestic Lerkendal Stadium. The autumn weather was simply perfect as the temperatures were not that extreme. It was neither too hot nor too cold. Zachary could not help but slow down slightly to appreciate the great weather and the sights around him.

    "How''s your morning, Zachary?"

    "Zachary, congrattions upon winning the first trophy with Rosenborg..."

    The Rosenborg employees working on the pitch greeted him with zest wherever he passed. There was an unmasked air of euphoria about them after Rosenborg''s league victory the previous night. Almost everyone wore grins from ear to ear, taking some time off from their duties to exchange a few words with him.

    Zachary didn''t dare ignore them since he respected their efforts that kept the pitch in perfect condition all year round. He responded to their salutations with polite words and asionally took the time to sign a few autographs before continuing on his way.

    He made it to the gym a few minutester. As soon as he''d stepped into the free weights section of the gym, he realized that Coach Bj?rn Peters, his new fitness coach, was already waiting for him.

    Coach Bj?rn Peters looked just the way he remembered him from his academy days. He was the typical Caucasian of middling height, with blond hair atop an angr face. His pronounced jawline, coupled with deep-set blue eyes, gave him an austere look that reminded Zachary of the famous actor Dolph Lundgren. He was the assistant coach for the NF Academy and also one of the most reputable professional fitness trainers in Trondheim. Zachary had coughed out a lot of cash to reserve his services for the following few months.

    "Good morning, coach," Zachary nodded with a smile.

    "Good morning, Zachary!" The coach replied, smiling and giving him a once-over. "Congrattions upon winning the league. I''m truly happy for you. You''re the perfect alumnus of NF Academy, the only one to win the league as a first-team yer at the age of eighteen. Your sess during this season has been the greatest motivating factor for the youngsters back at the academy. I hope you can spare some time in the near future to pay us a visit."

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary replied politely. "I can visit the academy in December. But that''ll be after our three Europa League matches when my schedule has opened up."

    "That''s excellent." Coach Bj?rn Peters nodded with a smile. "Maybe, your visit will inspire the youngsters to put up better disys during next year''s Riga Cup. We''ve been performing poorly in internationalpetitions since you guys graduated."

    "I''m d to be of some help," Zachary said, settling down on one of the benches in the gym. "You can set up a date and time during early December. As long as you inform me in time, I''ll visit for sure."

    "I''m d to hear that," Coach Peters said, his manner turning all professional the next instant. "I''ve already designed a new three-month training regimen for you. It includes plenty of weight training routines to help you bolster agility, body control, and both lower and upper body strength. We''re starting on it today. So, hurry up and change into your gym attire."

    "Aye, coach," Zachary said with a smile. Without further ado, he headed towards the locker room with his gym bag in hand. There, he switched into his gym attire, chugged down some water, and then returned to the free weights section to start the session.

    "Let''s start with some stretching before we move on to the weights," Coach Bj?rn Peters said, taking up a position beside Zachary on the training mat. "Make sure you follow all my motions to the letter. Stay focused the entire time and go through every exercise to the best of your ability. I won''t entertain anyxity during the session. Okay?"

    "Aye, coach," Zachary replied, nodding as he eyed his new fitness coach with a hundred percent focus. Coach Bj?rn Peters was a remarkable instructor who had given him plenty of help and advice during his academy days. Zachary trusted him and respected his opinions as both a football coach and a professional fitness trainer. He was confident his fitness would progress to the next level under his guidance.

    "Let''s begin!"

 Chapter 258 - New Fitness Coach II

    Without wasting any more time, Coach Bj?rn Petersmenced the stretching routine. He started with neck stretches and then performed a series of upper body and standing quad stretches before finishing with a set of Hip Flexor stretches in one go. He was intense, passionate, and highly focused while going through even the simplest of stretches the entire time.

    "Don''t just stand there, staring," Coach Peters yelled, his tonemanding, without pausing his stretching routine. "Follow my lead and go through the routine carefully, starting with the next repetition."

    "Aye, coach," Zachary replied, also beginning the routine. He didn''t idle in the slightest for the next fifteen minutes and mirrored Coach Peters'' every movement. He performed all the stretches uniformly and wlessly, like a programmed robot, without any pause until he was out of breath when the session ended. By then, beads of sweat had long settled upon his skin like newly melted snow crystals, showing the degree of intensity associated with the seemingly simple stretching routine.

    "Okay, that was a rxing warm-up," Coach Bj?rn Peters intoned, flexing his biceps. His muscleden chest and arms were well-toned, making him look more like a bodybuilder rather than a football coach. Just by observing him, you could tell he was a gym fanatic to the very core.

    "Let''s continue and move on to weights training before our muscles start cooling down."

    Without waiting for a response from Zachary, the coach moved towards the rack with weights on one side of the room and picked up a pair of dumbbells effortlessly.

    "In today''s session, we''ll start with a set of single-leg dumbbell deadlifts," he said, turning around to face Zachary. "The single-leg dumbbell deadlift is an exercise mainlyprised of hip-dominant movements targeted towards strengthening the hamstrings. You''ll be able to avoid the mostmon injuries to hamstrings as long as you diligently train following this exercise daily. It will also improve your lower body control in the long run. Are we together, Zachary?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, nodding.

    "Then, let''s start right away," the fitness coach said, getting into position on the training mat.

    Without wasting time, he got into gear and began going through the motions of the single-leg dumbbell deadlift. He started the routine by driving his left foot back ¡ª as if he was stamping the bottom of his foot on an imaginary wall behind him while keeping his leg straight. Simultaneously, he gradually hinged at the waist, tipping his torso forward until it was almost parallel to the floor. All the while, he kept the dumbbells in his hands, held straight at shoulder height. His arms remained perfectly perpendicr to the floor. After half a dozen or so breaths, he steadily pulled his left leg forward, keeping it straight while lifting his torso until he was standing again.

    "That''s the first rep of the single-leg dumbbell deadlift," Coach Bj?rn Peters said immediately after. "Have you managed to capture all the motions of the exercise?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, also moving towards the rack to fetch a pair of dumbbells. "I have already captured the entire routine, and I''m ready to join you, starting with the next repetition."

    "That''s good, then," the fitness coach said, nodding. "Get into position first. We''ll go through four sets of ten repetitions while alternating between each leg within the next ten minutes. We''ll be taking a 60-second rest between sets and a ten-second rest between repetitions. Are we together, Zachary?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, getting into position on the mat beside the fitness coach. "I''m ready to begin the routine when you are."

    "Good," Coach Bj?rn Peters said with a smile. "Let''s start right away."

    Without further ado, Zachary and the coach started going through the motions of the single-leg deadlift with a hundred percent concentration. They performed the routine to the best of their ability until they were sweating all over. However, they didn''t just stop at the single-leg dumbbell deadlift for that session. They switched to Barbell Back Squats, followed by Lateral Barbell Lunges and Barbell Bulgarian Split Squats before finishing with Dumbbell Calf Raises an hourter. By then, they were already well out of breath.

    "That was a refreshing and enjoyable workout," Coach Bj?rn Peters said with a grin after they''dpleted the motions of all the weight training routines. "Wasn''t it?"

    "Yes, it was," Zachary admitted, chugging down some water. He''d fully exerted himself and enjoyed the intensive session designed by the fitness coach. He could already judge that the session had been highly effective ¡ª a fact that reinforced his belief that he''d made the right decision by hiring a professional trainer.

    "I''m d you enjoyed it," Coach Bj?rn Peters said with a smile. "Let me borate on a few points first before we move on to the warming-down stretching routine."

    "Firstly, the purpose of the Barbell Back Squats and the Barbell Bulgarian Split Squats is to build the functional leg strength necessary for football. The exercises build vertical pushing strength in the quads while also hitting the glutes and hamstrings. These will trante into jumping and shooting power on the field."

    "Secondly, the Lateral Barbell Lunges will help your strength in theteral ne, which will help streamline your side-to-side movements. Training diligently with the exercise will also strengthen the adductor muscles and reduce the risk of suffering a groin injury."

    "Lastly, the Dumbbell Calf Raises will help strengthen your calves, thus improving your running and jumping ability. The exercise ys a massive role in stabilizing the ntar flexing of the foot, thereby reducing the risk of non-impact injuries at the ankle and knee. FYI, the calves are also an important determiner of your agility. You''ll find it hard to raise your agility to another level without strengthening calf muscles. So, this is an important exercise for you. Are we together, Zachary?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "That''s good," Coach Bj?rn Peters said, taking up a position on the mat once again. "There are a lot of other beneficial exercises that I have included in your training regimen. You''ll be able to make a remarkable improvement as long as you persist and go through them together with me for the next three months. I can promise you this. You will feel the true worth of your 210,000 NOK by the time weplete our training together. But that''s if you can work hard and follow my instructions to the letter."

    "No worries, coach," Zachary said, nodding. "I''m ready to do my best to take my skills to another level. This time around, I''m prepared to spend the months of November, December, January, and February training to the best of my ability. I''ll only reduce the intensity before important matches."

    "Then, I''m d," the fitness coach said with a smile. "Let''s end our session by stretching to warm down our muscles. We''ll meet again tomorrow early, just before your team training, for another session. Please don''t bete."

    "Aye, coach."

 Chapter 259 - New Contract And Future Plans

    Zachary didn''t dilly-dally in the slightest afterpleting his gym session with Coach Bj?rn Peters. He washed up quickly in the dressing room and then donned a new tracksuit before heading to Trondheim Torg for his meeting with Emily.

    His R8 GT barely stayed below the speed limit as he traversed the streets of Trondheim. He made it to Cafe Dublin, the agreed-upon rendezvous point, in less than twenty minutes.

    Emily Anderson, his agent, was already waiting for him on one of the tables in a far-off corner. She was dressed casually in denim-jean trousers and a stylish dark brown leather jacket. She looked poised like the subject of a piece of art, awaiting his arrival in the slightly crowded Cafe Dublin.

    "Good afternoon, Emily," Zachary greeted as soon as he''d settled in one of the seats opposite hers. "I hope you didn''t wait for long!"

    "Not at all," she replied, lifting her head to nce at Zachary. "I only arrived a few minutes ago. So, no worries."

    "That''s great, then," Zachary said. "I was worried I''d made you wait. How is your day going? Are you enjoying your stay in Trondheim?"

    "My day is fine," she replied, the corners of her mouth rising slightly into a smile. "Whenever I''m here, it feels like I''m on vacation. I''m enjoying every moment. How about you? How goes your preparation for the uing Europa League match?"

    Zachary took off his baseball cap before answering, "We''ll start the preparations for that game tomorrow. Today, we had a day off to recover from yesterday''s match. I''ve been doing some personal training since morning. I''ve just concluded a training session with my new fitness coach, and it was quite rewarding."

    "That''s great to hear," Emily said, nodding. "Let''s hope he can help you meet all your training targets before the beginning of next season. Should we first order lunch before moving on to business?"

    "That would be best," Zachary was quick to reply. "I''m quite hungry since I''ve been training all day. I would rather refuel first with some food in my belly before discussing any business."

    "Okay, then," Emily concurred, raising her arm to signal for the waiter.

    A few secondster, a tall blonde gentleman dressed in a neat Cafe Dublin''s waiter''s uniform arrived beside their table. "Good afternoon, sir and madam!" He said, bowing politely with a smile. "How may I serve you today?"

    "I''ll have the Eggs & Bacon served with chips and sd," Emily replied right after taking a nce at the menu. "Top that up with a ss of lemon juice."

    "Is that all?" the waiter queried, noting down the order.

    "That''s all for me," Emily answered.

    "And you, sir?" The waiter turned towards Zachary. "What will you be having?"

    "Get me a Ribburger served with fried potatoes, plus some chicken sd," Zachary said while still studying the menu. "Get me some lemon juice as well."

    "Noted," the waiter replied with a smile. "Your orders will being up shortly, in about twenty minutes. Thank you for supporting Cafe Dublin." He stepped away from the table and headed back to the counter.

    Cafe Dublin''s service was excellent that day. The costumed waiter managed to work on their orders in the promised twenty minutes. Soon, the two of them were feasting on their lunch while making small talk. They concentrated on enjoying the meal and didn''t discuss any business until a quarter of an hourter.

    "So, how far with the negotiations with the Rosenborg management," Zachary asked after finishing his fried potatoes. He''d already wolfed down his entire meal. Only empty tes remained on the table before him. "Is there any progress? Or are they still insisting on the contract extension?"

    Emily sighed, cing down her ss of lemon juice. "I''ve just finished meeting both the sporting director and the legal advisor this morning. They''ve finally backed down slightly and promised to offer you much better personal terms if you can extend your contract with Rosenborg for one year ¡ª that''s until 2015."

    "Ohhh!" Zachary said, his pair of eyes going somewhat nk. He couldn''t help but fall deep into thought.

    Emily had started negotiating a new Rosenborg contract on his behalf in August. However, the negotiations had stalled when he''d gotten injured in the Europa League match against FK Minsk. Despite that, Emily had persisted and continued pushing for a wage increment for him throughout his two-month hiatus. She''d held several meetings with the club management to make her case, citing his role on the first team before his injury.

    Her efforts had eventually paid off a couple of weeks prior, and the Rosenborg officials were finally not totally opposed to the idea of offering him better personal terms. However, they had still insisted that he extend his contract with Rosenborg for two years before they could triple his monthly ie. It seemed they had finally rxed their terms slightly that morning and were only asking him to sign a one-year contract extension that time round. Be that as it may, he was still undecided.

    "What''s your opinion on their new contract offer?" Zachary asked Emily after a few seconds of deliberation. "Should we take the deal or not?"

    Emily''s blue eyes lit up after she heard the question. She held Zachary''s gaze from across the table before answering, "In my opinion, we should take the deal. They have already offered to triple your monthly ie from 400K to 1.2 million NOK ¡ª while also offering you plenty of other match bonuses. And the only price you have to pay is signing a one-year contract extension with Rosenborg. So, why not take the deal?"

    "I can also see that it''s quite a good deal," Zachary replied, leaning forward and lowering his voice. "The 1.2 million and the other benefits are quite tempting. However, my only worry is that this contract extension will tie me to Rosenborg for an extra year after my current contract expires. For me, this is not worth it since I would like to move to greener pastures in about six to twelve months from now."

    "Is that so?" Emily''s eyes widened for a moment. She quickly ced her ss of juice on the table before ncing squarely at Zachary. "Do you intend to transfer out of Rosenborg in the near future? Please borate!"

    "The answer is yes," Zachary replied emphatically. "I''ll begin considering the possibility of transferring out of Rosenborg around next June. By then, my skills should have improved considerably. So, I''ll have the necessary capital to y and hold my own against world-ss opponents in the top European leagues."

    "I''m d you''re finally considering this possibility," Emily said, her face blooming into a smile. "I totally support this decision since I believe you should beginpeting against the best footballers in the world as soon as possible. You''ll improve your skills much faster by facing off against fiercepetitors. On the other hand, your skills will regress if you remain in yourfort zone and get too used to the glory of dominating the third-tier Norwegian League."

    "Then, we are of the same mind." Zachary smiled boyishly, crinkling his eyes. "So, you should be able to see my concerns. This contract extension may cause me trouble if I attempt to transfer out of Rosenborg next year. That''s why I''m hesitant to sign it."

    "You don''t have to worry about the extension binding you to Rosenborg for two more years," Emily said, also leaning forward and lowering her voice. "One: Your contract has a release use of 50 million Euros embedded in one of the terms. As long as any other team triggers this release use by making an offer of 50 million, they''ll have basically freed you from Rosenborg. But, that''s as long as you''re willing to join the club that triggers the release use."

    "Two," Emily continued in a steady but calm voice. "Your contract also has a buy-out use of 24 Million embedded in one of the terms. As long as any club triggers this buy-out use by making an offer of 24 million to Rosenborg, they can start negotiating personal terms with you during an active transfer window."

    "Andstly, I believe that the Rosenborg higher-ups are not trying to pull any tricks to tie you to their club in the long run with the contract extension. They only want you to sign the extension so that they can obtain more bargaining power while attempting to sell you to other clubs. That''s my opinion as an agent after tussling with them through negotiations spanning over two months. So, you can see that signing the extension will not have any marked impact on your future. You should take the deal."

    "That puts me at ease," Zachary replied, letting out a breath. "You can go ahead and ept the deal on my behalf as long as you can guarantee that the contract extension won''t affect my ns of transferring out of Rosenborg. That''s my only condition."

    "You don''t have to worry, Zachary," Emily said, her voice exuding confidence. "As long as you maintain your form over the next few months, many teams will line up to trigger your release use during the next transfer window. I guarantee this."

    Zachary''s eyes brightened as he leaned back into his seat. "That''s good," he said. "I was worried that I might have to give up the 1.2 million NOK of monthly wage and other additional bonuses. But with your assurance, it seems I can begin enjoying this money starting next December. Isn''t that right?"

    "Yes, that should be the case," Emily admitted. "The contract documents are almost ready. We were only waiting for your decision. So, you can put pen on paper at the end of this week and begin enjoying the 1.2 million NOK at the start of next December."

    "That''s awesome," Zachary answered. "I''ll leave everything to you. Go ahead and finalize the contract details. You can contact me for my signature when you''re ready."

    "No problem." Emily nodded, picking up her lemon juice once again. "So, have you already started considering which league you would want to join afterpleting your spell at Rosenborg?"

    "I haven''t given it much thought," Zachary replied, nting his elbows on the table. "But if I were to be totally honest with myself, then I would prefer to join either the English Premier League or the Italian Serie A. The German Bundesliga would then be my third choice."

    "Ohhh," Emily eximed, her eyes lighting up. "Those are some good options. If you don''t mind, I can start engaging some of my contacts in those three leagues to prepare for your transfer."

    "That''s okay with me," Zachary said, smiling. "But please make sure that your actions don''t bring me any unwanted disruptions to my career. That''s my only request."

    "No problem," Emily promised.

    **** ****

 Chapter 260 - To Salzburg, Austria I

    Wednesday, November 6, 2013.

    Red Bull Arena, Wals-Siezenheim, Salzburg, Austria.

    -----

    The sun was about to set on yet another hectic day for Roger Schmidt, the head coach of Red Bull Salzburg. At that moment, he was drumming his fingers rhythmically on the lustrous surface of his office desk, staring intently at the screen of hisptop. asionally, he would frown after watching brilliant moments from Rosenborg during past matches as he pondered on how to defeat the Norwegian giants. His bodynguage matched his state of extreme concentration as he devised strategies against his uing opponents in the Europa League.

    "The world is truly unfair. How did a third-tier team acquire such a monstrous talent?" He thought out loud a short whileter. He''d just watched Zachary''s long-range shot that resulted in Rosenborg''s first goal against Viking the previous weekend.

    "This guy is going to cause us a lot of problems if we don''t tie him down during the game." He sighed for the umpteenth time since beginning to review Rosenborg''s previous matches that day.

    Coach Roger Schmidt was in a bit of a dilemma. Red Bull Salzburg''s Europa League game against the Norwegian football giants was ted for the following day. However, he was still undecided on what tactics to employ against them despite spending an entire week studying their past match videos. His predicament was for one sole reason ¡ª the monstrous talent, Zachary Bemba.

    The young attacking midfielder was a true blue freak in human skin on the field. He was capable of invariablying up with uncanny ways to punish opponents even when his team was ying at its worst. Moreover, he was highly clinical and impressive beyond words whenever he managed to step in the final third. He would turn into a football demon, with ir akin to Ronaldinho and Messi''s styles, whenever the goal was in sight. If his opponents made the grave mistake of giving him some breathing space during the heat of the game, he would punish them. That''s how he''d managed to score more than twenty goals for Rosenborg in a single season despite not taking part in a substantial chunk of fixtures due to injury.

    "What to do?"

    Coach Roger Schmidt cast his gaze through his office window, watching the horizon in the west aze with the fire of the setting sun. He was in a daze for some time. His mind continued working in overdrive the entire time, deriving strategies that the Red Bull Salzburg team could employ in the uing Europa League game. Yet, he still came up short and couldn''t conceptualize a satisfying game n even after deliberating for more than a dozen minutes.

    "This is the sort of yer who must not be left alone during a match." Coach Roger Schmidt mumbled a few minutester as he scribbled down a few sentences in his notebook. His fingers started drumming the surface of his table once again as he sank back into his thought process.

    Ever since debuting as a football manager back in the day, Roger Schmidt had always been an attack-minded coach in every respect. He disdained defensive football and had always believed the best defense was attacking relentlessly like mad. He had never been satisfied as long as his team failed to score at least two goals in a match. Such a coaching style had won him status in European footballing circles as he grew from obscurity to fame in only a decade.

    However, after bing the head coach of Red Bull Salzburg the previous year, he''d started bing more reserved and cautious with his tactics. His slight change in ideology didn''te from the bottom of his heart ¡ª but was due to the constant pressure from his new coaching responsibilities.

    He''de to understand that the bosses and fans at Red Bull Salzburg were an impatient lot. They didn''t even give him enough time to build a squad from the ground up ¡ª but wanted to see Red Bull Salzburg winning trophies year after year. Moreover, if he ever lost against a weaker team, they would drown him in a sea of curses. All in all, he had to continue winning matches without fail for any chance of securing his job in the long run.

    He had developed the habit of spending hours going over his game ns again and again after taking on the managerial position for Red Bull Salzburg. He always made sure there wasn''t a single loophole in his strategy before executing it on the field of y. That way, he''d managed to mentor the Red Bull Salzburg yers, enabling them to secure an unshakable position as Austrian League table leaders that season.

    "Knock! Knock! Knock!

    Rhythmic knocking on his office door broke him out of his reverie a short whileter.

    "Come in," he said almost instantaneously and a bit impatiently.

    The door opened the next instant, and Herbert Ilsanker, one of his assistants in charge of goalkeeping, stepped into the spacious office. He was a rough-looking middle-aged man who''d been working for Red Bull Salzburg since 2006. His many years of service for the team gave him status among the coaching staff and yers, which even he, the head coach, couldn''t disparage.

    "Good evening, coach," the man said, settling into one of the sofas just opposite Coach Roger Schmidt''s desk.

    "Good evening to you too, Herbert," Coach Roger Schmidt replied, ncing at the assistant with a "what can I do for you?" look.

    "It''s almost time for the pre-match tactical meeting," the assistant said, his tone cordial. "The yers are already gathering in the tactics room as we speak now. We should head over there right away."

    "Ohhh! It seems I forgot about the passing of time once again," Coach Roger Schmidt said, smiling ruefully and casting a nce at his watch for the first time in hours. He''d been so absorbed in analyzing Rosenborg games that he''d failed to notice it was already neen minutes past six in the evening. It was just eleven minutes to the scheduled time of the pre-match tactical meeting.

    "I''ll head over in a few minutes. Thanks for reminding me."

    "No problem," the assistant said, smiling back. "Is everything ready? How goes the preparations for the match tomorrow?" His tone wasced with a bit of concern as he nced squarely at the coach.

    "I''ve already designed a game n for the match," he replied, standing up and closing hisptop. "On paper, it should be just enough to help us dominate the weaker Rosenborg side throughout the entire duration of the match."

    "However, I still have this nagging feeling that the Norwegian team will prove to be a tough opponent for us tomorrow. So, I''ve been trying to devise a strategy to help us restrain their star attacking midfielder ¡ª Zachary Bemba, without altering our high-tempo attacking style. If we can contain him in midfield, I believe that we''ll win this game with hands down for sure."

    "Ohhh!" Herbert said, caressing his bearded chin. "But a single yer shouldn''t cause you that much unease. Remember that we''re the stronger team, the Austrian giants, with plenty of spectacr young talents like Sadio Man¨¦, Kevin Kampl, and n serving as our attacking force. They are all goal-hungry forwards and will be looking to tear Rosenborg apart whenever they get the chance. It would be a waste to deny them an opportunity of having a go at their opponents due to some conservative defensive tactics."

    "All in all, I believe that we shouldn''t change our attacking footballing style for just a single yer. Even if he is the seconding of Ronaldinho, he won''t affect the overall picture without incredible teammates to support him during crucial moments of the match. If by ident, he manages to score once or twice, then we''ll score thrice. If it so happens that he scores three times, then we''ll score four times. I believe that that should be our game philosophy."

    "Good," Coach Roger Schmidt said, nodding. "You understand me well, Herbert. I''m also of the same view and don''t want to give up our attacking ir just for a single yer. However, that''s the very reason for our dilemma. I''ve been finding it a bit difficult to develop a strategy that can restrain Rosenborg''s young number-33 without having to sacrifice our fast-paced attacking tempo."

    Herbert, the assistant, sighed, shaking his head. "As coaches, we can''t always control everything on the ying field. There will always be factors out of our control during the heat of the match. That''s why even teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid, which have assembled the best squads in the world today, can still lose games. And that''s the true beauty of football as a sport. So, as coaches, we can only prepare our teams to the best of our ability before sending them on to the field of y. The rest is up to the yers, luck or even an unseen higher power, as some would say."

    Coach Roger Schmidt smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He could feel his mind starting to clear after hearing Herbert''s words. "You do make a point, Herbert," he said, nodding. "What''s there to fear? We''ve already done our best as coaches to prepare our yers for the uing match. As long as we stick to our philosophy and attack Rosenborg from the first minute to the very end, we''ll have a high chance of winning for sure. Thank you, Herbert, for reminding me."

    "It''s my pleasure," Herbert replied with a smile. "I''m d to be of help. Time is running out. We should start making our way to the tactics room. We shouldn''t make our yers wait."

    "Good."

    **** ****

 Chapter 261 - To Salzburg, Austria II

    Thursday, November 7, 2013.

    Zachary and his teammates arrived in Salzburg, Austria, by ne at half-past midday. They quickly went through airport procedures and were soon well on their way to Altstadthotel Amadeus Hotel by bus.

    Zachary was seated in one of the back seats, listening to catchy music through his Sony headphones and gazing out of the bus window. He watched in a daze as imposing structures and Baroque-style cathedrals shed by as the bus raced through the wide Salzburg streets.

    From what he could see, the cityscape of Salzburg was gorgeous and artistic beyond measure. It was a well-preserved historic center and deserved its status as a world heritage site. It had numerous tourist attractions and stunning views.

    The buildings that shed by the bus window came in many styles. There were Gothic churches, monasteries, and even castles, far off in the distance, making the whole urban center seem like a piece of art. Talk about an architectural museum preserved as a city ¡ª that was Salzburg for sure.

    The bus picked its way through the city until it slowed down after rounding a corner. It pulled into a driveway a few minutester. There,ing into view, was the majestic Altstadthotel Amadeus Hotel, stretching along an entire block. Set on a pedestrian street in the Old Town of Salzburg, it was the perfect array of homey hues inteced with an ambient medieval feel. Zachary was d that the refined hotel would be their home during their stay in Salzburg.

    "Okay, guys," Coach Johansen yelled from the front when the bus came to a stop before the hotel a minuteter. "We''re here! Let''s move it." He pped his hands as if to provoke some sense of urgency in the Rosenborg yers.

    "It''s almosting to 1:00 PM. So, we''ll first have some lunch immediately after checking into our rooms. After that, we''ll rest for an hour to recover from jeg before heading to a nearby training ground to warm up our muscles for our game against Red Bull Salzburg. I expect all of you to be ready for the session by 3:00 PM. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    "That''s good," the coach said with a smile before leading the way out of the bus.

    Zachary was in high spirits as he disembarked from the bus and stepped into the moist autumn air of Salzburg. He couldn''t help but take a long look around to savor the scenery.

    "What a beautiful city," he mumbled, slinging his gym bag over his shoulder and following his teammates to the hotel''s entrance. He''d always enjoyed his international trips as a professional yer. The excursions out of Norway brought about a much-needed change of pace in his hectic and monotonous schedule, thereby rxing his often taut mind.

    At that moment, a breeze carrying the aroma of the cityscape, from the automobiles to the nearby River Salzach, blew across his face, washing away his jetg. He smiled as he pulled the hood of his jacket over his afro.

    His heart was already starting to race with anticipation. He was very eager to take part in his first Europa League game after recovering from his injury. He intended to do his best that evening since he understood that Rosenborg couldn''t afford to lose another game in the Europa League. His blood was already boiling with the spirit topete and defeat the tricky Red Bull Salzburg side. That way, he would be a step closer topleting one of the system''s Europa League Serial Mission milestones and escaping the system penalty.

    **** ****

    Later that Night.

    Red Bull Arena, Salzburg Austria.

    -----

    "SALZBURG! *p*p* SALZBURG! *p*p..."

    "ROSENBORG! BOOO! ROSENBORG! BOOO..."

    -----

    Zachary stood on the field of y, taking in the hostile screams and roars of the opposing fans as he waited for the referee to blow the whistle to signal the kick-off. He wasn''t the least bit intimidated by the stadium''s atmosphere, even though the yells were anything but friendly. There was no way a little bit of jeering from the home fans was going to unnerve him that night.

    He''d grown more confident in his abilities after scoring a brace against Viking over the weekend. Nothing coulde close to affecting his mental state at that moment. He was even less bothered by the injury and was rearing to go and unleash carnage at Red Bull Salzburg''s defense.

    He waspletely calm and free from pressure as he took up his midfield position just a few yards from the center circle. With a soft smile outlining his face, he exuded an aura of both boldness and conviction when he started doing stretches to keep his muscles warm. Anyone could see that he was a man on a mission at that moment.

    Zachary could feel his muscles tightening and rxing with ever-increasing intensity as the kick-off drew closer and closer with each passing second. A few beads of sweat made their way onto his stern face as he cast his gaze onto the other side of the pitch. He couldn''t help but fall into a moment of deliberation when he noticed that the Red Bull Salzburg yers had arrayed themselves into a 4-4-2 starting formation.

    Their set-up was a tell-tale sign of their preferred strategy for that game. Zachary could deduce that they would most likely employ both wing-y and crosses against Rosenborg just by studying their starting formation. What made him sure of his conjecture was that Sadio Mane, a famous number-10 in his previous life, was their left-winger. But the good thing was that there would be an equally studious defender, Eric Bailly, marking the tricky number-10 on that nk. Without doubt, there was nothing to fear as long as the untiring Ivorian mechanic was barring the way of the Senegalese forward. As long as Eric Bailly didn''t blunder and score an own-goal while defending, he would be okay throughout the entire game. That was Zachary''s belief.. And that was what had already put his racing heart at ease as the anticipated kick-off drew nearer.

 Chapter 262 - An Incredible Start

    -----

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    -----

    The referee blew the whistle at 9:05 PM, signaling the start of the long-awaited Europa League match between Red Bull Salzburg and Rosenborg Ballklub. The atmosphere grew more tumultuous and turbulent as all the yers on the field turned their sights towards the ball on the center spot. At the same time, cheers rose to a crescendo, drowning out every sound in the entire Red Bull Arena. Tensions were high in the few seconds after the sound of the whistle.

    Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s center forward, didn''t dilly-dally after hearing the kick-off whistle. He cast a fleeting nce across the opposite side of the ying field, seemingly to assess or maybe taunt the opposition before themencement of the actual action. Without turning around, he raised his leg and then kicked the ball back towards his midfield with a back heel.

    "Show off!" Zachary inwardly scoffed at his teammate before turning 180 degrees to follow the movement of the ball. He started running into space as he watched Mike Jensen, one of the holding midfielders in Rosenborg''s 4-2-3-1 formation, receive Nicki''s pass close to the border of the defensive third.

    Without losing a moment, Mike flicked the ball to Thomas Partey, his counterpart in defensive midfield. By then, the Red Bull Salzburg forwards had already rushed into Rosenborg''s half, pressing the Ghanaian midfielder and leaving him without enough time to settle down with the ball. They were like a pair of raging wild bulls rushing forward and trying to win possession for the Austrian team as quickly as possible.

    "Thomas!" Zachary hollered out loud when he noticed the two opponents bearing down on his teammate like mad. "y safe! Hit a long one to Nicki." He added as he turned and rushed towards the other side of the pitch.

    Thomas Partey, the young midfielder destined for great things, didn''t disappoint in the slightest. With a skillful couple of touches, he stepped away from n, one of Red Bull Salzburg''s two forwards. And without losing hisposure, he unleashed a long-range pass to the other side of the field.

    Nicki Nielsen reacted immediately on seeing the ball approaching his path. He rushed away from his marker like the wind and jumped high to receive the ball amidst a distinct wave of boos from the home fans.

    However, Martin Hinteregger, one of Red Bull Salzburg''s center-backs, stuck to him like super glue. The defender didn''t allow him an inch of space. He held tightly onto his shirt as the two of them battled for aerial superiority.

    It was the first clear brush between the two teams ¡ª a spectacle that excited most fans in the stands. The cheers and chants rose to a higher level, seemingly to wee the uing battle between attacker and defender. Eventually, it was Martin Hinteregger, the no-nonsense center-back, who won the battle of wits. He out-maneuvered Nicki-Nielsen mid-air and headed the ball towards Stefan Ilsanker, one of the Red Bull Salzburg midfielders. In that way, he''d managed to diffuse the danger.

    The first battle between the two teams seemed to have ended in favor of the Austrian team from Salzburg. The cheers of Red Bull Salzburg''s fans hit yet another momentous crescendo as they chanted "Martin Hinteregger" at the top of their voices like mad. Their passion when supporting even a simple defensive y was something that Zachary had never experienced in both his lives. It was only the second minute of gamey ¡ª yet the tensions were already running high on the pitch because of the fans.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    It was at that instant that the referee''s whistle sounded. The whistle was like a manifestation of a musical note from hell itself, bringing about the descent of a momentous silence all over the Red Bull Arena.

    "Free kick!" Zachary heard the referee intone in an indifferent voice as he neared the spot where Martin Hinteregger had taken on Nicki Nielsen only a few seconds ago.

    "You pulled Nicki''s shirt and prevented him from jumping up topete fairly for the ball," the referee added, shooing away Martin Hinteregger, who was already in his face. "That was a clear foul. So, please stopining."

    "OMG! Yes, yes," Zachary yelled, pumping a fist in the air before quickening his step towards the referee. His hopes soared to another level as he realized that the spot for the free kick was only twelve or so yards outside the box. It was in a perfect position ¡ª just close to the right nk, where he could punish the keeper with his Bend-it-like-Beckham Juju.

    "What a cheap giveaway of a free kick!" Zachary mused as he stepped towards Nicki Nielsen and patted the forward''s shoulder as a show of thanks for his efforts. The center-forward had helped Rosenborg obtain a golden chance to take the lead in the 2nd minute of gamey. Of course, Zachary was appreciative.

    "The rest is up to you, Zachary," Nicki said to him after picking himself up from the ground. The center-forward was grinning from ear to ear and didn''t look like someone that had just been fouled. He was obviously in a good mood.

    "Remember," he continued. "Don''t pressure yourself. Rx, and take the free kick as usual. As long as you do that, you''ll have a decent chance of scoring our first goal."

    "Noted, and thank you," Zachary replied sinctly and then picked the ball from the referee. Without wasting any time, he delicately ced the ball on the green. He took great care throughout the entire process and confirmed there wasn''t even a single stalk of grass in front of the ball.

    He then took a few steps backward before activating the Dead Ball Specialist Juju and starting to observe both the keeper and the defensive wall. For the next few seconds, his mind was in a state of extreme focus as his eyes took in all the happenings before and within Salzburg''s box. He was determined to score Rosenborg''s first goal there and then. He couldn''t let himself make even the simplest of mistakes at such a crucial moment of the game.

    **** ****

    Coach Roger Schmidt was extremely nervous as he watched the goings-on before Red Bull''s box. He''d warned his yers to beware of conceding unnecessary free kicks within the final third. However, just two minutes into the game, his star center-back had alreadymitted a needless foul just a few yards from the box. As a result, Rosenborg had a chance to take the lead through their monstrous Maestro ¡ª Zachary Bemba.

    Coach Roger Schmidt could only pray the young number-33 was off-form that evening. Otherwise, there was no way he would miss a free kick in such a perfect position while at the top of his game. That was a deduction that came naturally to him after recalling a few moments from Rosenborg''s past matches.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    At that moment, the referee blew the whistle. The sound rang across the then almost silent stadium, causing Coach Roger Schmidt''s heart to start pounding with anxiety. Nevertheless, as an experienced coach, he forced himself to calm down as his gaze followed Zachary ¡ª who was already making an angled run towards the ball.

    The young number-33 was the perfect definition of a skilled and experienced old professional as he made thest jump step towards the ball. His movements were smooth and immacte, like flowing clouds and the autumn breeze, as he brandished his foot like a whip to send the set-piece barely a foot over the wall. Unsurprisingly, the ball curled over the wall in a perfect arc, flying through the air like a missile before homing into the top left corner.

    SILENCE!!!

    For an instant, the cheers and boos from the Red Bull Salzburg fans totally vanished. The fans seemed surprised and didn''t expect a yer from a team like Rosenborg to such a goal. With an uncanny moment of brilliance, Zachary had unleashed a missile of a shot from around thirty-five yards away to catch the keeper unawares and score Rosenborg''s first goal in the 2nd minute.

    -----

    RED BULL SALZBURG 0: ROSENBORG BK 1

    -----

    Coach Roger Schmidt sighed, shaking his head after taking a nce at the stadium''s jumbotron. It seemed his worst fears were alreadying true. However, as an experienced coach, he didn''t rush to change his game strategy. What his team had was time to turn things around. He was determined to stick to his philosophy of attacking the opponent like there wasn''t a tomorrow. With his team that contained an assembly of talented attackers, he didn''t believe that he would fail to score at least two goals in the remaining eighty or so minutes.

    "Guys!" He yelled in German at the top of his voice while pping his hands to motivate his yers. "Don''t mind! Don''t mind! We still have more than eighty minutes remaining to the final whistle. Focus! Focus! Let''s teach these Norwegians the meaning of attacking football. Sadio and Kevin! Stop sleeping in the wings. I want crosses floating into the box without a pause..."

    The Red Bull Salzburg coach roared out hismands to his yers at the pace of machine guns. He seemed unbothered by Rosenborg''s opening goal. What was there to fear? His custom was to defend by attacking. IF Rosenborg scored one goal, he would score two. And if Rosenborg scored two goals, he would three. That was his style, and it had slowly be the way of Red Bull Salzburg as well.

    **** ****

 Chapter 263 - A Game Of Tactics And Tension

    The game restarted immediately after the goal celebrations. The Red Bull Salzburg yers went straight into a relentless attacking mode like a pack of hungry predators that had just caught the scent of their favorite prey. They evenpelled all the Rosenborg yers to return to their own half, save for Nicki Nielsen, the center-forward. Their wing y was phenomenal, with both the uncanny Sadio Mane and the resourceful Kevin Kampl constantly darting on the nks and floating teasing crosses into the box. They were a tricky side for sure.

    Coach Boyd Johansen, Rosenborg''s head coach, was standing on the sidelines ¡ª in Rosenborg''s technical area watching the goings-on on the pitch with utmost concentration. A slight frown framed his face as he observed the game situation leaning more and more in favor of Red Bull Salzburg with every passing minute. Be that as it may, he didn''t adjust his tactics even though his team was constantly on the back foot as the match progressed.

    He''d opted to y a defensive game, employing a 4-2-3-1 formation from the very start to weather Salzburg''s relentless attacks. He was confident in the abilities of his four defenders ¡ª Mikael Dorsin, Tore Reginiussen, Yerry Mina, and Eric Bailly.

    With support from two holding midfielders, he believed the four defenders would keep the troublesome Salzburg attackers at bay at least until Zachary andpany got a chance to counterattack. That was even more so, especially considering their consistent form and solid performances during Rosenborg''s past few matches.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    It was at that moment the referee''s whistle sounded, breaking his thought process. Coach Johansen''s frown deepened after realizing that Jonathan Soriano, one of Red Bull Salzburg''s center-forwards, hadmitted yet another foul. He was a bit frustrated.

    A moment ago, it had been one of the rare asions when Rosenborg had managed to snatch possession from the Austrian giants. Mikael Dorsin, the Rosenborg left-back, had managed to jump high and block a teasing cross from Kevin Kampl, Salzburg''s right-winger. The left-back had followed that up with a pretty fast reaction to control the ball before passing it to Mike Jensen, who was in defensive midfield. However, before Mike could settle down with the ball, Jonathan Soriano came rushing in, sending the holding midfielder tumbling to the ground with a sliding tackle. In so doing, the Red Bull Salzburg center-forward had denied Rosenborg the perfect chance to counterattack yet again.

    "Their high-pressing is causing us a lot of trouble," Trond Henriksen, the assistant head coach of Rosenborg,mented from beside him. He also seemed quite concerned with the goings-on on the field of y.

    "It''s already the 20th minute, but their attackers aren''t even giving us a single minute to settle down with the ball in the backfield," the assistant continued. "They are always upon our yers like hungry beasts whenever we win it back. That''s why we''re losing out in ball possession and failing to mount effective attacks on their goal. We have to do something about this, or else we''ll concede sooner orter."

    Coach Johansen nodded in affirmation, his eyes never leaving the field of y. It was frustrating to y against an attack-minded team like Red Bull Salzburg. Ever since the restart of the game, the Austrian giants had not allowed the Rosenborg yers even a moment to breathe on the field of y. Whenever Red Bull Salzburg would lose possession, the whole team would try to recover it as quickly as possible. The nearest three, or sometimes even four, yers would immediately counter-press the Rosenborg yer in possession. They would either get the ball ormit a foul ¡ª but would not let the opponent escape.

    But that was not all that made them a very tricky side. Most of the Red Bull Salzburg yers, including the attackers ¡ª Sadio Man¨¦, Kevin Kampl, Jonathan Soriano, and n, were very swift and highly agile. They were a highly efficient bunch both when high-pressing and counter-pressing.

    Even more embittering was that the defensive full-backs and the two midfielders were also highly aggressive in their style. They tended to leave their positions to partake in the press high up the pitch. They had unceasingly overwhelmed the Norwegian side as a result.

    All in all, the Red Bull Salzburg team was like a well-oiled machine that continuously forced the Rosenborg defenders and holding-midfielders to y long balls. The Norwegian giants hadn''t even gotten an opportunity to y a series of the more efficient short passes through the middle ever since themencement of the game. That was because such a short build-up was too dangerous against Red Bull Salzburg''s high pressing.

    "Let''s not rush to make any changes for the moment since our defense is doing fine," Coach Johansen said to his assistant after a few seconds of deliberation. "I''m sure that our yers will get used to the quick tempo as the game progresses. After that, they will be able to react ordingly to the high-pressing and counter-pressing tactics of Salzburg. We might even manage to score a second goal if that happens."

    "Ohhh! Okay," Trond Henriksen, the assistant, replied, seemingly still concerned. "But just in case things go south, we should maybe prep some substitutes. In such a high-tempo game, there''s a high likelihood that a few of our yers might suffer injuries or run out of stamina. So, I''m suggesting we make some contingencies against such situations."

    "That''s just fine," Coach Johansen replied offhandedly. "You can go ahead and inform John Chibuike, Jonas Svensson, and Ole Selnaes to start warming up on the sidelines. Maybe, their warming up will motivate our yers to put in more effort to adapt to the game quickly."

    "Good," Trond Henriksen replied, nodding. "I will do that right away."

    Coach Johansen returned his full attention to the match immediately after Trond Henriksen had stepped away to prep the substitutes. His yers had opted to take the free kick short only a while ago. But they had lost possession to the relentless Red Bull Salzburg yers after a minute or so of trying to hold the ball in the backfield. From then on, the game situation was back to the Austrian giants dictating the tempo on the field of y.

    Nheless, the Rosenborg yers continued defending as if their lives depended on the game, without allowing the Red Bull Salzburg attackers to make any shots on goal. Both Yerry Mina and Eric Bailly, Rosenborg''stest additions, were instrumental in keeping the score level. Time and time again, the two defenders managed to explode with incredible disys to frustrate the agile Red Bull Salzburg attackers. Anyone could tell that they were budding world-ss defenders for sure.

    However, as a fact, it was difficult for any yer to maintain a high level of concentration throughout a long duration of a high-tempo match. That was especially so for a young and inexperienced yer like Eric Bailly, Rosenborg''s right-back. In the 42nd minute of the game, he was out of position for a brief moment. In so doing, he allowed Sadio Man¨¦, the troublesome Red Bull Salzburg left-winger, to receive the ball without any pressure on the nks.

    "Close him down, quick!" Coach Johansen hollered out to his yers right after noticing the defensive blunder. His heart was pounding hard like it wanted to jump out of his chest as he watched the Salzburg winger set off on a mazy run along the touchline on the left nk.

    Trouble was on the way for Rosenborg, thus bringing unprecedented excitement to the Salzburg fans. The cheers of the home fans hit yet another thunderous zenith.

    "SADIO! *p*p* MAN¨¦! *p*p* SADIO..."

    They sang at the top of their voices, cheering on their star winger to move the ball forward. What passion! What intensity! Their enthusiasm was out of this world, and their chants filled with palpable emotions, depicting their love for their team. At that moment, it was like the Red Bull Arena was experiencing a mega-earthquake.

    Encouraged by the cheers of the fans, Sadio Man¨¦ was like a resourceful and experienced form-one driver. He raced with the ball along the touchline on the left nk, slithering past a couple of Rosenborg yers like a slippery snake navigating the jungle. In a matter of seconds, he started cutting into the pitch and was soon one-on-one with Yerry Mina, Rosenborg''s center-back.

    Coach Johansen''s heartbeat elerated, despite himself. It was the most dangerous moment for Rosenborg ¡ª one which caused beads of sweat to start rolling down along the outlines of his face. Nheless, he watched intently without even blinking as the tricky winger yed a one-two with n, the Red Bull center-forward, to rush past Yerry Mina and step into the box.

    Without losing hisposure, the tricky Senegalese received a return pass from n before unleashing a right-footed attempt towards the bottom left corner, just inside the near post. His uracy was so precise that he ced the curling shot barely a few centimeters away from the reach of the diving keeper.

    A moment of silence seemed to descend all over the Red Bull Arena since the keeper was absolutely already beaten. The cheers stopped in those few moments when the ball was hurtling towards the goal. Tension was in the air since Red Bull Salzburg was moments away from scoring their first goal and bringing matters back to level.

    STIFFNESS!! PRESSURE!! TENSION!!

    Time seemed to havee to a standstill as a few more beads of sweat made their way down along Coach Johansen''s face. But he didn''t dare blink as he continued following the route of the ball. It was then that a swift silhouette rushed in from who knows where. With an uncanny acrobatic ir, the shape in the white and ck Rosenborg jersey dived in with the head ¡ª first ¡ª and then blocked the ball just as it was about to make its way past the goal line.

    "OHHH, NO!!!"

    A collective sigh rang throughout the stands of the Red Bull Arena. Eric Bailly, the Rosenborg defender, had managed to rush back in time to save the situation. He had jumped in without fear and relied on his head to bar Sadio Mane''s shot from making it into the back of the at the veryst moment. What a courageous y! What decisiveness! The fans could only let out sighs filled with destion as they watched the ball rolling out of the field.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle soon after. He stopped in one position and then pointed towards the corner g.

    "Corner kick!"

    Coach Johansen sighed with unmasked relief. At that moment, he felt like he''d just jumped out of hell and descended back on earth.

    "Guys!" He started shouting at the top of his voice while pping his hands. "Stay focused! Don''t leave any opponent unmarked when you defend the corner. Don''t allow them even an inch of space..."

    **** ****

 Chapter 264 - A Dire Situation

    On the pitch, Zachary quickly made his way back to Rosenborg''s eighteen-yard box to help his team defend against the corner. He was determined to prevent Red Bull Salzburg from scoring by doing his part to the best of his abilities.

    He immediately picked out Andr¨¦ Ramalho, a tall Red Bull Salzburg center-back, and man-marked him like mad. Furthermore, he also didn''t forget to holler out some warnings to his teammates and advise them to tightly mark other dangerous opponents like Sadio Man¨¦ and Jonathan Soriano. He only rxed after making sure that there was no unmarked Red Bull Salzburg yer in the box.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle after a short while. The yers of both teams within the box immediately started pulling and pushing one another, trying to outmaneuver their opponents while awaiting the corner ball. It wasplete pandemonium in the box to the point that the referee had to intervene and dy the corner for a couple of minutes. The situation only calmed down when the referee showed a couple of yellow cards to yers from both teams. Even Zachary got off with a verbal warning since he''d been stealthily pulling at his opponent''s shirt.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle once again after settling the chaotic situation in the box. Stefan Ilsanker, one of the Red Bull midfielders, immediately floated a teasing ball into the crowded box, sending the stadium into a wave of thunderous cheers once again.

    Within the box, Zachary wasn''t the least bit affected by the thunderous cheers of the home fans. He''d shut out everything else and only focused on the iing ball and his opponent - Andr¨¦ Ramalho. Thanks to his high game intelligence, coupled with his extreme state of concentration, he deduced the ball trajectory and its final destination almost instantaneously.

    As luck would have it, he could tell that the corner ball wasing right towards his position in the box. He didn''t dare take the situation lightly at that moment. Without losing a second, he pushed off the ground like a kangaroo, outmuscled Andr¨¦ Ramalho, his opponent, midair, and then headed the ball out of the box to safety. However, before he could let out a breath of pent-up air and settle back on the green, the referee''s whistle sounded once again.

    "What the hell is happening?"

    Zachary could not help but frown as he turned his attention towards the referee. He shuddered despite himself when he noticed that the referee was pointing to the penalty spot. At that moment, it was as if the referee had just banished his heart from heaven to hell. He was both infuriated and confused by the referee''s decision. He was even considering the prospect of rushing towards the ref and giving him a piece of his mind.

    "Stay calm! Stay calm!" Zachary mumbled to himself while trying his best to tamp down his frustration. It was then that he noticed that Andr¨¦ Ramalho, the Red Bull center-back that he''d been marking during the heat of the corner kick, was on the ground. The six-foot Brazilian was rolling on the green while hiding his face in-between his palms like a wounded animal.

    MADNESS!!

    "What the hell is happening?" Zachary couldn''t help but explode with fury as he rushed towards the referee. He could no longer contain his rage after noticing that his opponent was trying to frame him for a foul he hadn''tmitted. "Ref, I am innocent," he added, stressing word for word. "I didn''t even touch him when I was contesting for the ball. Surely, it''s just simtion to win a penalty."

    "Elbow," the referee replied simply with a single word while showing a yellow card to Zachary. He then shooed Zachary away with a wave of his hand before going to check on the Red Bull Salzburg center-back, who was still rolling on the ground.

    Zachary wanted to put in a few moreints and justify his case. That was because he was pretty sure he hadn''tmitted a foul. But before Zachary could say anything else, a firm grip around his waist pulled him away from the referee''s position. On turning around, he noticed that Mikael Dorsin, Rosenborg''s assistant captain, was the one holding on to him tightly and signaling him to remain silent.

    "Can you please calm down for a moment?" Mikael whispered while ncing at him squarely. "The referee has already awarded the penalty. So, there''s nothing you can do since he has already made the decision. Comining won''t get you any results but a red card."

    "So, I''m begging you to settle down and ignore the referee''s decision. Remember that all the hopes of the fans, the management, and coaches are resting upon us. They want us to win this match and keep our Europa League dream alive. So, we can''t let something like anger drive our actions while on the pitch. Are we together, Zachary?"

    Zachary nodded to indicate that he understood. He knew where Mikael wasing from, considering the situation of the match.

    If he persisted and argued with the referee, he would get himself a red card just before halftime. Then, Red Bull Salzburg would utilize the remaining minutes to tear them down like wolves attacking a herd of helpless sheep for sure. Rosenborg would then lose the game, and their hopes of qualifying to the next round of the Europa League woulde to an end there and then.

    "What a close call!!"

    Zachary could not help but tremble all over after realizing that he''d been only moments away from attracting a red card from the referee due to an argument. Without saying a word, he closed his eyes for a few seconds and took in a drawn-out breath of air to calm himself down. When he next opened his eyes a few secondster, they were as serene as a pool of calm water, without any undtions or waves.

    "Thank you, Mikael," he said to his assistant captain.

    "I''m d you have calmed down," Mikael replied with a smile. "As footballers, we''ll always have moments when we can''t control our emotions. It may be because of a poor refereeing decision or simply from the frustration of losing the game or something else. But we have got to try our best to control our tempers simply because the calmest yers on the pitch are usually the ones who emerge victoriously."

    "I understand," Zachary replied once again.

    "Good," Mikael replied, nodding. "Then let''s prepare for the penalty."

    -----

    The cheers reached another crescendo after the referee organized most yers out of the box for the penalty. At that moment, the only field yers still in the box were Jonathan Soriano, Red Bull Salzburg''s center-forward, and Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s goalkeeper. The two of them would face off in a battle of wits a few momentster.

    -----

    Zachary had positioned himself a few yards beyond the arc of the 18-yard box. He felt as if he''d just stepped into a pile of shit and found it hard to breathe even though there wasn''t any other field yer in his close vicinity. Who wouldn''t after giving away a penalty during a crucial match?

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and motioned for Jonathan Soriano to take the penalty a short whileter. It was the moment of truth. Would it be the highly clinical Red Bull Salzburg forward that would prevail? Or, would the highly experienced Rosenborg keepere out on top?

    Zachary didn''t care for any wild guesses. His heartbeat elerated as tension gripped his entire being as he watched the Red Bull Salzburg center-forward make an angled run towards the ball.

    "Please don''t go in! Don''t go in!" He couldn''t help himself but mumble when Jonathan Soriano finally raised his leg and unleashed the long-awaited shot from the penalty spot.

    Despite having S-grade stamina, Zachary even experienced shortness of breath as he followed the trajectory of the ball heading towards goal. It was one of the stiffest of moments he''d faced ever since turning professional.

    Time seemed to slow down for the briefest of seconds ¡ª and then the possibility with the lowest probability of urring happened the next instant.

    Zachary felt like he''d just escaped from hell to heaven as a wave of disappointed sighs of the home fans rang across the entire Red Bull Arena. He was giddy with excitement and even yelled out at the top of his voice to express his relief.

    "What a save!"

    Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s keeper, hadmitted himself to a full-body dive towards his left and managed to snatch the penalty ball from midair. With that incredible save, he''d denied Red Bull Salzburg a chance to score yet again, sending the stadium into a state of momentary silence.

    "Why does this situation seem so familiar?" Zachary mumbled silently to himself as he watched the experienced Rosenborg keeper holding the ball to his chest.

    Then it all came to him, and a light bulb went off in his brain.

    Without any needless words, he turned around and elerated almost instantaneously towards the other side of the pitch. It looked like the devil himself was chasing after him as he darted through the middle of the field. His only hope at that moment was that Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s keeper, would spot his run as soon as possible and release him for a counter. That way, he would be able to catch the Red Bull Salzburg yers unawares for the first time since themencement of the match.

    The lucky stars of Rosenborg seemed to be aligned well that day. Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s keeper, appeared to have read his mind like an open book. Just as Zachary was fast approaching the center circle, he noticed the keeper had just unleashed a long one-handed throw towards him. It was the perfect release of the ball right before the Red Bull Salzburg yers could react.

    Zachary, of course, went into action on seeing the ball approaching his position at the boundary of the center circle. He slowed down slightly before turning around to jump and meet the long throw midair. His motions were as smooth as flowing clouds while chesting the ball down the green. Without losing a moment, he spun 180 degrees and continued towards Red Bull Salzburg''s goal like the wind.. The counterattack was on.

 Chapter 265 - A Wonderful State

    Zachary darted across the pitch like a bullet, leaving both opponents and teammates in the dust. He could even feel the chilly autumn breeze whipping across his face as he ran like mad and tried to make the best of the counterattacking opportunity. However, he couldn''t help but slow down a momentter.

    Two Red Bull Salzburg yers had managed to catch up to him and bar his path before he could carry on with the counterattack. So, he couldn''t just continue racing carelessly with the ball towards the other side.

    "What to do?"

    Lightning-fast thoughts swirled through Zachary''s mind as he took the briefest of moments to assess the two opponents that had just cornered him. Within an instant, he managed to recall all the information about them. The first yer was named Christian Schwegler, Red Bull Salzburg''s right-back known for his long throw-ins, while the other was Christoph Leitgeb, a solid and creative right midfielder.

    The two yers were not impatient as they confronted him. They just blocked his path towards their goal without trying to tackle the ball from his feet. Moreover, they had angled their bodies in such a way to force him towards the left nk. They seemed intent on just dying him while waiting for their teammates to array themselves back into a proper defensive shape.

    "This can''t go on," Zachary decided.

    Everything was hanging on a thread since the other Red Bull Salzburg yers were almost catching up. If he couldn''t beat the two defenders blocking his path within a maximum of five seconds, he would have wasted the opportunity for sure.

    "This can''t do!"

    Zachary strained his mind to the extreme limit, trying to catch on to that slim chance to make the best of the situation. Possible running routes towards goal, standing gaits of opponents, the distance between opponent and ball, and many more factors ran through his mind, swirling about like waves of a raging Tsunami. The lightning-fast thoughts stirred up his mind until he couldn''t think of anything else anymore.

    His mind was aplete nk and in a state of stillness a momentter. Then, it all happened at once, and a wondrous and familiar feeling bloomed in the deep confines of his mind. Within an instant, a lot of information flooded into his brain, giving him a clear picture of everything around him.

    At longst, he''d managed to enter the zone once again.

    Zachary''s heart skipped a bit when he noticed that he had aplete grasp of each and every bodily movement of the two opponents cornering him. He could see them clearly. Be it facial expressions or even the peculiarity of their strides and gaits ¡ª he managed to capture them all in anything but an instant. It was as if he had developed a superior awareness for any small thing in the space around him. Moreover, it seemed his mind was working better than usual when he was in that uncanny state. He''d even deduced the best way to open up the quickest route towards goal as a result.

    What a feeling!

    A soft smile outlined Zachary''s face as he started flicking the ball from his left to right foot the very next instant. The difficulties that had puzzled his mind a moment ago seemed to have disappeared almost instantaneously right after he''d entered the zone. It was as if the world was in slow motion.

    However, he understood that it wasn''t the right time to explore the feeling of being in the zone. Four seconds had already psed since he started his face off against the two opponents. If he continued dragging his feet, he would have to face off against many more opponents ¡ª a situation that could snuff out Rosenborg''s chance of executing a sessful counterattack.

    Thus, without any more dilly-dallying, he got into action right away. He first tapped the ball slightly using the outer toe area of his right foot without letting it move far away from him. Without a pause, he caught the ball before dragging it back towards himself toplete a basic stico dribble. And just as he''d expected, one of the yers barring his path moved forward slightly and stretched out a boot to tackle the ball.

    Chance!!!

    Zachary felt like he''d unloaded a weight off his shoulders when he noticed that the yer had taken his bait. Without losing a second, he moved like a thunderp.

    He feigned going left before halting abruptly and then moving right. Like a cheetah in the wild, he elerated almost instantaneously, squeezing through the gap in-between the two yers. Before the two opponents could adapt, he was already a couple of meters beyond their reach, his strides eating up yards of space like there was no tomorrow.

    However, he was not in the clear yet. Another opponent had already caught up to him when he was dealing with the other two. Nheless, he didn''t panic. He could beat any defender out there while in the zone. His superior awareness granted him the ability to see every movement of the opponent seemingly in slow motion. Through mere observation, he could even predict the actions of the opponents to some extent.

    So, when the approaching opponent tried to grab his shirt and foul him, he reacted ordingly. He hinged at the waist and leaned forwardly slightly, barely dodging the grabbing hand of the Red Bull Salzburg yer. After that, he didn''t look back a single time and continued en route towards the opponent''s box like a sh. He''d already left every other yer in the dust. At that moment, only the Red Bull Salzburg keeper was remaining between him and the goal.

    Zachary, of course, didn''t disappoint. With just a couple of deft touches, he skillfully skipped past the keeper, who''d rushed out of his box to meet him. He then buried the ball into the back of the empty from a tight angle, sending the Red Bull Arena into a state of momentary silence. What a goal!

    Red Bull Salzburg 0: Rosenborg Ballklub 2.

    Zachary had managed to score Rosenborg''s second goal just before the break in the 45th minute. However, he didn''t pause his run. Instead, he raced all the way back to Rosenborg''s box like the wind and then celebrated with Daniel ?rlund, the goalkeeper.

    **** ****

    Cheers, yells, and boos were like thunder upon the ears as the match progressed. The atmosphere in the stands was turbulent since the Red Bull Salzburg fans continued cheering their team like mad even after halftime. It was as if they wanted to help their team score at least a goal by the sheer will of their words. They were really a passionate bunch.

    Nevertheless, there was also a pair of odd men out within the assembly of home fans in the Red Bull Arena. They watched the goings-on on the pitch with analytical eyes and didn''t partake in the cheering even once. The two of them appeared totally detached from the chaos around them and seemed not to belong in the home fans section. That was because they didn''t care about the game''s results and were only at the stadium as scouts to assess a single yer.

    "Emily was right about this one," Edward Atkins, the younger of the two men, said, trying his best to make himself heard over the din in the stadium. His eyes were wide, slender, and sharply outlined with a keen gaze. A spade-shaped goatee, matching well with his raven-ck hair, supplied him with an imposing look that made him appear proud.

    "True," Mike Brown, his counterpart, replied from beside him. This one was actually a manter on in his years, with a bald head and bits of grey in his facial hair. "Emily really picked up a gem. Stamina,posure, skills, and sharpness with the ball ¡ª he has them all. Moreover, he''s a dead ball specialist to boot. I can already see him helping us win the Premier League if we can convince him to join us."

    "It won''t be easy to get his signature," Edward Atkinsmented, his eyes never leaving the field of y. "With the way he is ying, I''m sure that a lot of the top teams will be lining up topete for his services."

    "But we have an advantage," Mike Brown, the aged man, chipped in. "We should be among the first teams from the top leagues to notice his monster-level talents. So, we only have to rush in headfast and have a heart-to-heart with him before others take note of his skills. The best would be if Emily could help us."

    "You should forget about her," Edward Atkins said, sighing and shaking his head. "Emily has already dered that she won''t help us with the client in any way. She has already done enough by informing us about such a yer before talking to the other teams. So, let''s try not to burden her anymore."

    The aged man sighed. "She''s just like her father, always putting principles above everything else. She can''t even help her home team obtain the services of such a genius! It''s truly a pity."

    "That''s what makes her so good at her job even at such a young age," Edward replied. "Let''s first watch the match. We''ll discuss afterward."

    "Good."

    **** ****

 Chapter 266 - Incredible Form

    Coach Johansen was all smiles as he followed the progress of the game from Rosenborg''s technical area. His mind was at ease since his yers had managed to hold on to their two-goal advantage despite being under a constant barrage of attacks from Red Bull Salzburg. Hope had already bloomed inside him since they were almost winning the game with a clean sheet. As long as they could defend well and hold on for the next ten or so minutes, they would secure the much-needed three points. That way, they would be a step closer to achieving the almost impossible dream of qualifying for the next round of the Europa League.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    It was at that moment that the referee blew the whistle and pointed towards the corner g. Sadio Mane, Red Bull Salzburg''s winger, had just made yet another crazy run through the nks before unleashing another attempt on goal from the outside of the 18-yard box. It had been another tense moment for Coach Johansen and his yers. However, Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s goalkeeper, had been alert and reacted promptly to push the ball out of y with his fingertips for a corner kick.

    The Red Bull Salzburg yers were obviously in a hurry to restart the game. They quickly organized themselves to attack the corner in a matter of seconds. And without any dilly-dallying, Kevin Kampl, Red Bull Salzburg''s right-winger, matched their urgency and floated in a teasing cross into the crowded box.

    What followed was another critical moment for Rosenborg. n, one of Red Bull Salzburg''s two center-forwards, jumped high and nted a header towards the goal from around the penalty spot.

    TENSION!!! PRESSURE!!!

    The ball flew towards the top right corner like a bullet, thus eliciting another wave of thunderous cheers from the home fans. However, Daniel ?rlund, the Rosenborg keeper, was alert once again. He jumped high and managed to direct the ball out of y with a heavy punch. As a result, Red Bull Salzburg had once again failed to score in the 84th minute.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and pointed towards the corner g again. Kevin Kampl didn''t waste even a second sending a lofted corner ball into the box. However, that time around, Yerry Mina, Rosenborg''s center back, managed to outjump the entire crowd of yers within the box to send the ball faraway towards the right nk with an imposing header.

    It was then that Tobias Mikkelsen, Rosenborg''s right-winger, reacted and chased after the ball like the wind. He relied on his incredible pace to reach it close to the touchline on the right nk before any other yer on the pitch. Without losing a moment, he brought it under control with an outstretched boot before taking off like the wind towards the other side of the field.

    Another Rosenborg counterattack was on.

    Christoph Leitgeb, one of the Red Bull Salzburg midfielders that hadn''t participated in the corner kick, soon came to close Tobias down. However, the right-winger fed the ball past him and then beat him for pace. He continued darting along the touchline so fast like a bullet train on the rails and managed to make it to the final third in only a matter of seconds. His pace was extraordinarily out of this world.

    Coach Johansen could already feel his blood boiling with anxiety as he watched Tobias end his run with a grounded pass diagonally towards the box. What a chance! It was another rare precious opportunity for Rosenborg ¡ª one which the coach wanted his yers to capitalize on and seal the game.

    The goddess of luck seemed to be with Rosenborg that day. Tobias'' cross managed to dart across the entire pitch and make its way into the path of Nicki Nielsen, who was arriving at the far post. And of course, the ever-reliable Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s center-forward, didn''t disappoint when it came to matters within the box. He pounced forward like a sh before tapping the ball into the back of the with an outstretched boot.

    Red Bull Salzburg 0: Rosenborg BK 3!!

    Coach Johansen roared out loud, punching his fist repeatedly into the air to celebrate the goal. He was beyond excited since the impossible had just happened.

    His team had scored the third goal against a Europa League veteran team in the 87th minute. What a night! He couldn''t remember thest time he''d been that excited.

    "Guys!" He roared out loud after his yers had finished celebrating the goal. "Focus and defend! Let''s do our best to prevent the opponents from scoring. Only three minutes plus added time remaining. Defend! Defend and Defend!"

    Coach Johansen continued roaring out hismands at the pace of a machine gun throughout the remaining few minutes of the game. He ensured that his yers stayed in a proper defensive shape, weathering Red Bull Salzburg''s barrage of attacks. He was determined to maintain his first clean sheet in the Europa League.

    A few momentster, Coach Johansen let out a pent-up breath of air after noting that the Rosenborg yers were quite receptive to hismands. They followed his instructions to the letter and defended as if their lives depended on the game. As a result, they managed to hold on to their three-goal advantage until the sound of the final whistle resounded across the Red Bull Arena.

    **** ****

    The entire Rosenborg team spent the night at the Altstadthotel Amadeus Hotel after the match. All the yers were all in a jolly mood as they had just hammered Red Bull Salzburg 3:0. Moreover, they''d kept their hopes of qualifying for the next round alive by gaining their first three points in the Europa League. So, they spent a couple of hours celebrating in the hotel bar and only went to bed veryte that night.

    -----

    The next day.

    The Rosenborg yers returned to Trondheim by ne in a triumphant mood. They then utilized the entire Friday to recover from match fatigue before diving back into serious training the day after.

    Since they''d already won the Tippeligaen and were without any pressure, the training session that Saturday was a light one. The yers only went through simple team drills to prepare for their final Tippeligaen match for the season against Lillestr?m Sportsklubb before calling it a day.

    -----

    Sunday, November 10, 2013.

    The Rosenborg yers boarded an afternoon Scandinavian Airlines flight at around 1:00 PM and then headed to the city of Lillestr?m. On reaching Lillestr?m, they enjoyed a light meal that served as their lunch before resting for an hour. After that, they traveled by bus to a nearby training ground to put in a few hours of additional training. They spent almost two hours warming up their muscles ¡ª and soon it was the time for the match against Lillestr?m Sportsklubb.

    For that match, Coach Johansen benched most of the first-team yers. The likes of Zachary, Mike Jensen, Thomas Partey, Nicki Nielsen, and Mikael Dorsin could only watch the sh against Lillestr?m Sportsklubb from the sidelines. Despite that, Rosenborg still started the match with a bang and took the lead very early in the first half. By capitalizing on a mistake made by one of the Lillestr?m SK defenders, John Chibuike, Rosenborg''s left forward for that match,ted to give the visitors the lead just after eleven minutes of gamey.

    However, the Rosenborg field yers didn''t take the foot off the gas even after scoring the first goal. Pushing for a second, John Chibuike came close once again, banging a header on the woodwork, before Jonas Svensson, Rosenborg''s midfielder, grazed the post with a free kick.

    Excellence!! Brilliance!! Teamwork!!

    The Troll Kids were on fire throughout the entire first half and early stages of the second half. But despite their dominance, they were unable to double their advantage against Lillestr?m Sportsklubb untilte in the second half.

    It was Mix Diskerud, Rosenborg''s defensive midfielder, who bagged Rosenborg''s second goal. With a thunderous effort from outside the 18-yard box during the 70th minute, he managed to beat the keeper and fire Rosenborg into a seemingly unassable position.

    However, that wasn''t the end of the tantalizing action that day. That was because the action on the pitch grew more exciting and pleasing to the eyes after Coach Johansen introduced both Zachary and Nicki Nielsen into the game in the 80th minute.

    Zachary, on his part, was on fire right after entering the field of y. He immediately linked well with John Chibuike before unleashing a long-range missile of a shot towards the goal. However, the Lillestr?m keeper was alert and managed to save the effort, thus keeping the score 0:2 in favor of Rosenborg.

    Nheless, Zachary was not discouraged by his failure to score. Instead, he continued pushing forward and linking up well with Nicki Nielsen until he managed to bag a goal on the counterattack in the 87th minute. With that, he''d taken his season tally to twenty-one goals, thus cementing his position as top scorer for the Tippeligaen that year.

    **** ****

 Chapter 267 - Reflections And Aspirations

    The next day.

    Zachary woke up to the steady pitter-patter of rain upon his bedroom window. The sound was the perfect natural luby, so delicate and soft upon the ears. It gently induced a state of calmness upon his mind and soothed his entire being to the very core. With eyes still at rest, he started reflecting on his second life in those few blessed moments of tranquility and solitude brought about by the morning rain.

    His aplishments in his second life were like events in a spectacr legend. He''d arrived in Norway only three years prior. With the aid of the system, coupled with his hard work, he''d managed to impress his coaches and graduate from the academy in only two years. He''d then joined the Rosenborg senior team and made it to the starting lineup in just a couple of months. It was an incredible journey, one that surprised many, for sure.

    Yet, he hadn''t just stopped at that. He''d put his career above everything and continued toiling assiduously, even though he''d already achieved his primary goal of bing a professional footballer. Day after day, he constantly exerted himself beyond words, sharpening his skills with a consistency akin to that of a pre-programmed robot.

    Set pieces, dribbling skills, passing, and game theory¡ª he trained all aspects of his game, bringing them to a level way beyond the zenith of his previous life. He was the true definition of a training maniac with a never-say-never attitude that allowed him to develop his abilities at an incredible rate.

    As a result, he managed to shine brilliantly in his first season as a Rosenborg yer. It was as if he was flying and soaring towards the heavens since he''d already helped his team win a league trophy by scoring more than twenty goals in his first season. He was, of course, the season''s top scorer ¡ª and as a consequence, he was the darling of everyone ¡ª the fans'' favorite at Lerkendal.

    Nevertheless, at the end of it all, he''d realized that bing the best yer in a low-tier league could no longer satisfy him. He yearned for more. He wanted to move on to greener pastures and face off against the best yers in the world. He desired to know how it felt to y in one of the top leagues of the world.

    If he threw everything to the wind, he might have even initiated his transfer procedures out of Rosenborg during the uing transfer window in December. However, circumstances didn''t allow him to do as he pleased just yet.

    Firstly, he still had a pending system mission that necessitated him to stay with Rosenborg at the very least until May next year. He''d to help the Norwegian giants qualify for the 2013/14 Europa League''s round-of-sixteen or incur a very cumbersome system penalty totaling 120,000 Juju points. Moreover, he''d freshlye to realize that qualifying for the round of sixteen didn''t just mean qualifying out of the group stages. Instead, he''d to help Rosenborg go past the second round of thirty-two teams before reaching the round-of-sixteen stage. It was a tall order for sure. Nevertheless, he didn''t believe in giving up before trying. He was still determined to try his best to realize the goal despite the high odds stacked against him.

    The second reason he couldn''t just up and transfer out of Rosenborg was the inadequacy of his abilities. He was well aware that his skills, which could dazzle both fans and opponents in Norway, would fall short when put up against top world-ss defenders. Say, he''d to face off against no-nonsense defenders like Braniv Ivanovi?, Sergio Ramos, or Dani Alves ¡ª he wouldn''t be able to outmaneuver them that easily. With his skill set, he could only put up a sub-par performance against them.

    However, that wasn''t enough for him.

    He wanted to continue dazzling and impressing both fans and opponents even when he joined the best leagues. He didn''t want to sit on a top team''s bench just because of hiscking skills after his transfer.

    Those lofty aspirations fueled his insane training and prompted him to hire Coach Bj?rn Peters as his fitness trainer. He was a man with a clear purpose of raising his fitness and skills to the next level within the shortest time possible.

    Zachary''s mind seemed to be drifting on calm seas. His musings were aimless as those of a child on summer vacation, paddling, at ease with the fluidity of time. He thought about many things, including his past deeds, his present circumstances, and future prospects.

    But soon, his thoughts returned to the moment in the present. The pitter-patter of the rain, loud on his window, soon became the center of his focus once again. He blinked his eyes reflexively and directed his gaze towards his bedside clock.

    "Ahh!"

    He couldn''t help but yelp in surprise on realizing that it was already 9:00 AM. He had severalmitments that day, the first being a signing ceremony for his contract extension at Lerkendalter that morning. He''d to finish his morning routines as soon as possible and then meet up with Emily before the actual signing ceremony. He was on a tight schedule for sure.

    So, without dragging his feet, he jumped out of bed and flexed his limbs out of habit. It was a practice he''d developed to check the state of his body every morning.

    "Being on the bench clearly has its advantages," Zachary concluded, grinning from ear to ear as he trekked towards his living room. "I don''t feel any post-match fatigue weighing down on me. I''ll continue following Coach Bj?rn Peters'' training regimen after the signing ceremony since I''m fresh and still full of energy."

    He was in a good mood after realizing that he could continue with his hectic training schedule. His muscles were full of energy since he had onlye on as a substitutete in the match against Lillestr?m Sportsklubb the previous day. He didn''t need any post-match recovery rest. So, without any dilly-dallying, he immediately started going through a simple stretching routine almost by reflex.

    Neck stretches! Cobra stretches! Knees-to-chest exercises! Spinal twists! Upper back stretches! Standing-quad stretches! Hamstring and calf stretches! Etcetera.

    Illuminated by the first morning rays of thete autumn sun seeping through his living room window, he performed all the motions of the exercises in sequence without cutting corners. His movements were as fluid and delicate as those of a ballet dancer as he went from one stretching routine to another. He didn''t want to make any mistakes when performing the stretches since he understood their importance, especially in the long run.

    The seemingly simple routine was part of a long-term training regimen designed by Coach Bj?rn Peters to enhance his body control and agility over time. So, he didn''t dare take it lightly since he particrly yearned to improve those two stats to the next level within the shortest time possible.

    Zachary was sure that he would be akin to a tiger with wings if he could raise his agility and body control attributes to the legendary S-grading. His dribbling would be much more fluid, thereby allowing him more versatility when on the pitch. Without a doubt, he would instantly gain the ability to hold his own against even the best defenders in the world with the elevation of those two stats.

    Moreover, he would also meet the requirements to master the Robinho step-over Juju should he raise his agility and body control to the S-grading. He would then gain the ability to cut through assemblies of top defenders like a sharp knife cutting through vegetables. Who, then, would be his opponent? The answer was "no one" since he would already be able to send any defender out there packing with just a couple of step-overs.

    Zachary could feel his heartbeat elerate just by thinking about the prospects. Since young and even at the zenith of his previous life, he''d always admired footballers who were good at dribbling the ball. The likes of Ronaldinho, Messi, the two Ronaldos, and Maradona would always make his blood boil with excitement whenever he watched them perform their magic on the pitch. At their peak, those legends had time and time again terrorized top world-ss defenders with their agile footwork. They were, without a doubt, phenomenal yers at the level of monsters, even across generations. And, of course, Zachary wanted to follow in their footsteps.

    In addition to developing into a fully-fledged Maestro, he''d always wanted to add another dimension to his game. He yearned tobine his high-level passing skills and his game intelligence with unmatched dribbling skills as soon as possible. That was the source of his motivation and his envisioned shortcut to greatness.

    -----

    Zachary continued going through the simple routine for fifteen minutes. He then performed a dozen or so yoga poses as a surplus to his morning training before heading to the bathroom to wash up.

    -----

 Chapter 268 - New Endorsement Deals

    allnovelfull

    Zachary exited his apartment and jogged down the stairs like a whirlwind. He was soon in thefort of his R8 GT on his way to Lerkendal. Visibility was still low due to the rain. However, the heamps of his car shone through thete autumn fog like smudged stars, illuminating everything in their path. They afforded him some measure of rity, keeping him from crashing into the vehicles ahead as he cautiously navigated the morning traffic.

    After a few minutes, he pulled up into the parking lot at Lerkendal. He alighted from his vehicle, shielded from the rain by a jacket, and made his way to the canteen to meet Emily.

    He found Emily already waiting for him at a corner table. She wore a simple but fitting dark blue pull-neck sweater that brought out the rich color of her eyes. A solemn air hovered about her, like one of those magistrates overlooking a courtroom, as she sat there sipping her coffee.

    "You''rete again," she immediately voiced aint as soon as Zachary settled in the seat opposite hers. "If you had dyed a few more minutes, we would have missed the executives for sure."

    "The morning rain dyed me a bit," Zachary replied and decided to change the train of conversation right away. He didn''t want to tango with her over his time-keeping habits once again. "How''s your morning, by the way?"

    "Same as always," Emily replied, a soft smile outlining her face. "Congrattions upon winning the Tippeligaen''s golden boot, by the way. You were phenomenal once again during the match yesterday."

    "Thank you," Zachary replied, grinning. "So, should we head to the board room and sign the new contract with the Rosenborg executives. I want to conclude this business as quickly as possible since I have to meet my fitness coach in the afternoon."

    "There''s still time," Emily said, ncing at her phone screen. "A few minutes are still remaining to 10:30 ¡ª which is the agreed time for the contract signing ceremony. Let''s use the time to discuss some other important business."

    Zachary leaned back into his chair. "I''m all ears," he said, ncing squarely at Emily. "Go on!"

    "Well," Emily said, a mysterious smile framing her features as she held Zachary''s gaze. "Your performance against Red Bull Salzburg was incredible. As a result, a fewpanies have just tabled mouth-watering endorsement contracts before me. Are you interested?"

    "Of course, I''m interested," Zachary replied, sitting bolt upright almost immediately. "Whichpanies?"

    "There''s Nike, for one," she responded, punctuating her words with a sip on her coffee. "There''s also Pepsi, EA Sports, and Red Bull, among a few others."

    Zachary''s heart stirred. All thepanies that Emily had just mentioned were among the biggest names in the world of endorsements. For a moment, he couldn''te to terms with the fact that they were interested in his signature.

    "How much are they offering?" He asked after a short while.

    "The money is not a lot at the start," Emily replied with a sigh. "But no need to worry about that. First of all, their contracts are long-term. Secondly, they have clearlyid out uses to increase your yearly remuneration as long as you achieve particr milestones during your career."

    "For instance, Pepsi promises to pay you 500,000 Euros per year right after signing the endorsement contract. But, they will increase your annual remuneration to 1 million Euros if you manage to join one of the first-tier leagues in Europe within the next three years. Provided that you maintain your form in that league, you''ll be entitled to receive the money from them annually. And FYI, the Pepsi offer is almost the same in structure and wording as the other contracts I''ve received from severalpanies in the past few days so far."

    "Then, let''s go ahead and ept all the contracts we can," Zachary was quick to reply. "For the start, we can go with the top threepanies ¡ª Pepsi, Nike, and EA sports. But that''s as long as they don''t have any ridiculous uses in their contract offers."

    "Okay." Emily nodded, leaning back into her seat. "I''m still negotiating terms with their representatives at the moment. But, I should be able to finalize everything before the Christmas break."

    "Good," Zachary replied, smiling boyishly and crinkling his eyes. "By the way, that reminds me. I want to start investing some of the money in my bank ount. My preferred investment mode will be injecting money into stocks and real estate. Do you know anyone who can help me look intopanies with avable stock for sale?"

    "That''s simple," Emily replied, sipping her coffee. "I know the right person to help you assess this year''s IPOs all over the world. She''s a friend and an investment consultant, who was the same year as me at university. She''s very brilliant and phenomenal at assessing investments. Her offices are in London. But if you''re interested, I can contact her toe to Norway and meet with you as soon as possible."

    "What about the costs?" Zachary pressed. "Are her services affordable?"

    "Very," Emily replied. "The most she can charge you a year is about 50,000 Euros. But I''m sure she will charge you less since I''m the one that referred you to her."

    "That''s good, then," Zachary replied with a smile. "Please go ahead and contact her as soon as you get time. It would be good if we could meet before Christmas."

    Zachary hoped to use knowledge from his previous life to make money through stocks and real estate. However, he couldn''t recall the majority of thepanies that made it big in hister years since he hadn''t been keen on business matters. The only big name that came to mind among all the IPOs before 2015 was Te Motors. But that wasn''t enough for him. That was why he needed a professional topile a list ofpanies worldwide suitable for investment. He would pick out several prominent names from the list by relying on bits and pieces of memories from his previous life. What would follow would be harvesting cash, of course.

    "No problem," Emily replied, beaming. "I''ll contact her this evening. If her schedule is clear, she may even be able toe to Norway to discuss business before the end of the month."

    "Thank you," Zachary said, smiling back at her. "I appreciate your help on this. It''s important to me."

    "You''re wee," Emily replied, cing her cup of coffee down. "It''s almost 10:30. We should make our way to the board room. I hope you have read through all the uses of the new contract. Have you?"

    "Of course, I have," Zachary said, standing up from his seat.

    "Do you have any questions? Is everything clear?"

    "I have no issues with the contract extension," Zachary replied. "I''m ready to sign it at any time as long as you give the go-ahead."

    "Then let''s go to the board room and sign it," Emily said, also rising from her seat. "However, I expect you to take me out for lunch afterward. I think I deserve that." She added jokingly while picking up her handbag.

    "No problem. It''s a deal."

    **** ****

 Chapter 269 - Interlude

    Zachary sessfully met the Rosenborg executives and signed the contract extension that morning. The terms of the new deal tied him to Rosenborg for two more years in total.

    He had to y for the Norwegian giants throughout the twelve months of 2014, as specified in his first agreement with the club, plus the entirety of 2015, as stipted in the contract extension he''d just signed. Nheless, he would still be free to negotiate personal terms with any club that triggered his buy-out use of 50 million Euros throughout the contract''s duration. The only condition was that the negotiating club was not a directpetitor of Rosenborg in the domestic league. That is, it had to be a team from outside of Norway.

    Additionally, Zachary became eligible to receive 1.2 Million Norwegian Kroner as monthly remuneration, plus loads of appealing match bonuses, beginning with December. It was a good bargain ¡ª one that elevated Zachary''s status to the list of highest earners in the Norwegian Football League. He was, of course, quite contented.

    -----

    After signing the contract extension, Zachary kept true to his promise. He took Emily out for lunch to celebrate their sess. Together, they enjoyed a fulfilling full-course Norwegian meal at the Robust Bistro restaurant before parting ways.

    As nned, Zachary met with Coach Bj?rn Peters, his fitness trainer, at one of the training grounds of Rosenborgter that day. The two of them went through agility and endurance-enhancing cone drills under the re of the afternoon sun. They only parted ways two hourster, with both their shirts drenched in sweat ¡ª an emblem of their exertion during the intensive exercise session.

    However, Zachary didn''t feel exhausted despite doing drills the entire afternoon. So, he decided to practice his set-piece technique on the empty training field to pass the time.

    He quickly set up a wall of mannequins in front of the goals and fetched balls from the equipment room. Not long after, he was unleashing set-piece after set-piece, repeatedly, over the defensive wall into the back of the.

    He was very diligent while training his set-piece technique, always maintaining a steady and uniform shooting posture every time he took a shot. He would always approach at measured speed from a 45 degrees angle before taking a final jump step towards the ball. With movements as seamless and deft as Beckham in action, he would then smash the ball while leaning back slightly to send it curling over the wall and into the back of the empty.

    Uniformity! Consistency! Insane repetition during practice!

    Those three were the few guiding principles he''d long imposed upon himself to take his set-piece technique to the topmost level humanly possible. With the right attitude and an insane amount of relentless training, he believed that he would be the best free-kick taker in the world sooner orter.

    He didn''t just hope to be another Messi, Nakamura, or David Beckham but surpass them. He yearned to raise his technique to a level that could cause terror in the minds of opposing goalkeepers with just his presence on the pitch.

    "Zachary!" A loud yell from the sidelines brought his motions to a pause after he''d just finished sending another set piece over the wall.

    He turned around immediately and noticed three of his newest teammates approaching from the sidelines.

    The over six-foot-tall Yerry Mina was in the lead and seemed to be the one that had called his name. Slightly trailing behind him was Thomas Partey, the defensive midfielder, and Eric Bailly, the defender. They were in full training attire, looking all imposing in Rosenborg tracksuits, and seemingly prepared for training.

    "What''s up, guys?" Zachary greeted them with a wave. However, he didn''t step away from his position in front of the wall of mannequins.

    "What''s up, Zach!" The three of them replied, each of them taking turns to step forward and bump fists with him. They seemed to be in high spirits, probably because of Rosenborg''s spell of wins over the past few weeks.

    "Isn''t this a day off for the entire team?" Zachary asked in a joking manner while giving each of them a once-over. "Why are you guys here while you''re supposed to be resting back at home?"

    The three of themughed in response to Zachary''s question.

    "My bones ache if I spend a day without ying some football," Eric Bailly supplied. "Football is like an addiction to me, a drug I can''t do without on a daily basis. What about you? We could ask you the same. Why are you sweating alone here on the training ground when it''s supposedly a day of rest?" The Ivorian''s eyes crinkled slightly at the corners as he gazed squarely at Zachary.

    Zachary justughed in response without giving any verbal exnations.

    "Anyways, Zachary!" Yerry Mina interjected a bit impatiently, changing the direction of the conversation. "We want to y a two-touch rondo of three-against-one. But we are missing one person. Is it possible for you to join us after your set-piece practice?"

    "I can join you any time you''re ready to begin," Zachary, of course, agreed.

    A rondo was a keep-away-style drill used as a training tool at all levels of football, from amateurs to professionals. In a rondo game, one group of yers would try their utmost to keep possession of the ball whilepleting a series of passes in a designated space on the field. At the same time, a smaller group of yers (sometimes a single yer) would try to win the ball back from the bigger group and take possession.

    It was an effective tool to teach a yer thepetitive aspects of the game when done right. From the seemingly simple game, one could learn how to fight to make space in tight situations, what to do when or when not in possession, how to y one-touch ser, and how to win the ball back. A yer could improve all perspectives applicable topetitive football, except shooting, through a rondo. It was a divine tool on a training field, the sort of drill any yer should never miss when there was a chance.

    So, without dilly-dallying, Zachary joined the three yers for a rondo. They yed the simple game, alternating the yer in the middle time and time again, until long after the sun had sunk below the horizon in the west. By then, they were sweating all over and out of breath. However, they were all smiles as they had enjoyed themselves and benefited greatly from the exercise.

    "We should do this more often, especially whenever we have a day off from training," Thomas Partey suggested as they sat on the green under the illumination of the floodlights after the workout. "What do you, guys, think?"

    "I''m in," Eric Bailly was the first to reply, in between gasps of breath.

    "Count me in, too," Yerry Mina also concurred in between a couple of lower limb stretches on the green.

    "I''ll also join whenever I don''t have an appointment with my fitness trainer," Zachary said while remaining still on the ground. He was totally spent since he''d been exercising for hours prior to the arrival of the others. He didn''t have the energy to do even a couple of stretches at that moment.

    "There''s no need to worry about the get-together interfering with your personalized training, Zachary," Thomas intoned. "I''llmunicate beforehand to make sure that we''re all free before we meet. That way, we''ll avoid interruptions to our other ns."

    "That''s perfect, then," Zachary said, smiling.

    "Great," Thomas said with a smile. "I''llmunicate when we''ll be meeting next this week."

    "Okay," Zachary said before changing the topic. "I''m really excited since we''ll be facing Molde in the Norwegian Cup final in two weeks. If we can defeat Ole Gunnar Solskjaer''s men, we''ll achieve our first double with Rosenborg. Are you guys ready?"

    "Of course, we are," Eric Bailly was quick to reply on behalf of the rest. "I''m ready to give everything in that match to lift my second trophy with Rosenborg. Even if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, himself, joins in on the action on the pitch, I have faith we''ll still win. Let''s face it. We''re a team that just defeated Red Bull Salzburg three goals to nil in the Europa League. How could we lose to the shrimp soldiers and crab generals under Ole?"

    "My thoughts exactly," Yerry Mina added with a chuckle.

    "You guys should take that game seriously," Zachary warned after noticing their attitude towards their opponents in the finals of the Norwegian Cup. "Molde has always been very tricky, especially against Rosenborg. That is a fact proven throughout the long history between the two clubs."

    "Moreover, the Molde yers and coaches are under tremendous pressure from their fans since they did very poorly in the league this season. They have never been more determined to win the Cup final. I''m sure that they will do everything within their power to win that game. If we let our guard down, we''ll find ourselves stumbling when we''re just a step away from the double."

    "You''re right, Zachary," Thomas said. "Molde will surelye at us with everything they''ve got. It''s good that we have an entire thirteen days withoutpetitive football. That''s enough time for us to prepare adequately and then pulverize Ole''s men in the final. Don''t you think so, Zachary?"

    Zachary suppressed augh. "Of course, if we prepare adequately and y at our best in the final, we''re favorites to win. There''s no question about that."

    "My point exactly," Eric chipped in with a grin. "The game that really has me worried is our next Europa League game against Standard Li¨¨ge on the 28th of November, the Thursday after our final with Molde. Should we lose, our Europa League campaign for this year will be over. That would really be a bummer."

    "We''ll win," Zachary said confidently. "As long as we do our best on the pitch, we''ll surely seed and send Standard Li¨¨ge packing out of the Europa League."

    Eric Bailly gave a heartyugh after hearing Zachary''s deration. "I''m d you''re confident, Zachary," he said, jumping off the ground with zest. "You only need to handle the attacking bit and score at least a goal. On our part, we''ll make sure that the Belgians don''t even get a chance to make any meaningful attempt on our goal."

    "Really?" Zachary looked at the Ivorian skeptically.

    "Of course," Eric assured, thumping his chest. "As defenders, we''ll do our utmost to maintain another clean sheet for that game. So, all you have to do is to put one in the back of the. Then, the game will end there and then."

    "You said it yourself," Zachary said, picking himself up from the ground. He''d already regained some stamina after resting for a bit. "I''ll have to hold you to your promise on that day, Eric. Mark my words."

    "Good." Eric nodded.

    "It''s gettingte," Zachary said, rubbing his hands together to chase away the cold. "I''m suggesting we do some stretches before calling it a day. What do you think, guys?"

    "Why are you in a rush to head back home?" Eric queried, grinning from ear to ear. "Is there a hot girl waiting for you back home?"

    The othersughed at that.

    "That''s not the case," Zachary said, sighing. "It''s just that I need to go to bed early today so that I can be ready for the team training tomorrow."

    "Ohhh!" Eric eximed, leaning forward and widening his eyes. "What a bore! All you think about is sleeping and training. And here I thought that a certain supermodel was waiting for you somewhere."

    Zachary could only sigh and shake his head at that. "Let''s stretch and call it a day," he said and got into motion right away.

    "Okay, okay, stretching it is."

    **** ****

 Chapter 270 - All-Out Training

    Zachary concentrated chiefly on training for the next few days. He would start his day with stretches and a yoga routine followed by a five-mile jog before sunrise. He would then feast on a sumptuous breakfast, carefully selected by a nutritionist rmended by one of his coaches, before heading to Lerkendal and participating in Rosenborg''s official team training.

    In the evenings, just before sunset, he would attend a two-hour gym or cone drill session directed by Coach Bj?rn Peters, his fitness trainer, before heading back home. At night, just after having dinner, he would end his days with another yoga routine before retiring for the night.

    Day in, day out, he constantly exerted himself and approached his limits by training like never before. His determination was almost soaring through the sky and shooting to the heavens. Nothing could divert his attention from his pursuits ¡ª not even Cami, his beautiful and charming girlfriend.

    Be it the weight training, the cone drills, the stretching, the shuttle runs, and knee tuck ssic nks ¡ª he performed them with a hundred percent zest. He followed the training regimen designed by Coach Bj?rn Peters to the letter, never missing a single repetition of the included workouts.

    What were a little sweat and a brief period of solitude versus achieving his goals? Nothing mattered except honing his skills and raising his fitness to the next level.

    He was the ultimate incarnation of an exercising demon, sparing time for nothing else. His yearning to increase his body fitness, especially his body control and agility, in a short period pushed him to cast away all distractions and ovee all obstacles, including his physical limitations. He was a man with a clear goal in mind and didn''tin a single time as he performed routine after routine for days to the best of his ability.

    Despite his intensive personal training, his performance during official Rosenborg team training sessions remained ster. He was still hardworking and brilliant whenever the Rosenborg coaches instructed him to perform a drill or work with the ball during practice. It was like he possessed unlimited reserves of stamina since he was relying on the system''s physical-conditioning-elixirs to push through hectic exercising regimens.

    His work rate astounded many. Even Coach Johansen, who was often guarded with hispliments,uded his relentlessness, perseverance, and level of focus in those few days before the Norwegian Cup final. While assisted by the system, he was simply a tireless monster in human skin.

    -----

    The days passed quickly, seemingly in a sh, as Zachary toiled day in and day out to improve himself. The weather gradually grew colder, and the days became shorter as winter approached with regal ease. However, all that didn''t affect Zachary''s training in the slightest.

    There was a fire burning within him despite the growing coldness around Trondheim. It was the me of ambition, akin to a series of never-ending sparks that spurred him on to give his all in those rare few days withoutpetitive football. He didn''t even feel the passing of days as his entire focus was on honing his skills and raising his fitness. And without him realizing, the day of the Norwegian Cup final grew nearer and nearer, sending the entire Norwegian footballmunity into a hubbub of activity.

    **** ****

    Thursday, November 21, 2013.

    It was another cold evening with Trondheim tucked under a woolen dove-grey sky. Dusk hade sooner than expected, stealing away all warmth as thest of the sun''s rays became cosseted behind the soft grey clouds.

    Yet, on that chilly evening which could induce shudders within any warm-blooded creature, there was activity ensuing on a particr training ground at Lerkendal.

    Two men ¡ª one ck and another Caucasian, were going through a series of agility and endurance-enhancing drills under the illumination of the floodlights that encircled the training ground.

    d invish sets of cold-resistant sports gear, including hoodies, gloves, rain jackets, and tights, they went about their business in an orderly and systematic way. Whenever the Caucasian man would weave through cones and move to the left, the tall ck man would instantly follow. Whenever the former would make an abrupt turn, thetter would do the same. They were like a pair of synchronized gymnasts, performing drill after drill uniformly without mistakes.

    "Let''s do one more set of crisscrossing shuttle runs before we stretch and call it a day," the Caucasian said in an authoritative tone in between gasps of breath. He was Bj?rn Peters, Zachary''s fitness coach.

    "Aye, coach," Zachary replied, wiping the moisture off his brow with the sleeve of his jacket. He was sweating despite the cold.

    "Just follow my lead," Coach Bj?rn Peters instructed with a smile. "One, two, three... Let''s go!"

    He took off like a bullet without waiting for Zachary to respond. Zachary was, of course, already used to his fitness trainer''s tricks. He took less than a second to gather himself and mirror the coach''s actions. Soon, the two of them were doing crisscrossing shuttle run after shuttle run like a pair of pre-programmed androids.

    Run, abrupt-turn, touch the ground, and then run again ¡ª they went through the drill with a hundred percent focus, without taking any breaks.

    "That''s enough for today," Coach Bj?rn Peters shouted a few minutester, bringing the drill to an end. "But don''t you dare rest, yet. We need to do some stretching to cool down our muscles before ending the session. Are we together, Zach?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary, agreed like a dutiful soldier.

    "Good. Let''s start."

    The two exercise maniacs didn''t waste any time getting into motion. They started with neck stretches, then did a couple of shoulder stretches before ending with a series of forward and backward arm circles. After taking a few seconds of rest, they went straight into stretching their lower bodies. Butt kicks, knee hugs, front-to-back leg swings,teral hip swings, rotational windmills, and ankle rotations ¡ª they performed all the stretches in sequence without cutting corners. They only ended their movements ten minutester when they were out of breath once again.

    "Okay, that''s the end of today''s evening session," Coach Bj?rn Peters said immediately after. "How do you feel?" He nced squarely at Zachary, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

    "To be honest, I''m totally spent," Zachary replied while chugging down some water. "But I feel fulfilled. My muscles seem toe alive every time I go through these drills."

    "That''s good," the fitness trainer said, also picking up a water bottle from his gym bag. "I can tell that your fitness is improving with every passing day as we work together. As long as you persist, you''ll be able to make remarkable improvements within just two to three months. That, I can promise you."

    "Then, I''m d," Zachary said with a smile. "I''m willing to do any kind of exercise that can improve my fitness quickly."

    "Good," the fitness trainer said, giving Zachary a thumbs-up. "But you should also note that too much haste in fitness training makes waste. Training continuously for long periods without giving the muscles time to recover will not yield the expected results. Rather, such training may cause more harm than good. Are we together, Zachary?"

    "Yes, coach." Zachary nodded.

    Of course, he understood he had to rest for a couple of days in-between sessive intensive training regimens. However, on his part, he didn''t need a lot of time to recover since he possessed an ample supply of cheat-like elixirs from the system shop.

    With just a B-grade dosage of a physical-conditioning-elixir, he could condense the necessary recovery time from days into hours and continue training without facing any mishaps. So, he wasn''t worried that he would break himself due to intensive training. However, since the coach didn''t know about his cheat-like elixirs, he still needed to humor him by continuing to listen seriously.

    "It''s good that you understand," Coach Bj?rn Peters said with a smile. "If I recall correctly, your face-off against Molde in the Norwegian Cup finals is on Sunday at 2:00 PM. Is that right?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary answered. "That''s true."

    "Then, roughly two days are remaining to the match," he said, caressing his chin as his eyes focused far off in the distance. He looked like he was deep in thought, pondering something before his eyes abruptly returned to the moment a dozen or so secondster.

    "For the next two days, we won''t be doing any intensive exercises," the fitness instructor announced suddenly.

    "Why?" Zachary couldn''t help but frown.

    "The reason is simple," Coach Bj?rn Peters articted, a signature professional smile outlining his face. "Your muscles need time to recover and get back into tip-top shape before the final. Otherwise, if we keep on with the same training system until Sunday, you''ll risk injuring yourself during the match. Even if you don''t suffer any injury, you''ll still not perform at your best since you will be suffering from a light case of muscle fatigue."

    "Ohhh!" Zachary said a bit doubtfully.

    He wanted to voice aint but then stopped himself on second thought. He''d hired the fitness coach with the intent of receiving professional guidance from him and avoiding pitfalls like injuries that would hamper his training. So, he wasn''t about to disregard his instructions just because he was impatient to raise his attributes to another level.

    "So, for the next two days, we''ll have to take it easy," the coach continued in an enthusiastic tone, obviously unaware of Zachary''s inner reflections. "You''re only allowed to do yoga, a couple of stretching routines, and some light ball work until Sunday. I''ll also take you for a professional sports massage tomorrow and the day after so that we can help your muscles recover much quicker than usual. Are we together, Zachary?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, making sure to maintain a polite smile on his face the entire time.

    "I''ll repeat this once again to ensure that we''re on the same page," the coach said in a solemn tone. "Remember, you''re not allowed to do any intensive exercises before the final. That''s the only thing I''m requesting from you this time around, Zachary."

    "Coach, I get it," Zachary replied. "I have taken your words to heart and won''t be doing any intensive exercises until after the match. Please, be rest assured."

    "That''s good, then," the fitness trainer said, picking up his gym bag from the green. "Let''s call it a day for now. I''ll see you tomorrow when we''re heading for the massage."

    "Okay, see you tomorrow, Coach," Zachary said. "Thanks for the guidance. Have a goodnight."

    "Goodnight to you too, Zach!" the coach replied before starting to walk away. "Don''t stay upte."

    "Aye, coach"

    -----

 Chapter 271 - Heart-Stirring Message

    The pale crescent moon was already shining like a silvery w in the night sky when Zachary departed from the training ground at Lerkendal. He wasn''t in any hurry to head back home since he didn''t have to wake up early for training the following day. He cruised at a leisurely pace,zily steering his R8 GT through the evening traffic as he slowly made his way back home to Stj?rdalsveien.

    He reached his apartment building roughly thirty minutester, not long after the 8 o''clock music request hour hadmenced on the local radio. With a practiced hand, he carefully parked his R8 GT in his allocated parking spot in front of the building before picking his gym bag from the boot and slinging it over his shoulder. Without dragging his feet, he locked his ride before starting to make his way up the stairs to his apartment on the sixth floor.

    Just as he stepped past the apartment on the fifth floor, he couldn''t help but slow momentarily. For a couple of seconds, he was a bit undecided as he briefly pondered whether to knock on Kristin''s door to say hi. But on taking a nce at his watch, he ruled out the notion.

    It was already past eight in the evening, way past visiting hours. Kristin Stein had most likely already loosened up from her day mode on such a cold night. That was even more likely since she had started attending university a few months prior. If she wasn''t about to rest for the night, she would probably be tackling some coursework or something else rted.

    He quickened his steps and ascended the remainder of the stairs like a whirlwind. He made it to his apartment not long after and quickly had a light meal to sate his hunger. After that, he went through another yoga routine, carefully stretching his tired muscles until they felt totally rxed before heading into the bathroom for a shower.

    A short whileter, he was already all cleaned up and ready to jump into bed for the night. So, he downed a few sses of water to hydrate himself through the night before making his way to his bedroom. However, it was at that moment that his phone, ced on his bedside table, vibrated brusquely, indicating that he''d just received a text message. He ceased his movements towards the bed and turned around to scoop it up from the table.

    "Three unread messages!" He mumbled after ncing at the screen.

    The first was an advertisement from the phonepany, informing him about some brand-new service ns he could purchase. He, of course, ignored it and moved on to another message.

    The second text message was from Cami, inquiring about his day, his training, and if the two of them could meet the following day for lunch. She also indicated that she missed him greatly and would like to spend part of the weekend together.

    "How thoughtful!!"

    He couldn''t help but smile as he read the message. Cami seemed to have the best timing in the world, as far as he was concerned.

    Whenever he had some free time and needed to tone down his training, she would be there to help him unwind. When he was busy with practice, like over the past few weeks, she would remain tactful and still be there for him in her own way without distracting him from his pursuits. She was the perfect partner ¡ª considerate, charming, and mature, without any clingy tendencies, unlike some other members of the fairer sex he''d been with during his previous life.

    Zachary didn''t lose a second before typing a few honeyed words in reply. He informed her about his circumstances, then professed that he missed her dearly and longed to hold her close. Then, as briefly as possible, he agreed to her suggestion of meeting up the following day for lunch before moving on to the third text message.

    "Oh my God! Finally, this is it." Zachary couldn''t help but yell out excitedly on reading the message.

    Themunication was from Norsk Toppfotball, the organization that governed Norwegian football, informing him that he''d just been named the best yer of the 2013 Tippeligaen season. It also notified him that he would receive his golden boot and the league''s best-yer de just before the kick-off of the Norwegian Cup finals on Sunday.

    Short, uplicated, and concise ¡ª that was the message. However, it transformed Zachary''s night from ck and white into a colored state with a high resolution.

    He''d been waiting for the results of the best yer list toe out so that he could reap the rewards of a pending system mission. And finally, just two days before the Norwegian Cup final, the results were out, flooding him with a sense of contentment.

    "DING"

    As if on cue, the system notification sounded for the first time in a long time the next instant.

    "Congrattions," the AI''s apathetic voice soon followed.

    "The user haspleted most of the required milestones of the system''s 2013 Tippeligaen Serial Challenge sessfully."

    "The user can now view the missionpletion details in the system interface."

    "Does the user wish to view the details right now?"

    Zachary''s heart stirred with boundless delight on hearing the system''s notification. He couldn''t help but do a wiggle-wiggle, moving his entire body, from head to toe, there in his bedroom.

    For the first time in almost a year, he was about to receive a substantial reward from the system. Of course, his spirits were flying high and almost soaring to the heavens. He couldn''t remember thest time he was that excited.

    "Does the user wish to view the missionpletion details now?" The system AI''s apathetic voice sounded within his mind again. It momentarily busted him out of his drunken state of delight and forced his thoughts back to the present.

    "Positive," Zachary replied with zest before settling down on his bed and rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "Bring up theplete details of the mission and associated rewards right away."

    "DING"

    "Command received," the AI articted.

    "Mission detailsing up on interface right away."

 Chapter 272 - System Rewards, Once Again

    "DING"

    The familiar crystal-like disy that was almost transparent manifested in front of him out of thin air the next moment. Within an instant, it became popted with the details of the justpleted 2013 Tippeligaen system mission.

    "Excellent!"

    Zachary blinked as his eyes adjusted to the lighting on the interface. Without further ado, he began to peruse through the details.

    ****

    #5 new messages

    -----

    CONGRATULATIONS

    ->You havepleted the system mission (2013 Tippeligaen Serial Challenge) sessfully.

    -----

    ->Mission Rewards

    1) 7000 Juju-points

    2) A-grade vitality-enhancing-elixir

    -----

    ->Mission Summary

    *Milestone 1: y 70% of the fixtures in the 2013 Tippeligaen season. The user must be part of the starting eleven or a ying substitute in at least 21 of the 30 matches of the 2013 Tippeligaen. {Milestone Not Achieved; Rating D}

    *Milestone 2: Help your teammates be the champions of the 2013 Tippeligaen. {Milestone Achieved Sessfully; Rating S+)

    *Milestone 3: Provide the most assists in the 2013 Tippeligaen season. {The user was second on the list of assist providers in the league. Milestone Not Achieved, Rating B}

    *Milestone 4: Be the top scorer of the 2013 Tippeligaen season. (The user was the top scorer of the league with 21 goals. Milestone Achieved Sessfully; Rating S+)

    *Milestone 5: Be the MVP of the 2013 Tippeligaen season. (Milestone Achieved Sessfully; Rating S)

    -----

    Overall Mission Rating: S

    -----

    Bonus Rewards

    You have earned 1000 Bonus Juju points.

    -----

    ****

    "Oh, my goodness me!" Zachary hooted excitedly, despite himself. "Those are 8,000 Juju Points, plus an A-grade vitality-enhancing-elixir as rewards. With such a generous reward, I''ll be able to raise my fitness to another level before next season for sure."

    Zachary''s hopes had already soared to another level after reading the missionpletion message. With the mission reward of 8,000 Juju points, plus the 3,900 originally in his reserve, he possessed more than enough points to upgrade the system to the next level.

    However, that was not what excited him the most. Instead, it was the A-graded vitality-enhancing-elixir that made his heart caper and threaten to jump out of his chest with agitation.

    How could he not be excited after gaining such a reward!

    The vitality-enhancing-elixir was the most miraculous of all panaceas Zachary had ever won from the system. Back when he''d just returned back to his past, it was a B-graded version of the elixir that had helped him heal his ankle injury and elevate his fitness significantly within a short time. Its effects were beyond divine for sure.

    Moreover, it was the perfect reward, gained right at a precise time.

    Zachary was sure that if he consumed an A-graded version of the elixir, his fitness would soar to unprecedented levels within days. Either his agility or his body control would shatter the bottleneck that''d been holding back his advancement before long. If he was lucky, he might even raise both attributes to that almost inhuman level of the S-grading within a short while.

    Zachary''s heart was agitated as various thoughts shed through his mind. He was even starting to feel a bit feverish at that moment as the need to improve his abilities was weighing on him heavily. It almost prompted him to open the system shop immediately, to obtain the elixir, and then consume it right there and then.

    However, he took a deep breath and stopped himself from following through with the act the next instant.

    "System," he said, his eyes still glued to the contents of the crystal-like interface. "Are there any negative side effects of consuming the elixir?"

    "Negative, in the long run," the AI replied almost immediately. "However, the user should note that consuming a high-grade vitality-enhancing-elixir will cause the body fitness to improve explosively at unprecedented rates within a short period. Thus, the user will need ample time to limatize to the changes brought about by the elixir and might even experience a dip in body control due to the rapid rate of improvement in the short run."

    "Ohhh!" Zachary said, letting out another breath. "On estimate, how long would I need to limatize myself to my new attributes and perform as usual after ingesting the elixir?"

    "The time varies from individual to individual and from circumstance to circumstance," the AI responded. "However, based on past data, the user might require about six to eight weeks to adapt to the new level of abilities brought about by the A-graded elixir."

    "That long!" Zachary mumbled, sighing dispiritedly. "Is there a way we can shorten the time?"

    "There is," the AI was quick to respond. "The user can wait and try consuming the A-graded vitality-enhancing-elixir together with an A-graded physical-conditioning-elixir when it bes next avable. The user will need only about a month to adapt under the effects of the two elixirs since theyplement one another perfectly."

    "A physical-conditioning-elixir!" Zachary mumbled, his mind falling into a moment of deliberation. "And about a month is still needed as the time of limatization even after consuming the two elixirs together!"

    Zachary''s eyes glimmered for a bit with both resolve and expectation. A three-month dosage of the physical-conditioning-elixir was one of the rewards forpleting the system''s 2013 Norwegian Cup Serial Challenge mission. As long as he could put up a good performance on Sunday afternoon and help his team win the final against Molde, he would stand a chance of bing the MVP. Then, he would be able to win the elixir from the system without any hustle.

    However, all that was a matter of a few dayster. Zachary was a bit crestfallen since he couldn''t enjoy the benefits of the elixir right away. What a bummer!?

    "So, that means I can''t utilize the elixir yet even if I''m to acquire theplementary physical-conditioning-elixir," he said, shaking his head. "The best course of action for me is to wait and consume the elixir during the Christmas break, right after the conclusion of the Europa League group matches. That''s the only way I can prevent its effects from hindering my performance during the officialpetitive matches in the remaining days of November and the rest of December."

    "Exactly," the system''s AI''s affirmed.

    "Then, I''ll wait," Zachary resolved, letting out a breath.

    He rxed since he could still consume the elixir before the uing season. If all went ording to n, he would be a more aplished yer with new abilities next year. There was simply no need to rush. He just had to wait, and what was his would be his in time.

    After making the resolution, Zachary considered for a bit on whether to upgrade the system before deciding against it. He already had enough on his te and needed the few Juju points in his reserve. So, he decided to wait and see whether he would be obtaining rewards from other system missions soon before thinking about the issue again.

    "Time to sleep."

    Without further ado, Zachary closed the system interface and jumped into bed with haste. Not long after, he descended into slumbend and slept like a log, oblivious to anything else around him.

    **** ****

 Chapter 273 - Eve Of The Norwegian Cup Final

    Zachary followed Coach Bj?rn Peters'' instructions and didn''t exercise intensively for the next two days. He simply attended the Rosenborg team training sessions, which were mainly focused on instilling the tactics for the final into the yers on Friday and Saturday. Aside from that, the young footballer didn''t do much of anything else except go to the massage parlor, perform a couple of yoga routines, and apany Cami to let off some steam. He was totallyid back, spending his hours at leisure until when Coach Johansen called for the pre-match tactical meeting on Saturday evening.

    Zachary, of course, didn''t waste time heading to the tactics room to attend the meeting in full spirits. The two days had allowed his muscles to recover perfectly and his mind to freshen up, leaving him in a state akin to riding the mist and flowing like the clouds. He was in tip-top shape and ready to do his utmost in the Norwegian Cup final the following day.

    -----

    Coach Johansen walked to the front of the tactics room right after the yers had taken their seats. For a few seconds, he stood there, sweeping his gaze around the yers like a shepherd overlooking his flock. Unlike a few months prior, the tactician had a self-confident air about him, ostensibly as if everything around the room was under his control. Anyone, including Zachary, could tell that he''d already grown into a bold and self-assertive coach after winning his first trophy with Rosenborg a few weeks prior.

    "Good evening to you all," he greeted the yers with a smile after a short while.

    "Good evening, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    "Wee to yet another pre-match tactics meeting," the coach said, ncing around. "Tomorrow afternoon, we y Molde in the Norwegian Cup final. It''s an important match for all of us since we''re on the cusp of winning a double for this season. So, I expect all of you to give more than a hundred percent during the match tomorrow afternoon. Are you with me, guys?" He ended his speech with a bellow.

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied loudly and enthusiastically in chorus.

    "Good." The coach nodded and walked towards the tactics board. "As usual, I won''t waste time discussing the tactics in detail since we have already spent an entire fourteen days doing just that," he said. "I''ll just name the squad for tomorrow and highlight a few things before sending you home for the night."

    "So, first things first, the squad," the coach continued in a booming voice as he started to draw a formation on the tactics board. "In goal, we''ll have Daniel ?rlund, our veteran keeper. In defense, we''ll have Mikael Dorsin, Tore Reginiussen, Yerry Mina, and Eric Bailly."

    "In defensive midfield, it will be Mike Jensen and Thomas Partey holding down the fort. In attacking midfield, it will be none other than Zachary Bemba. On the nks, we''ll have both Tobias Mikkelsen and John Chibuike driving the ball. And finally, Nicki Nielsen will be our point-man and only center-forward. That''s it for the starting line-up."

    "Moving on," the coach carried on. "On the bench, we''ll have a total of seven yers. They are Lund Hansen, William Troost-Ekong, Cristian Gamboa, Ole Seln?s, Jonas Svensson, Pal Andr¨¦ Hend, and Paul Kasongo."

    "Any questions concerning the squad?" The coach queried immediately after.

    All the yers, including the regrs like Zachary and Nicki, remained silent. Of course, no yer would dare to question the squad named by the coach.

    "I''m d we''re on the same page," the coach said with a smile. "Now, I''ll summarize the tactics for the final. Be sure to listen extra carefully since it''ll be thest time I''ll be discussing the game n in some detail. Okay?" He swept his gaze across the room once again.

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    "Good." Coach Johansen nodded, stroking his beard. "We''ll still y with our usual 4-2-3-1 defensive formation, with four defenders, two holding midfielders, one attacking midfielder, two nk yers, and one center-forward." He pointed at each position on the tactics board as he spoke.

    "I expect each of the field yers to y with lightning-fast reactions and creativity on the field of y. That is because we''ll have to utilize high pressing tacticsbined with both wing y and counterattacking strategies to ovee Molde in the final."

    "Furthermore, team Molde is likely to utilize a simr formation as ours in the final. So, we''ll have to remain tight in shape from minute one so that the Molde guys cannot break through us through the middle. Our midfielders will have to constantly be on their toes, closing down spaces to make the shape work."

    "Lastly, the defenders will have to y a very high backline and constantlyy offside traps to prevent the Molde midfielders from ying dangerous balls behind us. And that''s how we seal off the Molde attackers and prevent them from threatening our goal throughout the ny minutes of gamey. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good," Coach Johansen said, nodding. "Finally, all I''m requesting from all our field yers is to y as usual. You need to remainposed, when and when without the ball so that you can deal with unexpected situations that might arise during the heat of the match. And above all, you need to stay focused right from the first minute until the final whistle. If you do that, we''ll surely win the match, hands down. Are we together, guys?" He ended his monologue with another fervid roar.

    "Yes, coach," the yers roared back in unison with the same level of passion.

    "Good," the coach said, smiling. "As you all know, we''ll y the final at the Ullevaal Stadion starting at 2:00 PM. So, we''ll need to depart for Oslo early in the morning, at least by 9:00 AM, to be on the safe side. Thus, I expect all field yers to gather at the parking lot here, at Lerkendal, by 7:50 AM. Otherwise, I wish all of you a good night."

    "Goodnight, coach," the yers replied.

    **** ****

    At the same time, a simr meeting was ensuing far off in Molde in the tactics room of the Aker Stadion. But rather than be called a tactics meeting, it would have been best to describe it as a crisis meeting based on the mood in the tactics room at that moment. It was as if a series of inconspicuous but ominous sparks were darting across the brightly-lit room, bringing with them a drab and dreary atmosphere upon the people seated within.

    The air was just that heavy, with every face in the tactics room asionally contorting into a slight frown. It was as if the participants were deep in consternation, preparing to face off against a dreadful monster rather than team Rosenborg in a few hours.

    "Tomorrow afternoon is our only chance at winning any silverware this season," Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the head coach of Molde Fotballklubb, abruptly broke the silence.

    His tone was somber as he swept his gaze across his yers while folding his arms across his chest. A few almost imperceptible dark circles could be seen around his eyes ¡ª a tell-tale sign that he wasn''t in the best of spirits at that moment.

    "Let me repeat this again," the coach articted word for word, taking a step forward. "Tomorrow afternoon is our only chance at winning any silverware this season. That is because we''ll be facing off against Rosenborg in the Norwegian Cup final at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo. Should we win, we''ll be the 2013 Norwegian Champions and then qualify for the Europa League qualifiers for next year." He paused for a few seconds as if to let his words first sink into the minds of his yers.

    "As long as we win, we''ll wash away all our shame of finishing sixth in the Tippeligaen and once again establish ourselves as the giants of Norwegian football." The coach punctuated his words with a p of his hands before sweeping his gaze across his yers. "But that''s as long as we win!"

    "So,ds," he continued. "I expect you to give your all, to do your best and y like never before in tomorrow''s final. I expect you to head into the match against Rosenborg as if your lives are solely dependent on the results of that match. And I expect you to remain more than a hundred percent focused from the first minute until the final whistle. For that''s the only way we''ll be able to outdo what''s probably the mightiest squad in Norwegian football at the moment. Are we together,ds?"

    "Yes, coach," all the yers in the Aker Stadion''s tactics room roared back enthusiastically in concert.

    "Good, good, good!" Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer nodded, the corners of lips lifting into a faint smile. "I like the energy. And I hope you carry that energy into the finals tomorrow. As long as you do that and y at your best, then what''s there to fear? We''ll be able to give Rosenborg a run for their money for sure. Are you with me,ds?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "That''s the spirit," Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said, his voice lowering once again. "Now, let''s discuss tactics." He turned around and stepped towards therge LCD screen in front of the room before turning it on.

    "Tomorrow, we''ll y with a 4-2-3-1 formation," he said and began pointing at the field positions, which were already manifesting on the LCD screen. "Our goal keeper will be ?rjan Nnd. Our four defenders will be v Rindar?y, Vegard Forren, Even Hond, and Martin Linnes."

    "Our two holding midfielders will be Magne Hoseth and Emmanuel Ekpo. Our only attacking midfielder will be Jo Inge Berget. Our nk yers will be Daniel Chima Chukwu and Mattias Mostr?m, on the left and right, respectively. And finally, our center-forward will be Fredrik Gulbrandsen."

    "On the bench, we''ll have Ole S?derberg, Joona Toivio, Per-Egil Flo, Daniel Berg Hestad, Mats M?ller Daehli, Agnaldo, and Tommy H?nd. That''s it for the squad."

    "And now, I''ll emphasize some of the key points within the tactics once again," he said, ncing around. "One, I expect each one of you except Fredrik, our center-forward, to fall back and defend whenever we lose the ball."

    "You guys have to note that Rosenborg has a very agile attacking force and midfield. yers like Zachary Bemba, Nicki Nielsen, Tobias Mikkelsen, and Thomas Partey are all very terrifying opponents when given space and time on the field of y."

    "The only way to prevent them from terrorizing our defense is by constantly closing them down and obstructing them long before they can step into our defensive third. And the only way to achieve that perfectly with our squad is by continuously ying with ten men behind the ball whenever we''re on defense. Are you guys with me?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    "Good." The coach nodded. "Point number-two. I want our midfielders to prioritize that Zachary Bemba and bar him from stepping into the final third."

    "This concerns especially our holding midfielders ¡ª Magne and Emmanuel. You guys will have to constantly be on your toes while marking him. Don''t just let him run through our ranks as if we''re just air. Show some spirit and use your brains. Tackle him, pull his shirt, or block him stealthily. I don''t care how you do it. But make sure he doesn''t run with the ball through the midfield and into our half. Are you with me?"

    The coach''s eyes glimmered as he nced squarely at the two holding midfielders. However, the two yers remained silent as if they were just pondering on the coach''s words for a few moments.

    "Are you with me, Magne, Emmanuel?" The coach asked once again after seeing them remain silent.

    "Yes, coach," the two of them gave half-hearted replies as if they were not totally in agreement with the coach''s instructions.

    "If you have anything to say, just spit it out," Coach Ole said after noticing their hesitation.

    "Coach," Emmanuel Ekpo, one of the holding midfielders, said a bit hesitantly in reply. "We''re all well aware that Zachary Bemba has been a highly clinical and efficient set-piece taker throughout the season. As long as we concede a free-kick in our final third, he''ll have a chance to punish us and score for sure. So, how can we still use fouls against him during the match? Isn''t that just like shooting ourselves in the foot?"

    "That''s a good observation," Coach Ole said, a polite smile outlining his face. "But what I meant is for you guys to bar his path long before he steps into the final third. If the situation calls for it like during a dangerous counterattack, you can even stealthily pull at his shirt."

    "Provided that he''s still more than thirty-five yards from our goal and you aren''t thest man, then that will be the proper way to handle the situation. That way, we can avoid conceding free kicks in dangerous positions in our final third and frustrate Zachary, thereby causing trouble for Rosenborg. Are you with me, Emmanuel?"

    "Yes, coach," the holding midfielder replied, nodding.

    "Good." Coach Ole nodded. "However, whatever the circumstance, you guys have to try as much as possible to avoid conceding free-kicks in the final third. If you are to foul, then gomit your fouls far away from the box so that you don''t concede needless free-kicks. I want us to make it as hard as possible for that Zachary to even a single goal. Are you with me,ds?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Then, I''m d," Coach Ole said, a light smile framing his features. "I''m sure that each one of you knows what to do tomorrow since we''ve been going through the tactics over the past two weeks. So, let''s end today''s meeting here. Make sure that you don''t stay upte and be sure to be on time tomorrow. We''ll depart for the airport at 10:00 AM sharp."

    **** ****

 Chapter 274 - To The Ullevaal Stadion

    It was just past noon, two hours to the much-anticipated Norwegian Cup Final. Nevertheless, the over-enthusiastic fans had long upied every avable seat in the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo.

    In their respective team colors, they sang and cheered at the top of their voices, chanting their team slogans at the top of their voices. They were overflowing with excitement and stewing in anticipation of the kick-off of the Norwegian Cup final.

    In that boisterous crowd were two stunning girls with extraordinarily otherworldly charm and charisma. They were like a pair of phoenixes among domestic chickens to the point that all the male fans around couldn''t help but keep on casting wolfish nces their way from time to time.

    The two girls were clearly the center of attraction in that part of the stadium. However, they seemed not to mind the ravenous stares directed their way. Instead, they continued discussing the uing match as if oblivious to the peculiar atmosphere all around them.

    They were, of course, Emily Anderson, Zachary''s agent, and Kristin Stein, his publicity secretary. The two of them had arrived in Oslo the previous day with the intent of watching the final, live, at the Ullevaal Stadion. After spending the night at afy hotel, the two of them, like other fans, made their way to the stadium early in the morning. They had then joined in the pre-match excitement and were eagerly awaiting the kick-off.

    "The fans are really passionate," Emily Anderson said to Kristin, who was seated beside her. "It''s still two hours to kick-off, yet they are already chanting at the top of their voices like mad."

    "That''s nothing surprising," Kristin replied. "It''s what you would expect when Rosenborg is about to face off against Molde in the Cup final. The majority of the Norwegian sportingmunity agrees that the two teams are the biggest powerhouses¡ªthe very top dogs in Norwegian Football. Only a few doubters still deny that fact. A meet-up between them will always attract an enormous crowd of rowdy football fans here in Norway. I''m sure that aside from the supporters in the stadium right now, there are many more waiting to watch the final on TV at home."

    "Moreover," Kristin continued with a smile. "The Norwegian Cup is the oldestpetition in Norway. So, it holds a special ce in the hearts of Norwegian football fans. It is the winners of the Cup who''ll earn the title Norwegian Football Champions rather than the Tippeligaen winners."

    "Ohhh!" Emily eximed, taking the time to adjust her sunsses on the bridge of her nose. "Then, if Molde wins, they''ll be Norwegian Champions instead of Rosenborg. Is that right?"

    "Yes, that''s right," Kristin confirmed.

    "What a weird football culture!" Emily said, shaking her head. "In Ennd, for instance, it''s the winners of the premier league that will earn the title ¡ª English Champions. I''m sure that it''s the same in most other countries like Germany, Spain, and Italy. I wonder why you Norwegians decided to do things the other way around!"

    Kristin suppressed a chuckle. "As I already said, the Norwegian Cup holds a special ce in the hearts of the Norwegian football enthusiasts. That''s why attendance is at full capacity now, even with two hours remaining to kick-off."

    "Let''s hope Zachary and his teammates emerge victoriously at the end of it all," Emily said, frowning slightly and ncing around. "It would be a bummer if Rosenborg ended such a great domestic campaign with a loss in the final."

    "I think we have a great chance of winning," Kristin observed, her tone poised. "The whole team is in great shape. Confidence levels are high ¡ª at a level like never before since we just defeated Red Bull Salzburg 3:0. So, what''s there to fear? What''s stopping the team from crushing Molde?"

    "You''re right." Emily smiled. "It seems I''m just fretting over nothing. Let''s hope everything goes well."

    "There''s no need to worry," Kristin emphasized. "With the way we''ve been ying over the past month, there''s no way we should lose. Unless a higher power, higher than luck itself, is against us. Otherwise, we should easily hammer Molde 4:0."

    Emily couldn''t help but chuckle at that. "By the way," she said, her tone turning professional all of a sudden. "How is Zachary''s social media presence these days?"

    "Well," Kristin replied, creasing her brows a bit. "His ounts have exploded with followers over the past few weeks. There were hundreds of thousands of more followers, especially after Rosenborg won the league and after Zachary''stest performance in the Europa League. I can say with confidence that his ounts are doing pretty well."

    Emily smiled on hearing that. She was thrilled that Zachary''s poprity was skyrocketing. Fame and reputation equaled more endorsements, which tranted into more money in the medium to long run. So, as an agent, she was ecstatic. But there was something, like a little bit of uncertainty, in Kristin''s tone that nagged at her professional senses, which she felt she needed to address. So, she immediately inclined her head and nced at the younger girl squarely.

    "Why do I sense that there is a ''however'' missing at the end of that statement of yours?" She pressed.

    "It seems I can''t hide anything from you," Kristin sighed. "Everything is fine with his publicity, except for one small issue. I don''t know whether I should mention it or not."

    "Ohhh!" Emily''s heart stilled a bit. "In a business such as ours, there''s no such thing as a small problem. There''s either a problem or there isn''t. It''s as simple as that. So, what is it this time around?"

    "As I said, it''s just a small issue," Kristin said, shaking her head. "There were pictures of Zachary and an older woman that emerged on a few blogs about two weeks back. So, a few of his followers started trolling his social media ounts, asking about the pictures. Zachary, of course, didn''t even consult me and replied with a single word ¡ª girlfriend. But that''s when a few fans started criticizing his choice ofdies, saying that he needs to look for someone his age ¡ª someone who''ll not distract him from his pursuits."

    "You know Zachary''s character," Kristin continued. "He, of course, ignored the fans and went back to his training as if he''d never made the post. So, the discussion grew bigger and bigger, to the point of involving the woman in the pictures. It was almost getting out of hand over the past few days until I blocked some troublesome followers. Only then did the activity on his ounts return to normal."

    "Ohhh!" Emily''s eyes widened with surprise after hearing the tale. "Why is it that I know nothing about this girlfriend of Zachary''s?"

    Kristin shrugged in response. "Most posts about her are either in Norwegian or German. So, that might be the reason you didn''t catch wind of it."

    "You''re right." Emily nodded. "That might be the case. Do you have her picture? I would like to see this girlfriend of Zachary''s. I hope she''s not a troublemaker. Otherwise, we''ll have plenty of problems in the near future."

    "Just a minute," Kristin said, fishing her phone from her purse. Without further ado, she searched for a few of Cami''s photos on the web before immediately showing them to Emily.

    "Isn''t this the assistant of the marketing manager from Audi Norway?" Emily mumbled, creasing her brows, on seeing the photographs. "When did they get together?"

    "I don''t know." Kristin shrugged.

    Emily nodded. "It''s good you told me about this. Don''t bother Zachary about this and definitely not about the followers trolling him. We can''t afford to distract him at this critical juncture when he still has to y two Europa League group matches. Let him continue his training normally. I''ll try to see if I can get some more information on what''s happening from him in the next few days."

    "Oh, okay," Kristin said. "Don''t you want to find any more information about thedy in the pictures yourself? What if she has ill intentions towards Zachary?"

    Emily couldn''t help but sigh on hearing the question. "If I did that, I would be overstepping my boundaries. As his agent, I can only open his eyes to a few of the problems that may hinder his career. But if an issue gets too personal, there''s nothing I can do. But, don''t worry. I''ll see what I can do on my side, even if my hands are tied."

    "Good," Kristin said, smiling and returning her attention to the pitch.

    **** ****

    Zachary nced skyward, trying to deduce the weather in his own way after exiting the team bus at the gates of the Ullevaal Stadion that afternoon. A soft smile outlined his face the next instant after noticing that the blue sky above the stadium was dotted with fluffy white clouds that driftedzily in the gentle breeze. There were no signs of rain, so he rxed even further.

    "Zachary! Sign an autograph for me. Zachary, how do you feel about the match? Zachary..."

    A few ardent yells broke him out of his moment of reverie. He nced around and noticed that several fans in Rosenborg jerseys were fervently screaming his name. Some were even hopping up and down as they waved at him enthusiastically.

    "Man, you sure are popr here in Norway," a familiar voice said from behind him. "The fans are always all over you everywhere you go to in Norway."

    Zachary smiled on hearing that. He ignored Thomas Partey, who''d made the remark, and took the time to sign a few autographs for the fans.. After that, he followed his teammates into the stadium, feeling eager to unleash carnage on team Molde in the Norwegian Cup final.

 Chapter 275 - Awards And An Unexpected Situation

    Zachary could clearly hear the cheering from the stands in the Ullevaal Stadion hitting a thunderous crescendo when he marched onto the ying field together with the other yers and match officials that afternoon. On looking around, he found the stadium''s atmosphere already boiling hot with wild and crazy fans dancing and singing. It was simply madness ¡ª but a madness which roused him. He could feel his heart beating faster in anticipation of the final.

    "Good afternoon,dies and gentlemen!"

    The mellifluous voice of Kjell Roar, thementator, sounded abruptly. The sound from the stadium''s speakers was so loud that it smothered out all the cheering that had been underscoring the entire stadium.

    "Let me take this opportunity to wee you all to the finals of the 2013 Norwegian Football Cup," the voice continued. "I''m excited since Rosenborg Ballklub is about to face off against Molde Fotballklubb in what will be the climax of the Norwegian football season. I''m sure all of you are aware that the match-winner will earn the title of Norwegian Champions, while the loser will ¡ª well, only go home crying. Will it be team Rosenborg who''lle out on top, or will it be team Molde that will have thestugh? We shall have an answer before sunset today."

    "But first things first, introductions," thementator continued in a booming voice. "I''m Kjell Roar, your faithfulmentator for this match, and here with me are two pundits. One is Sigurd Rushfeldt, a former Rosenborg yer who was a prolific goalscorer during his time. For those not in the know, Sigurd didn''t just y for Rosenborg but also for several other teams around Europe, including Birmingham City and Austria Wien. It''s a pleasure to have you here for this match, Sigurd."

    "Thank you, Kjell," Sigurd Rushfeldt, the first pundit, replied. "It''s also a pleasure to be here and provide the on-pitch analysis for such a great match between two great teams in Norwegian football. Thanks for having me, Kjell."

    "You''re wee, Sigurd," Kjell Roar replied politely. "Moving on, our second pundit for today is none other than Ulrich M?ller, a yer who spent his entire senior career at Molde. It''s a pleasure to have you here, Ulrich!"

    "Thank you," Ulrich M?ller, the second pundit, replied. "I''m also d to be here. Thank you for inviting me, Kjell."

    "You''re wee." Kjell Roar replied with a chuckle. "Okay, that marks the end of the introductions. So, without wasting time, let''s take you to the action on the field."

    "The teams have justpleted their customary handshake, and the yers are ready to take their positions on the field of y. But, we''ll have to dy the discussions about the uing match because of a small award ceremony right before kick-off. Word going around is that Zachary Bemba, Rosenborg''s young number-33, will be receiving his golden boot and MVP award for the 2013 Tippeligaen right before kick-off. So, let''s put our hands together to wee the one and only, Zachary Bemba, to the podium."

    Zachary could feel another wave of thunderous cheers sweeping across the entire stadium after the announcement. The crowd''s thrill even rose further, to the point of insanity, when he walked up to the makeshift podium to receive his two des from the Norsk Toppfotball official.

    Those cheers caused his spirits to soar higher and provoked a toothy grin. When he finally held both the golden boot and bronze statuette within his hands, he felt like he was walking on clouds. He was ecstatic since he''d just won two prestigious football awards in his first season as a pro footballer.

    Nheless, Zachary didn''t let the excitement disrupt his focus on the uing match. Instead, he shut out everything until his mind was as clear and calm as a pool of water. After that, he handed his golden boot and bronze statuette to one of Rosenborg''s coaching assistants for safekeeping before returning to his position on the pitch to wait for the kick-off whistle.

    **** ****

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could feel his heart racing with a mixture of both anxiety and anticipation when the referee blew the whistle at exactly 2:00 PM that afternoon. He understood that he could only have something to show for the season and soothe the anguish of the Molde fans by winning the Norwegian Cup final. Otherwise, he would have to bear the shame of finishing sixth in the domestic league and even face the possibility of losing his job. Things were tough, and even the fact that he was a Molde legend couldn''t help his case.

    He felt tense as he watched his yers kick off the final against Rosenborg on the back foot. The performance of his yers in the first fifteen minutes of gamey couldn''t soothe his jittery nerves in the slightest. He would even asionally shudder despite himself, especially when the resourceful Rosenborg attackers unleashed dangerous shots towards Molde''s goal. However, as an experienced coach, he soon forced himself to remainposed and continue watching the game despite the circumstances on the field of y.

    But, focusing on the game let him witness in great detail how Rosenborg kept suppressing his team as if his yers were a bunch of nobodies. In just a couple of minutes, he couldn''t take it anymore. So, he rose from the bench like an angry mother hen and started giving some tough love to his yers from the sidelines.

    "Lads," he yelled at the top of his voice, pacing the entire length of the technical area. "What the f*ck are you doing on the pitch? We already agreed that you have to close down the spaces in the middle as quickly as possible whenever we''re without possession. But what have you been doing ever since the start of the match? Even a bunch of olddies can y better football than you. Aren''t you ashamed? And can''t you be a little bit more proactive and y like people who wish to win the final?" He punctuated his words with a rhythmic pping of his hands, probably to motivate his yers.

    "Emmanuel and Magne!" The Molde coach continued roaring out words at the pace of a machine gun as he waved his hands up in the air. "Make sure that you mark Zachary, and don''t allow him even an inch of space in the middle. Guard him tightly and stop him from unleashing those troublesome lofted passes behind our defensive line. And above all, everyone else should stay focused and work hard to win possession back as soon as possible. Use counter-pressing tactics, if need be. But don''t let Rosenborg y us like we''re nonexistent." He concluded his little speech with another thunderous p before settling back down on the bench.

    However, his face couldn''t help but morph into a frown a few minutester. His words seemed to have fallen on deaf ears, and his yers couldn''t just grow into the game quickly enough. They were like a group of toddlers ying in aid-back manner. They didn''t possess any bit of ss or character to the point of failing to sustain even the slightest pressure on Rosenborg''s defense for almost the entire first half. Anyone, including the fans, could tell that they were in a sorry state ¡ª a fact that caused Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer an immense amount of headache.

    However, just as he was despairing, his team got an opportunity to counterattack in the 40th minute. It was one of those rare chances that came out of the blue.

    Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s center-forward, had just unleashed a missile on goal after receiving a well-timed pass from Zachary Bemba. However, the lucky stars of Rosenborg seemed not to be well-aligned that day, and ?rjan Nnd, the Molde keeper, managed to snatch the ball out of the air to make an incredible save. And without any dilly-dallying, the keeper kicked the ball high and far¡ªtowards Fredrik Gulbrandsen, the Molde center-forward on the other side of the pitch. With that lightning-fast long pass from the keeper, a rare Molde counterattack was then on.

    Coach Ole abruptly rose from his seat as his heart raced with anticipation. He watched with bated breath as Fredrik Gulbrandsen, his center-forward, controlled the ball with his chest at the border of the final third. And without losing a moment, the striker deftly stepped past Yerry Mina, Rosenborg''s center-back, and was soon off towards Rosenborg''s goal like a whirlwind. He moved fast enough to rush through Rosenborg''s defense in a matter of seconds. And soon, the long-awaited moment of truth came for team Molde as the striker faced off against thest two defenders between him and Rosenborg''s goal.

    Coach Ole felt strained with nervous tension as he watched the striker do the unexpected. He didn''t just try to dribble past thest two defenders as most clinical forwards would do ¡ª but unleashed a long-range shot from the edge of the 18-yard box after ending his run. Was he crazy or blindly self-confident? Coach Ole would know the answer in a few seconds.

    He unconsciously balled his fists as he watched the shot squeeze past the two Rosenborg defenders in the box and then grazed off the post before homing into the back of the.

    "What a counter!"

    Coach Ole shouted excitedly and punched the air repeatedly the next moment. He could hardly believe that his team, which had been struggling from the very first minute, had drawn first blood after a rare counterattacking opportunity. From the keeper to the striker, it was just a single long-range pass ¡ª and boom, the ball was in the back of the before the Rosenborg yers could react.

    **** ****

 Chapter 276 - Magical Touches I

    Rosenborg 0: Molde Fotballklubb 1

    -----

    Kristin sighed despite herself after taking a nce at the stadium''s jumbotron. She was a bundle of nerves since she couldn''te to terms with the quick change of the situation on the field of y. Her team had been dominating proceedings, unleashing relentless waves of attacks on Molde''s box from the very first minute. However, out of the blue, the opponents had obtained a single opportunityte in the first half and converted it. As a result, team Molde was leading 1:0, with just four minutes remaining to half time. It was really a bummer.

    "Well, that was unexpected," Kristin heard Kjell Roar, thementator, yell out loud after the goal celebrations. "Fredrik Gulbrandsen, Molde''s center-forward, has managed to put the ball into the back of the with a single attempt on goal. It''s now Rosenborg 0, and Molde 1. Ulrich! What''s your take on the match so far?"

    "Well," Ulrich M?ller, one of the pundits for the day, said. "Even as a Molde supporter, I still have tomend Rosenborg''s efforts during the first half. The Rosenborg yers have been phenomenal from the first minute in this final. They have been brilliant on all fronts, whether defensively or moving forward, and managed to create a lot of half-chances."

    "However, football is a game that requires results, not half-chances," the pundit continued. "In this aspect, it''s team Molde that has been the better team since Ole''s men have managed to draw first blood in this highly contested final. With a single counter-attack, they have put one past Rosenborg. They''re now in a very advantageous position to win the Norwegian Cup final. That''s the importance of results."

    "Thanks for your input, Ulrich," Kjell Roar chipped in. "What about you, Sigurd? What''s your take on the match? Do you see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer''s men holding on and going on to win this final?"

    "Absolutely not," Sigurd Rushfeldt, the other pundit, was quick to reply in a confident tone. "The situation on the pitch is clear as day. The Troll Kids have outyed Ole''s men from the very first minute by showing ss and character whenever they''re on the ball. They''ve been so focused that we can literally feel their hunger for goals as they move the ball around the pitch. So, I believe we''ll see a goal from one of the Rosenborg attackers in a few minutes at most."

    "You''re that confident!" Ulrich, the other pundit, chimed in.

    "Of course, I''m confident," Sigurd replied. "You guys should not forget that Rosenborg''s attacking force includes Zachary, Nicki, Tobias, and John Chibuike. Those guys will not go down that easily. They will most likely put two goals in the back of the before we get to hear the final whistle. So, unless Ole''s men can score three or more goals and defend like never before, I don''t see them having a chance to win this final."

    "Hehehe!" Kjell Roar chuckled. "Thanks for your input, Sigurd. But for now, let''s get back to the action on the pitch. The match has just restarted after the goal celebrations. However, team Rosenborg has already won a throw-in close to the center-line on the left nk."

    **** ****

    Zachary was very focused as he watched Mikael Dorsin, Rosenborg''s left-back, prepare to take the throw-in on the left nk. His mind was calm despite his team, Rosenborg, trailing Molde by a goal to nil. Not even the loud cheers of the Molde fans could disturb his state of mind at that moment since he was confident in his team''s abilities. He was sure Rosenborg would get back on level terms sooner rather thanter. As long as his teammates put in a little more effort, they would be able to put the ball in the back of the in the following few minutes.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle at that moment and signaled for Mikael Dorsin to take the throw-in quickly. Mikael didn''t dare to dilly-dally any longer. He made a short run towards the touchline as he readied himself to make a two-handed throw into the pitch.

    "Mikael, here!"

    Zachary shouted and moved like a thunderp on seeing Mikael make it to the touchline. With the agility of a wild cat, he stepped away from Emmanuel Ekpo, the Molde midfielder that had been marking him for arge part of the first half. In a matter of seconds, he was rushing into space¡ªtowards the touchline while anticipating the throw-in ball from Mikael.

    Mikael Dorsin, the veteran Rosenborg yer, didn''t disappoint. The left-back reacted quickly and threw the ball into the path of Zachary just as he''d stepped away from his mark.

    "Brilliant!"

    Zachary couldn''t help but smile as he received the well-timed throw-in. He didn''t lose a moment as he leaped high and chested the ball down to the green while also taking a moment to assess the situation around him with his peripheral vision.

    A slight shudder ran along his spine when he noticed Emmanuel Ekpo, one of Molde''s defensive midfielders, closing in on him quickly like a raging bull. However, he suppressed the difort the next instant and flicked the ball to his left boot, further away from the opponent. He remained patient and calm for a few seconds until the approaching Emmanuel Ekpo was just a meter away from his position before taking further action.

    No-look pass!

    While looking the other way, he flicked the ball back to Mikael Dorsin on the touchline before rushing past the approaching Emmanuel Ekpo like the embodiment of speed itself. He then received a return pass from Mikael and was soon on his way towards Molde''s half like a whirlwind.

    However, he had to slow down a momentter since he realized he was just about to run into yet another Molde yer. It was Magne Hoseth, the other holding midfielder, barring his path towards the other side of the pitch that time around.

    Zachary didn''t bother to rush past the midfielder since he knew that would be unwise. He''d already taken in the situation ahead and noticed that several Molde yers had already packed themselves before their defensive third. So, even if he managed to beat the opponent before him, he would just run into another and end up losing the ball before threatening Molde''s defense.

    So, he flicked the ball to his right, pushing it towards the middle of the pitch with a couple of deft touches to step further away from the approaching opponent. He then showcased his skills as a true Maestro and unleashed a long-range raking pass towards the right-wing with the outer area of his boot.. Before the approaching Magne Hoseth could close him down, he''d already sent the ball flying towards Tobias Mikkelsen like aser-guided missile.

 Chapter 277 - Magical Touches II

    "ROSENBORG! *p*p* ROSENBORG! *p*p..."

    A wave of thunderous cheers resounded across the entire Ullevaal Stadium when Tobias Mikkelsen, Rosenborg''s right-winger, chested down Zachary''s pinpoint pass. The noise around the stands continued increasing until it was almost unbearable.

    That was when the winger turned around with the ball hooked to his foot. Before long, he was darting across the touchline and spearing into Molde''s half amid rising cheers.

    Knut v Rindar?y, Molde''s left-back, soon came rushing forward to intercept Tobias'' run. However, the speedy Rosenborg winger didn''t try to take on his new opponent. He just flicked the ball to Thomas Partey, Rosenborg''s defensive midfielder, who was running in sync with him through the middle.

    Without losing a moment, the agile winger stepped past the Molde left-back before receiving a return pass from Thomas Partey. In a matter of seconds, he was rushing along the touchline once again, long before any other opponent could intercept him.

    Zachary''s heart stirred with anticipation as he watched the winger skip past a few other opponents before ending his run with a teasing cross into Molde''s box. It was the moment of truth, and Zachary kept his eyes trailed on the ball as he, too, raced towards the Molde''s goal with all the haste he could muster.

    He didn''t slow down even as the ball started descending into the box. He even continued running as he watched Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s ever-reliable forward, jump high and nt a header towards goal from around the edge of the 18-yard box.

    It was then that he felt a momentary silence descend upon the entire stadium as Nicki Nielsen''s header shed towards the top right corner like a bullet. He was almost halting his run, thinking that Nicki Nielsen had scored. But then, at thest moment, he saw the keeper leap high and push the ball slightly off its course with his outstretched fingertips.

    "BANG!"

    The sound of the ball smashing off the crossbar resounded across the then almost silent stadium, inducing another wave of frustration among the Rosenborg yers. In the 44th minute, they had failed to convert yet another chance and bring proceedings back to a leveled ground.

    "Shit! What bad luck we''ve had during this match!" Zachary couldn''t help but curse under his breath as he increased his speed towards Molde''s goal once again.

    Although he was very frustrated at the missed opportunity, he hadn''t given up on scoring before halftime. He knew that there was still a chance to turn things around as long as the Molde defenders failed to clear the ball in time.

    "Nicki!" He yelled at the top of his voice without reducing his speed. "Go after the ball."

    It was as if the sound of Zachary''s voice had woken up Nicki from his frustration. The center-forward reacted immediately and raced towards the direction of the slowly descending ball like a sh.

    However, he didn''t manage to make it since Even Hond, Molde''s center-back, was a step ahead of him. The center-back had reacted promptly to avert the danger with a well-timed back volley before Nicki could close him down.

    "There''s still a chance."

    Zachary slowed down and adjusted his course after noticing the defender clear the ball. With his high game intelligence, graded at A by the system, he could already deduce that the ball wouldn''t travel far from the box. It would most likelynd towards the border of the final third. Zachary was hopeful he could get to it before the opponents.

    "Clear!!! Don''t allow that Zachary to get to the ball."

    He could hear the booming voice of someone, probably the Molde coach, roaring outmands as he inched closer to the ball. But that didn''t slow down his actions in the slightest. He managed to get to the position of the descending ball quickly by relying on his long strides. Without losing a moment, he brought it under control before turning around to face Molde''s goal.

    He could already feel adrenaline pumping into his system since he was eager to help his team equalize before halftime. However, just as he was about to take the first step towards Molde''s box, he noticed a sliding tackle approaching his foot, as sudden as a slippery snake in the grass. It seemed one of the Molde defenders had decided to risk bringing him down rather than allowing him into the box.

    Zachary had no intention of dancing to the opponent''s tune. He dug his boot under the ball and lifted it off the ground slightly to escape the sliding tackle by mere centimeters. Before the tackling defender could react, he was already an arm''s length away, his strides eating up yards of space like there wasn''t a tomorrow.

    However, he had to slow down again a momentter after running into another obstacle in the form of Vegard Forren, the second Molde center-back.

    The defender was quite clever in his approach. He had angled his body in such a way as to force Zachary towards the nks as he waited for his colleagues to catch up and help him deal with the danger.

    However, Zachary wasn''t going to wait around for the Molde defense to shape up. He stepped on the ball and dragged it back slightly with his left foot before following that up with a 180 degrees spin around the defender toplete a Marseille Turn. By the time the defender realized what was happening, Zachary had caught the ball with his other foot and rolled it behind and away. Without losing a moment, he then continued his run towards Molde''s box like a thunderp amid a wave of thunderous cheers.

    Zachary''s mind was working in overdrive as his strides consumed yards of space in a matter of seconds. He was already in the zone. His superb awareness could deduce all the dangers around him. Be it the two defenders blocking his path towards the box or the midfielder trying to pull his shirt from the back ¡ª he could see them all clearly. So, he made a prompt decision to shoot from outside of the box instead of taking on the defense.

    "Here goes nothing."

    Without losing a moment, Zachary flicked the ball to his right foot and pushed it further away from himself before the opponents could catch up to him. He then drew his leg back like a bowstring and swung down hard, slicing the ball on one side with the inside of his boot.

    "BANG"

    He couldn''t help but let out a breath as he heard the clearly audible sound of his boot making contact with the ball. Without dy, he lifted his head and saw the ball spinning around the defense and shing towards the goal like a rocket.

    ?rjan Nnd, the Molde keeper, reacted immediately and tried to block the shot with a despairing dive. However, his efforts were fruitless. The ball just whirled past his outstretched fingertips and homed into the back of the.

    **** ****

 Chapter 278 - The Unstoppable Rosenborg

    Coach Johansen was all smiles as he watched the Rosenborg yers celebrating the goal. His heart was still palpitating from the memory of how Zachary had handled himself right before scoring. With a few deft touches, the young midfielder had created something out of nothing, jumping over a sliding tackle and then executing a Marseille turn before chipping the ball into the back of the. His control, movements, and vision had all been wless and immacte in those few moments.

    Moreover, Zachary had made his actions look so simple to the point of giving the illusion that anyone could perform them. However, as a professional, Coach Johansen was sure that not many pro yers active in the world could have handled themselves better than Zachary during such a crucial moment of the match. It was only thanks to the boy''s high game intelligence, coupled with solid skills honed over thousands of practice sessions, that he managed to perform at such a level. The young midfielder was that impressive.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the halftime whistle shortly after, bringing the proceedings on the field of y to a brief pause. Without dilly-dallying, the yers of both teams rushed towards the tunnel for the halftime break.

    "Let''s head to the dressing room," Coach Johansen said to his team of coaching assistants. "We still have to prep the yers for the second half." He added before turning around and leading the way towards the tunnel entrance.

    His footsteps felt lighter since he was in a good mood. The ending of the first half had really relieved him of all the tension that had been umting within him ever since he''d stepped into the Ullevaal Stadion for the final. There had been some ups and downs, sure, but his yers had managed to recover right before the halftime whistle. They''d bagged an equalizer and brought proceedings back to level terms in the 45th minute, causing his mood to lift.

    Be that as it may, he was well aware that the match was far from over. There were still 45 minutes left to y before the conclusion of the proceedings. Should his yers mess up and concede again, they would find themselves hard-pressed to win the game and go home with the trophy at the end of the day. Thus, he knew he needed to do his utmost to motivate them and straighten their attitude during the halftime break. He had to do his best to smother out any possibility of a field yermitting a mistake when the trophy was in sight. It was his time to do his part as the head coach.

    "Can I have everyone''s attention?" The coach said in amanding tone right after he''d stepped into the dressing room. "We only have 15 minutes to themencement of the second half. So, let''s utilize the time wisely."

    The yers were quick to respond on hearing Coach Johansen''s voice. They paused all their chattering as quickly as possible and settled down on benches around the dressing room. In only a matter of seconds, they''d transformed from a group of rowdy athletes to the semnce of a ss of A-graded students in a top academic institution.

    Coach Johansen nodded to himself after witnessing their disciplined actions. "Let me start by saying that that was a good first half despite the score," he said with the intent to break the ice in the dressing room. "All of you were phenomenal both in defense and attack. You also executed the game n quite perfectly, and that''s why we''ve continued dictating the tempo throughout the entire first half."

    The coach took a few steps forward before continuing in a somber tone. "But there are a few issues here and there that we need to address before we head into the second half. For instance, we shouldn''t have conceded that goal on the counterattack if everyone on the team had yed their roles perfectly. I can assure you that if six of our field yers had reacted immediately and fallen back to defend, we would have prevented Molde from scoring. But we let our guard for just a moment, and because of that ¡ª we''re still at square one during the halftime break."

    "I''m not here to carry out a postmortem or cry over spilled milk," the coach continued. "But I have to warn you that we can''t repeat the same mistake. We can''t let our guard down during the second half, not even for a couple of seconds. We''ve got to remain focused for every minute of the gamey and ensure that we don''tmit basic mistakes that might push us into a dire situation. As long as we avoid beingx on the field of y, I''m sure we''ll win this game and be champions today. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers roared out, more or less in unison.

    Coach Johansen nodded, smiling. "I''m d we''re on the same page. Avoiding mistakes aside, I want us to be more daring and clinical while attacking. Forwards and midfielders! I want you to keep making goal attempts whenever you get the opportunity. When you have a clear visual, unleash a shot, and maybe you''ll score. If there''s an obstacle stopping you from shooting, pass to one of your teammates and then move forward. I want us to sustain our momentum and constantly oppress Molde''s defense from the very first minute of the first half until the final whistle. That''s the only way we''ll win the final and be champions today afternoon. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good," Coach Johansen said, ncing at his watch. "It''s almost time. So, all of you should prepare quickly before returning to the pitch. Those who would like to go to the washrooms should go. Those who need to see the medics should see them. I don''t want any of you to have excuses for losing focus during the second half. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Okay, then." Coach Johansen said, nodding. "I wish you all the best of luck during the second half. And may we be champions today. For we''re ROSENBORGGG!!!" He ended his speech with a cheer.

    The yers responded by roaring out Rosenborg chants in preparation for their return to the field. They all seemed eager to unleash carnage on team Molde during the second half.

    **** ****

    "Do you still believe we''ll win?" Emily asked, trying her best to make herself heard over the din in the stadium. She understood that football was unpredictable. Throughout history, weaker teams, including Greece and Senegal, had at one time ovee football giants in crucialpetitions. She was worried that Molde would pull off the same thing and defeat Rosenborg just by relying on their team spirit.

    "You don''t need to worry," Kristin, who was seated beside her, replied, frowning. "Have you forgotten that Zachary is among the Rosenborg attackers? As long as he remains in good shape for the rest of the match, we''ll surely score another two or three goals. You''ve got to believe in him since he''s your client."

    "You''re right," Emily said, a soft smile outlining her face. "I guess I''m just nervous since this is a very crucial match for Zachary. I want him to perform and dazzle everyone present today."

    "Why is it a very crucial match?" Kristin pressed, creasing her brows.

    "I can''t say at the moment," Emily replied, smiling mysteriously. "But if everything goes well, you''ll know by the end of the week."

    "Why all the secrecy?" Kristin grumbled but turned her attention back towards the pitch. She could already see the yers of both teamsing out of the tunnel for the second half.

    **** ****

    The game restarted, and the Rosenborg yers resumed their relentless attacks on team Molde from the first minute of the second half. For the umpteenth time that afternoon, Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was at the end of his wits as he followed the game from the sidelines. He could tell that Rosenborg was a much stronger side in all aspects of the modern game whenpared to his team.

    The overall framework of Rosenborg''s attacking system was well-organized and pleasing to the eyes ¡ª a testament to the tactical prowess of Coach Johansen. The whole team moved together like a pack of wolves, both on the attack and defense. Additionally, their positioning at every moment of the game was textbook perfect, with yers covering each other to prevent Molde fromunching another counterattack. As a result, his yers had failed to mount any meaningful attacks on Rosenborg''s goal, even as the game approached the 60th minute.

    "What to do?"

    Coach Ole could see no hope for his team to win the final if the status-quo remained unchanged. It was only a matter of time before Rosenborg scored again if he left things the way they were. So, he made a prompt decision to bolster his defense by introducing a couple of defenders into the game there and then. That would make it harder for Rosenborg to score another goal and possibly push the game to the penalty shootout.

    However, just as he was about to instruct his assistants to prep the substitutes, he stopped suddenly. That was because Zachary Bemba, Rosenborg''s 18-year-old midfielder, had just made another run along the touchline on the left nk and was quickly spearing into Molde''s half at breakneck speed.

    The prodigy was as agile as a slippery snake in the jungle, weaving through the ranks of Molde yers like they were a bunch of nobodies. Before the Molde yers could array themselves into a proper defensive shape, he had already started cutting into the pitch from the left nk like a whirlwind.

    Coach Ole was really frustrated. "What the f*ck are you guys doing?" He roared out loud as he ran towards the boundary of the technical area. "Hurry up and stop him before he makes it to our box? Do you need me to teach you the basics of defending during a final of a majorpetition?"

    His words seemed to have woken up the Molde defenders from a long period of slumber. Without further ado, most of them rushed towards Zachary like a pack of predators that had just spotted their favorite prey.

    Coach Ole could only shake his head in dismay after noticing the actions of his yers. Most of them had rushed towards Zachary and left a big gap behind on the opposite nk. The defense was tilting to one side, meaning that the other Rosenborg attackers could exploit the opening on the right. Coach Ole could only pray and hope that the Rosenborg yers wouldn''t notice the defensive mistake. Otherwise, his team would be in big trouble.

    However, the goddess of luck seemed hell-bent on making a joke out of team Molde that afternoon. What the coach was most afraid of transpired the very next instant. Zachary Bemba skipped past yet another Molde defender with a deft couple of touches before looking up and unleashing a teasing cross into space behind the defense.

    "Damn!"

    Coach Ole could only manage a curse as he watched Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s center-forward, pounce on Zachary''s pinpoint cross around the edge of the 18-yard box. Before the confused Molde defenders could register what was transpiring, the center-forward chested the ball towards the green and then unleashed a carpet-shot towards the inside of the right post. And, before Coach Ole could even blink, the ball was already nestled in the back of the.

    What a nightmare!!

    In the 62nd minute, Rosenborg had managed to score again and take the lead for the first time that afternoon. The score was Rosenborg Ballklub 2 and Molde Fotballklubb 1. Coach Ole could only ce his hands on the back of his head as he watched the opponents celebrate the goal close to the corner g.

    **** ****

 Chapter 279 - Champions I

    A wave of euphoria washed across the stadium like a Tsunami when Nicki Nielsen scored Rosenborg''s second goal. Kristin even noticed some Rosenborg fans taking off their shirts in the heat of the excitement. Unbothered by the cold, they continued waving their shirts in the air, chanting the Rosenborg victory slogans at the top of their voices. The atmosphere was crazy around the stands upied by Rosenborg supporters.

    "The situation remains the same as we head into thest twenty-five minutes of this exciting final," Kristin heard thementator yell out loud a few minutester. "Rosenborg Ballklub is still reigning supreme and sustaining a constant barrage of attacks on Molde''s goal. As a result, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer''s men have barely gotten opportunities to mount attacks of significance on Rosenborg''s goal. What a final! The situation on the pitch is truly unprecedented, considering the history between the two clubs."

    "My thoughts exactly," Sigurd Rushfeldt, one of the pundits for the day, chipped in. "It''s the first time that we get to see Rosenborg overwhelming Molde in such a ruthless manner for as long as I can remember. We didn''t get to see such a disy of Rosenborg against Molde even during Coach Nils Arne Eggen''s time. It''s truly unprecedented."

    Kjell Roar suppressed a chuckle. "A few minutes back, when I watched Rosenborg passing the ball around the pitch, I got the misconception that it was Barca rather than a Norwegian side on the field. The way they''re executing the Tiki-taka style and passing the ball to hoard all the possession reminds me of the Spanish giants at their best. Their ball possession statistic should be over 70% at the moment. What a phenomenal side!"

    "Indeed, what a phenomenal Rosenborg side!" Ulrich M?ller, the second pundit, chipped in. "Even though I''m a Molde fan, I still have to apud the brilliance of the Rosenborg yers in this final. The way they''re moving the ball around and how they''re shaping up on the pitch is incredible. They have the makings of a great team that will easily bat heads with the football giants all over Europe and still put up a good disy in the near future. I''m now really looking forward to their next few performances in the Europa League."

    "Ulrich!" Kjell Roar, thementator, interjected. "I''m d that you''ve mentioned the point about Rosenborg having the makings of a great team. But what could have enabled Rosenborg to raise their performance to this unprecedented level in only a period of a few months? Do you think it''s their new coach, Boyd Johansen? Or is it their young star midfielder, Zachary Bemba, carrying them forward?"

    "Well," Ulrich M?ller replied after clearing his throat. "That seems like a simple question. But, the answer is not as straightforward as you think. Zachary and the new coach aside, there has been a major change in the way Rosenborg does things over the past year."

    "First and foremost," the pundit continued. "Rosenborg brought in a few crucial signings in the mid-season transfer window. Three of those signings, namely: Thomas Partey, Yerry Mina, and Eric Bailly, have been phenomenal in all matches they''ve yed since arriving at Rosenborg. As I speak now, they continue to impress even during today''s final. So, I believe they''ve also contributed to the shift in Rosenborg''s ying style over the past few months."

    "Ulrich is right," Sigurd Rushfeldt, the other pundit, chipped in with a chuckle. "By now, I believe that there''s no one that should have any doubts about the capabilities of either Coach Johansen or Zachary. Their efforts have been quite vital in driving Rosenborg''s forward to their current level of sess."

    "But that aside," the pundit continued. "The new signings have also been incredible in defense. They''ve created a favorable atmosphere on the team by allowing the rest to focus on their own tasks without any distractions. Nowadays, the Rosenborg attackers, including Zachary, can always attack without worry because of the exceptional defensive efforts of the new signings."

    "Thank you, both Sigurd and Ulrich, for your input," Kjell Roar, thementator, interjected before the pundits could carry on with the discussion. "Let''s direct our attention back to the field of y where Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg center-forward, has just won a free-kick right in front of the arc of the 18-yard box. It''s is an opportunity for Rosenborg to double their lead as we head into the 70th minute of the Norwegian Cup final for sure. However, the bad news is that Nicki Nielsen seems hurt and is still rolling on the ground in pain as he awaits medical attention."

    "It would really be bad for Rosenborg to lose Nicki Nielsen to an injury at this stage," Sigurd Rushfeld chimed in with an audible sigh. "However, the Troll Kids can easily turn this disadvantageous situation into the third goal since Zachary is present on the pitch."

    "Football is an unpredictable game," Ulrich M?ller, the other pundit, said. "Even world-ss free-kick takers, like Juninho, Messi, David Beckham, and Pirlo, have a conversion rate of less than 25%. So, we can''t be sure that Zachary will score this free-kick."

    "For your information, Zachary has maintained a conversion rate of over 80% since turning pro," Sigurd Rushfeld responded in aical tone. "So, how can youpare him with people who only have a conversion rate of around 20% a season?"

    Ulrich, of course, wasn''t going to be outdone. "Your ignorance knows no bounds," he said, mimicking the other pundit''s tone. "The conversion rate of those yers was calcted from hundreds of their attempts when taking free kicks in internationally renowned tournaments. But how many free-kicks has our boy, Zachary, taken this season? If my memory is not failing me, they should be less than a dozen set pieces. So, unless he can maintain his conversion rate over the next four to five years, he shouldn''t be mentioned in the same leagues as the best free-kick takers in the world today."

    "Hehehe," Kjell Roar chuckled. "That''s a good discussion you two are having. However, let''s return our attention to the pitch where Zachary is preparing to take the free kick."

    **** ****

    v Brusveen, the TV2 Sportskanalen reporter, was following the proceedings on the field of y from the area designated for the press near the tunnel entrance. He''d shut out all the rumblings of the noisymentators as he watched Zachary prepare to take the set-piece which could potentially win the final for Rosenborg.

    It was the moment of truth, the time for the young yer to prove that he could maintain hisposure and perform as usual even at a crucial moment of a final. Should Zachary score the free-kick, he would prove to all the critics that he was world-ss, at least with regards to set-pieces. But should he miss, the critics would continue dubbing him as another overrated free-kick taker and a yer only mimicking the style of David Beckham.

    v was sure of his conjecture because that was how the world worked. People mostly tended to focus on the negatives more than the positives. Even though Zachary had scored a goal and provided an assist during the final, there would still be critics pointing out his errors during the heat of the game. A missed free kick would be a vital talking point in the sports news the following day. v was, of course, eager to be the journalist adding the oil to the fire, should such a situation transpire.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and signaled for Zachary to take the free-kick after the medics had helped Nicki Nielsen, the injured center-forward, off the pitch.

    Zachary didn''t waste any time taking a few steps back from the ball before looking around to assess the situation in the box. At that instant, his bodynguage and posture were just like those of an apex predator eyeing its favorite prey. He seemed to be radiating an indomitable aura as he readied himself to take the set-piece.

    v had already done his research. He was sure the boy prodigy was analyzing every factor that could influence his set-piece at that moment. Be it the positioning of the wall, the yers in the box, the standing posture of the keeper, and even the direction of the breeze ¡ª they were all factors that could impede his uracy. So, he''d to take note of those influences before his execution.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle again and signaled for Zachary to hurry up and take the set-piece. v Brusveen could feel his heartbeat elerating as he watched the boy prodigy make the standard angled run towards the ball. Without any excess movements, the young midfielder tilted his body backward before unleashing the perfect curveball already familiar to the footballmunity in Norway. His technique was immacte and pleasing to the eye.

    "Make sure that you capture all that," v didn''t forget to remind his camera crew before Zachary struck. He watched the ball''s concave trajectory over the wall with bated breath. Before he could get a response, the ball was already grazing off the post and dipping into the back of the. The ball''s sheer velocity hadn''t even allowed the keeper to react.

    "Brilliant!"

    v Brusveen''s heart stirred as several headlines for the following day whirled through his mind after witnessing that free-kick from Zachary. He could only conclude that the boy was a genius ¡ª or probably a monster, with nerves of steel. Even in a crucial moment in the final, he remainedposed and performed as usual while taking the free-kick. The young midfielder was that scary ¡ª and v could only feel sorry for opposing goalkeepers that would have to go against him in the near future.

    **** ****

 Chapter 280 - Champions II

    A pang of happiness streaked through Coach Johansen after he watched Zachary convert the free-kick to put Rosenborg in an almost unassable position. The score was then three to one in favor of his side, and he was about to win his second trophy of the season.

    His yers had outdone themselves in the Norwegian Cup final. They''d yed like champions on all fronts, whether in defense, midfield, or on the attack. The nks, the crossing, and the goal attempts were all fierce, constantly causing their opponents plenty of problems. The only blemish on their performance was that one time they''d rxed and allowed Molde to score during the first half.

    "Coach," the voice of Dr. Eivind Pedersen, the Rosenborg medic, sounded from beside him, breaking his moment of reverie.

    "Yes, Dr. Pedersen," Coach Johansen said, creasing his brows. "How is Nicki faring? Is his injury serious?"

    "Well," Dr. Pedersen replied with a steady voice. "From my initial examination, I can only conclude that it''s only a bruise on his shin. The impact from the opponent''s boot must have damaged some tissue, leading to a minor injury."

    Coach Johansen couldn''t help but frown. Nicki Nielsen was his star striker, and he didn''t want to lose such a sharp yer when he was about to face Standard Li¨¨ge in the Europa League in a few days. "Is he still fit to continue the match?"

    "With a bit of first aid, he sure can continue ying," the medic replied. "But my rmendation is that we take him out immediately to be on the safe side. But, it''s your call, coach."

    "Then, we''ll follow your rmendation and let him rest for the remainder of the match," Coach Johansen said before turning towards his assistant. "Trond! Go ahead and inform Andr¨¦ to start warming up. I want him on the pitch in less than five minutes."

    "Aye, coach," Trond Henriksen, the assistant, replied.

    **** ****

    Zachary was in high spirits as the game approached the final stages of the second half. He didn''t rx in the slightest even though his team was leading by three goals to one. He continued doing his best to help his team overpower Molde''s defense by ying his part as an attacking midfielder to the best of his ability.

    Whenever he would spot a gap in Molde''s defense, he would either unleash a defense-splitting pass behind the backline or run at the defenders. His S-graded stamina and endurance attributes allowed him to continue putting up mind-blowing disys even as the match approached the 85th minute.

    "Forwards!" Zachary heard the voice of Coach Johansen booming from the sidelines, just as the Molde yers were starting to hoard possession by ying short aimless passes in the backline. "Push forward and try to exert more pressure on their defense. Let''s utilize some high pressing to win back possession quickly. We need to score another goal before the final whistle." The coach punctuated his words with thunderous pping of his hands to motivate the yers.

    Zachary reacted immediately on hearing Coach Johansen''s instructions. He rushed forward like a whirlwind, eyeing Vegard Forren, the Molde center-back, who''d just received the ball in Molde''s backline. However, the defender reacted promptly and passed the ball towards the left-nk before Zachary could approach his position.

    Nevertheless, Zachary didn''t give up. He continued chasing the ball''s trail towards the left nk like a bullet out of a muzzle.

    He understood that he had to do most of the high pressing since Nicki Nielsen, the starting center-forward, was already out of the game due to an injury. So, he raced even more energetically than usual towards Knut v Rindar?y, Molde''s left-back, who was about to receive the ball.

    It was as if the lucky stars of Rosenborg were perfectly aligned that day. Just as Zachary was about to give up his chase, he noticed that the defender had taken a poor and slightly heavier first touch on the iing ball. As a result, it''d rolled a yard or two behind, causing the defender to panic.

    "Chance!"

    Zachary exploded forward like a bullet train. He could feel the breeze whipping across his face as his long strides consumed yards of space like there was no tomorrow. Before the defender could rectify his mistake and retrieve the ball from behind him, Zachary was already sliding in, boot skimming the green like a slippery snake in the grass. It was a well-timed tackle ¡ª one which the left-back could not avoid at that moment.

    "REF!!!"

    The defender could only shout out in distress as he tumbled to the ground after Zachary''s outstretched boot had magically retrieved the ball.

    However, Zachary didn''t give a damn about the yelling defender. He was sure he hadn''tmitted a foul since he''d gotten the ball before sending the left-back to the ground. Thence, there was no reason for the referee or the nearby linesman to penalize him.

    With the agility of a wild cat, he picked himself from the ground, not taking a second nce at the defender. He took off like a bat out of hell for Molde''s goal before the other defenders could react to the situation.

    Vegard Forren, one of the Molde center-backs, soon came to close him down, all guns zing like a raging bull. However, Zachary didn''t lose hisposure in the slightest. He just slowed down slightly, stepped on the ball and spun 180 degrees around the defender toplete his second Marseille turn of the match. He then pulled the ball with him as he whirled away from the defender''s reach.

    A secondter, he could hear the cheers around the stadium hitting a thunderous crescendo as hepleted the turn and faced the approaching goalkeeper. It was the moment of truth, and as usual, he didn''t lose his cool.

    He simply looped the ball over the keeper with an elusive chip, sending it just inside the far post. With that, he''d managed to score Rosenborg''s 4th goal and bagged yet another hat-trick in his professional career. He raced like mad towards the corner g to celebrate the goal with his teammates.

    -----

    The match ended shortly after, with Rosenborg still leading 4:1 against Molde. In a matter of minutes, the officials started setting up a podium in preparation for the trophy ceremony while the Rosenborg yers and coaching staff moved around the edges of the field to thank the fans. In the meantime, reporters were all over the ce, their cameras shing as they interviewed yers. The whole field of y was a hubbub of activity in the minutes after the final whistle.

    Zachary watched the chaos while taking a brief moment of rest in the center circle after escaping some particrly persistent reporters. Everything felt surreal.

    In his first season of professional football, he''d yed a crucial role in helping his team win the domestic double. He''d also be the top scorer of two of the most prestigious tournaments in Norway. It was a dreame true as far as he was concerned.

    **** ****

 Chapter 281 - Award Ceremony And More System Rewards

    "It''s the moment we''ve all been waiting for," the booming voice of the announcer reverberated across the entire stadium after the organizers had set up the podium. "We''re about to wee the Rosenborg yers and coaching staff to the podium to receive their medals. But first things first, let''s put our hands together for the tournament''s top scorer and MVP as he steps forward to receive his des."

    Grinning from ear to ear, Zachary walked onto the podium with a slight swagger in his step amid waves of thunderous apuse. He quickly shook hands with the Norsk Toppfotball officials, received his des, and stepped aside to give way to the rest of his teammates.

    He had set a new record by receiving two golden boots and two of Norway''s most prestigious best football yer awards on a single day, just over a span of about two hours. The first was before kick-off, and the second was after the final whistle of the Cup final. He''d made history. Anyone could tell he was trying his best to contain his excitement while standing there on the podium with his three des.

    "Let''s wee the best coach of the tournament," the announcer intoned, his booming voice shaking the stadium again. "His tactics today were overwhelming as he sent Rosenborg''s old rival, Molde, packing to win the Norwegian Cup finals. Ladies and gentlemen! Let''s put our hands together for the one and only, the best coach of the season, Coach Boyd Johansen."

    The cheers of the Rosenborg fans hit another crescendo as Coach Johansen stepped forward. His hands were trembling a little as he epted the Cupen winner''s medal from the officials. He seemed quite excited as he had just achieved a perfect start to his tenure as the Rosenborg coach by winning a prestigious domestic double.

    "Rosenborg! *p*p* Rosenborg..."

    The cheers continued reverberating, causing the entire stadium to experience mini-tremors as the rest of the Rosenborg yers followed their coach onto the podium. To spice things up, the announcer began listing out the achievements of individuals starting with Daniel ?rlund, the keeper, as another surge of frenzy descended upon the stadium.

    The atmosphere was boiling with tangled emotions as the Rosenborg yers stepped forward, one after the other. With toothy grins framing their facial features, they took turns shaking hands with the Norsk Toppfotball officials before receiving glittering medals and stepping to the side in an orderly manner.

    And finally, the ribbon fell, causing all the Rosenborg fans still in the stands to go into a wild frenzy. Under the illumination of thest rays of the setting sun, the supporters started singing popr Rosenborg chants as the Norsk Toppfotball chairman stepped forward to present the trophy.

    Without further ado, Tore Reginiussen, the Rosenborg captain, came forward and received the trophy as the fireworks went off in the background. At that moment, all eyes were on the podium as the captain rejoined his teammates before lifting the trophy high and then passing it on to his teammates.

    Another explosion of emotions ensued in the stadium since, by then, the Rosenborg yers, coaching staff, and fans could no longer suppress the insane excitement coursing through them. Someughed, others sobbed while hugging tightly, and the rest roared out loud like a bunch of madmen in their state of drunken happiness. The excitement in those few moments was so infectious that even stoic fes, like Coach Johansen and Zachary, couldn''t avoid joining the celebrations.

    **** ****

    Later that night.

    Zachary was seated on a training mat in his living room, going through a routine of pre-bed yoga. He went through the exercises seriously, doing yoga pose after pose without cutting corners since he had a clear goal in mind concerning where he wanted his fitness to be.

    He understood that he still had a long way to go and wasn''t about to let the sess of winning a low-tier double get to his head and stop him from achieving his goals. He''d even rejected several victory party invitations from his teammates right after the trophy ceremony earlier. He''d instead opted to return home and start on his post-match recovery routine with the intent of returning to full fitness in the shortest time possible.

    As far as he was concerned, winning the Tippeligaen and the Norwegian Football Cup was just the beginning. His goal was unchanged, and he still intended to rise to the top of the footballing world. He yearned to bat heads and hold his own against the strongest and mightiest footballers in the world. However, to get to that level, he needed to spend more time in gyms or on the training field, honing his skills. Even with the system, he just couldn''t cut all corners and rise to the top without putting in any effort.

    It was that simple.

    Of recent, he''d started watching highlights of football greats during his free time. He would spend some evenings before his 52-inch LCD TV screen scrutinizing past performances of phenomenal yers like Ronaldinho Ga¨²cho, Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Be it their positioning during attacks, footwork, reactions in critical situations ¡ª he''d assessed them repeatedly with the intention of learning from them. However, he always felt totally humbled each time he witnessed those monsters destroying their opponents since his skills at the moment couldn''t hold a candle to those of the greats.

    For instance, Ronaldinho Ga¨²cho, at his best, could y around with top defenders, making them look like a bunch of nobodies. His technical skills, creativity, dribbling ability, and uracy from free-kicks, as well as his use of tricks, feints, and no-look-passes, were simply a marvel. He singlehandedly paved the way for the emergence of sexy football with his mind-blowing disys.

    At one time, the phenomenal Brazilian even looped the ball sessively over the heads of a group of top defenders. With a couple of deft touches and a moment of immacte ball-handling, he made them seem like a bunch of headless flies before stepping away gantly like a king. Another time, he took on the whole Real Madrid backline, ducking and weaving through the ranks of one of the best defenses in the world at the time, before burying the ball in the back of the. The man was a wizard with the ball that dazzled everyone with his tantalizing disys during games.

    Zachary always felt goosebumps all over his skin after watching Ronaldinho Ga¨²cho''s highlights. No yer had ever made as big an impression on him as the phenomenal Brazilian. With a smile stered on his face and feet made of gold, he could do the impossible and turn the game into what seemed like a circus show whenever he was on the field. There had never been a yer like him ever, and Zachary admired him greatly.

    So, how could he rx just after winning a low-tier double in Norway? How could he take a break when his skills were far from reaching even half of those of his idol - Ronaldinho?

    Zachary was determined to utilize every second of the next few years of his professional career to raise his skills to a level much higher than the zenith of his previous life. With the system supporting him, he believed that attaining Ronaldinho-like footballing prowess or bing the best yer in a generation were achievable goals. As long as he worked hard and spent more of his time training, anything was possible.

    Zachary''s eyes glittered with resolve as he continued going through the simple yoga routine in his living room. Without any break, he performed the rest of the yoga poses meticulously. He didn''t stop until thirty minutester when he was sweating all over once again.

    After letting out a breath, he stood up from the training mat and picked a bottle of water from the fridge, intending to hydrate himself. But then, he recalled that the system AI had already notified him about the Norwegian Football Cup missionpletion a few minutes prior. So, without further ado, he decided to check on the mission rewards before anything else.

    "System," he said after opening the bottle and chugging down some cold water. "Bring up the Norwegian Cup Serial missionpletion details right away."

    "DING"

    "Command received," the AI''s apathetic voice sounded in his mind the next instant. "Missionpletion details for the Norwegian Football Cup Serial Challenge will being up shortly!"

    "Great!"

    Zachary could feel his heart racing just as the near-transparent crystal-like disy manifested before him the next instant. Without further ado, he turned his full attention towards the contents of the system interface.

    ****

    #5 new messages

    -----

    CONGRATULATIONS

    ->You havepleted the system mission (2013 Norwegian Football Cup Serial Challenge).

    -----

    ->Mission Rewards

    1) 6000 Juju-points

    2) A-grade Physical-Conditioning-Elixir

    -----

    ->Mission Summary

    *Milestone 1: y all matches in the Cupen. The user must be among the starting eleven or a ying substitute for every tournament match. {Milestone Not Achieved; Rating C}

    *Milestone 2: Help your teammates win the finals and be the champions of the Cupen. {Milestone Achieved Sessfully; Rating S+)

    *Milestone 3: Provide the most assists in the Cupen. {The user was third on the list of assist providers in the Cupen. Milestone Not Achieved, Rating C}

    *Milestone 4: Be the top scorer in the Cupen. {The user was the top scorer of the Cupen with six goals. Milestone Achieved Sessfully; Rating S+}

    *Milestone 5: Be the MVP of the Cupen. {The user was contributed massively towards Rosenborg''s Cupen victory, especially with regards to work rate, goals scored, and assists provided. Milestone Achieved Sessfully; Rating S+}

    -----

    Overall Mission Rating: A

    -----

    Bonus Rewards

    You have earned 1000 Bonus Juju points.

    -----

    ****

 Chapter 282 - Another System Upgrade

    "This is great."

    Zachary''s eyes immediately glittered with boundless delight, looking like bright stars in the night sky. At longst, he had met the requirements for the system''s 2013 Norwegian Football Cup Serial Challenge missionpletion. He could hardly contain his excitement as he was about to enjoy more rewards from the system, whichprised the long-awaited A-graded physical-conditioning-elixir.

    The elixir was the perfectplement for the vitality-enhancing-elixir, which he''d already obtained from the system. Consuming both panaceas would amplify their effects and enhance his fitness to a much higher level.

    "System," he intoned. "Please show me the rest of my data."

    "DING"

    "Command received," the system AI replied. "User dataing up shortly on the interface."

    ****

    SOCCER G.O.A.T SYSTEM

    SYSTEM LEVEL: 3 (22,240/10000 Juju-points to level-up)

    USER: Zachary Bemba

    AGE: 18 years

    TALENT ASSESSMENT: Grade-A

    JUJU-POINTS: 22,240

    (Evaluation: A promising and sensational young professional yer)

    ----

    USER MENU

    *USER STATS

    *G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    *SYSTEM SHOP

    *SYSTEM LOTTERY

    *SNOOPING TOOL

    ----

    NB: Please level up the system to unlock more functions.

    ****

    Zachary''s heart skipped a bit on taking a nce at his stock of juju points. Afterpleting both the Tippeligaen and Norwegian Cup serial challenges, he''d gained an incredible sum of 15,000 juju points from the system. Including his original 7240 points, he then possessed a total of 22,240 points, which was more than twice the amount he needed to upgrade the system.

    "With all these Juju points, maybe I should finally upgrade the system," he mumbled to himself, sinking into a moment of contemtion.

    Over the preceding few weeks, he''d been resisting the temptation to upgrade the system simply because he needed a reserve of Juju points for his day-to-day training needs. Both the G.O.A.T Skills Simtor and the weekly purchases of the physical-conditioning-elixirs required Juju points. So, his hands had been tied.

    However, afterpleting the Norwegian Cup Serial challenge and acquiring arge reserve of juju points, he could no longer hold himself back. So, without further ado, he navigated to the home menu before clicking on the upgrade button, disyed in the top left corner of the near-transparent system interface.

    "DING"

    "The user has chosen to upgrade the system," The system AI''s apathetic voice resounded within his mind right after his finger made contact with the crystal-like disy.

    "To proceed with the upgrade, the system will have to deduct 10,000 Juju points from the user''s stock."

    "Additionally, the system will shut down for eight hours during the upgrade process. The user will not be able to use any of the system functions or even summon the interface until the eight hours pse."

    "Does the user still wish to proceed with the upgrade? Please click on either the ''ept'' or ''reject'' buttons on the screen to confirm your choice."

    Zachary blinked reflexively and fixed his gaze on the new contents of the interface. A mence upgrade'' button had just floated to the front of all the contents of the screen. The ''ept'' and the ''reject'' buttons, mentioned by the AI, were below it and blinking bright red on the interface.

    "Time waits for no man."

    Zachary didn''t waste time deliberating any longer. He''d already decided to upgrade the system, and nothing would change his mind. So, he clicked on the ept button to confirm and waited with bated breath.

    "DING"

    A new system notification resounded in his mind the next instant.

    "SYSTEM ALERT!!"

    "The user has confirmed an immediate upgrade of the system."

    "10,000 Juju points will immediately be deducted from the user''s current stock of Juju points to upgrade the system from level-3 to level-4."

    "The user can check further details on the system interface."

    Zachary had already focused all his attention on the system interface even as the AI''s voice continued resounding within his mind. He could already see that the system was already in the process of upgrading to the next level just by looking at the messages shing on the screen.

    ****

    "SYSTEM ALERT!!"

    -----

    SYSTEM UPGRADE INITIALIZING

    -----

    SYNCING AND SAVING USER DATA

    -----

    LOADING NEW PACKAGES

    -----

    REBOOT PROCESS COMMENCING IN 5, 4, 1, AND 0...

    -----

    ****

    The crystal-like disy trembled slightly for a few seconds after the countdown reached zero before dimming almost abruptly and disappearing into thin air.

    At that moment, Zachary could no longer summon the interface no matter how many times he tried. However, he was not worried since he had gone through the process before. With a light heart, he washed up quickly, then feasted on a light meal before jumping into bed for the night.

    **** ****

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    Zachary woke up abruptly to the sound of his phone vibrating the following day. He opened his eyes and realized that he''d slept longer than he''d intended since it was already bright outside.

    Without deliberating for long, he reached out with his hand and picked his phone from the bedside table. After ncing at the screen, he was surprised by the fact that the iing call was from Emily. It was rare for his agent to call that early in the morning unless there was an emergency. So, without losing a second, he epted the call and ced the phone next to his ear.

    "Hello, Emily," he spoke into the phone after clearing his voice. "How''s your morning?"

    "My morning is as fine as it can be, Zachary," Emily replied from the other end of the line right away. "And how''s yours?"

    "My morning is also fine," Zachary was quick to reply. "But to what do I owe the pleasure of receiving such an early morning phone call from you? I hope it isn''t to deliver some bad news?"

    Emily chuckled. "I''m sorry for calling so early. But we need to meet a.s.a.p. and discuss some important business. Do you remember I promised to initiate talks with a few clubs as part of preparations for your transfer out of Norway mid-next year?"

    "Yes, I do."

    "Well," Emily said a bit hesitantly. "I''ve already initiated talks with a few clubs, and their immediate responses are very positive. One of the clubs sent scouts to watch your performance in the Europa League match against Salzburg and then the Cup finals. The club''s representatives are very serious and hope to start negotiating personal terms with you right away."

    Zachary couldn''t help but crease his brows slightly. "But didn''t I mention that I would only transfer out of Rosenborg mid-next year at the earliest? So, even if they table down the best offers, I''ll still not leave Rosenborg until then."

    "I''m aware of all that, Zachary," Emily said with an audible sigh. "And I mentioned that exact point to the scouts of the club. However, after witnessing your performance in the Cup finals and the Europa League game against Red Bull Salzburg, they insisted on tabling their offers right away. They are of the view that you could stille to a preliminary agreement with them even if you can''t join them right away. They hope to secure your services before theirpetitors notice you."

    "Ohhh!" Zachary said, a light bulb going off in his mind. It seemed the club that had noticed him was not confident in its financial muscle. Their scouts must have been worried that his growing skills on the pitch would attract more teams to vie for his services as time passed. So, they hoped to act fast and gain a cheap bargain by securing his signature before his market value could skyrocket out of their reach. That seemed to be the only usible exnation.

    "As long as they don''t insist on me moving before the transfer window mid next year, I''m open to any other negotiations," Zachary said after a moment of deliberation. "It doesn''t do us any harm to check out their current offers. Maybe, we''ll get an offer that''s hard to refuse if we y our cards right."

    "That''s good to hear," Emily said, her voice taking on a rxed tone. "I was afraid you would t-out refuse all negotiations until next year, which would make my job a lot harder. I''m d you''re open to talks even if you haven''t considered moving yet."

    "Ohhh! So, which club has already tabled an offer to you? You also need to note that I can''t have any personal negotiations with representatives of any club unless they intend to trigger my buy-out use."

    "Don''t worry about all that, Zachary," Emily said with a chuckle. "I''m the agent here, and I know the rules of the industry quite well. I can assure you that I won''t allow you to do anything that will lead to a breach of your contract with Rosenborg. Regarding the clubs that have already tabled offers, I can''t discuss that on the phone. We need to meet a.s.a.p. to discuss that in person."

    "Oh! Okay," Zachary said. "So, where do we meet? And, at what time?"

    "It would be best if we meet in the next hour," Emily replied. "Are you at home right now?"

    "Yes. Why?"

    "If it isn''t an inconvenience, we can just meet and have our discussion at your ce," Emily replied. "It would save us a lot of time as we don''t have to first look for another meeting ce. Moreover, it has been a long time since I came to your apartment. As an agent, I feel that it''s irresponsible of me to neglect the living conditions of my most important client." She added jokingly.

    Zachary suppressed a chuckle. "I guess I have no choice then since I can''t hinder my agent''s work in any way," he said. "Juste over. I''ll wash up right away and wait for you here."

    "Okay, great," Emily said from the other end of the line. "Then, see you in a few minutes, Zachary."

    "See you in a few minutes," Zachary replied before hanging up.

    Despite not wanting to leave Rosenborg for the time being, he was still excited to hear that a few big clubs were interested in him. He was really looking forward to his meeting with Emily.

    "DING"

    The system notification sound rang within his mind at that moment. Within an instant, the near-transparent bluish interface manifested out of thin air before him, even without being summoned.

    Zachary''s eyes glistened once again. He could hardly contain his delight.

    The system was back online after going silent for eight hours through the night. So, he immediately pivoted his gaze onto the screen before him and began reading the messages shing on and off the screen.

    ****

    #SYSTEM ALERT!!

    -----

    -> System upgraded sessfully.

    -----

    LOADING NEW PACKAGES

    -----

    LEVEL-4 VERSION OF SOCCER G.O.A.T USER INTERFACE SUCCESSFULLY INITIALIZED

    -----

    LOADING AND SYNCING USER DATA

    -----

    ****

    Zachary kept his eyes on the crystal-like disy while various system alerts shed on and off the interface. A few secondster, the familiar contents of the system''s home menu appeared before him once again.

    "Let''s see what the new system has to offer," he mumbled, rubbing his hands together before starting to go through the contents of the new system interface.

 Chapter 283 - New Function

    ****

    SOCCER G.O.A.T SYSTEM

    SYSTEM LEVEL: 4 (12,240/100,000 Juju-points to level-up)

    USER: Zachary Bemba

    AGE: 18 years

    TALENT ASSESSMENT: Grade-A

    JUJU-POINTS: 12,240

    (Evaluation: A promising and sensational young professional yer)

    ----

    USER MENU

    *USER STATS

    *G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    *SYSTEM SHOP

    *SYSTEM LOTTERY

    *SNOOPING TOOL

    *TRAINING TOOLS (New)

    ----

    NB: Please level up the system to unlock more functions.

    ****

    Zachary couldn''t help but do a double-take on realizing that a ''training tools'' option had freshly appeared on the user drop-down menu of the system''s interface. It was hard to miss since it was blinking red on the crystal-like disy at that moment. Without losing a second, he tapped the button, hoping to figure out the functions of the new training tools element.

    ****

    *TRAINING TOOLS (New)

    -----

    1) ->G.O.A.T Skills Simtor

    *Activate *Deactivate

    #Activation of Simtor costs 2 Juju points per hour

    -----

    2) ->Miniaturized Gravitational Field (New)

    *Activate *Deactivate

    #Costs for activating the gravitational field on the user''s body are as follows:

    (i) 1.1 gEarth gravity for an hour = 1 Juju point

    (ii) 1.2 gEarth gravity for an hour = 2 Juju points

    (iii) 1.3 gEarth gravity for an hour = 3 Juju points

    (iv) 1.4 gEarth gravity for an hour = 4 Juju points

    (v) 1.5 gEarth gravity for an hour = 5 Juju points.

    (vi) 2.0 gEarth gravity for an hour = 10 Juju points

    -----

    ****

    Zachary was at the same time both surprised and confused after reading the information under the training tools function. The functions of G.O.A.T Skills Simtor were, of course, not new to him since he''d been using them for more than a year. What baffled him, instead, was the miniaturized gravitational field option.

    "System," he called out within his mind. "Can you exin to me the functions of this miniaturized gravitational field? How can it help me improve my abilities?"

    "DING"

    The system notification sound reverberated within his mind the next instant.

    "The miniaturized gravitational field is a very advanced training tool that can greatly elevate the user''s fitness if used correctly," the AI replied. "It simply multiplies the gravitational force experienced by the user uniformly all over the body to increase efficiency during training sessions."

    "All athletes out there train their fitness by exerting a controlled level of strain on various parts of their bodies. Some do weight training using dumbbells to grow their biceps, and others wear ankle weights to strengthen their calves. There are those who also use stic bands to fortify their limbs, and so on and so on."

    "However," the AI continued. "No matter what kind of advanced equipment athletes might use during training, they''ll still never be able to train each and every part of their bodies perfectly. Even the most ingenious exercising regimens out there cannot help you strengthen more than 70% of all the important muscle groups in your body. Some muscles will always remain neglected over time simply because the training ns cannot apply the needed strain uniformly all over the body during exercise."

    "However, the system''s miniaturized gravitational field is different. The gravity amplified by the system affects all the muscles in your body uniformly. Say, for instance, you activate a 2*gEarth gravitational field ¡ª then every part of your body will experience a strain that''s twice your weight. So, even if you stand in one ce doing nothing, every single muscle in your body will still be affected by the amplified gravity. In other words, you''ll still be training even if you are stationary. The effects will even be better if you''re able to exercise with simple routines, such as jumping jacks or shuttle runs under intensified gravity."

    "Oh!" Zachary said, the fog in his mind instantly clearing. He could even feel his heartbeat elerating after understanding the significance of the miniaturized gravitational field.

    As long as he activated and maintained the gravitational field, he could train his body while walking, eating, or even sleeping. His body would be under constant strain ¡ª a condition that would force all his muscle groups to adapt by growing stronger. Then, if he were to deactivate the training tool after some time, his body would experience an explosion in fitness due to the liberation from the added strain.

    Thinking about all that, Zachary realized that the miniaturized gravitational field was the perfect fitness training tool for him at that moment. As long as he consistently trained under its effects, his attributes, especially his endurance, stamina, and strength, would soar in the medium to long term. So, without further ado, he jumped out of bed, intent on testing out its effects there and then.

    "System," he intoned after going through a simple stretching routine beside his bed. "Please activate the 2.0 gEarth gravity field on my body right away."

    "DING"

    "Command received," the AI replied. "The system will have to deduct ten Juju-points to activate the 2.0 gEarth gravity field for an hour. Should the system go ahead and activate the field?"

    "Yes, please," Zachary was quick to reply while flexing his arms to get ready for the imminent additional strain that was about to descend upon his entire body. "Please go ahead and activate the field."

    "Action confirmed," the AI intoned. "The system will apply the 2*gEarth gravity on the user''s body in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and 0..."

    Zachary felt a formless wave of energy descend upon each and every part of his body after the countdown reached zero. Before he could catch a breather, he felt the weight of each segment of his body growing heavier as if a huge rock was pressing down on him. It was a very ufortable feeling since he could even feel his heartbeat slowing due to the increased weight of the blood flowing through his vessels.

    However, since he was a professional athlete, who''d been training his body for years, he adapted to the amplified gravity after a few seconds. Without losing a moment, he started jogging around the bedroom slowly with the intent to test his endurance under the new physical constraints. However, he had to stop a few secondster after feeling a pang of dizziness assault his mind.

    "System," he said in-between gasps of breath. "Deactivate the 2g gravitational field immediately."

    "Command received," the AI replied, its tone as emotionless as ever. "The system will deactivate the 2*gEarth gravity field in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and 0..."

    Zachary felt the pressure on his entire body gradually dissipate when the countdown reached zero. At that moment, he felt like a fish that had just returned to a pool of water after spending a few minutes onnd. "Howe the effects of this 2g gravity on my body are this bad?" He wondered out loud.

    "DING"

    The user should note that being under 2g gravity is like gaining twice the user''s current body weight in an instant," the AI chimed in. "Thus, it will take time for the user to adapt and function normally for a few minutes with such an increased double weight. The system thus rmends for the user to start with 1.2 g gravity for light training and 1.5 g gravity for heavy training sessions at the beginning. But even so, the user will have to tone down the intensity of the exercises considerably while under the 1.5g miniaturized gravity."

    "Oh!" Zachary eximed. "Why didn''t you mention all that before? Okay, please activate the 1.2g gravity for the moment."

    "Command confirmed," the AI intoned. "The system will apply the 1.2*gEarth gravity on the user''s body in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and 0..."

    Another wave of energy instantly covered Zachary''s entire body. But that time around, the force acting on his body was much weaker. It was just perfect for him with his A-graded fitness as he felt only slightly heavier. He even guessed that he could endure and function almost as usual under the effects of such a gravitational field.

    "System," he said with a grin. "Please maintain the 1.2g gravity on my body starting from now. I wish to start training my body constantly all day under the effects of the increased gravity. Let''s see if maintaining this field all day for a few weeks can quickly enhance my fitness."

    "Command confirmed," the AI''s voice resounded in Zachary''s mind. "The system will subtract two Juju points every hour and maintain the 1.2g gravitational field until the usermunicates otherwise. The user should also note that consuming physical-conditioning-elixirs while under amplified gravity will have a much better effect."

    Zachary''s eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Then I''ll start consuming some B-graded elixirs while training under the gravitational field. Are there any other changes in the workings of the system after the upgrade?"

    "Yes, there are," the AI replied. "The user''s authority has increased after the system upgraded from level-3 to level-4. As a result, the user can now learn a maximum of two G.O.A.T Skills before the next system upgrade. The user will also be able to trigger sudden missions much more easily."

    "Then, that''s good," Zachary mumbled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. Before the upgrade, Zachary could only learn one skill after each upgrade. So, he was very excited when he discovered that he could purchase an extra skill from the system.

    Zachary first stole a peek at his bedside clock and noticed that it was only 8:35 AM. Only a few minutes had psed since he''d ended his call with Emily. So, he figured he still had some time to kill before she arrived for the meeting.

    "System," he said, settling back on his bed. "Bring up my G.O.A.T Skills data."

    "DING"

    "Command received," the AI responded right away. "The user''s G.O.A..T Skills dataing up on the interface right away."

 Chapter 284 - New Skills In The System Shop

    Zachary blinked and focused on the contents of the bluish near-transparent interface after hearing the system AI''s reply.

    ****

    ->G.O.A.T Skills: 7

    (i) ZINEDINE-PIRLO MENTAL JUJU

    [1st-level: Progress: 100%]

    -----

    (ii) ZACHARY-ARROW-SHOT

    [Progress: 1st level mastered beyond 100%pletion]

    -----

    (iii) BEND-IT LIKE BECKHAM JUJU

    [Progress: 100%, Mastered beyond 100%pletion]

    -----

    (iv) CRUYFF-TURN

    [Progress: 100%, Mastered beyond 100%pletion]

    -----

    (v) RONALDINHO ELASTICO DRIBBLE

    [Progress: 100%, Mastered beyond 100%pletion]

    -----

    (vi) DEAD-BALL SPECIALIST JUJU (Quasi-Passive skill)

    [Progress: 100%, Mastered beyond 100%pletion]

    -----

    (vii) MARSEILLE TURN

    [Progress: 100%, Mastered beyond 100%pletion]

    -----

    ****

    "Awesome!"

    Zachary felt a sense of contentment flooding his entire being after perusing through his G.O.A.T Skills data.

    Over the past year, he''d worked tirelessly to improve all the skills within his repertoire. He had even spent most of his free time on the pitch or within the system simtor, honing his skills with a one-track mind. As a result, he''d mastered all the G.O.A.T skills beyond a hundred percentpletion and could freely use them on the pitch, no matter the situation.

    He could perform an stico dribble or any other skill even during the most critical of situations during a match. He was already a grandmaster as the techniques were basically already a part of his style and ingrained into his muscle memory. So, there wasn''t anything stopping him from learning more G.O.A.T Skills from the system at that moment.

    "System," he said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation after taking another peek at his bedside clock. "I would like to purchase some new G.O.A.T Skills from the shop."

    "Command received," the AI replied. "Data loading, please wait."

    Zachary could feel his heart palpitating as he observed the near-translucent crystal-like disy before him. He watched with bated breath as the contents of the interface shed and morphed abruptly into the system shop menu.

    Within an instant, the purchase-skills tab grew more prominent on the interface while blinking red before flickering slightly and turning into six glittering skill cards. They gradually floated forward and soon hovered before everything else on the interface.

    On the cards were pictures of various famous footballers, namely Cristiano Ronaldo, Robinho de Souza, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Suarez, Robert Lewandowski, and Steven Gerrard, all working with the ball in the images, respectively. And below each of the cards were a few words inscribed in beautiful calligraphy.

    ****

    1) CR7 Aerial Finishing Juju: For positioning and heading uracy within and outside the box. Requires at least S- grade Body Control to master the skill. [Costs 2,000 Juju-points]

    -----

    2) Robinho Step-Over Juju: For dribbling, tricks, and feints. Requires at least S- grade Body Control and S- grade Agility to master the skill. [Costs 2,000 Juju-points]

    -----

    3) Zinedine Touch Magic: Zone control, heightened technical ability in crucial moments, passing in all ranges, and deadly momentary dribbling. With the Zinedine Touch Magic, you can leave opponents in the dust with one or two magical touches. Requires at least S- grade Body Control to master the skill. [Costs 4,000 Juju-points]

    -----

    4) Box-Vampire Suarez: The true art of positioning, skipping past opponents, and deadly finishing within the box. You''ll be able to draw blood every time your opponents growx within the box. Requires at least S- grade Body Control and S- grade Agility to master the skill. [Costs 4,000 Juju-points]

    -----

    5) Box-Assassin Lewandowski: Most of the time, no one can stop you when you receive the ball within the box. Requires at least S- grade Body Control and S- grade Agility attributes to master the skill. [Costs 4,000 Juju-points]

    -----

    6) Rocket-Launcher Steven Gerrard: Immacte positioning and deadly shooting outside the 18-yard box. The keepers will fear you when you receive the ball in the final third. Requires at least S- grade Body Control, S- grade Agility, and S- grade Strength attributes to master the skill.

    ------

    NB: The user can only learn a maximum of two skills before the next system upgrade. To obtain more opportunities to learn more skills, the user can upgrade the system at any time.

    ****

    Zachary let out a breath after perusing through the information on the interface. He was more frustrated than excited at that moment simply because he didn''t meet the requirements to master even a single new skill avable in the system shop. He felt that the situation was really unfair.

    Several legendary skills that could make the careers of any pro footballer out there were before him on the system screen. However, he couldn''t touch them since his fitness wascking. At that juncture, he was like a eunuch, spending a night with several nude beautiful women. His dreams were so close but yet still so far.

    "What a bummer!"

    Zachary decided to close the interface immediately due to his growing frustration. He''d decided to open the system shop once more only after he''d finished consuming the A-graded vitality-enhancing-elixir a few weeks from then. Hopefully, a few of his attributes would have improved to the S-grading by then, and he would be able to purchase a few skills.

    "What''s meant to be mine will eventually be mine," Zachary mumbled to encourage himself. "There''s no need to rush."

    Without wasting any more time, he rushed towards the bathroom to wash up since he was sure Emily was about to arrive for the meeting. He didn''t want his agent to find him still in his pajamas despite the heads up she''d given him.

    -----

    "Di-ing-diing!"

    The doorbell sound reverberated through the apartment at nine sharp that morning. Zachary, of course, didn''t waste time heading towards the door as he''d been waiting for his agent to arrive for a few minutes already. He wasn''t afraid to let her into his ce as everything was in order and all the unwashed training clothes well-hidden in the wardrobe. At that moment, he was simply the perfect image of an immacte host weing a long-awaited guest.

    "Ta?da," Emily said, beaming as soon as the door opened. "Good morning once again, Zachary. I''m sorry to intrude."

    "No problem," Zachary said, smiling back. You''re wee here any time." He added, giving her a once over.

    She''d worn a pretty pull-neck sweater over a pair of fitting bluedy''s formal pants that brought out her shapely figure that day. She looked dazzling, like a supermodel showing off some trendy office wear fashion brand, as she stood there in the doorway waiting.

    "Well," she said, the corners of her lips lifting slightly into an amused smile. "For how long are you nning to stare at me? Aren''t you even going to invite me in?"

    "Oh, sorry," Zachary said, smiling sheepishly. "Pleasee in and make yourself at home."

    "Thank you," Emily replied and stepped past Zachary, heading into the apartment. "Your ce is quite nice and well organized."

    "Thank you," Zachary replied with a smile as he followed after her into the living room. On the inside, he was smirking since he''d just organized the entire ce only a few minutes prior. "Should I get you some breakfast, or should we move straight to discussing business?"

    "I suggest we move straight to business since I''m almost runningte for my next meeting," Emily replied, settling down on one of the sofas in the living room. "Moreover, I already took some breakfast at my hotel early in the morning. So, I can''t stomach any more food right now."

    "Then, I''ll get you a ss of juice before we start," Zachary said, turning around and heading towards the fridge. "I would feel very guilty if you came to my ce and left without even enjoying a drink. At least, humor me by having a ss of cocktail juice prepared by myself."

    Emily chuckled. "Okay, then," she said, seeming amused. "It won''t hurt to take some juice as we discuss business.. Thank you for your hospitality."

 Chapter 285 - Prominent Football Clubs Showing Interest

    Sunlight was already streaming golden through the living room window in a well-mannered announcement of the just risen sun. Zachary smiled and nced squarely at Emily, who was seated on an opposite couch, sipping on her cocktail juice. "So, which clubs have already shown interest in acquiring my services," he asked.

    "Well," Emily replied, a mysterious smile framing her face. "Five teams have already since I put the word out that you were about to transfer out of Rosenborg."

    "The most serious of those, so far, is Tottenham Hotspur, which by the way, has already sent scouts to view two of your matches. It''s also the team that suggested the prospect ofing to an earlier agreement with you, even if you intend to transfer mid next year."

    "Tottenham!" Zachary mumbled, his heart skipping a beat. He hadn''t expected such a top league team to show interest right after he''d just hinted about wanting to transfer. Had the team been following his progress before he even made his intentions known? Zachary didn''t know. However, he wasn''t totally against the possibility of joining the London-based team when he transferred out of Rosenborg the following year.

    Tottenham was a club that would be teeming with several world-ss talents in the following few years. Phenomenal yers like Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Emmanuel Adebayor, Kyle Walker, and Son Heung-min would be with the London-based club for several seasons. So, Zachary figured he could fit in quite well and possibly have a marked impact with such a talent-packed squad.

    Moreover, Mauricio Pochettino, a world-ss tactician, was about to take the reins at the club. The Argentine coach was good at developing talent and rising to big asions. His teams usually yed a very aggressive high-pressing attacking style of football. Zachary was tempted to work with such a manager for the next few years of his career.

    "To be honest," Emily continued after taking a sip on her juice. "Tottenham is my home team in London. So, I gave them a slight advantage by informing them first about an incredible client of mine that wants to transfer next year. Surprisingly, they reacted faster than I expected and even sent scouts to your matches. But if you''re totally against joining Tottenham, then we can be patient until a few more clubs table down their offers."

    "I''m not totally against joining Tottenham," Zachary said, looking up to hold his agent''s gaze. "If they can offer me personal terms that I find hard to refuse, then I''ll consider joining them after ending my tenure at Rosenborg."

    "Oh!" Emily said, beaming. "And what are these personal terms that you''ll find hard to refuse? Say they offer you ¡ê50,000 per week. That''s ¡ê200,000 per month, which is more than twice what you''re about to start earning from Rosenborg next month. Moreover, when you top that up with match bonuses, you might end up hitting even ¡ê80,000 per week, which would make you among the highest earners at the club. Is that an offer you can refuse?"

    "The offer sounds a bit attractive," Zachary replied with a smile. "But even then, Tottenham will still have toe to a preliminary agreement with Rosenborg first about my transfer fee before we start any serious negotiations. If that fails, their only option would be resorting to triggering my buy-out use. But all those are matters to be tended to next year. I don''t see how they can even suggest Ie to a preliminary agreement with them more than six months before I intend to transfer."

    "You can leave all that to me, Zachary," Emily said in a poised tone. "My job as an agent is to understand your needs and then make them happen by negotiating with the parties that might be interested in your services. After that, I''ll handle all the contractual issues with the parties involved and get you a good deal. As long as I know what you want, I''ll try my best to get it for you."

    "On the other hand, your roles include continuing to y incredible football on the pitch and making your intentions known to me," Emily continued while holding Zachary''s gaze. "That''s why I asked whether a weekly sry of 50,000 British Pounds from Tottenham would be an offer you would find hard to refuse. I need the answer so that I can strategize on how to approach the Tottenham scouts."

    "Well," Zachary said, letting out a breath. "¡ê50,000 per week is quite an attractive offer. But, it''s not an offer that I would find hard to refuse since it''ll be just about twice what I''ll be getting from Rosenborg starting thising December. Only if there is a two-year contract offer, with a weekly sry of at least ¡ê80,000, will I readily join a club at the level of Tottenham in the Premier League."

    "But," Zachary continued without waiting for Emily to respond. "I know well that I might be setting my goals too high in the skies. So, that''s why I suggest we wait for other clubs to table down their offers before making a decision."

    "That''s also a good strategy," Emily said, nodding. "However, if I manage to convince Tottenham to agree to pay you ¡ê80,000 plus bonuses when you join them next year. What then? Will you agree toe to a preliminary agreement with them?"

    Zachary couldn''t help but fall into a moment of contemtion after hearing the question. Joining Tottenham was not all that bad. They had a promising squad that would make it to the finals of the Champions League at one point in the future. However, Zachary couldn''t help but wonder why a team brimming with talent couldn''t win any major trophies during his previous life?

    They had a good coach and a good squad with the ss and quality. So what was stopping them from winning at the very least a single English FA Trophy in more than a decade? It was simply a puzzle that made Zachary not readily agree to join Tottenham, even if they made him a sky-high offer at that moment.

    However, Zachary was a yer who didn''t want to be a coward and avoid all challenging situations, especially since he was living his second life. He didn''t just want to join giants like Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Bayern, where he would enjoy straightforward sess and be sure to win trophies as long as he was part of those squads. As far as he was concerned, that would bore him and drive him wishy-washy to the very core.

    What he yearned for, instead, was a challenge ¡ª whereby he would have to toil for results by giving more than a hundred percent effort during each match. He wanted to feel the pressure constantly weighing upon his shoulders before each game. He yearned to feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins whenever he marched onto the pitch to face an opponent. Only then would he be able to enjoy football to its fullest and make the best of his career. And, he figured that Tottenham would be the right team to give him that challenge after a few moments of deliberation.

    Various thoughts shed through Zachary''s mind as he tried to figure out an answer to Emily''s question. He remained silent for a few minutes as he mused over the prospect of joining the London-based team - Tottenham. But in the end, he still chose to wait for a while before making any decisions.

    "Well!?" Emily pressed after seeing Zachary lock eyes with her again. "What is your answer?"

    Zachary smiled, shaking his head. "If Tottenham does trigger my release use and then makes me an ¡ê80,000 a week sry on top of bonuses offer, I''ll find myself hard-pressed to reject them. But before making any final decisions, I would like to wait and see which other teams might be interested in my signature. You never know whether there might be a more fitting team for me among those."

    "If I''m getting you right," Emily said with a smile. "You''ll most likely sign for Tottenham if they offer you good personal terms, which include a weekly wage of at least ¡ê80,000. But you still want me to drag out the negotiations with them so that you can have time to determine whether there are more fitting teams interested in your services. Is that right?"

    "Yes, exactly," Zachary replied, nodding.

    "Okay, then," Emily said, letting out a breath. "I''ll do as you wish. Before I forget, four more clubs have been following your progress closely over the past few months. Their representatives have even contacted me a few times, trying to find out about your avability. But, when I informed them that you would only transfer out of Rosenborg next year, they rxed their efforts."

    "Which clubs?" Zachary asked, his eyes glittering with expectation.

    "There is Ajax, the Dutch giants," Emily replied. "There''s also Red Bull Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund, both from Germany. And finally, there''s also Red Bull Salzburg."

    "Oh!" Zachary said, trying to recall details about those four teams. "We shouldn''t consider Leipzig or Salzburg as both teams are in low-tier leagues at the moment. As for Ajax, I don''t think that the Dutch League would fit my goals in the next few years. So, it''s also out of the equation, and that leaves us with Borussia Dortmund, which might be a good prospect for me. But we should first consider a few more offers from the Premier League clubs before considering Dortmund."

    "Okay," Emily said, beaming. "I can now see that you would prefer to y in the Premier League over the other leagues. So, I''ll keep my ears close to the ground and try to find out which other clubs there, aside from Tottenham, might be a good fit for you and also in need of your services. Should I make any progress, then I''ll notify you immediately."

    "That would be best," Zachary said. "Thank you for your hard work."

    "You''re wee."

    "By the way, you''d previously mentioned that a fewpanies, including Nike, Pepsi, EA Sports, were interested in my signature! So, how far with the endorsement negotiations?"

    "Well," Emily said, sighing. "Negotiations have stalled a bit over the past week. All thepanies seem to be waiting to see how you''ll perform in yourst two Europa League group matches before tabling their final offers. Should you put up an incredible performance and then help Rosenborg qualify for the round of thirty-two, then we''ll have ourselves plenty of offers. But if you perform poorly in those two matches, we might not get any more offers until next year. It should be as simple as that."

    "That''s understandable," Zachary replied, nodding. "Those international brands probably require stars that have some fame across multiple countries. Otherwise, it would be a loss if they took on a yer who''s mainly known in a single country, like me."

    "I''m d you understand," Emily said with a smile. "What is most important for you is to focus on performing at your best during the uing matches. Everything else, be it endorsements or transfer offers, will fall into line as long as you perform well. That''s a simple truth."

    "Don''t worry," Zachary replied, tone poised. "I''ll give more than a hundred percent because I yearn for my team to qualify for the next stage of the Europa League. I only hope my teammates are as motivated as I am."

    "I''m d that you''re very motivated," Emily said, smiling and standing up abruptly. "But please don''t allow any other factors to affect your career. For the moment, try to put your career above everything else, whether a girlfriend or partying or any other enjoyment in life. There''s simply no need to hurry since you''ll have all the time to enjoyter on in your career or even after when you retire. Get to the top first, and everything else will fall in line. Okay?"

    "Don''t worry," Zachary replied. "I''ve always put my career before everything else in my life."

    "Then, I''m d," Emily said, beaming. "It''s gettingte, so I have to rush to my next meeting, which by the way, is with the two Tottenham scouts. I''ll update you about the oues afterward."

    "Okay, then." Zachary nodded. "I''ll be waiting."

    **** ****

 Chapter 286 - A Typical Fruitful Day

    As promised, Zachary received an update from Emily about the stand of Tottenham Hotspur''s scoutster that morning. The club wasn''t totally against offering him hard-to-refuse personal terms as long as he showed he was worth it. He only needed to put up more spectacr performances, especially during Rosenborg''s next two Europa League matches, and show a willingness to join the London-based club. Then everything else, whether a sky-high weekly wage or bountiful match bonuses, would be on the table for discussion.

    Zachary could tell that Tottenham was pretty much interested in signing him based on their attitude and their reaction to Emily''s conditions. It seemed they hoped to sign him immediately since they were very amodating during the entire negotiation process.

    Be that as it may, he didn''t let the prospect of joining a top league side unsettle him and disrupt his training ns. He understood that he could only return to targeted intensive training a day early by recuperating faster. So, he resumed his post-match recovery routine, beginning with a yoga session right after ending his phone call with Emily.

    He was still yet to push most of his fitness attributes to the S-grading to meet the requirements for learning a few more G.O.A.T Skills from the system. He had to spend more time in the gym or on the training ground, working tirelessly with a one-track mind since that was the only way to improve his fitness to the next level.

    Based on experiences from his previous life, he only had a small window of about six years, at least until he was 24 years, to raise his skills to a world-ss level. He had to take advantage of that short duration when his body was still maturing to hone his skills and rise to the top of the footballing world. Otherwise, he would find it hard to make any improvements after hitting the age of 25 since his physical development would stagnate, following the fundamentalws of nature.

    The hours shed by quickly as he went through his yoga session. Soon, it was past noon. Zachary enjoyed a sumptuous home-cooked lunch before jogging all the way to Lerkendal to meet up with Coach Bj?rn Peters, his fitness instructor.

    Together, they immediately started going through a simple stretching routine, then performed agility drills before diving into an intensive endurance and body strengthening workout. As usual, they worked extra hard, only taking a few minutes of rest in-between exercises. They were so immersed to the point that they didn''t even bother to pause when it started drizzling a few minutester.

    Remarkably, Zachary was under the effects of the system''s 1.2 g Earth miniaturized gravitational field the entire time. As a result, his body was under augmented physical strain, causing the session to turn out to be more rewarding than usual. By the time they called it a day after warming down in the evening, he was out of breath and sweating profusely.

    His weariness even elicited a rare trace of worry from his fitness trainer. But Zachary just waved off the concern with an excuse of still being fatigued from the previous day''s match.

    He wasn''t worried that he would break himself since he had an ample supply of the system''s elixirs. He could still exercise as much as he wanted under the increased gravity and recover within two to three hours after consuming a B-graded physical-conditioning-elixir. That was the beauty of having the system functions supporting his training in the background.

    -----

    In the evening, after training, Zachary met up with Cami at the Skybar of the rion Hotel, located close to the harbor. The restaurant had an exciting menu based on fantastic regional products thatbined Nordic cuisine with rustic American vors and sophisticated Asian traditions. It was the perfect ce to rx and mingle in Trondheim while enjoying a drink from the bar or just listening to great music.

    Zachary and Cami immersed themselves in the ambient atmosphere and enjoyed a great dinner there. They gorged themselves with various exquisite dishes before heading to Zachary''s ce for the night at around 9:00 PM. There, they immersed themselves in their world of passion and gave rise to an enthralling deep night sonata. They took their time exploring one another and soaking themselves into each other''sfort until the wee hours of the morning.

    "So, are you ready for your uing Europa League matches yet?" Cami inquired as she snuggled up to Zachary just a few minutes after their heated battle. Her emerald-green eyes shone like a pair of rare luminous crystals in the dimly-lit room, and her skin still glittered slightly as an after-effect of intense passion. Even without make-up, she could still catch the attention of the most stoic of men. She was still as alluring and beautiful as ever.

    Zachary smiled while caressing her round and plump backside before answering, "I''m not ready yet since I''m still recovering from the fatigue of yesterday''s finals. However, I''m sure I''ll be ready by Wednesday. And, of course, I will take part in the match without any worries."

    "That''s good to hear then," Cami said, tracing circles on Zachary''s perfectly lined chest muscles. "I really hope you win the remaining two group matches so that you can qualify for the knock-out stages. What''s the team''s situation like at the moment?"

    "All the yers are in high spirits after winning the Norwegian Cup. As long as we prepare adequately, we should be able to give our uing opponents a run for their money."

    "Perfect," Cami mumbled excitedly. "Then, there''s a high chance that you might win a treble if all your teammates remain in good condition and continue working hard. Right?"

    "That''s hard to say," Zachary replied, shaking his head. "There are a lot of tough teams in thepetition, like Napoli, Valencia, Sevi FC, and Lyon. Moreover, all the third-ced teams in the Champions League groups, including giants like Juventus and FC Porto, might also join the contention for the Europa League Trophy during the knock-out phase. So, I cannot be sure how far we''ll go when we have to face such tough opponents in uing matches."

    "But if it''s you, you can make the impossible happen on the pitch," Cami said, patting Zachary''s chest. "As long as you give your best and keep on scoring to help Rosenborg win, then you never know how far you''ll reach. You might even find yourself winning the finals before you know it."

    Zachary suppressed a chuckle. "I like your confidence in me. And yes, you''re right. We merely have to do our best, and everything else is up to luck or another higher power. Thanks for this bit of encouragement, Cami."

    "You''re wee," Cami''s replied coyly. "By the way, my boss just informed me today to tell you about an uing Audi photo shoot on the 3rd of next December. Our brand will beunching a couple of new car models before Christmas. So, as an Audi ambassador, it''s part of your responsibility to help us market them."

    "Is it just a photo-shoot?" Zachary pressed.

    "Yes, just a photo-shoot. You''ll only need to pose in front of the new vehicles for a few photos, and that''s it. We''ll use the images for marketing all around Norway. Moreover, if you attend, there might be an exciting surprise for you afterward."

    "Then, I''ll most likely be there," Zachary replied with a smile. "But, I have to run this by my agent first before making the final decision. I hope that''s okay with you!"

    "It''s okay," Cami replied. "Go ahead and do what you''ve got to do. You can tell her to contact my boss or me if she has any doubts she needs to rify. Where are you spending Christmas, by the way?"

    "I''ll probably spend the entire time training within Trondheim," Zachary replied, sighing. "I have to try my best to refine my skills before the start of next season. So, I can''t waste any time, even during the Christmas season."

    "Ohhh!" Cami said, snuggling even closer to Zachary. "And here I thought that we might be able to spend some time together on vacation this holiday season. It''s really a bummer that you have to train even during holidays?"

    Zachary sighed and shifted about to make himself morefortable. "If it''s two or three days, then we can still go for the vacation. But if the vacation is any longer, then I probably won''t have the time."

    "Three days will be enough," Cami was quick to reply. "We can head to either Stockholm or Amsterdam on 24th December, and enjoy Christmas there. By the time you return to Trondheim, you''ll be well-rested and able to give more than a hundred percent during training."

    "Okay," Zachary just mumbled incoherently in agreement since he was already dozing off. "But, let''s sleep for now since I have to wake up early for training."

    "Good night, then," Cami said.

    "Good night."

    **** ****

 Chapter 287 - Unexpected Breakthrough I

    Zachary woke up a bitte the following day, feeling refreshed. He took a peek at his bedside clock and noticed that it was already 8:30 AM. Without dilly-dallying, he jumped out of bed and washed up before having a sumptuous breakfast with Cami.

    Thirty minutester, he dropped Cami off at M?ller Bil Trondheim, her workce, and then continued to Lerkendal to attend Rosenborg''s official training that day. He navigated the early morning traffic at a leisurely pace while listening to the newest catchy tunes on his car stereo. He arrived at the gates of Lerkendal a little more than thirty minutester when thete autumn sun had long risen above the horizon in the east.

    He wasn''t worried, though, since he was sure that the official training that day would start at 10:00 AM. He still had some time to kill before the coaches arrived on the training grounds.

    Zachary slowly pulled his R8 GT into one of the parking spots allocated to Rosenborg yers before heading towards the training ground.

    Wherever he passed, the Rosenborg employees working in the stadium greeted him enthusiastically and, of course, congratted him on winning yet another trophy. Some went as far as asking him to sign autographs for them as he made his way across the green towards the locker room.

    Zachary could obviously see that the employees held him in high esteem. So, he returned their greetings politely and even signed plenty of autographs before continuing on his way with a slight swagger in his step. On the inside, he was swelling with pride since he''d finally managed to get recognition from both Rosenborg''s fans and employees.

    It had only been less than a year since he began ying professionally for the Troll Kids. However, he''d already helped the Norwegian giants win the domestic double by bing a top scorer and MVP for Norway''s two most prestigious tournaments. So, he could hardly contain the sense of contentment swelling within him.

    A few minutester, Zachary couldn''t help but smile when he got to the Lerkendal training grounds. His mood lifted when he noticed that the atmosphere around the whole Rosenborg team was exceptionally energetic.

    It seemed that winning the Norwegian Football Cup had boosted his teammates'' morale and obviously pushed them to work even harder in preparation for the two remaining Europa League group matches.

    Zachary could see that all the yers on the training grounds were in high spirits that morning. Most were spread across the field in groups, going through various fitness drills. They were all focused, performing routines without cutting corners, even though the coaches hadn''t arrived to supervise them yet. For that reason, the atmosphere on the field was so intense to the point that Zachary felt guilty just standing there on the sidelines watching his teammates train.

    "Zach!!"

    Zachary''s ears picked someone calling out his name at that moment. He turned around and noticed that Mikael Dorsin, Rosenborg''s assistant captain, was waving at him from somewhere in the middle of the pitch. With him were four other yers, namely: Tore Reginiussen, John Chibuike, Ole Seln?s, and Eric Bailly, all going through a simple stretching routine. "Don''t just stand there on the sidelines, gawking," the assistant captain hollered out again after a moment. "Come here and join our drill."

    "Okay, just give me a minute," Zachary yelled back, grinning. Without further ado, he fixed his shin guards into his stockings, tied his shoces, and sprinted towards Mikael''s group like a whirlwind.

    "Good morning, Zachary," Mikael was the first to greet him while stretching out a hand for a handshake. "How was your day off yesterday?"

    "Good morning to you, too, Mikael," Zachary replied, taking the hand. "My day off was fine and pretty rxing."

    "For once, you''re among thest to arrive on the training ground," Mikael said as Zachary took turns greeting the other yers in the group. "It''s quite a rare urrence."

    Zachary just chuckled without giving a reply. "Shouldn''t we be getting back to training?" He said after a moment.

    "Okay, then," Mikael said, nodding. "It must already be 9:30 AM. We only have about thirty minutes before the coaches arrive. So, guys, what do you suggest? Should we continue with the stretching? Or should we dive into agilities right away?"

    "Zachary," Tore Reginiussen, the Rosenborg captain, chimed in. "Have you warmed up already?"

    "Not yet," Zachary replied straight away. "I went through a yoga routine before leaving home. But my muscles must have already cooled down since more than thirty minutes have already psed."

    "Then, let''s continue with the stretching routine for five more minutes," the captain said, ncing at the rest. "That way, we''ll let Zachary warm-up before diving into agility and body coordination drills."

    "That''s perfect."

    The rest of the yers concurred and immediately started going through a simple stretching routine. They began with neck stretches and then transitioned to upper body warm-up exercises before ending the regimen with lower body stretches. After taking a minute''s break, they dived into agilities and body coordination drills right there in the middle of the field.

    They soon became so engrossed, stepping quickly through agilitydders and cones, with a hundred percent concentration for the next few minutes. In no time, their shirts were already drenched in sweat due to the intensity of the exercise.

    Zachary, on his part, felt that the exercises were much easier than before. His motions through the agilitydders were smooth and immacte as if they were second nature to him. He breathtakingly went through all the body coordination exercises, including theteral plyometric jumps, the forward-running high-knee drills, and the shuttle runs without breaking a sweat.

    His training efficiency was out of this world since there were no wasted movements as he performed the drills. He was still full of energy when the coaches arrived on the training ground at around 10:00 AM.. On the other hand, most of his colleagues, except Eric Bailly, were slightly out of breath by then.

 Chapter 288 - Unexpected Breakthrough II

    "Your stamina is really monstrous," Mikael Dorsinmented, looking at Zachary as if he was a beast in human skin after the exercise. "How''s it that you still haven''t broken a sweat even after going through all those intensive drills? You really do make the rest of us ashamed."

    "Well," Zachary said after chugging down some water. "I joined your group a bitte. That might be why I''m not yet out of stamina even after going through all those agility and body coordination drills."

    "Come on, man," Tore, the captain, chimed in, creasing his brows. "Are you implying that all of us are in this worn-out state because of that one stretching routine we went through before you arrived?"

    Zachary chuckled, choosing not to respond. However, on the inside, he was also confused. Usually, he would be nearly out of stamina after going through such an intensive thirty-minute training regimen of agility and body coordination drills.

    However, it was different that morning. During the exercise, Zachary had felt like all the drills were second nature since he could control his body perfectly. As a result, he''d avoided unnecessary movements during the exercise and managed to utilize his stamina reserves efficiently, without any wastage.

    "Could it be that my stamina and my endurance attributes have made another breakthrough? Or could it be my body control this time around?"

    Various thoughts shed through Zachary''s mind as he continued going through a warming-down stretching routine to loosen his muscles after the exercising session. He was a bit tempted to open the system interface immediately and check whether his attributes had experienced any changes.

    However, a whistle rung across the entire training ground a momentter, forcing him to put a halt to his actions. He looked around and noticed that the technical staff had finished setting up the necessary equipment, including lom poles, training dummies, cones, and Astro passing hoops, around the training ground. The official Rosenborg training session for that day was about tomence.

    "Guys," Mikael said, ncing around. "It''s time for the official training. Let''s head to the center circle before Coach Johansen starts throwing a tantrum."

    The others, including Zachary,ughed while beginning to march towards the center circle, where Coach Johansen and his assistants were waiting. They moved with haste and soon joined the ranks of the other Rosenborg yers who were already starting to form a semi-circle before the group of coaches.

    -----

    "Good morning, everyone," Coach Johansen said as soon as all the Rosenborg yers had organized themselves in the center circle. His face was all smiles, and he looked particrly spirited that day.

    "Good morning, coach," the yers replied enthusiastically in chorus. The yers were also full of energy and seemed quite motivated that morning.

    "Let me first take this opportunity to congratte all of you upon bing the Norwegian championsst weekend," the coach said in an animated voice, ncing around. "You have all been working hard ever since the start of this year, toiling day in, day out, and that''s why we have managed to win a domestic double for the first time in years. Your hard work has created a new chapter of sess for Rosenborg, and that should fill us with pride since we''re already the Norwegian Champions on two fronts."

    "However," the coach continued, his tone turning somber. "I would also like to remind you that we still have some more work to do before ending our football season this year."

    "In our secondst Europa League group game, we''ll face Standard Li¨¨ge away in Belgium next Thursday on 28th November. After that, on 12th December, we''ll have to take on IF Elfsborg here at Lerkendal in ourst Europa League group game."

    The coach swept his gaze across the yers arranged before him in a semi-circle. "I guess each one of you by now knows how crucial those two games are for us. We must win those two matches if we hope to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Europa League. We can''t lose or draw against any of our two opponents. That would spell the end of our Europa League campaign. We''re not allowed to falter since we need all six points from the two group games to qualify. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good," the coach said, nodding. "Since we all seem to be on the same page, there''s no need for more words. We''ll now begin today''s training session with the sole aim of making initial preparations for Thursday''s Europa League fixture."

    "We only have about two days remaining to Thursday. So, I expect each and every one of you to give a hundred percent effort in both today''s and tomorrow''s training sessions. If you do that, we''ll increase our chances of winning against Standard Li¨¨ge,e Thursday evening. Are you with me, guys?"

    "Yes, coach," all the yers roared back enthusiastically.

    "Okay, guys, that''s the spirit," Coach Johansen boomed, pping his hands. "In today''s session, we''ll begin with a dynamic warm-up led by Coach Rolf Aas as usual. We''ll then go through some agilities and do some ball work before diving into the tactics for Thursday''s game."

    "One more issue, before I forget," Coach Johansen said, his tone bing somber once again. "The medics have just informed me that Nicki Nielsen is still injured and won''t be with us for the Thursday match. So, we''ll have to y with a 4-4-2 formation against Standard Li¨¨ge topensate for his absence on our striking line. Guys, I expect you to familiarize yourselves with a fast-paced counter-pressing game before Thursday since we''ll have fewer numbers in the midfield than usual. Reserve strikers should also work extra hard to fill Nicki''s shoes on Thursday. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Then, let''s get this training session started right away," Coach Johansen said with a smile.

    -----

    Zachary drove home feeling spent after training in the evening. He had opted to activate the 1.2 g gravity on his body during the entire session. As a result, the training had taken a toll on his body, causing him to feel like he''d just finished racing against Usain Bolt.

    He even felt like letting loose and taking a nap on the floor when he was halfway up the stairs to his apartment on the sixth floor. But with his iron will, he persevered and slowly trekked to his apartment at a snail''s pace.

    "DING"

    The notification sound of the system rang within his mind just as he''d stepped into his apartment. It was like music to his ears, rousing him from his state of exhaustion in a matter of seconds.

    "Congrattions," the system AI''s apathetic voice sounded the next moment before he could react. "The user has managed toplete a hidden system mission by advancing his body-control attribute to the S- grading without the help of any elixirs from the system. As a result, the system has awarded the user 5,000 Juju-points and a one-month dosage of an A-graded physical-conditioning-elixir to stabilize the user''s new S-graded attribute. For further details, the user can check the system interface.. Congrattions, once again."

 Chapter 289 - Learning A New Skill

    <h4>Chapter 289 - Learning A New Skill</h4>

    A serene sensation of quiet contentment spread through Zachary''s entire being as he had finally managed to upgrade another of his core attributes to the legendary S-grading.

    "System," he said, throwing his gym bag beside the door. "Please bring up the hidden missionpletion message right away." He added while moving forward and stepping into his living room.

    "DING"

    "Command received," the AI replied. "The hidden-missionpletion message will being up on the interface right away."

    "Great!"

    Zachary switched on the light in the living room and poured himself a ss of orange juice before settling on one of his sofas. Without further ado, he focused on the translucent crystal-like disy that had just materialized before him.

    ****

    #4 new messages

    ----

    CONGRATULATIONS

    -> The user has managed toplete a hidden system mission by upgrading a core attribute to the S grade without relying on a system elixir. The user''s Bnce and Coordination (Body-Control) fitness stat is now at the S- grading.

    ----

    -> Mission Rewards

    1) 5000 Juju-points

    2) A one-month dosage of an A-grade Physical-Conditioning-Elixir.

    ---

    -> Mission Summary

    *Analysis: You have managed to bypass a great bottleneck by upgrading your Bnce and Coordination attribute to the S- grade through sheer hard work. You have, once again, jumped over the greatest divide that separates the excellent from the ordinary yers. You are well on your way to bing a great among footballers. Congrattions.

    ----

    -> Bonus Rewards

    As a bonus for your hard work, you have earned a monthly dosage of an A-grade physical-conditioning-elixir. It will help you stabilize your body control at the S-grading.

    -----

    -> Remarks

    Advancing the Bnce and Coordination attribute to the S-grading is just the beginning. You still have a long way to match the skills of any yer that has ever made it to the list of yers with the potential to be the G.O.A.T. So, please continue working hard.

    ----

    ****

    Another wave of happiness assaulted Zachary''s entire being after he''d read through the missionpletion message and confirmed that he''d made yet another breakthrough. At longst, he''d managed to push one of the most crucial attributes in football to the S-grading. At that moment, he was on cloud nine since he knew well that upgrading his body control would do wonders for his career.

    Body control mostly entailed the yer''s ability to move their body fluidly to optimize bnce and coordination. Thus, ack of coordination meant weaker skills, poorer passing techniques, slower change of direction, and worse body-on-body performances. On the other hand, a yer could do wonders and learn any deft skills, whether step-overs, headers, or feints, as long as he possessed a high level of body control.

    It was that crucial.

    For instance, Lionel Messi, the Argentine and Barca legend, was a yer with sublime coordination and body control. As a lethal ball wizard, he often took many small steps, creating the best and most optimum positions for himself and the ball while weaving through opponents. At every crucial moment when on the attack, the phenomenal South American would be utilizing his arms to bnce himself ¡ª while his legs and feet moved in precise directions. For that reason, he could effortlessly control the ball, effectively dribble past opponents like a slippery snake in the grass, and even set up fantastic ys from all angles.

    Football was like second nature to the Argentine simply because of his insanely high level of body control.

    "System," Zachary mumbled, leaning back into the sofa after perusing through the contents of the interface. "Please, bring up my fitness data right away."

    "DING"

    "Command received," the AI''s apathetic voice sounded in his mind the next instant. "The user''s fitness data will being up on the interface right away."

    ****

    *USER STATS

    -----

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: S-)

    Body Control (Bnce and Coordination) : S-

    Agility: A+

    Strength: A+

    Stamina: S-

    Endurance Points: 4943/18,000 (S-)

    -----

    ****

    "My overall physical fitness has also finally broken through to the S- grading!"

    Zachary''s eyes glittered as he studied the contents disyed on the near-transparent bluish interface. After histest breakthrough, his overall fitness had progressed from the A+ to the S- grade. His only fitness attributes still stuck at the A+ grade at that moment were agility and strength.

    However, he was hopeful that he could raise those two attributes to the S-grading before the start of the following season, especially after consuming an A-graded vitality-enhancing-elixir. And as long as everything went as nned after that, he would turn into a monster on the pitch, with a brand new style that could dazzle fans and terrify opponents.

    "Time to learn some new skills," Zachary mumbled, rubbing his hands in anticipation. With his body control breaking through to the S-grading, he possessed the qualifications to learn some new G.O.A.T Skills from the system shop. So, he could hardly contain his excitement at that moment.

    "System!" He said. "I would like to purchase some new skills from the shop."

    "DING"

    "Command received," the AI replied. "Data loading, please wait a moment."

    Zachary waited with bated breath as the contents of the interface gradually morphed into the six familiar glittering skill cards depicting various famous footballers handling the ball. Soon, his sight zeroed in on the two skills that he could learn at that moment.

    They were both skills that only had a single learning requirement of an S- grade level of body control, which Zachary could meet at that moment.

    One was the Zinedine Touch Magic, a skill that enabled a yer to master the art of zone control and possess heightened critical ability during crucial moments. With mastery of the Zinedine Touch Magic, a yer would also gain top-level passing skills in all ranges and attain proficiency in exploding with insane dribbling skills. For a midfielder, it was a rare God-sent skill since it could singlehandedly push the skills of any yer to a world-ss level.

    The second was the CR7 Aerial finishing Juju ¡ª a skill tailored for expert positioning and heading uracy within and outside the box. It was an incredible world-ss skill, suitable for strikers as almost nothing could stop a yer with such a skill from scoring if a teasing cross floated into the box.

    Zachary''s eyes glittered as he studied the contents of the interface. He''d, of course, long decided on the skills he wanted to learn, as it had already been a day since thetest system upgrade. So, without deliberating for long, he turned his eyes away from the CR7 Aerial finishing Juju since he wasn''t a center forward but an attacking midfielder. He then quickly tapped the Zinedine Touch Magic skill card that was third in position on all the cards floating on the interface.

    "DING"

    The system notification sound reverberated in his mind as soon as his finger made contact with the crystal-like translucent interface. Within an instant, the five other cards shimmered slightly before disappearing from the interface, leaving only the card depicting the image of Zinedine Zidane handling the ball.

    "The user has chosen to purchase the Zinedine Touch Magic Juju from the system shop," the AI''s voice rang in his mind after a moment. "The system will have to deduct 4,000 Juju-points from the user''s stock after confirmation of the purchase."

    "Does the user still wish to purchase the Zinedine Touch Magic Juju?"

    Zachary had already carefully assessed all his options. He understood that the Zinedine Touch Magic was the most befitting skill for the current stage of his career.

    With a single touch, he could rush past opponents, and with a single pass, he could destroy world-ss defenses. If hebined the skill with the Zinedine-Pirlo-Mental-Juju, he could even do more wonders and be a nightmare for opponents on the pitch. He would almost be like the seconding of Zizou.

    Initially, he''d nned to master the Robinho-step over juju first. However, circumstances changed when his body control abruptly soared to the S- grade. He hadn''t met the requirements to master the step-over technique yet ¡ª but possessed those to master Zinedine''s legendary touch magic technique. So, how could he dilly-dally any longer? He would only consider the step-over juju after his agility had risen to the S-grading.

    "System," he said, tone steadfast. "I would like to confirm the purchase of the Zinedine-Touch-Magic Juju. Please go ahead and confirm the purchase."

    "Command confirmed..." The AI said.

    "Checking skill''s requirements before confirming the purchase..."

    "The user possesses S-grade body control, which meets the basic requirements for learning the skill."

    "DING"

    "Congrattions. The system has now confirmed the skill purchase from the system shop."

    "However," the AI continued. "The Zinedine-Touch-Magic Juju leans a bit too heavily towards utilizing the mental aspects of the game to execute brilliant ys during crucial moments. Thus, the user needs to experience a session of quantum mental conditioning to achieve initial mastery of the skill."

    "Since the system will be transferring a lot of information into the user''s mind, there will be a bit of difort as soon as the quantum conditioning begins. Knowing this, should the system still proceed?"

    "Yes, please proceed with the mental conditioning," Zachary replied, making himselffortable on the sofa to prepare for the quantum conditioning. He''d already gone through the process when he learned the Snipe-it like-Pirlo Juju. So, he wasn''t all that worried about what was about to transpire.

    "Loading required data and packages for the Zinedine Touch Magic Juju," the AI intoned. "The system will start the quantum mental conditioning in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and 0."

    A sharp pain went through Zachary''s consciousness the next moment, catching him almost off-guard. He shuddered almost abruptly, and then his vision went dark.

    Soon, memories, including shards of foreign thoughts, all messy and chaotic, flooded his brain in a wild procession. At one moment, he saw himself handling the ball and performing a series of Marseille turns while skipping past several opponents in a foreign memory shard. At another moment, he saw himself control the ball immactely with a single deft touch to loop it over an opponent before scoring from outside the 18-yard box.

    Scenes of crucial football moments continued marching across his mind''s eye, giving him a beyond-belief perspective of the game that he''d never deemed even possible. The feeling was truly wondrous.

    But soon, an intense wave of dizziness flooded his brain, breaking his immersion into the memory shards. Before he could react, the entire world went ck as he copsed backward on the sofa.

    -----

 Chapter 290 - To LiÃ¨ge, Belgium I

    -----

    Thursday, November 28, 2013.

    -----

    Underneath the veil of a night sky aglow with bright city lights, a bus slowly came to a halt right outside the wide gates of Stade Maurice Dufrasne, the home ground of Standard Li¨¨ge, located in Li¨¨ge, Belgium.

    Zachary and his teammates immediately alighted from the bus, only toe face to face with a group of excited fans waiting in front of the stadium.

    The entrance into the stadium was in a state ofplete chaos, with the fans trying their best to push forward with the intent of getting a peek at the arriving footballers. Those dressed in Rosenborg''s ck and white colors even started screaming out the names of Zachary and his teammates, like a group of kids that''d just chanced upon an ice cream truck. Their excitement was beyond what words could describe at that moment.

    "Howe there are so many Rosenborg fans waiting for us at the gates today, even when we''re ying away in Belgium?" Zachary wondered out loud as he exited the bus and stepped into the chillyte autumn air. "It''s as if we''re ying a home game at Lerkendal! The situation here is quite abnormal!"

    "Do you even need to ask why many of our fans are present today?" Mikael Dorsin, Rosenborg''s assistant''s captain, chimed in from in front of Zachary. "Aren''t you the very same person who urged them toe during yesterday''s pre-match interview? You even promised that we would win the match for sure as long as they came to support us. So, why are you surprised?"

    "Oh!" Zachary eximed, smiling ruefully. He couldn''t help but recall the previous day''s pre-match interview with v Brusveen, the TV2 sports reporter. "Are my words that effective at mobilizing the fans? Maybe, I should apply for a transfer to Rosenborg''s publicity and marketing department." He added in a joking manner while still ncing around at the group of rowdy fans.

    "Maybe, you should try," Mikael replied with a chuckle. "With your fame and standing among the Rosenborg supporters, you would be the perfect recruit for the publicity team."

    "Hehehe!" Eric Bailly chuckled from beside Zachary. "I''m trying to picture our boy, Zach, moving around Norway, marketing and selling my jersey as part of the publicity and marketing team. Wouldn''t that be an incredible sight to behold?"

    The rest of the Rosenborg yersughed at that, causing the whole atmosphere around the team to be more easygoing as they marched into the stadium under the protection of the security personnel. They soon left the rowdy fans far behind and continued conversing among themselves as they marched through the stadium tunnel.

    They were pretty rxed even though they were well aware that they had to win that day''s match. It seemed like winning the Norwegian Cup a few days prior had boosted their confidence by a significant degree. So, they all marched with confidence, unbothered by their surroundings, even though they were in enemy territory.

    "Guys, silence!" Coach Johansen shouted, pping his hands right after Zachary and his teammates had stepped into the dressing room a few minutester. "We only have forty-five minutes to themencement of the game since it''s already 6:15 PM, as I speak now. So, I''ll only give you five minutes as preparation time before we head on to the field for our pre-match warm-up."

    On hearing the coach''s words, the Rosenborg yers immediately quietened down before settling down on the benches around the dressing room. They all knew what was at stake. So, they cast everything else out of their minds and started preparing for the game with a hundred percent focus.

    **** ****

    Concurrently far away in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    The sun was about to sink below the horizon in the west when a Mitsubishi Pajero SUV slowly pulled up into one of the parking spaces at the headquarters of the Congolese Football Federation in Kinshasa. Without any bit of dilly-dallying, Coach Samson Damata, the plump-aged coach that''d helped arrange Zachary''s move to Norway, alighted from the vehicle.

    "Bonsoir, coach," an excited voice sounded from behind him immediately after. "Wee to the headquarters of the Congolese Association Football Federation. It has been long ever since west met, old friend."

    Coach Damata couldn''t help but do a doubletake on hearing the voice. He was surprised for a moment as the voice belonged to Maxans Omari, the president of DRC''s football governing body - FECOFA. But that didn''t stop him from immediately turning around anding face to face with a well-kept middle-aged man dressed in a DRC national team jersey over a pair of jeans.

    "Bonsoir, Monsieur Omari," Coach Damata hurriedly replied also in French while taking the president''s hand for a firm handshake. "Yes, it has been long. But is it a coincidence that you met me here in the parking lot, or could you have been waiting for me?"

    Mr. Maxans Omari smiled, taking a step forward and patting Coach Damata''s shoulder. "I just got a heads up a few minutes ago from Coach Makouana that you would be arriving here shortly to watch Zachary''s match with the other coaches. So, here I am, waiting for you as we have some business to discuss."

    "Oh!" Coach Damata''s heart skipped a beat. "You could have called me if you needed to discuss something important, Mr. President."

    "I was indeed nning on giving you a call before the end of this week," the president said. "But then I got wind that you would be here today. So, here I am."

    "So, what can I do for you, Mr. President?" Coach Damata said. "What would you need from a simple coach like me, who has no inkling about anything going on in the association?"

    "A simple coach, I hear!" Mr. Omari suppressed a chuckle. "Coach Damata, you''re as humorous as ever. Anyways, I need a bit of your help, coach."

    "Oh, I guessed as much," Coach Damata said, taking a peek at his watch. "Can we talk as we walk to the activity room? I don''t want to miss Rosenborg''s Europa League match against Standard Li¨¨ge that is starting in about thirty minutes."

    "Me, too," the president said with a chuckle. "I also don''t wish to miss Zachary''s match today for anything in the world. So, let''s do as you suggest and discuss while heading to the activity room."

    Coach Damata grinned and nodded. "How is everything at the association, by the way?"

    "Same old," the president sighed, shaking his head. "We''re under constant pressure from the public due to the poor football infrastructure in most areas around the country and the corruption at all levels of football, especially among referees. Of recent, there''s also ack of interest in domestic league matches due to the tyranny of European Leagues. All in all, we''re still facing the same old challenges, especially here in Kinshasa. You guys in Lubumbashi and your TP Mazembe are the only ones that are fast-growing out of those few problems."

    "You''re the FECOFA president," Coach Damata remarked with a smile. "Can''t you do anything to tackle those challenges to some degree?"

    The president sighed, shaking his head. "Leadership is not as simple as you think, my old friend. There are a lot of institutional challenges that are impeding me from implementing most of my ns within the association. For instance, I''d put forward a proposal to build a public football academy in Kinshasha a few months back. However, the budgetarymittee outright rejected it even when the money was avable. As an individual, I couldn''t do much to push forward with the proposal after that setback."

    Coach Damata nodded but remained silent since he didn''t want to give his stance on DRC''s football governing association.. Instead, he kept marching forward through the corridors of the FECOFA headquarters while waiting for the president to carry on and state the reason why he''d sought him out.

 Chapter 291 - To LiÃ¨ge, Belgium II

    "I heard that you were once Zachary Bemba''s coach!" The president said abruptly after a few more seconds of silence. "Is that right?"

    "No, I have never gotten the pleasure of coaching Zachary," Coach Damata replied right away, shaking his head. "I was simply the coach who organized his trials when he caught the eyes of the scouts from Norway. However, I have always maintained a cordial rtionship with him, ever since he left for Norway. I also have a close rtionship with his immediate family in Lubumbashi."

    "Oh, that''s very good, then," the association president said, smiling and letting out a breath. "Coach Damata! You know that I''m a man who doesn''t like beating around the bush. So, I''ll get straight to the reason why I sought you out today. I don''t want to waste your time on needless chatter since the match is about tomence."

    "Go ahead, Mr. President," Coach Damata said, nodding. "I''m all ears. I''ll help in whatever way I can." He already had some guesses but decided to wait for the president to make his request.

    "Well," the association president said, pausing momentarily and folding his arms across his chest. I have already watched several of Rosenborg''s matches this season, and I''m really impressed by how rapidly Zachary Bemba is improving with every game he ys for the Norwegian giants. The boy really has what it takes to join the rankings of the best yers on the if he continues developing at such a rate. So, we would like to invite him to join the senior national team, starting next year."

    "However," the association president continued in a somber tone before Coach Damata could reply. "We''re afraid that if we offer him an official call up, without showing any sincerity, he might ignore us and even opt to y for another country. Yet, this time around, we don''t wish to end up losing another talented yer to some other foreign country simply because we didn''t show enough sincerity. Do you get my point, Coach Damata?"

    "Yes, Mr. President," Coach Damata replied, nodding. "But why are you telling me all this?"

    "Well," the association president said, ncing at Coach Damata squarely. "You''re close to Zachary. So, we figured that you''re the only coach in the association with the highest possibility of sessfully inviting him to the national team."

    Coach Damata couldn''t help but crease his brows. "So, you want me to convince Zachary tomit to the DR Congo Leopards right away? Why not give him a direct invitation to the national team like the other yers? The way I know Zachary, he''ll most likely not refuse the invite."

    "As I already said, we want to snuff out any possibility of him refusing our call," the president said with an audible sigh. "You can''t me us for taking such precautions. We''ve already lost a lot of talented yers to other countries simply because we didn''t take the time to have a heart-to-heart with them. This time around, we want to do everything right with Zachary. We really want to do our best to recruit him into the national team, especially before next year''s AFCON qualifiers. And that''s where we need you, Coach Damata. As a close acquaintance to Zachary, you have the best chance to carry out this mission sessfully."

    "Okay," Coach Damata said, nodding. "I''ll inform him about the call-up to the national team during the Christmas break. But you guys really took your time inviting him to the national team. Let''s hope that no other country has already made him an offer, especially with the way he has been ying over the previous few months."

    "As long as he hasn''t yed an official FIFA game for any other country, then we can still bring him back home," the president said with a chuckle. "Just do your best to have a heart-to-heart with him and convince him to y for our national team."

    "I''ll see what I can do," Coach Damata said, nodding. "But, the match is about to start. So, let''s hurry up to the activity room first. We can then continue our discussion there."

    "Okay."

    **** ****

    The Rosenborg yers returned to the dressing room after a short pre-match dynamic warm-up session in the middle of the field. They then quickly donned their match attire in preparation for themencement of the match a few minutester.

    "Guys, can I have your attention for a few minutes before we head into the pitch for the match?" Coach Johansen said as he slowly stepped forward into the center of the dressing room. "Let''s hurry up as we don''t have much time to spare."

    The yers, including Zachary, quickly settled down on the seats around the dressing rooms before fixing their eyes on the coach. At that moment, they were all radiating fierce auras as if they were a group of experienced predators about to pounce on some helpless prey. Anyone could tell that their fighting spirit was slowly inting and almost soaring into the skies as the start of the match drew closer with every passing minute.

    Zachary, on his part, was akin to the true embodiment of the word confidence at that moment. He''d already upgraded his body control attribute to the S-grading and, as a plus, also achieved initial mastery in the Zinedine-Touch-Magic Juju after going through the system''s mental conditioning a few days prior.

    He was an utterly different version of his previous self from a few days ago due to his heightened abilities. So, he was rearing to go on to the pitch and test out his abilities on the opponents. He could hardly contain his excitement and anticipation at that moment.

    "Only fifteen minutes are remaining to the start of the game," Coach Johansen said, sweeping his gaze across the dressing room. "So, I won''t say much as we have been discussing the tactics for a few days already. I believe everyone knows their roles by now in our new 4-4-2 formation. Is that right, guys?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied enthusiastically.

    "I''m d that we''re on the same page." Coach Johansen nodded. "This is a very crucial match, and we can''t afford to slip since a lot is at stake. We can''t afford to falter at this stage. We''ve got to do everything in our power to win and grab the three points from our opponents today so that we can keep our Europa League dream alive. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Standard Li¨¨ge has already obtained six points and is now second in our group," Coach Johansen continued in a somber tone after a moment. "They only require a draw against us today, and then they will qualify for the next stage while we''ll be eliminated. Thus, if we wish to qualify for the knock-out stages, we have to ruthlessly crush Standard Li¨¨ge and knock them out of the tournament. That''s our only way forward. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    Coach Johansen nodded and made a few more remarks to motivate the yers before sending them to the pitch for the secondst fixture of the 2013/14 Europa League group stages. He''d already instilled the tactics for the game into the yers'' minds. So, the rest was up to his field yers.

    **** ****

 Chapter 292 - Jaw-Dropping Performance I

    Zachary could feel his blood pumping fast with excitement as he stood over the ball in the center circle, waiting for the kick-off whistle. He''d deactivated the system''s miniaturized gravitational field a few hours before he''d set off from Trondheim. So, his body had already recovered to its optimum state. At that moment, he felt as if he was a bird about to soar into the skies.

    His ears could still pick up the frenzied cheers of the Standard Li¨¨ge fans that were so loud to the point of causing slight tremors across the stadium. However, he remained unperturbed since he''d already grown into a very calm and collected footballer after spending a whole year as part of Rosenborg''s starting line-up.

    Even if the fans went crazy and set up a fire in the stands, he wouldn''t care in the slightest. As long as the ying field remained unaffected, he could continue performing at his best on the pitch and ignore the chaos around the stadium.

    His entire focus at that moment was on the ball, the referee, and the opponents. Nothing else could distract him and break his concentration in those few minutes before kick-off. He was that steady as a professional yer.

    A few secondster, Zachary started scrutinizing the setup of the Standard Li¨¨ge yers on the other side of the pitch. He could instantly tell that they''d arrayed themselves in a 4-4-2 double-6 starting formation. They appeared to be quite fierce and ready to tear Rosenborg apart as they stood there waiting for the kick-off.

    However, Zachary was still not intimidated by their fierce stances. His overall football skills were at a level much higher than his previous week''s self. So, he was sure that he could handle most of the defenses in most of Europe''s low-tier leagues as long as his teammates didn''t hold him back.

    He was that confident.

    **** ****

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally blew the whistle at exactly 7:00 PM and signaled for the kick-off.

    As usual, Coach Johansen immediately shut out everything else and started following the proceedings on the pitch with a hundred percent concentration. He was a bit uneasy while watching the opening minutes since he''d employed a more dynamic 4-4-2 instead of the usual 4-2-3-1 formation for that game.

    The strategy was a calcted risk as he''d wanted to fill up the gap left by Nicki Nielsen, his injured creative center forward. Particrly, he''d opted to y with two center forwards up front instead of the usual single point-man. As a result, his team for that matchprised four defenders, four midfielders (two central midfielders plus two wingers), and two central forwards.

    On paper, it was a great team for sure. However, the coach was still worried since he''d taken a serious risk by taking Zachary out of the midfield in the new setup. So, Coach Johansen was waiting to see whether the young man could adapt to the new position as a second striker in the new 4-4-2 formation. Otherwise, Rosenborg would face plenty of problems and fail to sustain any bit of pressure on the much-more dynamic Standard Li¨¨ge side.

    -----

    The defenses of both sides continued doing their best on multiple asions to stop their opponents from scoring. As a result, the score remained 0:0 with only a few half chances shared between the two sides as the game progressed into the fifteenth minute.

    However, Coach Johansen was still not at ease despite the deadlock on the pitch. He was not in the best of moods since Standard Li¨¨ge was slightly better overall than his team when on the attack during the first few minutes.

    The Belgian giants were always dangerous while moving forward, with crosses continuously flying into the box like ballistic missiles from different angles. Their two strikers were even fiercer and almost scored with headers during the 10th and 12th minutes. Fortunately, the Rosenborg keeper was alert and managed to save the situation on both asions.

    All in all, Rosenborg''s situation on the pitch was not looking optimistic since the yers, especially the midfielders, had failed to grow into the game. They couldn''t even hold on to possession for long, thus bringing about a situation whereby Rosenborg remained on the back foot from the very first minute.

    "Don''t you think that we should switch back to the 4-2-3-1 formation?" Trond Henriksen, his assistant, inquired from beside him after a few minutes. "If we pull Zachary back from striking and add him as a third man in the midfield, we''ll be able to suppress the Standard Li¨¨ge midfielders. We can then slowly build from there and start sustaining more pressure on the opponents."

    Coach Johansen sighed, shaking his head after hearing his assistant''s advice. He understood that midfielders were akin to the gears that kept the defensive and offensive lines connected and moving smoothly on the field. In most cases, a team had to control the midfield perfectly to win the game.

    However, if a teamcked creative forwards, they would still fail to score and even lose even if they possessed a strong midfield. So, coach Johansen had prioritized strengthening the striking line instead of the midfield for that game. He wanted to get a goal first before thinking about anything else.

    "Trond," he said, his eyes still following the proceedings on the field. "I do get your point. If we y with a 4-2-3-1 formation, we can achieve stability in the middle and at the back."

    "However, you must not forget that our first and foremost priority in this game is to score. To qualify, we have to win. So, that''s the reason I''ve changed our formation to a 4-4-2 and pushed Zachary forward. I want us to get more opportunities upfront to score instead of focusing on defending."

    "Moreover," the coach continued. "Coaches from other countries are now aware of the danger posed by Zachary in midfield. So, if we y him in the middle, as usual, the opponent will target him for sure. So, why not push him forward and catch the opponent unawares? Do you get my reasoning, Trond?"

    "Yes, coach," the assistant said, nodding.

    "You don''t have to worry too much," Coach Johansen said in a mild tone while keeping his eyes fixed on the field of y. "We''re still far from the worst-case scenario since the score is still 0:0. So, let''s wait and see how the game progresses until half-time before we start thinking about making any changes."

    "Okay."

    **** ****

    On the pitch, Zachary stepped away from his opponent like the wind when he saw Thomas Partey, one of Rosenborg''s two midfielders, control the ball in midfield. His steps were light on the green, and his running posture textbook perfect as he raced into space while anticipating the pass from his teammate.

    "Thomas!" He yelled as he continued running into space while asionally ncing around to take in the positioning of his opponents. He felt good as the breakthrough of his body control attribute to the S- grading had significantly improved his bnce and coordination. He could change directions more fluidly, even at his peak velocity, and brake almost instantaneously.

    "Thomas, the ball!" He yelled again. Then, without losing a moment, he altered his running course abruptly, once again, and started heading towards the right nk. With that virtually instantaneous change, he''d managed to lose an opponent that was tracking his run and was soon unmarked and ready to receive the ball.

    His off-ball running was simply that lethal to the point that no opponent could easily keep up with him. Moreover, he''d already unconsciously entered a supersensitive state, and everything around him seemed to have slowed down. At that moment, his spatial awareness, boosted by his Zinedine-Pirlo Mental Juju, was extraordinarily out of this world. So, he could assess and react to the situations around him in the shortest time humanly possible. He felt almost invincible.

    -----

    Zachary had linked up with Thomas Partey both in training and during matches on multiple asions. For that reason, the young defensive midfielder spotted Zachary''s run towards the right-wing in a matter of seconds. And without losing a second, he sent forth a lofted pass into space in front of Zachary, causing the traveling Rosenborg fans in the stands to explode into a wave of cheers.

    -----

    "Zachary! *p*p* Zachary..."

    Zachary could literally feel the cheers hitting a thunderous crescendo when he jumped up and controlled the ball from Thomas with his chest close to the touchline on the right nk. Needless to say, there were some boos from the opposing fans mixed in with the apuse. However, Zachary didn''t care in the slightest since his whole attention was on the opponents approaching him at that moment. So, he chested the ball down to the green and immediately turned around to face Standard Li¨¨ge''s goal.

    He was in aplete state of calm at that moment.

    Ibrahima Ciss¨¦, one of Standard Li¨¨ge''s central midfielders, soon came forward to close him down. He was radiating a fierce aura and approaching like a raging bull as if he wanted to beat up someone.

    But Zachary was not intimidated. He calmly stepped forward slightly with the ball at his feet while tilting his center of gravity to the right. At that instant, his body was in a state simr to a constricted spring, seemingly as if he was about to set off immediately and explode forward along the touchline on the right nk.

    And as expected, the fast-approaching Ibrahima Ciss¨¦ reacted immediately by mirroring Zachary''s movements in theteral ne. The defender stepped forward like the wind before swooping in with an outstretched boot to tackle the ball off Zachary''s feet. His reaction was super-fast, and his movements were well-timed. But it was a pity that there was a miscalction in his approach.

    Whoosh!!

    Zachary changed directions almost instantaneously. Before the approaching defender could adapt, he shifted his weight from his right to left and then exploded forth with rocket-like speed. He was soon racing away from the helpless defender, his strides eating up yards of space like there was no tomorrow.

    His heart was racing with excitement as he continued sprinting with the ball. He was finally experiencing the benefits of having a high-level body control attribute. He could effectively leave a defender in the dust with just a simple shift in his center of gravity and an almost instantaneous eleration. The feeling was truly wondrous.

    "Zachary! *p*p* Zachary..."

    The cheers of the traveling Rosenborg fans rose to another level as Zachary continued bearing down on Standard Li¨¨ge''s goal like a raging Tsunami. But all that didn''t affect him in the slightest. He was in the zone and didn''t stop running for anything in the world. At one point, he even somehow shrugged off two simultaneous challenges from a pair of Standard Li¨¨ge''s defenders with a simple weave and turn ¡ª and then still emerged with the ball.

    His burst speed caught all the opponents unawares as they looked both confused and mesmerized. He was simply as slippery as a snake in the jungle as he raced through the ranks of the defenders. And unbelievably, seconds after leaving the touchline on the right nk, he found himself bearing down on goal. When the angle opened up, he smashed the ball past the helpless keeper into the top of the and then continued racing to the corner g like mad.

    At that moment, he could hardly contain his excitement.

    He''d managed to score Rosenborg''s first goal in the 25th minute, and the score was then 1:0. So, he slid on his knees for a good few yards as he approached the corner g before jumping up to celebrate his goal by repeatedly punching the air.

    **** ****

 Chapter 293 - Jaw-Dropping Performance II

    The eyes of v Brusveen, the TV2 Sporten reporter, were wide open and glittering as he continued following the proceedings on the field of y. He''d once heard that there were asional days when peak athletes would enter into the zone and put up incredible jaw-dropping performances. And it seemed like Zachary Bemba, Rosenborg''s young number-33, was in a simr state during the match against Standard Li¨¨ge that Thursday evening. The boy prodigy was simply like a miracle worker on the pitch.

    Firstly, he''d made that incredible mazy run from the right nk before dribbling past the entire opposing defense and scoring Rosenborg''s first goal in the 25th minute. Then, he''d once againted a second from a set-piece with his perfect signature curveball from right outside the box five minutester.

    At that juncture, he''d already wowed even the opposing fans with his two goals. With his individual brilliance, he''d be the only difference between the two teams and single-handedly sent Rosenborg into an almost unassable position before halftime. Moreover, he''d achieved all those incredible feats when his team was still at a disadvantage in terms of ball possession and shots on target.

    v Brusveen had at that time thought that the Standard Li¨¨ge coach would do his utmost to contain the monstrous Zachary during the second half. He''d expected the Standard Li¨¨ge tactics to totally suppress the boy prodigy and prevent him from scoring a hat-trick for Rosenborg during a crucial Europa League match. However, it was an oversight on v''s part to judge the boy prodigy ording to typical footballing standards.

    Ten minutes into the second half, Zachary Bemba had managed to connect with a through-pass from Mike Jensen, the Rosenborg midfielder, in the final third. The young footballer had then turned and weaved through the defense like a true blue ball wizard before unleashing a missile from right outside the 18-yard box.

    At that moment, v had watched with bated breath. He hadn''t blinked even once as he followed the ball''s trajectory as it soared over the defense before grazing off the post and homing into the back of the.

    With that brilliant effort, the boy prodigy had once again bagged yet another hat-trick of his career. Moreover, it was the second hat-trick in a span of a week as it had only been four days since he''dted one in the Norwegian Cup finals. The feat was really unprecedented.

    v Brusveen was still in a state of utter wonderment even when five minutes had already psed since Zachary scored Rosenborg''s third goal. His brain was already heating up as he tried to formte a few headlines in his head for the articles he would publish on his blog the following day.

    "Maybe," he thought, "I should headline the article as - The Humble Beginnings of the Man who might be the GOAT. That should describe Zachary''s present state perfectly."

    v understood that it was an incredible feat for even great yers to bag hat-tricks every once in a while. Any footballer who could score two or three hat-tricks in a season could be regarded as an extraordinary talent. However, Zachary, an 18-year-old young man ying in Norway, had gone ahead andted back-to-back hat-tricks in just over a span of days. He was simply a monster as far as v was concerned.

    "We''re heading into the 61st minute," thementator yelled in a deep booming voice at that moment. "Rosenborg is still leading by three goals to nil in this very crucial Group C fixture that could decide who qualifies for this season''s Europa League knock-out stage."

    "As I speak now," thementator continued. "Red Bull Salzburg is at the top of the group with 12 points, while Rosenborg is now second with 6 points. On the other hand, Standard Li¨¨ge, also with six points, has now dropped to the third position due to their inferior goal difference. Andstly, Elfsborg has just dropped to the bottom of the table after having already conceded two goals against Red Bull Salzburg in this evening''s other Group C fixture."

    "But even what is more interesting is that Zachary Bemba, Rosenborg''s 18-year old ymaker, has scored all the three goals for his team during today''s match. He has now taken his Europa League tally to five goals, thus joining the ranks of the tournament''s top scorers for this season. He''s simply an incredible young man."

    v Brusveen nodded to himself after taking in the words of thementator. Zachary had missed most of Rosenborg''s Europa League matches due to injury. Be that as it may, he still managed to join the ranks of the Europa League top scorers with his five goals in two matches after his recovery. He''d scored two against Red Bull Salzburg, and he''d, against all odds, just added three against Standard Li¨¨ge in that day''s match. Thus, calling him an incredible young man was simply an understatement as far as v was concerned.

    -----

    The match slowly progressed into thete stages of the second half. The Standard Li¨¨ge yers yed with conviction and mounted a series of relentless attacks as the game headed into the 85th minute. They were using a perfect blend of short passes, wing y, and crosses into the box to pressure Rosenborg into submission. Anyone could tell that they were trying their best to score since there was a visible sense of urgency in their style of y.

    However, the Rosenborg yers still held on and managed to deny the Belgian giants any chance to score even a single goal.

    The Rosenborg defenders for that match, especially Eric Bailly and Yerry Mina, were particrly very impressive. They managed to put up incredible performances by making plenty of timely tackles and interceptions in the defensive third. For that reason, Standard Li¨¨ge only had six shots on target even thatte in the game.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and pointed to the corner g a few secondster. Michy Batshuayi, one of Standard Li¨¨ge''s center forwards, had just jumped up to meet yet another cross from the wing before nting a header towards the goal. However, Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s keeper, had been alert and managed to make an incredible diving save to push the ball out of y. As a result, the referee had just awarded Standard Li¨¨ge a corner kick in the 87th minute of gamey.

    At that moment, Zachary had already positioned himself right on the centerline as he waited for the opponents to take the corner kick. He was a striker during that match, and his only job was to score when he got an opportunity. So, he didn''t need to defend the corner kick.

    With Zachary on the centerline were two dutiful bodyguards that''d been shadowing his every move ever since he''d scored Rosenborg''s third goal. They had been marking him tightly and hadn''t allowed him even an inch of space since then. They were too annoying to the point that they would asionally pull at his shirt or even step on his calf when the referee wasn''t looking. As a result, Zachary hadn''t made much of an impact during thete stages of the second half. He was very frustrated due to their continued harassment.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle again right after he''d settled the chaos in Rosenborg''s box. Paul-Jos¨¦ Mpoku, Standard Li¨¨ge''s left-winger, immediately sent a teasing cross towards the area from the corner spot.

    At that moment, Zachary couldn''t help but hold his breath as he watched the ball descend into the crowded box. He reflexively clenched his fists when he noticed Ronnie Stam, Standard Li¨¨ge''s left-back, jump high to meet the iing corner ball.

    Without losing hisposure, the Standard Li¨¨ge man battled Yerry Mina, Rosenborg''s center-back, for aerial superiority before nting a header towards the goal from around the penalty spot.

    It was a tense moment for Rosenborg as the ball headed straight towards the top right corner like a bullet right out of a sniper muzzle. Nevertheless, Zachary forced himself to remain calm as he continued watching the ball''s trajectory without blinking. And soon, his hardened features morphed into a smile as he noticed the ball swerving and dipping slightly before bouncing off the right post and rebounding back into the pitch.

    TENSION!! PRESSURE!!

    The Rosenborg box soon descended into a state of chaos as the yers of both teams scrambled after the ball. For a few seconds, there was a whole lot of pushing and pulling in the area that pressed a great deal of pressure on Rosenborg''s defense.

    However, the referee still didn''t blow the whistle, even with all the mayhem in the box. He just left the yers to their own devices and kept on watching from the side.

    Fortunately, Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s keeper, came to the rescue after a few seconds of the scuffle. In some magical way, he outmaneuvered the opponents before stepping forward and smashing the ball out of the box with a heavy punch.

    "Hurry! Run back and defend!!"

    Zachary could hear someone, probably the Standard Li¨¨ge coach, shouting from the sidelines as the ball flew mid-air, darting towards the centerline on the left nk. However, that didn''t stop him from reacting instantaneously and rushing towards the ball.

    Zachary went from zero to peak velocity in just over a second and soon left his two bodyguards in the dust. Before anyone else could react, he controlled the ball on the left nk with an outstretched boot before turning around to face Standard Li¨¨ge''s goal.

    He was ready to run with the ball and initiate another counterattack against Standard Li¨¨ge at that moment. But he couldn''t help but stop in his tracks the next instant, right after taking a peek at the other side of the pitch.

    He''d just noticed that the keeper was way off his line, probably by half dozen or so yards from his goal. So, he decided to change his course of action immediately to make the best of the situation.

    "Here goes nothing."

    Without losing a moment, he flicked the ball forward with the tip of his boot while taking another nce at the other side of the pitch. And just before his two bodyguards could close him down, he stepped forward and smashed the ball towards Standard Li¨¨ge''s goal from around sixty-something yards.

    He could feel his heart racing with both anxiety and anticipation as he raised his head and followed the ball''s trajectory over the green. He just wasn''t sure whether the ball would make it into the back of the, especially since the keeper was already sprinting back towards his line.

    However, the goddess of luck seemed to be with Rosenborg that evening. Right at thest moment, the keeper tripped andnded backward on his backside before he could make it back to his line. And without any surprise, the ball bounced once right behind him before ricocheting into the back of the.

    **** ****

 Chapter 294 - Match Ending And Interview

    "WTF!"

    Guy Luzon, the head coach of Standard Li¨¨ge, could only ce his hands at the back of his head after watching Zachary score once again from around sixty-four yards away from the goal.

    "How could a yer change so much within a short period of a few weeks?" Coach Guy Luzon could not help but wonder as he watched the Rosenborg yers celebrating in front of the corner g.

    He''d always been a very meticulous coach. So, he''d researched Rosenborg quite thoroughly before the game that day and knew their strengths and weaknesses like the back of his hand. However, he''d still been caught off guard by Zachary Bemba''s improvement as it was simply abnormal as far as he was concerned.

    In just a few weeks, Zachary had managed to progress by leaps and bounds and turned into a phenomenal world-ss talent. He could still fumble with the ball on a few asions during previous matches. However, for that day''s game against Standard Li¨¨ge, his physical and tactical ability upfront was simply exceptional. As long as you allowed him an inch of space on the field, the boy prodigy would punish you.

    Moreover, he was even more dangerous after switching to the striking position. His control, eleration, and vision in the final third were extraordinarily out of this world to the point of terrorizing opposing defenses. He could drop from the penalty box to pick up the ball in midfield, switch to the nks, and attract and disorientate the central defenders with his well-timed runs. Watching him was simply like watching a character out of a video game.

    Coach Guy Luzon would have genuinely wanted to sign such a yer as long as he was avable during the uing transfer window. But he could only put a halt to his wishful thinking as he knew that the boy had already caught the eye of some of the top vultures in Europe, especially after that day''s match.

    **** ****

    The referee finally blew the whistle and brought an end to Standard Li¨¨ge''s misery after five minutes of added time. Rosenborg had managed to defeat the Belgian giants with a score of 4:0. As a result, they had taken their tally to six points and ascended to the second position in Group C.

    As long as they could defeat their next opponents, IF Elfsborg, they would have the highest chance of qualifying for the round of thirty-two. That was why the Rosenborg yers were extremely excited as they marched out of the Stade Maurice Dufrasne after hearing the final whistle.

    Zachary, on his part, felt as if he was walking on clouds as he separated from his teammates and headed towards the referees to receive the match ball. He''d scored four goals during that match and thus helped his team take another crucial step towards qualifying for the next stage of the Europa League. So, he could hardly contain his happiness at that moment.

    "Congrattions, young man," the referee said, shaking his hand as he held out the ball to Zachary with his other hand. "The match ball is rightfully yours since you managed to score a hat-trick plus one during today''s game."

    "Thanks, ref," Zachary replied in a polite tone as he received the ball from the referee. "And thanks again for doing a good job while refereeing today''s game."

    "You''re wee, young man," the referee said with a hearty chuckle. "You were also incredible today. Please keep on training hard so that we can witness more of your brilliance on the European stage. As long as you do that, the sky is the limit." The referee encouraged, patting Zachary''s back.

    "Thanks for your guidance, ref," Zachary said with a smile. "I''ll take your advice to heart."

    Zachary then exchanged a few extra polite words with the referee and his assistants before heading towards the press area for the post-match interview. He grinned from ear to ear when he found his old friend v Brusveen, the TV2 Sporten reporter, waiting for him there. The reporter had even traveled all the way to Li¨¨ge to follow up on Rosenborg''s performance. Zachary, of course, had a good feeling towards the passionate man of the press.

    "Good evening, Zachary," v said with his signature professional smile as soon as he''d stepped before the cameras. "Thanks for hanging around to talk to us. First of all, congrattions! It''s your first hat-trick on the European stage, Zachary. How does that feel?"

    "I feel terrific, especially since I''ve just helped my team take another step forward in the Europa League," Zachary replied. "Scoring four goals during today''s match is, of course, the icing on the cake."

    v chuckled. "Zach! I have always regarded you as a pure attacking midfielder. However, today you managed to y strikingly so well upfront during a highlypetitive Europa League match. You even made history and scored four goals to help your team crush Standard Li¨¨ge. So, I need to ask. What''s your favorite position? Do you prefer ying midfield or striking?"

    "Well," Zachary said, caressing his chin. "I truly enjoy the feeling of ying as the control tower in midfield. That''s because I can run at the defense, execute tackles, and even unleash deadly passes behind the backline, thus having a greater impact on the game."

    "Oh!" v said, creasing his brows. "That''s good to know, Zach. Please tell us what your next step is after winning today''s game?"

    "Of course, I''ll continue training and trying my best to refine my skills so that I can put up much more dazzling performances in the uing games. Moreover, we''ll face off against IF Elfsborg in ourst group game scheduled for December 12th. That''s just about two weeks from now. So, I can''t rx in the slightest. I have to continue working hard so that I can put up a good performance during that game."

    "So, can we expect another hat-trick from you during the match against Elfsborg?" v queried, creasing his brows.

    "Do you think that scoring a hat-trick is as simple as eating?" Zachary replied with a chuckle. "Anyways, I can''t promise that I''ll score. But what you can expect is another good performance from Rosenborg. The whole team is brimming with boundless confidence at the moment. So, I''m hopeful that we''ll be able to crush Elfsborge December 12th. So, if you''re a Rosenborg fan, you need toe and support us at Lerkendal on that day."

    "Thanks again, Zachary, for staying back and talking to us," v said in a conclusive tone. "We wish you all the best as you prepare for the game against Elfsborg. Let''s hope we''ll see anothermanding performance from Rosenborg on that day. Have a good night."

    "Thank you too, v," Zachary said. "And good night to you too." He added before stepping away from the press area and heading towards the tunnel entrance. He was eager to join the rest of his teammates in the dressing room and continue the match victory celebrations. However, just as he was about to step into the tunnel, two Standard Li¨¨ge yers approached him.

    "That was some incredible stuff from you, Zachary," Paul-Jos¨¦ Mpoku, Standard Li¨¨ge''s attacking midfielder, said with a smile. He was pretty much friendly as he approached, probably because he was also from DR Congo like Zachary.

    "You really disciplined us during the game," Michy Batshuayi, the other yer who was also from Congo, chimed in. "Four goals in a single match! You''re simply a monster."

    Zacharyughed at that as he bumped fists with the two yers. "It''s great to see you here," he said. "How''re you guys doing?"

    "We''re doing fine," Paul -Jos¨¦ Mpoku was quick to reply. "Our bosses at Standard Li¨¨ge treat us quite well. Maybe, you should transfer and join us here in Li¨¨ge. I''m sure that we would aplish a lot of things."

    "No, thank you," Zachary replied, shaking his head. "I''ll only join one of the big leagues in Europe after leaving Rosenborg. Or maybe, you guys could join me at Rosenborg. We could be good partners there and achieve greater things together."

    "You''re really humorous, Zachary," Michy Batshuayi said, shaking his head. "Jokes aside, we wanted to ask you whether you''ll be representing DR Congo in the near future? Do you n to y for our home nation, or will you join another country at ater stage?"

    Zachary couldn''t help but crease his brows on hearing the question. "I haven''t decided on whether to represent our home country as of yet. But I should be able to make a decision concerning the issue within the next six months."

    "Is that so!?" Mitchy said, nodding. "If you do happen to make a decision soon, please inform us. I will immediatelymit myself to the DR Congo national team if you happen to decide to represent the country."

    "Oh!" Zachary''s heart skipped a beat as his eyes widened in surprise. "Why would you make such a big decision based on my choice? Why can''t you follow your heart?"

    Mitchy smiled while shaking his head. "Most of us Congolese refuse to represent our country because there''s simply no foreseeable hope for our national football team to achieve any des internationally. But, if a yer as talented as yourself were to join the national team, then that hope could be rekindled. As a result, your presence on the team would even sway many football stars with Congolese heritage worldwide and even attract them back to their roots. Then, there would be hope for us to build an exceptional squad that could evenpete against the best teams in Africa and the world atrge. Do you get my reasoning, Zachary?"

    "Yes, I do," Zachary replied, nodding. "But I still won''t make my decision regarding the issue as of yet. Please understand that this is a matter that I need to consider carefully. But if I happen to decide soon, I''ll notify you immediately."

    "That''s good, then," Mitchy said. "We''ll be looking forward to your decision. Thank you for your time, and have a good night."

    "Goodnight to you, too!" Zachary replied.

    **** ****

 Chapter 295 - Birthday And New Prospects

    -----

    Tuesday, December 3, 2013.

    -----

    Zachary woke up early as usual and headed out for his early morning run. The weather was cold enough to make his atoms shiver, yet he ran at a constant rhythm as his measured strides ate up yards of the frozen sidewalk.

    It had been five days since Rosenborg had crashed Standard Liege in the Europa League group game. However, all the sports headlines in Norway were still about him since he''d managed to score four goals in that game. His phenomenal performance during that match had even pushed him to the top of trending topics on most of the social media tforms in Norway.

    Moreover, an article by v Brusveen, a famous TV2 Sporten sports journalist in Norway, had even described him as one of the young talents with the potential to be the G.O.A.T in the future. As a result, his fame, both in Norway and entire Europe, had exploded due to the added media attention.

    On top of that, more teams in Europe continued approaching Emily, his agent, to inquire about his avability during the uing transfer window. Some clubs like Tottenham and Red Bull Leipzig had even hinted about triggering his release use as long as he nodded to their offers. They were clearly willing to offer him over-the-top lucrative personal terms if he could transfer out of Rosenborg during the January transfer window.

    Be that as it may, Zachary still stuck to his n of staying in Rosenborg until the following year. He remained silent about his future and left all the negotiations and dealings with the interested clubs to Emily, his agent.

    As a yer living his second life, he understood his priorities. Thus, he''d only focused on training and ignored all the other happenings around him for the past five days.

    He was well aware that he could only attract the most lucrative deals from top clubs in Europe by putting up more consistent and phenomenal disys during important matches. As long as he could y like Ronaldinho, Zidane, or Messi, club offers would find him at his doorstep even if he wasn''t searching for them.

    That was a simple truth.

    Zachary ran with conviction and purpose as he winded corner after corner in the early morning darkness. His breathing got morebored as beads of sweat continued flooding his undershirt with every passing minute. However, he persisted with his iron will until hepleted his early morning six-kilometer run thirty minutester.

    He then returned to his apartment and stretched a bit before taking a hot shower to lighten the burden on his muscles. After that, he settled on one of the sofas in his living room and started feasting on his breakfast.

    Eating was a way to nurture himself, to show his body that it was worth the effort of good nutrition. So, he was in an unusual state of concentration as he gorged himself with food while listening to some soft rock music in the background.

    To achieve more from his training, he''d recently started following a strict diet rmended by a sports nutritionist. For instance, his breakfast that day included onerge bowl of cereal with milk, two slices of white toast with jam, 300ml of fresh orange juice, and lots of fresh fruit. It was a well-bnced breakfast that included all the nutrients that could support the energy demands of a professional athlete during the day. As a result, he was confident to do his best in the team training sessions after following such a diet.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    His phone started vibrating like an angry rattlesnake right after he''d finished feasting on his breakfast. He couldn''t help but smile after picking it up from a nearby table and ncing at the screen.

    "Good morning, Cami," he spoke into the phone after cing it next to his ear. "How''s your morning?"

    "My morning is fine, dear," she replied, her voice filled with a vibrancy colored by her exotic ent. "Ta?da! I just called to wish you a happy birthday! I am sending you an ocean of love. I really do hope that your birthday is as cool as you are. Enjoy the day, and put your happy face on."

    "Oh, thank you for the birthday wishes," he replied, a bit surprised. For the past five days, he''d been living like a hermit. He''d only focused on his training, day in, day out, and ignored everything else. As a result, he''d pushed his birthday out of his mind. So, he was a bit startled when Cami mentioned it.

    Unknowingly, he''d already spent close to a year as part of Rosenborg''s senior team. He''d already achieved so much as a footballer even though he''d just made neen years in his second life. He couldn''t help but feel like his life was like a dream out of the best of fantasies.

    "So, what are your ns?" Cami continued, her voiceced with a tinge of excitement. "Party, or should I take you out, just the two of us, to celebrate? You decide!"

    "I won''t be making any parties just for a birthday," Zachary was quick to reply. "About going out, let''s see if we can get timeter."

    "Oh!" Cami said from the other end of the line, seeming disappointed. "Okay, then. But don''t forget. You only get a single day in a year to celebrate your birthday. So, you better cherish it."

    "I do get your point, Cami. Thank you!" Zachary replied and immediately decided to change the topic. "Are you still in Oslo?"

    "Nope! I just returned to Trondheim today morning. I''m even still at the airport at the moment."

    "Oh! You''re quite early," Zachary said, a bit surprised. He couldn''t help but steal a nce at the wall clock on the opposite wall. It was justing to seven o''clock in the morning. So, Cami should have woken up before 4:00 AM to catch the flight from Oslo to Trondheim that morning.

    "I had to be early," Cami said from the other end of the line. "Remember, we have that Audi photo shoot with you today. So, I''ve to be in Trondheim to make sure that everything is in order before the photo session."

    "Oh, the photo shoot!" Zachary said, nodding. "It''ste in the afternoon. Right?"

    "Yes! The session is scheduled for 4:00 PM today evening. Please try to arrive by 3:30 PM so that we can start on time and finish early. You can contact your agent for more specifics."

    "Okay. I''ll contact my agent right away. Let me say goodbye for now. Talk to youter."

    "Talk to youter! Have a good day, my dear!"

    "Good day to you, too!" Zachary responded before hanging up the phone. Without further ado, he decided to call Emily right away to find out the specifics of the photo session with Audi that day.

    "Zachary, I was just about to call you," Emily said immediately after picking up the phone. "Cheers to you for another trip around the sun! Happy birthday to you!"

    "Thanks for the birthday wishes, Emily! How''s everything on your side?"

    "All is fine, and I''m having a wonderful morning," Emily replied. "I guess you should be calling me about the details of the Audi photo session. Right?"

    "Yes," Zachary responded.

    "Then, I have all the details with me here. The session will be at 4:00 PM today afternoon. Audi Norway has promised to pay you an additional 100,000 NOK as a sort of per diem for the session. Additionally, you will get a chance to pick a new ride from thetest stock of the new Audi car models."

    "Great," Zachary said, his heartbeat speeding up. Of course, he was delighted by the prospect of owning a brand new car in the Audi series. "Then, let''s meet up at Lerkendal so that we can head to the Audi showroom together."

    "That''s okay," Emily replied. "One more thing! Audi has also sent over a revised contract extension. They''ve promised to raise your annual ie from 7.5 to 11 million Norwegian Kroners per year if you extend your contract with them from three to five years. As long as you agree, the contract wille into effect starting January 2014."

    "11 million Kroner!"

    Zachary was quite startled. Eleven million Norwegian Kroner was just over one million Euros. The amount was enough to push him onto the list of the highest-paid athletes in Norway. So, he was surprised that Audi was willing to offer him such terms in his second year as their ambassador in Norway.

    "Don''t be surprised," Emily said, seemingly reading his mind. "You deserve such an offer based on the way you have been ying over the past few weeks. The professionals ofpanies like Audi should be able to discern that you''ll be quite a valuable yer in the near future. So, that''s why they''re rushing to secure your signature before theirpetitors can make any offers to you."

    Zachary nodded. "By the way, how are the negotiations with thosepanies that were interested in my services? Is there any progress yet?"

    "That''s the other issue I wanted to discuss with you. I have already held a couple of meetings with the representatives of Nike, EA Sports, and Pepsi, and all I can say is that everything is going well. All threepanies are willing to offer you endorsement deals if you continue putting up phenomenal performances, especially in the Europa League. However, I can''t give you any specifics since we''re still ironing out the details."

    "That''s great," Zachary said. "As long as there''s progress, then all is fine. I have to go now since I have to prep for today''s training. So, talk to youter, I guess."

    "Just one more thing," Emily quickly interjected before Zachary could hang up. "The investment consultant friend of minemunicated that she has made ns toe to Norway next week. So, if you''re interested in meeting her then, I can go ahead and confirm an appointment with her."

    "Just go ahead and confirm the appointment," Zachary replied immediately. "If possible, we can meet on Monday afternoon next week. Has shepiled the list ofpanies that I could invest in yet?"

    "That, I don''t know," Emily said from the other end of the line. "But, don''t worry. She''s very good at her work. She''ll be able topile the list and all the associated statistics within a few days after you finish negotiating a working contract with her."

    "Then, that''s okay," Zachary said. "I''m looking forward to meeting her next Monday. Otherwise, I''ve got to go now as it''s gettingte. I have to prep for training."

    "Okay, okay," Emily said. "Have a good day."

    "Have a good day, too," Zachary replied before hanging up.

    -----

 Chapter 296 - The Intentions Of The Club Management

    Zachary didn''t dare dilly dally after ending his call with Emily. He dressed up quickly and then headed to Lerkendal to attend Rosenborg''s official team training for that day.

    He was among the first yers to arrive at the training ground. So, he spent some time stretching and going through some agilities alone as he waited for his teammates to arrive at the stadium.

    As it was already December, the weather was quite cold in Trondheim. The morning air was like frozence on Zachary''s skin, delicate and chilling, like winter waves on sallow sand. Moreover, the sky above was a dull grey, with the asional watery light illuminating thin patches to brilliance.

    Be that as it may, Zachary continued training with a hundred percent focus even in such extreme weather. He went through various cone drills without a break and only stopped when his teammates and coaches started arriving a few minutester. By then, his jersey was already dripping with sweat, depicting how hard he''d been working for the previous few minutes.

    Since he had already elevated his body-control attribute to the S- grading, improving his agility to the next level as soon as possible was the priority. Thus, he''d recently started to focus on drills tailored to improving just his agility attribute.

    Zachary understood that he could only learn the Robinho step-over juju after elevating his agility to the next level. So, he''d been extra hardworking even outside of official team training for the past five days. He didn''t let all the fame he''d just gained disrupt his focus ¡ª but continued honing his skills day in, day out, like an exercising maniac.

    He just wanted to reach the skill levels of yers like the young Ronaldo and the young Messi before he made twenty years of age. Only then would he have the qualifications to make it on the list of the greatest yers of the current generation.

    "Zachary!" A loud yell sounded from the sidelines just as he was about to end his post-exercising stretching routine. He turned around and then noticed Rolf Aas, the assistant coach in charge of fitness, calling out to him. "Could you pleasee here for a moment?" The assistant coach added.

    Zachary didn''t dare dilly dally. He immediately put a full stop to his stretching routine, then chugged down some water before rushing towards the fitness coach on the sidelines.

    "Good morning, Zachary," the assistant coach said when Zachary stepped in front of him.

    "Good morning to you too, coach," Zachary replied, smiling. "How''re you?"

    "I''m good," Rolf Aas, the assistant coach, said, nodding. "The head coach would like to see you before the start of today''s training. You can find him in his office."

    "Okay," Zachary said, a bit surprised. "I''ll head over to his office right away. Thanks for informing me."

    "Better hurry since we''re about to start the dynamic fitness session," the assistant coach added. "Off you go."

    "Okay, okay. I''ll be back as soon as possible. See you in a bit."

    -----

    When Zachary arrived at Coach Johansen''s office, he found him hunched over his desk, looking over a few game tactical charts. Most seemed to be for previous games, while a few depicted the tactics for Rosenborg''s uing Europa League match against IF Elfsborg. Potential formations and yer movements could be seen on the cards lying around the table. By just looking at the game cards, Zachary could tell that the coach was trying his best to design an appropriate game strategy for that game.

    "Have a seat, Zachary," the coach said, looking up from his desk after a short while. "How''re you?"

    "I''m okay, coach," Zachary replied before making himselffortable on one of thefy chairs beside the coach''s L-shaped office desk. "How''s your morning, coach?"

    "My morning is fine, Zachary," the coach said with a smile. "I can see that you''re already sweating! I''m d that you''re still putting in a lot of effort to improve yourself. Keep it up. As long as you focus and continue training as before, the sky will be your limit."

    "Thanks, coach, for your advice," Zachary responded, nodding. "I''ll keep on doing my best during training and, of course, during official matches."

    "That puts my heart at ease," the coach said, leaning back in his seat. "I called you in here today to discuss your future. For better organization, I would like to know your ns. Are you still with us here at Rosenborg, or would you like to transfer to a bigger league?"

    "Oh!" Zachary said, a bit startled. "Why''re you asking me this now, coach? Of course, I''m still a member of the Rosenborg squad. I won''t make any decisions about my future until, at least, mid-next year."

    "Then, I''m d," Coach Johansen said, grinning. "A few teams, including Red Bull Leipzig and Tottenham, have already contacted management with the intent to trigger your release use. So, I was starting to get worried that you might be nning on transferring out of the team."

    "You don''t have to worry about that, coach," Zachary said in a poised tone. "I''m still a member of Rosenborg in and out. Moreover, how can I run away from the team when we still have to contest in the Europa League? That would be irresponsible of me."

    "Great," Coach Johansen said, his grin bing more pronounced. "But if you ever decide to transfer out of Rosenborg, please try to give me at least a month''s notice. Okay?"

    "If I evere to such a decision, you''ll be among the first to know. So, don''t worry, coach."

    "Good," the coach said, nodding. "I also wanted to talk to you about your role in the team''s new formation before announcing it to the rest of the squad. You really performed beyond all expectations in our match against Standard Li¨¨ge. So, I n on ying you in a forward position in the uing match against IF Elfsborg."

    "I understand that you prefer ying in midfield as opposed to striking," the coach continued while locking eyes with Zachary. "However, to qualify for theter stages of the Europa League, we''ve got to keep on scoring many goals. And, that''s where youe in, Zachary. With your skills, you''ll be able to keep opposing defenders on tenterhooks, thus giving the rest of the team breathing space to y better football. That''s the only way we can keep on winning and advance further in the Europa League. Do you get my point, Zachary?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, nodding. "As long as I can increase the chances of my team winning, then I''m okay with ying in a forward position for a short while. But, I still prefer to y behind the main striker rather than ying at the forefront of the formation."

    "You don''t have to worry about that, Zachary," Coach Johansen said, cing one of the tactical charts before Zachary. "You''ll be ying as both an advanced ymaker and a false number-10 in our uing game against IF Elfsborg." He paused as he pointed to the position on the tactical chart.

    "In such an advanced forward position, you''ll serve as the offensive pivot of the team with your superior technical abilities. You can choose to unleash defense-splitting passes like usual or score when an angle opens up in such a position. Additionally, you''ll have to asionally drift wide when in possession of the ball to help the wingers and fullbacks overload the nks. So, in essence, you''ll still be ying as a midfielder but in a more advanced forward position. Are we together, Zachary?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary said, nodding. "I''ve no problem ying such a role on the team."

    "Great," Coach Johansen said with a smile. "We''ll refine the new tactics, including your new position, starting today. So, be prepared. You can head back for training for now."

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary said, getting up from his chair. "I''m always ready to do my best when it concerns football. So, you don''t have to worry about me."

    **** ****

    Coach Johansen couldn''t help but sigh when he watched Zachary''s back as he stepped out of his office. He''d called the boy prodigy to gauge whether he was stillmitted to staying with Rosenborg. That was because several teams had constantly been inquiring about his avability during the uing transfer window over the past few days.

    It was like Zachary had attracted all the vultures around Europe when he put up that phenomenal performance and scored four goals against Standard Li¨¨ge. As a result, the Rosenborg management was starting to get tempted to sell him off to the highest bidder since the money involved was quite a lot. Only the club chairman and himself, as the head coach, were still in favor of keeping him at Rosenborg, at least, until the end of the uing season.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    The sound of the phone vibrating on the table soon broke Coach Johansen out of his reverie. Without any further ado, he picked it up, then nced at the screen before epting the call and cing it next to his ear.

    "Good morning, Mr. Chairman," he spoke into the phone in a polite tone. "I was just about to call you."

    "Good morning to you too, coach," Mr. Ivar Koteng, the Rosenborg club chairman, replied from the other end of the line. "So, did you manage to talk to him? What is your take on hismitment to Rosenborg?"

    "He is still with us in both heart and mind," Coach Johansen replied immediately. "He assured me that he hasn''t thought about making any decisions to transfer out of Rosenborg, at least until mid-next year. So, I really think that we don''t have to rush off selling him to the highest bidder."

    "Oh, okay, then," the chairman said. "If he''s stillmitted to ying for us, then we can throw away all those offers made by those teams. But, try to keep himfortable in the team for the moment. Okay?"

    "Yes, Mr. Chairman. I''ll do my best."

    "Good," the chairman said. "I have to go now. And, please keep up the good work. I''m really looking forward to Rosenborg qualifying for the knock-out stages of the Europa League."

    "Don''t worry, Mr. Chairman. I''ll do my best to prepare the team for thest Europa League group game. We really do have a high chance of winning."

    "Okay, then," the chairman said in a conclusive tone. "I have to go now. So, have a good day." He added before hanging up.

    **** ****

    In the afternoon, Zachary attended the Audi photo session as nned. He just posed in front of some of the newest Audi Models the entire time and let the photographers do the rest of the work. After that, Zachary received his 100,000 NOK cheque from the Audi finance Department and an additional promise of selecting a car from the newest stock as remuneration for his services. So, he was in a good mood when he departed from the Audi showroomter that evening.

    He then went out with Cami to celebrate his birthday. Together, they feasted on a sumptuous Nordic dinner at the rion Hotel in Trondheim while listening to the catchy tunes in the background. They only ended their celebrations at around eleven in the night before heading back home for the night.

    **** ****

 Chapter 297 - Setting A Foundation For Investments

    Zachary met the investment consultant rmended by Emily the following Monday afternoon at the Scandic Lerkendal Hotel''s restaurant. She was a very graceful and charmingdy, not so beautiful like Cami, but with the sort of soft facial features that could elicit tender feelings in any male specimen. She was dressed in a dark blue suit that brought out the color of her eyes peeking from behind a pair of stylish spectacles. At first sight, she was the picture of a delicate yet true-blue sessful businesswoman in every sense.

    "So, first things first," Emily said as soon as they''d settled down in seats opposite hers on a corner table in the Scandic Lerkendal Hotel''s restaurant. "Let''s start with introductions. I guess I don''t need to introduce myself as both of you are well-acquainted with me. So, let''s start withdies, first." She added, fixing her gaze on thedy across the table.

    Thedy smiled and reached out with her hand towards Zachary for a handshake. "Hello, Zachary," she said. "I''m Heather Miller, an investment consultant based in London UK. Nice to finally meet you, Zachary! I''ve heard a lot about you, and I''m really looking forward to working with you."

    "Nice to meet you, too, Miss Miller," Zachary replied, taking her hand for a firm handshake. "I''m Zachary Bemba, and I''m a pro footballer, ying for Rosenborg here in Trondheim."

    Miss Miller chuckled. "No need to be so formal, Zachary. I think that I''m not much older than you. So, calling me Heather instead of Miss Miller is quite fine."

    "Okay, Heather," Zachary replied, grinning. "I guess I''ll call you Heather from now on."

    "So, Heather!" Emily chipped in with a smile. "Zachary is a good client of mine. He has ns to invest in stocks at an international level. So, that''s why we contacted you."

    "Oh, okay," Miller Heather nodded, leaning back in her seat and inclining her face to lock eyes with Zachary. "Emily should have already told you that I''m the person-to-go-to if you need any advice concerning international business matters. Be it buying and selling stocks, international business registration and entity setup, and even real estate across Europe ¡ª I''m an expert. So, as long as we can agree on a few terms, then I''ll be able to guide you when you''re investing in stocks or any other businesses on an international level."

    "That''s what I''m hoping for," Zachary said, nting his elbows on the table. "Basically, I need a list ofpanies where I can invest by buying shares. I needpanies that show promise and are based mainly in Europe, North America, and Asia. As you can guess, my main aim for seeking your services is to reduce the risk involved when trading stocks. So, are you able topile for me such a list as soon as possible?"

    "That''s quite a simple matter," Heather replied in a poised tone. "However, as a professional, I would advise you to avoid investing in stocks if you''re looking for low-risk investments. Instead, you could try investing in real estate or acquiring corporate bonds. You won''t lose money as long as you take some degree of care. However, trading in stocks is like gambling to some extent. So, you''ll face varying degrees of risk depending on the nature of investments you wish to make."

    "I still want to try investing in stocks," Zachary said, leaning back in his seat. Of course, he understood that some risks were always involved in any stock-rted investments. However, he was confident that he could avoid most of the pitfalls involved with his knowledge from the future."

    "As long as you understand that there''s some risk involved, then all is okay," Heather replied with a smile. "How much do you wish to invest at the moment?"

    "Around 700,000 Euros for a start."

    "Oh, that''s quite a sizeable amount." Heather nodded as a smile outlined her facial features. "It would be my pleasure to aid you as you begin your journey of buying and selling stocks. But, first things first, we need to agree on my consultancy fees before we move on to the actual business."

    Zachary nodded. "That''s okay. So, how much do you charge for your services?"

    "First, let me exin the nature of my work so that you can understand the associated costster on," Heather said, fishing out a document from her handbag beside her. "You''ve got to understand that we''ll have to work together for more than a year if your target is to invest in stocks in the long term."

    "We''ll start by opening a brokerage ount, which is the key to buying and selling securities, like stocks, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds for any investor. After that, we have to spend days assessing the stock market so that we canpile a list ofpanies where to invest your money at rtively low risk."

    "If you do decide to invest, then we''ll have to track your investment from day one," Heather continued. "That way, we can gain a steady flow of information about your investment and be able to make decisions quickly in case of unexpected situations."

    "You''ve got to know that we need a steady inflow of information about thepanies you''ve invested in so that we can keep your money safe. For instance, if apany you invested in is close to going bankrupt, we can react beforehand and save a fraction of your money. On the other hand, if there is an unexpected monumental increase in the price of shares you previously bought, we can decide to sell immediately, depending on the avable information."

    "So, as you can see, I''ll have to put in quite a lot of hours to aid you when you begin investing in stocks. And that''s why I''ll have to charge you a t annual fee of 55,000 Euros only. This price includes all the fees for my services, including my travel allowances and hotel fees."

    "Oh!" Zachary said, inclining his head to nce at Emily, his agent seated beside him. "What do you think?"

    "The price is quite okay since it''s an annual fee," Emily responded with a smile. "But since we''re going to be long-term partners, then she can deduct for us at least 5,000 Euros from the fee. What say you, Heather?"

    "5,000 Euros!" Heather mumbled in response, creasing her brows. "I''ll be making quite a loss if I deduct 5,000 Euros from the total cost. Let''s do it like this. I will deduct 3,000 Euros. So, you only have to pay me 52,000 Euros per year. That''s the least I can go. If you can''t afford that, then I''m sorry. I won''t be able to work for you at a cost lower than that."

    "Okay, then," Emily said, her face blossoming into a smile. "52,000 Euros is quite a good fee, I guess."

    "Then, 52,000 Euros it is," Zachary chimed in, grinning and reaching out with his hand towards the investment consultant from across the table. "Let''s have a pleasant time working together."

    "Let''s have a pleasant cooperation," Heather replied, taking his hand. "I''ll draft the contract of our work agreement and have it ready for your perusal by tomorrow."

    "That''s okay," Zachary said, nodding. "You can consult with Emily while drafting the contract. She usually handles most of my legal matters."

    "Fair enough!" Heather nodded. "I''ll do that. Now, let''s talk about the actual business. Do you have anypanies in mind that you wish to invest in?"

    "Well," Zachary said, caressing his chin. "I''m new to the world of stock investments. But I still do have apany in mind. I think it''s called Te Inc. and specializes in manufacturing electric vehicles plus their essories. Thispany will most likely make it big in the future since the world trend is slowly tilting towards using cleaner energy over fossil fuels. So, I really wish to buy a good number of Te shares as soon as possible."

    "Te is already a bigpany!" Heatherughed. "Their price per share is already around 35 to 42 US Dors."

    "Don''t mind that," Zachary said confidently. "Just go ahead and try to help me purchase a good number of shares from Te. I''m willing to invest 500,000 Euros in just Te for the start since I''m sure that thepany will be quite sessful in the future."

    "You''re that confident? Don''t you even want me to do a financial analysis on this potential investment?"

    "There''s no need as I''ve already decided on this. Just focus on helping me acquire the shares at the best price possible."

    Zachary, of course, was certain that the price per share of Te Inc. would at one time even hit a year high of more than 1,000 US Dors in the future. That was more than twenty-five times the current share price of around 35 - 42 US Dors.

    So, Zachary would stand to gain more than 12 Million Euros about seven years from then if he could invest 500,000 Euros at that moment. Thus, there was no reason for him to hesitate when buying Te Inc. shares.

    "Okay, then," Heather replied, letting out a breath. "I''ll move quickly to help you purchase the Te shares after setting up a brokerage ount for you."

    "That''s good," Zachary said, nodding. "I also need you topile a list ofpanies worldwide that I can invest in at rtively low risk. Aside from Te Inc., you''ll, of course, have to conduct rigorous financial analyses before I can invest in any of the otherpanies."

    "That''s okay with me," Heather replied. "I''ll be able topile a list of suitablepanies and their associated financial data within two weeks."

    "That''s good then," Zachary said, stealing a peek at his watch. "I''m sorry. But, I have to attend a training session with my fitness instructor in about thirty minutes. So, I really have to go now. But you can iron out all the details of the contract with Emily."

    "It''s okay," Heather replied with a smile. "You can go for your training without any worries. I''ll start drafting the contract right away. And, of course, I''ll be sure to seek Emily''s input throughout the entire process. Isn''t that right, Emily?"

    "Yes, that''s okay," Emily chimed in. "You can go for your training without worry, Zachary. I''ll handle everything here in the meantime."

    "Okay, great," Zachary said, standing up from his seat and extending his hand towards the investment consultant. "It was nice meeting you, Heather."

    "It was nice meeting you, too, Zachary," she replied, taking the hand for a handshake. "Thank you for hiring me. I promise that you won''t regret hiring me as your investment consultant."

    "Then, that puts my heart at ease. You can discuss everything else with Emily as I have to go now. And thanks for your time."

    "You''re wee."

    **** ****

 Chapter 298 - Against IF Elfsborg I

    -----

    Thursday, December 12, 2013.

    -----

    The dark curtain of the night had already enveloped Trondheim City, bringing with it a frostiness that was typical of the famed Nordic winters. It was the sort of cold weather that would freeze the blood of those who didn''t take sufficient care to be warm in heart and core.

    Yet on such an evening, there was a hubbub of activity going on at Lerkendal Stadion, the home ground of Rosenborg Ballklub. That was because it was the day when the Troll Kids would face off against IF Elfsborg, the team from Sweden, in the highly-anticipated Europa League Group C''s game.

    The excitement was high in the air as the local fans, dressed in Rosenborg''s traditional ck and white colors, kept on flooding into the stadium. Among them were Kristin and Emily, who arrived at the stadium gates a few minutes to six with more than an hour to spare before kick-off.

    However, the two of them were quite surprised to find out that the overly-enthusiastic Rosenborg fans had already taken up almost each and every avable seat in the stands. Most were even already singing Rosenborg''s popr chants at the top of their voices as they waited for the kick-off time. A few others had even lit firecrackers and were already waving them high up in the air.

    Their zeal when supporting their club was beyondpare as far as Kristin was concerned. Yet, it was such fanfare that made Kristin fall in love with the game of football from a very young age. She''d always loved the passion and the intensity in the entire stadium when her team was on the pitch. And that''s why she always felt most rxed whenever she watched a match live at Lerkendal Stadium.

    "This is crazy," Emilymented from beside her as they took their seats in the middle section of the stands. "The levels of excitement here today are off the charts. It''s as if Rosenborg is ying a final instead of a Europa League group game!"

    "No need to be surprised," Kristin replied, looking around. "This match is obviously like a final to us Rosenborg supporters since Europa League football is at stake. So, that''s why the Rosenborg die-hard fans have gone the extra mile to support the team."

    "I do hope Rosenborges out on top at the end of the night," Emily said with a sigh. "Otherwise, all these fans will have to go back home disappointed."

    "Let''s hope so," Kristin said, her tone pensive. "Otherwise, we would have to say goodbye to this season''s Europa League football if it so happens that we lose."

    Kristin was well aware that her team, Rosenborg, was in a sort of precarious situation. With six points from four matches, they were only second on the table in Group C at the moment. However, they were still tied with the third-ced Standard Li¨¨ge, based on points. They were just barely ahead due to their superior goal difference.

    Thus, if Standard Li¨¨ge won against Red Bull Salzburg and then Rosenborg lost or drew against IF Elfsborg, everything would be over for the Norwegian giants. They would immediately drop to the third position and fail to qualify for the knock-out stage of the Europa League. So, they''d to win by hook or by crook in order to cement their position as second in the highlypetitive Group C. For that was the only way they would keep their Europa League dreams alive.

    **** ****

    Zachary could feel the tensions running high when he stepped onto the pitch with his teammates for the pre-match dynamic warm-up. He was once again surprised by the zeal of the Rosenborg fans when supporting their team at home. But above all, he greatly appreciated them since the team needed their cheers if they were to outmaneuver IF Elfsborg and then qualify for the next stage of the Europa League.

    "Line up quickly so that we can start the dynamic warm-up," Rolf Aas, the assistant coach in charge of fitness, shouted abruptly. "We don''t have much time as kick-off is at exactly 7:00 PM."

    The yers lined up immediately on hearing the yell from the assistant coach. Without further ado, they started the dynamic warm-up under the close supervision of the fitness coach.

    They began with a light jog before diving into upper body stretches a few minutester. They didn''t just go through the motions ¡ª but went through an arduous routine involving neck stretches, arm circles, and plenty of body twists while moving through a set-up of cones.

    After a few more minutes, they switched to the lower body stretches. While jogging, they went through several exercises, including high knee raises, lunges, quad stretches, and calf stretches, among others. By the end of the session, most were already sweating slightly, indicating how hard they''d been working.

    However, they didn''t dare rest on the pitch after the warm-up session since they only had about thirty minutes to kick-off. So, they didn''t even waste a minute before returning to the dressing room to dress up and listen to the coach''s address.

    "Can I have your attention, guys," Coach Johansen said immediately after the Rosenborg yers had finished dressing up. "Hurry up and settle down. We only have a few minutes to the start of the game."

    All the Rosenborg yers immediately settled down on the benches around the dressing before fixing their sights on the coach. In a matter of seconds, they turned from a rowdy group of men into a group of attentive athletes, waiting for their coach''s pre-match address.

    "We''ll be ying against IF Elfsborg in a few minutes," the coach began in a somber tone after all the yers had quietened down. "This is both ourst game in our Europa League group stage and also ourst game of the year. After today, we''ll all be going on vacation, at least until February, when the Europa League resumes. So, you don''t have to pace yourself or y conservatively in today''s game."

    "Just let loose and y your best football today. y as if today is a final ¡ª as if the Europa League trophy is close at hand. That''s the only way to outss our opponents and safely qualify for the next round. Are we together, guys?" The coach ended his little speech with a below.

    "Yes, coach," all the yers replied with zest, with some of them even raising their fists into the air. Anyone could tell that their energy levels were off the charts as they sat there in the dressing room. They were clearly looking forwards to thrashing IF Elfsborg in a few minutes.

    "I''m d that we''re on the same page," Coach Johansen said, nodding. "Let''s go through the tactics one more time before we head into the pitch for the game." He added, stepping towards the whiteboard arranged on a stand in front of the dressing room.

    "We''ll y with a 4-4-1-1 formation for this game," the coach said while inscribing the yer arrangement on the whiteboard. "That means that we''ll assemble four defenders, four midfielders, one supporting attacking yer, and one primary striker on the field today."

    "For the defensive and midfield positions, everything should be straightforward by now. The defenders and midfielders only need to pass the ball around creatively before feeding the strikers. As long as you maintain a constant supply of balls to the strikers and defend well, then everything will be okay. We might even be up by a goal or two before halftime. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good," Coach Johansen said, nodding. "What I would like to emphasize before the game-start is the positioning of the two forward attacking yers. As you can see, our central striker is Nicki Nielsen, as usual. But right behind him, we have Zachary as a false number-10." He added, pointing to the position on the board.

    "Zachary will act as the offensive pivot of the whole team in our formation," the coach continued. "The midfielders will always have to take note of Zachary''s position on the pitch. As long as he''s unmarked, you can feed Zachary the ball. Then, it will be up to you, Zachary, to choose whether to run at the defenders or pass the ball."

    "Are we together, Zachary?" The coach queried as he fixed his gaze on him.

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied confidently.

    "Great," Coach Johansen said with a smile. "However, don''t get used to passing when in an advanced position. When an angle opens up, just shoot and try your luck at the goal. You never know. You might be able to score. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, nodding.

    The coach nodded. "Moving on," the coach said, turning to one side of the dressing room. "Mike and Thomas, you''ll act as our central midfielders in today''s game. Try to close down the opposing midfielders as soon as possible whenever we lose possession. Stay on your toes and make it hard for the opponents to pass the ball around. If you do that, we''ll surely dictate this game''s tempo. Are we together, Mike and Thomas?"

    "Yes, coach."

    Coach Johansen nodded. "I also expect you to do your best to supply quick balls to Zachary, Nicki, and our two wingers. Don''t dilly-dally on the ball, but y simple football. When a yer is open, feed him the ball. If you do that, I can promise you guys that we''ll outperform IF Elfsborg from the very first minute until the final whistle. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Okay, guys," Coach Johansen said. "I won''t say anymore since we''ve been going over the game n for the past twelve days. I believe that all the field yers know their roles on the pitch in today''s game by now. As long as you follow the game n and give your all, then we''ll be victorious at the end of the night. So, if there are no questions, let''s prepare and move out. Are there any questions?" The coach queried, ncing around.

    However, none of the yers, including Zachary, raised their hands. They had allmitted the game n to mind and were only waiting to march onto the pitch.

    "Okay, okay," Coach Johansen said, grinning. "It seems you''re all ready and impatient to move out for the game. So, let''s move out and y like the Norwegian giants we are. Let''s show the IF Elfsborg yers how it''s done here in Trondheim. Let''s destroy them and send them back to Sweden packing!" The coach bellowed.

    "Destroy them! Destroy them! Destroy them! For we''re Rosenborg, the champions of Norway..." The yers yelled back in response and soon started chanting Rosenborg''s name at the top of their voices. They were more than ready to destroy IF Elfsborg in thest Europa League Group C game.

    **** ****

 Chapter 299 - Against IF Elfsborg II

    The referee blew the whistle at exactly 7:00 PM and signaled the Rosenborg yers to kick off the game. Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s center-forward, immediately raised his leg high and passed the ball back into the midfield.

    Mike Jensen, one of Rosenborg''s two central midfielders, received the ball close to the boundary of the defensive third. The midfielder only took a single touch on the ball before flicking it back to Tore Reginiussen, Rosenborg''s center-back, who was in the backline at that moment. The Rosenborg yers then started passing the ball around in the backfield.

    The game had officially begun. Rosenborg had started with its strongest line-up. Daniel ?rlund was in goal, while Mikael Dorsin, Yerry Mina, Tore Reginiussen, and Eric Bailly were in defense. Tobias Mikkelsen and Jonas Svensson were ying as the right and left-wingers, respectively ¡ª while Mike Jensen and Thomas Partey held down the fort in midfield. And finally, Zachary was ying as the false number-10 behind Nicki Nielsen, the center-forward, who''d just returned from injury, toplete a 4-4-1-1 formation.

    On the other hand, IF Elfsborg had fielded yers in a 4-3-3 defensive formation consisting of four defenders, three midfielders in a triangr shape, plus three forwards. They had quite the defensive depth in their squad. They werepact in the middle and at the back and thus managed to keep Rosenborg at bay for most of the first half.

    However, the Rosenborg yers weren''t discouraged by the defensive prowess of the Swedish giants. They continued pushing and knocking on IF Elfsborg''s door while being urged on by the thunderous cheers of the home crowd. And finally, in the 43rd minute, a goal-scoring opportunity appeared.

    Zachary Bemba, the young Rosenborg number-33, who''d remained silent throughout most of the fast half, suddenly dropped away from the middle and overloaded the wing on the right nk. He soon received a through pass from Mike Jensen, one of Rosenborg''s midfielders, before racing towards IF Elfsborg''s goal like mad.

    He just exploded with speed, without any fancy movements, as he cut across the pitch towards the opponent''s goal like a whirlwind. His approach was straightforward as he merely utilized his newly-gained S- grade body control to weave through a couple of defenders like a snake navigating the jungle.

    Before long, he found himself at the edge of the box with only a couple of defenders in yellow jerseys between him and the goal. Without losing hisposure, he unleashed a curling shot towards the inside of the far post, hoping to chip the keeper.

    However, just after the ball had left his foot, it met an obstruction in the form of a defender''s arm. Sebastian Holm¨¦n, IF Elfsborg''s center-back, had just tried his utmost to block Zachary''s shot but, instead, ended up handling the ball.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle right away and pointed to the penalty spot, thereby sending the entire Lerkendal Stadium into a wave of thunderous cheers. He then showed Sabastian a yellow card since he''dmitted a direct handball offense within the boundaries of the 18-yard box.

    It was finally the chance for Rosenborg to make something out of their dominant ball possession for the night. And, of course, it was Zachary Bemba, the on-form Rosenborg young number-33, who stepped forward to take the penalty.

    Zachary didn''t lose hisposure in the slightest. He activated the Dead-ball Specialist Juju and carefully ced the ball on the penalty spot. After ensuring that there wasn''t even a single strand of grass in front of the ball, he stepped back and waited while shutting out everything else.

    Not even the thunderous cheers of the fans could disrupt him at that moment. He was that focused as he faced off against the IF Elfsborg Keeper in those few seconds.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally blew the whistle after ensuring that all the other yers, except the IF Elfsborg keeper and Zachary (the penalty taker), were out of the box. At that moment, an abnormal wave of silence descended upon the entire stadium as the fans waited with bated breath for Zachary to take the penalty.

    It was the moment of truth, and Zachary didn''t disappoint. He made an angled run towards the ball before sending the keeper the wrong way and riffling in a right-footed shot into the top left corner. With that well-timed snapshot, he''d rendered the keeper helpless and managed to score Rosenborg''s first goal for the night.

    After having pressurized the opponents for the entire first half, Rosenborg had managed to take the lead in the 44th minute, with less than a minute remaining to halftime. It was a fantastic ending of the first half for the Rosenborg yers. Thus, they all ran to the corner g and celebrated in front of the Rosenborg fans.

    By then, the cheers all around the stadium had already exploded into a thunderous drawn-out crescendo. The fans were yelling Rosenborg''s chants at the top of their voices, causing the entire Lerkendal to quake as if it was experiencing an earthquake. The noise levels were off the charts at that moment as the home crowd celebrated Rosenborg''s first goal.

    **** ****

    "It''s Rosenborg one, and IF Elfsborg nil," Kristin heard thementator yell out loud after the cheers had died down. "Zachary Bemba, Rosenborg''s young midfielder, has done it again. This time around, he has scored from the penalty spot to give Rosenborg the lead. He has managed to take his tally to seven goals in just three games and is now the leading top scorer of the Europa League. What a yer!"

    "What a yer, indeed!" The othermentator chipped in. "He has been quiet throughout most of the first half. However, with just a single run, he has managed to create a goal almost out of nothing. His skills are truly incredible."

    "His goal has taken Rosenborg to nine points," the firstmentator spoke once again. "They''ve taken the first step to cement their position as second on the table. Moreover, the word going around is that Standard Li¨¨ge is trailing by a goal to nil against Red Bull Salzburg. Thus, Rosenborg will surely qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League if they can maintain their lead throughout the second half. Let''s wait and see how the game progresses."

    **** ****

 Chapter 300 - Against IF Elfsborg III

    The IF Elfsborg yers were quite depressed during the half-time break. They''d done their utmost to keep the Rosenborg yers at bay even when they were ying at an away ground. However, one moment of brilliance from Zachary Bemba, Rosenborg''s young number-33, had rendered all their efforts fruitless. With a single run, he''d cut through their defense like a sharp knife through vegetables before forcing a penalty out of Sebastian Holm¨¦n, their center-back. That penalty was what resulted in the goal that''d put their team in quite a disadvantageous situation.

    A more depressing fact was that the Norwegian giants were miles ahead of them in terms of ball possession ¡ª a scenario that led to IF Elfsborg''s center-forward being isted. As a result, they hadn''t created any clear goal-scoring opportunities throughout the first half.

    "Okay, guys, cheer up," s Ingesson, the head coach of IF Elfsborg, said while pping his hands to rouse his yers back to full attention. "The game is not over yet as we still have 45 minutes of the second half. As long as we focus and do our best in those 45 minutes, we''ll obviously create chances to score and bring the proceedings back to level terms. Are you with me, guys? If you''re with me, let me hear you reply, ''Yes, coach.''" The coach ended his speech with a drawn-out bellow.

    There was an awkward and out-of-sync reply of "Yes, coach" from the audience. The yers'' motivation levels seemed to have already sunk to the abyss after facing a hard time against a well-organized Rosenborg during the first half.

    Coach s Ingesson narrowed his eyes slightly and nced around. "I couldn''t hear you," he said, pping his hands rhythmically once again. "Let me hear you yell out loud, ''Yes, coach.''"

    "Yes, coach!" The IF Elfsborg yers did a little better job replying in sync that time around.

    "Good," Coach s Ingesson said, nodding. "That''s the sort of energy I expect from you as professionals ying in the Europa League. We can''t give up when we''re just one goal down. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good," the coach said, sweeping his gaze across some of his yers. "For the second half, I want you to continue prioritizing our defense. We can''t concede another goal as that will seal our fate. So, we''ve to stay on our toes and prevent Rosenborg from scoring another goal."

    "Anders Svensson!" The coach continued after turning his gaze to the captain of IF Elfsborg. "I want you to move back from the midfield a bit so that you can keep your eyes on that Zachary Bemba. Mark him man-to-man, and prevent him from doing whatever he wants in our final third. I don''t want to see him cut through our defense again as if we''re a bunch of nobodies. Are you with me, Anders?"

    "Yes, coach."

    The coach nodded as a slight smile outlined his facial features. "Moving on. We''ll only use counters, wing y, and a few long balls to negate Rosenborg''s dominance in the midfield. As long as we properly utilize our counterattacking opportunities, I can assure you guys that we''ll be able to score before the end of the second half."

    "However, I must warn you not to be impatient, especially during the second stages of the first half. Just concentrate on remaining solid and make sure we don''t concede. The goal wille eventually as long as we stay true to our game n. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    -----

    After a short while, the second half began.

    Anders Svensson, IF Elfsborg''s captain, followed the coach''s instructions to the letter. He dropped from midfield and started man-marking Zachary ¡ª who was still ying as a false number-10 for Rosenborg.

    The IF Elfsborg wingers then pinched into the middle spaces to fill the gap he''d left in midfield. In so doing, they''dpacted the formation and denied the Rosenborg yers any chance to break through the middle. In such a way, they cut down Rosenborg''s dominance and stabilized the game.

    However, the Rosenborg yers were not to be outdone. They soon switched to wing y and rendered IF Elfsborg''s strategy fruitless.

    Tobias Mikkelsen and Jonas Svensson, the Rosenborg wingers, constantly made runs through the nks before floating in teasing crosses towards the box where Zachary and Nicki were lurking.

    The Swedish giants were once in a dire situation.

    However, the IF Elfsborg yers didn''t buckle under the continued pressure. They remained solid and denied Rosenborg any chance to score a second goal.

    In particr, Anders Svensson, the IF Elfsborg captain, was quite impressive. He stuck to Zachary like superglue throughout the entire early stages of the second half and tracked his every run. In so doing, he denied the young midfielder any chances to make any meaningful ys.

    For the following few minutes, the game''s tempo slowed down considerably. Neither team showed any signs of scoring until the 80th minute when Zachary abruptly lost his marker and made a run towards the left nk. With that well-timed run, he''d once again overloaded the wing.

    He was soon ying a couple of one-twos with Jonas Svensson, the Rosenborg left-winger, as the two of them broke through IF Elfsborg''s formation. They were clearly on a straight course towards IF Elfsborg''s goal.

    For a moment, Anders Svensson, The IF Elfsborg captain, felt ashamed for failing to live up to the coach''s expectations. He''d let Zachary get away from him and run to the wings where he could pose a significant threat to IF Elfsborg''s defense.

    "No, I can''t let him do as he pleases in our half," he decided.

    He took off like a bullet out of a muzzle and covered a distance of more than ten yards in a matter of seconds. He was like the wind and managed to get to Zachary when he''d just received a return pass from Svensson.

    The stage had been set. Another showdown between Rosenborg''s young number-33 and IF Elfsborg''s experienced captain was just around the corner.

    The next moment, Zachary lowered his center of gravity slightly before exploding with speed and breaking through the left. With a well-timed stico dribble, he''d managed to lose the Swede for a moment.

    Anders Svensson was beaten but didn''t surrender. "Block him! Don''t allow him to cut back into the pitch," he shouted to a nearby teammate before turning around and following after Zachary''s footsteps.

    -----

    Zachary raised his eyes ever so slightly when he noticed three IF Elfsborg yers corner him close to the touchline on the left. Two were barring his path forward while Anders, his bodyguard for the second half, was fast approaching from behind.

    "Damn!"

    Zachary couldn''t help but slow down a little as he looked around, searching for a teammate as an outlet for the ball.

    However, all the yers around him were tightly marked by the aggressive IF Elfsborg defensive yers. He was in dire straits and would lose the ball if he couldn''te up with an immediate solution.

    "Here goes nothing!"

    Zachary stepped on the ball and raised it slightly from the green. He followed that up by flicking it further upward until it was at his knee level.

    As expected, the defenders barring his path reacted ordingly. They rushed in for the kill, probably thinking that he''d lost control for the moment.

    But who was Zachary? He was a yer with an almost textbook skill of controlling the ball. So, how could he ever make such a mistake?

    Zachary grinned fiendishly. Without further ado, he tapped the ball slightly and looped it over one of the defenders who''d stretched out a leg to tackle the ball from his feet. He then exploded with speed and spun around the defender before the other two opponents could react and close him down.

    With that well-timed move, he''d managed to escape the encirclement and was soon fast on his way towards the goal like a whirlwind. He was surprised to find that he had made himself several yards of space after beating the three opponents. But, that didn''t slow down his actions in the slightest.

    Soon, he managed to make it to the edge of the box, where he was again cornered by one of the IF Elfsborg center-backs. But he still didn''t lose hisposure.

    He slowed down slightly to draw in the defender while assessing his options. When the angle opened up, he raised his foot high and unleashed a curling shot around the defender from the edge of the box.

    "BANG!"

    The sound of the ball smashing off the post was soon clearly audible in the almost silent stadium. The keeper had managed to brush the ball with his fingertips, thus sending it off its intended trajectory. It had veered off its course to some extent before pounding off the post and bouncing back into the area.

    Zachary felt his heart sink to the bottom. He was disappointed with himself after working so hard to create the opportunity but failing to score in the very end. However, his heartbeat started speeding up again when he noticed a silhouette, dressed in Rosenborg''s ck and white colors, rushing towards the descending ball.

    It was Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s center-forward, who''d been silent for most of the match. He sprang forward like an assassin in the night and ced a diving header inside of the right post.

    ------

 Chapter 301 - The Remorseful Mr. Christophe

    Rosenborg BK 2: IF Elfsborg 0

    In the audience, the fans were extremely excited. Rosenborg had managed to score the second goal in the 83rd minute through Nicki Nielsen, the striker who''d just returned from an injury. The whole stadium was boiling with excitement as the home fans cheered at the top of their voices to celebrate the goal.

    "That run by Zachary from the left-wing was something else," a young man, probably in his 20s, said. He was a die-hard fan of Rosenborg, who never missed any matches at Lerkendal. "It''s a pity that he missed the goal in the end."

    "What are you saying?" Another fan responded, his eyes narrowing. "Zachary never misses. It''s just the keeper who performed abnormally and managed to save the day. But in the end, he ended up gifting Nicki Nielsen with an opportunity to score the second goal."

    "I''m just saying that it would have been good if Zachary scored the goal," the young man responded, trying his best to make himself heard over the din in the stadium. "But it''s all good since we''re about to qualify for the knock-out stages."

    "Which team will we face in the round of 32? Hopefully, it won''t be one of those powerhouses that have just dropped from the Champions League."

    "The draw for the next round will be held next week," the other fan said, stroking his thick beard. "We''ll have to wait until then to find out about our next opponents."

    -----

    The game resumed after the goal celebrations. The IF Elfsborg yers switched to a higher gear and startedunching wave after wave of attacks against Rosenborg. They even started utilizing a Tiki-taka style of y, coupled with phenomenal bursts of brilliance through the wing, to sustain their attacking pressure. Obviously, the Swedish giants hadn''t given up even though they were trailing by two goals in the 85th minute.

    However, the Rosenborg yers continued ying like champions throughout the remaining minutes. They made their formationpact and simply focused on defending with all they had in the final stages of the second half. As a result, they prevented the Swedish giants from scoring even a single goal until the final whistle sounded after four minutes of added time.

    **** ****

    Pays de Loire, Nantes, France.

    Since it was already the second week of December, a festive atmosphere was already in the air in this historic city of France.

    Christmas lights were all over the ce, blinking on and off in a multitude of colors. They shimmered like gems out of a fairy tale as they cast an ethereal feel upon the wide streets.

    The other decorations, including the humongous Christmas trees, were so well-paced all over the city. They could easily tempt almost any intelligent soul to hum a Christmas hymn if they so happened to trek through the city, especiallyte at night.

    However, there were always a few exceptions to every case.

    Mr. Christophe Bernard, the head scout of FC Nantes, wasn''t feeling the least bit festive, even as he walked through the wide streets of Nantes that night. He would often sigh or frown while slowly navigating the sparse human traffic on the sidewalk. He was clearly not in a good mood.

    He''d just watched another Rosenborg match a few hours earlier. Once again, he''d witnessed Zachary Bemba, a yer who he had let slip through his fingers, perform like the best of Maestros.

    Back in Lubumbashi, he''d been sure that Zachary would never be able to grow into a phenomenal yer due to his hidden injury. As a result, he''d opted to go with the four other young talents, instead of Zachary, after the trials.

    Yet, a little more than three years down the road, Zachary, the yer he''d ignored, was already performing splendidly in the Europa League. On the other hand, the yers he''d selected were still struggling to make it onto the official roster of the Nantes reserve team. He couldn''t help but wallow in mncholy when he recalled his decision back then.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    His phone started vibrating just as he approached the subway entrance a little whileter. He couldn''t help but frown ever so slightly after fishing it out of his pocket and ncing at the screen. That was because the person calling was the sporting director of FC Nantes. For sure, it wasn''t to deliver good news, especially at such ate hour of the evening.

    Be that as it may, he braced himself and decided to ept the call since it was his boss on the other end of the line.

    "Hello, Mr. Christophe," the director said in French as soon as he''d pressed the "ept" button and ced the phone next to his ear. "How''s your evening?"

    "My evening is fine," Mr. Christophe lied. "To what do I owe the pleasure of receiving a call from you at this time of the evening?"

    "Nothing much," the director replied in a rxed manner. "I''m just checking up on the issue about Zachary Bemba, the young yer who''s currently ying for Rosenborg. I heard that he participated in the trials you conducted in Lubumbashi, DR Congo, a few years back. Is that true?"

    "Here ites," Mr. Christophe thought but said, "Yes, that''s true. He was part of the group of young men that took part in the ADTA trials held in 2010."

    "Then, why didn''t you select him at the time? How could a talented scout like you miss out on a yer with such potential? What exactly happened?"

    "Well," Mr. Christophe said, trying his best to organize his thoughts as quickly as possible. "I could tell that he was a talented yer even back then. However, there was a problem with his background check. He''d suffered a problematic ankle injury, which I thought would significantly affect his career. That''s why I didn''t choose him as one of the talents for our academy at the time."

    "Surely, you must have missed something. Didn''t you do any follow-up medical tests for the yer?"

    "Nope."

    "Then, how could you be sure that the injury would significantly affect his career without doing any follow-up medical tests?"

    "We had a small window of time for the trials in Lubumbashi," the scout said, trying his utmost to sound casual. "That was because of our tight schedule, which necessitated us to travel to over ten African countries within a month. So, I went with the most cost-effective method of conducting a brief background check on all the yers with potential at the time."

    "What a pity," the director said from the other end of the line. "This Zachary Bemba is one of the most talented yers in the younger generation today. He might even have a chance of winning next year''s Golden Boy award if he can help his team reach theter stages of the Europa League. Did you manage to get acquainted with him back in Congo?"

    "Nope."

    "This is really not like you, Christophe," the director said. "You miss out on a yer filled with potential, and you even fail to make any tangible connections with him. Why were you so dull?"

    Mr. Christophe could only remain silent when faced with such usations. He already regretted his decision back then after watching a few of Rosenborg''s Europa League matches. So, there was no need for him to be argumentative.

    The director sighed audibly from the other end of the line after a short while. "Do you think there''s a possibility that we can attract him here, especially since he would have thepanionship of his countrymates on our team?"

    "Please, stop joking, Mr. Director," Mr. Christophe was quick to reply. "There are plenty of top teams in the four big leagues that will be willing to sign him ¡ªe the next transfer window. So, logically speaking, there''s no reason for him to join our team, which is still toiling in League 2. My advice to you, Mr. Director, is to forget about him."

    "What a pity," the director said, sighing once again. "It would have been a blessing to have such a talented yer on our squad. However, because of a certain someone, we missed out. Truly a pity!"

    **** ****

 Chapter 302 - Kristinâ€™s Considerations

    The following day.

    -----

    ZACHARY BEMBA STRIKES ONCE AGAIN TO PROPEL ROSEBORG INTO THE KNOCK-OUT STAGE OF THE EUROPA LEAGUE!

    -----

    Kristin could not help but smile after reading the headline on TV2-Sporten''s official website. As Zachary''s publicity secretary, she was really happy for him from the bottom of her heart. She truly wished him plenty of more sess in the years toe.

    But above all, she was happy that Rosenborg had qualified for the Europa League''s knock-out stages for the first time in over two years. With nine points from six matches, the Troll Kids had finally firmly established themselves as second in Group C and managed to snatch one of the spots in the round of thirty-two.

    On the other hand, Standard Li¨¨ge, the club from Belgium, had once again lost to Red Bull Salzburg by a score of two goals to one in the previous day''s fixture. As a result, they''d remained stuck at six points and only managed to ce as third in Group C. So, they could only bow out of this season''s Europa League.

    "What are you reading that''s making you smile this early in the morning?" Monica R?nning, her tmate, asked from across the table. The two of them were feasting on a sumptuous breakfast in the living room of their apartment located in Stj?rdalsveien.

    "I''m just looking at some of today''s sports headlines," Kristin replied after taking a slight sip on her coffee. "The most trending topics on all the major news tforms and the popr sports blogs are Zachary and Rosenborg''s qualification for the next round of the Europa League."

    "I heard that Zachary was involved in both the two goals of Rosenborgst night," Monica remarked, punctuating her words with a sip on her orange juice.

    "Yes, he created both goals almost out of nothing," Kristin replied with a sigh. "He single-handedly dissected the IF Elfsborg defense on both asions to create the two goal-scoring opportunities. He managed to score the first from the penalty spot and then,ter on, created an opportunity for Nicki to score the second. He was truly incredible on both asions."

    "How does he really do it?" Monica mumbled. "Counting the one goal from yesterday, he should already be having a tally of seven goals in the Europa League. Isn''t that right?"

    "Yes, that''s true." Kristin nodded. "He''s already the top scorer despite the fact that he has only yed three of the six group fixtures of the tournament. His form is incredible these days."

    "Wow!" Monica said, ncing squarely at her friend from across the table. "Do you know what this means? Do you understand the repercussions of his continued incredible performances and his increased fame, especially on the European stage?"

    "What exactly are you implying, Monica?"

    "I''m just trying to say that Zachary will most likely be leaving Rosenborg soon," Monica replied with a sigh. "Think about it logically. By now, even the top teams around Europe should have heard about him. They should be already making ns to steal Zachary from Rosenborg. I don''t expect a yer as good as him to say no to all those mouth-watering offers."

    "You''re right," Kristin said, creasing her brows. "But, why are you telling me this? I would still be happy for Zachary if he left Rosenborg and moved on to the greener pastures like the five big leagues in Europe. The only thing I wouldn''t tolerate is him moving to a team like Molde. But that won''t happen unless Roman Abramovich purchases the club. So, there''s no need for me to worry."

    "What I meant to ask is what your ns are, especially since Zachary will most likely be leaving Trondheim soon. Do you n on continuing as his publicity secretary, or will you focus on only school and give up on the job?"

    Kristin could not help but sink into a moment of contemtion on hearing the question. She really loved working as Zachary''s publicity secretary since the position had allowed her to interact with professionals in the sports industry. As a result, she was one step closer to achieving her dream of working as both a scout and an agent in the footballing world.

    The position had also awarded her a lucrative wage of 40,000 NOK per month. She was already making money that most people in the world couldn''t hope to touch until they had finished their university studies. Moreover, there was even a possibility of earning more if Zachary moved on to greener pastures. And that was why she didn''t want to give up her position as Zachary''s publicity secretary for anything in the world.

    But there was one issue with the whole picture. Kristin was still a student who''d justmenced her studies at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim. So, if Zachary decided to transfer out of Rosenborg and out of Trondheim, she, as his publicity secretary, would have to follow him wherever he went. The other option would be to give up the position and only concentrate on her studies while hoping tond another simr job in the future.

    What was she to do?

    For a moment, Kristin was in a dilemma. One option was the traditional way of investing in her future through studying. The other had already allowed her to take firm steps towards achieving her dream career even beforepleting her university studies. If she was to be really honest with herself, she didn''t want to lose either.

    "I don''t know what to do yet?" Kristin mumbled after a short while of contemtion. "What would you do if you were in my shoes?"

    A soft smile lit up Monica''s face as she held her friend''s gaze. "If you want to continue your studies and also hold on to your job at the same time, you could think about transferring to another university. If you y your cards right, you might even enroll in a university that will straight away allow you to continue your program of study. In that case, you wouldn''t have to waste a year since there wouldn''t be any need to restart your course from the beginning."

    "But," Monica continued, her tone turning solemn. "Before deciding to transfer, you should first get confirmation that will allow you to remain as Zachary''s employee, at least throughout the duration of your university studies. That means you''ll have to negotiate for a working contract of a minimum of three years before you agree to transfer out of NTNU and then follow Zachary to wherever he''ll be going. With the contract in ce, you can be sure of your future even if the working rtionship between you and Zachary breaks down. At least, you''ll getpensation and be able to continue your studies."

    "That''s really a good solution," Kristin said, the fog clouding her mind clearing. "I''ll talk to Zachary and his agent about the idea before the festive season. If their response is positive, then I''ll have to start the preparations of transferring out of NTNU soon. Thank you, Monica, for the advice."

    "I''m d to be of help any time," Monica said, her delicate facial features blossoming into a smile. "But don''t you dare forget me when you make it big as some football scout or agent out there."

    Kristin pursed her lips, suppressing a giggle. "How can I forget you when you''re about to join the Olympics team? That would be unbing of me as a person who wants to make it big in the sports industry."

    "Jokes aside," Kristin continued. "Do you wish to attend Rosenborg''s end-of-year banquet tomorrow evening? If you do, I can guarantee to get you an invite from the organizers."

    "You can even get yourself some invitations to a Rosenborg club party!" Monica eximed, raising her brows.

    "Have you forgotten that I''m still working there as an intern? It''s no big deal getting an invitation for one of my friends to attend the party. So, do you wish to go or not?"

    "Of course, I wish to go, girl," Monica was quick to reply with a smile. "Just get me the invitation."

    "Good." Kristin nodded. "Just prepare a formal evening dress for tomorrow evening. I''ll get the invitations by the end of today."

    **** ****

 Chapter 303 - Rosenborgâ€™s End-of-Year Banquet

    -----

    Saturday, December 14, 2013.

    -----

    Nightfall came with the whisper of perfect ck that grew into aforting chorus of stars. Upon the snow-lit eve, reflecting streemp gold into the ck, Zachary wasfortably nestled in his Audi R8 GT, navigating the evening traffic on the streets of Trondheim. Beside him in the passenger''s seat was Cami, who was humming the popr Rihanna hit ¡ª Diamonds ¡ª that was at that moment ying on the car stereo.

    Zachary barely stayed below the speed limit for most of the journey since the two of them were alreadyte for Rosenborg''s end-of-year banquet at the Scandic Lerkendal Hotel. He cruised through the streets like an expert race driver, and soon, thevishly decorated entrance of the hotel was in sight.

    "We are here!" He said after a few more seconds of driving. Without waiting for a response, he pulled up into one of the free parking spaces in front of the hotel before alighting from the vehicle and rushing to the other side to hold the door open for Cami.

    "There you go, my dear," he said with a smile as he opened the door and stepped to the side.

    Cami suppressed a giggle, the corners of her lips lifting into a gorgeous smile. "Thank you, Zach," she said, stepping out of the door to take his hand. "I''m already enjoying this. Maybe, we should start going to parties a little more often."

    "I''m sorry, but that''s just not possible," Zachary said as he locked the car doors. "Professional athletes should endeavor to limit partying to the bare minimum. So, I can''t apany you to most of those parties. That''s why I have to give my apologies in advance."

    "That''s a pity," Cami said with a smile, seemingly not taking Zachary''s refusal to heart. "Isn''t the banquet somewhere around here? Why is the whole parking lot abnormally quiet?" She asked, ncing around.

    "That''s because we''re a bitte," Zachary replied, shaking his head. "The others should already be inside. Shall we head to the venue, my dear?"

    "Okay, lead the way," Cami said, beaming.

    Without further ado, they started moving towards the hotel''s entrance, taking care not to slip on the frozen pavement.

    Since they were heading to Rosenborg''s end-of-year banquet, the two of them were dressed to kill. Zachary had donned a ssy grey tuxedo that entuated his tall frame. One look at him, and you would think he was a male model headed out for a photoshoot of a famous men''s magazine. On the other hand, Cami was in a chic party dress ¡ª the kind that emphasized her long legs and brought out the green in her eyes. She looked even more stunning than usual that night.

    A few minutester, Zachary finally arrived at the banquet venue under the guidance of the hotel staff. He couldn''t help but do a double-take when he stepped into the hall with Cami by his side. It was as if he''d entered a dreand. Be it the fragrances floating all over the ce, the easy and natural colors upon the eyes, and the happy chatter in the background ¡ª they all gave the venue a delightful party vibe.

    On further looking around, Zachary could see that the organizers had put a lot of effort into preparing the venue. The decorations, the tables, the lights, and the stage were all immactely arranged to give the room an ethereal feel. And as a finishing touch to the entire setup, Rosenborg''s two trophies for that season had been ced atop an elevated stand at the center.

    "Let''s find ourselves a table," Zachary said to Cami after taking a moment to observe the setup of the venue. Without waiting for a response, he led her by the arm as they walked towards a table without upants. Before long, the two of them had already joined in on the festivities and started stuffing themselves with the various delicacies, desserts, and drinks that the banquet had to offer.

    Zachary, on his part, was really having a st that night. He truly relished the vibrant atmosphere of the banquet. With Cami by his side, the evening wasn''t the least bit boring. The two of them discussed various topics, big and small, to pass the time. They only separated and started socializing on their own an hour into the progression of the banquet.

    Zachary then spent quite some time mingling with most of his teammates while enjoying some mocktail drinks. He also spared some time to talk to Kristin and a few other acquaintances who''d also attended the banquet. And in that manner, the minutes and hours shed by quickly, and soon the festivities reached their climax.

    Boyd Johansen, the head coach of Rosenborg, stood up and took center stage. "Good evening,dies and gentlemen," he said with a smile. "Can I have a bit of your attention, please?"

    His tone wasmanding over the microphone, and soon, the entire venue quietened down. At that moment, all eyes were on Coach Johansen''s tall frame as the audience waited for his address.

    "It''s really a pleasure for me to stand here before you as the head coach of Rosenborg after a year of great sess," the coach began after clearing his throat. "It has been a long season, for sure. But we have finally ended it with a bang and managed to win two trophies. As I speak now, we''re currently both the League trophy holders and also the Norwegian Cup winners."

    The coach paused as a wave of apuse arose from the audience. The Rosenborg yers and staff, plus all the other banquet attendees, took their time pping and cheering to celebrate Rosenborg''s sess. As a result, a merry mood was all over the air for the next few seconds.

    The coach smiled, sweeping his gaze across the room as the apuse subsided. "Let me take this opportunity to thank all of you who contributed to our great spell of victories."

    "Thank you, my yers, for doing the hard work," he continued, his voice rising slightly. "Thank you to all the other members of staff that have helped me in my daily duties as the head coach of Rosenborg. And above all, thank you to all our fans that have supported us with their all throughout the entire year. I salute you all. Rosenborg wouldn''t have achieved its current sess if it wasn''t for the relentless efforts of you all."

    The venue exploded again, but that didn''t stop the coach from continuing his impassioned speech.

    "Today is a day of festivities," he said, lowering his voice. "I don''t want to take up much of your time, rumbling-on on unrted issues. So, it''s my humble request that you allow me to step down from the stage since I also wish to rejoin the festivities as soon as possible."

    "Permission granted!" A few of the Rosenborg yers and staff yelled out loud while the rest of the audienceughed out loud. They were really enjoying themselves since they could evenugh at Coach Johansen''s jokes.

    "Just a moment, just a moment," the coach said, raising his hand to request for silence. "Before I step down from the stage, let me take this opportunity to wee the club chairman to bless us with a few words as we continue on with this victory banquet."

    "Mr. Chairman," the coach continued, turning to one side of the room where the club executives were seated. "The stage is now yours."

    "p*p*p..."

    Everyone in the audience started pping enthusiastically as Ivar Koteng, the chairman of Rosenborg Ballklubb, took center stage. In a few words, he thanked all the yers, staff, fans, and well-wishers of Rosenborg before returning to his seat.

    After his speech, it was finally time for the prize-giving session. It was the climax for the entire banquet ¡ª the moment when Rosenborg''s yer of the season would be announced.

    Mr. Eric Hoftun, Rosenborg''s sporting director, soon stepped onto the stage to announce the prizes. He gave a friendly smile before he cleared his throat and spoke in a steady tone.

    "The entire Rosenborg team has been quite exceptional this season. The defense has been quite solid, the midfield greatly versatile, while the attackers have been extremely sharp." He paused, sweeping his gaze across the entire audience that was waiting with bated breath.

    "However," he continued. "One yer has stood out from among the rest this season. He has matured greatly in less than a year, casting away his status as a newbie from the academy and bing a first-team yer. Of recent, he has even managed to establish himself as an irreceable offensive pivot of the team. Whenever he is on the field of y, the opponents will tremble ¡ª simply because he can score from any angle at any given moment."

    "As you all know, he has already managed to score quite a number of goals in variouspetitions this year. Among those are his seven goals in the Europa League, which have helped Rosenborg qualify for this year''s Europa League knock-out stages. For me, it''s always a pleasure whenever I watch him on the field of y."

    "Let''s put our hands together for Zachary Bemba, Rosenborg''s yer of the season!"

    The venue exploded right after the announcement. The thunderous apuse was like nothing else at that moment.

    Zachary didn''t lose hisposure from all the attention. He squeezed Cami''s hand to acknowledge her almost silent congrattory message before marching towards the stage. He then received the best-yer award under the gaze of the entire crowd and numerous shes of the cameras in the venue.

    At that moment, he could hardly contain his excitement since he''d once again managed to win another de very early in his second life. It really meant a lot to him, even though it was just a trivial team-best-yer award.

    The awards ceremony only continued after he''d returned to his seat. To no one''s surprise, Nicki Nielsen won the best Rosenborg forward de ¡ª while Mikael Dorsin went home with the best defensive yer award. And, of course, Rosenborg''s season''s best-midfielder and club top-scorer des went to Zachary. With that, he''d managed to win three honors on a single evening and created a sort of a record.. Thus, he was really over the moon when he exited the banquet venue and headed home with Camiter that night.

 Chapter 304 - The Europa League Knock-out Stage Draw

    Zachary''s daily workload lightened considerably after Rosenborg''s end-of-year banquet. It was the off-season in Norway, and there were nopulsory team training sessions or matches for him to attend. So, he spent most of his time training alone, hoping to make further improvements before themencement of the following season.

    He didn''t rush to consume the A-graded vitality-enhancing elixir, stored in the system inventory, but only focused on elevating his physical condition to its peak. He was trying his best to achieve his best state possible so as to gain maximum benefits when he finally consumed the elixir.

    For the following few days, he would wake up early in the morning to jog and then head to the gym after breakfast. In the afternoon, he would attend a fitness session guided by Coach Bj?rn Peters, his fitness trainer, before ending his daily training with a one-hour yoga sessionte in the evening. In that manner, the days shed by quickly, and soon, it was Tuesday, the day for the Europa League''s knock-out stage draw.

    Zachary ended his training early and hurriedly returned home to watch the draw live on television. It featured thirty-two teams, with several big names like Juventus, Ajax, Tottenham, and Sevi. For sure, there would be some very thrilling encounters in the next stage of the tournament.

    "Good afternoon,dies and gentlemen," the host of the draw said with a smile right after the clock hand had pointed to the twelve o''clock mark. "Wee to this year''s Europa League round of thirty-two and round of sixteen draws..."

    After a round of introductions and greetings, the host quickly started exining the nature of the draw. The rules were quite detailed and clear to Zachary.

    In the draw for the round of thirty-two, the twelve Europa League group winners and the four third-ced teams from the Champions League group stage with the better group records would be the seeded clubs. On the other hand, the twelve group runners-up and the other four third-ced teams from the Champions League group stage would be the unseeded opponents. The seeded teams would then be drawn against the unseeded teams, with the seeded teams hosting the second leg. However, teams that were previously from the same group or those from the same association could not be drawn against each other.

    For the round of sixteen and onwards, there would be no seedings. The teams that were previously from the same group or even those from the same association could sh if the draw pitted them against each other. For instance, an English Premier League club might face an opponent from the same league. Or they might even have to y an opponent they formerly faced in the group stages of the Europa League.

    The host spoke in a steady and confident tone, and in a matter of a few minutes, he finished exining the rules of the draw. He then invited three gentlemen onto the stage, and the proceedings moved on to the actual drawing of the teams.

    Zachary was tense as he waited for Rosenborg''s next opponents in the round of thirty-two of the Europa League. And finally, after having waited for more than 10 minutes, Rosenborg''s name was picked from the pot of unseeded teams and soon drawn against Fiorentina, the Italian side. It was thest drawing for the night, and the event ended soon after.

    Zachary could not help but crease his brows as he sunk into a moment of contemtion. His team, Rosenborg, would have to defeat Fiorentina if they wanted to qualify for the round of sixteen of the Europa League. And if they did qualify, they would have to face either Juventus, the infamous Italian giants, or Trabzonspor, the team from Turkey, before qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

    Both fixtures were not easy.

    "Maybe, we can win!"

    Zachary inwardly tried to encourage himself. But deep down, he understood that Rosenborg''s chances of besting teams like Fiorentina or Juventus when ying two legs were minimal.

    Both Italian clubs had enough depth in their squads to render Rosenborg helpless on the field of y. Not even the most ingenious football tactics could ovee such an obvious gap in yer and squad ability, as long as all the other factors remained constant.

    Thus, unless the goddess of luck favored Rosenborg during the following two stages of the Europa League, Zachary and his teammates would find themselves hard-pressed to achieve any results from those fixtures. It was a simple truth.

    "Maybe, I should encourage coach Johansen to sign a few of those not-yet-famous forwards and wingers from my previous life," Zachary mused. "As long as we strengthen the attacking force, then Rosenborg will have a fair chance ofpeting against those big names like Fiorentina and Juventus."

    Zachary wasn''t inclined to leave the oue of the crucial round of thirty-two fixture to luck. That was because he still had a potential system penalty of 120,000 Juju points hanging over his head. Should his team fail to beat Fiorentina and qualify for the round of sixteen, then he would be in deep shit.

    So, instead of cing his hopes on something as uncertain as luck, why not strengthen his team before the fixture by encouraging his coach to sign more phenomenal talents? Zachary was sure that as long as he made any suggestions concerning the issue, Coach Johansen would take them seriously, considering their rtionship and history together. It was worth a try, for sure.

    Zachary got to work immediately after making the resolution. He opened hisptop and soon started browsing the inte to search for information on some famous names in football from his previous life.

    First, he eliminated all the footballers already ying in the top seven European leagues and the Brazilian Serie A. Such yers would most likely not be interested in joining a third-tier league team like Rosenborg since they were already contented where they were. So, there was no point in including them on the list of yers that could strengthen Rosenborg''s squad in the near future.

    Zachary only needed yers that Rosenborg could afford at that moment. So, he spent more than two hours browsing the web and filtering out names. But soon, he realized that it was a more difficult task to discover talented strikers whenpared to defenders.

    That was because all the famous forwards he could recall were already ying for big clubs at that time. Phenomenal yers, like Harry Kane, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, Duv¨¢n Zapata, Mo Sh, Kylian Mbapp¨¦, and many others, were already connected to clubs with a financial muscle much bigger than Rosenborg. So, unless he went for those young teenagers, like Dele Ali, Alex Iwobi, or Erling Hand, he wouldn''t be able to find any avable and affordable striker for Rosenborg.

    But would signing such youngsters help Rosenborg overpower Fiorentina or Juventus the following year? Zachary hurriedly discarded the thought before it could take root in his mind.

    Those youngsters, of course, possessed immense potential. They would mature into very dangerous attackers, maybe, three to five years from then. However, they might not even make the squad for Rosenborg''s match against Fiorentina in February simply because of their young age and inexperience at the moment.

    "Damn!"

    Zachary was really frustrated as he continued going over the list of strikers in his mind without results. But, he didn''t give up until hended on a few inconspicuous names that could add some depth to Rosenborg''s squad. They were not Zachary''s first choice, but he could onlypromise since he understood Rosenborg''s financial situation.

    Afterpiling the list, Zachary settled on one of the sofas in his living room before dialing Coach Johansen''s phone number. "Good evening, coach," he said right after the call had connected. "How''s your afternoon?"

    "My afternoon is fine, Zachary?" Coach Johansen replied from the other end of the line. "What about you? How''s your vacation? Did you go home, or are you still here in Trondheim?"

    "I''m still here in Trondheim," Zachary replied. "But the vacation is going on well. Coach! Did you watch today''s Europa League draw?"

    "Of course, I did. I wouldn''t have missed it for anything in the world. We''re facing Fiorentina in February. What are your thoughts?"

    "Well," Zachary said, taking a moment to organize his thoughts. "They''re tough opponents, especially since they''re now fourth on the Italian League table. We''ll face a hard time against them for sure. But football is football. We can still win if we give our all during the match."

    "Oh!" Coach Johansen said. "From your tone, I guess you''re not that confident. But don''t you worry. We have plenty of time withoutpetitive football to prepare for the match. As long as we prepare well, we can win against any opponents."

    "Oh, okay, I guess you''re right," Zachary said, obviously not convinced. "Coach! I just called to alert you about a few yers with potential that I''ve just chanced upon when watching football matches on the inte."

    "yers filled with potential!" Coach Johansen eximed, his voice rising a pitch higher. "Go on. I''m listening."

    "Do you have a pen and paper with you, coach?"

    "Yes, I do."

    "Okay, I will mention the names of the yers now. The first one is Japanese forward named Takumi Minamino. At the moment, he''s ying for a club in Japan named Cerezo Osaka. If you y your cards right, you might acquire his services at a small fee."

    "The second yer is also from Japan. He goes by the name of Yuya Osako and is now ying for a club based in Tokyo called Kashima Antlers. He''s a forward who''s dangerous both inside and outside the box."

    "And finally, the third yer is Karl Toko Ekambi, a forward currently ying for Paris FC. He''s a power forward who can y on both wings or even as a number-10. If Rosenborg could manage to purchase him, you would have some more options when organizing tactics against those big names in the Europa League."

    "I have given you all the names now," Zachary continued. "It''s up to you to see if they have got what it takes to join Rosenborg."

    "Okay, Zachary," Coach Johansen said from the other end of the line. "I''ve noted down all the names. I will get some of our free scouts to assess them as soon as possible. If they''re as good as you say, then I''ll do my best to try and sign them."

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary said.

    "No, I should be the one thanking you, Zachary," the coach hurriedly said. "I''m d that you''re still thinking about the future of the club. But there is one thing I need to ask. Did you happen to find out about those yers when watching matches online? Or have you hired a scout that is helping you unearth all those yers?"

    "I watch a lot of football during my free time," Zachary replied in a poised tone. "And when I happen to spot a good yer during a match, I''ll always take note of him. That''s how I found out about those three yers."

    "Okay, then," the coach said. "Thanks for the info. But since it''s vacation time, endeavor to take some rest. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good. If there''s nothing else, I''ll have to say goodbye for now. Is there anything else?"

    "No," Zachary replied. "That''s all."

    -----

 Chapter 305 - Consuming The Elixirs

    Zachary felt a sense of urgency building up within him after watching the Europa League draw.

    Rosenborg would be facing off against Fiorentina on February 20th in the first leg showdown of the Europa League''s round of thirty-two fixture. The second leg would then be held a weekter, on the 27th, to determine the team that would qualify for the next stage of the tournament. So, he only had a bit more than two months to prepare for the new season ofpetitive football.

    Moreover, if he were to factor in the festive season, the pre-season training sessions, and the potential friendly matches, the avable time would reduce to about a month and a half. Thus, he had to make the proper adjustments to his training ns and utilize every resource at his disposal to improve his skills as quickly as possible. And that''s why he''d decided to immediately consume the vitality-enhancing-elixir that''d been collecting dust in the system inventory.

    He''d obtained the vitality-enhancing-elixir as a mission reward forpleting one of the milestones of the system''s 2013 Tippeligaen Serial Challenge mission. However, to prevent the side effects from affecting his daily performance, he''d hardened his heart and decided not to consume the elixir at the time.

    But at the moment, it was already the offseason. There were no uingpetitive football matches or daily team training sessions to consider. So, it was the ideal time window for Zachary to consume the elixir without hindering his football career.

    Moreover, since there were only five days remaining to Christmas day, most of his neighbors had already traveled to who knows where. As a result, his neighborhood was quiet, without many people loitering around. It was thus the perfect location to consume the vitality-enhancing-elixir without worrying about potential disturbances.

    Everything was in order, and Zachary decided to act right away.

    On that Thursday evening, he returned home from the gym earlier than usual. He went through a one-hour yoga routine before taking a warm shower to rx his muscles. After that, he feasted on a sumptuous early dinner to sate his hunger before meditating slightly to adjust his mental state.

    Back then, when he''d just returned back in time, he''d consumed a B-graded version of the vitality-enhancing-elixir and suffered a great deal from its effects. So, this time around, he had to be prepared mentally. And that''s why he was trying his best to achieve his best condition since he understood how potent an A-graded version of the elixir was.

    The minutes shed by quickly, and soon, the clock hand pointed to seven o''clock in the evening. Zachary ended his meditation and drew all his blinds, thus isting himself in his living room. After ensuring that he''dtched the door properly, he then settled down on his yoga mat before summoning the system interface. With a slight shimmer, the familiar crystal-like disy immediately materialized before him.

    "System," he said, ncing at the interface. "I would like to consume both the A-graded physical conditioning-elixir and the vitality-enhancing-elixir right away."

    "Command received," the system AI replied immediately. "Confirming... The user has a single dose of an A-graded vitality-enhancing-elixir and another single dose of an A-graded physical conditioning elixir stored in the system inventory."

    "The user can select the respective cards in the inventory to summon the elixirs. But, the user should consume the elixirs within five seconds after their removal from the system inventory. Otherwise, their effects will disappear if they spend more time out of the inventory."

    "Okay, okay," Zachary said, ncing at the two cards that had just floated forward and upied the entire length of the crystal-like disy before him.

    One card depicted an image of a small apple, with the words "Vitality-Enhancing-Elixir" inscribed below it. Another portrayed a small banana, which was usually the form of the physical-conditioning-elixir in the system inventory.

    The two cards were glittering slightly at the edges, causing Zachary''s heart to throb with anticipation. There was a chance of his agility attribute breaking through to the S-grading after consuming the two elixirs. So, how could he not be excited?

    Zachary decided not to dilly-dally any longer. He first clicked on the card portraying the image of the banana. And vo, the banana, the size of small candy, popped out of the translucent blue screen the next moment.

    Zachary immediately gulped it down, only in two bites. But he didn''t stop just at that. Without bothering with the refreshing sensation spreading around his body, he summoned the vitality-enhancing elixir in the form of an apple and also gobbled it down in a single bite. After that, Zacharyy supine on the yoga mat and braced himself for the effects of the two elixirs that were about to kick in.

    At first, there was only a rejuvenating feeling circting from his stomach and slowly spreading to the rest of his body. Then the pain came abruptly.

    Before he could adapt, a tingling sensation simr to low voltage electric shocks passed through his entire being, causing him to shudder with agony. It was as if thousands of tiny ants were drilling into his body and squirming around while eating away his blood and fresh.

    The pain was almost too much for Zachary to withstand. However, he could still feel the weird changes happening to his body, even in his dazed state. It was as if there were strands of alien substances slowly infusing themselves into his blood, veins, tissues, and bones.

    Some of those strands even slowly started imbuing themselves into his brain region after a short while, and the pain tormenting his head grew in intensity. He couldn''t see anything and couldn''t even move his body as it was out of his control. And finally, after suffering such difort for a few more minutes, he couldn''t take it anymore.

    He fainted.

    -----

    After a long time, Zachary woke up.

    The searing pain had already disappeared, reced by a numb feeling coursing through his entire body. However, the numbness was also fast fading ¡ª and in its ce was a growing warm sensation overflowing within him.

    Unexpectedly, after this sensation grew to a certain level, he felt a wonderful blissfulness envelop his entire being. The feeling was like nothing he''d experienced before, sofortable and fulfilling to the very core.

    Moreover, his body seemed to be full of energy at that moment, and just as he stretched, slight audible cracking sounds could be heard from his joints. For sure, the vitality-elixir had benefited him greatly.

    But just as he was about to summon the system interface to check out the extent of his improvement, his nose twitched slightly. A potent fishy smell was at that moment assaulting his senses, making it hard for him to breathe normally.

    Zachary was slightly startled. He hurriedly observed the entire outline of his body. Unexpectedly, a thin greasyyer coated the skin on the exposed parts of his body.

    "What the hell?" Zachary yelped in surprise. "Isn''t this the stuff of legends where powerhouses expel the foul substances from their bodies as they grow stronger?"

    Zachary''s brows creased together as he continued observing his body. He had a feeling that he might turn into a superhuman if he continued consuming the system''s high-grade elixirs. But he reckoned that there was nothing to worry about at the moment. Whether the changes were a bad or good thing, he would have to wait and see what the future had in store for him.

    Zachary didn''t continue lying on the floor with such a stench hovering all over him. He hurriedly took a quick shower before returning to the living room and summoning the system interface again. He was in a rush to find out the changes in his attributes after consuming the elixir.

    "System," he intoned, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "Bring up my physical attributes stats right away."

    "Command received," the apathetic voice of the system''s AI sounded the next moment. "Host''s physical fitness attributes will being up on the system interface in a bit."

    "Excellent!"

    Zachary immediately focused his gaze on the crystal-like disy before him. Without further ado, he started perusing through the contents on the disyed page of the interface.

    -----

    ****

    *USER STATS

    -----

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: S-)

    Body Control (Bnce and Coordination): S-

    Agility: S-

    Strength: S-

    Stamina: S-

    Endurance Points: 17,500/18,000 (S-)

    -----

    ****

    "OMG!" Zachary yelped in surprise once again as his excitement shot through the roof. Both his agility and strength attributes had finally broken through to the S- grading after ingesting the elixir. As a result, all his fitness attributes had finally achieved the S-grading.

    He''d only hoped to only raise his agility to the next level after consuming the elixir. However, he''d lucked out quite a bit by also being able to push his strength attribute to the S-grading.

    Strength or power was an attribute that contributed significantly to a yer''s speed and agility. Furthermore, it impacted a yer''s ability to shoot, make long passes, defend and shield the ball. Great strength also allowed the yer to win aerial duels and easily steal the ball from opponents.

    Even ball wizards like Messi and Ronaldinho had to ce emphasis on honing their strength-attribute. That was because, without strength and power in both the upper and lower body, even yers as highly skilled as them could be easily pushed off the ball and lose possession. Strength was that important for a yer.

    Zachary couldn''t help but crease his brows on looking further down the screen.. "As expected," he said, "it seems like my ser-technique average rating has fallen to the A- grade after consuming such a potent elixir?" Without further ado, he clicked on the attribute to ascertain the exact change in his skills.

 Chapter 306 - Training Plans

    ****

    -----

    *USER STATS

    ->Ser Technique: (Av. Rating: A- (A+))

    Ball Control: A- (A+)

    Dribbling Skills: B+ (A+)

    Passing uracy: A- (A+)

    Body Control: A+ (S-)

    -----

    NB: The grades in the brackets represent the user''s base stats or, in other words, the user''s attributes before consuming the elixir.

    -----

    *****

    Zachary''s eyes narrowed even further after perusing through his ser-technique stats.

    Since his body fitness had improved by arge margin within a short period, his skills couldn''t follow but had instead dipped to some extent. His ball control, dribbling skills, and passing uracy had all dropped by a grade or two after consuming the potent vitality-enhancing-elixir. Additionally, his body control attribute, formerly at the S-grade, had now fallen back to the A+ grade. Moreover, his technique might continue teauing for a long time if he couldn''t adapt to his new body attributes quickly.

    A person''s technique was perhaps the most visibly conspicuous element to sess in football. Even an amateur could recognize a good technique. Does a yer possess impable ball control? Is he fast with the ball at his feet, or can he dribble through opponents? And how''s his passing ability? Those were some of the questions to consider when assessing a person''s technique in football. They were the basic foundations of any football yer if they wished to make it big in the game.

    Thence, should a professional yer experience even a slight dip in his technique, he would be in for a hard time. That was because the individual in question would automatically lose his form and immediately fall out of grace with the coaches.

    In more severe cases, the yer would be more prone to injuries since he would try topensate for the dip in form with extra hard work on the field of y. That extra effort without the apanying technique would often bring him in a hell-lot of excessive physical duels with opponents. And those duels were what brought about the spell of injuries for many off-form yers.

    All in all, a yer might possess a high body fitness level with exceptional agility, strength, and endurance stats. However, if he had no football skills, he would still be mediocre on the field of y. That was why sprinting champions like Usain Bolt or Justin Gatlin would find it hard if they wanted to make it big in football. In their case, it was simply a matter of technique, not physical fitness.

    However, in Zachary''s case, the issue with his technique wasn''t that severe since the side effects of the elixir were only temporary. So, as long as he underwent a targeted training regimen over the following two months, he would be able to return to his peak in a short while. There was even a chance of going further and elevating his skills to a higher level if he yed his cards right.

    Zachary''s entire being was already throbbing with anticipation on thinking about how he could soon be able to increase his skills. "System," he said, ncing at the crystal-like disy before him. "Could you establish a training n that can help me in returning my football-technique attributes to their peak in the shortest time possible?"

    "Command received," the system AI replied. "The system will deduct 200 Juju-point to assemble an appropriate training n to suit the user''s needs. Is that okay with the user?"

    "That''s okay," Zachary was quick to reply. "Go ahead and formte the best training n for me. It would be best if the n could help me regain my peak state within a month."

    "Command received," the AI replied. "200 Juju points deducted. A tailor-made training n is being put together at the moment. Please wait!"

    Zachary didn''t have to wait for long. In only a matter of seconds, new contents appeared on the translucent bluish screen before him with a slight shimmer.

    He blinked as his eyes adjusted to the lighting on the screen. Without further ado, he started going through the training ns that the system had just put together in the form of a mission.

    ****

    G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    #NEW MISSION: A forty-day training regimen to solidify the user''s football techniques.

    *Task 1: Run a distance of 5 miles every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings (Must involve high-intensity running exercises such as sprinting in the outdoor environment).

    *Task 2: One-hour gym work, including weight training, on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings. The user mustplete the following exercises during those four sessions.

    ->100 squat-and-press routines with a pair of 15 kg dumbbells

    ->60 single-leg-squats (30 for each leg)

    ->60 push-ups

    ->60 sit-ups

    ->A 30-minute ''Controlled Mountain Climber'' routine.

    *Task 3: Rope jumping for thirty minutes on a daily basis.

    *Task 4: Non-stop juggling the ball for one hour on a daily basis. The user should include both slow and quick motion juggling for better results.

    *Task 5: A one-hour wall training session on a daily basis.

    *Task 6: A one-hour agility session, including cone drills, on a daily basis. The user should include dribbling and trapping exercises for better results.

    *Task 7: A one-hour swimming regimen two times a week. That is on Saturday and Sunday evenings.

    *Task 8: Complete four rounds of half a dozen Hatha-Yoga poses daily.

    ----

    *Rewards:

    ->A monthly dosage of an A-graded Physical Conditioning Elixir to help the user stabilize his fitness attributes at the S-grading.

    -> 150 Juju points.

    ----

    *Punishment in case the mission is still iplete after the stipted time.

    ->Loss of a monthly dosage of the Physical Conditioning Elixir

    ->A system penalty of 1500 Juju points

    ----

    *Remarks: There will be obstacles. There will be hardships. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, there will be no limits on your path to glory.

    ----

    *ept *Reject

    ----

    ****

    Zachary had no reason to reject the training mission.

    His goal for the offseason was to try his best to improve his attributes. He wanted to hone his football techniques, including his dribbling, passing, and ball control, as much as he could within forty days. After that, he would start mastering the Robinho-step-over juju in preparation for the uing football season in Norway. That was why he hurriedly epted the training mission after it had just popped up on the crystal-like disy before him.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    It was then that his phone started vibrating from a nearby table. Zachary immediately scooped it up before ncing at the screen. He couldn''t help but smile when he noticed that the iing call was from Cami.

    "Hi, Zach dear," Cami said from the other end of the line after the call had connected.. "I''ve been calling you for the past twenty hours, but you''ve not been picking! Are you okay?" She sounded concerned.

 Chapter 307 - Holiday Considerations

    "The past twenty hours!" Zachary eximed while stealing a peek at his phone''s screen. He couldn''t help but break out in cold sweat when he noticed that it was already Friday, 20th of December 2013. Moreover, it was already six o''clock in the evening, meaning that he''d spent almost twenty-four hours digesting the A-graded vitality-enhancing elixir. The notion was simply crazy.

    "Are you still there, Zach?" Cami''s voice sounded from the phone speakers once again. "Are you doing okay?"

    "Yes, I''m okay, Cami," Zachary hurriedly replied after casting away the irrelevant thoughts from his mind.

    "So, what happened? Why haven''t you been picking up your phone since yesterday? You had me worried."

    "Sorry," Zachary said, taking a moment to organize his words. "You know me when I''m training. I had put my phone in silent mode while exercising yesterday evening. I ended up forgetting about it, and that''s why didn''t notice your calls."

    "Oh!" Cami said, her tone still a bit doubtful. "Are you sure that everything is okay on your side? You know you can talk to me about anything."

    "Don''t you worry! Everything is going on fine here. What about you? Are you doing okay?"

    "Since you''re fine, I''m now also okay," Cam replied, her voice regaining the vibrancy that was typical of her usual self. "Well, it''s just that I''m missing you."

    "I miss you too," Zachary replied. "But since you''re in Trondheim, we can meet any time. Do you want toe over to my ce? I''ll be cooking salmon, potatoes, and plenty of vegetables for dinner today."

    "Of course, I would like toe over," Cami was quick to reply. "I''ll be there in about an hour. So, see you in a bit." She added before hanging up.

    Zachary didn''t dare dilly-dally. He hurriedly organized the house before starting to prepare dinner.

    His cooking skills had improved considerably after a year of living alone. He could prepare most of the moremon recipes without any challenges.

    So, for the next thirty minutes or so, he worked with haste and the professionalism of a master chef. And soon, the food started blossoming in his kitchen while casting a unique fragrance all over the ce. By the time Cami was ringing the bell, about an hourter, he was already setting up the various mouth-watering dishes on the table.

    "Hi, Zach!" Cami said after she''d walked through the doorway and taken off her overcoat.

    "Hi, Cami," Zachary replied with a smile while giving her a once over. Underneath the overcoat, she''d worn a fitting ck dress that underlined her slim waist, shapely hips, and ample bosom. Just by taking a single nce at her, Zachary could feel his heart going on a caper within his chest.

    "You look so beautiful today evening," Zachary mumbled with a sigh after a short while.

    "Thank you," she said, the corners of her lips lifting into a gorgeous smile.

    "How have you been?"

    "Okay, but I''ve been missing you."

    Without any more needless words, she jumped into Zachary''s open arms.

    "I missed you too," Zachary replied, tightening his hands around her. She was so delicate and charming while in his embrace to the point of eliciting some tender feelings within him. He even couldn''t stop his body from reacting the way it should when she was that close to him.

    "The food is ready," Zachary dered in a hoarse voice, trying his best to clear his mind. "Let''s eat first."

    "Okay," Cam agreed.

    The two of them soon settled on the dining table and started stuffing their stomachs with food. Gradually, the many bowls became slightly more empty as they feasted while discussing various topics. In that manner, the minutes shed by quickly. And when the clock hand had just pointed to the 8:30 PM mark, they were finishing their dinner.

    "Zach," Cami said just as she was about to put some of the dirty tes into the dishwasher.

    "Yes."

    "Do you still remember that you promised to go with me on vacation this festive season?"

    "Well, yes," Zachary replied, creasing his brows. "However, is it possible to postpone the trip to the end of January? I might not be able to travel now since I''m undergoing a training regimen that is essential to my development as a professional athlete."

    Cami whirled around 180 degrees to hold Zachary''s gaze. "It''s the offseason," she remarked with a frown. "So, there shouldn''t be any team training scheduled these days."

    "You''re right. I won''t be participating in any team training sessions until February. However, I still have to train on my own to improve my skills before next season. You understand that. Don''t you, my dear?"

    "Naturally," Cami said with a smile. "However, if it''s your own personal training, then you can conduct it anywhere in the world. As long as there are avable facilities, your training won''t be hindered in any way, even if you''re to travel. Isn''t that right?"

    "Yes, that''s right," Zachary concurred. "As long as I have ess to good facilities, like well-equipped gyms and good football turfs, then I can train anywhere in the world."

    "Ta?da," Cami said, stepping closer to Zachary. "If that''s the case, then why can''t we travel somewhere else for the holiday season. Your ns won''t be hindered in any way. For instance, if we''re to travel to Amsterdam or Barcelona, you can still continue your training by taking advantage of the first-ss sports facilities there. asionally, you can also take a few hours off to spend time with me. Wouldn''t that be great?"

    "True, that sounds like a viable n," Zachary said, falling into a moment of contemtion.

    For an entire year, most of his daily routines had revolved around training, eating, sleeping, and ying football within Trondheim City. As a result, he was already fed up with his monotonous lifestyle to some extent. So, that was why the prospect of training in another European city sounded like music to his ears.

    "So, where do you wish to go for vacation?" He inquired after a short while.

    Cami''s face immediately blossomed into a gorgeous smile. She hooked her arm around Zachary''s waist and said, "Barcelona would be a good option. The weather is not so cold there, even during December and January. Additionally, there are a lot of first-rate sports facilities, including gyms, football turfs, and stadiums, all over the city to meet your needs. So, it''s the perfect ce for us to go on vacation."

    "Okay, Barcelona, it is," Zachary said, nodding. "We can book the ne tickets and hotels tomorrow morning and be on our way the following day."

    "Excellent," Cami said, snuggling closer to Zachary. "I''m really looking forward to this trip."

    "Me, too."

    **** ****

 Chapter 308 - Off-Season Training While On Vacation

    As nned, Zachary and Cami boarded a ne to Barcelona in the morning two dayster. After getting off the ne and going through the customs, they took a taxi cab from the airport. Soon, they were well on their way to the Hilton Barcelona Hotel located in the Avinguda Diagonal.

    Zachary''s heart throbbed with excitement as he looked at the buildings and towering historic monuments shing by the cab window. He''d already done his research before embarking on the trip to Barcelona with Cami. So, he was looking forward to his next few days within the historic Spanish city.

    Barcelona was a city that contained both the authentically historic and the wildly bizarre. From the scenic trails of the colorful Park G¨¹ell to the romantic narrow alleys of Barri G¨°tic, then from the beachside nightclubs to the city''s dozens of sacred churches and architectural marvels, this city by the sea seemed to attract all types of tourists. Whether you were an adventurer, a couple, a party animal, a culture lover, and more ¡ª you could find a variety of things to do within Barcelona City.

    However, what had caught Zachary''s attention the most were the various world-ss sports facilities located within the boundaries of the city. Be it first-ss gyms,rge stadiums, small turfs, and swimming pools ¡ª you could find them all spread everywhere in the city. If there was a need for first-rate sports trainers, you could also find them all over the ce. Thus, Barcelona was like heaven to a sports-loving person, like Zachary.

    Actually, Zachary''s decision to head to Barcelona for a holiday wasn''t just to spend time with Cami or conduct some personal training away from Trondheim. He also wanted to experience the football culture in the city, which many deemed one of the best across the whole world.

    "Look! That''s the Camp Nou Stadium!" The taxi driver slowed down a little before pointing to a gigantic structure far off in the distance. Even though he was a typical Spaniard, his English was fluent.

    "That''s the home ground of Barcelona FC, the best football club in the world," the taxi man continued in an excited tone. "Many of the best footballers in history, including Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Samuel Eto, and Johan Cruyff, all yed here. In the current generation of the team, we now have Lionel Messi, Andr¨¦s Iniesta, Neymar, and many others ¡ª who are among the best of the best in today''s game."

    "When is Barcelona''s next game?" Zachary asked after hearing the driver introduce the local team.

    "Sunday, 5th of January," the driver was quick to reply. "Barcelona will be facing Elche Football Club at the Camp Nou. If you''re still in Barcelona by then, endeavor to watch that game. I can assure you that you won''t be disappointed."

    "If I''m still in Barcelona, I will try to," Zachary replied.

    A few minutester, the cab arrived at the Hilton Barcelona Hotel. Under the guidance of the hotel staff, Zachary and Cami quickly checked into a splendid and elegant room on one of the middle floors of the grand hotel.

    The room was huge, with arge bed, afy sofa, a t-screen, and a humongous window on one side. It was well-organized, with all the furniture and interior decorations arranged meticulously. It had the sort of ambiance that allowed one to process the transition from a journey to arrival.

    "This ce is beautiful," Cami remarked, looking around. "I already like it here. What about you, Zach?"

    "It''s great," Zachary said with a smile while also surveying the room. "I think I will have a great time here. I do hope they have a good gym and swimming pool here. That would save me the trouble of searching for training facilities elsewhere."

    "They do," Cami said. "They have a first-ss gym and a swimming pool here. So, you''ll only need to move out when you need to look for the training turfs."

    "Then, that''ll be great," Zachary said. "I should maybe first go and check out the gym. I don''t want to miss my nned training for today."

    "Aren''t you going to take a rest first?"

    "Nope," Zachary replied. "It''s justing to midday. So, I''ll survey the gym first and probably undergo some training. I will only restter in the evening."

    Zachary still had toplete a 40-day system mission aimed at helping him to solidify his football techniques. So, even though he''d just arrived in Trondheim, he didn''t want to waste any time. He wished to carry on with the training regimen so as to stay on schedule.

    "Okay, I understand," Cami said. She then stepped forward and fell into Zachary''s embrace. "However, before you go, shouldn''t we take a shower first and then have some lunch?"

    "Okay, then," Zachary said, hooking an arm around Cami''s waist as his tone turned ambiguous. "Let''s shower first, then. We can also test out the bed and see if it meets the standard of a four-star hotel."

    Cami''s face blossomed into a gorgeous smile. "Great," she said. "Come, let''s take a shower together."

    "Okay."

    -----

    For the next few days, Zachary fell into a routine. He would wake up long before the sun had risen in the east for training. After an hour or so of intensive workout, he would then feast on a sumptuous breakfast, together with Cami, before heading to the gym for his weight training.

    The Hilton Barcelona Hotel was a four-star hotel with first-ss facilities. They were to Zachary''s liking. So, he always spent his morning hours either in the gym or at the swimming pool, trying his best to adapt to his improved body fitness.

    In the afternoon, he would often head to a nearby turf. While there, he would spend hours working with the ball or running cone drills. He would then go through a yoga session before ending his training for the day.

    Day in, day out, Zachary worked extra hard since he desired to improve his skills before the Europa League game against Fiorentina. He only took a break in the evenings when he apanied Cami to various tourist attractions in Barcelona.

    And after spending an enjoyable night with Cami, he would once again restart his training early in the morning the following day, and the cycle would go on.

    The days shed by quickly as Zachary trained himself. Christmas came and went ¡ª and before he knew it, the New Year had arrived with regal ease.

    After a night''s talk with Cami on one particr day, Zachary decided to extend his holiday in Barcelona by a few weeks. He was reluctant to go back to Trondheim since he really liked the warmer weather in Barcelona and the first-ss facilities around the city. So, he''d decided to head back to Norway only after he''d limatized to his new fitness attributes.

    -----

    Four weekster.

    Barcelona was a city of both mild and cold temperatures in January. However, on this particr day, the sunset in the sky was as fresh as the colors brushed upon an artist''s canvas. It was so warm and beautiful to the point of warming even the coldest of souls from within.

    Under the re of the setting sun, Zachary sat alone on the training turf as he observed a group of young boys and girls training in the distance. He was slightly out of breath since he''d been working with the ball and running cones for the past two hours. However, he was excited since he''d again managed to push all his stats to the A+ grading.

    "System," hemanded inwardly after making sure that there wasn''t any other person close to his position. "Show me my football technique stats."

    "Command received," the apathetic voice of the system''s AI sounded immediately after as the familiar crystal-like disy manifested before him. "The user''s football technique attributes will being up on the system interface in a bit."

    "Great."

    Zachary grinned as he pivoted his attention onto the translucent screen before him. Without further ado, he started perusing through his football technique attributes.

    ****

    -----

    *USER STATS

    ->Ser Technique: (Av. Rating: A+)

    Ball Control: A+

    Dribbling Skills: A+

    Passing uracy: A+

    Body Control: S-

    -----

    *****

    Zachary''s felt like he''d unloaded a couple of weights off his shoulders after ncing at his technique attributes. At longst, he''d managed to ovee the side effects of consuming the S-graded vitality-enhancing elixir.

    Moreover, he had a feeling that he might advance some of his football-technique attributes to the S-grading before February. By then, he would be a monster on the pitch ¡ª who would be able to take on even the best defenders in the world. So, he could hardly contain his excitement at that moment.

    "I guess it''s the right time for me to master the Robinho-step-over Juju," he decided after closing the system interface. Without further ado, he chose to act right away.

    Zachary immediately packed his training gear before returning to his hotel room. He had the ce to himself for the next few hours since Cami was attending some fashion show that evening. So, he wasn''t worried that she would return abruptly and interrupt him while in the process of learning the new skill.

    "System, I would like to purchase the Robinho-step-over juju," he said after settling down on the sofa in the hotel room. His body, which was slightly slimmer than before, was only wrapped in a towel since he''d just taken a shower. His muscles, from the chest down to the abdomen, were well-streamlined. They exuded a feeling of both power and flexibility.

    "Command received," the AI replied after a moment. "The user needs to spend 2000 Juju points to purchase the Robinho-step-over Juju from the system shop. Does the user still wish to purchase the skill at that cost?"

    "Positive," Zachary replied.

    "Command confirmed..." the AI''s apathetic voice sounded.

    "Checking skill''s requirements before confirming the purchase..."

    "The user possesses S- grade body control and S- grade agility which meets the requirements of the new skill."

    "DING"

    "Congrattions. The system has now confirmed the skill purchase from the system shop at the cost of 2000 Juju points.. The user can choose to master the skill at any time."

 Chapter 309 - Learning The Step-Over Juju

    Zachary had been eyeing the Robinho-step-over Juju for a long time. That was because he would acquire the ability to break through opponents with just a few body feints and step-overs after mastering the skill. He would turn into the perfect ball wizard that could make adversaries tremble in fear if they chanced upon him on the field of y. So, there was no need to make any deliberations before choosing to learn the skill at that moment.

    "System," he mumbled, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "I would like to start learning the skill right away."

    "DING"

    "Command received," the AI intoned. "The user is attempting to learn a G.O.A.T Skill that requires both mental and physical conditioning before achieving initial masterly."

    "Tomence the required mental conditioning, the user needs to spend four Juju points to activate the G.O.A.T Skills Simtor for two hours."

    "Okay. I would like to undergo the mental conditioning right away. So, go ahead and deduct the Juju points required to activate the simtor."

    "DING"

    "You have spent four Juju points to activate the system''s simtor for a total of two hours. The system''s virtual reality simtion willmence in two minutes. Please lie down and ready yourself for the procedure."

    Zachary didn''t experience any emotional fluctuations since he''d already experienced the conditioning back¡ªwhen he was learning the Bend-it-like-Beckham Juju.

    He first ensured that he''d locked his hotel room door before closing the curtains and lying down on the sofa in a supine position. He then emptied his mind while waiting for the two minutes to pse. When the countdown was over, new words started filling up the system interface positioned at an oblique angle just before his face.

    ****

    G.O.A.T Skills Simtor Activating¡­

    -----

    Connecting System Neural Interface¡­

    -----

    ACTIVATION SUCCESSFUL

    ****

    Zachary''s senses blurred for a bit after thest system message appeared on the screen. His consciousness grew fuzzier, giving him an impression of traversing through thick static. Then with a slight jolt, his awareness sharpened as he descended into a new reality. Once again, he''d arrived in the virtual reality space of the system simtor.

    "DING"

    The system notification sounded as a few words popted the interface that''d followed his consciousness into the virtual reality.

    ****

    *G.O.A.T Skills Simtor

    -----

    Mental Conditioning Exercises Initiating...

    -----

    Robinho-Step-Over Juju training packages loading...

    -----

    Select the type of field and the setting to begin training the technique.

    a) Training ground without opponents, Artificial Turf.

    b) Training ground with opponents, Artificial Turf.

    c) Real match setting on GrassMaster Surface.

    d) Real match setting on Natural Turf.

    -----

    NB: For better results, the user should spend a minimum of twenty hours training under each option.

    ****

    Zachary naturally selected the first option on the list. Since it was his first time training step-overs, he''d decided to take it easy by first familiarizing himself with the skill on the artificial turf without opponents. He would then consider training with the other options after attaining initial mastery over the technique.

    "DING"

    The system notification rang in his ears immediately after his forefinger left the screen. A perfect green ser pitch soon started forming beneath his feet. Before long, it spread out and covered more ground in the formerly dark virtual space.

    Soon, a vivid 3D image of Robinho, in Brazil''s yellow and blue colors, came into being a few yards away from him. In front of him, on the green, were ten balls and a row of cones arranged meticulously to form a basic dribbling drill.

    The Brazilian shook his head as if he wasn''t satisfied with the set-up. He then waved his hands dismissively as a pair of weights appeared around his ankles.

    However, that seemed not to satisfy him. He repeated the gesture, and Zachary immediately felt a pair of weights weighing down on his ankles. By his estimate, the ankle weights were each about 2 Kgs.

    Zachary could now tell that the system was just about to simte a real step-over training scenario. So, he remained attentive as he watched the Brazilian ready himself tomence the drill. He was eager to master the step-over technique as quickly as possible.

    The Brazilian didn''t dilly-dally for long. He soon started dribbling one of the balls through the rows of cones while wearing the ankle weights. His steps were steady, and his control squeaky-clean as he weaved in and out of the cones. And before long, he''d already done about five repetitions of the dribbling cone drills.

    Zachary was surprised by the Brazilian''s high-level body control and agility, especially since he was wearing ankle weights. Even though it was just a basic cone drill, it should have been more taxing with the additional burden to his ankles. However, the Brazilian just carried on with the monotonous exercise for the next ten minutes without showing any signs of fatigue. He was like a short cyborg as he worked tirelessly with the ball.

    "Your turn," the Brazilian said afterpleting yet another set of the cone drill. Without waiting for a response, the 3D image shimmered slightly before swiftly moving towards Zachary and merging with his silhouette.

    The next moment, Zachary lost control of his body. He could perceive his surroundings and feel his body, but he wasn''t inmand. It was as if Robinho''s 3D image had possessed him.

    "Let''s begin," he heard himself mumble.

    Without wasting a second, he started going through a cone drill simr to the one Robinho had been performing only a few minutes ago. Even with the weights burdening his ankles, he didn''t make any mistakes while performing the exercise.

    Zachary then understood the whole point of the exercise. At that moment, he was experiencing firsthand how Robinho felt and controlled his body while training his step-overs. Thus, he wouldn''t deviate from the correct path with those experiences from Robinho, himself, as the guide.

    The minutes shed by quickly as Zachary trained within the simtor''s virtual reality space. He went from one routine to the next until he finally started working with the ball.

    At that moment, the option of training without opponents within the simtor could no longer appeal to him. So, he chose to face off against opponents to increase his training efficiency after a few more minutes of dribbling drills. It was then that he experienced firsthand how Robinho felt when beating opponents using his step-over skills.

    With a couple of sidesteps and a slight change of his center of gravity, he could send the opponent the other way while breaking through the opposite direction. Beating defenders was just that simple if one managed to master Robinho''s step-over skills and his flip-p ying style.

    Zachary could hardly contain his delight when he pictured himself using the step-overs and quick feints to break through opponents the following season. He was confident that he would find it easy to achieve perfect mastery over the technique by relying on his physique and incredible body fitness. After that, it would be his time to shine.

    With his S-graded agility and body control, he would render opponents helpless and cut through defenses like a sharp knife through vegetables. Only a minute fraction of defenders active in the world would be able to contain him whenever he was on the ball. He was really looking forward to the future.

    "DING"

    The system notification sounded just after he had gone through another routine of training his step-overs within the system''s virtual space.

    "The user haspleted the first two of the one hundred hours of mental conditioning required to achieve initial mastery in the Robinho-step-over Juju," the system AI intoned. "For better efficiency, the user is advised to go through two hours of physical conditioning in reality first¡ªbefore returning to the simtor."

    Zachary immediately opened the G.O.A.T Skills menu on hearing the AI''s notification. As expected, his mental conditioning progress for the Robinho-step-over Juju had gone up from 0% to 2% after undergoing training for two hours in the simtor. Thus, he would be able toplete all the necessary mental conditioning if he underwent ny-eight more hours of targeted training within the system''s virtual space.

    The only downside was that he needed to undergo simr training routines for the technique on actual training grounds in reality. Otherwise, he would turn into an athlete of theory who mastered all the knowledge about the skill in virtual space but still failed to execute it in genuinepetitive matches.

    And what was the benefit of having a skill that he couldn''t utilize in matches?

    There was simply no benefit. That being the case, Zachary was determined to put in all the required hard work, both in reality and within the simtor, so that he could achieve perfect mastery over the skill. Only then would he be able to make the step-over Juju his own and use it in matches as if it was an inborn talent.

    "System," Zachary said after a moment of consideration. "Do you have an estimate of how long I need to master the skill if I was to start undergoing four hours of targeted training in reality on a daily basis?"

    "The user already possesses S-graded body control and physical fitness attributes. So, the user will only require three months to master the skill by training for four hours on a daily basis."

    "However..." the AI continued. "The user is advised to increase the daily training time to six hours for better efficiency. The user can also rely on the A-graded physical-conditioning-elixir to achieve better results."

    "So, how long will I need to master the skill if I train for six hours daily and also consume the A-graded elixir?"

    "One and a half months," the system AI replied.

    "One and half months!"

    Zachary couldn''t help but frown as he sunk into a moment of contemtion. It was already close to the end of January, meaning that he only had about a month to spare before ying against Fiorentina in the Europa League round of thirty-two. So, he was not in the best of moods since he understood that he couldn''t utilize the step-over Juju in that crucial fixture for his team.

    "System," Zachary called out to the AI. "Is there any way to shorten the time needed to master the skill even further?"

    "Negative," the AI responded right away. "The shortest time possible to master the skill after factoring in all the user''s attributes and avable elixirs is one and half months. There is no way around it unless the user makes another breakthrough in one of his core attributes."

    "So, be it," Zachary said, letting out a breath of pent-up air. He would have to rely on his other skills against Fiorentina since he wouldn''t have mastered the step-over Juju by the time of the fixture. However, Zachary wasn''t that worried since his agility and strength had already broken through to the S-grading. He could easily face off against the Fiorentina by relying just on his speed and power.

    **** ****

 Chapter 310 - End Of The Off-Season

    Another three weeks quickly shed by as Zachary continued his personalized training. He was alone in Barcelona since Cami had chosen to return to Trondheim two weeks ago to honor her work duties. So, he''d already started spending more time practicing either in the gym or on the training grounds. His determination to improve himself before the new season was just that incredible.

    A few days ago, he''d once again made a breakthrough in his training and managed to elevate his ball-control attribute to the S- grading. Additionally, he could feel that his dribbling skills were improving at an astounding rate as he underwent targeted practice to grasp the Robinho-step-over Juju.

    However, no matter how much he trained, he still couldn''t speed up the rate at which he mastered the step-over skill itself.

    For the past four weeks, he''d spent many hours training either in the system''s simtor or on the training turfs in Barcelona. He''d been very dedicated the entire time and had always made sure to train his side-stepping and feinting skills on a daily basis. Be that as it may, his mental conditioning progress for the Robinho-step-over Juju had only just hit the 70% mark while his physical conditioning was a bit behind, at 60%. Thence, he had to undergo targeted training for 20 to 30 more days before mastering the skill and making it his own.

    He was really short on time since the match against Fiorentina in the Europa League round of thirty-two was just ten days away. However, he still decided to continue training and honing his skills until the Rosenborg management recalled him to Trondheim for the new season.

    -----

    On this day, the sun bloomed as usual on the horizon as it cast golden petals that stretched ever outwards into the rich blue. Dawn had once again descended onto Barcelona City with a new freshness of the morning.

    On one of the small streets near the Hilton Barcelona Hotel, Zachary was jogging at a constant pace. He was slightly out of breath and already sweating buckets since he''d been running for the past forty minutes. However, he persisted and continued pushing himself until he arrived at the hotel entrance a few minutester.

    "Wee back," a voice of a youngdy sounded from beside him just as he''d walked through the entrance of the Hilton Barcelona Hotel.

    "Thank you, Gabri," Zachary replied with a smile on his face since he was familiar with thedy. She was one of the receptionists who worked the early morning shift at the hotel. She was professional and had helped Zacharyplete several chores over the past four weeks. So, he had quite a good impression of her.

    "How was your morning run?" Gabrie asked with a smile.

    "Fulfilling," Zachary replied with a single word.

    "That''s great." She smiled. "Should I send your breakfast up to your room, or will you eat from the restaurant?"

    "Send it to my room," Zachary said.

    "Okay, then. I''ll have someone bring you breakfast in about 30 minutes. If you need anything else, please call reception."

    "Thank you," Zachary said. He then made some more small talk with the beautiful receptionist before taking the elevator and making his way to his room on the eighth floor.

    After arriving in his room, he went through a five-minute stretching routine to cool down his muscles before taking a quick shower. He then donned a new fresh tracksuit before settling down on his bed and starting to browse the sports news on hisptop.

    There was a lot of hype about the uing 2014 World Cup on the inte. Many football enthusiasts were starting to specte that Brazil might win the tournament for the sixth time since it was the host nation this year. However, Zachary just scoffed at the sheer mention of the notion. With his knowledge from the future, he was sure that the Germans would steal the show and win their 4th World Cup title. Nevertheless, all that had nothing to do with him since his home country had not qualified for thepetition. So, he just curried on browsing the sports news at a leisurely pace until his breakfast arrived a few minutester.

    Breakfast at the hotel was simplyvish. The meal included a sandwich, fried eggs served over potatoes, lots of fruit, plus milk tea and freshly-squeezed orange juice. What could Zachary say? The food was just simply to his liking. So, he wasted no time digging in and stuffing himself with the various dishes.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    Suddenly, his phone started vibrating from a nearby table just as he was about to finish his breakfast. On picking it up and ncing at the screen, he noticed that the call was from Coach Johansen. So, without losing a second, he tapped the ept button and held the phone against his ear.

    "Hello, coach," he said after clearing his throat. "How''s your morning?"

    "My morning is fine, Zachary," the coach replied from the other end of the line. "What about you? How are you doing?"

    "I''m doing okay and training as usual."

    "That''s good to know. Are you still in Barcelona?"

    "Yes," Zachary replied.

    "We''re ying Fiorentina on the 20th of Feb," the coach said. "That is just ten days from now. So, we''ll start serious preparations for the match tomorrow."

    "Oh, okay," Zachary said. "I''ll book a flight back to Norway right away. I should be in Trondheim tomorrow afternoon."

    "That''s great," Coach Johansen said, his voice growing more vibrant. "We''ll talk more when you arrive tomorrow. Have a safe journey."

    "Thanks, coach. But just one moment."

    "Yes, Zachary!"

    "Did you manage to assess those three yers that I previously mentioned?"

    "Yes, I did," Coach Johansen was quick to reply. "As you had said, they were all yers filled with potential. So, I fought very hard to sign the three of them. But in the end, we managed to acquire the services of only two of them."

    "One is the Japanese forward, Takumi Minamino, who has been ying for Cerezo Osaka," the coach continued. "He''s a fluid attacker that can move freely while on the pitch and unlock the opposing defense with the right pass at the right moment."

    "The second yer we''ve managed to sign is Karl Toko Ekambi. He''s still a bit rough around the edges. But we can still use him as a winger since he possesses incredible pace and good footwork. The two yers have already arrived in Trondheim and are already training with the team."

    "That''s great," Zachary said excitedly. "Thanks, coach, for strengthening the team once again."

    Zachary was simply d that Rosenborg had gone ahead and acquired the signature of those two yers. That was because they were footballers who''d achieved an adequate measure of sess during his previous life.

    Takumi Minamino had gone on to y for big clubs such as Red Bull Salzburg, Liverpool, and Southampton. On the other hand, Karl Toko Ekambi had quickly grown into a powerful forward who yed for clubs such as Virreal and Lyon. For sure, they were yers filled with an immense amount of potential, and as long as they were given an opportunity, they would shine.

    Many more attacking options had just opened up after Rosenborg acquired their signatures. As a result, the team would no longer need to rely just on himself and Nick to score goals.

    "Zachary," the coach said from the other side of the line after a moment. "You really surprised me once again. It''s as if you are a natural-born scout who can always spot yers filled with potential. I would have surely employed you as a scout here at Rosenborg if you weren''t an incredible footballer yourself."

    Zachary suppressed a chuckle. "I was just lucky to spot the two yers on one of their good days when they were ying for their respective clubs."

    "If you say so," the coach said. "By the way, Zachary. Have you considered switching to a smaller jersey number?"

    "Not at all. I still like my number-33."

    "Why?"

    "It has three in it, which tallies with one of the numbers in my birth date."

    "When is your birthday?"

    "3rd of December."

    "Oh, then we should maybe consider offering you the number-3 jersey," the coach said, his tone humorous.

    "And then will you also y me as a left-back?"

    "That would be a waste of your talents." Coach Johansen remarked. "Anyways: For marketing purposes, the management has proposed to offer you either shirt number-8 or shirt number-10. Those numbers match your role on the team more perfectly. So, which option will you choose?"

    "Can I keep my number-33?"

    "That isn''t an option."

    "Then, I guess I''ll have to go with the number-8," Zachary said after a moment of contemtion. There was no way he could refuse both options since changing to a smaller shirt number was one of the terms of the contract extension he''d signed with Rosenborg. He could at least afford to give up some preferences, especially since the club was already paying him a monthly ie of 1.2 million NOK without factoring in match bonuses.

    "Number-8 is a good number," the coachmented. "The fans will surely love it."

    "I guess so."

    "Okay, Zachary," the coach said after a moment. "Let me leave you to prepare so that you can return to Trondheim as soon as possible. We''ll talk more when you arrive. Have a safe journey."

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary replied before ending the call.

    **** ****

 Chapter 311 - The Nike Deal

    Zachary took a flight to Trondheim early the following morning. He was feeling very refreshed, especially after spending close to two months on vacation in Barcelona. He''d gone on various tour trips around the historical city and trained arduously to elevate most of his core attributes to the S-grading. The only regret was not meeting and training with high-profile Barcelona FC stars like Lionel Messi. Otherwise, the trip would have been more fulfilling.

    As it was only the second week of February, Trondheim was still experiencing winter. As a result, Zachary could not help but shudder when he stepped off the ne at V?rnes Airport. It was as if he''d just strolled into a freezer when the chilling breeze brushed across his skin.

    "What a huge contrast with Barcelona!"

    Zachary sighed and shook his head before tightening his jacket around him. Without any dilly-dallying, he slung his gym bag over his shoulder before slowly making his way towards the arrivals section of the airport.

    As it was justing to midday, the human traffic within the hallways of the airport was at eptable levels. That was because most nes arrived either early in the morning orte in the evening. So, Zachary quicklypleted all the necessary procedures before picking up the rest of his luggage and heading towards the airport''s exit.

    He was looking forward to getting back to his apartment as soon as possible and having a good rest afterward. That way, he would be able to do away with the jeg and be in proper shape for the team training the following day. However, not everything would always go ording to one''s wishes.

    After Zachary had just strolled through the airport''s exit, his phone suddenly started vibrating. He fished it out of his jacket pocket and nced at the screen.

    The call was from Emily, his agent. So, without losing a second, he pressed the ept button and pressed it next to his ear.

    "Hello, Emily," he said.

    "Hello, Zach," Emily''s voice sounded from the phone''s speaker a momentter. "Have you arrived in Trondheim yet?"

    "Yes. You called me when I was just about to depart from the airport."

    "That''s good," Emily said, her voice taking on a rxed tone. "Can we meet?"

    "Right now?"

    "Yes, as soon as possible," she said. "We have a few issues to discuss, and they surely can''t wait."

    "Oh, okay," Zachary said. "But you need to give me about an hour since I have to drop my luggage at my apartment first. Is that okay?"

    "Yes, that''s fine," Emily replied from the other end of the line. "Let''s meet at Caf¨¦ le Fr¨¨re at 2:00 PM. I''ll be waiting for you there."

    "Okay, then," Zachary said. "See you at 2:00 PM."

    "Try to be on time."

    "I will," Zachary replied before ending the call. He then quickly boarded a taxi back to his apartment.

    Traffic was light on the roads in Trondheim at midday. So, Zachary managed to reach his apartment in only thirty minutes. He then took a shower before preparing some instant noodles for lunch. When the clock hand was pointing to the 1:30 PM mark, he''d already finished eating.

    Without further ado, he locked his apartment before taking a cab to Trondheim Square.

    "You''re quite early!" Emily said as soon as he settled in a seat opposite hers at a corner table within Caf¨¦ le Fr¨¨re. She was as elegant as ever, in a tight-fitting sweater that matched the dark brown shade of her silk-like wavy hair.

    Zachary''s face lit up into a smile. "Of course, I had to be early, especially after receiving your call," he said. "How have you been?"

    "I''m doing okay, and everything is moving forward smoothly," she said, beaming. "What about you? How was your stay in Barcelona? Did you have a wonderful vacation?"

    "Yes, I did," Zachary replied. "You should also try going there sometime."

    "I have already been to Barcelona more than a dozen times," Emily said while suppressing a chuckle.

    "Oh! I almost forgot that you agents are always traveling everywhere in the world," Zachary said with a sigh while calling the waiter over. He was still hungry despite having eaten some noodles at home. So, he decided to order some food as he discussed business with his agent.

    After the waiter had stepped away with their orders, Emily got down to business. "The Nike endorsement deal has finallye through," she said suddenly. "I''ve already finished negotiating terms with the Nike representatives, and they''re ready to take you on as their ambassador."

    "Wow!" Zachary eximed, his heart starting to race with excitement. "When did this happen?"

    "I met with the representatives yesterday in the afternoon," Emily replied with a smile. "We then quickly drew up an agreement since they were searching for young yers with potential around Europe. However, they are short on time and need to know your stand before the end of the week. That''s the reason why I wanted to meet with you as soon as possible."

    "Oh, okay," Zachary said after letting out a breath. "How are the terms they are offering?"

    "Very good," Emily replied, fishing out a document from her handbag. "For the start, Nike is ready to pay you an annual ie of 600,000 Euros if you sign a 3-year endorsement agreement with them."

    "Additionally," Emily continued. "They''ve added a lot of uses in the contract which encourage your personal growth as a football yer. For instance, they have promised to increase your annual wage to 1.2 million Euros if you manage to win the Europa League this year. And if it so happens that you join a big club in one of the top leagues after winning the Europa League, then they will increase your ie to 1.5 Million a year."

    "Zachary! These are Euros, not Norwegian Kroners we''re discussing. They''re the big bucks that only exist in the fantasies of most athletes around the world. So, if I were in your shoes, I would not deliberate for long before epting the deal."

    "Oh, okay," Zachary said, trying his best to hold down his excitement. The deal hade at the right time when he was in need of money.

    Miss Heather Miller, Zachary''s newly-hired investment consultant, had already set up a brokerage ount in his name. Using her connections, she''d also managed to secure a channel through which he could buy many shares from fast-growingpanies, like Te and Xiaomi Inc.

    Thus, Zachary was already ready to start making investments by relying on his future knowledge and the expert guidance of his investment consultant. The only factor that''d been limiting him was his small start-up capital.

    However, with the Nike deal finallying through, he would finally possess more than a million Euros of start-up funds. What would follow would be him rising to prominence in the business world. He could even quickly be a multi-millionaire if he yed his cards right.

    Aside from raising his football career to the peak, Zachary also wanted to guarantee a very stable future for himself. He wished to secure his destiny by making money as soon as possible in his new life using his future knowledge. That way, he would never run out of cash even if he decided to start livingvishly in the future.

    "So, what say you, Zachary?" Emily asked after a moment. "Should I go ahead and agree to the terms of the contract in your stead?"

    Zachary grinned. "If the terms are as good as you say, then you can ept the contract. However, I wish to know what sort of responsibilities I need to fulfill after signing the agreement."

    "Oh, those are quite straightforward," Emily said, taking a nce at the document within his hands. "As a Nike sponsored athlete, you''ll have to take part in their advertisement campaigns at least twice a year."

    "Secondly, you''ll have to start wearing Nike boots and sports gear whether you are on the pitch or undergoing your private training. Of course, Nike will provide you with their sports gear free of charge."

    "Thirdly, you need to actively promote the Nike products that you''re using on your social media tforms. For instance, you can post a picture of yourself in Nike boots or a Nike tracksuit every once a month."

    "I have already reviewed the whole contract in great detail," she continued. "But I didn''t manage to find any terms that are disadvantageous to you. However, to be on the safe side, you can also carefully read through the contract document when you return home. Here! Take it." She handed out the document to him.

    "Thanks," Zachary said, receiving the document. "I think you should agree to the terms of the contract in my stead if it''s as you say. But when do they want me to put pen on paper?"

    "Early next week," Emily replied with a smile. "They have also promised to pay you the 600,000 Euros for this year immediately after the contract signing ceremony. So, we really have no reasons to dy."

    "Okay, great," Zachary said with a smile. "Go ahead and do what you have to do. I''ll be readily avable when the final contract is ready for signing. Otherwise, thanks for the hard work."

    "It''s my pleasure, Zachary," Emily said, holding Zachary''s gaze. "Don''t forget that I''ll also be earning some good amount of money from this deal. So, there''s really no need for any thanks."

    Zachary grinned while looking at the various dishes that the waiter had just ced before them. "Shall we eat now," he said. "I''m really starving."

    "Okay, then. Let''s eat."

    **** ****

 Chapter 312 - Fitness Concerns

    Zachary woke up early the following morning and headed to Lerkendal. Since he was still in the process of mastering the Robinho-step-over Juju, he wanted to put in a few hours of practice before the actual team training session. However, on reaching the training ground, he noticed that there was someone who''d arrived even earlier than him.

    He was surprised after seeing Coach Johansen''snk form standing in the middle of the training ground while ncing far off into the distance. It was as if the coach was a shepherd overlooking his flock. Yet, there were no animals or even people anywhere in the vicinity.

    "Coach, you''re very early today," Zachary said as he stood next to the coach in the middle of the almost-empty training ground.

    The coach slowly inclined his head and smiled at Zachary. "You''re finally here," he said. "Wee back."

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary replied. "I actually arrived in Trondheim yesterday. However, I''d to settle some personal issues since I''d been away from my ce for about two months. So, I couldn''t attend yesterday''s team training."

    "Don''t worry," the coach said. "We only worked on the team member fitness yesterday. Many of your teammates were not training seriously during the off-season. As a result, their fitness wasn''t up to par. So, we had to help them get back into tip-top shape before starting the actual work on the tactics against Fiorentina."

    "Oh," Zachary said, his brows creasing slightly. He had the high aspiration of helping his team progress further in the Europa League.

    However, all that also depended on the strength of his teammates since football was a game of eleven. If their fitness levels were in some waycking, they would find it hard to perform at their best over the next few days. Then, what would follow would be Rosenborg finding it very hard to beat their next opponents - Fiorentina.

    Zachary had watched plenty of Fiorentina''s matches over the past two months while on vacation, and his assessment was that the Italian side was on form. Fiorentina had even recently defeated Udinese Calcio before qualifying for the finals of the Italian Cup. They were not an easy team to beat, for sure.

    So, unless all the yers of Rosenborg could work as a whole and do their best, they would be in for a hard time against such a fierce Italian side. It was a simple¡ªbut ugly truth.

    "Coach," Zachary said, his tone a bit self-effacing. "Then, when will we start working on the actual tactics? The match against Fiorentina is next week on Thursday. That is just eight days away."

    "We should be able to start today," the coach said with a smile. "Don''t worry. The team''s situation is not as bad as it seems. Aside from you, everyone else arrived a week ago. So, they''ve been working on their fitness for the past seven days. They''re already in good shape and just about ready to begin the actual preparations for the match. You might even find yourself on the bench if your fitness iscking."

    Zachary chuckled. "I''m not worried about being on the bench since I''ve been working hard on my fitness throughout the off-season. Instead, what worries me is having teammates who aren''t at their best. You know football is more enjoyable with great teammates."

    "True," Coach Johansen said, nodding. "That''s why we''ve been doing our best to bring the team back into tip-top shape. For those that haven''t managed to achieve eptable levels of fitness by the end of today, we''ll drop them. There''s no use involving them in our training ns."

    "That harsh!" Zachary was surprised.

    "Are you worried that we might drop you?" The coach asked with a smile while ncing at Zachary.

    "Not at all," Zachary replied with confidence.

    "Then, there''s nothing to worry about," the coach said. "We have two squads now with almost equal strength. We can easily build a good team around you even with half the yers missing."

    "Oh, okay, coach," Zachary said, feeling slightly at a loss for words. "I''ll start my training now. There are a few aspects of my game that I''m still working on. I hope to refine them before the start of the season."

    "Okay, off you go," Coach Johansen said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I''m looking forward to those new aspects of your game when we y Fiorentina. So, please do your best."

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary said. "I can promise that you''ll not be disappointed." He added before stepping away from the coach tomence his training.

    The weather was cold that day, while the training ground was slippery due to the previous night''s precipitation. However, all that didn''t dissuade Zachary from training with his usual earnestness.

    He quickly set up the cones on one side of the pitch and soon began executing agility and dribbling drills. For the next few minutes, he worked like a maniac without caring about anything around him. He was simply like a robot as he weaved through the cone set-up with the ball glued to his feet.

    Afterpleting the cone work, Zachary immediately switched to juggling the ball. For the next dozen or so minutes, he went at it with a hundred percent focus since he was in the process of honing his control and ball skills in order to master the step-over juju.

    Although juggling might seem like a simple exercise to amateurs, it was a surefire way for professionals to hone their ball skills. Juggling could build an affinity with the ball and improve timing, spatial understanding, touch, motor coordination, bnce, body control, and leg strength while solidifying a yer''s confidence. That was why many of the brilliant professional yers were excellent ball jugglers.

    For instance, a phenomenal yer like Ronaldinho had spent numerous hours juggling the ball in his earlier years and had honed the skill to an incredible level. He could thus juggle the ball for hours, not just using his feet but with many other parts of his body. As a result, his control and ball skills during matches were at a monstrous level.

    Zachary had long understood that a yer without excellent ball control would find it hard to be a fantastic dribbler. So, that''s why he wasn''t the least bit surprised when the system included juggling exercises as part of his physical conditioning routine to learn the step-over skills.

    The minutes shed by quickly, and Zachary soon ended his training. On looking around, he noticed that most of the Rosenborg first-team yers had already arrived. They were going through various fitness drills, alone or in small groups, even without the guidance of the coaches.

    Among them were two new faces that Rosenborg had just signed. They were Takumi Minamino, a yer all the way from Japan, and the young Karl Toko Ekambi from Cameroon. At that moment, the two of them werefortably going through agilities with Mikael Dorsin and Eric Bailly.

    "Seems like these two are already fitting in well." Zachary mused before stepping forward to greet them. He exchanged a few words with them, taking care to wee them to the team. After that, he started moving around to catch up with the rest of his teammates.

    In particr, he spent more time talking to Kasongo and the Otterson brothers, who''d by now firmly secured their positions on the Rosenborg team. The three of them had matured a great deal over the past year. They even had a chance to vie for first-team numbers if they continued working hard.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The whistle sounded while Zachary was still conversing with Kasongo and the Ottersons. Without further ado, the four of them quickly made their way towards the group of coaches who were at that moment in the center circle.

    "Good morning to you all," Coach Johansen said when all the present Rosenborg yers had assembled before him. "Today, we''ll begin the actual preparations for our Europa League match against Fiorentina. We''ll have to work hard over the next seven days as we try to get into shape and refine our tactics for that game."

    "Fiorentina is a team currently ced fourth in the Italian League," the coach continued, sweeping his gaze across the yers. "They''re surely strong opponents with a deep squad that can even cause plenty of problems for European giants like AC Mn and Juventus. So, to win against them, we''ll have to y at our best as a team."

    "There can be no mistakes! All yers have to y their roles wlessly if we''re to have a chance at beating them. And that''s why I''ve decided to select only match-fit yers for that game."

    "I can assure you that I''ll not considerst season''s performance when selecting the team. So, even if you''re someone who was always a reserve yerst season or a new yer that has just joined Rosenborg, you''ll still get your chance as long as you work hard over the next seven days. As long as you can prove that you''re better than the rest on the training ground, then there''s no reason for me to leave you out of the squad. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    Coach Johansen nodded. "Now that we''re on the same page, we can think about starting our training. But first, I would like to test your fitness. Those that I find unfit will not even have the right to participate in today''s training. They''ll have to first go to the gym and refine their fitness to eptable levels before they can return here for the tactical training."

    A wave of murmurs emanated from the crowd of yers after the coach had made his deration. It seemed like most were not confident in their fitness, especially since they were just from the off-season.

    "Quiet," the coach said, his tonemanding. "You''re professional yers, not some greenhorns in an academy. Staying fit is your most important responsibility as a professional. So, why should I put up with you if you haven''t taken care to maintain your fitness levels during the off-season?"

    The yers immediately quietened down on hearing Coach Johansen''s words. The coach was right. An unfit yer had no right to y high-level football.. So, they could only swallow down theirints and hope for the best during the fitness testing.

 Chapter 313 - Coach Johansenâ€™s Shock

    The fitness testing was more rigorous than Zachary had initially expected. It included specialized tests to evaluate a yer''s body fat content, strength and power, speed and instantaneous sprint ability, agility, plus aerobic fitness. Moreover, since the entire session was overseen by top sports physicians associated with Rosenborg, it was almost like another medical. It demanded a great deal of exertion and concentration from the yers and was a hell lot taxing, for sure.

    However, since the coach had ordered the testing, not a single person on the training ground dared toin. The yers all quietly stepped forward for the testing since they didn''t want to go into the bad books of their coach. One by one, they went through the various tests as the minutes shed by, and soon it was Zachary''s turn.

    Zachary stepped forward with confidence when the physician called out his name. At that moment, he wasn''t the least bit worried about the fitness tests.

    He had already consumed the vitality-enhancing-elixir and honed his fitness to an incredible level during the off-season. As a result, he was sure that he could even outperform most yers in top-tier European leagues whenparing body fitness.

    "Enter the tactics room where you''ll have your body fat content tested," the physician said with an expressionless face.

    "Okay," Zachary replied before stepping into the tactics room where some of the physicians had set up their equipment.

    The physicians used the skinfold method to measure Zachary''s body fat content. In particr, they used calipers to measure the thickness of the skin at a range of sites around his body. That way, they could urately determine whether there was any excess fat on his body.

    But who was Zachary? He was a yer that''d spent plenty of hours over the past two months honing his fitness. He was thus as fit as a fiddle and possessed well-streamlined muscles without any excess fat on his body. His lean six-pack physique was like a work of art, exuding power and masculinity. So, could he really fail a body fat content test?

    What a joke!

    The analogy was simply like stating that a fish couldn''t swim.

    Zachary, of course, passed the body content test with flying colors. However, he didn''t just stop at that. He also went through the aerobic fitness tests, the body-flexibility tests, and the vertical jumps without breaking a sweat. His performance was so eye-catching to the point that most of the physicians started gawking at him with expressions of undisguised wonderment.

    "Your fitness levels are off the charts, young man," the old physician said with a smile after noting down Zachary''s endurance and vertical jump measurements. "They''re the best I''ve seen here at Rosenborg in a long time. Keep up the good work, and you might once rise up the ranks to be the best in the world of football."

    "Thank you, doctor," Zachary replied humbly. "But, are the tests done?" He asked while looking around. He''dpleted the tests without exerting much effort ¡ª a feat that really surprised him. He couldn''t help but wonder whether those were the same tests that had made the rest of his teammates sweat with trepidation.

    "Not yet," the old physician said. His tone was a lot warmer that time around. It seemed that Zachary''s performance had truly impressed him. "You can head back to the training ground. Your coaches will conduct the agility and sprinting tests there. I wish you luck."

    "Thank you," Zachary replied before stepping out of the testing room and heading back to the training ground. He was looking forward to undergoing the agility and sprinting tests. That was because they could help him determine by how much he''d improved after consuming the elixirs and training like a maniac over the past two months.

    **** ****

    Coach Johansen''s stood on the sidelines, overseeing his assistants taking the yers through the agility and sprinting tests. In his hands was a notebook where he was noting the results of the worst and best yers as the testing proceeded forward. He was very meticulous when assessing the yers since the two tests of agility and repeat-sprint ability were crucial when determining the actual match fitness of a football yer.

    Agility included a yer''s capacity to change direction quickly while in motion. A highly-agile yer like Lionel Messi possessed the ability to adapt quickly and easily in response to challenges. He could easily break through defenses with a simple change in direction. That was the true power of agility on the field of y.

    On the other hand, Repeat-Sprint ability was the capacity of an athlete to recover and maintain maximal effort during subsequent sprints. It was an attribute considered important to team sports like football. yers with a high level of repeat-sprint ability were monsters on the pitch, especially with regard to work rate. That was because they could chase after the ball and close down opponents repeatedly since they wouldn''t tire, even after making repeated sprints within a short time window.

    As a coach, Boyd Johansen understood the importance of those two tests. Thus, he''d decided to oversee the two tests himself so as to get a clear handle on all his yers'' match-fitness levels before including them in his training ns.

    Suddenly, the voice of Trond Henriksen, his assistant, sounded from beside him as he was still observing one of the yers. "Is it just me, or does Zachary look faster and more agile thanst season? He''s going through the arrow-head agility drill without exerting much effort. Yet, his time still seems to be significantly ahead of the rest of his teammates."

    "Oh," Coach Johansen eximed, his heart skipping a beat. Without losing a second, he cast his gaze towards the side of the pitch where Zachary was going through an agility test.

    "Huh? How did this Zachary train during the off-season?"

    Coach Johansen was astonished. Although he hadn''t yet seen the results from the timing gates within the drill set-up, he could still distinguish that Zachary was very fast and highly agile.

    Compared to his previous self, who yed for Rosenborgst season, he was more monstrous when considering the attribute of speed. The difference was akin to pitting the best time of Usain Bolt against that of Amiya Mallick. There was no need for anyparison, even if it was the same person.

    "How could a yer improve by that much over a short period of only two months?"

    Coach Johansen''s mouth was agape as he followed Zachary''s movement through the drills. He could tell that the young man had grown considerably in more than one aspect. For instance, his body control and agility attributes had also experienced huge breakthroughs during the off-season. That was why his motions through the arrow-head drill set-up were like moving clouds and flowing water, smooth and mind stirring. There weren''t any bits of excess movements even when he cut the sharp corners. He was just that monstrous.

    "Trond," Coach Johansen said after watching for a while longer.

    "Yes."

    "Help me and call Dr. Pederson over. We need to understand whether Zachary has made improvements in the other aspects of his fitness."

    "Okay," Trond Henriksen replied with a nod. "I''ll call the old doctor right away."

    Doctor Eivind Pederson, the aged doctor who''d tested Zachary''s other fitness attributes, soon arrived at the scene. Using simple terms that even an amateur could understand, he began presenting Zachary''s other fitness measurements.

    Coach Johansen at first listened with an obviously stunned expression stered upon his face. But the more he heard, the more numb he became until he just sighed and shook his head in utter wonderment.

    "Doctor, what is really going on here?" Coach Johansen queried after the doctor had finished presenting the results. "Zachary went through a medical at the end of November, right before our match against Molde in the Norwegian Cup final. His fitness wasn''t this high at the time. However, only two to three months have passed, yet the results of his fitness test have increased by leaps and bounds. Could he be using performance-enhancing drugs?"

    "Careful, careful," Dr. Pederson warned. "I don''t think that there is any performance-enhancing drug in the world at the moment that can induce such a stable growth in an athlete. So, the usation could create a rift between the team and the yer if he so happened to hear you. And we wouldn''t want that. Would we?"

    "I''m sorry," Coach Johansen said, his tone apologetic. "I just lost myself for a moment there due to the shock I was feeling."

    "Just be careful," Dr. Pederson said. "Regarding his marked improvement over the past two to three months: I think that he''s undergoing a spell of exponential growth during this period. As a result, his fitness attributes are also improving along."

    "Many athletes experience this bout of growth, especially within the 18 to 23 year age bracket. For instance, sprinters be faster while footballers grow stronger and more agile during such a period. So, there''s no need for us to be surprised."

    "Moreover," the physician continued with a smile. "Zachary''s fitness measurements show us that he spends a lot of time training his body. That is why all the aspects of his fitness, including body fat content, endurance, agility, strength, and power, are all well bnced and stable for the case of his body. That wouldn''t be the case if he asionally used performance-enhancing drugs."

    Coach Johansen nodded after hearing the doctor''s exnation. Of course, he didn''t believe that Zachary was using performance enhancing-drugs as their positive effects were only short-term. He''d just uttered the statement due to the shock he''d been feeling at that moment.

    "This is good for us," he said after getting over his shock.

    "Yes, it''s good for us," Dr. Pederson agreed. "We should be happy that one of our yers has made such a remarkable improvement."

    "And if this improvement can trante into real ability on the pitch..." Coach Johansen trailed off while grinning.

    "Then, we''ll have someone that is almostparable to a young Messi or Ronaldo here in our team," The doctorpleted the coach''s sentence also with a grin.

    **** ****

 Chapter 314 - Final Preparations For The Europa League

    Coach Johansen''s face had already morphed into a frown by the time the fitness testing ended. He was really disappointed with his yers''ck of professionalism. They''d gone on holiday and ignored their fitness. As a result, their fitness measurements were only so-so, even when only eight days remained to the first-leg of Rosenborg''s game against Fiorentina.

    Fortunately, not all his first-team yers were in bad shape. The likes of Zachary, Nicki, Yerry Mina, Eric Bailly, Thomas Partey, and Mikael Dorsin had all maintained their match fitness, even during the off-season. Thence, Rosenborg could still put together a fairly-strong squad with some additions from the second team and the new signings. So, that was why the coach was not panicking even when he''d decided to expel twelve unfit yers from the training ground.

    "Coach Johansen!" Trond Henriksen, his assistant, called out from beside him.

    "Yes, Trond," Coach Johansen replied without taking his eyes off the pitch. The two of them were still standing on the sidelines as they watched the remaining eighteen yers going through passing drills under the glow of the winter setting sun.

    "Do we really have to suspend those twelve yers?" Trond Henriksen asked, creasing his brows slightly. "With them gone, the depth of our squad will narrow down considerably. So, can''t we, at least, leave them on the bench?"

    "Why should we?" Coach Johansen countered. "Their fitness is clearlycking. So, why should we include them in our training ns?"

    "Most of them are just barely below the mark," Trond argued. "With just four days of training, they might be able to get back into shape and help us against Fiorentina."

    "Trond! You''ve forgotten one thing. It''s not just them on the team. We have many reserve yers who have been working hard throughout the off-season while silently hoping for a chance to y for Rosenborg. They''re now in tip-top shape and ready to perform. Should I leave them on the bench and instead field yers who can''t be bothered to maintain their fitness?"

    Coach Johansen''s tone was sharp as he inclined his head slightly to face his assistant. Yes, he understood that he''d just suspended twelve regrs from the squad, and among them were three yers who were often on the starting line-up. However, why the need to worry? With the new signings, Takumi Minamino and Karl Toko Ekambi, plus a couple of rising talents, like Paul Kasongo and Paul Otterson, the squad would remain strong, even without the suspended yers.

    "Coach, I was just considering the depth of the team," Trond said. "We might need more experience while facing a strong team like Fiorentina."

    "We still have plenty of experienced yers on the squad," Coach Johansen said with a smile. "There is Mikael, Tore, Nicki, and Zachary on the team. Adding on the likes of Yerry Mina, Eric Bailly, and Thomas Partey ¡ª then we have got enough depth in our squad. As long as we y our cards right, we''ll be able to give Fiorentina a run for their money."

    "Oh, okay," the assistant said, seemingly not convinced.

    "Just rx," Coach Johansen said to assure him with a dismissive wave of his arm. "Everything will work out fine. Moreover, with the suspended yers as examples, it''ll be easy for us to establish team discipler on¡ªin the future. The yers will also be more hardworking since they''re now aware that they can easily face suspensions if they don''t meet the team standards."

    "I understand," Trond said.

    "Good," Coach Johansen replied with a smile. "I''m d we''re on the same page. So, let''s work well together to prepare the team for the game against Fiorentina during the next seven days."

    "Coach, you have my support, no matter the circumstances," Trond replied, also with a smile. "You deserve that, at least for helping Rosenborg win a doublest year."

    "Thank you."

    -----

    Over the following four days, the team''s progress elicited a sense of satisfaction within Coach Johansen. He was always in a good mood since the yers worked harder than ever while preparing for the game against Fiorentina. They arrived early at the training ground and leftte in the evening as they worked, day in and day out, on the various aspects of their in-game talents.

    In particr, Zachary was as diligent as ever. Coach Johansen would always find him honing his ball skills whenever he arrived on the field early in the morning. And whenever there was a break in the team practice during the course of the day, the coach would see the boy prodigy move to the side to continue training. It was also the same during the evening after the team sessions.

    Training, training, and training even harder, from early morning tote evening ¡ª that was how he spent the following four days.

    Coach Johansen had more than once thought about advising the boy prodigy against overworking himself. However, after recalling how the boy prodigy could elevate his fitness to monstrous levels within less than three months, he decided against the notion. Since he could make such improvements while training by himself, he knew his body well from the inside out. So, there was no need to meddle with his training.

    On Sunday, just four days before the Europa League fixture, Coach Johansen organized a friendly match against Ranheim IL, a local club in Norway. He intended to get his team match-ready before facing off against the Italian side.

    Coach Johansen didn''t include Zachary and Nicki in the match-squad since he was aware that they were already match-fit. Be that as it may, Rosenborg still managed to thrash Ranheim with a score of 3:1 at Lerkendal, with goalsing in from Paul Kasongo, Borek Dockal, and Alexander S?derlund.

    It was amanding win that caused Coach Johansen to smile for hours.

    All the Rosenborg yers had worked perfectly together, like gears of a perfect machine, to overwhelm the Ranheim side. In particr, Paul Kasongo, a young yer that graduated from the academy only the previous year, put up an incredible disy that shocked many. He managed to score the first goal in the 10th minute and set up the third in thete stages of the second half.

    The two new signings, Takumi Minamino and Karl Toko Ekambi, also left a deep impression on Coach Johansen during the friendly match. In addition to being hardworking, they were also skilled yers who could handle the ball ingeniously on the pitch. Moreover, their passing, positioning and shooting skills were more than textbook perfect, making them ideal forward yers for any team. They were simply that good.

    Coach Johansen was once again overwhelmed by Zachary''s scouting skills. The coach couldn''t understand how such a training maniac had spotted those two talented yers, even when they were ying for obscure clubs. Either Zachary was a genius when scouting yers, or he had a team of top scouts working for him. But whatever the case, Coach Johansen was d that Zachary had helped Rosenborg acquire two more talented yers. So, he didn''t spend time thinking about the issue for long.

    -----

    After the friendly game, the Rosenborg yers continued training as they slowly by slowly honed their tactics for the uing Europa League fixture. Be it set-pieces, positioning, and yer movements when on and off the ball ¡ª they worked on them with a one-track mind under the guidance of the coaches. In that way, the days shed by ¡ª and soon, it was Wednesday, February 19, 2014, the eve of the match between Rosenborg and Fiorentina.

    On that evening, when the sun was just about to sink below the horizon in the west, Coach Johansen announced the end of training and called the yers to the tactics room.

    It was finally the time for the pre-match tactical meeting. The yers were all excited since they would be yingpetitive football for the first time in more than two months. So, they didn''t dilly-dally in the slightest as they headed to the tactics room to listen to their coach.

    "Good evening to you all," Coach Johansen said after all the yers had settled down in the seats around the tactics room. "For thest eight days, we''ve been honing our tactics for our Europa League game against Fiorentina. And tomorrow evening will be the day when we finally use those tactics to crush our opponents. Are you guys ready?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied with zest.

    "Good." The coach nodded before going through a bit of the game n for the following day.

    For the next few minutes, he talked about the opponents and their weaknesses before exining how to exploit those ws for Rosenborg''s own good. He was clear and very detailed as he spoke; giving an impression that he''d researched the opponents - Fiorentina to a great extent. The seconds shed by in that way, and soon, he got to the part of announcing the squad.

    "Let''s move on to the squad," Coach Johansen announced with a smile. "As I already exined, we''ll be ying with a 4-3-3 formation against Fiorentina. For those who don''t understand formations, that means four defenders, three midfielders, and three attackers." He added seriously.

    The yersughed at that.

    "In goal, we''ll have Daniel ?rlund, our veteran keeper, while in defense; we''ll have Mikael Dorsin, Tore Reginiussen, Yerry Mina, and Eric Bailly."

    "In midfield, we''ll have Thomas Partey, Zachary Bemba, and Takumi Minamino in a triangr formation. Zachary and Takumi will y as attacking midfielders, while Thomas will be the lone-holding midfielder."

    "The forwards will be Nicki Nielsen, Borek Dockal, and Alexander S?derlund. Nicki will y as the central striker, while Borek and Alexander will attack through the nks. That''s it for the starting eleven."

    "Moving on," the coach continued after sweeping his gaze over the tactics room. "On the bench, we''ll have a total of seven yers. The names of the selected yers are Lund Hansen, William Troost-Ekong, Cristian Gamboa, Ole Seln?s, Jonas Svensson, Karl Toko Ekambi, and Paul Kasongo. That is it for the entire squad."

    "Any questions?" The coach asked while ncing around.

    All the yers remained silent.

    "If there are no questions, then let''s end today''s tactical meeting here," the coach said. "Be sure to arrive at Lerkendal by midday tomorrow. That''ll give us a few more hours to prepare for the game that is scheduled tomence at 7:00 PM. Otherwise, I wish you a good evening."

    **** ****

 Chapter 315 - The As Steady As A Rock Fiorentina

    Lerkendal was literally on fire the following evening.

    By 6:00 PM, the overenthusiastic fans had long filled up all the seats in the stadium. They were already singing like a group of maniacs even when there was still an hour to kick-off. It was as if the entire ce was experiencing an earthquake as their voices reverberated like thunder across the stadium. For sure, they were very excited and looking forward to that evening''s Europa League game between Rosenborg and Fiorentina.

    "Testing, one two... testing, one..."

    Suddenly, another loud sound apanied by some static cut across the din as the loudspeakers around the entire stadium came alive.

    "Good evening,dies and gentlemen," the voice of Kjell Roar, thementator for the day, sounded next as the cheers in the stadium reduced in volume. "Wee to Lerkendal for today''s highly-anticipated Europa League game between Rosenborg Ballklub and ACF Fiorentina."

    "This is the Europa League''s round of thirty-two stage. It''s the knock-out phase where the two teams will face off against each other and decide the result after two legs. Then, the team with the highest aggregate score will qualify for the round of sixteen while the loser will have to go back home crying."

    "If the two teams can''t beat the other and only manage a tie even after the two legs, then the away goal rule will apply. The team that scores more goals away from home will win if the total goals scored by each team are otherwise equal. If even the away goal rule can''t determine the winner, then the teams will y extra time andter on take penalties."

    "Today evening, the Rosenborg yers have to win the game and also prevent Fiorentina from scoring if they wish to qualify for the next round. Otherwise, they''ll be in for a very tough battle when they head to Florence, Italy, next week for the second leg."

    "Ladies and gentlemen," thementator continued. "Seated with me here is Harald Bratbakk, who''s a former Rosenborg yer and our pundit for today''s game. Harald! Wee."

    "Thank you, Kjell, and good evening everyone," the voice of Harald Bratbakk sounded, causing the cheers that had just died down to reverberate once again across the stadium.

    "Well, Harald," Kjell Roar, thementator, said. "What''s your take on this stage of the Europa League? Do you see a possibility of our home team, Rosenborg, emerging as the victor after the two legs? Can we qualify for the round of sixteen for the first time in years?"

    Harald Bratbakk chuckled. "If it''s the same Rosenborg fromst season, then we really do have a chance to qualify. As long as the Rosenborg yers can immediately emte their form fromst season, then qualifying will no longer be a dream."

    "Can you borate?"

    "First," the pundit said, "There''s Zachary, who was really quite impressive against Red Bull Salzburg, Standard Li¨¨ge, and IF Elfsborg. He can easily break through opponents. He can provide incredible assists to his teammates. And as a plus, he''s an incredible goal scorer who can hit the mark even when facing strong opponents. He''s clearly the man to watch out for during this game. As long as he can y as usual and help his team score, then beating the Italian side is possible."

    "Secondly, there''s Rosenborg''s new defense, which includes Mikael Dorsin, Yerry Mina, Eric Bailly, and Tore Reginiussen, who are all incredible yers. Factor in Thomas Partey, the equally strong defensive-midfielder, then you have yourself quite a solid Rosenborg at the back. So, why can''t Rosenborg emerge victorious after the two legs with such a defensive line-up?"

    "That''s a good analysis, Harald," Kjell Roar, thementator, chipped in. "What about Fiorentina? How do you see them fairing against Rosenborg?"

    "Of course, Fiorentina is the better side on paper and the favorite to win today''s game," the pundit was quick to reply. "In their squad, they have impressive yers like Stefan Savic, Marvin Compper, Juan Cuadrado, Anderson Oliveira, Ante Rebi?, Federico Bernardeschi, Giuseppe Rossi, Mario G¨®mez, and Alessandro Matri. These are all incredible yers who can do wonders with the ball, and in theory, they should be able to beat Rosenborg. However, that''s just in theory. Football is a game of surprises. You can never be sure what will happen until the yers are on the pitch."

    "Thank you, Harald, for the analysis," Kjell Roar said. "The yers of both teams have just started warming up on the pitch. But why is it that I can''t seem to see Mike Jensen, Tobias Mikkelsen, and John Chibuike among the Rosenborg yers warming up?"

    "Maybe, they are injured," Harald said a bit hesitantly.

    "That would be a blow for Rosenborg as the three of them were quite phenomenal yersst season," Kjell said with an audible sigh. "Can a Rosenborg without those three yers really win?"

    "The good news is Zachary being among the yers warming up," Harald said. "As long as he''s in the squad, then even miracles are possible for Rosenborg."

    "Let''s hope so."

    **** ****

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    At exactly 7:00 PM, the referee blew the whistle with zest, sending the stadium into an explosion of excited frenzy. Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s center forward, didn''t dilly-dally in the slightest. He kicked off the game by passing the ball back into his midfield before running towards the other side of the pitch.

    The highly-anticipated Europa League game between Rosenborg and Fiorentina had finally begun. The Rosenborg yers immediately arrayed themselves into a more defensive type of a 4-3-3 formation while passing the ball around. On the other hand, the Fiorentina yers shaped up into a 3-5-2 t formation before pressing forward to close down Rosenborg''s passing spaces. With both teams showing a high level of discipline during the first few minutes, the game soon evolved into a battle of wits in the middle of the field.

    Whenever the three Rosenborg midfielders would receive the ball, the five Fiorentina midfielders would be upon them in a sh like a pack of wolves. With their tenacity, they would force the Rosenborg yers to y quick passes forward, which, in most cases, wouldn''t amount to anything.

    On the other hand, when the Fiorentina midfielders were on the ball, they would pass it around slowly and steadily, making sure to stretch the entire Rosenborg squad before passing forward. On the whole, they were clearly a much better-organized midfield, which was already causing Rosenborg plenty of problems within the first fifteen minutes.

    In particr, the three midfielders - Juan Cuadrado, Anderson Oliveira, and Borja Valero were really impressive whenever they were on the ball. Even Zachary, Rosenborg''s star midfielder, could do nothing about their fluid passing football. That was because they would not panic even when closed down and would always release the ball quickly to their teammates to keep Fiorentina''s game flowing.

    In that way, the game gradually tilted towards Fiorentina''s favor as the minutes shed by. Slowly, the guys from Italy built up their momentum with a steadfastness typical of the yers of an experienced European side.

    "Tiki, taka, Tiki, taka..."

    Passes were flowing like water as the Fiorentina yers chipped away at Rosenborg''s defense. They were like a well-oiled machine as they dictated the game''s tempo while asionally unleashing lethal passes into the box with an unhurried consistency.

    With the momentum obviously on their side, they soon got their first clear chance on goal in the 21st minute. After receiving a well-timed through pass, Juan Cuadrado, Fiorentina''s right-winger, made an excellent run on the right nk. He raced across the touchline like a bullet train on the rails before sending a teasing cross towards Rosenborg''s box.

    The cross was on point and managed to draw a clear parab over the heads of several Rosenborg defenders before descending into the box. What followed was a tense moment for Rosenborg''s defense as Alessandro Matri, one of Fiorentina''s forwards, outjumped the center-backs to meet the iing cross.

    Alessandro Matri was a sharp striker, especially when finishing with headers. He could hardly miss in the air, and that time was no different. With natural movements akin to those of a ballet dancer, he angled his entire body slightly before nting a bullet of a header towards the goal from around the penalty spot.

    SILENCE!!

    The cheers died down as the ball zoomed towards the inside of the right post. And soon, it shed past the outstretched hands of the keeper before homing into the back of the.

    GOAL!!

    Fiorentina had managed to draw first blood in the 22nd minute. The Italian side had managed to score first and at the same time obtain a crucial away goal in the Europa League''s round of thirty-two fixture. They''d obviously taken their first firm steps towards qualifying for the next round of the tournament.

    "Damn!"

    Coach Johansen could only ce his hands at the back of his head as he watched the Fiorentina yers celebrating the goal within their technical area. He was at his wit''s end as the Italian team had clearly outsmarted him in all areas of the field. They''d even isted Zachary, his star yer, through double-teaming tactics and prevented him from receiving the ball from his teammates. With such a pivotal yer contained, Rosenborg''s whole offense had crumbled and failed to sustain any pressure on the Italian side.. The final result was Fiorentina settling into their game and then scoring the opening goal.

 Chapter 316 - Slight Change In Tactics

    Coach Johansen was a nervous wreck as he continued following the game after the goal celebrations. That was because he couldn''t make any extensive adjustments to the squad before half-time, even though Fiorentina was once again already dictating the game''s tempo. The Italian side hadn''t let up on the pressure even though they were already one goal ahead of Rosenborg at an away ground.

    "What to do?"

    Coach Johansen started stroking his beard as he studied Fiorentina''s ying style. The Italian team''s five midfielders were still outssing his yers in the midfield as they yed very mboyant one-touch or two-touch football. Their individual off-the-ball movements were just exquisite, making it easy for their teammates to spot them and pass the ball to them. For sure, they were the most crucial factor that coach Johansen had to deal with if he wished to best Fiorentina. As long as he couldn''t find a solution to contain them, he would, without a doubt, lose the game.

    "Why can''t we tell our two forwards on the nks to fall back into midfield?" Trond Henriksen, his assistant, supplied from beside him. "With the two of them back in midfield, we''ll be able to switch from our current 4-3-3 formation to the more solid 4-5-1 formation. That way, we''ll bnce out the numbers in the middle of the field and ensure that the opponents don''t outy us in midfield. What do you think?"

    "It''s a good idea," Coach Johansen concurred, his eyes never leaving the field of y. "You can go ahead and inform both Borek and Alexander to fall back into midfield so as to help contain that Juan Cuadrado and Manuel Vargas on the nks. Additionally, tell Zachary to start ying a free role on the field. Let him move around freely so that he can cause some chaos within Fiorentina''s formation. If it so happens that he gets a chance, let him shoot and try out on goal. We shall make additional changes during half-time."

    "Okay," Trond Henriksen replied, nodding. "I will go ahead and talk to both our nk yers and Zachary when the game goes on a break. The three of them should be able to adjust ordingly in less than five minutes."

    "Good," Coach Johansen said. "Go ahead, and do what you have to do. Let''s hope the boys can hold off Fiorentina until half-time."

    **** ****

    "The coach wants me to y a free role position on the field!"

    Zachary''s eyes widened after receiving the instructions from the assistant coach on the sidelines. He was a bit startled since a free-role position meant that the coach had given him free rein on the pitch. As a result, he had the creative license to decide where and how he yed on the field ¡ª as opposed to a set position that he would have had to fulfill under normal circumstances. For instance, he could move away from the central midfield position and drop wide into the wings as long as he saw an opportunity to break through the opponent''s defense.

    "What about the midfield," Zachary hurriedly asked while ncing around. The game was on a temporary break since Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s keeper, was still on the ground, receiving attention from the medics. So, he reckoned that he still had some time to ask a few more questions before the game restarted.

    "The nk yers will drop back to popte the midfield," Trond Henriksen, the assistant coach, replied. "The two of them should be able to work together with Takumi Minamino and Thomas Partey to put up a fair fight against Fiorentina''s ''five-man'' midfield. So, don''t worry about the midfield, and move freely by following your instinct. And, please don''t forget to try out the keeper if you get an opportunity."

    "Okay, understood," Zachary replied before running back to the center of the field. Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s keeper, had just gotten up from the ground after receiving attention from the medics. As a result, the game was about to restart once again.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    After a few more seconds of waiting, the referee blew the whistle and motioned for the game to restart. Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s keeper who was with the ball at that moment, didn''t choose to take the goal kick high and long that time around. He instead yed a short diagonal pass to Mikael Dorsin, Rosenborg''s left-back.

    Mikael received the ball with a deft touch, just at the edge of the 18-yard box. He then passed it forward to Thomas Partey, Rosenborg''s defensive midfielder, before any opponent could close him down.

    Thomas also acted just as Mikael had done. He stepped forward to control the ball before spinning around and passing it towards the right nk where Alexander S?derlund, Rosenborg right-winger, was lurking.

    Zachary immediately took off towards the right nk after Alexander controlled the ball. He was so fast as he cut through the ranks of the yers, heading towards the ball''s position. By relying on his S-graded agility, he was soon only a few yards from Alexander.

    "Pass!" He yelled.

    Alexander S?derlund, Rosenborg''s right-winger, reacted immediately after hearing his shout. With a well-timed deft touch, he escaped the tight marking of the defender before flicking the ball to Zachary.

    Zachary immediately passed it to Takumi Minamino, his original counterpart in attacking midfield. The two of them soon started ying a series of one-twos as they bore down on Fiorentina''s box like a raging Tsunami.

    It was then that Borja Valero, Fiorentina''s defensive midfielder, paced forward to close down their partnership. However, Zachary stepped around him with a simple weave-and-turn before continuing towards the box. His movements were natural, just like moving clouds and flowing water, as he dribbled the ball forward while asionally exchanging one-twos with his teammates.

    "Shoot, Zachary! Shoot..."

    Suddenly, a loud yell from the sidelines cut across the pitch and made it to his ears after he''d just stepped into the final third. Since he could tell that it was themanding voice of Coach Johansen, he reacted almost by instinct.

    He pulled his right foot all the way back, exerted some force, and delivered a violent kick right in the middle of the ball.

    Whoosh!

    The ball instantly roared forward like a bullet right out of a sniper muzzle. It drew a fierce arc through the air as it whizzed towards the top right corner like a raging tiger.. For sure, the force carried by the ball at that moment was immense.

 Chapter 317 The Unlucky Rosenborg

    <h4>Chapter 317 The Unlucky Rosenborg</h4>

    "BANG!"

    The sound of the ball smashing against the crossbar sounded next, causing most of the Rosenborg fans to sigh with regret. Just one more inch below, and the ball would have, without a doubt, found its way into the back of the since the tremendous force behind the shot had already rendered the keeper helpless. Even coach Johansen had already raised his arms up in the air to celebrate due to the surety of the moment.

    However, it seemed like the goddess of luck wasn''t on Rosenborg''s side that evening. With a slight swerve at the final moment, the ball had deviated slightly from its intended course before smashing off the crossbar and bouncing back towards the box.

    "Hurry up and clear the ball!"

    Suddenly, the voice of Vincenzo Monte, Fiorentina''s head coach, reverberated across the pitch like thunder just as the ball was about tond in the box.

    The Fiorentina defenders didn''t need their coach''s reminder since they were already pouncing towards the bouncing ball as if their lives were at stake.

    In particr, Stefan Savic, one of Fiorentina''s three defenders, was a notch faster than his counterparts. He arrived in the box like a whirlwind before kicking the ball hard without regard for anything. He hadn''t even dared to take a single touch on the ball since Nicki Nielsen was right on his heels.

    "Damn!"

    Zachary could only sigh as he watched the ball flying out of the field for a corner kick. His mood was slightly down since he''d missed out on an opportunity to score and bring the proceedings on the pitch back to level ground.

    But more than disappointed, he was also slightly startled. That was because he''d just noticed that both his technique and power while shooting had improved tremendously over the past few months. It seemed like the breakthrough of his agility, body control, and strength attributes to the S- grading had also pushed the power and lethality of his shots to another level. As a result, he could already release missiles of balls from outside of the eighteen-yard box without expending much effort.

    What a pleasant surprise!

    Within an instant, various thoughts shed through Zachary''s mind as his heartbeat elerated. He was no longer feeling depressed over the missed opportunity after realizing that he''d unknowingly made another significant breakthrough on his path to be a football great.

    As long as he could effectively utilize his recently-improved power and lethality of his shots, then he would have a lot more options while on the attack. Whenever an opportunity presented itself, he could choose to either unleash missiles at goal from outside the eighteen or break through the defense and step into the box with skills. As a result, his ying style would evolve and be more lethal.

    "Zachary! Don''t mind, don''t mind..." the voice of Mikael Dorsin, the assistant captain, suddenly made it to his ears as he was considering how he could utilize his new weapon to evolve his own ying style. "It''s only the first half. You''ll get another chance to score sooner orter. So, don''t worry, and let''s prepare for the corner kick."

    "I understand," Zachary said while nodding at the left-back. "Thanks. Let''s prepare for the corner."

    "Good." Mikael shed him an encouraging smile before heading towards Fiorentina''s box.

    Zachary also didn''t dare to dilly-dally any longer. He followed after the left-back since he was also looking forward to attacking the corner ball. He wanted to utilize every opportunity to score since his team was facing off against a powerful opponent. So, taking part in the corner kick was a must for him.

    However, no sooner had he stepped into Fiorentina''s box than a silhouette dressed in a blue jersey was upon him. It was Stefan Savic, one of Fiorentina''s three defenders. Without regard for anything, the defender stuck to him like superglue, not allowing him even an inch of space within the box.

    Nheless, Zachary wasn''t the least bit daunted by the defender''s aggressiveness. He just ignored the defender and kept his eyes pivoted towards the corner g where Borek Dockal was getting ready to take the corner kick.

    Why fight off an opponent even before the ball could arrive? Zachary saw no point in that as it was simply a waste of energy. Moreover, it was the sort of behavior that could easily earn you a yellow card from the referee. So why hustle? He would wait for the corner ball before trying to outmaneuver his opponent.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally blew the whistle after a few more seconds. Borek Dockal, Rosenborg''s left-winger, immediately floated a teasing cross towards the box from the corner g.

    It was finally the moment. So, Zachary started moving right away. He shifted his center of gravity from left to right before spinning around and heading to the other side of the box.

    With that well-timed almost-instantaneous movement, he''d managed to throw off Stefan Savic, his marker. As a result, he was unmarked as he rushed towards the direction of the descending ball.

    At that moment, he felt as if the time hade to a standstill as he pushed off the ground to meet the corner ball. Then, before the opponents could react, he angled his body slightly before nting a header towards the goal.

    "Please go in... go in..."

    He willed the ball to find its way into the back of the as he started descending back towards the ground. He so much wished to score so as to help his team bring proceedings back to leveled ground. But the next moment, his heart sunk to the abyss of desperation once again. It seems like luck wasn''t really on his side that evening.

    That was because Neto, Fiorentina''s goalkeeper, had stretched himself and snatched the ball out of mid-air with a diving save to deny Rosenborg a chance to score. As a result, the score was still one goal to nil in favor of Fiorentina during the 40th minute.

    "Don''t let him start the ball before we fall back into defense!"

    Suddenly, someone shouted and broke Zachary out of his moment of desperation. But the shout hade a little toote. That was because Neto was already rushing towards the edge of the area with the ball in hand. Before any of the Rosenborg yers could close him down, the goalkeeper made a one-armed throw towards the right nk where Alessandro Matri, Fiorentina''s striker, was lurking.

    "It''s a counterattack! Hurry up and rush back to defend..." The voice of Coach Johansen reverberated from the sidelines. He was like a madman as he waved for his yers to run back at full speed to prevent Fiorentina from scoring another goal.

    However, the switch from defense to attack by Fiorentina was so swift that almost no Rosenborg yer had managed to react in time. As a result, not even the quick-footed Zachary could catch up to the fast-flying Fiorentina forwards when they were already more than thirty yards away. So, it was only up to the two Rosenborg yers who hadn''t partaken in the corner kick to stop the counterattack. Otherwise, Rosenborg would concede the second goal on the night, for sure.

 Chapter 318 A Missile to Reignite the Spirit of the Team

    <h4>Chapter 318 A Missile to Reignite the Spirit of the Team</h4>

    Alessandro Matri had not had many opportunities to showcase his talent as a striker while ying for AC Mn over the past year. He''d even be a target of abuse from fans after only ying six times for the Rossoneri and only managing to score once during the entire year. He''d been the true definition of a signing-gone-wrong for the case of the Italian giants.

    But since he''d joined a new team - Fiorentina on loan, he was determined to turn over a new leaf. He was hungry to y and to score a lot of goals. He yearned to prove himself as an incredible striker so as to shut the blubber mouths of his critics and, of course, get another call up to the Italian squad.

    Thus, he couldn''t afford to waste any chance while on the pitch.

    So, after receiving the ball from Neto, Fiorentina''s keeper, the first thought in his mind was on how to advance the counterattack as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

    Before any Rosenborg yer could close him down, he turned around with the ball hooked to his foot before taking off towards the other side of the field. His speed was truly incredible as he raced along the touchline on the right nk, leaving almost every yer on the field in the dust.

    Only Thomas Partey, the Rosenborg defensive midfielder who hadn''t partaken in the corner kick, managed to catch up to the Italian. However, Alessandro didn''t lose hisposure in the slightest.

    He merely flicked the ball to Josip Ilicic, the other Fiorentina forward, before running around the blockade imposed by Thomas Partey. And soon, he was once again racing towards the goal after receiving a return pass from his counterpart.

    It was another dangerous moment for Rosenborg as Alessandro was one-on-one with the keeper. Most Rosenborg fans prayed for a higher power to intervene and stop the opponent from scoring. However, all was in vain.

    With a well-timed flick, Alessandro Matri executed his magic. He stepped around Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s keeper, with confidence before burying the ball into the back of the toplete the counterattack.

    -----

    ROSENBORG BK 0: ACF Fiorentina 2

    -----

    Most Rosenborg fans had gone silent after their team conceded the second goal close to the end of the first half. Theycked energy and were merely following the game with listless eyes as if they had just lost their close rtives. Only a few hardcore supporters were still discussing the proceedings on the pitch with bloodshot eyes.

    "F*ck!" A fan cursed out loud after Rosenborg had missed yet another chance on goal. "Why did Coach Johansen leave Mike, Tobias, and John Chibuike out of the squad?"

    "Who knows?" Another fan said with a sigh. "What worries me is that it''s already the 70th minute. However, Coach Johansen hasn''t made any substitutions. Has he already decided to give up on the Europa League?"

    "There is still over a month to themencement of the Norwegian football season. Why would the coach give up on the Europa League? It doesn''t make sense!"

    "Let''s stop making excuses for the coach," another fan chipped in. "He really miscalcted for this game. Firstly, he added two inexperienced yers to the squad. They can''t defend, and they can''t link up well with Zachary upfront. As a result, they''ve allowed Fiorentina''s five-man-midfield to dominate us."

    "Secondly," the same fan continued. "All the yers are performing below par. Their positioning, passing, and even marking abilities haven''t been up to standard throughout the entire duration of the game. So, how can we expect to win against Fiorentina ¡ª a team that has always put up incredible performances even in Europe?"

    "True," another fan concurred while nodding. "Our organization during this game had been terrible. Even though Zachary has tried to go at it alone by taking many shots at goal, he hasn''t managed to change much as football is a game of eleven. We might really be dropping out of the Europa League."

    "Might!?" A fan questioned with a sigh. "You still think that we have a chance to qualify when Fiorentina is already two goals ahead? Moreover, since those two goals are away goals, we''ll need to score three at Fiorentina''s home ground to qualify. And if the opponents manage to even a single goal while in Italy, the situation will worsen. We''ll then have to score four. Do you still think that we can qualify? Don''t be funny."

    "This game has yet to end," another fan remarked. "We still have more than 15 minutes to y. There''s still hope to score and bring the proceedings back to level. So, let''s not lose hope and continue supporting our team."

    -----

    On the pitch, Zachary could no longer contain his frustration. He''de into the game with confidence, especially after pushing several of his attributes to the S- grade. As a result, he''d really hoped to impress by putting up the most incredible performance of his career. However, it was already the 75th minute, yet his team, Rosenborg, was still trailing Fiorentina by two goals. Even after trying his utmost to breakdown the Italian team on several asions, he''d still not seeded. It was as if luck wasn''t on his side that day.

    "Guys! Don''t give up!" A shout from the sidelines broke him out of his moment of reverie. "We still have fifteen minutes to the end of the game. Continue trying, and we''ll surely score."

    Zachary turned to the sidelines and noticed that it was Coach Johansen yelling. The coach seemed to have never given birth to the thought of giving up, even when his team was two goals down. He was as spirited as ever while roaring out instructions for his yers.

    "Zachary!" Coach Johansen continued. "Continue trying out their keeper. If you get an opportunity, don''t think about many things. Just shoot and you might score."

    Zachary nodded while giving the coach a thumbs-up to indicate that he''d gotten the message. Without losing a second, he ran towards the right nk to defend against another one of Fiorentina''s throw-ins.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle soon after. Juan Cuadrado, Fiorentina''s right-winger, immediately stepped forward and threw the ball towards Anderson Oliveira, his counterpart in midfield.

    Zachary reacted immediately on seeing the ball making a parab from the touchline into the pitch. He was upon Anderson Oliveira in a sh with his incredible pace. Before the midfielder could even control the ball, Zachary was already jumping in to duel for the ball midair.

    In an aerial duel, height mattered a lot. So, it was Zachary, with his 6''4 physique, who came out on top and headed the ball towards Thomas Partey, his teammate in midfield.

    Thomas Partey was as efficient as usual. He didn''t hold the ball for long but flicked it towards Takumi Minamino in midfield. Takumi also handled it with a sense of urgency and quickly floated it towards Nicki, who''d just switched to the right-wing.

    Another Rosenborg attack was on. As a result, the home fans were again on their feet, singing the popr Rosenborg chants to encourage their team. Their voices continued resounding for the next few seconds until they hit a thunderous crescendo when the ball once again came to Zachary.

    Zachary, of course, didn''t disappoint the fans'' expectations. With a simple shift of his center of gravity, followed by an stico dribble, he changed directions instantaneously before breaking into the box. His movements were quick since he''d already pushed his agility and body control to the S- grading.

    However, the Fiorentina defenders didn''t allow him to do as he pleased and were upon him in just a second. They surrounded him immediately and closed off all his shooting angles. As a result, he could only step back and pass the ball to Borek Dockal, who''d just arrived at the edge of the box from an acute angle.

    "Just shoot before the defenders close you down!" Zachary yelled as he expertly flicked the ball towards the right-winger after drawing the defenders out of the box.

    "BAM!"

    The next moment, the sound of Borek''s boot smashing against the ball reverberated across the area, causing Zachary''s heart to race with anticipation. The right-winger had done as requested and sent a powerful shot towards the inside of the right post.

    However, Neto, Fiorentina''s keeper, once again reacted immediately to save the situation. With a well-timed dive, he sent the ball away from his goal to deny Rosenborg a chance to score for the umpteenth time that evening. Anyone could tell that he was an incredible goalkeeper.

    Nevertheless, the danger was still atrge for Fiorentina. Since the shot had been a powerful one, the keeper had only pushed the ball towards the edge of the box ¡ª and into Zachary''s path.

    "Don''t allow him to shoot! Block him!" A yell could be heard from the sidelines as Zachary controlled the ball while spinning around to face Fiorentina''s goal.

    At that moment, there was nothing else on Zachary''s mind except the ball. He didn''t even try to find out if there were opponents blocking his shooting angle since there was no time. What mattered was simply shooting, and the rest would have to depend on luck.

    "Here goes nothing!"

    Zachary acted immediately before the opponents could close him down. He drew his foot all the way back and struck the ball ferociously,pleting the action in one go. It was as if he''d imbued all his frustration into the shot.

    He would either kill the keeper or score. That was his strategy.

    "BAM!"

    The sweet sound of a boot connecting with the ball echoed in his ears the next moment as the ball whistled and howled towards the goal. It spun at high speed while tearing through the air as it quickly raged forward with unprecedented force and speed. Before the keeper could even react, it smashed the crossbar before bouncing into the back of the.

    SILENCE!

    The whole 18-yard box turned silent as all the yers stole fearful nces at Zachary. They were obviously shocked by the power of his shot. Was he trying to kill someone? Or was he trying to put a hole into the? Their expressions could clearly express what they were thinking at that moment.

    However, Zachary just disregarded them. He quickly picked the ball from the back of the while shouting to his teammates to hurry back. He then raced all the way to the center spot before cing it there.

    Since his team was still trailing by a goal, he had no time to waste and didn''t celebrate the goal. At that moment, the only issue on his mind was on how to score Rosenborg''s next goal before the end of the 90 minutes.

 Chapter 319 Unstoppable Momentum

    <h4>Chapter 319 Unstoppable Momentum</h4>

    The game continued after a short while. After scoring one goal, Rosenborg had all the momentum. Zachary, Takumi Minamino, Nicki Nielsen, Borek Dockal, and Alexander S?derlund were like predators on the attacking line,unching wave after wave of assaults on Fiorentina''s goal. Their attacking football was incredible for the next few minutes.

    However, in some magical way, Fiorentina managed to hold on and stopped Rosenborg from gaining anything from their relentless attacking. Balls repeatedly smashed against goal posts while Neto, Fiorentina''s keeper, asionally made incredible saves. Nheless, Zachary and co couldn''t bag the equalizer no matter how hard they bombarded Fiorentina''s goal. It was as if some higher force was working against them.

    "Let''s introduce three substitutes at once," Coach Johansen said to his assistant after watching for another minute.

    "That''s a good idea," Trond Henriksen, his assistant, replied. "They are likely to add five minutes of injury time after the ny. So, the substitutes might really make an impact in those few minutes. But, who are we introducing?"

    "Jonas Svensson, Karl Toko Ekambi, and Paul Kasongo," the coach said, his eyes never leaving the field of y.

    "Eh!" Trond Henriksen''s eyes widened with surprise.

    "Do you find my choice of substitutions wrong?" Coach Johansen queried after a moment.

    "No, not at all," the assistant replied hastily. "I was just surprised that you would allow Karl Toko Ekambi and Paul Kasongo to make their debuts in such an important match."

    "Even though young, they are good yers," Coach Johansen remarked. "They''ve also been doing incredibly well during training. So, there''s no reason why I shouldn''t allow them to participate in today''s match. They might even be the solution to our problems on the pitch."

    "Oh, okay, I understand," Trond replied with a sigh. "I''ll go ahead and prep the subs. Who are we substituting out?"

    "Takumi Minamino, Borek Dockal, and Alexander S?derlund."

    "Eh!" Trond was once again surprised. "But those three yers have yed great football over thest four minutes. Should we really be taking them out?"

    "No matter how well they yed, they still failed to score," Coach Johansen stated. "As attackers, they have failed to fulfill their core roles. So, we should have even substituted them out of the game a few minutes back."

    "Oh, okay." Trond nodded. "I''ll prep the subs right away."

    -----

    In the stands, the fans were surprised after noticing the three substitutes on the touchline. Of course, most of them were familiar with Jonas Svensson, the midfielder who asionally yed as a winger for Rosenborg. But what perplexed them was the presence of two new faces among the substitutes.

    "What the hell is Coach Johansen trying to do?" One of the fans couldn''t take it anymore and let loose a helpless yell. "It''s alreadying to the 90th minute, but why is the coach introducing two unknown yers? Has he really given up on the Europa League?"

    "Who knows?" Another fan replied. "The coach might have lost his touch during the Christmas holidays. I also don''t understand how he can introduce two inexperienced yers at this stage in the game. Moreover, all the attackers have yed incredibly well over thest few minutes. So, who is he going to take out?"

    "Let''s hope that it isn''t Zachary," another fan teased.

    "Man, don''t jinx our game. Taking out Zachary at this moment is like giving up the game. So, unless the coach is totally out of his mind, there''s no chance of that happening..."

    The supporters continued discussing while following the game until the fourth official put up the board to signal the substitutions. It was then that the voice of Kjell Roar, thementator, cut across the din in the stadium to introduce the three substitutes.

    "The Rosenborg coach has decided to introduce three substitutes during the 90th minute of the game," thementator announced. "Coming on for Rosenborg''s new midfielder - Takumi Minamino is Jonas Svensson, one of the most promising yers on the Rosenborg squad. He''ll most likely be taking on the role of an attacking midfielder for the remaining five minutes of injury time."

    "On the other hand," thementator continued, "Karl Toko Ekambi and Paul Kasongo will being on for Borek Dockal and Alexander S?derlund, respectively. They''re both new yers making their official debuts for Rosenborg in today''s game. Can they make a difference in the added five minutes? Let''s wait and see."

    A moment of silence descended upon the stadium right after thementator had introduced the substitutes. Most Rosenborg fans couldn''t make heads or tails of the coach''s decision since they''d never heard the names - Karl Toko Ekambi and Paul Kasongo. The abilities of the two yers were simply an enigma to them. So, they just sat there in the stands without any reaction while inwardly praying for a miracle to happen in thest few minutes of game y.

    -----

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    Immediately after all the substitutes had stepped onto the pitch, the referee blew the whistle and the game restarted. For the next minute, Rosenborg''s momentum slowed down a little due to the new changes in the squad. As a result, the Fiorentina yers showed signs of recovery. The men in blue soon started ying their one-touch or two-touch football as they tried their best to hold on to possession.

    However, how could Zachary allow them to do as they pleased? He couldn''t afford to waste time since only about four minutes were remaining to the end of the game. So, he worked harder than ever while yelling at his teammates to close down the opponents as quickly as possible. And soon, the team''s efforts paid off and quickly turned the game''s tempo.

    The relentless high-pressing by the Rosenborg yers had forced the Fiorentina yers to y a long ball forward, which was immediately picked up by Yerry Mina, the center-back.

    Yerry Mina handled the ball with a sense of urgency and quickly kicked it to Mikael Dorsin on the left nk. Mikael did the same and flicked it to Thomas Partey, Rosenborg''s holding midfielder, who also immediately passed it to Paul Kasongo on the right-wing. The right-winger also didn''t dilly-dally and threaded a pass towards Zachary in the middle.

    "Tiki, taka, Tiki, taka..."

    The passes flowed like spring water as the Rosenborg yers pressed forward like patient hunters eyeing their game. With Zachary''s organization, they didn''t panic while attacking even when they were well aware that only a couple of minutes were remaining to the end of the game. Instead, they moved forward slowly but surely, stretching the entire Fiorentina line-up with their fluid passing. In that way, they soon managed to create a gap in Fiorentina''s defensive shape not long after.

    Modibo Diakit¨¦ was the Fiorentina center-back who stepped out of position to take on Paul Kasongo on the right nk. As a result, he''d left a gap behind him in Fiorentina''s defense.

    Of course, Zachary, who was nearby, wouldn''t miss the opportunity of taking advantage of such a defensive mistake. His incredible spatial awareness made him aware of the blunder immediately. And within a sh, he ran into the space left by the defender while signaling Kasongo to pass the ball to him.

    Kasongo had spent plenty of time ying with Zachary in the academy and on Rosenborg''s training grounds. So, the winger knew his habits. He noticed his run immediately and threaded the ball to him without losing even a second.

    The pass was on point and exactly where Zachary wanted it. With a single deft touch, he received the ball before taking off towards Fiorentina''s box like a raging tiger in the wild.

    It was a chance for Rosenborg to score. And, of course, Zachary''s speed, rated at the S- rank by the system, exploded forth, sending the Rosenborg fans into a wave of frenzy. They sang his name at the top of their lungs, boosting his morale as he rushed forward with the ball like there was no tomorrow. Before long, he was steeping into the 18-yard box where he met an obstacle.

    It was Stefan Savic, another Fiorentina center-back, who''de forward to close him down at the edge of the box. However, with a simple change of pace, followed by an improvised version of the Marseille turn, he left the defender butt-down on the ground, eating the dust. And as soon as he''dpleted his 360-degree-turn, he was one-on-one with Neto, Fiorentina''s keeper.

    Lightning-fast thoughts shed through Zachary''s mind as he drew his leg back while observing the position of the keeper. Neto had made many incredible saves that night. It was as if the keeper had been on drugs. So, Zachary was ruthless while deciding on how to ce the shot. He''d to ensure that he would score even if he''d to st the keeper into the back of the.

    "Catch this if you can!"

    Zachary muttered under his breath as he swung down his leg like a whip. With the sort of proficiency practiced thousands of times on the training ground, he unleashed a powerful kick with the top of his boot onto the ball. He''d again imbued all his frustrations and hopes for his team into that one shot.

    "BAM!"

    The ball was like lightning tearing through the void. While carrying a strong wind, it cut a vicious trajectory through the air as it raged towards Neto''s head like a ballistic missile.

    "Damn!"

    Neto, Fiorentina''s goalkeeper, couldn''t help but curse out loud. He instinctively brought his hands before his face, maybe to protect himself and stop the ball from making its way into the back of the.

    But all his efforts were fruitless as the force carried by Zachary''s shot was beyond what words could describe. The ball sted at his arms like a hammer smashing against an anvil, jolting him a step back before making its way into the back of the. He could do nothing to stop Zachary from scoring since he''d unleashed the powerful shot from only a few yards away.

    GOAAAL!

    ROSENBORG BK 2: AFC FIORENTINA 2.

    The stadium exploded into another wave of cheers. In the 94th minute, with only one minute of injury time remaining to the end of the game, Rosenborg had scored the equalizer.

    That time around, Zachary chose to run to the corner g to celebrate with the rest of his teammates since he''d already managed to tie the score. There was no longer any need to panic since only a minute of gamey remained to the conclusion of the proceedings that night. He was well aware that the winner between the two teams could only be determined after the second leg scheduled for the following week at Fiorentina''s home ground.

 Chapter 320 Post-Match Routines

    <h4>Chapter 320 Post-Match Routines</h4>

    Zachary woke upter than usual the following day. He was suffering from post-match fatigued since he''d yed all the ny minutes against Fiorentina the previous evening. He couldn''t even walk with a steady gait since all his joints were aching as if they were full of lead.

    Be that as it may, he didn''t dare miss exercising that morning as he was a man still on a mission to improve himself. He worked with weights for twenty minutes and then jumped on the treadmill for a 15-minute conditioning session. After that, he performed some static stretches for five minutes before switching to a yoga routine to boost his recovery from post-match fatigue.

    Zachary was well aware that he couldn''t afford to waste time resting on hisurels since he hadn''t yet mastered the Robinho-step-over juju. So, he was very meticulous while going through each of the routines and performed them with a hundred percent focus until he was sweating and out of breath.

    By the end of the session, he could feel that his muscles had rxed to a great extent and were no longer aching like when he''d just got up from bed. For sure, the drills were already boosting his recovery.

    Afterpleting the exercises, he took a cold shower before heading to the kitchen to prepare himself something to eat. He was very thorough while arranging his meal since he was well aware of the importance of breakfast for a professional athlete.

    Within one hour of waking up, the body would always be like a sponge ready to absorb energy from food. Thus, if an athlete missed eating breakfast in that small window in the morning, the metabolism would slow down. The body would then be forced to look for alternative fuel sources by breaking down the body''s stores. What would follow would be the decline in the athlete''s performance during the rest of the day.

    Over the past four months, Zachary had been regrly consulting a sports nutritionist on how to handle his meals. He''d even developed a specialized diet for each meal for every single day of the week to meet his training needs. So, he didn''t waste any time deliberating on what to cook for breakfast that morning.

    He prepared some milk, eggs, bacon, toasted bread, and plenty of mixed-fruit juice with a practiced hand before settling on his dining table to feast on his breakfast. In order to pass the time more effectively, he even started browsing the sports news on his phone.

    Most of the articles in the news were about the recently-yed UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches. However, the ones that attracted Zachary''s attention were those reporting the results and match summaries from the previous day''s Europa League round of thirty-two stage.

    Juventus had won its Europa League home game against Trabzonspor, the Turkish football club, by a score of 2:0. Daniel Osvaldo and Paul Pogba each scored in the 16th and 90th minute, respectively, to ensure that the Italian giants came out on top at the end of the night. Moreover, considering theirmanding performance, they were also the favorites to win the second leg that was to be held in Turkey the following week. If nothing unexpected transpired, they would surely qualify for the round of sixteen.

    Thence, should Rosenborg ovee Fiorentina in Florence the following week, they would have a high probability of facing off against Juventus, the leviathan of Italian football, in the round of sixteen.

    "What kind of luck is this?"

    Zachary couldn''t help but let out a sigh as he considered the chances of Rosenborg against the Italian giants. A much-weaker Fiorentina had given them a hard time the previous night. So, on paper, the odds would evidently be against them if they yed Juventus ¡ª a team brimming with incredible yers like Carlos T¨¦vez, Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal, and Andrea Pirlo, among others. Considering those fixtures ahead, the luck of the Troll Kids in the Europa League draw was really terrible.

    "The road ahead is sure filled with hardships."

    Zachary shook his head in resignation before continuing to savor his breakfast. He''d resolved to take one match at a time and leave everything else to luck. Nothing else mattered to him aside from Rosenborg''s Europa League match scheduled for next week.

    As long as Rosenborg could defeat Fiorentina and qualify for the round of sixteen, then he would be satisfied. He would havepleted at least one of the system''s 2013/14 Europa League serial mission milestones. Thus, he would no longer have to worry about the system penalty of 120,000 Juju points.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    The phone in his hands started vibrating while he was still enjoying his breakfast. He immediately noticed that the call was from Kasongo, his long-time friend. So, without losing a moment, he epted the call before cing the phone against his ear.

    "Hello, Kasongo," he said. "How are you doing?"

    "I''m okay," Kasongo replied from the other end of the line. "How are you today, Zachary?"

    "I''m also fine," Zachary replied. "By the way, before I forget, let me first congratte you upon making your official debut for Rosenborg yesterday. You yed quite well and even provided an assist for the second goal. The coach will surely remember you while making the squad for the next game."

    Kasongo chuckled from the other end of the line. "Thanks, Zach. I also hope to get more opportunities to y for Rosenborg from now on."

    "You certainly will if you continue working hard."

    "Hearing that from you puts my heart at ease. By the way, Zach. I''m here with the Otterson brothers, and we were wondering if you have some time to hang out with us. We wish to consult you about some issues."

    "Oh!" Zachary said, ncing at his wall clock. "I have a training session with my fitness trainer at 3:00 PM. But, I''ll be free to meet up before then."

    "Then, that''s great," Kasongo said excitedly. "Can wee over to your ce right now?"

    "That''s also okay."

    "Great," Kasongo said. "See you in a bit."

    "Okay, see you," Zachary replied before hanging up.

    -----

 Chapter 321 Advice for Friends

    <h4>Chapter 321 Advice for Friends</h4>

    Thirty minutester, Kasongo arrived together with the Otterson brothers. Zachary was surprised as they came carrying a lot of snacks, including Pizzas and pre-packaged juice bottles. It was as if they were heading for a party.

    "What''s with all the food?" He asked.

    "We figured that you might be hungry, especially after exerting yourself during yesterday''s game," Kasongo replied with a grin while taking off his jacket by the door. "So, we decided to bring over some take-away. Moreover, what kind of visitors would we be if we came to your ce without bearing gifts?"

    "But I already ate breakfast."

    "No worries," Kasongo replied, waving his arm dismissively. "We can eat the Pizzas at lunch."

    Zachary could only shake his head as he nced at his countrymate. Kasongo had grown taller over the years. He was already about five feet eight. But what always surprised Zachary was his uncanny resemnce to Raheem Sterling, the future Manchester City winger. Be it the sideburns, the skin shade, and the small face ¡ª they were all like a copy of the English forward.

    "Say, Kasongo," Zachary could not help but inquire after a moment. "Could you be a long-lost brother to Raheem Sterling, the Liverpool yer?"

    Both Paul and Kendrick Otterson chuckled on hearing the question. The brothers had also grown up over the years. They were already almost as tall as Zachary and exuded an air of maturity.

    "That was a good one," Paul Otterson said as he bumped fists with Zachary in greeting. "We were also wondering whether he was in some way rted to that Liverpool youngster. Anyways, how have you been, Zachary? It has been a long time since the three of us got together. You really chucked us when you made it big as a pro."

    "That''s not the case," Zachary hurriedly exined. "You should understand that I spend most of my time training to better myself. So, I hardly get time for anything else. Moreover, didn''t you three also abandon me when I left Moholt? You clearly knew where my apartment was, but you couldn''t even drop by once in a while for a visit!"

    "Don''t mind Paul''s words," Kendrick hurriedly chipped in while patting Zachary''s shoulder. "We were also trying our best to graduate from the academy and then,ter on, to make it into the senior squad. So, we also couldn''t find time to hang out."

    "That put''s my heart at ease," Zachary said with a grin. He also settled in one of the sofas in the living room before continuing. "It''s great that you guys have made it into the senior squad. How''s everything? Are you coping well?"

    "Well," Kendrick Otterson said with a sigh. "Everything is going on okay. But we''re still not satisfied with our progress over the years. I''m already 20-years-of-age, while both Kasongo and Paul are already neen. However, we still haven''t managed to cement our positions as part of the Rosenborg squad. It''s really frustrating."

    "Take it slow," Zachary said. "Just set a few achievable training goals, and do your best to meet them on a daily basis. With your talent, you should be able to cement your ce in Rosenborg''s starting line-up within two years at most."

    "But that''s still too slow!" That time around, it was Kasongo who chimed in. "You''re also the same age as us, but you''re already the team''s superstar. Seeing you on the pitch makes us yearn for more, especially since we were together in the academy."

    "Well, my circumstances are different," Zachary said, thinking about his system. "Moreover, have you forgotten thatparing yourself to another is not always good? Just focus on yourself. Set some goals. Try to be better than the person you were yesterday. If you do that on a daily basis, you''ll surely improve in whatever you do."

    "That''s some good advice, Zachary," Kendrick said with a sigh. "But we still believe that we''re not doing our best to realize our full potential. Look at Kasongo. When he started training more seriously, he made the match squad yesterday. So, we believe that we can achieve greater goals as long as we practice much more arduously."

    "That''s true," Zachary concurred. "Hard work during training always pays off on the pitch. But you can''t train aimlessly and unsystematically. You''ve got to realize your shorings first¡ªbefore working on them on the training ground. For instance, if your bnce and coordination or passing attributes are below par, you undergo targeted training to improve those aspects of your game. That''s the way of true professionals."

    "You''re right, Zachary." Kendrick nodded. "And that''s the reason we''vee to you. Could you point us in the right direction on how to train like pros in the future? Any pointers from you could help us a lot as we work on our techniques."

    "Oh!" Zachary said, taking some time to organize his thoughts. "At this stage of your careers, it is crucial to solidify your basics first. You''ve got to perfect your techniques, including ball control, passing, and shooting to the best of your ability. As long as your basics are solid, you''ll have a high chance of being named on the match squad."

    "Additionally, you''ve got to work on your fitness day in day out to ensure that you are always in great shape. As long as you are fit, football bes very easy as you can do plenty of things on the ball without panicking. You can dribble without much effort, take great shots, or even win one-on-one duels if you''re in tip-top shape. So, fitness is a very crucial factor for a pro footballer."

    "Lastly, I would rmend hiring a professional fitness trainer," Zachary continued. "With a fitness trainer, you''ll be able to set achievable training goals and work on them under professional guidance. For instance, if you need to build some muscle, like in the case of Kasongo, the fitness trainer will help you out greatly. The same goes for Paul, who needs to work on his stamina."

    "Oh, okay," Otterson hurriedly inquired. "Is there any fitness trainer you can rmend?"

    "I can rmend my fitness trainer, Bj?rn Peters," Zachary replied. "You should be able to remember him. He was the assistant coach of our academy team."

    "Oh! I know Coach Bjorn Peters," Paul Otterson chimed in. "He was the muscr guy who always helped out Coach Johansen in the academy. But I didn''t know that he was a fitness trainer."

    "Well, he''s one of the best fitness trainers in Norway," Zachary said with a smile. "If you happen to work with him just for a year, you''ll surely achieve great things. I''ll be meeting him in the afternoon. If you''re interested, I can ask him to take some time out of his schedule to meet you."

    "Of course, we''re interested," Kasongo said. "As long as he can help us improve, then there''s no reason for us to refuse."

    Zachary chuckled. "I''ll arrange the meeting time today. However, his fees are a bit high. He might charge you about 6,000 NOK per month just to work with you three times a week."

    "That''s not a problem," Kendrick said with a grin. "After signing official contracts with Rosenborg, we all earn more than 50,000 NOK per month. So, we can afford the 6,000 NOK for a fitness trainer."

    "Then, that''s awesome," Zachary intoned. "I''ll arrange the meeting today. Just wait for my call."

    "Okay, Zach," Paul Otterson said. "We''ll eagerly await your news. By the way, Zachary. There''s a rumor on some popr sports blogs that you have signed a deal with Nike. Is it true?"

    "Yes, it''s true," Zachary replied, feeling a bit surprised by the resourcefulness of the media people. "I signed an endorsement contract with Nike justst week. But the Nike representatives are yet to make any announcements. So, I''m wondering how the media learned about the deal."

    "Don''t underestimate the capabilities of journalists," Paul Otterson said with a sigh. "As long as something happens, they''ll surely know about it. But that aside, you should be a rich man at the moment. Isn''t that right?"

    "Not at all," Zachary said. "I haven''t received any payments from Nike as of yet."

    "Just don''t forget to take us out for celebrations after receiving your first payment," Kasongo chimed in. "We need to celebrate such events to rx our minds."

    "Kasongo, why are you always thinking of parties?" Zachary queried. "Can''t you think of something else?"

    "Don''t worry," Kasongo hurriedly replied. "I was only joking with you. But seriously, Zachary! You need to take a few days off from training to rx. You don''t have to do it regrly. Even once or twice a month is enough. It won''t even affect your long-term training ns."

    "I do sometimes take time off," Zachary replied, his tone defensive. "For instance, I was on holiday in Barcelona with my girlfriend during the offseason. Don''t you think that that''s enough rxation time?"

    "Oh!" Kasongo said, his tone self-effacing. "I forgot that you''re now like a married man. You go on vacation, and you don''t even call us! Is it because we don''t have girlfriends of our own?"

    "You are as funny as ever, Kasongo," Zachary said, shaking his head. "But don''t worry. If I organize something else, I''ll call you, guys."

    Kasongo grinned from ear to ear on hearing the promise. "You said it yourself, Zachary. We shall be eagerly waiting for your call during the next few weeks. Don''t you forget!"

    Zachary chuckled. "By the way, have you guys eaten breakfast yet? Or, should I offer you some breakfast?"

    "We have already eaten." That time around, it was Kendrick who replied. "Just give us some juice. It''ll be enough."

    "Okay."

    **** ****

 Chapter 322 To Florence, Italy

    <h4>Chapter 322 To Florence, Italy</h4>

    After arranging a schedule for his friends to train with Coach Bj?rn Peters, Zachary returned his entire focus to the routine team practice. To prepare for the uing Europa League second leg match against Fiorentina, he rehearsed formations, set pieces, and yer movements with his teammates for the subsequent five days. Under the guidance of the Rosenborg coaches, the whole team was soon like a well-oiled machine, with all yers clearly knowing their roles for the uing game against Fiorentina.

    Whenever Zachary wasn''t training with the team, he would also find time to perform the physical and mental conditioning drills required to master the Robinho-step-over juju. Whether it was day or night, it didn''t matter to him. He would work on his dribbling skills either in the system''s simtor or on the training ground at Lerkendal whenever he got the opportunity.

    Step by step, he slowly pushed the progress of his mental and physical mastery of the step-over juju to above 90%. By the fifth day, when only a single day remained to the second leg match against Fiorentina, he could already side-step on the training ground quite well. He could even take on his teammates and beat them while solely relying on his step-overs.

    He was evidently on the cusp of achieving true mastery over the technique. Nevertheless, Zachary understood that he wasn''t ready to utilize the step-over skill in official matches.

    As long as he couldn''t master all the aspects of the juju to more than a hundred percent, it would remain as good as useless. That was because he would be prone to making missteps during critical moments of the game if he tried out a skill that he hadn''t made his own. It was the simple¡ªbut ugly truth.

    "I can only take one step at a time," Zachary resolved. "What''s most important is to beat Fiorentina the day after tomorrow. After the game, I''ll have roughly two weeks to master the skill in its whole totality and make it my own."

    Zachary continued training after making the resolution. Even though the sun had already sunk below the horizon in the west, he continued exerting himself and going through various drills on the training ground to condition himself.

    That day, he only ended his targeted practice at around nine o''clock at night. He then stretched for a few minutes before taking a shower in the bathrooms beside the training ground''s locker rooms. After drying himself and dressing up, he quickly exited Lerkendal and jumped into his R8 GT. Before long, he was cruizing on the roads of Trondheim, heading to his apartment to rest for the night. He was eager to get back home since he''d already made ns to spend the night with Cami.

    **** ****

    Wednesday, February 26, 2014.

    -----

    The Rosenborg yers, who''d made Coach Johansen''s match squad, boarded a KLM Airlines flight early in the morning that day and headed to Florence, Italy. They were on their way to y the second leg of the Europa League''s round of thirty-two fixture against Fiorentina.

    The journey was a pleasant one, without any mishaps. As a result, the ne managed to touch down on the runway of the Aeroporto di Firenze-Peret five and a half hourster ¡ª when the clock was just pointing to midday.

    The yers, including Zachary, quickly stepped out of the ne under the guidance of the dedicated staff. However, not even a single Rosenborg fan came to wee them as the club was not famous in Italy. So, before long, they sessfully made their way to the airport''s arrivals section without much fanfare.

    "Wee to Florence, team Rosenborg," a gentleman who was part of the airport staff said. "You can go through that gate to pick up your check-in luggage."

    All the members of Rosenborg''s delegation possessed Norwegian identity cards that were valid throughout the entire Schengen area. Thence, the procedures at the airport were pretty straightforward.

    In only about thirty minutes, all the yers, coaches, and medical personnel had already collected their luggage and quickly exited the airport. Without wasting time, they boarded a bus arranged for the team and were soon on their way to Hotel Vi Gabriele D''Annunzio, where they would spend the two nights in Florence.

    On the way to the hotel, Zachary couldn''t take his eyes off the various captivating sceneries that shed by the bus window. The blend of the gorgeous roads and the Renaissance architecture gave the metropolis a unique historical ambiance that could even captivate the minds of the most hard-to-please tourists. Florence was really a beautiful city as far as Zachary was concerned.

    "Okay, guys," Trond Henriksen, the assistant head coach, yelled from the front of the bus after a few more minutes of driving. "The schedule is as follows when we arrive at the hotel. We''ll first check into our hotel rooms before having our lunch. We''ll then rest for about an hour to recover from the jetg before going through a conditioning session in the gym at 3:00 PM. After that, you''ll all have to return to your hotel rooms to rest. No yer is allowed to leave the hotel grounds to tour the city. We don''t want any of you to face unexpected incidents before our game tomorrow evening. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good," Coach Trond Henriksen said, nodding. "We''ve arrived. Get ready to alight from the bus."

    -----

    As nned, the team only went through a conditioning session at three that evening. After that, the Rosenborg yers returned to their rooms to rest as per the coach''s instructions.

    Ofte, Coach Johansen had be much stricter and had even benched a couple of first-team yers who couldn''t follow his instructions. Thus, all the selected yers were on their best behavior that night as they didn''t want to get into the bad books of their coach. They all stayed in their rooms withoutint until it was time for dinner.

    After dinner, most of the yers, including Zachary, gathered in the hotel lounge to watch the UEFA Champions League match between FC Schalke 04 and Real Madrid.

    The game was one-sided, with Real Madrid dominating the proceedings from the first minute. Each of the three forwards - Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, and Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace, taking Real Madrid''s tally to six goals at the end of the night. FC Schalke 04 only managed to bag one constion goal, curtsey of as-Jan Huntar,te in the 90th minute.

    Zachary felt his blood boil after watching theplete thrashing by the Spanish giants. Their football was really pleasing to the eyes and their teamwork incredible. Every yer had a well-defined role on the pitch, making their football too easy and enjoyable.

    Zachary even started considering whether he should also join a giant team after transferring out of Rosenborg. It was a notion that was really tempting, especially to him, a yer who desired to y football at the highest level.

    ------

    The following morning, the yers woke up early. After having breakfast, they traveled by bus to a nearby training ground to go through somest-minute preparations for the game. Under the strict supervision of the coaches, they worked with the ball for roughly two hours and refined their tactics on the field before returning to their hotel rooms to rest.

    Zachary, on his part, soon busied himself with watching the past matches of Fiorentina when he returned to his room. He wanted to effectively exploit all the shorings of his opponents since the game was akin to a life and death battle as far as he was concerned. So, aside from when he had meals, he spent most of the day on his phone, trying his best to find Fiorentina''s weaknesses from the past match videos.

    It was a tedious task, for sure. However, Zachary went at it with a hundred percent focus until he could name the personal shorings of each of the Fiorentina yers. By evening, he already knew well those who were slow-paced and had even crammed the usual habits of most regrs on the Italian side. It was as if he''d turned into an analyst for team Fiorentina.

    "Knock! Knock! Zachary, are you in?"

    Suddenly, his ears picked up a loud knocking sound followed by the voice of Mikael Dorsin, the assistant captain, from behind the door.

    "The door is open, Mikael," Zachary replied, ncing up from his phone. "You can juste in."

    Mikael immediately shoved the door open and stepped into the room. "It''s already 7:00 PM," he said. "Only two hours remain to the game''s kick-off. So, the coach has called everyone down to eat a light dinner before heading to the stadium."

    "Oh!" Zachary said after taking a peek at his watch. "Give me a minute to prepare my match gear. We can go down together."

    "You seemed quite busy!" Mikael remarked, stealing a peek at Zachary''s phone. "What were you doing?"

    "I was analyzing Fiorentina''s past match videos," Zachary replied as he got up from the bed.

    "You''re really working hard!" Mikael eximed. "How can you handle watching those boring videos all day long, especially right before a game?"

    "I simply want to win," Zachary responded. "So, I''m doing my best to gain an advantage over the opponents."

    "I guess you''re right," Mikael said with a smile. "Since the coach has again given you a free role in the squad, you''ll have free reign on the pitch. You''ll have to decide how and where to y during the match. So, researching the opponents is really important in your case."

    "Exactly," Zachary concurred, slinging his gym bag over his shoulder. "I''m ready now. Let''s head down before the team bus leaves us behind."

    "Okay."

    **** ****

 Chapter 323 Deadlock

    <h4>Chapter 323 Deadlock</h4>

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle to signal the match kick-off at 9:05 PM, sending the whole stadium into an explosion of cheers. The second leg of the Europa League''s round of thirty-two fixture between Rosenborg and Fiorentina had finallymenced.

    For that game, Coach Johansen didn''t make any changes to the squad that yed the first leg. Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s veteran goalkeeper, was in goal while Mikael Dorsin, Tore Reginiussen, Yerry Mina, and Eric Bailly were holding down the fort in defense. Thomas Partey once again yed as the defensive midfielder, while Zachary Bemba and Takumi Minamino were the attacking midfielders. Lastly, Nicki Nielsen, Borek Dockal, and Alexander S?derlund were the three forwards toplete Rosenborg''s 4-3-3 formation.

    On the side of Fiorentina, there were a lot more changes made to the squad that''d initially yed against Rosenborg in Trondheim. The three yers - Josip Ilicic, Oliveira Anderson, and Manuel Vargas were not part of the starting line-up. Moreover, their coach had switched from a 3-5-2 shape to a more versatile 4-3-3 formation. From just the set-up, anyone watching the match could tell that he''d prioritized attacking over defending for that game against Rosenborg.

    The match proceeded as expected in the first few minutes of gamey. While being urged on by the thunderous cheers of the home crowd, the men in purpleunched endless waves of attacks on Rosenborg''s defense like mad. They utilized abination of wing y while on the ball and high pressing tactics while not on the ball to outy Rosenborg. Before long, they settledfortably into the game and dominated the proceedings on the pitch.

    The intent of the Italian outfit was evident as they monopolized possession and created several chances in the first thirty minutes. But, no matter how much they bombarded Rosenborg''s goal, they still couldn''t get an opportunity to score that crucial opener.

    Rosenborg''s defense was like an imprable bastion, warding off all the attacks without taking any damage. The Rosenborg four defenders worked well with Thomas Partey, the holding midfielder, to prevent Fiorentina from converting their clear chances at goal. As a result, the game remained deadlocked at a score of 0:0 as the big clock on the screen indicated that it was almost half-time.

    By then, the tension had already steadily built up within the crowd of Fiorentina supporters, forcing them to quieten down. For minutes the anxiety levels were so high throughout the stadium. As a result, the Fiorentina coach was forced to be more active on the sidelines.

    "Don''t panic!" Vincenzo Monte, Fiorentina''s head coach, bellowed at his yers from within the technical area. "Settle down and y your own game. Ensure to pass the ball around patiently through the middle and the nks to break down their defensive shape. We don''t need to be anxious..."

    His words reverberated across the pitch in quick session like rounds of bullets from a machine gun. However, he still couldn''t improve Fiorentina''s situation on the pitch, no matter how loud he mored and roared. The Rosenborg defense remained imprable ¡ª and as a result, the score was still 0:0 as the yers of both teams headed into the tunnel for half-time.

    **** ****

    Coach Johansen''s mood was a bit jittery as he swept his gaze across the yers who''d just settled down in the dressing room for the half-time break. The first half had been filled with ups and downs, with Fiorentina almost scoring the opening goal on several asions. But fortunately, his yers had managed to put up a satisfying defensive performance to thwart all the Italian side''s attempts at goal. They''d yed with purpose and followed the game n to the letter ¡ª a fact that delighted the coach.

    Be that as it may, Coach Johansen understood that he couldn''t allow his yers to rx before the end of the game. He needed to encourage his yers to be bolder andunch more attacks on the opponent''s goal if they wished to win the fixture and qualify for the next round of the Europa League.

    "Guys, can I have your attention?" He said, taking center stage within the dressing room.

    All the yers immediately quietened down. They ceased all chatter and soon pivoted their attention onto the coach.

    "You all yed well during the first half," the coach continued. "You followed the game n perfectly and stayed in proper shape. Thanks to your efforts, we held off Fiorentina and prevented them from scoring. However, we''re still in a dire situation since we conceded two goals at homest week. Should we fail to score and win the game during the second half, Fiorentina will still qualify due to the away goal rule."

    "So, guys, we all need to do our best and y like never before to score at least a single goal during the second half. One goal is enough to take us through. As long as we get that one goal and continue defending as we did during the first half, we''ll be the team ying in the Europa League''s round of sixteen. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach."

    Coach Johansen smiled, ncing around. "I''m d we''re on the same page," he said. "Now moving on to the tactics. In the second half, we''ll continue ying defensively as a team. The three midfielders and two of the forwards will have to keep falling back to help the defenders resist Fiorentina''s attacks. However, if there''s a chance, we counterattack."

    "We''ll need to be swift and effective whenever we get the chance. I expect all forward yers and midfielders to do their best to link up and score a goal on the counter as soon as possible. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good," Coach Johansen said, nodding. He then gave a few more instructions specific to individual yers for the next few minutes before sending the team back to the field for the second half. He had already done the best he could to organize his team. The rest was up to his yers.

    **** ****

 Chapter 324 One Goal is Sufficient

    <h4>Chapter 324 One Goal is Sufficient</h4>

    Zachary was as hardworking as ever during the first few minutes of the second half. For that game, he yed as a true-blue central midfielder. He didn''t just focus on attacking but would also constantly fall back to defend against Fiorentina''s barrage of attacks.

    He understood that Fiorentina was a much stronger team whenpared to Rosenborg. He knew that he couldn''t let himself rx and leave the defending to his teammates. So, he worked harder than ever and was like a tireless madman in the midfield with his S-graded stamina, endurance, and agility attributes.

    Moreover, since he''d studied the weakness and habits of the Fiorentina squad before the game, he was more effective on the pitch. Whenever the opponents had the ball, he was always quick to make a decision since he could easily predict their ying patterns from their previous matches. Thanks to his efforts, Rosenborg prevented the Italian side from scoring the opening goal on several asions.

    The minutes passed quickly, and the clock on the big screen soon indicated that it was the 70th minute. At that moment, Fiorentina had just initiated another attack to break down Rosenborg''s defense.

    Juan Cuadrado, Fiorentina''s right-winger, exchanged a couple of one-twos with Alberto Aquni, the midfielder, as they cut through Rosenborg''s defense. Their teamwork was incredible as they circumvented a series of opponents before making it into the final third. But they soon ran into an obstacle in the form of Eric Bailly when they continued on towards Rosenborg''s box.

    Eric Bailly was like a ruthless assassin as he slid in to tackle the ball from Juan Cuadrado''s feet. With a single merciless sweep, he sent the Fiorentina man tumbling to the ground before securing the ball.

    "Foul! Foul..."

    The Fiorentina yers started shouting at the referee, hoping to im a free kick. However, all their efforts were fruitless. The referee ignored theirints and waved the gamey to continue.

    Chance!

    Zachary acted with all the haste he could master when he saw the opponents lose concentration for a moment. He quickly ran into space while calling out to Eric Bailly to pass the ball to him.

    The Rosenborg yers had practiced various counterattacking routines over the past few days in preparation for the game. So, Eric Bailly didn''t need Zachary''s reminder at that moment. He quickly flicked the ball forward towards Zachary''s position to initiate the counterattack.

    Zachary''s entire being bubbled with excitement when he received the ball in the middle of the pitch close to the center circle. With a single deft touch, he brought it under control before turning around to face Fiorentina''s side of the pitch.

    Within an instant, he assessed the positioning of both the opponents and his teammates while expertly stepping past an opponent that''d just closed him down. By relying on his high-level spatial awareness, he managed to form a mental map of those around him before taking the first stride towards the other half.

    Zachary understood that it was then or never. So, he took off like a race car, elerating to his top speed within a second. He was soon circumventing defenders while dashing towards Fiorentina''s box as if his life was on the line.

    At one point, he came across a ruthless tackle from David Pizarro, the Fiorentina midfielder. However, Zachary yed a one-two with Takumi Minamino as he skirted around the sliding tackle. Before long, he was already bearing down on Fiorentina''s box as a wave of booing descended upon the entire stadium.

    The Fiorentina supporters seemed intent on disrupting his rhythm and concentration with their loud voices. However, Zachary was already an experienced old hand on the professional stage. He didn''t lose hisposure as he slowed down slightly before the box to assess his options.

    On his right was his counterpart in midfield - Takumi Minamino, while on his left was Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s star striker. Thus, he had the option of either attempting to score himself or passing the ball to one of his two teammates.

    Reason always dictated that midfielders make such choices based on the past statistics of the attacking yers in the team. However, by following his instincts, Zachary decided to do the opposite. Instead of passing to the more experienced and lethal Nicki Nielsen, he flicked the ball to Takumi Minamino, who was just stepping past thest center back and into Rosenborg''s box.

    Takumi received Zachary''s pin-point through-pass right before stepping into an off-side position. With a not-soplicated graceful touch, he pushed the ball forward to stride into the box. Before any of the defenders could close him down, he unleashed a curling right-footed shot that easily skirted around the keeper and made it into the back of the.

    ACF Fiorentina 0: Rosenborg BK 1

    In the 70th minute, Rosenborg had finally broken the deadlock and scored the opening goal. All the Rosenborg yers, including the goal scorer -Takumi Minamino, were ecstatic while celebrating in front of Fiorentina''s goal. They sang and shouted at the top of their voices without minding the angry Fiorentina fans ring at them from the stands behind the goal.

    **** ****

    Coach Johansen roared out in excitement, repeatedly punching his fist into the air when Takumi Minamino scored Rosenborg''s first goal. For the past few minutes, he''d been worried. He was fearful that his team would have to bow out of that season''s Europa League during the round of thirty-two stage.

    But since his yers had finally gotten the crucial opening goal, he could rx and organize targeted tactics to frustrate Fiorentina. The next few minutes would be about game management, and as a coach, he would have to pull out all his stops to ensure that his team didn''t concede even a single goal. So, without losing a minute, he introduced two more defensive-minded yers to his side to increase the resistance against Fiorentina''s attacks.

    The goddess of luck seemed to be on Rosenborg''s side that evening. Although the Fiorentina attackers continued trying their best to break down Rosenborg''s defense, there were no more surprises in the final minutes. The Rosenborg yers held onto their 1:0 lead until the final whistle sounded by defending together as a team.

 Chapter 325 Unexpected News

    <h4>Chapter 325 Unexpected News</h4>

    When the final whistle sounded, Coach Johansen rushed into the pitch, yelling at the top of his voice to celebrate Rosenborg''s victory. Closely following behind him were the rest of the substitutes and the members of the technical team. They were, at that moment, hopping up and down excitedly like a bunch of kids that''d just chanced upon an ice cream truck. Not even the loud booing by the Fiorentina fans still in the stadium could dampen their jubnt mood.

    "Nice game," Coach Johansen said while giving Zachary a bear hug. "That run in the 70th minute was incredible. And great thinking when you passed the ball to Takumi instead of Nicki. None of the defenders expected you to make such a choice. Even I, your coach, was quite surprised by your choice."

    "Sometimes, football is all about keeping your opponents guessing," Zachary replied, stepping away from the coach''s embrace. "But, to be honest, I was quite anxious at that moment. I couldn''t have known that my choice was the right one."

    When he passed the ball to Takumi, he''d wished to confuse the opponents. He understood that the Fiorentina coach should''ve already researched his ying patterns from Rosenborg''s previous matches. So, the only way to go at such a crucial moment was to make a decision he wouldn''t have previously made so as to catch the defenders off-guard.

    "It''s good that your choice bore fruit in the end," Coach Johansen said, patting his shoulder. "We might have a chance of even going further than we expected in the Europa League. Keep up the spirit and hard work."

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary replied with a smile. They then exchanged a few more words before the coach stepped away to talk and celebrate with the rest of his yers.

    Zachary, on his part, felt like he''d unloaded a huge burden off his shoulders. He''d finally aplished one milestone of the system''s 2013/14 Europa League Serial Challenge and escaped the retribution for failing the mission. By helping his team qualify for the Europa League''s round of sixteen, he would no longer have to worry about paying a 120,000 juju point penalty to the system. At that moment, he was totally rxed.

    -----

    Since it was an away game, the Rosenborg yers didn''t spend much time celebrating after the game. They only sang a few Rosenborg victory chants in the dressing room before packing their things and boarding the bus back to their hotel for the night.

    -----

    Zachary had a light dinner with his teammates at the hotel restaurant after taking a quick shower. The whole atmosphere around the team was still jubnt. Some yers even put forward the suggestion of holding a small victory party at the hotel.

    However, Zachary quietly excused himself before heading back to his room for the night. He still had to continue his training to master the Robinho-step-over juju when he returned to Trondheim the following day. More than anything, he needed to allow his body to rest so as to boost his post-match recovery. Thus, wasting time partying was a big no for him.

    When back in his room, Zachary switched on the television, hoping to pass the time before going to bed by watching the sports news for the day. However, to his distress, he soon found out that most of the channels avable were only broadcasting using the Italiannguage. So, he could only resort to streaming the ESPN News English Channel on his phone by relying on the fast wireless inte within the hotel.

    "Several Europa League matches have just concluded," the voice of the ESPN presenter boomed in his ears when he connected his headphones. "In a shocker earlier today, Red Bull Salzburg managed to defeat the Dutch giants - Ajax. Goals from Mike van der Hoorn, Sadio Man¨¦, and Jonathan Soriano saw the Austrian outfit decimate the Dutch giants 3:1."

    "In other news," the reporter continued. "Tottenham defeated Dnipro 3:1 to ovee a one-goal deficit from the first leg and qualify for the round of sixteen. The other Europa League giants, including Sevi, Napoli, Benfica, Juventus, and Lyon, also emerged victorious from their respective fixtures to qualify for the next round."

    "However, there was one unexpected result from today''s fixtures. Rosenborg, a team from Norway, managed to defeat Fiorentina 1:0 away from home in Florence, Italy. A goal from Takumi Minamino ensured that the Norwegian giants emerged victorious with an aggregate score of 3:2 at the end of the night. They''ll now have to face Juventus in the next round of sixteen. Can they create more miracles and defeat another Italian team? With me here..."

    Zachary listened for a few more minutes before switching off the channel. A bitter smile outlined his facial features as he ced his phone to the side. As expected, Juventus had defeated Trabzonspor, the Turkish team. Goals from Arturo Vidal and Daniel Osvaldo had ensured that the Italian giants came out on top at the end of the night. As a result, they had be Rosenborg''s next opponents in the Europa League''s round of sixteen.

    "Damn!"

    Zachary could only curse at Rosenborg''s poor luck. First, they had to face off against Fiorentina, a rtively strong team in Europe. However, after barely qualifying, they again had to y against an even stronger Italian side - Juventus. As far as Zachary was concerned, it was the most damn luck possible.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt..."

    Suddenly, the phone, which he''d already ced to the side, started vibrating. Zachary couldn''t help but frown, wondering who could be calling thatte in the night, especially after a game. But, he was even more amazed after realizing that the phone call seemed to be from DR Congo, his homnd.

    "Hello," he said a bit hesitantly after epting the call. "Who''s this?"

    "Hello, Zach," a familiar voice answered in French from the other end of the line. "Sorry for calling you thiste. It''s me, Coach Damata."

    "Oh, Coach Damata!" Zachary eximed, his tone rxing. "How are you, coach?"

    "I''m okay," the coach replied. "However, Ie bearing some bad news. That''s why I''m callingte at night?"

    "What''s the matter?" Zachary asked, his heart skipping a beat.

    "Well, it''s about your grandma."

    "My grandma! What''s wrong with her?"

    "Well," the coach replied from the other end of the line. "She copsed earlier today, and we had to rush her to hospital. As I speak now, she''s still in aa, the cause of her condition unknown."

    "She copsed?"

    Zachary could feel a sickening pool of dread forming in his belly after receiving the bad news from Coach Damata. A few years ago, he''d even transferred his grandma from Bukavu to a new city to keep her safe. However, Zachary was now hearing that she was facing a life-threatening condition. He couldn''t prevent the wave of panic from washing over him as he imagined the worst.

    "What are the doctors saying?" Zachary asked after letting out a long, drawn-out breath. "Have they done any tests?"

    "The tests are not yet out," Coach Damata replied. "But we should be able to get the results by tomorrow morning."

    "Oh!" Zachary frowned. "Which hospital are you in?"

    "Centre M¨¦dical du Centre Ville," Coach Damata said. "It''s one of the best hospitals here in Lubumbashi."

    "Oh, okay," Zachary said. "Keep me posted when you get the results."

    "No problem, Zachary," Coach Damata replied. "As soon as I get the results, I''ll call."

    "Thanks for all the help, coach," Zachary said. "Do you need money for the treatment costs, by the way?"

    "No," Coach Damata was quick to reply. "There''s some good amount of money remaining from the funds you have sent to us over the previous few months. It should be enough."

    "Okay, then," Zachary said. "In case anything seriouses up, I''ll ask for permission from my coaches ande to that side. But for now, I''ll leave everything to you, coach."

    "Okay, Zach," the coach replied. "Feel at ease. I''ll do my best to take care of her."

    -----

    The following morning, the Rosenborg squad boarded a ne back to Trondheim. On arriving at V?rnes Airport, they found many fans waiting for them.

    "Shllla... oh Rosenborg..."

    Most of the fans, dressed in Rosenborg''s ck and white colors, were crowding the airport gate, singing at the top of their voices. They became even more crazed when the Rosenborg squad marched out of the airport gate. The security personnel had to act to keep them in check.

    However, all themotion did not stop the jubnt Rosenborg yers from signing a few autographs for their fans. Regr starting yers, like Mikael Dorsin, Nicki Nielsen, and even the newly-signed Takumi Minamino, all spent a few minutes signing their names on various items presented by the supporters. They were clearly having a good time since they were smiling throughout the ordeal.

    Zachary was also among the group of yers signing autographs. However, his thoughts were somewhere else, causing him to frown from time to time.

    He hadn''t received any update from Coach Damata about his grandmother''s condition yet. So, he was very anxious. The noise made by the fans, which had always been like music to his ears, sounded like scratching sounds. He wished to exit the airport and go somece quiet as soon as possible.

    "Zachary," the familiar voice of Coach Johansen sounded from behind him. "You seem out of it! Are you okay?"

    "I''m just feeling a bit light-headed," Zachary responded, not wanting to worry the coach. "I just need to sit down for a bit."

    "Then, just head into the bus and wait for us there," the coach said. "Your teammates can deal with the fans."

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary said. "I''ll go now," he added before stepping towards the bus.

    He was eager to settle into a quiet ce before trying out Coach Damata''s phone again. He couldn''t feel at ease before understanding his grandma''s condition.

 Chapter 326 Anxiety

    <h4>Chapter 326 Anxiety</h4>

    Zachary let out a breath of relief as he embraced the sense of tranquility that washed over him when he settled in the back seat of the bus. He immediately fished out his phone from one of his trouser pockets and dialed Coach Damata''s number.

    However, even after trying time and time again, the call could not go through. The coach was probably in a ce with poorwork coverage, or he''d simply switched off his phone.

    "Damn!"

    Not knowing his grandma''s condition was the most agonizing torment for him. His stress levels were through the roof as he couldn''t stomach the fact that he was all the way in Europe, livingfortably like a monarch, while his only guardian was lying on a hospital bed somewhere in DR Congo, fighting for her life.

    He felt even more remorseful after recalling how he''d repeatedly put off visiting his grandma during the previous few months. She''d continuously implored him on the phone to find some time to travel back home. However, he would always cite his training as the perfect excuse without considering her feelings. He hadn''t even journeyed back for Christmas during the offseason.

    "What to do?"

    Chaotic thoughts whirled through Zachary''s mind, which was already weighed down by regret. He couldn''t help but consider if he should up and board the first flight avable back to his homnd. However, after a few more seconds of deliberation, he pushed the notion out of his mind.

    A flight from V?rnes to Lubumbashi would take more than twelve hours. If he decided to travel, he wouldn''t be avable on the phone for the entire duration of the journey. Thus, he wouldn''t be able to organize his grandma''s treatment remotely if there was an emergency.

    "Maybe, I should consult Emily if I don''t hear from Coach Damata by the time I reach my apartment."

    Zachary''s eyes glittered with expectation. Emily, his agent, was a very resourceful person. She could easily simplify even the mostplicated of situations since she had connections all around the globe. Thus, she might be the only person who could help him untangle the problematic situation in the quickest way possible.

    "She might really be able to help."

    A wave of rxation washed over him after making the resolution. He forced all his apprehensions to the back of his mind before leaning back in his seat and dozing off.

    He was totally spent since he didn''t even sleep a wink the previous night due to worry. So, he slumbered like a log in his seat without even the slightest understanding of what was around him. He only managed to wake up after a while when one of his teammates tapped his shoulder. But by then, the bus had already pulled up into the parking lot at Lerkendal.

    "Guys, wee back home!" Zachary heard Coach Johansen''s voice reverberate across the bus after waking up. "I congratte all of you upon winning our Europa League round of thirty-two fixture against Fiorentina."

    The yers responded to the coach with ngorous chanting and pping. They even started singing a victory slogan until the coach raised one of his arms and requested them to quieten down.

    "As I was saying," the coach continued, "Let me take this opportunity to congratte you upon defeating Fiorentina. We can all stand tall and proud as we managed to eliminate a team that can be considered quite powerful on the European stage. However, we shouldn''t allow ourselves to rx since the tournament is far from over." The coach''s voice had already turned solemn.

    "Two weeks from now, we''ll be going back to Italy to face off against Juventus in the Europa League''s round of sixteen. As every one of you should already know, the Italian team is one of the undisputable footballing powerhouses in Europe. If we don''t make ample preparations, we won''t stand a chance against them."

    "So, I implore each and every one of you to do your best in the next fourteen days. For the rest of today and tomorrow, you can stay home and rest to recover from the post-match fatigue. However, I expect you to be back on the training ground on Sunday afternoon. I won''t tolerate any absentees orters. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good." Coach Johansen nodded. "That''s everything I wished tomunicate. Enjoy the rest of your day." He added before alighting from the bus.

    -----

    After saying his brief goodbyes to his teammates and coaches, Zachary jumped into his R8 GT, which he''d previously left in the parking lot at Lerkendal. Before long, he raced out of the stadium gate and was soon on his way to his apartment in Stj?rdalsveien.

    Traffic that afternoon was light, and there were no unforeseen factors to dy him on the roads. Thus, hepleted the entire journey from the stadium to his apartment in less than twenty minutes. Soon, he parked his vehicle in front of his apartment building before ascending the stairs to his residence on the sixth floor.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt..."

    Suddenly, his phone, which had been quiet the entire morning, started vibrating from inside one of his pockets. He immediately fished it out with all the haste he could master before ncing at the screen.

    The next moment, he couldn''t help but smile with relief as the call was from Coach Damata. But even though he was impatient to find out about his grandma''s condition, he still decided to first enter his apartment before epting the call.

    "Hello, Coach Damata," Zachary spoke into the phone while stepping into his living room. "Your phone hasn''t been avable for the past twelve hours. What happened?"

    "I''m sorry, Zach," Coach Damata responded. "Thework kept going on and off yesterday night. So, maybe that''s why you couldn''t reach my phone."

    "Okay! So, what''s the status? Are the results of the tests out?"

    "Yes," Coach Damata responded. "They''ve just released the results of the imaging tests a few minutes back, and it''s bad news."

    "What did they find?" Zachary hurriedly asked as he fought down the dread. "What could be wrong with my grandma?"

    "They say that it''s a tumor in her brain," Coach Damata answered with an audible sigh.

    "A tumor!?"

    Zachary felt like his whole world was turning upside down. The fear and anxiety pressed closer, in tune with the terror rising inside him. He couldn''t help but tremble as a sensation of powerlessness overwhelmed him.

    From his little biological knowledge, he understood that a tumor in the brain was a very life-threatening condition. Very few patients could survive after being diagnosed with such a terrible ailment. It was almost like a death sentence.

    "Is it cancerous?" He hurriedly asked after recalling some more information about tumors.

    "Ahh!" Coach Damata stammered a little as if he didn''t know the answer to the question. "Zachary! I think you should talk to the doctor to find out more about the specific condition of your grandma. He''s here with me, and I''m passing the phone to him."

    "Hello, Zachary," another deep and raspy voice soon sounded from the phone speakers. "I''m Mathias Mathembo, and I''m the doctor handling your grandma''s case."

    "Hello, doctor," Zachary responded. "So, can you give me the details about my grandma''s situation?"

    "Well," the doctor said after clearing his voice. "When we put your grandma through imaging tests today morning, we discovered an abnormal area in her brain that should be a tumor. However, what we haven''t determined as of yet is whether the tumor is cancerous."

    "For that, we would have to conduct a more specific test called a biopsy to determine whether the mass of abnormal cells in her brain is benign, premalignant, or even malignant."

    "So, is this biopsy test for the brain life-threatening?"

    "Since biopsies are less invasive procedures, the risks to a patient are almost insignificant," the doctor replied. "Your grandma won''t be in any life-threatening situation when we''re carrying out the procedure."

    "Since you have assured me that there are no risks, you can go ahead and do the test," Zachary said. "Can you give me an estimate of how long I need to wait for the results?"

    "Four days," the doctor answered.

    "That long!" Zachary eximed.

    "You need to understand that we''ll have to carry out several tests on the sample obtained through the biopsy before we cane up with a diagnosis," the doctor said. "We can''t afford to make any mistakes in cases like this. So, that''s why we need the four days."

    "I understand," Zachary intoned. "Go ahead and carry out the test. The old gentleman with you will clear the bills. Otherwise, thanks for all your efforts, doctor."

    "You''re wee."

    After ending the conversation with the doctor, Zachary exchanged a few more words with Coach Damata before hanging up the call. He then dialed Emily''s number and exined his grandma''s situation to her. He even told her about the biopsy test that the doctor had just mentioned.

    "I''m sorry to hear that your grandma is ill," Emily said after listening to his ount. "But, worry not. I, as your agent, will do my best to support you through the situation."

    "Thanks, Emily," Zachary said. "So, what''s the way forward? Should I ask for permission from the club management so that I can travel back to DR Congo?"

    "I implore you not to do that, Zachary," Emily said from the other end of the line. "I understand that you''re anxious. But, before we get the results from the biopsy test, you can''t make any rash decisions. We need to handle the situation calmly."

    "Okay, I understand."

    "This is my suggestion," Emily continued. "In your stead, I''ll head to Lubumbashi with a doctor who can assess your grandma''s situation. If we find that her situation is very life-threatening, we can even consider transferring her to European countries with first-ss medical facilities for treatment. You can then link up with her there instead of traveling back to Congo."

    "That''s a good n," Zachary responded. "But, when can you get time to travel to Lubumbashi?"

    "If there are avable tickets for sale, I''ll travel today," Emily responded. "Just send me the contact information of one of your people in Lubumbashi that can act as my guide when I arrive there."

    "Thanks a lot, Emily," Zachary responded. "You''re a life-saver, and I owe you big this time around."

 Chapter 327 Arrangements

    <h4>Chapter 327 Arrangements</h4>

    In a room within the private ward of the Centre M¨¦dical du Centre Ville located in Lubumbashi, DR Congo, a tall, middle-aged man with a physique on the thin side and a chubby woman stood by a hospital bed. They were Marie and Joseph Bemba, who were Zachary''s only surviving aunt and uncle. In other words, they were the only children birthed by Zachary''s grandma, still alive. At that moment, their gazes, tinged with a sense of worry, were fixed on the pale olddy wired to several medical machines on the hospital bed.

    "Joseph!" The chubby woman in a patterned African-style dress said abruptly to break the silence. "Do you think mom will make it through this?" She spoke fluent Swahili like most of the people in Eastern Congo.

    "I really don''t know," the middle-aged man replied while stroking his goatee. "She has a tumor in her brain. So, we can only pray for a miracle and wish her a quick recovery. The rest is in the hands of the Almighty."

    There was a prolonged silence in the room for a few seconds before the woman spoke again. "That nephew of ours, Zachary, is making it big as a pro footballer in Europe. I have seen him a couple of times on TV. He should be very wealthy. Maybe, he''ll be able to find a way with all the money he has."

    "From what I hear, he''s a very prideful and distant person," Joseph said with a sigh. "He might not really care about this old grandma of his."

    "Don''t say that," Marie said, shaking her head. "You don''t understand the situation because you haven''t visited mom in a while. From what I gathered, our nephew cares a lot about mom. After purchasing that house in Lubumbashi for her, he has even continued sending herrge sums of money every month."

    "Really?"

    "Yes, I''m sure about this," the chubby woman replied. "But what surprises me is that he wires all that money through that stranger, Coach Damata, instead of contacting us, his only rtives. Even right now, the Damata fellow is the person handling all the hospital bills. Our nephew seems to trust him a lot."

    "Young people these days!" Joseph Bemba sighed, shaking his head. "They really don''t value family ties. Why trust aplete stranger over us, his rtives?"

    Marie, the stout woman, just shrugged in response before returning her gaze to the olddy lying on the hospital bed. What followed were a few more minutes of silence between them. Only the beeping sounds made by the medical machines continued interrupting the stillness in the room.

    Suddenly, the door of the hospital room creaked open. With a steady gait, which was surprising for an aged man, Coach Damata marched into the room. But he wasn''t alone. Behind him were Dr. Mathias Mathembo, the medic in charge of their mom''s case, and two Caucasians - one aged male and another a stunning female.

    Both Joseph and Marie were quite startled. The two whites didn''t seem like they were part of the team of medics working at the hospital. But what were they doing in their mom''s hospital room?

    Coach Damata soon resolved their doubts. "Let me introduce you first," he said with a smile while pointing to the beautiful Caucasiandy behind him. "Thisdy here is Emily Anderson. She''s Zachary''s agent and here to organize his grandma''s treatment in his stead. With her is Dr. Brian Sanders, a neurologist sent by Zachary to help."

    A neurologist!

    The two siblings gasped in wonder while exchanging nces. To move a neurologist from another continent in less than a day should have cost a lot. But Zachary had achieved such an almost impossible feat. How rich was that nephew of theirs?

    -----

    "Who are they?" Emily asked suddenly, ncing at the two.

    "Madam," Coach Damata replied. "These two are Joseph and Marie Bemba, Zachary''s uncle and aunt."

    "Zachary''s uncle and aunt!"

    Emily was a bit startled. She couldn''t help but give the two another nce as herwyer-senses tingled.

    Zachary had discussed his family issues with her on several asions. However, he had never mentioned that he had an uncle and aunt who were still alive. Thus, they must not be on good terms with him.

    "This is troublesome," she deliberated.

    She wanted to organize the transfer of Zachary''s grandma to Europe for treatment. But before that, she would have to acquire permission from the olddy''s immediate rtives. So, if the two siblings intervened, all her arrangements might crumble.

    "Miss Emily!"

    As she was still pondering, the chubby woman that was Zachary''s aunt stepped forward and extended her hand. "Nice to meet you." A smile outlined her plump face.

    "Nice to meet you too, Miss ...or Mrs. Marie Bemba." Emily shook her hand while maintaining a professional smile.

    "It''s Mrs..." thedy corrected with a chuckle. "I''ve been married for more than ten years."

    Emily beamed before turning to the thin, tall middle gentleman who was Zachary''s uncle. "It''s a pleasure to meet you too, Mister Joseph." She extended her hand.

    "Nice to meet you, Emily," Joseph replied, taking her hand. "Thank you for taking care of our nephew, Zachary. And thanks a lot for traveling all the way from Europe to help us out."

    "Don''t mention it," Emily said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Zachary''s every matter is my responsibility."

    It was at that moment that Dr. Mathias Mathembo coughed slightly. "I think we should step out of the patient''s room before continuing the discussion," he suggested. "The noise may affect the patient adversely."

    "Okay," Emily agreed readily before turning to the middle-aged Caucasian beside her. "Dr. Sanders! Do you need to examine the patient before we step out of the room?"

    Dr. Brian Sanders exchanged a nce with Dr. Mathembo before shaking his head. "There isn''t much I can learn by just looking at the patient. I''ll have to study the blood and imaging tests results beforeing up with a preliminary diagnosis."

    "Is there anything you need?" Emily asked again. Her most valuable client, Zachary, had tasked her with taking care of his grandma. So, she had to be meticulous in whatever she did.

    "For now, there''s nothing I require," Dr. Sanders replied. "You guys can go do your own things. As for me, I''ll discuss the case with Dr. Mathembo first¡ªto find out about the patient''s exact situation. Then I''lle to look for you."

    "Okay, take your time," Emily said with a smile. "And thanks for all your help, doctors."

    "You''re wee."

    Emily then turned to Zachary''s uncle and aunt. "Coach Damata! Joseph! Marie! Can we step out and leave the doctors to do their own thing? We also need to discuss a few things."

    The two siblings and the coach exchanged nces before nodding in agreement. It seemed like they were also eager to talk to Emily.

    -----

    Ten minutester, the four of them had already settled on a corner table in the hospital''s canteen. Silence reigned supreme on the table as the afternoon sunlight streamed golden through the window, illuminating the space around them.

    "So, Miss Emily!" Coach Damata was the first to break the silence. "As you already know, the doctors conducted a biopsy test on Zachary''s grandma yesterday. We''re still waiting for the results."

    "That, I know," Emily responded after taking a sip of her juice. "And I also know that the test results should being out three dayster. But we can''t afford to wait for that long without doing anything."

    "What are you implying, Miss Emily?" It was the plump woman - Marie Bemba, who asked the question.

    "We all know that the olddy has a tumor in her brain," Emily said, leaning back in her seat. "Whether it''s cancerous or not, it doesn''t matter. She''ll still have to undergo surgery to remove the tumor, whatever the case."

    The other upants of the table nodded in agreement.

    "So," Emily continued, her voice turning solemn. "What we need to do now is to move the olddy to a hospital with adequate facilities and skilled medical staff to handle the tumor. To increase her chances of recovery, we need to do this fast before her condition worsens. We can''t afford any dys. And that''s why I''m here."

    There were seconds of silence on the table before Joseph Bemba leaned forward and spoke: "So, what ns does Zachary have? Where does he intend to take our mother for treatment?"

    "Zurich, Switzend," Emily answered. "The city has some of the best neurosurgery centers in the world. They''ve world-ss experts who''ll be able to handle your mother''s case."

    "What about visa issues and passports?" Coach Damata asked. "Will you be able toplete the travel arrangements for the olddy in a short time?"

    "You can leave the issue of the visa requirements and the travel arrangements to me," Emily said, her tone confident. "Through my contacts, I''ll be able to arrange everything within forty-eight hours, at most."

    "That''s great news," Marie said with a smile. "However, there''s one more issue we haven''t sorted out. From my understanding, Zachary is always busy since he''s a professional footballer. So, who''ll take care of our mother when in Europe? Should we send her out there without anyone to care for her? Isn''t that like abandoning her?"

    Joseph Bemba also nodded to indicate that he was concerned.

    "I do get your point," Emily said a bit hesitantly. "But there are specialized nurses who''ll take care of your mother in Europe. Moreover, Zachary will also start taking time off to visit her often."

    Marie Bemba shook her head. "I think that would be irresponsible on our side. As her only surviving children, we can''t allow our mother to travel alone in her condition to Europe. If you were in my shoes, Miss Emily, would you agree to such a proposition?"

    "So, what do you suggest?" Emily asked, feeling a headacheing.

    "One of us has to travel with her to monitor her treatment," Marie said, her tone solemn. "If that''s not possible, we can look for other options rather than sending her off alone to Europe."

    "Give me a minute," Emily said, picking up her phone. "If you don''t mind, I''ll have to consult Zachary about this."

    "Go ahead," Marie said with a shrug. "If possible, I also want to talk to Zachary."

    "Okay."

    **** ****

 Chapter 328 Training Hard, Even When in the Face of Adversity

    <h4>Chapter 328 Training Hard, Even When in the Face of Adversity</h4>

    Although Zachary was quite worried about his grandma''s condition, he still forced himself to continue his targeted training. He couldn''t afford to rx since he was determined to master the step-over skill before Rosenborg''s next game against Juventus.

    He''d alreadypleted 99% of the mental conditioning and 97% of the physical training required to grasp the juju. So, if nothing unexpected transpired, he would be a proud bearer of a phenomenal defense-splitting dribbling technique in roughly three days.

    That day, Zachary was busy in the gym working on strengthening his lower body under the guidance of Coach Bj?rn Peters, his fitness trainer. Even though it was the second day off for the Rosenborg yers to rest and recover from the match fatigue, he still gave his all during practice.

    Lower body strength was necessary for footballers since most ys incorporated single-leg actions, stop-and-go movements, sharp turns, and explosive sprints. It was a must for pro yers to hone their leg strength to perform these actions efficiently and explosively. Moreover, powerful and flexible legs were not easily susceptible to injuries, especially while performing high-risk moves like dribbling and slide-tackling.

    During his previous life, Zachary had heard that Cristiano Ronaldo, a yer who was the bearer of incredible side-stepping skills, used to wear ankle weights quite often in his earlier years. The aim was to strengthen his legs and make them powerful enough to perform the dribbling actions on the pitch without any strain. The habit had helped CR7 a lot, allowing him to avoid career-threatening injuries that had brought down many other incredible talents in football history.

    Since Zachary understood all the benefits of whetting his lower body strength, he would, of course, follow the example of CR7. As a yer who wanted to master the art of dribbling and push it to the highest level possible, he couldn''t neglect his legs.

    He was in high gear when he performed the lower body strengthening exercises that morning. Be it the squats, the lunges, the deadlifts, and the Bulgarian split squats ¡ª he went at them as if his life depended on it. As practice went on, he gradually forgot all his worries until his thoughts were only on what was before him. Due to his high immersion in the routines, he started sweating buckets. But he didn''t dare stop until hepleted all the repetitions required for the session.

    "Don''t sit down yet," Coach Bj?rn Peters hollered, pping his hands. "Let''s go through a stretching routine before you rest."

    "Aye, coach," Zachary replied after chugging down some water.

    "Are you ready?"

    "Yes, I''m ready."

    "Okay, then," the fitness trainer said. "Let''s begin with the upper body stretches. We''ll gradually move to the shoulders, then the waist, and end with the lower body. Are you with me?"

    "Yes, coach."

    Coach Bj?rn Peters then got into position and started demonstrating the routine. He performed the actions slowly, with the spirit of coaching his client. He was really a considerate fitness trainer.

    Zachary only watched for a few seconds before also getting into action. He mirrored the coach''s every motion, beginning with the neck stretches, then the arm swings, and so on.

    He only rxed after he went through all the repetitions. By then, he was again sweating buckets and out of breath.

    "That marks the end of our session for today," Coach Bjorn Peters said, grinning. "I''m proud of your progress over the past three months."

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary responded after chugging down more water.

    "So," the coach said a bit hesitantly, "going by our initial agreement, we should be ending our coach-client rtionship after today''s session. I believe you''ve already met your goals as your agility and explosive speed attributes have improved significantly. So, what ns do you have? Do you want us to keep working together?"

    "Yes, of course," Zachary responded immediately. "If it''s okay, I''ll renew your contract as my fitness trainer as soon as possible. What say you?"

    "I''m happy to keep working with you," Coach Bjorn Peters replied with a smile while extending his hand. "Just send the contract to me when you''re ready, and I''ll immediately sign it."

    "Great," Zachary said, taking his hand. "I''m looking forward to more training sessions with you, coach."

    Coach Bjorn Peters beamed and settled down on one of the benches in the corner of the gym. The midday sunlight streamed through the window, giving a glossy tint to his face. "Since you''ve already achieved your initial goals," he said, "we''ll have to change your fitness training n for the next six months. We''ll include more endurance and strengthening regimens to build your capacity to perform at a higher level for longer periods while also improving your resistance to injuries. What do you think?"

    "That''s a good n." Zachary nodded, also settling down on the bench¡ªbesides the coach. "However, I feel that I should also continue honing my agility. I''m sure that I haven''t reached my ceiling yet."

    "Sure," the fitness trainer said. "I''m not suggesting that we remove agility routines from your training n. I''m only saying that they won''t be the main focus. We need to set another achievable goal and work towards it during the next few months."

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt..."

    Zachary''s ears picked up the vibration of his phone from a nearby bench before he could respond.

    "Excuse me, coach," he said, standing up. "Sorry, I have to take this call as it might be important."

    "Go ahead," Coach Bjorn Peters answered. "Our session is already over. So, you don''t have to worry that I''ll fault you for receiving a call in the middle of practice." He added in a joking manner.

    Zachary beamed, shaking his head before stepping towards the other bench. He could feel his heart beating loud with anxiety as he scooped up the phone and nced at the screen. As expected, the call was from Emily. But what had she learned when she visited his sick grandma in Lubumbashi? Was the olddy''s condition stable? Zachary was uneasy as he pressed the ept button.

    "Hello, Zachary," Emily''s vibrant voice rang in his ear the next moment.

    "Hello, Emily," he replied.

    "I have already visited your grandma in the hospital," she said in French.

    "How''s she?" He replied in the samenguage.

    "Although she is on Oxygen therapy, the doctors say she is stable for now. She even woke up once before sinking back into aa."

    "Thank God." Zachary rxed a bit after hearing the bit of good news. "So, when will you start making arrangements to transfer her out of DR Congo?"

    "I have already made a few arrangements," Emily said hesitantly. "However, there is one issue we need to sort out. Your aunt and uncle are by my side. They insist that one of them has to travel with your grandma to monitor her treatment in Europe."

    "You mean Marie and Joseph?" Zachary queried, feeling his mood sink.

    "Yes."

    "People!"

    Zachary had to do his utmost to push back the anger that was almost erupting out of his core. His uncle and aunt had fought for his grandma''s farm immediately after her passing during his previous life. Without caring for his grandma''s honor, they even chased him away from the ce and discarded him on the street. So, he was sure that they would do the same if his grandma met misfortune in his new life. They were true-blue vultures in human skin as their greed would never allow them to value family bonds.

    "Zachary, are you there?" Emily said, switching to English. She probably didn''t want the French-speaking people near her to understand what she was saying.

    "I''m still here, Emily," Zachary said.

    "So, what do you think? Should I prepare travel documents for one of them?"

    Zachary let out a breath. "I''m really sorry to say this. But, you know Emily! Even though they are her biological children, I really don''t want them near my grandma. I would prefer that we ignore them and continue with our arrangements."

    There were a few seconds of silence before Emily spoke once again. "Ignoring their requirements might be a bit difficult. As her biological children, they have a right to monitor their mother''s treatment. Moreover, they can even make decisions regarding the course of her treatment. So, unless your grandma had previously left a written rification stating that you''re the sole person that can make crucial decisions regarding her life, we can''t ignore their ims. Is there such a document?"

    "No," Zachary said dejectedly. A bullet had ended his grandma''s life much earlier during his previous life. Thus, there was no way for him to predict her changed life trajectory. He would never have imagined that she would develop a tumor in his new life. So, how could he have anticipated the document Emily required?

    "If there''s no rification, we''ll have to put up with them for now," Emily said. "It doesn''t take a lot of effort on my side to prepare travel documents for one of them. You only have to turn a blind eye and choose one of them to travel with your grandma."

    Zachary sighed, sinking onto the bench in the gym. He switched the phone to his other ear before saying: "Fine. Then, let''s go with thedy - Marie Bemba. At least, she might be able to help out in taking care of the olddy."

    "Noted," Emily replied, her tone rxing. "She even wanted to talk to you. Should I give her the phone?"

    "No!" Zachary replied hastily. "I can''t entertain her at the moment. Just make up an excuse for me."

    "Okay, fine," she said. "If the emergency medical visa application procedures proceed ording to my expectations, we''ll be able to move your grandma to Zurich the day after tomorrow. I''ll keep you posted if there are any other developments. Just push yourself to focus on your training and leave everything else to me."

    "Thanks a lot, Emily," Zachary said, his tone appreciative. "You''re really a life-saver. I know I''ve said this many times, but I really appreciate your efforts."

    "Don''t mention it," Emily replied. "Just one more thing. Make sure you talk to your coach about the condition of your grandma. Tell him some of your ns and make sure that he understands that you might have to travel out of Norway often in the near future. I''ll also give the Rosenborg management a call to rify the situation when I travel back to Europe."

    "Okay," Zachary said. "I''ll talk to Coach Johansenter today."

    "Good," Emily said. "I have to go now as I still have to handle your uncle and aunt this side. Stay strong, and take heart. You''ll get through this."

    "Thanks, Emily," Zachary replied. "Have a good day."

    "You too."

 Chapter 329 100% Mastery

    <h4>Chapter 329 100% Mastery</h4>

    Afterpleting training that day, Zachary thought of Emily''s advice and straightaway headed to the head coach''s office. Although he found the door slightly ajar, he still knocked a couple of times and then waited quietly by the side.

    "Come in," the voice of Coach Johansen sounded from inside the room a few secondster.

    Zachary immediately pushed the door wide open before stepping into the spacious office. He immediately realized that Coach Johansen was in the middle of watching one of Juventus'' past matches on the big screen beside his office table.

    On looking closely, he managed to learn that the Italian giants were facing off against Gtasaray, the famous Turkish club. However, they were still one goal down even though the clock was already pointing to the 89th-minute mark. For sure, they would most likely lose the game.

    Zachary remained standing quietly on the side as he followed the game besides the coach. The game gradually moved into extra time, but nothing unexpected happened. Juventus did not manage to score the equalizer and eventually lost the game.

    "A nice game, isn''t it?" Coach Johansen said, standing up and turning towards Zachary. "Good execution of tactics by Roberto Mancini to frustrate Juventus'' powerful midfield. He organized his side well, enabling them to beat the Italian giants 1:0 in that UEFA League group match that was yed back in Novemberst year."

    Zachary''s curiosity was a little bit piqued. "Who scored?"

    "Wesley Sneijder," the coach answered. "He scored Gtasaray''s only goal of the match in the 85th minute."

    "Oh, Wesley Sneijder..."

    Zachary wasn''t surprised. Wesley Sneijder was a very skilled yer who was undisputedly one of the best midfielders in the world during his prime. He even had a chance of winning the Ballon d''Or in 2010 if the Dutch could have triumphed in that year''s World Cup final against the Spaniards.

    But an even more surprising fact was how the midfielder''s performance declined in only a couple of years. It took only a few unfavorable transfer moves and a couple of injuries to reduce a yer who was almost at the top of the world into another nondescript athlete. It was truly unfortunate!

    Thinking about all that, Zacharyprehended how easy it was for even the best footballers to lose their form. As long as a yer was down on his luck and didn''t work hard, then the performance on the pitch would gradually decline.

    So, Zachary again resolved to continue working hard and trying his best to improve his skills throughout his career. No matter the circumstances he faced, he couldn''t stop. Relentless toiling was the way forward if he yearned to have a long and sessful football career.

    "If we prepare well for the game, we can also ovee the Italian giants," Coach Johansen said, interrupting his thought process. "As long as we take all our chances and maintain discipline in defense, we can win. Don''t you think so, Zachary?"

    "Of course, we can win," Zachary said, nodding. "Football is yed on the pitch, not on paper. So, even if they have big-name yers, we can still ovee them if we do our best and get our tactics right."

    Coach Johansen chuckled. "I''m very pleased with your optimism, Zachary," he said. "By the way, why are you here? Shouldn''t you be home, recovering from the post-match fatigue?"

    "Coach," Zachary said, letting out a breath. "There''s something I need to talk to you about." His tone had turned glum.

    "First, have a seat, Zachary," the coach said, settling in his office chair. "What is it?"

    Zachary took up the seat in front of the coach''s table. "My only guardian, my grandma is sick," he said. "As I speak now, she''s in aa and on Oxygen therapy."

    He then told the coach about the actual condition of his grandma and his ns for her treatment. He ended the whole ount by informing the coach that he might have to travel out of Norway repeatedly in theing weeks.

    "I see," Coach Johansen said, leaning back into his seat after listening. "I''m sorry to hear that your grandma is ill." His expression then flickered a few times as his eyes narrowed. It was as if he was deep in contemtion about something.

    "So, when do you wish to travel out of Norway?" The coach continued after a few more seconds. "Can you be more specific so that we can factor your absence into our ns?"

    "I''m not sure yet," Zachary replied. "However, I would like to be there when my grandma undergoes the operation to remove the tumor in Zurich."

    "Then, first find out the exact dates when you''ll be traveling before asking for permission from the club management," the coach advised. "For now, stay strong and continue training. Don''t let this unfortunate circumstance be a major roadblock in your career. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary said, nodding. "I understand."

    The coach nodded. "Don''t worry. The club will be with you throughout this hardship. Moreover, from what I know, tumors are easily curable in today''s world. Many people survive and recover after suffering from brain tumors. So, take heart and continue praying for your grandma''s quick recovery."

    "Thanks, coach."

    -----

    For the next three days, Zachary continued working hard. Aside from taking part in the team training sessions, he also found time to sharpen his mastery over the step over the skills. Whether it was night or day, it didn''t matter. His immersion in the step-over practice routines was exceptional. It even helped him forget his worries, and slowly by slowly, he pushed both his mental and physical conditioning states for the skill to 100%.

    Early morning on Wednesday, after he''d just finished going through a cone dribbling drill at Lerkendal, the long-awaited system''s notification rang in his mind.

    "Ding"

    "The user haspleted all the required mental and physical conditioning routines to master the Robinho-Step-Over Juju," the system AI intoned. "However, to conclude the whole process, the user will now have to receive a few more experiences and first-person perspectives of using the skill from the system. Is the user ready to receive the information from the system at the moment?"

    Zachary didn''t reply right away. He first packed his things and returned to the dressing room before taking a shower to cool himself down. After that, he settled on one of the sofas in the then empty yer''s resting lounge before summoning the system.

    "System," he gave a mentalmand. "I''m ready to receive the information. Please, begin the information transfer immediately."

    "Command received," the system''s AI replied. "Loading the required data packages for the Robinho-step-over juju. The system will start transferring the information into the user''s mind in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and 0."

    A slight tremor went through Zachary''s mind when the countdown reached zero. Soon, foreign memories started flooding his mind as the information transfer started. They rooted themselves in his consciousness, making him feel like he''d already performed the step-over skill millions of times. It was a marvelous sensation that filled him with confidence. And at that moment, he was sure that he would be able to perform step-overs even with his eyes closed in the future.

    "Wonderful."

    A smile lit up Zachary''s face as he stood up from the sofa. He immediately picked up a ball from the nearby rack and started performing step-overs there in the lounge.

    He dribbled the ball around the room by relying on only the technique for the next few minutes. His feet were like the rims of a moving bicycle as they shed over the ball repeatedly without end. Anyone else who could chance upon him at that moment would judge that he''d mastered the art of step-overs and pushed it to the highest level.

    "Sweet."

    Zachary ended his session and settled back on the sofa with a smile. With the skill finally in his repertoire, he''d gained another weapon to take on Rosenborg''s next opponent - Juventus. As long as he could y his cards right during the two legs of the fixture, then he might really help his team qualify for the Europa League quarter-finals. Zachary could feel his hopes shooting through the roof and soaring to the skies just by imagining the scene.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt..."

    Suddenly, his phone started vibrating in his pocket, ruining his merry mood. He fished it out hurriedly and nced at the screen. The next moment, he felt a wave of anxiety wash over him as the call was from Emily.

    Two days ago, his grandma had been transferred to Zurich for treatment. She''d stabilized and even woken up a couple of times after arriving in Switzend. However, Zachary understood that he couldn''t celebrate until seeing her biopsy results. If the tumor happened not to be cancerous, her chances of recovery would be very high. But if the results were the other way round¡ª Zachary could feel a shudder racing along his spine while thinking about the possibility. He was really nervous, especially since that day was when the biopsy results woulde out.

    "Morning, Emily," Zachary said after cing the phone next to his ear.

    "Morning, Zach," Emily replied from the other end of the line. "How are you? Are you training hard?"

    "Of course," he replied. "I''m already at the pitch as we speak now."

    "Great," Emily said. "I''m d you''re still working hard."

    "Emily," Zachary said, his tone edgy. "I''m a big boy. Just give it to me straight. How are the results of the biopsy test?"

    Emily sighed audibly. "The doctors say that it''s not the worst-case scenario."

    "Meaning?" Zachary pressed, his heart pounding fast and hard in his chest.

    "The tumor in her brain is not yet cancerous," she replied. "However, they discovered that it''s premalignant. That means that the abnormal mass of cells is not yet cancerous, but it does have the potential to be malignant in the future."

    "Oh my God!"

    Zachary couldn''t stop his mood from sinking after hearing the biopsy test result.

 Chapter 330 Preparations

    <h4>Chapter 330 Preparations</h4>

    Zachary understood that any illness thatprised the word malignant in its characterization was rted to cancer. That meant that it was very life-threatening to a patient. So, if his grandma''s tumor was premalignant, her situation was obviously serious.

    "Zachary!" Emily''s edgy voice once again resounded from the phone speakers. "Are you there?"

    "Yes," Zachary replied, taking a long breath to calm himself. "I''m listening. So, what are the doctors in Zurich suggesting? What ns do they rmend for her treatment?"

    "I''ve just had a long talk with Dr. Brian Sanders, the neurosurgeon who traveled with me to Lubumbashi," Emily said. "He exined that since the tumor is premalignant, it has a very high risk of turning cancerous if not treated as soon as possible. Moreover, in the case of your grandma, the tumor is pressing against both the cerebellum and temporal lobe. It can''t allow her to have a moment of peace due to severe symptoms, like impaired muscle coordination and constant drowsiness, among others. So, the rmendation is to undergo surgery as soon as possible. The longer we wait, the more severe her condition bes."

    "Then, let the doctors give us an appointment so that she can undergo surgery right away," Zachary suggested. "If it can be tomorrow, then the better."

    "That''s not possible," Emily replied. "I already consulted the specialists here at the University Hospital Zurich. They say they need to carry out more tests before nning her exact course of treatment. So, the earliest she can undergo surgery is six dayster. That''ll be on Friday, the 7th of March."

    "That might be toote." Zachary frowned. "Can''t we push for an earlier date?"

    "Zachary!" Emily replied. "You have to note that the neurosurgery centers here in Zurich are among the best. There are always long lines of patients from all over the world waiting for treatment. That means that it''s almost impossible to push for an immediate surgery appointment unless the patient is in a very critical condition."

    "But my grandma is also in a critical condition."

    "Not ording to the doctors," Emily said. "She copsed in Lubumbashi probably due to overworking while suffering from the tumor. However, after receiving preliminary treatment here in Zurich, she''s now quite stable. So, you don''t have to worry."

    "Okay," Zachary said. "Then, go ahead and schedule the surgery for next Friday. If there''s anything you need, don''t hesitate to contact me at any time."

    "Okay, Zach," Emily said, her tone rxing. "Arranging matters, whether big or small, is my specialty. So, don''t worry. I''ll ensure that your grandma has the best care possible while here in Zurich."

    "Thanks, Emily," Zachary responded. "I''ll alsoe to Zurich on Thursday, before the surgery. For now, I leave everything in your hands. How''s my aunt, by the way? Is she causing you any trouble?"

    "Not at all," Emily replied hurriedly. "She''s very attentive to your grandma''s treatment and doing her best to support her. She hasn''t given me any trouble."

    "Then, that''s a relief," Zachary said. "Take care, and don''t forget to contact me when you need anything."

    "Okay," Emily said. "Have a good day, and continue training hard. Everything will be okay in time."

    "Thanks, Emily."

    -----

    Since Zachary had finally gotten to know the day when his grandma would undergo surgery, all arrangements became easy. He first requested permission to travel the following Thursday from the club management that very day.

    Since there weren''t any official matches scheduled during the uing week, the club administration granted him the authorization the following day. They allowed him a four-day travel window, from Thursday to Sunday. However, he had to return to Lerkendal on Monday, 10th of March, 2014, to partake in thest three days of Rosenborg''s training for the Europa League match against Juventus.

    Everything was in order, and all he had to do was wait. He was also no longer very anxious since he often received regr updates on his grandma''s condition from Emily. So, with a calm heart, he returned his focus to training.

    As the team delved deep into the preparations for the Europa League game, he noticed that Coach Johansen had be more hyper and overly strict with his requirements. He didn''t allow any yers to rest on theirurels for the next four days and even supervised their fitness conditioning himself.

    Additionally, the coach insisted that all yers practice their penalty-taking skills on top of refining the match tactics on a daily basis. As a result, the team training sessions became more intense and oftensted longer due to the added routines.

    However, none of the yers, including Zachary, raised anyints as they all wished to win their uing fixture. Most individuals even started putting in extra hours to hone the other aspects of their game since they desired to impress the coach and make his line-up.

    In that manner, the days shed by quickly, and soon it was Thursday. It was finally the day when Zachary would separate from his teammates and travel to Zurich to be with his grandma when she underwent surgery.

    That day, he woke up early in the morning after spending his night with Cami. He packed his luggage and said his goodbyes before boarding a taxi cab to the airport.

    Thirty minutester, he boarded a Scandinavian Airlines flight and was soon well on his way to Zurich.

    On the ne, his expression would flicker from time to time as he watched the fluffy clouds shing by the window. Since he couldn''t predict the oue of the surgery, his heart was already racing and his mind in a chaotic mess.

    Would his grandma win against the tumor? Would she recoverpletely?

    Many doubts whirled through his mind until he dozed off and became oblivious to everything around him.

    **** ****

    Meanwhile, in Turin, Italy.

    The day had dawned crisp and clear. The morning sun shone brightly in the sky, bathing the Juventus Training Center in its warm light.

    In one of the rooms of this famous training facility, the Juventus yers had already gathered to attend their routine tactical meeting before the actual team practice session. The likes of Paul Pogba, Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Boni, Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, and Carlos T¨¦vez, among other famous yers, were all focused on the big screen in front of the room.

    They were in the process of reviewing Rosenborg''s Europa League round of thirty-two first leg match against Fiorentina. They watched without any change of expressions when Fiorentina scored the two goals as that was nothing surprising. Most didn''t even raise an eyebrow when Zachary scored Rosenborg''s first goal. However, they couldn''t help but gasp in shock when heted the second one in the 94th minute.

    "Did he want to kill the keeper?" Pogba mumbled, a grin outlining his face. "What a funny guy."

    The rest of the yers chuckled before continuing to follow the game. Very soon, the match ended, and the yers turned to their coach for the actual analysis of the game.

    "Okay, guys, let''s focus," Antonio Conte, the head coach of Juventus, said with a smile. "You just watched Rosenborg''s game against Fiorentina. What do you all think? What do we need to look out for to win against them?" He nced around, sweeping his gaze across his yers.

    Arturo Vidal, one of Juventus'' central midfielders, raised his hand.

    "Yes, Arturo!" The coach pointed at him.

    "We freeze their midfield," he replied. "As long as wepact the midfield and ensure that their key yer doesn''t receive the ball, we''ll win. One of us can also man-mark the Zachary fellow throughout the match for better efficiency. His dribbling is not that potent, so we can contain him if we use our brains and stop his runs through the midfield. I''m volunteering to be his marker if the rest don''t mind." He added jokingly.

    The rest of the yersughed at that before turning toward their coach. Their mood was light and merry, without any earnestness. It was as if the match against Rosenborg wasn''t crucial for them.

    "Guys, listen," Antonio Conte said, his tone solemn. "I know most of you might think that Rosenborg is a team that lucked out and barely defeated Fiorentina. You might also believe that you guys will be able to squash them with your might since you have more depth and experience among yourselves. However, let me warn you that that attitude is very problematic, especially before a game."

    "I have watched some of Rosenborg''s previous Europa League matches for this season," he continued. "And my conclusion is that they aren''t a team to take lightly. We need to approach that game as if we''re facing another giant in Europe. Otherwise, we might bow out of the Europa League after the next stage. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    "Arturo!" Coach Antonio Conte turned towards the midfielder again. "You volunteered to be Zachary''s marker in the Europa League game against Rosenborg. So, you''ll rest this weekend for the Serie A game against Fiorentina. What do you think?"

    "Coach," the midfielder replied, frowning. "I don''t need to rest to handle the Zachary fellow. Even if I y the game on Sunday, I''ll still be able to contain him easily."

    Coach Conte shook his head. "Don''t take him lightly. He is a dangerous yer. From the game we just watched, you should''ve noticed that he never stops when on the field. He''s ever running around and falling into various positions by relying on his incredible speed and stamina. So, keeping up with him to mark him tightly will be almost impossible if you''re fatigued. And that''s why I need you to rest this weekend. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," the midfielder replied reluctantly.

    The coach nodded with a smile. He then went over the analysis of Rosenborg''s tactics against Fiorentina before talking about their weaknesses in detail. He only ended the tactical meeting forty minutester when he''d expounded on all the issues rted to Rosenborg.

    He understood that his yers weren''t yet ready to take on the Norwegian giants. However, he believed they would be if he held more such tactical meetings over the next few days. He just had to do his job as a coach to fix their attitudes, and they would be able to squash the opponents like bugs.

    **** ****

 Chapter 331 Grandmaâ€™s Treatment Plan

    <h4>Chapter 331 Grandma''s Treatment n</h4>

    Zachary was surprised to find a familiar face waiting for him when he stepped out of the airport in Zurich. He immediately recognized that the person was Ryan Bellmore, the short racecar driver he''d met a few months back.

    "Wee to Zurich, Zachary!" The short guy said when Zachary stepped before him.

    "Ryan, why are you here?"

    "Of course, Emily sent me to fetch you," Ryan replied with a grin. "I know the entire city''syout since I have been here for four months. So, don''t worry. I''ll be able to get you to your destination."

    Zachary beamed, shaking his head. "That isn''t my concern. Aren''t you supposed to be racing cars somewhere? When did you turn into amon driver?"

    Ryan chuckled, brushing a hand through his hair. "I''m here on some other business. Do you remember what I said when we met back in Trondheim? When I''m not racing, I''m also a middleman of sorts. So, I spend a lot of time traveling to various European countries."

    "I see," Zachary said, nodding. "Thanks foring to fetch me. Shall we make a move on it? I wish to go to the hospital as soon as possible."

    "Sure," Ryan said. "I''m sorry to hear about your grandma''s case, by the way. I''m praying for her to get better quickly."

    "Thanks," Zachary replied, slinging his travel bag over his shoulder.

    "Emily has already booked you a hotel, and it''s on the way to the hospital," Ryan said. "So, I suggest we first drop your things at your hotel. Otherwise, it''ll be ufortable for you to move around with all that luggage."

    "Fine," Zachary said. "Let''s do as you say."

    "Great. Follow me to the car."

    -----

    Zachary immediately followed Ryan to his car, parked in one of the airport''s parking spaces. He threw his luggage in the boot, and off they went, cruizing through the streets of Zurich.

    Since it was midday, traffic was a bit heavy. Ryan could only drive at moderate speed while sometimes taking longer routes to avoid the congestion. As a result, they only made it to the hotel after almost an hour before dropping off the luggage.

    "It''s alreadying to 1:00 PM," Ryan said right after Zachary had just finished checking into the hotel. "Do you wish to have some lunch before continuing to the hospital?"

    "I already had some food on the ne," Zachary replied, shaking his head. "So, I''m still okay. Let''s head to the hospital. I can even have my meal at the canteen there if the need arises."

    "Okay, then," Ryan said, smiling. "The hospital is less than a kilometer away from here. So, let''s walk instead of driving and getting stuck in another traffic jam."

    "That''s fine with me," Zachary replied. "Let''s go."

    After deciding, they quickly pressed through the human traffic on the sidewalk and made it to the hospital in five minutes. They then called Emily, who fetched them from the gate.

    "Good afternoon, Zachary," she said with a smile after approaching them at the hospital entrance. "How was your flight?"

    "Okay, I guess," Zachary replied, smiling back. "How''re you, and how''s everything else?"

    "I''m okay," Emily said. "Regarding everything else, can we find a ce to sit before discussing?"

    "That''s fine," Zachary replied, nodding. "But, I also wish to see and talk to my grandma first. Is she awake?"

    "Unfortunately, she''s asleep," Emily said with a sigh. "And since the surgery is tomorrow early morning, the doctors don''t want us to disturb her rest. So, you need to be patient and wait until she wakes."

    "Okay, then," Zachary said. "Let''s find somewhere to sit and talk for the moment. I''ll see herter."

    Emily nodded before turning to Ryan. "Thanks for helping out today. We shall discuss the other matterter."

    "It''s my pleasure helping out," he replied with a smile. "I have to go now, Zachary. But if you need any help here in Zurich, don''t forget to call. Emily has my number."

    Zachary smiled. "I also have your number, Ryan. Thanks for your help. I''ll keep in touch. Let me first handle my grandma''s matters."

    Ryan nodded before walking away.

    As he looked at his receding back, Zachary had some doubts. Switzend was a country with strict policies against motorsport. Following the 1955 LeMans disaster, the Swiss government had banned all racing events with the exception of events held in a time trial format such as hill climbing. So, it was weird for a race car driver to settle in such a country.

    "Did he put a hold on his car racing career?" Zachary asked Emily.

    She shook her head in response. "He says that he''s only taking a small break to look for money to support his career."

    "Oh!" Zachary said, nodding. "Wouldn''t it be easier to look for a sponsor or a racing team instead of financing himself?"

    "Things aren''t that simple," Emily said, sighing. "I''ve tried to help him find a sponsor, but, so far, all my efforts have been fruitless. That is because of the intensepetition in the sport. There are many talented drivers but very few racing teams and sponsors."

    Zachary nodded in understanding.

    "Let''s head inside," Emily abruptly changed the topic. "We''ll have lunch at the canteen. Then, you can take a few minutes to visit your grandma. Hopefully, she''ll be awake by then. After that, I''ll introduce you to the surgeon handling your grandma''s case. He will exin the treatment n they''ve designed for her. Okay?"

    "Sounds like a good n," Zachary agreed. "Let''s enter."

    -----

    Everything went as nned. After having lunch with Emily and his aunt, they strode through the spotless hospital corridors and headed to his grandma''s room for a visit.

    Unsurprisingly and unfortunately, she was still in a deep sleep and didn''t even hear them when they entered the room. So, they could only stand quietly by her hospital bed for minutes.

    All the while, the worry buried deep inside Zachary was threatening to explode. He was really concerned as the olddy was in a more terrible condition than he had initially expected. She was thinner, her eyes sunken, and her face paler than he remembered. She seemed like a person who was on herst legs.

    "Don''t let appearances fool you," Emily whispered after stepping closer to him. "The doctors have assured us that she''s stable. Due to the severe symptoms, the doctors often put her to sleep so that she doesn''t have to suffer. That''s the cause of her current condition."

    Zachary nodded. "Let''s go meet the doctors," he said. "I''m eager to hear the treatment n they designed for my grandma."

    "Okay, let''s go."

    They stepped out of the room quietly and trekked through the hospital corridors. Before long, they arrived at one of the doctor''s offices. On a small white panel on the door were the words - "Dr. Brian Sanders - Resident Neurosurgeon" in ck ink.

    Emily knocked thrice on the door before standing to the side.

    "Come in," a deep voice sounded from inside.

    Their group then stepped through the doorway and entered the spacious office. On the walls wererge charts and posters depicting diagrams of brain illnesses.

    However, what caught Zachary''s attention was the middle-aged man seated behind an L-shaped office table on the other side of the room. He had an average build, short ck hair, and prominent blue eyes hidden behind a pair ofrge spectacles.

    "It''s a pleasure to have you here,dies and gentlemen," the man said. "Please, sit."

    "Thanks, doctor," Emily responded, taking a seat first. The rest followed suit after exchanging a few pleasantries with the doctor. What followed was an introduction session that took about two minutes before they finally touched on the main issue.

    "So, Dr. Sanders," Zachary said, leaning back. "Could you go over the treatment n for my grandma and what is required?"

    Dr. Sanders nodded before pushing his spectacles up the bridge of his nose. "The treatment is actually pretty straightforward," he said. "We''ll conduct a regr craniotomy before removing the abnormal mass of cells within her brain tomorrow at 8:00 AM."

    "On your side, you don''t have to do anything. Our nurses will be responsible for prepping the patient and ensuring that she gets to the theater."

    "After the surgery," the doctor continued, "One of the surgeons wille to the waiting area and inform you about the oue of the treatment procedure. As for the patient, she''ll be moved to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit to recover for roughly two hours. After making sure that her condition is stable, we''ll transfer her to the Neuro Intensive Care Unit, where you can see her again."

    "A few days after the surgery, we''ll conduct more tests to discern whether the treatment procedure managed to remove all the tumor cells. If the results are satisfactory, we''ll discharge your grandma in about two weeks'' time after the surgery."

    "Doctor," Zachary said after a moment of contemtion. "What are the risks associated with this surgery?"

    The doctor inhaled deeply before answering. "Of course, any surgical procedure is invasive. So, there''s always a risk to the patient''s life. It''s especially so in the case of your grandma, who''s far along in her years. However, don''t worry. Our role as surgeons is to do our best to minimize those risks and make sure that the patient recovers."

    "Oh!" Zachary inhaled deeply on hearing the response.

 Chapter 332 On Tenterhooks

    <h4>Chapter 332 On Tenterhooks</h4>

    Zachary finally managed to talk to his grandma when she awoketer that evening. Her eyes and pale face gained some color when she noticed him beside the hospital bed, and she immediately started asking about his life, career, and ns.

    Her mannerisms were just like he remembered. She was her typical self, forever worried about other people while forgetting herself. But, of course, that was why Zachary respected and admired her from the bottom of his heart.

    Even though her voice was a bit hoarse due to the illness, it was as if it was music when it sounded in his ears. Like when he was still a child under her care, it assembled into Swahili words thatforted him andpelled him to forget his worries. His mood lightened, and he began answering all her questions with zest as he sat there by the hospital bed.

    Minutes passed by quickly, as if in a sh, as he recounted his experiences to his grandma. He narrated some bits and pieces of the highlights from the matches he''d yed during the past six months. He then talked about the goals he''d scored and ended his ount by mentioning the trophies and individual awards he''d managed to win as a Rosenborg yer.

    "I''m really proud of you, Zachary," she said right after hearing his story. "With the way you''re ying and scoring goals, you might soon be like Maradona or those great African yers ¡ª Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu. You might even surpass them."

    Zachary could only smile in response after hearing his grandma''sment. Ever since he could remember, she''d always admired the three football yers - Maradona, Okocha, and Kanu. As far as she was concerned, they were the best footballers ever to walk the earth. To her, they were at the top of the scale of greatness. So, he wasn''t surprised when she mentioned them after hearing about his career.

    "Football aside," his grandma continued after coughing slightly, "Did you finallymence your university studies?"

    Zachary forced a smile. "Grandma! It''s not like I don''t wish to continue studying. However, I really don''t have the time at the moment. I''ve to focus all my energy on my training if I wish to achieve great things during the course of my football career."

    His grandma narrowed her eyes, shifting slightly on the bed.

    "Don''t worry, grandma," Zachary hurriedly said to soothe her. "I''ll ensure to enroll in a University this year."

    He didn''t understand why his grandma always insisted that he had to attend university, even when she was well aware that he was doing well as a pro footballer. But to appease her, he figured that he could enroll in a university for an online program that wouldn''t take much time.

    "Let''s first put studying and football aside," the olddy said, a small smile ying on her parched lips. "Haven''t you met any girl that has impressed you yet? When do you n to get married? I really can''t wait to hold my great-grandkids in my hands."

    "Eh!"

    Zachary was a bit startled. He was just neen, with many youthful years to enjoy still ahead of him. So, how could he start thinking of getting married?

    Even though he''d been dating Cami for more than six months, the notion of marriage had not yet taken root in his mind. Since he had bitter experiences from his past life, he was hesitant. He didn''t wish to rush into a life-longmitment only to live the rest of his years in sorrow.

    "Well," his grandma asked again, her eyes filled with expectation.

    "Not yet, grandma," he replied, sighing. "You just advised me to enroll in a university for a degree. So, how can you ask me to start looking for a wife? Don''t you know that it''s not good to get married while still in school?"

    His grandma narrowed her eyes. "Now, you''re going to use school as an excuse. People don''t get married while still in university because they don''t have money. However, if you have the money to support a family, why not get married?"

    She sighed weakly. "Zachary! I''m telling you, your life would be more enjoyable and fulfilling if you could find a girl who cares about you and marry her when you''re still young. She would support your growth in everything you do while keeping your life in line. You would be able to develop together as a couple without most worries."

    Zachary could only purse his lips and smile at that. He couldn''t bring himself to make any promises to his grandma on that very topic.

    "Okay, let me stop teasing you," she said, raising her head slightly from the pillows.

    Zachary got a scare. "Grandma! What are you doing? Please, lie back down." He hurriedly got up from his seat to support her.

    "Don''t worry," she said in a cating tone. "Now that I have talked to you, I feel fine. But there''s something else I need to tell you."

    "Don''t worry about anything else," Zachary said while rearranging the pillows to elevate her head slightly. "We can talk more when you recover."

    "This can''t wait," she replied, shaking her head slightly. "Do you remember when you asked me about your biological mother back in Lubumbashi?"

    Zachary nodded, settling back in his seat. She''d shown him a photograph of her mom and dad and a letter with their names. He''d forwarded the information to a private investigations firm and tasked their team with uncovering the whereabouts of his biological mom. But even after eight months, the detectives had not yet produced any results. As a result, he''d eventually given up hope and pushed the matter to the back of his mind.

    "The thing is," his grandma said, inclining her head slightly on the pillow to face him, "I chose not to tell you some things about your mother when you previously asked about her." Her voice had a hint of helplessness.

    Zachary''s expression flickered slightly. But he chose to remain silent and wait for her toplete her ount of things.

    "To be honest," she continued, "I had already discovered her whereabouts from one of your father''s diaries. However, I wasn''t sure whether the two of you meeting each other would be a good thing. So, I kept the information to myself, hoping to protect you. But now that I''m in this state, I have to disclose all I know."

    "You don''t have to feel pressured to tell me anything, grandma," Zachary said with a sigh. "If you feel I shouldn''t meet her, I''ll follow your advice and forget her."

    "That should be your choice, Zachary," she said, smiling weakly. "Her full name is C¨¦leste Kouame, and she should be from a city called Yamoussoukro, located in C?te d''Ivoire. If you get time to travel back to Lubumbashi, check the left side of my metallic suitcase for your dad''s diary. You should be able to find more information about her in there."

    Zachary''s heart palpitated slightly, but he forced it to calm down by inhaling deeply. "Thanks for telling me, grandma," he said. "For now, just focus on recovering and don''t think about anything else."

    She nodded in response before letting out a breath. It was then that the door creaked open, and a uniformed nurse marched into the room. "It''s about time the patient gets some rest," she said, her tone professional. "So, can you say your goodbyes and step out of the room, please?"

    Zachary nodded in assent. He then said a few encouraging words to his grandma before waving her goodbye and stepping out of the room. His heart was again in disarray after recalling that she would undergo surgery the following morning at eight. However, all he could do was wait and pray for her full recovery.

    -----

    The next morning.

    The dawn brought a new freshness, bathing the streets of Zurich City in golden light. However, Zachary was in no mood to enjoy the beautiful morning since he was already in the designated area at the University Hospital Zurich, waiting for the oue of his grandma''s surgery.

    He could feel his heart hammering hard in his chest as he paced the entire length of the otherwise silent room. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t calm down while knowing that his grandma was on an operating table in a nearby theater. His thoughts were all over the ce, and he felt like he should do some intense shuttle runs to cool his brain down.

    "I think you should sit down for a bit, Zachary," Emily said from a nearby seat while ncing at him worriedly. "She has only been in the theater for four hours. So, there''s one more hour of waiting to go."

    "Your agent is right, Zachary," Marie, his aunt, echoed. "I believe that everything will be okay with grandma. So, please, calm down and sit down for a while."

    Zachary nodded, stopping his pacing suddenly. He shed Emily and his aunt a forced smile before settling down on another seat. He then counted from a hundred going backward a couple of times until he felt himself rxingpletely.

    It was then that he managed to push the worries to the back of his mind. He then started to think about other things.

    One important lesson he''d learned when dealing with his grandma''s case was that his agent really had his back. She had traveled all the way from London to Lubumbashi immediately after hearing that his grandma was ill. She quickly arranged her transfer to Zurich to ensure that the olddy got proper medical care. As far as Zachary was concerned, she was the best agent in the world. So, he resolved to treat her even better in the future.

    Many disorderly thoughts whirled through Zachary''s mind as the minutes shed by slowly. He even started considering whether to request his grandma to shift to Europe after she recovered. He could organize a residence for her and hire a couple of nurses to aid her during her recovery. And since she would be living nearby, he would be able to visit her often.

    However, Zachary couldn''t help butpel himself to forget the whole notion after recalling his grandma''s character. He was sure that she would never shift from DR Congo, even if he got on his knees and begged. The olddy had chosen to stay in her homnd even when the country was experiencing savage wars. So, how could she up and shift due to some illness?

    "The doctors are finally back," the voice of Emily sounded in his ears, suddenly breaking him out of his reverie.

    "Already!?"

    Zachary was startled and immediately nced towards the entrance of the waiting lounge. He trembled despite himself when he noticed Dr. Brian Sanders walking through the doorway and approaching them.

    The next moment he would know the oue of his grandma''s brain surgery. Was it good or bad? He had no idea as he was no prophet. However, he couldn''t stop all the possibilities, whether good or bad, from shing through his mind as he rose up to meet the surgeon in charge of his grandma''s case.

 Chapter 333 Squad Heading to Turin

    <h4>Chapter 333 Squad Heading to Turin</h4>

    "The surgery was a sess," Dr. Brian Sanders said, smiling. "Mrs. Bemba is quite stable. We''ve even already moved her to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit."

    Dr. Sander''s voice was like a thunderp in Zachary''s ears. It reverberated within his mind for a few seconds, washing away all the anxiety and gloom umted over the past few days. His mind cleared as his mood lightened. He felt like he''d just bathed in a cool spring with mystical powers.

    "This is great news," he heard Emily say while patting his shoulder. "Zachary, I''m really happy for you."

    Zachary nodded and thanked her. He then nodded at his aunt in silent affirmation of oveing a hurdle together before returning his attention to Dr. Sanders.

    "Can we see her?" he asked with eyes filled with anticipation.

    Dr. Sanders shook his head. "We still need to monitor Mrs. Bemba for three more hours in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. We''ll then move her to the Neuro Intensive Care Unit, where you can see her. So, you have to be patient a bit."

    "Oh, okay," Zachary said, nodding. "Thanks a lot, doctor, for all your help."

    "You''re wee," Dr. Sanders said, smiling. "I have to handle another caseter in the day. So, let me say goodbye for now. If you need more information about the post-surgery requirements for your grandma, you can talk to the nurse clinician on duty."

    "Okay, doctor," Zachary replied. "Thanks."

    Dr. Sanders beamed and exchanged a few words with Emily before turning around and walking out of the waiting room. He also seemed to be in a good mood, probably due to the sess of the surgical procedure.

    Zachary turned his gaze from the receding back of the neurosurgeon before pulling Emily to the side. "Should we head to the nurse clinician''s office to inquire about the post-surgery requirements?"

    "We don''t need to," Emily responded. "I already inquired about all issues rted to your grandma''s treatment. What she requires more than anything is adequate care to help her recover from the surgical wound. So, after the hospital discharges her, we''ll move her to the post-surgery rehabilitation center."

    "The rehabilitation center?" Zachary was in doubt. "Didn''t the doctor say something about keeping her under observation for two weeks?"

    "That''s true," Emily replied. "But you need to understand that the center is also a facility in this hospital, and its purpose is to help patients recover from surgical wounds. So, the surgeons will continue to be involved in her care while in the rehabilitation center. They will also be constantly in contact with the facility to coordinate appointments and treatment after discharge."

    "Then, we should really check her into this post-surgery rehabilitation center," Zachary agreed. "What about the hospital bills? Was the money I sent you enough?"

    "Yes," Emily responded. "I haven''t even used half of the money. So, you don''t have to worry about the bills."

    "Then, that''s great," Zachary said. "Thanks again for having my back."

    "Don''t mention it," she replied. "When do you n to return to Trondheim, by the way?"

    "If all goes well, Sunday evening," Zachary responded. "That''s when my travel window ends."

    "That''s a good n," Emily said. "Since your grandma will be in the post-surgery rehabilitation center, you don''t have to worry. The nurses there will take care of her and constantly monitor her condition. Your aunt can also help out. So, you can return your focus to football and choose to visit, maybe once in two weeks, to see how she''s doing."

    "Let''s first see her progress in the next two days," Zachary said, sighing. "I''ll make my ns after that."

    -----

    Over the next two days, Zachary kept a close eye on his grandma''s progress. He constantly interacted with the doctors in charge of her case and visited her during the morning and evening hours. And to his relief, he finally confirmed that she was getting better with every passing day.

    The doctors had handled her case well, and her surgical wound had no issues. They were only waiting to conduct a few more tests after four days before confirming whether the treatment procedure had managed to remove all the tumor cells from her brain.

    However, Zachary couldn''t wait for the test results as his travel window ended on Sunday. So, even though he was reluctant to part, he still said his goodbyes to his grandma that evening. He then left all the other arrangements in the hands of Emily, his capable agent, before boarding a Scandinavian Airlines flight and returning to Trondheim.

    -----

    The following morning.

    Zachary woke upte. He was suffering from terrible jeg and was still a bit sleepy since he''d only managed to go to bed at around 3:00 AM. So, he decided to call the coach and see if he could excuse him from that day''s training.

    "Hello, Zach," the Coach Johansen said after the phone call had connected.

    "Hello, coach," Zachary replied. "How''s your morning?"

    "My morning is fine," he replied. "How''s your grandma doing?"

    "She''s recovering well. The doctors say that her condition is stable. They only need to conduct a few more tests in three days to confirm whether the treatment managed to remove all the tumor cells."

    "That''s good to hear," the coach said. "And I believe she''ll be fine. So, are you back in Trondheim?"

    "Yes. I arrived at 3:00 AM this morning. As a result, I''m suffering from terrible jeg. So, it''s my humble request that you allow me to skip today''s training."

    "That''s fine, Zachary," Coach Johansen responded after a short while. "However, make sure that you undergo a conditioning routine today evening. Since we have only three days to our Europa League game against Juventus, you need to maintain your fitness. Otherwise, you''ll find it hard to perform like usual during that game."

    "I''ll do as you rmend, coach," Zachary replied. However, he wasn''t too worried about his fitness since he had continued going through his yoga routine and stretching exercises even while in Zurich.

    Moreover, he''d also just mastered the step-over skill, which would help him catch the opponents off guard. So, he was sure that he would be totally ready for the match against Juventus if he trained seriously for the next two days.

    "You''re also clueless about the tactics and game n since you missed the previous four training sessions," the coach said after a short while. "So, you have a lot of work to do when you return to training tomorrow."

    "Don''t worry, coach," Zachary said. "I have always been a quick study when learning all matters rted to football. So, as long as you go through the tactics for me once, I''ll be able to master them."

    "Then, that puts my heart at ease," Coach Johansen said. "Do your best to rest and recover today. We''ll talk more tomorrow during training."

    "Okay, thanks, coach. Have a good day."

    "Have a good day, too."

    After ending the call, Zachary let out a breath of relief. He''d been worried that he would underperform during that day''s training due to his poor condition. But since the coach had allowed him another day of rest, he could finally rx and catch up with the sleep he had missed over the previous few days.

    So, he threw his phone to the side and immediately dived back into bed. A few minutester, he was already snoring and oblivious to everything around him.

    -----

    Over the following two days, Zachary got busy. He immersed himself in training with the intent to push his match fitness to its highest state possible. As a result, he spent many hours sweating in the gym and running on the training ground.

    When he wasn''t doing physicals or partaking in the team training sessions, he would also find time to go over the tactics for the match with Coach Johansen. Additionally, he also started watching the past games of Juventus to understand their ying patterns and style.

    Since he understood that Juventus was one of the giants of Europe, he was leaving no stone unturned. He even went over each yer''s previous match statistics to understand their threat levels, especially during crucial games.

    The hours quickly turned into days as he prepared himself, and soon it was Wednesday morning. The day when the team would finally head to Turin for the match against Juventus had arrived.

    The team held a two-hour light training session to refine the tactics and game n one final time. When the clock hand just pointed to the ten o''clock mark in the morning, the coach ended the session and notified all the yers to gather in the tactics room. It was finally the time to announce the match squad that would face off against Juventus the following evening.

    "I won''t waste time going over the tactics as we''ve been doing just that over the past two weeks," Coach Johansen said after the yers had taken their seats. "Instead, I''ll call out the yers who managed to make the squad traveling to Turin today afternoon. Those who hear their names should prepare their bags right after this meeting ends. The set-off time from the Lerkendal parking lot is 2:00 PM."

    "I''ll begin with the starting line-up," the coach continued. "We have Daniel ?rlund, Mikael Dorsin, Tore Reginiussen, Yerry Mina, Eric Bailly, Thomas Partey, Zachary Bemba, Takumi Minamino, Nicki Nielsen, Tobias Mikkelsen, and Alexander S?derlund as our starting yers."

    "On the bench, we have Lund Hansen, William Troost-Ekong, Cristian Gamboa, Ole Seln?s, Mike Jensen, Karl Toko Ekambi, and Paul Kasongo. Those are all the names of the yers heading to Turin. You have three hours to prepare your bags."

 Chapter 334 Europa League Match Day

    <h4>Chapter 334 Europa League Match Day</h4>

    Thursday, March 13, 2014.

    Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy.

    -----

    The Rosenborg squad, which had arrived in Turin the previous day, stepped onto the pitch for the pre-match warm-up session when the clock hand pointed to the eight o''clock mark that evening.

    Zachary had thought that he''d already experienced all there was to the passion of football fans after ying against Fiorentina in Florence a few weeks prior. But after stepping into the Juventus stadium, he immediately realized how wrong he''d been. He was startled since the fans were much more intense than their counterparts in Florence.

    Even though an hour remained before kick-off, the stadium was already jam-packed. The Juventus fans, mostly donned in their team''s ck and white colors, had already upied nearly all the seats avable in the stands. Moreover, they were already cheering wildly and singing at the top of their voices as they watched their team go through a dynamic warm-up.

    Even while warming up on the pitch, Zachary could hear their vibrant voices loud and clear. And even though he didn''t understand Italian, he could still feel their passion and affection for their team when his ears picked up the chants.

    However, those chants didn''t induce any feelings of fear or tension within his psyche. Instead, his entire being was swelling with expectation as he readied himself to y against the Italian giants. Moreover, his anticipation had even helped him push the worry about his grandma to the back of his mind.

    It had only been about a year since he''d made his debut as a pro yer for Rosenborg. However, he''d already gotten a chance to y against one of the best teams in Europe. As a person who loved football with his everything, the match was the perfect God-sent opportunity. He could finally test his skills against some of the best yers in the world and see how he fared against them. So, why wouldn''t he be excited?

    "We''re really in enemy territory," Kasongo remarked. He was going through the dynamic warm-up routine beside him while also stealing nces at the stands. "Look at them cheer for their team. It is as if they are cheering for an army going to war."

    "That''s the beauty of football," Zachary said while performing a static upper-back stretch. "The cheers are what make the match more exciting. The only pity is that very few Rosenborg fans are in the stands today evening. Otherwise, this match would have turned out epic."

    Zachary had already surveyed the stands when he''d just stepped on the pitch. However, he''d noticed that only a few hundred Rosenborg fans had upied a small portion of what should have been the visitor''s section of the stands. Compared to the more than 35,000 Juventus supporters present, they were just like a drop in the ocean. Thus, they couldn''t cause any ripple within therge stadium even if they shouted at the top of their voices.

    "Guys," Coach Rolf Aas, the assistant coach in charge of fitness, suddenly yelled. "Add more energy. We need to finish this dynamic warm-up in fifteen minutes."

    Zachary immediately added more intensity to his warm-up routine after hearing the assistant coach''s impassioned shout. He went through the exercises at a much quicker pace than before until he was sweating buckets. However, he would asionally cast his gaze towards the other side of the pitch to spy on the opponents.

    All the famous Juventus yers, including Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo, Fernando Llorente, and Giorgio Chiellini, among others, were warming up on the other side of the pitch. Zachary could feel his heart tremble a bit just by ncing at them. However, he soon suppressed those unstable feelings within his mind and continued his warm-up.

    -----

    On the other side of the field, the Juventus yers had just taken a water break after going through a shuttle run session. udio Marchisio turned his gaze to the other half to examine the opponents. "That tall ck yer with an afro is Zachary," he said to a few of his teammates beside him. "The coach has warned us several times to be wary of him."

    Pogba shrugged. "He''s a very talented yer going by the videos and statistics. One of the assistants even mentioned that he has already scored nine goals and is the current top scorer in the Europa League. But all that doesn''t concern me since I''m on the bench today."

    "Don''t worry, guys," Arturo Vidal said with a lopsided grin. "I''m full of energy today, especially since the coach had me rest on Sunday. He won''t be able to do anything on my watch."

    "You need to be on your toes, Arturo," Pirlo warned from the side. "Otherwise, it would be shameful if a neen-year-old kid outyed you."

    Some of the yersughed at that while Arturo, himself, narrowed his eyes. "I guess I don''t need to waste my words convincing you people. You only need to wait, and I''ll show you how I handle him on the pitch."

    "Break over," the voice of one of the assistant coaches suddenly sounded. "Please, continue with the warm-up."

    The Juventus yers could only halt their conversation before immersing themselves in the dynamic warm-up exercises. They worked hard for the next few minutes until their coaches called them back to the dressing room for the pre-match tactical briefing.

    -----

    A minuteter, the Rosenborg yers also returned to the dressing room. Since kick-off was just twenty minutes away, they hurriedly started changing into their all-ck away match jerseys. Before long, theypleted their preparations and settled on the benches around the dressing room to listen to coach Johansen''s pre-match address.

    "Guys," the coach began, a soft smile outlining his face. "It''s finally time. We''re about to step out of here and face off against Juventus in the Europa League''s round of sixteen. And I believe I don''t have to exin to you what''ll happen if we don''t pull out all our stops during the game."

    "For the past two weeks, we''ve been going over the tactics for this game," he continued. "And as you''re well aware, we''ll be using the 4-5-1 formation, with four defenders, five midfielders, and one center-forward. The whole formation aims to ensure that we defend well while also being able to stifle Juventus'' strong midfield."

    "However, if any of us rxes even for a minute during the game, the entire formation will crumble. Then, what will follow is us conceding. So, guys, I urge you to remain focused from the very first minute. y simple football, be swift when closing down the opponents in our own half, and when you get chances, use them. If you remain true to those simple rules, we''ll surely give the Italian giants a run for their money. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers yelled back with zest.

    Coach Johansen smiled, nodding. "Onest thing before we go. We need to approach this match carefully and systematically to attain a good result. So, we''ll divide the first half''s 45 minutes into three smaller segments, each 15-minutes."

    "In the first fifteen minutes, before the Juventus yers settle down into their usual game tempo, we''ll y boldly and attack more often. The focus of our game n will remain on defending, yes ¡ª but whenever we get the chance, weunch a counterattack immediately and swiftly. So, I expect at least three effective counters from you in those first fifteen minutes. Are you with me, guys?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Moving on," the coach continued. "During the second segment, we''ll be more reserved. No matter the result¡ªno matter whether we''re a goal down or winning, we''ll remain solid in defense from the 15th to the 30th minute. We''ll y with ten men behind the ball and ensure that we don''t concede a goal."

    "When we move on to thest segment¡ªfrom the 30th to the 45th minute, we''ll start adapting to the situation. If we''re a goal down, we''ll be bolder and look for opportunities by relying on counters. However, if the score is still a tie¡ªor if we''re winning, we''ll remain conservative and defend as if our lives depend on the game. Are you guys with me? Have you understood the entire n?"

    "Yes, coach," most yers replied, nodding their heads.

    However, Zachary was in doubt. So, he raised his arm and asked a question. "What do I do if I get a hard-to-resist counterattacking opportunity during the second segment? Do I let it pass because our entire focus is on defending?"

    Coach Johansen took a few steps across the dressing room before answering. "If you''re sure you won''t lose the ball when you attack, you canunch the counter. However, if you are not at least 90% sure that you can break through the opponents, you better rx and stick to the game n."

    "One thing you need to understand is that Juventus usually raises their attacking momentum between the 15th and 30th minute. So, that''s why we''ve got to be very careful during that segment."

    Coach Johansen smiled slightly. "But for you, Zachary, you''re ying a free role. You can determine how and when to attack depending on the situation on the pitch. So, to some extent, these arrangements are not for you¡ªbut the rest of your teammates. But, please remember to y smart and don''t make amateur mistakes."

    "Okay," Zachary replied. "I understand, coach."

    "Good." Coach Johansen said, ncing at his watch. "It''s about time. So, let''s finish our preparations and head to the pitch. We''ll make further detailed arrangements depending on the situation at halftime."

 Chapter 335 Second-Minute Shocker

    <h4>Chapter 335 Second-Minute Shocker</h4>

    Emily was still in Zurich, helping Zachary organize his grandma''s post-surgery treatment. So, she could only watch the Juventus versus Rosenborg match on the big screen within one of the hospital''s many rxation lounges.

    Be that as it may, she wasn''t too bored since she hadpany. With her was Zachary''s aunt - Marie, the humorous Ryan Bellmore, the analytical Dr. Brian Sanders, and a group of roughly fifteen more medical personnel working the night shift that day.

    "So, what do you think, Emily?" Ryan Bellmore suddenly whispered from beside her. "Do you believe that Zachary can push his worries about his grandma to the back of his mind and perform like usual?"

    "He can, and he will," Emily replied confidently, her eyes never leaving the screen. "Zachary is a yer who loves football with all his heart. So, he always seems to forget everything else whenever he steps onto the pitch for an official game. I believe he will be able to do the same during this match."

    "I see," Ryan Bellmore nodded. "So, what do you think are Rosenborg''s chances of winning this game? Be honest, and tell me what you think?"

    "Well," Emily replied, sighing. "On paper, the Juventus squad is far more solid and a hell-lot more versatile. So, their chances of winning should be over 95%. However, we can''t count Rosenborg out as there''s still Zachary and the group of other impressive young yers around him. The likes of Takumi Minamino, Thomas Partey, and Nicki Nielsen can all rise to the asion. If they handle the match well, maybe, they might win. We have to wait and see."

    Emily was being practical. But on the inside, she really hoped and yearned for Rosenborg to win that game, especially by relying on Zachary.

    As a football agent, she had long understood that crucial matches, especially against big teams, were the best tforms for marketing budding football yers. If a young footballer could go against a giant like Juventus and put up an incredible performance, his name would immediately sink deep and root itself within the minds of the entire footballmunity around the globe. On the other hand, if the yer couldn''t rise to the asion and y like usual against the much stronger opponent, then the rest of the world would never bother to remember his name. It was that simple.

    So, Emily really hoped that Zachary would be the incredible version of a young yer against Juventus that night. She wished to see him putting up a phenomenal performance that could dazzle the European Footballmunity. That way, he could finally establish himself as a world-ss yer and pave the way for his future.

    At that moment, the catchy Europa League anthem''s tune sounded from the TV speakers, attracting Emily''s attention once again. Like a spark igniting and blooming into a fire, the music immediately induced waves of excitement and anxiety within her mind.

    "It''s beginning," Ryan said excitedly.

    Emily didn''t reply but kept her gaze focused on the live broadcast of the match. The next moment, she smiled as she saw the match officials and yers stepping onto the pitch and causing an explosion of cheers within the stadium. Her feelings couldn''t help but fluctuate slightly when the camera zeroed in on Zachary, who was at the end of Rosenborg''s line of yers. He looked so imposing with his afro hairstyle that matched his tall physique.

    "Zachary looks sharper in his new shirt number eight," Ryan, the self-appointed in-housementator, suddenly remarked. "It''s way better than that number-33 of his."

    Emily smiled but chose not to respond. Her gaze was still on the screen as the yers quickly lined up and exchanged the customary handshakes. Before long, they started taking their positions and what followed was the coin toss ceremony.

    Per FIFA rules, the captains of the two teams had to partake in the coin toss ceremony under the supervision of the head referee before each game. The captain that won the coin flip would select the goal his team would y towards during the first half. On the other hand, the losing captain''s team would get the opening kick-off.

    It seemed that that time around, Gianluigi Buffon, the Juventus captain, won the coin toss since Rosenborg got the opportunity to kick off the game in the first half.

    "Wee to the live broadcast of this Europa League match between Juventus and Rosenborg," thementator''s mellifluous voice suddenly sounded from the TV speakers.

    "As usual, Juventus are in their striped ck and white jersey, while Rosenborg yers are in their all-ck away kits today. Both teams were impressive during thest stage of the Europa League."

    "Juventus overwhelmed Trabzonspor with a 4:0 aggregate score, while Rosenborg barely edged past Fiorentina, the other Italian outfit, with an aggregate score of 3:2 to qualify for this round," thementator continued, his voice smooth and fast-flowing. "And today night, the two teams will finallymence their battle for a spot in this season''s Europa League quarter-finals. Will it be the mighty Juventus thates out on top after this first leg? Or will Rosenborg, the underrated Norwegian team, shock Italy again? To find out the answer, stay tuned to ESPN. We''ll be back shortly after the break."

    After the ten-second break, thementators utilized the few seconds before kick-off to introduce and analyze the team line-ups and formations. Antonio Conte, the Juventus coach, had fielded a 3-5-2 formation, seemingly with the intent to attack from the first minute. In goal for the Italian giants was the ever-reliable captain of the side - Gianluigi Buffon, while their defenseprised the three yers - Leonardo Boni, Giorgio Chiellini, and Mart¨ªn C¨¢ceres. In their midfield were the five yers - Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, udio Marchisio, Mauricio I, and Kwadwo Asamoah. Andstly, on their striking were the two phenomenal yers - Carlos T¨¦vez and Daniel Osvaldo.

    As for Rosenborg, they''d fielded a 4-5-1 formation, with a line-up almost simr to the one that faced off against Fiorentina in Florence two weeks ago. Daniel ?rlund was in goal, while the defenseprised the four yers - Mikael Dorsin, Tore Reginiussen, Yerry Mina, and Eric Bailly. Then, the five yers - Thomas Partey, Zachary Bemba, Takumi Minamino, Tobias Mikkelsen, and Alexander S?derlund made up the midfield. And finally, on striking was the ever-reliable Nicki Nielsen.

    Emily felt her unease grow afterparing the two line-ups. Once again, she had gotten toprehend the fact that the two teams were entirely on different levels. Comparing the two teams was like pitting the strength of an elephant against the might of an ant. But she still hadn''t lost faith as an ant could still put up a fight if it could manage to sink its sharp teeth into the elephant''s delicate parts. So, it all depended on how the Rosenborg coach handled the game to exploit Juventus'' few weaknesses.

    **** ****

    Zachary stood right outside the center circle, waiting for the referee to blow the kick-off whistle. His blood was already boiling with excitement as he could hardly wait for the game to begin.

    Be that as it may, his mind was abnormally calm since he''d unexpectedly entered into the ''zone'' mental state even before the game could begin. As a result, his senses were already super hyper. He could even make out the minute movements of each yer around him, even without focusing hard.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    Suddenly, the referee''s whistle, signaling for the match to begin, sounded. Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s only center-forward, immediately flicked the ball to Zachary to kick start the Europa League''s first leg sh between Juventus and Rosenborg.

    Zachary received the ball right outside the center circle before turning around and flicking it towards Takumi Minamino, one of his counterparts in midfield.

    Takumi also handled the ball with a sense of urgency and didn''t dawdle. After a single touch, he flicked it towards Tobias Mikkelsen, Rosenborg''s right-winger.

    Tobias seemed eager to impress, especially since it was his first time making it into the squad in the new year. So, he exploded forth with speed along the right nk, smoothly skipping past Kwadwo Asamoah, Juventus'' left midfielder. Before any opponents could close him down, he flicked the ball back to Takumi, the Rosenborg midfielder running in sync with him through the middle.

    Takumi once again took a single touch before threading the ball to Zachary, who was, at that moment, already deep into the other half. And as a pleasant surprise, the pass was spot on, making it into Zachary''s sprinting path before the opponents could surround him.

    It was an opportune moment as Zachary''s super hyper senses picked up the rare moment ofxity within the ranks of the Juventus side while receiving the ball. So, he immediately decided to take a gamble, especially since the theme of the first fifteen minutes was to attack boldly.

    "Here goes nothing!"

    Within anything but an instant, his S-graded agility exploded forth as he sprinted towards Juventus'' box like mad. He was soon dribbling the ball through the middle, meandering past a couple of half-hearted challenges from the opponents.

    However, he couldn''t continue sprinting and breaking through the Juventus line-up with ease as if they didn''t exist. Just as he was stepping past the boundary into the final third, he ran into the most-challenging roadblock in the form of Arturo Vidal - the midfielder dubbed La Piranha by the Italian press for his hard-tackling and aggressive, tenacious style of y.

    But Zachary only slowed down a little to draw in the opponent. He didn''t panic as his keen eyes kept on observing and drawing assessments from each and every minute movement made by the approaching opponent.

    Then, just suddenly, Zachary stepped over the ball once, and Arturo, himself, reacted by leaning towards the right by a slight margin. The next second, Zachary executed another step-over, forcing the opponent to respond by shifting his center of gravity towards the left. And that was all the opportunity that Zachary needed.

    He elerated to his top speed and broke past the tenacious midfielder like the wind from the right. The next second, his long strides were again eating up yards of space like there was no tomorrow. It was then that he noticed the shooting angle opening up slightly. And, of course, he couldn''t miss the opportunity.

    Heart beating fast and hard with anticipation, he drew his leg all the way back like a bowstring, intending to smash the ball towards the goal. But the next moment, a shudder went through his entire being as he noticed a leg stretching out and blocking his shooting angle. That time around, Leonardo Boni, one of the Juventus center backs, was the yer who''d closed him down.

    "Whatever!"

    Zachary decided within an instant to continue taking the shot. So, he mercilessly swung his leg hard and fast and smacked the ball with all his strength using the top of his boot. And as expected, the ball took a deflection off the defender''s boot, causing an additional pang of anxiety to assault Zachary''s psyche.

    However, the next moment, his mood took a turn for the better as he realized that the deflection hadn''t managed to change the ball''s trajectory by a significant margin. Instead, it had added an additional spin and more height to the curling shot, forcing the ball to veer towards the far top right corner like a fast-spinning top. Before the Juventus keeper could react, it had already homed in fast into the back of the.

    SILENCE!

    A wave of silence descended across the entire Juventus Stadium as both yers and fans couldn''te to terms with what had just transpired. Most remained dazed for seconds as their minds tried toprehend the second-minute shocker. However, all that had nothing to do with Zachary as he was already rushing towards the corner g to celebrate Rosenborg''s first goal.

 Chapter 336 An Unexpected Occurrence

    <h4>Chapter 336 An Unexpected urrence</h4>

    Coach Johansen''s mood was still agitated as he followed the game from the technical area after the goal celebrations. Every time he remembered the run made by Zachary through the middle and his efficient side-stepping skills, his heart would palpitate. And when he recalled the goal itself, his lips would curl into a smile. He was simply like an excited kid who''d just received his favorite Christmas present.

    However, he soon forced himself to calm down when he continued watching the game. As a coach, he understood that his yers still had a lot of work to do if they wished to attain a result from the fixture.

    Juventus was a team that grew stronger as they settled into the game. Thus, he wanted his yers to do their best in the first fifteen minutes to widen the margin before the Italian giants raised their tempo and started attacking fiercely.

    "Guys!" He yelled at the top of his voice after the ball went out of y for another Juventus throw-in. "Mark every opponent in our half. Don''t let them receive the ball without any pressure. Zachary, Alexander, Tobias, and Nicki! Stay on your toes and be ready to counterattack at any time. We need another goal as soon as possible." His instructions were in Norwegian since he didn''t want the nearby Antonio Conte to understand his words.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee soon blew the whistle, signaling the Juventus yers to take their throw-in. Mauricio I, Juventus'' right-midfielder, took a few steps towards the touchline before throwing the ball to Andrea Pirlo.

    For that game, Pirlo was, of course, ying as a deep-lying ymaker. So, he''d been upying the positions close to the center circle in the other half, far away from Rosenborg''s box. Yet, when he received the ball at that moment, it only took him a split second to spot a gap that could have taken other yers a lifetime to notice. And before any Rosenborg yers could close him down, he unleashed a hell-of-a-pass towards the other side, where Carlos T¨¦vez was lurking.

    In just a few seconds, the Italian ymaker had induced a switch in y and initiated a dangerous attack on Rosenborg''s box by relying on his phenomenal passing skills. He was simply like a sniper who could puncture a hole into Rosenborg''s defense from anywhere on the pitch, no matter the distance.

    Coach Johansen''s heart leaped to his throat as he watched the beast of a striker - Carlos T¨¦vez connecting with Pirlo''s pin-point pass close to the edge of the box. Before the Rosenborg yers could react, the dangerous forward let loose a terrifying shot that zoomed towards the goal like a ballistic missile.

    However, the next moment, Coach Johansen rxed when he saw Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s keeper, rising to the asion to punch the ball out of y. With a double-handed diving save, the keeper had denied Juventus a chance to score and equalize proceedings in the 11th minute.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee immediately blew the whistle and pointed toward the corner g.

    "Nicki!" Coach Johansen shouted in Norwegian as the yers were readying themselves for the corner kick. "Whenever we don''t have the ball, make sure you mark that Andrea Pirlo tightly. Watch him closely, and don''t allow him to unleash those long-range passes towards the box. Do you hear me?"

    "Alright, coach," Nicki Nielsen yelled back, raising his thumb slightly to indicate that he''d gotten the message.

    Coach Johansen nodded and then turned towards the other half. He immediately noticed Andrea Pirlo walking towards the corner g to take the set-piece, and his mood sunk into the abyss of agitation again.

    He''d already done his research before the game. So, he understood how good a set-piece taker the Italian Maestro was. Whether it was a corner or a free kick, Pirlo would find his intended target more times than not. He would either pick out a teammate with much ease or send the ball into the back of the.

    However, since it was a corner kick, Coach Johansen didn''t have to worry about Pirlo scoring directly. His yers only needed to mark the Juventus yers in the box, and everything would turn out fine.

    "Guys!" He started yelling again while pping his hands. "Mark everyone in the box tightly. Takumi! Mark the space in front of our box. Don''t allow the opponents to shoot any rebounds towards our goal after the corner..."

    For the next few seconds, his words resounded across the field. He paced the entire length of the technical area as he tried to organize his team. He only stopped yelling after noticing that his yers had understood his instructions and put them into effect.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee suddenly blew the whistle after arranging the yers of both teams in the box. Andrea Pirlo immediately floated the corner ball into the area, trying to find one of his teammates.

    Since it was a dangerous moment for his team, Coach Johansen couldn''t stop his heart from racing. He watched with bated breath as Daniel Osvaldo, the Juventus forward, rose into the air to meet the ball before nting a header towards the goal.

    His edgy heart only returned to its rightful ce within his chest when the ball hit a snag in the form of Yerry Mina the next moment. The tall Colombian had positioned himself well to block the effort. However, his block was just by reflex. So, the ball didn''t travel far and dropped towards the edge of the box.

    But Rosenborg was fortunate once again as Takumi Minamino was marking the space in front of the area. The Japanese guy intercepted the ball with ease before smashing it hurriedly towards the other side of the pitch with all his strength.

    By reflex, Coach Johansen''s eyes followed the ball''s trajectory high up into the air for a moment. But the next instant, his peripheral vision picked out a silhouette in a pure-ck jersey racing after the ball flying through the air.

    "Eh!"

    Coach Johansen was stunned and immediately turned his focus to the silhouette. His hopes sored immediately, especially after noticing that the yer chasing after the ball was Zachary, with speed akin to that of a race car.

    "Will he make it?" Coach Johansen wondered, his focus repeatedly alternating between Zachary''s sprinting form and the ball high up in the air.

    Suddenly, the ball reached its apex trajectory and soon began its sharp descent back to the ground. Its velocity suddenly increased during the drop under the earth''s gravity. Before long, it was almost bouncing on the green in the center circle.

    Anyone on the pitch expected one of the Juventus yers to control it immediately and prevent it from bouncing. However, at that moment, there was a little bit of hesitancy among the Juventus yers marking the centerline.

    For a moment, the two yers - Mart¨ªn C¨¢ceres and udio Marchisio both looked at each other, probably thinking that the other would handle the descending ball. But that moment of hesitation was all Zachary needed to cover another five or six yards.

    The Rosenborg number-8 exploded forth with momentum and was soon upon the position of the descending ball. It was then that udio Marchisio reacted and went to tackle the ball, probably hoping to save the situation. However, his reaction was just a tad toote to defend against a highly-clinical yer like Zachary.

    Right at the moment when the Juventus midfielder''s boot was making first contact with the ball, Zachary was upon him, all guns zing like an assassin going in for a kill. The boy prodigy then immediately blocked the effort by the midfielder to clear the ball with an outstretched boot before taking off towards Juventus'' box like the wind.

    Coach Johansen immediately started the motion of raising his arms into the air as he watched his ymaker approaching the keeper at breakneck speed. The coach could feel his heart beating like a drum as Zachary executed a couple of side-steps, probably intending to confuse and evade the keeper before scoring.

    However, just then, something unexpected happened. Gianluigi Buffon, the Juventus keeper,mitted himself to a full dive to tackle the ball from Zachary''s feet. But in so doing, he grabbed Zachary''s left leg and brought him to the ground right inside the edge of the penalty box.

    Maybe, it was due to Zachary''s deft side-stepping skills or his swift speed ¡ª the experienced Juventus captain had just made a mistake andmitted ast-man foul within the area. Moreover, he hadmitted that foul very early in the match, only during the 14th minute of gamey.

    The whole incident was unforeseen and not the least bit anticipated by Coach Johansen. So, he was at a loss for words for just a moment while his agitated mind processed the new information. But that was not for long.

    "Foul! Penalty!" He suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs, intending to run to the fourth official.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    However, the referee was ahead of the coach with his decision. He immediately blew the whistle and pointed to the penalty spot. Yet, his actions didn''t just stop there. He soon stepped towards Gianluigi Buffon and showed him a straight red card formitting ast-man foul and denying an attacking yer a clear chance to score, especially within the box.

    The Juventus yers soon started surrounding the referee, probably to protest against the decision. However, he stayed true to his word and turned a deaf ear to theirints. His decision was final, and he probably wouldn''t change it for anything.

 Chapter 337 Conteâ€™s Response

    <h4>Chapter 337 Conte''s Response</h4>

    A soft smile outlined Zachary''s face as he picked himself from the ground after watching the referee show a straight red card to the Juventus captain. He was well aware that the decision against the Italian giants was the best possible development for Rosenborg during the early stages of the match.

    A few seconds prior, when he''d been one-on-one with the keeper, he''d not chosen a more efficient dribbling style to beat the keeper and score with ease. Instead, he''d executed a couple of shy side-steps to irritate and force a reaction out of the Juventus captain. He''d wished and hoped that the keeper could make a mistake and foul him within the box.

    And it seemed like the goddess of luck was really on Rosenborg''s side during that match. Just as he was about to break past the keeper with a deft side-step, the man held his leg. Of course, Zachary immediately went to the ground, hoping to draw the attention and concern of the referee. What followed was pretty straightforward, with Juventus going a man down only during the 15th minute of gamey.

    "Nice y," Nicki said, patting Zachary''s shoulder. "Man, that was some incredible run from our box to the centerline."

    Zachary just smiled in response. At that moment, his attention was still on the Juventus yers lodging theirints to the referee. Did they really think they could force a referee to alter his decision? He was a bit amused by their actions. So, after watching for a while, he could only shake his head and turn his focus to the more vital issues.

    "I''ll take the penalty," he said to Nicki and a few other teammates that had just assembled around him.

    "You won the penalty singlehandedly, man," Nicki said with a smile. "Unless you want to give it to me, your most-reliable counterpart, it''s yours to take."

    Zachary beamed, picking up the ball and cing it on the penalty spot. He didn''t need to respond verbally as his actions clearly indicated his stand.

    The penalty kick was of paramount importance for his team, Rosenborg. He couldn''t trust anyone else to take it, aside from himself. His mind wouldn''t be at ease even if Nicki, the ever-reliable Rosenborg striker, took up the responsibility.

    -----

    After a few more minutes, the referee managed to soothe the angry Juventus yers. He finally managed to send their captain out of the pitch and immediately started preparing for the penalty.

    He organized the yers, except the penalty taker, outside the box. But even after doing all that, the game couldn''t restart as he was still waiting for Juventus to sub in a new keeper in ce of their red-carded captain.

    **** ****

    Antonio Conte was in a terrible mood as he hurried his assistants to prep the substitute goalkeeper. He''d repeatedly cautioned his yers to be wary of the Zachary fellow. However, they''d ignored his warnings and let the man do as he pleased during the first fifteen minutes of gamey. Because of theirxity, the team was in a very dire situation.

    "How far with prepping the keeper?" He shouted at the goalkeeping coach.

    "He''s still dressing up," the goalkeeping coach replied. "However, we don''t have time to take him through a proper warm-up. So, we''ll immediately send him to the pitch after he has finished his preparations. And that should be in about two to three minutes."

    "This is really a mess," Conte said, tightening his fists. He was angry and a bit tense. He understood that he needed to do something about the game situation and n for damage control, especially for the rest of the first half. Otherwise, the opponents from a low-tier league might shame his team.

    "Pogba," he said abruptly after noticing that the substitute keeper had yet to finalize his preparations.

    "Yes, coach," Pogba replied immediately and rose from the bench.

    "Come here for a moment," the coach intoned.

    Pogba nodded and approached the coach''s position with a slight swagger in his stride. He appeared confident and not the least bit affected by what was transpiring on the pitch.

    Coach Conte creased his brows slightly. "I want you in the game as a sub for Carlos T¨¦vez as soon as possible. Are you ready to y?"

    "Of course, coach," Pogba replied with a lopsided grin. "I''m always ready to enter the pitch as long as you need me."

    "Good," Coach Conte said, stealing a nce at the proceedings on the field of y. "Here are my instructions for you and the rest of the midfielders."

    "I''m listening, coach." Pogba nodded and stepped closer.

    "Since we already have a red card," the coach said, "we''ll sacrifice all our striking force to strengthen the other aspects of our team during the rest of the game. Marco Storari will sub in for Osvaldo as our new keeper. As for you, you''ll sub in for Carlos T¨¦vez."

    "However, my intention is not for you to y as a striker, even though you''re subbing in for one. Instead, you''ll join up with our five midfielders to strengthen our side in the middle."

    "Additionally," the coach continued, "you''ll y a free role and mark that Zachary fellow. Follow him wherever he goes for the rest of the game, and don''t allow him to receive passesfortably from his teammates. Do your utmost to frustrate him, and stop him from doing as he pleases in our half."

    Conte sighed, shaking his head. "I would prefer that any other Rosenborg yer retains the ball in our half, even when unmarked, rather than letting that fellow shame us again. I even believe that if we contain that fellow, then Rosenborg won''t manage to score a goal for the rest of the game. That''s even when we''re a man down."

    "So, as a contingency, tell both Arturo and udio to help you out whenever you feel that you don''t have a chance of stopping him alone. They only need to defend the zones in our half where he would possibly run with the ball while you continue marking him closely. With that, we can blend both zonal and man-to-man marking strategies to prevent him from doing as he pleases."

    Pogba nodded before narrowing his eyes. "What about the striking? If they manage to score the penalty, we''ll be two goals down. Don''t you think we should try to get at least one goal back as soon as possible?"

    "Don''t mix up issues, Pogba!" Conte''s tone was sharp. "At the moment, what we need to do most is stabilize the game. The most vital issue for us is to ensure that we don''t concede more goals before halftime. As long as we can aplish that, we can organize more targeted strategies to create scoring chances during halftime. But if we continue being arrogant and y recklessly against Rosenborg, even when we''re a man down, we might concede two or three more goals. Do you get my point?"

    "I get you, coach," Pogba replied.

    "Okay, then," Conte said. "Go and start warming up. I want you on the pitch in less than five minutes. And do not forget my instructions."

    "Yes, coach," Pogba replied before stepping away to undergo his warm-up routine.

    **** ****

    After a whole five minutes, Juventus finally brought on their substitute keeper. His name was Marco Storari ¡ª a yer that Zachary had never heard of during his previous life. Be that as it may, he still decided to approach the penalty kick with caution. He didn''t want to waste Rosenborg''s rare chance of furthering the lead due to a moment of arrogance.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle a momentter. Zachary immediately took a few steps back from the penalty spot while observing the substitute keeper, who''d just taken his ce between the posts.

    Zachary''s mind was very sharp at that moment since he''d already activated the Dead-Ball-Specialist Juju. So, he could make out each and every motion made by the keeper.

    For instance, he noticed that the keeper was leaning slightly to the left, which was a tell-tale sign of an intention to dive in the same direction. However, the keeper could also be baiting him to take a shot toward that side of the goal. So, he decided to shoot toward neither left nor right after a moment of consideration.

    He immediately made a short, angled run towards the ball while still observing the keeper''s actions. Then, he swung his leg down in one swift motion and unleashed an improvised version of a snapshot towards the roof of the goal.

    As expected, the keeper couldn''t save the penalty. He''d instead dived towards the right while the ball soared above him. He could only turn back dejectedly and watch the ball perfectly nestling into the back of the afterpleting his dive.

    Of course, all that had nothing to do with Zachary. He had already rushed towards the stadium''s northeast corner, where the few Rosenborg fans were seated. He could hardly contain his excitement as he punched the air repeatedly before raising his arms above his head to celebrate the goal.

    Everything seemed so surreal to him at that moment. He was facing off against Juventus, one of the best teams in Europe and the entire globe. Yet, he''d already scored twice to ce his team in a very advantageous position. It was a dreame true as far as he was concerned.

 Chapter 338 The Juventus Chairmanâ€™s Directive

    <h4>Chapter 338 The Juventus Chairman''s Directive</h4>

    Zachary returned to his starting position right outside the center circle after celebrating the goal with the rest of his teammates. His eyes narrowed when he noticed Conte subbing in Paul Pogba for Carlos T¨¦vez, who''d been ying as Juventus'' second striker.

    He was a bit unsettled since the substitution was quite disadvantageous to his side, Rosenborg, especially since they''d just gained the momentum after scoring two goals.

    From the bits and pieces he could recall from his previous life, he was mindful of the fact that ''the Paul Pogba of Juventus'' was a beast of a yer. He''d given hell to numerous opponents due to his tactical genius and incredible skill set whenever he yed in the midfield for the Italian giants. Moreover, he was also defensively able. He was good at intercepting passes and could prevail in aerial and ground duels to win possession back for his team. During his younger years, he was a phenomenal yer for sure.

    "Things are about to get moreplicated," Zachary thought to himself while observing the Juventus yers arranging themselves on the other side of the pitch.

    Pogba was about to team up with the other remarkable yers, such as Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal, to assemble a six-man midfield for Juventus. Thus, Zachary and his teammates would find it hard to break through such apact midfield even when they already had a numerical advantage due to the red card. What would follow would be the tempo slowing down and Juventus settling into the game. And if that happened, Rosenborg would find it hard to score any more goals during the rest of the game.

    But that was not what Zachary wanted. He was well aware that the Italian giants could inflict terror on their opponents if they managed to prepare well and y at their best. So, he wasn''t about to let the result of the Europa League''s round of sixteen be decided during the second leg.

    He wanted to squash and destroy Juventus during that game when they were a man down. Then, they would never dream ofunching aeback when they traveled to Lerkendal for the second leg fixture scheduled for the following week.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, and the game restarted after a few more seconds. As Zachary had feared, the Italian giants started ying more conservatively. Even with Pogba, a phenomenal attacking midfielder, present in their ranks, they still turtled up and rarelyunched any attacks. Instead, they concentrated on ying with ten men behind the ball to deny Rosenborg from taking advantage of their numerical advantage and scoring the third goal.

    Moreover, Zachary soon realized that three opposing midfielders were marking him. Pogba would follow him all over the midfield and block off the passing routes whenever his teammates showed intent to pass the ball to him. On the other hand, Arturo Vidal and udio Marchisio, the two other midfielders, would block his possible running routes from a distance. Their tactical discipline was reallymendable, and they managed to execute the perfect zonal marking system that denied him any opportunities to dribble the ball through the middle.

    As the first half progressed into thete stages, Zachary found it harder and harder to make an impact on the pitch. He had barely touched the ball ever since he scored the penalty. It was as if the Juventus yers were giving the ''special care'' only to him while letting the rest of his teammates possess the ball for as long as they wanted.

    With Zachary, the ymaker, out of the picture, the rest of the Rosenborg yers found it challenging tounch any meaningful attacks on Juventus during the rest of the first half. As a result, the score remained 0:2 in favor of Rosenborg when the yers headed down the tunnel for halftime.

    **** ****

    Among the people seated in the VIP booth at the very top of the Juventus Stadium were two gentlemen in ck suits. Their expressions were grave as they watched the Juventus yers walking down the tunnel for halftime.

    "Say, Fabio," the more diminutive of the two men suddenly said while creasing his brows slightly. He was Andrea Agnelli, the chairman of the Juventus football club and a distinguished member of the renowned Agnelli family. "What''s wrong with Conte''s arrangements today? Howe we''re two goals down when facing a team from one of the lowest-tier leagues in Europe? Is Conte sleeping? What''s going on?" He spoke rapidly in Italian without giving his counterpart a chance to respond to his questions.

    "It might not be Conte''s fault," Fabio Paratici, the sporting director of Juventus, answered, sighing. "That Zachary Bemba is a very talented and terrifying opponent. You must have realized that he''s swift and decisive while on the attack. He managed to catch our yers off guard and created the two goal-scoring opportunities almost out of the blue."

    "Still, that''s no excuse for us to be two goals down before halftime," Andrea said, shaking his head. "I''m not happy. First, we drop out of the Champions League after losing to Real Madrid and a small team like Gtasaray. And now, we''re losing to an even weaker team and about to drop out of the Europa League. I''m really not happy."

    "Rx and be patient," Fabio said in a cating manner. "There''s still the second leg. We can surely overturn this deficit and win the leg if we prepare well."

    "Hmmm!" Andrea shook his head slightly after hearing his colleague''s words. "If they can surprise us and win against us when we''re ying at home, don''t you think that they might still do the same when we encounter them in Norway?"

    Fabio, the sporting director, could only smile helplessly in response.

    "Say, Fabio," the Juventus chairman continued after a few more seconds. "Don''t you think we should bring in more skilled yers to strengthen our side during the uing transfer window? I don''t want to see the club performing this poorly during next season''s Europeanpetitions."

    Fabio''s ears perked up slightly, and his expression turned somber. "We''re already trying to get in touch with a few talented yers from all around the world," he said. "We''ve already been in touch with the agents of Kingsley Coman, a young talented yer currently ying for PSG. We''ve also initiated contact with ¨¢lvaro Morata, the Real Madrid man. Both yers have a high chance of joining our ranks next season. They''ll surely strengthen our striking force."

    The chairman shook his head slightly after hearing his sporting director''s response. "I think we should fire all the members of the scouting department for their ipetence," he said, tone sharp. "Fabio! You just mentioned that Zachary Bemba is a very gifted yer. He has managed to singlehandedly destroy us with his sharpness and incredible skills during the first half. Howe he''s not on the list of priority yers you wish to sign for next season? Are your scouting guys sleeping? What are they doing?"

    A rueful smile immediately outlined the sporting director''s face. "As you should know, we rarely focus on scouting talents from the Norwegian League. Moreover, we didn''t catch him on our radar since we weren''t looking for midfielders in the first ce. We''ve got Pogba, Pirlo, Vidal, udio, and I, among other great midfielders, on our side. So, why would we go out of our way to search for another midfielder, especially from a low-tier league?"

    Andrea sighed helplessly. "This is the problem of sports enthusiasts and retired athletes managing football. Sometimes, they look at the present and forget to n for the future. If we had spotted this Zachary guy two or even one year ago, we would have bought him at an affordable price from Rosenborg. But after this game, his asking price will increase significantly. We really missed out."

    "So, what are your instructions, Mr. Chairman?" The sporting director asked. "Should we go ahead and get in touch with his agent?"

    "Yes, of course," Andrea hurriedly replied, seemingly exasperated. "Is there a need to ask? I can see this guy growing into a terrifying yer who canpete with top stars like Pogba, Neymar, Cristiano, and Messi. So, why shouldn''t we sign him? Please, do whatever it takes to acquire a verbal agreement from him as soon as possible."

    "The way I see things," the sporting director said hesitantly, "he might be a bit expensive for us by the start of the uing transfer window."

    "Really, Fabio!?" Andrea was surprised. "Money shouldn''t be the least of our concerns when luring a yer of such a caliber to our team. Instead, our focus should be on his attitude towards our side. As long as you notice that he has some interest in joining us, go in for the kill. Make him our priority target for the next transfer window and spend whatever you need to acquire his signature. I want to see him wearing the Juventus shirt next season."

    "Okay, chairman."

    **** ****

 Chapter 339 Game Progression

    <h4>Chapter 339 Game Progression</h4>

    After the fifteen minutes of halftime, the game restarted. Juventus continued ying conservatively and defensively. They onlymitted yers forward on a few asions when theyunched counterattacks. But when the attacks failed, they would immediately return to their half and defend Mourinho-style. Anyone watching the game could deduce their objective for the second half. They were obviously intending to stop Rosenborg from scoring another goal for the rest of the game.

    However, Zachary couldn''t let them be. He wished to capitalize on Rosenborg''s numerical advantage to extend the lead during that first leg fixture. So, he started working harder than ever to free himself from his three bodyguards.

    He understood that the opponents would exhaust themselves much more quickly since they had to cover more ground due to their numerical disadvantage. So, he was very patient in his approach while awaiting an opportunity. He didn''tunch any sudden attacks but only continued making daring off-ball runs to keep his markers on their toes and exhaust them.

    And finally, his hard work paid off veryte during the 82nd minute. He suddenly made a run away from the midfield towards the right nk when he noticed Thomas Partey with the ball. With the well-timed sprint, he escaped from his three markers and was soon in the wing, where he immediately received the ball from Thomas Partey.

    "Asamoah! Hurry and close him down quickly..." Coach Conte shouted as Zachary took the first step towards Juventus'' box. His voice was full of agitation as he gave out rapid instructions to his yers in Italian for the next few seconds.

    However, the Juventus coach''s yelling didn''t faze Zachary one bit. He immediately drilled his boot under the ball and looped it over the iing sliding tackle from Kwadwo Asamoah. Without allowing the opponents to shape up again, he burst through the right nk like an incarnation of Usain Bolt with the ball at his feet.

    Before long, he ran into the blockade of Paul Pogba, who had surprisingly managed to catch up when he was skipping past Asamoah. But, of course, he skipped past the Frenchman with a couple of deft sidesteps before continuing towards the box. His footwork was dazzling as he made small but measured steps while keeping the ball close to his feet.

    A few secondster, he was already bearing down the box, and only a couple of defenders stood between him and the goal. When the angle opened up, he drew his leg back, intending tounch a missile of a shot at goal.

    But just then, he felt a very firm and strong tug on his shirt. He immediately attempted to shrug off the person holding his shirt while continuing forward, but his foe didn''t let go no matter what. So, he could only stop in his tracks before raising his arms to attract the referee''s attention.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew his whistle right away and ran to the scene. He immediately showed a yellow card to Arturo Vidal, the yer who had pulled Zachary''s shirt, before awarding Rosenborg a free-kick. And as a pleasant surprise, the free-kick position was only about twenty-five yards from the goal.

    "Excellent!"

    A soft smile outlined Zachary''s face when he picked up the ball and started readying himself to take the set-piece. At longst, he''d gotten the perfect opportunity to have a go at Juventus'' goal. He could hardly rein in his emotions at that moment.

    **** ****

    Coach Johansen''s heart was racing with anticipation as he watched Zachary preparing to take the free-kick. If his ymaker could score another goal, his job would be much easier during the second leg. He would only need to organize targeted defensive tactics to frustrate Juventus at Lerkendal the following week and win the fixture.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, breaking him out of his reverie. He immediately pivoted his gaze towards the area right outside Juventus'' box. He noticed that the defensive wall was already in ce while the Juventus keeper was on full attention between the posts. Everything was ready and only awaiting Zachary to take the set-piece.

    Coach Johansen''s tension levels scaled to unknown heights as he watched Zachary make the short angled run towards the ball. The boy prodigy then drew his leg back and unleashed a curling shot towards the goal. His technique was textbook perfect as the ball soared just over the wall before dipping slightly and homing into the top right corner.

    SILENCE!

    Coach Johansen''s eyes widened as he stood there in the technical area, stunned as he watched his yers rushing off to celebrate the goal. Wasn''t that just too easy? Zachary made the whole free-kick taking-process seem like a walk in the park. A short angled run towards the ball and boom ¡ª the ball was in the back of the. The keeper couldn''t even react and stood motionless like a statue between the posts.

    **** ****

    Emily jumped up to celebrate when she watched Zachary score the free-kick to extend Rosenborg''s lead to three goals. In so doing, he''d also bagged a hattrick against a European football giant and cemented his name in the hearts and minds of football fans all around the globe.

    Emily could hardly contain her excitement as Zachary''s value would obviously skyrocket by a couple of a dozen million after the game. She could even picture top club sporting directors contacting her about her client in the near future. The future was worth looking forward to, especially with a phenomenal client like Zachary.

    "It''s starting again," Ryan said, attracting her attention.

    Emily returned her focus to therge screen in front of the room. She noticed that the yers had already taken their positions and were ready to restart the match.

    "It''s surely Zachary Bemba against Juventus," thementator said, his voice loud and clear through the television speakers. "In the 82nd minute, the young Rosenborg number-8 scored the third goal for Rosenborg toplete his hattrick for the night. He has also put Rosenborg in an almost unassable position by extending their lead to three goals. Can Rosenborg maintain a clean sheet andplete a perfect giant-killing? We''ll know the answer in about eight..."

    Thementator''s voice continued resounding across the room as Emily followed the remaining few minutes of the game. She was a nervous wreck as she feared that Rosenborg might concede ast-minute goal or two. Then, their uing second leg fixture against a well-prepared Juventus would be much more nerve-racking andden with difficulties.

    However, her anxiety soon lessened when she noticed the match turning into a boring skirmish as both teams yed defensive football and short aimless passes through the middle. Gradually, the seconds turned into minutes as the game proceeded into injury time without any of the teamsunching a dangerous attack on the other.

    "I think Rosenborg will win this game with a clean sheet," Ryanmented from beside Emily. "I don''t see any hope of Juventus..."

    Ryan stopped mid-sentence as a big switch in the y had just transpired on the screen. Andrea Pirlo, Juventus'' deep-lying ymaker, had just unleashed a long-range lofted pass to find Pogba on the other side of the pitch.

    Pogba controlled the ball perfectly before skipping past Thomas Partey, Rosenborg''s defensive midfielder, with a simple deft touch. He then quickly flicked the ball to Arturo Vidal, who was running in sync with him through the middle.

    Arturo controlled the ball with ease before threading it to Mauricio I. Thetter took one touch on the ball before returning it to Arturo Vidal.

    Arturo received it again and immediately skipped past Yerry Mina. Before anyone else could close him down, he squared the ball to Pogba, who had just arrived at the edge of the box.

    Emily''s mind palpitated with anxiety when she saw Pogba control the ball at the edge of the box. Without losingposure, the tall Frenchman drew his leg all the way back before smashing the ball towards the goal.

    It was a tense moment. Emily reflexively shifted in her seat as she watched the ball curl past a couple of defenders, darting towards the inside of the far post like a missile. The Rosenborg keeper tried to stop its advance with a despairing dive but failed. It just shed past his outstretched fingertips before homing into the back of the.

    "GOOAAAAL," the voice of thementator rose up a notch. "Fast, simple, and effective ¡ª that''s Juventus at their best for you. With a quick switch and a couple of passes, they broke through Rosenborg''s defense and scored their first goal. The score is now Juventus 1 and Rosenborg 3, with less than two minutes remaining to the final whistle."

    Emily could only sigh with helplessness as she watched Pogba pick the ball from the back of the and ce it in the center spot. She''d hoped that Rosenborg could maintain a three-goal advantage until the end of the match. However, they had still conceded a goal during injury time. She wasn''t sure whether a two-goal cushion would be enough for Rosenborg to ovee a well-prepared Juventus during the second leg.

 Chapter 340 Analysis

    <h4>Chapter 340 Analysis</h4>

    Coach Johansen could hardly contain his anxiety while following the game''sst few minutes from the technical area. He watched with bated breath as the Juventus yersunched more attacks, hoping to narrow down the score difference to a single goal before the final whistle sounded.

    However, time and time again, the Rosenborg yers maintained tactical discipline and defended incredibly well to keep the Italian giants at bay. They all packed themselves into the defense and ensured that none of the opponents made any more shots on goal until the final whistle sounded. They''d finally managed to beat Juventus by a score of 3:1 after a few tense minutes of added time.

    "We have won," the coach shouted at the top of his lungs right after hearing the final whistle. He could hardly contain his delight as he ran onto the pitch to celebrate with his yers.

    The yers and members of technical staff joined him, and they soon started running around the field like a bunch of madmen. They had emerged victorious after ying against Juventus, one of the football giants of Europe. So, there was no need to control themselves as they celebrated in front of the vexed and frustrated Turin fans.

    -----

    In the far corner of the pitch, Andrea Pirlo was standing together with Vidal, T¨¦vez, and Pogba as they watched the wild celebrations of the Rosenborg yers. Their expressions were grave since they couldn''t contain their bitterness after losing a game against a much weaker team.

    "You guys don''t need to feel down," Andrea Pirlo suddenly said. "There''s still the second leg in Norway next week. As long as we prepare well and y at our best, we can overturn the deficit and wash away this shame. We only have to keep on believing that we can win, and then we''ll be able to show them our prowess."

    The eyes of both Pogba and Vidal sparkled with anticipation after hearing the experienced ymaker''s words. Their gazes were immediately filled with yearning and battle intent as they continued observing the Rosenborg yers still celebrating on the pitch.

    "You''re right, Andrea," Vidal said with a lopsided grin. "If we y at our best, we can surely squash Rosenborg next week. There''s no need to worry. I believe that we can qualify."

    "Of course, we''ll win as long as Coach Conte names me as part of the starting line-up for next week," Pogba concurred in a joking manner. "I can''t wait to show them the authentic Juventus style of football."

    "However, that Rosenborg number-8, Zachary Bemba, is a pretty slippery fellow on the pitch," T¨¦vez suddenly remarked. "He singlehandedly disciplined us during today''s game. He might be able to do the same if we''re not careful during the second leg."

    "I agree," Andrea Pirlo concurred. "He''s a very skilled yer with impable vision and outstanding skills. As long as we give him a chance, he''ll surely punish us. However, we also allowed him to shine by not marking him tightly during the first half. If we prepare targeted defensive tactics against him during the second leg, he won''t be able to do anything."

    T¨¦vez suddenly turned towards Vidal. "Arturo! Do you still think you can mark him alone and stop him from doing anything during the second leg?"

    Vidal narrowed his eyes slightly. "When I went up against him, I noticed that he''s much quicker than he appears from a distance. If you make one wrong move or your reaction is a bit off when you''re closing him down, he''ll disappear from your vision the next moment. I don''t get how he does it."

    "I also felt the same when I went up against him," Pogba chimed in, frowning. "He doesn''t appear to be a swift yer, especially with his long legs. But when you look away for a moment, he''s gone like the wind. He probably bases his dribbling moves on the reaction of the opponent. If you go left, he will go right, and if you slide in, he''ll jump over you. As Pirlo said, his vision is top ss, especially during crucial moments. I wonder why he''s wasting his time in Rosenborg."

    "That''s not for us to worry about," Vidal said, shaking his head. "Our only concern should be on how to stop him during the next leg. We might need to double-team him throughout the entire 90 minutes."

    "Leave the tactics to Coach Conte," Pogba supplied with a smile. "He''ll surely have a solution within the next few days. By the way, we need to return to the dressing room soon. Conte will roast us twice if we keep on avoiding him."

    "I''m not ready to face the howls of an enraged Conte right after the game," T¨¦vez said, smiling ruefully. "Let''s wait for a few more minutes. He might cool down after a while."

    "I doubt that."

    ------

    After Coach Johansen finished celebrating with his yers, he immediately headed to the area designated for the press. A smile constantly yed upon his lips as he swaggered through the pitch like a king. He couldn''t hide his emotions as he was still immersed in the joy of thrashing Juventus three goals to one.

    However, the coach was alone since Zachary had refused to participate in the post-match interview. Instead, the young ymaker had immediately excused himself and returned to the dressing room after picking up his match ball. And since he''d imed that he wanted to check on the condition of his grandma immediately, there was no way the coach could have stopped him.

    "Wee, Coach Johansen," one of the reporters said when he stepped before the cameras. "You have done it again and defeated another Italian team in Italy. Congrattions."

    "Thank you," the coach replied.

    "Well," the same reporter said. "Your team yed really well and remained tactically disciplined throughout the 90 minutes of the game. And defensively, they were really super. But I guess the football fans don''t want to hear us go into the tactics and Rosenborg''s style of y. Rather, they should be yearning to listen to your analysis of Zachary Bemba''s performance during the game. What are your thoughts, coach?"

    Coach Johansen chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "My analysis of Zachary during this game is just a simple four-word sentence," he said. "He was just perfect."

    "Can you borate?" The reporter queried.

    "His reaction to unexpected situations on the pitch, his handling of the ball, his positioning, his decision-making during crucial moments ¡ª everything about him was perfect during today''s game. I would give him a 10-out-of-10 score for today''s performance."

    "For instance, let''s look at his first goal," the coach continued. "His run through the midfield was incredible and decisive before he finished with a curling shot from outside the eighteen. Then, the run that led to the penalty that resulted in the second goal was also unbelievable. He covered half the pitch in a few seconds before dispossessing the opponents and forcing the penalty out of the keeper."

    "As for the third goal," Coach Johansen said with a chuckle, "I guess you don''t need me to tell you how incredible it was. Zachary ced the ball perfectly into the top right corner, denying the keeper any chance to make a save. Even the most experienced free-kick takers in the world couldn''t have done any better when at their best."

    "Thanks for your analysis, Coach Johansen," the reporter said. "Tell us about Zachary''s potential. Do you see him rising into a star that can dazzle the entire footballing world in the future?"

    Coach Johansen smiled as he shook his head. "Zachary Bemba scored two goals against Fiorentina a few weeks back. He has now just scored a hattrick against Juventus. He''s already the top scorer for the Europa League tournament. So, how much more dazzling do you want him to be at his age?"

    The reporterughed. "Let''s put Zachary''s performance to the side and talk about Rosenborg''s second leg fixture against Juventus. Should we expect to see anothermanding performance against Juventus next week? Do you believe that your team can win and qualify for the quarter-finals?"

    "Of course, I believe we''ll qualify," Coach Johansen replied confidently. "We have the advantage since we won and scored three goals away from home. So, we only need to prepare adequately and ensure that we are in good shape before the game. We can then show Juventus the spirit of Norwegian football when theye to Trondheim next week."

    "I''ll surely be looking forward to that game, Coach Johansen," the reporter said. "Thanks for staying behind to talk to us. And we wish you all the luck during the second leg of the round of sixteen. Have a good night."

    "Thanks, and a good night to you too."

    Afterpleting the post-match interview, Coach Johansen stepped away from the cameras and headed toward the visitor''s dressing room. Since he desired to win and qualify for the quarter-finals, he couldn''t afford to waste any time. So, he nned to start intensive preparations for the second leg game against Juventus the following day.

    As long as he did his job well as a coach, he didn''t believe his yers would fail to eliminate the Italian giants from the Europa League. He was optimistic, especially after factoring in the two-goal advantage from the first leg. He only needed to arrange targeted defensive tactics to frustrate the opponents, and then the chances of his team qualifying would be above 60%.

 Chapter 341 A Busy Schedule of a Few Days

    <h4>Chapter 341 A Busy Schedule of a Few Days</h4>

    Zachary didn''t return to Trondheim together with the team the following morning. Instead, he boarded a flight directly from Turin to Zurich after requesting permission to travel from the Rosenborg management.

    He arrived in Zurich about four hourster and took a cab straight from the airport to the hospital to check on his grandma. City traffic was surprisingly light that afternoon, with only a few public automobiles on the airport road. So, he managed to make it to his destination in less than thirty minutes.

    After entering the hospital, he quickly learned that his grandma was asleep and couldn''t meet him right away. So, he could only press down his impatience and head to the canteen to discuss some pressing issues with Emily while waiting for his grandma to wake up.

    "By the way, congrattions upon winning the match yesterday," Emily said right after they had settled at a corner table in the hospital''s canteen. "You were phenomenal during the game. A hattrick against Juventus! You really have no idea how happy I am for you."

    "Thanks, Emily," Zachary replied, beaming. "However, our job is far from done. We still have to face an enraged group of Juventus yers next week. We''ll need to y like never before if we wish to hold on to our advantage and qualify for the quarter-finals. Otherwise, if we rx even for a moment, those Italians will destroy us."

    Zachary understood the terror of big clubs, especially in European tournaments. He''d already witnessed teams like Liverpool, Barcelona, and AS Roma overturn a more than three-goal deficit during the second leg before qualifying for the next round.

    So, he wasn''t about to becent by thinking that he''d already eliminated Juventus from the Europa League with a score difference of just two goals. He needed to approach the game as if both teams were on square one if he wished to help his team achieve the desired result.

    "I''m sure your coaches know what is at stake," Emily said, shaking her head. "Since the job is already half done, thanks to your hattrick, they should be able to organize tactics that will allow you guys to qualify. Let''s hope they do a good job as I really want to see you y in the quarter-finals."

    "Let''s hope so," Zachary intoned, narrowing his eyes slightly. "So, how''s everything here? Is the olddy recovering well? What are the doctors saying?"

    Emily smiled. "Her recovery is progressing well, and her surgical wound is healing without any issues. Also, the doctors confirmed that there were no more tumor cells in her brain after putting her through more imaging tests. They''re only waiting to conduct a biopsy about a monthter to screen for the tumor''s chance of recurrence. They''ll release her after that."

    "That''s a relief," Zachary said. "I guess I also need to n for her transfer to Norway. I don''t want to leave her in Zurich alone when she''s recovering."

    "That''s a good idea," Emily said, nodding. "As long as the doctors give the go-ahead, we can transfer her to a medical center in Trondheim so that she can be near you. But that will have to be a monthter after the biopsy. For now, it''s better to leave her in the rehabilitation center here, where the neurosurgeons can constantly keep an eye on her."

    "Okay, let''s do that. Anything that can aid the olddy''s recovery is okay with me."

    There were a few seconds of silence at their table before Emily said: "By the way, I have some good news."

    Zachary''s heart skipped a beat. "Tell me. I''m listening."

    "The Nike representative called me today morning. They notified me that they sent money to your bank ount. You should receive it in a maximum of three days."

    A tremor went through Zachary''s mind as his hopes soared. "How much did they send?"

    Emily smiled mysteriously before saying, "600,000 Euros. That''s the entire annual payment for your first year in the endorsement deal."

    "Eh!" Zachary was startled. "Aren''t they supposed to be paying a fraction of the total sum first?"

    Emily sighed. "With the way you''ve been ying over the past few weeks, I''m not surprised by how quickly they paid all the money. Otherwise, if they''d waited for you to put up a few more incredible disys during the uing games, I would''ve tossed away their offer and bargained for more money."

    "You can do that?"

    "Yes, I can," Emily replied confidently. "You need to understand that they are getting a bigger bargain out of this endorsement deal than we initially expected. You were a yer famous only in Norway a month back when we negotiated the contract. However, after your performances against Fiorentina and Juventus, you''ve acquired a good measure of fame around the globe. So, the Nike people are getting more benefits than they''re paying for simply because your name brand as a footballer is already reaching arger audience."

    "I see," Zachary said. "But we don''t have to negotiate a new deal right away. We can wait for about a year before asking for more benefits. That''ll help us maintain a good working rtionship with them."

    "Don''t worry. I understand." Emily nodded. "By the way, how long are you staying in Zurich this time around?"

    "The coach needs me back in training on Sunday afternoon," he replied. "So, if everything is fine with my grandma, I''ll say my goodbyes to Zurich tomorrow at around midday."

    "Good n," Emily said. "We should travel together as I also have to conclude the business with Nike in Trondheim. As for your grandma, we''ll leave her in the care of the nurses for the time being. Your aunt, Marie, will also remain here to support her through recovery. Is that okay?"

    "That''s fine, Emily," Zachary replied right away. "Thanks for helping me out all these days. Without you, I would have suffered while organizing her treatment."

    "Don''t mention it." Emily beamed. "I have already arranged for your aunt''s stay here in Zurich. She and Doctor Sanders will be our primary contacts in the hospital. So, we''ll be able to know everything going on with your grandma even when we''re far away in Trondheim. We can then slowly n for her transfer to Norway when the doctors give us the go-ahead."

    "No problem," Zachary readily agreed.

    -----

    In the evening, Zachary spent an hour visiting his grandma before talking to her doctors at length to understand her condition. When he ensured that she was recovering well, hepletely rxed. A wave of relief swept over him like a spring breeze as he put his anxious heart down.

    The following day, he followed his ns and said his goodbyes to his grandma early in the morning. Then, he talked for a few hours with his aunt, Marie, and urged her to look after the olddy. After ensuring that all the arrangements were in order, he boarded an afternoon flight with Emily, and the two of them traveled back to Trondheim.

    Over the following few days, Zachary immersed himself in training once again. He was always the first and thest to leave the training ground as he tried his utmost to improve his abilities, even just slightly, before the second leg match. He even continued practicing the step-over juju since he wished to push it to over 100% mastery and ingrain the skill into his body and soul.

    During the match against Juventus, he''d realized that he couldbine some elements of his skills to form his own unique dribbling style that could be lethal to even world-ss defenders. For instance, if he merged the stico-dribble, the step-over juju, the Zinedine-touch magic, the Marseille-turn, and the Cruyff-turn into one fast-flowing style, no opponent would be able to touch his shoes as long as he had the ball at his feet. He would turn into a ball wizard that would terrify allpetitors that chanced upon him.

    However, he understood that he needed to instill all the techniques deep into his bones before creating his own style. He would first have to be able to perform the moves by reflex before he could think of merging them. And that required him to practice the skills repeatedly ¡ª thousands of times until they were second nature to him.

    Since he was a man with a mission, he put more hours into practice and ignored everything else. However, his personal training didn''t hinder him from attending the team sessions. He was always in high gear when he joined Coach Johansen''s sessions to prepare for the second leg game against Juventus. And if the coaches asked him to do something during practice, he would not hesitate as long as it was beneficial for his career. He even studied the tactics with the coaches to understand how best to handle the opponents during the game. He was determined since he yearned to eliminate Juventus from the Europa League.

    The days shed by quickly as Zachary and his teammates trained hard and prepared for the game. Most were so focused, and before they knew it, it was the morning of Thursday, March 20, 2014. It was finally the day when Rosenborg would face off against Juventus at Lerkendal in the second leg of the Europa League''s round of sixteen.

 Chapter 342 Coaches Taking Center Stage

    <h4>Chapter 342 Coaches Taking Center Stage</h4>

    Trondheim was a rtively quiet city that was always devoid of any chaos. However, on that Thursday evening, the excitement that came with the Europa League match between Rosenborg and Juventus shredded apart the peace and calm of this Nordic metropolis.

    By 5:00 PM, the overenthusiastic Norwegian fans had already crowded the streets leading to Lerkendal. They''d all craned their necks, waiting for an opportunity to catch a glimpse of Juventus'' team bus. They were eager to witness the majesty of some of the biggest names in football that were about to face off against their local team.

    And finally, their efforts paid off after waiting for another fifteen minutes under the setting sun. Therge white and ck Juventus bus could be seen around the corner as it slowly made its way to Lerkendal.

    A few Juventus yers, including Pogba, Vidal, and T¨¦vez, asionally popped their heads out of the bus windows to wave at the fans, causing the excitement and crowd mania on the streets to soar to unprecedented levels. The police had to step in to control the enthusiastic supporters. Otherwise, they would have rushed forward to request autographs from the football stars. They were that passionate about football.

    v Brusveen, the TV2 Sporten reporter, narrowed his eyes slightly after witnessing themotion around him. "These fans have already betrayed the team even before the start of the match," he said to his colleague. "Look at them. They are all over the Juventus bus, cheering for the opponents instead of booing them. What''s wrong with these home fans?"

    Dag Asbj?rn, his colleague for more than five years, chuckled after hearing his fusses. "You don''t need to worry about the fan''smitment to Rosenborg here in Trondheim. They''re just a little excited to see the famous Juventus yers arriving in their city. But let the clock hand point to 7:00 PM, and the match starts ¡ª you''ll feel their devotion to their home team. They''ll cheer with all their hearts while also booing the Italians."

    "Let''s hope so," v said, his brows still creased. "However, with everything at stake, they shouldn''t be showing a weing attitude to Juventus. They should instead make them feel ufortable starting from now. That way, the opponents won''t be able to settle down and y good footballter."

    Dag Asbj?rn shook his head slightly. "Do you actually think that booing the Juventus yers will hinder them from ying good football? We only have to hope that our yers perform well again during the match. Otherwise, we might still drop out of the Europa League even with the three-away-goal advantage."

    "There''s Zachary," v reminded.

    "Yes, there''s Zachary," Dag concurred. "But he still won''t be able to carry the team alone as long as his teammates don''t do their part. By the way, I just found out that he has been facing a tough challenge over the past few weeks."

    "You mean Zachary?" v''s eyes flickered with a trace of surprise as he turned toward his colleague. "He just scored a hattrick against Juventusst week. What challenges could he be facing?"

    Dag looked around before stepping closer and whispering, "I just heard from a reliable source that a very close rtive of his has spent some weeks in an intensive care unit in Zurich."

    "A close rtive!?" v was startled. "How close a rtive? And why is it that we haven''t heard anything about this?"

    "I heard that it''s his grandma," Dag replied. "She''s an olddy who took care of him since he was young. His agent should have kept the whole incident quiet."

    "Oh!" v said, losing interest. "If the agent wants to keep it quiet, we should probably just let the whole issue be. We shouldn''t dig deep into it."

    Dag shook his head. "My views on the issue are different. I feel that this is a story worth reporting. So, I''ll continue digging into its details until I get worthwhile material for publishing."

    "Suit yourself." v shrugged. "However, I''m not interested in the story. I''ll stick to reporting sports for the moment and leave the yers'' personal lives out of my articles."

    "Why do you seem scared? It''s not like you''ll be reporting wrong information. Moreover, as sports journalists, we''re entitled to report to the public any incident that might affect the yer''s performance on the pitch."

    v just shook his head and returned his attention to the receding crowd on the street. "I think we should head over to the stadium as the match will be starting in roughly one and a half hours. I don''t want to miss the warm-up of the teams. As for Zachary''s personal issues, let''s leave them alone for the moment."

    "Okay."

    **** ****

    When only thirty minutes remained until 7:00 PM, the scheduled time for kick-off, the Rosenborg yers returned to the dressing room after their pre-match warm-up. They were a little too quiet, at least more than usual, as they settled down on the benches to start making their final preparations for the game.

    Coach Johansen immediately judged that they were nervous. For a team ying in a low-tier league like Rosenborg, most of the yers had limited experience facing off against big teams in Europe. Thus, most of them must have been experiencing many doubts in their minds as the kick-off drew closer. They were probably worried about making mistakes and losing the game, especially since they weren''t that confident that they would keep Juventus at bay during the entire 90 minutes of the second leg match.

    Coach Johansen immediately pped his hands to attract the yers'' attention. "Why do you guys seem more listless than usual? Are you that afraid of Juventus?"

    All the yers in the dressing room halted what they were doing and pivoted their attention onto the coach.

    "Is anyone scared of Juventus?" He asked again, "If you are, please raise your hand."

    Of course, none of the yers raised their hands as that was too shameful. They couldn''t risk admitting that they were cowards, especially in the presence of their peers.

    "I''m d that none of us is afraid of Juventus," the coach continued in a smooth, steady voice. "We already defeated them by three goals to one during the first leg. So, if we y at our best, we can crush them again and eliminate them from the Europa League. I have no doubt about this."

    "But first, we have to understand that aside from our physicality, one of our most crucial assets to us athletes is our mental ability. We must expect things of ourselves before we can aplish them. That means we have to believe that we can win before we actually win. Are you guys with me?" He bellowed, pping his hands.

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied with zest. They''d already straightened their backs as their eyes brimmed with battle intensity. Their pre-match anxiety had lessened to some extent.

    Coach Johansen swept his gaze across the room before continuing. "Guys, we''re already halfway to our goal of qualifying for the quarter-finals. But what we need in this game is confidence more than anything else. As the saying goes, the difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person''s determination. So, let''s not overestimate our opponents and underestimate ourselves. Let''s execute our game n and y our own game without fear or anxiety. Let''s go into the pitch and achieve victory. Are you guys with me?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good," Coach Johansen said, ncing at his watch. "As you are all aware, the game n is the same as that ofst week. We y with a 4-5-1 formation focused on defense. We''ll constantly y with ten men behind the ball and defend as a team to ensure that the Italian giants don''t break through our formation. Whenever there''s a chance, we''llunch counterattacks to search for goals. Our game n is as simple as that. Are you guys with me?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "I''m d we''re on the same page," Coach Johansen said, his voice lowering slightly. He then assigned some individual roles to a few of his yers, including Zachary, before sending them to the pitch for the game.

    **** ****

    In the visitors'' dressing room, Coach Antonio Conte was also in the middle of delivering his pre-match briefing. His tone was somber, and his expression grave as he paced the entire length of the room while expressing his requirements to his chosen field yers.

    "Just a few more things before we head into the field," he said. "We''re a powerful team. We have all the quality and depth needed to beat any other team in Europe. But what will matter in this game is our attitude. The way we approach the game will determine whether we win or have to bow out of the Europa League."

    "So, every one of you has to be aggressive during every minute of the game. We have to y with urgency and the desire to score, especially whenever we''re on the attack. Our aim is to score two or more goals during the first half."

    "But even though our main aim is on attacking, we can''t ignore the defense. We have to use high pressing tactics to force their defenders to panic, and we especially have to mark Zachary Bemba, their ymaker. We can''t rx as I don''t want to see what happened to usst week happening to us again. I don''t want to see him breaking through our ranks with ease during today''s game."

    "udio, Pogba, Vidal! Marking and closing down Zachary will be a shared responsibility among you three. If he breaks past one of you, another should be readily avable to cover the space and stop him from progressing with a threatening run through our formation. As long as we stop him from making any impact during this game, our job will be half done."

    The coach then slowly moved towards the tactical board in front of the room before continuing. "My final reminder is to remain patient and calm whenever we have the ball. Even though we aim to score two or more goals during the first half, we must not rush things."

    He started to draw some formation ys on the tactical board as he spoke swiftly in Italian. "We have to utilize our 3-5-2 formation to move the ball around steadily so as to stretch them. We''ll not just move it through the center but also from side to side while also engaging the wings to tire them out."

    "We keep working at them using first tempo football, and when the space finally opens up between the lines, we take action. Weunch the attack suddenly and swiftly and ensure that we take the chance and score. T¨¦vez, Osvaldo, and the rest of you, who might get a chance in front of the goal! All you guys have to be very efficient while taking our chances. Don''t waste opportunities because they''lle back to bite us as the game progresses."

    Coach Conte observed his yers for a moment and nced at his watch. "It''s almost time for kick-off," he said. "Finalize your preparations and head to the pitch. Don''t make stupid mistakes. y as a team, and help each other during every minute of the game. I want us two goals ahead of Rosenborg by halftime. It''s my final assignment for each and every one of you. Got it?"

    "Yes, coach," the Juventus yers yelled back, more or less in sync. Their eyes were brimming with extreme battle intent. It was as if they wanted to destroy Rosenborg and erase it from the face of the Earth. They desired to have their revenge, and they would do their utmost to have it that very night.

    **** ****

 Chapter 343 The Real Prowess of Juventus

    <h4>Chapter 343 The Real Prowess of Juventus</h4>

    The referee blew the whistle at exactly 7:00 PM to signal the start of the game. The cheers in Lerkendal Stadion immediately hit a crescendo as Nicki Nielsen kicked off the proceedings on the pitch with a pass back into the midfield.

    Takumi Minamino received Nicki''s pass at the border of the defensive third before flicking the ball to Thomas Partey, Rosenborg''s holding midfielder. Thetter then passed it to Zachary, who immediately turned around and kicked it to Yerry Mina, the center-back ever-present in the backfield.

    With those few passes, the Rosenborg yers immediately set the tempo. Their football flowed like water as they exchanged short passes between the defenders and the holding midfielders within the defensive third. They even hoarded all the possession and prevented the Juventus yers from touching the ball even once during the first three minutes.

    The absurd match situationpelled the home fans to cheer like madmen as their local team demonstrated their prowess against the Italian giants. They were too excited as their team seemed capable of thrashing the opponents again at that moment. Some fans might have even let their imagination run wild, thinking Rosenborg would repeat the previous week''s feat and win by more than two goals.

    However, just suddenly, Coach Conte''s roar resounded across the noisy stadium, breaking the cheerful atmosphere around the home fans. "What the fuck are you guys doing? We said we high-press. Why aren''t you guys..."

    The tactician continued roaring in Italian for the next few minutes. He was so intense as he paced around the tactical area while shouting specific on-pitch instructions to his yers. And fortunately, his efforts seemed to pay off after a few minutes.

    The Juventus yers on the field immediately rushed into Rosenborg''s half like a swarm. They started employing high-pressing tactics against Rosenborg yers, who were still enjoying a long spell of possession at the back.

    The Troll kids started panicking due to the immense pressure exerted by the Italian giants. As a result, they could only choose to pass the ball to Zachary, their ymaker, hoping that he could create a miracle with the ball.

    When Zachary received the ball, he controlled it deftly while skipping past udio Marchisio, the midfielder who''d been marking him. He then burst forth with speed as he rushed through the middle heading towards the other side of the pitch like a whirlwind.

    But just as he was striding past the centerline, two more opponents boxed him in. That time around, Paul Pogba and Vidal were the yers stepping forward to stop his run. Their approach was so adept and well-timed. They didn''t leave any space for him to keep going without losing the ball.

    Zachary had no way to maneuver around the two roadblocks. So, he could only slow down before passing the ball into the right-wing, where Tobias Mikkelsen was lurking.

    Tobias, Rosenborg''s right-winger, controlled the ball with ease before trying to skip past Mauricio I, the Juventus left-midfielder. However, thetter slid in all guns zing and tackled the ball off his feet.

    Mauricio quickly picked himself from the ground before threading a grounded pass toward the center circle to find Pirlo, the always deep-lying ymaker.

    Pirlo controlled the ball with a simple touch while sweeping his gaze across the pitch. Before any opponent could close him down, he drew his leg back and unleashed a lofted pass towards the other side of the field.

    The long-range pass was like a guided missile. It made a perfect parab over the defenders before dipping fast andnding in front of Daniel Osvaldo, one of Juventus'' forwards.

    The center forward had been lurking in front of the box, just in-between the center-backs, waiting for an opportunity. So, he reacted immediately and pounced on the bouncing ball with all the haste he could muster. He got to it before any of the defenders could close him down and immediately squared an explicit pass to Carlos T¨¦vez, his counterpart on striking for that day.

    Carlos T¨¦vez was like a predator on the hunt as he lunged at Osvaldo''s pass. He controlled the ball mid-sprint before continuing forward like the wind and stepping into the box. He then rounded the keeper and riffled the ball into the back of the from an acute angle.

    A wave of silence soon descended upon the whole Lerkendal as the striker picked up the ball before running across the pitch and cing it on top of the center spot. He hadn''t even celebrated the goal as he wished for the game to restart as soon as possible.

    **** ****

    Rosenborg BK 0 (3) : Juventus FC 1 (2)

    -----

    In the 10th minute, the Italian giants had managed to break down Rosenborg''s defense and scored their first goal in the second leg of the Europa League''s round of sixteen. Overall, Rosenborg still had an aggregate score of three goals, while Juventus now had two. So, if the Italian giants happened to score two more times, they would have a numerical advantage over Rosenborg in goals and be the ones to qualify at the end of the night.

    After contemting the dire circumstances of his team, Coach Johansen''s expression turned grave. He didn''t me his yers for the goal conceded as it was a moment of brilliance from Pirlo that provided an opportunity for the Italian giants. He was just incensed by the whole progress of the game.

    "We need to find a way to contain Andrea Pirlo," Trond Henriksen, his assistant, suddenly suggested from beside him. "We need to ensure that he doesn''t do any more damage to us with his long-range passes."

    "I understand," the coach said before stepping towards the touchline.

    "Nicki!" He yelled at the top of his voice the next moment. "Part of your role during this match is to mark Pirlo whenever we don''t have the possession. Keep an eye on him and make sure he does not make any more dangerous passes toward our box. Please, don''t forget as this is a crucial factor we need to address if we wish to win the game..."

    The coach continued yelling out a few more instructions and even asked Zachary to return to a defensive midfield role to stabilize the situation. He only stopped shouting when he ensured that his yers had gotten his message.

    The match soon restarted with the referee''s whistle.

    Armed with the boost of confidence from scoring the goal, the Juventus yers upped their game andunched more fierce attacks on Rosenborg. They employed both short and mid-range passes to move the ball from side to side as they tried their best to create another goal-scoring opportunity. They even hoarded more than 70% of the possession as the game headed into thete stages of the first half.

    However, the Rosenborg yers defended well for the rest of the first half. They yed as if their lives were on the line and thwarted all Juventus'' attempts to create another goal-scoring opportunity.

    Even the often-attack-minded midfielders, like Zachary and Takumi Minamino, yed defensive roles. They won aerial and ground duels several times to ensure that Juventus didn''t score for the rest of the first half.

    However, after the start of the second half, things slowly turned south for Rosenborg. The Juventus yers yed with more intensity and aggressiveness as they switched to wing y tactics to break down the opposition.

    Whenever one of the Juventus midfielders, such as Pogba or Vidal, would get the ball, he would immediately pass it into the wing. The wing yers would then break through using either dribbling or one-twos before crossing the ball into the box. The two forwards would then lunge at the cross and try to score from inside the area.

    They soon gained momentum with the tactic andunched even more terrifying attacks on Rosenborg''s box. Gradually, they whittled down Rosenborg''s resistance and eventually created a clear goal-scoring opportunity during the 78th minute.

    Arturo Vidal intercepted a poorly-cleared ball close to the boundary of the final third. He brought it down with his chest before passing it to Pogba, his counterpart in midfield.

    Pogba immediately controlled the ball with a deft touch before skipping past Thomas Partey, Rosenborg''s defensive midfielder. He then fed the ball into the wing, where Mauricio I lurked like a thief.

    Mauricio instantly burst forth with speed and controlled the ball mid-sprint on the right nk. The midfielder then fed it past Mikael Dorsin, Rosenborg''s left-back, and beat him for pace. Before long, he unleashed a killer cross that soared towards the box like a ballistic missile.

    It was another tense moment for Rosenborg. Coach Johansen felt his mind sink into a quagmire of agitation as he watched Daniel Osvaldo rise into the air to meet the ball. And when the striker nted a header into the back of the, the coach punched the ground repeatedly to let out his frustration.

    -----

    Rosenborg BK 0 (3) : Juventus FC 2 (3)

    -----

    In the 79th minute, Juventus had managed to score the second goal and tied the aggregate score against Rosenborg. If the Italian giants could one more goal, they would be the team qualifying for the quarter-finals with a 3:4 aggregate score. However, if Rosenborg could defend well until the end of the night, then they would be the ones to qualify on the away-goal rule. Any of the teams had a fair chance of qualifying for the quarter-final.

 Chapter 344 True Brilliance and Effectiveness

    <h4>Chapter 344 True Brilliance and Effectiveness</h4>

    Daniel Osvaldo didn''t celebrate the goal. He just picked the ball from the back of the and sprinted back towards the center. He ran like the wind across the green and quickly ced the ball on top of the center spot.

    The striker was eager to restart the match as Juventus was still at a disadvantage due to the away-goal rule. If they didn''t score another goal within the next few minutes, they would be the ones bowing out of the Europa League at the end of the night.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle a few secondster and motioned for the Rosenborg yers to restart the game. Nicki Nielsen once again kicked off the game by passing the ball back into his midfield.

    Thomas Partey received it and immediately kicked it into the wings towards Mikael Dorsin, Rosenborg''s left-back. Mikael also hastily flicked it over to Takumi Minamino, who''d just run into space in midfield.

    But by then, the Juventus yers had already surged into Rosenborg''s half like a swarm of locusts. They quickly marked all the Rosenborg yers and closed off all passing angles, making it hard for the Troll Kids to pass the ball.

    Takumi Minamino held on to the ball for a few more seconds, seemingly looking for an outlet for it. However, all his teammates were already tightly marked. His eyes reflexively passed over Zachary''s position the next moment. But the ymaker had it even worse, with two bodyguards constantly keeping an eye on him. He was the yer receiving the most ''care'' from the opponents.

    Takumi could only release a long-range pass into the wings, hoping to find Alexander S?derlund, the Rosenborg winger who''d just made a daring off-ball run through the left nk. However, Alexander couldn''t connect with his pass, and the ball went out of y for a throw-in.

    The Juventus yers took the throw-in very quickly. Giorgio Chiellini fetched the ball from the sidelines and immediately threw it to Leonardo Boni, his counterpart in defense.

    Leonardo controlled the ball deftly and threaded an instant pass to Paul Pogba in the middle. Thetter received it and skipped over a challenge from Zachary. The Frenchman then passed the ball into the wings to find Mauricio I, the right midfielder.

    Mauricio I burst forth with speed and dribbled past Mikael Dorsin. He beat the defender for pace, and when the passing angle opened up, he flicked the ball to Arturo Vidal, who was running in sync with him through the middle.

    The two Juventus men exchanged a couple of exquisite one-two''s as they continued zeroing in on Rosenborg''s goal-like two whirlwinds. Before long, they were already in the final third, and the ball naturally came back to Arturo Vidal.

    Arturo immediately yed the ball to Pogba, who''d also moved forward to attack. Thetter controlled it well before chipping it over the defense to find Carlos T¨¦vez, who''d run into space just outside the left edge of the box.

    Carlos T¨¦vez controlled the ball skillfully with an outstretched boot. Before any of the Rosenborg yers could close him down, he unleashed a deadly cross that soared into the box and skimmed across the mouth of the goal like an arrow.

    Daniel Osvaldo and the just-arriving Pogba jumped up to meet the iing cross near the far post. Their imposing shapes in the air were enough to cause shudders within most of the Rosenborg fans present in the stadium.

    However, Daniel ?rlund, the Rosenborg keeper, was alert and a step ahead of the two Juventus men. He timed his leap perfectly and came out on top in the aerial battle. He sessfully punched the ball away to save Rosenborg from conceding another goal during the 83rd minute.

    However, the hearts of most of the fans were still in their throats as the danger was still atrge for Rosenborg. That was because the punched ball hadn''t moved far. Instead, it had soared through the air beforending in front of the box where Arturo Vidal was lurking.

    -----

    rm bells went off within Zachary''s mind when he saw Arturo Vidal lunging at the bouncing ball. At that very instant, there was nothing he could do to stop the Juventus midfielder since he''d chosen not to defend during that wave of attack from the opponents. He could only watch from near the center circle as Arturo Vidal drew his leg back and smashed the ball towards the goal after its second bounce.

    But fortunately, his racing heart settled down the next instant when he saw Eric Bailly, Rosenborg''s young defender, throw himself at the ball. The Ivorian dived in without fear and used his head to block the heavy shot that was clearly bound for goal.

    The deflected ball then zoomed away from Rosenborg''s box before dipping towards the left side of the box. Thomas Partey, the Rosenborg defensive midfielder, didn''t let it bounce. He timed it perfectly and kicked it far and away to avert the dangerous situation.

    Audible sighs of relief arose from the stands as Rosenborg had survived another dangerous situation. But those sighs of relief soon turned into excited cheers as Zachary chased after the just-cleared ball soaring high up in the air.

    Since nearly all the Juventus midfielders, including Pogba and Vidal, had moved forward to attack, Zachary had gotten a rare moment of opportunity. If he could get to the ball, maybe he would create a chance for his team to cement their ce in the Europa League''s next round. So, he''d gotten into action without hesitation.

    Heart racing fast like a predator''s on the hunt; he sprinted from near the circle to the left nk in a mere few seconds. He caught up with the ball just as it was about to move out of y and controlled it on the stretch. Before any of the opponents could close him down, he brought it down and turned around to face Juventus'' goal.

    His ears picked up Coach Conte''s roars from the sidelines. But since he didn''t understand Italian, all the words sounded like gibberish to him. He just closed off all his senses to the outside and burst forth with speed through the left nk.

    udio Marchisio, the Juventus midfielder who''d stayed back in defense when the others were attacking, soon came forward to stop his run. The midfielder opened his arms wide as if he was ying defense in basketball while his narrowed eyes followed Zachary''s movements closely.

    However, Zachary didn''t lose hisposure even after the midfielder had blocked his path. He dug his boot below the ball and looped it just barely over the approaching defender''s head, almost without slowing down. Before the man could discern what was going on, Zachary circumvented him with another instantaneous burst of speed from the right.

    The counter was on, and soon, his long strides were once again eating up more yards of space as he raced towards Juventus'' goal like a cheetah in the wild.

    Giorgio Chiellini, one of the Juventus defenders, was the next opponent that stepped forward to stop him. But Zachary only executed a couple of side steps before losing the defender. His footwork was just too potent as the defender couldn''t even get a chance to tackle him due to his trickery.

    Adrenaline soon flooded Zachary''s systems as he cut into the pitch and approached the box from the left nk like a raging tsunami. He looked up once, and his incredible spatial awareness instantly registered everything within the box.

    There were still two Juventus defenders that could potentially block his path if he attempted to score by himself. But he didn''t panic as he also noticed that he had support in the form of Nicki Nielsen. The striker was approaching fast and was about to step into the eighteen-yard box.

    Several thoughts shed through Zachary''s head within an instant. But they didn''t cause him to slow down. He kept dribbling the ball forward to draw in the defenders, and when they reacted and approached his position, he acted on instinct.

    He executed a couple of side steps with the intent to confuse the defenders for a few more seconds. Then, when he noticed that Nicki had gotten into the perfect position within the box, he flicked the ball to him.

    His pass was simple and on point. The ball just shed through the narrow space in-between the two defenders before halting in the path of the sprinting Nicki.

    And, of course, the ever-reliable center forward didn''t disappoint. Nicki connected with the pin-point pass with the side of his boot, smashing the ball past the keeper''s despairing dive to score Rosenborg''s first goal for the night.

    The center forward then rushed towards Zachary to celebrate while shouting at the top of his voice. He was grinning from ear to ear as he spread his arms out and gave the teammate, who''d provided the assist for his goal, a bear hug. The rest of the Rosenborg yers soon joined them and started singing and chanting like madmen.

    -----

    Rosenborg BK 1 (4) : Juventus 2 (3)

    -----

    The excitement was in the air as Rosenborg had just overtaken Juventus when considering the aggregate score. The cheers reverberated across the stadium for minutes as the home fans celebrated their team''s effort.

    "What an effective style of y from Rosenborg," thementator''s voice sounded a momentter. "They''ve aplished an incredible feat with only a single counter and a single shot on target. They''ve scored the long-awaited goal during the 85th minute and are now ahead of Juventus by an aggregate score of four goals to three. If they can defend well and prevent the Italian giants from getting a goal back, they''ll be the team qualifying for this season''s Europa League quarterfinals."

    -----

 Chapter 345 Impact of Substitutions

    <h4>Chapter 345 Impact of Substitutions</h4>

    Coach Antonio Conte looked at the Rosenborg yers, celebrating on the pitch, and shook his head. He was experiencing four capital Ds at that moment.

    He was discontented, disoriented, disappointed, and even disconnected from reality. He couldn''t help it. The game situation had run out of hand.

    He didn''t me Pogba and Vidal for going forward to attack since he''d encouraged them to do just that whenever they spotted an opportunity. He was just exasperated by how Zachary Bemba, Rosenborg''s ymaker, was able to be in a position to punish his team at the opportune moment.

    When his yers had rxed for a bit and left him alone, he immediately retaliated against them with a perfect counter. His timing, vision, and on-pitch analysis were really annoying.

    Moreover, the young man was damn clinical, just like a cyborg purposely designed for football. He could make the best decision when in the final third.

    For instance, he''d chosen to pass the ball to his teammate instead of going for the goal himself. Had he gone for thetter option, maybe the experienced Juventus defenders would have had the chance to stop him and prevent the goal.

    Lightning-fast thoughts shed through Coach Conte''s head as the Rosenborg yers celebrated their goal. He considered for a moment before ncing at his watch and turning towards his bench yers.

    "Fernando! Stephan!" He said, alternating his gaze back and forth between the two yers.

    "Yes, coach," they replied, almost in sync, while jumping up from their seats.

    "Start warming up," Coach Conte said, tonemanding. "I want you on the pitch in two minutes."

    "Yes, coach."

    -----

    Coach Johansen had been keeping a close eye on Coach Conte''s actions. After noticing the Italian tactician prepping Fernando Llorente and Stephan Lichtsteiner as potential substitutes, his eyes narrowed slightly.

    He''d done his research before the game. He was well aware of the immensely high threat level of the two substitutes, especially if he couldn''t get his tactics right.

    Fernando Llorente was a tall,rge, and physically powerful yer. He was the perfect target-man in the center of his team''s attacking line since the main traits of his style of y included heading ability and strength in the air. As long as he was present in the box, he would add more pressure to Rosenborg''s fragile defense.

    As for Stephan Lichtsteiner, he was like a Ferrari on the wing. He was a dynamic, hard-working, consistent, and versatile defender, capable of ying anywhere along the right nk. He was also a tactically intelligent yer who could constantly make energetic runs on the wings before unleashing dangerous crosses into the box. If he partnered up with Fernando Llorente, the two of them would pose an enormous threat to Rosenborg, especially in thest minutes of gamey when the stamina of starting yers was already wearing thin.

    Coach Johansen turned his gaze away from Juventus'' side of the technical area while evaluating possible countermeasures against his opponent''s substitutions.

    He considered substituting-in two more defenders to fully ''park the bus'' and defend Mourinho-style for the remaining few minutes. But after thinking through the idea for a few seconds, he pushed it out of his mind.

    More defenders didn''t necessarily mean an imprable defense. Instead, the extra two men in the backline might bring about confusion during the tense moments.

    Furthermore, adding defenders would encourage Juventus to rx at the back due to the limited number of attack-minded yers in Rosenborg''s squad. The Juventus yers would then grow more confident andunch more fierce attacks that could potentially result in another goal.

    Coach Johansen''s mind was in overdrive as he continued considering countermeasures. After a few more seconds, just as the game was restarting, he turned towards Paul Kasongo and Karl Toko Ekambi ¡ª the two young yers already warming up on the sidelines.

    "Kasongo and Ekambi," he said, pping his hands.

    "Yes, coach," they replied, halting their warm-up and quickly stepping towards him. Their eyes brimmed with anticipation and expectation as they looked at the coach the next moment.

    "Listen closely, you two," Coach Johansen said. "In a bit, you''ll enter the game in ce of our two starting wingers. Since you''ll be having fresh legs, I need you to work harder than ever. Make sure that the Juventus nk yers don''t break through the wings. We only have about three minutes remaining to the ny. There will possibly be three more minutes of added time, and the game will end. During thosest few minutes, you two must remain on your toes to ensure that we don''t concede, especially from a cross delivered from the wings. Are you with me?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Kasongo!" The coach turned towards the short man. "I especially want you to mark that Juventus substitute - Stephan Lichtsteiner. Be on him full time, and don''t let him make any dangerous runs into our half. That''s my assignment for you. Okay?"

    "I get it, coach," Kasongo replied, nodding like a hen pecking grain. His eyes were brimming with fire as if he couldn''t wait to enter the pitch.

    "Okay, prepare to go in," the coach said, patting the backs of the two yers. "I expect good things from you. Let''s hope that we''ll celebrate our qualification for the quarter-finals together in about seven minutes."

    "Coach, we''ll try our best."

    -----

    Juventus was once again on the attack. They passed the ball from yer to yer at a high tempo as they tried to create a goal-scoring opportunity. Finally, the ball ended at Vidal''s feet close to the border of the final third.

    Arturo Vidal skipped past Takumi Minamino with a simple deft touch before threading the ball to Paul Pogba, who was in a narrow pocket of unmarked space in front of the box.

    Pogba controlled the ball perfectly before executing a well-timed Marseille turn to free himself from the opponents surrounding him. Before any foes could close him down, he unleashed a killer shot towards the goal from the edge of the eighteen-yard box.

    However, all his efforts were fruitless as Yerry Mina threw himself in front of the shot the next moment. The tall Colombian blocked the ball with an outstretched boot, sending it back from whence it hade.

    Takumi Minamino quickly got to the loose ball before kicking it far and away ¡ª to the outside of the pitch with a well-timed clearance. Rosenborg had finally managed to survive yet another wave of attack from the ferocious Juventus.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and awarded a throw-in to Juventus.

    The Juventus yers were about to take the throw-in quickly. However, the referee motioned for them to stop and pointed toward the sidelines. He then signaled the fourth official to make the substitutions.

    Very quickly, Fernando Llorente and Stephan Lichtsteiner came on for Carlos T¨¦vez and Mauricio I, respectively. Then, on the side of Rosenborg, the two young yers - Paul Kasongo and Karl Toko Ekambi, came on in ce of Tobias Mikkelsen and Alexander S?derlund.

    After the four substitutions, the game immediately restarted with Juventus'' throw-in. Stephan Lichtsteiner, the substitute, took the throw-in. He ran to the touchline and threw the ball to Paul Pogba, who had opened himself up close to the right nk.

    Pogba immediately flicked the ball back to him with a single touch before running into space.

    Stephan Lichtsteiner controlled the return ball well. He then took a few strides and threaded the ball back to Pogba. Thetter received it and passed it to Andrea Pirlo, who''d just escaped Nicki Nielsen''s harassment.

    Pirlo received it on the sprint before unleashing a lofted pass towards the wing to find Stephan Lichtsteiner again.

    Stephan Lichtsteiner, the substitute dubbed as ''The Swiss Express'' by the fans and press alike, brought the ball under control with a deft touch. He instantaneously burst forth with speed as he raced along the touchline like the wind.

    However, he didn''t make it far before running into a terrifying blockade by Paul Kasongo. The short man slid in wholesale and swept the ball together with the sprinting Juventus man off his feet.

    "Aaahhh!"

    Stephan Lichtsteiner cried out as he went to the ground. He started rolling around on the green while holding his ankle. He seemed to be in a lot of pain.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The whistle sounded the next moment as if on cue. The referee immediately rushed to the scene and checked on Stephan Lichtsteiner''s condition. He then motioned for the Juventus medics toe onto the pitch before showing a yellow card to Paul Kasongo.

    Coach Johansen could only shake his head as he watched the proceedings on the pitch. He was really speechless and didn''t know whether to scold orpliment Kasongo for his eagerness.

    He''d tasked Paul Kasongo with keeping an eye on Stephan due to his incredible stamina and pace. But the young man was clearly too excited and hadmitted a dangerous foul right after stepping onto the pitch.

    "Guys!" The coach started yelling at the top of his voice. "Lay an offside trap and make sure that you mark each and every opponent..."

    Coach Johansen could already see Andrea Pirlo standing over the ball close to the touchline on the left nk. So, he continued shouting out his instructions until his yers had enforced them on the pitch. He didn''t want to concede a goal right before the end of the game.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally blew the whistle and motioned for Pirlo to take the free-kick after the medics finalized their first aid treatment on Stephan Lichtsteiner.

    Andrea Pirlo immediately took a few steps back while observing the situation in front of Rosenborg''s box. He then made an angled run towards the ball before unleashing a curling cross towards the rear of Rosenborg''s backline.

    It was another dangerous moment for Rosenborg, and Coach Johansen''s heart leaped into his throat for the umpteenth time that evening. He watched with bated breath as the ball reached its highest point and started dipping towards the line of yers before Rosenborg''s box. Then, he shuddered despite himself as he watched Fernando Llorente, the tall Juventus center forward, step away from the line of yers to meet Pirlo''s teasing cross.

    Fernando timed his run well in-between the defenders before heading the ball and sending it darting towards the goal like a bullet. Before the Rosenborg keeper could react, the ball was already nestling into the back of the.

    -----

    Rosenborg BK 1 (4) : Juventus FC 3 (4)

    -----

    A soft smile manifested on Coach Conte''s face for the first time that evening as he watched his yers celebrating the goal. In the 91st minute, with only three minutes of injury time remaining, they''d finally managed to bag their third goal for the night through Fernando Llorente, the substitute forward. They''d, at longst,pleted a perfecteback over the two legs and tied the aggregate score with Rosenborg. As a result, they wouldn''t have to bow out of the Europa League after regr time.

    -----

 Chapter 346 Parking the Bus

    <h4>Chapter 346 Parking the Bus</h4>

    After the goal celebrations, the game resumed. Juventus continued attacking in full swing, all guns zing. Theyunched a fierce offensive in the remaining minutes of injury time as they searched for that one goal that would immediately take them through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

    However, the Rosenborg yers remained steadfast and upromising in defense. They remained tactically disciplined and ensured that the Italian giants would not create more opportunities at goal.

    The time passed by quickly, and finally, the referee blew the whistle after six minutes of injury time. The score was still 3:1 in favor of Juventus for the night. But since Rosenborg had also previously won 3:1 in Turin, the overall aggregate score was a tie of 4:4. And since there was no clear winner at the end of regr time, the game would be heading into thirty-minute overtime.

    -----

    There was only a five-minute break before the start of the thirty-minute overtime. The members of the technical staff of both teams had taken center stage. They were doing their best to prep their respective yers for the extra thirty minutes of football.

    The Rosenborg yers had already settled down in a circle on one side of the pitch. They continued to chug down water as they received therapeutic massages from the skilled Rosenborg medics and assistant coaches. All the while, they were also listening to Coach Johansen''s pre-overtime briefing.

    "Our first and foremost priority is to avoid conceding a goal within the thirty minutes of overtime," the coach said, pacing back and forth in the middle of the circle. "So, most of the time, we''ll all have to stay in defense and deny space for Juventus'' attacking yers to create opportunities."

    "Marking will need to be tight in our defensive third since we don''t want to allow any opponent to break through into our box. Our defensive width will also have to be narrow, and if we can''t stop a yer, we bring him down long before he can step into our box. Our aim is to frustrate our opponents and limit them to long-ranged chances by ying nine or ten men in front of the ball."

    "As for you, Nicki," the coach continued, turning towards the center forward, "You''ll have to keep a close eye on their deep-lying ymaker - Andrea Pirlo. Don''t let him escape from you and unleash those long-range passes that are very dangerous to our defense. And also, beware that he can dribble if there''s a need. So, you need to be on your toes and ensure that he doesn''t elude you. If you miss the ball while marking him, don''t also miss the leg. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," Nicki replied, nodding.

    The coach finally turned towards Zachary. "Zachary, you have an extra role," he said, "We''ll rely on you to initiate the counterattack whenever there''s an opportunity. Be swift in transition from defense to attack and ensure that you''re efficient. Kasongo and Ekambi! You will aid Zachary on that front. However, if the attack fails, all three of you have to fall back into defense at your fastest speeds as our primary aim is defending. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach."

    The coach nced at his watch. "It''s almost time. Get ready to go back on the pitch. Remember, tactical discipline and hard work are the two most important keys necessary to achieve the desired result from this game. If we y as a team, we''ll easily ovee Juventus."

    -----

    On the other side of the pitch, Coach Conte was also finalizing his pre-overtime briefing. "We''ll attack from the first minute with a high tempo and ensure that we don''t allow the opponents a moment of rest. We''ll also y with urgency and release more crosses and through-passes into the box for Osvaldo and Fernando. We don''t want to drag this game for too long. We need to score a goal within the first fifteen minutes of overtime. Got it?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    "Vidal and udio!" The coach turned towards the two midfielders. "I don''t care what you do, but make sure that Zachary Bemba doesn''tunch another sessful counter against us. He is the only variable in the entire Rosenborg who might actually be able to prevent us from winning this game."

    "So, you guys have to be constantly on your toes. If you can''t stop him, don''t be scared to pull his shirt or something. We''re already in overtime. There''s nothing a yellow card can do to us. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach."

    -----

    The thirty-minute overtime finally restarted after the five-minute intermission. Juventus kicked off the ball that time around and immediatelyunched a fierce attack on Rosenborg.

    Vidal received the ball close to the center circle before passing it to Pogba, who''d just run into space. Thetter immediately flicked it to Andrea Pirlo ¡ª the deep-lying ymaker positioned just a few yards behind him.

    Before Pirlo could control the ball, Nicki Nielsen was upon him, harassing him to prevent him from unleashing any killer passes towards Rosenborg''s box.

    However, Pirlo turned away from the center forward with a single deft touch before dribbling the ball towards the other side of the pitch. He quickly covered a distance of more than five yards through the middle before looping the ball over the defense to find Stephan Lichtsteiner on the right nk.

    Stephan Lichtsteiner, the attacking wing-back who''de on as a substitute, controlled the ball well. He took off instantaneously, racing towards the other side of the pitch like a Ferrari on a form one race track.

    Kasongo tried to stop his run a momentter. However, the wing-back was surprisingly agile and broke past him with a burst of speed. Stephan continued racing with the ball through the wing before releasing a curling cross towards the box.

    Both Fernando Llorente and Daniel Osvaldo immediately rose up to meet the ball within the box. But fortunately for Rosenborg, Yerry Mina was in a position to check their jumps.

    The tall Columbian pushed off the ground before heading the ball away to safety. He''d saved Rosenborg from conceding a goal in the second minute of overtime.

    Be that as it may, Juventus didn''t lose all their attacking ferocity and aggressiveness due to a single missed opportunity. They continued storming Rosenborg''s box with crosses, grounded through-passes, and long-range aerial balls. They pulled out all the stops to score and secure their ce in the quarter-finals.

    However, their efforts bore no fruits due to Rosenborg''s determination and tactical discipline.

    The Troll Kids defended deep in their half, tackling and intercepting balls like their lives were on the line. They didn''t just park the bus in those minutes of overtime. Instead, they literally brought a Norwegian Air Shuttle ne and parked it in front of their goal to prevent Juventus from scoring.

    With nine or ten men constantly between the ball and the goal, they forced Juventus to resort to long-range shots and high crosses over the defense. But those couldn''t bring much of a threat to Rosenborg.

    The Troll Kids always outnumbered the Italian giants within their defensive third due to the ultra-defensive tactics. So, Rosenborg was constantly at an advantage when clearing the high crosses and blocking the long-range shots. As a result, they limited Juventus to only a few attempts on target throughout the first twenty-five minutes of overtime.

    -----

    Zachary was growing more anxious as the match approached the end of the 30 minutes of overtime. He was tense since he didn''t want the game to head into penalties.

    He didn''t like the whole prospect of leaving his team''s fate to a process that relied mainly on luck rather than actual footballing skill. So, he started working harder than ever to win the ball back andunch a counter.

    He was like a tireless maniac in the defensive midfield as he constantly ran at opponents and tried to intercept balls. And finally, his attempts paid off in the 28th minute, with only two minutes remaining to the end of overtime.

    After receiving a pass from Vidal, Paul Pogba tried to dribble past Zachary at the border of the defensive third. With mboyant footsteps, the Frenchman faked going right before stopping suddenly. He then changed his center of gravity before trying to break through the other direction with a burst of speed.

    But Zachary was having none of his nonsense. He immediately slid in and tackled the ball off his feet with an outstretched boot. Before the Juventus man could realize what was happening, he was already tumbling to the green.

    "Ref! Foul!"

    Pogba cried out and raised his arms as the tackled ball rolled towards Thomas Partey, Rosenborg''s defensive midfielder. But the referee just ignored Pogba and motioned for y to continue.

    Thomas Partey immediately returned the ball to Zachary, who''d just picked himself up from the ground.

    Zachary received it and quickly flicked it towards the wing to find Karl Toko Ekambi, who''d just made a daring run towards Juventus'' half.

    Ekambi controlled the ball mid-sprint before feeding it past Mart¨ªn C¨¢ceres, one of Juventus'' center backs. He beat the defender for pace and then squared a beauty of a pass to Nicki Nielsen, who''d opened himself up in the middle of the pitch.

    Nicki connected with the pin-point pass and immediately skipped past a challenge by Leonardo Boni with a simple deft touch. He then kicked the ball to his left¡ªinto Zachary''s sprinting path the next moment.

    Zachary didn''t even bother to slow down to control the ball. Instead, he met it with his boot on the sprint and fed it past Giorgio Chiellini, the only remaining Juventus defender. Before long, he was running into yards of free space, clearly bound for the goal without any obstructions.

    His long strides were like the rims of a moving bike as his lungsbored to take in rapid breaths of air to support his intensive burning of energy. His vision soon became hazy as he approached the goal at breakneck speed. He was obviously running out of stamina, especially after ying more than 120 minutes of highlypetitive football.

    But he persisted and kept going through the sheer willpower, supported by his conviction to win and take his team to the quarter-finals. He unearthed one burst of remaining energy from within himself before side-stepping past the keeper and shooting the ball into the back of the.

 Chapter 347 Game Management

    <h4>Chapter 347 Game Management</h4>

    -----

    Rosenborg BK 2 (5) : Juventus FC 3 (4)

    -----

    Silence reigned supreme throughout the entire stadium for a second or two. All spectators seemed to be stunned speechless by Roseborg''s swift and fierce counterattack.

    Boom!

    Then, the next moment, a mega explosion of cheers went off in the stands, shaking the entire Lerkendal Stadion to its very core. The Rosenborg supporters immediately rose from their seats and sang at the top of their voices like madmen when Zachary raised his arms to celebrate the goal right inside Juventus'' box.

    "Goaaaal! Zachary! *p*p* Rosenborg! Oyeeeee..."

    The raucous and disorderly voices chanting different phrases blended together with the loud pping and drumming to institute a beautiful wild symphony. For the next one minute or so, it rang around Lerkendal as the fans celebrated Zachary''s goal, which had just pushed the aggregate score to 5:4 in favor of Rosenborg. Since their team was on the cusp of qualifying for the quarter-finals, they couldn''t control their emotions.

    "What a beautiful counter!" Kjell Roar, thementator for the day, yelled after the cheers started dying down. "My heart is still racing as the counter keeps reying within my mind as if on rewind."

    "Yes, it was really a fierce and swift counter," Erik Hoftun, the in-house pundit for that match, chipped in. "There were only 13 to 14 seconds between when Zachary dispossessed Pogba and when he put the ball into the back of the. There wasn''t a second wasted in-between. What a counter! The Rosenborg fans will remember it for years if the goal can take them through to the quarter-finals."

    "The goal itself takes Zachary''s tally against Juventus to four goals," Kjell Roar said. "He scored a hattrick against them in Turin. Now he hasted another goal here at Lerkendal on top of providing an assist for the other. He''s like the bane of the Italian giants."

    Erik Hoftun chuckled. "I think that he is a disaster for every team in the Europa League. Ofte, he has managed to punish every opponent he has faced. Be it Fiorentina, Red Bull Salzburg, or Standard Liege ¡ª he has already scored against them all."

    "He sure is a terrifying attacker these days," Kjell Roar chimed in with an audible sigh. "Let''s take you back to the proceedings on the field as the match is about to restart."

    -----

    Coach Johansen chose to make a substitution as his yers celebrated the goal. His intent was to waste a few more seconds and ensure that Juventus wouldn''t get the time to organize another offensive during the remaining two or so minutes of overtime.

    "Cristian Gamboa!" He said, turning towards the bench. "Prepare quickly. I want you on the pitch before the game restarts."

    "Aye, coach," Cristian replied.

    Coach Johansen nodded before returning his attention to the field of y. He was in a good mood. Zachary had pleasantly surprised him by scoring in the secondst minute of overtime. As a result, the fixture no longer required penalties to determine the winner. As long as his yers could continue defending well and survive the remaining two or three minutes, then it would be Rosenborg qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Europa League at the end of the grueling night.

    -----

    After celebrating the goal, the Rosenborg yers returned to their half at a leisurely pace. They started taking up their on-pitch starting positions to ready themselves for the restart of the game without any sense of urgency. They wanted to waste more time, especially since they were already ahead by a goal when considering the aggregate score.

    Then, just as they''d finished organizing themselves and the game was finally about to restart, the linesman raised his g and motioned for a substitution. The fourth official followed that up with the action of putting up his board to indicate that Takumi Minamino, the Rosenborg number-22, was being subbed out.

    Takumi Minamino exchanged high fives with a few of his teammates before starting his leisurely trek toward the touchline. His pace was rtively slow since he was also waving to the enthusiastic home fans.

    The Juventus yers couldn''t tolerate Rosenborg''s tant attempts at wasting time. Giorgio Chiellini, the vice-captain of the Italian giants, soon rushed towards the referee and startedining. Antonio Conte was also already yelling at the fourth official on the sidelines, probably telling him to do something about Rosenborg''s unsportsmanlike behavior.

    With all the pressure mounting, the referee could only choose to rush toward Takumi Minamino and caution him.

    However, Takumi was a step ahead. The Japanese midfielder immediately ran out of the pitch and settled on the bench before the referee could catch up.

    The referee, however, didn''t give up. He chased Takumi down and showed him a yellow card right after he''d just settled on the bench.

    But the action itself irritated the Juventus yers and coaching staff as the referee had just wasted more time. And they ensured that he understood how they felt through moreints.

    The referee could only shake his head and smile ruefully before returning to the center and blowing the whistle to restart the game.

    After a good three minutes of celebrations and other interruptions, the game had finally restarted. Juventus kicked off the game and was soon on the attack once again.

    The Juventus yers exchanged a few short passes through the middle, searching for a goal-scoring opportunity. Finally, the ball naturally came to Andrea Pirlo, the deep-lying ymaker.

    Pirlo immediately skipped past Nicki Nielsen''s challenge before threading a pass to Pogba. Thetter received the ball and passed it to Vidal, who''d just run into the space ahead.

    Vidal controlled it with a sense of urgency before kicking it toward the right-wing to find Stephan Lichtsteiner, the highly-mobile wing-back.

    Stephan Lichtsteiner brought it down with his chest before trying to make a diagonal run towards Rosenborg''s box. But he soon ran into Kasongo''s blockade and could only choose to pass it back into the middle to Vidal.

    Vidal only took a single touch to circumvent past Thomas Partey on the left side of the border of the final third. Before any other opponent could close him down, he looped the ball over the defense and into the box.

    Fernando Llorente immediately leaped high to meet the cross within the box. He battled Yerry Mina, the Rosenborg center-back, for aerial superiority before nting a header towards goal from around the penalty spot.

    TENSION!

    The hearts of most of the spectators had already leaped into their throats. They shifted ufortably in their seats while watching the ball darting towards the top corner. But the next moment, they rxed when they saw the Rosenborg keeper leap high and snatch the ball out of the air.

    With a well-timed acrobatic dive, Daniel ?rlund, the Rosenborg keeper, had saved Rosenborg from conceding a goal in the 33rd minute of overtime. The keeper theny t on the ground for about ten seconds with the ball firmly held in his hands.

    "Ref!" Coach Johansen yelled out loud. "The thirty minutes of overtime are already over. Are we going to y for a week or a month before you remember to blow the final whistle?"

    However, the referee paid no heed to hisints and quickly motioned for Daniel ?rlund to restart the game.

    Daniel ?rlund, however, didn''t restart the game right away. He let a few seconds sh by before throwing the ball to Mikael Dorsin, Rosenborg''s left-back.

    Mikael controlled it well and immediately passed it to Thomas Partey, who also flicked it to Zachary.

    However, the Juventus yers had already flooded Rosenborg''s half and marked all spaces and passing angles when Zachary received the ball. He could only choose to pass the ball long and high to Nicki Nielsen, the center forward.

    Nicki Nielsen controlled the ball with his chest on the right nk. But instead of racing with it towards the goal, he dribbled it towards the corner g. He halted right before the corner arc before making himself big to shield it from the Juventus yers.

    The next second, the Juventus yers were upon him, trying to tackle the ball from his feet. However, Nicki Nielsen remained strong and stood his ground. He even spread his arms wide to prevent the opponents from getting to the ball.

    His intention to waste more time gained apuse from the tense home fans. But at the same time, he also infuriated the Juventus yers trying to win the ball back.

    After a few seconds of tussling before the corner g, Vidal couldn''t take it anymore. The midfielder raised his leg high and shoved Nicki Nielsen out of y with a kick to the butt.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and rushed to the scene. He showed a yellow card to Vidal before awarding a free-kick to Rosenborg.

    Zachary chose to take the free-kick short as he didn''t wish to give Juventus an opportunity to attack during thest minute of the game. He passed it to Nicki, and thetter immediately dribbled it to the corner g again.

    The Juventus yers swarmed toward him the next moment to tackle the ball from his feet. However, the referee''s whistle sounded the next moment, bringing the proceedings for the night to a stop. The game had finally ended after 35 minutes of overtime.

    BOOM!

    The cheers immediately hit a crescendo an instantter as the Rosenborg yers began running around the pitch to celebrate their victory. They had finally aplished an almost impossible feat by eliminating Juventus, the Italian giant, from the Europa League after more than 120 minutes of gamey. As a result, they could hardly contain their delight.

 Chapter 348 Surging Fame

    <h4>Chapter 348 Surging Fame</h4>

    Coach Conte wasn''t in a good mood after the game. He shook hands with Coach Johansen before immediately marching towards the tunnel. He walked quickly and, before long, arrived at the area designated for the press.

    "Antonio," the reporter said right after the Italian tactician stepped before the cameras. "Quite simply, how does this Europa League result leave you feeling?"

    "Disappointed, of course," Conte replied. "We''re out of the Europa League in the round of sixteen. For a big team like Juventus, such a result is uneptable."

    "What''s your assessment of Juventus'' performance over the two legs?" The same reporter asked.

    Coach Conte shook his head as a rueful smile outlined his face. "We underestimated a dangerous yer and allowed him to punish us during the two legs. Starting from the moment when he forced a penalty out of Buffon during the first leg, I knew that things would be veryplicated. I tried to do damage control during the first leg, but we still lost 3:1 due to the numerical disadvantage."

    "During the second leg," the coach continued, his English heavily tinged with an Italian ent, "We started slow. But we recovered quickly and picked up the tempo after a few minutes. Our efforts paid off, and we scored two goals during the 10th and the 79th minutes of the game."

    "But very quickly, we grew confident and forgot about the immense threat that was Zachary Bemba, the Rosenborg number-8. He sessfully hit us on a counter the first time, and we replied with a goal of our own, forcing the game into extra time."

    "During extra time, we attacked and pressured the opponents as we searched for the goal. Rosenborg defended well and neutralized our momentum with tactical discipline and determination. As for us, we again grew arrogant and sloppy ¡ª and forgot about Zachary, and he hit us on a counter in the final minute of overtime."

    "To sum it up," the coach said, shaking his head. "We didn''t lose to the Rosenborg team or its tactics over the two legs. Instead, we lost to one yer - Zachary Bemba."

    **** ****

    The following day, Coach Conte''s interview was trending on most European sports blogs and even YouTube. During the morning hours, it was even more popr than the Juventus versus Rosenborg official UEFA match highlight video.

    Over time, theizens got curious about the Zachary Bemba mentioned by Coach Antonio Conte during the interview. They soon started browsing the web for information about the yer in question. And, of course, the first and foremost result of their searches was the YouTube match highlight video showing Zachary destroying Juventus during the two legs of the Europa League''s round of sixteen.

    A rtively unknown YouTuber named ''True-BallMa'' had edited the match highlight video into a ten-minute clip. He had even added visual and sound effects to make the highlights more entertaining.

    When theizens watched the video, they would hear catchy phrases like ''Oh, wow! Look. Look at this!'' at the moment when Zachary sidestepped past Arturo Vidal or any other Juventus yers. There were even clips of Sir Alex Ferguson dropping his chewing gum and Pep Guardi holding his head in stunned surprise when Zachary forced the penalty out of Buffon.

    The ten-minute video captured the attention ofizens around the world, who even became more curious about Zachary. They searched for more information about him, and soon his name became a trending topic.

    Zachary''s past match-highlight videos quickly hiked by 10,000s of views asizens from all around the world continued watching them repeatedly. His social media ounts also experienced a surge of activity.

    -----

    Kristin was seated on the kitchen table in her apartment located in Stj?rdalsveien as she looked at the surging activity on Zachary''s Twitter ount. The afternoon sun rays constantly seeped into the room through the window to illuminate her pretty face, outlined by an expression of stunned surprise.

    As Zachary''s publicity secretary, her roles included managing his social media ounts. She monitored them on a daily basis and asionally posted videos, pictures, and any other info that could boost his public image.

    Early in the morning, when she''d just woken up that day, she''d checked on the social media ounts like usual. She''d soon noticed Zachary''s Twitter and Instagram followers exploding in numbers. From the 500,000s, the digits soared all the way to 800,000s in a few hours.

    And when the clock hand had just pointed to the two o''clock mark in the afternoon, Zachary''s Twitter followers had bypassed the one million mark. As for his Instagram ount, it had already achieved a following of 850,000. He was already the number-one trending person in Norway, and his Twitter poprity had long overtaken that of famous names, such as Magnus Carlsen and Vicky Vette.

    Kristin was excited as she studied the numbers on herptop. She hurriedly called Emily, Zachary''s agent, to give her the good news.

    "Hello, Kristin," Emily''s vibrant voice sounded from the other side of the line when the call connected. "What''s up?"

    "Hi, Emily," she replied, breathing in deeply. "Have you noticed how Zachary''s poprity has exploded on the web after yesterday''s game?"

    "I was in a meeting the whole morning and didn''t check the web," Emily replied. "But I''m guessing that he should be the trending topic in Norway. With the way he yed during yesterday''s game, I wouldn''t be surprised."

    "Bingo!" Kristin said excitedly. "There''s a person who posted a well-edited video of his highlights against Juventus on YouTube yesterday night. The video has already gained 100,000s of views within less than a day. Additionally, his followers on Twitter have already bypassed the one million mark."

    "What!" Emily sounded surprised from the other end of the line. "His Twitter followers have already bypassed the one-million mark?"

    "Yes," Kristin confirmed, ncing at herptop screen. "To be specific, he now has 1,000,078 followers. Moreover, they continue to increase as we speak now."

    "Damn it!" Emily mumbled from the other end of the line. "The Nike people pulled one over me."

    "Sorry!" Kristin said. "Could you repeat that?"

    "Don''t mind my rumblings," Emily hurriedly replied. "I''m just regretting a deal I recently concluded. Anyways! You said that there''s a person who edited Zachary''s video well and posted it on YouTube."

    "That''s correct," Kristin confirmed.

    "Is there a way to contact the person?" Emily inquired.

    "Why?"

    "I want to put together a team of professionals to manage misceneous issues for Zachary in the future," Emily replied. "One such professional will be a videographer/photographer who will work with you - the publicity secretary. That''s why I''m thinking of contacting the YouTuber who posted the video to see if he fits the role and whether he''s interested in working with us."

    "I see," Kristin said. "I''ll check for Instagram and Facebook links on the channel page. If there are any links, I''ll message the person through the two tforms."

    "Good," Emily said. "If you manage to get in touch with the YouTuber, contact me immediately. Then, we can assess him together and see if he fits the role."

    "Okay," Kristin readily agreed. "What about Zachary? Should I inform him about his surging web poprity?"

    "I don''t think there''s a need for now." Emily sighed audibly. "Zachary might not care for such issues at the moment. He traveled straight to Zurich to see his grandma today morning. We can wait until he returns to Trondheim before giving him the news."

    "Okay, then."

    **** ****

    After a hectic day of bureaucratic meetings with the club management, Coach Johansen finally returned to his office to catch up with his work. He couldn''t rx as he had to put together training ns and tactics for Rosenborg''s uing matches.

    His next opponent in the two legs of the Europa League''s quarter-final stage was Olympique Lyon. His team, Rosenborg, would first y at an away ground against the famous French club thirteen dayster, on April 3rd, 2014.

    Aside from that, there was also the uing new season of Norwegian footballmencing nine dayster. Rosenborg would face off against Viking FK at home on March 29th as an opener for their 2014 Tippeligaen season.

    The two matches that were only four days apart were already giving Coach Johansen pressure. His priority was, of course, the Europa League match. But he still wanted to win both games by relying on the depth of his squad.

    He nned to use mostly the second team for the game against Viking and reserve the first team yers for the match against Lyon in France. Thus, to achieve results from both fixtures, he needed to pull out all the stops and put together appropriate tactics and game ns that suited the two groups of yers.

    So, even though he''d just eliminated Juventus the previous day, he couldn''t rx. He had to spend his evenings in the office, making the best preparations to enable his team to achieve the desired results from the two games.

    "What''s in the news today?"

    Coach Johansen settled in his office chair and opened hisptop. Out of habit, he chose to first browse the sports news before starting his work. When he finished watching Coach Conte''s post-match interview a few minutester, he could help but smile.

    The Italian tactician was only half right during the interview. He seemed to have forgotten that the win over the two legs couldn''t have been possible without the contribution of all the Rosenborg yers. By maintaining tactical discipline and defending as a team, they managed to survive the onughts of Juventus during the second leg.

    Coach Johansen shook his head and continued browsing the news. He continued reading the articles for the next few minutes until a catchy headline attracted his attention. His eyes narrowed as he started reading the article.

    -----

    "As the saying goes," the article read, "If you can''t defeat an opponent, bring him over to your side. ording to a reliable source within the club, Juventus are just about to take the first step toward signing Zachary Bemba during the uing summer transfer window. After the 19-year-old demolished them and forced them to bow out of the Europa League, they have set into motion major ns to acquire his services before the start of the next Serie A season..."

    Coach Johansen didn''t continue reading. He sighed and leaned back into his chair before mumbling, "We''ve finally got to this."

    Since Zachary was a phenomenal talent, he understood that he would leave the club sooner orter. As the academy coach, who witnessed his growth from the very start, he was obviously happy for him. But as a Rosenborg manager, he, of course, wanted to keep him at the club for a little longer.

    "Let''s wait and see," he thought. "I''ll go with whatever top management decides."

    **** ****

 Chapter 349 Money!!

    <h4>Chapter 349 Money!!</h4>

    After spending two days in Zurich with his recovering grandma, Zachary returned to Trondheim. His ne touched down on the runway of V?rnes Airport at noon, and he quickly went through the arrival procedures before picking up his luggage and exiting the airport.

    Most of the people he bypassed couldn''t recognize him, especially since he''d donned a big cap that concealed arge part of his face. He walked quickly with his suitcase in tow, and before long, he made it to one of the airport''s parking spaces. He was there to board a taxi cab back to his apartment.

    "Good afternoon," he said to the middle-aged driver after jumping into the back seat of a random taxi cab. "Take me to Stj?rdalsveien."

    "That will be 580 NOK," the middle-aged driver replied while turning and shifting slightly in the driver''s seat to face Zachary. Then, he seemed to do a double-take as his eyes widened. "Wait! You''re Zachary Bemba. Aren''t you?"

    Zachary smiled ruefully, eyeing the driver. He was a chubby man with round cheeks and broad shoulders. "How did you recognize me with this huge cap covering arge part of my face?" He asked.

    The driver chuckled, stroking his bearded chin. "A few things gave you away. For one, your voice and your exotic ent when speaking Norwegian. There''s also your tall build and that unique afro of yours spreading out from under the cap."

    "You can even recognize my voice?"

    The driver grinned, patting his chest exaggeratedly. "I''m a staunch supporter of Rosenborg and a huge fan of yours. I have heard your voice many times during interviews with the press. I can recognize it immediately as long as you speak."

    "Really?" Zachary was skeptical.

    Zachary was a fan of the two greats - Ronaldinho and Zinedine, and asionally watched their interviews for motivation. But he was sure that he wouldn''t recognize the two yers just from their voices. So, the driver before him must have a strong memory, or he should be just speaking nonsense.

    "To be honest, I wasn''t certain when I heard your voice," the driver finally admitted. "But when I assessed you closely and noticed the tracksuit beneath your jacket, I knew it was you. Man! You don''t know how d I''m to have you in my cab. My colleagues will be super jealous when I tell them that I drove the one and only Zachary Bemba today afternoon. Is it possible to sign an autograph for me?"

    "No problem. I''ll sign for you." Zachary replied, nodding.

    "Great." The driver immediately fished a marker and a white Rosenborg jersey from his glovepartment. Moreover, it was Zachary''s new number-8 jersey. "Can you please make the autograph as big as possible?" He asked almost with puppy eyes.

    "No problem." Zachary smiled and received the jersey. He immediately signed his name on the back of the jersey using big letters. He then returned it to the driver.

    "Thanks a lot," the driver said, grinning from ear to ear. He received that shirt and looked at the autograph in ck ink as if it was the most valuable treasure in the world. "I''m so happy. I won''t charge you for this trip as you have done me a great favor. Fasten your seatbelt, and I will drive you to Stj?rdalsveien right away."

    Zachary shook his head. "Seriously! You don''t have to waive the taxi cab fee due to the autograph..."

    "But, I insist," the driver said, starting the car. "My colleagues and even bosses would be on my case if they knew that I charged the one and only Zachary Bemba for a thirty-two-kilometer trip. Please sit back and enjoy the ride. Don''t stress about the fee."

    Zachary could only smile helplessly and shake his head when he noticed the car moving. He left the driver to his own devices and leaned back into his seat before fastening his seat belt.

    Soon, they were already on the highway, and the driver started speaking again. "So, Zachary! Do you think we can win against Lyon and qualify for the semi-finals of the Europa League?"

    "I believe we can, and we will," Zachary replied. "Remember that we just overcame Juventus. The confidence among the yers is overflowing. We''ll therefore go into the match looking only for a win."

    "I''m also confident that you can win if you y at your best," the driver replied as he steered the car around a corner. "Lyon has been performing poorly over the past few months and is just fifth on the League One table. But you have to be wary of their two strikers - Alexandre Lacazette and Baf¨¦timbi Gomis. The two have each already scored more than fifteen goals this season. There''s also that tough defender of theirs called Samuel Umtiti."

    "Don''t worry," Zachary said, smiling. "I''m sure that the coach is already considering all those factors. By the way, I''m surprised that you know a lot about Lyon. Do you also follow the League One?"

    The driver chuckled without taking his eyes off the road. "That''s not the case," he said. "Aside from driving the taxi cab, I''m also a YouTuber during my free time. So, I''m always aware of the info of most top teams around the world."

    "I see," Zachary said, nodding.

    "You should check out my channel if you get some time," the driver continued. "It''s entirely about football."

    "What''s the name of your channel?" Zachary asked, ncing out of the car window.

    "True Ball Ma," the driver hastily replied. "There''s a dash between true and ball, and there''s no space between ball and ma. Also, the first letter of each word is capitalized. That''s the name of the channel."

    "True-BallMa," Zachary confirmed. "I got it. Don''t worry. I''ll check it out. If I find the content appropriate, I''ll post the link to your channel on my Twitter. But to be on the safer side, it''s better that you write your channel''s name down for me. That will ensure that I don''t forget about it when I reach home."

    "Great," the driver replied excitedly. "I''ll write the channel''s name down when we get to our destination. Thanks a lot."

    "No problem," Zachary said.

    Just then, he felt his phone vibrating within his pocket. He hurriedly fished it out before unlocking it and ncing at the screen. His heartbeat quickened when he noticed that he''d just received a notification from his bank.

    -----

    DNB

    Dear Customer, Your ount ending 4567 has been credited with NOK 4,788,000. Your new avable bnce is NOK 14,279,357.

    -----

    Zachary felt a surge of excitement swell through him after skimming through the notification. The money from the Nike endorsement deal had finally arrived in his ount after some dys caused by Norway''s strict verification and taxation process. With the money, he could finally set his investment ns in motion.

    Over the past year, he''d mostly been living off his match bonuses. He''d managed to save more than 9 million Norwegian Kroner from his club sry and the ie from the Audi endorsement deal. After receiving the 4.8 Million NOK from Nike, he finally had a more than 14 million NOK bank bnce.

    If he deducted Emily''s share, which was only ten percent of the funds from Nike, and some more emergency money to take care of his grandma, he would still remain with roughly 13 million NOK in his ount. The amount was approximately equal to 1.5 million Euros, which was enough starting capital for him to invest.

    Since he was sure of the future, he nned to buy shares in Te Inc. with the whole amount of 1.5 million Euros as soon as possible. He would then wait for seven years before selling and gaining slightly more than 36 million Euros from the investment. That was easy money as far as he was concerned.

    Just then, the driver''s voice interrupted Zachary''s thought process. "Where exactly in Stj?rdalsveien are you going?"

    Zachary quickly gave him directions ¡ª and before long, they arrived at his apartment building.

    The driver wrote down his YouTube channel name and contact information on a piece of paper before handing it to Zachary.

    Zachary received it and shoved it in his pocket. He then said his goodbyes to the driver before carrying his luggage and ascending the stairs to his apartment. Since the traveling had worn him out, he was looking forward to taking a warm shower before diving into his bed for a long sleep.

    -----

    The following morning, Zachary headed to Lerkendal to attend the team training. As usual, he was early and the first on the pitch. He immediately decided to put in a few minutes of agility and dribbling drills before the coaches arrived.

    After setting up the cones, he worked tirelessly with the ball without caring about anything else. Step-overs, shuttle runs, etcetera ¡ª he carefully performed the exercises, trying his best to go a step further at honing his skills. He couldn''t rx as he was still attempting to merge his skills into a single style by starting from the basics. So, he didn''t stop even when his teammates began arriving on the training ground.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    Just as he''d stepped up the pace, the sound of a whistle broke his concentration. He stopped his training and nced around. He immediately realized that the coaches had already arrived, and they seemed to be signaling all the yers to move to the tactics room right away.

    After a few inquiries, he learned that there was a pre-training meeting that morning. So, he concluded his session before following the rest of his teammates to the tactics room.

 Chapter 350 The Mighty Second Team

    <h4>Chapter 350 The Mighty Second Team</h4>

    "Good morning to you all," Coach Johansen said when all the Rosenborg yers had taken up their seats in the tactics room. An easy, rxed smile outlined his face as he stepped in front of the room to address the yers. He seemed to be in a good mood.

    "Good morning, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    The coach nodded and nced around. His gaze paused on Zachary the next moment. He grinned and said, "You''re back?"

    "Yes, I''m back," Zachary replied with a smile. "I returned yesterday afternoon."

    "How is she?"

    "She''s recovering well. She should be able to leave the hospital in about a month''s time."

    It was alreadymon knowledge among the Rosenborg yers that Zachary''s grandma was in a hospital in Zurich. He had already informed all his teammates since he wanted them to understand why he''d missed several training sessions over the past few weeks. So, he didn''t mind talking about the issue in front of all the yers within the tactics room.

    "That''s great news," Coach Johansen said, smiling, after hearing his response. "We''re all happy for you."

    "Thanks."

    After the coach finished speaking, his teammates congratted him and voiced their well-wishes over the next few seconds. Zachary, of course, epted them all and replied politely before settling back in his seat.

    "Okay, okay," the coach suddenly said. "Settle down, and let''s move on to official business."

    The yers immediately returned to their seats.

    Coach Johansen swept his gaze across the room before nodding and continuing. "We have two uing games that will require us to exert ourselves over the next few days. First, we''ll y against Viking in our Tippeligaen season opener scheduled for six dayster here at Lerkendal. Then, four days after that, we''ll travel to France to face off against Olympique Lyon in the quarter-finals of the Europa League."

    "For the Tippeligaen game against Viking FK, I have decided to give a chance to members of the second team. When putting together the squad for the match, I''ll consider all the reserve yers who perform well during training over the next few days."

    "But that doesn''t mean that I''m giving up on the game. We''re a big team in Norway. We should be able to put up fairpetition against any opponents, even with our third team. So, I expect no less than a win against Viking. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied enthusiastically.

    Coach Johansen smiled. "As for the game against Lyon, I''ll mainly select the squad from the usual regrs who performed well against Juventus. But if a reserve yer is to put up a spectacr performance against Viking, I''ll also automatically consider him for the squad..."

    The coach then went over the training ns for the next few minutes before dismissing the yers back to the training ground.

    A few minutester, the preparations for the two uing matches started in full swing. The coaches immediately divided the yers into two training camps.

    The first included the regrs like Nicki Nielsen, Thomas Partey, Yerry Mina, Takumi Minamino, Eric Bailly, Zachary Bemba, etcetera. The training camp''s main focus was to prepare for the Europa game against Lyon, scheduled for ten dayster.

    The second training camp included the second-stringers like John Chibuike, Mix Diskerud, Paul Kasongo, Paul Otterson, William Troost-Ekong, Kendrick Otterson, Jonas Svensson, Ole Seln?s, etcetera. The aim of the camp was to prepare for the Tippeligaen game against Viking, scheduled for six dayster.

    Coach Johansen took up the reigns of the first camp, while Trond Henriksen, the assistant head coach, concentrated on the second camp''s preparations. They soon put the yers through strict conditioning to instill match tactics into their heads. They were overly stern and didn''t allow anyone to ck off during training.

    The following days became increasingly hectic as the Rosenborg yers and technical staff prepared for the uing two matches. With everyone busy, the atmosphere around the team grew more solemn ¨C and soon, it was Saturday, March 29th, 2014.

    The day for the Tippeligaen season-opening match between Rosenborg and Viking had finally arrived.

    The weather was not the best that day. The temperatures were abnormally low while the drizzling started in the morning and didn''t stop even in the afternoon.

    Nheless, the poor weather didn''t stop the excited Rosenborg fans from swarming toward Lerkendal to watch the game. By 3:30 PM, when thirty minutes remained before kick-off, the stadium was already almost at maximum capacity.

    The Rosenborg fans seemed not to mind the cold weather. They sang and cheered at the top of their voices as they waited to witness another incredible performance from their home team.

    However, the festive atmosphere within the stands came to an abrupt halt when the starting line-ups for the day came out on the big screen.

    "Starting in goal for Rosenborg is Kendrick Otterson," thementator''s voice resounded across the stadium. "The center-backs are William Troost-Ekong and Stefan Strandberg. The wing-backs are Cristian Gamboa on the right nk and J?rgen Skjelvik on the left. The three midfielders are Mix Diskerud, Ole Seln?s, and Mike Jensen. And the three forwards toplete Rosenborg''s 4-3-3 formation are Paul Kasongo, Riku Riski, and John Chibuike."

    No sooner had thementator finished announcing the Rosenborg starting yers than a wave of chaotic and dissatisfied chattering swept through the stands.

    "Where is Zachary?" One fan asked with narrowed eyes. "Is he injured?"

    "Don''t jinx us, man," another fan replied. "Don''t you see him on the bench? Maybe, the coach has decided to allow him to rest. He should be reserving him for the Europa League quarter-final match against Lyon."

    "Does the coach want to give up on the Tippeligaen to focus on the Europa League? But that''s a bit ridiculous. I''ve seen yers in top teams all around Europe ying the weekend domestic league matches before appearing for the UEFA games during midweek. Why can''t Coach Johansen do the same?"

    "Who knows?" Another fan said, shrugging. "Damn! I was looking forward to watching Zachary''s magic again. But I guess I''ll have to go another four days without seeing him y. What a bummer!"

    The fans seemed baffled by Coach Johansen''s choice of yers for the day. They couldn''t understand why the coach had fielded a line-up of unknowns and benched all the star yers for the season''s opening match. And slowly, their moods sank into the abyss of desperation as they spected that he might have given up on the game.

    Their taut nerves only loosened when the game started a few minutester. They soon started cheering like usual as the Rosenborg yers on the fieldunched unending waves of attacks against Viking FK. Before long, Rosenborg totally controlled the game and dictated the tempo.

    And then the floodgates opened during the 10th minute with a goal from Paul Kasongo. After connecting with a pin-point long-range pass from Ole Seln?s at the edge of the box, he skipped past a Viking center-back and then rifled a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner to score Rosenborg''s 1st goal.

    After the goal, the Rosenborg yers didn''t rx in the slightest. They continued pushing forward and ripping apart Viking''s defense with wing-y tactics until they created another goal-scoring opportunity nine minutester.

    That time around, the goal came through a corner kick. William Troost-Ekong outjumped the rest of the yers in the box to connect with the teasing corner ball from Ole Seln?s. He angled his head slightly to nt a header into the top right corner from around the penalty spot.

    The rest of the first half was uneventful, at least in terms of goals. Rosenborg continued attacking relentlessly, with the wingers and midfielders unleashing crosses and grounded through-passes into the box. However, the Viking defense held on for dear life and prevented the Troll Kids from scoring the third goal before halftime.

    When the second half started, the game situation changed swiftly and abruptly. The Viking yersunched a counterattack during the 48th minute and caught Rosenborg unawares. They cut through Rosenborg''s defense like a knife slicing through butter before scoring their first goal for the day.

    -----

    Rosenborg BK 2 : Viking FK 1

    -----

    On the sidelines, Coach Johansen nced at the score on the stadium''s jumbotron with narrowed eyes. He was a bit apprehensive, especially since only one goal was still separating his team from the opponents. But after a moment of consideration, he still decided to wait instead of making an immediate substitution.

    And his patience was finally rewarded in the 65th minute. After a failed Viking corner kick, the Rosenborg yers hit back with a sudden counterattack.

    Mike Jensen collected the loose ball at the edge of the box and immediately passed it to Ole Seln?s. Thetter controlled it well before unleashing a lofted pass into the left wing to find Paul Kasongo.

    Paul Kasongo exploded with speed and raced towards the other side of the pitch in mere seconds. A Viking defender soon came to close him down. However, the highly agile Rosenborg winger threaded the ball back to the sprinting Ole Seln?s in the middle.

    Ole Seln?s received it and immediately switched gamey to the right-wing to find Riku Riski with a lofted pass over an approaching opponent.

    Riku Riski controlled it mid-sprint and immediately passed to John Chibuike, the Rosenborg center forward.

    The cheers in the stadium hit a crescendo as John Chibuike skipped past a center back with a deft touch before chipping the ball past the outstretched fingertips of the Viking keeper.

    -----

    Rosenborg BK 3 : Viking FK 1

    -----

    After scoring the third goal, the Rosenborg yers yed more conservatively. They focused more on defense and prevented Viking from creating other goal-scoring opportunities for the rest of the game. And finally, the game ended 3:1 in favor of Rosenborg after four minutes of added time.

    Nicki Nielsen turned his attention from the game after hearing the final whistle. He sighed and stood up before saying to no one in particr, "These guys are quite something. If we''re not careful, they might bench us anytime."

    "You''re right," Mikael echoed as he also stood up to head towards the tunnel. "In particr, the performances of Ole Seln?s and Paul Kasongo have surprised me. The coach will start taking them seriously from now on."

    Zachary listened to his teammates conversing but chose not toment. He was also surprised by the performance of the second team. But he wasn''t worried that any of the reserves would snatch his number.

    Instead, he was delighted by the fact that his team had grown to a level where it could thrash domestic league opponents with the second-stringers. He was more at ease since the highly-skilled yers in reserve would allow the coach to rotate yers more often to ensure that the team became morepetitive on many fronts.

 Chapter 351 Rumors

    <h4>Chapter 351 Rumors</h4>

    The day after Rosenborg''s match against Viking, a very contradictory article started spreading on the web. It imed that Zachary had fallen out with the Rosenborg executives after they rejected his request to spend more time with his sick grandma, who was in critical condition in a hospital in Zurich.

    The article then described the close rtionship between Zachary and his grandma, citing how she was his only guardian and the person who''d brought him up. Then, it concluded with a remark on how Zachary was unhappy at Rosenborg and wanted to leave as soon as possible.

    Theizens who were Zachary''s fans were shocked and incensed after reading the article. They took their anger to the inte and started calling out the Rosenborg officials to exin why they were hindering their star from spending time with his sick grandma. They even bombarded the club''s social media ounts with hatements to ensure that the people responsible would not ignore their case.

    Coach Johansen was outraged after the public rtions officer marched into his office and showed him the article and the hatements from the fans. Of course, he didn''t believe that the ims hade from Zachary himself. He was already sure that the assertions were simply a load of crap since Zachary would never make them in public. And since the young prodigy''s professionalism was unquestionable, it must have been the reporter trying to create some chaos.

    "Which idiot wrote this article?" He asked the public rtions officer while breathing in deeply to calm himself down. The morning sun rays seeped into his office through the open window to illuminate his face brimming with rage.

    "It''s a TV2 Sporten reporter called Dag Asbj?rn," Sigrid Berg, the PR officer, replied from the other end of the office table. "He published the article on his own personal blog yesterday night."

    "Let''s sue the idiot," Coach Johansen said with narrowed eyes.

    "Easy, easy, there," the public rtions officer said. "Let''s take it slow and start with the damage control. First, we should contact Zachary and understand his stand on the whole of this farce. If the ims didn''te from him, we ask him to release a strong personal statement to dispute them."

    "Of course, the ims didn''te from Zachary," Coach Johansen said with a sigh. "You don''t know the boy. He''s like a programmed robot who only cares about training and ying football. He wouldn''t waste his time giving such nonsensical information to a reporter."

    "Then, there might be another possibility," the PR officer said, creasing her brows. "There might be a third party trying to stir up some trouble between Zachary and us. They probably wish to nt a seed of conflict between our two parties so that Zachary can start thinking about leaving."

    Coach Johansen raised his brow. "Can such a childish ploy even work? We all know that the information in the article is a load of bullshit. I''m sure that Zachary also doesn''t care about the article. So, how can it create a conflict between our two parties?"

    "You''re looking at the whole issue with a narrow vision," Sigrid said. "Of course, the article itself won''t actually spark off the conflict. But it will incite public anger and cause dissatisfaction among the fans. And if Zachary maintains his silence over the whole issue, the fans will slowly start losing trust in him, thinking that he''s about to abandon them. They might even boo him and start attacking him through social media, and that will, of course, anger Zachary. That anger and dissatisfaction might be the elements that lead to conflicts with the club."

    Coach Johansen narrowed his eyes. He remained silent for a few more seconds before saying, "What do you think we should do? The team doesn''t have time for this crap, especially since we''re busy preparing for Thursday''s game against Lyon."

    Sigrid smiled. "As I already said, the first step is to talk to Zachary and ask him to release a strong personal statement to dispute the ims. It doesn''t need to be official. It can be a Twitter or even a Facebook post where he clearly states that the information presented in the article is false. Then we shall take up the reigns and ensure that the public gets the message."

    "Okay," Coach Johansen said, picking up his phone. "I''ll call Zachary now and speak to him about the issue."

    "Great," the PR officer said, leaning back into her seat. "If he works with us, we should be able to neutralize the whole of this farce by today evening."

    Coach Johansen nodded and immediately dialed Zachary''s number. "Hello, Zachary," he said when the call connected. "Are you enjoying your day off today?"

    "Come on, coach," Zachary answered in a vibrant voice from the other end of the line. "How can I rest when I didn''t y even a single minute during yesterday''s game? I''m already in the gym, working out with Coach Peters."

    "I see," Coach Johansen said, not feeling surprised. The boy was a training maniac. It would be weird if he found him lounging on a beach instead of working out in a gym. "Zachary! Did you read the article about you that has been spreading on the web this morning? It has attracted a lot of attention, especially in Norway."

    "Which article?" Zachary seemed confused. Going by his tone, he appeared not to know anything about the article.

    Coach Johansen sighed, once again not feeling surprised. He then described the article''s content to Zachary in as few words as possible. He ended his narrative by talking about how it was inciting public outrage and causing the fans to attack the Rosenborg management on social media.

    "I''m sorry to hear about all that, coach," Zachary replied. "But, I can assure you that the assertions in the article didn''te from my side. Neither myself nor my agent wishes to incite conflict between us and management. You have my word on this."

    "I don''t doubt you, Zachary," Coach Johansen said. "I only called to propose a way of how we can deal with the article. Otherwise, it will continue causing dissatisfaction among the fans."

    "Go ahead," Zachary said. "I''m listening."

    Coach Johansen exchanged nces with Sigrid before going ahead and asking Zachary to release a personal statement to dispute the article.

    Surprisingly, Zachary was very amodating towards the whole idea. He even promised to utilize his social media ounts to release the posts before the end of the day.

    Coach Johansen thanked him on the club''s behalf and ended the call. He then pivoted his attention onto the PR officer again. "It''s done," he said with a smile. "He has agreed to release a personal statement disputing the article through his social media ounts."

    "That''s a great first step to dealing with the issue," Sigrid said as a soft smile outlined her face.

    Coach Johansen was startled. "Is there a second step?"

    "Of course, there is," Sigrid replied, tone matter-of-factly. "Next, we''ll sue the reporter who published the article. We''ll attack him on several fronts until hees out himself to apologize."

    "That''s a bold move," Coach Johansen said. "You know: When I said that we sue him before, I was only speaking with rage. I didn''t expect you, people, to actuallyunch awsuit against him."

    "The club chairman is paying close attention to this issue," Sigrid remarked. "He''s the one who instructed us tounch thewsuit. He really doesn''t want anyone to mess with his star yer''s rtionship with the club."

    "I understand," Coach Johansen said, finally seeing the light. If the club chairman was involved, then the reporter who published the article was in for a tough time over theing days.

    **** ****

    After ending the call with Coach Johansen, Zachary immediately called Emily and told her about the article. He expected her to at least react harshly after hearing about the entire farce. But surprisingly, she took the matter a bit too lightly.

    "Why don''t you seem surprised?" Zachary asked, settling down on one of the benches in the gym. His t-shirt was drenched in sweat as he''d just ended his workout with Coach Bj?rn Peters.

    Emily sighed audibly from the other end of the line. "Zachary! It''s normal for such articles to keep popping up on the inte as your fame grows."

    "Moreover," she continued, "the big teams might even start paying reporters to release such articles so as to sow discord between you and your current club as the transfer window approaches. Their intent is, of course, to encourage you to consider the option of transferring out of Rosenborg by whatever means possible. So, you have to learn to ignore such articles. Otherwise, you''ll have to keep running up and down, suing every journalist that reports wrong information about you."

    "I get you," Zachary said. "But what about the club''s request? They asked me to release a personal statement discrediting the article."

    "You shouldn''t waste your precious time on such issues, Zachary," Emily advised. "Focus on your training, and let Kristin handle the entire issue. She''s your publicity secretary. Her job is to manage your public image."

    "She can release a post on your social media ounts disputing the ims in your stead. She can even contact the club''s public rtions office to arrange how best to handle the matter. So, you, as a yer, don''t need to waste your brain cells and precious time on such misceneous issues. I''m even surprised that the club asked you to do this."

    Zachary was startled by Emily''s sharp tone. "I understand," he said. "I''ll let Kristin handle the issue."

    "Great," Emily said from the other end of the line. Her voice had taken on a rxed tone. "You also have to understand that I have been moving around a lot, making arrangements for the uing transfer window. I have even had meetings with several executives from some top European clubs during the previous week. The reporters following your case know that I''m your agent. They can easily deduce that I''m trying to organize a transfer for you, and they will obviously report the info in their articles."

    "So, just like you have been doing, continue to ignore the media attention, especially since it''s going to increase between now and the uing transfer window. If you have some free time, you can even consider taking a vacation to rx instead of caring about what the press is writing about you."

    "I understand," Zachary replied. "Thanks for the advice. Is there anything substantial among the arrangements you''ve been making?"

    "Not yet," Emily said. "But when there''s a good offer, I''ll immediately inform you."

    "Okay, Emily," Zachary said. "Thanks for everything. I have to go now as I have to call Kristin immediately. As you advised, I''ll let her handle the entire issue."

    "That''s for the best," Emily said. "Have a good day."

    "Have a good day, too," Zachary said before ending the call.

 Chapter 352 To Lyon, France

    <h4>Chapter 352 To Lyon, France</h4>

    Zachary immediately dialed Kristin''s number after ending the call with Emily. She picked up almost instantly, and he quickly told her about the contents of the article and the club''s request for him to post a statement discrediting it.

    "I had already seen the article," Kristin said with a tinge of resignation in her voice after hearing him out. "I was just about to get in touch with the club''s public rtions office to organize a way forward to solve the whole issue. But I guess you beat me to the task."

    "Then, that makes things easier," Zachary said. "I''ll leave everything in your hands since you already know about the article. But first things first, start with making an official post discrediting the content of the article on my behalf. Make it simple, and don''t go into details. A brief statement along the lines of I still enjoy a good rtionship with the club management might work wonders."

    "Don''t worry," Kristin replied from the other end of the line. "I know what to do. I''ll pen down an appropriate response to the article right away. Then, I''ll even contact Emily and have her verify the statement before posting it on your social media ounts."

    "Thanks a lot, Kristin," Zachary replied. "I have to return to training now. So, let me say goodbye for now. If you need any info from me, don''t hesitate to call my number."

    "Okay. But there''s one more thing I wish to ask before you hang up, Zachary."

    "Go ahead," Zachary said. "I''m all ears."

    "Zachary!" Kristin said after a moment. "Could you be thinking about transferring out of Rosenborg soon? As your publicity secretary, I''m just asking to understand your future ns."

    Zachary switched the phone to his other ear before saying, "I feel ready to take the next step towards progressing my football career. So, if there''s a suitable offer, I''ll consider switching to a team in one of the big leagues during the uing transfer window."

    "I see," Kristin said. "So, there''s a high possibility that you''ll be moving out of Norway between June 12th and September 1st."

    "That''s correct," Zachary replied. "If all goes as nned, I will move immediately after the World Cup. But there''s no need for the press or the public to know that I''m switching teams. So, you definitely cannot tell another person about this. Otherwise, the whole issue might create a publicity mess that could distract me from football."

    "Don''t worry," Kristin assured. "I know what''s at stake and will definitely not tell any other person about your ns. I was only asking because I also need to start making some preparations if I''m to continue working as your publicity secretary when you move away from Trondheim."

    "You wish to continue working as my publicity secretary?"

    "Definitely," Kristin was quick to reply.

    "Don''t you still have to attend university?"

    "I''ll just transfer to another university," Kristin said. "Zachary! I wish to follow you wherever you go. If you still want me to remain working as your publicity secretary, I won''t stay back."

    "Of course, you can remain as my publicity secretary," Zachary said. "I was just worried that you might miss out on your university education because of the job. Your grandpa might take my head if he knows that I distracted you from your studies."

    Kristin chuckled. "You don''t have to worry. I''ll transfer to a new university in the new city. Moreover, don''t forget that very few people get opportunities to work for highly-skilled athletes who are shooting to fame. So, if I give up such a job, I might as well go and bang my head on the wall."

    Zachary chuckled, switching the phone to his other ear. "You can continue working as my publicity secretary for as long as you like. I''ll talk to Emily and have her renew your contract so that you can be more assured of your future."

    "Thanks a lot," Kristin replied. "That puts my heart at ease."

    "Excellent," Zachary said. "I have to return to training now. But remember to handle the issue of the article as soon as possible. I already promised the coach that I would release the statement before the end of the day."

    "Sure, I''ll get to the task right away," Kristin said. "Enjoy your training and have a good day."

    "Thanks, and have a good day too," Zachary said before ending the call. He immediately breathed a sigh of relief and returned to his training.

    The following three days passed by quickly as he got busy. Aside from attending the team session to prepare for the Europa League game against Lyon, he spent his spare time training alone. He would either be in the gym or on the road jogging with the intent to condition himself early in the morning before sunrise. Then, in the evenings after the team sessions, he would practice his set-piece and dribbling skills before ending his day with a yoga session. He even spent some quality time with Cami, who was as understanding and considerate as ever concerning his hectic schedule.

    Eventually, Wednesday, April 2nd arrived, and Coach Johansen named the team facing off against Lyon that morning. Later in the afternoon, the yers who''d made the coach''s squad boarded a KLM airlines flight ¡ª and off they went and soared into the skies, heading off towards the Auvergne-Rh?ne-Alpes region to y their first leg game of the Europa League''s quarter-finals.

    The ne touched down at the Lyon¨CSaint Exup¨¦ry Airport''s runway five and a half hourster when the sun had long sunk beneath the horizon in the west. The yers quickly followed the rest of the passengers out of the ne and headed toward the arrivals terminal. Before long, they collected their luggage and started making their way toward the airport''s exit under the guidance of a UEFA guide.

    But before they could make it out of the hallways of the airport, a group of fans and reporters interrupted them. Most of the fans were in Rosenborg''s ck and white jerseys, while the reporters were armed with microphones andrge cameras.

    "Zachary! An autograph."

    "Zachary! We traveled all the way here to root for you. Please, squash those Lyon boys without mercy."

    "Nicki, I''m a huge fan..."

    "Takumi..."

    The fans yelled at the top of their voices for the next few minutes. Some even tried to step forward and approach the Rosenborg yers.

    However, airport security was ready for them. Thew enforcers kept the passionate fans at bay and didn''t allow any of them to push through their blockade and close in on the yers. They only permitted a few reporters to approach after confirming that Coach Johansen didn''t mind his yers talking to the reporters.

    "What the hell?!"

    Zachary was startled when he noticed the group of reporters quickly zeroing in on his position. The team had never gotten such an enthusiastic reception outside of Norway, not even when they traveled to Turin to y against Juventus. So, he was a bit shaken by the whole spectacle before him.

    "Wee to Lyon, Zachary Bemba," a reporter said as he shoved a microphone in front of his face.

    Before Zachary could reply, the other men and women of the press stepped forwards and shoved more microphones into his face. They surrounded him like a cackle of starving hyenas that had just chanced upon a helpless rabbit deep in the jungle.

    "We''re pleased to have you here in Lyon, Zachary," another reporter hurriedly said, probably trying to beat his counterpart to the chance of interviewing Zachary. His eyes glittered as he signaled for his cameraman to start recording.

    "Okay,dies and gentlemen. One person at a time. Don''t cause difort to the yers, or I''ll ask security to dismiss you."

    The UEFA guide in charge of the team stepped forward at the right moment to save the situation. He worked with the security personnel to ensure that the chaotic reporters were not causing any distress to the yers.

    After a few more minutes, the reporters finally obeyed. They became more docile and orderly while approaching Zachary. At least they were no longer squeezing into him and shoving microphones into his face.

    "Zachary! Wee to Lyon."

    Zachary quickly noticed that it was a beautiful reporter with blue eyes and long blonde hair tied in a ponytail who had spoken. Surprisingly, she was d in a fitting Rosenborg number-8 top, which happened to be his own shirt number on the team. She looked strikingly dapper and chic, especially after pairing the jersey with stylish denim pants that emphasized her lithe figure.

    A smile flickered across Zachary''s face like a hologram as he immediately developed a favorable impression of her. Maybe, it was because of the Rosenborg jersey, but he found her pleasing to the eyes.

    "Thanks for the warm wee," he said, nodding at her. "By the way, that shirt looks really great on you."

    Her eyes crinkled at the corners as she let out a soft chuckle. "What can I say," she said with a sigh. "I''m a huge fan. Zachary! You''ll y against Lyon at an away ground tomorrow night. How do you feel?"

    "I''m just looking forward to ying against one of the best teams in France," Zachary replied with a steady voice. "I feel excited and expectant."

    "Do you think you can win?" She asked.

    "Obviously, we can win," Zachary said. "We have prepared enough as a team, and we''ll head into the game looking only for a win. The final result will depend on how Lyon responds to our attacks."

    "You''ve been incredible in the Europa League this season," she said. "You''re even the top scorer of the tournament. Should we expect another goal from you tomorrow night?"

    "That, I can''t be sure," Zachary replied with a smile. "Moreover, it doesn''t matter whether I score or not. Instead, what matters is that we win the game. I''ll be delighted even if our keeper is the one that bags that crucial goal that helps us win."

    The reporter beamed and said, "Thank you for answering my questions, Zachary. I wish you all the luck in tomorrow''s game."

    "Thank you," Zachary replied and turned his attention away from her. He then spent the next few minutes answering a few more questions from the other reporters before stepping away with the intent to regroup with his teammates.

    But just then, the pretty blonde reporter tapped his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "If you''re up for some fun, you can call me any time after the game. My business card is in the left pocket of your jacket." She then turned around and walked away without saying another word.

    Zachary''s eyes widened. He quickly felt around his left pocket with his hand, and indeed there was the smooth piece of paper that was the business card lying in there. He was surprised as thedy had managed to ce it in his pocket without his notice. Her pickpocketing skills were obviously at the grandmaster level.

    "This is weird," Zachary mused as he removed his hand from his pocket. Since there were many eyes observing him at the moment, he decided to wait and deal with the business cardter. He''d already resolved to throw it away as he didn''t wish to associate with such a sharp reporter.

    "Zachary," Coach Johansen shouted from a distance. "Have you been smitten senseless by the Frenchdies? Hurry up! The team bus is already outside."

    "Aye, coach," Zachary replied as a wry smile outlined his face. He immediately slung his gym bag over his shoulder before following his teammates and coaches outside of the airport.

 Chapter 353 Europa League Quarter-Final Preview

    <h4>Chapter 353 Europa League Quarter-Final Preview</h4>

    Kristin didn''t manage to travel to Lyon to watch the game due to her tight schedule.

    First and foremost, she had to deal with the publicity mess between Zachary and the reporter. Then she had toplete several course works imposed on her by her professors while also preparing for the end-of-semester exams. So, she could only catch the game on television in thefort of her living room in Trondheim.

    "Good evening, everyone," the voice of the female sports presenter sounded as the images on the screen switched to a TV studio. "It''s another Europa League matchday. We''ll be bringing you the live broadcast of the Europa League game between Olympique Lyonnais and Rosenborg Ballklub, scheduled to start in thirty minutes."

    "I''m Emilia Vasquez, your presenter for the night, and with me here in the studio are two football greats who will be our pundits for the game. One is Ole Gunnar Solskj?r, the newly-appointed manager of Cardiff City. He previously yed for and coached Molde Football, the main rival of Rosenborg in Norway. So, I believe he understands the Europa League underdogs - Rosenborg quite well. Wee, Ole!"

    "Thank you, Emilia," Ole replied as the camera zoomed in on his face. "But don''t let Coach R¨¦mi Garde hear you calling Rosenborg underdogs. Otherwise, you''ll be in for a hell of an argument."

    Emilia chuckled. "We''ll get to that in a few seconds. But first, let me also introduce our second pundit for the day. He''s Juninho Pernambucano, a legend who scored seventy-five goals for Olympique Lyonnais. A good number of those goals were free kicks. Juninho, wee!"

    "Thank you, Emilia," Juninho replied as the cameras focused on him. "I''m pleased to be here."

    Emilia smiled. "So, gentlemen," she said, "let''s start with your predictions for this match."

    Juninhoughed and shook his head. "I do believe and hope that Lyon will win the game. If Zachary Bemba doesn''t perform abnormally again, a win of 2:1 or 2:0 is possible."

    "What about you, Ole," Emilia questioned. "What''s your prediction for the game between Lyon and Rosenborg?"

    Ole sighed. "Honestly, I can''t make a prediction before the game starts. On paper, Lyon seems like the stronger side. But let''s not forget that Rosenborg is a team that eliminated Juventus and Fiorentina. They didn''t just win against the Italian sides by narrow margins ¡ª but by scoring three or more goals across two legs. So, Rosenborg is a team that we can''t take lightly, especially with their on-form ymaker - Zachary Bemba."

    "So, we don''t get a prediction from you, Ole?" Emilia asked again.

    Ole smiled wryly before saying, "Let''s go with a score of 1:0 in favor of Rosenborg. Either Zachary Bemba or Nicki Nielsen might bag the winning goal."

    "Thank you," Emilia said. "Ole! A few seconds ago, you said something about not letting Coach R¨¦mi Garde hear me calling Rosenborg an underdog. The statement reminded me about his pre-match press conference yesterday. I believe we should first watch it before we continue."

    No sooner had Emilia finished her statement than the studio images on the screen faded in the background. Soon, the cleanly-shaven face of R¨¦mi Garde, the head coach of Olympique Lyonnais, popted the screen. He was obviously answering questions during a press conference.

    "R¨¦mi!" Kristin immediately heard a male reporter''s voice sounding through the television''s speakers. "What is your view on your opponents in the Europa League quarter-final? Do you think you can end the incredible run of the underdogs in Europe?"

    "That''s funny." Coach R¨¦mi Garde smiled and shook his head.

    "What''s funny?" The reporter queried.

    "Calling a team that has eliminated Fiorentina and Juventus from the Europa League an underdog is definitely amusing," the Olympique Lyonnais coach said. "First, I would like to rify this point. We''ll not regard Rosenborg as a weaker team or an underdog during the quarter-final. Instead, we''ll approach the game as if we''re ying against some of the strongest clubs in Europe. We can''t be careless when ying against a team that put five goals against Juventus."

    As soon as the coach finished making the statement, his face faded into the background. Immediately, the screen started showing the images of the female presenter and the two pundits seated in the studio.

    "Well, there you have it," Emilia Vasquez said, smiling. "During the pre-match press conference yesterday, the Lyon coach dered that he will treat Rosenborg as if it was a top team in Europe. Juninho! Do you think his attitude will impact the result of this game?"

    "Definitely," Juninho replied, shifting slightly in his seat. "To a great extent, a match result depends on the team''s attitude towards their opponents. Let''s consider this game, for instance. Many might not agree, but Rosenborg has a strong squadprising many young talents. If the Lyon coach treats the Norwegian side as the weaker opponent, we might see what happened during the first leg of the game between Juventus and Rosenborg transpiring again. But if he treats the match seriously and encourages all his yers to give their all on the pitch, he will win."

    "What about you, Ole?" Emilia asked, ncing at the Norwegian. "What do you think?"

    "I think the result of this game wille down to two questions," Ole said. "One: Can Zachary Bemba put up another spectacr performance? Two: Will the Lyon yers and their tactics be able to contain him? If we can answer those two questions, we can easily deduce the game''s result."

    Emilia chuckled. "You seem to have a lot of confidence in Zachary Bemba!"

    "I do," Ole replied. "He''s an incredible yer. When I was coaching Moldest year, I researched him on several asions, trying to find a way to contain him. He has crazy on-pitch statistics that can rival even those of the best yers in the world. For instance, he has a hundred percent conversion rate of free kicks in the final third. That means that he has never missed a set-piece ced less than forty yards away from goal."

    "Juninho!" Ole turned towards the Brazilian Maestro. "You used to convert a lot of free-kicks during your Lyon days. So, you should be able toprehend what a hundred percent conversion statistic means."

    Juninho smiled and shook his head. "If Zachary can maintain the hundred percent free-kick conversion statistic over the next three years, we should treat him as an alien in human skin. If he can maintain a fifty percent conversion rate in the same period, we give him the ''all-time greatest free-kick taker'' title. That''s because no yer in history has ever achieved such a statistic."

    "Except Zachary," Ole pointed out.

    Juninho shook his head. "He has only taken a few free-kicks over a one-year period. The avable data is not enough to judge if he can be the best."

    "Gentlemen," Emilia interrupted. "The kick-off is only in twenty minutes. Let''s talk about the squads that have juste in for the next few minutes."

    "The Rosenborg coach has arrayed his team into a 4-5-1 formation," she continued. "In goal, there''s Daniel ?rlund, while the defenseprises the four yers - Mikael Dorsin, Tore Reginiussen, Yerry Mina, and Eric Bailly. Thomas Partey, Zachary Bemba, Takumi Minamino, Tobias Mikkelsen, and Alexander S?derlund will be in the midfield. And finally, on striking is Nicki Nielsen."

    "On the other hand, the Lyon coach has arranged his squad into a 4-3-1-2 formation. In goal for Lyon, there''s Anthony Lopes, while the defenseprises the four yers - Samuel Umtiti, Bakary Kon¨¦, Henri Bedimo, and Corentin Tolisso. And surprisingly, Coach R¨¦mi Garde has fielded three defensive midfielders. They are Maxime Gonalons, Arnold Mvuemba, and Jordan Ferri."

    "He''s really taking Rosenborg seriously," Ole chimed in after hearing that part of the line-up. "With three defensive midfielders on the pitch, he will surely be defending most of the time."

    "It''s better to be cautious than to allow his team to concede two goals in the first few minutes like Juventus," Juninho countered.

    Emilia smiled and continued reading the line-up. "In attacking midfield for Lyon is Steed Malbranque, while Alexandre Lacazette and Baf¨¦timbi Gomis will y as the two forwards. Gentlemen! What are your views after seeing the two line-ups? What should we expect from this game?"

    "Both teams will most likely y defensive football throughout the 90 minutes," Ole was the first to reply. "The 4-5-1 formation of Rosenborg and the 4-3-1-2 formation of Lyon clearly indicate the intent of the coaches to have their teams defend for arge part of the game. While on the attack, Rosenborg will probably utilize counterattacks while Lyon will use some long balls supported by wing y."

    "The two Lyon attackers are very clinical," Juninho chipped in. "If the midfielders can feed them passes, they will surely score. On the side of Rosenborg, there''s, of course, Zachary. He has already scored thirteen goals in the Europa League this season. He''ll probably score again during this game if the three defensive midfielders don''t manage to contain him."

    "Thank you for the analyses, gentlemen," Emilia said. "For now, let''s first take you to a shortmercial break before we return with the live broadcast of the Europa League quarter-final game between Olympique Lyonnais and Rosenborg Ballklub. Stay tuned, and thank you for watching. We''ll be back shortly." She smiled as her image faded away from the screen before giving way to the annoying ads.

    Kristin didn''t stay in front of the TV but immediately rushed to the kitchen with all the haste she could muster. In a short while, she returned with a bag of potato chips and settled back on the sofa. Her heart was already beating fast with anticipation as she looked forward to watching the game that wouldmence in a few minutes.

 Chapter 354 Zachary versus the Lyon Fans

    <h4>Chapter 354 Zachary versus the Lyon Fans</h4>

    Both teams lined up in the tunnel at 8:55 PM. The Olympique Lyonnais yers were in their white home kits, while the Rosenborg yers had donned their ck away jerseys.

    Zachary stood at the back of the Rosenborg line. His tall physique looked imposing and sleek in his number eight jersey, while his untamed and somewhat messy Afro-hairstyle fanned out from the top of his head to add wild charm to his entire being. He seemed like a warrior about to head out to war in his ck attire paired with his electric green Nike Mercurial Superfly football boots.

    He wasn''t idle as he stood there at the back of the line but observing the Lyon yers. He''d already taken note of some famous footballers from his previous life, like Samuel Umtiti, Alexandre Lacazette, and Baf¨¦timbi Gomis, within their ranks. They were obviously the ruggedest obstacles Rosenborg had to ovee in Lyon in order to win the game and qualify for the semi-finals.

    "Let''s move out."

    The voice of one of the officials resounded through the tunnel a minuteter. Rhythmic tapping sounds of footfalls upon the floor soon echoed as the referees and yersmenced their short march towards the pitch. They soon exited the tunnel and lined up before the fans as the catchy Europa League anthem reverberated across the entire stadium.

    The excitement was in the air as the kick-off was near. The supporters of both teams seemed to startpeting among themselves to find out who was louder. One moment, a Lyon chant would reverberate across the entire stadium ¡ª but the next second, it would be the Rosenborg chant resonating from the stands like an explosion of celebratory fireworks.

    Zachary was a bit stunned when he noticed the numbers of the Rosenborg fans in the stands. Even though it was an away game, they had traveled all the way from Trondheim to Lyon in droves to support the team. It was quite the improvement, especially whenpared to the attendance during the previous Europa League matches, whereby there would only be hundreds of fans when Rosenborg yed at an away ground.

    The proceedings moved forward, and the customary handshakes soon followed before the yers took their positions on the pitch. The referee then concluded the coin toss ceremony with the captains before positioning himself close to the center circle.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The whistle sounded at 9:05 PM, and the match started with Lyon''s kick-off. The highly-anticipated quarter-final game between the French giants and that season''s Europa League underdogs from Norway had finallymenced.

    The Lyon yers immediately settled into their 4-3-1-2 formation and started passing the ball around in the midfield. They narrowed down the spaces in the middle and ensured that Zachary and the rest of the Rosenborg yers could not break through their ranks in the midfield.

    Moreover, their formation with three holding midfielders allowed them many passing options, especially within the middle and defensive third. Thus, they outyed Rosenborg by relying on stable and fluid short passes during the first eleven minutes of gamey.

    The game moved forward, and Maxime Gonalons received the ball close to the boundary of the middle third during the 15th minute. He immediately turned around and flicked it to Arnold Mvuemba, his counterpart in midfield.

    Arnold Mvuemba immediately took a single touch on the ball to skip past Takumi Minamino, who had just closed him down. Then, he twisted and spun around to get further away from the opponent before passing the ball towards the backfield. He was probably hoping to find Bakary Kon¨¦, the Lyon center-back.

    However, Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg center-forward lurking in the space between the defenders, glided in swiftly to intercept the pass. He managed to get to the ball on the stretch and then shoved it towards Tobias Mikkelsen with the tip of his boot.

    The steal was sessful in the 16th minute of gamey, and the Lyon yers clearly showed signs of panicking as Tobias controlled the ball on the right side of the box.

    The left-back, Henri Bedimo, was in an even more agitated state. He closed in on Tobias swiftly before sliding in wholesale to tackle the ball. But he mistimed his tackle and swept the Rosenborg right-winger off his feet before getting to the ball.

    "Aaahhh!"

    Tobias let out a sharp cry as he rolled around several times after tumbling to the ground. His eyes misted a bit as he held on to his ankle. He was clearly in a lot of pain.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and rushed to the scene. He immediately summoned the physicians, who started tending to the Rosenborg winger. However, all their efforts were fruitless, and Tobias couldn''t get back on his feet. The medics even had to carry the winger off the pitch on a stretcher a few minutester.

    "Ref! That was clearly a high boot," Mikael Dorsinined while facing the referee.

    "Moreover, it seemed intentional," Tore Reginiussen, the Rosenborg captain, chimed in. "Instead of going for the ball, he obviously grazed Tobias'' ankle with his studs."

    More Rosenborg yers, including Zachary, soon encircled the referee and voiced theirints. Their intent was, of course, to push him to show a straight red card to the defender.

    However, the referee didn''t do as they hoped. After calmly listening to theirints, he only showed a yellow card to Henri Bedimo, the defender who''dmitted the foul. He then signaled the Rosenborg yers to start preparing for the free-kick before marching off to organize the wall.

    "Zachary, it''s up to you now," Mikael said as he ced the ball in his hands. "Do as usual and try to hit the target. Don''t let the pressure get to you."

    "Don''t worry. I''ll do my best."

    Zachary nodded and received the ball before positioning it on the spot marked out by the referee. All the while, he was already assessing and deducing how to ce the set piece.

    He wondered whether he should go for the inside of the near or the far post. As both options seemed appealing, he couldn''t decide immediately.

    The set-piece spot was on the right side of the box and about 21 yards away from the goal. It was also at a very acute angle, making the chances of converting the free-kick extremely slim. But Zachary didn''t panic as he''d already figured that he could ovee all obstacles with a curling ball over the defense. So, he confidently stepped back from the ball while watching the referee arranging the defensive wall.

    But just then, his ears picked up some unsettling loud noises emerging from the stands behind the goal. On ncing up, he realized that the die-hard supporters of Lyon had started booing him with all their hearts. They paired demeaning curses with his name and showed him their middle fingers. They probably wished to spook him and disturb his confidence so that he would miss the set-piece.

    "Just ignore them," Mikael said, patting his shoulder. "Focus on the task at hand and shut out everything else. We believe in you."

    "Don''t worry. Such cheap tricks won''t work on me."

    A confident smile outlined Zachary''s face as he activated the Dead-Ball-Specialist Juju. The next instant, he felt a refreshing sensation flooding his entire being, and the curses and boos became like background noise. His spirits brightened, and his mind grew calmer and sharper.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle a few secondster after arranging the yers in the box. The curses and boos grew louder as Zachary took an angled run towards the ball. However, all that didn''t matter to him one bit. His attention was on the ball, the defensive wall, and a few spots between the goalposts.

    Without losingposure, he drew back his left leg before whacking the ball with the instep part of his boot. His technique was as perfect as usual, and he made sure to hit the ball slightly towards its side.

    Whoosh!

    The ball rose from the ground with an abnormal spin. It cut through the air fast and darted around the wall, seemingly on a trajectory that was a few meters away from the far post. But then, at thest moment, it dipped and curled weirdly before grazing the far post and nestling into the back of the.

    The keeper had tried to save the situation with a despairing dive. But his fingertips couldn''t even graze the ball. He was toote to react ¡ª and as a result, had allowed Rosenborg to score the first goal in the 19th minute.

    Silence!

    The rowdy Lyon fans immediately fell silent as they tried to process the new circumstances. But all that didn''t concern Zachary.

    He didn''t stay in the same spot when he saw the ball in the back of the. He ran to the sidelines before bending in front of the camera and cing a finger on his lips. His simple celebration was the only response to the Lyon fans, who had tried to disturb his confidence right before the set-piece.

    "BOOO! BOOO..."

    But his actions seemed to have stirred up a hos'' nest in the stadium, and the fans started booing him again. They forgot their sorrow of conceding the goal and cursed and demeaned him with renewed vigor. The atmosphere became that crazy in those few minutes after the goal. Going by the way things were proceeding, he was in for a hellish night with the Lyon fans.

 Chapter 355 Teamwork and Creativity

    <h4>Chapter 355 Teamwork and Creativity</h4>

    Coach Johansen nodded to himself with a smile as he watched his yers celebrating the goal. He then pumped his fist into the air a few times before turning around and focusing on the group of substitutes warming up on the sidelines.

    Since Tobias had gotten injured, he had to rece him with another yer who could attack and defend well on the wing. The substitute also needed to have the ability to draw fouls from the defenders so as to create more chances for Zachary to score set-pieces.

    Coach Johansen''s gaze soon settled on Karl Toko Ekambi, the 21-year-old winger he''d recently signed from Paris FC. But after a few seconds of consideration, he turned his eyes away.

    Karl Toko Ekambi was, of course, a great yer who could y perfectly while on the attack through both wings. But his only weakness was his limited defensive ability. So, the coach didn''t require his services in a game where yers needed to defend more than they would attack.

    Rapid thoughts continued whirling around Coach Johansen''s mind, and finally, he zeroed in on Paul Kasongo, the young winger who had performed incredibly over the weekend. He was the perfect substitute at that moment as he possessed the stamina and pace to defend and attack through the nks.

    "Kasongo!" He yelled out to him. "Come."

    "Aye, coach." The short winger immediately stepped forward as his eyes glinted with excitement.

    "In a bit," Coach Johansen said, "You''ll sub in for Tobias and y as our right-winger. You will need to exert yourself to defend and attack through the nks. And if there''s an opportunity, you need to try and force free-kicks out of the defenders so that we can give Zachary a chance to convert more free-kicks. Clear?"

    "Yes, coach," Kasongo replied enthusiastically.

    "Good." Coach Johansen nodded. "You can go and prepare. I want you on the pitch in less than two minutes."

    "Aye, coach."

    -----

    The game restarted before Kasongo coulde on for the injured Tobias. The Lyon yers didn''t seem like they were in a panicked state even after conceding the goal. Instead, they immediately took advantage of their brief numerical advantage tounch a fierce attack against Rosenborg. They used short passes to move the ball through the middle for a couple of minutes until it ended at Jordan Ferri''s feet.

    Jordan Ferri, the Lyon midfielder, controlled the ball well before skipping past Takumi Minamino with a swift change of direction. When the angle opened up, he unleashed a long pass towards the other side of the pitch, where Alexandre Lacazette was lurking.

    Alexandre Lacazette battled Yerry Mina for aerial superiority before heading the ball towards Baf¨¦timbi Gomis, his counterpart on striking.

    Gomis swiftly brought the ball under control and immediately skipped past Eric Bailly to step into Rosenborg''s box. He managed to open up the shooting angle with another simple touch before unleashing a curling shot towards the bottom left corner.

    Coach Johansen felt his heart sink as he watched the ball darting towards the goal like an arrow. But the next moment, his tight nerves loosened when Daniel ?rlund, the Rosenborg keeper, intercepted the effort with an outstretched boot. The experienced number-one had saved Rosenborg from conceding an equalizing goal during the 23rd minute.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and pointed toward the corner g.

    Coach Johansen breathed a sigh of relief as he''d avoided a goal and also gotten a chance to make a substitution for the injured Tobias.

    "Fourth official," he yelled. "Signal for the substitution. We can''t continue ying with only ten men."

    The fourth official nodded and stepped towards the touchline. When the on-pitch referee gave him the go-ahead, he immediately raised his board, and Kasongo ran onto the pitch. The substitution had finally allowed Rosenborg to even out the numbers after ying with only ten men for about four minutes.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and signaled for the Lyon yers to take the corner kick. Corentin Tolisso, Lyon''s right-back, floated a tricky ball towards the box.

    Alexandre Lacazette immediately escaped his mark before leaping high in the air to connect with the descending corner ball. He timed his jump well to nt a header towards the goal from the boundary of the penalty box.

    It was a tense moment for Rosenborg as the ball was on a straight course towards the inside of the right post. However, at the veryst instant, Daniel ?rlund, the Rosenborg keeper, came to the rescue once again. Hemitted himself to a full-body dive before diverting the shot away from its intended trajectory with his fingertips.

    But the hearts of most Rosenborg fans were still in their throats as the danger was still atrge. They were still tense as the ball smashed off the goalpost the next moment before rebounding into the box.

    The yers of both teams scrambled after the ball while pushing and pulling at each other''s shirts. But in the end, it was Zachary who got to it first.

    Zachary didn''t loseposure even while surrounded by opponents within his own box. He brought the ball under control with an outstretched boot before executing a simple Marseille turn to escape the tight encirclement of the Lyon yers. And when the passing angle opened up, he immediately flicked the ball toward Kasongo, who was lurking on the right-wing.

    Kasongo controlled the ball well on the right nk and then took off towards the other side of the pitch like the wind. But after sprinting a few yards, he ran into the blockade of Arnold Mvuemba, Lyon''s holding midfielder. So, he could only turn around and pass the ball towards the middle to find Zachary, who was catching up from behind.

    Zachary controlled the ball mid-sprint, and the booing around the stadium rose to a crescendo. Since the Lyon fans seemed to hold a grudge against him, they were once again on their feet, cursing and jeering at him with pure loathing and hate.

    But Zachary seemed not to mind the hostility of the Lyon fans and kept on sprinting towards the other side of the pitch like a bullet train on the rails. Soon, he stepped past the center-line, and Jordan Ferri, the other holding midfielder, who''d stayed back to defend, tried to stop his run.

    Zachary immediately executed a few side steps and circumvented the defender from the right with another burst of speed. But just then, he ran into a fierce tackle from Bakary Kon¨¦, another yer who''d been covering the back during the corner kick.

    Bakary Kon¨¦ slid in fast from his blindside and swept him off his feet the next instant. Before he could react, he was already tumbling toward the ground.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and rushed to the scene. He immediately awarded a free-kick to Rosenborg before cautioning Bakary Kon¨¦ verbally. He didn''t even show the defender a yellow card formitting the dangerous tackle.

    -----

    In the stands behind Lyon''s goal, the Lyon fans were chattering and cheering loudly. Bakary Kon¨¦''s tackle on Zachary seemed to have excited them considerably.

    "What an impressive tackle," one fan remarked loudly. "Kon¨¦ managed to take down that piece of shit beautifully."

    "Yes, it was indeed a splendid tackle," another fan said, grinning from ear to ear. "I really hope that Zachary has gotten injured. If he doesn''t stand up again, we''ll benefit."

    "I think that that tackle was a bit of a light punishment on him," another fan said, shaking his head. "If Kon¨¦ had raised his boot a bit higher, the tackle would have been more magnificent."

    "You''re right," the first fan agreed. "I can''t believe that the little shit came to our home and tried to shut us down. How dare he?"

    -----

    Zachary picked himself off the ground and performed a few ankle stretches. He only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that he hadn''t gotten himself injured.

    But just as he was beginning to rx, his ears picked up more jeers and curses from the Lyon fans. They started booing his name again, causing him to wonder whether he''d unknowingly killed their rtives.

    "Just ignore them," Mikael said when he walked up to him a few secondster. "They know that your skills pose a huge threat to their team. So, they''re doing their best to destabilize your psyche. You can''t let them win against you."

    "I understand. Don''t worry."

    Zachary was slightly riled up as he turned his attention away from the fans. He breathed in deeply to calm himself down before returning his focus to the crucial issues at hand.

    Since the free-kick was about fifty-five yards away, he couldn''t take a direct shot towards the goal. He had to send a curling ball towards the back of the defense and let his teammates do the rest of the work.

    But Zachary soon determined that such an approach couldn''t yield any results. He was sure that Lyon''s defense,prising yers like Samuel Umtiti and Bakary Kon¨¦, would clear the high ball without any challenges. So, if he wished to gain something out of the free-kick, he had to look for a better n.

    Zachary''s mind immediately started working in overdrive as he observed Lyon''s defense. He soon noticed how the Lyon defenders had set up the backline a good number of yards away from their box, and then a bold idea came to him. Since they seemed intent on utilizing an offside trap, he would use it against them.

    "Mikael," he said, ncing at the left-back. "You should be the one to take this free-kick. Let''s try out something new."

    "What do you have in mind?" Mikael asked after leaning closer.

    Zachary smiled and whispered in his ear for a few seconds.

    Mikael nodded with a smile and ced the ball on the free-kick spot.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and signaled for Rosenborg to take the free-kick a few secondster.

    Zachary nodded to Mikael and immediately took off towards Lyon''s box with all the haste he could muster. Since he''d already assigned Mikael his role, he also needed to do his part toplete the free-kick move. He didn''t look back as his long strides ate up yards of space like there was no tomorrow.

    -----

    Coach Johansen''s heart raced with anticipation when he watched Zachary elerate towards Lyon''s box right after the whistle. The boy prodigy circumvented opponents like a rugby yer and made it to the Lyon backline in less than six seconds.

    And just then, at the moment before Zachary stepped into an offside position, Mikael took the free-kick. He unleashed a curling ball that soared over the defense and started to descend towards the edge of the box a few secondster.

    The free-kick was right on point, and since it was unexpected, it had managed to catch all the Lyon defenders unawares. Thus, there wasn''t any opponent in Zachary''s vicinity when he controlled the ball at the edge of the box. Without losingposure, he stepped past the keeper who''de out to meet him with a couple of side steps before burying the ball into the back of the.

 Chapter 356 Juninho was at a Loss for Words

    <h4>Chapter 356 Juninho was at a Loss for Words</h4>

    After scoring the goal, Zachary raced towards Mikael Dorsin, the teammate who''d provided the incredible assist, and gave him a bear hug. As for the angry Lyon fans, he decided to ignore them since he couldn''te out on top if he engaged in a verbal fight against the crowd. As a professional footballer, he''d already resolved to respond to their taunts and jeers not with words or gestures ¡ª but with just more goals.

    However, Mikael Dorsin, Rosenborg''s assistant captain, refused to follow his example. The left-back excused himself from the group of celebrating yers before rushing towards the stands behind the Lyon goal. Then, he grinned and spread out his hands before pressing them behind his ears.

    The defender''s message was obviously, ''I''m celebrating the goal. So, please, I can''t hear you.''

    The Lyon fans were immediately enraged. They booed and hurled out insults with renewed intensity for the next few seconds. Some even started throwing firecrackers onto the pitch to let out their anger until stadium security stepped in to calm the situation down.

    It was only after a whole five minutes that the chaos ended. But before the game could restart, the referee summoned Mikael and showed him a yellow card for his unsportsmanlike behavior of agitating the fans.

    "You shouldn''t have taunted the fans," Zachary said to Mikael. "What if the ref decided to show you a red card instead? We would have been in deep shit."

    "Don''t worry," Mikael said, patting his shoulder. "I know what I''m doing. And, of course, I couldn''t allow the fans to keep cursing at you without hitting back."

    "Thanks for looking out for me." Zachary smiled. "But seriously, it doesn''t matter whether they boo me or not. What matters is that we win the game and move a step closer to the semi-finals."

    "I understand," Mikael said, nodding. "Gamey is about to restart. Let''s head back to our positions."

    -----

    Due to the chaos in the stands, the game only restarted after a six-minute break. The Lyon yers immediately relied on their 4-3-1-2 formation to overpower Rosenborg in the middle of the field. Before long, they dictated the tempo and hoarded more than 70% percent of the ball possession. And as the proceedings headed into thete stages of the 1st half, they even switched from defensive to attacking tactics.

    Team Lyon soon startedunching fierce attacks on Rosenborg''s goal by relying on long through-balls to Alexandre Lacazette and Baf¨¦timbi Gomis. The momentum was clearly on Lyon''s side as the two impressive forwards tested Rosenborg''s defense repeatedly, searching for that crucial opening goal.

    However, all the Rosenborg yers defended with one heart. They parked the team bus in front of their goal and thwarted all the goal-scoring opportunities created by the Lyon yers. It was as if they had given up on attacking for the rest of the game to concentrate only on defense.

    But during the 42nd minute, when the Lyon yers had just stepped up a gear to be more aggressive with their attacks, a swift change transpired on the pitch.

    A poor cross from Corentin Tolisso, the Lyon right-back, gave Eric Bailly a chance to battle Alexandre Lacazette for aerial superiority within the box. The Ivorian leaped high to meet the iing ball with his head before clearing it to safety. And fortunately, his clearance happened to find its way to Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg striker lurking close to the touchline on the right nk.

    Nicki brought the ball under control with his chest. He then zipped past a challenge from Henri Bedimo, the Lyon left-back, before squaring a pass to Thomas Partey. With that swift and smooth transition, he''d managed to initiate a counterattack.

    Thomas Partey''s gaze swept past Zachary''s position as he controlled the ball from Nicki. But he immediately noticed that three opponents were surrounding the young ymaker. So, he could only choose to pass the ball to Takumi Minamino, the other attack-minded midfielder.

    Takumi took a single touch on the ball before unleashing a raking pass towards the right-wing. The Japanese midfielder''s vision was impressive, and he managed to seek out Paul Kasongo, who had just made a daring run through the right-wing.

    Kasongo seemed confident as he brought the ball under control close to the touchline. And since no opponent was marking him, he immediately took off towards Lyon''s box like the wind.

    The short guy was abnormally swift and managed to cover a distance of more than seven yards in a couple of seconds. But just as he was approaching the box from the right side, he ran into a fierce tackle from Bakary Kon¨¦. The Lyon center-back slid in wholesale to sweep the short guy off his feet.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and rushed to the scene. He immediately showed Bakary Kon¨¦ a yellow card before awarding a free-kick to Rosenborg only a few yards away from the box.

    -----

    A wave of silence soon descended upon the stadium as Zachary picked up the ball and positioned it on the spot marked out by the referee. Surprisingly, the Lyon fans were no longer booing or cursing at him. Instead, most had already ced their hands behind their heads while others were biting on their lips. They were obviously worried about the situation on the pitch.

    "Do you think he will score?" A young man in the stands behind Lyon''s goal asked his friend.

    "I don''t know," his friend replied while massaging his temples. "Damn it! What are the yers doing? Why are they conceding free-kicks close to our box?"

    His friend didn''t reply. He only shook his head silently before returning all his attention to the field of y.

    -----

    On the pitch, the referee had finished arranging the defensive wall. It was a long wallprising seven Lyon yers who had lined up a yard or two inside their box, hoping to stop Zachary from scoring another free-kick against them.

    Zachary assessed the wall for a few seconds before stepping back from the ball and activating the Dead-Ball-Specialist Juju. When the referee blew the whistle and gave the go-ahead, he nodded and proceeded forward like usual.

    He made a short angled run towards the ball before making thest jump-step to position his support foot beside the ball. He then swung his foot down hard and fast to hit the ball with the instep part of his boot.

    His technique, honed over thousands of repetitions during training, was as immacte as ever. He managed to wrap his foot around the ball before sending it on a curling trajectory above the wall. Before the keeper could react, it dipped fast and homed into the top left corner of the.

    -----

    Olympique Lyonnais 0 : Rosenborg BK 3

    -----

    The cheers of the Rosenborg fans in the stadium hit a thunderous crescendo when Zachary raised his arms to celebrate the goal. They jumped around in their seats and sang Rosenborg''s victory chants for the next few seconds. They could hardly contain their excitement as their team was already leading by three goals during the first half of the Europa League quarter-finals.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle after the celebrations, and the game restarted. The Lyon yers couldn''t seem to focus after conceding the third goal. They misced a few passes and even gifted another counterattacking opportunity to Rosenborg after a few more minutes of gamey.

    However, just as the Rosenborg yers had initiated another fierce counter-offensive against Lyon, the referee blew the half-time whistle. The Rosenborg yers could only sigh with disappointment before trekking off the pitch and marching towards the tunnel.

    **** ****

    Emilia Vasquez, the ESPN sports presenter, breathed deeply and smiled at the cameras. Her heart was still palpitating with excitement as her mind recalled the action during the first half.

    "Wee back from the Olympique Lyonnais versus Rosenborg first-half action," she said. "Only three chances! Three free-kicks! Three shots on target! Three goals from Zachary Bemba during the first half! Gentlemen, what is your take on the first half?" She turned towards the two pundits in the studio.

    Juninho immediately shook his head and smiled wryly. "I''m at a loss for words," he said with an audible sigh. "The proceedings on the pitch are simply a shocker to me. I don''t even understand how Rosenborg is three goals ahead before half-time."

    Emilia smiled. "What about you, Ole? What''s your take on the first half?"

    "I''m obviously shocked and stunned," Ole said with a smile. "But I think I''m a bit more epting towards the results of the first half than my friend here." He patted Juninho''s shoulder.

    Emilia chuckled. "Tell us about the first half. Why do you think Lyon is behind by three goals even after dominating possession for arge part of the game?"

    Ole sighed. "As Conte said in his previous interview after Rosenborg''s match against Juventus, the difference between the two sides is only Zachary Bemba. Whenever he gets an opportunity during the game, he converts it to give Rosenborg an edge against their opponents. As we all noticed during the first half, Lyon is behind by three goals because they didn''t manage to contain him."

 Chapter 357 Overwhelming Victory

    <h4>Chapter 357 Overwhelming Victory</h4>

    Emilia raised a brow after hearing Ole''s response. "Are you implying that the opponents were not marking him? From what I saw, three Lyon yers were constantly circling around his position during the entire game."

    Ole shook his head. "They obviously didn''t do enough to contain him. Or maybe, he was too much for them, and they couldn''t handle him. Emilia! You have to understand that incredible yers only need a couple of seconds to create and finish off goal-scoring chances on the pitch. If you blunder even once or turn your attention away from an incredible yer like Zachary for even a few seconds, he will punish you."

    "Lyon obviously yed good football during the first half," Ole continued. "They hoarded all the possession while also containing Zachary with their tactics. However, they lost their focus on a few asions and conceded those free-kicks, and that''s why Rosenborg is ahead by three goals during the first half."

    "Thanks, Ole," Emilia said before turning towards Juninho. "Juninho! All Zachary''s three goals were a result of free-kicks. Two of them were direct set-pieces a few yards away from the box, and he managed to convert them without losing hisposure. You''re the expert. What can you tell us about his technique?"

    "His technique is wless and reminds me of David Beckham''s curveballs," Juninho replied. "His motions while taking the set-pieces are textbook perfect, and he always manages to ce the ball where he wants without losing hisposure."

    "I also realized that his mental ability is quite high. The fans were booing him and giving him hell, but he didn''t flinch while converting the set-pieces. Such a feat takes nerves of steel ¡ª which is an attribute that also makes him a cold-blooded assassin whenever he''s about to take a set-piece. If he can maintain his consistency over the next few years, he''ll surely be one of the greatest free-kick takers in history."

    "Thanks, Juninho," Emilia said, smiling. "I''m still confused about one thing, though. Coach R¨¦mi Garde insisted that he would treat Rosenborg as a strong opponent. And from his set-up of the squad, I expected Lyon to employ ultra-defensive tactics to contain Zachary and the rest of the Rosenborg yers. But just after 45 minutes, Lyon is already trailing by three goals. Juninho! Where did Lyon go wrong? Are the yers not doing enough? Or were Coach R¨¦mi Garde''s tactics not suitable for the game?"

    Juninho smiled slightly. "I don''t think there is anything wrong with Coach R¨¦mi Garde''s tactics. His game n has enabled Lyon to keep Zachary quiet for most of the first half. That''s except for those three chances, of course. The issue should be with the Lyon yers, instead."

    "As Ole said," Juninho continued, "the yers lost focus a few times during the first half and conceded free-kicks close to their box. In so doing, they gifted the on-form Zachary clear chances to score those three goals. If I were a Lyon defender, I would have allowed either Tobias or Kasongo to have a go at goal rather thanmitting a foul and gifting Zachary a chance to convert a set-piece near the box."

    "Thanks, Juninho," Emilia said. "But first, let''s head into amercial break before returning with more analyses and the preview of the second half. Stay tuned, and don''t touch that dial. We''ll be back shortly."

    **** ****

    Olympique Lyonnais was like a totally different team after half-time. From the first minute of the second half, the men in white attacked fiercely and dominated proceedings on the field of y with more than 75% ball possession. It was as if their lives were on the line as they exerted themselves, trying to create an opportunity to score the first goal. And eventually, their efforts almost paid off during the 70th minute.

    Steed Malbranque, the Lyon attacking midfielder, connected with a pass from Samuel Umtiti at the border of the final third. He brought the ball under control with his chest before whirling around to escape the harassment of Thomas Partey, Rosenborg''s defensive midfielder.

    The Lyon attacking midfielder then unleashed a lofted ball over the defense to find Alexandre Lacazette. His well-timed pass caught the Rosenborg backline unawares and released the striker on a straight course towards the goal.

    Alexandre Lacazette brought the ball under control without any pressure and immediately took another touch before stepping into Rosenborg''s box. The next moment, he nced up once before drawing his leg back and unleashing a curling shot over the keeper, who''de out from between the posts to meet him.

    The cheers all around the stadium hit a thunderous crescendo as the ball made its way past the outstretched fingertips of Daniel ?rlund, the Rosenborg keeper. But the next moment, sighs and curses, tinged with disappointment, emerged from the stands as the ball smashed off the post before heading out of y for a goal kick.

    What a missed opportunity!!

    Alexandre Lacazette, the often clinical danger-man of Lyon, had gotten a clear chance to score Lyon''s first goal during the 71st minute. But he''d narrowly missed by hitting the post. The frustration seemed to be killing him, and he punched the grass a couple of times in anguish.

    -----

    On the sidelines, Coach Johansen was tense. His entire being was still palpitating with anxiety as he recalled Alexandre Lacazette''s missed opportunity.

    If the striker had angled his shot just an inch to the left, the French giants would have narrowed the goal difference to only two goals. Then, if they happened to score another goal before the 90 minutes psed, Rosenborg would be in for a tough time during the second leg.

    "No, I have to y it safe during the remaining minutes," Coach Johansen decided before pivoting his gaze onto the substitutes'' bench. He immediately summoned Ole Seln?s and Mike Jensen and started giving them instructions.

    "You two will be subbing on for Alexander S?derlund and Nicki Nielsen," he said. "I want you to help out in defensive midfield so as to prevent the Lyon attackers from creating more chances. Your only role on the pitch will be to protect our defense. There''s no need for you two to leave your positions to attack during the remaining 18 minutes of gamey. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach," the two yers replied in unison.

    "Good," Coach Johansen nodded. "When you enter the pitch, pass on my instructions to the rest of the yers. Inform them that everyone is to sit tight in defense during the remaining minutes. Our only objective is to avoid conceding a goal during this game."

    "What about Zachary?" Mike Jensen asked. "He usually has a free role on the team. Should we also tell him to sit tight in defense for the remaining few minutes?"

    Coach Johansen''s eyes narrowed as he said, "Zachary will be our only attacker on the field for the rest of the game. So, if there''s an opportunity, he can still have a go at Lyon''s defense. But all the other yers must remain defensive-minded to ensure that we don''t concede. That means that we''ll y nine or ten men in-between the ball and our goal. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach," the two yers replied.

    "Good," Coach Johansen said. "Get ready. I want you on the pitch in less than five minutes."

    -----

    The two Rosenborg substitutes entered the pitch when the ball went out of y for a Lyon throw-in four minutester. After the switch, the Rosenborg yers immediately arrayed themselves in a sort of 4:6:0 formation.

    It was soon clear to all that Rosenborg had given up all their attackers, including their star striker - Nicki Nielsen, to focus only on defending. But of course, Zachary was the only yer allowed by the coach to leave his defensive role in midfield andunch an attack when he saw an opportunity.

    The game continued, and the Lyon yers utilized short passes to continue hoarding more than 70% of the possession. And since there were no Rosenborg attackers to threaten their backline, they grew more confident and sent more numbers forward. Their two wing-backs made bold runs through the nks while the holding midfielders attacked through the middle, searching for that opening goal.

    However, the Rosenborg yers remained steadfast in defense. They packed a massive double-decker bus before their goal and resisted Lyon''s barrage of attacks as if their lives depended on the game. Thanks to their efforts, the game remained 3:0 in favor of Rosenborg even as the proceedings headed into injury time.

    The Lyon yers became more frustrated as the end of the game drew closer. They became more hurried in their attempts to search for a goal and startedmitting some amateur mistakes. And finally, their impatience cost them during the 93rd minute, with only two minutes of injury time remaining to the end of the game.

    Henri Bedimo, the Lyon left-back who had pushed forward, tried to break into Rosenborg''s box through the left nk. But in the end, he ran into Eric Bailly''s blockade and lost the ball at the edge of the box.

    Mike Jensen, the substitute midfielder, picked up the loose ball and immediately passed it to Takumi Minamino. Thetter whirled around to escape Steed Malbranque''s harassment before squaring a pass to Zachary, who''d just run into an unmarked pocket of space on the left nk.

    Zachary received the ball close to the touchline and whirled around to face Lyon''s goal. His incredible spatial awareness worked wonders ¡ª and in nothing but an instant, he noticed a rare open highway from his position to the other side of the pitch. The Lyon yers seemed to have ignored the space on the nks when they became frustrated and started attacking in droves. So, it was totally unobstructed without anyone to block his way.

    "Chance!"

    Adrenaline flooded Zachary''s bodily systems as he took off like a rocket flying into outer space. He elerated to his apex velocity within a few seconds as he continued feeding the ball in front of him. Before long, he stepped past the centerline and continued bearing on Lyon''s goal like a raging cyclone.

    For that counterattack, he didn''t utilize any fancy tricks. He didn''t even perform a single sidestep as no opponents were blocking his path. He just exploded with pure speed as his long strides ate up yards of space like an incarnation of Usain bolt on a one-hundred-meter racing track.

    His breathing became morebored as he pumped his legs like the pistons of a race car. But he held on with sheer willpower before cutting into the pitch and heading straight towards Lyon''s goal like a predator on the hunt.

    Anthony Lopes, the Lyon keeper, came out of goal to meet him. The goalie rushed forward, all guns zing as if he wanted to murder someone. His expression at that moment could have scared a young kid into having nightmares for the next few months.

    However, Zachary wasn''t unnerved in the slightest. He slowed down before stepping over the ball once. When the keeper bought his dummy and leaned to the left, Zachary immediately exploded with speed once again. He rushed past the keeper''s right side and finally stepped into Lyon''s box.

    But just then, he noticed that two Lyon yers had managed to insert themselves in front of the goal. They seemed to have rushed straight through the middle and caught up when he''d slowed down to draw in the keeper.

    Zachary remainedposed and drew his leg back as if he was about to take a shot. Bakary Kon¨¦, one of the defenders, immediately reacted to his feint and slid in wholesale with the intent to block his effort.

    Zachary rxed his leg and merely took a simple touch on the ball to push it an inch further forward.

    Samuel Umtiti, the second defender, also seemed to think that Zachary was about to take the shot. He flew in, trying his utmost to prevent Zachary from scoring. In the end, he alsonded on his butt after falling for the feint.

    "That was easy."

    Zachary smiled and chipped a simple ball into the back of the to score Rosenborg''s fourth goal without any pressure. He then sped towards the corner g before sliding on his knees for a few yards to celebrate the goal.

    His teammates joined him a few secondster. They gave him bear hugs and soon started singing a Rosenborg victory chant. They could hardly contain their excitement as they were on the cusp of aplishing an overwhelming victory against Lyon in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

 Chapter 358 Analysis and Speculation

    <h4>Chapter 358 Analysis and Spection</h4>

    The game continued after the goal celebrations. The Olympique Lyonnais yers seemed not to have given up yet, even after conceding the fourth goal. Theyunched another fierce attack against Rosenborg during the final minutes of added time. They passed the ball immactely around the middle until they picked out Baf¨¦timbi Gomis, the striker who had just escaped from Yerry Mina''s harassment.

    Baf¨¦timbi Gomis received the ball and whirled around to create space for himself at the edge of the box. He then unleashed a powerful shot towards the goal when the angle opened up.

    But his efforts were fruitless once again as his shot soon met a roadblock in the form of Eric Bailly. The Rosenborg defender slid in fast to intercept the ball and send it out of y with an outstretched leg.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and pointed toward the corner g.

    The Lyon yers quickly flooded into Rosenborg''s box, hoping to score at least a constion goal before the end of that night''s proceedings. Soon, they started creating chaos in the box as they pushed and pulled at their opponents'' shirts to create some space for themselves.

    The tension was high in Rosenborg''s box for the next minute, and the referee even had to step in and control the situation by cautioning some Lyon yers. Otherwise, they might havee to blows with the Rosenborg yers there in the box.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally blew the whistle and signaled for team Lyon to take the corner kick after calming the yers'' tempers down.

    Jordan Ferri, the Lyon midfielder, immediately unleashed a tricky cross towards the crowded box from the corner spot.

    The yers of both teams pushed up from the ground to meet the ball descending into the box. But in the end, it was Yerry Mina, the tall Rosenborg center-back, who got the better of everyone else. He outjumped the rest and cleared the ball out of the box with his head.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    It was then that the referee blew the whistle and brought the proceedings for the night to a close. After 96 minutes of intense action, the first leg of the Europe League quarter-finals had finally ended with Rosenborg overwhelming Lyon by four goals to nil.

    The night was like a dreame true for the Rosenborg yers. They soon started running around the pitch while yelling at the top of their voices to celebrate their victory. But a few minutester, they had to cut their celebrations short as chaos descended upon the stadium.

    The ugly side of football reared its hideous head as several dozens of supporters started pushing against the safety barriers held by the stewards. They continuously hurled out curses and insults as they tried to break past the security blockade and invade the stadium.

    The situation soon turned more chaotic and out of control. As a result, the yers and coaches of both teams could only return to their respective dressing rooms to avoid the mess.

    -----

    The mood in Rosenborg''s dressing room was jolly even with all the chaos outside in the stadium. Both coaches and yers sang and danced like crazed fellows for minutes. They could hardly contain their excitement since they''d just made history by thrashing Lyon 4:0 away from home. They only needed to defend well during the second leg at Lerkendal, and then they would qualify for the Europa League semi-finals.

    "Good game!" Coach Johansen said as he gave Zachary a bear hug. "And damn! You were reallyposed when you scored the fourth goal. The Lyon defenders will suffer nightmares, thinking about the goal for at least a few weeks."

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary replied with a smile. His spirits were already shooting through the roof and soaring high up into the skies. Waves of contentment continuously warmed him from within as he''d scored four goals and won the match ball again.

    **** ****

    In the ESPN studio, Emilia smiled at the cameras. "What a surprising game," she said. "We all expected a match with a few goals. But in the end, Zachary Bemba pulled out all stops to ensure that his team, Rosenborg, thrashed Lyon by four goals to nil. What an incredible yer!"

    "Yes, what an incredible yer, indeed," Juninho chimed in. "We''re witnessing the rise of a very great yer who canpete with the best of the best in history. He''s just 19 years old ¡ª but already ying like this! If he can continue maturing, I just can''t begin to imagine how deadly he''ll be in a few years."

    "You''re right, Juninho," Ole said. "He''s already scored seventeen goals in the Europa League this season. Jonathan Soriano, the RB Salzburg striker second on the list of top scorers, is just at eleven goals. But as we all know, Red Bull Salzburg is already out of thepetition. So, Zachary will most likely take the Europa League golden boot this season, which is quite a big achievement for a young man who has just clocked 19-years."

    Emilia smiled and said, "Gentlemen! Let''s talk about the fourth goal. I keep having goosebumps every time I recall that goal during the 93rd minute."

    "The goal was incredible," Juninho said with a smile. "The run from the left nk to the box was something else. Then, his simple feints to fool the keeper and the defenders before scoring were simply magnificent. Most yers would be panicking to take the shot when they are that close to the goal. But what did Zachary do? He remained calm andposed and thought about fooling the defenders before scoring. Suchposure at crucial moments of the game is the attribute that separates the best yers from the mediocre yers in the game."

    Ole chuckled. "The other thing I noticed is that he seems to create chances out of nothing. You know! When he received the ball close to the left nk during the 93rd minute, I only froze a bit, thinking along the lines of oh, well, there''s a 5% chance he can score. Then he elerated to his maximum speed, and his chances increased to 50% in a few seconds. He approaches the keeper and circumvents him, and then his scoring-probability increases only to 80% ¡ª simply because of the two defenders still blocking his way. But with two more feints, he sends the defenders packing, and he has an open goal in front of him. His chances are already 100% by then. He buries the ball in the back of the."

    "If other yers had been in Zachary''s position," Ole continued, "They wouldn''t have had the courage and boldness to make the run in the first ce. They would have yed it safe and waited for their teammates to catch up since their chances of making a sessful run from the nks to goal were minimal. And they would definitely not have scored the goal."

    "Let me correct you there, Ole," Juninho said. "There are a few other yers who would have made the run. Messi is one. Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Naz¨¢rio de Lima, and Ronaldinho would also have made the same decision. Then, there''s Maradona, Ryan Giggs, Romario, etcetera. The list goes on."

    Ole chuckled. "Yes, you''re right," he said. "Those yers would have chosen to run with the ball. Butparing Zachary to those greats shows how great he is, even when he''s just 19 years. And I''m sure that many big clubs will be eager to snatch him from Rosenborg during the uing transfer window."

    "Zachary''s next club is a big talking point these days," Emilia said. "A few weeks ago, there were rumors of Juventus already initiating a move on him. But, I''m guessing that the Italian giants won''t be the only ones looking forward to acquiring his services. Many other big clubs should start keeping an eye on him, especially after his performance today."

    "Definitely," Ole agreed. "The big spenders like Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea would want to buy him. Even Barcelona would wee him to Camp Nou by offering him a lucrative sry. But from what I heard, Zachary still has two more years on his contract with Rosenborg. So, all those wishing to acquire his services will have to cough out some good money."

    Emilia smiled. "Where do you wish to see him next season?"

    "Manchester United," Ole was quick to answer.

    "I would prefer to see him in a Lyon shirt," Juninho said. "But I know that that isn''t going to happen, especially after our fans booed him throughout the entire match. I guess seeing him in a Juventus shirt is my next best option. I want to see him partner-up with Pirlo, Vidal, and Pogba in Turin. They would do great things together."

    "Let''s first put spections of Zachary''s future to the side," Emilia said. "Rosenborg''s overwhelming win has put the Norwegian giants in a seemingly invincible position during this quarter-final. But do you think there''s a chance for Lyon to make aeback at Lerkendal next week? Can Lyon ovee a deficit of four goals to qualify for the semi-finals of the Europa League?"

    "There''s no chance," Ole replied, shaking his head. "Rosenborg is a team that is clearly on form. They''ll be ying at Lerkendal in front of their home fans. They''ll also be having Zachary, their ymaker, on the pitch. Can Lyon make aeback with all those factors superimposing together? I don''t think so. Many people like to say that football is unpredictable right up to thest minute. But for me, I believe that the result of this quarter-final is already decided."

    Emilia nodded and turned to the Brazilian Maestro. "What about you, Juninho? What do you think?"

    Juninho sighed and shook his head. "If Zachary doesn''t y the second leg," he said, "Lyon might have a chance. But we all know that that isn''t going to happen. Coach Johansen might even rest Zachary during the weekend and reserve him for the second leg sh. And with Zachary on the pitch, Lyon''s chances are very slim."

    **** ****

 Chapter 359 Domestic League Fixture against Aalesund FK

    <h4>Chapter 359 Domestic League Fixture against Aalesund FK</h4>

    The Rosenborg yers remained turtled up in the dressing room to avoid the fan violence, which had gone on longer than expected after the game. They continued singing, dancing, and chatting loudly to celebrate their victory during the first few minutes. But they all soon grew silent and started dozing off on the benches as the post-match fatigue finally caught up to them. After a few more minutes, snores and sounds of deep breathing resounded across the dressing room as most of the yers slipped into a deep sleep.

    The holdup then continued for roughly two more hours ¡ª and finally, when the clock hand was almost pointing to the 1:00 AM mark, the coaches got the go-ahead from stadium security to depart from the stadium.

    "Guys!" Coach Johansen shouted while moving around and waking up the sleeping yers. "It''s time to go. Pick your things, and let''s go back to the hotel."

    The yers awoke with a start, like soldiers who had just heard an assembly bugle call. They hurriedly donned their jackets and shoes before slinging their bags over their shoulders and following the coaches out of the dressing room.

    They walked quickly through the tunnel, and soon, they marched out of the stadium, heading towards their team bus, parked only a few meters away. But it was then that they noticed that the situation around the stadium wasn''t right.

    "What the hell happened here when we were in the dressing room?" Zachary eximed after noticing the anti-riot police surrounding the whole stadium entrance. He couldn''t help but narrow his eyes slightly to block out the blinding red and blue police siren lights atop the armored vehicles.

    "Seems like the Lyon fans went ahead and battled the police after the game," Eric Bailly replied, also ncing around. "By the look of things, it should have been quite a battle."

    "This is craziness," Zachary mumbled as his eyes darted all over the ce. He''d already noted that the Frenchw enforcers encircling the stadium entrance and Rosenborg''s team bus were armed with rifles, batons, and shields, seemingly as if they were guarding against a terrifying enemy. They even appeared to grow more alert when the Rosenborg yers stepped out of the stadium.

    "Guys!" Coach Johansen yelled from the front of the Rosenborg procession. "Don''t drag your feet. Walk fast and enter the bus. We don''t want to spend more time here than necessary." He even pped his hands loudly as if to emphasize his point.

    After hearing the coach''s voice, Zachary and his teammates didn''t continue gaping at the cops and armored vehicles surrounding the area. They hurried their steps and quickly entered the team bus before settling in their seats.

    Without further ado, the bus took off, and before long, it was already traversing the wide streets of Lyon, heading to their hotel. Their journey was without any issues as a convoy of armored vehicles and police motorbikes escorted them all the way to their destination.

    Before the clock hand pointed to the 2:00 AM mark, they alighted the bus before making their way into the hotel. They were finally ready to end the night, which had been both stressful and filled with the joy of their victory.

    Zachary paused a bit at the hotel entrance and looked back. He was again startled when he noticed that the anti-riot police and the convoy of armored vehicles were taking strategic positions around the hotel. It seemed that they were nning to guard the hotel through the night. The notion made him wonder whether the police had gotten information that the Lyon fans were actually nning to assault the Rosenborg yers.

    Football was supposed to be a sport that brought fun and joy to people all around the globe. So, the sheer image of supporters of one football club assaulting yers of an opposing team surprised and unnerved him greatly. It made him wonder whether he should start employing a bodyguard when he traveled through the cities of the teams his team had defeated.

    "Zachary!" Coach Johansen called out from behind him. "Don''t stand there, staring at the police. Just head to your room and let your body rest. We''ll be returning to Trondheim on an 8:00 AM flight tomorrow morning. That gives you only about five hours of sleep."

    "I''ll head to my room now," Zachary said after turning away from the entrance. "Good night to you, coach."

    "Good night, Zachary," the coach replied with a smile. "Make sure that you rest well, as we''ll be rmencing serious training the day after tomorrow."

    "Don''t worry. I''ll be ready." Zachary replied before alighting up the stairs and heading to his room. The match against Lyon had worn him out considerably. So, he was looking forward to diving into his bed and sinking into slumbend immediately.

    **** ****

    As nned, the Rosenborg yers returned to Trondheim the following morning. They only rested for a single day to recover from the post-match fatigue before resuming intensive training.

    They had a tight schedule over the following seven days. First, they had to face off against Aalesund FK three dayster at an away ground in their second fixture of that season''s Tippeligaen. Then, four days after that, they would wee Lyon to Lerkendal for the second leg sh of the Europa League quarter-finals. So, they couldn''t rx if they wished to achieve desirable results from the two games.

    Since they were well aware of what was at stake, all the yers didn''tin when the coaches requested that they invest more time and effort into training. They performed all required drills with their hearts, especially since they wished to continue winning. Their relentlessness caused the atmosphere around the team to be more energetic, and the two days shed by quickly. Eventually, Sunday morning arrived, and the yers who had made the squad traveled to Aalesund to y their second domestic fixture of the season.

    For that game, Coach Johansen once again rested all his star yers. He benched Takumi Minamino, Eric Bailly, Yerry Mina, Thomas Partey, Nicki Nielsen, and Mikael Dorsin. As for Zachary, he wasn''t even on the list of the substitutes that traveled to Aalesund. The coach ordered his ymaker to watch the match on-screen instead of traveling with the team and tiring himself out.

    But even without the star yers, the Rosenborg reserves still put up amanding performance. They relied on a 4-5-1 formation to y a defensive game that rendered all the tactics of Aalesund useless. Due to theirpact shape, they denied the opponents from breaking through their midfield and creating chances on goal. As a result, the score remained 0:0 as the yers headed into the tunnel for half-time.

    During the second half, the Troll Kids yed a bit more aggressively. They sent more numbers forward and used high-pressing tactics to ensure that Aalesund could no longer dominate possession. Soon, they dictated the tempo and started creating more chances on goal. Eventually, their efforts paid off, and a goal-scoring opportunity arose during the 80th minute.

    Mike Jensen, the Rosenborg defensive midfielder for the day, intercepted a lofted pass from an Aalesund defender. He brought the ball down with an outstretched boot before escaping his marker with a few skillful touches. When the angle opened up, he unleashed a long pass towards the right nk to find Riku Riski.

    Riku Riski, Rosenborg''s right-winger for the day, brought the ball under control with his chest. He then whirled around and fed it past the Aalesund left-back as his speed exploded. He soon crossed into the final third and unleashed a lofted cross to find John Chibuike, the Rosenborg center-forward, within the box.

    John Chibuike immediately escaped the harassment of his marker before leaping up to meet the descending ball. He timed his run well to nt a header towards the goal from around the edge of the penalty box. And without any surprise, the ball shed past the keeper''s outstretched hands before nestling itself into the back of the.

    -----

    Aalesund FK 0 : Rosenborg BK 1

    -----

    Coach Johansen nodded and smiled as he watched his yers celebrating the goal. A few minutes earlier, he''d just been about to sub on Nicki Nielsen and Takumi Minamino so that they could search for the winner.

    But since his on-field yers had already gotten the goal, he saw no need to go ahead with the substitution. He would only employ defensive tactics to manage the endgame and go home with three points at the end of the day.

    "Guys!" He started yelling at his yers. "We''ll all y defensively for the rest of the game. So, I want nine men behind the ball for the remaining minutes. Only John Chibuike can stay on striking..."

    The coach paced the entire length of the touchline as he hollered out instructions. And to his relief, his yers adapted quickly and soon started utilizing ultra-defensive tactics.

    They all settled in defense and prevented team Aalesund from creating more chances at goal. Thanks to their tactical discipline, the score remained 1:0 in favor of Rosenborg until the final whistle sounded.

 Chapter 360 Intimacy and Bliss

    <h4>Chapter 360 Intimacy and Bliss</h4>

    Zachary breathed a sigh of relief after the game between Rosenborg and Aalesund ended. He''d only managed to watch the match on-screen in the living room of his apartment in Trondheim. But he could still envision the excitement that his teammates were feeling just by looking at their expressions as they marched out of the pitch.

    "Is the game over?" Cami''s voice emerged from the bedroom. She''d begun spending most of her weekends at Zachary''s apartment over the past month. That Sunday evening was no exception.

    "The game has just ended," Zachary replied, raising his voice slightly. "The presenters and pundits are now conducting a boring post-match analysis."

    "Who won?" Cami asked once again.

    "Do you have to ask?" Zachary said while aiming the remote at the television to switch to another channel. "Of course, it''s Rosenborg that triumphed against Aalesund. No team in Norway can defeat us at this moment if we y at half our best."

    There was no response from the bedroom for a few seconds, causing Zachary to crease his brows, wondering why she had fallen silent. But the next second, he smiled when he saw her step out of the bedroom and into the living room.

    One nce at her, and Zachary could immediately tell that she''d just taken a shower. Her brown hair, tied loosely in a ponytail, seemed a bit moist while no traces of make-up could be seen on her pretty face. But all the same, she looked as gorgeous and tititing as ever, especially in her tight-fitting shorts that entuated her long legs and shapely thighs.

    A soft smile outlined her face as she strode into the living room. She halted her steps right in front of Zachary, seemingly to divert his attention from the screen. Then, her emerald-green eyes crinkled at the corners as she asked, "Who was the person that previously mentioned that he wasn''t sure about his team''s chances of winning the game?"

    Zachary smiled sheepishly as his eyes darted across the entire length of her lithe figure. He could feel a fire burning inside him as the aroma from her shampoo assaulted his senses.

    "That was my ego speaking," he said. "I was also in anguish, especially after the coach left me out of the squad traveling to Aalesund. So, you shouldn''t take my words at the time seriously."

    "Is that so?" Cami smiled and sat on hisp. Then, she leaned forward, causing her alluring breath to tickle at his ear. "I feel that you''re a naughty boy. And naughty boys deserve to be punished for their naughty deeds. Don''t you think so?"

    "I ept my wrongdoings," Zachary said, ying along. He breathed in deeply, burying his head in her hair. "How do you n to punish me, madam?"

    "That''s simple!" A gorgeous smile lit up Cami''s face as she leaned back to lock eyes with Zachary. Then, without saying anything else, she cupped his face and leaned forward to kiss him aggressively on the lips. "That''s your punishment." She said, smiling mischievously and leaning back.

    "Madam!" Zachary whispered. "I like this sort of punishment. Can we continue?"

    Without waiting for her reply, he responded to her teasing in kind. He locked her in a firm embrace, and the two of them made out for minutes on the couch, causing the fires of passion within them to burn brighter and brighter with an untamed vehemence.

    They could no longer hold themselves back after a short while, and clothes started dropping to the floor as they sunk deeper and deeper into exploring their primal desires. And finally, they joined together in the most rudimentary and age-old ritual of expressing their feelings for one another.

    Moans and grunts, apanied by heavy breathing sounds, soon resounded across the room as a testament to their love-making session. They changed positions and postures several times as the intensity of their actions increased steadily and quickly, causing them to forget everything else in the world. Eventually, they seemed to transcend a critical pleasure point and immediately hit a thunderous united zenith, which pushed them over the edge of sensual bliss.

    "That was incredible. I love you, Zachary," Cami whispered in-between gasps of breath as she copsed in Zachary''s arms. The little bit of sweat coating her tanned skin made it glisten under the artificial lighting in the living room.

    "I love you too, Cami," Zachary replied, patting her back and hugging her tighter. "You were really aggressive and intense today. But I''m notining."

    Cami let out a soft chuckle as she traced circles on his chest. She remained silent for a few more seconds before saying, "Zachary! Can I ask you something?"

    "You don''t have to ask for permission," Zachary replied, tracing his hands back and forth along her curvaceous smooth waistline. "Feel free to ask me anything."

    Cam supported herself up from Zachary''s chest with her arms before locking gazes with him. "Who''s ¨¦l¨¦anor Bohen?" She asked.

    "¨¦l¨¦anor Bohen!?" Zachary mumbled, narrowing his eyes. He was confused. "Is the name supposed to mean anything to me?"

    "You tell me," Cami said with a sigh. "Yesterday, when I was doing theundry, I happened to chance upon a neatly-designed card in the name of an ¨¦l¨¦anor Bohen. It was in the pocket of one of your tracksuits."

    Zachary''s mind nked out for a moment. Then, he sighed as he recalled the incident in Lyon when the pretty blonde reporter stealthily pushed a business card into his pocket. He had decided to throw away the card after getting out of the public''s eye but kept on forgetting afterward.

    "So, who''s this ¨¦l¨¦anor Bohen?" Cami queried in a soft voice.

    Zachary sighed again before telling her the story of the reporter in Lyon. He described the entire incident vividly, without leaving out too many details. But he didn''t mention that thedy reporter was beautiful or that he found her pleasing to the eyes after seeing her in a Rosenborg jersey.

    Cami chuckled after hearing his story. "Let me get this straight," she said, her eyes flickering with mischievousness. "You''re moving through the airport with your teammates. Suddenly, reporters and fans interrupt you. And then, at the end of it all, a prettydy reporter shoves a business card into your pocket without your knowledge. She then whispers in your ear, encouraging you to call her, before walking away. Then, you forget about her business card, and it remains in your pocket. Is that the whole story?"

    "That''s it," Zachary replied, nodding.

    Cami beamed, kissing him lightly on the cheek. "So, tell me," she said after a moment. "Did you at any one moment think about calling her?" She asked.

    "Of course not," Zachary was quick to reply. "How can I get tempted by an average-looking blonde when I''m dating the most beautiful and sexiest girl in the world? The question is a no-brainer."

    "Tee hee," Cami tittered before resting her head on Zachary''s chest again. "You''re beginning to have a way with words. But I like it. By the way, have you talked to your grandma today? Is she doing okay?"

    "The doctors tell me that she''s improving very fast," Zachary replied. "If the next few tests are satisfactory, the doctors will discharge her from the hospital in about three weeks."

    "That''s great news!" Cami said. "I''m happy for you, and of course, I''m also happy for her."

    "Thanks," Zachary said, patting her back lightly. "Let''s get up and take a shower. We need to have dinner and prepare for tomorrow. Don''t forget that tomorrow is a Monday. You have to go to work early, and I have to attend a meeting and then go for training afterward."

    Cami groaned, not moving a single inch. "Stop being anxious. I''m sure that your coach will allow you a day off tomorrow since Rosenborg has just yed a game today evening. So, rx, and let''s stay like this for a few more minutes."

    "Your wish is mymand, mydy," Zachary said, smiling wryly. He also felt guilty for not spending enough time with Cami over the past few months. So, he wasn''t about to let her down by denying her a few more minutes of cuddling.

    -----

    The following day, Zachary woke up early as usual. He enjoyed a tasty home-cooked breakfast prepared by Cami before going through his customary morning yoga routine. After that, he took a shower with Cami, and the two of them shared some moments of early morning intimacy until they were slightly out of breath.

    Thirty minutester, they exited the shower, feeling blissful and rxed, before starting their preparations for the hectic Monday schedule.

    Zachary was as swift as ever while dressing up. He quickly pulled on his tracksuit and pushed his feet into his sneakers before packing his gym bag. In only a couple of minutes, he was done with his preparations. So, he settled into one of the sofas in the living room before patiently waiting for Cami to get ready.

    Cami was a bit slower. She first ironed her suit a couple of times before utilizing about twenty minutes to dress up. Applying her make-up took even longer, and she only ended her preparations when the clock hand was almost pointing to the eight o''clock mark.

    Zachary smiled and stood up from the sofa after seeing her exiting the bedroom. "You look smart," he said. "That suit really looks good on you."

    "Thank you," she said, beaming. "You also... I don''t know what to say as I don''t wish to lie to you very early in the morning." She shook her head before slipping her feet into her high heels by the door.

    "Is there a problem?" Zachary asked, narrowing his eyes. "I thought we were having a good time."

    "Of course, we are," she replied. "But, I''m just wondering why you''re in your tracksuit again. Aren''t you going for a meeting with your agent and the investment consultant? Why are you dressed in your training gear?"

    "That''s because I want to go to the gym right after the meeting," Zachary replied. "Moreover, these Nike tracksuits are veryfortable and multipurpose. I don''t see why I shouldn''t wear them to a meeting, especially since I''m a pro-athlete."

    "A green tracksuit over dark-brown sneakers to a meeting!" Cami raised a brow. "I''m starting to doubt whether Nike endorsing you was really a good deal on your end. I haven''t seen you wear anything else ever since they started providing you with their tracksuits at no cost."

    Zachary chuckled. "Why are we talking about my tracksuits at this point?" He said, shaking his head. "We need to hurry! Otherwise, you''ll bete for work, and I might bete for my meeting."

    Cam shook her head and picked up her handbag from a nearby table. "We can go now," she said. "But we''re not done discussing those tracksuits of yours. If you need to save money, I can link you up with a few men''s clothing brands that can always give you free and presentable clothes and shoes. They would be happy to let you wear their brands since you''re a rising football star. They might even pay you to model those brands."

    "Let''s talk about this some other time," Zachary said, opening the door out of the apartment. "But, for now, we need to get going, or we''ll both bete."

    "Okay, I understand." Cami smiled and drew him in for a fervent kiss. She then hugged him for a few seconds before marching out of the door.

    Zachary shook his head and smiled before locking the door and following after her. Before long, they were already descending the stairs and heading out of the building.

 Chapter 361 Deciding to Invest

    <h4>Chapter 361 Deciding to Invest</h4>

    After dropping Cami off at her workce, Zachary headed to Trondheim Torg Shopping Mall to meet with Emily, his agent, and Heather Miller, his investment consultant. He expertly navigated his R8 GT through the morning traffic and managed to make it to his destination by 9:00 AM, the scheduled time for the meeting. He pulled up into one of the parking spots in front of the Trondheim Torg before alighting from the vehicle.

    The early morning sun rays warmed up his skin as he locked the car doors. He smiled as the slightly warmer spring weather was to his liking. His mood brightened as he turned around, intending to start making his way towards the entrance of Trondheim Torg.

    "Zachary! Zachary..."

    Suddenly, a few juvenile voices sounded from a distance. Before Zachary could react, a group of youngsters, probably between the ages of twelve to fifteen, streamed forward and cornered him, forcing him into a tight encirclement beside his R8 GT. Their faces were all smiles as they nced at him with sparkling eyes.

    "Zachary! An Autograph."

    "Zachary, sign my shirt for me."

    "Zachary..."

    Zachary was stunned as his eyes took in the over-eager faces of the dozen or so young men and women asking for his autograph. But that didn''t stop him from agreeing to their requests since they all seemed like hardcore fans of Rosenborg.

    He received a sharpie from one of the young men before signing his name on his shirt. Then, he handed the shirt back to the boy before moving on to another. Since he didn''t wish to be overlyte for his meeting with Emily and Heather, his scribbling speed got faster and faster as he signed his name on more and more items handed out by the fans.

    However, after signing about a dozen autographs, he realized that the number of the fans crowding around him hadn''t lessened. Instead, they increased by the second, as more fans joined in on the fun, seeking a chance to acquire an autograph on their own.

    Zachary immediately decided to harden himself after signing the autographs for the first group of boys and girls who had approached him. For the first time ever, he rejected the requests of the rest of the fans with a few polite words before pushing through the crowd and heading towards the entrance of Trondheim Torg.

    The fans let out sighs filled with disappointment and called out to him a few more times as he stepped away from them. But even though he felt a little remorseful for ignoring them, he still didn''t relent. Since he wished to make it to the meeting ce as soon as possible, he continued walking forward without looking back until he stepped through the enormous doors of the shopping mall.

    "Good morning, Zachary," Emily greeted him right after he settled down on the seat opposite her own a few minutester. They were at a corner table in a cafe on the top floor of the shopping mall. "You''re quitete."

    "Good morning, Emily," Zachary replied, smiling with resignation. "A group of fans intercepted me right in front of the shopping mall. That''s why I''mte."

    Emily smiled, her blue eyes flickering with a hint of amusement. "Maybe," she said, "you should always wear a face mask while moving around Trondheim. That will ensure that the fans won''t bother you anymore, Mr. Popr guy."

    Zachary smiled and turned his attention towards Miss Heather Miller, his investment consultant. Like the first time he''d met her, she was simrly dressed in a dark blue suit that matched her blue eyes peeking from behind a pair of chic spectacles.

    "Good morning, Miss Heather," Zachary said, smiling at her.

    "Good morning, Zachary," she voiced, reaching out with a manicured hand from across the table. "It''s nice to meet you in person once again."

    "Nice to meet you, too," Zachary said, taking her hand. "I''m sorry for beingte. A fan incident outside interrupted me."

    "No problem," she said, smiling and withdrawing her hand. "You were onlyte by a couple of minutes. I really don''t mind."

    "So," Emily chimed in with a smile. "Should we first order some coffee before discussing business?"

    "Good idea," Miss Heather said. "A cappino would be nice."

    "What about you, Zachary?" Emily asked, ncing at him.

    "I''ll also have a cappino as we discuss," he replied.

    "Great," Emily said before calling the waiter. She quickly ced the orders and then sent the waiter away in only a few seconds.

    "So, Zachary!" Miss Heather said after the waiter was out of earshot. "On the phone, you said you were ready to purchase the Te shares. Do you still wish to invest the 500,000 Euros you previously mentioned?"

    Zachary shook his head. "I have decided to triple the amount I''ll be investing in Te Inc. I want to buy shares amounting to 1.5 Million Euros as soon as possible."

    Heather''s blue eyes widened slightly. She seemed startled. "That''s a very bold investment. Are you sure?"

    "Yes, I am sure," Zachary replied. "Can you make it happen? Will you be able to find people willing to sell shares worth that much?"

    Heather breathed out deeply before saying, "Te shares are always avable on the Nasdaq exchange. We can purchase them during American working hours from Monday through Friday. We only need to ce an order using your brokerage ount, and everything else will be automatic. You''ll soon get people to sell you their shares."

    "Then, what are we waiting for?" Zachary said with a smile. "Let''s ce the order after we finish our discussions here."

    "That''s okay," Heather said with a smile. "But, I need to do some preparations first before we can make the purchase. I want to ensure that your financial details and tax information are all in order before we ce the order."

    "You already have my details," Zachary said. "So, you can go ahead and make the preparations. My only wish is to get this investment over with as soon as possible."

    "I understand." Heather smiled and stood up from her seat. "This means that you''ll need to excuse me for now so that I can go and make some calls. We''ll be ready to ce a market order using your brokerage ount in about two hours. Let''s meet then."

    Emily narrowed her eyes. "You''re leaving before taking your cappino?"

    "I have to leave right away," Heather replied. "Otherwise, I''ll not be able to prepare all the details necessary to make such arge purchase in a couple of hours."

    "Okay, then," Emily said. "Go and do what you have to do. But make sure that everything is in proper order before Zachary ces the order. We don''t want him to lose money or time because of a few neglected irregrities."

    "Don''t worry," Heather said. "I won''t miss out on anything. See you in two hours." She added before picking up her handbag and striding away from the table. And soon, her silhouette was already stepping through the cafe''s doorway.

 Chapter 362 Interested Clubs

    <h4>Chapter 362 Interested Clubs</h4>

    There were a few seconds of silence at the table. Then, Emily turned her gaze from Heather''s receding shape before pivoting it onto Zachary. "Are you sure you wish to invest 1.5 Million Euros in Te stock?"

    "I''m sure," Zachary said, smiling. "If I had more money, I would invest even more. It''s a pity that I only have 1.5 million at the moment."

    "As long as you''re sure and thought about everything carefully, all is well," Emily said. "Let''s hope that your investment makes some profit in a few years."

    "It definitely will," Zachary replied confidently. He''d checked the share price of Te that morning and found it to be around 40 USD. The cost was many times less than the future over-1000 USD price. So, he would earn more than twenty-five times his initial investment if he decided to sell the shares when they were most heightened in price, for instance, in 2021.

    "Emily!" Zachary said. "You can also think about buying some Te shares. You might be able to make some good money in the near future."

    "That''s not an option for me," Emily replied, shaking her head. "Instead, I wish to save most of my money so that I can start my own football agency soon."

    "A football agency!" Zachary''s curiosity was piqued. "What about your current one? Are you having issues with your bosses?"

    "Not at all," she replied. "I wish to own my own agency, which will give me more freedom when handling my clients and other business matters. And, of course, I won''t have to cut off a portion of my ie to pay my bosses. There are just many advantages to owning my ownpany. My only hope is that you can let me stay as your agent when that timees."

    "Don''t worry," Zachary said with a smile. "I have never once thought about hiring any other agent. You could also consider taking me as a business partner when you decide to start yourpany. If my career continues progressing well, I''ll be able to contribute capital and some insight into young talented footballers that can be your future clients."

    Emily''s eyes widened. "Are you for real?" She asked.

    "Yes. I''m sure. We can draw up an agreement and own the sports agency together. That''s, of course, if you''re open to the suggestion."

    Emily smiled. "I like the idea," she said. "But let''s revisit the idea next year when I''m ready on my side. If you''re still interested in starting a football agency with me, we''ll create an office in wherever city you''ll be ying next year. Then, we can start business immediately."

    "That''s okay with me," Zachary replied. "I won''t change my mind since I also wish to own an agency. That reminds me: Are there any top football teams that have contacted you? I''m referring to those interested in my services next season."

    "I was just about to get to that," Emily said, lowering her voice. "Over the past few weeks, I''ve met up with the representatives of a few teams. The most serious among them are Juventus, Tottenham, RB Leipzig, and Manchester United. Those four teams have already tabled offers and even contacted the Rosenborg management about your avability."

    "Those are all big teams," Zachary said, his heart racing with excitement. "But, please scratch out Manchester United and RB Leipzig from the list of clubs I can transfer to."

    "Why?" Emily questioned. "You haven''t even heard about their offers! What if they are willing to pay you a sky-high wage of more than 150,000 Euros a week plus a signing bonus in tens of millions? Can''t you consider a move to one of those clubs?"

    "As you should know¡­" Zachary paused as the waiter brought their orders over. Then, when she stepped away from the table, he continued, "Money isn''t everything. First of all, I don''t wish to waste more time ying in the lower divisions of any country. I want to y in the top leagues as soon as possible. So, RB Leipzig is out for the moment."

    "That, I understand," Emily said. "But then, why are you scratching off Manchester United? They are a big team in one of the top leagues in Europe. Their representatives even hinted about the possibility of offering you a handsome wage of more than 120,000 pounds a week if you decided to join them. That would ce you among the six highest-earning yers at the club. Are you not tempted?"

    Zachary breathed out deeply to calm himself down. "The money is good," he said. "But after Sir Alex Ferguson''s retirement, no one can predict how things will progress at the club. So, I don''t want to be part of their transition."

    Zachary had witnessed Manchester United''s decline during his previous life. The English giants brought in top coaches like Louis Van Gaal and Jos¨¦ Mourinho. They also purchased several over-priced and seemingly world-ss yers like Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Romelu Lukaku, and ¨¢ngel Di Mar¨ªa, among others. But the club couldn''t return to their glory-winning ways no matter how much money they sshed out. It was as if they''d been cursed, and they couldn''t produce eptable results for over a decade.

    So, Zachary wasn''t about to assume that he would aplish the almost-impossible mission of bringing the club back to its glory days. And even if he wished to, he wouldn''t know where to begin as the club''s issues were likely from the top management''s side, bringing about a scenario that ensured that no yer could solve them.

    "I see," Emily said after a few seconds of contemtion. "Then, I''ll scratch Manchester United off the list. What about Juventus and Tottenham? They are the only other teams that have already proposed solid and attractive offers to acquire your services."

    "Juventus would be the best option," Zachary said after sipping on his cappino. "But I don''t speak Italian. So, I''ll struggle to fit into the team for the next few years. But still, don''t scratch Juventus off until we get a better offer. As for Tottenham, they are the best option for me to enter the Premier League at the moment. But I also won''t decide until I look at the offers from other teams."

    "Okay, I get you," Emily said, nodding. "Are there any more clubs that you won''t consider joining? I don''t want to do all the groundwork, and then you tell me to scratch them off the list at the very end."

    Zachary chuckled. "Real Madrid and Barcelona," he said. "I won''t consider joining them, no matter how attractive their offers are."

    Emily''s eyes narrowed as she sipped on her coffee. "Most footballers can only dream about joining Real Madrid and Barcelona. But you won''t consider joining them even if they are to table down attractive offers! You''re one weird yer."

    "Not at all," Zachary said with a smile. "I only don''t wish to be teammates with Messi and Ronaldo. I only dream aboutpeting against them."

    "I see!" Emily said. "You have very lofty goals. But no matter. If you can continue maturing, you''ll be able topete against them fairly in the near future."

    -----

 Chapter 363 Preparing to Face-Off against Lyon

    <h4>Chapter 363 Preparing to Face-Off against Lyon</h4>

    As nned, Zachary met Miss Heather again after approximately two hours when it was almost noon. They were only two people at the table in the top floor cafe at Trondheim Torg since Emily had already left to attend another meeting. But that didn''t stop them from going forward with the scheduled business.

    "Have you made all the required preparations?" Zachary asked after they had exchanged greetings.

    "Yes," Heather replied, smiling. "The only step remaining is you cing the order on the Nasdaq market to buy Te stock. After that, we can only wait for sellers to take you up on your bid."

    "How long do you think I have to wait?"

    Heather narrowed her eyes slightly. "The purchase will go through within a minute or two," she said. "If there aren''t any unexpected situations that hinder your purchase, you should be a proud owner of Te Stock before we step out of this cafe."

    "That''s really great," Zachary said with a smile. "Let''s ce the order right away."

    "Okay."

    Heather quickly took Zachary through the share purchasing process using his brokerage ount. Theypleted all the necessary procedures in less than an hour before cing their 1.5 million order on the Nasdaq market to buy Te stock. After that, they only waited for a minute before getting a confirmation that the trade had gone through.

    Zachary''s heart was racing with excitement as he was finally a proud owner of Te stock. He only had to wait for around six years before multiplying his initial investment in Te by more than twenty-five times. He was in a good mood. A wave of rxation washed over him, and he discussed a few other prospective business opportunities with Heather before saying his goodbyes.

    He exited the cafe and immediately left Trondheim Torg before heading to Coach Bj?rn Peters'' gym. He soon forgot about his 1.5 million-euro investment and immersed himself in his training. Under the guidance of his fitness trainer, Zachary spent hours doing aerobic exercises and drills targeted toward improving his stamina and endurance. He was so focused, and before he knew it, it was already evening. He said his goodbyes to Coach Bj?rn Peters before jumping into his R8 GT and driving back home.

    -----

    The following two days became busy as the Rosenborg team trained from early morning tote evening. Zachary and his teammates utilized Tuesday and Wednesday effectively, going through drills to perfect their gamen against Lyon. Be it positioning, passing, or shooting ¡ª they practiced them arduously under the strict supervision of the coaches.

    Coach Johansen was more intense than ever, even though his team was already four goals ahead in the Europa League quarter-final sh. He pulled out all stops to drill his yers so that they would be in their best shape for the game since he didn''t want to leave any chance for Lyon to aplish aeback. He didn''t permit the yers to rx until Thursday morning ¡ª when less than ten hours remained before the start of the match.

    "Guys!" He yelled from the sidelines to draw his yers'' attention. "I want you in the tactics room in fifteen minutes. We''ll talk for a bit before utilizing the rest of the time before the match to rest."

    The yers immediately halted whatever drills they were performing on the pitch. Without wasting time, they marched toward the dressing room to clean up. And before long, they gathered in the dressing room to listen to their coach''s pre-match briefing.

    "I congratte you all forpleting another hectic few days of training," Coach Johansen began. "But our work is far from done as we y Olympique Lyonnais today at 9:05 PM in the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals."

    "Even though we''re already leading by the four goals from the first leg, we can''t rx. We''ve got to approach the match with a do-or-die attitude so as to kill off even the slightest of chances of Lyon making aeback. We have to remain focused from the first minute of the game until we hear the final whistle. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    The coach nodded and swept his gaze across his yers in the dressing room before continuing. "For this game, we''ll y ultra-defensive football as we don''t want any risks. Since we already have a four-goal advantage, we''ll y it safe and y with ten men behind the ball for every minute of the game. As we have practiced over the past two days, we''ll sit tight in front of our box and ensure that the opponents don''t create chances at goal. And that''s how we''ll qualify for the semi-finals without taking any risks. Are you guys with me?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good." Coach Johansen smiled and stepped towards the tactics board in front of the room. "We''ll y with a 4-3-2-1 formation,prising four defenders, three defensive midfielders, two attacking midfielders, and one forward. The two attacking midfielders will have to cover the wings when we''re not in possession of the ball. Their primary role is supporting the defensive midfielders to defend rather than initiating the attacks. So, it''s better to refer to them as central midfielders rather than attacking midfielders. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "First things first!" Coach Johansen said and started inscribing the squad positions on the tactics board. "I''ll announce the squad for today''s game. In the goal, we have Daniel ?rlund as our keeper. Then Mikael Dorsin, Tore Reginiussen, Yerry Mina, and Eric Bailly will y as our four defenders."

    "Our three defensive midfielders will be Thomas Partey, Mike Jensen, and Ole Seln?s. Our attacking midfielders, who will also protect our wings and work with our central striker to score if there''s a chance, will be Takumi Minamino and Nicki Nielsen. Finally, our only attacker for this game will be Zachary Bemba."

    Coach Johansen paused and nced towards Zachary''s position. "Zachary!" He said. "I have given you the center-forward role since your scoring form has been incredible over the past few games. Moreover, you being on the striking line will force the Lyon yers to remain under pressure throughout the entire game. So, they won''t dare to leave you alone and push forward in droves tounch endless attacks on us even if we y defensive football. Are you with me, Zachary?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary said, nodding. "I understand."

    "Good." Coach Johansen smiled and turned towards Nicki Nielsen. "Nicki! You''ll have to fall back a lot to defend during this game. Then, if there''s a chance, you can initiate a counter and pick out Zachary so that he can try to score. Can you manage that?"

    "Yes, I can," Nicki agreed readily. "For the team, I''m willing to y a more defensive role. Don''t worry, coach."

    "Good." Coach Johansen nodded and turned towards Takumi Minamino. "Takumi! The same applies to you. You''ll have to help out the defensive midfielders and wing-backs to defend. If an opportunity arises, try to pick out Zachary with a long pass as quickly as possible. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach," Takumi replied. "I know what to do."

    "Very good." Coach Johansen pped his hands and swept his gaze over the rest of the yers. "All of you must remember that tactical discipline and hard work are the keys to winning this game. As the saying goes, a boat doesn''t go forward if each one is rowing their own way. Through teamwork, we can achieve the impossible. We can win the Europa League. So, if you guys are out there on the field, try to cover for your teammates. Ensure to y as a team and defend together for every minute of the game. Then, we''ll emerge as the victors today night. Are we together, guys?" The coach ended his little speech with a yell.

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied with zest while pping their hands.

    "Good, good, good." Coach Johansen grinned. He then went over a few more tactics before sending the yers back to the team lounge to rest. As a coach, he''d almostpleted his part. What remained was for his yers to step onto the pitch and perform.

 Chapter 364 The Tense First Few Minutes

    <h4>Chapter 364 The Tense First Few Minutes</h4>

    The weather that night wasn''t the best due to the abnormally low spring temperatures of about 4 degrees Celsius and the millions of rain droplets constantly pouring down on Trondheim City with a consistent heaven-given soundtrack.

    However, the unfavorable weather conditions still couldn''t hinder the over-enthusiastic Rosenborg fans from flooding into Lerkendal Stadium to watch the Europa League quarter-final sh between their home side and Olympique Lyonnais. By 8:35 PM, they had taken up all the avable seats in the home and away sections of the stadium.

    They braved the downpour and cheered at the top of their voices under the protection of their rain jackets. They were obviously in hyper moods as they waited for the game to begin.

    What wasn''t surprising was that there weren''t any Lyon fans in the stadium that night. Due to their violent deeds in Lyon the previous week, the UEFA''s Control, Ethics, and Disciplinary Body had banned them from attending UEFA games for the following twelve months. Thus, Olympique Lyonnais would have to y all Europa League and Champions League games without the support of their fans for a year.

    "Wee to the quarter-final sh between Rosenborg BK and Olympique Lyonnais," thementator''s voice resounded across the stadium when the clock hand pointed to the 8:55 PM mark. "In ten minutes, the two teams willmence their battle to decide who qualifies for the semi-finals of this year''s Europa League. On aggregate, Rosenborg is ahead by four goals after Zachary Bemba demolished the French giants in Lyonst week. So, the Troll Kids will qualify for the semi-finals even if they only focus on defending to avoid conceding more than four goals tonight."

    "Ladies and gentlemen," thementator continued. "I''m Kjell Roar, yourmentator for the day, and with me is Otto Bragstad, a former Rosenborg defender. He''ll be our pundit for the night. Wee, Otto!"

    "Thank you," Otto Bragstad replied. "I''m happy to be here."

    "So, Otto," Kjell Roar said. "What is your take on this game? Can Rosenborg maintain the four-goal advantage? Can they ovee Olympique Lyonnais, the French giants, to qualify for the semi-finals?"

    "Qualifying for the semi-finals shouldn''t be a difficult task for Rosenborg at this moment," Otto said. "They are already in a very advantageous position after scoring four goals in Lyonst week. If Coach Johansen doesn''t blunder while designing the tactics, they should be able to qualify even if they field a second team."

    "I can see that you''re very confident in Rosenborg," Kjell Roar said. "But let''s not forget that R¨¦mi Garde, the Lyon coach, promised that he wouldn''t give up until thest minute. In his pre-match interview, he said that his yers and staff would do everything in their power to win the game and qualify for the semi-finals."

    "Well," Otto said, "The previous week, the Lyon coach said something about treating Rosenborg as a super-strong team. He''d promised to pull out everything in his arsenal to defeat Rosenborg. But in the end, he still lost by four goals at home. I won''t be surprised if something simr happens today night."

    Kjell Roar chuckled. "Let''s put the predictions and analyses aside as the yers are already lining up in the tunnel. The Rosenborg yers are in their ck and white colors, while Team Lyon is in blue. The two teams will soonmence the second phase of their battle to determine who qualifies for the semi-finals. Ladies and gentlemen! Let''s put our hands together to wee the yers on the field of y."

    At that moment, the cheers hit a thunderous zenith as the yers marched onto the pitch. The catchy Europa League anthem echoed in the background as the teams quickly lined up in front of the fans and went through their customary handshake ceremony.

    The proceedings moved forward, and the excitement around the stadium shot through the roof when the referee conducted the coin toss and determined that it was the Troll Kids who would get the kick-off. Before long, all the yers took their positions on the pitch, and the match was finally about to begin.

    -----

    As kick-off drew near, the intensity of the downpour increased a notch. It soaked Zachary''s hair and washed over his skin so vigorously, making him feel like he was in the flow of a river rather than a rain shower. But he didn''t mind as all his concentration was already on the game that was about tomence. He continued standing gantly over the ball while waiting for the referee to blow the whistle.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally kicked off the game two minutester, when the clock hand had just pointed to the 9:05 PM mark. Zachary raised his leg before passing the ball back into his midfield. And since he was the center-forward for that game, he immediately ran towards the other side of the pitch and positioned himself between the two Lyon center-backs.

    Due to the heavy rain, the first ten minutes of the game were a boring fight between the two teams in the midfield. When the Troll Kids were on the ball, the Lyon yers would quickly close them down before tackling them. When team Lyon won the ball, the Rosenborg yers would also retaliate and foul them before they could advance into the other half.

    Sliding tackles soon reigned supreme on the pitch due to the slippery ground. And on several asions, the referee had to stop gamey to caution the yers and warn them against hurting their opponents.

    The downpour continued relentlessly, and the game proceeded to the fifteenth minute. The Rosenborg yers soon settled into their defensive formation and parked the bus before their goal. They yed with ten men behind the ball and only left Zachary on the striking line to sustain pressure on the opponents. They were obviously following Coach Johansen''s ultra-defensive game n to the letter.

    However, Rosenborg''s ultra-defensive strategy exposed its weakness not long after. The Lyon yers took advantage of the few opponents upfront andunched endless waves of attacks against Rosenborg''s goal. Before long, they arrayed themselves in a 4-3-3 formation and hoarded more than 70% of possession. Long passes and crosses became the order of the night as the Lyon midfielders and wingers unleashed dangerous balls into Rosenborg''s box, seeking their two strikers.

    The pressure on Rosenborg''s defense became immense with every passing second. By the twentieth minute, the game situation seemed dire as the Rosenborg defenders struggled to clear the ball out of their defensive third due to the limited visibility caused by the rain. It looked as if Lyon was about to shatter ''the parked bus'' of Rosenborg before scoring their first goal for the day.

    -----

 Chapter 365 The Nemesis of Olympique Lyonnais I

    <h4>Chapter 365 The Nemesis of Olympique Lyonnais I</h4>

    A deep frown outlined Coach Johansen''s face as he braved the rain on the sidelines while following the proceedings on the pitch. Due to the poor weather, the ultra-defensive tactics were not functioning well. The opponents were constantly taking advantage of the poor visibility to drop balls into the box. As a result, they had managed to sustain immense pressure on his team for the past ten minutes.

    Moreover, he''d also noticed that a few of his yers were underperforming. For instance, both Nicki Nielsen and Takumi Minamino were not trying their utmost to cover the wings. As a result, they had allowed the Lyon wing-backs to grow more confident and unleash more dangerous crosses into the box.

    As for Zachary, he wasn''t getting any balls on the striking line. He only remained sandwiched between the two Lyon center-backs without getting involved in the y. Be that as it may, Coach Johansen didn''t me him as he was the center-forward for that game. He was not at fault since he was already ying as a striker should on the team. It was just his teammates who had failed him by not supplying him with balls.

    "We need to get Zachary into the game," Trond Henriksen, his assistant, said from beside him. "We need to get him balls so that he can apply some pressure on Lyon''s defense. Otherwise, we''ll lose this match."

    "I know," Coach Johansen said, tightening the hood of his jacket over his head. His most urgent wish was for the rain to stop so that his yers could settle into the game. Otherwise, he would have to rely on luck to best Lyon under such adverse conditions.

    "What is your n?" Trond Henriksen asked after a few seconds of silence.

    "First of all," Coach Johansen said, "If Nicki and Takumi continue underperforming, I''ll substitute them out of the game immediately. So, tell Paul Kasongo and Karl Toko Ekambi to start warming up. For now, let''s also¡ª Eh!"

    Coach Johansen stopped midsentence as he noticed Henri Bedimo, Lyon''s left-back, dropping another dangerous cross into Rosenborg''s box.

    Yerry Mina, Rosenborg''s center-back, leaped up to clear away the danger but mistimed and missed the header. In the end, the ball descended into the box and made it all the way to Alexandre Lacazette''s feet.

    Alexandre Lacazette brought the ball under control with an outstretched boot close to the right edge of the box. Before any opponent could close him down, he drew his leg back and unleashed a curling shot towards the inside of the far post.

    TENSION!

    Coach Johansen''s heart leaped into his throat as he watched the ball darting towards the goal. But just at thest moment, at the crucial juncture, before it could cross the goal line, the always-hardworking Eric Bailly slid in and intercepted it, sending it over the crossbar and out of y.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and pointed toward the corner g.

    Coach Johansen let out a breath and wiped the moisture off his forehead. "Guys!" He yelled at the top of his voice. "Focus! Focus! Focus! Defenders! Start clearing the balls out of the box the first time before they bounce."

    "Nicki! For this game, you''re not a center-forward. So, put more work into defense. Takumi! Your work rate is poor, and you haven''t released any passes to Zachary. You need to up your game right away..."

    The coach yelled out instructions to his yers at the top of his voice. He paced the entire length of the touchline, not minding the downpour in the slightest until he was sure that his yers had gotten his message.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    After a short while, the referee blew the whistle and motioned for team Lyon to take the corner kick. Corentin Tolisso, the Lyon right-back, immediately floated a teasing ball into the box from the corner g.

    Baf¨¦timbi Gomis, the other Lyon striker, leaped high to connect with the ball. After battling Yerry Mina for aerial superiority, he angled his head slightly to nt a header towards the goal from around the penalty spot.

    However, the Lyon striker''s effort soon met an obstacle in the form of a leaping Mikael Dorsin. The Rosenborg left-back jumped up in the air and blocked the ball with his chest, thus preventing it from continuing towards the goal.

    "Clear! Clear the ball away before it bounces."

    Coach Johansen yelled at the top of his lungs as he watched the loose ball descending towards the left side of the box. He only breathed a sigh of relief when he watched Eric Bailly pounce on the ball with an uncanny swiftness before kicking it high and far towards the other side of the pitch.

    -----

    On the pitch, close to the center circle, Zachary immediately took off on seeing the ball descending towards the left nk. Like a bullet out of a gun''s muzzle, he escaped from the two defenders marking him and chased after the ball. He got to it just as itpleted its first bounce on the wet surface before bringing it under control.

    His heart was racing fast with excitement as he whirled around and turned to face Lyon''s goal. Due to theck of balls, he''d been bored to death on the striking line. But since he''d finally gotten an opportunity, all the frustration had disappeared. The only thing on his mind was how to get the ball into the back of Lyon''s as quickly as possible before the rest of the opponents could fall back into their positions.

    Whoosh!

    Just as Zachary was preparing to take his first stride towards the goal, his ears picked up the sound of a boot skidding across the wet surface. His sharp mind went into overdrive mode, and he reacted by instinct. He instantly dug his boot under the ball before leaping high and over the tackle.

    Before any other opponents could close him down, hended back on the ground with the ball glued to his green boot. And like a bolt of lightning through the rain, he took off towards Lyon''s goal like there was no tomorrow.

    Another Lyon defender soon came to close him down, just as he was stepping past the boundary of the final third. The defender rushed in, all guns zing, and even tried to hold his shirt to stop him from advancing the counterattack.

    However, the wet and smooth jersey rendered the defender''s efforts fruitless. Zachary shrugged off his grip without looking back and raced towards the box like the wind. Before long, he dispersed the keeper, who hade out to meet him, with a few side-steps before burying the ball into the back of the.

    -----

    "GOAAAAALL!" Kjell Roar, thementator, yelled at the top of his voice as the ball shook the. "Zachary Bemba has managed to score against Olympique Lyonnais again. He wasn''t involved in the action during the first thirty minutes of gamey. But after obtaining a single counterattacking opportunity in the 31st minute, he has managed to punish the French giants again. It''s Rosenborg one and Olympique Lyonnais zero. The aggregate score is now 5:0 in favor of Rosenborg. Surely, the troll Kids are heading to this year''s Europa League semis. With the on-form Zachary in the squad, it seems like nothing can stop them."

    Otto Bragstad, the pundit for the day, chuckled. "Zachary Bemba is a true-blue nemesis for Olympique Lyonnais. Last week, he scored four goals against them. He has now bagged another after only 31 minutes of gamey. The Lyon fans, yers, and even coaches will have nightmares, thinking about him for at least a few months."

 Chapter 366 The Nemesis of Olympique Lyonnais II

    <h4>Chapter 366 The Nemesis of Olympique Lyonnais II</h4>

    The rain continued cascading down from the night sky at a constant rhythm. The precipitation soaked the jerseys of all the yers and lowered the visibility on the pitch. Be that as it may, the referee didn''t halt the game just because of the unfavorable weather conditions. He continued officiating the Europa League second leg game between Rosenborg and Olympique Lyonnais, seemingly as if he didn''t mind the chilling downpour.

    The game progressed, and the Lyon yers continuedunching waves of assaults on Rosenborg''s box. They seemed not to mind that they were a goal behind and attacked with an ever-increasing intensity.

    As the game progressed into thete stages of the first half, crosses and long balls into Rosenborg''s box became more frequent and more dangerous. Anyone in the stadium could clearly see that Rosenborg''s defense was under immense pressure due to Lyon''s never-say-never attitude.

    But in some magical way, team Rosenborg managed to hold on for dear life, even while facing the constant barrage of attacks. It was as ifdy luck was on their side as several balls smashed off the goalposts while a few other shots from the Lyon attackers missed the target by mere centimeters.

    And finally, after 45 minutes of gamey, the referee blew the whistle and sent the yers down the tunnel for halftime. Many fans rxed and breathed sighs of relief. Their taut nerves loosened after their home team held on to the 1:0 lead until the end of the first half. As long as they could survive the next 45 minutes, their team would qualify for the Europa League semi-finals.

    -----

    The atmosphere in the visitor''s dressing room was gloomy at halftime. Even the very air around the ce seemed to have turned a dull grey as the Lyon yers sat around the benches listlessly and with deadpan expressions. The gazes of most of them were nk as they waited for their coach to address them.

    Coach R¨¦mi Garde observed his yers for a short while and sighed inwardly. He didn''t me them for conceding the goal, but he empathized with them. They had strictly adhered to the game n and yed well during the first half. They had sustained pressure on the Rosenborg yers and limited them to less than 30% ball possession and one shot on goal. But one moment of individual brilliance from Zachary Bemba had rendered all their efforts fruitless.

    The young Rosenborg number-8 had once again disyed his overly-clinical abilities during a counterattack and scored Rosenborg''s only goal during the 31st minute. The feat made Coach R¨¦mi Garde wonder how the young yer could maintain his form and sharpness in every game. The young yer was simply abnormal.

    "What to do?"

    Coach R¨¦mi Garde was at his wit''s end as he scanned his low-spirited yers. He wondered whether he should assign more men to mark Zachary Bemba during the second half. But after a moment of contemtion, he shook his head and discarded the idea. Since the young Rosenborg yer seemed almost unstoppable on the pitch, it was better to ignore him and focus on other areas. As a coach, he preferred that his yers y their own game instead of wasting their abilities, marking a very unpredictable yer.

    "Okay, guys, listen," Coach R¨¦mi Garde said, pping his hands to draw his yers'' attention. "I know that you''re all feeling down after conceding the goal. But, please, don''t give up. During the remaining 45 minutes of the second half, let''s ignore the result and y our own football. Let''s show these Rosenborg boys our football. Let''spete with our hearts without imposing any burdens on ourselves. Guys! Can you do that?"

    "We can, coach," most of the yers replied. But their expressions were still bleak and listless.

    "I didn''t hear you," Coach R¨¦mi Garde yelled, causing his voice to echo across the gloomy visitor''s dressing room like a thunderp. "Can you guys go out there and y with all your hearts during the second half? Can you forget about the result and y your own football without imposing any pressure on your shoulders? Answer me!" The coach swept his scorching gaze across the yers.

    "We can, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison. And that time around, their voices were vibrant, while their expressions showed that they had regained a bit of their fighting spirit.

    Coach R¨¦mi Garde nodded while smiling. "Somewhere behind the professional footballers you''ve be are little, innocent boys who fell in love with football and never looked back while training arduously to achieve their dreams. The hearts of those boys are what matter. So, during the second half, forget everything. Enjoy the game and y for those innocent boys who love the sport with all their hearts. Can you do that, guys?"

    "We can, and we will, coach!" That time around, the yers replied even with more zest. For sure, they had regained theirpetitive spirit to a great extent.

    Coach R¨¦mi Garde nodded again as a grin outlined his face. "It seems like you understand what to do now," he said. "So, I won''t bother with going over the tactics again. Just go out there and enjoy your football. Show the opponents how we do it in Lyon. That''s all I have to say." He then marched out of the dressing room as the loud shouts and pping sounds resounded behind him.

    -----

    The second half began after the fifteen minutes of halftime. The good news was that the downpour had reduced considerably, leaving behind a slight drizzle with hardly any impact on the yers. So, both teams yed more aggressively, causing the game to be more intense and heated.

    What was even more surprising was the enthusiasm and ferocity of Lyon during the opening stages of the second half. The yers in blue became bolder and yed beautiful football that wowed even the Rosenborg fans. They abandoned the long balls into the box and started ying a Tiki-taka style,prising short passes from one end of the pitch to another. As the minutes shed by, they looked sharper and more threatening while moving forward. Soon, they were threatening Rosenborg''s goal with long and mid-range shots that added more pressure on the Rosenborg defense.

    Eventually, their efforts paid off in the 71st minute. Jordan Ferri, a Lyon midfielder, picked out Alexandre Lacazette with a well-timed pass through the middle.

    Thetter controlled the ball at the border of the final third before skipping past Thomas Partey with his second touch. Before any other opponent could close Alexandre down, he squared the ball to Baf¨¦timbi Gomis, his counterpart on striking.

    Baf¨¦timbi Gomis brought the ball under control at the edge of the box. He then whirled around and unleashed a hell of a missile towards the goal.

    The ball took a deflection off Yerry Mina on its way towards the goal. It swerved and spun faster before homing into the back of the. The Rosenborg keeper couldn''t even react due to the deflection and the power behind the shot.

    -----

    Rosenborg BK 1 (5) : Olympique Lyonnais 1 (1)

    -----

    The French giants had finally gotten their first goal in the quarter-final of the Europa League in the 72nd minute. The goal seemed to boost their morale, and their fighting spirit soared into the skies. Within a period of a minute after scoring the first goal, they won the ball back and initiated another attack once again.

    Maxime Gonalons, one of the Lyon midfielders, intercepted a loose pass from Mike Jensen in the middle of the pitch. He immediately threaded a pass towards the wing to find Corentin Tolisso, the Lyon wing-back.

    Corentin Tolisso controlled the ball nicely close to the touchline on the right nk. He then skipped past a challenge by Takumi Minamino and raced towards the other side of the pitch like a whirlwind. His incredible pace allowed him to step into the final third in only a couple of seconds, and he unleashed a teasing cross without losing a moment.

    At the edge of the box, Baf¨¦timbi Gomis, the Lyon striker, pushed off the ground and rose in the air to meet the curling cross. He shrugged off Yerry Mina in a battle of aerial superiority before nting a header towards the goal. But the Lyon striker''s effort was sub-par and weak, allowing the Rosenborg keeper to snatch it out of the air without exerting much effort.

    Daniel ?rlund, the Rosenborg keeper, held the ball close to his chest as he nced around. He was intending to waste a few seconds before taking the goal kick. But just then, he noticed Zachary waving at him from close to the center circle.

    The Rosenborg keeper''s eyes narrowed slightly, and his heartbeat quickened as he noticed that only two defenders were keeping an eye on Zachary. Moreover, they were the only yers making up the Lyon backline at the centerline.

    "A chance!"

    Without losing another second, Daniel ?rlund raced towards the edge of the box before kicking the ball high and far towards the other side of the pitch. His intent was to y the ball a few yards ahead of Zachary so that he could set the young ymaker on a straight course towards the opponent''s goal.

    -----

    Zachary immediately escaped the harassment of the two Lyon defenders marking him and sprinted forward¡ªtowards the position of the descending ball from Daniel ?rlund. His long strides covered a distance of more than ten yards in a few seconds, and he got to the ball at the border of the final third before any other yer on the field.

    But just as Zachary was about to bring the ball under control, he noticed the Lyon keeper racing towards him like a raging mad bull going after a Mexican showman in an arena. It seemed like the keeper intended to sweep the ball before Zachary could get to it.

    "Dream on!" Zachary thought to himself.

    Heart racing with anticipation, he stretched out his boot to control the descending ball with a simple tap after noticing that the keeper was still half a dozen yards away. His control was as magnificent as ever, and he managed to send it on a curling course a few feet over the head of the approaching keeper.

    And then, within anything but an instant, he slowed down and changed his sprinting course abruptly. He circumvented the keeper by a yard or two before chasing after the ball. He got to it in only a matter of seconds and buried it in the back of the empty to score Rosenborg''s second goal for the night.

 Chapter 367 Victory and Realization

    <h4>Chapter 367 Victory and Realization</h4>

    -----

    Rosenborg BK 2 (6) : Olympique Lyonnais 1 (1)

    -----

    Coach Johansen smiled and nodded in appreciation as he watched Zachary celebrating the goal with his teammates near the corner g. The boy prodigy had done it again and utilized the single chance perfectly to score Rosenborg''s second goal for the night during the 76th minute. As a result, Rosenborg was ahead of Lyon by an aggregate score of five goals with less than twenty minutes remaining to the end of the game. For sure, the team was heading for the semi-finals of the Europa League.

    Coach Johansen turned his gaze away from the celebrating yers on the pitch before pivoting it onto the substitutes warming up on the sidelines. He''d already decided to make a few substitutions before the game restarted. His intent was to bring in a couple of fresh legs to help his team maintain the lead during the remaining few minutes.

    "Kasongo and Ekambi!" The coach said while eyeing the two yers. "Hurry up and prepare. I want you on the pitch in less than five minutes."

    "Aye, coach," the two yers replied in unison. Without further ado, they started donning their match gear in preparation to enter the game.

    -----

    After roughly a minute, the goal celebrations ended. But just before the referee could blow the whistle to restart the game, Coach Johansen made his first substitutions for the night. He brought on Paul Kasongo for Takumi Minamino and also reced Nicki Nielsen with Karl Toko Ekambi. After that, the coach settled back on the bench and left the onfield yers to do their own thing. He''d already given all the instructions to the two substitutes. So, there wasn''t any need for him to remain in the chilling drizzle on the touchline.

    -----

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle a few secondster, and the game continued. For the first time during the game, the Lyon yers seemed to have lost all their on-pitch morale. They yed half-heartedly andmitted a few mistakes as the game entered its closing stages. Eventually, theirckluster attitude cost them, and they gifted Rosenborg another counterattacking opportunity during the 88th minute.

    It all started when Arnold Mvuemba, one of the Lyon midfielders, tried to break past Thomas Partey close to the border of Rosenborg''s defensive third on the right nk. However, the Rosenborg defensive midfielder slid in swiftly to sweep the ball off the Lyon man''s feet with an outstretched boot.

    Thomas Partey had timed his tackle perfectly ¡ª and as a result, the ball rolled for a few yards before finding its way to Ole Seln?s. Thetter brought it under control with a simple touch, and before any opponents could close him down, he unleashed a lofted pass towards the center circle, where Zachary was lurking.

    Once again, Zachary immediately took off to meet the ball. However, the Lyon defenders chased after him and harassed him as he tried to connect with the pass from Ole Seln?s. They even pulled at his shirt and ensured that he wouldn''t break past them for the third time that night.

    Nevertheless, Zachary didn''t lose heart while bringing the ball under control. He remainedposed and utilized his tall physique to keep off the Lyon defenders. Then, before they could react, he whirled around and executed an improvised version of the Cruyff turn as he tried to leave them in the dust.

    However, the two defenders seemed to have already learned their lessons and were hell-bent on stopping him fromunching any other counterattacks against them. They sandwiched him from two sides and even spread their arms wide to ensure he wouldn''t break through the middle before the other Lyon yers fell back into their positions.

    "What to do?"

    Lightning-fast thoughts whirled around Zachary''s mind as he tried to escape the harassment of the two defenders. He considered diving to the ground to force a free kick out of his opponents. But the next moment, he discarded the idea since he was still positioned close to the center circle and a considerable distance away from Lyon''s goal. So, even if he won the set piece, he wouldn''t be able to convert it. He was in a dilemma.

    But just then, Zachary noticed a silhouette in ck and white racing along the touchline on the left nk. Even while using his peripheral vision, he immediately figured out that the yer who had made the daring off-ball run from Rosenborg''s side was Kasongo. And judging by the height of the sprinting yer, he couldn''t be mistaken.

    "Hope this works."

    Zachary immediately dribbled the ball back to his own half while utilizing his physique to keep the defenders at bay. After noticing that Kasongo was about to step past the centerline, he executed an abrupt Marseille turn and escaped his opponents'' pestering. The next moment, Zachary''s incredible spatial awareness picked up an angle opening up. He whirled around and drew his leg back to unleash a raking pass towards the right-wing.

    Whoosh!

    The pass was on point, and it managed to take the entire Lyon defense out of the equation. It cut a diagonal parab across the pitch beforending a few yards ahead of the sprinting Kasongo.

    The short man didn''t even slow down to control the pin-point pass from Zachary. He headed the ball onwards before continuing his mad dash towards the goal. His speed was incredible, and before long, he approached the keeper, who hade out to meet him at the edge of the box.

    It was then that Kasongo showed his inexperience as a professional yer. The next moment, he seemed to panic and then drew his leg back before sting the ball towards the goal. Probably, he was hoping to propel it past the keeper with sheer force to score.

    However, using pure power without applying technique was a mistake. The shot wasn''t well-ced, and in the end, it shelled the approaching keeper''s raised arms before rebounding away towards the left edge of the box. Soon, it bounced twice and headed out of y for a corner kick.

    -----

    "Damn!"

    Coach Johansen''s eyes widened as he ced his hands on the back of his head. He couldn''t believe that Kasongo had missed the goal when he was one-on-one with the keeper. The situation on the pitch shocked the coach, especially since he''d already gotten used to Zachary''s deeds of converting every chance that came Rosenborg''s way.

    Additionally, Kasongo''s missed opportunity reminded him about his team''s weakness. And then, he started to seriously consider how his yers would fare against opponents who could manage to contain Zachary.

    For instance, what would happen if a foe ignored all the other yers and focused only on Zachary? Would the other yers rise to the asion and score? Would his team still win games easily?

    Coach Johansen''s back broke out in cold sweat as he considered the possibilities. A frown outlined his face as he continued following the game''s closing stages. He couldn''t feel at ease even after the referee blew the final whistle and confirmed Rosenborg''s 6:1 aggregate victory over Lyon a few minutester. He was in a somber mood, especially after realizing a problem that Rosenborg might have to face in the near future. He had to train the rest of his yers to be effective on the attack, or else his team would be in deep shit if an opponent ever figured out how to contain Zachary.

 Chapter 368 Pending Missions

    <h4>Chapter 368 Pending Missions</h4>

    When Zachary''s eyelids fluttered open the following morning, he immediately had a feeling that he had overslept. By reflex, he nced around and noticed that the soft white-gold light rays of the new day were already seeping into his room through the gaps between the curtains, nketing his bedroom window. But he still couldn''t confirm the exact time. So, he scooped up his phone from the bedside table before ncing at the screen. And as expected, it was already 10:00 AM.

    "Damn! How could I sleep for almost ten hours?"

    Zachary jumped out of bed with a start, intending to wash his face before going through his customary daily yoga routine. But, just after taking the first step away from his bed, he felt his limbs and muscles weighing him down. It was as if his vessels and organs were full of lead instead of blood ¡ª a condition that caused him to experience a difiting numbness all over his body. He was even struggling to walk a few meters to the bathroom.

    "This isn''t normal!"

    Zachary''s eyes narrowed. He was sure that he hadn''t over-exerted himself the previous night since he''d yed as a striker, whose only role was to wait for opportunities to score. As a result, he wasn''t that exhausted even after the referee blew the final whistle. He''d even run a couple ofps around the pitch to celebrate Rosenborg''s overwhelming victory against Lyon after the game.

    "Could it be due to ying in the cold rain?"

    Zachary mused as he continued to stretch there in front of his bed. He performed a set of dynamic stretches, from the upper to the lower body, as the scenes from the previous night reyed within his mind.

    The chilling downpour had been a menace during the game. But Zachary had forced himself to ignore the unfavorable conditions and only focused on the game. Eventually, he''d performed well and scored two more goals against Lyon during the second leg fixture. But, it seemed that all the running and sprinting in the rain had worn him out considerably. And that''s why he wascking energy and feeling pretty weak that morning.

    "It has to be the rain." Zachary thought as he smoothly transitioned from the dynamic stretches to performing yoga poses. He began with the ''Downward Facing Dog'' posture to bring calmness to his nervous system and also stretch his hamstrings and calves. He held the pose for a couple of minutes before switching to the ''Half-Front Splits'' posture to open his hamstrings while easing the tightness caused by the intense running on the field the previous night.

    Over the following few minutes, he switched to different poses, intending to boost his post-match recovery. He was a hundred percent immersed in his exercises, and before long, he felt the numbness that had been bogging down his body fading away. Soon, beads of sweat matted his forehead as he held the poses for longer and longer periods of time. But he persisted through the routine until hepleted all the required poses for the yoga routine about an hourter.

    By then, his body was no longer feeling weak. He cast his worries aside and quickly took a shower before feasting on a heavy and bnced breakfast. He enjoyed some bananas, fresh milk, cereal, and juice until he felt full and satiated.

    Since Rosenborg had yed an intensive match the previous night, the coach had given all the yers a day off from training that Friday. Zachary wasn''t in a rush to go anywhere that morning. He settled on one of thefy couches in the living room before summoning the system interface.

    The translucent crystal-like disy appeared before his vision the next moment. And without further ado, he quickly navigated to the G.O.A.T missions'' page to check out the details of the pending missions from the system.

    Two weeks ago, right after Coach Johansen had announced the season''s squad for the Tippeligaen, a new mission had appeared on the interface. It was a system mission requiring Zachary to help his team, Rosenborg, win the 2014 Norwegian domestic league trophy. But since Zachary wasn''t sure that he would be ying for the Trondheim-based club for the entirety of 2014, he had chosen to dy his decision regarding the mission. He''d neither chosen to reject nor ept the system assignment since there was a possibility of him transferring out of Rosenborg during the uing European transfer window, between June and the start of September.

    A few days ago, Emily had given him the long-awaited confirmation that several top clubs were interested in him. Teams like Juventus, Manchester United, and Tottenham were already chasing after his signature. Additionally, Paris Saint-Germain, the prestigious French club, had also just joined the race to acquire his services for the following season. So, he had a lot of options to choose from if he wished to transfer. As a result, there wasn''t any need for him to dilly-dally before making the decision regarding the system''s 2014 Tippeligaen serial challenge.

    "System!" He mumbled, leaning back into the sofa. "I would like to reject the 2014 Tippeligaen Serial Challenge immediately."

    "Ding"

    A low chime rang within Zachary''s head.

    "Command received," the system AI''s apathetic voice soon followed. "The user has chosen to reject the 2014 Tippeligaen serial challenge. The system will immediately remove all the mission details from the interface."

    Zachary breathed out deeply as he turned his gaze to the only remaining pending mission on the interface. He immediately clicked on it before starting to peruse through its details.

    ****

    ----

    G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    ----

    #PENDING MISSION: 2013/14 Europa League Serial Challenge

    ->The user has already epted the mission and will receive the respective rewards after the end of the tournament.

    ----

    *Milestone 1: y over 80% of the fixtures in the 2013/14 Europa League tournament for Rosenborg (Pending).

    *Milestone 2: Help Rosenborg qualify for the round of sixteen of the 2013/14 Europa League tournament (Completed).

    *Milestone 3: Help Rosenborg qualify for the quarter-finals of the 2013/14 Europa League tournament (Completed).

    *Milestone 4: Help Rosenborg qualify for the semi-finals of the 2013/14 Europa League tournament (Completed).

    *Milestone 5: Help Rosenborg qualify for the finals of the 2013/14 Europa League tournament (Pending).

    *Milestone 6: Help Rosenborg be the overall champions of the 2013/14 Europa League Tournament (Pending).

    *Milestone 7: Provide the most assists in the 2013/14 Europa League tournament while ying for Rosenborg (Pending).

    *Milestone 8: Be the top scorer of the 2013/14 Europa League Tournament while ying for Rosenborg (Pending).

    *Milestone 9: Be the Best yer of the 2013/14 Europa League Tournament while ying for Rosenborg (Pending).

    ----

    *Rewards:

    ->Milestone 1pletion reward: 2,000 Juju points (Pending).

    ->Milestone 2pletion reward: 5,000 Juju points (Achieved).

    ->Milestone 3pletion reward: 30,000 Juju points (Achieved).

    ->Milestone 4pletion reward: 50,000 Juju points (Achieved).

    ->Milestone 5pletion reward: 100,000 Juju Points (Pending)

    ->Milestone 6pletion reward: A dosage of S-grade vitality enhancing elixir (Pending).

    ->Milestone 7pletion reward: 20,000 Juju-points (Pending).

    ->Milestone 8pletion reward: 40,000 Juju-points (Pending).

    ->Milestone 9pletion reward: A dosage of S-grade mental conditioning elixir (Pending).

    ----

    NB: There will be additional rewards if the user realizes hidden milestones that can unlock hidden missions.

    ----

    ->The user has already epted the mission andpleted some of the milestones. The respective rewards will be given out at the end of the tournament.

    ----

    *Punishment if none of the milestones has been achieved after the stipted time.

    ->Minus 120,000 Juju-points

    *The user has toplete at least one milestone before the tournament ends to escape the penalty.

    ----

    *Remarks: Only by imagining, believing, and attempting the impossible can one aplish the impossible. Moreover, the word impossible should never appear in the vocabry of any footballer vying for the position of the G.O.A.T.

    ****

    Zachary smiled with glee after reading through the mission details. He''d already gained plenty of Juju points by helping Rosenborg qualify for the semi-finals of the Europa League after beating Lyon. He could hardly contain his delight.

    Moreover, if his team could continue performing well and, by chance, win the Europa League finals, he would acquire a dosage of S-grade vitality-enhancing-elixir as the milestonepletion reward from the system. By relying on the elixir, he would be able to push his body fitness to unbelievable levels, the likes that couldpete with some of the best footballers of the generation.

    Additionally, there was a mouth-watering system reward for bing the best yer for the 2013/14 Europa League tournament. If Zachary could achieve the milestone, he would win himself an S-grade mental conditioning elixir, which would help him elevate his cognitive abilities to the S-grading. Thus, Zachary really hoped that his team could win the Europa League so that he could obtain all those rewards from the system.

    "Let''s take things slowly," he thought as he dismissed the system interface. "Next, we''ll y in the semi-finals against Benfica. As long as we defeat them, then we''re in the finals. We can then fight for the trophy with everything in our arsenal."

    A smile outlined Zachary''s face as he stood up, intending to switch on the television so that he could watch the morning sports news. But just then, he felt feverish and out of energy once again. His temples throbbed, and he felt like standing was a tasking chore. He even had to hold on to the sofa to support himself.

    For a moment, Zachary felt a bit rmed by his abnormal condition. But after recollecting how he''d run for more than ny minutes in the chilling rain the previous night, he pushed his worries to the back of his mind.

    He presumed that the post-match fatigue was still weighing him down. But even then, he still decided to sleep for a few more hours, hoping to quicken his post-match recovery.

    He trekked into his bedroom with unsteady steps before diving under the covers. A couple of minutester, he felt even more fatigued, and his thoughts slowed down until he started sinking into slumbend. His only hope at that juncture was that his body would return back to normal after he woke up. That way, he would be able to train a little bit more and make adequate preparations for the uing matches.

 Chapter 369 Sickness

    <h4>Chapter 369 Sickness</h4>

    Zachary forgot everything else after sinking into slumbend. Weird and messy visions coursed through his consciousness as he turned and tossed under the covers. Then, his mind seemed to gain rity, and he dreamt about the ghostly phantom he''d chanced upon just after his rebirth.

    The man-shaped apparition slowly and steadily grew more vivid within his mind''s eye. It was just as he remembered, with a prominent silvery ragged line across its neck and charcoal ck skin. Its tattered regal attire and the crown of leaves and grass on its head matched well with its bottomless soulless eyes to bring out a creepy savageness from within its hazy form.

    "Eh! What the hell!"

    The next moment, Zachary''s entire psyche stretched taut with tension as he felt the phantom''s gazend upon him. It smiled creepily, and its chapped lips moved just a bit, seemingly as if it was about tomunicate something verbally. But just then, a loud ringing sound resounded within Zachary''s mind and shattered the weird illusion.

    The bizarre visions faded quickly, and Zachary woke up with a start. The first thing his foggy mind registered was the loud ringing of the doorbell that was constantly resounding across his entire apartment. The sound was sharp and jarring to his ears, causing him to frown with difort.

    Zachary stepped out of bed and slowly trekked toward his living room while still in a daze. Hebored a bit on unsteady strides and finally made it to the front door. Without even bothering to check who was behind it, he immediately pulled it open in one swift motion.

    "Zachary!" A familiar voice registered in his ears as he focused on the slender silhouette standing before his door. "Are you okay? Why aren''t you picking up your phone?"

    "Kristin!" Zachary eximed, trying to shake off his dazed state. He was startled to see his long-time neighbor and publicity secretary at the door. "Is anything the matter?"

    Kristin nced at him as a tinge of worry flickered across her eyes. "Are you okay?" She asked. "Emily, Coach Bj?rn Peters, and a few others have tried to contact you many times today? But you didn''t pick up your phone even once. So, in the end, Emily sent me here to check on you."

    "Many people have been trying to call me!" Zachary''s eyes narrowed slightly. "What time is it now?"

    "6:23 PM," Kristin replied.

    "What!?" Zachary''s eyes widened. He was even more rmed. The whole situation was strange as he''d only napped for a seemingly short while. "How could I sleep for the entire day?"

    Zachary opened his lips, about to ask a few more questions. But just then, he felt an intense dizzy sensation impact his mind. His strong legs seemed to be filled with jelly for a moment, and he found it hard to maintain his standing posture.

    "I think I might be sick," Zachary said to Kristin as he supported himself on the doorframe. "I woke up feeling very weak today morning. Then, I decided to sleep, and that''s why I didn''t hear my phone ringing."

    "You''re sick?" Kristin asked, her eyes narrowing. "Or could it be the exhaustion from yesterday''s game?"

    "I have never felt this week after any game. So, I''m pretty sure that I''m ill."

    Zachary sighed dejectedly and flexed his biceps. He had been looking forward to continuing his intensive training the following day. But it seemed his health had betrayed him.

    "Sorry to hear about your condition," Kristin said after observing him for a few more seconds. "I''m sure that you''ll get well soon. Let me call Emily first so that she can organize your treatment right away."

    "Thank you, Kristin," Zachary said, forcing a smile.

    "You''re wee," she said while fishing out her phone from her jumper pocket. "But don''t stay on your feet when you''re sick. Just settle or lie down somewherefortable while I call Emily. I don''t want you to copse and hurt yourself before the medics get here."

    "Okay, thanks again," Zachary said and nodded at Kristin before turning around and returning to his living room.

    -----

    Zachary was surprised by Emily''s efficiency that evening. She was quick to organize an ambnce, and before long, Zachary arrived at St. v''s hospital, where he received appreciable care from the medics there. They diagnosed his condition and quickly took blood tests to determine whether he''d caught a grave illness.

    But in the end, they figured out that it was just amon cold that had aggravated his post-match fatigue and weighed him down considerably. Nheless, the doctors still insisted that he stay at the hospital for observation due to his severe symptoms. They assigned him a bed in the private ward before putting him under IV drip therapy and a few othermon cold medications.

    About thirty minutester, when the clock hand was just about to point to the 9:15 PM mark, the effect of the drugs kicked in, and Zachary felt his thoughts slowing down. Before long, he drifted off into slumbend and forgot everything else.

    He was out of touch with reality for a seemingly long time before regaining his usual mental faculties. When he finally came to and opened his eyes again, it was already the following morning. Golden sun rays seeped into the hospital room through the enormous window on the opposite wall to illuminate his pale face, and he smiled as his spirit brightened. Even while lying down, he could still feel that his condition had greatly improved after a night of rest.

    He nced around, trying to limatize himself to his surroundings, and that''s when he noticed Cami sitting by his hospital bed. She appeared a bit worn out, seemingly as if she hadst slept a few days ago. But that didn''t stop her from looking as charming as ever, especially in her fitting denim jeans and a cardigan sweater that matched the green color of her eyes.

    "Good morning, sleepyhead," she said, looking at him tenderly. "How''re you feeling?"

    "Good morning, Cami," he replied, smiling back at her. "I think I feel great. When did you arrive?"

    "Yesterday night, at around 10:30 PM," she replied. "But by then, you were already asleep. So, I didn''t try to wake you."

    Zachary smiled, feeling a warm sensation swelling up within him. "Thanks for being there for me."

    "There''s no need for thanks as that''s what I should do," she said. "As your girlfriend, I should always be there for you during trying times. Isn''t that the way it should be?"

    "I think so," Zachary said a bit uncertainly as he wasn''t sure where she was heading with the train of conversation.

    Cami smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "Actually," she said, "I was a bit hurt after realizing that I only managed to learn about your condition after you had already spent more than an hour in the hospital. And then when I first saw you lying on the hospital bed yesternight, I regretted not being there for you much sooner. But now, after seeing you wake up, all my gloominess has been swept away. I''m really delighted that you''ve gotten better."

    "Thank you," Zachary said. "Do you know what time it is?''

    "Just a moment." Cami extended her hand and picked up her handbag from the chair next to hers. She quickly fished her phone from the bag and nced at the screen. "Five minutes remaining to 9:00 AM," she said.

    "Thatte!" Zachary eximed. He was surprised that a simplemon cold had forced him to sleep for more than twenty hours.

    "You shouldn''t worry about anything else," Cami advised. "Your agent mentioned that she has already informed your coaches about your condition. You only need to focus on recovering for the moment."

    Zachary nodded and closed his still weary eyes. His mind immediately started going over the previous day''s events, and then he recalled how he''d dreamt about the ghostly phantom for the first time ever.

    The escapade had creeped him out considerably even in his dreams, and he''d only managed to forget about it after his mind sunk further into a dazed state. But after his condition improved and he gained rity that morning, the whole train of events manifested in his mind again. He thought about the dream for a few minutes, but in the end, he discarded it as just another weird episode of his life.

    He opened his eyes, and his spirits brightened once again. He immediately resumed his conversation with Cami, and they continued discussing many issues, big and small. They only concluded their talk when Emily arrived roughly thirty minutester.

    "Zachary," Cami said after exchanging greetings with Emily. "I have to go now as I have a crucial meeting at work, which I can''t miss. So, I''ll see youter in the evening." She leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek before stepping away.

    Zachary smiled. "Enjoy your day. And please hurry up and go. I don''t want you to miss your meeting because of me."

    "Okay then," she replied, smiling back. "See you again in the evening. Ensure to rest so that you can recover faster. And don''t run off to train somewhere in secret."

    Zachary chuckled. "Don''t worry. I n to rest for the whole day since I also wish to recover faster."

    "Great," Cami said and then nodded at Emily. Without saying anything else, she picked up her bag and made her way out of the room.

 Chapter 370 Desire for Playing Time

    <h4>Chapter 370 Desire for ying Time</h4>

    There were a few seconds of silence in the hospital room after Cami stepped out of the room. Then Emily turned her gaze from the tightly shut door before eyeing Zachary. "Your girlfriend is a true beauty," she said.

    "Yes, she is quite gorgeous," Zachary agreed with a smile. "Thanks for organizing treatment for me yesterday, by the way. My condition might have worsened if you hadn''t sent Kristin to check on me."

    "Don''t mention it," Emily said with a smile as she settled on one of the seats by his bedside. "Taking care of my client is my duty. Otherwise, how would I be able to make money when you''re sick?"

    Zachary chuckled while turning slightly to make himself morefortable on the pillow. "I have been meaning to ask: How far with the process to acquire a Schengen visa for my grandma? Have you managed to make any progress?"

    "I have already started the application process," she said. "If all goes as nned, your grandma should have a Norwegian residence card within a month. The card will allow her to gain permission to enter all European countries, except the UK, of course."

    Zachary smiled. "Thanks a lot," he said. "The doctors also said they would discharge her from the rehabilitation center in about a month''s time. If we have already obtained the residence card by that time, we can quickly transfer her to Norway."

    "Don''t worry," Emily said. "I''ll do my best to ensure that she gets the residence card within the fastest time possible. As for you, you should only focus on getting well at the moment. Don''t strain yourself thinking about other issues during the next few days."

    "I think I''m already getting better," Zachary said, shifting slightly on the bed. "I''ll probably be able to leave the hospital tomorrow morning."

    "That isn''t a good idea," Emily said with a sigh. "You should rest for the next five to seven days and ensure that you''ve totally recovered before returning to your usual routine. I have already discussed this with Coach Johansen, and he totally agrees with me on this point. He''s the one who even insisted that you take a week off from football. So, you don''t need to worry that he will fault you for missing training over the next seven days."

    "A week away from football!" Zachary raised a brow. "Isn''t that too much and totally unnecessary?"

    "Not ording to the doctors," Emily said. "The medics are the ones who advised the coach to let you take seven days off football. They insisted that the time is needed for your body to go through aplete recovery."

    "A whole seven days!" Zachary mumbled dejectedly. "That''s quite a long time away from football."

    -----

    Due to the insistence of his coaches and agent, Zachary ended up spending two more days in the hospital. He even watched Rosenborg''s Tippeligaen game against Odds BK on aputer within his hospital room. Fortunately, his absence seemed not to have impacted the team, and Rosenborg managed to defeat the opponents by a score of 2:0, curtsey of goals from Karl Toko Ekambi and Nicki Nielsen.

    After watching the game against Odds BK, Zachary''s legs and feet felt itchy. An intense hunger to ypetitive football blossomed within his mind, and he put his foot down and insisted that he wished to return to training as soon as possible.

    Due to his unwavering attitude, the doctors, coaches, and Emily allpromised and permitted him to leave the hospital the following day. But they also made him promise to take it easy over the next few days by following a light training regimen.

    Zachary, of course, agreed and left the hospital the following morning. He was finally free again, and so he rmenced his training immediately. He could not afford to waste any time since he was a man with lofty goals.

    Zachary followed the doctors'' instructions over the next few days and didn''t perform strenuous exercises. He kept his training simple and went through only yoga routines and light conditioning drills with the sole and primary aim of maintaining his match fitness.

    The days shed by fast as he trained alone, and the remnant adverse effects of his illness soon vanished from his body. He was as strong as a wild ox and as fit as a fiddle again. So, he started going through intensive workouts in preparation for Rosenborg''s next domestic match against FK Bod?/Glimt. He even took part in thest two team training sessions conducted by his coaches on Thursday and Friday.

    But even after exerting all his efforts to attain match fitness, Coach Johansen still left Zachary out of the squad heading to Bod? Municipality for the Saturday game. The coach summoned him after the training on Friday and exined that he needed to reserve all his energy for the Europa League semi-final against Benfica the following Thursday. As for the match against FK Bod?/Glimt, the coach mentioned that he didn''t need to care about it as Rosenborg would be able to win with only a few first-team yers.

    Zachary didn''tin since he understood the coach''s intentions. The only issue that made him ufortable was losing out on match bonuses that could amount to a few million Norwegian Kroners. But for the big picture ¡ª for the team''s good, he still hardened himself and snuffed out the slight feeling of discontent that was threatening to blossom within him.

    -----

    The next evening.

    "A man has got to sacrifice for the greater picture," Zachary thought as he settled down to watch Rosenborg''s Saturday game against FK Bod?/Glimt with Cami in his living room. He would be lying if he said that he didn''t desire to be on the pitch with his teammates in the Aspmyra Stadion located in Bod?.

    He yearned to participate in the game, to feel the intense thrill of taking on opponents with all his heart. But at the same time, he also understood that he needed to reserve his energy for the Europa League semi-final. So, he breathed out deeply to rx before putting his arm around Cami''s and starting to follow the game on the screen.

    The game proceeded as expected. Even at an away ground, the Rosenborg team,prising yers like Yerry Mina, Takumi Minamino, and Thomas Partey, dominated FK Bod?/Glimt from the first minute. The Troll Kids arrayed themselves in a 4-3-3 formation and utilized a mixture of wing y, counter-pressing, and counterattacking tactics to dictate the tempo.

    Eventually, the floodgates opened, and Ole Seln?s unleashed a missile of a shot from outside the 18-yard box to score Rosenborg''s first goal during the 34th minute. Ten minutester, during the 44th minute, Rosenborg found the back of the once again after John Chibuike perfectly connected with a cross from Karl Toko Ekambi.

    And finally, in the 84th minute, during thete stages of the second half, Paul Kasongo got to the end of a through-pass from Takumi Minamino to score Rosenborg''s third goal for the evening. After that, there were no more goals in the game, and Rosenborg BK managed to defeat FK Bod?/Glimt by three goals to nil, even while ying away from home and without Zachary.

    The win had taken Rosenborg to the top of the Tippeligaen table with four wins equating to twelve points from four matches. On the other hand, Str?msgodset, the second team on the table, had only ten points, while Molde, the third team, had only nine points from the same number of games.

    It was a dream start of the season for team Rosenborg ¡ª a feat that caused Zachary''s heart to go on a wild caper within his chest. He really enjoyed and prided himself in being part of a team on a winning streak. He was already swelling with the team spirit, and the sentiment prompted him to desire to give his best when he faced Benfica in Lisbon, Portugal, the following Thursday.

 Chapter 371 Eve of the Europa League Semi-Final

    <h4>Chapter 371 Eve of the Europa League Semi-Final</h4>

    After Rosenborg''s domestic game against FK Bod?/Glimt, Zachary and his teammates started preparing for the Europa League semi-final match against Sport Lisboa e Benfica. They trained arduously over the next few days with the intent to improve their match fitness and to also master the tactics for the game. The team training covered all the essential areas of any typical football match, including physical conditioning, passing, off-ball movements, plus zonal and man-marking strategies.

    Coach Johansen even went further andpelled the yers to practice their penalty-taking techniques on a daily basis. He would summon them and have them take dozens of penalties against the Rosenborg keepers during the evenings. He would then end the day''s training by giving lectures about theories covering effective shooting techniques.

    The Rosenborg schedule became packed, and all the yers, including Zachary, became busier. The days shed by quickly, and eventually, Wednesday morning arrived. The yers, who had made Coach Johansen''s squad, boarded a KLM Airlines flight from Trondheim to Lisbon.

    The ne had only a single stopover in Amsterdam, and six hourster, at around noon, it touched down on the runway of the Humberto Delgado Airport. The Rosenborg yers and staff avoided all the fanfare within the airport''s hallways and collected their luggage. Before long, they exited the airport and boarded the team bus to their hotel.

    Since their hotel was close to the airport, the traveling time on the team bus was brief. In around 15 minutes, the driver rounded a corner and pulled up in front of the grand Lisbon Marriott Hotel.

    The yers and staff alighted from the bus and picked up their luggage before stepping into the hotel. Under the guidance of a group of dedicated hotel staff, they soon checked into their hotel rooms. After unpacking and settling in, they headed to the hotel''s restaurant for lunch.

    "The meal is surprisingly good," Mikael Dorsin said after tasting his braised pork chops. He was at the same table with Zachary, Nicki, Eric Bailly, Thomas Partey, and Kasongo. "I should visit Lisbon more often to enjoy this delicious food." He smiled as he swallowed down another piece of meat.

    Nicki Nielsen nced up from his te filled with tofu lettuce wraps. "Mikael!" he said. "Be careful not to overeat. We don''t want you to underperform tomorrow evening."

    "Says the man enjoying a vegetarian meal before the game," Mikael countered. "Aren''t you worried that you''llck stamina tomorrow evening?"

    "Guys!" Zachary interrupted before Nicki could reply. "Do you know the program for the afternoon?"

    Mikael nodded and said, "The coach has already informed me that we won''t have any training today. A fraction of us will instead utilize the time to survey the stadium. On the other hand, you and Coach Johansen will stay at the hotel to attend the pre-match press conference."

    "I have to attend the press conference!?" Zachary narrowed his eyes as he nced at the assistant captain. "Coach Johansen can manage by himself. Why do I have to go?"

    Mikael sighed and ced his table knife and fork down. "Over the past few days, there have been rumors that you''re very ill. These rumors have caused our fans to be agitated as the Europa League semis draw near. So, I''m guessing that the coach wants you to be at the press conference so that you can clear up those rumors."

    "I see," Zachary said as he sunk his table knife and fork into his steak. He diced a piece and ced it in his mouth to appreciate the taste and rich vors of the meat before swallowing it down.

    Ever since turning pro, Zachary had always endeavored to eat well before any game. That time was no different as he had a tray filled with various types of food before him. Vitamin-rich vegetables, carbohydrate-rich foods like bread, and protein-rich meat dishes were all part of his diet. He was going the extra mile to ensure that he would have enough energy stored for tomorrow''s game.

    -----

    As nned, the Rosenborg delegation split into two groups after lunch. Therger batch,prising most yers and staff, headed to the Est¨¢dio da Luz to survey and familiarize themselves with the stadium venue for their game against Benfica the following day. On the other hand, the small cluster,prising just Zachary and Coach Johansen, remained at the hotel to undertake the pre-match press conference duties.

    "Wee to Lisbon, team Rosenborg," a female journalist said after Zachary and Coach Johansen settled down in a rtivelyrge conference room at the hotel. "My first question is to Coach Johansen. Can you tell us about the team''s current status? Are all the yers in good health?"

    Coach Johansen smiled at the reporter. "Except for Tobias, who received an injury a few weeks back, all the other yers on the team are in great shape. Their match fitness is exceptional, and they''re ready to give their all in tomorrow''s game."

    "What is your take on Benfica?" The same reporter asked after jostling down a few notes in her notebook. "Do you think you can defeat Benfica and qualify for this year''s Europa League finals?"

    "Benfica is a great team with great history, especially in Portugal," Coach Johansen said. "The Benfica yers are also in great shape as they have already defeated Tottenham and AZ Alkmaar on their way to the Europa League semi-finals. However, I still believe that we can ovee them. Our results during this Europa League campaign speak for themselves. We''ve already defeated strong teams like Juventus, Fiorentina, and Lyon. We''re ready to do the same during the semi-finals, and we''ll only be ying for a win and nothing else."

    "I have a question for Zachary Bemba," another reporter chimed in. "Zachary! There have been rumors that you have been seriously ill over the previous two weeks. Many Rosenborg fans were even worried that you might miss today''s game due to illness. Are these rumors correct?"

    Zachary smiled. "As you can all see," he said, "I''m in good health and here in Lisbon to y the match against Benfica. I was indeed suffering from amon cold some days back. But I recovered and returned to training on time. I''m now in good health and ready to perform as usual during tomorrow''s game."

    The same reporter smiled. "Another query," he said. "I have been looking at your stats for this Europa League campaign, and they are just incredible. You''ve already surpassed Radamel Falcao''s 2010-11 goal-scoring record of seventeen goals byting neen goals for Rosenborg in the Europa League this season. How do you feel about breaking this record as you head into tomorrow''s semi-final? Do you think breaking the record will motivate you to perform better?"

    Zachary smiled. "First of all, I would like to rify that I previously didn''t know that the record number of goals ever scored in a single Europa League season was seventeen before this year. So, I was definitely not ying with the intent to break the record. Of course, I feel happy to break records. But that isn''t my focus during any match. Since football is a game of eleven, my only aim will always be to y in a way that can help my team achieve victory."

    **** ****

    Jorge Jesus, the head coach of Benfica, yearned to win a double that season. He was already five points ahead of the second-ced Sporting CP and only needed three more to win the domestic league. So, if Benfica could win the Europa League, the coach would achieve his wish and end the season on a high note. But before thinking about the final or the trophy, he had to find a way to defeat the dark horses - Rosenborg first. Otherwise, all his wishes would remain pipe dreams.

    Coach Jorge Jesus met up with his yers in the tactics room that evening. As usual, he spent time analyzing the opponents'' weaknesses for the first half an hour before diving into the actual tactics of the game.

    "By now, you should all be aware that Rosenborg is a team that relies on counterattacking tactics to score goals in the Europa League." He spoke in Portuguese as he began pacing around the room. "The Rosenborg yers spend most of the time defending, and when you rx, even a bit, they hit you on the counter. So, to deal with them, we''ll have to find ways to render those counters useless. And the only way to do that is by imitating them and ying a defensive game while also containing Zachary Bemba, their ymaker."

    "I repeat," the coach continued, "the most crucial task for us is to mark Zachary and prevent him from scoring during the match. As long as we guard against Zachary, all Rosenborg''s counterattacking strategies will be useless since the clinical abilities of their other yers are just subpar. I believe that after taking him out of the equation, Rosenborg will be just another team from the lower tier leagues of Europe. We''ll then defeat them by relying on our tactics and superior skills."

    "But we all need to know that the million-dor question that''ll enable us to win this game is how to contain Zachary? We all know that we need to stop him. But the tricky part is: can we actually stop him? I''m pretty sure that Lyon wanted to prevent him from scoring. But in the end, he scored six goals against them. The same applies to previous teams like Juventus and Fiorentina. They all knew how to stop Rosenborg but failed due to Zachary''s presence on the pitch."

    "So, guys," he continued in Portuguese, "What can we do differently to ensure that the same thing that happened to Lyon, Juventus, and Fiorentina doesn''t happen to us? The answer is simple. We should not let Zachary receive the ball in the first ce. We need to utilize zonal marking to limit his movements and time on the ball. We also need to harass him constantly to stop him from settling down in midfield."

    "Andr¨¦, R¨²ben, and P¨¦rez: this task will fall upon you, our three central midfielders. You only need to form defensive triangles around him throughout the entire game so that we discourage his teammates from passing to him. And if they do pass to him, we need to close him down fast and stop him long before he reaches the box. I don''t care what you three have to do. You can even pull his shirt or foul him. But I don''t want to see him making runs into our box. Is that clear?" He focused his scorching gaze on the three midfielders.

    "We understand, coach," the three replied almost in chorus.

    "Excellent," Coach Jorge Jesus said. He was confident that his team was ready to face off against the dark horses. And if luck was on his side, he should be able to frustrate them defensively in the same way they had frustrated their opponents during the previous stages of the Europa League. So, the coach only assigned a few more roles to the rest of his yers before ending the tactical meeting about thirty minutester.

 Chapter 372 A Tricky Game

    <h4>Chapter 372 A Tricky Game</h4>

    Thursday, April 24, 2014.

    Est¨¢dio da Luz, SL. Benfica''s Home Ground, Lisbon, Portugal.

    Time: 9:00 PM.

    -----

    The cheers hit a crescendo as yers of both teams marched onto the pitch, ready tomence their long-awaited Europa League semi-final battle. The Benfica yers were in their red and white home colors, while the Rosenborg squad had donned their all-ck away jersey. They all looked dapper as they lined up in front of the tunnel before going through the customary handshake ceremony.

    The proceedings moved forward quite fast, and in only a few minutes, the yers started taking up their positions on the pitch. And when the clock hand was pointing to the 9:05 PM mark, the referee had already conducted the coin toss. He positioned himself close to the center circle and nced at his watch as a rare wave of silence swept through the stands of the Est¨¢dio da Luz.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The next moment, the kick-off whistle echoed, and the fans became wild and frantic as they chanted the names of their respective teams at the top of their lungs. Soon, the voices of the more than 55,000 people in the stands of the Est¨¢dio da Luz blended into a chaotic thunderous symphony that shook the entire stadium. Over the next few seconds, it was as if the stadium was experiencing a mild earthquake due to the sheer magnitude of the noise.

    On the pitch: the game was already underway, and it was Benfica, the home side, with the ball. The yers in red and white had arrayed themselves into a 4-2-3-1 formation that revealed their intent to defend. They utilized a tedious style of y, whereby the defenders and defensive midfielders passed the ball unhurriedly in the backfield, from one end of the pitch to the other, without advancing to attack. It was as if they were daring the Rosenborg yers to step forward into their defensive third to win the ball from them if they could.

    The Rosenborg yers seemed to grow impatient after not seeing much of the ball during the first ten minutes. They soon broke out of their ultra-defensive 4-5-1 shape and streamed forward with the intent to high-press and quickly win the ball from the ''unmotivated'' Benfica yers.

    But just as the Rosenborg yers were beginning to high-press, a swift change urred on the pitch. Ezequiel Garay, the Benfica center-back who had the ball at the moment, unleashed a superb long pass to the other end of the pitch before any opponents could close him down. His vision was on point, and he managed to pick out Miralem Sulejmani, Benfica''s left-winger.

    Miralem Sulejmani controlled the ball close to the touchline on the left nk. He then pivoted around to escape the harassment of Karl Toko Ekambi before exploding with speed towards the other side of the pitch. Before any other opponent could close him down, he unleashed a curling cross towards the edge of the box from around the border of the final third.

    ¨®scar Cardozo, the Benfica center forward, leaped high to meet the iing cross from around the arc of the eighteen-yard box. He shrugged off Tore Reginiussen in a battle of aerial superiority and perfectly connected with the cross from his teammate. He chested the ball to the ground and then squared a pass to Rodrigo Moreno Machado, Benfica''s right-winger.

    Rodrigo controlled the ball mid-sprint at the right edge of the box. Without losingposure, he dashed into Rosenborg''s box like the wind before expertly looping the ball over the keeper to score Benfica''s first goal during the 12th minute.

    "Oh, my goodness me!" Thementator''s voice reverberated across the stadium as Rodrigo sprinted towards the corner g to celebrate. "Benfica has caught Rosenborg napping to score the first goal in the 12th minute. All the Rosenborg yers, including their ymaker - Zachary Bemba, couldn''t stop the goal due to the swift change of y from defense to attack. Oh my, my! The fairy tale of the underdogs in the Europa League might end today night."

    -----

    "Damn," Coach Johansen cursed as he watched the Benfica yers celebrating the goal. The goal had really shocked and shaken him to the core as it hade out of the blue. He was not in the best of moods since his team was already a goal down even before his yers could get used to the away atmosphere in Lisbon and settle down in the game. The situation was really dire.

    "How do we get back into the game?"

    Coach Johansen''s thoughts were all over the ce. He had a feeling that the game that evening would be a tricky one, especially if he didn''te up with a way to boost the morale of his yers. He even feared that his team might concede more goals before halftime if his yers remained panicky and unsettled on the pitch. So, he had to take action immediately to prevent the game situation from turning much worse.

    "Guys!" He shouted at the top of his voice as he walked towards the touchline. "Don''t let the goal bring you down. We still have more than 85 minutes of game time remaining. As long as we utilize the time well and stick to our game n, we''ll manage to score before the final whistle. So, please don''t lose your confidence and morale."

    "Zachary!" Coach Johansen continued. "Their three central midfielders have already created a defensive zone around you in midfield. You have to start making runs into or through the wings to escape their. Otherwise, your teammates won''t be able to evade their blockade and pass to you. Nicki! We need more energy from you on the striking line. Try to apply more pressure on those center backs and prevent them from making easy passes in the backfield..."

    The coach continued hollering out instructions at the pace of a machine gun for roughly a minute. His objective was to ensure that his team regained both morale and confidence before the restart of the game.

    -----

    The game restarted after the goal celebrations, and team Benfica yed more defensively, withoutunching any attack during the following ten minutes. They seemed satisfied with the one goal and exerted more effort to solidify their ultra-defensive tactics. They obviously wanted to snuff out even the remotest of possibilities of Rosenborg scoring a goal.

    "This match is tricky," Zachary thought as he analyzed Benfica''s strategy after the ball had moved out of y for a throw-in. "We might not be able to use counterattacking football in this game since the opponents are turtling up in defense. Truly problematic!"

    Zachary''s frown deepened. Before the game, he''d learned from the coaches that Benfica was a team that often utilized high-intensity attacking football to dominate their opponents. The Portuguese side usually employed a 4-1-3-2 formation to overwhelm the opposing teams with a never-ending stream of attacks.

    But contrary to Zachary''s and everyone else''s expectations, the Portuguese giants had totally altered their football philosophy to ''park the bus'' with a defensive 4-2-3-1 formation. Their ultra-defensive gamen had caught Rosenborg off guard and rendered Coach Johansen''s counterattacking tactics useless. As a result, Rosenborg had to revise its game strategy since there wasn''t a way to counterattack a team that only focused on defending and not conceding a goal.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and motioned for team Benfica to take their throw-in. Maximiliano Pereira, the right-back, immediately raced forward before nting his feet on the touchline and throwing the ball towards Enzo P¨¦rez, one of Benfica''s two defensive midfielders.

    Enzo P¨¦rez escaped from Takumi Minamino, his marker, and raced forward to meet the ball close to the center circle. He brought it under control before turning around and threading a pass to R¨²ben Amorim, his counterpart in defensive midfield.

    Zachary immediately rushed forward like a predator on the hunt on seeing R¨²ben Amorim about to control the ball. He closed in on the defensive midfielder with all the speed he could muster before sliding in to tackle the ball. He was already looking forward to winning possession back for Rosenborg.

 Chapter 373 Special Care for Zachary

    Chapter 373 Special Care for Zachary¡¡¡¡The next moment, Zachary''s heart throbbed with excitement as he felt his boot connect with the ball before sweeping it away from the defensive midfielder''s feet. Without bothering to look at the fallen opponent, he picked himself up from the ground and pounced toward the ball, intending tounch an attack immediately.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    But just then, the referee blew the whistle for a foul, causing Zachary to halt his actions. His eyes narrowed as he turned around to face the approaching referee. "I got the ball first," he said, spreading out his arms. "How can you judge that as a foul?"

    "You''re mistaken," the Turkish referee countered. "You got the leg instead of the ball. But since this is your first offense, I''ll let you off with just a verbal warning. However, if youmit any other dangerous fouls, I''ll be forced to show you a card. Be careful from now on."

    "Are you for real?" Zachary was exasperated. "Just look at him." He pointed at R¨²ben Amorim, who had already stopped acting and picked himself from the ground. "Does the yer seem like someone who has just endured a dangerous foul?"

    "Enough," the referee said. "Stopining. My decision is final. You fouled an opponent, and I have awarded the opposing team a free-kick. Step away and let the opponents take their set-piece. If not, I''ll show you a yellow card right now."

    "Zachary," Mikael called out after rushing to the scene. "Ignore everything and cool down, man. A single free kick won''t change anything. Rx and y as usual. You''ll soon get a chance to pay them back."

    "Yes, a single set-piece won''t change anything," Nicki Nielsen echoed, pulling him away from the referee. "Don''t risk a yellow card for nothing."

    Zachary nodded and took a deep breath to calm himself down. The built-up frustration brought about by his team conceding a goal early in the first half had almost caused him to lose his temper. But after his teammates reminded him about what was important, he immediately recovered his calm state of mind and continued walking away from the scene of the free kick.

    But just as he was about to take up a defensive position in preparation to guard against the set-piece, R¨²ben approached him with a smile. "Zachary," the defensive midfielder said in a soft voice. "I just wanted to let you know that you were rightining to the referee. You obviously got the ball first, but I dived and won the free-kick. I''m really sorry about the injustice."

    Zachary raised a brow as he met the defensive midfielder''s gaze. "What''s your purpose in telling me this?" He also asked in English. "Do you expect your statement to annoy me? Do you expect me to punch you and incur the referee''s wrath after telling me this?"

    A lopsided grin outlined the midfielder''s face. "As a yer, I know that losing in football can be painful. You must be hurting on the inside since you guys are already one goal down. That''s why I decided to apologize so that I can alleviate your pain slightly." The guy then nodded and stepped away from Zachary''s position.

    "Crazy idiot," Zachary mumbled as he watched the defensive midfielder scuttling away. His mood wasn''t the least bit agitated by the simple mind games. He discarded the incident from his mind and returned his focus to the game.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle a few secondster and signaled for team Benfica to take their free-kick. Enzo P¨¦rez, one of the three Benfica midfielders, immediately took the free-kick long and unleashed a lofted pass towards the area behind Rosenborg''s defensive line.

    Luis?o, the Benfica center-back who was also the captain, broke out from the defensive line of yers. He timed his run perfectly and headed the ball onwards¡ªtowards the left side of the box to find ¨®scar Cardozo, the Benfica center forward.

    ¨®scar Cardozo brought the ball to the ground with an outstretched boot. He then expertly circumvented the approaching keeper with a few touches before burying the ball into the back of the. He''d finally managed to double Benfica''s lead in the 24th minute.

    Zachary felt his heart sink into the abyss of desperation as he watched the Benfica yers celebrating the goal. He couldn''tprehend how the opponents were already two goals ahead even though they had yed sub-par football. Theycked creativity and individual brilliance, yet they were winning. The whole progress of the match was really baffling and depressing, as far as Zachary was concerned.

    "Sorry, man," the familiar voice of R¨²ben Amorim made its way into his ears as he was still watching the celebrating yers and brooding over conceding the goal. "I know it must be painful since we''ve scored again. But hang in there. Even if you lose, you can still feel proud as you have already helped your team reach the semi-finals of the Europa League. That''s quite a big achievement for a small team from Norway."

    Zachary whirled around and gave the defensive midfielder a deep look. He met his gaze for a few seconds before shaking his head and quietly walking away¡ªtowards the center circle. His team was already two goals down. So, he had no time to waste bickering with an opponent. He had to restart the game as soon as possible and pull out all the weapons in his arsenal if he wished to fight for the slim chance of bringing the proceedings on the pitch back to level terms.

    -----

    R¨²ben Amorim nced at Zachary''s receding back and frowned. Before kick-off, the coach had given him the task of throwing the young ymaker off his game. So, he had been throwing out a few disguised verbal jabs, hoping to annoy the young ymaker. But all his efforts were futile as Zachary had chosen to ignore him.

    "You''re doing great work for the team," Luis?o, the Benfica captain, said after approaching his position. A grin still outlined his face as he''d just finished celebrating the goal with the other Benfica yers. "Zachary hasn''t managed to threaten our goal during today''s game. I''m guessing that he''s off his game rhythm due to your handiwork."

    "You''re wrong about that," R¨²ben replied and started making his way towards the other end of the pitch. "I don''t think I''ve made any progress with Zachary since he has been ignoring all my attempts to annoy him. He should still be asposed and as dangerous as ever. He merely hasn''t gotten the opportunity to create any chances. So, we need to continue harassing him. Otherwise, if he picks up his usual rhythm, we''ll be in danger even if we''re already two goals ahead."

    Luis?o narrowed his eyes, seemingly in contemtion, as he matched R¨²ben''s steps towards Benfica''s half. They walked quickly, especially since the referee had already notified all the yers to hurry back to their positions for the restart.

    "Continue trying your best to annoy him and break his rhythm every few minutes after the restart," Luis?o finally said as they crossed the center-line and stepped into Benfica''s half. "I''ll also tell the rest of the guys in defense and midfield to remain wary of him. I believe that we''ll be able to contain him if we work together as a team."

    "Hopefully, we can contain him," R¨²ben said as he finally took up his position within Benfica''s middle third. "Otherwise, if we allow him to score a single goal, his confidence will surge, and then the task of stopping him will be harder. So, make sure that all the guys understand their roles for the rest of the game."

    "Don''t worry," Luis?o said. "I''m sure the rest of the guys know what to do since they''d had all watched Zachary''s past match videos. I believe that they won''t rx even if we''re already two goals ahead. But to be safe, I''ll continue reminding them about the task at hand throughout the entire game."

    "That would be for the best." R¨²ben smiled, ncing around. "Better head to your position as the referee is about to restart the game. Don''t let the opponents catch you off guard in defense."

    "Don''t worry," Luis?o said, grinning. "I''m heading back now. And good luck to you." The center back didn''t wait for a response but just turned around and jogged towards his starting position within Benfica''s defensive third.

    R¨²ben breathed in deeply and turned his gaze to the other side of the pitch. His eyes focused on Zachary as he thought about what he would have to do to contain the young midfielder. The other party seemed to feel his stare and nced at him, and the two of them locked eyes for a moment.

    "You won''t score against us. You definitely won''t score." R¨²ben silently mouthed the words at a slow pace to ensure that the other party understood what he meant.

    But in response, Zachary smiled and shook his head before turning his gaze away. The young midfielder still seemed to be immune to his verbal jabs.

    R¨²ben wasn''t discouraged, though. He understood that he couldn''t rush the process of throwing a talented ymaker off his game. He only needed to continue doing things to interrupt the guy''s rhythm now and then, and he would be able to limit his performance during the game. And as long as the young ymaker didn''t perform, Benfica would have a very high possibility of winning the two semi-final legs with their two-goal cushion.

    -----

 Chapter 374 Crafty Tactics I

    Chapter 374 Crafty Tactics I¡¡¡¡*FWEEEEEEE*

    A few secondster, the referee blew the whistle and signaled for the game to restart. Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s only center-forward, nced around before kicking the ball back into his midfield.

    Zachary received the ball just outside the center circle with a simple touch. He immediately turned around before passing it further back into his half¡ªtowards Thomas Partey, Rosenborg''s holding midfielder.

    Thomas Partey exhibited a sense of urgency as he connected with the pass. He took a single touch on the ball before kicking it to Mikael Dorsin, Rosenborg''s left-back. Thetter controlled it well before flicking it to Takumi Minamino, one of Rosenborg''s midfielders, who had just run into space in the middle of the field.

    Takumi altered his course slightly to connect with the iing pass. But just as he was about to control the ball, two Benfica yers closed him down quickly. They were Enzo P¨¦rez and Miralem Sulejmani. The two of them were like two whirlwinds as they boxed in the young Japanese midfielder from two sides.

    However, Takumi didn''t lose hisposure in the slightest. With the nimblest of touches, he looped the ball over one of the iing opponents before chesting it to the ground. He nced up once before unleashing a lofted pass towards the wing to find Zachary Bemba.

    Zachary had just drifted out of the midfield to escape the harassment of his bodyguards. He leaped high and controlled the ball with his chest close to the touchline on the right nk. He immediately whirled around and elerated towards Benfica''s half like the wind.

    Guilherme Siqueira, the Benfica left-back, soon stepped forward to intercept his run through the nk. The left-back angled his approach and body skillfully to force Zachary towards the sidelines.

    However, Zachary remainedposed as he kept his eyes on the approaching defender. And when the defender was only about two meters away, Zachary slowed down slightly before executing a couple of side steps followed by a body feint. The defender bought his dummy and stepped to the side.

    "Chance!"

    Zachary executed an stico dribble and circumvented the defender from the opposite side. But just as he was about to increase his speed and continue his sprint, he realized that two more Benfica yers had blocked his way.

    They were R¨²ben Amorim and Andr¨¦ Gomes, who were two of the three yers that had been zone marking him ever since the start of the game.

    "You''re not going anywhere!" R¨²ben was as vocal as ever as he approached Zachary. "Just give up." The midfielder spread his arms like a basketball yer on the defensive as he tried to block Zachary''s path.

    Zachary, of course, ignored the midfielder''s words as all his focus was on how to beat the two opponents before him. He smiled and halted in his tracks before stepping over the ball with his left leg. One of the midfielders bought the dummy, but Zachary still didn''t choose to break through the blockade. Instead, he continuously altered his center of gravity while executing a couple of more side steps.

    His swift and elegant footwork soon dazzled and disoriented the two opponents. They could only fidget about as their bodies repeatedly shifted from side to side ording to the cadence of his step overs. They were obviously having a hard time against him.

    After a few more seconds, R¨²ben, one of the two opponents, seemed like he had had enough of Zachary''s nonsense. He stepped forward and stretched out a boot to tackle the ball.

    Zachary''s smile widened as the midfielder''s reaction was what he''d been anticipating. Without losing a moment, he executed an stico dribble to circumvent the impatient R¨²ben from the right before whirling around and barely skipping past the tackle from the other opponent.

    Zachary breathed a sigh of relief as he''d just managed to get himself out of a tight situation on the right nk. His heart started racing, and adrenaline flooded into his body. He lifted his leg, intending to continue his sprint towards Benfica''s box. But just then, he felt a strong tug on his jersey, and he realized that one of the opponents was trying to foul him to stop him from advancing Rosenborg''s attack.

    "Damn!"

    Zachary cursed inwardly without looking back. He continued trying to move forward, intending to shrug off the opponent''s grip. But he soon realized that all his efforts were futile since the opponent was shameless enough not to release the jersey even after a few more seconds of tussling.

    Zachary stopped his actions and turned around. He was totally incensed when he realized that R¨²ben Amorim was the opponent who had fouled him. He shoved the guy away and yelled, "What''s your problem? Can''t you y some sensible football without resorting to these petty tricks?"

    "Aaahhh, Ref!"

    R¨²ben cried out loud as he copsed to the ground. He held on to his chest and squirmed about on the green while creasing his brows. It was as if he was experiencing immense pain. His acting was obviously at the Hollywood level.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle as he rushed to the scene. He narrowed his eyes as he checked on R¨²ben, the midfielder still wriggling about on the ground. The next moment, the referee shook his head and smiled as he took out his cards. He ignored R¨²ben and stepped toward Zachary before showing him a yellow card.

    "What did I do that is deserving of a yellow card?" Zacharyined as a bitter smile outlined his face. "The guy is the one who pulled my jersey and almost tore it from my body. And now, he''s just pretending by rolling around on the ground."

    "I know," the referee said. "But let''s focus on you first. You conducted yourself in an unsportsmanlike manner by pushing your opponent away. That kind of behavior is deserving of a yellow card. If you had remainedposed and resisted the urge to shove him away, I would have awarded you a free-kick and penalized him alone. But due to your impulsiveness, you''ve also received a yellow card."

    The referee didn''t speak any more needless words. He turned around and waited for R¨²ben to stand up before showing him a yellow card. He then awarded Rosenborg a free kick for the foul on Zachary.

    Zachary shook his head and let loose a bitter sigh as the referee stepped away. He was not in the best of moods since he''d just suffered another injustice for the night. But due to his experience as a professional yer, he managed to calm down after taking a few deep breaths.

 Chapter 375 Crafty Tactics II

    Chapter 375 Crafty Tactics II¡¡¡¡*FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle a few secondster and signaled for team Rosenborg to take the set-piece.

    Zachary had already decided to take the free-kick short since the position of the set-piece was quite a distance away from Benfica''s goal. So, he just flicked the ball to Takumi Minamino, his counterpart in midfield, after hearing the whistle.

    Takumi Minamino controlled the ball with a sense of urgency. Before the Benfica yers could step forward to intercept him, he passed the ball back to Zachary, who had just run into space in the middle.

    Zachary received the ball mid-sprint. He executed an stico dribble to circumvent Andr¨¦ Gomes, one of the Benfica midfielders, before continuing towards Benfica''s goal. He pumped his legs like pistons of a race car as he rushed through the middle of the field until he ran into a blockade of two more Benfica yers. They were Enzo P¨¦rez and R¨²ben Amorim.

    Zachary''s eyes narrowed as his mind went into overdrive mode. His incredible spatial awareness worked wonders, and he picked out the position of his teammates within an instant. Before the two opponents could close him down, he passed the ball to Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s center-forward.

    After that, Zachary continued rushing forward with the intent to open himself up at the edge of the box for the return pass from Nicki. But once again, Zachary felt another tug on his shirt as he bypassed the two opponents. He nced to the side and noticed Enzo P¨¦rez, another Benfica midfielder, firmly gripping his shirt.

    "Ref!" Zachary shouted and stopped in his tracks. He raised his arms to gain the referee''s attention. However, the referee just nodded at him and indicated for y to continue. It seemed the referee was ying the advantage since Rosenborg was still in possession of the ball.

    Zachary was frustrated. He shook his head again and focused on Nicki, who was still with the ball at the left corner of the eighteen-yard box. The striker flicked the ball from one foot to the other, and when the angle opened up, he unleashed a curling shot towards the inside of the far post.

    However, Artur Moraes, the Benfica keeper, was alert. Hemitted himself to a full-body dive beforefortably saving the ball. He had managed to intercept Rosenborg''s first genuine shot on goal during the 29th minute.

    Zachary could hardly contain his frustration while watching the Benfica keeper holding the ball. If Enzo P¨¦rez hadn''t pulled at his shirt, he would have managed to run into an unmarked pocket of space just before the box and received Nicki''s return pass. Then, Zachary would have been in the perfect position to test Benfica''s keeper. But due to the craftiness of the opponents, he''d missed the opportunity.

    An even more aggravating fact was that the referee had chosen to y the advantage instead of awarding Rosenborg a free-kick. As a result, he''d once again denied Zachary a clear opportunity to have a go at Benfica''s goal. Thinking about all that, Zachary grew more annoyed with the way the referee was handling the game.

    -----

    The match continued, and Rosenborg grew bolder andunched more attacks on Benfica''s box. All the Rosenborg yers yed with a sense of urgency as they utilized abination of wing y and through passes through the middle, trying to break down Benfica''s defense. They were obviously trying their hardest to score the opening goal.

    However, the Benfica yers remained solid defensively throughout the rest of the first half. In particr, they marked Zachary Bemba, Rosenborg''s ymaker, and denied him any chance to create chances or take shots on goal. And if they couldn''t stop him fair and square, they would foul him to ensure that he wouldn''t break past them. They did everything possible to thwart Rosenborg''s attacks ¡ª and as a result, the score remained two goals to nil in favor of Benfica as the yers matched down the tunnel for halftime.

    -----

    The atmosphere in Benfica''s dressing room was a jolly one. The yers were all smiles as they settled down around the benches in the dressing room. They were obviously in a good mood since they were already two goals ahead in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final sh against Rosenborg.

    "We made some risky ys during the first half, R¨²ben," Andr¨¦ Gomes, one of the Benfica midfielders, said as he settled down on one of the benches in the dressing room. "We were lucky to walk away with only a single yellow card after the first half."

    "What matters is that we''ve already obtained a two-goal lead," R¨²ben replied. "And do you remember the coach''s instructions before the game? He instructed us to do whatever it took to stop Zachary from picking up his rhythm and making runs into our final third."

    "I understand," Andr¨¦ said after chugging down some water. "But I still have some doubts about the incident that led to your yellow card. At that moment, I had already noticed Enzo covering us from behind. Thus, we were three people marking Zachary at the time, and Enzo would have been in the perfect position to stop Zachary''s run. So, why did youmit the foul that led to your yellow card?"

    R¨²ben''s eyes narrowed. "Are you sure that Enzo would have been able to stop Zachary? Don''t you think that there was a possibility of him making another of his signature runs into our box if I hadn''t stopped him?"

    "That, I''m not sure," Andr¨¦ said. "I''m only worried about your yellow card. Your chances of receiving a red card are now quite high, especially since you''re still up against Zachary during the second half."

    "Don''t worry," R¨²ben said with a smile. "I know what I''m doing. Since I''m already on a yellow card, I won''tmit any more dangerous fouls against him. The next time he tries to break through us, it will be your turn to take one for the team and stop him by whatever means possible. Then, after that, Enzo willmit the foul if necessary. As long as we keep on rotating, all of us will be able to avoid umting cautions and receiving red cards."

    Andr¨¦ chuckled. "You''re really sinister."

    "No, I''m not," R¨²ben said, beaming. "I''m only trying my best to qualify for the finals."

    The yers continued holding discussions in small groups until Coach Jorge Jesus took center stage two minutester.

    The coach''s tone was somber as he urged the yers to stay on guard to ensure that Rosenborg wouldn''t score any goal that day. He specifically reminded the midfielders and defenders to continue frustrating Zachary so that they would limit Rosenborg''s attacking prowess. After that, he assigned a few more individual roles before sending them back to the pitch.

    -----

 Chapter 376 Twists and Turns

    Chapter 376 Twists and Turns¡¡¡¡The match rmenced after the fifteen minutes of halftime. The Rosenborg yers immediately switched to a more versatile 4-3-3 formation and soon started passing the ball around steadily. They hoarded the majority of the possession as they searched for an opportunity to score their opening goal.

    Eventually, the ball made its way to Zachary, who had just run into an unmarked pocket of space close to the center circle. He brought it under control with a simple touch as he nced around.

    In a sh, he assessed the situation around him and managed to form a mental map of all the opponents and teammates around him. The next moment, he unleashed a lofted pass towards the nks to find Karl Toko Ekambi, Rosenborg''s right-winger for the day.

    The nks were rtively uncrowded as Benfica had already switched to a narrow 4-3-2-1 formation to avail more numbers in the middle to tight mark their most deadly opponent - Zachary Bemba. So, there wasn''t any contender marking Karl Toko Ekambi when he connected with Zachary''s pass on the right nk.

    Ekambi remainedposed as he brought the ball under control with his chest close to the touchline. Then, he started feeding it in front of himself as he exploded with speed, dashing towards the other side of the pitch like a bullet train.

    In a few seconds, Ekambi made it past the border of the final third and ran into the first blockade in the form of Guilherme Siqueira, Benfica''s left-back. He chose not to tango with the approaching Benfica defender but instead slowed down before quickly unleashing a curling cross towards Benfica''s box.

    In the box: Nicki Nielsen escaped the pestering of Luis?o, Benfica''s center-back, to connect with the ball. He timed his run perfectly and leaped high to nt a deadly header towards the top right corner.

    The effort was promising, and Zachary''s heartbeat quickened as he watched the ball zooming towards the goal like an arrow. It floated over the outstretched fingertips of Benfica''s keeper before continuing onwards¡ªtowards the top right corner.

    But the next moment, the ball seemed to veer off its course slightly before smashing off the goal post and rebounding into the box. Zachary''s mood soured as Nicki''s effort was off target by mere centimeters.

    "Damn it!" Zachary cursed inwardly. Adrenaline flooded his systems as he prepared to resume his sprint into Benfica''s box¡ªto chase after the rebounded ball. But at that moment, he noticed Ezequiel Garay, the other Benfica center-back, pouncing on the ball and quickly clearing it out of the box.

    Zachary''s spirits soared again. He realized that Ezequiel''s clearance wasn''t the best, and his sharp mind deduced that the just-cleared ball''s trajectory was straight towards him. So, he rxed his posture and waited motionlessly in his position, just a few yards away from the arc of the 18-yard box.

    All the distracting thoughts faded from his mind, and the time seemed toe to a standstill. As expected, the just-cleared ball descended towards his position and grew more pronounced in his vision. He pounced forward and drew his left leg all the way back before swinging it down like a whip. His timing was immacte, and he met the iing ball with a ferocious kick on a volley.

    "BAM!"

    A sense of contentment filled his heart as the sweet sound of his boot connecting with the ball reverberated in his ears. And the next instant, the ball whooshed back from whence it hade like a surface-to-surface missile. It tore through the air like a lightning bolt before ricocheting off the crossbar and bouncing into the back of the. Due to the sheer velocity of the shot, the keeper hadn''t reacted and could only turn back to watch the ball nestle in the back of the.

    -----

    SL Benfica 2 : Rosenborg BK 1

    ------

    For a moment, a wave of silence swept across the stadium. It was as if the fans were still processing what had just transpired. Then, the next instant, thunderous cheers emerged from the section of the stands allocated to the away team''s supporters. More than 20,000 voices soon blended into a booming chorus as the traveling Rosenborg fans chanted Zachary''s name.

    On the sidelines, Coach Jorge Jesus was frowning deeply. His mood turned sour as he watched the Rosenborg yers celebrating their goal. Before the game, he had warned his midfielders to mark Zachary during every moment of the game. But they had rxed a bit and left the young ymaker unmarked for a moment during the opening minutes of the second half. In so doing, they''d allowed him to score Rosenborg''s first goal during the 48th minute.

    Moreover, an even more worrying fact was that Rosenborg was back into the game due to their away goal. Thus, as long as the Norwegian giants could score another goal, they would tie the game and ce themselves in an advantageous position before the second leg of the Europa League''s semi-final battle scheduled for the following week. Then, the Rosenborg yers would most likely put up a better disy while ying in front of their supporters on their home ground in Trondheim. In the end, they would eliminate Benfica and qualify for the finals.

    Coach Jorge Jesus shuddered despite himself as he thought about the possibility. He immediately decided to introduce a more defensive-minded midfielder into the game. His intent was to contain Zachary Bemba and the rest of the Rosenborg attackers during the remaining minutes of the second half.

    "Fejsa!" The coach called out as he turned towards the bench. "Come here for a moment."

    "Yes, coach." The defensive midfielder immediately rose from his seat before stepping toward the coach. His eyes were brimming with expectation as he awaited the coach''s instructions.

    Coach Jorge Jesus ced a hand on the midfielder''s shoulder before saying, "In a bit, I''ll substitute you in for Cardozo. Your only role for the rest of the game is to mark Zachary, Rosenborg''s ymaker. Stay on him for every moment of the game, and don''t allow him to shoot or create goal-scoring opportunities. Can you manage that?"

    Ljubomir Fejsa narrowed his eyes as he stole a peek towards the pitch, where gamey had just restarted. "Coach," he said. "Zachary is a difficult opponent to mark. However, I''ll give my all to keep him in check during the rest of the game. That''s what I can promise."

    "Great," the coach said, patting Fejsa''s shoulder. "As long as you try your best and make sure that he doesn''t score again, you''ll have done a great service for the team. Go and prepare quickly. I want you on the pitch in five minutes."

    "Aye, coach," Fejsa replied before stepping away to start his warm-up.

    -----

    On the pitch, the game continued, and the Benfica yers seemed to be more proactive in their style of y after conceding a goal. They started utilizing quick short passes around the pitch as they advanced towards Rosenborg''s box. Before long, the ball found its way to Enzo P¨¦rez, one of Benfica''s midfielders, and he immediately flicked it to Rodrigo Machado.

    Rodrigo Machado, Benfica''s right-winger, brought the ball under control close to the touchline on the right nk. He whirled around to skip past his marker before exploding with speed. He sprinted with the ball along the touchline ¡ª and before long; he unleashed a cross towards Rosenborg''s box.

    It was a dangerous cross, especially since it was curling and on course towards ¨®scar Cardozo, Benfica''s center-forward. Fortunately for Rosenborg, Yerry Mina leaped high and battled Cardozo for aerial superiority before heading the ball away from the box.

    The tall Colombian''s clearance had saved Rosenborg from conceding another goal in the 52nd minute. As a result, the Benfica fans around the stadium could only let out bitter sighs as the ball zoomed back towards the border of the final third, where Thomas Partey was lurking.

    Thomas Partey chested the ball to the ground while exhibiting a sense of urgency. He turned and twisted away from an opponent before squaring a pass to Takumi Minamino. Thetter took one touch before ncing up briefly and passing the ball to Zachary.

    Zachary ran away from his bodyguards and met the ball close to the center circle. Before any other opponent could close him down, he flicked it to the left wing to find Alexander S?derlund, Rosenborg''s left-winger. He then circumvented his opponents and continued sprinting towards the other side of the pitch.

    Just as he was about to step past the border of the final third, he received a return pass from Alexander S?derlund. He controlled the ball mid-sprint and executed side steps to skip past R¨²ben Amorim, Benfica''s defensive midfielder. But the next moment, just as Zachary was beginning to elerate, R¨²ben stretched out a boot and tripped him. And before Zachary could realize what was happening, he was already tumbling to the ground.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle even before Zachary or any other Rosenborg yer couldin. He rushed to the scene and showed R¨²ben the second yellow card for the night. But he didn''t just stop at that. He also showed a red card to the defensive midfielder before awarding Rosenborg a free-kick.

    The Benfica yers immediately surrounded the referee and argued against the decision. But the referee shook his head and turned a deaf ear to theirints. He remained expressionless as he motioned for R¨²ben to march out of the pitch.

    Zachary smiled as he picked himself up from the ground. Many Benfica yers had been fouling him ever since the start of the game. He''d been frustrated since they had gotten away withmitting the fouls on several asions. But after seeing one of them receive a red card, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. He was really in the best of moods, especially since the red-carded opponent was R¨²ben Amorim ¡ª a yer who had harassed him verbally on several asions.

    -----

    A minuteter, Benfica''s coach made a substitution and brought on Ljubomir Fejsa in ce of ¨®scar Cardozo. After that, the game rmenced with Rosenborg''s set-piece.

    Zachary took the free-kick and unleashed a lofted pass behind the defensive line. However, it resulted in nothing as none of his teammates managed to connect with the ball. In the end, the keeper saved the ball, and the gamey continued.

    For the remaining minutes of the second half, the Rosenborg yersunched endless waves of offensives on Benfica''s box. They utilized their numerical advantage to dictate the tempo and dominate proceedings on the pitch. And whenever opportunities arose, they would even unleash heavy shots towards the goal as they searched for the equalizer against Benfica.

    However, the ten Benfica yers remaining on the pitch parked the bus in front of their goal to frustrate Rosenborg''s efforts. They focused only on defense and thwarted all Rosenborg''s chances for the remainder of the second half. As a result, the score remained 2:1 in favor of Benfica when the final whistle sounded after five minutes of injury time.

    -----

 Chapter 377 A Busy Week

    Chapter 377 A Busy Week¡¡¡¡Coach Johansen stood silently on one side of the dressing room while waiting for his yers to undress after the game. He was in low spirits due to his team''s loss against Benfica. But, as the head coach, he couldn''t allow himself to wallow in despair since he had to maintain his authoritative image before his yers.

    "Okay, guys," he said after a few more minutes. "Settle down, and let''s discuss a few things."

    The yers responded by settling down on the benches around the dressing room. They were quieter than usual ¡ª a tell-tale sign that they were not in the best of moods. The loss against Benfica had obviously hit them hard and tarnished their night.

    "We''ve just lost the game against Benfica," Coach Johansen said after all the yers had taken their seats. "But we have to move on and prepare for our next games. We have to remain positive and in high spirits, especially since we still have a chance to aplish aeback during the second leg of the Europa League semi-finals. And as long as we don''t allow the loss to affect our momentum as a team, we''ll surely have a chance to bounce back and revenge when Benficaes to Trondheim on Thursday next week."

    "Tonight, when you head back to your hotel rooms, take some time to reflect on our loss. Think of reasons that prevented us from winning, and let''s learn from this defeat and use it as a stepping stone. Let''s shape our determination so as to ensure that we perform better next week. And if we learn from this defeat and remain positive, I''m sure that we''ll squash Benfica and qualify for the Europa League final. Are you with me?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied. However, their voicescked vigor and passion.

    "Are you guys with me?" The coach raised his voice as he swept his gaze across the yers.

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied more energetically.

    "Good," Coach Johansen said, nodding. "As the saying goes, bad things do happen, but how we respond to them defines our character and the quality of our lives. We can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of our loss, or choose to rise from the pain. We can choose to learn, to use failure as a stepping stone, and that''s how we will be able to walk far on the road to sess. And that''s how we qualify for the finals and even win the Europa League. Are you guys with me?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "I know we''re all tired after the game," the coach continued after stealing a peek at his watch and lowering his voice. "So, I won''t waste time going over the post-match analysis. Let''s head to the hotel and enjoy some dinner. After that, we''ll immediately return to our rooms to rest since we have to catch an early morning flight back to Trondheim tomorrow. As for further discussions about the game, we''ll have them on Saturday when you''ve all recovered from the post-match fatigue. Do you follow?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Excellent." The coach nodded and dismissed the yers.

    -----

    The following morning, the Rosenborg yers boarded an early morning flight and returned to Trondheim. And as nned, they took Friday off from team training to recover from the post-match fatigue. Then, on Saturday, they returned to the training ground to prepare for Rosenborg''s domestic league fixture against Sportsklubben Brann, scheduled to be yed the following evening.

    Since they only had a few hours on Saturday to prepare, the coaches kept the training simple and brief. They took the yers through a dynamic conditioning routine during the morning hours. And in the evening, they went over the tactics before sending the yers back to their homes to rest.

    The night passed, and then Sunday morning came. The hours shed by, and in the evening, when an hour still remained before the scheduled kick-off time, the yers who had made Coach Johansen''s squad congregated at Lerkendal. And what wasn''t surprising was that Coach Johansen had rested all his first-team yers, including Zachary, Nicki Nielsen, Takumi Minamino, etcetera. So, once again, it was Rosenborg''s second team that would feature in that domestic Sunday fixture against Sportsklubben Brann.

    The yers went over theirst-minute preparations on the training ground under the strict supervision of the Rosenborg coaches as the minutes shed by quickly. Eventually, the clock hands around Trondheim pointed to the six o''clock mark, and the match began with Rosenborg''s kick-off.

    From the very first minute of the game, Rosenborg''s second team showed who was the big boss on the Norwegian football scene. The Troll Kids still dominated proceedings and dictated the tempo even though their star yers were absent. They hoarded all the possession and soon started creating clear-cut chances on goal. And before long, the opportunity to score the first goal arrived naturally.

    Mike Jensen, Rosenborg''s defensive midfielder, controlled the ball skillfully to skip past a tackle from an opponent close to the center circle. When the passing angle opened up, he unleashed a through-pass towards the other side of the pitch¡ªwhere Riku Riski was lurking.

    Riku Riski, Rosenborg''s right-winger for the day, connected with the pin-point pass close to the touchline on the right nk. He immediately fed the ball past the opposing left-back before beating him for pace. Soon, he unleashed a curling cross towards the box to find John Chibuike, the center-forward. Thetter leaped high and outjumped the defenders before nting a header into the right corner of the to score Rosenborg''s 1st goal during the 24th minute of gamey.

    Twenty minutester, just a minute before halftime, Jonas Svensson, the Rosenborg right-back for the day, converted a free-kick from the edge of the box. He curled the ball perfectly over the defensive wall to score Rosenborg''s second goal for the night.

    During the second half, the Rosenborg yers yed a bit more conservatively. They onlyunched a few fierce attacks against Sportsklubben Brann, which didn''t amount to anything. And eventually, team Rosenborg maintained its lead and won by a score of two goals to nil at the end of the evening battle.

    The victory against Sportsklubben Brann cemented Rosenborg''s position at the top of the table and elevated the atmosphere around the team. As a result, the yers and coaches were in high gear when they returned to training the following morning. Without wasting time, theymenced preparations for the second leg fixture of the Europa League semi-final against Benfica. They worked tirelessly over the next three days as they tried their best to elevate their match fitness while also refining the tactics for the uing game.

    Eventually, Wednesday evening arrived, and Coach Johansen summoned the yers to the tactics room for the pre-match briefing. He exined the game n and went over the tactics during the first twenty minutes before naming his line-up for the game. After that, he assigned individual roles to yers and then sent them back to their homes for the night.

    Atst, Rosenborg hadpleted all the necessary preparations. What remained was for the yers to step on the pitch the following night to perform against Benfica.

    -----

 Chapter 378 Incredible Start

    Chapter 378 Incredible Start¡¡¡¡Thursday, May 1, 2014.

    Lerkendal Stadion, Rosenborg''s Home Ground, Trondheim, Norway.

    Time: 9:05 PM.

    -----

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle that signaled the start of the second leg of the Europa League semi-final battle between Rosenborg BK and SL Benfica. The cheers around the stadium rose to thunderous heights within an instant as Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s center-forward, kicked off the game by passing the ball back into his midfield.

    The match was finally underway, and the yers of both teams quickly arrayed themselves into their respective ying formations as they tried to outmaneuver one another.

    On the side of Rosenborg, there was almost no change to the squad that yed Benfica away in Lisbon. Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s experienced and ever-reliable number-1, was in goal, while the defenseprised the four yers - Mikael Dorsin, Tore Reginiussen, Yerry Mina, and Eric Bailly.

    Up the pitch, Thomas Partey, Zachary Bemba, and Takumi Minamino took up the reigns in midfield. Andstly, the three yers ¡ª Paul Kasongo on the right, Alexander S?derlund on the left, and Nicki Nielsen as center-forward in the middlepleted Rosenborg''s 4-3-3 formation for the night.

    Simrly, on the side of Benfica, there weren''t any significant changes to the set-up from the previous week, save for the missing R¨²ben Amorim, who''d received a red card for his umted fouls on Zachary Bemba.

    In Benfica''s goal, there was Artur Moraes as keeper, while the four yers - Guilherme Siqueira, Ezequiel Garay, Luis?o, and Maximiliano Pereira were the bastions in defense.

    In midfield, Benfica utilized five yers. They included Andr¨¦ Gomes, Ljubomir Fejsa, and Enzo P¨¦rez as the three central midfielders, while Miralem Sulejmani and Rodrigo Moreno Machado yed on the left and right nks, respectively. Finally, ¨®scar Cardozo was the only center-forward on the striking line toplete Benfica''s 4-5-1 formation.

    Both teams tried to settle down during the opening minutes of the game. The yers were conservative in their approach, and by the 15th minute, both teams were still neck and neck in various statistics. Be it the ball possession, the number of corner kicks, or the zero number of shots on target ¡ª they were equally matched, with neither side getting the better of the other.

    The proceedings moved forward, seemingly at a slow pace due to the defensive tactics employed by both teams. But then, during the 16th minute, just when the fans had started to grow tired of the tedious football on the pitch, a lightning-fast change transpired.

    Zachary Bemba, who had been kept silent by the Benfica midfielders during the first quarter of an hour, worked his magic for the first time on the night. He made a spontaneous and daring off-ball run towards the other side of the pitch to catch the opponents unawares and connect with a lofted pass over Benfica''s midfield from Thomas Partey.

    Ljubomir Fejsa, Benfica''s defensive midfielder for the night, tried to stop Zachary by harassing him as he chested the ball close to the border of the final third. But Zachary remainedposed and steadfast as he brought the ball to the ground before twisting and turning away from the opponent.

    His incredible spatial awareness immediatelybined with his Zinedine-Pirlo Juju to work like a charm. And in anything but an instant, he managed to spot that Nicki Nielsen was at that exact moment starting to make a run past Benfica''s defensive line.

    Zachary''s heartbeat started racing as his hopes instantly soared into the night sky. He immediately spun around with the ball glued to his boot toplete an improvised version of the Marseille turn. The brilliant move took him past another opponent ¡ª and when the passing angle opened up; he unleashed a through-pass towards Nicki, who was already on a straight sprinting course towards Benfica''s box.

    The cheers around Lerkendal Stadium soon hit a thunderous crescendo as Nicki Nielsen connected with Zachary''s defense-splitting pass. The center-forward controlled the ball mid-sprint after escaping from Benfica''s two center-forwards. He then elerated and continued dashing toward Benfica''s goal as if his life was on the line.

    Artur Moraes, Benfica''s goalkeeper, soon came out of goal to meet the approaching Nicki. However, Nicki remainedposed and rounded the keeper with a simple deft touch before burying the ball into the back of the to score Rosenborg''s 1st goal for the night in the 17th minute. He then rushed towards the corner g before sliding onto his knees to celebrate his goal.

    -----

    Rosenborg BK 1 (2) : SL Benfica 0 (2)

    -----

    Both Kristin and Emily were also in the stadium, watching the game. When Nicki buried the ball into the back of the, they also started yelling and jumping along with the rest of the fans around them to celebrate Rosenborg''s first goal.

    "We''re going to the finals," Kristin, who was in Rosenborg''s ck and white colors, hollered out while waving her scarf. A bright smile had already lit up her face as she was really excited.

    At the beginning of the season, she wasn''t expecting her team to qualify from the group stages. But step by step, the Rosenborg yers, especially Zachary, had exceeded all her expectations and defeated a series of tough opponents before qualifying for the semi-finals. But that wasn''t the end of the Troll Kids'' sess story in the Europa League. Once again, that night, they were already putting up another powerful disy in the semis. And going by the away-goal rule, they might be the team qualifying for the next round if they could maintain their 1:0 lead for the rest of the game.

    Kristin could hardly contain her delight as all the past victories plus potential prospects of Rosenborg ran through her mind. Her smile brightened even further as she continued cheering and jumping along with the rest of the fans while keeping her eyes on the celebrating Rosenborg yers on the pitch.

    "Rosenborg one, and Benfica zero," the voice of Kjell Roar, thementator, reverberated across the stadium when the cheers began dying down. "Courtesy of a brilliantbination y from Zachary Bemba and Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg is now ahead by a goal in the second leg of the Europa League semi-finals. If Rosenborg can defend well and maintain the one-goal lead for the rest of the game, they''ll secure one of the two tickets to the Europa League finals, based on the away-goal rule. Harald! I can see that you''re smiling. You should be in a good mood."

    Harald Brattbakk, the pundit for the day, chuckled. "The Rosenborg yers and us, Rosenborg fans, are really living the dream. We might really be qualifying for the Europa League finals for the first time ever."

    "Hahaha, is that so?" Kjell Roar said. "What''s your take on the goal, Harald?"

    "As usual, Zachary was brilliant and executed a beautiful y in the midfield to find Nicki with that beautiful pass," Harald replied. "The pass was well-timed, well-ced, and also unexpected. It caught the Benfica yers off-guard as it made its way to Nicki. Nicki remainedposed and nted the ball into the back of the. The result shows the beauty of football when two on-form yers on a team connect well and achieve perfect chemistry in a moment."

    "I''ve been looking at Rosenborg''s statistics in the Europa League this season," Kjell Roar chimed in. "An interesting fact is that every time they scored first during previous Europa League games, they went ahead and won."

    "You know," Harald said, "Before the game, I expected Rosenborg to face tough opposition from Benfica. I feared that Benfica would sit back and utilize ultra-defensive tactics ¡ª and in so doing, render our often-potent counterattacking tactics useless. But now, after Nicki''s goal, I''m really hoping that the Benfica yers continue ying defensive football. That would be interesting."

    "Your wishful thinking is reallymendable." Kjell Roar chuckled. "But, don''t hold too much hope as I''m sure that Benfica is about to shift to a higher gear. If the Rosenborg yers aren''t careful, they might concede a goal and bow out of the Europa League tonight. Football is unpredictable before hearing the final whistle."

    "Why the negativity?" Harald questioned. "Are you a Molde supporter, by any chance?"

    "This isn''t the Tippeligaen!" Kjell Roar said. "Why are you even mentioning Molde at this moment?"

    "I''m asking because I''m sure that the Molde fans might be the only people in Norway praying and wishing for Rosenborg to lose this semi-final," Harald replied. "So, are you a Molde supporter?"

    Kjell Roar chuckled and chose to ignore the question. "Gamey has already restarted," he said, his voice rising and booming over all the chatter in the stadium. "Rosenborg has already made an incredible start in tonight''s semi-final. However, the million-dor question is: Can they maintain their one-goal lead against Benfica for the remainder of the game? Or can they score another goal to cement their victory? Let''s take you back to the proceedings on the pitch to find out."

    -----

 Chapter 379 Tactical Responses

    Chapter 379 Tactical Responses¡¡¡¡After conceding the first goal, the Benfica yers became more proactive in their approach to the game. They abandoned their ultra-defensive tactics and arrayed themselves into a 4-3-3 attacking formation. Before long, they startedunching continuous waves of attacks on Rosenborg''s defense by relying on wing-y tactics and defense-splitting passes through the middle.

    Benfica''s dominance soon exceeded expectations as the midfielders in red and white started feeding more balls to their three attackers. Eventually, their relentless efforts paid off, and during the 34th minute, they created their first clear goal-scoring chance.

    Enzo P¨¦rez, one of Benfica''s central midfielders, linked up well with Miralem Sulejmani, Benfica''s left-winger for the night. The two yers exchanged a couple of one-twos on the left nk as they circumvented opponents and speared deep into Rosenborg''s half. Soon, they stepped past the border of the final third, and the ball naturally ended at Miralem Sulejmani''s feet.

    Miralem Sulejmani fed the ball past Tore Reginiussen, Rosenborg''s right-back, before beating him for pace. Then, when the passing angle opened up, he unleashed a curling cross towards the edge of Rosenborg''s box.

    A rare wave of silence soon swept across the stadium as the cross was on point and heading straight towards ¨®scar Cardozo, the Benfica striker. Fortunately for the Rosenborg fans, Eric Bailly, one of Rosenborg''s center-backs for the day, leaped high and headed the iing ball away.

    However, Eric Bailly''s clearance wasn''t enough to calm the tense nerves of the Rosenborg fans as the ball traveled midair, heading straight towards Rodrigo Machado.

    The danger was obviously still atrge for team Rosenborg since Rodrigo Machado, Benfica''s right-winger, managed to control the ball just outside the box on the right nk. Before any opponent could close him down, he squared a pass into the middle to find Andr¨¦ Gomes, Benfica''s midfielder.

    Andr¨¦ Gomes didn''t even pause to control the iing ball. He just drew his leg back like a bow before swinging it down hard and fast to unleash a missile of a shot towards Rosenborg''s goal.

    TENSION!

    It was a tense moment for Rosenborg. The ball rose from the ground and zoomed towards the inside of the right post like a bullet. But once again, Rosenborg''s luck was incredible, and the effort bore no fruit.

    Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s experienced and ever-reliable goalkeeper, executed an acrobatic dive and punched the ball to save Rosenborg from conceding an equalizing goal during the 35th minute. The Rosenborg fans around the stadium finally breathed sighs of relief as the ball crossed the line and bounced out of y.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and pointed to the corner g.

    Most yers on the pitch immediately started swarming into Rosenborg''s box to ready themselves for the corner. And soon, chaos descended as some yers shoved their opponents away while others grabbed shirts while awaiting the corner kick.

    The referee soon stepped in and warned a few yers from both sides to calm things down. And finally, after a good one minute of tussling and hustling, the order returned to the box, and the referee immediately blew the whistle.

    Maximiliano Pereira, Benfica''s right-winger, took the corner kick and unleashed a lofted ball into the crowded area before Rosenborg''s goal. And it was at that moment the yers around and inside the box got into action. Some started running around to confuse opponents, while others leaped high to meet the iing ball.

    But at the end of it all, it was ¨®scar Cardozo, Benfica''s center-forward, who came out on top. He escaped the harassment of one of the Rosenborg defenders before leaping high and nting a header towards the goal.

    But once again, luck still seemed to elude team Benfica, and ¨®scar Cardozo''s header ended up smashing off the post before heading out of y for a goal kick. The striker had missed an opportunity to score an equalizer during the 37th minute. He could only nce skyward while shaking his head with regret.

    After wasting a few seconds, Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s goalkeeper, took the goal kick, and the game continued. The Benfica yers continued dictating the tempo andunching endless attacks on Rosenborg''s box as they searched for the equalizing goal. They really showed the spirit of Portuguese attacking football during the next few minutes of gamey.

    Be that as it may, the Benfica yers didn''t manage to score no matter how hard they tried. Daniel ?rlund saved three of their shots on goal while the other attempts missed the target by mere centimeters. It was as if a powerful shaman had cursed them to remain goalless during the first half.

    The proceedings moved forward, and eventually, the first 45 minutes psed. To the relief of the many Rosenborg fans around the stadium, the referee immediately blew the whistle without adding a single minute of injury time. As a result, the yers could only match down the tunnel when the score was still 1:0 in favor of Rosenborg.

    -----

    Coach Johansen was in a somber mood as he quietly watched his yers settling down on the benches around the dressing room. Even though his team was leading by a goal to nil, he was still tense and nervous. He feared that his team might concede a goal at any given juncture and lose the ticket to the Europa League finals, scheduled to be yed two weekster at the Juventus Stadium in Turin, Italy. So, the coach was eager to reorganize his team''s tactics during halftime so that his yers would put up a much more potent defensive disy during the second half.

    "Okay, guys," he said after the yers had settled down and hydrated themselves. "Luck was on our side during the first half, and we''re winning. But let''s not getcent since there are still 45 minutes of the second half remaining before the end of the game."

    "During thete stages of the first half, you all rxed a bit," the coach continued. "You did not work hard to tight mark and close down the opponents, and in so doing, you allowed them toe at us fiercely. I don''t know what caused you to lose concentration, but all I can say is that we were lucky not to concede a goal before halftime."

    The coach swept his gaze across his yers. "Do you guys wish to qualify for the final?" He asked in a loud voice.

    "We do, coach," the yers replied almost in chorus.

    "Do you dream about winning the Europa League?" Coach Johansen asked again.

    "We do, coach," the yers once again replied.

    "Excellent," the coach said, nodding. "Your objectives are simr to mine as I also wish to win the Europa League this year. But guys! I wish to remind you that no team can win a major European Trophy without a willingness to work hard and put everything into each and every game."

    "As the saying goes," the coach lowered his voice as he started pacing around the room, "A dream does note to reality through magic, but it takes sweat, determination, and hard work. So, when you''re on the pitch during the second half, remember why you''re fighting and sweating. Remember what you wish to aplish during every minute and every second of the game. Focus! Concentrate, and then remember to give your all for that dream of winning the Europa League. Guys, do you follow?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    "Do you guys follow?" The coach asked again in a louder voice.

    "Yes, coach," the yers yelled back.

    "Great," the coach said. "Now that we''re on the same page, I''ll go over the second-half adjustments. First and foremost, we''ll switch to a 4-5-1 formation and y a defensive game during the second half, meaning that the two nk yers will have to drop back and y as midfielders for the rest of the game. We''ll remain patient and weather Benfica''s attacks since we''re already ahead by a goal. In so doing, we''ll tempt Benfica to move forward and rx their defensive efforts. And when an opportunity arises, we counterattack and try to score. Are you guys with me?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Excellent." Coach Johansen nodded and turned towards Zachary. "Zachary! The three opposing midfielders are zone-marking you once again during this game. So, as we talked about before, you must remain mobile on the pitch to render their efforts useless. You can switch into the wing and the defensive midfield positions more often. That way, you''ll force your opponents to leave their positions if they insist on continuing to mark you. The rest of your teammates can then utilize the gaps the opposing midfielders leave in midfield tounch counterattacks and possibly create goal-scoring chances. Do you follow, Zachary?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied. "I understand."

    "Then, I''m d." Coach Johansen nodded and nced at his watch. "The fifteen minutes of halftime are almost over. So, it''s time for us to head back to the pitch for the second half. But, please remember to y as a team and remember to work hard for every moment of the game. As long as you can aplish that, we''ll be the victors tonight. Have I made myself clear?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Excellent," Coach Johansen said, beaming. "Since everything is in order, let''s prepare and head back to the pitch."

    -----

 Chapter 380 Dire Circumstances

    Chapter 380 Dire Circumstances¡¡¡¡After the fifteen-minute halftime break, the game continued. The Benfica yers didn''t waste time dictating the tempo and controlling the flow again. By relying on their versatile 4-3-3 formation, they soon hoarded arge percentage of the possession as they searched for that one equalizing goal that would put them on level terms with Rosenborg.

    However, team Benfica''s efforts were rendered futile again and again by the defensive tactics of Rosenborg. The Troll Kids adapted quickly and responded well to Benfica''s attacks during the opening stages of the second half. They followed Coach Johansen''s game n to the letter and arrayed themselves into a 4-5-1 defensive shape to weather Benfica''s relentless waves of offensives. Their teamwork wasmendable, and even the attack-minded yers, like Zachary, Takumi, and Nicki Nielsen, fell back to defend.

    The minutes shed by, and the Benfica yers continuedunching endless waves of attacks against Rosenborg. The Benfica attackers were on fire, and whenever opportunities arose, they would unleash long and mid-range shots towards the goal. They were obviously pulling out all stops to score the equalizing goal.

    But again, due to Rosenborg''s team discipline and ultra-defensive tactics, team Benfica repeatedly fell short and failed to score. And despite the fact that team Benfica had more than fifteen shots on target by the 85th minute of gamey, the score remained 1:0 in favor of Rosenborg.

    -----

    On the side of Benfica, anxieties were already running high as the game approached its closing stages. There were only five minutes plus injury time remaining to the end of the game. So, Benfica had to score a goal soon and bring the proceedings back to level terms. Otherwise, the Portuguese side would have to bow out of the Europa League that very night.

    On the sidelines: Coach Jorge Jesus was a nervous wreck, and he couldn''t sit still any longer. He made a snap decision and immediately introduced three substitutions into the game when the ball went out of y for a Benfica throw-in. He brought on Andr¨¦ Almeida - an attack-minded wing-back, Lima dos Santos - a center-forward, and Ivan Cavaleiro - a left-winger. The three substitutes reced the seemingly out-of-stamina Miralem Sulejmani - a left-winger, ¨®scar Cardozo - a center-forward, and Andr¨¦ Gomes - a defensive midfielder.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, signaling for team Benfica to take the throw-in after the three substitutes had taken up their positions on the pitch.

    Andr¨¦ Almeida, the substitute right-back, immediately went into action to take the throw-in. He nted his feet before the touchline on the right nk and threw the ball towards Enzo P¨¦rez, one of Benfica''s three midfielders.

    Enzo P¨¦rez shrugged off Takumi Minamino before stepping forward to meet the ball. He brought it to the ground before whirling around and squaring a pass to Ljubomir Fejsa, his counterpart in midfield.

    Ljubomir Fejsa controlled the ball skillfully to skip past Nicki Nielsen. He then shoved the ball forward with the tip of his boot before kicking it towards the right wing to find Rodrigo Moreno Machado.

    Rodrigo, Benfica''s right-winger for the night, leaped high and chested the ball close to the touchline. Before any opponents could close him down, he brought it down to the green before passing it into the middle of the field to find Enzo P¨¦rez. Thetter also exhibited a sense of urgency as he received the ball and immediately flicked it back to his right to pick out Andr¨¦ Almeida on the right nk.

    Andr¨¦ Almeida received the ball and fed it past Mikael Dorsin, Rosenborg''s left-back. He then circumvented Mikael before exploding with pace on the right nk. Soon, he stepped into the final third and let loose a curling cross towards Rosenborg''s box.

    However, the cross didn''t bear any fruit since Eric Bailly, Rosenborg''s center-back, outjumped the rest of the yers in the box before heading the ball out of y.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and pointed to the corner g.

    The Benfica yers quickly swarmed into Rosenborg''s box, and the referee blew the whistle again. Andr¨¦ Almeida, the substitute right-back, took the corner kick and floated in a teasing ball into the crowded box.

    At that moment, all the yers within Rosenborg''s box went into motion. They all struggled to outmaneuver their opponents before leaping high to meet the corner ball. But in the end, it was Lima dos Santos, Benfica''s substitute center-forward, who got thestugh. The striker timed his jump well and battled Mikael Dorsin in the air before nting a header towards the inside of the right post.

    Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s keeper, reacted almost instantly to save the effort with an acrobatic dive. However, the sheer power behind the header rendered his efforts futile. The ball floated past his outstretched fingertips by mere centimeters before homing into the back of the.

    -----

    Rosenborg BK 1 (2) : SL Benfica 1 (3)

    -----

    SILENCE!

    A wave of silence swept across Lerkendal Stadium as Benfica had managed to score the equalizing goal during the 88th minute of gamey. With only two minutes plus added time remaining to the end of the game, the Benfica yers had aplished aeback. They were finally ahead of Rosenborg by a goal when considering the aggregate score. And if they could defend well during thest few minutes and stop Rosenborg from scoring again, they would be the team heading to Turin for the Europa League finals.

    In the stands, the Rosenborg fans could only ce their hands on their heads as they watched the Benfica yers celebrating the goal. The goal had obviously ruined their morale.

    During the previous Europa League fixtures, their club hade out on top against tough European teams like Juventus, Lyon, and Fiorentina. But that night, they were on the cusp of losing to Benfica ¡ª a side that was much weaker than most of their previous opponents. The fact was demoralizing, and most Rosenborg fans felt their hearts slowly sinking into the abyss of desperation.

    "Damn it! Damn it!" One of the fans in Rosenborg''s ck and white colors cursed. His name was John Hansen, and he was a part-time YouTuber and a driver who had once driven Zachary from the airport. At that moment, the frustration he was feeling had already soared past the stadium''s roof and shot into the night sky. His eyes were red, and his fists clenched tightly.

    What was more vexing was that he had even ced a rtivelyrge bet on the match. Due to his confidence in Zachary''s prolific form, he had utilized all his annual savings to ce the bet on Rosenborg winning the second leg and qualifying for the final. But just when the match was about to end, the damn Benfica had scored an equalizer, messing up his hopes and dreams. As a result, he was a couple of times more depressed than most other Rosenborg supporters in the stadium.

    "Can we really aplish anothereback? Can we ovee this hurdle and qualify for the finals?" John Hansen mumbled as he fidgeted about in his seat. He was uneasy, especially since he had a weird feeling that Rosenborg''s luck spell in the Europa League had finally ended.

    -----

 Chapter 381 The Power of Instincts

    Chapter 381 The Power of Instincts¡¡¡¡A rare smile lit up Coach Jorge Jesus'' face as he watched his yers celebrating the goal. His yers had finally met his expectations and scored ate equalizer. As a result, his team was just minutes away from securing one of the two tickets to that year''s Europa League finals.

    Coach Jorge Jesus breathed in deeply to calm himself down. Due to his long experience as a coach, he understood that he couldn''t rx before hearing the final whistle. He had to continue encouraging and instructing his yers to ensure that they would remain focused during the rest of the game.

    "Fejsa! Enzo!" He yelled at the top of his voice after the Benfica yers had just finished celebrating the goal. "Stay focused during the remaining few minutes and mark Zachary. Watch him at all times, and don''t allow him to hurt us when we''re only minutes away from the finals. Clear?"

    The two midfielders responded by raising their thumbs to indicate that they had gotten the message. They then turned their gazes away from the sidelines and returned to their starting positions in Benfica''s half. Judging by their bodynguage, they were ready to try their best to mark Zachary until the final whistle sounded.

    Coach Jorge Jesus let out another long, drawn-out breath to calm his still racing heart. He couldn''t let anything go wrong during the final minutes of the semi-final since he wanted to win. So, he spent a few more seconds hollering out more instructions to ensure that his yers understood their roles during the remaining minutes of gamey.

    -----

    On the pitch, the gamey was about to restart.

    Zachary was already in his starting midfield position, just outside the edge of the center circle. He was expressionless and at peace with the world as he waited for the referee to blow the whistle to restart the match.

    A minute back, he''d been depressed after his team conceded the equalizing goal, especially thatte in the game. But after pondering for a few seconds, he''d gotten his priorities straight and decided to prioritize what was crucial. He''d pushed all his worries about the game''s result to the back of his mind and forced himself to attain an incredible state of calmness. So, there were no distracting thoughts in his mind, and his focus was only on the opponents on the other side of the pitch.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, and Nicki Nielsen immediately passed the ball to Zachary to restart the game.

    Zachary pounced forward and controlled the ball at the edge of the center circle. Without wasting a moment, he turned around and passed it to Takumi Minamino, his counterpart in midfield.

    Takumi was also quick on the ball. He utilized a simple deft touch to quickly control the ball before kicking it towards the nks to find Mikael Dorsin, Rosenborg''s left-back. Thetter also brought it under control swiftly and then passed it ahead to Alexander S?derlund, Rosenborg''s left-winger for the night.

    But by then, the Benfica yers had already swarmed into Rosenborg''s half to high-press and stop Rosenborg from settling down and building momentum. So, Alexander S?derlund was under immense pressure from Benfica''s right-winger as he controlled the ball close to the nks.

    Be that as it may, Alexander remainedposed and shrugged off the opponent before flicking the ball back to Mikael.

    Mikael was also facing pressure from a Benfica attacker at the moment. He also chose to immediately pass the ball all the way back to find Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s keeper.

    However, even after the ball made its way to the keeper''s feet, the Benfica attackers didn''t let up the pressure. Lima dos Santos, Benfica''s center-forward, quickly closed in on Daniel ?rlund without allowing him to settle down with the ball. As a result, Daniel ?rlund could only choose to kick the ball far and away toward the other side of the pitch, where Zachary was lurking.

    Zachary, who was close to the center circle at the moment, immediately got into action. His long strides ate up half a dozen yards of space in a couple of seconds, and he managed to get to the descending ball before any other yer on the pitch.

    He didn''t even bother to slow down to bring the ball under control. Instead, he headed it forward before chasing after it like the wind. He was eager to advance the attack as fast as possible since he understood that time wasn''t on his side. However, the situation on the field couldn''t allow him to do as he pleased, and he immediately ran into two roadblocks in the form of Ljubomir Fejsa and Enzo P¨¦rez, the two Benfica midfielders.

    Zachary''s football instincts started tingling, and he immediately had a feeling that the two opponents wanted to foul him. His mind went into overdrive mode, and his spatial awarenessbined with his Zinedine-Pirlo mental Juju. His vision of the pitch widened, and within an instant, he picked out a passing route before flicking the ball to his right to find Takumi Minamino.

    After that, Zachary didn''t bother to check whether Takumi had received the ball. Instead, he chose to circumvent the two opponents as quickly as possible before continuing toward the other side of the pitch. He didn''t halt his dash for anything as he expected Takumi to read his move before reacting appropriately.

    A few secondster, Zachary rxed when he noticed that Takumi hadn''t disappointed. The midfielder had already looped the ball over the two defenders with a simple chip to find Zachary again. So, Zachary stretched out his boot and controlled the ball mid-sprint before continuing his mad dash towards Benfica''s box.

    Adrenaline continued flooding into Zachary''s systems, and his instincts totally took over the control of his body. His mind was nk as he circumvented another opponent and skipped over a dangerous tackle while bearing down on Benfica''s box like a raging Tsunami.

    He utilized various skills, including side-steps, body feints, and stico dribbles to elude more opponents. And before long, he skipped past another tackle and approached the edge of the eighteen yard box. His instincts started tingling again, and he immediately decided to go with his gut and shoot the ball.

    He didn''t slow down his actions to deliberate as he was sure that his opponents were on his heels. He drew his left leg back and delivered a ferocious kick onto the ball, sending it zooming past an opposing defender''s outstretched boot and towards the inside of the left post.

    It was a tense moment for the yers and fans of both teams, and a rare wave of silence swept across the stadium as the ball soared towards Benfica''s goal. The time seemed to slow down before finallying to a standstill, and then the ball grazed the left post and nestled into the back of the.

    Zachary immediately raised his arms high, and the next moment, a wave of thunderous cheers swept across the stadium. Finally, he had managed to score Rosenborg''s second goal for the night during the 91st minute of gamey. So, he could hardly contain his excitement as he immersed his mind and soul into the booming voices of the home supporters chanting his name.

    -----

 Chapter 382 The Tense Final Few Minutes

    Chapter 382 The Tense Final Few Minutes¡¡¡¡-----

    Rosenborg BK 2 (3) : SL Benfica 1 (3)

    -----

    "Oh! What a magnificent solo run and finish from Zachary!" Kjell Roar, thementator for the day, yelled in sync with the thunderous cheers around the stadium. "Zachary has worked his magic again and delivered during injury time, with only a few minutes remaining to the final whistle. No one could stop Rosenborg''s dangerman as he literally bulldozed his way through Benfica''s midfield before shooting from outside the box and scoring Rosenborg''s second goal. He has tied the aggregate score, and he has once again kept Rosenborg''s Europa League dream alive. What a yer!"

    "That was really the sensational Zachary at his best," Harald Brattbakk, the pundit for the day, chimed in. "The run was stunning as he had taken off from near the center of the pitch before beating six opponents. After approaching the box, he was decisive enough, and he hammered the ball past Benfica''s keeper and into the back of the. All in all, the goal was really spectacr. It deserves to be the goal of the tournament."

    "Speaking of goals," Kjell Roar said, "Zachary has set a new Europa League goal-scoring record tonight. He has pushed his tally to twenty-one goals ¡ª and that makes him the only yer in history to ever score more than twenty goals in a single Europa League tournament. Surprisingly, he has aplished the feat at just neen years of age and during his first Europa League season as a professional footballer. Truly remarkable!"

    "The number of his assists is also close to the top," Harald Brattbakk remarked. "He already has four assists during this Europa League campaign, making him second-ced on the list of top assist-providers. He''s only a single assist behind Bibras Natkho - the Rubin Kazan man and Kevin Kampl from Red Bull Salzburg. If he can provide another assist before the end of the tournament, he''ll immediately move up to the top of the list."

    "Those are some incredible statistics," Kjell Roar said. "I''m really looking forward to his future. But for now, let''s focus on the proceedings on the pitch. The gamey is about to restart, and the aggregate score for this Europa League semi-final battle between Rosenborg Ballklub and SL Benfica is still a tie of 3:3. In Lisbon, Benfica won the first leg by two goals to one. Here in Trondheim, Rosenborg Ballklub is also winning by two goals to one. If either of the teams fails to score during the remaining three minutes of injury time, we''ll be heading for extra time. I''m really excited."

    "Maybe," Harald Brattbakk said, "Zachary might work his magic again in those remaining two minutes, and then, we won''t need to go through the hustle of extra time. I really hope that that is the case."

    Kjell Roar chuckled. "I''m at odds with you on that point. Instead, I''m really hoping that we get to witness extra time today. The night is still young, and I''m looking forward to thirty more minutes of football and possibly a penalty shootout."

    -----

    John Hansen, the part-time YouTuber/driver, was grinning from ear to ear as he followed thest few minutes of the game. He had ced a 150,000 NOK bet on Rosenborg winning the second leg of the Europa League semi-final against Benfica, with returns amounting to 4.4 times the original bet. So, as long as Rosenborg maintained the 2:1 lead for the remaining two minutes of injury time, Hansen would win 660,000 NOK from the bettingpany. And if Rosenborg could perform even better and eventually qualify for the finals at the end of the game, he would also win another 440,000 NOK from his other bet. Thus, he could hardly contain his excitement at that moment.

    "It''s Benfica on the attack," the booming voice of thementator broke John Hansen out of his daydreams. "Enzo P¨¦rez, Benfica''s midfielder, controls the ball in the middle third. What wonderful ball-control from the midfielder. He twists and turns away from Takumi Minamino and squares a pass to Rodrigo Moreno Machado on the right-nk..."

    John Hansen''s attention was on the pitch. He watched with bated breath as Rodrigo Moreno Machado, Benfica''s right-winger, controlled the ball before unleashing a teasing cross into the box. Hansen felt like time was moving so slowly, and then the ball descended into the box where Lima dos Santos, Benfica''s center-forward, was lurking.

    Johns Hansen''s heartbeat quickened, and beads of sweat started rolling down his forehead as he watched Lima dos Santos leap over an opponent to connect with the ball. He was even more anxious as the Benfica striker nted a header towards the goal from around the edge of the box.

    "Please don''t go in, please don''t go in..." John Hansen mumbled as he balled his fists. The tension was killing him as the ball was on target and coursing towards the goal. But the next moment, he finally let out a breath as he watched Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s keeper, snatch the ball out of the air before holding it close to his chest. The Rosenborg shot-stopper had managed to save Rosenborg from conceding the second goal that night during the 95th minute of gamey.

    "Referee, the whistle," all the fans around John Hansen started shouting. "Referee, the five minutes of added time are over." The Rosenborg fans continued yelling at the top of their voices as Daniel ?rlund prepared to take the goal kick. Their voices blended into a booming chorus that shook the stadium. They were obviously hoping for the game to end so that their team, Rosenborg, could get a small break to reorganize before extra time.

    Be that as it may, the referee ignored the loud rants of the fans and let the game continue for one more minute. But still, neither team made any more attempts on the other''s goal until the final whistle sounded after 97 minutes of intensive Europa League football. As a result, the game would be moving into the thirty minutes of extra time since the aggregate score was still a tie of 3:3 at the end of regr time.

    -----

 Chapter 383 Extra Time

    Chapter 383 Extra Time¡¡¡¡There was only a five-minute break between the end of regr game time and the thirty-minute extra time. Since the time window was brief, the coaches and technical personnel of the two teams were pulling out all stops to reorganize their respective sides as quickly as possible.

    On the side of Rosenborg, the medics and assistants concentrated on massaging the yers while Coach Johansen voiced out his instructions at the pace of a machine gun.

    "Guys," he said, ncing around. "You need to remain solid in defense during extra-time. y as a team, don''t rush and don''t panic. Stay calm, and endure their attacks. And when an opportunity arises, counterattack and try to get that winning goal. Are you guys with me?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    Coach Johansen nodded. "I also noticed that Benfica''s crosses hurt us quite a bit during the second half," he said. "The goal they scored was from a cross. And in the final minutes, they were about to convert yet another from another cross again. We can''t allow those crosses to continueing into our box during the thirty minutes of extra time."

    The coach nced around. "Wingers and wing-backs! It''ll be your role to fall back quickly and block their crosses. You must seal off their crossing routes so that we can limit their attacking options. As long as we aplish that, I can assure you that they will find it impossible to score another goal."

    -----

    On the side of Benfica, Coach Jorge Jesus was also voicing out his final instructions to the Benfica yers seated around him. He spoke loudly to emphasize his words and ensure his core message hit home.

    "During the final minutes of the second half," he said, "you guys rxed and allowed Zachary to score against us. I had repeatedly warned you before the game to stop him by any means possible if he made a threatening run through our midfield. But you guys were like pedestrians, watching him glide by without doing anything. And in the end, he scored that goal that really hurt us a lot."

    "Guys!" He said while alternating his gaze between Ljubomir Fejsa and Enzo P¨¦rez, Benfica''s two central midfielders. "During the thirty minutes of extra time, you can''t rx and allow him to do as he pleases. Midfielders! You have to tight mark Zachary and ensure that he has no breathing space for every moment of the game. Always stay alert, and do whatever is necessary to stop him from hurting us again. Clear?"

    The two Benfica midfielders responded by nodding to indicate that they had gotten the message.

    Coach Jorge Jesus nodded again and turned his gaze away from the two midfielders. "Lastly, stay calm, and y as a team. Don''t panic while trying to create goal-scoring opportunities. Make sure that you watch out for their counterattacks, and don''t let them catch us off guard when we''re trying to score. That''s all I have to say. So, let me wish you luck, and let''s meet as the victors at the end of the night." The coach added before walking back to the bench.

    -----

    The cheers around the stadium hit another thunderous zenith as the referee blew the whistle after the five-minute break. Extra time was finally underway, and Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s center-forward, kicked off the game by passing the ball back into his midfield. He then ran towards the other side of the pitch to take up his position on the striking line.

    Zachary controlled the pass from Nicki right outside the center circle. Before any opponents could close him down, he pulled the ball back with his left foot and then kicked it toward Thomas Partey, Rosenborg''s holding midfielder.

    Thomas Partey was also quick while controlling the ball. He stopped it with a single touch and immediately passed it towards Takumi Minamino. Thetter also controlled it well before squaring it to Zachary, who had just made a run into an unmarked pocket of the space within Benfica''s half.

    Zachary quickly shrugged off the two Benfica midfielders marking him as he reined in the ball. He raised his leg, seemingly as if he was just about to pass the ball. But the next moment, he turned around with the ball glued to his boot to execute a Marseille turn and break through the blockade of the two opponents in his way. And then, without losing a second, he lifted his foot, intending to take off and continue his run towards Benfica''s box.

    However, it was at that moment that he felt a firm tug on his jersey. He tried to shrug off the opponent''s grip while continuing his run. But the opponent stubbornly held onto his shirt and didn''t let him take another step with the ball.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and rushed to the scene. He gave a verbal warning to Enzo P¨¦rez, the yer who''d been holding Zachary''s jersey before awarding Rosenborg a free kick.

    Zachary sighed as he stood over the ball close to the edge of the center circle on Benfica''s side of the pitch. It seemed that the opponents intended to y dirty and foul him repeatedly. So, he would probably not get another chance to run with the ball. The fact frustrated him, especially since he badly wanted to create an opportunity for Rosenborg to score before the end of the thirty-minute extra time.

    -----

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    After a short while, the referee blew the whistle to motion for the free-kick, and the game continued. Over the next few minutes, Zachary tried a few more times to make runs through the middle, but the Benfica yers continued fouling him repeatedly. Eventually, he became less productive on the offensive end and failed to create any goal-scoring chances for Rosenborg.

    With the threat of Zachary neutralized, the Benfica yers became bolder on the attack. Theyunched a series of offensives on Rosenborg''s box as they searched for that winning goal that would take them to the finals of the Europa League.

    Their creativity wasmendable, and during the 20th minute of overtime, their efforts almost paid off when Enzo P¨¦rez managed to single out Lima dos Santos, Benfica''s center-forward, with a well-timed through-pass. The striker controlled the ball and skillfully skipped past Yerry Mina before stepping into Rosenborg''s box.

    At that moment, the hearts of most Rosenborg fans were in their throats as Lima dos Santos raised his leg and smacked the ball to send it on a curling trajectory towards the goal. But fortunately for the home supporters, the ball missed the target by mere centimeters before bouncing out of y.

    After that missed opportunity on Benfica''s side, the Rosenborg yers adjusted ordingly and yed a purely defensive game. They prevented Benfica from creating more chances on goal by relying on their ultra-defensive 4-5-1 formation.

    The time shed by, and eventually, the final whistle sounded to mark the end of the thirty minutes of overtime. But the aggregate score was still 3:3, indicating that neither Rosenborg nor Benfica had gotten the better of the other over the two legs of the Europa League semi-finals. Thus, the game would be heading into penalties to determine the team qualifying for the Europa League finals in Turin.

    -----

 Chapter 384 Penalty Shootout

    Chapter 384 Penalty Shootout¡¡¡¡Coach Johansen''s heart raced with anxiety as he watched his yers settle down around him on one side of the pitch. He was tense, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t seem to calm down. He understood that penalties depended a lot on the element of luck and experience of the yers. So, as a coach, there was not much he could do to improve his team''s chances of winning the penalty shootout aside from organizing an appropriate order and the best line-up of his yers to take the penalties.

    "Okay, guys," he said, sweeping his gaze across his yers. "Listen up. Imend you for the great work done during the thirty minutes of extra time. You yed as a team and held one of the more experienced teams in Europe to a draw for more than 120 minutes of game time. However, our work is still far from done as we have a penalty shootout. We can''t rx. We''ve got to remain calm, highly focused, and at the top of our game during the next few minutes. Are you guys with me?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied in ackluster manner. The fatigue had already taken a toll on them. So, they were focused on hydrating themselves instead of the coach''s words.

    "Guys!" The coach roared after hearing his yers'' half-hearted response. "Are you guys with me?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers yelled back in response. That time around, their voices were loud and clear. They reverberated across the stadium filled with chaotic chatter and even caught the attention of the Benfica yers on the other side of the pitch.

    Coach Johansen smiled and nodded. "Now, that''s the spirit of a team that wishes to win a ticket to the Europa League finals," he said. "I believe we''re now on the same page. So, let''s move on to the crucial issues at hand. I''ll now read out the order of yers that will take the penalties. Listen carefully."

    The coach fished out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. Without further ado, he unfolded it before continuing. "The yer to take our first penalty will be Zachary Bemba. Then, Nicki Nielsen will be the second, Takumi Minamino will be the third, Mikael Dorsin will be our fourth, and finally, Thomas Partey will be our fifth penalty-taker."

    "If we fail to decide the winner of the penalty shootout after the first five penalties," the coach continued. "Then, Alexander S?derlund will take our sixth penalty. After that, it''ll be Eric Bailly, Tore Reginiussen, Paul Kasongo, Yerry Mina, and finally, Daniel ?rlund, in that order. Have you all remembered the order of taking the penalties?" The coach nced around.

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    "Good," Coach Johansen said, smiling. We have been practicing penalties since we started ying in the knock-out stages of the Europa League. So, you guys are already experts at taking penalties. There is no need to panic. You only need to remain calm and bring out those skills while facing off against the keeper. Remember to choose where to ce the ball before shooting, and don''t go for anything fancy. As long as you do that, you''ll convert your penalty easily. Are you with me?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    "Excellent," the coach said, ncing at his watch. "The five-minute break is almost over. So, it''s time for you to head into the pitch and take the penalties. I wish you the best of luck, and let''s meet at the end of the game when we''re already the victors."

    -----

    Zachary felt like he was walking on pins and needles as he marched along with the rest of his teammates toward the center circle. Even though he''d already yed football on the professional stage for more than a year, he couldn''t totally push out the pressure brought about by the penalty shootout.

    He dreaded penalties since they greatly depended on luck and understood that even the best yers in the world could miss them. Moreover, Rosenborg''s Europa League dream was on the line ¡ª and that caused him to grow tenser as he approached the center circle.

    "Guys," Daniel ?rlund, the Rosenborg keeper, said a few secondster when the yers reached the center circle. "I wish you all the best of luck. Let''s win this semi-final." He then shook hands and hugged his teammates before marching off towards the goal selected by the referee for the penalty shootout.

    The proceedings moved forward quickly, and soon, the referee called upon Zachary to step forward and take the first penalty.

    "Good luck, Zachary," Mikael Dorsin said, patting him on the shoulder. "Remember to stay calm, and everything else will be fine. We all believe in you."

    "Thanks for the encouragement," Zachary replied with a smile. He shook hands with a few other teammates before walking towards the selected goal for the penalty shootout.

    A wave of silence swept across the stadium as most fans waited anxiously for the result of the first face-off between Zachary, Rosenborg''s young ymaker, and Artur Moraes, Benfica''s experienced keeper.

    However, Zachary ignored the abnormal situation in the stands. He activated the Dead-Ball Specialist Juju and slowly forced himself to focus only on the goal and the opposing keeper. The Juju worked its wonders, and his concentration transcended the realms of geniuses. And slowly, all the distracting thoughts faded from his mind as he approached the box with confident steps.

    After entering the penalty area, he picked up the ball from the ground and ced it on the penalty spot. The referee gave him the go-ahead, and he took a few steps back from the ball while ncing briefly at the keeper''s position. His incredible spatial awareness came into effect, and in anything but a sh, he assessed the situation between the posts.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee''s whistle sounded the next moment. Zachary immediately acted with haste and made an angled run towards the ball. He then took thest jump-step before smacking the ball and sending it towards the goal. His technique was incredible, and he sent the keeper diving the wrong way as the ball homed into the top right corner.

    A soft smile lit up Zachary''s face. He exhaled with relief as the cheers around the stadium rose to thunderous heights. He felt like he''d finally unloaded a heavy load off his shoulders since he hadpleted his task and converted Rosenborg''s first penalty during the shootout. He waved to the enthusiastic home fans, causing them to cheer even more loudly before jogging back to the center circle.

    -----

    Rosenborg BK 1 : SL Benfica 0

    -----

    Therge jumbotron in the stadium showed the current score from the penalty shootout as Rodrigo Moreno Machado stepped forward to take Benfica''s penalty. The striker was surprisingly calm. Without losingposure, he sent Daniel ?rlund the wrong way and converted Benfica''s first penalty.

    ----

    Rosenborg BK 1 : SL Benfica 1

    -----

    The next yer to step forward was Nicki Nielsen, and he also converted the penalty and put Rosenborg in the lead again. The score was then 2:1.

    Lima dos Santos, Benfica''s center-forward, stepped up next. He also remainedposed and sent the keeper the wrong way to convert sessfully. The score from the penalty shootout was then 2:2.

    Then, it was Rosenborg''s turn again, and Takumi Minamino converted sessfully and reinforced Rosenborg''s hopes for the finals. The score was then 3:2.

    On the side of Benfica, Andr¨¦ Almeida stepped forward and also converted. As a result, the score was then 3:3.

    Mikael Dorsin, Rosenborg''s left-back, was the next yer in action. His technique was also good, and he converted with his left leg to score the fourth penalty. Rosenborg was again in the lead as the score was then 4:3.

    Next, Enzo P¨¦rez, one of Benfica''s midfielders, also converted to equalize the score at 4:4. As a result, the teams were still neck and neck after four penalties.

    The tension was in the air, and a wave of silence descended across the stadium as Thomas Partey, Rosenborg''s young holding midfielder, stepped forward to take Rosenborg''s fifth penalty.

    After the referee''s whistle sounded, Thomas Partey made an angled run towards the ball and unleashed a heavy shot towards the goal. However, Artur Moraes, Benfica''s keeper, managed to dive the right way and punched the ball out of the y.

    "Oh my God!"

    Zachary felt a cold chill descend upon his entire being as he watched Benfica''s keeper celebrating after saving Thomas Partey''s penalty. His heart started racing, and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. He couldn''t help but bury his face in his hands as his heart descended into the abyss of desperation.

    He was really anxious as Rosenborg was on the verge of losing the semi-final. If Daniel ?rlund failed to save Benfica''s following penalty, Benfica would win the game with five converted penalties. And then, Rosenborg would bow out of the Europa League that night when they were only a step away from the finals. The situation was really dire.

 Chapter 385 Penalty Shootout Outcome

    Chapter 385 Penalty Shootout Oue¡¡¡¡"Artur Moraes has managed to save Thomas Partey''s penalty," the voice of Kjell Roar, thementator, resounded across the stadium. "His save has put Benfica in a really advantageous position in this penalty shootout. It''s 4 out of 5 for Rosenborg and 4 out of 4 for team Benfica. If Benfica scores the next penalty, they will win one of the two tickets to the Europa League finals in Turin. And Luis?o, Benfica''s experienced captain, is the man who has stepped forward to take the fifth penalty for his team. Can he win it all? Can he convert and make it 5 out of 5 converted penalties for Benfica? The rare opportunity is in the hands of the captain..."

    Kristin''s countenance grew paler and paler as she listened to thementator''s rambling voice while also following the proceedings on the pitch. She was worried and tense since her team was at a disadvantage. But all she could do was pray and hope that the goalkeeper saved Benfica''s following penalty. Otherwise, Rosenborg would be out of the Europa League that very night.

    "It''s Luis?o against Daniel ?rlund," thementator''s voice resounded. "It''s now the moment for Benfica to win it all, and Luis?o takes a few steps back from the ball. Luis?o! Luis?o takes the shot. Oh, my God! He hits the post. Luis?o, the experienced Benfica captain, has missed the golden opportunity to win it all. The penalty shootout is back to square one. It''s now 4 out of 5 for Rosenborg and 4 out of 5 for Benfica. Oh, my, my! What a match!"

    Kristin''s hopes had already sored to cloud nine as thementator continued yelling in sync with the thunderous cheers of the crowd. A few seconds ago, she had been edgy and anxious, fearing that her team might have to bow out of the Europa League. But, it seemed that the goddess of luck was still in favor of her team, and in the end, Rosenborg had survived Benfica''s fifth penalty.

    "It''s now time for penalty number six on the side of Rosenborg," thementator yelled after a few seconds. "And the responsibility falls on Alexander S?derlund, one of Rosenborg''s key forwards. Can he convert and put Rosenborg back in the driving seat? Alexander! He takes the shot. Oh my! He scores and puts Rosenborg back in front. It''s now 5 out of 6 for Rosenborg and 4 out of 5 for Benfica."

    "The pressure is back on Benfica as Ljubomir Fejsa steps forward to take Benfica''s sixth penalty. If the holding midfielder fails to convert and score, Rosenborg will win the ticket to the finals. Fejsa! Fejsa! Great technique! He sends the keeper the wrong way and scores. He has managed to bring the proceedings back to square one. The pressure is back on Rosenborg''s side."

    "Tensions are running high in the stadium," thementator continued. "The crowd within Lerkendal is holding its breath as Eric Bailly, Rosenborg''s young center-back, prepares to take Roseborg''s seventh penalty. Can he propel Rosenborg into the driving seat again?"

    -----

    Beads of sweat rolled down John Hansen''s forehead as he watched Eric Bailly preparing to take the penalty. Although the part-time YouTuber had already won the bet of Rosenborg emerging victorious after the 90 minutes of regr ying time, he wasn''t satisfied. He still wanted his team to win the penalty shootout and then cash in big on another bet of Rosenborg qualifying for the final.

    "It''s Eric Bailly against Artur Moraes," thementator''s voice resounded over the din in the stadium. "Eric Bailly! Eric! He takes the shot and sends the ball barely past Artur Moraes'' outstretched fingertips. The young Ivorian has put Rosenborg back in the driving seat. It''s now 6 out of 7 for Rosenborg and 5 out of 6 for Benfica."

    "Benfica is hanging on the cliff as Ivan Cavaleiro steps forward to take the penalty. A tremendous responsibility falls upon the young man, who only turned neen a few months back. He has to score to keep Benfica''s Europa League dream alive. If he fails to convert, Rosenborg will win the semi-final."

    "The referee has given the go-ahead, and Ivan Cavaleiro makes the run toward the ball. He shoots. Oh my, God! Saved! Effort Saved! Rosenborg has won one of the two tickets to the Europa League finals. Daniel ?rlund is the hero today. He dived the right way and punched the ball away from the goal. What an ending tonight!"

    At that moment, the cheers around Lerkendal hit a thunderous crescendo. The Rosenborg fans, including John Hansen, jumped high and yelled at the top of their voices. Their team had ovee a tricky opponent and qualified for the Europa League finals for the first time in history. Thus, they were on cloud nine and could hardly rein in their emotions.

    -----

    On the pitch, Zachary joined the rest of his teammates to celebrate Rosenborg''s victory. He had already removed his shirt and thrown it to the Rosenborg supporters. So he ran around the pitch bare-chested while yelling at the top of his voice.

    "We''re in the finals, Zachary!" Coach Johansen yelled as he intercepted him and gave him a bear hug. "Your goal during the 91st minute was incredible, and it was the deciding factor for this semi-final. So, thanks a lot for rescuing the team again."

    "There''s no need for thanks as that is my duty," Zachary replied with a grin. "Moreover, I think that Daniel ?rlund is our hero tonight. If he had not saved that penalty, we would have been in deep shit. He won the semi-final for us."

    "That''s also true," the coach agreed. "But we can''t count out your efforts. Throughout the entire semi-final, you kept most of their midfielders upied. And that is one of the crucial factors that aided us in besting the tricky Benfica side over the two legs. So, you should feel proud of yourself since your efforts have helped propel us to the finals."

    -----

    The proceedings moved forward quickly as the Rosenborg yers and technical staff celebrated their hard-fought victory. They could hardly contain their excitement and continued singing victory chants even after returning to the dressing room.

    But just as they were in the middle of the celebrations, a loud knock resounded in the dressing room. The next moment, the yers and staff turned silent as they noticed one of the UEFA officials stepping into the room.

    "Coach Johansen," the official called out. "It''s time for you to fulfill your press duties. Please head to the press room with two of your yers immediately. Thank you." Without waiting for a response, the official turned around and stepped out of the room.

    "Guys!" Coach Johansen yelled after a few seconds. "I congratte you all upon winning the semi-finals. But I can''t continue celebrating with you as duty calls. Zachary! Can youe to the press conference with me?"

    "Coach," Zachary replied after chugging down some water. "I''m requesting that you let me dodge the press conference today. I can''t always be the only one going to press conferences on the team."

    Coach Johansen smiled and nodded. "I understand," he said, turning his gaze away. "Zachary has reminded me of an important point. So, we''ll start taking turns for the press conferences. Daniel! Nicki! The duty falls upon your shoulders tonight. So, let''s head to the press room together."

    "Aye, coach," the two yers replied almost in unison.

    -----

    The journalists were already in their seats when Coach Johansen''s party of three arrived in the press room. Without wasting much time, they started the interview session.

    "I''m Jordan Porter from ESPN," a brown-haired man in the front row introduced himself. "Coach Johansen! Your team has qualified for the Europa League finals for the first time in history. How do you feel as a coach who has made that happen?"

    "Words cannot describe the excitement I''m feeling," Coach Johansen replied. "Benfica gave us a hard time during the semi-final, but in the end, we overcame them to qualify for the finals. So, I''m both relieved and delighted that we have ovee this tough hurdle."

    "Walter cooper from BBC," another journalist said after standing up. "My question is to Nicki Nielsen. Nicki! You connected well with Zachary''s pass to score Rosenborg''s first goal during the 17th minute. Can you tell us the trick to the incredible chemistry between you and Zachary? How''s it that he managed to find you in that crowd of yers before the box?"

    "You would have to ask Zachary that question to get an answer," Nicki replied with a smile. "And the trick to our chemistry is quite simple. I only need to make a good run toward the opponent''s goal when Zachary receives the ball. As long as I time my run well, Zachary will always find me with an excellent pass. His vision at the crucial moments of the game is that scary."

    "His goal for the team was also incredible," the same reporter remarked. "He literally forced his way through Benfica''s packed midfield and defense before scoring Rosenborg''s second goal tonight."

    "Yes, the goal was really incredible," Nicki agreed. "His footwork, vision, and zeal were all out of this world at that moment. He overcame all obstacles imposed on him by the opponents before burying the ball into the back of the. In my book, that goal should be voted the goal of the season."

    Most of the reporters nodded in response. They seemed to agree with Nicki on that point.

    "I''m Shereen Graham from the Mirror," ady reporter stood up next. "My question is to Daniel ?rlund. Daniel! You saved that seventh penalty and ensured that your team qualified for the finals. How do you feel?"

    "Great, I guess," Daniel replied in a t voice.

    The reporter smiled and turned towards Coach Johansen. "The other semi-final has just concluded," she said. "Sevi is the team that has qualified for the final after beating Valencia based on the away-goal rule. Coach Johansen! How do you feel about your opponents in the Europa League final? Do you think you can ovee them in Turin on the 14th of May?"

    "Sevi is a great team with incredible yers for sure," Coach Johansen replied. "They are more powerful than us on paper, and I believe they wille at us with everything they got during the final. But we still have a great chance of overpowering them if we prepare well and y at our best. I have to remind you that we''re not satisfied with only reaching the final of the Europa League. We also wish to win the Europa League trophy this season. So, we''ll do everything possible to ensure the trophyes to Trondheim after the final."

    -----

 Chapter 386 Reflections and Deliberations

    Chapter 386 Reflections and Deliberations¡¡¡¡Even after spending arge part of the night partying with teammates, Zachary still managed to wake up at 9:00 AM. The hard-fought victory over Benfica had caused his spirits to soar into the skies, and he was in a hyper mood as he went through his morning yoga routine in the living room of his apartment.

    As he performed the various yoga poses, scenes of the previous night went through his mind. First, he remembered how he''d provided an assist that enabled Nicki to score Rosenborg''s first goal. Then, he recalled how Benfica had equalized the game during the 88th minute. At that moment, he had felt as if the entire world was crumbling around him since Rosenborg was behind Benfica going by the aggregate score.

    But due to sheer luck, he''d entered an uncanny mental state, totally different from the zone mental state. The state of mind that seemed to rely purely on instincts had helped him perform the impossible and dribble through the opposition''s packed midfield and defense before scoring Rosenborg''s second goal on the night. And that goal was what helped Rosenborg extend the game into extra time and eventually to the penalty shootout, where they overcame Benfica.

    "I wonder if I can enter that mental state again!"

    Zachary could feel his blood boiling with anticipation as he recalled how he overcame the opposing midfielders and defenders before scoring the goal. The football skills he''d mastered seemed to have totally merged with his entire being, and he''d performed them without thinking. He had even gained an incredible connection with the ball, and performing moves like the stico dribble had been like the reflexive action of blinking. All in all, football had never been easy like at that juncture.

    Butter on, during extra time, when he''d tried to re-enact the state of mind, he''d failed again and again. No matter how hard he''d tried, he hadn''t managed to reach the level of ying just by relying on instincts during the crucial moments. So, he''d pushed the matter to the back of his mind until that morning, when he was going through his post-match yoga routine.

    "System," he called out afterpleting the yoga routine. "Can you tell me about the state of mind I was in yesterday? Why could I perform beyond my best before I scored that second goal?"

    "The user''s will to win the game was incredible yesterday," the system AI replied. "The will to win the game forced the user to transcend his limits in the mental aspect and perform like never before. If the user would like to experience and explore that spectacr state again, the user should focus on increasing his mental aspects of the game. A good start would be winning the Europa League best yer de and obtaining a corresponding reward of the S-grade mental conditioning elixir from the system."

    "S-grade mental conditioning elixir!" Zachary mumbled as the details of the 2013/14 Europa League Serial Challenge mission coursed through his mind. He understood that he had to be the best yer in that Europa League tournament to gain the elixir reward from the system. But there was one issue that still confused him. So, he decided to ask the system AI.

    "System," he called out. "As far as I know, there is no best yer award in the Europa League. So, how will the system judge whether I''m the best yer or not?"

    "The system can collect the performance data of all yers in the Europa League," the AI replied. "Bybining the various statistics (such as goals scored, sessful dribble attempts, aerial duels won, number of assists, etcetera), the system can weight them against your team''s overall performance in the Europa League. Then, it''ll be easy to determine whether you''re the best performing yer in the tournament."

    "I see," Zachary mumbled, smiling. Since the system had its own way of determining his rank on the Europa League best yer list, he didn''t have to wait for the shortlist for the UEFA Men''s yer of the Year Award scheduled to be released in August. If all went well, he might be able to immediately acquire two S-grade elixirs and a hefty sum of Juju points as rewards from the system after ying the finals in Turin two weekster. Those rewards would help him improve his football skills and abilities to unprecedented levels. He would then turn into a monster on the pitch before hepleted his transfer to a new club. But first, he had to help his team win the finals.

    "One step at a time," Zachary reminded himself as he dried his face with a clean towel. "Before ying the finals, I can''t get ahead of myself. I have to perform at my best against Sevi and ensure that my team wins without going through penalties again."

    Zachary''s experience during the semi-final against Benfica had made him dread and fear penalties more than before. He had felt useless the previous night when he''d noticed that he had no control over the result of the penalty shootout. It was mostly through luck that his team managed to win.

    Winning that way irked Zachary to some extent. So, he had secretly vowed to do his utmost to win future games during the 90 minutes of regr game time. As long as he helped his team score many goals, he wouldn''t have to face the mental torture resulting from the penalty shootout.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    Zachary''s phone vibrated and attracted his attention just as he was about to take his post-yoga routine shower. He quickly turned around and scooped it up from a nearby table before ncing at the screen. He couldn''t help but smile slightly after noticing that the call was from Emily, his agent.

    "Good morning, Emily," he spoke into the phone after pressing the ept button. "You''re calling so early! Do you have any good news for me?"

    "Good morning, Zachary!" Emily''s said from the other end of the line. Her British ent colored her words, making her voice as vibrant as ever. "You have guessed right. I do have some good news. Can we meet a.s.a.p.?"

    "That''s okay with me," Zachary replied after ncing at the wall clock on the opposite wall. "We can meet thirty minutester, at around 11:00 AM. Where should we meet?"

    "If it''s not a bother, we should meet at your ce," Emily replied. "This is a measure against some journalists who have been tailing me over the past few weeks. I don''t want to give them an opportunity to glean some information from what I''m about to discuss with you. The best way to ensure secrecy is to hold our meeting somewhere private, like in your apartment or a hotel room."

    "I see," Zachary said. "Then, juste over to my apartment. I''m alone here. So, you don''t have to worry about the contents of our conversation leaking out."

    "Great," Emily replied. "I''ll be there in thirty minutes. Should I bring you some breakfast?"

    Zachary thought for a moment and agreed. "A coffee will do. Thanks, and see you in thirty minutes."

 Chapter 387 First Bids from Interested Clubs

    Chapter 387 First Bids from Interested Clubs¡¡¡¡After ending the call, Zachary operated with all the haste he could muster. He quickly organized his living room before cleaning up and dressing up. He then settled in his living room to wait for Emily.

    As usual, he didn''t have to wait long, and Emily knocked on his door at exactly 11:00 AM to the digit.

    "Wee," Zachary said after opening the door. "Let me take that off your hands." He stretched out his hands and motioned for her to hand over the coffee cup holder to him.

    "Thank you." Emily beamed as she handed him the small cup holder with four coffee cups. She had donned a light bluedy''s business suit that matched the color of her eyes. Her dressing style brought out her lithe figure, and she just looked like a sessful young and beautiful woman on the cover of a world-famous business magazine.

    "Come in," Zachary said before leading the way into the apartment. Emily followed him, and they quickly settled down on two opposite sofas in the living room. The morning sun rays, passing through the wide window, lit up their faces as they started enjoying their coffee.

    "So, what good news do you have for me this time?" Zachary broke the silence with a question after a few more seconds.

    The corners of Emily''s lips curled up into a gorgeous smile. "First of all," she said, "Let me start by congratting you upon qualifying for the finals of the Europa League. Your second goal for Rosenborg yesterday was incredible, and it has eased my work to a great extent. You''re the best client a football agent can ever wish for."

    "Thank you," Zachary said, grinning. "And, of course, you''re one of the best agents a footballer can wish for in the world. I hope greats like Messi and Ronaldo won''t steal you from me in the future when you make it big."

    Emily chuckled. "Jokes aside," she said. "We''ve made progress with two clubs chasing after your signature. The first one is Tottenham Hotspur. Today morning, the club representatives have confirmed that they will table a bid of 36.5 million Euros + add-ons to Rosenborg for your signature. The add-ons, including yer exchanges, loaning agreements, plus other future payments, total about 20 million Euros. So, they have valued you at 56.5 million Euros. If you agree to the move, you would be their most expensive signing in history."

    Zachary nodded as he tried his best to calm his racing heart. "What about the sry? How much are they offering?"

    Emily smiled. "I was just getting to that," she said. "The Tottenham representatives have promised that the club will pay you 85,000 British Pounds per week if you sign with them. That''s an approximate 104,000 Euros in gross weekly ie, which would make you the third-highest paid yer on their payroll. Only Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor would be ahead of you on their pay sheet. As a bonus, they would start paying my fees as your agent annually, which is 10% of your would-be ie. I''m sure I can force them to increase your weekly wage if I continue bargaining and ying my cards right over the next few weeks. What do you think?"

    "The deal is great," Zachary said while breathing out to calm his agitated emotions. He couldn''t believe that one of the big clubs in Ennd had tabled such an amount for his services. It was a dreame true, as far as he was concerned. "First, tell me about the bid from the second club. I''ll give you my view after hearing about their offer."

    Emily nodded. "The second club that is already in talks with Rosenborg management over your signature is Juventus. The Juventus representatives have already tabled a bid of 58 million Euros + add-ons of about 6 million Euros. That means they''ve already offered 64 million Euros as their first bid for your signature. So, if you''re not against going to the Italian side, the Rosenborg top management will be doing their best to sell you to the Italians at around that fee."

    "What about the weekly wages?" Zachary inquired. The buying fee didn''t mean much to him as it would mostly be going to his current club. What mattered to him was the weekly wages the club would offer if he signed with them.

    "Juventus has promised to pay you a gross weekly wage of 115,000 Euros if you sign with them," Emily answered. "That would allow you to earn about 5.5 million Euros per year, making you their second-highest-paid yer next season. From what I''ve heard, only Paul Pogba would be above you on the pay sheet with a weekly ie of 125,000 Euros. The club would also pay my fees as your agent, and their promise is 10% of your wage paid annually. Their offers top those of Tottenham in all aspects. But still, it will be up to you as a yer to influence the Rosenborg management and force them to sell you where you want to go."

    "I see," Zachary said, leaning back into his seat. He was confused for a moment as all offers were tempting. The sry was something out of his dreams, and he would get to y for top clubs with top yers. But what was he to choose? Zachary nced at Emily. "What''s your opinion?"

    Emily smiled. "From what I have learned, both clubs are very interested in you as a yer. That''s why they''re both offering you a high ie. The only difference between the two clubs is that you might find it hard to adapt quickly to the atmosphere in Turin as opposed to that in London. For instance, you''ll have to learn Italian and fight for a ce on the squad against world-ss yers like Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, and Pogba. But, I guess that that can also be a growing experience if you embrace it well."

    "On the other hand," Emily continued, "If you choose Tottenham, you can adapt fast since you speak good English. You''ll even cement your ce in their squad immediately due to your incredible skills, which I believe outmatch those of their current midfielders."

    "But there would also be one disadvantage of the move to Tottenham. That is: you won''t be able to win trophies easily unless the club buys more yers of your caliber. Remember: the English Premier League isn''t like the Norwegian League. Defenders and midfielders are very physical, and you can''t carry the team on your shoulders when you''re only two or three yers on the team with ss. A team would even need great luck or a bnced squad to have a chance of winning any trophy. So, if Tottenham doesn''t buy more yers, you might not win another trophy for years."

    "I understand," Zachary said, sinking into a moment of contemtion. He wasn''t worried that Tottenham wouldck yers of ss. Based on the knowledge from his previous life, he understood that young talents like Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Erik Lam, Heung-min Son, Eric Dier, and Kyle Walker, among others, were about toe into the picture. Under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino, the soon-to-be Tottenham head coach, they would y great football for several seasons. They would reach the finals of several cups, including the UEFA Champions League final. But in the end, they would lose all of them and remain trophyless over the following decade.

    Be that as it may, Zachary was sure they were just an unfortunate team in their endeavors. They only needed a slight push to change their trajectory in history, and they would do wonders in his new life. And Zachary believed he could be that push that altered their fate as a club.

    "Keep pushing for the deal with Tottenham," Zachary said after contemting. "Try your best to push for an increase in our proposed wages over the next few weeks. But don''t agree to anything until after I have yed the Europa League final."

    "I get you," Emily said, nodding. "What about Juventus? Should I shrug off their offers, like what I have been doing with other clubs?"

    "Don''t do that," Zachary said, shaking his head. "As you already said, they are also keen on signing me. So, let''s maintain a wait-and-see attitude until after the final. At the moment, I obviously still prefer Tottenham because it''ll be easy for me to adapt to life in London. But if Juventuses up with a hard-to-refuse offer, for instance, arge signing bonus and a simrly mouth-watering weekly ie, then I''ll consider them too. Honestly, I''m still a bit undecided on where to go."

    "I understand." Emily chuckled. "You need time to process all the information I have just given you. But I''m sure you''ll make the right choice after thinking things through. Just take your time since there''s currently no pressure to make an immediate decision on our side. As for the offers from the other clubs, like Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, I shrugged them off after realizing that you weren''t interested. Is that okay?"

    "That''s for the best," Zachary replied. "It''s okay to focus on only Tottenham and Juventus for the moment. Transfer deals aside, how far with my grandma''s Schengen identity card?"

    "The identity card will be ready in a week''s time," Emily replied. "How''s your grandma, by the way? I have been busy with transfer deals. I haven''t managed to check on her during the past two weeks."

    "She''s doing okay," Zachary replied. "But three days ago, the doctors informed me they would extend her stay in the hospital''s rehabilitation center for roughly fifteen more days. They intend to conduct a few more tests to determine whether she haspletely recovered before discharging her. So, that''s when I''ll require the identity card to transfer her to Norway."

    "The ID will be ready," Emily said. "And the timing is just perfect since you''ll just have finished ying the finals. You can concentrate on helping your grandma settle down without too many worries."

    "I also like the timing," Zachary agreed. "Let''s hope the final tests go okay. I''ll only feel at ease after the doctors have assured me that she has totally recovered."

    -----

 Chapter 388 Media Speculation

    Chapter 388 Media Spection¡¡¡¡Spection about Zachary''s almost-imminent transfer out of Rosenborg appeared in the news over the following few days. Some rumors were very far-fetched and reported that he might be heading to famous clubs like Chelsea, AC Mn, Real Madrid, or Barcelona. And probably due to his free-kick technique, others imed that he was a fan of David Beckham, and he might go to Manchester United to follow in the footsteps of his idol. The gossip spread over the inte like a forest fire in summer.

    However, all those rumors didn''t affect Zachary in the slightest. He ignored the media attention and focused solely on improving himself through serious training. He couldn''t afford to waste time thinking about his potential transfer, especially since he had to prepare for the Europa League final, scheduled to be yed in Turin on May 14th, roughly two weeks from then.

    Aside from training alone to hone his skills, Zachary joined the team training sessions. The team training was always intense, but none of his teammates raised anyints. They were all hyped up since they wished to prepare themselves adequately for the Europa League final. They sometimes even put in a few extra hours of exhaustive workouts after the official training sessions. Theirmitment was trulymendable.

    Due to the intense schedule, the days seemed to pass by quickly, and soon, it was Sunday, May 4th. It was finally the day when the Rosenborg yers would y their first game in that year''s Norwegian Cup. And that game was against Or FK, a team from the Norwegian 3rd division football league.

    Even though the game was at an away ground, at Or FK''s home stadium, Zachary and his teammates effortlessly vanquished the weaker side. During the 13th minute, Zachary picked out Paul Kasongo with a defense-splitting through-pass. Thetter easily connected with the pin-point pass before skipping past a defender and scoring Rosenborg''s first goal for the evening.

    Eight minutester, during the 21st minute, Zachary worked his magic again. He burst through the middle of the pitch like a Tsunami, leaving opposing midfielders and opponents powerless. When the shooting angle opened up, he struck from outside the 18-yard-box to score Rosenborg''s second goal.

    But that wasn''t the end of his spectacr disy. Six minutester, during the 27th minute, he found the mark again by relying on a free-kick positioned a few yards away from the box. He curled the ball over the defensive wall and into the back of the to score Rosenborg''s third goal for the evening.

    The proceedings moved forward, and the Troll Kids continued pressurizing the opponents. However, they didn''t manage to score the fourth goal until muchter in the second half, during the 78th minute.

    When everyone in the stadium began to assume that there weren''t any more goals in the game, Takumi Minamino struck. He connected with Thomas Partey''s long-range pass just outside the box on the left nk and unleashed a missile of a shot towards the goal. His effort was on point and curled past the keeper''s outstretched fingertips before homing into the top right corner. The score was then 4:0 in favor of Rosenborg.

    Takumi''s goal seemed to have opened the floodgates again, and the Rosenborg yers soon made it rain goals in Or FK''s home ground. During the 83rd minute, Zachary scored Rosenborg''s 5th and his 3rd for the day toplete his first domestic hattrick that year. Alexander S?derlundted Rosenborg''s 6th goal three minutester, during the 86th minute. And finally, Tore Reginiussen, Rosenborg''s captain, closed off the scoring frenzy byting the 7th goal during the 91st minute.

    It was the first time that season that all Rosenborg''s first-team yers had yed in a domestic league match. They hadn''t disappointed and had managed to overwhelm the much weaker Or FK by a score of 7:0. Due to the spectacr performance, Coach Johansen was grinning from ear to ear during the post-match press conference.

    "Coach Johansen," one of the journalists in the press room called out. "Congrattions upon winning your first Norwegian Cup game this year. Your yers, especially Zachary, Takumi, and Thomas Partey, were phenomenal. They performed well and ensured that your team beat Or FK 7:0. But what worries me and the rest of the Rosenborg fans is that you didn''t rest any of your first-team yers today. As we all know, the Europa League finals are on May 14th. That is only ten days from now. Aren''t you worried about wearing out the yers if you y them during every domestic game? Aren''t you concerned that they''ll be fatigued and underperform during the finals?"

    "Thank you for the question," Coach Johansen said, smiling. "I decided to field the yers today for rhythm reasons. If the yers spend many days without yingpetitive football, they''ll lose their rhythm and get rusty. So, I have to give them several match-ying opportunities before the final. To them, the Norwegian Cup match was like a warm-up ¡ª to keep them in shape for the finals against Sevi."

    The journalist who''d posed the query chuckled before asking another question. "Are you implying that you might utilize your first-team squad during the uing Tippeligaen game against Sogndal? Or will you choose to rest them and keep them fresh for the finals?"

    "That, I can''t answer right now," Coach Johansen replied. "I''ll observe the yers during training over the next few days and analyze and understand their conditions. Then, I''ll decide whether to field them on the day before the game against Sogndal IL."

    Another journalist stood up. "Coach Johansen," he said. "My question is about Zachary Bemba. Once again, he was spectacr today, and he managed to score a hattrick. But many Rosenborg fans are worried about the spection surrounding Zachary. As you should know, many news outlets and transfer experts have already reported that Rosenborg is close to selling Zachary to Tottenham, Manchester United, or Juventus. Can you tell us whether these rumors are true?"

    Coach Johansen sighed and shook his head. "As you said, those are just rumors. The entire team''s focus is on the Europa League finals at the moment. So, we''re not going to negotiate any transfer deals with other clubs until after May 14th. That implies that Zachary is still our yer until wemunicate otherwise."

    "Coach Johansen!" Another journalist called out. "Can you tell us whether any clubs have reached out to Rosenborg to buy Zachary?"

    "Noment," Coach Johansen said. "As I already said, the entire team is busy preparing for the Europa League finals. As a coach, I also have to do my part and ensure that my yers are ready for the final. So, I don''t have any time to move around, checking whether any other clubs are about to make bids to acquire my yers."

    -----

    After the press conference, Coach Johansen returned to his office within Lerkendal. The endless questions about Zachary''s potential transfer out of Rosenborg had fouled his jolly mood. He couldn''t even smile even though his team had just thrashed Or FK by seven goals to nil.

    "Damn it!"

    Coach Johansen cursed out loud as he settled into his office chair. He really felt helpless since Zachary was about to leave the club.

    The previous day, both Tottenham and Juventus had increased their bids for Zachary. Tottenham had tabled 42 million + add-ons of about 20 million, while Juventus had offered a whopping 70 million Euros to outbid them.

    The two offers had excited the members of Rosenborg''s board, and they were already pushing for the club to sell Zachary to the highest bidder. So, if nothing unexpected happened, Zachary would leave Rosenborg during the uing transfer window.

    But that wasn''t what vexed Coach Johansen the most. He was incensed by the rest of the teams trying to raid his other yers. Big clubs like Valencia, Lyon, Benfica, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea, among others, had already tabled bids for his other yers like Thomas Partey, Eric Bailly, Yerry Mina, Takumi Minamino, Nicki Nielsen, and Paul Kasongo. And what upset him even more was the Rosenborg board leaning towards selling all those yers to the highest bidders. That was simply uneptable.

    "What to do?"

    Coach Johansen breathed out deeply and leaned back into his seat. He''d long expected Zachary to leave the club due to his extraordinary skills and talent. So, Coach Johansen could ept the board members'' decision to sell him to the highest bidder as soon as possible. But he couldn''t bear losing his other yers, like Thomas Partey, Eric Bailly, and Takumi Minamino, especially since he''d just signed them.

    "Let''s focus on winning the finals first," Coach Johansen decided. "Maybe, the yers will feel a stronger sense of belonging to the club if they win the Europa League with Rosenborg. Then, it''ll be hard for those money-grubbers to sell the yers off if they wish to stay at the club. That could be a solution."

    Coach Johansen''s eyes glinted with resolve. He soon pushed the distracting thoughts to the back of his mind and opened hisptop. Before long, he started watching one of Sevi''s past games while taking notes. The game was boring since Sevi was ying a defensive game against Valencia. But the coach remained focused and watched every minute of the proceedings. He couldn''t rx since he wished to understand the opponent''s style of y and weaknesses before ying them in the Europa League final.

    -----

 Chapter 389 Prelude to the Europa League Final

    Chapter 389 Prelude to the Europa League Final¡¡¡¡Four dayster, on a rainy Thursday evening, the Troll Kids yed their domestic season''s sixth Tippeligaen game against Sogndal IL at an away ground. For that game, Coach Johansen exercised caution. He benched most of his star yers, including Zachary, Takumi Minamino, Thomas Partey, Nicki Nielsen, Yerry Mina, Mikael Dorsin, and Eric Bailly. His intent was to let them rest and save their energy for the finals against Sevi the following Thursday.

    But even without the star yers, Rosenborg still showcased ss and skill on the pitch. The second-stringers yed as if their lives were on the line and dominated proceedings from the first minute. By relying on short and precise passes, they hoarded most of the ball possession and sustained tremendous pressure on Sogndal. And as expected, their efforts soon bore fruit, and they created their first goal-scoring opportunity during the 27th minute.

    Karl Toko Ekambi burst through the wing like a bullet train on the rails before unleashing a curling lofted pass towards the area. His cross was spot on, and it managed to descend towards the position where Riku Riski, Rosenborg''s right forward for the day, was lurking. Thetter wasted no time leaping high to beat the opposing center-back. He effortlessly nted a header into the top right corner to score Rosenborg''s 1st goal for the evening.

    After the goal celebrations, the game continued. The Rosenborg yers didn''t let up the pressure and continued mounting relentless waves of attacks on Sogndal''s defense. Theybined their Tiki-taka style with wing y tactics to render the opponents helpless. But even then, they didn''t manage to score until muchter in the second half, during the 79th minute.

    Tobias Mikkelsen, Rosenborg''s right-winger who had just returned from injury, tore through Sogndal''s defense like there was no tomorrow. He made an incredible mazy run from the wing before shooting from the edge of the box to score Rosenborg''s second goal for the day.

    After that, the Rosenborg yers employed defensive tactics to weather the pressure of the final 10 minutes of the game. They remained solid at the back and ensured that the Sogndal attackers didn''t create any opportunities at goal. Their efforts paid off, and in the end, they beat Sogndal away from home with a score of 2:0.

    The win extended Rosenborg''s domestic league unbeaten run in the new season to six games. As a result, the Troll Kids had again cemented their position at the top of the Tippeligaen table. They were the only team that had umted 18 points from 6 games. On the other hand, the second-ced Molde had only won 5 out of its six opening games to amass 15 points, while the third-ced Str?msgodset had only umted 14 points from the same number of games.

    For sure, Rosenborg was already dominating the Norwegian League very early on in the season. And for that reason, the television pundits for the game sang high praises for the entire Rosenborg team during the post-match analysis session.

    "I think we have been giving less credit to Rosenborg as a team," Roar Strand, one of the pundits, remarked. "We often think that only Zachary carries them through matches by scoring many incredible goals. But, let me remind you all that we can''t be more wrong. The rest of the Rosenborg yers are also doing wonders on the team. Take a look at Tobias Mikkelsen and Karl Toko Ekambi, for instance. In today''s game, without Zachary, they were still spectacr. They yed around with the Sogndal defenders and beat them repeatedly during the game. One provided the assist that resulted in the first goal, while the other scored the second. They are surely among some of the often-underrated Rosenborg yers."

    "You''re right," Steffen Iversen, the second pundit, chimed in. "It''s true that Zachary always outshines the rest of his teammates whenever he is present on the pitch. But without Zachary, I believe that Rosenborg would be a totally different team. Without him, they might not have won the domestic doublest season, and they would definitely not have reached the Europa League finals. You have to understand that Zachary''s presence on the team boosts the morale of his teammates. With him around, the yers will do their utmost to try to match his level ¡ª and in the end; they''ll put up incredible performances, like what we saw from Karl Toko Ekambi and Tobias today."

    "That''s a good point," Kjell Roar, thementator, remarked. "But back to the game. Rosenborg''s win has taken them to a six-match unbeaten run in the domestic league this year. Do you guys think Rosenborg can maintain this form until the end of the season? Can they win another domestic double?"

    "That''s a difficult question to answer before the transfer window," Steffen Iversen said. "If Rosenborg can retain most of the yers, including Takumi Minamino, Eric Bailly, Thomas Partey, etcetera, then they will remain the favorites to win the league and the Norwegian Cup this year. However, if they sell off all their star yers during the summer transfer window, they might end the year without any trophy."

    "Even if they sell off the rest and keep only Zachary, they can still continue winning," Roar Strand chimed in with a chuckle. "But the question is: Can they convince Zachary to stay? There''s a 50 million buy-out use in his contract, and if Rosenborg tries to block his move to a bigger club, he might trigger it. And that would lower Zachary''s selling price by a couple of a dozen million."

    "I don''t think anyone at Rosenborg should block Zachary from moving to a bigger club," Steffen Iversen remarked. "He has already done a lot for Rosenborg in his one year in Trondheim. Zachary helped Rosenborg win a doublest year. This year, he has single-handedly pushed them through the knock-out stages of the Europa League, and now, they are in their first-ever Europa League finals. What else could Rosenborg want from him? They should consider his future and let him join a bigger club of his own liking. They should even give him a hero send-off when he''s leaving during the uing transfer window."

    "It''s too early to talk about a hero send-off," Kjell Roar chimed in. "Zachary still has to y the Europa League finals six dayster, on May 14th. If he can help Rosenborg win their first-ever European title, he''ll go down in history books. The Rosenborg fans will idolize him, and if he wants to leave the club, they will send him off like a hero. But if Rosenborg loses the final against Sevi, I can''t predict the fan base''s reaction. The supporters might evenbel him a ''Judas Iscariot'' for leaving the team in dire straits."

    "That''s harsh," Roar Strand said. "But you''re right. Winning can bring the best out of the fans. On the other hand, losing can bring the worst out of the fans. So, let''s wait and see what will happen in the finals."

    -----

    After the game against Sogndal, the Rosenborg yers took a one-day break before rmencing training. They spent the next four days doing their utmost to prepare for the Europa League finals.

    Early in the morning, they would undergo fitness conditioning drills in the gym under the supervision of the coaches. Later in the morning, they would head to the training ground to go through the passing, positioning, and other team drills. They would then have lunch before returning to the training ground to continue the team drills. And finally, they would end their day with a team meeting in the tactics room, where the coaches would go over the possible game ns for the final against Sevi.

    Day in, day out, all the yers worked harder than ever. The hours of practice quickly turned into days, and soon it was May 13th. It was finally the eve of the much-anticipated Europa League final battle between Sevi and Rosenborg.

    On that day, at 8:00 AM, Coach Johansen called the yers into the tactics room at Lerkendal for another pre-match tactics meeting. He quickly gave a short analysis of Sevi''s weaknesses and usual style of y before going over the game n for the umpteenth time that week.

    Thirty minutester, he rounded up his short speech about the tactics and immediately delved into naming the squad that would be heading to Turin to y in the Europa League finals the following day.

    "These are the yers on our starting line-up," he said, ncing around. "Daniel ?rlund will be in goal against Sevi tomorrow. Then, the four yers - Mikael Dorsin, Tore Reginiussen, Yerry Mina, and Eric Bailly will be in defense. In our midfield, Thomas Partey, Takumi Minamino, and Zachary Bemba will be the yers who hold the reins. And finally, on striking, we''ll utilize Tobias Mikkelsen on the right nk, Alexander S?derlund on the left, and Nicki Nielsen as the center-forward. That is it for the yers on the starting line-up."

    "Moving on," the coach continued. "On the bench, we''ll have the following yers. Lund Hansen, William Troost-Ekong, Cristian Gamboa, Ole Seln?s, Mike Jensen, Karl Toko Ekambi, and Paul Kasongo. That''s it for the squad heading to Turin for the finals. For those who didn''t make the cut, don''t lose heart. Keep working hard, and you''ll surely get an opportunity to y for Rosenborg in the near future."

    "For those on the squad, head back home and prepare. We''ll be taking the bus to the airport at 11:00 AM. Our intent is to arrive in Turin by 6:00 PM today evening. Do you guys copy?"

    "Yes, coach," the yer replied, more or less in unison.

    "Good." The coach nodded and nced at his watch. "Let''s meet in the parking lot in two hours. Please be on time."

    -----

 Chapter 390 To the Juventus Stadium in Turin I

    Chapter 390 To the Juventus Stadium in Turin I¡¡¡¡Later that morning, the Rosenborg yers and technical staff boarded a KLM Airlines flight and headed to Turin. Their journey was without any unexpected incidents, and their ne touched down on the runway of the Turin International Airport five and half hourster.

    The yers and staff quickly went through the airport procedures before picking up their luggage and heading toward the airport''s exit. Under the guidance of a UEFA official and a few dedicated airport staff, they managed to avoid all the fanfare and media attention. And after only a few minutes, they stepped out of the airport.

    By then, only twenty minutes remained to six o''clock, and the sun was about to sink below the horizon in the western skies of Turin. So, the yers and coaches didn''t waste time boarding the arranged team bus, especially since they desired to rest after a long day of traveling.

    After everyone had taken their seats on the bus, the driver skillfully pulled out of the airport''s parking lot. Before long, he rounded a corner and joined a busy highway in Turin.

    The traffic was surprisingly heavy that evening, and the journey took longer than expected. But finally, after fifty minutes of driving, the driver rounded a corner again and pulled up in front of the Grand Hotel Sitea, located in the heart of Risorgimento Turin.

    The Rosenborg yers and technical staff quickly picked up their luggage and checked into the hotel. They ate dinner about an hourter and attended a team meeting afterward. Then, when the clock hand was just about to point to the nine o''clock mark, the coaches ended the gathering and sent the yers back to their rooms to rest.

    The following morning, the yers woke up at around eight o''clock. They ate breakfast with the coaches before heading to the gym to undergo a light conditioning routine. Theypleted the fitness training about an hourter and returned to their rooms with the intent to spend the rest of the time before the game resting.

    Over the past five days, Coach Johansen had already instilled the game n for the Europa League final into the yers'' minds. He had already gone over all the potential tactics and emphasized the roles of each yer countless times. So, he left them to their own devices and let them rest for the entire day.

    Zachary, on his part, spent the whole day in his room, ying a brick game on his phone. He''d already pushed all the thoughts about the Europa League final to the back of his mind. So, for hours, he solely focused on shooting down the digital bricks on his phone screen.

    The android game was rxing, and surprisingly, the hours passed by quickly. Lunchtime soon arrived, and Zachary took a small break to eat a light meal before returning to his room. He yed the brick game for a few more hours but soon got fed up with the small images on his phone screen. So, after throwing the phone to the side, Zachary jumped into his bed and decided to take a short nap. He slept soundly and soon forgot everything else in the world.

    "Knock! Knock! Knock..."

    After what seemed like a short time, rapid knocking sounds on the door pushed Zachary out of slumbend. His eyes immediately fluttered open, and he jumped out of bed before stepping forward and pulling open his hotel room door.

    "Coach!" Zachary''s eyes widened when he noticed Coach Johansen standing before his door.

    "It''s already 6:30 PM," the coach said, giving him a once over. "Only two hours and fifteen minutes are remaining to kick-off. But I can see that you''re not concerned. You''re even still sleeping."

    "Sorry, coach," Zachary replied, smiling sheepishly. "I dozed off without setting my rm. I wasn''t aware of the passing of the hours. But I''m ready to head out at any time."

    Coach Johansen nodded and smiled. "Sleeping is also a good sign. It means that you''re not under any pressure before the final. Let''s hope that your confidence turns into match-winning skillster tonight."

    "Don''t worry, coach," Zachary said. "I''m ready to do my best in the game today. I''ll give more than a hundred percent to fight for a win in the final."

    Coach Johansen smiled and said, "That puts my heart at ease."

    "Are we about to set off to the stadium?" Zachary hurriedly asked.

    "Yes," the coach replied. "We are supposed to be setting off at 7:15 PM. So, you need to hurry up and eat dinner before joining your teammates in the hotel lobby. I want you fully satiated with food and in your best state during the final."

    "Aye, coach," Zachary replied. "I''ll quickly prepare and head to the restaurant for dinner. Don''t worry."

    "Good," Coach Johansen said. "See you at 7:10, then."

    "See you at 7:10."

    -----

    At seven o''clock that evening, the Rosenborg yers began congregating in the hotel lobby one after the other. They were all in suits, specifically prepared for the finals. They were also much quieter than usual and exuded intense auras, like soldiers about to head out for a life-and-death battle. Their fighting spirit had already soared through the roof, and they were obviously already in the zone. They were probably thinking and dreaming about destroying Sevi in the Europa League finals.

    Zachary, who''d overslept and almost missed out on dinner, arrivedst in the lobby. He looked dapper in his all-ck suit that emphasized his tall frame. His rxed afro hairstyle, integrated with a trendy undercut, added a wild charm to his entire persona. He looked intimidating and dauntingly handsome as he stepped into the hotel lobby.

    "Okay, okay," Coach Johansen said, breaking the murmurs in the lobby. "It''s already 7:10 PM. Less than two hours remain before the start of the game. But luckily, everyone, including Zachary, the sleepyhead, has arrived."

    Most of the yers in the lobbyughed at that and called Zachary a few more weird names. Zachary, of course, maintained a poker face and ignored them. But on the inside, he was smiling. The coach''s joke seemed to have lightened the mood around the team. As a result, his teammates were more rxed than before. So, Zachary didn''t have to worry about them crumbling under pressure before the final.

    "Okay, guys," Coach Johansen yelled again. "It''s time for us to head to the Juventus Stadium for the Europa League final. We''re about to face off against Sevi in what could be the climax, but not the end of the glorious moments of most of our careers. Guys, are you ready?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers yelled back in chorus.

    "Are you all ready?" The coach asked again.

    "Yes, coach." The yers were even louder than before.

    "That''s the spirit." Coach Johansen smiled while nodding. "Let''s step out of the hotel and board the bus immediately. Let''s head out there and y as a team. And let''s hope we return hereter in the night with the Europa League Trophy. May all the luck in the world be with us tonight."

    -----

 Chapter 391 To the Juventus Stadium in Turin II

    Chapter 391 To the Juventus Stadium in Turin II¡¡¡¡Many journalists and fans in Rosenborg''s ck and white colors had congregated around the hotel entrance that evening. When the Rosenborg yers stepped out of the hotel, a wave of wild excitement swept through the gathered crowd. The men and women of the press quickly started taking pictures with their cameras while the Rosenborg supporters cheered excitedly.

    Fortunately, hotel security worked with the Turin local police officers to keep the crowd at bay as the Rosenborg yers boarded the bus. All the members of the Rosenborg delegation soon settled in their seats, and the bus took off, heading towards the famous Juventus Stadium of Turin.

    Under the escort of a convoy of police vehicles, the duration of the journey through the busy Italian city was surprisingly short. Twenty-four minutester, the bus pulled up in front of the gate of the Juventus Stadium, and the yers and coaches disembarked with their luggage in hand.

    A group of fans in Rosenborg''s jerseys had already crowded around the stadium entrance. They yelled and cheered at the top of their voices as the Rosenborg yers started marching into the stadium gates. But what caught Zachary''s attention was a scream from one young man.

    "Zachary!" the young man, who looked to be around thirteen to fifteen years of age, hollered. "Will you give me your shirt after scoring today?"

    Zachary stopped in his tracks and turned around. His eyes widened as he started walking towards where the boy was standing. The cops and security personnel tried to dissuade him, but he shook them off and continued moving forward.

    "You''re sure that I''ll score today?" He asked as he gave thed a once over. The young man had sharp facial features adorned with blonde hair and clear blue eyes. He seemed familiar. But Zachary''s mind couldn''t ce where he''d seen him.

    "I''m sure you''ll score today," the young man replied confidently. "But I''m not sure about the exact number of goals you''ll bag today."

    Zachary chuckled. He looked around and noticed that his conversation with the young man had already attracted media attention. But he didn''t mind. "What is your name?" He asked.

    "Joshua Simonsen," the boy replied. "I don''t know if you recall, but you once gave me a signed jersey on a bus in Trondheim. I''m here with a few friends from the NF Academy to support you tonight. We all know that you will score and win the finals."

    "Oh, it''s you." Zachary chuckled as a light bulb went on in his head. "You have grown up since then. Thanks for the support. And if I do score today, I''ll look for you at the academy in Trondheim. And of course, I won''t forget to give you my shirt. Okay?"

    "Thanks," the young man replied, grinning from ear to ear.

    Zachary nodded to him before stepping away. Soon, he followed after his teammates and marched into the stadium gates. As for the incident with the young fan, he pushed it to the back of his mind as he adjusted to the tense atmosphere in the stadium.

    ****

    Coach Johansen worked with all the haste he could muster over the next few minutes. He urged his yers to prepare quickly and head into the pitch for the pre-match warm-up. He couldn''t afford to waste time as only forty-five minutes remained before the kick-off of the Europa League final.

    Just as his yers were starting their warm-up on the pitch, he received Sevi''s starting line-up from the officials. As expected, Unai Emery, Sevi''s head coach, had arrayed his squad into a 4-2-3-1 formation and seemed intent on employing defensive tactics against Rosenborg that evening. But since Coach Johansen had long expected such tactics from Sevi, he didn''t bat an eyelid and continued perusing through the squad details of the opponent.

    In Sevi''s goal, there was Ant¨®nio Alberto Bastos, the shot-stoppermonly known as Beto. Then, their defenseprised the four yers - Coke, Nicol¨¢s Pareja, Federico Fazio, and Alberto Moreno. They formed a solid and experienced backline that could give Rosenborg a hard time during the game.

    In defensive midfield, Sevi intended to field two holding midfielders. One was the experienced and solid Cameroonian - St¨¦phane Mbia. He was good at aerial duels, and if the need arose, he could y the rough game of fouling. The other holding midfielder was Daniel Carri?o, who had incredible game reading and solid tackling skills.

    Up the pitch, Sevi intended to field three attacking midfielders. Among those, it was Ivan Rakiti? who caused a lot of headaches for Coach Johansen when preparing for the Europa League final. The midfielder was a talented and well-rounded ymaker with good stamina, excellent passing technique, and an uncanny ability to read the game. Rakiti? could dictate y in midfield and create chances for teammates after winning back possession, despite hisck of pace. Thus, if Rosenborg wished to win the finals, they would have to contain him.

    But Coach Johansen wasn''t all that worried since he had tasked Thomas Partey, his defensive midfielder, to keep an eye on him. If Thomas Partey remained careful and followed the game n, he would easily frustrate the slow-paced Rakiti? with his solid defensive skills. At least, that was Coach Johansen''s wish.

    The other two yers with attacking midfielder roles on Sevi''s squad were Antonio Reyes on the right nk and Vitolo on the left. In previous matches, the two yers were very creative in the wings and could unleash crosses that resulted in goals. They were also terrifying foes that couldn''t be left alone.

    Lastly, on Sevi''s striking line was the one and only Carlos Ba. He was quick, powerful, skillful, and a determined center-forward, with good movement, concentration, and an eye for goal. His solid first touch, aggression,posure in front of goal, and striking uracy had long made him a nightmare for most opponents. As long as he was in the box, he could easily beat opponents and find the back of the.

    "It''s great that there are no surprises."

    Coach Johansen breathed a sigh of relief after perusing through Sevi''s squad details. Over that past week, he had warned his yers countless times to take note of the dangerous yers on Sevi''s line-up, including Ivan Rakiti? and Carlos Ba. He had even put up contingencies to guard against unexpected situations, like outbursts of skill from the difficult-to-deal-with substitutes. And that was why Sevi''s line-up didn''t cause his mood to fluctuate in the slightest.

    The coach believed he had already done his best to prepare his yers for the final. As long as they followed the game n and yed as a team, they had a high chance of winning the final. With a bit of luck and the on-form Zachary among their ranks, they would shock Turin and take the Europa League trophy back to Trondheim for the first time ever. The coach possessed that level of confidence in his yers.

 Chapter 392 Pitch Invasion and Kick-Off

    Chapter 392 Pitch Invasion and Kick-Off¡¡¡¡The post-surgery rehabilitation center of the University Hospital Zurich was like a spectacle out of a sci-fi movie. Everything that could shine did shine. There was stainless steel, sleek floors, and beautiful art on the walls, making up an exquisite ambiance that was as bright as cier melt-water or spring flowers. The air around the entire ce had a pure fragrance, not sterile, just clean. Music at just the right level yed in the background to give the patients and staff an emotional lift. It was unquestionably a world-ss health center, and even at thatte hour, the nurses and doctors were as busy as ever, moving from room to room to tend to the patients.

    In one of the lounges of this famous hospital, a few patients and their caretakers had gathered to watch the finals of that year''s Europa League. Among them was Zachary''s grandma, Mrs. Madeleine Mateso Bemba, who was recovering well from her brain surgery. She looked remarkablyfortable in her reclining wheelchair, ced in front of therge screen.

    "Are you sure that Zachary will be ying today?" She queried in Swahili while inclining her head slightly to look at her daughter - Marie Bemba.

    "Yes," Marie Bemba, Zachary''s aunt, replied with a humble tone. "Zachary''s team is called Rosenborg. It''s ying against a team from Spain called Sevi in the Europa League finals."

    "What is this Europa League?" Zachary''s grandma asked, creasing her brows. "Howe I have never heard about it?"

    "The tournament is the second biggest continental clubpetition in Europe," Marie replied. "And Zachary''s team has defeated many famous teams like Juventus, Lyon, and Benfica before reaching the finals. If they win the final today, they will be champions and go home with the trophy."

    Zachary''s grandma smiled, her wrinkles smoothening out a little. She wrapped her shawl tightly around herself to keep the cold away before saying, "I''m d that Zachary is making something out of himself. Let''s hope that he wins the trophy today."

    Marie smiled and nodded. "The match is about to start," she said, pointing at therge LCD screen in front of the room. "Better focus. Zachary''s team is about to step out of the tunnel."

    ****

    Only a dozen minutes remained before the highly-anticipated Europa League final''s kick-off. The excitement was in the air, and more than 40,000 fans had already taken up their seats in the famous Juventus Stadium in Turin. Most of them were already singing the well-known chants of their respective clubs even before kick-off.

    Among the supporters were several of Zachary''s acquaintances, including Emily, Kristin, Cami, Ryan Bellmore, Martin Stein, Marta Romano, Melissa Romano, and Coach Bj?rn Peters. They had long upied well-positioned seats in various parts of the stadium. They had alle to support Zachary in his endeavors to attain glory that night.

    "Ladies and gentlemen," the voice of Peter Drury, thementator for the finals, resounded across the Juventus Stadium. "Wee to Turin. Ahead of us is a contest for Europa League glory. Rosenborg Ballklub is facing off against Sevi Football Club in this year''s Europa League final. It''s a final filled with endless possibilities as any of the two teams can win today."

    "If Rosenborg wins today, they will make history. They will be the first Norwegian team to win the Europa League. They will also be the first Norwegian team to win a treble in a single season. But there''s an enormous mountain that is Sevi between them and the trophy. The Sevi yers will be doing their utmost to help their club win another Europa League trophy. They were the champions of the 2005/06 and 2006/07 seasons. And today, they''ll be keen on beating Rosenborg and winning their third Europa League trophy in history."

    "It''s already 8:35 PM," thementator continued. "The yers of both sides are already in the tunnel, ready to march onto the pitch. You can already feel the captivating and irresistible atmosphere around this famous stadium as the kick-off draws nearer and nearer with every passing second..."

    It was at that moment that the yers marched onto the pitch. On cue, the Europa League anthem started ying in the background while the cheers hit a thunderous crescendo.

    On one side, the voices of the Rosenborg fans hit a peak as they shouted the names of their star yers, including Zachary, Takumi Minamino, and Nicki Nielsen. But how could the enthusiastic Sevi supporters let them do as they pleased? The supporters from Spain also started yelling at the top of their lungs, doing their best to overwhelm the opposing fans. Thebination of shouts and cries from the two groups shook the stadium, causing the atmosphere to be even more heated.

    -----

    The proceeding moved forward quite quickly, and soon, the yers started taking up their positions on the pitch. Zachary also followed suit and marched to his position. He looked strikingly sleek in his all-ck Rosenborg jersey, and his eyes radiated an intense fighting spirit. His heart was already burning with anticipation as he eagerly waited for the moment when the referee would blow the kick-off whistle.

    Zachary didn''t have to wait long as the referee finished all his preparations quickly. The referee then positioned himself just outside the center circle and nced around once before raising the whistle to his lips. But just as he was about to signal the start of the game, something unexpected transpired.

    Out of the blue, a fan rushed out from the stands behind the goal. Like an incarnation of a skilled rugby yer, he sidestepped past stewards in yellow jackets before leaving them in the dust. His speed was incredible ¡ª and in a couple of seconds, he sped onto the pitch, heading straight towards the position where Zachary was standing.

    "What the hell?"

    Zachary''s eyes narrowed as he noticed the pitch invader on a straight course towards him. For a moment, his heartbeat quickened as he conjectured that the fan might wish to harm him. He stepped out of the way, intending to dodge the fan. However, the fan followed suit and altered his sprinting trajectory to follow after Zachary. And before long, the fan caught up to him.

    "We''re waiting for you at Juventus," the fan shouted and handed him a striped ck and white Juventus g and jersey. "Please don''t go anywhere else. Come to Juventus..."

    The words of the pitch-invading fan stopped abruptly as one of the stadium stewards caught up and tackled him to the ground. Before long, more stewards lifted the man away without giving him any other opportunities tomunicate with Zachary.

    As for Zachary, he was stunned and speechless. He stood transfixed in one ce, ncing at the jersey and g in his hands. For the first time in his career, he had experienced a pitch invasion targeted toward him. And once again, he re-evaluated the craziness of people in this world.

    "Are you okay, Zachary?" Nicki Nielsen asked after approaching his position.

    "I''m okay," Zachary replied as he bundled up the g and jersey. Without waiting for Nicki to ask anything else, he raced towards the nearest steward and handed the g and jersey to him. After that, he returned to his attacking midfield position outside the center circle.

    He breathed in deeply and pushed the pitch invasion incident to the back of his mind. And slowly by slowly, he readjusted his mental state and focused solely on the game that was about tomence. He was again ready to do his best during the final of the Europa League.

    -----

    On the sidelines, Coach Johansen''s face had already morphed into a frown. He wasn''t happy, especially after witnessing a pitch invasion targeted toward his best yer. He even suspected that the stunt might be a calcted move by the opponents to throw his yers off their rhythm before the final.

    "What do you think?" Coach Johansen asked his assistant after a moment of contemtion. "Could Sevi be ying dirty?"

    "That shouldn''t be the case," Trond Henriksen, his assistant, replied. "The pitch invasion also affects the Sevi yers to a certain extent. So, they shouldn''t be the culprits. On the other hand, I''m inclined to believe that it''s Juventus pulling tricks. Don''t forget that we''re currently on their home ground. Their intent might be to use this rare opportunity to sway Zachary''s mind before the transfer window."

    "That makes sense," Coach Johansen replied as his frown deepened. Juventus had already tabled the highest bid to Rosenborg for Zachary. The only roadblock to their acquiring his services was his decision. So, Coach Johansen wouldn''t be surprised if they utilized a pitch invasion stunt to sway his feelings towards ying for Juventus.

    ------

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally blew the whistle and signaled the start of the match after another minute. Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s center-forward, didn''t dilly-dally. He kicked off the game by passing the ball back into his midfield after hearing the referee''s whistle.

    At longst, and after an unexpected pitch invasion, the Europa League was underway. The excitement around the stadium shot into the skies, and the cheers hit another momentous Zenith. All eyes were on the pitch, waiting to witness who woulde out on top in that night''s battle for Europa League glory.

 Chapter 393 A Game of Ups and Downs

    Chapter 393 A Game of Ups and Downs¡¡¡¡The Rosenborg yers quickly followed Coach Johansen''s game n and arrayed themselves into a 4-3-3 triangr formation. Thomas Partey settled into the holding midfield role while Zachary and Takumi Minamino were the attacking midfielders. The three of them quickly built a good rapport and started dominating y in the middle of the pitch. Due to their efforts, Rosenborg even hoarded arge percentage of the ball possession during the first 10 minutes of gamey.

    On the other hand, the Sevi yers settled into a 4-2-3-1 formation to weather Rosenborg''s dominance on the pitch. They utilized St¨¦phane Mbia and Daniel Carri?o as the two holding midfielders to support their four defenders. Anyone watching the game could tell that they intended to y a very defensive game against the seemingly weaker Rosenborg side. They obviously hoped to snuff out any chances of Rosenborg scoring a goal.

    But their efforts were soon rendered useless by Zachary''s brilliance in the midfield. During the 16th minute, he intercepted a loose pass from Daniel Carri?o close to the center circle. Before any opponent could close him down, he burst into action.

    He exploded with speed through the middle and tore the Sevi defense apart with his incredible sidestepping skills. Before long, he was already stepping into the final third as he bore down on Sevi''s goal like a raging hurricane. However, he couldn''t help but slow down after a few more seconds. That was because he''d run into a challenging roadblock in the form of St¨¦phane Mbia, one of Sevi''s holding midfielders.

    Zachary''s mind started working in overdrive mode as the opposing holding midfielder was about to close him down. His Zinedine-Pirlo mental Juju immediately widened his field of vision, and his spatial awareness worked like the best of charms. In anything but an instant, he made a mental map of all the yers around him. Be it the opposing defenders ahead of him, Takumi Minamino on his left, and Tobias Mikkelsen, far on his right ¡ª their positions were all clear in his mind.

    "This is it."

    Zachary chose an outlet for the ball the next moment. After holding off St¨¦phane Mbia, he unleashed a killer pass towards the right side of the box to set off Tobias Mikkelsen on a straight course towards Sevi''s goal.

    The cheers in the stands rose to another level as Tobias Mikkelsen, Rosenborg''s right forward, connected with the pin-point pass. Hisposure was incredible as he fed the ball past Nicol¨¢s Pareja, Sevi''s center-back, and stepped into the box. He then mmed the ball past the outstretched hands of Sevi''s keeper to score Rosenborg''s 1st goal for the day.

    -----

    Sevi FC 0 : Rosenborg BK 1

    -----

    "Tobias Mikkelsen has dug in and delivered," the voice of Peter Drury, thementator, resounded across the stadium. "What a start by Rosenborg! It''s barely 16 minutes past the hour. But Rosenborg is already in the lead against the two-time Europa League champions by a goal. What a night for the Norwegian giants!"

    "Rosenborg deserves the lead," Roy Hamilton, the comentator, chimed in. "Their three midfielders have been incredible during the opening minutes. They kept the ball flowing in the middle of the field and dictated the tempo. The final icing on the cake was their young ymaker - Zachary Bemba. As usual, Zachary''s technique and vision were incredible. He created a goal-scoring opportunity almost from nothing by picking out Tobias with a well-timed pass. Thetter didn''t disappoint and converted to score Rosenborg''s opening goal."

    -----

    Coach Unai Emery could feel cold beads of sweat rolling down his back as he watched the referee blow the whistle to restart the game. He had miscalcted and assumed that Rosenborg would y a counterattacking game during the final. But instead, the team from Norway had opted to turn the game into a battle in midfield. They had utilized their three sharp midfielders to render his tactics useless before dictating the tempo. As a result, their efforts paid off, and they managed to take the lead during the 17th minute of this heated final.

    Be that as it may, Coach Unai Emery remained confident and hopeful despite the circumstances on the pitch. As a coach, he''d already arranged targeted countermeasures for various unexpected situations during the final. So, he could enforce them right away to turn the game around.

    "Carri?o!" He yelled at the top of his voice to attract the attention of one of his holding midfielders. "Push forward and y as support to Rakiti? in attacking midfield. And be more aggressive in the middle of the field. Don''t allow the opponents to step over you in your position. Okay?"

    Daniel Carri?o gave his coach a thumbs-up to indicate that he''d gotten the message. After that, he returned his focus to the proceedings on the field of y.

    -----

    After a few adjustments, team Sevi started ying with more zeal to stop Rosenborg''s momentum. They were always hungry for the ball and even resorted to the rough game of fouling. Soon, they established a midfield stranglehold that choked Rosenborg''s passes and caused the battle for Europa League glory to be more heated.

    The Rosenborg yers responded by increasing their work rate, hoping to maintain their advantage against the Spanish side, especially in the midfield.

    However, the Sevi yers again rendered their efforts fruitless by switching to wing y tactics and long balls. Their strategy enabled them to bypass Rosenborg''s strong midfield, causing the scales to tilt towards Sevi''s side. And during the 29th minute, their endeavors finally bore fruit.

    Ivan Rakiti?, Sevi''s captain and attacking midfielder, worked his magic on the pitch after connecting with a pass from St¨¦phane Mbia. He skillfully skipped past Thomas Partey before kicking the ball towards the left nk to find Vitolo, Sevi''s left-winger.

    Vitolo brilliantly controlled the ball on the left nk before any of the Rosenborg yers could close him down. He then whirled around and exploded with pace along the touchline. When the angle opened up, he sent forth a curling killer cross towards the box.

    The cross was spot on and descended towards the area where Carlos Ba, Sevi''s center-forward, was lurking. And as expected, Carlos Ba immediately went into action. He leaped high and battled Eric Bailly for aerial superiority before nting a header towards the top right corner.

    Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s goalkeeper, reacted immediately and tried to save the ball with an acrobatic effort. But his fingertips were just a few centimeters shy of reaching the ball. In the end, he could only watch helplessly as the ball zoomed past him and homed into the back of the.

    -----

    Sevi FC 1 : Rosenborg BK 1

    -----

    After scoring the goal, the Sevi yers seemed to have gained a boost in their momentum. They yed more brilliantly and dictated the tempo against Rosenborg. And during the 38th minute, they created another excellent goal-scoring opportunity.

    That time, it was Vitolo, Sevi''s left-winger, at the end of the opportunity. He connected with a pass from Ivan Rakiti? and sted a right-footed shot towards the goal.

    Fortunately for Rosenborg, Daniel ?rlund, the keeper, was alert. He rose to the asion andmitted himself to a full-body dive that enabled him to punch the ball out of y.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and pointed toward the corner g. On cue, most Sevi and Rosenborg yers started crowding into the box to prepare for the corner. Some even began fouling each other as they struggled to create advantages for themselves before meeting the corner ball. The referee even had to step in and show a yellow card to both Eric Bailly, on Rosenborg''s side, and Federico Fazio, on Sevi''s side, before the situation in the box could calm down. After that, he blew the whistle again and motioned for team Sevi to take the corner kick.

    Coke, Sevi''s right-back, wasted no time going into action after hearing the whistle. He sent forth a teasing cross from the corner g that headed towards Rosenborg''s crowded penalty area like a guided missile.

    The descending corner ball pushed the yers within the box into action. In particr, the Sevi yers started running around to confuse opponents, while others leaped high to meet the cross. But in the end, it was Carlos Ba, the incredible Sevi forward, who got thestugh.

    Carlos Ba shrugged off the harassment of Yerry Mina before angling his head and nting a powerful header towards the goal. And before the Rosenborg keeper could react, the ball had already homed into the back of the.

    -----

    Sevi FC 2 : Rosenborg BK 1

    -----

    "Team Sevi is flying and leaving Rosenborg in the dust," Peter Drury, thementator, yelled out loud over the thunderous cheers in the stadium. "And the man of the moment is Carlos Ba. He has punished Rosenborg twice in less than ten minutes toplete Sevi''seback. The tides have turned for team Sevi, and they might be well on their way to winning the Europa League final."

    "Well," Roy Hamilton, the comentator, said, "The Rosenborg yers have failed to adapt to Sevi''s versatile tactics. And if Coach Johansen fails to find a way to contain the Sevi yers on the nks, he will surely lose this final."

    "You''re right," Peter Drury concurred. "In the opening minutes, it was Rosenborg dictating the tempo. But after Coach Unai Emery and his yers switched to using wing y tactics and long balls over the midfield, the Norwegian giants lost theirmand over the game. Even Zachary Bemba, their most dangerous and creative yer, rarely gets time on the ball. So, it''s not surprising that they are trailing by two goals to one against the more aggressive and versatile Sevi side."

    "What''s your prediction for the game, Peter?" Roy Hamilton asked his counterpart. "Do you think Sevi will maintain their lead and win this final?"

    "Honestly, I don''t know," Peter Drury replied. "This is a game filled with uncertainties. It''s just one goal separating the two teams, and there are still more than 45 minutes to the end of the game. Anything can happen, especially with a yer like Zachary Bemba on the pitch. So, we can only wait and see how the game will progress."

    -----

 Chapter 394 Fighting Spirit

    Chapter 394 Fighting Spirit¡¡¡¡After conceding the second goal during the 41st minute, the Rosenborg yers worked harder than ever. They were both creative and assertive while attacking, which was a testament to their intent to bag an equalizer before halftime.

    However, their efforts didn''t bear fruit due to Sevi''s team discipline during thest four minutes of the first half. The Sevi yers defended as if their lives were on the line and showcased more than a hundred percent of their abilities to thwart any chances of Rosenborg making aeback. As a result, the score remained 2:1 in favor of Sevi when the yers marched down the tunnel for halftime.

    And as usual, the coaches soon took center stage in their team''s respective dressing rooms. On the side of Rosenborg, Coach Johansen was uneasy as he waited for his yers to catch their breath and hydrate themselves. His heart was racing with anxiety as the prospect of his team losing the Europa League final yed within his mind. But he still forced himself to appear calm as he stepped forward to dish out the most crucial halftime pep talk that could define and boost his career as a coach.

    "Guys, listen," he said, stepping forward to take center stage in the dressing room. "For those who might have forgotten, let me remind you that we''re currently ying the Europa League final. For most of us, it''s the most crucial match that could define our careers as sports professionals. But the sad thing is that we''re not doing enough on the pitch to win the game. We''re losing! We''re bloody losing by two goals to one."

    The coach took in a long breath of air before continuing. "During the opening seventeen minutes, we were superb as a team on the pitch. We followed the game n perfectly, forced the opponents into a midfield battle, and came out on top. As a result, we controlled the game and scored the first goal in the 17th minute. But a few minutes after scoring the goal, we rxed and lost our advantage. We let the Sevi yers dictate the tempo ¡ª and allowed them to two goals within a ten-minute window. What the hell is up with that? Were you sleeping?" He narrowed his eyes and nced around.

    "I understand that the Sevi yers abruptly changed their tactics during the middle of the game," the coach continued. "But that shouldn''t be an excuse for us to concede two goals and possibly lose the game. It shouldn''t be an excuse to y the way we yed during thete stages of the first half."

    "To be champions, we must y assertively, dictate the tempo, and force the opponents to adapt to our footballing style. If we wish to win, we shouldn''t be the ones to adapt to Sevi''s long balls or wing y tactics. Instead, we have to assert our dominance on the field by maintaining our style of football throughout the game. We need to bring the ball back to the ground, break down their teamwork with short passes, and get goals whenever there''s a chance. Do you guys understand?"

    "Yes, coach," the Rosenborg yers replied in chorus.

    "Good." The coach nodded. "I need you to remember these few points. One: y assertively and force the opponents to adapt to our style, not the other way round. Two: y as a team, as one cohesive unit, both in defense and while attacking. Three: Individually, don''t make stupid mistakes on the pitch that can hurt the team. And four: Have confidence in yourselves. Believe in your skills and do not for even a single moment doubt that you''ll win the game. You have already beaten European giants like Juventus, Lyon, and Benfica during the earlier stages of the Europa League. So, how can a weaker Sevi side faze you?"

    The coach swept his gaze across his yers. "As the saying goes," he said, "the mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision that you can do something, you can do it. As long as you all really believe a hundred percent, we''ll make aeback and win this final today. We''ll go home with the Europa League trophy. Are you guys with me?" The coach ended his little speech with a bellow.

    "Yes, coach," the yers yelled back in unison. Their eyes radiated an intense fighting spirit, and they seemed ready to head back into the pitch to fight for Europa League glory.

    "Excellent." The coach nodded and smiled. He then spent a few more minutes exining the tactics before sending the yers back to the pitch for the second half. He had done his best to motivate his yers and rouse their fighting spirit. As for the rest, the yers would have to depend on themselves to win the Europa League Trophy that night.

    -----

    After fifteen minutes of halftime, the game restarted. The Rosenborg yers followed their coach''s halftime instructions and yed more aggressively. They all radiated an intense fighting spirit and closed down their opponents as if their lives were on the line. Anyone watching the game could tell they were on a mission to control the proceedings on the pitch during the second half.

    The relentless efforts of the Rosenborg yers gradually paid off as the minutes passed. And by the 60th minute, Rosenborg had already controlled the game by relying on their phenomenal three midfielders. Rosenborg was even hoarding 60% of the possession due to their flowing Tiki-taka skills in the middle of the pitch. But even then, Rosenborg still failed to create clear goal-scoring chances until the 73rd minute.

    After receiving yet another pass from Takumi Minamino, Zachary decided to take a risk for the first time during the second half. He tossed all the coach''s talk about ying as a team to the back of his mind and decided to go at it alone. His gamble paid off, and he managed to dribble past three Sevi yers by relying on his ball control and sidestepping skills.

    In a matter of seconds, he stepped into the final third and continued bearing down on Sevi''s goal like a predator on the hunt. He quickly approached the box, and when the angle opened up, he slowed down slightly before drawing his leg back like a bowstring. His intent was to unleash a killer shot and score Rosenborg''s second goal for the night.

    But just then, something unexpected transpired. St¨¦phane Mbia, who had tracked Zachary''s run all the way from the midfield, finally caught up to him. Before Zachary could swing down his leg to shoot, the Sevi defensive midfielder slid in, all guns zing to send him tumbling to the ground. But during the process, he''d missed the ball and instead caught Zachary''s ankle.

    "Foul!" Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg striker, who was nearby, yelled out immediately.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee didn''t need any reminders as he''d also been nearby. So, he immediately blew the whistle before rushing to the scene and awarding a free-kick to Rosenborg right outside the box. He then checked on Zachary and called Rosenborg''s medical team onto the pitch. After that, he showed a yellow card to St¨¦phane Mbia, the Sevi defensive midfielder who''d made the dangerous tackle on Zachary.

    But all that didn''t matter to Zachary as he was still in pain on the ground. Worrisome thoughts whirled through his mind for a couple of seconds as he feared that he might have gotten injured. Fortunately, the difort in his ankle faded after the medics had conducted a brief first aid on his leg. So, he quickly got up and moved his foot around to check if he was really okay.

    "Do you still feel any pain around the ankle area?" One of the medics asked while ncing at him closely.

    "The pain has almost vanished," Zachary replied, still moving his right foot around. "I only feel some slight difort around the ankle area. But I believe I''ll be okay after a bit of running."

    "That''s a relief," the medic said, smiling. "But if you feel some painter in the game, don''t forget to inform us. Okay?"

    "Sure," Zachary replied and chugged down some water. "Any instructions from the coach?"

    "He didn''t give us any," the medic said. "I think he''s happy with the way you''re ying at the moment. And he must be relieved since you''re okay. So, do your best to score the free-kick and tie the score. I have to go back now. Best of luck." The medics quickly picked up their kits before running out of the pitch.

    Zachary immediately turned his attention back to the proceedings on the pitch. He stepped forward and arranged the ball on the marked free-kick spot while waiting for the referee to finish his preparations. After that, Zachary activated the Dead Ball Specialist Juju and started observing the opposing yers and the goalkeeper''s position.

    At that moment, his mind was already working at lightning-fast speed as he worked out how best to take the free-kick. His focus had already reached its peak as he understood that he had to convert and score the second goal for Rosenborg at that moment. Otherwise, his team might not get another chance to bring proceedings back to level since only about fifteen minutes remained ny-minute mark.

 Chapter 395 Tense Moments

    Chapter 395 Tense Moments¡¡¡¡Within the stands, Emily watched with bated breath as Zachary stepped forward to take the free-kick. Her heart was racing fast with anxiety as she dreaded the minute possibility of Zachary missing a free kick for the first time in his career. But despite her unease, Emily still didn''t want to miss out on witnessing a crucial moment that could define the final. So, she still hardened her resolve and kept her eyes glued on the field of y.

    "It''s Zachary Bemba on the set-piece," the voice of Peter Drury, thementator, reverberated across the abnormally silent stadium. "Zachary Bemba steps forward to take the free-kick. Will he score and bring the proceedings back to level terms..."

    At that moment, all of Emily''s focus was already on the pitch. She breathed in deeply, and her pretty blue eyes flickered with a trace of apprehension. "Please go in... Please go in..." She mumbled to herself as she watched Zachary starting to make the angled run towards the ball.

    Finally, the moment to take the set-piece arrived, and Zachary made thest jump-step towards the ball. The boy wonder angled his body slightly before swinging his leg down hard and fast to smash the ball towards the direction of the goal.

    Before Emily could even blink, the ball rose, spun, and curled over the wall, rocketing towards the top right corner like a guided ballistic missile. And before Sevi''s keeper could react, the ball grazed the inside of the right post before homing into the back of the.

    "GOAALLL...." A chorus of excited voices shook the stadium as Emily joined the rest of the supporters to celebrate the goal. The voices immediately hit a thunderous zenith and drowned out every other sound in the stadium for a few seconds.

    "Zachary Bemba is at it again," Peter Drury''s mellifluous voice resounded across the stadium when the loud cheers began lowering. "Zachary Bemba has buried the ball into the top right corner to score Rosenborg''s second goal in today''s Europa League final. Stunning! Just Stunning! How many times have we seen this guy take free-kicks this season? But he has never missed! He hasn''t missed even once! His precision is like that of a machine when taking set-pieces. What a spectacr yer!"

    "Indeed, what a spectacr yer!" Roy Hamilton, the comentator, chimed in. "Listen to the loud cheers of the Rosenborg fans around the stadium. They are all for Zachary Bemba. He has scored his 22nd goal in this Europa League tournament and once again helped Rosenborg escape a precarious situation. He''s now the undisputed top scorer of the tournament."

    "But I''m surprised by Sevi conceding a free-kick in such a position," Roy Hamilton continued. "If I were Unai Emery, I would have warned my yers to beware of conceding free-kicks, especially within the final third. I would strongly caution them against gifting Zachary opportunities to score set-pieces bymitting fouls close to the box."

    Peter Drury chuckled. "My friend, everything changes on the pitch due to the game''s intensity. You might tell yourself a thousand times that I shouldn''tmit a foul, but then you find yourself already reacting when an opponent is in front of you. The reflexes kick in, and by the time youe back to your senses, you''ve already slid in andmitted a foul. Moreover, you don''t have an option sometimes. It''s either you stop the opponent or concede the goal. For instance, Zachary Bemba might have still scored if St¨¦phane Mbia didn''t take him down. So, he chose tomit the foul, hoping Zachary might miss the resulting free-kick."

    "What wishful thinking!" Roy Hamilton chuckled. "Zachary has a hundred percent conversion rate. The chances of him missing are always minimal. So, any set-pieces near the box give him clear opportunities to score goals."

    "That''s true," Peter Drury remarked. "Anyways, back to the match. The dynamic has once again changed. After Zachary''s 76th-minute equalizer, we''re back to square one. Two goals to two, it is. We can expect an exciting final few minutes as both teams will be doing their utmost to score the third goal and win the game. Will it be Sevi thates out on top? Or will it be Rosenborg, the dark horses from Norway? Let''s take you back to the proceedings on the pitch to find out."

    -----

    On the sidelines, Coach Johansen was still anxious. He couldn''t calm down before his team bagged another goal that could seal the deal. So, his mind was still working in overdrive mode to devise strategies for his team to score as he watched the referee blow the whistle to restart the game.

    "Ekambi and Kasongo!" He said, turning towards his bench yers after a few more seconds. "Hurry up and warm up. I need you on the pitch in less than five minutes."

    "Aye, coach," the two yers replied with zest as they jumped up from their seats. They then changed into their training bibs and started warming up on the sidelines.

    Coach Johansen watched them for a few seconds before returning his focus to the pitch. Sevi had outyed his team on the nks over the past thirty minutes. And that was why he''d decided to introduce the two fast-paced wingers - Karl Toko Ekambi and Paul Kasongo. He wished for the two to work hard on the nks and provide more options for Rosenborg on both the defensive and attacking fronts. That way, they would contain Sevi''s wing y tactics that had repeatedly brought him a lot of trouble throughout the game.

    -----

    The referee finally signaled for the substitutions tomence when the ball went out of y during the 79th minute. Karl Toko Ekambi came on in ce of Alexander S?derlund, Rosenborg''s starting left-winger, while Paul Kasongo reced Tobias Mikkelsen, the starting right-winger. On the side of Sevi, Coach Unai Emery also reacted immediately and brought on Marko Marin in ce of Antonio Reyes, the right-winger.

    The substitutes quickly took up their respective positions, and the game continued. The minutes shed by quickly, and the duels on the field, especially in the middle of the pitch, became more heated.

    Sliding tackles, dangerous fouls, and yellow cards became moremon as the yers of both teams tried to outwit their opponents. By the 80th minute, three yers on Rosenborg''s side had already received yellow cards, while four on Sevi''s side had also gotten simr cautions.

    The battle for Europa League glory was that feverish, and by the 84th minute, with only six minutes remaining to the 90-minute mark, the game had already turned into a series of physical battles. The Sevi yers, who were more physically able, shined in great splendor as they outmuscled the opponents more often. They slowly turned the tides and helped Sevi to dictate the tempo and dominate the proceedings again.

    With the momentum on their side, it wasn''t long before theyunched a dangerous attack on Rosenborg''s goal. Daniel Carri?o, Sevi''s midfielder, intercepted a loose pass from Thomas Partey during the 86th minute. Before the nearby Rosenborg yers could close him down, he passed the ball to Ivan Rakiti?, Sevi''s captain and attacking midfielder.

    Ivan Rakiti? was asposed as ever as he received the ball. With a skillful touch, he skipped past Takumi Minamino, his marker, before threading a through-pass to find Marko Marin on the right nk.

    Marko Marin, the substitute right-winger, controlled the ball deftly close to the touchline on the right nk. He turned and twisted his entire frame to bypass Mikael Dorsin, Rosenborg''s left-back. He then exploded with speed along the touchline before unleashing a curling cross towards the penalty area.

    At the edge of the box, Carlos Ba, the Sevi center-forward, went into action. He outmuscled Yerry Mina before controlling the ball with his chest. When the shooting angle opened up, he unleashed a hell of a shot towards the inside of the left post.

    TENSION!

    It was a tense moment for the Rosenborg fans as Carlos Ba had ced his shot perfectly to beat the keeper. The ball skimmed over the green grass like a snake traversing the jungle before shing past the keeper''s outstretched fingertips. It was obviously on a straight course towards the back of the.

    But just then, a silhouette slid in wholesale to intercept the ball. It was Zachary Bemba, who had rushed all the way from defensive midfield to defend after noticing the danger. Fortunately, he''d gotten to the goal line on time and prevented the ball from continuing on into the back of the. He''d used an outstretched boot to kick it back from whence it hade.

    However, the danger was still atrge as the intercepted ball bounced back into the box, heading straight towards the approaching Sevi midfielder - Ivan Rakiti?. The Sevi captain wasted no time firing the ball back towards Rosenborg''s goal with the intent to score Sevi''s 3rd goal.

    "Damn it!"

    Adrenaline flooded Zachary''s bodily systems, and he cursed out loud. By reflex, he pushed himself off the ground and threw his tall frame in the way of the approaching ball. And as luck would have it, his acrobatic move enabled him to intercept Rakiti?''s shot with his stomach. Everything worked out perfectly, and as if on cue, Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s goalkeeper, sprung forth and snatched the ball out of the air before it could bounce back into the box.

 Chapter 396 Counterattacking at Its Best

    Chapter 396 Counterattacking at Its Best¡¡¡¡"Nice y," Daniel ?rlund, the experienced Rosenborg keeper, said to Zachary as he pulled him off the ground. "That was really close."

    "Yes, that was a close call," Zachary replied as he nced around. He breathed a sigh of relief as the two of them had just helped Rosenborg avoid conceding a goal during the 87th minute. "Daniel, don''t rx. We have a great opportunity on our hands. We need to counterattack immediately before the Sevi yers shape up again. Hurry up and pass the ball to me."

    Without bothering to say anything else, Zachary took off and sprinted to the right side of the box. And without a moment of dy, Daniel ?rlund, the keeper, heeded his instructions and threw the ball to him.

    Zachary controlled the ball skillfully and skipped past Marko Marin, the Sevi right-winger, who was keeping an eye on him. He then worked with all the haste he could muster to move the ball forward and survey the situation on the pitch.

    After picking a target, Zachary smashed the ball with the outside of his boot to unleash a long-range raking pass towards the left nk. He then took off towards the other side of the pitch as if his ass was on fire. He didn''t even bother to ascertain whether the ball had reached the intended destination.

    The counterattack was on, and on the left nk, close to the touchline, Karl Toko Ekambi, the substitute left-winger, connected with Zachary''s pin-point pass. Ekambi chested the ball down skillfully before exploding with pace along the touchline. Before long, he was already stepping past the centerline as he dribbled the ball forward.

    Coke, Sevi''s right-back, soon came forward to close him down. But Ekambi avoided him by passing the ball into the middle to find Nicki Nielsen, Rosenborg''s center-forward.

    Nicki was as sharp as ever going forward. His control was superb, and his first touch allowed him to leave St¨¦phane Mbia, Sevi''s defensive midfielder, in the dust. He then nced around briefly before flicking the ball into the open space on his right, seemingly to no one.

    Whoosh!

    A silhouette in Rosenborg''s ck jersey shed through the middle of the pitch like a whirlwind, chasing after the ball. It was Zachary Bemba. He''d run all the way from Rosenborg''s box to aid with the counterattack. His incredible off-ball pace had enabled him to cover roughly 60 yards within a few seconds. He''d left all the opponents in the dust and even managed to catch up to Rosenborg''s attacking yers.

    "Zachary! Zachary..."

    The Rosenborg fans around the stadium started cheering loudly as Zachary connected with Nicki''s pass. He didn''t even bother to slow down to control the ball but prodded it forward with the top of his boot. His long strides ate up yards of space like there was no tomorrow, and soon, he stepped into the final third, where he faced off against Sevi''s two center-backs.

    Zachary slowed down and stepped over the ball once to draw in the opposing center-backs. He immediately altered his center of gravity and leaned his body forward to fake going right. But suddenly, Zachary forced himself to contort his tall frame while braking. Within an instant, he switched his center of gravity again and exploded with speed on the left.

    Whoosh!

    His instantaneous eleration and swift change of direction allowed him to escape from the harassment of the defenders. He moved the ball forward skillfully and was soon one-on-one with Beto, the Sevi goalkeeper, who''de out of his goal to meet him.

    Zachary remained asposed as ever and circumvented the goalkeeper with a series of swift deft touches. He then smashed the ball into the back of the before rushing towards the sidelines to celebrate Rosenborg''s 3rd goal for the night.

    At that moment, he could hardly contain his happiness since he was one step closer to winning the Europa League trophy that night. So, he punched and kicked the corner g a couple of times to express his delight.

    -----

    Sevi FC 2 : Rosenborg BK 3

    -----

    In the stands, Kristin was on cloud nine as she yelled at the top of her voice to celebrate Zachary''s goal with the rest of the Rosenborg fans. She hugged Emily, who was next to her, as they immersed themselves in the thunderous and victorious atmosphere within the stadium.

    Their excitement levels had obviously shot through the stadium roof and soared into the night skies of Turin. So, they danced and hopped around for seconds like little girls, without minding those around them.

    But they were not alone in their brief state of madness. The Rosenborg fans around them had also gone wild with excitement as they cheered and celebrated Zachary''s goal. Some had even undressed to let loose and express their delight.

    "Zachary has delivered again," the voice of Peter Drury, thementator, resounded across the stadium when the cheers started reducing in volume. "He has scored Rosenborg''s third goal during the 88th minute of this heated final. One moment, Zachary was at the other end of the pitch, in Rosenborg''s box, defending and making incredible goal-line saves. But a few secondster, he had already sprinted across the pitch and scored Rosenborg''s third goal for the night. His pace was incredible, his skills dazzling, and hisposure out of this world. What a counterattack! Ladies and Gentlemen! We''re surely witnessing the rise of a great yer."

    "It is funny how football can be unpredictable," Roy Hamilton, the comentator, remarked. "A few seconds before, Carlos Ba and Ivan Rakiti? were about to score and put Sevi ahead. But they missed their chances, and Rosenborg took the opportunity to do what they do best. Theyunched a swift and terrifying counterattack. And due to Zachary''s brilliance, the counter was a sess, and the Troll Kids are now ahead. They are leading Sevi by three goals to two with only a couple of minutes remaining to the end of this heated Europa League final."

    "Let''s not forget that the goal takes Zachary''s tally in this year''s Europa League to 23 goals," Peter Drury said. "He''s the undisputed top scorer and has already broken the all-time goal-scoring record in a single Europa League tournament. He''s now in a ss of his own, and he''s surely the best yer in the Europa League this season. As I said before, we''re witnessing the rise of a great yer."

    "You''re right, Peter," Roy Hamilton, the comentator, said. "Zachary has yed incredibly well in the Europa League this season. A whopping twenty-three goals and five assists! These are incredible statistics. He really deserves the Europa League trophy and all the honors thate with it. I really wish to see him on the podium as a champion at the end of the game tonight. Otherwise, I''ll greatly be disappointed."

    "Only a minute plus added time remain to the end of the game," Peter Drury said. "So, the Rosenborg yers only need to maintain the lead for about six minutes, and they''ll be champions. Can they achieve the feat and be the first Norwegian team to win a Europa League trophy? Let''s return our focus to the proceedings on the pitch to find out."

    -----

 Chapter 397 The Final Nail in the Coffin

    Chapter 397 The Final Nail in the Coffin¡¡¡¡Unai Emery, Sevi''s coach, quickly made two substitutions before the game could restart. He brought on Kevin Gameiro, a forward, in ce of Alberto Moreno, the starting left-back. Additionally, the coach subbed in Piotr Trochowski, an attacking midfielder, for Daniel Carri?o, the starting defensive midfielder.

    The Sevi Coach had obviously decided to go all out by ying with a 3-3-2-2 offensive formation during the final few minutes. And that was why he was recing defensive yers with creative and attack-minded yers. He wanted to employ all his attacking cards to create opportunities and an equalizer as soon as possible.

    On the other hand, Coach Johansen chose not to tamper with his squad. He feared that making any substitution would affect the chemistry and concentration of his field yers, especially during the crucialst minutes of the game. So, he took a leap of faith and bet on his yers'' determination to maintain the lead until the final whistle sounded.

    -----

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle to restart the match after the substitutes had taken their positions on the pitch. Carlos Ba, Sevi''s center-forward, didn''t dawdle in the slightest. He immediately kicked the ball back into his midfield to restart the proceedings on the field of y.

    Ivan Rakiti?, Sevi''s captain and attacking midfielder, controlled the ball close to the border of the middle third. He then nced around briefly before flicking it towards his left to find Piotr Trochowski, the substitute attacking midfielder.

    But by then, Nicki Nielsen, the Rosenborg center-forward, had already closed down the Sevi midfielder. Thus, Piotr Trochowski could only choose to pass the ball backward to find Nicol¨¢s Pareja, the center-back.

    "Push forward," Coach Unai Emery yelled from the sidelines, pacing the entire length of Sevi''s technical area. "We need a goal right away. So, y with a bit of urgency. Carlos! Gameiro! You''re ying as two center-forwards. Push forward and apply pressure on their center-backs. And be ready to receive long balls and crosses from your teammates..."

    The words of Coach Unai Emery seemed to be quite effective. The Sevi yers soon raised their ying intensity and moved the ball from one end of the pitch to the other as they tried to stretch Rosenborg''s midfield and defense. And finally, during the 92nd minute, they found a rare opening to create a goal-scoring opportunity.

    Ivan Rakiti? received the ball close to the center circle. He escaped the harassment of Takumi Minamino before unleashing a through pass towards the nks to find Vitolo, the left-winger.

    Vitolo''s ball control was incredible. He chested the ball down to the green before feeding it past Karl Toko Ekambi and beating him for pace.

    But Ekambi didn''t give up and let the Sevi winger do as he pleased. He chased after Vitolo with all the speed he could muster before sliding in to steal the ball off the winger''s feet. His tackle was spot on, and he managed to shove the ball out of y before sending the opponent tumbling to the ground.

    "Ref! Foul!" Vitolo and a few more Sevi yers yelled at the top of their voices while ncing expectantly at the referee. However, the referee ignored theirints and motioned for a Sevi throw-in.

    "That was clearly a foul," Vitolo continuedining as he picked himself up from the green. "He caught me on my ankle."

    But the referee again turned a deaf ear to his appeals and motioned for the Sevi yers to quickly take the throw-in. Vitolo could only shake his head dejectedly before readying himself for the throw-in.

    Piotr Trochowski, Sevi''s substitute midfielder, soon took the throw-in. He nted his feet close to the touchline and threw the ball toward the middle to find St¨¦phane Mbia, Sevi''s defensive midfielder.

    St¨¦phane Mbia controlled the ball well before flicking it toward the far right to find Marko Marin, the substitute right-winger. Marko Marin went into action immediately and chested the ball to the ground. Without losing a second, he unleashed a killer cross towards the box before any Rosenborg yers could close him down.

    Finally, a chance for Sevi to score an equalizing goal had arrived with the cross. So, both Carlos Ba and Kevin Gameiro, the two strikers, went into action within the box. They leaped high to connect with the iing cross while battling the Rosenborg center-backs.

    But in the end, it was Carlos Ba, the starting forward, who got thestugh. The center-forward outjumped Eric Bailly and nted a header towards the goal from the edge of the box. However, his effortcked power, and in the end, it was easily saved by Daniel ?rlund, the Rosenborg keeper.

    -----

    "Only three minutes out of the six of added time remain to the final whistle," the voice of Peter Drury resounded across the stadium. "However, the Troll Kids, the underdogs from Norway, are still in the lead against Sevi by three goals to two. They are only moments away from achieving Europa League glory for the first time in history. Can they hold off Sevi for the remaining three minutes and win the trophy?"

    "Sevi is on the attack again," thementator continued. "Unai Emery and his men are digging in and doing everything possible to find that equalizing goal. Ivan Rakiti? is on the ball. He twists and turns and passes to Vitolo. Vitolo! Vitolo with the cross into the box. Oh! Rosenborg is in trouble..."

    At that moment, the tension was in the air as Kevin Gameiro, Sevi''s substitute center-forward, leaped up to connect with the cross at the edge of the box. He easily chested the ball backward¡ªtowards the approaching Ivan Rakiti?.

    Ivan Rakiti? was as sharp as ever in the final third. He met the ball with a first-time volley just a few yards outside the box. He hammered it with the top of his boot, sending it rocketing towards Rosenborg''s goal like a surface-to-surface missile.

    But once again, luck was on Rosenborg''s side, and the ball ran into an obstruction in the form of Eric Bailly. The young Ivorian defender threw himself in the ball''s path and deflected it out of y for a corner kick. His brilliant effort had saved Rosenborg from conceding the equalizing goal during the 94th minute.

    "Two minutes remain to the end of the added time," Peter Drury, thementator, said as the Sevi yers prepared to take the corner kick. "This might be thest chance for Sevi to score and bring proceedings back to level terms in this heated final. It is now or never, and all the Sevi yers are flooding into Rosenborg''s box, waiting to meet the corner ball. Can they bag ast-minute equalizer and push this game into extra time?"

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee''s whistle soon sounded as a signal for the Sevi yers to take the corner kick. Ivan Rakiti?, the Sevi captain, immediately unleashed a teasing cross from the corner spot towards the crowded box.

    The descending corner ball induced a chaotic wave of activities within the box as the yers from both teams struggled to outwit their opponents. Some even resorted to ying rough to gain an advantage before connecting with the corner ball.

    But at the end of it all, Daniel ?rlund, the Rosenborg keeper, came out on top. He leaped high and outjumped all the yers in the box before punching the ball away from his goal.

    "Oh my, my!" Peter Drury yelled in sync with the cheers and dejected sighs around the stadium. "What a phenomenal save by Daniel ?rlund! He has punched the ball to safety. What do we have here? Sevi is in trouble as Takumi Minamino intercepts the ball a few yards outside the box. It''s a chance for a counterattack, and Takumi Minamino brilliantly turns away from St¨¦phane Mbia. He finds Zachary Bemba with a pass to his right..."

    The cheers of the Rosenborg fans resounded around the stadium as Zachary connected with Takumi Minamino''s pass. He spun around with the ball glued to his left foot to execute a Marseille turn and escape away from Marko Marin. He then elerated to his top speed with the intent to race towards the other end of the pitch to advance the counterattack.

    But a momentter, Zachary felt a strong tug on his shirt and figured that one of the opponents was hell-bent on stopping him, even by relying on foul means. But since it was thest minute of gamey, he didn''t relent and struggled to continue moving forward. He yearned to help his team to create one more clear goal-scoring opportunity before the final whistle.

    Zachary''s mind went into overdrive mode as he toiled to escape from the harassment of the opponent. As usual, the Zinedine-Pirlo mental Juju bloomed in great splendor, and his vision of the pitch became crystal clear. Within an instant, he spotted a couple of his teammates, who had already rushed forward to support the counterattack.

    "Here goes nothing."

    Zachary exerted all his effort and kicked the ball towards the right nk as the opponent was in the process of pulling him to the ground. His only hope was for the referee to y an advantage. That way, his teammates would continue advancing the counterattack and possibly score since there weren''t any opponents barring their way forward.

    "Oh my!" Peter Drury yelled in sync with the cheers. "Federico Fazio, the Sevi center-back, has tackled Zachary to the ground. But Zachary didn''t give up and passed the ball towards the right nk to find Paul Kasongo. What is the referee''s decision? Will he award a free-kick for the foul? Oh no! The referee has signaled for an advantage y, and the counterattack is still on. It''s Paul Kasongo on the ball. He has yards of space ahead of him. Kasongo..."

    Kasongo sprinted towards Sevi''s goal like a Ferrari on a form one race track. His short strides quickly ate up the yards of space ¡ª and before long; he stepped into the final third. He quickly approached the keeper, who''de out of goal to meet him.

    Kasongo immediately chose to y it safe instead of going head to head with the fast-approaching keeper. He slowed down slightly before passing the ball to his left to find Nicki Nielsen, who''d been running in sync with him.

    Another clear goal-scoring opportunity for Rosenborg presented itself as Nicki connected with Kasongo''s pass at the edge of Sevi''s box. Without losing a moment, the center-forward smashed the ball into the back of the empty to score Rosenborg''s 4th goal for the night. He had added a final nail in Sevi''s coffin and cemented Rosenborg''s advantage during thest minute of added time.

 Chapter 398 Champions

    Chapter 398 Champions¡¡¡¡-----

    Sevi FC 2 : Rosenborg BK 4

    -----

    "Surely, surely, this is it," Peter Drury, thementator, yelled at the top of his lungs as Nicki Nielsen ran towards the corner g to celebrate Rosenborg''s 4th goal. Not even the booming cheers around the stadium could drown out his mellifluous voice. "What a deadly counter! Right at the end, right on the wire, just thirty seconds shy of the 96th minute, the Troll Kids have extended their lead against Sevi. This time, Nicki Nielsen, the center-forward, was the one to deliver. Another deadly attack initiated by the one and only Zachary Bemba has seen Nicki score Rosenborg''s 4th goal for the night."

    "It''s now Rosenborg Ballklub four and Sevi FC two," thementator continued. "It''s a fairy tale ending, and the Norwegian giants are about to make it into the history books. They are flying and on their way to winning the Europa League trophy tonight. No one can stop them, not even the two-time Europa League champions - Sevi. What a night for the Norwegian giants!"

    In the stands, Kristin''s smiled as her ears took in the ramblings of thementator. But a momentter, she couldn''t contain her emotions and couldn''t stop her eyes from moistening. She was overflowing with happiness while watching the Rosenborg yers celebrating the goal.

    "Zachary has outdone himself tonight," Emily yelled and hugged her. "We''re winning the trophy. We''re winning..." Her words came out incoherently, in short bursts. It seemed that she also couldn''t control her vtile emotions.

    "Yes, we''re going home with the trophy!" Kristin nodded, hugging her back. "I can''t believe I have lived to see the day Rosenborg takes a Europa League trophy. Oh, my God. I hope this is not a dream."

    "This is not a dream," Emily said, patting her back. "We''re leading Sevi by four goals to two during thest minute of added time. The opponent won''t be able to make aeback, even if the goddess of luck descends."

    Kristin chuckled and released Emily from her embrace. The loud chants and cheers of the Rosenborg fans continued flooding her auditory senses, causing her mood to soar into the night skies. She smiled as she returned her attention to the proceedings on the field of y.

    The Rosenborg yers had just finished celebrating the goal. Their faces were all smiles as they took up their starting positions on the pitch. They were ready to restart the game and defend their two-goal lead during the final moments before the final whistle sounded.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally blew the whistle after a few more seconds. Carlos Ba, Sevi''s center-forward, immediately kicked off the game again by passing the ball back into his midfield. The game was underway, and before long, team Sevi was again on the offensive.

    Ivan Rakiti?, Sevi''s captain and attacking midfielder, received the ball close to the center circle. He skillfully skipped past the seemingly exhausted Takumi Minamino before continuing his sprint towards Rosenborg''s defensive third. When the passing angle opened up, he flicked the ball to his left to find Piotr Trochowski, his counterpart in attacking midfield.

    Maybe because it was the final minute, Piotr Trochowski seemed impatient to produce results. After receiving the ball, he dribbled it forward for a few yards before releasing a long shot towards Rosenborg''s goal.

    However, since he was about fifty-five yards from goal, his effort didn''t produce any results. His shot was way-wide off-target, and he could only let out a helpless sigh as he watched the ball zooming towards the stands behind the goal.

    "Rosenborg! *FWEEEEEEE* Rosenborg..."

    The cheers of the Rosenborg fans rose to another level as Daniel ?rlund, Rosenborg''s keeper, picked up the ball from the ball boy. The keeper smiled and jogged back into the pitch before positioning the ball at the edge of the penalty box. He was preparing to take the goal kick, and hopefully, it would be thest kick of the final.

    At that moment, a loud chorus of whistling resounded across the stadium. The Rosenborg fans were obviously pressurizing the referee to end the match by imitating the sound of the whistle. And that time around, the referee didn''t disappoint the supporters. He blew the final whistle to signal the end of the match right after Daniel ?rlund took the goal kick.

    "The match has ended," Peter Drury, thementator, yelled like a madman, his voice resounding over the loud chorus of cheers around the stadium. "Once again, Rosenborg BK, the Troll Kids, the underdogs from Norway, have bested another highly-experienced European club. They have defeated Sevi FC, the two-time Europa League champions, in tonight''s Europa League final by four goals to two. It''s surely a fairy tale ending, and the Europa League trophy is on its way to Norway for the first time in history."

    -----

    On the pitch, Zachary was on cloud nine. His thoughts were a jumbled mess for a few seconds as his ears took in the thunderous cheers around the stadium. He stood transfixed in one ce as happiness glowed inside him like noon sunshine in summer. Then, his spirits bounded higher, and he felt like everything around him was surreal. It was as if he was experiencing a very wonderful dream.

    "We''re champions!" Mikael Dorsin yelled as he sprinted forward and gave him a bear hug. "We''re freakin'' bloody champions! We''re taking the Europa League trophy to Trondheim. Thanks for the hard work throughout the tournament, Zachary." The left-back patted his back.

    "Yes, we''re bloody champions," Zachary yelled in response. "And thank you too for the hard work, Mikael. Oh, my god! I feel like my head is going to explode with happiness. We''re Europa League champions. If I''m dreaming, please don''t wake me up."

    "You''re quite theedian." Mikael chuckled and released him.

    By then, more teammates, including Nicki Nielsen, Thomas Partey, Eric Bailly, Takumi Minamino, Yerry Mina, Kasongo, Karl Toko Ekambi, Tore Reginiussen, and the substitutes, had also arrived at their position. A delightful atmosphere surrounded the team, and the yers wasted no time hugging and congratting each other upon winning the Europa League. Some even cried tears of joy since they could hardly rein in their emotions after winning the final.

    Soon, Coach Johansen also joined the celebrations. He moved around gantly like a king and hugged each of his yers. But surprisingly, his eyes were a bit moist. The often-strict coach had obviously turned emotional after leading his team to win that year''s Europa League trophy. But he seemed not to mind his outward bearing as he immersed himself in the festivities with his yers.

    "Guys!" Tore Reginiussen, the Rosenborg captain, said after a few more minutes. "Let''s move around and thank our fans. They were amazing and energetic while cheering for us during today''s final."

    "True. Let''s go."

    All the yers agreed and started running around the pitch to pay homage to the traveling Rosenborg supporters. Some even picked Rosenborg gs from who knows where and waved them around.

    In response, the Rosenborg fans cheered like madmen and madwomen, and soon, their voices joined together into a booming chorus that shook the stadium. Some even cried, othersughed, while others danced with reckless abandon. Their excitement levels had obviously long bordered on the verge of insanity. But they were not to me. Their team had won the Europa League trophy for the first time in history. And as a plus, their team had finallypleted a treble for the past season. So, they couldn''t give a shit about who was watching. They just celebrated Rosenborg''s victory like there wasn''t a tomorrow.

    ****

    Even though it was already a few minutes past midnight, excited voices could still be heard within one of the lounges of the post-surgery rehabilitation center at the University Hospital Zurich. The employees and patients in the room had been rooting for Rosenborg to win the Europa League final. That was because a grandson of one of the patients was ying for Rosenborg. So, when the final whistle sounded, they all jumped up for joy and celebrated Rosenborg''s victory. They danced and jubted without any care for anything around them.

    "Oh my God! Zachary has won a trophy! My grandson has won a trophy. Praise be to God." An aged woman among the room''s upants mumbled to herself in Swahili. Even though she was still recovering from a surgical wound, with arge bandage around her head, she appeared quite energetic at that moment. She was obviously very excited as she followed the proceedings on therge screen in front of the room.

    "Congrattions, Mrs. Bemba," a young woman said and patted her shoulder. Even though she was European, she spoke fluent Swahili. She was Mia - a professional nurse and caregiver taking care of her. "Your grandson is now a champion," she continued. "A European Champion who has faced off against teams like Juventus and came out on top! Oh my God!"

    "Indeed, little Zachary has achieved an incredible feat," Marie Bemba, Zachary''s aunt, remarked with a smile. "At just neen years, he has already won the Europa League. My brother should be smiling as he looks down from heaven."

    "You''re right, Marie," Zachary''s grandma said. "Samuel should be smiling andughing as he looks down at Zachary''s brilliance from heaven. He should be very proud of his son."

    Zachary''s grandma smiled as a great sense of contentment overwhelmed her entire being. She felt like she had finally lived a fruitful and long life after witnessing her grandson''s sess in his football career. She no longer had to worry about him as he could look after himself.

    "Mrs. Bemba," Mia, the nurse, suddenly said. "Since the game is over, you should return to your room and rest for the night. Remember: You have to undergo some check-ups tomorrow."

    "Just give me a few more minutes," Zachary''s grandma said. "Let me watch my grandson lift the trophy first. After that, I''ll immediately go to bed."

    "Okay," Mia mumbled.

    ****

 Chapter 399 Post-Match Analysis and Trophy Ceremony

    Chapter 399 Post-Match Analysis and Trophy Ceremony¡¡¡¡Emilia Vasquez, the experienced and beautiful ESPN presenter, was on duty for the Europa League finals that night. She smiled at the cameras in the studio and said, "What a match we''ve had on our hands tonight. Rosenborg Ballklub has just defeated Sevi by four goals to two in tonight''s dramatic final. The Norwegian giants are this year''s Europa League champions. As we wait for the organizers and officials to finish setting up the podium for the trophy presentation, let''s hear from our pundits. Let''s hear about their take on the just-concluded final."

    "Guys!" She turned towards Ole Gunnar Solskj?r and Juninho Pernambucano, the two ex-professional footballers who were the in-studio pundits for the game. "What are your thoughts?"

    Ole Gunnar Solskj?r smiled as the cameras focused on him. "I think Trondheim is a very fitting home for the Europa League trophy this year," he said. "With the way the Rosenborg yers yed during this Europa League campaign, they deserve the trophy. They deserve all the glory thates with winning tonight''s final. On their way to the finals, they defeated Red Bull Salzburg, Standard Li¨¨ge, Fiorentina, Juventus, Lyon, and Benfica, among other teams. All these are very experienced clubs on the European stage, with big annual budgets and many skilled yers and coaches. However, all that didn''t matter to the Rosenborg yers. They gave more than a hundred percent in all the matches and bested one opponent after the other. They have now won the final and are about to go home with the Europa League trophy."

    "You''re right, Ole," Juninho chimed in. "Rosenborg''s drive to win during this campaign has been phenomenal. Then, there''s Zachary Bemba, the young midfielder who''s always working miracles on the pitch. Defeating Rosenborg with him on the squad is a tall order. Additionally, their squad exudes a sense of togetherness. They never say never, and to a certain extent, their whole squad reminds me of the 1994/95 Ajax team that won the Champions League. They are a team that doesn''t appear strong on paper, but when you face off against them, you''ll find yourself two goals behind in a matter of minutes."

    "Let''s look at the final today," Emilia Vasquez said as the cameras focused on her. "The match was filled with a lot of ups and downs. Wasn''t it?"

    "True," Ole concurred. "As usual, Zachary worked his magic early in the first half to set up Tobias for Rosenborg''s opening goal. But during the same half, Sevi responded, and Carlos Ba scored twice within a ten-minute window to put Sevi ahead. Then Zachary rose to the asion and scored that beautiful free-kick."

    "Indeed, it was a beautiful free-kick," Juninho agreed. "It was text-book perfect and well-ced. Zachary''s technique left no chance for the keeper to make a save."

    "But that wasn''t the end of his brilliance," Ole continued. "During the 87th minute, he raced all the way back to his goal and made two timely goal-line interceptions. Zachary saved Rosenborg from conceding a third goal but didn''t stop at that. He then initiated a counter before running from one end of the pitch to the other to score the third goal for Rosenborg. For me, this was the defining moment of the final."

    "That''s true," Juninho remarked. "If Zachary hadn''t made that timely defensive interception to stop Sevi from scoring, his team wouldn''t have won the final. I was even more impressed by his determination when he countered immediately to score Rosenborg''s third goal. Let''s also not forget about the fourth goal. He initiated a counterattack that led to the fourth goal while resisting a foul. His pass easily found Kasongo, and the rest is history. In my book, he has really done a lot for the Rosenborg team, and he''s the undisputed best yer of the tournament."

    "True that," Ole agreed readily. "Zachary has scored twenty-three goals and provided five assists during this tournament. He has broken the all-time goal-scoring record for a single Europa League tournament. If he isn''t the best yer, then who is?"

    Emilia Vasquez chuckled. "After winning the Europa League trophy tonight, Rosenborg has alsopleted a season treble. They won the Norwegian Cup and domestic leaguest year in December. And now, they''re Europa League champions after beating Sevi in tonight''s final. In all the tournaments they have yed sincest year, Zachary''s brilliance has been a crucial factor that has continued to drive their sess."

    "Yes, that''s correct," Ole said. "Zachary was the top scorer in both the domestic league and Cupen. His goals have helped Rosenborg ovee many opponents sincest year. And let''s also not forget his performance in the Europa League against European giants like Juventus, Lyon, and now Sevi. I don''t care what anyone says, but this young man deserves this year''s Golden Boy award. He also deserves to be on the FIFA best yer award list. At least, he should be within the top fifteen."

    Juninho chuckled. "There''s still the World Cuping up in June," he said. "There might be young yers, like Raheem Sterling, Ousmane Dembele, and others, who might rise to the asion and perform well during the World Cup. They could even overtake Zachary''s rating on the FIFA best yer list since he won''t be participating in the World Cup. Remember: The tournament has a big sway on the yer rankings."

    "I highly doubt the possibility," Ole said, shaking his head. "Zachary''s performance this season has been otherworldly. I don''t think any other young yer can outperform him during the World Cup. It''s not possible."

    "Let''s end the debate here for a moment," Emilia Vasquez chipped in with a chuckle. "Thank you guys for your analysis. But first, let''s return our focus to the proceedings on the pitch. The organizers have finished setting up the podium, and the trophy ceremony has just begun. At the moment, they are about to present the golden boot to Zachary Bemba. Our dear viewers! Stay tuned as we take you back to the Juventus Stadium ¡ª the venue of the Europa League final."

    -----

    "Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer''s voice resounded across the stadium. "This young man has been incredible throughout the entire Europa League season. His 23 goals for Rosenborg make him the indisputable top scorer of the tournament. Ladies and gentlemen! Let''s put our hands together for this season''s Europa League Golden Boot winner - Zachary Bemba."

    The cheers around the stadium hit another thunderous peak as Zachary marched toward the podium. There was a slight swagger in his step as he immersed himself in the joy of winning another individual de. But that didn''t hinder his actions in any way. He stepped forward and received the shiny Golden Boot from the ambassador for the final. After that, Zachary posed for a few photos with his award before rejoining his excited teammates.

    The proceedings moved forward quite quickly, and soon, the Sevi yers stepped forward to receive their runners-up medals. They allcked energy and enthusiasm as they ascended the podium. Losing that night''s Europa League final had obviously hit them hard.

    Zachary watched them out of the corner of his eye. He didn''t feel guilty about changing history and stealing a trophy that could have been theirs in another lifetime. He was too excited and overwhelmed by a sense of contentment to bother with such unwarranted feelings.

    Moreover, he understood that he had to step over both strong and weak opponents to achieve glory. So, he had long prepared himself to rob many more trophies and des from their would-be-owners of his previous life. With the system in hand, he was sure he could achieve the feat.

    "Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer''s voice resounded again. "Please put your hands together for the champions of the Europa League as they step forward to receive their medals."

    "Finally," Zachary mumbled as he followed his teammates up the podium. The line moved forward quickly, and before long, he stood before the ambassador for the Europa League final. He shook hands with the gentleman and received his medal before joining his teammates on one side of the podiums.

    By then, the Rosenborg fans around the stadium were already cheering like mad. They continued singing and vocalizing the popr Rosenborg chants as the yers received the medals, one after the other. And finally, their voices hit a crescendo when the crucial moment of the trophy presentation ceremony arrived.

    Tore Reginiussen, the Rosenborg captain, stepped forward and received the Europa League trophy from the ambassador for the final. He immediately raised it with both hands to send the stadium into a wave of excited frenzy.

    It was a historic moment, and all eyes and cameras were on the Rosenborg captain. However, Tore didn''t allow all the attention to create any blemish on his bearing as a captain. He quickly returned to his teammates and presented the trophy to them as the cheers of the Rosenborg fans continued resounding across the stadium. What followed was an unforgettable night of euphoria and jubtion.

    ****  ****

 Chapter 400 Jubilation and Mission Completion

    Chapter 400 Jubtion and Mission Completion¡¡¡¡The following day, the Rosenborg delegation, including the yers, coaches, and medical personnel, returned triumphantly to Trondheim with the Europa League trophy. Their flight was without issues, and their ne touched down at the runway of V?rnes Airport at 1:00 PM.

    Everything was smooth sailing from there on. The yers followed their coaches and descended the airstair before heading towards the airport''s arrivals section. Under the guidance of the dedicated airport staff, they quickly went through all the necessary procedures before heading towards the airport''s exit.

    "Zachary!" Suddenly, Tore Reginiussen, the captain, called out. "Do you wish to hold the trophy as we head out of the airport to face our fans?"

    "Nope," Zachary replied with a smile. "I already posed for many pictures with the trophyst night. So, I''m good."

    "Captain!" Eric Bailly hurriedly interjected as he nced left and right. "If you''re already tired, I can hold the trophy in your ce. As you know, I''m a strong man. I never get tired."

    "I can also help..." A few more yers in the delegation offered. They were eager to hold on to the trophy as they exited the airport.

    "Silence!" The voice of Coach Johansen resounded and silenced the yers. "You should all be content as you all had fun with the trophyst night. Now, it''s time for the captain to perform his duties as we prepare to face the fans waiting for us outside the airport. Let Tore keep holding the trophy."

    "What a mean coach!" Some of the yers jested and snickered. But there wasn''t any trace of discontent in their bearing. Instead, their faces were all smiles, and they couldn''t conceal the exultant atmosphere around them. They were obviously still relishing the joy of winning the Europa League final the previous night.

    -----

    At that time, many fans in Rosenborg''s ck and white colors had assembled outside the airport. Be it the young kids, the teenagers, the middle-aged, or the elderly ¡ª they all seemed not to mind the burning afternoon sun rays while waiting eagerly for their heroes to arrive.

    "They are here! They''ve finally arrived!"

    An excited cry suddenly resounded across the ce. Like a spark, it ignited the crowd, causing all the fans to start cheering at the top of their voices. Before long, the voices harmonized into one of the popr Rosenborg chants as the yers began marching out of the airport gates.

    "Come this way! This way!"

    The police worked with airport security to keep the fans at bay and direct the yers and coaches through the crowd. The officers were strict. They didn''t even allow Zachary and his teammates to sign autographs or to pose for photographs with the fans. They imed that such deeds would cause chaos and disorganize airport security.

    "The trophy is here!"

    "Oh my God! The Europa League trophy is here in Trondheim for the first time in history."

    "Am I dreaming..."

    Suddenly, shrill screams filled with excitement shook the ce as Tore Reginiussen stepped out of the airport''s gates. A Cheshire cat''s grin outlined the captain''s face as he slowly raised the trophy with both arms.

    The action itself was like a fuse of a bomb. It caused an explosion, setting off waves of euphoria. As a result, some passionate supporters cried while othersughed as they experienced rare eruptions of bliss. They were that excited to see the trophy arrive in Trondheim for the first time in history.

    Meanwhile, the journalists, who''d taken up strategic positions around the ce, were like tireless worker ants as they took pictures. Their cameras continuously let out clicking noises as they all struggled to capture Rosenborg''s glorious moment of returning to Trondheim with the trophy.

    Among the men and women of the press was v Brusveen, the TV2 Sporten reporter who''d followed Zachary''s career for more than a year. He was filled with mixed emotions as he observed the proceedings.

    "I never expected to witness such a moment during my lifetime," he said and sighed. "A Europa League trophy in Trondheim! Moreover, it''s the first Europa League trophy in Norway. The Rosenborg yers have brought pride to our nation''s footballingmunity."

    "Yes, indeed," Ingrid Solberg, his assistant, said. "This is a glorious moment for us Norwegians in history. At least one of our teams has finally won a major trophy on the European stage. We can hold our heads high from now on."

    "I''m sorry to interrupt your emotional moment, guys," their cameramen said. "But if you don''t act immediately, the Rosenborg team will depart before we interview Zachary."

    "Oh!" v said and pivoted his gaze towards the bus in the distance. He immediately noticed that some Rosenborg yers, including Zachary, Takumi, and Nicki, had already lined up to enter the bus.

    "It seems we won''t get a chance to interview Zachary today," Ingrid remarked from beside v.

    v sighed and nodded. "You''re right," he said. "Airport security is strict today. They aren''t allowing even journalists to get close to the yers. It is such a letdown."

    "What shall we do?" Ingrid asked. "The boss had instructed us to do everything possible to interview Zachary today. He will get pissed if we go back without results."

    "Don''t worry!" v said. "I''m an acquaintance of his agent. We can book an appointment to interview Zachary through her."

    "That may not be possible," Ingrid said. "From what I heard, all the Rosenborg yers are first going for a trophy parade around Trondheim. After that, they will present the Europa League trophy to their fans at Lerkendal before ending their day with a trophy banquet. Due to such a busy schedule, we might still not get a chance to interview Zachary even through his agent."

    "No worries," v said in a cating tone. "I''m hopeful that we''ll get a chance eventually. If not, we canplete the task tomorrow. But for now, let''s continue following the team. They are about to set off for the trophy parade."

    "Okay, let''s go." His colleagues readily agreed.

    -----

    That evening, the trophy parade was a great sess. Under the fire of the setting sun, thousands of Rosenborg fans lined the streets of Trondheim City to wee home their team and celebrate their Europa League victory. The enthusiastic supporters cheered at the top of their voices as the team bus slowly made its way to Lerkendal Stadium under the escort of a local police convoy. Some fans even climbed on top of houses to witness the glory of the Rosenborg yers atop the bus.

    The trophy parade ended at 7:00 PM, and the team bus headed to Lerkendal Stadium, Rosenborg''s home ground, where the yers officially presented the Europa League trophy to their enthusiastic fans. The following proceedings were smooth, and the ceremony ended with speeches from the captain and Coach Johansen.

    The Rosenborg yers then ended their hectic day by attending a trophy banquet before returning to their respective homes for the night. At longst, their busy day after winning the Europa League final had ended, and they could finally enjoy a night of rest, hopefully without any disturbances.

    -----

    Zachary only managed to return to his apartmentte at 11:00 PM. He hadn''t gotten much rest since the previous day before the final. Thus, he felt as if he''d just yed an intensive match, and his only wish was to jump into bed and enter slumbernd as soon as possible.

    "DING"

    Suddenly, the all-familiar system notification rang in his mind as he stepped into his living room. It roused him back to full attention, causing all the feelings of exhaustion to fade away from his mind. His eyes flickered with a trace of anticipation, and he hurriedly switched on the light to brighten up the living room.

    "Congrattions to the user forpleting the 2013/14 Europa League Serial Challenge mission," the system AI''s apathetic voice sounded at that moment. "The user can check out the missionpletion details and respective rewards on the interface."

    Zachary smiled as his hopes soared. He settled down on one of the sofas before summoning the system interface. Without further ado, he started to peruse the contents of the missionpletion message.

    ****

    #5 new messages

    -----

    CONGRATULATIONS

    ->You havepleted the system mission (2013/14 Europa League Serial Challenge).

    -----

    ->Mission Summary

    *Milestone 1: y over 80% of the fixtures in the 2013/14 Europa League tournament for Rosenborg (Completed; Rating A; Rewarded 2,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 2: Help Rosenborg qualify for the round of sixteen of the 2013/14 Europa League tournament (Completed by helping Rosenborg defeat Fiorentina during the round of thirty-two stage; Rating A; Rewarded 5,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 3: Help Rosenborg qualify for the quarter-finals of the 2013/14 Europa League tournament (Completed by helping Rosenborg defeat Juventus during the round of sixteen stage; Rating S+; Rewarded 30,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 4: Help Rosenborg qualify for the semi-finals of the 2013/14 Europa League tournament (Completed by helping Rosenborg defeat Olympique Lyon during the quarter-final; Rating S+; Rewarded 50,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 5: Help Rosenborg qualify for the 2013/14 Europa League final (Completed by helping Rosenborg defeat Benfica during the semi-final; Rating A; Rewarded 100,000 Juju Points).

    *Milestone 6: Help Rosenborg be the champions of the 2013/14 Europa League Tournament (Completed by helping Rosenborg defeat Sevi FC during the final; Rating S+; Rewarded a dosage of S-grade vitality enhancing elixir).

    *Milestone 7: Provide the most assists in the 2013/14 Europa League tournament while ying for Rosenborg (Tied with two others at the top position with five assists; Completed with Rating A; Rewarded 20,000 Juju-points).

    *Milestone 8: Be the top scorer of the 2013/14 Europa League Tournament while ying for Rosenborg (Top scorer with 23 goals in the tournament; Completed with S+ rating; Rewarded 40,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 9: Be the Best yer of the 2013/14 Europa League Tournament while ying for Rosenborg (By far the best yer ording to system statisticalputations. Completion with Rating S+; Rewarded a dosage of S-grade mental conditioning elixir).

    -----

    Missionpleted almost with perfection

    Overall Mission Rating: S+

    -----

    ->Mission Rewards

    1) A total of 247,000 Juju-points

    2) An S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir

    3) An S-grade mental conditioning elixir

    -----

    ->Bonus Rewards

    You have earned 20,000 Bonus Juju points.

    -----

    ****

 Chapter 401 System Upgrade and Resolutions

    Chapter 401 System Upgrade and Resolutions¡¡¡¡Zachary''s eyes glittered with excitement after he finished perusing the contents of the missionpletion message. After a year of toiling, he''d finallypleted the 2013/14 Europe League Serial Challenge. He''d even perfectly realized all the milestones of the mission and, as a result, earned ample rewards. As such, not even his extreme state of exhaustion could lower the sense of contentment he felt at that moment.

    The rewards forpleting the mission included a staggering sum of 267,000 Juju points, an S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir, and an S-grade mental-conditioning elixir. They were enough to raise Zachary''s fitness and footballing skills by a significant margin within a month or two. They were sufficient to turn him into an almighty ball wizard before his transfer out of Rosenborg.

    Zachary still yearned to improve his skills. He hadn''t let his one sessful season over-inte his ego. He knew himself well, and at best, he was close to the level of great midfielders like Kaka, Andr¨¦s Iniesta, and Bastian Schweinsteiger at their peaks. And probably, his attacking prowess could even match the 22-year-old Kylian Mbapp¨¦ of his previous life. But that was as far as his skills could take him on the list of the world''s best yers.

    Thus, Zachary knew he still had ways to go before reaching the top. He wasn''t about to startparing himself to phenomenal generational talents like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho Ga¨²cho, Zinedine Zidane, Maradona, or other all-time great yers usually mentioned in the G.O.A.T debate. He wouldn''t delude himself that he''d stepped into the ranks of the best yers in the world just because of a single sessful season. That would be a big mistake and oversight on his side.

    He understood that most professional footballers would have periods when they performed like monsters on the pitch and yed spectacr football. Then, after a period of time, they would lose their incredible form and start putting up slightly mediocre performances.

    For instance, Paul Pogba had been on-form in Juventus during Zachary''s previous life, but his skills declined after he went to Manchester United. Michael Owen was also the same. At a young age, before he''d clocked 24 years, the English and then Liverpool striker was a true-blue footballing demon on the pitch. Owen was the nightmare for all the defenders in the Premier League at the time and won the golden boot several times. He even won the Ballon d''Or at the young age of twenty-two. Butter in his career, his form dwindled, and he started ying like any other standard yer. That was the unpredictable nature of football careers.

    With all those examples in mind, Zachary had warned himself to remain modest despite his sess. He had to stay down to earth and maintain his immense hunger to improve his football skills. Only then would he have a long and sessful career. And only then would he have the qualifications to challenge the phenomenal talents at the top of the footballing world.

    "First things first," Zachary thought, leaning back into the sofa, "Let''s upgrade the system before thinking about other things."

    Zachary had already amassed almost thrice the amount of Juju points required to upgrade the system. So, without further ado, he navigated to the system''s home menu before clicking on the upgrade button, disyed in the top left corner of the near-transparent system interface.

    "DING"

    The all-familiar system notification sound resounded within his mind right after his finger made contact with the crystal-like disy.

    "The user has chosen to upgrade the system," the system AI''s apathetic voice immediately followed. "To proceed with the upgrade, the system will have to deduct 100,000 Juju points from the user''s stock. Additionally, the system will shut down for eight hours during the upgrade process. The user will not be able to use any of the system''s functions until the eight hours pse."

    "Does the user still wish to proceed with the upgrade? Please click on the ''ept'' or the ''reject'' buttons to confirm your choice."

    Zachary didn''t waste any second making his choice. He leaned forward and tapped the ''ept'' upgrade button that had just floated to the front of all the system interface''s contents.

    "DING"

    A new system notification resounded in his mind the next instant.

    "SYSTEM ALERT!!"

    "The user has confirmed an immediate upgrade of the system," the AI intoned. "The system will immediately deduct 100,000 Juju points from the user''s current stock to upgrade the system from level-4 to level-5. The user can check further details on the system interface."

    Zachary had already focused all his eyes on the crystal-like disy as the notifications resounded within his mind. He could already see that the system hadmenced the upgrade process by looking at the shing messages on the screen.

    ****

    "SYSTEM ALERT!!"

    -----

    SYSTEM UPGRADE INITIALIZING

    -----

    SYNCING AND SAVING USER DATA

    -----

    LOADING NEW PACKAGES

    -----

    UPGRADE PROCESS COMMENCING IN 5, 4,3,2,1, & 0...

    -----

    ****  ****

    The translucent crystal-like disy trembled slightly as the countdown reached zero. It then shimmered for a moment before dimming and fading into thin air.

    "It''s already 11:30 PM," Zachary thought, ncing at his wall clock on the opposite wall. "That means the system willplete the upgrade at around 7:30 AM. It should already be back online by the time I wake up."

    A soft smile outlined Zachary''s face as he rose from the sofa. He took a quick shower and brushed his teeth before jumping into bed. A few minutester, he became oblivious to everything else around him and entered the sweet and rxing slumbend.

    His sleep was peaceful, and he woke up when the rays of the morning sun had already brightened up his entire bedroom. He stretched out his arm and picked up his phone from his bedside table. He then nced at the screen and realized it was already nine in the morning. He''d slept for more than nine hours.

    Zachary immediately jumped out of bed. He was soon in autopilot mode, washing his face, having breakfast, brushing his teeth, going through his morning yoga routine to boost his post-match recovery, and then taking a shower. After all that, he finally settled on one of thefy chairs in his living room before summoning the system interface with a mentalmand.

    "DING"

    The system notification sound immediately rang within his mind. Before Zachary could even blink, the space before him shimmered slightly as the familiar crystal-like disy manifested within his vision. He leaned back into the sofa gracefully before starting to peruse through the system notifications.

    ****

    #SYSTEM ALERT!!

    -----

    ->System upgraded sessfully.

    -----

    NEW PACKAGES LOADED

    -----

    LEVEL-5 VERSION OF SOCCER G.O.A.T USER INTERFACE SUCCESSFULLY INITIALIZED

    -----

    NOW LOADING AND SYNCING USER DATA

    -----

    ****

    "DING"

    "The system has finalized the upgrade process," the system AI''s voice sounded in Zachary''s mind. "The system is now at level-5. For details, the user can check the system interface."

    "Excellent."

    Zachary''s eyes glittered, full of excitement. He rubbed his hands together and immediately navigated to the system''s home menu. Without further ado, he started perusing the contents on the screen.

    ****

    SOCCER G.O.A.T SYSTEM

    SYSTEM LEVEL: 5 (181,110/1,000,000 Juju points to level up)

    USER: Zachary Bemba

    AGE: 19 years

    TALENT ASSESSMENT: Grade-S

    JUJU-POINTS: 181,110

    (Evaluation: A promising and sensational young professional yer on his way to greatness)

    ----

    USER MENU

    *USER STATS

    *G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    *SYSTEM SHOP (2 new messages)

    *SYSTEM LOTTERY

    *SNOOPING TOOL

    *TRAINING TOOLS

    ----

    NB: Please level up the system to unlock more functions.

    ****

    Zachary''s eyes narrowed when he noticed that the amount of Juju points needed for the next system upgrade had reached a staggering one million. The sum was multiple times the number of all Juju points he''d amassed since his academy days. If he didn''t win major trophies and perform like a monster on the pitch over the next few seasons, he would take forever to raise such a sum of Juju points. It was really a crazy number.

    But Zachary wasn''t all that worried about the next system upgrade. That was because the more his skills grew, the less he needed to rely on the system. For instance, his desire to learn new skills from the system after upgrades had lessened after his talent broke into the S-grading. With his already incredible fitness, he could already master most of the skills as long as he devoted ample time to them.

    Additionally, he already had enough skills in his repertoire to give the best yers in the world a run for their money. He could side-step, pass like a maestro, shoot and finish like a box assassin, and even convert free-kicks. As long as he improved his fitness to match the level of a yer like Cristiano Ronaldo, he believed that the skills he''d already mastered would push him into the ranks of the best yers in a generation. Then, he would only need to improve his game intelligence to evolve into a terrifying nightmare for all his opponents on the field of y.

    "What matters most for me now are the system''s elixirs," Zachary mused. "As long as I utilize the vitality-enhancing elixirs to raise my fitness to the above S-grade level, I''ll be almost unstoppable. Then, I can evolve all my skills into my own unique style of y as I grow as a yer."

    A sharp glint passed through Zachary''s eyes as he anticipated his future path. His increased abilities were already pushing him into thepetitive world of the best yers on the. He was no longer satisfied with only learning the skills of other great yers. Instead, he yearned to improve himself and create his own unique footballing style epassing all his skills. And he really believed that he could achieve the feat with the help of the elixirs from the system.

    "But first things first," Zachary deliberated. "I should learn a heading skill and master defensive ys like N''Golo Kante''s sliding tackles. Only then will I have no weakness as a yer when I start creating and improving my unique style of y."

    After making the resolution, Zachary immediately acted on it. He navigated to the system shop sub-menu to examine the avable new skills after the upgrade.

 Chapter 402 Learning New Skills

    Chapter 402 Learning New Skills¡¡¡¡Zachary watched with a calm heart as the contents of the interface shimmered and morphed into the system shop menu. Then with another flicker of the translucent crystal-like disy, eight glittering skill cards appeared and floated forward before hovering in front of everything else on the interface.

    "Oh my! These are some crazy skills."

    Zachary couldn''t contain his surprise when he set his sights on the images of various famous footballers depicted on the skill cards. Without losing any second, he started perusing through the details of the skills that had just appeared on the system interface.

    ****

    1) CR7 Aerial Finishing Juju: For positioning and heading uracy within and outside the box. Requires at least S- grade Body Control to master the skill. [Costs 4,000 Juju points]

    -----

    2) Box-Vampire Suarez: The true art of positioning, skipping past opponents, and deadly finishing within the box. You''ll be able to draw blood every time your opponents growx within the box. Requires at least S- grade Body Control and S- grade Agility to master the skill. [Costs 4,000 Juju points]

    -----

    3) Box-Assassin Lewandowski: Most of the time, no one can stop you when you receive the ball within the box. Requires at least S- grade Body Control and S- grade Agility attributes to master the skill. [Costs 4,000 Juju points]

    -----

    4) Rocket-Launcher Steven Gerrard: Immacte positioning and deadly shooting outside the 18-yard box. The keepers will fear you when you receive the ball in the final third. Requires at least S- grade Body Control, S- grade Agility, and S- grade Strength attributes to master the skill.

    -----

    5) Alien Dribble-Magic Messi: Ultimate dribbling and effective breakthrough defenses. Allows you a base 95% chance of executing sessful dribbles during one-on-one encounters and a 70% chance of breaking through packed defenses with two to four yers barring your way. Increases the chance of avoiding tackles by 65%. Reduces the risk of injury while dribbling past even the most-menacing defenders by at least 75%. Requires at least SS grade Body Control, S grade game intelligence, and SS grade Agility to master the skill. [Costs 400,000 Juju points]

    -----

    6) Step-Over and Feint Kingly Magic Ronaldinho: Ultimate dribbling and breakthrough defenses using side-steps and body feints. Allows you a base 97% chance of executing sessful dribbles during one-on-one encounters and a 50% chance of breaking through packed defenses with two to four yers barring your way. Increases the chance of avoiding tackles by 70%. Reduces the risk of injury while dribbling past even the most-menacing defenders by at least 65%. Requires at least SS grade Body Control, S grade game intelligence, and SS grade Agility to master the skill. [Costs 400,000 Juju points]

    -----

    7) Imprable Bastion Paolo Maldini: Ultimate defending and tackling. Allows you a base 60% chance of executing sessful defensive ys, including sliding tackles, during one-on-one encounters. Increases the chance of winning aerial duels by 60%. Reduces the risk of injury while executing risky defensive ys by 50%. Requires at least S grade Body Control, SS grade game intelligence, S grade Stamina, S grade Strength, and S grade Agility to master the skill. [Costs 400,000 Juju points]

    -----

    8) Midfield King Michel tini: Ultimate control, efficiency, and creativity within the midfield. Increases base passing uracy by 30%, enhances spatial awareness during critical moments by 50%, and raises shooting uracy outside the box by 20%. Boosts aerial and ground duel ability within the midfield by 50% and reduces the risk of attracting yellow and red cards after executing risky defensive ys in midfield by 50%. Requires at least S grade Body Control, SS grade game intelligence, S grade Stamina, S grade Strength, and S grade Agility to master the skill. [Costs 400,000 Juju points]

    -----

    NB: The user can only learn a maximum of two skills before the next system upgrade. The user can upgrade the system to obtain more opportunities to learn more skills.

    ****

    "These new skills are really incredible."

    Zachary couldn''t help but have mixed feelings after perusing the skill details. Before the system upgrade, he''d assumed that the skills from the system would no longer have any marked impact on his career path. But after learning about the functions of the four new skills that had just appeared in the system shop, he changed his mind immediately.

    The four new skills were incredible enough to enhance the skills of any football yer by a significant margin. For instance, Messi''s alien dribble-magic and Ronaldinho''s step-over-and-feint kingly magic were dream skills that could enhance Zachary''s already potent ball handling and versatility on the pitch. By learning any of the two skills, he could improve his dribbling and make it more effective while also gaining the ability to avoid tackles and injuries on the pitch. He would instantly be unstoppable and turn into a terrifying ball wizard, feared by all defenders in the world. That was the potency of the new skills in the system shop.

    "But the number of Juju points and the other requirements to learn the new skills are just too much," Zachary thought as he perused the skill details again.

    The cost of learning any of the four skills that had just appeared in the system shop was a staggering 400,000 Juju points. Additionally, he had to elevate some of his attributes, including game intelligence and agility, to the above-S grade to meet the fitness requirements for learning the new skills. That was a tall order as far as Zachary was concerned.

    "There''s no hope of learning the four new skills in the near future," Zachary determined as he leaned back into the sofa. "I''ll need to y well and amass arge sum of Juju points before I can learn even a single skill. Simply frustrating!"

    Zachary narrowed his eyes as he made a few simple inferences within his mind. By his estimates, he would only umte the needed Juju points to purchase any of the skills after winning at least two trophies, almost on the level of the Europa League. But even then, he would still not have met the fitness conditions, especially the SS grade game intelligence, required to learn any of the skills.

    "I need to remain patient," Zachary resolved. "I need to take one step at a time and continue developing myself as a yer. I''ll meet the requirements at one point if I persist and continue performing well on the pitch. As for now, I guess I can only choose to learn the heading and outside-the-box shooting skills to enhance my abilities as soon as possible."

    Zachary''s eyes flickered with fierce determination as he set his sights on the first and fourth skill cards hovering before everything else on the system interface. His heading ability, especially in front of the goal, had always been his weakness. On that day, he was finally determined to rectify that weakness and abolish it from his person by learning the CR7 Aerial Finishing Juju.

    Additionally, Zachary had decided to learn the Rocket-Launcher Steven Gerrard skill to augment his shooting ability from outside the box. As long as hebined the new skill with his already terrifying arrow shot, he believed that he would turn into the ultimate nightmare for all goalkeepers who would face off against him in the future. He would be able to unleash horrifying missiles of shots towards the goal from anywhere within the final third.

    "Let''s do this."

    Zachary took in a deep breath to calm himself down. He then extended his forefinger and tapped the ''purchase'' button below the first skill card on the translucent crystal-like disy.

    "DING"

    The system notification sound reverberated in his mind as soon as his finger made contact with the glowing screen. Then, on cue, the seven other skill cards shimmered slightly before fading away from the interface. Only the card depicting the image of Cristiano Ronaldo heading the ball continued hovering in front of everything else on the crystal-like disy. It soon floated forward and expanded to fill up the entire screen.

    "The user has chosen to purchase the CR7 Aerial Finishing Juju," the AI''s apathetic voice rang in Zachary''s mind after a moment. "The system will have to deduct 4,000 Juju points from the user''s stock after confirmation of the purchase. Does the user still wish to purchase CR7 Aerial Finishing Juju?"

    "Yes," Zachary replied immediately. "Please confirm the purchase."

    "Command confirmed..." the AI intoned.

    "Checking skill requirements before confirming purchase..."

    "The user possesses S-grade body control, which meets the basic requirements for learning the skill."

    "DING"

    "Congrattions. The system has now confirmed the skill purchase from the system shop. The system requests permission tomence the necessary quantum mental conditioning to help the user achieve initial mastery of the skill."

    "Proceed with the mental conditioning," Zachary said and braced himself. He''d already gone through the procedure more than twice. He wasn''t worried that anything would go wrong.

    "Loading required data and packages for the CR7 Aerial Finishing Juju..." the AI intoned after a moment. "The system willmence the quantum mental conditioning procedure in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and 0."

    When the countdown reached zero, the system started transmitting the associated CR7 Aerial Finishing Juju data into Zachary''s brain. He momentarily experienced a splitting headache as diverse visions and memories of himself heading the ball on various asions drilled into his mind. They soon became a part of him, making him feel like he was a veteran and master of finishing with headers for a few seconds. But a whileter, the sensation faded as the mental conditioning process gradually ended.

    "Sweet."

    Zachary was on cloud nine as he''d just achieved initial mastery for the CR7 Aerial Finishing Juju. He''d finally taken the first step to learning a heading skill that would increase his versatility on the field of y to a great extent. Zachary would only need minimal effort and practice on the training pitch and within the G.O.A.T Skills simtor to totally make it his own. Then, he would have another sure-fire scoring ability in his arsenal.

    "Let''s continue," Zachary decided before returning his focus to the interface. Since he''d already met the requirements for learning the Rocket-Launcher Steven Gerrard skill, he followed the same procedure and purchased it from the system shop. He soon went through the all-familiar mental conditioning procedure before achieving initial mastery in the outside-of-the-box shooting skill.

 Chapter 403 Missile Launcher in Hand

    Chapter 403 Missile Launcher in Hand¡¡¡¡"System," Zachary called out in his mind after going through the mental conditioning procedure to learn Steven Gerrard''s Rocket-Launcher skill. "Bring up my current GOAT Skills data on the interface."

    "DING"

    "Command received," the system AI responded immediately. "The user''s G.O.A.T Skills dataing up on the interface right away."

    "Excellent." Zachary rubbed his hands together in anticipation. Without further ado, he focused his eyes on the contents of the translucent crystal-like disy before him.

    ****

    ->G.O.A.T Skills: 11

    (i) ZINEDINE-PIRLO MENTAL JUJU

    [1st-level: Progress: 100%]

    -----

    (ii) ZACHARY-ARROW-SHOT

    [Progress: 1st level mastered beyond 100%pletion]

    -----

    (iii) BEND-IT LIKE BECKHAM JUJU

    [Progress: 100%, Mastered beyond 100%pletion]

    -----

    (iv) CRUYFF-TURN

    [Progress: 100%, Mastered beyond 100%pletion]

    -----

    (v) RONALDINHO ELASTICO DRIBBLE

    [Progress: 100%, Mastered beyond 100%pletion]

    -----

    (vi) DEAD-BALL SPECIALIST JUJU (Quasi-Passive skill

    [Progress: 100%, Mastered beyond 100%pletion]

    -----

    (vii) MARSEILLE TURN

    [Progress: 100%, Mastered beyond 100%pletion]

    -----

    (viii) ROBINHO STEP-OVER JUJU

    [Progress: 100%, Mastered beyond 100%pletion]

    -----

    (ix) ZINEDINE TOUCH MAGIC

    [Progress: 100%, Mastered beyond 100%pletion]

    -----

    (x) CR7 AERIAL FINISHING JUJU

    [Progress: 10%, Initial mastery achieved]

    -----

    (xi) ROCKET-LAUNCHER STEVEN GERRARD

    [Progress: 10%, Initial mastery achieved]

    -----

    ****

    "DING!"

    The system notification resounded within Zachary''s mind as he was still perusing through the skills.

    "The system has detected that the Zachary-Arrow-Shot and Rocket-Launcher Steven Gerrard skills match in usability and learning requirements," the AI''s voice soon followed. "The system can help the user merge them into one at the cost of 2500 Juju points."

    "Does the user wish to merge the two skills?"

    "Yes, of course," Zachary readily agreed. "Proceed with the merging of the two skills."

    He had learned Steven Gerrard''s Rocket-Launcher skill in order to enhance his outside-of-the-box shooting ability. And the best way to achieve that was by merging the new technique into his already potent arrow shot.

    Afterbining the two skills, he would have more versatility when unleashing long shots towards the goal. Be it curling shots, knuckleballs, or straight missiles ¡ª he would be able tounch them all from anywhere within the final third.

    "User''smand received," the AI intoned after a moment. "The system has deducted 2500 Juju points from the user''s stock. Merging of the Zachary-Arrow-Shot and Rocket-Launcher Steven Gerrard skillsmencing in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and 0."

    When the countdown reached the zero mark, an explosion went off within Zachary''s mind. His thoughts turned into one jumbled mess as he experienced a splitting headache. For the next few seconds, it was as if someone was slicing his brain into pieces, and he gradually lost his senses. Fortunately, the abnormal state didn''tst long, and he regained his regr faculties after a short while. He breathed in deeply to calm himself down as he listened to the system''s notifications.

    "Zachary-Arrow-Shot and Rocket-Launcher Steven Gerrard skill mergingplete," the system AI intoned. "The user can go ahead and name the new skill."

    "Just name it Zachary-Missile-Launcher," he replied.

    "Command received," the AI said.

    "Naming the new skill as Zachary-Missile-Launcher."

    "DING"

    "Skill data now updated within the system."

    No sooner had the system notification resounded in Zachary''s mind than the contents of the interface experienced changes. The number of G.O.A.T skills on the list reduced from eleven to ten as the Zachary-Arrow-Shot and Rocket-Launcher Steven Gerrard skills faded from the panel. In their ce was a single skill, which was the Zachary-Missile-Launcher. It was already at the 80% mastery mark.

    "This is great."

    Zachary was delighted by the results. He only had to train the skill on a daily basis for less than a month, and he would achieve 100% mastery. He would then make the skill his own and use it inpetitive matches without facing any challenges.

    "I''m really looking forward to the future."

    Zachary smiled as he turned his focus away from the skill list. He navigated through the system menu until he reached the gift pack page showing his most-recent rewards from the system. They included a dosage of the S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir and another of an S-grade mental-conditioning elixir. They were his prizes forpleting the 2013/14 Europa League serial mission.

    On ncing at the list of the rewards, Zachary could hardly contain his excitement. His heart was already racing with anticipation as the two elixirs were the perfect cheats to enhance his abilities in the shortest time possible. As long as he consumed them, his attributes, including game intelligence and physical fitness, would rise to incredible levels. Then, he would be able to amaze the world right after transferring out of Rosenborg and joining another team.

    "Should I consume them right away?" Zachary mused. "No. I can''t consume the vitality-enhancing elixir now as it will negatively affect my match fitness. But the mental-conditioning elixir is another story..."

    Zachary had already consumed the A-graded version of the vitality-enhancing elixir and understood its side effects well. As long as he ingested it, all his fitness attributes, including his bnce and coordination, agility, strength, and stamina, would experience marked improvements. But in the short run, such rapid and almost instantaneous progress would destabilize his skill mastery and cause him to experience a dip in form. As a result, he would start putting up mediocre performances in Rosenborg''s next few matches and then lose his halo as a world-ss young talent. Then, what would follow would be a depreciation of his value on the transfer market as big teams like Juventus lost interest in acquiring his services.

    Zachary, of course, couldn''t allow such a scenario to transpire. He had already resolved not to consume the elixirs unless they had no immediate side effects on his short-term match fitness. He would wait until his schedule opened up ¡ª when he didn''t have to ypetitive football for about a month before ingesting the elixirs.

    "System," Zachary mumbled, leaning back into the sofa. "What are the side effects of the mental-conditioning elixir? Will it negatively affect my fitness and skills in the short run after consuming it?"

    "DING"

    "Consuming the mental-conditioning elixir will not affect the user''s match fitness and ball skills in a negative way," the AI replied. "Instead, it will boost the user''s mental capabilities and allow the user a higher mastery over his body and capabilities. As such, it will allow the user to experience an all-round development of football capabilities without any negative side effects."

    "Excellent," Zachary said as a soft smile outlined his face. If the mental conditioning elixir had no side effects, he would consume it first. As for the vitality-enhancing potion, he would keep it forter when he had the time to undergo targeted training to handle its adverse influence on his fitness.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    Zachary''s phone started vibrating on a nearby table when he was nning to consume the elixir. He extended his arm and picked it up before ncing at the screen. The next moment, his eyes flickered with a trace of excitement when he realized that the call was from Emily, his agent.

    "Hello, Emily," he said after pressing the ept button and cing the phone against his ear. "How''s your morning?"

    "My morning is fine, Zachary," Emily replied from the other end of the line. "But first things first: Let me start by congratting you upon winning the Europa League. And also, congrattions upon winning the Europa League golden boot."

    "Thank you," Zachary replied, his heart brimming with pride. "The final against Sevi wasn''t easy. But luck was on our side, and we managed to beat them."

    Emily chuckled. "I see you''re as modest as ever. But honestly, how do you feel after winning the Europa League?"

    Zacharyughed. "I feel great. I feel like I''m on top of the world. Every time I close my eyes, I keep on picturing various moments of the final before visualizing myself holding the Europa League trophy. It''s the best feeling in the world."

    "That''s good to hear," Emily said. "I''m really happy for you. Let''s hope you''ll have more trophy moments that will light up your world in the future."

    "That''s also my wish," Zachary said. "And I really feel like I''ll have more of such incredible moments if I continue working hard both on and off the pitch."

    "You surely will," Emily agreed. "Anyways: Now that the Europa League is over, it''s time to put most of our ns into motion. First, we need to submit an official request to the Rosenborg management, showing your intent to transfer out of the club. It should officially notify the club to start listening to offers from other clubs during the uing transfer window. What are your thoughts on this, Zachary?"

    "I''m with you on this issue," Zachary replied. "I also wish toplete my transfer as soon as possible. That way, I''ll be able to say my goodbyes to Rosenborg early enough and rest for a month or two before joining my new club. So, you can go ahead and submit the request immediately. But make sure that the Rosenborg management understands that I would like to be the one that chooses the club where I''ll be going. I don''t want them to force me to go to an undesirable club just because they wish to make some extra profit."

    "Great proposition," Emily said from the other end of the line. "I''ll submit the request to management today. If all goes well, Rosenborg should start official talks with the clubs interested in your services as early as next week."

    "Excellent," Zachary said. "I really hope that this transfer business concludes quickly. I can then focus on honing my skills and preparing for the new season in my new club in a new city, wherever that will be."

    "Don''t worry," Emily said from the other end of the line. "We already have offers from many clubs. Among those, your first choice destinations - Tottenham and Juventus have already tabled money that Rosenborg can''t refuse. It''s now only a matter of handling a few more negotiations and agreeing on personal terms with either club before sealing the deal. So, you can evenplete your transfer before the World Cup in June."

    "That would be for the best," Zachary said. "I really hope that everything works out quickly. By the way, how far with my grandma''s Schengen identity card?"

    "Oh," Emily said. "I almost forgot about that. The ID is already out. I''ll pick it up tomorrow."

    "That''s great then," Zachary said. "My grandma is undergoing herst check-ups this week. With the valid Schengen ID, I can easily move her to any city I''ll be heading to afterpleting my transfer out of Rosenborg."

    -----

 Chapter 404 Once Again Consuming an Elixir

    Chapter 404 Once Again Consuming an Elixir¡¡¡¡After ending the call with Emily, Zachary stood up from the sofa and stretched a bit to loosen his stiff muscles. He then moved around his apartment and locked all the windows and doors. Then, he switched off all his electronic appliances before returning to his bedroom andtching the door behind him.

    The morning sunlight pouring through the big window on the opposite wall lit up his face as he settled on his bed. He blinked to adjust to the lighting in the room and summoned the system interface. And vo, the familiar crystal-like disy materialized before him with a slight shimmer the next moment.

    "System," he called out in his mind while ncing at the interface. "I would like to consume the S-graded mental-conditioning elixir right away."

    "DING"

    "Command received," the system AI replied. "Confirming... The user has a single dose of an S-graded mental-conditioning elixir stored in the system inventory. The user can select the respective cards in the inventory to summon the elixirs."

    "But," the AI continued, "The user must not dy consuming the elixir by more than five seconds after its removal from the system inventory. Otherwise, its effects will disappear after it spends more time out of the inventory."

    "Noted," Zachary said and nced at the card that had just floated forward and upied the entire crystal-like disy before him. Depicted on it was an image of a small apple with the words "S-grade Vitality-Enhancing Elixir" inscribed below it. It exuded a lustrous glow as it slowly spun around in its fixed position in the middle of the glittering card.

    "Let''s do this," Zachary mumbled as if to himself. He acted immediately and clicked on the image of the apple on the card.

    "POP!"

    With a slight popping sound, the card exploded into glittering particles as a tiny apple, the size of a small lollipop, materialized from the crystal-like disy. It appeared before Zachary and slowly dropped into his outstretched hand.

    He didn''t dare waste time as he had only a five-second window before the expiry of the elixir''s effects. He wolfed it down in a single bite without bothering to savor its taste. Then, hey back on his bed and braced himself for the immediate effects of ingesting the elixir about to assault his body.

    A few seconds passed, and he slowly started to feel light-headed. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, an explosion went off in his head, causing prickling sensations to assault his brain. He tossed and turned on the bed as his eyes moistened and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. He slowly lost his core senses of hearing, taste, sight, and smell as the immense difort within his mind grew to unbearable levels.

    Just then, as the mental torture reached its peak, his body''s instinct to protect itself kicked in. He shivered and trembled before cking out and bing oblivious to everything around him.

    ****  ****

    Emily worked with all the haste she could muster after ending her call with Zachary. Within thefort of her hotel room, she quickly started drafting an official letter addressed to Rosenborg''s management.

    In the letter, she briefly stated that her client, Zachary, would like to exit the club and move on to greener pastures during the uing transfer window. She requested the club management to listen to offers from big clubs, especially Tottenham and Juventus, in as few words as possible. Then, she ended the letter by thanking management for taking good care of her client during his tenure at Rosenborg before signing her name as Zachary''s agent.

    Thirty minutester, after printing three copies of the letter and sealing them in three envelopes, she boarded a taxi to Lerkendal. She arrived at around eleven and immediately headed to Coach Johansen''s office. On arriving at his door, she paused in her footsteps before knocking slightly.

    "Come in," a deep voice sounded from behind the door.

    After hearing the voice, Emily inhaled a long breath of air and smoothed out the invisible wrinkles on her suit. Then, she pushed the office door ajar before stepping into Coach Johansen''s spacious office.

    "Emily!" Coach Johansen eximed, ncing up from his desk. "Wee. It''s a pleasure to have you here in my office." He rose from his chair and extended his hand from across the desk.

    "Thank you," Emily said, taking his hand for a firm handshake. "How''s your morning, coach?"

    "My morning is as great as it could be," Coach Johansen replied, releasing her hand. "Please have a seat."

    "Thank you," Emily said and settled on one of the chairs in front of the coach''s L-shaped office desk.

    "So," Coach Johansen said after sinking back into his office chair, "To what do I owe the pleasure of having you in my office today morning?"

    Emily smiled and fished a sealed envelope out of her handbag. She ced it on Coach Johansen''s table and said, "I''m here to submit this."

    "What is this?" Coach Johansen asked. He narrowed his eyes as he picked up the envelope.

    "It''s an official request asking the club management to allow my client, Zachary, to transfer out of Rosenborg during the next transfer window," she said, trying her best to maintain a professional tone. "You can read the letter for details."

    "Oh!" Coach Johansen''s eyes widened, but only for a moment. "Is the requesting from Zachary himself?"

    "Yes." Emily nodded.

    Coach Johansen sighed and leaned back into his seat. "This day has finally arrived." He tore apart the seal of the envelope and started reading the letter.

    Emily waited a few seconds before saying, "Coach! You have been Zachary''s coach and mentor since his academy days. That''s why I''m informing you first about his decision before submitting the transfer request to Rosenborg''s legal office."

    "Oh! I see." Coach Johansen nodded and kept on reading the letter.

    "Will you support his transfer request when it is tabled before management?" Emily asked, not minding the coach''s off-handed attitude.

    The coach finally looked up from the letter and locked eyes with Emily. "Of course, I will," he answered matter-of-factly. "As you said, I''ve been Zachary''s coach from his academy days. So, as his first mentor, I really wish for him to seed. I really hope that he joins a suitable club, where he''ll continue performing well both on and off the pitch."

    "Then, I''m d," Emily said as a professional smile outlined her face. "Honestly speaking, Zachary''s skills are already world-ss. As a result, he has already caught the eyes of the top clubs in Europe. So, it''s in the best interest of Rosenborg to sell him at this point in time."

    "You don''t have to convince me," Coach Johansen said. "I know that moving to a new club is the right move for Zachary at this moment. He''ll be able to quickly grow as a yer by constantly facing off against stronger opponents in bigger leagues."

 Chapter 405 Emily, the Woman of Action

    Chapter 405 Emily, the Woman of Action¡¡¡¡"I thank you for your understanding, Coach," Emily said, standing up from her seat. "I have to go now and submit a copy of the letter to the legal office. Thank you for your time."

    "Just a moment," Coach Johansen said. "What are Zachary''s intentions? Where does he want to go after leaving Rosenborg?"

    "His first choice is Tottenham," Emily immediately replied, as she didn''t need to conceal such information. "As for his second choice, he is considering Juventus."

    Coach Johansen narrowed his eyes. "I understand his second choice. Juventus will provide a suitable environment for him to grow over the next few seasons, especially with all the word-ss stars on the squad. But why is his first choice destination Tottenham? Why not any other big club in Europe?"

    Emily shrugged. "Maybe, he''s confident in himself to help Tottenham start winning titles. Remember: He has already done so for Rosenborg and helped the team win the Europa League."

    "I get his reasoning," Coach Johansen said, sighing. "But I still hope you can advise him against a move to Tottenham. Of course, I know that Zachary is a phenomenal yer. I know he can even help a weak club achieve an impossible dream, like winning the Europa League. But why give himself such a difficult task if there''s another better option? Why not join a bigger club where he''ll be sure to win trophies season in, season out? Do you get my reasoning, Emily?"

    "I do," Emily said, nodding. "I''ll pass on your message to him. Or better, you can call him and talk to him yourself. I''m sure he will consider your advice."

    "Then, I''ll do just that and call himter today," Coach Johansen said. "And about the transfer request, you don''t have to worry. Management is very open to selling Zachary to any other party outside Norway at the right price. So, be rest assured that there won''t be anyone at the top blocking your request."

    "That''s good to know." Emily smiled, nodding. "Thank you for the info. I have to go now and submit the other letter. Have a good day, coach, and thank you again for your time."

    "You''re wee," Coach Johansen said, smiling. "I wish you the best in your endeavors to process Zachary''s transfer to a new club. Have a good day too."

    -----

    After leaving Coach Johansen''s office at Lerkendal, Emily quickly headed to Rosenborg''s offices in Brakka and submitted a copy of the transfer request to the legal department. She then took a taxi back to her hotel before picking up her key from the reception and returning to her room.

    A thoughtful expression outlined her face as she sat on a chair in front of the reading table on one side of her room. She was considering her next moves to aid Zachary''s smooth transfer out of Rosenborg.

    "Going by Coach Johansen''s hint," she mused, "The management has alreadye to terms with the fact that a small club, like Rosenborg, can''t keep a yer at Zachary''s level. They are ready to sell for the right price. But I can''t leave anything to chance, especially since Zachary wants this transfer processed as soon as possible. I have to take extra measures to ensure that Rosenborg starts considering offers from interested parties in the shortest time possible."

    Emily''s eyes flickered with a trace of resolve as she picked up her phone. She quickly searched for the number belonging to v Brusveen, the TV2 Sporten reporter, before dialing it.

    "Hello, my dear Emily," an enthusiastic voice sounded from the other end of the line when the call connected. "You''ve finally remembered to return my call. What a pleasant surprise!"

    "Cut the drama, v," Emily said. "Let''s get down to business. I have a good scoop for you. It''s insider info that you can''t get from anywhere else at the moment."

    "A piece of insider news!" v''s tone immediately turned professional. "Let me guess. It''s about Zachary."

    "Bingo!" Emily said, intending to sound sarcastic. "Brilliant! You''ve managed to make an almost impossible guess. Now, do you want the info or not?"

    "First things first," v responded, "What is the price for this piece of news? Will it put me in trouble?"

    "The info is legit," Emily said impatiently. "And, of course, you don''t have to pay anything for it. Take it as a favor from a friend."

    "I see," v''s voice sounded from the phone speaker. "For a moment, I was scared that you might want me to pay for the info with my body. Imagine my surprise."

    "v!" Emily''s voice rose an octave or two as she spoke into the phone.

    "Okay, okay! Sorry, that was just a joke. Go ahead. I''m all ears now."

    Emily inhaled deeply and said, "You didn''t hear this from me. But you can be sure that Zachary''s party submitted an official transfer request to Rosenborg''s management today morning. How you use this information is up to you. But make sure you don''t mention that it came from me. Otherwise, you''ll never get another scoop from me."

    "I understand," v said, his voice sounding totally professional. "You don''t have to worry about me causing trouble for you. I''ll say that the info was from a reliable source close to Rosenborg."

    "Great," Emily said. "You can do what you have to do with the info. I''m hanging up now."

    "Wait," v hurriedly said. "What about my request to exclusively interview Zachary? When can I interview him?"

    "That''s not up to me to decide," Emily replied. "I will first discuss with Zachary about the notion. If he agrees, you can conduct the interview before the end of the week."

    "Okay, thank you," v said. "I''ll be eagerly waiting for a positive response from Zachary. Have a good day and thanks for the scoop."

    "You''re wee, and have a good day too," Emily intoned and ended the call.

    She leaned back into her seat and exhaled a breath of relief as she''d finally crossed another task off her schedule. She was sure that the pressure on Rosenborg''s management would increase after some credible news outlets published articles about Zachary''s official transfer request. Then, the club''s agents would be forced to act with haste when listening to offers from other parties.

    "I should also send a message to the representatives of both Tottenham and Juventus concerning the transfer request," she decided after a moment of deliberation. "That should further quicken the transfer process."

    Emily was a woman of action. She opened herptop and started drafting an email addressed to the relevant parties.

    ****  ****

 Chapter 406 Impressive Stats

    Chapter 406 Impressive Stats¡¡¡¡Zachary awoke after seemingly a long time. His brain slowly rebooted, and he could see, hear, and smell everything around him again. A wave of emotions flooded his entire being, and his eyes moistened as his senses gradually returned to him. For the first time in his two lives, he felt like he''d never truly realized how beautiful the world was.

    He felt much more alive as he pushed himself up from his bed and started walking around the bedroom. His senses were more acute than ever, and he felt like the world was a new ce, probably even a utopia.

    The sounds pouring into his ears were richer while all the things around him, be it the curtains, the furniture, the beddings, and the paintings, appeared to be more colorful than before. He could hardly believe his senses as even the sun rays streaming golden through the window were more lustrous than ever.

    "Is this the power of the system''s S-grade mental-conditioning elixir? Truly miraculous!"

    Zachary was amazed beyond words could describe. His mind had powered up after he''d consumed the S-grade mental-conditioning elixir, and he could tell that his thought process had be faster and crystal clear.

    In a split second, he recalled long-forgotten childhood memories from his previous life, and his sharp mind even reproduced many details from those recollections. He even had the time to ponder some of the math questions his high school teacher used to give him, and he felt he could solve them without expending much mental effort. He believed that he could quicklypute trigonometric, projectile mechanics, or geometry and vector problems as long as he had a pen and paper. His mind was that badass after consuming the S-grade mental-conditioning elixir.

    But that was not all. Zachary started going through a light exercising routine in his bedroom and immediately sensed that he had better control over his body. He could even perform moreplicated setbinations of fitness exercises without making any mistakes. With his mastery over his body, he would shine in great splendor if he were to switch professions and be a dancer. The upgrade of mental capabilities had really brought him a lot of unexpected bonuses.

    "This intelligence upgrade is really out of this world," Zachary thought, settling back on his bed. "It''ll even help me if I''m to study at a university or learn a newnguage in the future. But what excites me the most are the advantages the upgrade will add to my performance on the football field."

    Zachary was in high spirits. Contrary to what many might believe, intelligence was an essential attribute that could contribute to the sess of any footballer on the professional stage. Its development usually impacted severalplex factors in sports, such as problem-solving skills during crucial moments, the formation of cognitive skills (especially spatial awareness and visual acuteness), the ability to maintain focus andposure, social behavior, and interpersonal rtionships on any team. That was the power of intelligence in modern football.

    At its most basic level, the game intelligence attribute epassed a yer''s ability to make good decisions in a football match. Regardless of a yer''s speed or physical capabilities, the yers with the better instincts and higher IQs usually got a head start. It was a simple truth, and that was why the best yers in the world possessed extremely high game intelligence attributes. Their football IQs were exceptional, allowing their motor abilities to flourish on the field of y. They were not just great dribblers, passers, and shooters ¡ª but extraordinary geniuses with a frightening ability to make superior and immacte decisions at a moment''s notice. And that was what set them apart from other simrly physically fit yers on the professional stage. That was what made them one-in-a-billion talents on the highlypetitive football scene.

    "Phew"

    Zachary exhaled to calm his vtile emotions. His eyes flickered with a sense of anticipation, and he decided to summon the system interface.

    "System," he called out mentally. "Bring up my current stats on the interface."

    "DING"

    "Command received," the system AI replied immediately. "User-stats dataing up on the interface."

    With that said, the crystal-like disy shimmered slightly before showing his primary attribute data.

    ****

    *USER STATS

    ->Physical Fitness: S-

    ->Ser Technique: S+

    ->Game Intelligence: S-

    ->Mental Ability and Mindset: S+

    ->X-Factors: S+

    ->G.O.A.T Skills: 10

    ****

    "This is great!"

    Zachary could hardly contain his excitement. His game intelligence and mental ability stats had experienced significant changes and rose all the way to the ranks of S-grading. They had turned from his worst to be some of his best attributes in less than a day.

    "System," hemanded. "Show me the breakdown of all my attributes."

    "Command received," the AI intoned. "Breakdown of attribute dataing up on the screen immediately."

    "Excellent."

    Zachary immediately focused on the information disyed on the translucent crystal-like disy.

    ****

    *USER STATS (Breakdown)

    -----

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: S-)

    Bnce and Coordination: S-

    Agility: S-

    Strength: S-

    Stamina: S-

    Endurance Points: 17,500/18,000 (S-)

    ----

    ->Ser Technique: (Av. Rating: S+)

    Ball Control: S+

    Dribbling Skills: S-

    Passing uracy: S+

    Body Control: S-

    ----

    ->Game Intelligence: (Av. Rating: S-)

    Spatial Awareness: S+

    Tactical Knowledge: A+

    Risk Assessment: S+

    ----

    ->Mental Ability and Mindset: (Av. Rating: S+)

    Ser Passion: S+

    Composure and Mental Strength: S+

    Coachability: A+

    Self-Motivation: S+

    ----

    ->X-Factor (Av. Rating: S+)

    Consistency Factor: S+

    Luck Factor: A+

    Supernormal Factor: S+

    Match Winning Factor: SS

    ----

    ****

    "I have finally reached this point," Zachary mumbled, his eyes glittering with excitement. A serene sense of contentment arose within him as he had finally managed to push all his stats into the ranks of the S-grading. After learning several skills, like the Zinedine touch magic and the Robinho step-over juju, and after consuming several system elixirs, he''d at longst joined the ranks of the heavy hitters in the football world.

    "I can''t be content yet," Zachary immediately resolved. "I have got to keep working hard to improve my attributes until I achieve the highest level humanly possible by the system standards."

    Zachary''s entire being was surging with anticipation. He looked forward to the day when his attributes were so high to the point that not even the most potent of the system''s elixirs could raise them any further. That would be the day he would turn into a terrifying monster ¡ª a demon feared by all his opponents on the football field.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    Zachary''s phone suddenly started vibrating from the bedside table. It forced him out of his dream-like state and brought him back to the present. Without further ado, he extended his arm and picked up the phone from the table before ncing at the screen.

 Chapter 407 A Bolt out of the Blue

    Chapter 407 A Bolt out of the Blue¡¡¡¡The next moment, Zachary''s eyes narrowed when he noticed that the iing call was from a number beginning with the country code +41. It was from Switzend and quite possibly from one of the people taking care of his grandma in Zurich.

    "Could my grandma''sst test results already be out? Or could there be a problem?"

    Various thoughts shed through Zachary''s mind as he pressed the ept button. He inhaled deeply and positioned the phone against his ear.

    "Hello, Zachary," a familiar voice, speaking fluent Swahili, sounded from the other end of the line. "This is Marie, your Aunt. I''m calling from the hospital in Zurich."

    "Yes, Aunt Marie," Zachary said. "Could grandma''s test results already be out?"

    "Not yet," Marie replied, sighing audibly. "There''s another problem with grandma. She copsed suddenly at around noon. Let me give the phone to Dr. Sanders. He''ll exin everything to you."

    A sickening pool of dread immediately formed in the pit of Zachary''s belly. He couldn''t stop his body from trembling as he ced the phone against his other ear.

    "Hello, Zachary," the familiar voice of Dr. Sander''s sounded from the phone speaker. "I''m sorry to be the bearer of the bad news..."

    "Just go ahead and tell me what''s wrong with my grandma," Zachary interrupted, sounding impatient.

    "Okay," the doctor said. "Your grandma copsed suddenly at around noon today. We immediately put her through a scan and noticed that her surgical wound had started experiencing some problems. Around the area in her brain where we removed the tumor, there has been increased neural cell death and some neural inmmation that has affected your grandma''s recovery."

    "The inmmation itself has led to the umtion of fluid in the nearby tissues, bringing about a condition we term as brain tissue edema," the doctor continued. "The swelling has also led to increased intracranial pressure ¡ª the condition that forced your grandma to copse and sink into aa. I know this is hard to take in. But please be assured that we''re doing everything possible to save your grandma''s life. She is already in the theatre, undergoing treatment as I speak now."

    "She''s even already in the theatre!" Zachary''s head was spinning. His heart squeezed in agony, and he asked, "Why wasn''t the problem with her surgical wound detected early? I left her in your rehabilitation center to prevent such issues from happening!"

    "Some things are out of our hands, Zachary," the doctor said in a cating tone. "Sometimes, the body misbehaves, especially if someone is far along in their old age. Your grandma seemed fine when we conducted a check-up a week ago. But unexpectedly, the surgical wound started misbehaving in thest few days. All we can do is react ordingly and try our best to save her life."

    "This is quite shocking to me." Zachary expelled a long breath of air out of his lungs before continuing. "So, she''s in the theater now?"

    "Yes," the doctor replied from the other end of the line.

    "How long will she be there?"

    "Three to five hours, depending on the magnitude of the problem."

    "Okay, doctor," Zachary said, ncing at the clock. It was already three in the afternoon. "Please do your best to save my grandma. I''ll also fly to Zurich right away to be with her before the end of the day."

    "Okay, I wish you a safe journey," the doctor replied. "On our end, we''ll also pull out all stops to save your grandma''s life."

    "Thank you."

    "You''re wee."

    -----

    After ending the call, Zachary started preparing for his trip to Zurich. He first dialed Coach Johansen''s number and informed him that he wouldn''t be attending training the following day due to an emergency situation with his grandma.

    After that, he called Cami, Emily, and a few other friends and told them about his circumstances. Then, he worked with all the haste he could muster to pack a few clothes, eat some lunch, and take a shower. After finishing everything, he exited his apartment before boarding a taxi to the airport.

    His heart raced with anxiety as he watched the buildings shing by the taxi''s window. He felt that the car wasn''t moving fast enough. But even then, he didn''t pressure the driver to speed up as he was well aware of the strict speeding regtions in Norway. He just hardened his resolve and closed his eyes as a way to ignore the slow passing of time.

    "Sir, we''re here," the driver said after what seemed like a year of driving.

    "Oh!" Zachary immediately opened his eyes. He quickly paid the driver before exiting the taxi and hurrying towards the airport''s entrance with his suitcase in tow.

    As usual, the airport officials at V?rnes were very efficient and good at their work. They helped him book an immediate flight, and thirty minutester, he was already seated in the business ss section of a ne and well on his way to Zurich.

    Five and half hourster, at around 10:30 PM, the ne touched down on the runway at Zurich airport. After it came to a halt, Zachary quickly followed the other passengers down the airstair as his heart burned with worry and apprehension.

    He went through the procedures at lightning-fast speed and picked up his luggage. He then ignored all the people requesting his autograph and quickly exited the airport before boarding a taxi to the hospital.

    The traffic was a bit light on the streets of Zurich thatte at night, and the taxi arrived at the hospital''s entrance twenty minutester. Zachary paid the fare before jumping out of the vehicle and jogging toward the waiting room of the neurosurgery operating theatre.

    His frequent visits to see his grandma had already allowed him to memorize the entire hospital''syout. So, he didn''t even need to ask for directions along the way. He arrived before the waiting room a few minutester and paused at the door. He then let out a breath to calm himself before pushing the door open and ncing inside the room.

    The situation in the room was not quite right, causing Zachary''s mood to sink into a whirlpool of desperation and anxiety. Dr. Sanders was exchanging words with Mia, the nurse in charge of his grandma. The two medics stood in a corner, conversing at a low volume as if they didn''t wish to disturb the other room upants. But what was odd was that the only other person in the room was the sobbing Aunt Marie. She had buried her head into her hands on a seat at another end.

    The whole atmosphere was gloomy and didn''t sit well with Zachary. He felt light-headed as he stepped into the room with his suitcase in tow.

    Dr. Sanders immediately noticed him. He ended his conversation with Mia and hurried toward him. "Zachary! You''re here. Come sit down before we talk." He tried leading him by the hand towards one of the seats by the door.

    Zachary resisted and remained standing in ce. His 6''4 foot physique towered over the doctor as he locked eyes with him. He narrowed his eyes and said, "Dr. Sanders! Please tell me straight. Is there anything wrong with my grandma? Did the operation not go well?" He asked, praying that his assumptions were wrong.

    "I''m so sorry, Zachary," Dr. Sanders replied, patting his back. "All the surgeons on duty tried their best to save your grandma. But while they were removing the umted fluid in her brain, she lost the battle for her life. She passed away at 6:48 PM this evening. I''m really sorry for your loss, Zachary..."

    Zachary could no longer hear anything else as he stepped back in a daze and knocked his suitcase over without even realizing it. He felt weak and dizzy as impactful waves of grief assaulted his entire being. It was as if the world was copsing around him, and he couldn''t stop his eyes from moistening.

    ****  ****

    END OF VOLUME THREE

    ****  ****

 Chapter 408 Two Months

    Chapter 408 Two Months¡¡¡¡**VOLUME 4: THE ALMIGHTY BALL WIZARD**

    ****  ****

    Tuesday, July 15, 2014.

    ****  ****

    It was another beautiful sunrise in Bukavu, DR Congo. Everything was in honeyed tones, endearing and soothing, as the ming orb rose from the horizon in the east. It ignited the sky, causing it to burst into a bright, passionate mix of morning scarlet and yellow.

    Then, slowly but steadily, a mild heat radiated around the atmosphere, wrapping Zachary in an invisible shawl of warmth. He squinted as an easy breeze picked up and caressed his face. His mind was at peace with the world as he went through a rxing yoga routine rmended by his therapist atop a mat in front of histe grandma''s farmhouse in Bukavu.

    "A few more will do for today," he thought while slowly taking in a lungful of air. He flexed his lower back and pushed his head upward to look into the distance. Then, he tilted his pelvis skyward like a "cow" in an unhurried way before exhaling deeply to force his abdomen inwards. Finally, he arched his spine and brought his head and pelvis back down like a "cat" toplete another repetition of the cat-cow yoga pose.

    But he didn''t just stop at that. He repeated the process and held the yoga pose a few more times as beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. He only ended his routine about a dozen minutester when all his muscle groups and mind had totally rxed.

    He stretched slightly before jumping up from the mat and looking around to appreciate the sights. But the next moment, the expanse of histe grandma''s farm in its full glory gave him shivers, causing him to recall some painful memories. His eyes zed over, and he couldn''t help but stare absentmindedly at the animals grazing in the distance.

    It had been a full two months since his grandma had passed away. Those two months were the cruelest and most nerve-racking he had ever had to go through in his new life.

    Two months prior, in the Zurich University Hospital''s waiting room, the news of his grandma''s passing had devastated him and caused him to wallow in absolute despair for a few hours. But with the help of friends and support from his always-dependable agent, Emily, he''d managed to stay sane and above the whirlpool of total self-destruction before slowlying to terms with the tragic incident.

    A day after learning of the unfortunate news, he''d regained a bit of his spirit and arranged transportation for his grandma''s body back to his ancestralnd in Bukavu. He had then sshed all the money he could to give her a memorable burial presided over by her favorite bishop in charge of the Catholic Cathedral in Bukavu. But even after that, he''d still felt like he hadn''t done enough for his grandma.

    As his grandson, he had felt inadequate and supposed he should do a bit more while sending off his grandma. So, he''d stayed in Bukavu, at histe grandma''s farm, to grieve and hopefully to learn to cope with the passing of the only person he''d regarded as his sole guardian in both his lives. It had been about two months since he made that decision, but he was still living a devil-may-care life at the farm.

    He had even put most of his ns, including the transfer out of Rosenborg, to a halt as he mourned the loss of the only caring parental figure he''d ever known. Fortunately, the recently concluded World Cup had forced most football club tournaments worldwide to a standstill. Even the Norwegian League, which usuallymenced in March and endedte in November, had been on pause due to the most prestigious footballpetition between countries. Thus, his spontaneous two-month vacation in Bukavu didn''t cause any breach of the terms of his contract with Rosenborg.

    If he could return to Norway and begin attending Rosenborg''s training within the week, he wouldn''t face any penalties from the club. And that was a relief as far as he was concerned.

    "Since the world cup final is over," Zachary thought, "I better get my shit together and return to Europe within the week. I must force myself to cope with the sorrow and continue on with my life. I must not blunder and mess up my football career. Otherwise, grandma will be disappointed while watching over me from heaven."

    Zachary''s eyes flickered with steely resolve. He slowly rolled up his yoga mat before turning around and starting off on the short trek toward the main house.

    With all the money constantly pouring in from his sessful football career, he had already built a big bungalow in ce of the shanty excuses of dwellings he had lived in during his previous life. There were no more huts or grass thatched shacks ¡ª but a modern and elegant five-roomed house in the center of his grandma''s farm.

    Additionally, after concluding his grandma''s burial two months ago, he''d even hired masons to build a tall perimeter wall surrounding the entire expanse of the farm to keep away encroachers and thieves. Then, after the wall was up, he''d hired three armed guards, a trained maid, and an experienced shamba boy to look after the ce.

    As for his rtives, like Aunt Marie and Uncle Joseph, he''d enticed them to surrender their ims to the property. After offering them a few ten dozen million Congolese Francs, they had relinquished all their rights to his grandma''s farm and dered him the sole owner. In the end, he''d spent more than the actual market value of thend, but he still didn''t mind. His heart was at ease after acquiring the proof of ownership of thend that held the most sentimental value in the world to him.

    "Ka-chunk-creeeeeeak!"

    The door creaked as Zachary entered the house and stepped into the living room. He tossed his yoga mat in the corner by the door before marching towards the kitchen.

    "Boss!"

    A young Africandy standing over the sink eximed when Zachary stepped into the kitchen. Her figure, wrapped by a knee-length floral dress, was alluring, and her bearing refined. Her backside was a feast for the eyes, round and plump ¡ª and leading into a pair of long shapely legs. She was beautiful by any standards, and she was the trained maid Zachary had hired to take care of the house.

    "Good morning, Davina!" Zachary greeted in French, nodding at her. He wasn''t enticed by her gorgeous willowy body and pretty face. "How''re you holding up? Any challenges yet?"

    "Good morning, boss!" Davina responded, also in French, as her eyes glittered with excitement. "Everything is moving on well, and I''m settling in well. I haven''t faced any challenges yet."

    "That''s good to hear," Zachary said, picking up a sealed water bottle from the fridge. "Keep working hard. I expect you to take good care of this house, even while I''m away."

    "Don''t worry, boss," she responded reassuringly. "I''ll do exactly that. You can trust me."

    "Good to know," Zachary said, smiling slightly. "But please, don''t keep on calling me boss? You make me seem like a don of some Italian Mafia syndicate. Calling me by my name, Zachary, would do just fine."

    "I understand, boss..." She smiled awkwardly after realizing her slip-up. "Sorry! I understand, Zachary."

    "Has Patrick milked the cows yet?" Zachary asked, choosing to ignore the slip-up. "Where is he now?"

    Patrick was the shamba boy he had hired to care for the animals and crops on the farm. Since he couldn''t see him around, he decided to ask Davina about his whereabouts.

    "Hepleted the milking early, before 6:30 AM," she replied. "He has now gone to the banana ntation to weed. You can find him there."

    "He seems to be working hard," Zachary said, nodding. "I like that. Okay! You can continue with your work. I''ll be heading back." Without waiting for a response from the youngdy, he turned around and stepped out of the kitchen.

    A few more strides took him through the dining room ¡ª and soon, he was in the main corridor of the house. Secondster, he slowed down slightly beforeing to aplete halt before what was supposed to be the door to his grandma''s bedroom. Memories of his time with her assaulted his mind in waves, threatening to cause his eyes to moisten. But he inhaled deeply and willed the sad recollections away before continuing towards his own bedroom at the end of the corridor.

    "I need to get myself together," he thought as he stepped into his bedroom. "I can''t let past memories control my future. I must toughen my mind and return to training as soon as possible."

    Zachary closed his bedroom door behind him and chugged down some water. He then undressed and took a quick shower before drying himself and settling on his bed.

    A serene expression slowly outlined his face under the illumination of the morning sun rays streaming golden through the window. He sighed and picked up his phone before dialing Emily''s number.

    "I have to do this. I don''t have to grieve forever."

    Stern resolutions ran through his mind as the international call connected. He exhaled a lungful of air and slowly positioned the phone against his ear.

    "Hello, Zachary," Emily''s familiar voice, full of spirit, sounded from the other end of the line a momentter. "I was thinking of calling you, but you beat me to it. How''re you?"

    "I''m alright," Zachary replied. "I''m doing really okay." He felt like he''d to put an emphasis on that.

    "Are you really okay?" Emily asked, sounding a bit skeptical.

    "Yes, I am," Zachary said. "It has already been two months. So, it''s time that I recover from this setback. In fact, I''m nning to return to Europe within a few days. I should be flying out of DR Congo either tomorrow but one or the day after that."

    "That''s really great." A high level of excitement was evident in Emily''s voice. "But, have youpleted all arrangements at home? Do you need my help with anything?"

    "I don''t need any help here in Congo at the moment," he replied. "I''ve almost organized everything. I now only need toplete two more tasks before returning to Europe."

    "Great!" Emily quickly replied. "Go ahead and do what you have to do. I wish you all the best of luck in your endeavors."

    "Thanks. How far with the transfer business, by the way?"

    "Everything is still on pause until you return to Europe," Emily responded with a sigh. "And that reminds me. Have you decided on which club to join yet? Which side did you finally pick? Tottenham or Juventus?"

    "Not yet decided," Zachary said. "As you know, my mind was not in the right ce over the past two months. So, I''m still hanging in the bnce."

    There was a brief silence on the other end. "I understand. But maybe, you should meet the representatives of the clubs when you return to Europe. That''ll help you decide faster."

    "Meeting the representatives!?" Zachary mumbled, taking a few seconds to ponder the pros and cons of the deed. His eyes lit up, and he said, "I think I can do that. You can go ahead and organize the details of the meeting."

    "Excellent! Which representatives do you wish to meet first? Those from Juventus or those from Tottenham?"

    "I''m still slightly biased towards Tottenham," Zachary replied. "So, let''s meet the Tottenham representatives first."

    "Yeah! Tottenham it is," Emily confirmed. "I''ll organize the meeting. But you''ll have to pass by London when returning from Africa. That''s where you''ll meet them and hopefully seal the deal to join Tottenham. That is, of course, if the negotiations concerning personal terms go well."

    "Okay, then," Zachary said. "Today is Tuesday. So, I''ll most likely be traveling on Friday night. So, see you in London probably on Saturday."

    "That''s perfect," Emily intoned. "I''ll set the meeting for Saturday afternoon. Let''s say at 3:00 PM."

    "Okay."

    -----

 Chapter 409 Leaving Bukavu

    Chapter 409 Leaving Bukavu¡¡¡¡Zachary became busy after ending his call with Emily. He spent his morning hours packing his luggage before meeting his Congolesewyer in charge of securing his property. Then, in the afternoon, he drove to town and linked up with Coach Samson Damata at a local hotel in Bukavu.

    The Congolese coach had already requested to meet him more than a couple of times over the past two months. So, he figured that he should not disappoint him, especially since he was the person that had helped his grandma settle down in Lubumbashi.

    "Wee!" Coach Damata said in Swahili as soon as Zachary stepped before his table in the otherwise silent restaurant. "It''s a pleasure to see you again, my young friend." Without waiting for Zachary to reply, the coach pulled him into a bear hug and patted his back repeatedly.

    "How are you doing? Coach Damata asked, releasing Zachary.

    "I''m doing okay," Zachary replied.

    "And how''s everything at home?" The coach asked as he stepped back and settled down on his seat.

    Zachary followed suit and sunk down on an opposite seat before replying, "I''ve already employed people, including a localwyer and hired guards, to secure my grandma''s property. So, everything is moving smoothly."

    Coach Damata smiled as he adjusted his plump figure within his seat. "It''s great to hear that you''re doing okay. During the times you feel sorrowful, take heart. Try to live your life, and you''ll learn to live with the loss of your grandma with time."

    "Thanks for the encouragement," Zachary replied, nodding. He then turned to the waitress who had just approached their table.

    The waitress smiled splendidly and said, "Wee to our humble restaurant. We have various drinks and most of the African dishes avable. What will you be having?"

    "Do you have bottled water?" Zachary inquired.

    "Yes," the waitress replied.

    "Then, give me a bottle of water. The bigger one!"

    "Okay, noted." The waitress smiled before turning to Coach Damata. "What about you, sir? What will you be having?"

    "Get me some African tea and a chapatti," the coach replied. "Make sure the food is hot. Okay?"

    "Understood," the waitress said. "I''ll bring over your orders shortly. Thanks again for choosing our restaurant." She then whirled around before stepping away to prepare the orders.

    "She''s really polite and enthusiastic," Coach Damata remarked when the waiter was out of earshot. "Maybe, she recognizes you."

    Zachary chuckled. "Enough with the small talk," he said. "We''ve known each other for a long time. We aren''t strangers. So, go ahead and tell me why you were very impatient to meet me."

    Coach Damata forced a smile. "Actually, I''m meeting you to return a favor to an old friend. He tasked me with forwarding a proposal to you."

    Zachary couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow. "Go ahead. I''m listening."

    Coach Damata nodded. "The old friend I''m talking about is Maxans Omari, the president of DRC''s football governing body - FECOFA. He tasked me with inviting you to join the next training camp for the DRC national football team. He hopes that¡ª No, let me rephrase that. We hope that you might join us at the start of September to prepare for the African Cup of Nations qualification matches."

    "I see," Zachary said, sighing. "Thanks for inviting me. But I don''t think I''ll join the national team this year. I need time to refocus and straighten myself out, especially after everything I have gone through. So, can we take a rain check on this? We can consider the notion again next year ¡ª when I''m sure my mind is in the right ce."

    Coach Damata''s eyes flickered with a trace of disappointment, but only for a moment. A soft smile outlined his face as he said, "Okay, then. We''ll wait for you. But whatever you do, don''t forget that DR Congo is your homnd."

    "I know," Zachary replied, smiling helplessly. "I''ll remember that."

    It was at that moment that the waitress brought over their orders. Zachary''s mind strayed as he waited for her to finish serving the drinks and dishes.

    Half a year ago, he''d already positively considered the prospect of ying for DRC''s national team. But after the death of his grandma, he felt like the bond between him and his homnd had shattered. He realized that he no longer felt any sense of belonging to the country and didn''t want to bother with it. And since he didn''t owe anything to the ce, he decided against hustling with the various challenges affecting DRC''s footballmunity. He would wait and bide his time before thinking about the notion again.

    Even though he was vaguely aware that a supernatural being had given him the system under the condition of helping his homnd, he had still resisted the notion of immediately joining the national team. That was because there were many ways to help his home country other than ying for the national football team.

    For instance, he could build football academies, stadiums, hospitals, schools, and other facilities in his homnd. He could also set up a charity organization and start donating money to war victims from war-torn areas.

    As long as he kept on earning millions by progressing his career in Europe, he would have the capacity to help his nation in many more ways than any Congolese politician or football yer ever has. That was his vision. And that would be his way ofpleting the task ced upon his shoulders by the creepy ghost that appeared right before he received the system.

    "So," Coach Damata said, breaking the silence on the table after the waiter stepped away. "Did you watch the World Cup final?"

    "Yes, I did."

    "It was really a surprise for Germany to win against Argentina," Coach Damata remarked. "I expected Messi to win the World Cup. But he failed again."

    "Argentina tried," Zachary said after taking a sip of his water. "But the German team yed better as a whole. Their teamwork was incredible, and they bested Argentina in all the crucial areas. They deserved to win."

    "That''s true," Coach Damata admitted. "So, when are you returning to Europe?"

    "Within a couple of days, at most," Zachary said. "I''ll be leaving Bukavu today evening. First, I''ll fly to Kinshasa and settle a few things there. Then, I''ll catch another flight from there and immediately head to Europe."

    Coach Damata nodded. "The transfer rumors on the inte hint at you joining Tottenham, Juventus, Manchester United, or Chelsea. They insist that all four clubs have already made offers to Rosenborg as the first step to acquiring your services. Is that true?"

    "Yes," Zachary confirmed.

    "So, which team will you choose? Can you give me a hint?"

    "I can''t answer that," Zachary said, smiling mysteriously. "I don''t want to hinder my agent''s work due to my big mouth. But when I do¡ªmake a decision, you''ll be among the first people to know. I''ll call to give you the news."

    "Then, I''ll be waiting for your call," Coach Damata said. "And I wish you all the best of luck when choosing a new team."

    "Thanks," Zachary said. "I also have a favor to ask you."

    "Go ahead."

    "If you can, please take some time to check on my grandma''s property every once in a while. That''ll help keep my employees in line when I''m away."

    "Don''t worry," the coach said. "I''ll do that. You can travel to Europe and y your football at ease. I''ll help supervise your employees here in DRC."

    "Excellent," Zachary said, smiling. "You''re a lifesaver. To thank you, I would like to gift you my Audi."

    "Are you talking about the one I delivered to yourte grandma''s ce in Lubumbashi a few years ago?"

    "Yes, that''s the one."

    Coach Damata''s eyes widened. "That''s quite an expensive vehicle. Is it really okay to gift it to me?"

    "Don''t sweat the small stuff," Zachary said, waving his hand about him in a dismissive way. "We''ve known each other for years. You''ve even helped my grandma on several asions. So, gifting you a car is the least I can do. Moreover, don''t forget that I have a contract with Audi. They deliver me free cars almost every year. The car I''m offering you is just one of them."

    Coach Damataughed. "That''s true. How could I forget that the seemingly helpless boy from less than five years ago has already turned into a world-ss footballer? Zachary! I ept the car. Thank you very much. Driving such a vehicle is like a dream to me. I''ll be able to stand out from among my colleagues in Lubumbashi."

    "You''re wee," Zachary said, smiling. "The car is here in Bukavu. So, you can drop me off at the airport at five in the evening and then drive off in your vehicle afterward. Is that okay with you?"

    "That''s very okay," Coach Damata replied. "Let''s just do that."

    "Excellent."

    -----

    As nned, Zachary returned to his grandma''s farm with Coach Damata after leaving the restaurant. He entered the house and instructed the maid to settle the coach in the living room. As for him, he hurried to the bedroom tomence his preparations for his journey that evening.

    Thirty minutester, he marched out of the house with his suitcase and dropped it in the vehicle''s boot. He then called his employees over and gave them detailed instructions on how he expected them to conduct themselves while he was away. After that, he turned to Coach Damata, the plump and aged man standing a few meters away.

    "The gentleman over there is Coach Samson Damata," he said to his employees. "He''ll represent me when I''m away. Remember to respect him and to take his instructions seriously. Okay?"

    "Okay." All the employees responded, more or less in unison.

    "Good." Zachary smiled, nodding. "I''m going. So, let''s meet again when I return. Goodbye."

    "Goodbye," they replied.

    "Coach Damata, let''s go," he said, ncing at his watch. "It''s almost four. I''m about to bete for my flight."

    "Have you finished organizing everything? Do you have your passport and IDs with you?"

    "Yes to all questions," Zachary replied. "Let''s just go."

    "Okay," Coach Damata replied before jumping into the driver''s seat. "Let''s go."

    Zachary nodded and settled into the front passenger seat. He fastened his seatbelt, and off they went, driving out of histe grandma''s farm before joining the murram road, heading towards the city. They hadmenced their short journey to Kavumu Airport, the only airline transit hub in Bukavu.

    At a distance, Zachary couldn''t help but turn his head around to nce back at his grandma''s farm through the vehicle''s rear windshield. At that moment, he had a feeling that it would be a long time before he would return to the ce.

    "Are you okay?" Coach Damata asked, ncing briefly at him from the driver''s seat.

    "I''m okay," Zachary replied, sighing and turning his gaze away as his grandma''s farm faded in the distance. "Let''s just move on."

    "Okay."

    -----

 Chapter 410 In Kinshasa

    Chapter 410 In Kinshasa¡¡¡¡Zachary managed to board a FlyCAA flight from Kavumu Airport to Kinshasa that evening. After thirty minutes of flying, then a three-hour stopover in Goma, and finally another two and a half hours in the skies, he made it to the capital city of his homndte at night at around eleven o''clock.

    Complicated feelings impacted his entire being in waves as the ne descended and touched down on the runway of N''djili Airport. He sighed as memories of hisst time in Kinshasa emerged from the deep confines of his memory bank and whirled around in his mind. They were all vivid recollections of thest few days of his previous life.

    At that time, a lifetime ago, he had been between a rock and a hard ce. His life hadn''t been his own since he had owed an enormous debt to a dangerous man in Kinshasa City. That caused him to live in anxiety, day in, day out, as he tried to escape the clutches of his creditor.

    In the end, he hadn''t managed to outrun them, and his creditor''s sycophants had drowned him in the Congo River. And that was how his sorry excuse of a hopeless life had ended in Kinshasa.

    Now that he was back, he couldn''t contain his emotions. He was angry at the thugs who had drowned him in the river. He was even more furious with their boss. There was even a voice deep within his heart, goading him to enact revenge on them.

    With the money he possessed and his standing in Congolese society as a famous footballer, he wouldn''t have to do the dirty work himself. He would only have to bribe the local police and military, and they would make the thugs disappear in no time. Their gang would vanish into thin air within days, never to be seen again. That was the power of money and status in Kinshasa, DR Congo.

    "No. I can''t go ahead with this. I can''t get involved with those thugs again. My grandma in heaven would be disappointed."

    Zachary caught himself before sinking into a whirlpool of feelings of revenge. Their cruel acts towards him had happened a lifetime ago. They had even caused his death, which allowed him to reincarnate with a badass system that totally changed the trajectory of his destiny.

    So, in a way, they had helped him out, making him feel like he could ignore and forget their transgressions against him. He figured that he didn''t have to lower himself to their level. Instead of fighting with local thugs, who only amounted to annoying bugs in his new life, he could spend the effort training and progressing his career. That was the way of champions.

    Moreover, as the saying goes, he didn''t want to battle with monsters, lest he became a monster himself. He also didn''t want to stare into the abyss that was the Kinshasa crimemunity to avoid that very abyss from gazing back at him.

    Zachary understood that if he acted against the thugs, he would bring himself trouble. He might even attract the attention of some of the high-profile criminals who had the potential to threaten his safety. Additionally, Zachary also felt that the act would pollute his mind and twist his behavior in some way. He might slowly get used to making all the people that offended him disappear ¡ª and in the end, turn into a criminal himself.

    All the most heinous criminals in the world started with superficial crimes, like simple acts of revenge. Then, they would getfortable and level up to be vile thugs and the prime enemies of society. Zachary didn''t want to risk being that way. He didn''t want to turn into a disappointment that tainted histe grandma''s memory. So, he forced himself to disregard the thugs that had ended his previous life.

    "Honored customers!" The air hostess said in French after the ne braked and came to aplete halt on the runway. "Thank you for choosing Compagnie Africaine d''Aviation as a means of travel tonight. We have arrived in Kinshasa. Please don''t forget your hand luggage as you disembark. We wish you a pleasant stay in Kinshasa, and we do¡ªhope that you utilize our services again for travel around DRC in the future."

    With that said, the doors opened, and the passengers started descending the airstair. Zachary followed the rest out of the ne before heading to the airport''s arrivals section.

    Just then, he realized that many gazes were on him as he walked through the airport''s hallways. Many people constantly looked his way with glittering eyes while others pointed at him. They had obviously recognized him as the Congolese footballer who had just won the Europa League. If he didn''t take measures, the people eyeing him would probably approach him for autographs within the next few seconds.

    "Not this again," Zachary thought and quickened his steps. He didn''t want to deal with the fans at thatte hour. So, he quickly looked for an airport official to help him through the ordeal.

    The airport official was an understanding man. After receiving a few dors from Zachary, he quickly called security to keep the excited fans at bay. He then helped Zachary through all the necessary procedures before arranging a credible taxi cab to take him away from the airport.

    Zachary thanked the airport official and gifted him a few more dors before boarding the cab. He fastened his seatbelt, and off they went, cruising out of the airport and onto the streets of Kinshasa.

    As the tall buildings and fancy mansions shed by the vehicle''s window, Zachary sighed as mixed emotions emerged within his mind again. He started recalling the tremendous mountain of inequality between the haves and have-nots that was ever present within Kinshasa.

    Fancy high-end buildings, magnificent mansions, expensive sports cars, and trendy people were oftenmon sights in affluent neighborhoods of Kinshasa like Gombe. It was to the point that if foreigners arrived in that part of the city for the first time, their first thought would be, "I''m in one of the trendiest cities in Africa." But if they were to take a brief tour around and move deeper into Kinshasa, they would immediately experience a swift change in opinions. That was because they would see the many slums housing one of the world''s most impoverished poptions in the same trendy city. They would be surprised by the enormous difference in the standard of living between the two groups of people living only a matter of kilometers from each other.

    "We''re here," the cab driver said after a few more minutes of driving. "This is the Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hotel."

    "Oh!" Zachary said and leaned forward to nce through the windshield. A splendid high-end building appeared before his vision. It was indeed the five-star hotel where he would be spending his night.

    "Thank you." Zachary smiled and paid the driver. He then exited the cab and walked towards the hotel entrance with his luggage in tow.

    Thirty minutester, he was already within the confines of his hotel room, enjoying a warm shower. Aftering out of the bathroom and drying himself, he settled down on the table near the balcony to enjoy his room service dinner. He finished his meal within a few minutes before settling on his bed to consider his course of action for the following day.

    "She said she''ll be in Kinshasa this week," he thought. "I should call her and inform her that I''m already in Kinshasa. But, I should not hold any high expectations."

    Zachary had surprisingly not felt any connection with her when they met for the first time at his grandma''s burial two months prior. His mind had been nk, without even an ounce of positive or negative feelings towards her when they talked. It was as if he had met a stranger who would never take a firm position within his heart. But to fulfill his promise, he still decided to meet her in Kinshasa before setting off for Europe.

    "Let''s do this."

    He sighed and immediately picked up his phone. A serene expression outlined his face as he dialed the number he had saved in his phonebook only two months ago. But the next instant, he couldn''t stop his heartbeat from quickening as the call connected. He exhaled to calm himself down and ced the phone against his ear.

    "Oui, allo!" A feminine voice sounded from the other end of the line.

    "Hello, I''m Zachary." He also spoke French. "We met at the burial in Bukavu two months ago. We had made ns to meet this week."

    "Oh, Zachary dear!" The voice at the other end eximed. "It''s you. I''ve been waiting for your call for a long time. How are you, and how''s everything?"

    "Everything is fine," Zachary replied, forcing his tone to remain neutral. "I''m already in Kinshasa. Can we make ns to meet tomorrow?"

    "Yes, of course," the woman at the other end replied. "Where should we meet? And what time?"

    "Can we meet at the Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hotel?" Zachary suggested. "We can link up at the hotel''s restaurant at midday. That is if that''s okay with you."

    "That''s okay," the woman replied. "Let''s meet tomorrow at midday then. I''m really looking forward to seeing you again."

    "Then, see you at midday tomorrow," Zachary said. "Goodbye, and have a goodnight."

    "Goodnight to you, too, dear."

    Zachary didn''t say anything else. He ended the call before exhaling again. His mind wandered, and he sat motionlessly on his bed, ncing absentmindedly at the wall.

    He only caught himself after a few minutes and forced himself to focus back on the present. Without further ado, he cleaned up and started preparing for bed. But deep within his mind, he was still thinking about his only meeting scheduled for the following day.

    -----

 Chapter 411 Transfer Market Situation

    Chapter 411 Transfer Market Situation¡¡¡¡The following day, the time showed 11:45 AM when Zachary set foot in Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hotel''s restaurant for his only scheduled meeting before he returned to Europe.

    He settled down at a table by the window in the far corner and started taking in the sights around him. The next moment, his eyes lit up as he was really impressed by the aesthetics around him.

    The decorations around the ce were elegant and extravagant, especially with the eye-catching paintings and expensive antiques adorning the walls. The luxurious dining table sets, neatly arranged in the restaurant, were like a work of art atop the beautiful woolen carpets covering a sizeable fraction of the tiled floor. And as a final touch to the entire set-up, soft ssic music, at just the right volume, yed in the background, soothing the ears of the customers savoring their meals.

    "Good morning, sir," a uniformed waiter said after approaching his table.

    "Good morning," Zachary replied, nodding at the waiter.

    "Wee to the Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hotel''s restaurant," the waiter said. "We have a variety of dishes (both local and foreign) avable for your enjoyment here in our restaurant. Please look at the menu and see if any of our dishes catches your eye." He ced three menu booklets of considerable volume on the table in front of Zachary.

    "Thank you," Zachary said, picking up one of the menu booklets. "But I won''t order any food for now as I''m still waiting for someone. For the moment, give me lemon juice and water. Then, when the person I''m waiting for arrives, I''ll order the dishes."

    The waiter nodded with a smile. "That''s very okay. You can feel at home while waiting for your friend to arrive. Let me get you your water and lemon juice for the moment. It''ll only take five minutes."

    "Thank you for your service," Zachary said, smiling.

    "It''s my pleasure," the waiter said with a slight bow. He then stepped away from the table to prepare the orders.

    Zachary ignored everything around him and immediately turned his focus to his phone. He started browsing the trending sports news around Europe to pass the time.

    The news of Germany winning the 2014 World Cup was no longer a hot topic. Instead, it was the spections and confirmations of transfer activity between the various top clubs in Europe that were making waves on the inte. So, when Zachary opened his phone browser, he immediately chanced upon the very same subject.

    Barcelona had justpleted the highest profile transfer of the summer so far. After months of negotiations with Liverpool, they had finally managed tond Luis Su¨¢rez for a whopping fee of 94 million Euros. Details on the inte even hinted at Barcelona promising to pay the phenomenal striker a staggering sry of 12.5 million Euros per year tond his signature. As far as most credible sports journalists were concerned, Luis Suarez was sure to be the most expensive signing of the summer.

    "The events are simr to the ones of my previous life," Zachary thought. "It seems there weren''t many changes caused by my going back in time."

    Zachary smiled as he scrolled down the page to take in more headlines. There were rumors of James Rodr¨ªguez, the Colombian ymaker, agreeing on personal terms with Real Madrid. Reports imed that his move was almost imminent, and he would leave AS Monaco within a few weeks.

    Then, there were rumors of Angel Di Mar¨ªa agreeing to join Manchester United and other spections about Mario Balotelli''s agent arriving in Ennd to negotiate his move to Liverpool. There was also confirmation of Alexis Sanchez and Diego Costapleting their moves to Arsenal and Chelsea, respectively.

    After the World Cup final, transfer activity between top clubs was in full bloom. So, many more transfer rumors were floating around on the inte as sports journalists andizens spected about the subsequent high-profile signings. But what finally caught Zachary''s attention the most were spections about himself.

    "Chelsea, Tottenham, and Juventus are still in the lead to sign Rosenborg''s wonder kid - Zachary Bemba," a headline read. "Forget Luis Su¨¢rez joining Barcelona for a record summer transfer fee. The saga that has been tickling at our nerves is the one concerning Zachary Bemba. I believe I speak for all football lovers in Europe when I say that we are very eager to know Zachary Bemba''s next club when he finally leaves Rosenborg."

    "Even before the World Cup, various reports had already linked the young ymaker to top European clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, PSG, Tottenham, and Juventus," the article read on. "But due to unexpected circumstances that saw the young ymaker lose a close rtive, negotiations concerning his move out of Rosenborg came to a standstill. But worry not, football lovers! There''s finally a breakthrough."

    "A reliable source has recently revealed that his agent is already meeting parties from some interested clubs to arrange the final details of Zachary''s transfer. And the same reliable source has also disclosed that the leading clubs in the race to acquire Zachary''s signature this summer are Chelsea, Juventus, and Tottenham. All three clubs have already tabled 70-plus million Euro offers tond the yer from Rosenborg. As long as one of the three clubs agrees on personal terms with Zachary, we''ll finally get to know his next club..."

    Zachary stopped reading the article and creased his brows as the waiter brought his bottled water and juice over. He thanked and sent him away before leaning forward and taking a sip of his lemon juice. At the same time, his mind was wandering. He was even a bit confused.

    Aside from Tottenham and Juventus, he''d instructed Emily to disregard all the offers from the other clubs. But now, on reading the news on the inte, there were rumors strongly linking him to Chelsea Football Club. An even more baffling fact was that all those spections were on reliable websites like The Daily Mirror and Sky Sports News. They all seemed sure that he was considering a move to Chelsea.

    "What''s happening?" Zachary wondered while continuing to sip his juice. "Is it Jos¨¦ Mourinho ying mind games, or is this a move by Emily to strengthen our position during negotiations on personal terms? I should call Emily and get to the bottom of this, especially since I don''t want to end up ying for Chelsea."

    He immediately started searching for Emily''s number in his phone book. He was ready to make a call to his agent to inquire about the exact details concerning his transfer out of Rosenborg. But suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted him, causing him to halt his actions.

 Chapter 412 Meeting

    Chapter 412 Meeting¡¡¡¡"Hello, Zachary," a tall and elegant mature Africandy spoke in French after approaching his table. She was beautiful, with a pretty face and long braided hair that hung rich and ck about her proud shoulders. A soft and warm smile outlined her facial features as she nced expectantly at Zachary.

    "Hello, and good afternoon," Zachary replied, standing up. He couldn''t stop his heartbeat from quickening as it was only his second meeting with C¨¦leste Kouame, thedy who was his biological mother. "Wee!" He extended his hand across the table for a handshake.

    The woman seemed disappointed by Zachary''s formality. But she still took his hand for a firm handshake. "It''s really nice to see you, my dear Zachary. I''ve been looking forward to this day, like forever."

    "Oh!" Zachary said, smiling awkwardly. He was at a loss for words, and his eyes naturally floated towards another youngerdy standing a step behind the older woman. The girl was quite tall and good-looking, with chic short ck hair andrge brown eyes that made her seem like the most amiable of persons.

    C¨¦leste''s gaze lit up when she noticed Zachary''s gaze. She pulled the younger girl forward by the arm and said, "This young girl is Natasha Kone, my second daughter. She insisted oning with me when I mentioned that I was heading out to meet you. Natasha! Say hi to Zachary."

    "Hi," the younger girl said, smiling awkwardly. She seemed a bit nervous as she extended her hand from across the table.

    "Hi," Zachary replied, smiling and taking her hand. "It''s nice to meet you, Natasha."

    The younger girl''s face lit up, her brown eyes glittering. But she didn''t say anything else. Instead, she stepped back and stood a step behind her mother like her shadow.

    An awkward silence descended on the table for a few seconds until C¨¦leste suggested, "Let''s sit down before we continue."

    "Oh! Indeed let''s sit down and talk," Zachary agreed.

    With that said, their group took up their seats at each side of the table. Then, they ordered lunch and drinks before continuing their awkward excuse of a discussion.

    Zachary felt like the time was moving at a snail''s pace. His emotions wereplicated as he didn''t feel much of a connection with the people at his table. But he remained patient and listened to the stories narrated by his biological mother.

    He soon confirmed that she had initially been a native of the Ivory Coast, the African country also known as C?te d''Ivoire. But ten years ago, shended a job in Brussels, Belgium, and moved there with her two daughters. What surprised Zachary the most was that she was a doctor by profession. He couldn''t help but wonder how she got together in the first ce with his dad, who was a budding musician before his passing.

    The minutes trickled by, and then their orders arrived while they were still in the middle of their discussion. Waiters soon ced tes and bowls of African food, including matoke, steamed potatoes, goat stew, and vegetables. They naturally slowed their conversation as they diverted some attention to the food.

    From there on, the minutes seemed to move forward quickly as they ate almost in silence. Only asionally would C¨¦leste ask a question. But Zachary would respond with a simple yes or no, or a precise and short answer before returning his attention to his te. On the other hand, the younger girl, Natasha, remained silent the entire time ¡ª without attempting to butt into the conversation. Awkwardness reigned supreme, and just like that, they finally wolfed down their dessert and ended their meal.

    "It was a pleasure meeting you," Zachary said after emptying his te. "But now, I really have to go. I have got to catch a flight to Europe as soon as possible."

    "Oh!" C¨¦leste''s eyes widened. "Don''t you wish to talk some more?"

    "I would have liked that," Zachary said. "But duty calls as my club is still in the middle of the season. So, I need to be in Europe as soon as possible."

    "I see," C¨¦leste said, sighing. "Okay, then. We wish you a safe journey. But when can we meet again?"

    "You now have my contact details," Zachary said, standing up and shoving his phone into his pocket. "You can contact me every once in a while. As long as I''m not busy, we can always decide when to link up through texts."

    "Okay." C¨¦leste sighed again and nced up at Zachary. "I have a favor to ask."

    "Oh!" Zachary raised a brow. "Go on. I''m listening."

    "Can I hug you? Just for a few seconds?" She asked, her eyes filled with expectation.

    "That..." Zachary was taken aback. He had feared that she was about to ask for something else. "Well. That''s okay." He replied after collecting himself.

    C¨¦leste''s countenance lit up like a bulb as she quickly stood up. She slowly leaned forward with wide open arms.

    Zachary didn''t mirror her exact movements, though. He instead leaned in with the side and gave her what he could best describe as a half hug. But even then, he felt like the world had stopped on its axis while in her embrace. It was as if there was no concept of time as the background noises within the restaurant faded into nihility.

    Zachary''s mind was at peace. He felt like there was something so warm, something that felt right, enveloping his soul in a warm light. He let his body sag, his muscles slowly bing loose as he leaned in for a deeper hug.

    But just then, a tremor went through his entire being, and he caught himself. His heart went on a wild caper within his chest, and he immediately stepped back from the woman''s embrace. It was as if he had just sensed danger.

    "I''m sorry," he quickly said to C¨¦leste, who had almost lost her bnce.

    "That''s okay," she replied, smiling. "Don''t sweat the small stuff. I enjoyed the hug."

    Zachary nodded and stepped back. "It''s time for us to part as I have to catch my flight soon. I''ll pay the bill while moving out. So, don''t pay the second time."

    "We could settle the bill if you are in a hurry," C¨¦leste suggested.

    Zachary shook his head. "I insist on paying the bill as I''m the host today. You can pay when we next meet."

    C¨¦leste smiled. "Then, I''ll pay next time. Thanks for hosting us. Have a safe trip back to Europe."

    "Thanks," Zachary replied, turning towards the quiet younger girl by C¨¦leste''s side. "Goodbye, Natasha. It was nice meeting you."

    "Goodbye," she replied.

    Zachary nodded to both of them and smiled. Without saying anything else, he stepped away from the table.

    He was on his way to the counter to pay the bill. After that, he intended to head back to his room to prepare for his journey back to Europe. He had moved his ns forward and wanted to set off for London that evening.

 Chapter 413 An Element from an Alternate Future

    Chapter 413 An Element from an Alternate Future¡¡¡¡Zachary settled at a table on the balcony right after returning to his hotel room. He opened hisptop and booted it up before opening his browser. Without wasting time, he began to peruse the details of the various flight offers from Kinshasa to London.

    Even on such short notice, many outbound flights on the travel website matched Zachary''s needs. Most were affordable and even offered by top airlines, like EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines, and Brussels Airlines. But in the end, he ignored all the otherpanies and settled for the rtively more expensive Air France ticket because of the airlinepany''s reliability.

    He selected a business ss ticket for himself before paying with his card. After receiving the e-ticket on his phone, he shut down hisptop before dialing Emily''s number.

    "Hello, Zachary," Emily''s voice sounded from the other end of the line as soon as the international call connected. "What''s up?"

    "Nothing much but the sky," Zachary replied.

    Emily chuckled. "How are you doing? And how far with preparations to return to Europe?"

    "I''ve finally finished organizing everything here in Congo," Zachary said. "I''m even about to depart for Europe. In fact, I have already booked a ticket on an Air France flight departing from Kinshasa at 8:55 PM. I should arrive at Heathrow, London, at around eight tomorrow morning."

    "You''re traveling today!" Emily eximed. "I thought you mentioned that you would travel on Friday evening!?"

    "Sorry," Zachary said, his tone apologetic. "There was a change in ns. Since I''ve already organized everything here, I wish to focus on my football career. So, I figured that traveling back to Europe as soon as possible was the right thing to do."

    "That''s quite true," Emily concurred. "The only challenge is that I had already arranged the meeting with the Tottenham representatives for Saturday. Now, I need to call them and reschedule."

    "Will they agree to reschedule?" Zachary asked a bit hesitantly.

    "Of course, they will agree," Emily replied confidently. "They''re impatient and eager to progress the transfer deal negotiations, especially after waiting two months. So, they will eagerly jump at any chance to meet you. That''s your charm as a young footballer who has just helped a team from a low-tier league win the Europa League."

    "Then, that''s a relief," Zachary said. "You can reschedule the meeting with them and move it to tomorrow, Thursday afternoon."

    "Don''t worry," Emily guaranteed. "I''ll call them immediately after hanging up the phone and reschedule the meeting. How long do you n to stay in London?"

    "If all goes well, two days, at most."

    "Do you wish to visit me and stay at my ce?" Emily inquired. "Or should I book a hotel for you?"

    "I think it''s best that I stay in a hotel," Zachary replied.

    "Come on, Zachary," Emily intoned, sounding annoyed. "I live in arge apartment by myself. I have an empty room, which is, by the way, quitefy. So, why should you stay in a hotel?"

    Zachary was at a loss for words on hearing that. He was about to reply that there was a need to maintain professional boundaries but stopped after deliberating for a moment.

    Emily had been there for him as a friend during all his hardships. She had even traveled to DR Congo and Zurich, Switzend, to arrange treatment for his grandma months prior. So, it sounded unfair and illogical to insist on professional boundaries when he had already crossed them with her ages ago.

    "Okay, then," Zachary replied in a resigned tone. "If you don''t mind, I''ll stay at your ce."

    "Yeah!" Emily''s voice rose up a notch at the other end of the line. "I''ll pick you up at the airport when you arrive."

    "Thank you," Zachary said. "By the way, what''s up with the rumors strongly linking me to Chelsea? I thought we were disregarding all clubs aside from Juventus and Tottenham!"

    "Oh, that!" Emily sighed. "Those rumors are a result of Mourinho''s antics. Even after rejecting to meet him several times, he has dismissed my words and hasn''t given up on acquiring your signature. He has even leaked some hints to the media houses that his club is ready to ssh the best deal money can offer to bring you to Stamford Bridge. He''s really a stubborn man."

    "I see," Zachary said.

    "But you shouldn''t worry about the rumors," Emily continued. "We shouldn''t even discredit them as they''ll benefit us when negotiating personal terms. The rumors will apply more pressure on the representatives of Juventus and Tottenham and, in so doing, force them to offer you favorable personal terms."

    "Then, I''ll follow your advice as always," Zachary said. "Let''s ignore the rumors. I now have to say my goodbyes and start preparing for my trip. See you at Heathrow Airport tomorrow morning at eight."

    "Don''t worry," Emily replied. "I''ll be waiting for you at the exit. Have a safe trip."

    "Thanks."

    -----

    After ending the call, Zachary perused the details of his e-ticket and realized that he still had about four hours to kill before his flight''s check-in time. So, without any worries, he spent a few minutes organizing the contents of his suitcase before jumping into bed for an afternoon nap.

    He slept deeply and only woke up to the sound of his rm at six o''clock in the evening. He quickly took a shower before dressing up and zipping his suitcase. Finally, he looked at himself in the mirror to check if everything was in ce before donning his cap and exiting his room.

    After checking out of the hotel, he took a taxi to the airport. The cab driver was an expert at navigating the congested roads of Kinshasa. So, he shortened the duration of the journey by a considerable margin, and in only about an hour, they made it to the gates of N''Djili Airport.

    Zachary paid the cab fare before exiting the vehicle. He then pulled his suitcase and marched into the airport, ready to check in for his flight. But after taking a few more steps through the hallways, he couldn''t help but do a double take as his sharp eyesnded on an exquisite figure that was all too familiar in the deep confines of his mind.

    It was a youthful Africandy walking toward Zachary from the other side of the airport hallway. Her face was pretty, her smile endearing, and her figure full and hot like zing fire. Her tight and trendy pair of denim jeans entuated her body curves as she moved forward gracefully with a slight sway of her hips. She was beautiful even by global standards, and wherever she passed, the gazes of several men would reflexively follow her lovely and sexy silhouette.

    "It''s her!" Zachary''s heartbeat quickened, but only slightly. His feelings wereplex as he finally set his eyes on Anita, thedy who was about to be his wife during his previous life.

    A few years ago, he would have probably rushed forward to please her and catch her attention. He would have even groveled at her feet to create a chance to make her his again. But after spending years experiencing the baptism of passion, devotion, and care from Cami, he now felt like she no longer had considerable sway over his emotions. Even though she still made his heart race, it wasn''t to the extent of making him head over heels crazy. He could ignore his feelings for her ¡ª and he truly believed he could forget her with time.

    "Why is she stopping?" Zachary wondered, his eyes widening the next moment. "She shouldn''t know me at this point in time! Or could she have noticed my lingering gaze?" He was both surprised and perplexed when he noticed the girl stopping only a few steps away and ncing at him with a thoughtful expression.

    "Excuse me, sir," she said, taking another step forward. "You look a bit familiar. Have we met before?"

    Zachary shook his head. "No, we haven''t. You got the wrong person." He pulled his suitcase past thedy and continued on along the hallway without looking back.

    As the saying goes, intelligent people should endeavor to let sleeping dogs lie. Zachary wasn''t about to allow any spark to ignite the toxic passion between him and Anita in his new life. He wasn''t about to let himself fall for ady, no matter how beautiful, when he clearly knew that she had abandoned him in another lifetime. How sure was he that history, or rather the future, wouldn''t repeat itself and she would leave him again? It was a risk Zachary wasn''t willing to take. So, he forced himself to walk away from the woman he loved the most during his previous life without looking back.

    A few secondster, a few fans tried to approach Zachary for autographs. But he avoided them immediately and once again looked for an airport official to help him through the airport procedures.

    With the aid of the official, Zachary avoided most of the troubles, including the fans. He checked in and received his boarding pass in only a few minutes. Then, a bitter, at around 8:15 PM, the terminal gates opened, and he followed the rest of the passengers onto the airport tarmac to board the ne that would ferry him to London.

 Chapter 414 In London

    Chapter 414 In London¡¡¡¡The following morning, around nine o''clock, Zachary finally arrived in London after a good eleven hours of traveling. Heathrow Airport was as busy as he had heard in the rumors. It also had strict inspection practices, especially for those who had traveled from areas outside Europe. Thus, Zachary spent roughly forty minutes going through the rigorous airport checks and procedures before exiting the arrivals hall.

    His eyes darted around, searching the crowd waiting outside the arrivals hall. The next second, his countenance lit up after he noticed Emily standing in a far corner. She was holding a sizeable light green poster depicting smiling cartoons and the words, "Wee to London, Zachary!" It was very eye-catching within the crowd.

    The corners of Zachary''s lips lifted, and he beamed while holding Emily''s gaze from a distance. Then, he pulled along his suitcase while slowly pushing through the crowd towards her position.

    "Ta-daaaah! Wee to London!" She said, smiling as soon as he stepped before her. She was as stunning as ever, even after donning a casual t-shirt on top of a pair of baggy jeans that morning. She pulled Zachary away from the crowd and asked, "How was your journey?"

    "Very enjoyable," Zachary replied. "I slept the entire time and only woke up when the ne was touching down on the runway."

    "That''s very good," Emily said, ncing around and narrowing her eyes. "This isn''t a good ce to talk. It''s very crowded. There are even some journalists mixed in with the crowd. We better head to the car immediately."

    "Then, let''s go." Zachary agreed.

    "Do you want some help with one of those bags?" Emily asked just as they were about to set off.

    "Nope. I''m good. Don''t forget that I''m a professional athlete. These bags are as light as feathers within my arms."

    Emily chuckled. "Then, suit yourself and continue carrying them. Okay, let''s go."

    Zachary smiled and followed Emily into the short-stay car park just a short distance from the arrivals hall. In less than a minute, they located Emily''s ride, which was surprisingly an enormous Toyota Land Cruiser. Then, without wasting time, they loaded the luggage into the boot before taking their seats in the vehicle.

    "Vroom!"

    Emily started up the engine before slowly easing the Land Cruiser out of the parking space. With expert grace, she guided it out of the rtively crowded car park, and off they went, exiting the airport and joining the busy streets of London.

    Zachary''s eyes soon glittered with excitement and sheer curiosity as they feasted upon the sights shing by the vehicle''s window. Since it was his first time in London, he was like an ancient explorer who had just chanced upon a newnd.

    In silence, he admired the broad and neat avenues, the wide pavements containing the rivers of humanity, the buildings that stretched towards the blue sky, and even the roadside greenery that was a testament to the English summer. He couldn''t help but sigh as everything outside the car window induced a trace of wonder within him.

    "So," Emily said after a few more minutes of driving. "What''s your first impression of London? Do you like it?"

    "It''s beautiful, and I''m impressed," Zachary replied. "But honestly, it''s also not what I expected."

    "Oh!" Emily said, stealing a brief nce at Zachary from her position in the driver''s seat. "And what did you expect?"

    "A lot of tall skyscrapers, piercing into the sky. But I have only seen a few since we started making our way through the city. I also didn''t expect to see a lot of greenery beside the roads."

    Emily chuckled as she continued guiding the vehicle forward. "Of course, there are areas in London with very tall skyscrapers. But we''re now driving through sections of the city without them. That''s why you''ve rarely seen any."

    "Where are we heading, by the way?" Zachary asked, turning his gaze away from the window.

    "We''re on our way to an area called Islington," Emily replied. "That''s where my apartment is, and that''s where I call home."

    "Islington!" Zachary mumbled. "This is my first time hearing about the ce."

    "If you''re not a local or someone who has lived in London for some time, it would be a surprise to know all the names of the areas around the city," Emily remarked.

    "True," Zachary agreed. "So, what''s the n today? When is the meeting with the Tottenham representatives?"

    Emily stepped on the brakes and slowed down as the car approached a junction. "The time of the meeting is at midday," she said. "The Tottenham representatives insisted that it would be best to meet you before lunchtime. And since I knew you would already be in London, I agreed to their proposal."

    "Midday!" Zachary mumbled, ncing at his watch. "That gives us roughly two hours to prepare."

    "That''s not correct," Emily said. "It''s now 10:12 AM. By the time we reach my apartment in Islington, it''ll already be 10:30 AM. So that will only give us about forty to fifty minutes to prepare. Remember, we need to ount for the time to travel to the meeting venue."

    "That''s quite a small time window to prepare," Zachary remarked.

    "Don''t worry," Emily said. "We''ll make it. I have already made all the arrangements on my side. After reaching my apartment, you only need to clean up and put on something presentable. Then, we''ll eat breakfast and set off for the meeting venue."

    "You''re my guide today," Zachary said, smiling. "I''ll follow all your arrangements."

    Emily beamed. "You''re in capable hands while in London. Nothing will go wrong."

    -----

    Emily''s apartment was a veryfy and neat living space on the fifth floor of a high-end building in Islington. When Zachary stepped into the ce, he immediately judged that it was much more spacious than his apartment in Trondheim. It had a big living room, a kitchen, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and arge balcony. It was obviously a pricey ce to rent, especially in an expensive-to-live-in city like London.

    "You live here alone?" Zachary asked as they enjoyed breakfast at a table in the kitchen. He had already settled down as a visitor in Emily''s guest room and taken a quick shower. And to prepare for his meeting with the Tottenham representatives, he had donned some of his best clothes, including a white long-sleeved shirt, a pair of presentable fitting trousers, and sleek ck shoes.

    "Yes, I live here alone," Emily replied. She was also already in her suit and ready to head out for the meeting. "Sometimes, my younger sister can visit and stay over," she continued, punctuating her words with a sip of tea. "But that''s only for a few days in a year."

    "What about your boyfriend or fianc¨¦e?" Zachary asked. "Doesn''t he evere over to keep youpany?"

    Emily raised a brow and looked up from her breakfast. A teasing smile outlined her face as she said, "Are you trying to probe me and find out whether I''m in a rtionship?"

    Zachary returned her smile. "I''m just making conversation," he said, sounding defensive. "Moreover, have you realized that you know almost everything about me? But I only know a few things about you. I don''t even know whether you''re married or whether you have kids attending a private school somewhere. I didn''t even know you had a sister until today! Isn''t that weird?"

    Emily chuckled softly, a sparkle in her eyes. "I''ve been your agent since more than three years ago. And you''re just trying to get to know me better now?"

    "Betterte than never," Zachary replied after taking another sip of his tea. "Isn''t that how the saying goes?"

    "True," Emily said, smiling. "But, I''m not going to tell you anything more about myself, especially at this moment, when we''re almostte for the meeting. We can visit the topic some other time."

    "A reasonable proposition," Zachary agreed and took another sip of his tea. "By the way, how far is White Hart Lane Stadium from here?"

    "The stadium is roughly five miles away from here," Emily responded. "But, of course, we won''t meet the Tottenham representatives at the stadium. We will instead meet them at a neutral ground in one of the conference rooms of the Hilton London Angel Hotel. It''s only about a mile from here. So, we only need twenty minutes to get there on foot."

    "I see." Zachary nodded.

    "Have you finished your breakfast," Emily asked.

    "I''m almost done," Zachary said after swallowing down thest piece of the bread on his te. "I only need two more minutes to finish my tea. Then, we can set off."

    "Good." Emily nodded. "I need to warn you about a few things before we head out for the meeting. One: No matter how good the other party''s offer is, don''t show that you''re excited until I give the go-ahead. That''ll keep our position strong during the negotiations for personal terms. And two: If youe to a decision, maybe you decide to join Tottenham, run it by me first so that we can review it together."

    "Noted," Zachary said.

    Emily nodded and smiled. "I''m sure the negotiations for personal terms, such as a lucrative sry, more ying bonuses, amitment to have you y consistently, and possibly a good signing bonus, will go quite well. The problems will only emerge when we begin negotiating the buy-out and release uses in the contract."

    "For instance, the other party might suggest you sign a five-year contract with their club, which includes a 120 million Euro buy-out use. They will entice you with a high weekly wage to make you sell five years of your future to one single club. That''s when you''ll need to put your foot down and dismiss them. You must understand that no matter what they offer, we can''t allow any club to tie you down for five years with an unreasonable buy-out use. Otherwise, you''ll face big challenges if things don''t work out and you wish to leave the club. Okay?"

    "Okay, I understand." Zachary nodded.

    "Excellent." Emily beamed. "And remember, this is just a meeting for you to assess the sincerity of the club interested in your signature. If it so happens that you don''t like the terms offered by the other party, we can always dismiss them until they raise their offers. Okay?"

    "Understood."

    "Good," Emily said. "Since you''ve finished breakfast, let''s set off for the meeting. We don''t want to bete."

    "Okay, let''s go."

    -----

 Chapter 415 Negotiations

    Chapter 415 Negotiations¡¡¡¡As nned, Zachary and Emily met up with the Tottenham representatives at midday in one of the conference rooms of the Hilton London Angel Hotel.

    The representatives were a team of three, including Mick Brown, a club scout, Vicky Sanders, an attorney, and Ledley King, a former Tottenham yer, serving as the club''s official spokesperson. They were very polite and enthusiastic as they weed Zachary to the meeting before slowly easing into the negotiations.

    Ledley King, the club''s official representative, immediately took center stage and presented what Tottenham could offer Zachary if he signed with them. In a few words, he conveyed that his club was willing to offer Zachary a lucrative weekly sry of 101,000 British Pounds, equating to roughly 123,000 Euros per week. The club would also reward him with a signing bonus of 5 million British pounds immediately after he signed his name on the contract. Finally, Ledley King talked about the terms concerning yer welfare, like ying bonuses and handling of yer agency fees, before handing the floor to Vicky Sanders, the attorney.

    Vicky Sanders was more professional than Ledley King while representing her party during the negotiations. She utilized roughly fifteen minutes to exin the breakdown of all the contract terms Tottenham was willing to offer Zachary to acquire his signature. Then, she fished two documents from a file folder ced before her and handed them to Zachary and Emily.

    "Those are copies of the contract draft summarizing all the terms we''ve already mentioned," Vicky said, adjusting her sses on the bridge of her nose. "We really hope that you can sign a four-year contract with Tottenham. You won''t regret it. I can assure you that." She smiled amiably at Zachary.

    Zachary shed her a smile in response and picked up the document. He then exchanged a nce with Emily before starting to peruse through the terms of the contract draft.

    His recently-enhanced intelligence worked like a charm, and he finished reading the neen-page document in about ten minutes. And surprisingly, he could remember everything, including the small details like the yer''s health insurance benefits. But that was not all. He had also digested the contents to some extent, even though he didn''t have the required background knowledge in sports and contractw. His mind was that impressive after gaining a boost from the effects of the S-grade mental conditioning elixir.

    "As Emily predicted," Zachary thought, "the buy-out use is really a problem within the contract."

    Tottenham wanted him to sign a four-year contract, tying him to the London-based club with a buy-out use of 110 million British Pounds. In other words, any club wishing to sign him before his contract period ended would have to pay that hefty amount to Tottenham to kick-start the transfer negotiations. Or he would have to pay the amount himself ¡ª to buy himself out of a contract with Tottenham and be a free agent without having a just cause to do so. As far as he was concerned, the use was like a strong chain fastening him to Tottenham for four years.

    "Zachary!" Emily said from beside him after a few more minutes. She leaned over and pointed at the buy-out use on her copy of the contract document. "What did I say? The buy-out use is indeed unreasonable." She spoke in an audible voice, clearly not wishing to hide her words from the people at the other end of the table.

    "Indeed, 120 million Pounds is unreasonable," Zachary took her cue and agreed, without bothering to lower his voice. "What is our way forward?"

    Emily sighed in response. She shook her head before ncing at the Tottenham representatives seated at the other end of the table.

    "Miss Vicky and the gentlemen," she said, adjusting her posture to sit upright. "Thank you for preparing this contract. Most of the terms in the document are almost to our liking. We only need to make a few amendments to those terms, and we''ll be good to go. But there is also one use we find totally unreasonable. That is the buy-out use. Imposing a buy-out use amounting to 110 million British Pounds on my client is unfair and absurd simply because it will leave him at the mercy of the club."

    "Let me present a scenario to rify," Emily continued. "For instance, if you are unfair to him while he is still under contract, he won''t be in a position to negotiate for better treatment. The 110 million-shackle will always chain him to the club no matter how unfairly you treat him. For that reason, we will halt all talks until your side makes considerable amendments to this buy-out use."

    Vicky Sanders, the attorney, exchanged nces with Ledley King after hearing that. They seemed to reach some tacit understanding, and she said, "Miss Emily! Mr. Zachary! We included the 110 million buy-out use in the contract terms to look out for ourselves as a club. We only wish to discourage other clubs from trying to poach him while he''s under contract. That''s our only intent."

    "I understand your position," Emily said, leaning back in her chair. "But still, 110 million pounds is unreasonable."

    "Let''s do this," Mick Brown, the scout who had remained silent the entire time, chimed in. "We''ll take a step back and lower the buy-out use fee to 98 million British Pounds. How''s that, Miss Emily?"

    Emily shook her head. "Still too high."

    "95 million," the scout said, narrowing his eyes. "This is the least we can do. Otherwise, we would have to discuss the use with our board members before getting back to you."

    "Then, go ahead and forward the issue to your board," Emily said calmly. "The highest figure we can consider is 60 million British Pounds. Otherwise, further negotiations are off."

    Mick Brown sighed, his eyes flickering with a sense of helplessness. But the next moment, he smiled and said, "Give us a day. We''ll get back to you after discussing this with our board. Okay?"

    "Okay," Emily readily agreed. "We can wait for a day."

    Suddenly, Ledley King, the former Tottenham yer, turned towards Zachary and said, "I don''t understand this. If you''re willing to join a club like Tottenham, why is it hard for you to showmitment to the team by agreeing to the buy-out use? Buy-out uses and whatnot are just somewyer jibber-jabber. They won''t affect your performance on the pitch. As long as your coach, teammates, and fans admire you, you''ll befortable in the club. So, why are you hesitating when I''m sure you''ll do great at Tottenham? Why aren''t you epting the offer when I''m sure that our coach and fans will treasure you like the rarest of gems on the team?"

    Zachary was at a loss for words. He smiled awkwardly before turning to Emily for help.

    "Mr. King," Emily said, taking the cue from Zachary. "Contracts are there to provide rity in business rtionships between two parties. They serve as a record ofmitments for both parties. So, we can''t just take them lightly or dismiss them aswyer jibber-jabber. Otherwise, we''ll find ourselves in the middle of conflicts in the future."

    Ledley King shook his head in response and said nothing else.

    "So, I guess that marks the end of our meeting today," Emily said, her tone conclusive. "We''ll continue discussions after you finish discussing the buy-out use issue with your board."

    "That''s right," Vicky said, nodding. "Give us one day. We''ll get back to you."

    "Okay, then," Emily intoned, smiling and standing up. "It was a pleasure meeting you all, although we didn''t agree on some issues. Let''s hope that we''ll have more productive negotiations tomorrow."

    "I''m sure we will," Vicky Sanders said, mirroring Emily and standing up. "After discussing with our board, negotiations will move forward quickly."

    With that said, the two parties shook hands before exchanging some small talk and ending the meeting. They then went their own ways after exchanging contacts.

    -----

    Zachary followed Emily out of the hotel and onto the wide streets of London after the meeting. He immediately donned his shades to protect his eyes from the rays of the zing afternoon sun.

    "So," he said, matching Emily''s step on the sidewalk. "Do you think they''ll agree to lower the buy-out use fee to sixty million?"

    "I think they will," Emily said confidently. "They shouldn''t be that dumb to let a yer of your caliber slip through their fingers just for a single unreasonable use. That''s the source of my confidence during these negotiations for personal terms."

    "I see," Zachary said, slowing down his steps as they approached a junction. "But aside from the buy-out use, all the other terms were favorable. They are even willing to make me their second highest yer on their roster."

    "But we have got to push for more," Emily said as they halted before a junction. "We can''t allow them¡ª"

    She stopped midsentence as a man appeared like a specter and stood before them. His smile was warm, and he looked like the perfect gentleman in his sleek blue suit. Zachary immediately judged that he shouldn''t be a petty thief or criminal.

    "Miss Emily! What a very nice coincidence!" The stranger eximed, his words colored by a heavy ent.

    "Mr. Stefano Morganti!" Emily eximed back. "What are you doing here? And don''t give me the ''it''s a coincidence'' bullshit."

    "Honestly, I chased after you guys when you left the hotel," the man admitted, a polite smile never leaving his face. He then turned to Zachary. "It''s a pleasure to meet you, Zachary. How are you doing?"

    "I''m doing okay," Zachary replied, smiling back. He was finding the whole situation before him a bit funny. He turned to Emily and asked, "Is he your boyfriend?"

    "Hahaha!" Emily let out a sarcasticugh. "How can this dork be my boyfriend? He''s a professional football agent working for Juventus."

    "An agent working for Juventus!" Zachary''s eyes widened. "Was he following us the entire time?"

    "Most probably," Emily answered.

    "Guys," the stranger said, still smiling. "Don''t talk about me as if I''m not here. I''m only here to request fifteen minutes of your time. Just give us fifteen minutes of your time. If we fail to convince you to choose Juventus over Tottenham, we''ll never bother you again."

    "We?" Emily narrowed her eyes. "Who''s we? Are there others from Turin with you here?"

    "Yes, they are waiting in a private booth of a nearby cafe," the man replied. "To show our sincerity, the director even came himself."

    "The football director of Juventus is also here!" Emily''s expression turned strange. "How crazy are you guys? Was he also stalking us?"

    The man grinned. "We need only fifteen minutes. Give us a chance, and we''ll offer you a deal you can''t refuse in those fifteen minutes."

    "Fifteen minutes?" Emily nced questioningly at Zachary.

    Zachary nodded in response.

    "Okay, fifteen minutes it is," Emily said.

    The man''s grin widened even further. "Excellent! Just follow me. I''ll take you to meet my colleagues."

    -----

 Chapter 416 The Sincerity of Juventus

    Chapter 416 The Sincerity of Juventus¡¡¡¡Zachary and Emily followed Mr. Stefano Morganti along the street until they arrived in front of a small Italian cafe with an exterior painted in green, red, and white colors. Its name was Cafe La Divina, and it just looked like a typical exotic food eatery, where you would often find many people, especially during lunch hours.

    Emily narrowed her eyes and asked, "Are you sure that we should be having a confidential business discussion in such a cafe? Aren''t we supposed to hold our meeting somewhere more private?"

    "Don''t worry, my deardy," Mr. Stefano said amiably with a smile. "Our team has already considered all those factors. Go ahead and step into the cafe. You''ll understand what I mean." Without waiting for Emily to say anything else, he held the door open for her and Zachary.

    "Interesting," Zachary said, exchanging a nce with Emily. They reached a tacit understanding and immediately entered the cafe.

    Zachary''s eyes lit up on stepping inside. Through therge ss window that weed the passage of the light, the almost empty cafe was alive with the vibrant hues of the afternoon. Its interior was homely and colorful, with various paintings and unique ornaments adorning the walls. Zachary even spotted a toy car and a tiny scooter among the decorations on the walls.

    "Nice," Emily remarked as she nced around. "You booked the entire ce for our meeting."

    "Of course, we had to," Mr. Stefano said matter-of-factly. He closed the door to shut out the noise from the streets as his smile glowed even brighter. "Now, we have some privacy. Come; I will introduce you to the rest of my colleagues."

    With that said, they started moving, and a few more strides brought them to a table at the far corner of the almost empty cafe. At that table sat two silent gentlemen, who had remained quiet andposed even afterying their eyes on Zachary and Emily.

    "Mr. Zachary Bemba!" The ever-smiling Mr. Stefano said to break the ice. "Unlike Emily, it''s your first time meeting any of us. So, let me do the honors and introduce you to my colleagues."

    He walked around the table and patted the shoulder of a stern-looking gentleman with sharp eyes and a prominent beard. "This one here is Fabio Paratici, our sporting director. Don''t get intimidated by how fierce he looks. He is quite a friendly guy. If you get to know him, you''ll notice that he''s pretty much an easy-going person."

    Fabio Paratici chuckled after hearing the way his colleague had introduced him. His stern countenance somehow softened as he stood up and extended his arm from across the table. "It''s a great pleasure to meet you, Mr. Zachary Bemba," he said. "I hope this meeting marks the beginning of a long-term friendship between our parties."

    Zachary smiled and took his hand. "It''s a pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Fabio Paratici," he said. "Thanks for having us, and I look forward to the negotiations between our parties."

    "What did I say?" Mr. Stefano chimed in with a smile. He nced at Zachary and asked, "Don''t you already find him a friendly fe?"

    Zachary just smiled in response. He was at a loss for how to keep up with the entric Italian.

    "Okay, okay," Stefano said and stepped towards the other older gentleman at the table. "This guy here is our attorney. He goes by the name Federico Delfini. You don''t have to worry too much about him. He''s only here to help us through theplicated contract mumbo-jumbo."

    The older gentlemanughed in response. He also stood up with grace and extended his hand to Zachary. "It''s nice to meet you, Zachary."

    "Nice to meet you too, Mr. Delfini," Zachary replied, taking the attorney''s hand for a firm handshake.

    "I guess we are all acquainted with the lovely Miss Emily," Mr. Stefano intoned. "So, there''s no need for me to introduce her? Isn''t that right, Miss Emily?"

    Emily nodded and took the ball in her hands. "It''s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Paratici and Mr. Delfini," she said, extending her hand to the two gentlemen. "Let''s have a pleasant discussion."

    "Indeed," Fabio said, smiling and shaking her hand, "It''s a pleasure to meet you, too, Miss Emily Anderson. I have heard a lot of good things about you. Let''s have a pleasurable discussion." The sporting director then stepped back and allowed his club''s attorney to exchange handshakes with Emily.

    "Now that the necessary introductions are over," Mr. Stefano chipped in again after the others took their seats, "Let me also take this rare opportunity to introduce myself. I go by the name Stefano Morganti. I''m a professional football agent based mainly in Italy. I''m now representing Juventus to negotiate a deal between our two parties."

    "Mr. Stefano Morganti," Emily suddenly said, her tone brisk. "You asked for fifteen minutes. Four minutes have already psed."

    "Damn my big mouth," Mr. Stefano said, grinning and turning towards his colleagues from Turin. "Fabio! Mr. Delfini! The floor is now yours. Let''s convince our guests here in less than ten minutes."

    Fabio Paratici, the sporting director of Juventus, nodded and faced Zachary. "Zachary," he said. "We''re very short on time. So, we''re not going to oveplicate these negotiations with lengthy presentations."

    "All I can assure you is that my club needs you," he continued, his exotic ent heavily coloring his words. "We really hope that you sign with us. I''m a hundred percent confident that I speak for everyone at Juventus, including our new head coach, Massimiliano Allegri, our president, Andrea Agnelli, and all our fans, when I say that Juventus needs you. As long as you sign with us, we''ll do our best to amodate all your requirements. That''s a promise, and that''s all I have to say for now."

    Mr. Stefano Morganti smiled and turned toward the quiet older attorney. "Mr. Delfini," he said, "Can you pass two copies of the contract draft to our two guests?"

    "Sure," Federico Delfini, the attorney, readily agreed. Without losing a second, he opened his briefcase and fished out two documents. Then, he smiled and passed them over to Emily and Zachary.

    "Excellent!" Mr. Stefano Morganti''s eyes flickered with joy as he nced at his watch. "I still have about ten minutes. That should be enough."

    "No, you only have eight minutes," Emily corrected, leaning forward and picking up the copy of the contract draft before her.

    "Can''t you even let that pass?" Mr. Stefano asked.

    "You now have seven minutes," Emily stated, tuning her gaze onto the contract in her hands.

    "Damn!" Mr. Stefano cursed. But his smile was still as bright as the noon sun as he turned towards Zachary. "Mr. Zachary Bemba! I''ll summarize all the terms Juventus can offer to convince you to choose our side. Please, listen carefully."

    Zachary leaned back in his seat and nodded to give him the go-ahead.

 Chapter 417 A Hard-to-Refuse Offer

    Chapter 417 A Hard-to-Refuse Offer¡¡¡¡"First of all," Mr. Stefano intoned, "Let''s start with the sry. Juventus is willing to offer you a weekly wage of 159,000 Euros if you agree to sign a four-year contract with us. That means that you will potentially earn 636,000 Euros per month and roughly 7.63 million Euros per year if you join Juventus. You''ll also be the highest-paid yer on our roster next season."

    "On top of the sry, Juventus will also pay you a sum of 69,000 Euros for every appearance you make for the club in an officialpetitive match. And if it so happens that you hit 40 goals and 30 assists in allpetitions in a season, the club will award you an additional 2 million Euros. In brief, if you could meet all uses, you could earn a lucrative wage of 13.5 million Euros per year. But that''s not all we''re offering."

    "To ensure you feel at home at the club, we''ll also settle your agent''s fees that we''ve costed at 10% of your annual sry. And to show our sincerity, we''ve also pushed ourselves and decided to reward you with a signing bonus of 28 million Euros."

    "If you sign with us, Juventus will pay you the signing bonus money in three batches. The first portion will be 15 million, and you''ll receive it within two weeks after signing the contract to join Juventus. The second batch will be 10 million, and you''ll receive it in your second year under contract. And finally, the third batch will be 3 million, and you''ll receive it during your third year under contract. That is our sincerity."

    Zachary''s heart was already racing by then. He had already realized that all the terms offered by Juventus topped those of Tottenham. Be it the weekly wage, the signing bonus, and the ying bonuses ¡ª they were all much higher than those proposed by Tottenham in the meeting earlier. As a result, his heart was starting to waver and tilt toward the side of Juventus.

    He wasn''t a monk or a saint. With all the money Juventus had put on the table, he couldn''t just continue treating Tottenham as his priority destination. But even then, he tried to maintain a poker face as he didn''t wish to put Emily in a vulnerable position during the forting negotiations.

    "Thank you, Stefano, for the presentation," Emily said, smiling. "I''ve just skimmed through the contract, and it''s tempting. But there are two uses that we find not to our liking. We would like you to amend them before we progress into further talks."

    Zachary''s eyes were almost widening on hearing that. He only managed to control himself to maintain his poker face after exerting all his willpower. But on the inside, he was still thinking, "Which uses did Emily find not to our liking? Why is it that I didn''t find them when I skimmed through the contract document?" He was slightly puzzled.

    "Miss Emily," Mr. Stefano said, his signature sunny smile outlining his face. "Go ahead and tell us which uses you find not to your liking."

    "First and foremost," Emily answered, "We won''t sign a contract containing a buy-out use of 80 million Euros. The most we can consider is 73 million Euros. That''s probably the fee you''ll pay Rosenborg to acquire my client. Secondly, we would like you to raise the signing bonus. My client has to settle down in a new country and a new city after joining your club. He''ll need to buy a house and organize a few things. The 28 million Euros won''t be enough. My rmendation would be 35 million Euros."

    A brief silence descended on the table as the facial expressions of all the gentlemen on the other side turned strange. They were probably wondering how the woman before them could spout nonsense with a straight face.

    "Miss Emily," the ever-smiling Stefano said, breaking the silence. "You''re really putting us in a difficult position. We presented our best offers because we didn''t want to waste your time negotiating. But now you''re asking for more. And a hell lot more."

    "I''m just looking out for my client," Emily said, a professional smile outlining her face. "I wish for him to settle down quickly in Turin. That way, he will be able to focus and y better football. Isn''t that what you people hope to see? Don''t you wish to see himfortable in Turin, scoring goals week in, week out?"

    "We do," Mr. Stefano said.

    "Then, we''re in agreement," Emily said. "So, please do the needful."

    Mr. Stefano leaned forward and nted his elbows on the table. "We can agree to amend the buy-out use and lower it to 75 million Euros. However, raising the signing bonus is difficult. Our financial position can''t allow us to offer Zachary more than 28 million."

    "Then, too bad," Emily said, her tone snappy. "If you can''t raise the signing bonus to an appropriate amount, further negotiations are off the table. I''m sure Mourinho and his Chelsea is willing to fork out an even higher signing bonus."

    "This..." The smile on Mr. Stefano''s face disappeared for the first time that afternoon. He looked at Fabio Paratici, the Juventus sporting director, for help.

    Fabio Paratici cleared his voice and locked gazes with Emily. "I know that you''re looking out for your client. But you''re also putting us in a difficult position. If we pay more money to Zachary, we''ll not manage to meet the fair y rules. That''s our difficulty. But to show our sincerity, we can still push ourselves and do all we can to take a step back. Let''s meet in the middle and agree on a buy-out use fee of 75 million and a signing bonus of 31 million. That is the highest we can offer."

    "32 million," Emily said. "32 million as the signing bonus and 75 million as the buy-out use fee. Then, we can reach an initial agreement here and now before we leave. We would only need to iron out some minor details in the contract before concluding negotiations quickly. It''s your call."

    Fabio leaned back into his seat and shook his head with helplessness. "Okay, 32 million it is," he said, seeming defeated. "But we have to put our initial agreement into writing right away. Additionally, Zachary has tomunicate to the public through social media that he has reached a preliminary agreement with us. He has to tell relevant parties that he''s about to be our yer."

    Emily tilted her head to face Zachary, her gaze questioning. "Honestly, what do you think?" She asked, softening her voice. "Is this a good deal? Do you agree to y for Juventus next season? Don''t mind the gentlemen across the table and speak your mind. I''ll support you even if you want to say no to this deal."

    Zachary''s thoughts were already crystal clear at that moment. He exhaled lightly and faced the gentlemen across the table. "I have seen your sincerity," he said, smiling. "So, I''m very willing to join your club next season. But that''s, of course, after ironing out the minor details in the contract that Emily mentioned."

    "Yeah!" Mr. Stefano Morganti was the first to jump up and celebrate. "Very nice choice, Zachary. Wee to Juventus." He extended his hand from across the table.

    Zachary stood up and took his hand. "Thank you, Mr. Stefano."

    After that, Zachary and Emily shook hands with Fabio Paratici, the Juventus sporting director, and Federico Delfini, the attorney, to seal the deal. They then ordered lunch and drinks to celebrate the beginning of their business rtionship.

 Chapter 418: Plans and Media Attention

    Chapter 418: ns and Media AttentionLater that evening, after enjoying avish English dinner, Zachary sat with Emily on her apartment''s balcony to enjoy a celebratory drink. From their high vantage point, their faces glowed with excitement as they appreciated the impressive view of Islington under a night sky filled with bright stars. They couldn''t contain their excitement after sealing a lucrative deal with Juventus.

    "Emily!" Zachary sighed, sipping on his lemon juice. "You''re really a ruthless agent. Securing 32 million Euros as a signing bonus! You were even about to make the sporting director cry."

    "You''re wrong about that," Emily said after sipping her red wine. Her face was rosy, her blue eyes glowing with cheerfulness, and her smile bright. She was obviously enjoying herself in Zachary''spany. "That sporting director is a very shrewd man," she continued. "He was only putting on an act to ensure I didn''t ask for more money. I feel that the 32 million we agreed upon was still two or three million Euros shy of his bottom line."

    "Is that so?" Zachary was surprised. "And here I thought the man was in dire straits, fighting to make ends meet."

    Emily chuckled. "That''s the deceitfulness that usually transpires around negotiation tables. But the good thing is that we still forced a good deal out of him."

    Zachary nodded, creasing a brow. "So, now that we''ve agreed to Juventus'' offer, what do we do about the Tottenham people? We promised to meet them tomorrow."

    "You ignore them," Emily said matter-of-factly. "As for me, I''llmunicate to them tomorrow early morning and tell them that the deal is off. Don''t feel sorry for them. You gave them an opportunity, but they failed to take it due to some bureaucratic procedures. They only have themselves to me for missing out on your signature."

    Zachary nodded again. He concentrated on sipping his juice while admiring the activities on the streets of Islington, spread out below the balcony. All the while, his thoughts whirled at fast speeds as various ns came together in his mind.

    Finally, he had chosen his next club. He now had to focus on moving from Trondheim and settling in Turin within the next few weeks. In between, he also had to consume the S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir so as to boost his body fitness. Then, he had to train arduously to fight off the elixir''s potent side effects before ying in the highlypetitive Serie A. His schedule was sure to be a hell-lot-busier over the uing few weeks.

    "So, when do you n to return to Trondheim?" Emily suddenly asked to break the brief period of silence on the balcony.

    "Is there anything more you need me to do here in London?" Zachary fired back. "Am I needed during the uing talks with the Juventus attorneys and agents?"

    "No," Emily replied. "We''re now going to start talks to revise and iron out the minor details in the contract. They involve a lot ofwyer jibber-jabber, as Mr. King would say. They only require attorneys of our two parties to be present."

    "So, when will I next be needed?" Zachary asked.

    "We''ll only require your presence when the final contract is ready for signing," Emily answered. "That will probably be three dayster, on Monday. We''ll probably have to travel to Turin and sign the contract there. What will follow will be meeting your coaches and club staff for the first time. After that, your unveiling ceremony will take ce ¡ª and you can finally start settling down in the new city of Turin."

    Zachary leaned forward and took another sip of his juice. "Considering all that," he said, "I have to return to Trondheim tomorrow morning tomence preparations. Otherwise, I might not be ready to move to Turin on Monday."

    "You don''t have to rush," Emily advised. "You can wait until we sign the contract before you shift to Turin. Don''t forget that you''ll have to purchase or rent a house before moving. The next three days won''t be enough for that."

    Zachary nodded and sighed. "I still have to return to Trondheim tomorrow morning. I have been away from the club for two months. I must return and say goodbye to a few people, especially my coaches, teammates, and friends. I also have to talk to my girlfriend about my move to Juventus. I don''t know how she''ll take it. I wonder whether she''ll agree to move with me to Turin. There is just a lot of stuff to take care of."

    "Don''t worry," Emily said. "Everything will fall in ce naturally. And before we forget, we must also inform Kristin to start preparing to move to Turin. Even though you''re shifting out of Trondheim, she still wants to remain your publicity secretary."

    "I know," Zachary replied. "I''ll talk to her when I return to Trondheim."

    "Good," Emily said. "Now that we''ve finished making ns for the next few days, you can make that official post, informing the public that you have agreed to join Juventus. We don''t want to rile the Juventus representatives by failing to keep our promises."

    "Sorry! I had already forgotten about that," Zachary said, smiling awkwardly. "Let me post the message on my Twitter and Instagram ounts now."

    "Go ahead," Emily encouraged. "Make sure that you post some evidence to show that you met with the Juventus representatives today. The pictures Stefano took with your phone after the meeting will do wonders."

    Zachary nodded and scooped up his phone from the table before him. He unlocked it before opening his Twitter app.

    With expert ease, he quickly uploaded a picture portraying Emily, Mr. Fabio Paratici, the Juventus sporting director, Mr. Federico Delfini, the attorney, and himself on the ount. Then, he typed thement, "Happy to reach an agreement with Juventus today afternoon," before tapping the tweet button. He repeated the same process and uploaded the same picture and message on his Instagram ount before cing the phone back on the table. He''d finally fulfilled the Juventus party''s requirement ofmunicating to the public that he''d reached an agreement with them.

    "You''re as brief as ever," Emilymented from the side while ncing at her phone''s screen. "You posted only a picture and a single sentence!"

    "But the post says all there is to say," Zachary argued. "It mentions that I have agreed to join Juventus and provides proof of our meeting with the people from Turin."

    Emily smiled. "True. And the post is just like you, efficient and to the point. By the way, what time do you wish to depart from London tomorrow?"

    "6:00 AM would be a good time to depart," Zachary said. "I want to be in Trondheim by ten in the morning."

    "Then, you should sleep early today," Emily suggested. "I''ll take you to the airport tomorrow morning."

    "Thanks." Zachary beamed.

    -----

    The following morning, Zachary''s two posts were trending on Twitter and Instagram. His short message about reaching an agreement with Juventus had caused the inte to explode with vibrant activity.

    Arge fraction of Zachary''s 2.4 million followers on Twitter and Instagram reacted to his posts, hoping to get the juicy details of his agreement with Juventus. But, of course, Zachary couldn''t offer any replies to them since he was seldom on social media. So, the task fell upon Kristin, the unfortunate publicity secretary, who spent the entire morning answering tweets with the limited information she possessed about the deal.

    Then, just as Kristin was about to lose her head, both Rosenborg and Juventus posted official statements about the deal on their websites and Twitter ounts. In as few words as possible, they stated that they had reached an agreement concerning Zachary Bemba, and he would be joining Juventus for a 74 million Euro fee, plus a few add-ons. They even mentioned that representatives from the two clubs would meet that afternoon to sign the associated contracts.

    "BOOM!"

    The two statements were explosive, like tonnes of dynamite ignited on the inte. Theizens and media houses quickly fed on the new information and reposted it, causing it to propagate far and wide on the global web.

    Before long, headlines about Zachary joining Juventus became a trending topic on the inte, forcing even the news of Luis Suarez''s alreadypleted transfer to Barcelona to fade into the background. And soon, even those as far as South America and Australia already knew that Juventus had signed Zachary Bemba, the neen-year-old wonder kid from Rosenborg.

    It was then that many football pundits began reacting to Zachary''s move. They took to the various sports news tforms and started predicting how Zachary might fare after joining Juventus.

    "Mark my words," Charles Adams, a reputable sports journalist, said during an interview with ESPN. "Zachary has a high chance of bing a flop at Juventus."

    "Aren''t you saying all this because you''re a Tottenham fan?" Emilia Vasquez, the ESPN presenter, questioned with a smile. "Aren''t you just bitter because Zachary abruptly ditched Tottenham and signed for Juventus?"

    "That''s not the reason," Charles responded, ncing into the camera. "I made this prediction without any bias. It''s only based on my professional judgment as an experienced sports journalist."

    "Then, please rify," Emilia Vasquez pressed, a smile still outlining her face. "Tell us why you think Zachary Bemba will be a flop at Juventus?"

    "The answer is simple," Charles Adams responded. "The Italian footballpetitions are morepetitive than any league Zachary has ever experienced. And I know people will argue that Zachary has already performed incredibly well in the Europa League. He has broken all records and so on. But that isn''t enough to guarantee that he will perform when he joins Juventus."

    "Last season, he was a new yer in the Europa League. Many coaches and yers weren''t aware of him because he was from a small club in a low-tier league. So, they couldn''t prepare immacte countermeasures against him. But now that he has joined an Italian giant, opponents will study him with a targeted obsession. They will develop countermeasures to defend and guard against him. That''s where his problems will begin."

    "And let''s not forget that he might not be able to make Juventus'' starting line-up in a long time. With Pirlo, Vidal, Pogba, and udio Marchisio on the squad, he''ll find it hard to secure a number on the starting eleven. And due to his limited experience, not securing a number will frustrate him and mess up his focus. What will follow will be him performing poorly on the pitch."

    "You sound like a prophet," Emilia Vasquezmented.

    "Not at all," Charles Adams said, shaking his head. "I''m no prophet, but just a sports analyst making a prediction with the information I have."

    ****  ****

 Chapter 419: Back to Trondheim

    Chapter 419: Back to TrondheimWhen Zachary arrived in Trondheim that morning, the news about his decision to join Juventus had already spread far and wide. Even the busy airport workers were already privy to the information that he was about to be a yer for the Italian giants. They kept stealing nces at him as he went through the airport procedures.

    Zachary, of course, chose to ignore them. He picked up his luggage and quickly exited the airport. After avoiding a few reporters who wanted to interview him, he boarded a taxi and headed to his apartment in Stj?rdalsveien.

    Thirty-five minutester, he paid the cab driver in front of his apartment building. Then, he pulled his luggage before making his way to the front entrance of the ce he had called home for more than a year.

    Complicated feelings rose within him as he ascended the stairs. He couldn''t help but recall how happy he was when he had first paid the booking fee and rent for the apartment. At that time, he''d just graduated from the academy. His heart had been full of anticipation and excitement as he had been about to be a Rosenborg yer. But now, just after about a year and seven months, he was about to say goodbye to Rosenborg, the same club he could only dream about joining during his previous life. The whole progress of events gave him a surreal feeling ¡ª but also caused him to swell with pride as he continued making his way up the stairs.

    "Zachary!" A familiar voice eximed, breaking his thought process as he reached the fourth floor. "Wee back to Trondheim. It has been long."

    "Kristin!" Zachary eximed back, looking towards the entrance of the apartment on the fourth floor. He took a few steps toward the charming girl he had first met in Lubumbashi, DR Congo, four years ago. "Yes, it has been more than two months since we met. How are you doing?"

    "I''m doing fine," she replied with a smile. "Come inside. I will make you something to drink." She pushed the door open and pointed toward the inside of her apartment.

    "Okay." Zachary nodded and pulled his suitcase through the doorway. He figured he could just conclude his talk with Kristin before ascending the stairs and going to his apartment.

    "So, can I get you some coffee, or can I get you some milk and cereal?" Kristin asked, closing the door behind her. The natural lighting in the room cast a rosy hue upon her blonde hair and face, making her seem like a fairy who had just descended to Earth.

    "Only a coffee will do," Zachary replied, smiling at her. He positioned his suitcase by the door and settled on one of the sofas in her living room.

    "Okay, I''ll get you some coffee," Kristin said and went to the kitchen to prepare the hot drink. She returned five minutester with a tray holding a cup and sk before gracefully cing it in front of Zachary.

    "Thank you," Zachary said, nodding at her. Without further ado, he opened the sk and poured himself some coffee.

    "So," Kristin intoned after settling on a sofa opposite Zachary, "I saw the news. You''re going to Juventus!"

    Zachary nodded, smiling awkwardly. "Sorry. It was an abrupt decision I made only yesterday. I couldn''t inform you in advance."

    "No problem," Kristin assured. "The only challenge is that you posted your decision on your official social media ounts without filling me in on the details. I could only reply vaguely to all your followers about your potential move to Juventus."

    "I apologize," Zachary said. "Ipletely forgot about that. I''ll fill you in on the detailster. Speaking of which, are you ready to move to Turin with me? You previously mentioned that you wanted to continue working as my publicity secretary even after I left Trondheim. Do you still feel the same way?"

    "Of course, I do," Kristin was quick to reply. "Yes, I wish to continue working as your publicity secretary. Otherwise, where would I find another lucrative job such as this?"

    Zachary smiled and took a sip of his coffee. "Then, you should prepare and shift to Turin as soon as possible. You can also call Emily and remind her about renewing your contract before you move."

    "Great, thank you," Kristin said, her amber-brown eyes glowing with excitement.

    "You''re wee. But let me remind you that you''ll have a hell-lot more responsibilities after you arrive in Turin. Now that my fame is growing, you won''t just be managing my social media ounts. For instance, you''ll also have to attend meetings withpanies that endorse me to draft ns to advertise their products using my brand as a professional athlete. I may also require you to take care of a few other responsibilities, such as managing correspondence with my partners and top fans, scheduling appointments, and making travel arrangements. In other words, you won''t just be my publicity secretary but also my personal assistant."

    "I understand," she said. "I''ll do my best to take up all those responsibilities."

    "Then, excellent," Zachary said and sipped his coffee again. "How''s your grandpa, by the way? How''s he doing?"

    "He''s doing fine," Kristin replied, sighing. "He''s also still waiting for you to make a decision about the issue he proposed. I hope you haven''t forgotten yet."

    "Of course not. The proposal to build a talent development center in Africa is still in my head. But I''m not ready yet. I need a few more years to prepare."

    Kristin nodded, smiling. "As long as you remember, then all is fine. By the way, I''m sorry about your grandma. I couldn''t be there in Congo for you. We had exams at the time, and I couldn''t travel for the funeral."

    "Don''t worry about that. It''s all in the past," Zachary said, feelings of bitterness rising within his heart. But he suppressed them the next instant and continued sipping his coffee.

    An awkward silence descended upon the living room for a few seconds until Zachary spoke again. "So, when will you move to Turin?"

    "At the end of next week," Kristin replied. "Is that okay?"

    "That''s a bit early. Why don''t you consider moving around August 15th?"

    "That''s fine," Kristin answered. "I will move by the 15th then."

    "Great." Zachary smiled and returned to sipping his coffee.

    He had already researched Juventus'' uing schedule the previous night. The Turin-based club wouldn''t y any official matches before August 30th. They would only y pre-season friendlies during the rest of July and August, which Zachary wanted to miss because of some of his other ns. He wished to use the time before the start of the Serie A to train like mad and help his body limatize to the effects of the S-grade elixir he was about to consume. Only after that would he settle down in Turin and start to actively seek an opportunity to y apetitive game for his new club.

    Thus, there was no need to push Kristin to travel to Italy when he wasn''t nning to settle there until after a month. As long as she shifted before the start of the Serie A (before August 30th), everything would be fine. She would settle in her new role even before Zachary yed his first official match.

    -----

    Zachary said his goodbyes to Kristin after finishing his coffee. He ascended the stairs and returned to his apartment on the sixth floor.

    He felt at home when he stepped into his living room. A smile framed his face as he nced around and noticed that the entire ce was like he''d left it two months ago. It was rtively tidy, and there wasn''t much dust on the exposed surfaces.

    Most likely, Cami, the only other person with a key to the ce, had taken the time to clean it often while he was away. And that saved him the time to sweep and mop it himself.

    He unpacked his luggage and quickly took a shower. Aftering out of the bathroom, he dried himself and put on a fresh set of casual clothes. Then, he returned to the living room and settled on one of his sofas before deciding to summon the system.

    Immediately, the all-familiar translucent crystal-like disy that was the system interface shimmered to life before him. It glowed with a blue splendor within the dimly-lit living room.

    "System," Zachary called out in his mind. "I would like to consume the S-graded vitality-enhancing elixir now."

    "Command received," the system AI replied. "Confirming... The user has a single dose of the S-graded vitality enhancing elixir stored in the inventory."

    "The user can select the respective card in the inventory to summon the elixir. As always, the user should ensure to consume the elixir within five seconds after its removal from the system inventory. Otherwise, its effects will expire if it spends more time out of the inventory."

    "Understood," Zachary replied.

    He tapped on the crystal-like disy to summon the S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir that looked like a miniature version of an apple. He swallowed it down in a single gulp before lying supine on the sofa. Then finally, he expelled a lungful of air to brace himself for the immediate agonizing effects of consuming the system potion.

    A few seconds passed, and a refreshing sensation washed across his body, seemingly nourishing his muscles, bones, internal organs, and blood. Then, his temperature spiked abruptly, and a sore irritation assaulted his entire being. His body started trembling as more effects of the potion kicked in and strengthened his physique.

    His eyes misted as he winced in agony. He felt like he was losing himself ¡ª like his body was being torn apart and put together thousands of times. But he still fought with all his willpower to maintain a clear state of mind. Then, just as he thought he could hold on until the end, the soul-tearing difort peaked, and a tremor jolted his body and consciousness. His eyes lost focus, and he cked out.

 Chapter 420: The Wondrous Effects of an S-Grade Elixir

    Chapter 420: The Wondrous Effects of an S-Grade Elixir

    Zachary shivered and awoke with a start after an indeterminable period of time. He nced around and noticed that it was already nighttime. Darkness had already enshrouded everything in the living room, and his eyes couldn''t even see a meter ahead of him. He blinked to adjust to theck of presence of light as he pushed himself up from the sofa.

    He let out a sound of disgust as he realized that his body and clothes were humid and sticky. There was even an unpleasant stench wafting about him, making him seem like a person that had slept in a garbage dump for days. "This abnormality! The vitality-enhancing elixir most have helped me expel foul substances from my body again. It''s like the washing of marrow in those Wuxia fiction masterpieces. I should be healthier and more fit."0 A myriad of thoughts fleeted around Zachary''s mind as he carefully made his way through the darkness, heading towards the direction of his bedroom. A secondter, he managed to switch on the lights, and the house came alive with brightness. Immediately, his eyes darted around the ce, taking in everything until they settled on the clock hanging on the opposite wall. "Eh! It''s already 9:30 PM!" Zachary''s eyes widened with surprise. He had cked out for roughly ten hours after consuming the elixir. Even though his mental ability was already at the S - grading, he still sumbed to the effects of the system potion and passed out for almost half a day. The system''s elixirs were just that potent as they increased in grade. "I better clean up first before anything else." The fishy stench wafting about him was making him quite ufortable. He rushed to the bathroom and took a warm shower, making sure to scrub all the filth off his body. In just a short while, he was fresh and clean. He dried himself before exiting the bathroom. As he was about to enter his bedroom, his eyes reflexively nced at his reflection in the full-body mirror. Staring back at him was a stern-looking tall man with a head adorned by messy ck hair and eyes as bright as gems. His body was like a divine artist''s masterpiece, with glowing light brown skin and well-streamlined muscles that were not too pronounced to gamer any attention if he was in casual clothes. But if he were to remove his shirt, people would be surprised by his prominent chest, shaped like a brick house, and his sleek six abs that stood out like tiles above his pelvis. 0 "It seems like the system''s S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir has done a lot of wonders for my body again," he thought as he turned his gaze away from the mirror and walked into the bedroom. His skin was as smooth as silk, without any blemish after his body relied on the S-grade elixir to expel numerous hidden wastes. He could even give models a run for their money even though he had never used skin care products nor gone to a dermatologist for a consultation.

    "System," Zachary called out in his mind after settling on his bed. "Bring up my fitness stats right away." "Command received," the system Al replied in its apathetic voice. "Hoses physical fitness attributes will being up on the interface shortly." With that said, the glowing crystal-like disy shimmered and appeared before Zachary. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation before starting to peruse the information portrayed on the system interface. ****

    *USER STATS

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: S+) Bnce and Coordination: 5-Agility: S+ Strength: S+ Stamina: 5+ Endurance Points: 87,500/88,000 (So)

    Zachary nodded to himself after reading through his updated physical fitness data. He felt contented after learning that all his fitness attributes, except Bnce and Coordination, had climbed from the S- to the S+ grading. The S -grade vitality-enhancing elixir was truly miraculous, and it had helped push his physical fitness to a higher rank. His confidence was surging, and he was starting to eagerly look forward to the day he made his debut for Juventus in Italy. "Now let me check out the side effects," Zachary thought and said, "System, please bring up my ser technique attributes on the interface." "Command received," the system Al intoned. "Ser Technique tsing up on the interface immediately." ****

    ->Ser Technique: (Av. Rating: A (S+)) Ball Control: A+ (S+) Dribbling Skills: A+ (5-) Passing uracy: 5- (So) Body Control: As (5-)

    NB: The grades in the brackets represent the user''s base stats or, in other words, the user''s attributes before consuming the 5-grade vitality-enhancing elixir.

    Zachary couldn''t help but sigh after his eyes took in his ser technique stats. As expected, his ball skills, such as ball control, dribbling, and passing uracy, had temporarily fallen to the lower grades. Since his body had experienced an explosive growth of fitness attributes in a short period of time, he couldn''t control it well yet ¡ª thus the decline in grades of his core techniques. Zachary had to train like a maniac over the next few days to master his improved body and attributes. Otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to raise them back to the S-grading within a short time. But even knowing all that, he wasn''t that worried. He understood that the higher his fitness and game intelligence attributes, the faster he would master skills. With his S- graded stats, he would only need to train intensively for about three weeks to master his strengthened body. Then, when the Serie Amenced on August 30th, he would be able to shine in great splendor for Juventus.0 "It''s time I ate something* 0 Zachary quickly dismissed the system interface. He put on another set of casual clothes before heading to the kitchen and making himself some dinner. Twenty minutester, he finished enjoying a sumptuous homemade dinner and brushed his teeth. Then, he went through his evening yoga routine before taking another shower and jumping into bed for the night.¡ã

    The following day, Zachary''s schedule was tight. Afterpleting his routine morning training, he started moving around to say his goodbyes to his acquaintances. He started by visiting Coach Johansen in the morning, who was surprisingly quite supportive of his move to Juventus. Then, he linked up with his old friends, Kasongo and the Ottersons, who congratted him uponnding a good deal in a top club. Andstly, he called upon his teammates, like Nlikael Dorsin, Nicki Nielsen, and Eric Bailly, who were already back in Trondheim for thest half of the Norwegian football season. By the time he finished saying his goodbyes to everyone, the clock hand had already pointed to six o''clock in the evening. He returned home and cleaned up before putting on an elegant pair of ck trousers and a sleek blue shirt. Then, after donning his well-polished ck shoes, he exited his apartment and descended the stairs. Before long, he sat snugly in his R8 GT and drove off to meet Cami for dinner at her ce. His mood was a bit jumpy as he guided the car through the busy evening traffic. His heart started to race with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation since he was about to meet Cami for the first time in a long time. He''dst talked to her physically at his grandma''s funeral two months ago. He missed her. 0 Of course, they hadmunicated often by phone while he was still in DR Congo. Cami would even video chat with him every once in a while. But that couldn''t beat meeting her physically and enjoying her presence. He arrived at her apartment in Lade about ten minutester and parked his car. He stretched out his hand and carefully picked up the banquet of flowers he''d bought earlier in the day from the passenger seat before exiting the vehicle. After locking the doors, he slowly ascended the stairs leading to Cami''s apartment.

    On reaching her door, he breathed in deeply and knocked a couple of times. Seconds passed, but to Zachary, it seemed like a week Then, the door opened silently, and Cami appeared in the doorway. She was as beautiful and as tititing as ever. Her skin glowed under the dim lighting, and her emerald-green eyes shone like two bright stars in the night sky. Then, there was that casual top and the pair of tight denim shorts she had worn to emphasize her swells and dips in all the right ces. She was basically a top diva hidden away in an apartment in Norway. "You''re really the most beautiful girl in the world," Zachary blurted out without thinking. Her beauty had already disarmed him, and heft even forgotten to hand her the flowers.

    Cami didn''t say anything in response. She just watched Zachary''s face for a few seconds before stepping forward and jumping into his embrace.

    They hugged there, in front of the door leading to her apartment, without caring for anything else.¡ã No words were exchanged for seconds. Then, in some uncanny way, their lips naturally came together, and they kissed deeply. The passion escted, and they found themselves backtracking into the apartment. Zachary kicked the door closed with his foot andtched it with his free hand. He then ced the flowers on a nearby table before concentrating on Cami, eager to continue progressing the R-action between them. Everything was instinctual as the tenderness bloomed between them, and soon, they were on the sofa making wild love like a pair of rabbits in heat. They caressed and explored each other with undivided attention, throwing all caution to the wind and immersing themselves in the sweet and intense throes of passion. They didn''t stop until about an hourter when the smell of burnt food assaulted their nasal senses..0

 Chapter 421: Camillas Considerations

    421 Cami''s Considerations

    "Damn!" Cami surprisingly let out an expletive. "That''s mysagna getting burnt." She freed herself from Zachary''s entanglement and ran off to the kitchen with a sense of urgency. She didn''t even bother to put on a single piece of clothing.

    Zachary''s eyes naturally followed her departing figure, his eyes drawn to the tantalizing swaying of her hips. His heart raced, and his throat seemed to go dry. He was drawn in by the ''optical nutrition'' presented before him.

    Then, Cami disappeared through the kitchen door, and Zachary caught himself. He smiled awkwardly and pushed himself off the sofa. In a matter of seconds, he put on his boxers before following after her.

    "Damn it! I spent hours preparing this dinner. Damn!"

    The first thing Zachary''s ears picked up when he stepped into the kitchen was unexpectedly a string of more curses. Cami was in the middle of pulling out a tray of charcoal ¡ª no ¡ª a tray of what was supposed to besagna from the oven.

    Her countenance at that moment was a tremendous contrast to how happy and sensual she had been only a minute ago. She looked totally dejected as she carefully ced the tray atop the granite kitchen counter.

    Zachary''s heart winced slightly. He quickly opened the kitchen window to let out the smoke and smell of burnt food before stepping toward Cami and patting her shoulder. "Sorry," he said in a soothing tone. "Don''t mind the food. We can make some more dinnerter."

    "Okay," Cami said, nodding and seeming to calm down. Then, she pointed at the mess of burnt food before her and continued, "I''m sorry about all this. I really wanted to make you some good dinner. But, I messed up greatly."

    "No, we messed up greatly," Zachary corrected, smiling at her. "Don''t forget that it takes two to tango. And don''t forget that I have already feasted on the most delicious dinner in the world." He winked and eyed her unclothed silhouette suggestively.

    The corners of Cami''s full lips curled into a smile. A sparkle appeared in her emerald-green eyes, and she stepped forward and hugged Zachary. "You, bad boy!" She purred, caressing his bare back.

    The sensual way she had said those three words ignited Zachary''s bestial nature. In one swift motion, he swept her into his arms and rushed off to her bedroom.

    In a matter of seconds, the two of them were atop Cami''s enormous bed, engaging in nature''s most primal and intimate ritual. Their passion was burning hot and urgent, and they explored each other for another thirty minutes before taking a shower together. Then, they dried themselves and put on casual clothes before returning to the kitchen to think about dinner.

    "We''re really sloppy and negligent," Cami said, eyeing the tray of burntsagna they had left sitting on the kitchen counter minutes ago. "What will we do about dinner now?"

    Zachary grinned. "No need to worry. We can order home-delivered dinner online through Foodora or Wolt. They have efficient and fast delivery services. For instance, we can order pizza. It will arrive in less than fifteen minutes."

    "Then, pizza it is," Cami agreed. "You can go make the order online. Meanwhile, I''ll pour out the burnt food, clean the tray, and prepare some fruits for us to enjoy with the pizza.

    "Okay, I''ll go make the orders," Zachary readily agreed. He then smiled at Cami encouragingly before stepping out of the kitchen.

    -----

    Twenty minutester, Zachary and Cami sat at the table in the kitchen, enjoying their home-delivered dinner. The artificial lighting of the ce cast rosy glows upon their faces as they swallowed down chunks and chunks of Italian pizza. Their smiles were bright, their eyes glittering, and their postures rxed as they ate with relish. They were obviously enjoying their meal and each other''spany.

    "So," Zachary said after wolfing down another piece of pizza. "I''ll be joining Juventus for the next season." He finally breached the topic that had mainly brought him to Cami''s ce.

    "I''m aware," Cami replied, sighing. "I heard in the news. Congrattions. I''m really happy for you."

    The way she responded made Zachary think she wasn''t happy, but he didn''t deliberate much about the issue. "Thanks," he replied as he locked gazes with her. "Now that I''m moving to Italy, how do we maintain our rtionship? Turin is thousands of kilometers from Trondheim!"

    Cami raised a brow and nted her elbows on the table. "What exactly are you implying?"

    "Is there a possibility of you moving to Turin with me?" He asked, meeting her gaze. "We could also move in together after arriving there."

    During the two months Zachary spent in Bukavu, he had done some introspection. He had constantly asked himself whether it would be easy to find another incredibly gorgeous, caring, and understanding girl like Cami. The answer was that the prospect was extremely difficult. After having bad experiences dating all kinds of ''y queens'' during his previous life, Zachary knew deep in his heart that women who were both beautiful and down-to-earth like Cami were as rare as four-leaved clovers. You could search through dozens of cities for years without finding one. That was why Zachary had resolved to ask Cami to follow him to Turin.

    Cami nced at Zachary with widened eyes. She was clearly surprised and caught off guard. She breathed in deeply ¡ª as if to calm herself down and said, "But I have a job here in Trondheim. I''m under contract with Audi to work here in Norway. I can''t get up one day and decide to leave. That would be unprofessional."

    "Oh!" It was Zachary''s turn to get caught unprepared, and his mind nked out for a moment. He recovered a secondter and was about to argue that she could work around the contract or find a way to allow her to move to Turin. But just then, a jolt went through his mind, and he stopped suddenly.

    He had just realized that if Cami really wanted to move to Turin with him, she would have jumped at the chance. If she really wanted to move in with him, she would have at least tried to think of the loopholes in her contract with Audi. That was because there was always a way where there was a will to make things happen. That was the simple and harsh truth.

    "Oh, Zachary!" Cami said from across the table. "Don''t put on that sad expression. We can still continue our rtionship, even if I don''t move to Turin."

    "Really?" Zachary was a bit skeptical. The only way they could continue their rtionship was over a long distance. And from what he had heard, agreeing to a long-distance rtionship was like weing a pot of troubles. You might even go six months without seeing your partner, and in the end, she might cheat on you with another nearby and convenient guy.

    "First listen," Cami hurriedly said. "I know you might think that long-distance rtionships usually fail. But that doesn''t have to be the case on our part. We can be the exception and make things work. For instance, I could visit you often to ensure we don''t fall apart. On top of chatting regrly by phone, I could alsoe to your matches every weekend. You won''t even feel that I''m not living in Turin. I''ll always be there when you need me. That''s even how it has been between us here in Trondheim. I onlye to your ce for one or two days each week. But our rtionship has stood strong for about a year. Isn''t that so?"

    Thinking about the issue carefully, Zachary immediately came to a realization that their rtionship was as Cami had described. While he was busy training, they could go even weeks without a meeting, but they hadn''t faced any serious problems in their rtionship.

    "You do have a point," Zachary agreed after deliberating for a moment. "Then, if you''re okay with it, we can continue our rtionship over a long distance."

    "Of course, I''m okay with it," Cami said, beaming. "I''m the one who brought up the idea. Let''s continue with dinner and forget the sad stuff."

    "Okay."

    ********

    The following morning, just as the day dawned crisp and clear, Cami said goodbye to Zachary. She kissed him, then escorted him down the stairs before watching him drive away in his Audi R8 GT.

    Just then, memories of their previous night''s conversation yed within her mind, causing her expression to flicker with a trace of regret. She sighed and shook her head as she watched Zachary''s car disappear around a corner in the distance.

    Honestly, she had been tempted to ept his offer. Arge part of her had wanted to throw all caution to the wind and follow him to Turin. But after considering a few issues, she had exerted all her will to say no to him.

    First, there was the issue of him never showing too much attachment to her. If she didn''t try to call him more often, he might even spend weeks without talking to her. That begged the question of whether he was really into her.

    Then, there was also the matter of Zachary never telling her about his ns or hardships. He would always first talk to his beautiful agent before informing her of anything important. And that begged the question of whether he really saw her as his potential life partner or just a trial-and-error girlfriend.

    After considering all that and a few more issues, Cami had hardened herself and politely rejected his invitation to Turin. She had decided to remain cautious and see how their rtionship could persevere through the test of a long distance. Then, she would confirm whether they were meant to be before encouraging the next step of their rtionship.

    ********

 Chapter 422: Directives from the New Club

    Chapter 422: Directives from the New ClubZachary returned to his apartment in Stj?rdalsveien after leaving Cami''s ce. He wasn''t in the best of moods as he changed into a fresh set of training clothes and settled into his morning yoga routine.

    He couldn''t seem to focus as thoughts of his conversation with Cami continued revolving within his mind. He even mistimed the execution of his yoga poses a couple of times due to his recurring episodes of absentmindedness.

    While driving back from Cami''s ce, he had done some introspection and realized that he''d handled the whole conversation with her in an amateurish way. He did not ask her about her work with Audi or if she liked the prospect of living in Italy. He just went ahead and dived in to invite her to move to Turin with him. Moreover, that was after not informing her beforehand about his decision to join Juventus. What the hell was up with that?

    Zachary felt¡ªlike banging his head on the nearby table as he carefully thought things through. Was she supposed to drop everything and follow after him, the certain someone who was only offering her an uncertain future? Who was he to her? She was not even his official wife. How sure could she be that he wouldn''t leave her for some bimbo after a few months? Zachary slowly came to see her side of things as he calmed down. He sighed and continued going through his yoga practice, albeit with more intensity.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    Suddenly, his phone started vibrating from a nearby table. He paused his yoga practice and stepped forward to pick it up. On ncing at the screen, his heart started racing with anticipation. He epted the call and ced the phone against his ear.

    "Hello, Zachary," Emily''s bubbly voice sounded from the other end of the line the next instant. "Good morning?"

    "Good morning to you too," Zachary answered, his mood immediately improving. "As always, it''s a pleasure to hear from you. What''s new? Could it be that the contract is ready for signing?"

    Emily chuckled. "You guessed right. Together with the attorneys representing Juventus, we worked almost round the clock since yesterday morning. We polished the contract and produced a final draft just today. It''s ready for signing."

    A smile outlined Zachary''s face as he sat cross-legged on the yoga mat. He switched the phone to his other ear and said, "Thanks for the hard work."

    "You''re wee," Emily replied.

    "When am I needed to sign the contract?"

    "Tomorrow," Emily intoned. "Have you forgotten that it will be a Monday? It''s the day we agreed that you would travel to Turin for the official signing ceremony."

    "Of course, I remember," Zachary said. "I was merely confirming."

    "There''s an issue you should know before tomorrow," Emily said, her tone suddenly turning solemn.

    "Speak away. I''m all ears."

    "Yesterday," Emily said, "I spoke with Mr. Fabio Paratici about your wish to officially report for duty at Juventus at the end of August. First, I exined to him that you wanted to use the month before the start of the Serie A to shift and settle down in Turin. Then, I borated on how you needed time to train individually to regain your fitness, especially after spending two months out of action. I was quite persuasive as I wanted Juventus to exempt you from ying the pre-season friendlies. Guess what his response was."

    Zachary''s heart skipped a beat. "Did he refuse?"

    "Exactly," Emily confirmed. "Fabio is a tough man. He totally refused to hear me out. First, the man quoted how Juventus would start paying you a weekly wage of roughly 160,000 Euros per week after you signed the contract. Then, he went on and on about how it would be unfair to the club if you couldn''t report for duty as soon as possible. His words: you would be pocketing money without doing any work, which was uneptable at a top European Club like Juventus."

    "Mr. Fabio also hinted about the attitude of the new coach - Massimiliano Allegri," Emily continued. "Coach Allegri wants all his yers, including those that participated in the World Cup, to feature in Juventus'' pre-season program. He wants to use the pre-season friendlies to foster chemistry within the team before themencement of the Serie A season. So, as you can see, he won''t tolerate any yer missing the pre-season tour. That is unless a yer is injured or has another significant reason that prevents him from ying in an intensive official match."

    Zachary''s mood sank on hearing all that. He had just consumed the S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir and needed about a month to train intensively and escape its side effects. So, if he participated in the pre-season tour, he might perform below par and disappoint his new club and bosses.

    "So, when does Juventus want me to report for duty in Turin?" He asked after taking in a deep breath.

    "The sporting director said the maximum they can allow is ten days for you to shift and settle down in Turin," Emily replied. "That means you don''t have to feature in Juventus'' first two friendlies against A.C.D. Lucento and Cesena. Bute 1st August, you''ll have to head out with the rest of the Juventus team for the pre-season tour of Asia and Australia. That''s a must for all Juventus yers that aren''t on injury spells."

    "And, of course, we can''t im that you are injured so that you can miss the pre-season tour," Emily warned. "That''s because the club will conduct a thorough medical examination before the signing ceremony tomorrow. The physicians will be able to ascertain the condition of your body with almost a hundred percent uracy. You can''t get away with the excuse of being injured."

    "I see," Zachary said, expelling another lungful of air. "In that case, I''ll go along with what they want and join their pre-season tour of Asia and Australia. I don''t want my absence to put me at loggerheads with my soon-to-be bosses."

    "Excellent choice, Zachary," Emily yelled from the other end of the line. "Before making the call, I was fretting over the fact that you might continue insisting on missing the pre-season tour. But now, it seems that I was worried for nothing."

    "Of course, I wouldn''t go against the directives of my new coach," Zachary said matter-of-factly. "That would be a gateway to hell, especially at a new club. I have a feeling that the coach would even choose to bench me for weeks or months if I insisted on missing the pre-season tour."

    Although Zachary said that, he had already thought things through. He had realized that Juventus'' pre-season tour would consist of matches against very low-tier teams in Asia and Australia. As a Juventus yer, he would only face off against footballers less skilled than even those ying for the teams at the bottom of the Norwegian League. Thus, Zachary didn''t need to fear the pre-season matches. That was because he could still put up modest disys against such yers, even with his recently-declined technique attributes.

    "I''m d that you understand the importance of making a good first impression," Emily said after a moment. "If you maintain that attitude, you won''t face any major problems while trying to fit into the Juventus team."

    "Hopefully," Zachary intoned. "So, at what time should I arrive in Turin tomorrow?"

    "As early as possible," Emily replied immediately. "It''s best that you set off from Trondheim before five in the morning. That will allow you to arrive in Turin before 11:00 AM. I can even wait for you at the airport if you n on following that exact schedule."

    "You speak as if you''re already in Turin," Zachary remarked. "Could that be the case?"

    "Of course, I''m already in Turin," Emily answered. "I arrived here yesterday morning. That aside, can you manage to set off from Trondheim before 5:00 AM tomorrow?"

    "Fine," Zachary confirmed. "I will wake up early and set off before five in the morning."

    "That''s perfect, then," Emily said. "I''ll book a 4:30 AM flight for you. You only need to prepare and, at thetest, be at the airport by 4:00 AM."

    "Don''t worry," Zachary assured. "I''ll be there on time."

    "One more thing," Emily hurriedly said. "I''m going to e-mail you a copy of the final draft of the contract. Please read through it and note down all the terms that might be confusing or not to your liking. We can go through them tomorrow before we head to the Juventus grounds for the medical and the signing ceremony."

    "Understood," Zachary replied. "I''ll read through it before the end of today."

    "Excellent," Emily cheered from the other end of the line. "I have to go now. Goodbye. See you in Turin tomorrow."

    "See you in Turin tomorrow," Zachary replied and ended the call.

    He ced the phone on the table and nced at the wall absentmindedly. Then, his expression flickered a couple of times before blossoming into a smile.

    He was both anxious and excited. Although he was yet to regain his peak fitness, he was still eagerly looking forward tomencing his life at his new club.

    He hungered for the thrill ofpeting against other phenomenal talents ying for top teams partaking in the Serie A and the Champions League. He yearned to impress and leave his mark on the world football scene. And from the bottom of his heart, he desired to make his grandma in heaven proud of his future performances so that she would sing happily together with the angels whenever she saw him y.

    Of course, he was a bit nervous since he had to learn a newnguage andpete against world-ss teammates before settling down and cementing his ce at Juventus. But that couldn''t dampen his mood.

    With his recently improved fitness, he was sure that he would shine as long as he dealt with the side effects of the vitality-enhancing elixir in a proper manner. He just had to bide his time and train intensively while getting through the tricky period of the pre-season. Then, his time woulde when he regained his peak fitness. His time woulde just when the Serie A was about tomence at the end of August. That was the source of his confidence.

 Chapter 423: On the Eve of the Journey to Turin

    Chapter 423: On the Eve of the Journey to TurinZacharypleted his routine morning yoga practice soon after ending his call with Emily. He took a shower and went about the task of packing his luggage as quickly as possible.

    He was meticulous while loading and arranging all his vital necessities, including his clothes, shoes, and documents, into his suitcases. He didn''t forget anything important as he wanted to move once and for all to Turin.

    He didn''t wish to continue journeying back and forth between Trondheim and Turin in order to move more of his stuff. That would waste a lot of time, which he could better utilize to train and elevate his ball skills back to the peak before themencement of the Serie A.

    As for his other bulky belongings like furniture, electrical gadgets, and kitchenware, he could not move them all the way to Italy. He had already resolved to either discard them or give them away. He would seek the help of Ryan Bellmore, Emily''s short friend, who would distribute them to people or green shops that needed them. And, of course, when he arrived in Turin, he would buy new items.

    Minutes quickly turned into hours as Zachary worked with haste to organize his luggage. He finished packing everything at around 2:30 PM and then arranged his four suitcases by the door. Then he took another shower before settling on his kitchen table to enjoy some home-delivered lunch.

    After eating, he tossed the dirty dishes into the dishwasher before exiting his apartment and driving off to the NF Academy grounds. He was heading to the youth football training center toplete two tasks.

    Firstly, he wanted to meet Coach Bj?rn Peters. He nned to request him to move to Italy with him so that he could continue being his fitness trainer. Secondly, he wished to fulfill a promise by delivering the jersey he had worn during the Europa League final to a young man called Joshua Simonsen at the academy.

    Traffic was light on the roads that Sunday afternoon, allowing Zachary to travel from his apartment to the academy in only twenty minutes. He parked his car in one of the parking spaces and headed to the fitness trainer''s office.

    On arriving and entering the cramped office, he found Coach Bj?rn Peters seated behind his desk, working on who knows what. His muscr physique was hunched over hisptop as he typed away at an impressive speed.

    "Zachary," the fitness coach eximed, ncing up after a few seconds. "You''re finally here! I thought that we had agreed to meet at 2:00 PM. It''s nowing to 3:30 PM. What happened?"

    "Sorry, coach," Zachary said, smiling. "The packing of my bags was a harder task than I expected. Even though I worked with haste, I could only manage to finish cramming everything into my suitcases at around 2:30 PM."

    "Oh!" Coach Bj?rn Peters nodded. "So, everything is ready. When do you leave?"

    "Tomorrow, early in the morning," Zachary replied, settling down in one of the seats in front of the coach''s desk. "I should be setting off before five in the morning."

    "This is really happening," Coach Bj?rn Peters said with a grin. "You''re about to start ying for Juventus, one of the biggest clubs in Europe. How do you feel?"

    "Honestly," Zachary replied, "I''m a bit anxious."

    "You don''t have to be," the fitness trainer assured. "Life at any club is the same. As long as you''re talented and hardworking, you''ll find it easy to fit into any team, including Juventus."

    "Thanks for your encouragement, coach," Zachary said humbly. "Coach! I''m here to talk to you about something else."

    The coach leaned back into his chair and said, "Go on. I''m listening."

    Zachary nodded and asked, "Coach! How do you feel about living in Italy? How do you feel about moving to Turin?"

    Coach Bj?rn Peters raised a brow. "Is this an invitation? Are you inviting me to Italy to continue working as your fitness trainer?"

    "Yes, it is an invitation," Zachary confirmed, nodding. "I sincerely wish to invite you to Italy so that you can continue working as my fitness trainer. We could even negotiate a new sry structure if you are to agree to my proposition."

    Coach Bj?rn Peters smiled. "Honestly, I wish to continue working as your fitness trainer," he said. "However, one tiny issue is holding me back from immediately epting your invite."

    Zachary''s eyes narrowed slightly. "What is it?"

    Coach Bj?rn Peters sighed in response and fired back a question. "Zachary! Is there a possibility of you hiring a professional chef before moving to Turin?"

    Zachary was stunned by the question. He didn''t immediately respond as he tried to figure out why Coach Bj?rn Peters had suddenly switched the topic.

    "Well?" The fitness trainer pressed before Zachary coulde up with an answer. "Do you wish to hire a professional chef to help you arrange your meals? Now that you''re joining a top European club like Juventus, you''ll have to maintain a strict diet. A professional chef would do wonders and help you achieve that."

    "I think the idea is good," Zachary finally replied. "I would like to hire a professional chef or, better yet, a nutritionist to arrange my diet. That will be good for my training. But why are you asking me this? Do you have a candidate in mind?"

    "Excellent guess," the fitness trainer intoned, a grin outlining his face. "My wife is both a professional chef and a certified dietitian. If you could employ her, she would do a good job organizing your diet. Trust me; she''s good at what she does. She is currently working as the head chef at the rion Hotel."

    Zachary chuckled. "You sound like an insurance salesman. But that aside, you want me to employ her so she can move with you to Italy?"

    "That''s my wish," the fitness trainer said, nodding.

    "That''s easy then," Zachary said, smiling. "If she''s as good as you say, I''ll surely hire her. I will tell Emily to contact you with details of the terms of her employment contract."

    "Excellent! Thank you, Zachary," the fitness trainer gave a small cheer. "I''m very excited to continue working as your fitness trainer even after you move to Turin. Thanks for giving my wife and me this opportunity."

    "You''re wee," Zachary said, a bit taken aback by the coach''s enthusiasm. He had previously thought he would need to push a bit more to convince the fitness trainer to follow him to Turin. But surprisingly, the coach had jumped at the chance after he promised to hire the wife, who was surprisingly a skilled chef and certified dietitian.

    Zachary couldn''t stop smiling on the inside. He felt like he had hit the jackpot since he had only invited one professional but obtained two without the need to negotiate the terms defining their employment first. It was like the ssic case of buy one but get two. What a good bargain that was.

    "When do you want us in Turin?" Coach Bj?rn Peters asked.

    "As soon as possible," Zachary said. "As soon as Emily contacts you, you can begin negotiating the contract terms concerning your employment. Then, as soon as youe to an understanding with our party, you move to Turin without further dy. I really hope that you''ll be avable to help me regain my top match fitness before the start of the Serie A season."

    "Then, I''ll be eagerly waiting for Emily''s call," the coach said. "Immediately after receiving our contracts from her, we''ll work with haste to read through them and understand them. And if everything is to our liking, we''ll sign them to seal our business rtionship. I can then travel to Turin and start helping you regain peak match fitness.

    "Excellent," Zachary intoned, standing up. "This marks the extension of our rtionship as coach and yer. Thanks for agreeing to my offer, coach." He extended his arm from across the table.

    "You''re wee." Coach Bj?rn Peters stood up and took his hand for a firm handshake. And that marked the start of a solid business rtionship that would take them ces in the future.

    -----

    After leaving Coach Bj?rn Peters'' office, Zachary linked up with Joshua Simonsen, the young fan he''d promised his jersey. They met in a concealed location near the academy''s parking lot, where Zachary offered the young footballer the jersey he''d worn during the Europa League final.

    "As promised," Zachary said, handing him the ck jersey, "Here is the signed jersey. It''s the exact one I put on during the Europa League final."

    "Thanks a lot," Joshua Simonsen mumbled incoherently, his expression constantly flickering with various emotions. Then, before Zachary could respond, he yelled at the top of his lungs like a mad man, "Oh, my God. I have obtained Zachary''s Europa-League-winning jersey. Who can match my awesomeness from now on?" His yelling was so loud, and it immediately attracted a crowd of academy yers.

    Those academy yers soon swarmed around Zachary, asking him this and that with glittering eyes. And since he couldn''t simply ignore them, he spent roughly an hour answering their endless questions before leaving the academy in his R8 GT.

    Thirty minutester, he met Cami at a cafe in City Syd. The two of them had an early dinner together at a corner table as Zachary informed her about his intent to leave Trondheim and head to Turin the following morning.

    Cami, of course, was as understanding as ever. She wished him the best of luck in the new city of Turin and made him promise to call her often. Then, after the meal, she sent him off with a goodbye kiss before turning and walking away towards her car.

    Zachary continued watching her all the time until she entered her car and waved him goodbye. He sighed as she drove off into the distance, his mind recalling all their intimate moments together. At that moment, he understood that he adored her greatly and really hoped their rtionship could continue going strong even after he moved to Turin.

 Chapter 424: Language Barrier and Signing Ceremony

    Chapter 424: Language Barrier and Signing CeremonyMonday, July 21, 2014.

    **** ****

    As nned, Zachary arrived in Turin at around ten in the morning on that Monday. After settling down and cing his luggage in a hotel room, he got busy by first meeting Emily to discuss the details of the contract. Then, after the meeting, the two of them traveled together to the Juventus Training Center, colloquially known as "the Vinovo" by the Turin footballmunity.

    There, at the Vinovo, proceedings moved forward fast, and Zachary underwent a rigorous medical conducted by the highly skilled and experienced physicians of Juventus'' physiotherapy center. Without any surprises popping up, he passed with flying colors, thus oveing the final hurdle that could have barred his way from bing a Juventus yer.

    "I will go meet the Juventus attorneys to sort out the final contract issues that we discussed," Emily said after they left the physiotherapy center. "We must polish the document before the signing ceremony at 3:00 PM. In the meantime, you can head to the canteen for lunch. Do you remember where it is? I showed it to you right after we entered the training center."

    "I think I remember," Zachary replied, sounding totally not confident. Inwardly, he was ashamed as he had ignored most of Emily''s introductory exnation about the facilities in the training facility due to his excitement. He had only managed to engrave the locations of the training turfs and the gyms into his mind while reflexively choosing to ignore everything else.

    Emily raised a brow and tilted her head to nce up at him. "You think, or you know? Which one is it?"

    Zachary smiled awkwardly in response.

    Emily shook her head and eximed, "Footballers! How can they easily forget directions when they can make snap decisions and find their teammates at a moment''s notice during intensive matches? Truly baffling!" She sighed before saying, "Come; follow me. I''ll take you to the canteen before heading off to the meeting with the attorneys. I don''t want you losing your way, especially since you don''t speak Italian."

    "Thanks," Zachary mumbled.

    With Emily leading the way, they arrived at the entrance of the canteen within five minutes. Zachary said his goodbyes to her and immediately walked through the doorway.

    On entering the spacious and fancy canteen, Zachary surprisingly ran into two familiar club officials, who were also about to have lunch. One was Fabio Paratici, the sporting director he had met in London. The other was his soon-to-be coach, Massimiliano Allegri, the man he''d seen several times on television during his previous life.

    "Zachary!" Mr. Fabio Paratici was the first to call out to him in English. "It''s great to see you again, my young friend. We''re excited to have you here. Wee to Juventus." He extended his hand.

    "Thank you, Mr. Paratici," Zachary replied, taking the hand for a firm handshake. "It''s really a pleasure to arrive here in Turin. I''m looking forward to life at this club."

    Mr. Paratici chuckled and turned to the recently appointed Juventus coach beside him. "Let me take the opportunity to introduce you to this gentleman here. He''s Massimiliano Allegri, and hopefully, he''ll be your coach for many years."

    Zachary immediately inclined his head to observe the famous coach he had heard so much about during his previous life. The first impression that the coach gave to Zachary was that he was an easy-going and friendly person. There seemed to be a warm air swirling around him as he smiled and enthusiastically extended his hand to Zachary.

    "Wee to Juventus," the coach said, his speech sounding strained. He had struggled to pronounce the three words ¡ª a tell-tale sign that he had little or almost no Englishnguage knowledge. But that didn''t dampen his presence as he waited for Zachary to take his hand. He was obviously a confident man who couldn''t allow a few shorings to affect his bearing.

    "Thank you, Coach Allegri," Zachary replied in English, taking the gentleman''s hand. "It''s a pleasure meeting you, and I look forward to working with you."

    Zachary then stepped back and waited for Mr. Paratici to trante his English words for the benefit of the Italian coach. In the meantime, his mind quickly formed an impression of Massimiliano Allegri - the famous coach from his previous life who reced Antonio Conte and guided Juventus to win many Serie A, Coppa Italia, and Supercoppa Italiana titles.

    Although it was their first meeting, Zachary felt that Massimiliano Allegri was a coach he could work with to elevate his career to incredible heights. Allegri seemed like an empathetic and spirited man on the first impression. He even repeatedly tried to strike up a friendly conversation with Zachary after their group of three settled at one of the tables to enjoy their meals.

    But s, Zachary couldn''t understand whatever he was saying since he was totally ignorant as far as the Italiannguage was concerned. And, of course, Fabio Paratici couldn''t keep functioning as his trantor as he soon got busy on the phone, doing whatever sporting directors usually did. As a result, the two men who couldn''t understand each other could only halt their sorry efforts to hold a meaningful conversation. They continued enjoying their meals quietly while waiting for Mr. Paratici to end his phone call.

    In the meantime, Zachary started making some resolutions within his mind as he enjoyed hisst lunch before signing the contract to seal his move to Juventus. After settling in Turin, he vowed to spare time and join anguage school that could allow him to learn Italian as soon as possible. Secondly, Zachary resolved to purchase a good house with spacious floor space immediately after receiving the first 15 million Euros of his signing bonus money. He wanted a ce of his own as he didn''t wish to continue residing in a hotel room.

    "You guys are very quiet," Mr. Paratici remarked, interrupting Zachary''s thought process. He had justpleted his phone conversation. "It seems thenguage barrier issue is hindering you frommunicating."

    "That''s the case," Zachary confirmed.

    "You should learn Italian as soon as possible," Mr. Paratici advised. "Otherwise, you''ll find it a challenging task to settle down and livefortably here. You won''t even be able tomunicate to most of your teammates and even your coach."

    "I know," Zachary said. "I''ll join thenguage school as soon as possible."

    Mr. Paratici nodded and switched the topic. "So, I looked at the results of your medical. They are quite impressive. It seems you are ready to head out with the rest of the team on the tour of Asia and Australia."

    "I''m not yet at a hundred percent match-fitness condition, especially since I''ve been out of action for two months," Zachary confessed. "But I''ll work extra hard over the next few days to prepare for the tour."

    "Good," Mr. Paratici said, nodding. "ying the pre-season matches will help you regain your peak fitness faster. You should look forward to the tour."

    "I understand. I''ll be ready for the tour," Zachary said and returned his focus to his food.

    A period of silence soon descended at the table as the three men concentrated on wolfing down their Italian dishes. Theypleted their meal in minutes and exchanged pleasantries before parting and going their own ways.

    -----

    By 3:00 PM on that sunny Monday afternoon in Turin, Zachary was already in one of the conference rooms of the Juventus headquarters in Corso Galileo Ferraris, ready to sign the contract to join the Italian club. He was all smiles as he settled in the seat of honor positioned in-between the spots upied by Fabio Paratici and Massimiliano Allegri, his soon-to-be bosses.

    Behind Zachary''s seat stood Emily, his agent acting as his interpreter for the signing ceremony. She had donned an ocean bluedy''s suit that emphasized her lithe figure and brought out the color of her eyes. She looked all professional with her hair tied in a ponytail at the top of her head.

    Zachary felt more confident with her by his side. As always, Emily was the ever-caring agent and had volunteered to take up the interpreter role since she was fluent in Italian, French, and English. That allowed Zachary to calm down as Emily could always chip in to inform him about the crucial points of all the discussions around him during the signing ceremony. Moreover, by staying close to Zachary, she could also watch out for any pitfalls that the attorneys of Juventus could add to the contract during thest minutes before the signing ceremony.

    "Wee,dies and gentlemen," thedy, acting as the master of ceremonies, said to break the low murmuring around the conference room. "For Zachary Bemba''s benefit, we will hold this ceremony in mostly English. But you can rely on your trantion software to continue following the proceedings. Now to the main event. It''s a good day for Juventus as we wee Zachary Bemba, the 19-year-old football phenomenon, to this glorious club of Turin..."

    "p! p! p..."

    No sooner had the wordse out of her mouth than a round of apuse resounded around the conference room. The club officials in attendance pped their hands for about a minute to wee Zachary to the club without caring about procedures or etiquette. Some even whistled and yelled at the top of their voices, clearly forgetting the fact they were in a meeting chaired by their bosses.

    Zachary was quite stunned by their enthusiasm as he watched on from the seat of honor. But he maintained hisposure and continued smiling while waiting for the master of ceremonies to resume her speech.

    "Well, it seems everyone here is excited and eagerly waiting to see Zachary Bemba in the Juventus colors," thedy master of ceremonies smiled and continued after the pping had died down. "So, without further ado, let the contract signing begin."

    With that said, the club attorneys brought the contract documents forward. They ced a copy each before Zachary, Massimiliano Allegri, and Fabio Paratici and motioned for them to go ahead and sign the papers.

    Of course, the signing was without issues. Zachary put pen on paper on each page to confirm his move to Juventus. Then, he shook hands with Fabio Paratici, the sporting director, and Massimiliano Allegri, his new coach, to monumentalize the deal. Meanwhile, the cameras clicked and shed to record the memorable moment in football history when Zachary joined Juventus.

 Chapter 425: The Excitement of the Juventus Fans

    Chapter 425: The Excitement of the Juventus FansPaolo Favero was a staunch fan of Juventus from the inside out. He had supported the Turin-based club since childhood when yers like Zinedine Zidane and Alessandro Del Piero were in their prime. He had also witnessed the fall of Juventus in 2006 due to the Calciopoli Scandal.

    During the investigations, the Juventus managing director at the time was found guilty of having an exclusive rtionship with referee designations, which allowed the director to exert his influence while handpicking referees for the matches. The Juventus club director also faced usations of wielding his power over yers and other clubs. And that was what specifically sealed the club''s relegation to the lower Serie B division in 2006.

    At that time, Paolo''s mood had been at the lowest it had ever been due to the fall of Juventus. The sorrow had been too much for him, and he had been about to retire from supporting football. But luckily for him, the club had turned over a new leaf and quickly made many crucial reshuffles before he could follow through with the decision.

    Those reshuffles worked wonders in a short time, and the club managed to rise from the ashes in a short period. Juventus returned to the top Serie A league after a single season before iming the 3rd spot and qualifying for the Champions League. Things worked out well starting from then, and Juventus began dominating Italian football again for the next couple of seasons.

    But all that couldn''t excite Paolo. His belief in his club was not as firm as before, as he feared the scandal would happen again. But in 2010, Juventus put his heart at ease again by appointing the revolutionary Andrea Agnelli as the chairman and his far-sighted right-hand man, Fabio Paratici, as the sporting director.

    The two men worked their magic in a short period. They hired the tactical and passionate coach, Antonio Conte, and also brought in a fresh stock of talented yers, like Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba ¡ª who helped the club to reim its position at the top of the Scudetto. But that was not the end of the pleasant surprises they could bring to the passionate Juventus fans.

    On that Monday in July 2014, they had again executed their magic and finalized the signing of Zachary Bemba, the phenomenal 19-year-old ymaker who had destroyed Juventus the previous season. They had announced the news on the Juventus website, causing staunch Juventus fanatics like Paolo Favero to experience waves of unforgettable bliss. It was as if they had experienced the most enjoyable wet dream.

    "Oh, my God, Jesus on a wooden bicycle!" Paolo Favero eximed as he saw the headline about Zachary Bemba. "At longst, the club has finalized this move. What a pleasant surprise!"

    As a staunch fan of the Old Lady, Paolo Favero couldn''t keep a lead on the excitement bubbling in his heart while reading through the article on hisputer. He leaned back in hisfy chair and pinched his arm to confirm that he wasn''t dreaming. Then, he focused back on hisptop''s screen and re-read the piece again to ascertain that it was indeed the truth.

    "What has got you grinning from ear to ear, dear?" His wife, who had settled on a nearby sofa to watch a soap opera, asked suddenly. "Look at yourself. Your smile resembles that of a dead cow! You''re even almost jumping up from that chair! Did you win the lottery?"

    After hearing the question, Paolo''s grin widened even further, and he couldn''t help but let out a hearty chuckle the next second. Heughed so hard that his shoulders quivered and trembled. His eyes misted as his mood shot through his apartment''s roof and soared into the night skies of Turin.

    "Well, dear!" his wife pressed again, her eyes filled with worry. "What''s up? Why are you so happy today?"

    Paolo exerted all his willpower to calm himself down before turning to face his beautiful wife. He breathed in deeply before saying, "He has finally arrived."

    Paolo''s wife''s eyes nked out for a moment in confusion. "He has arrived!" She mumbled, ncing at her husband with a strange expression. "Who has arrived? The Messiah? Jesus or his mother?"

    "Eh!" It was Paolo''s turn to nk out for the moment. Then, his expression also turned strange, and he asked, "Dear! Why is it that you''re always thinking about religion and so on? Don''t you ever think about anything else?"

    "Well, I thought that only the return of the Messiah could make you that excited," the wife remarked. "But it seems I''m wrong. So, tell me what has made you that excited. Stop being mysterious."

    Paolo grinned again and locked eyes with his wife. "The man himself has arrived in Turin today. He has already gone through the medical and signed the contract. The club will unveil him tomorrow at the Juventus stadium. Oh, my god! Don''t wake me up if I''m dreaming." He spoke at the pace of a machine gun. He could even give the speedy rapper - Busta Rhymes a run for his money with his fast flow in the Italiannguage.

    "Oh, so this is about football!" His wife sighed, clearly losing interest. "Dear! You should focus less on football and concentrate on..."

    Paolo''s wife stopped mid-sentence as her two teenage twin sons came rushing into the living room. They seemed out of breath as they raced past the sofas toward their dad. "Boys!" She yelled. "What are you two doing here? Aren''t you supposed to be in the study working on your holiday assignments?"

    "Ah, mom!" One of the twins said, pausing in his step and smiling awkwardly. "We''ll finish the assignmentster. Let''s first confirm something with dad." Without waiting for their mom to respond, they rushed forward and surrounded their sorry example of a father.

    "Dad!" One of the twins shouted, his eyes glittering. "Has he really arrived? Has he really signed the contract?"

    Their father nodded, still grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Hepleted the medical today morning and signed the contract in the afternoon. As we speak, he''s officially already a Juventus yer. He will y for us next season."

    "Oh, my God! He''s finally here." The twin boys gave a small cheer as their expressions turned into mirror images of that outlining their father''s face.

    Paolo''s wife creased a brow and suddenly chipped in, "Congrattions to you all. You''ve piqued my curiosity. Who are you guys talking about?"

    "Who else?" The twins fired back in unison, sounding impatient. "Of course, it''s the one and only Zachary Bemba. He''s the ball wizard Juventus has been chasing for the past three months."

    "Damn!" Their mother eximed. "How are you two so in sync when replying? You guys must have practiced that a couple of times."

    The boys shrugged in response and ignored their mother. They once again returned their focus to their dad. "What''s his shirt number?" One of the twins hurriedly asked.

    "Well," the dad said, "They haven''t announced the shirt number yet. The club officials said they would reveal it during the unveiling ceremony at the Juventus stadium tomorrow."

    "The unveiling ceremony is tomorrow?" Another twin asked, his eyes flickering with anticipation.

    "Yes, it is."

    "Can we go?" The twins asked in unison that time around. "Please, can we go?"

    "That''s a big NO," their mother was the first to reply. "You''re not going anywhere beforepleting your holiday assignments."

    "Dad!" The boys ignored their mother and nced at their father with puppy eyes.

    Paolo Favero sighed and nced at his wife. "Dear!" He said, his tone meek. "Tomorrow is a big asion for the football team they support. Let''s allow them to go and watch Zachary Bemba''s unveiling ceremony. It''ll be over in only a couple of hours, and they can return and focus on their holiday assignments with renewed intensity. Isn''t that right, boys?" He turned toward his sons with a fierce re.

    "Yes, yes," the two boys replied, nodding like hens pecking grain. "We promise to focus only on our holiday assignments when we return from the unveiling ceremony."

    "Paolo!" The wife sighed, shaking her head. "You''re spoiling them again."

    "Dear," Paolo said in a pleading tone. "All young boys in Turin love football and support Juventus. If our two boys miss the unveiling ceremony tomorrow, they will be like outsiders when they return to school. They won''t be able to talk to their friends about the biggest event of Juventus'' transfer window..."

    Paolo continued spewing out meaningless rubbish to convince his wife. And after a couple of minutes, his wife relented and allowed the boys to attend the unveiling ceremony the following day. But that was after making them promise to spend the entire week focusing on their holiday assignments.

    "Ole, ole, ole, ole..." The boys began cheering excitedly after hearing their mother''s verdict. There was even a swagger in their steps as they rushed back to their bedroom.

    -----

    Unbeknownst to the Favero family, simr scenes were happening in homesteads all over Turin that evening. Kids begged their mothers to allow them to attend Zachary''s unveiling ceremony, while fathers called their bosses and gave excuses of sickness since they didn''t want to miss the event. Even wives and working youngdies threw caution to the wind and decided to attend the unveiling ceremony. That was the magnitude of the excitement caused by Juventus'' sudden announcement of Zachary''s official arrival in Turin.

    **** ****

 Chapter 426: Shirt Number Argument

    Chapter 426: Shirt Number ArgumentZachary was busy again the following day. Early in the morning, after going through his mandatory yoga routine, he headed to the Juventus Stadium to tour its facilities for the first time as a Juventus yer. Under the lead of his guide, who was also his interpreter, he trekked through the magnificent pitch side, the glittering changing rooms, the press room, and many more facilities.

    Thenstly, he entered the museum and experienced Juventus'' glorious history with his very own eyes. He felt slightly overwhelmed after witnessing the collection of memorabilia, photos of the Juventus legends, institutional documents, football equipment used by historical club yers, and the trophies umted by Juventus over the years.

    And when his gaze finallynded on therge portrait of Zinedine Zidane, standing upright in all its majesty, he couldn''t help but pause in his step for a few seconds. He gazed at the life-like image with pure admiration while recalling some of the notable performances of the Frenchman.

    The man was the most graceful footballer Zachary had ever witnessed. Fans could get lost in Zinedine''s elegance while watching him handle the ball like a magician, and they could only sigh in wonderment as they observed him executing killer passes like the best of Maestros. Due to all those factors, Zachary had adored Zinedine greatly as a child. The Frenchman''s performances were thus a crucial factor that pushed Zachary to fall so very in love with football.

    "Are you a fan of Zinedine Zidane?" Angelo Mattiello, his freshly-hired guide and interpreter, asked from beside him after noticing his gaze. He was a man of short stature, with a mean face, dreadlocks, and a prominent beard that gave him a thuggish look. But contrary to his fierce bearing, he was quite the warm person when you spent time with him. And that was why both Emily and the Juventus officials had urged Zachary to hire him the previous evening. To assure Zachary of his professionalism, the man had even signed a contract, which included a confidentiality use with severe consequences if broken.

    Zachary smiled on hearing the question from his interpreter. "Of course, I''m a big fan of Zinedine Zidane," he said. "The Frenchman was like an artist on the pitch. So, I don''t think there are souls within the footballmunity today that are not his fans, at least to some extent."

    "True," Angelo Mattiello said, also nodding. "He was a true talent in the history of football. But do you know you possess a ir simr to his when you''re on the pitch? Your style of handling and passing the ball and that Marseille turn of yours¡ª" The man sighed. "All those skills of yours are as elegant and brutal as when Zidane performed during his prime."

    "Is that so?" Zachary asked, smiling mysteriously. "If they are, I''m ttered."

    Of course, Zachary understood that he possessed some of Zidane''s ir on the pitch. That was because he had mastered three of the legendary Frenchman''s skills. Zachary would replicate the Frenchman''s style to a certain extent by utilizing moves like the Zinedine Touch Magic or the Marseille turn. But naturally, he would never admit that.

    Angelo Mattiello suddenly nced at his watch and said, "It''s alreadying to 9:00 AM. We should head to the meeting room. Otherwise, we''ll bete for your meeting with your bosses."

    "Okay," Zachary naturally agreed. "Lead the way."

    With that said, Zachary followed after his guide as they exited the museum. They quickly walked through the spotless clean hallways of the stadium before arriving at the slightly ajar door of the meeting room. Without knocking, they entered and found Fabio Paratici, the sporting director, Massimiliano Allegri, the head coach, and Antone Busso, a secretary, waiting for them. And without wasting time, their parties exchanged greetings and then eased into the theme of the meeting.

    "So, Zachary," Fabio Paratici, the sporting director, said after leaning back into his seat. "This is our first official meeting after you became a Juventus yer. How do you feel?"

    Zachary smiled. "As I said yesterday, I''m excited and looking forward to life at this great club. I wish to seed at this club. So, I''ll always give my best whenever I''m on the pitch."

    "Excellent," Fabio said, his stern countenance easing into a grin. "It seems like our intents are aligned. Actually, we were discussing the matter of your shirt number before you arrived. And we all feel that our historical number 10 could suit you the most. What do you think?"

    Zachary raised a brow, ncing back and forth at the two men and the one woman seated on the other side of the table. "Isn''t that Carlos T¨¦vez''s number? Why are you offering it to me?"

    Fabio exchanged a meaningful nce with Coach Allegri before answering, "Obviously, it''s mostly for publicity purposes. But we have also been searching for a yer who can reignite the true glory of the number 10 shirt. We have been looking for a yer who could be a phenomenal legend like previous bearers such as Alessandro Del Piero, Michel tini, and Roberto Baggio. And now, we feel like we have finally found that yer. That yer is you."

    "Oh," Zachary said, feeling a wave ofplicated emotions wash over him. "I''m ttered by your offer to have me wear the number 10 shirt with such a glorious history. But, I have to refuse. I will choose another number that doesn''t belong to any of the yers active on the team."

    Zachary''s tone left no room for negotiation since he was totally against the proposal made by his new bosses. While ying for TP Mazembe during his previous life, a talented new signing hade into the team and taken over his favorite number 6 since he''d been underperforming. He obviously didn''tin since he couldn''t go against his bosses at the time. But that didn''t mean that he wasn''t hurt on the inside. After the incident, Zachary lost his confidence and even put up worse performances for TP Mazembe the following season.

    That was the happening that had made him understand that the act of robbing a shirt from an active yer was disrespectful and demeaning. Thus, he would never do it to someone, especially if that someone was about to be his teammate.

    "Do you have anything against the number 10 shirt?" Fabio asked, creasing his brows. "What''s your reason for refusing it in such a manner?"

    "There is really no deep meaning behind refusing the shirt number," Zachary replied. "It''s just that I don''t want to start my tenure at Juventus on a bad note with some of my teammates."

    "I see," Fabio said, smiling and nodding. He then faced Coach Massimiliano Allegri, and they started exchanging rapid Italian sentences that Zachary couldn''t understand. They talked for about a minute, seemingly arguing about something.

    Zachary couldn''t take it anymore. He whispered to his interpreter, "What are they talking about?"

    Angelo, the interpreter, leaned towards Zachary and whispered back, "Coach Allegri is insisting that you''re right. He says they shouldn''t force the number 10 on you, especially since it already has an owner. On the other hand, Fabio ims to be helpless. He mentioned something about the club chairman and many of their staunch fans insisting on handing the number 10 shirt to you. That almost summarizes their entire argument."

    Zachary''s heart skipped a beat on hearing the interpreter''s trantion. He creased his brows, fearing that the worst could ur. Probably, the club management would force the number 10 shirt on him, and then he would offend Carlos T¨¦vez and a few of his close friends even before he started training with his new teammates.

    "Damn! What a bad way to start off in a new club," Zachary mused, exhaling and leaning back in his chair. He already regretted not telling Emily to include a use about his shirt number in his contract with Juventus.

    "Zachary!" Suddenly, Fabio Paratici''s voice resounded around the room again. "We have really considered all angles concerning the matter of your shirt number. But we still wish you can ept the number 10 for the club''s good. Even our fans want to see you in the number 10 shirt next season. So, you can see how our hands are tied."

    "You''re forgetting one point," Zachary said, leaning forward. "How does Carlos T¨¦vez feel about the entire situation? Do you think he is okay with a neen-year-old newbieing into the club and taking over his number? If you were in his ce, how would you feel?"

    Fabio sighed and shook his head. "My young friend," he said, "You should be aware that football is ruthless and with no guarantees as a sport. Someone will always have to give way when a more talented yeres along and joins the team. That''s thepetitive nature of football. It''s always the same for shirt numbers or when fighting for spots on the starting line-up."

    "Let me ask you this, Zachary," the sporting director continued. "With your talent, you''ll eventually join the starting line-up sooner rather thanter. Will you reject the spot on the first team simply because you feel pity for a teammate? Will you tell Coach Allegri not to include you in the match squad simply because you don''t want to offend your teammate?"

    "That''s different," Zachary argued. "We''re not talking about a yer who has lost his form. We''re talking about Carlos T¨¦vez, the man who was your top scorerst season. He was likely your best yer."

    "I''m sorry," Fabio said, shaking his head. "We don''t see it that way, and the fans don''t see it that way. Why would we drop out of the Champions League during the group stages if we had good yers in all positions? Then, in the Europa League, why did we lose to your Rosenborg, a team clearly much weaker than us?"

    Zachary could only remain silent as he had no answer for that. He just sighed helplessly and leaned back in his seat.

    "Zachary," Fabio continued. "I''m aware of your considerations. They are trulymendable. But you must understand that we are trying to build something incredible here. We want to put together a team that canpete with teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern. That''s why we are doing a major rebuilding, starting with you wearing the historical number 10 shirt."

    "Okay, I understand. It seems that I must agree to the number 10 shirt." Zachary said with another sigh. Since his bosses had already decided, it was unwise to keep arguing with them. He would have to swallow his frustration and wear the shirt. And hopefully, Carlos T¨¦vez would be a dear and not mind him taking over his shirt number.

 Chapter 427: Initiation and Unveiling I

    Chapter 427: Initiation and Unveiling I"Don''t look so down," Fabio consoled after witnessing Zachary''s reaction. "When you settle into the team, you''ll realize how fortunate you''re to wear the number 10 shirt. You''ll learn that most of your teammates would kill to have that number."

    "I understand," Zachary said, nodding. He didn''t want to waste more time arguing with his bosses about the shirt number issue.

    "It''s good that you understand," Fabio said, standing up. "Now that I''ve settled the matter of your shirt number, it''s time for me to go and have it printed. We must have it ready for the unveiling ceremony in the afternoon."

    "Oh!" Zachary said, totally not believing the sporting director''s words. He suspected that the club''s top dogs had decided on his shirt number and printed it out long before he arrived in Turin. As for the meeting to inquire about his opinion that morning, they could have just held it out of formality.

    While not knowing what was on Zachary''s mind, Fabio smiled and continued speaking. "Zachary! Once again, I wee you to Juventus. I have a good feeling about you. You have a unique halo of sess surrounding your entire persona, and you''re most likely to excel and achieve great things at Juventus. Of course, that''s if you remain focused." He extended his hand from across the table.

    "Thank you, director, for your high praise and encouragement," Zachary replied, taking Fabio''s hand for a firm handshake. "I''ll work hard to live up to your expectations. That, I promise you."

    "Good," Fabio said with a smile. "It''s about time for me to go. Since your interpreter is present, you can utilize the time before the unveiling ceremony to chat with your coach. I''m sure you two have a lot to talk about."

    Without waiting for Zachary to respond, Fabio turned toward Coach Allegri and talked to him in Italian for a few more seconds. Then, he waved Zachary goodbye before walking away and disappearing through the meeting room doorway.

    "Dannazione!" Coach Allegri intoned after his colleague had stepped out of the room. "Tutta nostra conversazione ¨¨ stata stressante..."

    The coach continued spitting out more Italian words that Zachary couldn''t understand. And, of course, Zachary soon had to turn to Angelo Mattiello, his interpreter, for help. "What did he just say?" He asked after the coach had paused in his speech.

    "He''s talking about how the discussion with the sporting director was a bit stressful," Angelo tranted. "He sincerely pleads with you not to take offense simply because the club has forced the number 10 shirt on you. And he also hopes you can work well together during the uing few seasons."

    "Oh, I see," Zachary said, smiling and locking eyes with his new coach. "Coach Allegri! The shirt number issue is only a small matter. It wouldn''t affect my attitude and dedication toward the club. I was only against the idea because I didn''t want to offend a teammate who currently owns the shirt."

    After saying all that, Zachary again turned to his interpreter for help. Angelo smiled and nodded at him before starting to trante his words to Italian for the coach''s benefit. And in such a weird manner, the first meaningful conversation between Zachary and his new coach transpired.

    The two men discussed many issues, including Zachary''s objectives at the club, his favorite yers in football history, the results of his medical, his match fitness issues, and whether he would be ready for the pre-season tour. And finally, the coach asked Zachary about the position he wanted to y on the Juventus team.

    Zachary naturally replied that he wished to y in the central midfield as he had done during his tenure at Rosenborg. He exined to the coach that he was always more creative and at the top of his game when he was in the middle of the pitch, executing passes or breaking forward to catch the opponents off guard. And he repeatedly emphasized his passing abilities and high spatial awareness to ensure that the coach understood that only in the midfield would his skills bloom in great splendor.

    After hearing his lengthy response, Coach Allegri nodded to indicate that he had gotten the message. Then, he warned Zachary through the interpreter to be ready for a fierce battle for spots on the starting line-up due to Juventus'' incredible line-up of midfielders, which included the likes of Andrea Pirlo, udio Marchisio, Paul Pogba, and Arturo Vidal. Finally, he urged Zachary to continue working hard and utilize every chance he got to impress the coaching staff if he wanted to cement his ce on the Juventus team.

    Zachary nodded and took his advice to heart. As for the matter of the intensivepetition for spots on the starting line-up, he wasn''t worried. With his recently enhanced attributes and skills, he believed he would dazzle everyone when he finally stepped on the pitch during an official match. But first, Zachary had to deal with the side effects of the S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir before thinking about achieving all that. Otherwise, he might be a joke if hemitted the weirdest of amateur mistakes during the heat of the game.

    "The coach is saying that you two have already discussed all the crucial issues concerning your arrival at Juventus," Angelo tranted more of the coach''s words. "So, he suggests that you end your conversation at this point. But he has also cautioned that he wants to see you start attending training within eight days. That way, you will have a bit of preparation before the pre-season tour."

    "You can tell the coach I''ve gotten his message," Zachary responded with a smile. "I''ll try toplete all immigration procedures and settle down in Turin as quickly as possible. Then, I can start attending Juventus'' official training sessions."

    Angelo nodded and immediately tranted the words to Coach Allegri. Thetter also nodded and exchanged a few more words with Zachary through the interpreter before ending their first meeting as coach and yer.

    -----

    "I really have to learn Italian as soon as possible," Zachary made the resolution within his heart for the umpteenth time after arriving in Turin. Thenguage barrier problem was too aggravating for him. Without the help of an interpreter, he couldn''t even have a meaningful conversation with his coach or go shopping on his own. That was a shame and an inconvenience as far as he was concerned.

    "Angelo!" Zachary suddenly called out to his interpreter as they walked out of the meeting room. "Can you rmend anynguage schools to me?"

    Angelo thought for a few seconds before replying, "I would rmend a school called L''Italiano Porticando. The school has severalnguage programs, including private lessons for those who want to learn Italian at their convenience. As a professional footballer, it could be the best option for you."

    "Are they still enrolling students?" Zachary queried again.

    "They enroll students all year round," Angelo replied. "So, you can apply and register at any time."

    "Then, I''ll just enroll tomorrow," Zachary said. "I''ll be relying on you to guide me there."

    "Of course," Angelo said. "Feel free to call me when you''re ready to register."

    "Excellent," Zachary said, smiling. "Let''s grab something to eat before I start preparing for the unveiling ceremony."

    "Okay."

    **** ****

    By 2:00 PM that afternoon, the Juventus stadium was almost fully-upied. The staunch fans dressed in Juventus'' ck and white colors had upied most of the seats in the stands. Some were already cheering and dancing as if awaiting the start of an official game. They were obviously excited as they waited for Zachary''s unveiling ceremony with bated breaths.

    "Dad!" One of Paolo Favero''s sons called out in a raised voice to make himself heard over the din within the stadium. "Why is Zachary noting out of the tunnel? Didn''t they announce that he would appear before us at 2:00 PM?"

    "Marco! Please rx," Paolo answered, patting his son''s head. "He should be stepping onto the pitch soon. Let''s continue waiting."

    "Has the club announced Zachary''s shirt number yet?" His other son hurriedly asked.

    "Not yet," Paolo answered. "This time around, the club is doing things in a mysterious manner. No club official has stepped forward to make any announcement concerning Zachary''s shirt number. It''s as if they are hiding the entire thing from us."

    "But what do you think his shirt number will be?" His son asked again. "Could it be the famous number 10?"

    "I don''t think so," Paolo was quick to reply. "The number 10 shirt belongs to Carlos T¨¦vez, our leading goal-scorerst season. The club would surely not take the shirt away from him unless they''re nning on selling him. But I don''t see that happening soon. So, Zachary is most likely to choose another number."

    "Makes sense," his son agreed. "I also don''t think the club will sell Carlos T¨¦vez. His aggressiveness and speed will allow him to link up well with Zachary when we''re attacking..."

    Just then, while the Faveros were still discussing the matter of Zachary''s shirt number, the cheers around the stadium hit a thunderous crescendo. In a sh, Paolo turned his gaze towards the tunnel portal and noticed that Zachary had just stepped onto the pitch.

    The young ymaker looked majestic in Juventus'' ck and white striped jersey as he waved at the fans. His aura was overbearing but contained, his walking gait kingly but also pleasing to the eye, and his smile warm but with a sternness about it. It was as if he was making a tour of his backyard as he made rounds around the pitch to greet the fans.

    "This is the aura of an emperor entering his territory for the first time," Paolo mumbled, his eyes misting slightly. He was ecstatic after witnessing Zachary''s majesty within Juventus'' colors. He had a feeling that for the first time after Zinedine''s time, he might get to experience the glory of a phenomenal ball wizard that couldpete with the likes of Messi and Ronaldo ying for his club.

    "Dad! Dad!" One of his sons shouted, interrupting his train of thought. "What did I say? Zachary is in the number 10 shirt. They gave him the number 10 shirt."

    "Oh! They gave him the number 10 shirt!" Paolo eximed after finally noticing Zachary''s shirt number. "Does that mean that they''re about to sell T¨¦vez? What is the club thinking?"

    "Who knows, and who cares?" His other son said in a dismissive tone. "The only thing that matters is that we have Zachary on the team. For now, let''s enjoy the unveiling ceremony. Zachary is about to start showcasing his skills."

    "True," Paolo agreed. "What matters is that Zachary is already a Juventus yer. Let''s enjoy the unveiling ceremony indeed."

    **** ****

 Chapter 428: Initiation and Unveiling II

    Chapter 428: Initiation and Unveiling IIZachary was surprised by the turn up for his unveiling ceremony that afternoon. While walking around the pitch, he could easily judge that more than 40,000 fans were in the Juventus stadium to wee him. Most were even yelling his name in chorus while waving excitedly at him. As far as he was concerned, they had given him the warmest wee a club could show to a new yer. He couldn''t contain the feelings of joy and pride bubbling within him.

    "Wee,dies and gentlemen!" The announcer yelled after Zachary had finished making his rounds around the pitch. "Let''s put our hands together for Zachary Bemba, the new number 10, the future phenomenon for the most glorious club in Italy. Zachary Bemba! We wee you to Juventus."

    Without losingposure, Zachary smiled and stepped onto the stage positioned in the middle of the pitch. After taking a few steps, he stood before the familiar Fabio Paratici, the sporting director, who shook his hands enthusiastically and hugged him.

    After a few seconds, the sporting director stepped back and grinned. "As I said, everyone at Juventus, including the fans, the top management, and the coaching staff, can''t wait to see you ying for the club. Do you believe me now?"

    Zachary nodded and smiled. "It''s really an honor to have these many fans wee me to the club. Thanks for organizing everything."

    "You''re wee," Fabio said with a grin. "Come; I''ll introduce you to the club chairman."

    Without waiting for Zachary to respond, the sporting director led him by the hand toward another gentleman with a bushy beard and slightly overgrown eyebrows. "Andrea!" He said, his voice exuding a sense of pride. "This is Zachary in the flesh. He is finally here at the club."

    The other gentlemen chuckled and extended his hand to Zachary, "Nice to finally meet you, Zachary Bemba," he said in English. "Thank you for choosing to join the most glorious club in Italy. On behalf of all the fans, the management, and club officials, I wee you to Juventus."

    "Thank you, Mr. Chairman," Zachary said, taking Andrea''s hand. "I''m also happy to be here at the club. Thank you for signing me."

    Andrea chuckled and released his hand. "Let''s not make the fans wait any longer," he said. "We can discuss more after the ceremony. But for now, I''ll first give a speech weing you to the club. Then, you can also follow my lead and say a few words to the fans. You can speak English and Fabio will be your interpreter. By the way, did you prepare a short speech for today?"

    "Nope," Zachary replied honestly. "But don''t worry. I can easilypose the speech within my head."

    "Good," Andrea said. "Since you''re ready, let''s move on with the program."

    With that said, the president stepped before the microphones positioned at the center of the podium and started speaking rapidly in Italian. His speech clearly excited the fans, and they kept on yelling after every sentence of his. And finally, he gave a few concluding remarks before weing Zachary to take center stage.

    Zachary nodded and walked forward towards the microphones. Every step he took across the stage elicited a wave of thunderous cheers from the fans. But all that didn''t affect hisposure, and he finally stood before the microphones.

    "Ladies and gentlemen!" He said, ncing around and towards the sea of fans in the stands. "Dear fans of Juventus! It''s an honor to be here. Thanks a lot for taking the time toe and wee me to this great club. And thank you for giving me the warmest of wees to Turin."

    He paused and waited for Fabio to trante his words into Italian. Thetter wasted no timepleting the task, thus eliciting another wave of cheers from the fans in attendance.

    "Ladies and gentlemen," Zachary continued after getting the signal to resume from Fabio. "Please bear with me for not speaking Italian. I''ll do my best to learn thenguage in a few months."

    Fabio tranted that, causing many fans to whistle and burst intoughter. They seemed to be quite the understanding crowd and didn''t mind Zachary''sck of knowledge of the Italiannguage. The only issue they probably cared about was what Zachary could do for their club on the pitch.

    "I only wish to say a few words to all of you that havee to wee me to Juventus," Zachary continued while Fabio tranted. "It''s really a great honor to be at this great club. It''s a dreame true for me to be at such a club with glorious history. As such, I promise that I''ll do my best and work hard to make all of you proud when I finally step on the pitch. I''ll try my utmost to meet all your expectations as a Juventus yer. I thank you all again foring. JUVENTUS, OYE!" He pumped his fist and ended his short speech with a small cheer.

    That got the fans going, and they responded to Zachary''s cheer with zest. Then, a bitter, when he began showcasing his skills by juggling the ball on the podium, their voices rose up several notches and shook the entire stadium. They sang the famous chants of Juventus in Italian while asionally mixing in his name for the next few minutes. They only stopped cheering when the unveiling ceremony ended with Zachary''s return to the dressing room.

    -----

    Later that day, at five in the evening, Zachary attended his first press conference as a Juventus yer. He spent an hour answering questions from many famous journalists working for popr media houses like ESPN, BBC, Sky Sports, and many others. And to respond to their queries, he talked about his aspirations at Juventus and why he chose to join Juventus, among other things.

    Of course, Zachary couldn''t say that he''d chosen Juventus because of the money the club offered him. That was publicity suicide. Instead, he repeatedly emphasized how Juventus was a great football club at the top of Europe and how he desired to seed there.

    Zachary honeyed his words and often mentioned how he wished to contribute to Juventus'' glory by helping them win more trophies throughout the press session. His responses were very engaging to the extent that Fabio even mentioned that he could make a good politician after they exited the press room.

    "So, Zachary," Fabio said as they made their way through the stadium''s spotless hallways. "The press conference has marked the end of your official unveiling and initiation as a Juventus yer. What remains is for you to settle down in Turin and start training with the team."

    "I know," Zachary said, nodding. "I''ll try to settle down as soon as possible."

    "Excellent," Fabio said. "So, when do you think you can attend your first training? Before you reply, I hope you consider that you need to meet your teammates as soon as possible. You can''t wait to get acquainted with them just before a game."

    Zachary thought a bit and said, "If that''s the case, then I won''t try to look for a house before the pre-season tour. I''ll instead settle down in a hotel near the training center. Then, I can work on my fitness for a few days before starting to train with the team on Monday, the 28th."

    Fabio grinned and paused in his steps. "That''s six days from now. Excellent choice. If you don''t mind, we can arrange a hotel for you as a club. It would be veryfy and at no cost. What do you think?"

    "Of course, I don''t mind," Zachary hurriedly replied. "I would greatly appreciate it if the club organizes a secure hotel room for me. That would save me a lot of trouble."

    "Then, let''s do this," Fabio said, "I''ll instruct my secretary to book for you an executive room at the J Hotel. Since the hotel belongs to the club, you can stay there until you find your own house in Turin. But I must warn you not to get toofortable and stay there for a long time. One to six months is okay. But beyond that, the hotel management will start billing your stay at the hotel."

    Zachary chuckled. "And why would I wish to stay for all that time in a hotel? I''ll get myself a house after we return from the pre-season tour."

    "Then, excellent," Fabio said. "We must part ways now, as I''m heading for another meeting. We''ll meet again when you turn up for training on Monday. I''m looking forward to that."

    "Don''t worry," Zachary assured. "I''ll be there."

    -----

    The next six days were like a roller coaster ride for Zachary, especially since he was busy. After settling down in afy executive room of the J Hotel, he spent most of his time training in the gym or on the turfs to deal with the side effects of the S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir.

    Under the guidance of Coach Bj?rn Peters, the fitness coach who had surprisingly already arrived in Turin, Zachary was like a maniac as he exercised like never before. Sometimes, he would even beg his fitness trainer to add more load to his training due to his urgency. He was that serious as he wanted to attain top match fitness before the start of the Serie A season on August 30th.

    But that was not all there was to Zachary''s schedule. Aside from the training, he also enrolled in anguage school and took his first step towards his immediate goal of learning Italian. Every evening, he would head to the L''Italiano Porticando and spend about three hours pronouncing Italian words that he couldn''t yet understand.

    Of course, the sses were boring to Zachary since they were unrted to sports. But for his future as a Juventus yer, he soon became focused and even tasked his interpreter with the task of purchasing for him several Italian textbooks. As a result, trying to read the seemingly alien Italian books became another additional task he had toplete on a daily basis.

    With such a hectic schedule tying him down, Zachary didn''t feel the passing of time. One morning he woke up and was about to start going through his yoga routine before ''reading'' his Italian textbook. Then suddenly, his phone started vibrating from a nearby table in the hotel room.

    Zachary stepped forward and immediately scooped it up from the table. After ncing at the screen, he learned that the call was from Antone Busso, Fabio Paratici''s secretary. She was the charmingdy who had helped arrange his executive room at the J Hotel.

    "Hello, Miss Antone," he spoke after pressing the ept button and holding the phone against his ear. "Nice to hear from you again."

    "Hello, Mr. Bemba," Thedy at the other end of the line said, her voice professional. "How''s your morning? Are you enjoying your stay at the J Hotel?"

    "My morning is perfect," Zachary responded. "And the hotel has everything I need. As you said, it''s a veryfy ce."

    "I''m d you like it," she said. "Now to the main point of why I''m calling you early in the morning. Mr. Paratici, the sporting director, has just instructed me to inform you that it''s already Monday, the 28th. He hopes you can attend the team training at the Vinovo as you had promised. The training begins at 9:00 AM."

    "Okay," Zachary said. "I got the message, and thanks for reminding me. I''ll be at the training ground on time. You can tell the sporting director that."

    "Great," thedy on the other side said. "I wish you all the best during your first training as a Juventus yer. And if you need anything, don''t hesitate to contact me. I''ll try to the best of my abilities to assist you, especially since the sporting director has tasked me with helping you settle into the club."

    "I''ll remember that," Zachary said. "Thank you."

    "You''re wee," thedy at the other end said before ending the call.

 Chapter 429: Italian Football Culture

    Chapter 429: Italian Football CultureThe rising sun in the east of Turin was as glorious as ever. Its golden and shimmering rays immediately enveloped Zachary in a shawl of warmth after he exited his hotel that morning. He donned his cap and squinted his eyes to adjust to the natural illumination while looking around.

    "Now, where is this guy?" He mumbled to himself and nced at his brand new Rolex watch. The stylish dauphine hands had already pointed to the 8:20 AM mark, meaning he only had approximately forty minutes to get to the Vinovo. If he didn''t start moving soon, he would bete for his first official training with Juventus and possibly annoy his new coaches. And that made his heart race with anxiety.

    "Zachary!" Suddenly, a shout drew his attention. He inclined his head and immediately noticed Angelo Mattiello, his guide and interpreter, jogging towards him from the other end of the hotel building. He seemed out of breath as if he''d been running a marathon.

    "What happened?" Zachary questioned when the Italian man finally stood before him. "You''rete, and you''re out of breath! Did something go wrong?"

    Angelo breathed in deeply before saying, "Sorry, Zachary. I had a mechanical failure on the way. That''s why I couldn''t get here on time. But, I have now resolved the issue, and we can be on our way."

    "I see," Zachary said, nodding. "I need to get to the Vinovo in about twenty minutes. Or else I''ll bete for my first training."

    "Don''t worry," Angelo assured, smiling assuredly. "I''ll get you there on time. Come; follow me. Let''s head to the car and set off immediately."

    "Okay," Zachary nodded and followed after his guide. Before long, they arrived at the hotel''s parking lot and easily located Angelo''s car. It was a white Citroen C3 in the shape of a subpact SUV. They quickly got into the car, and off they went, easing into the main street and driving off towards the Vinovo, Juventus'' training center.

    Over the past six days, Zachary had been busy. He hadn''t gotten an opportunity to tour Turin since he had spent all his time training or reading Italian textbooks. That was why his eyes remained glued to the scenery shing outside the car''s window while taking in the refreshing cityscape of Turin.

    He felt like he was in a dream, watching the grand boulevards and the beautiful historical architecture spread beside and beyond the streets. Gradually, his mood becameplicated, and he sighed. He couldn''t help but recall how he''d only been able to enjoy such magnificent scenes through television or photos on the web during his previous life.

    Due to his previous incarnation''s pauper status, he could never have foreseen that he would ever visit a famous European city such as Turin. But surprisingly, he obtained a new life that eclipsed all his expectations. He''d already made it big and obtained legal status to live in the renowned Italian city. Moreover, that was as a Juventus yer, earning millions of Euros per year and able to choose any famous neighborhood as his ce of residence. If that wasn''t a dreame true, then what was it? He was obviously proud of his achievements.

    Zachary''s only regret was that he couldn''t share such a happy life with his grandma, his sole guardian, who had looked after him since childhood. Even in a new life, he couldn''t prevent her death. It was as if the unfortunate incident was destined, and she had passed away before she could witness him joining one of the top European clubs. That caused Zachary to asionally experience a turmoil of painful emotions bubbling up within his core. Fortunately, he had learned to suppress them through exercising or busying himself with other things.

    "We''re here," Angelo said as he steered the car around a roundabout and approached the fenced expanse of fields and buildings that made up the Juventus training center. A few secondster, he went through security without any trouble and then spoke again, "As I promised, It only took us neen minutes to arrive here. You should be able to get to the training turf before nine."

    "Great! Thank you," Zachary said, ncing at his watch. It was already 8:42 AM, implying that he still had more than fifteen minutes to prepare and head to the training ground. He would surely make it if he utilized his time well.

    "I also want to alert you that the club doesn''t allow people who aren''t staff members or yers on the training grounds, especially during official training sessions," Angelo said, steering the car onwards and towards the front structures of the training center. "So, I''ll have to wait for you outside while you train. But that shouldn''t worry you. Most members of the coaching staff, except Allegri, speak English. They''ll be able to guide you through the training sessions without any problems."

    "I understand. Thank you," Zachary said, ncing outside the car window. The next moment, his eyes widened as he took in the surprising spectacleposed of the crowd of fans and journalists waiting outside the training center. The excitement about them was already shooting into the azure morning sky as they observed Angelo''s moving Citroen with glittering eyes.

    "This is unbelievable," Zachary mumbled. He had a feeling that if it wasn''t for the fence and security personnel keeping the supporters at bay, they might have even rushed towards the car to check which Juventus yer had just arrived.

    "You haven''t seen anything yet," Angelo said, seemingly catching on to Zachary''s thoughts. "The size of the crowd will be even more stunning as the big matches approach. For instance, if Juventus is about to face off against AC Mn, you''ll always find hundreds of fans crowding around the entrance. The excitement around football is that crazy in Italy."

    "Oh!" Zachary eximed. At that moment, he againprehended the difference between the football cultures of Turin and Trondheim. The stark contrast was quite clear to him after he arrived in Italy.

    While he was still a Rosenborg yer, it was rare to find fans crowding around the training ground on a Monday morning. There was always aid-back attitude about the fanbase since the Norwegians in Trondheim would only gain a bit of interest in Rosenborg''s circumstances when a big match was approaching. Of course, that''s aside from a few exceptions.

    But in Turin, circumstances were totally different. After interacting with his guide for seven days, Zachary learned that football was everything for most Italian men. Their love for the sport could border on the fringes of insanity as it was their hobby, their passion, and a big part of their culture.

    Before doing anything else in the morning, they would read the La Gazzetta Dello Sport or Il Corriere Dello Sport print or online to get updates on which yer did this and that, who was sold to another team, who dered he was happy, mad, or sad. Plus, they would have apps and alerts on their smartphones so as to avoid the prospect of even missing one tiny detail concerning the sport they loved. Thus, it was natural for them to stalk their favorite football stars to the training grounds. It wouldn''t even be a surprise if a few supporters followed a footballer to his home to get an autograph. That was how much they adored the footballers ying for their clubs.

    "I hope you already know the way to the locker rooms and training grounds," Angelo said after parking the car. "If not, I can ask one of the security guys to guide you there."

    "Don''t worry," Zachary said. "I''ll find it myself. See youter." He said before picking up his gym bag and exiting the car.

    The next moment, his appearance elicited a peak wave of excitement among the crowd of fans.

    "Dio mio! It''s Zachary in the flesh..."

    "Zachary, an autograph!"

    "Zaria! Ti vogliamo bene..."

    The supporters all went crazy and started yelling in both Italian and English as they waved at him. Zachary, of course, maintained a smile and responded to their enthusiastic shouts with a wave of his hand. But since he only had about fifteen minutes to prepare for training, he couldn''t waste time fulfilling their requests for autographs. He politely excused himself before jogging towards the locker rooms of the famous training center.

    A minuteter, he arrived before the door of the dressing room. He breathed in deeply before pushing it open and stepping inside. A wave of rxation swept over him after noticing that there wasn''t even a single soul in the spotlessly clean room. Most likely, all the other yers were already on the turfs about tomence training. As a result, he could prepare without interruptions from his new teammates.

    "But this is also not a good sign," he mused, walking towards the locker with his name and the number ''ten'' printed on it. "I might be thest one to arrive for training. I better hurry."

    The fact that he, a new yer, was still in the dressing room, even when less than fifteen minutes remained before the designated time for the training session, jolted his heart, sending it into a whirlpool of unease. He hurriedly changed into his brand new training garments, which he''d received from Juventus six days prior. Then, in a matter of seconds, he stepped into his glittering brand new green pair of Nike Mercurial Superfly boots before throwing the rest of his stuff into his locker. After locking it, he finally breathed a sigh of relief since he still had about ten minutes to spare before the trainingmenced. He''d finally achieved a total state of rxation as he no longer feared that he would bete on the first day of his official tenure at Juventus.

    But just then, as he was about to turn away from his locker and step out of the locker room, his sharp ears picked up the rhythmic tapping of boot studs on the floor. His heart skipped a bit, and he naturally turned to face the source of the sound.

    "Eh!" Zachary eximed as the silhouette of a familiar footballer he''d seen countless times on the screens during his previous life appeared before his vision. The yer in question looked fierce and with a no-nonsense aura about him. His sturdy physique, protruding chest, and strong arms gave him the appearance of a miniaturized version of King Kong crammed into a human body. And although his height was a bit on the short end, just at about 5''7 feet, he seemed like a person who could easily take down a pro-wrestler if given a chance.

    "Hello, Carlos T¨¦vez!" Zachary spoke first, attempting to break the ice in the most polite tone he could muster. "I''m Zachary Bemba, your new teammate. It''s nice to meet you." He extended his hand towards the Argentine striker.

 Chapter 430: First Meeting with New Teammates

    Chapter 430: First Meeting with New TeammatesT¨¦vez raised both eyebrows and tilted his head to nce at Zachary. He regarded him for a few seconds with intense scrutiny before nodding and saying, "Nice to meet you, too, Zachary Bemba. I have heard many incredible things about you. Wee to Turin." He took his hand for a very firm handshake.

    "Thank you, Carlos," Zachary said, smiling. He was both delighted and relieved after the striker had epted his gesture of goodwill. "Let''s work well together as teammates in the future."

    "Just a moment before you get ahead of yourself," T¨¦vez said in very fluent English. "Let''s get one thing straight. You''re not my teammate or a teammate of anyone on the Juventus squad until you go through the traditional initiation ceremony for all new yers. Got it?"

    Zachary''s eyes narrowed as a flicker of doubt arose within his mind. "There''s an initiation ceremony! Didn''t I go through it when the management unveiled me in front of the fans and the press six days ago?"

    T¨¦vez let out a soft chuckle on hearing that. "One thing you should understand is that the management is management and the team is the team. They are two different entities making up the club. Even after going through the initiation by management, you''ll still have to go through the one for the team. Otherwise, you''ll remain an outsider."

    "I see," Zachary said, holding the Argentine''s gaze. "Carlos! I also wish to rify one fact with you before we speak about anything else. About the number ten shirt..."

    "No, no, no," T¨¦vez interrupted before Zachary could finish the sentence. "You don''t need to exin. I have yed professional football for more than a decade. I understand how the industry works. A person has to step aside when a talented yer joins a team. That''s the ruthless andpetitive nature of football. And I won''t hold any grudge against you for such an insignificant matter. That would be very immature of me."

    "Thank you for your understanding," Zachary said, breathing another sigh of relief. "I''m really starting to feel that we can be good teammates."

    "That''s a possibility," Carlos concurred in a somehow vague manner. "But, don''t forget that the number ten shirt is iconic among the Juventus fans, yers, and coaching staff. So, remember to work hard and y your best football during your next few seasons at Juventus. Otherwise, many people in Turin will always be on your case for disgracing that glorious number."

    "Thanks for the reminder," Zachary said. "I''ll take it to heart. But Carlos! We better head to the training ground. We''re almost runningte for training."

    T¨¦vez eyed Zachary with a strange expression. "Didn''t I rify that you won''t be teammates with anyone before your initiation? Just follow me. I''ll take you to meet the rest of the squad and the coaches. They are currently in the room for technical meetings." Without waiting for Zachary to respond, he turned around and started walking away. His pace was quite fast, and within seconds, he was already stepping out of the dressing room.

    "Wait!" Zachary said, chasing after the Argentine forward after a few seconds. "What about the training? Wasn''t it supposed tomence at 9:00 AM?"

    "Don''t worry," Carlos said without turning back. "The training will start after the meeting."

    "Really?" Zachary was skeptical since he''d gotten the message about the training session from Fabio, the one and only sporting director.

    "I''m not trying to trick you," Carlos said, finally stopping in his tracks and turning to face Zachary. "I was already in the tactics room with the others. But Coach Allegri sent me to fetch you after he got word that you had arrived at the training center. Moreover, you have to understand that there''s always a mandatory team meeting before every first training session of the week."

    "Oh, okay." Zachary smiled awkwardly. "Then, let''s go. Thanks for helping me out."

    Carlos nodded and immediately turned around to resume his journey through the hallways of the training center. Zachary naturally matched his steps, and before long, they arrived before a closed door that was the entrance to the tactics room.

    "We''re here," Carlos announced and knocked on the door. Without waiting for a response, he pushed it ajar and motioned for Zachary to follow him inside with a hand gesture.

    Zachary naturally followed after him and stepped into the room. The next moment, he was slightly intimidated as his eyes took in the many famous faces he had seen countless times on television during his previous life. With a single nce around the room, he spotted celebrated yers like Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Boni, Patrice Evra, Paul Pogba, udio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, and ¨¢lvaro Morata, among others. They were all quietly seated at various tables arranged around the room. But what unnerved Zachary the most was that they had all turned to nce his way when he stepped through the doorway.

    "Damn, this wouldn''t have happened if I wasn''tte," Zachary screamed inwardly. At that moment, he felt like he''d turned into a walking tourist attraction due to all the eyes on him. He inwardly vowed never to put himself in such an awkward situation again.

    "Zachary! You''re finally here!" Suddenly, a voice eximed, drawing his attention. He tilted his head and noticed that it was a balding middle-aged man with a prominent aquiline nose who had spoken. He was Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach, specifically in charge of the first team of Juventus.

    "Wee, wee," the coach continued speaking in English while standing up from his seat to greet Zachary. "Please, feel at home as this is your club. And allow me to introduce you to the rest of the coaching staff and your new teammates..."

    With Coach Trombetta taking the lead, the awkward silence in the room naturally dissolved, and the atmosphere turned harmonious. The other coaches and yers stood up to greet Zachary, and in a few words, they weed him to the club in a friendly manner. It was as if they had forgotten the four goals he''d scored against them during the previous campaign of the Europa League. But, of course, there was always an exception to every case scenario. And that day was no different.

    When Zachary finally greeted Gianluigi Buffon, an unexpected incident transpired. The famous goalkeeper''s countenance turned stony, and he held on to Zachary''s hand much longer than was necessary. Without caring for the atmosphere around him, he narrowed his eyes and said in strained English, "Zachary! Tell me honestly. Was it your sole intention to draw thest man foul from me during our Europa League matchst season? Or did you genuinely wish to bypass me and score?"

    "Eh!" Zachary was taken aback by the question. He hadn''t expected an experienced keeper like Buffon to ask him about a minor issue fromst season.

    "Well?" Buffon pressed for an answer while still holding on to Zachary''s hand. Since he was a keeper, his grip was quite powerful, and naturally, Zachary couldn''t wriggle out of it.

    Zachary smiled awkwardly, finding the whole situation a bit absurd. He turned to the rest of his new teammates, hoping they would resolve his plight peacefully. However, his heart couldn''t help but sink into an abyss of worry, especially when he realized that all the previous cordial yers in the room were staring at him with ice-cold expressions. They were no longer smiling but looked like they couldn''t wait to beat him up.

    "Ragazzi! Penso che sia abbastanza!"

    Just then, the familiar voice of Coach Allegri reverberated across the otherwise silent room, causing Zachary to breathe a sigh of relief. On cue, as if all the yers had gotten a signal, they startedughing and grinning as if they had just heard the funniest joke. In just seconds, their expressions turned cordial again as if they were the friendliest humans on Earth.

    "Hahaha," Buffon chuckled, drawing Zachary into a hug. "I got you on that one. Did you think that I was about to beat you up?"

    Zachary was, of course, at a loss of how to respond to the circumstances. He remained silent as he hugged his new captain.

    After a moment, Buffon released Zachary and stepped back. "On behalf of the entire Juventus squad," he said with a smile, "And in my capacity as captain, I wee you to Juventus. Let''s work well together as teammates from now on." He extended his hand to Zachary.

    Zachary smiled and took the hand. "Thanks a lot, captain, for giving me that unique wee," he said. "I also hope that we work well together."

    "Cough! Cough!" Suddenly, someone coughed, interrupting the harmonious atmosphere. It was Paul Pogba, who was standing a few meters away. "I think you guys are forgetting something," the Frenchman said with his trademark grin. "Isn''t it customary for all new yers to go through initiation before the captain wees them to the club?"

    "Oh!" Buffon eximed. "There, I go with my rashness again. Zachary!" The goalie turned towards him with a smile. "I''ll have to withdraw my weing remarks until you go through the ritual to initiate you into the squad."

    "Initiation!?" Zachary was at a loss again. He was confused, especially since he hadn''t followed most of Juventus'' matters for long. So, he hardened his resolve and decided to inquire. "What''s this initiation ritual that everyone is talking about?"

    "Of course, you''ll have to entertain your senior teammates by singing a song of your own choosing," Pogba chimed in before Buffon could reply. "All new yers must go through the ritual before themencement of training today."

    "Really?" Zachary was again a bit skeptical. He nced toward the coaches, who were quietly watching the proceedings at a table positioned at the front of the tactics room. "Is this really necessary?" He asked again.

    Coach Maurizio Trombetta nodded and said, "This is an age-old tradition at Juventus. Every new yer has to go through it to be part of the Old Lady family of Turin. There''s no escaping the ritual, no matter how big a yer you were before arriving at Juventus."

    "This is crazy!" Zachary sighed.

    "You don''t have to worry," Pogba consoled with his signature wide grin. "Aside from you, we have four other new teammates going through the ritual. That should give you confidence and allow you to put up a wonderful performance."

    "Is that so?" Zachary said. "And who are these four yers?"

    "Kingsley Coman, Morata, Patrice Evra, and Roberto Pereyra," Pogba replied, rubbing his hands together as if in anticipation. "You five should be able to give us the concert of the year today."

 Chapter 431: Pre-Season Schedule

    Chapter 431: Pre-Season ScheduleKingsley Coman, Juventus'' 19-year-old recruit from PSG, was the first to step on the hrious excuse of a stage that was a chair positioned in the middle of the room. The young French footballer outdid himself by performing P. Diddy''s ssic hit - Bad Boys for Life. His lyrical flow was spot on ¡ª as if he had practiced the rap song several times beforehand. He even elicited a wave of thunderous apuse from his new teammates when he left the stage.

    Then, it was Patrice Evra''s turn to sing. The other Frenchman stepped on stage and introduced himself before getting into the groove. He sang Marvin Gaye''s Let''s Get it on and strained his voice to hit all the high notes. Naturally, his sorry excuse of an attempt to sing elicited frenzied waves ofughter from the other Juventus yers.

    After Patrice Evra, it was Roberto Pereyra''s turn to perform. The man freshly signed by Juventus from Udinese sang a Spanish song that sounded uninteresting and totally alien to Zachary. But surprisingly, the other Juventus yers seemed impressed by the song. They apuded the yer as he stepped off the stage and returned to his seat.

    The next on stage was Morata, who produced a somewhat eptable performance of another Spanish hit single before returning to his seat. And then finally, it was Zachary''s turn to step on stage. It was the time for Juventus'' most expensive signing that summer to go through the initiation ceremony.

    "Can I really sing anything?" Zachary asked after standing atop the stage that was the chair positioned in the middle of the room. He had alreadye to terms with his circumstances and wasn''t nervous.

    "You can sing any song of your own choosing," Pogba replied in English. "Just do your best."

    "Okay, here we go." Zachary smiled and breathed in deeply to prepare himself, and a tune from his childhood slowly emerged from the deep confines of his mind. Without dy, he faced the crowd of his new teammates and started singing, "Baa Baa ck sheep! Have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full. One for the master, one for the dame, and one for the little boy, who lives down thene..."

    His deep voice reverberated across the room, grating and scratching upon the ears of his new teammates. He repeated the catchy rhyme, not once or twice but a dozen times, and only stopped when he realized that the rest of the Juventus yers were looking at him with strange expressions.

    "That was the only song I could remember," he said, smiling and stepping off the stage. "Thank you all for listening."

    In response, all the yers remained silent while continuing to gaze at him with weird expressions. A few seconds passed, and suddenly, someone within the crowd startedughing. Then another followed ¡ª and soon, all the yers in the room were doubling over withughter. Theyughed so hard and didn''t stop even when Zachary settled back in his seat.

    "Seriously, Zachary!" Pogba finally spoke after the waves ofughter died down. "What was that? Was it a song? We can''t allow this."

    "But, you all agreed that I can sing any song of my own choosing," Zachary argued, ncing at the Frenchman. "Are you trying to go back on your words by dering that I haven''tpleted the ritual?"

    "Don''t mind Pogba," Buffon chimed in to save the situation. "He''s just making trouble. Since you have already sung for your teammates, you''re now fully initiated as a Juventus yer. Wee to Juventus, once again."

    "Thanks," Zachary said, letting out a breath. He didn''t wish to ever step on stage to sing again. Otherwise, he might be the joke of the entire footballingmunity in Europe with his poor excuse of a singing voice.

    With the matter settled, Buffon said a few more weing remarks to Zachary and the other new signings before allowing the coaches to take center stage. Finally, after going through all the foolery, the time to discuss the main themes of the meeting had arrived. And, of course, Zachary was excited as he was about to attend his first tactical gathering at his new club.

    "On behalf of the coaching staff, I would also like to wee all the new yers to this great club," Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant head coach in charge of the first team, spoke in English after stepping forward. "We''ll do everything possible to ensure that we make you feel at home during your tenure at Juventus. But I also wish to remind you that we only utilize Italian during meetings at this club. As you should have realized, the coaches and most of your teammates speak only Italian. So, I urge you to start learning the Italiannguage as soon as possible if you wish to fit into this footballmunity. Is that clear, my friends who have just arrived in Turin and don''t speak Italian?" He swept his gaze over Zachary, Patrice Evra, Kingsley Coman, and ¨¢lvaro Morata, the new Juventus recruits.

    "We understand, coach," Zachary and the other three responded, more or less in unison.

    "Excellent," Coach Trombetta said. "For today''s meeting, we''ll still utilize Italian. But afterward, you four can approach me, and I''ll exin the entire content of the meeting to you. Okay?"

    "Okay," Zachary and the other three responded.

    "Good." Coach Trombetta smiled and turned his gaze away. He then faced Coach Allegri and started spitting out rapid Italian words that Zachary couldn''t understand. He spoke for about three minutes before stepping back and taking his seat.

    It was then that Massimiliano Allegri stepped forward. The newly appointed head coach of Juventus didn''t voice any English words like his counterpart. Instead, he began vocalizing rapid Italian sentences while pacing back and forth around the room. He onlypleted his ''alien'' speech about thirty minutester when Zachary was almost dying of boredom. And without further ado, he dismissed his yers to the training ground tomence practice.

    At that moment, while most yers were exiting the room, Zachary and the other three new signings who couldn''t speak Italian hurriedly stood up and approached Coach Trombetta. Naturally, they wanted the trainer to exin the content of the meeting to them.

    "You guys are quick to get here!" Coach Trombetta said after noticing them. "That''s excellent. Let''s sit in the corner and begin right away."

    Without saying more needless words, the coach led the way to a table in the far corner of the tactics room. The four yers, including Zachary, matched his step and soon settled on the seats opposite his.

    "How is your first day at Juventus so far?" The coach asked after leaning back in his seat.

    "A bit vexing as we can''t understand anything," Patrice Evra was the first to respond.

    "Everything at the club is interesting," Kingsley Coman was the next to reply. "Thenguage barrier is the only issue."

    "I also find everything refreshing except thenguage barrier issue," Zachary took the cue and responded.

    "What about you, ¨¢lvaro?" Coach Trombetta chimed in again while looking at the only Spaniard in the group.

    "Well," Morata said, "I''m only waiting for the training and the matches. All the rest of the activities, including the meetings, don''t really interest me much."

    "You''ve spoken like a true footballer." The assistant coachughed. "But meetings are also important, especially if we want to get our tactics right on the field of y."

    "True," Morata agreed before going silent again.

    Coach Trombetta smiled and nted his elbows on the table. "Let''s move on to the content of the meeting. In brief, there were three points that Coach Allegri talked about today. First, he introduced his vision for the club. He said he wanted all his yers to be flexible, disciplined, and hard-working, whether on or off the field. He mentioned how he wished to win many domestic trophies and hopefully the Champions League during his tenure as the Juventus coach. He also urged all yers to do their best and work with him to realize those lofty goals."

    "Secondly, Coach Allegri exined the objectives of the uing pre-season tour of Asia and Australia. He repeatedly mentioned how he wanted to use the pre-season matches to straighten out his tactics and help his yers attain top match fitness. He also advised the yers to utilize the tour to build great team chemistry with teammates. And that way, they would find it easy to y matchless football and destroy all the other opponents when the Serie A seasonmenced."

    "Thirdly," Coach Trombetta continued, "Allegri also described the team''s training objectives for the next four days. He wants all yers to concentrate on honing their physical fitness before the pre-season tour. Thus, all yers will have to put a hundred percent effort into the gym sessions while also taking the time to go through drills, like agilities and cone work, with the intent to build fitness. And, of course, that means there will be limited or no ball work over the next four days. That summarizes the entire content of the meeting."

    "Thanks for tranting, coach," Evra immediately said. "But one thing I didn''t get is the pre-season schedule. When are we departing for Asia and Australia? And which teams will we be facing during the tour? Can you shed some light on that?"

    "Sure." Coach Trombetta nodded and fished a piece of paper from his shirt''s pocket. "We n to set off from Turin on Saturday. That''s five days from now, on August 2nd. As for the schedule of the pre-season matches, you can take a look at it yourselves." He passed the paper to Patrice Evra, who perused its contents for a few seconds before passing it over to Zachary.

    Zachary received the paper and focused on the contents. Without dy, his eyes started taking in the entire pre-season schedule of Juventus.

    ****

    *Scheduled Friendlies During the Pre-season Tour:

    -> August 6th, 2014: Indonesia Super League All-Stars vs. Juventus (Match Venue: Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia)

    -> August 10th, 2014: Australia & New Zend A-League All-Stars vs. Juventus (Match Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia)

    -> August 13th, 2014: Newcastle Jets vs. Juventus (Match Venue: Princes Park Stadium, Carlton, Australia)

    -> August 16th, 2014: LionsXII & S-League Internationals Select vs. Juventus (Match Venue: Singapore National Stadium, Kang, Singapore)

    -----

    *TIM Trophy (Round-Robin, three teams) Pre-season Matches:

    -> August 23rd, 2014: Juventus vs. AC Mn (Match Venue: Mapei Stadium, Reggio Emilia, Italy)

    -> August 23rd, 2014: Juventus vs. Sassuolo (Match Venue: Mapei Stadium, Reggio Emilia, Italy)

    ****

 Chapter 432: Big Money, Plans, and Concerns

    Chapter 432: Big Money, ns, and ConcernsAfter memorizing Juventus'' pre-season schedule, Zachary passed the paper on to ¨¢lvaro Morata, his new Spanish teammate. He then nced at Coach Trombetta and asked, "Coach! Howe there are two games scheduled on August 23rd? Could there be a mistake in the scheduling?"

    Coach Trombetta smiled knowingly and said, "Don''t worry. There''s no mistake. We''re simply following the unusual scheduling of the TIM Trophy. It has always featured three teamspeting against each other in a single-day round-robin battle. The fortunate thing is that the matchesst only forty-five minutes. So, you don''t have to worry about over-exhausting yourself even if you y two consecutive games."

    "Oh, I see," Zachary said, finally seeing the light. "Thanks for the rification."

    "You''re wee," Coach Trombetta said and turned his gaze away from Zachary. "Are there any more questions?"

    All four yers remained silent. They clearly didn''t require any more rifications about the content of the just-concluded meeting or the pre-season tour.

    "Well, then," Coach Trombetta intoned, standing up. "Since there are no more questions, it''s time for you to head to the pitch and join the rest of your teammates for training. But please don''t forget that the theme for the next four days is achieving top physical fitness. You have to work hard in that area to impress the coaches. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    "Okay, let''s hurry and head to the pitch," the assistant coach said. "Otherwise, Coach Allegri will start fuming if we spend more time than necessary here. And believe me; you wouldn''t want to face an angry Allegri at the beginning of the season."

    The four yersughed after hearing that. They quickly followed the assistant coach out of the almost empty tactics room and walked towards the training turfs. They were obviously ready tomence the first training with their new club.

    -----

    Over the next few days, Zachary didn''t dare squander any time, especially since the start of the season was fast approaching. Aside from hisnguage sses, he ignored almost everything and got busy training with his new teammates. He worked harder than ever and went through all the team drills like his life depended on it.

    When his coaches signaled him to run, he would run like a good boy. When they would tell him to lift weights or execute abdominal crutches in the gym, he would get into action and perform all the exercises withoutint. He was the true-blue portrayal of an obedient and hardworking character, especially since he wanted to impress his new bosses. And nothing, including thenguage barrier, could distract him from achieving his goals.

    As the days passed, Zachary realized that one''s knowledge of the Italiannguage didn''t matter that much on the training ground. Without even understanding what the coaches were saying, he could still follow the examples of his teammates and perform all exercises withoutmitting mistakes. And if he really needed anything tranted, he would seek out Coach Trombetta or international teammates, like Paul Pogba, who had a goodmand of Italian, to help him out.

    As if in a sh, the four days psed, and August 1st finally arrived. It was finally the eve of the day when the entire Juventus team would set off for the pre-season tour of Asia and Australia.

    The atmosphere around the team was teeming with enthusiasm when the training ended that day. Most yers talked excitedly with their colleagues as they left the training ground in the evening. They were obviously looking forward to the trip to Asia and Australia after spending four days training intensively.

    "Zachary!"

    Suddenly, Zachary, who was in the middle of a conversation with Patrice Evra while traversing the hallways of the training center, heard a shout from behind him. He immediately turned around and realized that Coach Trombetta was waving at him from a distance.

    "Excuse me," Zachary said to Evra in French. "I guess I have to go. Coach Trombetta wants to meet me."

    "Okay, good luck," Evra said, smiling. "See you tomorrow."

    "See you tomorrow," Zachary responded and then retraced his steps to meet with Coach Trombetta.

    "I''m d I managed to catch you before you left," the coach said after Zachary stood before him.

    "What''s up?" Zachary immediately asked, ncing at the coach. Since he had grown familiar with the trainer, he no longer addressed him with honorifics.

    "Well," Coach Trombetta said, "The head coach tasked me with asking you about your match fitness. How do you feel after training with us for four days? Do you think you''re back to the top of your game?"

    "Not yet," Zachary replied with a sigh. "I have done everything possible to regain my match fitness over the past four days, but I''m yet to achieve the desired results. I need about three to four weeks to get back into tip-top shape."

    "Okay, then." Coach Trombetta nodded. "But you don''t need to worry about the match fitness problem before the start of the season. The matches won''t be that demanding. Moreover, ying matches during the pre-season tour will help to get you back into top condition as soon as possible."

    "I hope so," Zachary said as thoughts about his current football technique stats shed through his mind. The previous night, he''d checked the system interface and realized that only his ball control was back to the S+ grading. As for the rest of the technique stats, including dribbling skills, passing uracy, and body control, they were all still a grade below what was supposed to be their peak due to him consuming the S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir a few days ago.

    "Okay, then, Zachary," Coach Trombetta said, still smiling. "Remember that we''re departing tomorrow at nine in the morning. So, you must at least be here by 8:30 AM. Don''t bete."

    "I understand, coach," Zachary said. "See you tomorrow."

    "See you tomorrow, and enjoy your evening," the coach responded with a smile before turning and walking away.

    Zachary also didn''t drag his feet. He whirled around and continued walking through the hallways. In about a minute, he exited the building and headed toward the parking lot, where he found Angelo Mattiello, his interpreter/guide/driver, waiting for him.

    "You''re here," Angelo said, stepping out of his Citro?n. "How was your day?"

    "As hectic as usual," Zachary replied.

    "That''s understandable since the team is preparing for the new season," Angelo said. "What''s next on your schedule? Should I drive you to your hotel now, or do you wish to pass by thenguage school first?"

    "Let''s head to the hotel," Zachary said and threw his gym bag into the vehicle''s back seat. "We''re setting off for the pre-season tour tomorrow early in the morning. So, I have a lot of things to prepare."

    "Okay, then," Angelo naturally concurred. "Enter the car, and let''s go."

    Zachary nodded and settled in the back seat of Angelo''s Citro?n before closing the door. Just then, as he was still in the middle of making himselffortable, he felt his phone vibrate for a brief moment within his trouser pocket. By reflex, he fished it out, then unlocked it before ncing at the screen.

    "Eh!" Zachary couldn''t believe his eyes the next moment. His heartbeat quickened, and he decided to read the text message he''d just received once again.

    -----

    INTESA SANPAOLO

    Dear Customer, Your ount ending 5432 has been credited with EUR 15,000,000. Your new ount bnce is EUR 15,403,000. Thank you for banking with us.

    -----

    After rereading the text message, Zachary finally confirmed that he had just received the first 15 million Euros promised to him by Juventus. After spending ten days in Turin, he had finally received the first portion of his 32 million signing bonus money. He couldn''t contain his excitement, especially since it was the first time receiving such a colossal amount of cash in his two lives.

    "Is anything wrong?" Angelo asked from the driving seat while ncing at him through the rearview mirror. It seemed like the guide had already noticed his agitation.

    "No, no," Zachary replied, grinning. "Everything is just fine. Let''s set off and head to the hotel."

    "Okay, fasten your seat belt," Angelo agreed and started the car. Before long, he eased it out of the parking lot and exited the training center before joining the main streets of Turin.

    As for Zachary, who was in the back seat, he was still basking in the excitement of receiving his first 15 million from Juventus. But that wasn''t for long. He breathed in and forced himself to calm down by watching the passing scenery outside the car window. Soon, his mind entered overdrive mode and started formting ns of how best to utilize his newfound fortune.

    Firstly, he wanted to buy a good house in a good neighborhood in Turin. Secondly, he also wished to make a few more investments in the stock market by relying on his knowledge of the future and the guidance of his financial adviser. He nned to invest a million or two inpanies that were sure to multiply his money in the years toe.

    Lastly, he also wanted to jump on the cryptocurrency bandwagon. After returning from the pre-season tour, he intended to make a calcted risk and ssh about 10 million Euros on Bitcoin. Then, when he received another big check from Juventus and his endorsers, he would also invest in Ethereum, which would beunched the following year in 2015. What would follow would be him waiting a few years before harvesting hundreds of millions or even billions of Euros at the start of the next decade. That was his master n to get rich while continuing his career as a football yer.

    **** ****

    Meanwhile, Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach, who had just talked to Zachary, stepped into Coach Allegri''s spacious office. He settled down in one of the chairs and waited for the head coach to finish what he was doing on hisptop.

    "You talked to him?" Allegri finally looked up from hisptop and asked in Italian after a few seconds.

    "Yes, I did," Maurizio replied.

    "So, what was his response?"

    "He still ims that he''s not yet back to a hundred percent condition," Maurizio said. "He hinted about needing between three to four weeks to attain full match fitness."

    "Oh!" Allegri nodded. He remained silent for a few seconds as if considering something before asking again, "After spending four days observing him, what is your impression of him?"

    "Very hard working and very serious about his career," Maurizio replied immediately. "I''ve only seen a few yers as intense and passionate as him during training. I don''t think a yer with his attitude can lie about his match fitness."

    "I also feel the same way," Coach Allegri said, nodding. "yers know their bodies best. They are even better than the best medicals at understanding the condition of their bodies. So, I''m quite inclined to believe him and consider the fact that he''s still struggling with his fitness."

    "True." Maurizio leaned back into his seat. "So, do we wait for him to attain full fitness before putting him on the pitch? Or do we utilize him during the pre-season matches?"

    "We will utilize him," Coach Allegri said, "But only sparingly. We can give him 10 to 15 minutes of ying time for every match during the pre-season tour. That will allow him to get into shape quicker."

    "True," Maurizio concurred. "That will also safeguard him from getting strained and injured before the start of the Serie A season. But how do we deal with the board and the chairman? They have warned us that they want to see their 70-plus million investment ying as many games as possible during the pre-season. They im that that will allow him to build arge fanbase as soon as possible."

    "Just ignore the board," Coach Allegri said in a dismissive manner. "It''s always good to listen to the yer''s concerns instead. Since he says he''s not back to full fitness, we give him a little time to recover. That way, we can make him feel more at home at the club, and he will be able to put all his heart out on the pitch when he finally makes his full debut."

    "I understand," Maurizio said.

    **** ****

 Chapter 433: Pre-Season Tour Starts

    Chapter 433: Pre-Season Tour StartsAs nned, the Juventus team, including the yers, coaches, and technical staff, boarded a chartered ne the following morning and set off on their journey to Jakarta, Indonesia, to kick-start their pre-season tour of Asia and Australia. Their flight was without mishaps, and they arrived in the Indonesian capital fifteen and a half hourster, just past midnight.

    After greeting their Indonesian fans, who had eagerly been waiting for them at the airport gates even thatte in the night, they took a bus to the Ritz-Carlton Jakarta Hotel. They checked into the hotel forty minutester and had ate dinner together as a team before heading to their rooms to rest for the night.

    The following day, they were up by nine o''clock and had their breakfast at the hotel''s restaurant. Then, they held a brief team tactical meeting before boarding the team bus and heading to the Patriot Bekasi Stadium. Under the escort of the local police, they got there without any mishaps and spent the entire day training there.

    For the first time as a Juventus yer, Zachary finally experienced the profoundness of Juventus'' training. And within three days, heprehended how brilliantly the Italians conducted their team drills to prepare for matches.

    Of course, the yers would start off their training with dynamic warm-up sessions like they had done back in Turin. Then, based on the pre-arranged schedule, they would go through gym sessions or technique and agility field exercisester in the morning. Finally, in the afternoon, they would undergo tactical drills, like variouspetitive possession rondos, react-and-defend drills, or attacking and passing pattern exercises to master the football aspects rted to game strategy.

    Over the three days of training at the Patriot Bekasi Stadium, Zachary realized that the Juventus coaches always emphasized the tactical side of the game. They were always earnest and intense during those sessions and didn''t allow yers to ck off. As a result, even experienced yers, like Pirlo and T¨¦vez, had to be good boys and go through the exercises withoutint. Otherwise, they could find themselves in the head coach''s bad books and miss out on the chance of making the starting line-up for the first few games of the uing Serie A season.

    While experiencing the refreshing feeling of training in an Asian city for the first time, the passing of time was swift for most Juventus yers, including Zachary. Before long, August 6th, the day when they would y their first pre-season friendly during their tour of Asia and Australia, arrived. And even though most of them were yet to attain full match fitness, they put their training on hold. They turned their focus to their match against the Indonesian Super League All-Stars, scheduled forter that day at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia.

    Of course, as a new yer iming to be dealing with fitness issues, Zachary didn''t make Coach Massimiliano Allegri''s starting line-up. Instead, he watched arge part of the game from the dugout and witnessed his new teammates destroying the all-stars select team of the Indonesian Super League.

    After getting stunned by an early opening goal for the hosts, Juventus reacted within two minutes. Carlos T¨¦vez, the Argentine striker, broke through the defense and forced a penalty out of the opposing center-back. And without any surprise, Andrea Pirlo, the experienced Maestro of Juventus, stepped forward and converted the spot kick to bring proceedings to level terms.

    After the goal, the game became more one-sided as Juventus pressured the Indonesian Super League all-star team with an ever-increasing intensity. The Old Lady dominated the game in all areas and soon started creating clear chances. In a short while, the Italian giants built more and more momentum and forced the floodgates open. And soon, it began raining goals in the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

    First, Fernando Llorente scored a hat-trick in the next half-hour of the game. Then, Sebastian Giovinco added another long-range shocker to ensure that the score was 5:1 in favor of Juventus by halftime. All the fans in the stadium couldn''t hide their shock as it had taken only 40 minutes to decimate an all-star Indonesian Super League team. The visitors had clearly showcased the superiority of the Italian league over footballpetitions in other parts of the world in just a single half.

    But could that have marked the end of Juventus'' obliteration of the hosts? The answer was obviously a big NO.

    After a slow start during the second half, Coach Allegri decided to shake up his team by subbing in a few big guns his club had just acquired. The Italian coach introduced Patrice Evra, the French defender, Kingsley Coman, a striker freshly signed from PSG, ¨¢lvaro Morata, the Spanish forward, and Zachary Bemba, his most expensive signing for the summer. He brought the four yers into the game during the 75th minute and then sat down to rx without any worries weighing upon his mind.

    The game restarted after the substitutes stepped onto the pitch, and as expected, Juventus immediately started dominating proceedings again. Without showing mercy, the Italian giants outyed the Indonesian Super League all-star team and hoarded all the possession during the next few minutes.

    Zachary, on his part, chose to y as a reliable teammate instead of going for startling and risky ys within the midfield. He just focused on the basics of receiving the ball and passing within the midfield to dominate possession.

    Naturally, he wasn''t the impressive Zachary fromst season. But he still functioned as a solid, dependable central midfielder who wouldn''t lose the ball due to his quick thinking and excellent passing. As a result, he elicited a sense of trust from his teammates in a short while. They started passing more and more to him, thus making him the control pivot in the absence of the substituted Andrea Pirlo.

    But Zachary still didn''t let all that get to his head. Since he was aware that he wasn''t yet at his best, he avoided dribbling and continued passing the ball like a Maestro. And before long, during the 79th minute, his high spatial awareness worked wonders, and he managed to find Kingsley Coman with an outside-of-the-boot stunning and lofted pass over the defense. And that was all it took for him to create a scoring chance after spending only four minutes on the field.

    Kingsley Coman was quite brilliant on that asion. He expertly beat the opponent''s defensive trap before meeting Zachary''s overhead pass with an outstretched boot. Then, within a single motion, he smashed the ball past the keeper''s outstretched hands to score Juventus'' sixth goal for the night.

    But that wasn''t the end of Juventus'' thrashing of the Indonesian all-star team that evening. Simone Pepe and ¨¢lvaro Morata, the Old Lady''s other forwards, added a goal each in the 86th and 91st minute, respectively. Theirte goals were the final nails in the coffin that sealed the Indonesian all-star team''s fate of losing to Juventus by eight goals to one.

    **** ****

    After the match, Emilia Vasquez, the ESPN presenter, invited a few pundits to her Sports Daily show to analyze Juventus'' first game of their pre-season tour. Among the pundits was Charles Adams, a reputable journalist who had predicted that Zachary would flop at Juventus.

    "Wee back, viewers," Emilia Vasquez said, smiling at the cameras. "We''ve just watched Juventus'' incredible performance against the Indonesian Super League all-star team. The Old Lady yers scored eight goals against their first opponents of their pre-season tour. Charles! Let''s start with you. What do you make of Juventus'' performance today?"

    "Well," Charles Adams said, "As a team, Juventus was as impressive as usual. yers like Andrea Pirlo, Fernando Llorente, Carlos T¨¦vez, and Simone Pepe yed incredibly well today. Their decision-making on the pitch was world-ss, and that''s why Juventus managed to destroy the Indonesian Super League all-star team within the first half."

    "Let''s talk about Juventus'' new signings, especially the 19-year-old Zachary Bemba and the 19-year-old Kingsley Coman," Emilia Vasquez chimed in with a smile. "They linked up well within the 79th minute to score Juventus'' sixth goal."

    "Yeah, yeah," Charles Adams replied. "I have to admit that the two young men were quite impressive. In particr, Zachary performed beyond my expectations. His performance during his quarter an hour of game time was solid, and he even provided an assist. But even after all that, I''m sure most Juventus fans are not impressed by his disy today."

    "Please rify," Emilia pressed.

    "Well, let''s first consider the fact that Juventus coughed out roughly 80 million Euros to sign Zachary Bemba," Charles Adams said. "I''m sure they were not trying to sign another midfielder that could pass the ball well. They already had Andrea Pirlo, udio Marchisio, and even Paul Pogba in the midfield to y that role. Instead, they spent all that money to sign Zachary Bemba to acquire their own version of Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. In the worst circumstances, they expected to acquire their own Neymar or Luis Su¨¢rez."

    "But what did we see during this game? We saw their roughly 80 million investment, ying like any other midfielder on the team. I admit that his performance was solid. But that was all there was to it. I didn''t see him take risks by taking on defenders to create goal-scoring chances. He didn''t even try to test the keeper once. Even Kingsley Coman, the much cheaper signing for Juventus, was more creative than him today. I really don''t see how he''ll handle the morepetitive Italian league if he continues performing at such a level."

    "Can I remind you that this is his first game for Juventus," Joshua Morales, another pundit, chipped in. "He has been out of the action for two months. Don''t you think you''re being too harsh on him by expecting him to perform at his best during his first game?"

    "He was ying against much weaker opponents," Charles Adams stated. "He should have at least tried to dribble past an opponent or to take a shot at goal."

    Joshua Morales sighed and shook his head in response. "There are many more pre-season matches toe," he said. "Let''s wait and see. I''m sure that he will dazzle us with his skills before long. Mark my words."

    "Okay, okay," Charles Adams said, his tone a bit aggressive. "Let''s wait and see if he will live up to his roughly 80 million price tag."

    **** ****

 Chapter 434: Busy and Intense Schedule

    Chapter 434: Busy and Intense ScheduleZachary saw the football pundits'' criticalments about him in the news the following morning. He even watched the rey of Emilia Vasquez''s Sports Daily show and heard all the negative remarks that Charles Adams, the sports journalist, had made about him.

    He was obviously a bit surprised by the harsh appraisal of his previous day''s performance by the journalist. But that was it. He neither lost his head nor felt discouraged, especially since he understood how to solve his match fitness issues and return to his peak in the shortest time possible.

    He was sure that as long as he finished dealing with the side effects of the S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir, he would be able to shut the blubber mouths criticizing him with his prowess on the pitch. And knowing that fact allowed him to remain focused on his efforts to realize his short to mid-term goals without really minding thements of a journalist who was probably trying to gain some attention on television.

    His priority for the pre-season was still to try his best to fit into the new team. He hoped to continue putting up concrete and stable performances for Juventus by relying on his solid basics, such as passing and ball control skills.

    Rather than rushing to gain some quick poprity among the fans and journalists by executing risky ys, he would aim to remain a reliable teammate who couldn''t easilymit mistakes or lose the ball. Then, when he dealt with the side effects of the S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir, he would take his game to a higher level and start ying like a ball wizard. That was his n to cement his ce within the Juventus team.

    With the right frame of mind, Zachary had no problems focusing on preparing for the uing pre-season friendlies. He joined Juventus''st training in Jakarta, Indonesia, and continued working as hard as ever on his fitness. And as usual, he forgot everything else and focused only on training until the team sessions endedte in the evening that Thursday.

    -----

    The following day, on Friday, August 8th, all the Juventus yers and staff boarded their chattered ne and traveled to Sydney, Australia, to kick-start the next phase of their pre-season tour.

    They arrived in Sydney at ten in the evening, and with the help of some dedicated tour guides, theypleted all procedures at the airport within minutes. Then, after greeting their fans waiting outside the airport, they took the prearranged team bus to the trendy neighborhood of Sydney Olympic Park and checked into the Ibis Hotel, which was strategically located less than a kilometer from the ANZ Stadium.

    The hotel''s facilities were at a five-star rating, allowing the yers to rx and rest before delving back into preparations for their next pre-season friendly. As a result, they were all fresh and energetic when they trained at one of the football grounds near the ANZ stadium in Sydney the following day.

    Under the supervision of Coach Allegri and his team of assistants, the Juventus squad covered all aspects ofpetitive football training, including fitness, ball handling, and team tactics, within three sessions spread over a brief period of a single day.

    By the time they finished all the exercises, the sun was just about to sink below the horizon in the eastern skies of Sydney. They returned to the hotel and had a sumptuous dinner before heading to their respective rooms for the night.

    Zachary, on his part, was ready to take a shower and enter bed after he returned to his hotel room. But right after he connected his phone to the hotel''s Wi-Fi, he immediately received a WhatsApp video call from Cami, his girlfriend in the other hemisphere, in Trondheim, Norway. Without any hesitation, he decided to put everything on hold and first ept the call.

    Cami''s gorgeous face immediately appeared on the phone''s screen when he pressed the ept button. She smiled and said, "Hello, dear! I haven''t heard from you in four days! How are you, and how''s everything?"

    "Hello, Cami," Zachary said, feeling guilty for ignoring his girlfriend for all those days. "Sorry about not calling you for the past four days. The pre-season tour is quite hectic. Aside from training with the team, I usually don''t get time to do anything else. But I promise to do better from now on. I''ll call you more often."

    "That would be for the best," Cami said, sighing. "You know that we''re now thousands of miles apart. Communication is crucial if we want to keep our rtionship going strong. We can''t spend four days without talking to each other. Otherwise, we''ll gradually grow apart as the months sh by."

    "I understand," he said in an apologetic tone. "I''ll do better from now on." He was aware that Cami couldn''t easily reach him through his phone during the pre-season tour. She would probably always find his number off due to challenges arising from the difference inwork service providers from country to country. So, it was up to him to always call her and ensure they kept a connection, at least, until he returned to Italy.

    Cami''s bright emerald-green eyes crinkled slightly at the corners as she smiled. "Let''s push the irritating stuff to the side," she said. "How''s your pre-season tour with Juventus? Are you enjoying your first trip to Asia and Australia?"

    Zachary sighed, ncing straight into Cami''s eyes through the screen. "All I can say is that the tour is quite intense. Aside from match days, we train from morning to evening and even hold tactical meetings at the breakfast and dinner table. By the time we go to bed, we''re already like tired dogs, only thinking about resting and preparing for the next day''s training. It''s that intense."

    "Really?" Cami''s eyes widened. "Even you, a training madman, find the training schedule intense? Are you sure you''re with a football team or did you unknowingly join some Special Forces military unit?"

    Zachary chuckled at her efforts to make a joke. "My new teammates tell me that the schedule is only that hectic partly because a new coach has just taken the job. The other reason is that it''s close to the beginning of the Serie A season. So, the club is doing everything possible to raise our fitness as quickly as possible. That''s why we''re ying matches every three days in different cities and countries while also finding the time to continue training together as a team."

    "Oh, I see," Cami said. "Does that mean that you didn''t get a chance to tour the capital city of Indonesia?"

    "There was no time for that," Zachary admitted. "We just trained and yed a match in Jakarta before setting off for Australia. The coaches were strict and didn''t allow us to move around."

    "That quite a tough life," Cami said, sighing. "So, you won''t even take a few hours off and look at the sights in Sydney?"

    "That''s indeed the case," Zachary said, walking across the hotel room and settling on his bed. "Our schedule will remain intense until the end of August. For instance, we have to y three matches within the uing week. First, we y the Australia & New Zend A-League All-Stars team tomorrow on Sunday. Then, on Wednesday, August 13th, we''ll travel to Carlton, in the far south of Australia, and y against the Newcastle Jets. Finally, on Saturday, August 16th, we''ll have to be in Kang, Singapore, for our game against LionsXII & S-League Internationals Select. Those are three games within a short seven-day window. Factor in the time for training and traveling, and you can see how busy we are over the next week."

    "But you must be having a st since you like football," Cami pressed. "How can that schedule faze the Zachary I know? I have a feeling that you''re even fixing in a few more private training sessions within your already busy schedule. Isn''t that so?"

    Zacharyughed, choosing to ignore the question. "Enough about me," he said. "How''re you doing? And how''s life in Trondheim?"

    "Everything is as before," she replied. "Just waking up, eating, working, and sleeping. Nothing interesting. I''m also already missing you."

    "Oh," Zachary said, "I miss you too."

    "Liar," Cami replied jokingly. "If you miss me, why don''t you call or text me more often?"

    "Ahh..." Zachary was at a loss for what to say. He couldn''t give the same old excuse of "I''ve been busy" since that would prove her point. He only sighed and shook his head in defeat.

    Cami chuckled on seeing his reaction. "By the way," she said, "All my friends and co-workers have been going on about Rosenborg''s UEFA Super Cup game against Real Madrid. The ones aware that we''re dating are always asking me why I didn''t convince you to stay in Norway, at least until after the Super Cup. They fear their team will lose miserably to Real Madrid, especially without you to hold the reins in the midfield."

    Zachary sighed, recalling that Rosenborg''s game against Real Madrid was on Tuesday night. His former teammates would face off against one of the strongest football clubs filled with incredible yers, like Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Luka Modri?, and Toni Kroos. As far as he was concerned, Rosenborg would have to pull off something akin to a miracle to defeat such an assemge of talent and ss and win the game.

    "Will you watch the game?" Zachary asked Cami.

    "Nope," Cami readily replied. "I can''t sleepte that day as I have a busy schedule on Wednesday."

    "Eh!" Zachary was surprised. "I thought you were a fan of Rosenborg? How can you miss such an important match?"

    "You dummy," Cami said humorously. "I was only supporting Rosenborg simply because you were ying for them. Now that you have joined Juventus, I have already be a staunch supporter of Juventus. It''s as simple as that."

    Zachary smiled, finding her whole reasoning amusing. But he chose not toment about her shaky support of football clubs and said his goodbyes to her. A bitter, they exchanged some sweet nothings and "I love you" phrases for minutes before repeatedly expressing their heartfelt goodbyes once again. And that was how the two love birds ended their call that night.

 Chapter 435: Friendly against A-League All-Stars

    Chapter 435: Friendly against A-League All-StarsThe Juventus squad was back in action, ying a pre-season friendly the following day, on a rainy Sunday evening. In the ANZ Stadium filled to the brim with passionate Australian fans, they faced off against the Australia & New Zend A-League All-Stars select team captained by Juventus'' former star and legend - Alessandro Del Piero.

    Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus'' head coach, chose to go with a midfield of Paul Pogba, udio Marchisio, and Andrea Pirlo that day. As for Zachary and Vidal, his other star midfielders, he left them on the bench due to their match fitness issues.

    Once again, Juventus started the friendly on the back foot after conceding an early goal in the 9th minute. Most Old Lady yers on the pitch, including star midfielders like Andrea Pirlo and udio Marchisio, struggled to find their rhythm during the entire first half. Their performance was not the best, and on several asions, they lost the ball in the defensive midfield zones and almost gifted the opponents with another goal.

    It was only when the game proceeded to the second half that a change transpired. Fernando Llorente showed his brilliance again by scoring Juventus'' 1st goal in the 58th minute. Then, as if the Juventus yers had gotten a wake-up call, they started ying some presentable football for the first time that evening.

    Slowly but steadily, they began showing their prowess on the pitch and even created a couple of decent half-chances as they searched for opportunities to score and put the game to bed. But before they could build up any momentum, another stunning goal from the all-star team during the 76th minute sent all their previous efforts down the drain. Once again, they were in dire straits since they were trailing by a goal with less than 15 minutes of gamey remaining on the clock. As a result, everyone in the stadium could deduce that they would most likely lose the game if nothing changed during the next few minutes.

    On the sidelines, Coach Allegri was, of course, incensed by the sorry performance of his starting yers. He couldn''t stomach the fact that a team filled with international yers, who had just won the Italian Serie A only months ago, was struggling against a side from Australia and New Zend. Even though it was the pre-season, such a situation was uneptable, and he could not allow the status quo on the pitch to remain the same.

    He immediately turned to the bench and summoned Simone Pepe, a winger, Kwadwo Asamoah, a left midfielder, and Zachary Bemba, his newly signed attacking midfielder. He gave them brief instructions concerning positioning and ying patterns before requesting the fourth official to substitute them into the game.

    When the ball went out of y for a throw-in during the 78th minute, the three substitutes stepped onto the pitch in ce of the seemingly exhausted Andrea Pirlo, the underperforming Patrice Evra, and the uncreative udio Marchisio. They took up their positions on the field of y, and the referee blew the whistle to restart the game with a Juventus throw-in.

    Kwadwo Asamoah, the freshly introduced left-midfielder, was the man to take the throw-in for Juventus. He made a short run towards the field and then nted his feet before the touchline on the left before throwing the ball towards Leonardo Boni, the center-back in the back line.

    Leonardo Boni calmly controlled the ball without any pressure. He brought it to the ground with his chest and kicked it towards Stephan Lichtsteiner, Juventus'' right wing-back. Thetter didn''t dawdle with the ball for long but immediately squared a pass to Zachary, who had just opened himself up in the middle of the pitch.

    Zachary was excited after noticing the ball approach his position. But he forced himself to remain calm as he connected with the pass and whirled around to step beyond the reach of an opposing midfielder who was fast closing him down. And just at the right moment, before any other opponents could react, he unleashed a grounded pass towards Kwadwo Asamoah on the left nk.

    Kwadwo Asamoah took one touch on the ball before lopping it over an opponent to find Carlos T¨¦vez, the Argentine striker, at the left edge of the box. Thetter was as creative as ever, and he immediately chested the ball first time to Paul Pogba, the Frenchman who had been running in sync with him.

    Paul Pogba assessed the situation around him while receiving the ball. He danced and performed a few shy moves to confuse the opposing defenders. Then, when the angle opened up, he ced a perfect pass for Zachary, who was just about to arrive before the arc of the 18-yard-box.

    "Perfect Chance!"

    Adrenaline started pumping rapidly and abnormally through Zachary''s entire body as he approached the ball from a forty-five-degree angle. His eyes narrowed into slits, and he focused solely on the ball rolling towards his sprinting path at a seemingly slow pace. Then, when he judged that the moment was right, he immediately decided to go into action and pull the trigger.

    Breathing in, he took thest jump-step and nted his non-kicking foot next to the ball. Then, he swung his left leg all the way back before whipping it down hard and fast to smack the ball that had just appeared before him.

    "BAM!"

    His new Missile-Launcher skill worked like a charm as he took the shot, and the ball rose from the ground like a surface-to-surface missile out of itsuncher. It tore through the air like a lightning bolt, whooshing and whizzing through the gaps between the opposing defenders. Then, at the final moment, it zigzagged left and right unpredictably before cracking off the post and homing into the back of the. Due to the incredible velocity of the shot, the keeper couldn''t even react.

    -----

    A-League All-Stars 2 : Juventus 2

    -----

    There were a brief few seconds of silence after the ball homed into the back of the. Then, a momentter, the fans within the stands seemed to ovee their shock and started apuding the goal. They happily cheered at the top of their voices as Zachary ran toward his teammates to celebrate his first goal for Juventus.

    "Who''s this Zachary Bemba? Howe I''ve never heard about him?" One Australian fan asked his friend after the cheering started dying down.

    "Mate! You''re out of touch with the current happenings on the football scene," his friend replied with a sigh. "Zachary Bemba is Juventus'' newest and most expensive signing this year. He was the star who helped a small Norwegian team called Rosenborg to win the Europa Leaguest season. He scored over 20 goals and broke the tournament goal-scoring record in a single season. How can you not know about him?"

    It was his friend''s turn to get surprised. He was like most Australians, who had a habit of focusing only on the very big European football clubs andpetitions. He would watch the Champions League, yes. But he would never waste his time following an inconsequential tournament like the Europa League. So, how could he have known about Zachary?

    "Is he really a great yer?" The fan asked his friend again.

    "Yes, he is," his friend replied matter-of-factly. "He can dribble, pass with machine-like precision, and score goals like a football demon. He even scored four goals against Juventus, and that''s why they signed him for a club-record transfer fee. Then, there are his abnormal free kicks. Mate! He has never missed a set piece during his entire professional career. As long as the set piece is within the final third, he''ll convert. So, tell me! Do you think he is impressive or not?"

    "You make him sound like another Messi or a CR7," the fan sounded skeptical. "Is he as good as them?"

    His friend thought for a moment before saying, "That, I can''t tell at the moment. I''ll need to watch him in the Serie A first. Then, I''ll be able to judge if he is as good as those two."

    -----

    Unbeknownst to Zachary, many Australian fans in the stadium were starting to research his history. Due to his incredible goal that put Juventus back to level terms, they became interested in him and asked their friends about his past deeds. Others even pulled up his information from the inte and watched a few videos of his past highlights. What happened next was pretty obvious. In a few minutes, theyprehended the extent of his skills and couldn''t stop eximing in wonderment. They immediately decided to follow him on social media so as to get more updates about him. And that was how Zachary started attracting bunches of more Instagram and Twitter followers while he was with his new team on tour in Australia. But all that didn''t matter to him as he was still on the field of y, facing off against the A-League All-Stars.

    It was the 85th minute, but the game was still at a deadlock of 2:2. Naturally, Juventus was dominating the proceedings and creating more chances on the field of y. All the field yers, especially the just-introduced substitutes, yed like they were hungry predators chasing after prey. They outran their opponents by more than five kilometers as they searched for that one winning goal to put the game to bed. And finally, during the 93rd minute, the chance they had been looking for appeared.

    After making an intelligent and abrupt run to escape from an opponent, Zachary met up with a pass from Leonardo Boni, the center-back, close to the boundary of the defensive third. His high spatial awareness worked wonders ¡ª and he assessed the situation on the field in a sh. Before the opponents could close him down, he angled his body and unleashed a hell-of-a-long-range-pass towards the other end of the pitch. And that was all it took for Zachary to take the entire opposing defense out of the equation.

    Whoosh!

    The ball zoomed through midair, darting in and out of the spaces between the opponents like a remote-controlled drone. In a matter of seconds, itnded before Paul Pogba, who had coincidentally just beaten the offside trap as he ran towards the opponent''s goal. Without losingposure, the Frenchman chested it down the ground on a half-turn. Then, with a deft touch, he looped it past the approaching keeper to score Juventus'' third goal for the night.

    -----

    A-League All-Stars 2 : Juventus 3

    -----

    It was a good night for Zachary. He had managed to change the game''s trajectory by scoring a goal and creating an assist after spending less than thirteen minutes on the pitch. As a result, his new teammates couldn''t stopplimenting him when the whole team grouped up to celebrate Pogba''sst-minute winner.

 Chapter 436: Post-Match Interview

    Chapter 436: Post-Match InterviewAfter four minutes of added time, the game ended while Juventus was still leading by three goals to two. The Juventus yers immediately waved to their passionate Australian fans before stepping off the pitch and heading back to the dressing room.

    On the way through the tunnel, most of Zachary''s teammates congratted him on his feat of scoring his first goal for Juventus. They were super happy for him and encouraged him to more goals during the pre-season and when the new Serie A seasonmenced.

    Zachary, of course, received their good wishes politely without revealing any excess emotions. But on the inside, he was super happy since he was gaining the trust of his new teammates at the speed of a rocket escaping earth''s gravity.

    He couldn''t have imagined or dreamed of a better start to his journey as a Juventus yer. He was on cloud nine, especially since he could feel his confidence and sharpness on the pitch returning to him much faster than he had anticipated. He reckoned that he might be able to fit into the Juventus team fully if he could continue putting up solid performances while scoring a few more goals during the pre-season.

    As a footballer, who had experienced two lives, Zachary understood the importance of teamwork. He had longprehended that on a football team, it was not the strength of the individual yers but the unit''s prowess and how they all functioned together as a whole that mattered. He knew that even the most talented yers would find it difficult to realize their potential if they couldn''t straighten their character and be team yers. They would find it almost impossible to y at their peak if they couldn''t gain the trust of their teammates and coaches.

    For instance, Zachary seeded at Rosenborg because all his former teammates trusted him. When they were on the pitch, they would never think twice before passing the ball to him during crucial moments. Even the coach would allow him plenty of freedom on the field due to his trust in his overflowing team spirit. And that permitted him to y incredibly well and showcase his skills without any hindrances, week in, week out.

    Having learned all those lessons, Zachary was determined to follow the same model during his tenure at Juventus. First and foremost, he wanted to be a good colleague who had a good rtionship with his teammates and understood them well. Then, he would be able to y football without worrying about other yers or coaches hindering the progress of his career.

    "Zachary! A moment please!" Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach in charge of the first team, called out to him before he could step into the dressing room.

    Zachary immediately turned around and realized that the coach was chasing after him. He stopped in his tracks and waited for the man to catch up to him.

    "You have one responsibility before heading into the dressing room," the assistant coach said after standing before him. "We need you to do the post-match press conference, especially since you scored your first goal for Juventus today."

    Zachary raised a brow, ncing at the Italian coach. "But I don''t speak Italian, and this is the pre-season. Is this really necessary?"

    "Very," Coach Maurizio Trombetta replied. "There have been a few traces of negative publicity about you floating around in the news. Some football pundits predicted that you would be a flop at Juventus. Now that you''ve scored, we want you to get out there and assure the fans of how well you''re settling in at Juventus."

    "Again, I have to ask: Is this really necessary? If I continue performing well on the pitch, the negative publicity will go away!"

    "That''s not enough at a big club like Juventus," Coach Trombetta replied. "You have to remember that you''re a public figure. Many football fans in Italy and other countries are interested in everything about you, including your lifestyle and match fitness. For instance, the publicity office reported that many fans have been asking why you''re not starting for Juventus. Due to the predictions by the pundits, the fans have doubts about you and are constantly wondering whether you''re finding it difficult to adapt to life at Juventus. They fear that you might be a flop at the club. And that impacts your shirt sales and, in turn, affects the club''s ie. So, we can''t let this negative publicity continue floating around. We need you to do a press conference so that you can assure the fans of how you find life in Turin perfect and what goals you''ve set for yourself at the club."

    "Okay, then," Zachary said, nodding. "Lead the way to the press area. Let''s get this over with."

    Coach Trombetta smiled. "Don''t worry," he said. "We arranged a press conference in a way that one reporter interviews you. Just take the whole thing as a conversation with a beautiful reporter and talk about your goals and aspirations at the club. I''m sure you''ll do okay, and before you know it, it''ll be over."

    "I understand," Zachary said. "Let''s go."

    Coach Trombetta nodded before leading the way. They traversed the sparkling hallways of the ANZ Stadium and arrived before a door in a matter of seconds. The coach pushed it open, and they stepped inside a rtivelyrge room that was supposedly the press area of the famous stadium in Sydney.

    Zachary immediately looked around after entering the room. There was a camera crew and a few other stadium officials organizing the room for the press conference. But what caught Zachary''s eye and caused him to halt in his tracks for a moment was a familiar and beautiful blondedy in a Juventus number 10 jersey.

    "It''s you!" Zachary eximed after setting his eyes on her gorgeous face. He immediately recalled that she was the reporter who had stealthily shoved her business card into his pocket while he was in France about to y against Lyon.

    "It''s nice to meet you again, Zachary," she said, smiling. "Congrattions upon your move to Juventus." She stood up from her seat and extended her hand.

    Zachary''s expression turned unnatural after recalling how her stunt of shoving her name card into his pocket had almost caused him trouble with Cami. But he forced himself to remain calm as he took her hand for a firm handshake. "Thank you," he replied and immediately asked, "Are you a Juventus fan now?"

    "You can say so," she replied. "I became a supporter about two weeks ago."

    "Two weeks ago!" Zachary''s expression turned more strange afterprehending that that was the time when he''d just joined Juventus. He couldn''t help but wonder whether the beautiful reporter before him was one of those stalker types he''d once read about in celebrity magazines.

    "Do you two know each other?" Coach Trombetta asked from the side after noticing Zachary''s strange mannerisms.

    "She once interviewed me," Zachary responded, not wishing to go into the details.

    "Yes, indeed," thedy reporter confirmed with a smile. "I interviewed Zachary before Rosenborg''s Europa League game against Lyonst season."

    "Oh, okay," Coach Trombetta intoned. "This makes things easier since you two know each other. Let''s get straight into the press conference. I''m sure Zachary wants to get this over with, so he can return to his hotel room to rest. He must be tired after ying the game."

    Thedy reporter nodded and instructed her crew to start up the cameras. They worked quickly, and all the machines came alive in seconds. Then, a minuteter, Zachary and the reporter took their seats, and the press conference started.

    "Hello, viewers," thedy reporter said, smiling and facing the cameras. "I''m ¨¦l¨¦anor Bohen from ESPN. With me here is Zachary Bemba, the man of the hour, who scored his first goal for Juventus today. He also provided the incredible assist that resulted in Juventus'' 3rd goal against the A-League all-stars during injury time."

    She turned away from the camera and faced Zachary. "Zachary! Thank you for staying back to talk to us. How do you feel after scoring your first goal for Juventus?"

    "I feel really great," Zachary replied. "I can now sleep at ease knowing I didn''t disappoint my coaches and teammates when I got the opportunity to bury the ball into the back of the."

    ¨¦l¨¦anor chuckled. "Your goal was incredible. The shot was powerful, and even the keeper couldn''t react. How did you manage to strike the ball in such a perfect manner?"

    Zachary smiled. "Luck and technique," he replied. "I was lucky to be in the right ce and thus allowed Pogba to pass to me. Then, I relied on my technique to smash the ball into the back of the without allowing any opponents to close me down. That''s how I did it."

    "You make the process sound so simple," ¨¦l¨¦anor remarked.

    "It''s quite simple if you train," Zachary responded.

    ¨¦l¨¦anorughed. "Let''s talk about something other than the match. You have spent more than two weeks with Juventus. Are you settling in well?"

    "I''m trying," Zachary replied. "I''m obviously working hard to fit into the team and also elevate my game to the next level. I spend nearly every waking hour training as I want to improve myself and seed at this great club."

    "Can we expect to see more phenomenal performances from you in a Juventus shirt?"

    "Definitely," Zachary replied. "I have great belief in myself. I''m confident that if I continue working hard, I''ll eventually cement my ce on the starting line-up and y good and consistent football. But as you also know, I have only spent slightly over two weeks with Juventus. I still need a little more time to settle down and return to my peak."

    "It''s nice to hear that, Zachary," ¨¦l¨¦anor said. "But what about thenguage barrier issue? Do you face any problems during training or matches because you can''t speak Italian?"

    "Thenguage barrier is obviously a bit inconveniencing," Zachary said. "But it''s not a big problem that can affect my training or performance on the pitch. Some coaches and teammates speak more than twonguages. They always act as my trantors when we''re on the field of y or on the training ground."

    "Do you n on learning Italian?" ¨¦l¨¦anor asked.

    "Yes, I do n on learning Italian," Zachary said. "I have already enrolled in anguage school. If all goes well, I should be able to speak and understand Italian by the end of the year."

    ¨¦l¨¦anor smiled. "I''m sure the Italian fans will love that. Based on what you have said, you seem to be having an easy time settling down in Turin well. Is that right?"

    "Indeed, I''m settling in well," Zachary agreed. "I''m starting to enjoy my time here at Juventus."

    ¨¦l¨¦anor nodded with a smile. "Then, I wish you luck. And hopefully, we''ll be able to see you scoring more goals for Juventus soon."

    "I certainly will," Zachary said. "I will try my best to seed at this club. That, I promise."

    "Excellent," ¨¦l¨¦anor said, smiling. "Thanks again for taking the time to talk to us even after ying a game. We wish you all the best during your time at Juventus."

    "Thanks," Zachary replied, and the interview ended.

 Chapter 437: A Shocking UEFA Super Cup Result

    Chapter 437: A Shocking UEFA Super Cup ResultAs Zachary was about to leave the room with Coach Trombetta after the interview, ¨¦l¨¦anor Bohen, the ESPN reporter, called out to him. Her dazzling blue eyes crinkled at the edges, and the corners of her full lips turned upwards. She stepped forward and asked Zachary, "Can I talk to you alone for a moment?"

    Coach Trombetta, who had been quietly watching on from the side, shed Zachary a knowing smile. He reminded Zachary about the time of departure of the team bus before excusing himself and stepping out of the press room.

    "So, what do you wish to talk about?" Zachary immediately asked ¨¦l¨¦anor.

    ¨¦l¨¦anor smiled and said, "I was expecting your call after the Lyon game. But you didn''t call!"

    "I have a girlfriend," Zachary stated. "A beautiful and understanding girlfriend!"

    "Oh!" ¨¦l¨¦anor seemed surprised. "But does having a girlfriend stop us from being friends?"

    "Yes, it does," Zachary stated. "One intelligent man once said that a wise man shouldn''t be friends with other girls if he has a girlfriend. It''s the surefire way to avoid trouble."

    ¨¦l¨¦anor chuckled, ncing at Zachary with an amused expression. "Your girlfriend is lucky to have you as her boyfriend," she said. "Is she with you here in Turin?"

    Zachary raised a brow. "Please don''t ask me such questions. I don''t want to discuss my personal life with journalists. Have a good night."

    Without waiting for a response, he turned around and stepped away from the reporter. He was decisive as he didn''t wish to associate himself with anydy drama that could potentially distract him before he achieved his career goals.

    **** ****

    ¨¦l¨¦anor''s jaw dropped when she saw Zachary stepping away from her like she was the gue. She nked out for a moment and watched him absentmindedly as he left the room. Then, when his back disappeared through the doorway, ¨¦l¨¦anor did some introspection. She couldn''t help but wonder whether her charms had fallen to the extent that she could even attract the attention of a 19-year-old who had just risen to fame.

    "Our gorgeous ¨¦l¨¦anor also has times like these," the voice of the only otherdy within her camera crew interrupted her thought process. She mercilesslyughed at her friend''s plight and continued, "He just gave you the cold shoulder without batting an eye. What an interestingd!"

    ¨¦l¨¦anor''s eyes narrowed as she nced at Beatrice, her long-time friend. "He didn''t reject me," she articted. "He just said that he had a girlfriend. So, I still have a chance."

    "Dream on!" Beatrice said with a chuckle. "If a guy says he has a girlfriend, it means he isn''t interested in you. Otherwise, he would have hidden the fact that he was in a rtionship. My conclusion: You have no chance. So, better stop."

    ¨¦l¨¦anor ignored her friend''s advice and asked, "Do you know there was a slight jolt in his emotion when I inquired whether his girlfriend was in Turin with him? He turned all defensive and immediately left."

    "Oh!" Beatrice''s eyes widened.

    ¨¦l¨¦anor smiled, her eyes filled with glee. "As I said, I still have a chance since the rtionship with the girlfriend seems unstable. They must be having problems. Otherwise, there''s no sensibledy who would willingly let her rich and dashing boyfriend stay alone in a city like Turin."

    "You''re as sharp as ever," Beatrice said. "But I still believe that you have no chance. I was watching the entire time. He didn''t even steal a single nce at your boobs during the interview. It was like he was talking to a robot the entire time."

    "That will change," ¨¦l¨¦anor said confidently. "I only need to create more opportunities to interact with him. When I show him my good side, things will work out."

    "You''re a lost cause." Beatrice chuckled and shook her head. "Let''s pack up. We need to edit the content and send it to the station tomorrow morning."

    "Okay," ¨¦l¨¦anor agreed and pushed the thoughts about Zachary to the back of her head. Once again, she turned all professional and concentrated on doing her job.

    **** ****

    Zachary didn''t let his one good performance for Juventus inte his ego. He continued working like a maniac and utilized all his day hours on Monday to polish up his ball skills. He was focused from morning to evening since he wished to elevate his fitness to the peak before the new Serie A seasonmenced on 30th August.

    Monday quickly passed, and Tuesday arrived. He again woke up early and trained with his teammates for the whole day. And again, time passed quickly, and dusk arrived faster than expected. He had dinner with his teammates before returning to his hotel room and switching on the TV screen. Of course, he was about to watch Rosenborg''s Super Cup game against Real Madrid that evening.

    "Dear viewers," thementator''s voice reverberated across the room a few secondster, right after the TV finished booting up. "Wee to the live broadcast of today''s UEFA Super Cup game. We are about to witness a historical battle between two champions of Europe. Rosenborg, a team from Norway that overcame all odds to win the Europa League, will be facing off against a star-studded Real Madrid side that won the Champions Leaguest season."

    "Who will emerge as the victor tonight?" Thementator continued. "Will Rosenborg ovee all odds and win again, even without Zachary Bemba, their young ymaker that has just joined Juventus? Or will it be Real Madrid? Let''s look at the line-ups before we move on to the game."

    Real Madrid''s line-up came up first, and Zachary immediately noticed that all their stars, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Luka Modri?, and Iker Casis, were on the squad. But when Rosenborg''s line-up appeared, he realized that a few names that should be among the starting eleven were missing. He couldn''t see Eric Bailly, Paul Kasongo, and Nicki Nielsen among the yers on the squad. The three of them were not even on the substitute''s bench.

    "What happened?" Zachary wondered, recalling some rumors he had heard about his previous club. "Could the transfer spection be true?"

    Over the past two weeks, there was a lot of gossip about Rosenborg''s situation in the transfer market. Many media houses and famous sports journalists reported that top clubs like Virreal, Lyon, Atl¨¦tico Madrid, and Manchester United, among others, had approached Rosenborg to sign some of the young yers that won the Europa League. They even hinted that Rosenborg was taking a positive approach towards the potential deals due to the ample sums of money involved. And they predicted that if negotiations went well, the Norwegian giants might lose three or more of their young yers before the transfer window''s closing date.

    Zachary found the entire situation a bit unsettling. Deep down, he still had favorable feelings for his first club. Zachary wanted them to continue dominating Norwegian football while also putting up incredible performances in Europeanpetitions. But it seemed that he couldn''t realize his wish as the board of his former club seemed intent on selling most of the young yers that had already shown potential.

    "Most probably, Rosenborg is about to sell Eric Bailly, Paul Kasongo, and Nicki Nielsen," Zachary mused. "That should be the reason they are not on the squad."

    During Zachary''s previous life, both Kasongo and Nicki hadn''t gotten a chance to y for well-known European clubs. Kasongo had passed away before he could kick-start his football career, while Nicki had only yed for small-time clubs like Esbjerg FB and Lech Pozna¨½ after leaving Rosenborg.

    But in Zachary''s new life, circumstances were totally different due to his influence. The two yers had already garnered interest from famous clubs like Southampton, Tottenham, and Lyon due to their incredible performances in the previous Europa League. They were already on their way to stardom due to their association with Zachary, causing him to sigh in wonderment about how small things could change entire trajectories of fates of various people.

    "I wonder how they will turn out in the future!" Zachary sighed and silently wished them luck on the journey to realize their full potential. He hoped to see them be top yers that would dazzle the world with their skills.

    After pushing all the distracting thoughts to the back of his mind, Zachary focused on the screen. He watched with bated breath as Real Madrid dominated his former team on the field of y from the very first minute. The team from Madrid outssed Rosenborg in all areas of the pitch and utilized its fast forwards to break open the floodgates. Before long, there was a goal fest that caused misery to all the Rosenborg fans watching the game.

    Cristiano Ronaldo was the first to find the back of the with a long-range effort that caught the keeper napping during the 31st minute. Then, five minutester, he stunned the Norwegian giants again by connecting with a long-range cross from Luka Modri? before heading the ball into the back of the to score Real Madrid''s second goal.

    But that wasn''t the end of the nightmare for Rosenborg that night. Five minutes into the second half, Karim Benzema added a third before Sergio Ramos multiplied Rosenborg''s despair with a header after connecting with a corner ball during the 67th minute. It was a total thrashing.

    Zachary watched for a few more minutes until he couldn''t take it anymore. He sighed and switched off the TV before cleaning up and diving into bed. He pushed all thoughts about the game out of his head and soon descended into a deep slumber.

    As usual, he woke up early, at around six the following morning. First thing, even before going through his morning yoga routine, he checked the score of the previous night''s game using an app on his phone. The next moment, his eyes almost bulged from their sockets as he rechecked the score. He couldn''t believe that Real Madrid had scored three more goals during the final twenty minutes and won the game by seven goals to one. They had mercilessly decimated his former club by seven goals to one before bing the winners of the 2014 UEFA Super Cup.

    **** ****

 Chapter 438: A Debate

    Chapter 438: A DebateAs usual, Emilia Vasquez hosted ESPN''s daily sports show on Wednesday morning. She was asposed as ever as she smiled at the cameras and said, "Viewers! Good morning. With me in the studio are four of our notable pundits - Shaka Hislop, Steve Nicol, Joshua Morales, and Charles Adams. They will help us review and analyze games yed around all around Europe over the past few days. Let''s get right into it and start withst night''s UEFA Super Cup. It was one strange game as we saw Real Madrid wipe the floor with Rosenborg by scoring seven goals while only conceding one. Shaka! Let''s start with you! What''s your take on yesterday''s game?"

    "All I can say is that it was a one-sided demolishing of Rosenborg by Real Madrid," Shaka replied with a sigh. "Without Zachary Bemba''s presence in the midfield, the Norwegian giants couldn''t seem to find the rhythm and brilliance that allowed them to win the Europa Leaguest season. Theymitted many mistakes and invited Real Madrid to decimate them. And that''s what happened."

    "You just mentioned Zachary Bemba," Emilia Vasquez pointed out as the cameras focused back on her. "Do you think there would have been a possibility of Rosenborg beating Real Madrid if he had been on the squad?"

    Shaka smiled. "I''m sure the match would have been more interesting if Zachary had been on Rosenborg''s squad yesterday. The boy is like a force of nature ¡ª like a Tsunami that sweeps away everything on the field of y. Had he been on the pitch, he would have gone at Real Madrid from the first minute and created many opportunities on goal. He wouldn''t have allowed the Spanish giants to wipe the floor with his team. But too bad! He''s already a Juventus yer."

    "That reminds me of something interesting," Joshua Morales, the pundit upying the seat next to Shaka, chimed in with a smile. "During the 16th minute, Sergio Ramosmitted that risky foul against Karl Toko Ekambi at the edge of the box. The referee awarded a free kick to Rosenborg, but Mike Jensen, Rosenborg''s central midfielder, failed to convert. Just imagine if Zachary had been on the pitch. He would have taken the free kick and buried the ball into the back of the to put Rosenborg ahead early in the game. That would have been a very crucial turning point in the match. And from that moment, we would have seen a different trajectory of the game, and just maybe, Rosenborg would have yed counterattacking football and won the Super Cup."

    "Those are many what ifs," Charles Adams, the journalist, remarked. "Let''s not forget to merit the brilliance of the Real Madrid yers. They yed incredibly well yesterday night, took their chances well, and destroyed Rosenborg with their creativity and speed. And even if Zachary had been present, so what? Those energetic and tactical Real Madrid yers would have still found a way to contain him. They would have been more careful while defending, and they wouldn''t have allowed him a chance to convert any free kicks or take shots at goal near their box."

    "Guys!" Emilia Vasquez chipped in. "Let''s return our focus to the UEFA Super Cup game. Cristiano Ronaldo was quite impressive during the match. He bagged two goals within a five-minute window to kick-start the goal fest that saw Rosenborg lose the game by seven goals to one."

    "I''m not surprised," Charles Adams said. "Cristiano Ronaldo has always been an incredible yer. Last season, he clearly outdid himself by scoring 51 goals in allpetitions and helping his team win the UEFA Champions League. Yesternight, he was on form again and scored twice to help Real Madrid win the Super Cup. Honestly, I''ll really be disappointed if he doesn''t win the next Ballon d''Or."

    "Where does that leave Messi, Arjen Robben, and Zachary?" Emilia asked. "They all scored over forty goals for their clubsst season. Don''t you think they have the potential to win the Ballon d''Or?"

    Charles Adams chuckled and shook his head. "Please do us a favor and don''t bring Zachary into this debate. We''re talking about yers with the highest probability of winning the Ballon d''Or. How does Zachary''s namee into this discussion when he didn''t even y the World Cup?"

    "He helped his club ovee all odds and win the Europa League for the first time in history," Joshua Morales pointed out. "Such a feat surely deserves an award."

    Shaka Hislop smiled and said, "I know that Charles is quite an annoying guy. But I''m with him on this one. We can''t bring Zachary Bemba into the debate of the yers likely to win the Ballon d''Or at this moment. He''s far from that level, as he hasn''t yed in highlypetitive leagues. And I know he won the Europa League, but that isn''t enough topare him with this year''s Ballon d''Or top candidates. He still falls short."

    "Thank you, Shaka," Charles Adams hurriedly said. "I have been telling people the exact same thing. Winning the Europa League doesn''t warrant that Zachary is one of the best yers in the world. He hasn''t reached the level where he can touch the shoes of incredible talents like CR7, Neymar, or Messi."

    Shaka nodded in agreement. "But before we move on, I still have to point out one thing," he said. "Zachary Bemba is an incredible yer who has the potential to create miracles on the pitch. But he''s still a diamond in the rough as he''s only neen years. Only if he keeps progressing will we see him joining the ranks of top yers in three to five years. But for now, we can only rate him as a young yer with immense potential and the highest probability of winning the Golden Boy award. That''s my honest rating of him."

    "Indeed, he can win the Golden Boy award," Steve Nicol agreed. "The only other youngds that could potentially give him somepetition include Kurt Zouma, Raheem Sterling, and Adrien Rabiot. But with his achievementsst season, he should be able to beat them and win the award this year."

    "Speaking of Zachary," Emilia said, "He was honest in his interview with ¨¦l¨¦anor after Juventus'' game against the A-League all-stars on Sunday night. He mentioned that he''s working hard to progress his career to another level. He also emphasized that he''s driven and deeply yearns to seed at Juventus. Steve! Do you think he will be able to realize his goals at Juventus? Can he elevate his game and be one of those greats in football within a couple of years?"

    "Honestly," Steve Nicol said, "I can''t answer that question at the moment. I don''t have all the data to analyze the possible trajectory of his growth over the next few years."

    Emilia nodded. "I understand your reservations. But can you tell us what Zachary has to do to be one of the top yers in the world?"

    "Of course, he has to continue working hard," Steve Nicol said matter-of-factly. "Remember, all footballers who have managed to achieve greatness in football are consistent. They can put up spectacr performances all season round for many years. That also applies to Zachary. He needs to remain consistent on and off the pitch. He needs to y spectacr football week in, week out, and score many goals for Juventus before joining the ranks of the top world-ss footballers."

    "Thank you, Nicol." Emilia nodded and turned to another pundit. "Charles! You have been very open about how Zachary will likely be a flop at Juventus. Do you still think the same after watching his performance against the A-League all-stars on Sunday night?"

    "Well," Charles Adams said a bit hesitantly. "If you are to factor in Zachary''s signing fee, which amounts to roughly 80 million Euros, there''s a chance he''ll be a flop at Juventus this season. He might fail to quickly mature into the ymaker Juventus wished to acquire when they coughed out all that money. Of course, I understand that Zachary scored his first goal for Juventus on Sunday, but that''s still not enough. I want to see him ying as he did at Rosenborgst season. I want to see him tearing defenses apart and scoring week in, week out. Only then will Ibel him a sessful signing for Juventus. And only then will I acknowledge that he''s worth the 80 million that Juventus sshed out to acquire him from Rosenborg."

    "You''re out of your mind," Joshua Morales couldn''t help butment from beside Charles. "And clearly, you don''t know the meaning of the word flop."

    Charles raised a brow. "Say that again."

    "I said that you''re out of your mind and you don''t know the meaning of the word flop," Joshua Morales reiterated, not mincing words with the journalist. "Let''s not forget that it was only a few weeks ago when you stated with great conviction in front of the cameras that Zachary would be a flop at Juventus. But now, after watching the guy improve after each game he ys for Juventus, you''re trying to dig your way out of a grave you created for yourself. You''re using wordy to distance yourself from your remarks instead of owning up to them. Shame upon you."

    "Viewers!" Emilia chimed in before Charles could respond. "We''ll be heading into a shortmercial break. Thanks for watching, and please don''t touch that dial."

    She said all that in a single breath while secretly signaling the camera crew to cut the live feed. Then, after the cameras went offline, she spent minutes calming the tempers around her as she didn''t wish to see a scenario where pundits started a brawl within her studio due to differing opinions.

    **** ****

 Chapter 439: Another Solid Performance

    Chapter 439: Another Solid PerformanceJuventus'' pre-season tour of Asia and Australia proceeded forward as nned. The Italian giants boarded their chartered ne and traveled to Carlton, Australia, on Wednesday morning. On arriving, they spent a couple of hours resting and rxing in a hotel before heading to a nearby football pitch to continue their intense pre-season training program. Then, when evening arrived, they took the arranged team bus to the Princes Park Stadium to face off against Newcastle United Jets Football Club.

    For that game, Coach Massimiliano Allegri fielded a surprising squad. He benched most of his creative yers like Zachary Bemba, Andrea Pirlo, udio Marchisio, and Fernando Llorente with the excuse of wanting to rest them. As a result, Juventus put up a not-so-impressive performance and only scored a goalte in the 71st minute.

    Fortunately, the Juventus defenders were as hard-working as ever. They helped the team keep a clean sheet and win the game with a score of 1:0 after five minutes of added time.

    After the game, the Juventus squad stayed in Carlton for only one more day to rx and recover from the post-match fatigue. Then, on the morning of Friday, they boarded their chartered ne and traveled to Kang, Singapore, to kick-start the final phase of their pre-season tour of Asia and Australia.

    They were back in action two dayster, on a rainy Sunday evening. They faced off against the LionsXII & S-League Internationals Select team and put up an incredible performance that wowed the fully packed Singapore National Stadium.

    Zachary, who had started his first game for Juventus, yed incredibly well. He quickly linked up well with Andrea Pirlo and udio Marchisio to dominate the midfield and bring the opponents to their knees. His solid passing and remarkable spatial awareness worked like magical charms as he created chances that almost resulted in goals during the opening fifteen minutes.

    But s, the opponents held on for dear life by defending like maniacs. They put their bodies on the line to keep the ball out of the and prevent Juventus from scoring an opening goal. As a result, the score remained deadlocked at 0:0 until the 32nd minute, when Andrea Pirlo managed to create something out of nothing by relying on his incredible passing range.

    The Italian Maestro reacted with all the haste he could muster after the opponents failed to convert a corner kick. With his signature long-range pass, he unleashed Carlos T¨¦vez, the Argentine striker who had been lurking on the right nk, and in so doing, initiated the counterattack.

    Carlos quickly connected with the ball and brought it to the ground with his chest. Before the nearby opponents could close him down, he whirled around and took off towards the other half like a raging hurricane.

    Whoosh!

    T¨¦vez''s short strides ate up yards of space in a matter of seconds as he tried to outrun the opponents who had stayed back to defend during the corner. But when he stepped into the final third and was about to reach the box, he met a no-nonsense defender, who swept him off the ground with a sliding tackle.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle immediately. He rushed to the scene and straight away awarded a free kick to Juventus in front of the arc of the 18-yard box. He then spent a few seconds trying to calm Carlos, who was already fuming, before showing a red card to the opposing yer who had made the dangerous tackle.

    "Do you wish to take it?" Andrea Pirlo asked Zachary as they stood before the ball and prepared to take the free kick a few secondster. The Italian Maestro was stuttering a little due to his not-so-expertmand of English.

    "Yes, I wish to take the free kick," Zachary replied. Of course, he wouldn''t pass up such a rare opportunity to impress the coaches, especially at thatte stage of the pre-season tour. He wanted to quickly show his good points to his teammates and coaches and cement his ce on the Juventus squad in the shortest time possible.

    The edges of Andre Pirlo''s mustache rose up slightly as he smiled. He assessed the situation in the opposing box before saying, "There are about 32 yards to the goal. What do you think is the best strategy for the set piece? Should we take it directly on goal, or do we try to find our teammates with a lofted ball over the defensive line?"

    "I''ll go directly for goal if I''m to take it," Zachary responded, his tone exuding confidence. "I''m certain I''ll be able to test the keeper with the power behind my shot."

    Andrea inclined his head to nce at Zachary with a surprised expression. "Although this is the pre-season, we still wish to score and win the game. Are you confident?" He asked.

    "Yes, I''m confident," Zachary responded. He had never halted his free-kick training within the system simtor or on the physical training grounds. He was sure that he would be able to give the keeper a hard time as long as he utilized his Bend-it-like-Beckham Juju and his newly acquired Missile Launcher skills while taking the free-kick.

    "If you''re that confident, take the free kick," Andrea Pirlo said, stepping back from the ball. "Please do your best."

    "Okay," Zachary replied, smiling. "Thanks for allowing me this opportunity."

    "There''s no need for thanks," Andrea said. "Your skills are what allowed you the opportunity to stand before this free-kick. All the Juventus yers, including me, know about you fromst season. We don''t need to worry that you''ll mess up since we''re all aware that you have an impressive a hundred percent record when converting free-kicks in the final third. Which one is your prominent leg, by the way?"

    "I can use both legs with ease," Zachary answered. "Previously, my right leg was a bit weaker. But after undergoing targeted training regimes over the years, I overcame that shoring."

    "Eh!" Andrea Pirlo''s eyes widened for a moment. "You''re a monster. I now understand why you scored all those goals against usst season."

    Zacharyughed at that and immediately ced the ball on the free-kick spot. Then, he took a deep breath and assessed the situation in the opponent''s box before stepping back from the ball.

    As usual, he had already activated the Dead Ball Specialist Juju. His mind was already working in overdrive, trying to deduce the best way to take the free kick and score. He was a hundred percent focused, and not even the loud cheers of the fans in the stands could interrupt his concentration at that moment.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee''s whistle sounded a few secondster, and Zachary reacted immediately. He made an angled run towards the ball before taking thest jump step and pulling the trigger. At that moment, his set-piece skills, including the Bend-it-like-Beckham Juju, the Missile Launcher, and Dead Ball Specialist Juju, all worked in sync. He swung his leg down like a whip to smack the ball and send it rocketing towards the top right corner.

    The LionsXII & S-League Internationals goalkeeper quickly reacted with a despairing dive. But the ball''s incredible velocity and the immense power behind the shot rendered all his efforts fruitless. He could only watch on helplessly as the ball shed past his outstretched fingertips and homed into the back of the.

    -----

    LionsXII & S-League Internationals 0 : Juventus 1

    -----

    "Nicely taken," Andrea Pirloplemented Zachary as they celebrated Juventus'' first goal for the night close to the corner g. "But don''t think that I''ll willingly surrender my position as the main set-piece taker of the team. I''ll continue training and retake my position when you start missing."

    Zachary chuckled. "If I ever start missing, be my guest. But when will that be?"

    "Someone is growing some big balls after only converting one set-piece," Pogba said with a grin while patting Zachary''s back. "Beware! Andrea doesn''t like losing to anyone."

    The rest of the Juventus yersughed at that as they continued celebrating the goal. They were all smiles as they hugged Zachary andplimented his incredible set-piece skills.

    Zachary''s mood had already soared into the night skies of Singapore at that moment. He was filled with glee as he could feel that he had finally gained the full acknowledgment of most of his teammates after converting the free kick. Even quiet yers like Carlos T¨¦vez and Kwadwo Asamoah were joking around with him ¡ª a testament that they were growing closer to him with the passing of each week.

    -----

    The game continued after the goal celebrations. The Juventus yers utilized their numerical advantage and pressurized the opponents during the remaining minutes of the game. They yed spectacr passing football to tear up the opposing team''s formation and open the floodgates. And before long, the balls started finding their way into the back of the.

    Carlos T¨¦vez scored the 2nd and 3rd goals for Juventus during the 36th and the 42 minutes, respectively. Then, just two minutes into the second half, he added another toplete a hat trick for the night.

    But that wasn''t the end of the one-sided thrashing. During the 57th minute, Paul Pogba connected well with Zachary''s well-timed through-pass to score Juventus 5th goal for the night. Then, Fernando Llorente, the Spanish forward, concluded the goal festival by heading home to the 7th during the 72nd minute. The Juventus yers were surely wiping the floor with Singapore''s LionsXII & S-League Internationals select team.

    Coach Allegri watched the proceedings for a few more minutes before shaking his head and deciding to substitute ten of his starting yers. He only left Gianluigi Buffon, the goalkeeper, on the pitch and brought on ten of his young yers during the 75th minute. He was that merciful, especially since he was ying a pre-season friendly and didn''t wish to continue embarrassing his hosts.

    -----

 Chapter 440: Coach Allegris Considerations

    Chapter 440: Coach Allegri''s ConsiderationsAfter the substitutions, the game continued. The younger yers of Juventus who had just stepped onto the pitch didn''t take long to find their rhythm and sustain a substantial amount of attacking pressure against the opponents.

    Over the next few minutes, they yed genius counterattacking football to catch the team from Singapore off guard on several asions. And finally, during the 88th minute, their hard work paid off, and Kingsley Coman, the French forward,pleted a sessful counter and scored Juventus'' 8th andst goal for the night.

    The remaining few minutes shed by quickly, and the game concluded when the score was still 8:0 in favor of Juventus. The Old Lady had totally owned and demolished the team from Singapore, thus showcasing the power of Italian football.

    On the sidelines, Coach Allegri was super excited after the referee blew the whistle. He was all smiles as he was finally starting to get a handle on how to manage his new club. He believed that he would be able to shape a new team identity and instill a winning mentality into his yers'' minds before themencement of the Serie A season on 30th August.

    Additionally, he was impressed by his new signing - Zachary Bemba. He was totally in love with the boy prodigy''s free-kick-taking techniques that bordered on the fringes of being almost inhuman in the final third.

    Over the past few weeks, he had watched Zachary in training and during matches. He had gradually concluded that the young ymaker could always find the back of the whenever there was an opportunity to take a set-piece near the opposing team''s box. His free kicks were like a force of nature that would sweep away all opposition with an indomitable impetus. Even the most experienced keepers in the world, like Gianluigi Buffon, wouldn''t be able to stop a set-piece taken by him.

    Having considered all that, Coach Allegri figured that he would be able to build a Juventus team that was almost unstoppable by relying on Zachary''s free kicks. As long as he encouraged his other forwards to force fouls out of defenders during matches, everything would be straightforward. He would ask Zachary to try his best to convert the free kicks, and Juventus would be able to score more goals throughout the season.

    And if it so happened that the opponents refused to foul due to their fear of Zachary''s free kicks, he would still be able to win the game by taking advantage of theirxity and indecisiveness in defense. There were just that many tactical options for him on the striking line due to Zachary''s presence on the team.

    "I can''t wait for the season to begin," Coach Allegri thought as he tried to contain his bubbly emotions. He took a few steps along the touchline and shook hands with the opposing coach before moving around the pitch and congratting his yers upon winning the game. Then a short whileter, after waving to the enthusiastic Singaporean fans in the stands, he walked down the tunnel and returned to the dressing room.

    He calmly waited a few minutes in a corner until all his yers took their seats around the spacious room. Then, when they all quietened down and focused their eyes on him, he took center stage and started his post-match address in Italian.

    "That was an incredible performance from you all," he said, sweeping his gaze across the room. "You had all the qualities of versatility, aerial dominance, creativity, and an indomitable spirit while on the pitch. You yed incredible team football from the first minute and worked hard to decimate the opponents. I''m really proud of you. And I can say with a hundred percent conviction that you all deserve to be in a Juventus shirt after tonight''s game. Please p for yourselves."

    The yersughed and pped their hands after hearing the coach''s praise. A few of them even let out a few whistles of jubtion before going silent again.

    Coach Allegri smiled. "This game marks the end of our pre-season tour," he said. "Imend you all for working hard to make our tour of Asia and Australia a sess. We managed to win all our games, which is quite an impressive feat. But that doesn''t mean that we should growcent. We can''t rx as our pre-season work is far from done."

    "Tomorrow," he continued, "We''ll return to Turin and start another intensive program to prepare for the new Serie A season. We''ll train intensively at the training center for about three days to improve our in-game tactics before facing off against AC Mn and Sassuolo in the TIM Trophy. That''s quite a busy schedule. But, I still expect you to continue working hard on your individual fitness as that will allow us to be ready as a team when 30th August arrives and the Serie A seasonmences. Clear?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    "Great," the coach said, smiling and ncing at his watch. "I don''t want to take up more of your time since it''s almost clocking nine. Let''s clean up quickly and return to the hotel as soon as possible. We should go to bed early and be ready to set off for Turin tomorrow morning at around ten. Is that clear to everyone?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    "Then, let''s move quickly and prepare to head back to the hotel," Coach Allegri said, pping his hands. "You only have fifteen minutes to clean up and be at the bus. Don''t bete, or we''ll leave you behind."

    "But coach," Pogba chimed in with a grin as the other yers got up from their seats with the intent to head to the bathrooms. "I don''t think our friends, Zachary, Patrice, Morata, and Coman, understood what we discussed."

    "Don''t worry about them." Coach Allegri smiled and waved his hand dismissively. "There''s Coach Trombetta to trante for them. Moreover, we shouldn''t babysit them all the time as that will discourage them from learning Italian faster."

    The rest of the yersughed at the coach''s words as they walked off toward the door leading to the washrooms. They were in a rush as they retreated, as the coach had only given them fifteen minutes to wash up and head to the bus.

    -----

 Chapter 441: A Costly Mistake

    Chapter 441: A Costly MistakeForty minutester, the Juventus yers returned to their hotel and headed straight to the restaurant to enjoy theirte dinner. Zachary, who was quite exhausted after ying his first 90 minutes as a Juventus yer, quickly ate his meal before saying his goodnight wishes to his teammates and coaches. He then exited the restaurant and returned to his room.

    After cleaning up and brushing his teeth, he stepped onto his room''s balcony and dialed Cami''s number using WhatsApp. She picked up almost immediately, and they wasted no time immersing themselves in a deep conversation that touched upon all topics, big and small. They even talked about all the irrelevant things, like what they had had for dinner, before exchanging intimate sweet nothings and saying their goodbyes.

    After ending the call, Zachary immediately stepped away from the balcony and returned to the spacious interior of his hotel room. The artificial lighting lit up his face as he settled on his bed and sank into a moment of contemtion.

    A few seconds psed as he sat there, staring nkly at the wall ¡ª until he made a resolution and picked up his phone again. The corners of his lips rose into an arc as he navigated his phone book and dialed another number.

    "Hello, Zachary," the voice of Angelo Mattiello, his guide and interpreter, sounded from the other end of the line after the international call connected. "I watched your game today. You were incredible on the pitch. Congrattions."

    "Thank you," Zachary responded. "How are you doing?"

    "I''m okay," Angelo replied. "But just bored since my main client is away on tour in Asia."

    Zacharyughed. "Don''t worry! Your boredom will end soon since we''re returning to Turin tomorrow. That aside, I need some help."

    "Speak away. I''m all ears."

    "Can you link me up with a reliable estate agent after I return to Turin tomorrow?" Zachary said. "I wish to buy a good house in a good neighborhood at a good price."

    "Oh," Angelo intoned. "What''s your budget?"

    "One to two million," Zachary replied.

    "You will get a luxurious Vi, not a house, at that price," Angelo reminded.

    "That''s my intent," Zachary said. "I want to purchase a spacious ce that can easily amodate most people working for me. It should also have amenities like a swimming pool, a sauna, an indoor gym, and expansive gardens, among other things."

    "I get you, my man," Angelo said from the other end of the line. "I''ll immediately get in touch with an estate agent I know. Then, when you arrive in Italy, you can link up with him, and he''ll take you to see the houses avable for sale in Turin. Does that work for you?"

    "That''s what I need," Zachary responded. "You can schedule the meeting with the real estate agent for Wednesday morning. By then, I should have already recovered from the jeg."

    "Okay, boss," Angelo said. "I will schedule the meeting for Wednesday at 10:00 AM."

    "Excellent," Zachary intoned. "I have to go to bed now as it has already clocked eleven here in Singapore. See you tomorrow when I return to Turin."

    "Okay," Angelo replied. "Have a good night, and see you tomorrow. Bye."

    Zachary smiled and ended the call without any more needless words. Without further ado, he ced his phone on the bedside table before switching off the lights and jumping into bed. A short whileter, he descended into slumbend and was soon dreaming about his would-be-mansion in one of the good neighborhoods of Turin.

    -----

    As nned, the Juventus team returned to Turin the following day and started the next phase of their intensive pre-season training program. After only a single day of rest, they were back on the turfs at the Juventus training center, going through fitness and tactical drills like exercising maniacs.

    Under the supervision of the overly-strict coaches, they trained from early morning tote evening from Wednesday to Friday. In those three days, they covered all areas relevant to football yers, including physical fitness, ball skills, and tactical ingenuity, during their team sessions to prepare for the uing season. Anyone watching from the sidelines could clearly see that they were men on a mission as they went about their training without ever voicing aint.

    Zachary, on his part, was as busy as the rest of his teammates and barely had time to attend hisnguage sses during those three days. He had even failed to turn up for his appointment with the real estate agent on Wednesday morning due to the intensive schedule ced upon his shoulders by his new team.

    But he wasn''tining as he enjoyed the process of training and improving himself to be a better footballer. He would rather dy other things, like purchasing a house, rather than offend his new bosses by missing a training session. That was how desperate he was to gain eptance in his new team. And that was how much he was obsessed with football.

    The three days quickly shed by as the Juventus yers trained themselves at the training center. And soon, Saturday, the day when Juventus would face off against AC Mn and Sassuolo in the TIM Trophy, arrived with regal ease. It was finally the time for the Old Lady yers to test themselves against top Italian opponents before themencement of the new season.

    The first game that day was at 2:00 PM in the fully-packed Mapei Stadium of Reggio Emilia, Italy. The Juventus yers yed an intensive forty-five minutes of football against the highly tactical AC Mn side, which gave them a hard time.

    Zachary, who had gotten his second start for Juventus in a row, was slow to grow into the game. He struggled in the midfield to cope with the highly intensive pressing tactics of the team from Mn andmitted a couple of mistakes during the first ten minutes of gamey. He was clearly not at his best ¡ª and on several asions, Andrea Pirlo and udio Marchisio, the other two midfielders, had to cover for him so that Juventus would not concede an early goal.

    But, of course, that couldn''t help for long. The AC Mn yers quickly noticed that he was the weak link in the team and started applying more pressure on him. Sulley Muntari and Nigel de Jong, the two opposing midfielders, harassed him and denied him even a few seconds to rx and grow into the game. And naturally, it wasn''t long before they forced a costly mistake out of him.

    It all began when Zachary drifted back into his half to collect the ball from Leonardo Boni, Juventus'' center-back, during the 36th minute. After connecting with Boni''s pass, he panicked and tried to dribble past Sulley Muntari, the AC Mn midfielder, who had been marking him the entire game. But since he was yet to return to his peak, he failed to beat the midfielder with his sub-par dribbling skills and lost the ball.

    What followed was a nightmare for Zachary. Sulley Muntari quickly stepped away from him to initiate a counterattack against Juventus. The Ghanaian midfielder worked his magic to find Stephan El Shaarawy, his teammate, who had just run into a pocket of space at the edge of the box.

    El Shaarawy controlled the ball well and stepped past Mart¨ªn C¨¢ceres, one of the Juventus center-backs, with a deft touch. And without losing hisposure, he rounded Gianluigi Buffon, the Juventus keeper, and riffled the ball into the back of the to score AC Mn''s 1st goal for the night.

    "Damn it!" Zachary cursed as he watched the AC Mn yers heading to the corner g to celebrate the goal. A sense of guilt had already flooded his entire being, especially since he was the person that hadmitted the mistake that led to his team conceding the first goal. He couldn''t even think straight as he couldn''t understand what had given him the confidence to dribble when he was yet to return to his peak.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    After the goal celebrations, the referee blew the whistle and signaled the yers to return to their positions. Like the rest of the yers, Zachary began making his way to his midfield starting spot, just outside the center circle. But before he could even cover half the distance, a signal from the bench caused him to stop in his tracks.

    Zachary looked towards the sidelines and realized that the fourth official had already raised the board to signal his substitution off the pitch. And by the official''s side was Arturo Vidal, the other Juventus midfielder who seemed to have already warmed up in preparation to enter the game.

    "Phew!"

    Zachary expelled a lungful of air as he started walking towards the touchline. His shoulders slumped a little, and his heart sank into the abyss of frustration as the inevitable had finally happened. For the first time since he started his professional career in his second life, he wasn''t being taken out of the game for tactical reasons but due to his horrible performance. And to make matters worse, there was a possibility that he wouldn''t get an opportunity to make amends before the pre-season ended.

    -----

 Chapter 442: TIM Trophy Conclusion and Analysis

    Chapter 442: TIM Trophy Conclusion and AnalysisZachary watched the rest of the game from the bench. He looked on with bated breath as his new teammates tried their best to create chances and score an equalizing goal against AC Mn. But it was as if the goddess of luck was against Juventus that evening. The yers failed to find the back of the and eventually lost the game to AC Mn after five minutes of added time.

    After the referee blew the final whistle, Zachary couldn''t help but bury his head in his hands. The guilt he was feeling multiplied a hundredfold as he was aware that he was the sole cause of his team''s loss. His mind turned nk, and he sat there listlessly while reying scenes from the just-concluded game within his mind. His poor disy on the pitch had affected him that greatly.

    -----

    The TIM Trophy was one weird pre-season tournament. The three participating clubs had to y three round-robin 45-minute matches in a short period of a single afternoon. And there was almost no time for rest between the games.

    The tournament match schedule was as follows. The organizers would decide which teams to y in the first match thatsted only forty-five minutes plus added time. Then, immediately after the first game, the third team would go into action and y against the losing team from the first match. And following that order, the third team would continue ying and end the tournament by facing off against the first-match winner.

    Thus, the Juventus yers were naturally back in action after a few minutes since they had lost the first game against AC Mn. They faced off against a tenacious Sassuolo side with their rtively strong squad that included star yers like Andrea Pirlo, Carlos T¨¦vez, Arturo Vidal, and Paul Pogba. And as expected, Zachary, who had been deemed unfit by the coaching staff, wasn''t on the squad. He wasn''t even on the substitute''s bench and only watched his teammates in action from thefort of the seats in the technical area.

    From the first minute, Juventus yed superb passing football and dominated the proceedings on the field of y. They hoarded arge percentage of the possession andunched several waves of relentless attacks against Sassuolo''s defense. Their hard work and upromising ying style finally paid off during the 29th minute, and they created a terrific chance on goal.

    Arturo Vidal, the central midfielder who had reced Zachary, worked his magic close to the center circle. He slid in wholesale and dispossessed Simone Missiroli, Sassuolo''s midfielder. Then, with all the haste he could muster, he picked himself from the ground and fed the ball to Paul Pogba.

    Paul Pogba was on fire that day. He controlled the ball like a Maestro and stepped past an opposing yer with skillful footwork. When the angle opened up, he unleashed a grounded through-pass to find ¨¢lvaro Morata, the striker, who had been lurking in a pocket of space before the box.

    Morata was quiteposed as he connected with Pogba''s pass. With only a single touch on the ball, he left his marker in the dust and was soon on an open highway towards the goal. Before the defenders could close him down, he rounded the goalkeeper and buried the ball into the back of the to score Juventus'' first goal.

    That goal was all it took for Juventus to open the floodgates. The yers in ck and white continued sustaining an increasing amount of pressure against their opponents. And naturally, it didn''t take long for Carlos T¨¦vez, the often hungry striker, to beat the offside trap and score the 2nd goal. A few minutester, in the 41st minute, Andrea Pirlo scored the third from a free kick to seal Juventus'' overwhelming victory against Sassuolo.

    In the third and final game of the TIM trophy, the sharp and brilliant AC Mn yers faced off against Sassuolo. Once again, they dominated the game from the first minute and ended up winning by a score of 2:0. In so doing, they also won the short pre-season tournament as they had beaten all their opponents and umted six points. They were the true-blue champions of the TIM Trophy ¡ª an honor that would remain with them until the following year.

    **** ****

    Zachary''s disappointing performance against AC Mn became a hot topic in the news after the conclusion of the TIM Trophy. Various sports journalists and critics all over Europe were not shy to point out that an 80-million Euro signing hadmitted a basic mistake while ying against his first Italian opposition. Without considering the fact that Zachary had just joined Juventus, they outright criticized him on live television as if he was their enemy. It was total madness on the side of the press.

    Emilia Vasquez, the ESPN reporter, also covered the topic on herte-night sports show. She spent a few seconds exining how the TIM Trophy games had progressed earlier that day before smiling and turning towards the pundits present in the studio.

    "Let''s get right into the analysis of the games," she said. "Gentlemen! What was your take on the TIM Trophy games? Let''s begin with you, Charles."

    Charles Adams, the journalist who had once predicted that Zachary would be a flop at Juventus, smiled. "AC Mn was, of course, the better team among the three participants in the TIM Trophy. Their star yers, like Sulley Muntari and Nigel de Jong, were at the top of their game. They yed fantastic football and allowed AC Mn to overpower all their opponents."

    "You just mentioned Sulley Muntari," Emilia Vasquez pointed out. "He was impressive in AC Mn''s midfield, especially during the first game. He dispossessed Zachary Bemba before initiating that counter that led to AC Mn''s goal against Juventus."

    "Yes, Sulley Muntari''s performance was outstanding," Charles agreed. "But we still can''t credit that goal only to him. There was also Zachary Bemba, whomitted that basic mistake and gifted the goal to AC Mn. I almost couldn''t believe my eyes at that moment. The 80-million signing panicked like an amateur and lost the ball in the defensive third! What the hell was up with that?"

    "It was just a bad day for him," Joshua Morales, the other pundit, pointed out. "Even the best yers in the world get those sometimes."

    "Or maybe, his skills are slowly declining, and he''s no longer good enough to outmaneuver top Europeanpetition," Charles remarked. "If it were the Zachary fromst season, he would have easily dribbled past Sulley Muntari. The Ghanaian midfielder would have stood no chance against that young prodigy that could wipe the floor with his opponents. But what did we see today? Zachary wasn''t decisive enough and lost the ball in the defensive third. And that wasn''t all. His performance during the rest of the game was a disgrace to that number 10 Juventus shirt he was wearing. He failed to control the ball most of the time. He didn''t even create a single chance on goal for Juventus. As I have always insisted, his move to Juventus was a mistake. He would be doing better in any other team."

    "Thanks for your analysis, Charles," Emilia Vasquez chimed in with a smile. "The TIM Trophy also marks the end of Juventus'' pre-season schedule. Next Saturday, just seven days from now, the new Serie A season willmence, and the Juventus yers will face off against Chievo in their opening game. Joshua! From what you have seen today, do you think those yers will be ready for the challenge awaiting them next weekend?"

    "I think they will be ready," Joshua Morales said. "Aside from today''s games, they had a pretty good pre-season overall. They were incredible as a team and won all their games during their tour of Asia and Australia. If they can train strategically and build upon those performances over the next seven days, I can see them getting off to a flying start. They might even go on to win the Serie A title again."

    "What about their new 80-million signing, Zachary Bemba?" Emilia asked. "Do you think he will be ready? Can he up his game and be the Zachary fromst season within the next seven days?"

    Joshua Morales smiled and said, "I think he will be ready. Let''s not forget that Zachary is an incredibly talented and world-ss yer. Not even the top yers from teams like Juventus and Lyon could stop him in the Europa Leaguest season. Considering all that, do you really believe that he''ll fail to adapt to Serie A football? Do you think he''ll fail to score goals and win titles after joining a team with better yers? The notion of him not seeding at Juventus is absurd, especially if you''re to consider what he has already achieved at the tender age of neen."

    "Thank you for your profound analysis, Joshua," Emilia said. "But I have one more question for you. There were some shocking rumors on the inte today. A few reputable journalists in Turin reported that Paul Pogba, the incredibly talented young midfielder, might be on his way out of Juventus. They say he might return to Manchester United before the transfer window closes on September 1st. What do you make of this, Joshua? Could it be that he''s under pressure after Zachary Bemba''s arrival and has thus chosen to leave the club?"

    "I think those are just baseless rumors," Joshua Morales said. "From what I have heard, both Zachary and Paul Pogba are crucialponents of Coach Allegri''s ns. He won''t let Pogba go, especially at thiste stage of the transfer window. Additionally, there are reports that Zachary already has a good rtionship with Pogba. So, Zachary''s presence on the team should not be a factor that pushes the Frenchman out of Juventus. That''s my honest opinion."

    **** ****

 Chapter 443 Eve of the New Italian Serie A Season

    <h2 style="font-size: 22.4px;">443 Eve of the New Italian Serie A Season</h2>

    Afterpleting the team practice on Friday afternoon, Zachary washed up before heading to the yer resting lounge at the far end of the training center. He intended to spend some time unwinding and conversing with his teammates before attending Coach Allegri''s pre-match tactical briefing scheduled to start an hourter.

    He traversed the already familiar hallways of Juventus'' training center before arriving at the door of the resting lounge. He pushed it open and immediately stepped forward to enter the room upied by four familiar yers. Patrice Evra was lounging on a couch at the far end of the room while udio Marchisio, Giorgio Chiellini, and Simone Pepe were seated in front of the big screen, watching a football match.

    "Zachary, my man!" Patrice Evra, the Frenchman, was the first to call out to him in French. "Don''t just stand there. Come over and sit beside me." He patted the couch next to him.

    "Okay," Zachary readily agreed. He first said hi to the other three in the room before taking a few steps and settling on a couch near Evra''s.

    Evra gave him a once over before saying, "You were brilliant in today''s tactical training session and even dribbled past Chiellini with expert ease on several asions! What were you on, my man? Care to share?"

    Zachary chuckled. "If you wish to know what I ate for breakfast or lunch, I''ll humor you. I had milk, bread, cereal, and fruits in the morning. As for lunch, you don''t need to ask since we ate the same food at the canteen."

    "You''re such a bore," Evra said, grinning and shaking his head. A few seconds passed, and he seemed to remember something. He nced at Zachary again and said, "By the way, did you hear the news of Pogba leaving Juventus?"

    "He left?" Zachary''s eyes widened. "I thought he was absent from training due to the knock he received the other day!"

    "Your information is outdated," Evra said with an audible sigh. "A couple of hours earlier, hepleted a deadline transfer-move to return to Manchester United for a reported approximate fee of 83 million Euros. Man! He''s even more expensive than you. What the hell are the guys in Manchester thinking?"

    Zachary almost couldn''t believe his ears when he heard the news. Two days ago, Pogba had excused himself from Juventus'' training sessions by iming that he had received a knock on his thigh muscle. But Zachary was now hearing that he was leaving the club. It was a shocking piece of news.

    p But there was also something else that intrigued Zachary. During his previous life, Manchester United had only managed to re-sign Pogba in the 2016 summer transfer window. But during his second life, there was a slight change. The French midfielder hadpleted the move out of Juventus two years in advance, meaning that his future at Manchester might take a different trajectory from that in Zachary''s previous life. The Frenchman could just escape his fate and do wonders at the club since he was going to be under the management of Louis van Gaal ¡ª a coach with a knack for shaping young and talented midfielders.</anda>

    "Where''s Pogba now?" Zachary asked Evra. "Is he still in Turin?"

    "Nah," Evra said, shaking his head. "He is already on his way to undergo a medical in Manchester."

    "He''s fast!" Zachary was shocked again.

    "He has to be as the transfer window closes in three days," Evra remarked and closed his eyes to rest.

    Zachary smiled and adjusted his body toy supine on the couch. In only a few minutes, he regted his breathing and pushed the thoughts about Pogba''s move to the back of his mind. Then, he closed his eyes and started contemting his status at Juventus.

    Over the past six days, he had relied on his peak match fitness to work hard and impress the coaches during training. He had followed all their instructions to the letter while also trying to stand out from his teammates. As a result, he was confident that he had done his best to at least make it to the squad for the game against Chievo Verona the following day. But whether he could make the starting line-up or remain on the bench was still a mystery to him. He could only wait for Coach Allegri''s tactical meeting before knowing the final verdict.

    Various thoughts continued going through Zachary''s mind until he dozed off a few minutester. He sank into a deep slumber and only managed to wake up after Patrice Evra tapped his shoulder and reminded him about the pre-match tactical meeting.<sub> </sub>

    When he checked the time on his phone and realized that only a few minutes remained until four o''clock, he reacted with all the haste he could muster. He got up with a start from the couch and hurriedly made his way out of the resting lounge. He entered a washroom a few minutester and sshed water on his face. Then, without losing a second, he dried himself with the avable paper towels before rushing out into the hallways and heading to the tactics room.

    He arrived a few minutester and realized that most of his teammates had already taken their seats. A few of them were even huddled together, holding hashed conversations as they waited for the coaches to start the meeting.

    Zachary tried his best to calm his racing heart and settled on a seat at the back of the room. Of course, he was a bit nervous since he was about to attend the tactical meeting to kick-start the new Serie A season with Juventus. He was also tense since he couldn''t be sure that he would make Coach Allegri starting eleven.

    "Posso avere tua attenzione, per favore?" Coach Allegri said when he took center stage a minuteter. He started delivering his speech and spent the next thirty minutes exining tactics in Italian to his yers. He was intense as he paced the entire room while spewing out words that sounded alien to Zachary''s ears.

    The coach was obviously doing his best to exin the game strategy to his yers. However, Zachary couldn''t understand what he was saying since he had yet to learn the Italiannguage. Zachary would have to wait for Coach Trombetta to trante the content for him at the end of the session.

    The minutes seemed to pass slowly as the coach delivered his pre-match briefing. Zachary was almost dozing off on several asions since he found the entire session boring. He only prevented his mind from descending into slumbend by focusing all his willpower.

    More minutes that seemed like weeks to Zachary passed, and finally, the coach ended his speech and got to the exciting part of the pre-match briefing. It was finally time for the coach to announce the squad for the following day''s game against Chievo Verona. As a result, a numbing silence descended upon the entire room as the yers waited for the next part of the coach''s presentation with bated breaths.

    ----

    Coach Allegri took a few seconds to observe all the yers in the tactics room. He could tell that some of his new signings, like Zachary Bemba, Patrice Evra, ¨¢lvaro Morata, and Kingsley Coman, couldn''t understand what he was saying due to their zero knowledge of Italian. But even then, he wasn''t about to prolong the tactical meeting by having someone else trante his words for them during the session. He would only instruct Coach Trombetta to trante for them after the meeting had ended. That way, he would remain efficient and avoid wasting the precious time of his other yers.

    "Let''s begin with the starting eleven," he said as the big screen behind him lit up and disyed the names of the yers who had made his squad. "Gianluigi Buffon will be in goal. Then, we''ll use three defenders, namely: Mart¨ªn C¨¢ceres, Leonardo Boni, and Angelo Ogbonna, toplete our back-three defense."

    "Further up the pitch, udio Marchisio, Andre Pirlo, and Arturo Vidal will y as our central midfielders. Then, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Kwadwo Asamoah will y on the nks toplete our midfield of five. And finally, Carlos T¨¦vez and Kingsley Coman will be the men to lead our attack on the striking line of our 3-5-2 formation. That''s it for the starting eleven. Any questions?" The coach nced around.

    In response, all the yers around the room remained silent.

    "Okay, okay," Coach Allegri said after a few seconds. "Let''s move on. On the bench, we have Rubinho, Marco Storari, Luca Marrone, Patrice Evra, Federico Mattiello, R?mulo, Simone Padoin, Roberto Pereyra, Zachary Bemba, Simone Pepe, Sebastian Giovinco, and Fernando Llorente. And that''s all concerning our match squad. Any questions?"

    Once again, the yers remained silent. They obviously had no questions for the coach.

    Coach Allegri smiled and nodded. "Since there are no questions, let''s conclude the tactical meeting here. The match against Chievo is at 6:00 PM tomorrow, and we''ll be ying at an away ground. You all need to head back to your homes and have some ample rest tonight. That way, you will be sharp and at the top of your game during the match tomorrow. Am I making myself clear?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    -----

 Chapter 444: Returning to the Peak

    Chapter 444: Returning to the Peak"Okay, I understand," Zachary said. "Then, see you in Turin on Friday. I''ll be eagerly awaiting your arrival."

    Cami chuckled. "Is that the truth? Are you sure you won''t forget about me and focus only on training over the next few days?"

    "Of course, I won''t forget about you," Zachary conveyed. "I''ll train, yes. But I''ll also be eagerly waiting for you here in Turin. You''ll constantly be on my mind."

    Cami chuckled again. "Okay. I guess I can only choose to trust you. What other choice do I have?"

    "Please don''t be so skeptical?" Zachary asked. "I''m even going to set a reminder on my phone. It''ll keep notifying me about the countdown to your arrival in Turin."

    Cami sighed audibly and said, "That''s an effective method for keeping your girlfriend on your mind. I''m really, really impressed."

    Zachary had a feeling that there was something wrong with her tone. He suspected that she was a bit angry. But after contemting for a few seconds and confirming that he hadn''t done anything wrong to earn her ire, he pushed the matter to the back of his mind.

    "Zach!" Cami''s voice sounded again to break the silence after a few seconds. "As always, it was nice talking to you. But I now have to hang up and start preparing for work. I love you."

    "I love you too, and thanks for calling," Zachary responded. "Have a nice day."

    "Have a nice day, too. Let''s talkter." Cami said from the other end of the line before ending the call.

    Zachary smiled and felt a wave of rxation washing across his entire being as he ced his phone back on the table. He could tell that his mood had improved after talking to his girlfriend.

    He could also feel his energy levels and motivation rising and shooting into the skies. He even seemed to forget about his poor performance during the previous day''s game, as the only thing on his mind was how to train efficiently and improve himself.

    "I should start training before my muscles cool down," he thought. Without further ado, he settled back on his training mat and resumed his morning practice routine.

    He went through the yoga poses, body strengthening workouts, and flexibility exercises with much more intensity since his mind was in the right ce. His drive was as great as ever, and he only stopped his practice thirty minutester when he was almost out of breath.

    He got up from the training mat while sweating and struggling to take even a simple breath due to exhaustion. But a momentter, a rejuvenating sensation flooded his body before caressing his mind. He couldn''t understand what had just happened to him, but his thoughts were clearer after those thirty minutes of intensive exercise. It was as if he''d just recalibrated his mind and also unloaded a heavy weight off his shoulders. His body was almost in a hyper state of unbounded excitement.

    "DING"

    Just then, the familiar system notification sound went off in his mind. It immediately roused Zachary from his state of bliss and brought him back to the present.

    "Congrattions!" The system AI''s apathetic voice followed. "After a sufficient period of targeted and efficient training, the user has finally ovee the side effects of the S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir. The user''s ball skills have now all returned to their peak. Please check the system interface for further details."

    "Finally, I''m back at my peak." Zachary thought and immediately summoned the system interface with a mentalmand. He navigated through the system''s panel with familiar ease before arriving at the attribute menu. Without further ado, he rubbed his hands together and started perusing his updated stats.

    ****

    -----

    *USER STATS

    -----

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: S+)

    Bnce and Coordination: S-

    Agility: S+

    Strength: S+

    Stamina: S+

    Endurance Points: 17,500/18,000 (S+)

    -----

    ->Ser Technique: [Av. Rating: S+]

    Ball Control: S+

    Dribbling Skills: S-

    Passing uracy: S+

    Body Control: S-

    -----

    NB: The user is in peak condition.

    -----

    ****

    Zachary finally breathed a sigh of relief after he confirmed that he had ovee the side effects of the S-grade elixir from the system interface. At longst, he could start ying confidently again instead of constantly worrying aboutmitting mistakes due to hiscking fitness. He couldn''t contain his excitement as he could finally unleash all his skills without fear or favor on the pitch.

    "Now that I have ovee this hurdle, I can finally focus on the team training sessions," he mused while trying to contain his bubbly emotions. "If I can do well during training over the next seven days, the coaches might consider me for the game against Chievo Verona. I have to do my best."

    The knowledge of returning to his peak fitness had totally rejuvenated him. It was like the final piece of the puzzle that helped him ovee the setback ofmitting a costly mistake during the previous day''s game against AC Mn. He was like a renewed man who was only thinking about doing his best during the team training sessions so as to cement his ce at Juventus and make the squad for the game against Chievo Verona on 30th August.

    -----

    The next few days shed by quickly as Zachary trained with the team. He didn''t rest on hisurels after regaining his peak fitness but continued pushing his limits and trying his best to improve himself. His drive wasmendable, and he didn''t short-change himself as he constantly worked on refining his skills to prepare for the uing Serie A season.

    Zachary''s unwavering attitude and love for training soon impressed the coaches and teammates. In only a short while, they seemed to forget all about the mistake he hadmitted during Juventus'' game against AC Mn, and they started treating him with cordiality again. Some yers, like Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon, even gave him advice on ways to improve his game on several asions. And that further filled Zachary with glee as he could tell that they were trying their best to help him fit into the team.

    Two more days psed as Zachary and his new teammates prepared for the new season. And finally, Friday, 29th August, the eve of the day when Juventus would y their opening game against Chievo Verona, had arrived. The excitement was in the air all around the Juventus training center as the team was about to kick start its Serie A season.

    But in the evening of that same day, something unexpected happened and cut the excitement short. Paul Pogba, the incredibly talented young Frenchman, had up and decided to leave Juventus and return to Manchester United. He had made his decision abruptly and stealthily ¡ª only after informing a few of his close friends at the club.

 Chapter 445: Eve of the New Italian Serie A Season

    Chapter 445: Eve of the New Italian Serie A SeasonAfterpleting the team practice on Friday afternoon, Zachary washed up before heading to the yer resting lounge at the far end of the training center. He intended to spend some time unwinding and conversing with his teammates before attending Coach Allegri''s pre-match tactical briefing scheduled to start an hourter.

    He traversed the already familiar hallways of Juventus'' training center before arriving at the door of the resting lounge. He pushed it open and immediately stepped forward to enter the room upied by four familiar yers. Patrice Evra was lounging on a couch at the far end of the room while udio Marchisio, Giorgio Chiellini, and Simone Pepe were seated in front of the big screen, watching a football match.

    "Zachary, my man!" Patrice Evra, the Frenchman, was the first to call out to him in French. "Don''t just stand there. Come over and sit beside me." He patted the couch next to him.

    "Okay," Zachary readily agreed. He first said hi to the other three in the room before taking a few steps and settling on a couch near Evra''s.

    Evra gave him a once over before saying, "You were brilliant in today''s tactical training session and even dribbled past Chiellini with expert ease on several asions! What were you on, my man? Care to share?"

    Zachary chuckled. "If you wish to know what I ate for breakfast or lunch, I''ll humor you. I had milk, bread, cereal, and fruits in the morning. As for lunch, you don''t need to ask since we ate the same food at the canteen."

    "You''re such a bore," Evra said, grinning and shaking his head. A few seconds passed, and he seemed to remember something. He nced at Zachary again and said, "By the way, did you hear the news of Pogba leaving Juventus?"

    "He left?" Zachary''s eyes widened. "I thought he was absent from training due to the knock he received the other day!"

    "Your information is outdated," Evra said with an audible sigh. "A couple of hours earlier, hepleted a deadline transfer-move to return to Manchester United for a reported approximate fee of 83 million Euros. Man! He''s even more expensive than you. What the hell are the guys in Manchester thinking?"

    Zachary almost couldn''t believe his ears when he heard the news. Two days ago, Pogba had excused himself from Juventus'' training sessions by iming that he had received a knock on his thigh muscle. But Zachary was now hearing that he was leaving the club. It was a shocking piece of news.

    But there was also something else that intrigued Zachary. During his previous life, Manchester United had only managed to re-sign Pogba in the 2016 summer transfer window. But during his second life, there was a slight change. The French midfielder hadpleted the move out of Juventus two years in advance, meaning that his future at Manchester might take a different trajectory from that in Zachary''s previous life. The Frenchman could just escape his fate and do wonders at the club since he was going to be under the management of Louis van Gaal ¡ª a coach with a knack for shaping young and talented midfielders.

    "Where''s Pogba now?" Zachary asked Evra. "Is he still in Turin?"

    "Nah," Evra said, shaking his head. "He is already on his way to undergo a medical in Manchester."

    "He''s fast!" Zachary was shocked again.

    "He has to be as the transfer window closes in three days," Evra remarked and closed his eyes to rest.

    Zachary smiled and adjusted his body toy supine on the couch. In only a few minutes, he regted his breathing and pushed the thoughts about Pogba''s move to the back of his mind. Then, he closed his eyes and started contemting his status at Juventus.

    Over the past six days, he had relied on his peak match fitness to work hard and impress the coaches during training. He had followed all their instructions to the letter while also trying to stand out from his teammates. As a result, he was confident that he had done his best to at least make it to the squad for the game against Chievo Verona the following day. But whether he could make the starting line-up or remain on the bench was still a mystery to him. He could only wait for Coach Allegri''s tactical meeting before knowing the final verdict.

    Various thoughts continued going through Zachary''s mind until he dozed off a few minutester. He sank into a deep slumber and only managed to wake up after Patrice Evra tapped his shoulder and reminded him about the pre-match tactical meeting.

    When he checked the time on his phone and realized that only a few minutes remained until four o''clock, he reacted with all the haste he could muster. He got up with a start from the couch and hurriedly made his way out of the resting lounge. He entered a washroom a few minutester and sshed water on his face. Then, without losing a second, he dried himself with the avable paper towels before rushing out into the hallways and heading to the tactics room.

    He arrived a few minutester and realized that most of his teammates had already taken their seats. A few of them were even huddled together, holding hashed conversations as they waited for the coaches to start the meeting.

    Zachary tried his best to calm his racing heart and settled on a seat at the back of the room. Of course, he was a bit nervous since he was about to attend the tactical meeting to kick-start the new Serie A season with Juventus. He was also tense since he couldn''t be sure that he would make Coach Allegri starting eleven.

    "Posso avere tua attenzione, per favore?" Coach Allegri said when he took center stage a minuteter. He started delivering his speech and spent the next thirty minutes exining tactics in Italian to his yers. He was intense as he paced the entire room while spewing out words that sounded alien to Zachary''s ears.

    The coach was obviously doing his best to exin the game strategy to his yers. However, Zachary couldn''t understand what he was saying since he had yet to learn the Italiannguage. Zachary would have to wait for Coach Trombetta to trante the content for him at the end of the session.

    The minutes seemed to pass slowly as the coach delivered his pre-match briefing. Zachary was almost dozing off on several asions since he found the entire session boring. He only prevented his mind from descending into slumbend by focusing all his willpower.

    More minutes that seemed like weeks to Zachary passed, and finally, the coach ended his speech and got to the exciting part of the pre-match briefing. It was finally time for the coach to announce the squad for the following day''s game against Chievo Verona. As a result, a numbing silence descended upon the entire room as the yers waited for the next part of the coach''s presentation with bated breaths.

    ----

    Coach Allegri took a few seconds to observe all the yers in the tactics room. He could tell that some of his new signings, like Zachary Bemba, Patrice Evra, ¨¢lvaro Morata, and Kingsley Coman, couldn''t understand what he was saying due to their zero knowledge of Italian. But even then, he wasn''t about to prolong the tactical meeting by having someone else trante his words for them during the session. He would only instruct Coach Trombetta to trante for them after the meeting had ended. That way, he would remain efficient and avoid wasting the precious time of his other yers.

    "Let''s begin with the starting eleven," he said as the big screen behind him lit up and disyed the names of the yers who had made his squad. "Gianluigi Buffon will be in goal. Then, we''ll use three defenders, namely: Mart¨ªn C¨¢ceres, Leonardo Boni, and Angelo Ogbonna, toplete our back-three defense."

    "Further up the pitch, udio Marchisio, Andre Pirlo, and Arturo Vidal will y as our central midfielders. Then, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Kwadwo Asamoah will y on the nks toplete our midfield of five. And finally, Carlos T¨¦vez and Kingsley Coman will be the men to lead our attack on the striking line of our 3-5-2 formation. That''s it for the starting eleven. Any questions?" The coach nced around.

    In response, all the yers around the room remained silent.

    "Okay, okay," Coach Allegri said after a few seconds. "Let''s move on. On the bench, we have Rubinho, Marco Storari, Luca Marrone, Patrice Evra, Federico Mattiello, R?mulo, Simone Padoin, Roberto Pereyra, Zachary Bemba, Simone Pepe, Sebastian Giovinco, and Fernando Llorente. And that''s all concerning our match squad. Any questions?"

    Once again, the yers remained silent. They obviously had no questions for the coach.

    Coach Allegri smiled and nodded. "Since there are no questions, let''s conclude the tactical meeting here. The match against Chievo is at 6:00 PM tomorrow, and we''ll be ying at an away ground. You all need to head back to your homes and have some ample rest tonight. That way, you will be sharp and at the top of your game during the match tomorrow. Am I making myself clear?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    -----

 Chapter 446: The 2014/15 Italian Serie A System Mission

    Chapter 446: The 2014/15 Italian Serie A System MissionAfter the meeting, Zachary approached Coach Trombetta, the assistant coach in charge of the first team, to request an English trantion of Coach Allegri''s pre-match tactical briefing. He would obviously not depart from the training center before understanding the game n for the following day. Otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to get a wink of sleepter that night.

    Coach Trombetta''s trantion skills were as good as ever. He spent roughly a quarter an hour exining the tactics for the following day''s game in simple English. He spoke in detail and ensured that Zachary and his other colleagues who didn''t understand the Italiannguageprehended the game n. After that, he wished the yers a good night before sending them away from the tactics room.

    Zachary got up, ready to follow his colleagues out of the tactics room. He was eager to return to his hotel room since Cami was already waiting for him there. But before he could take even a single step towards the exit, Coach Trombetta called his name and instructed him to retake his seat.

    "Zachary!" The assistant coach said, ncing at him with a smile. "How are you these days? Do you feel like you have regained your full match fitness?"

    "I''m very okay," Zachary replied. "And I can assure you that I have already regained my full match fitness. I''m ready to step onto the pitch and y whenever the team needs me."

    "Are you sure?" Coach Trombetta asked again. "And before you answer, remember that in a top team like Juventus, you can''tmit basic mistakes that will cost your teammates an official game. You have to be at the top of your game during every match. Or else you''ll lose your position on the squad."

    "Don''t worry," Zachary responded, his tone exuding confidence. "I know my body well. I feel good, and I''m sure that I have regained my peak. As long as you put me on the pitch, I won''t disappoint."

    "I like your confidence," Coach Trombetta remarked with a smile. "I was worried that you would lose your confidence aftermitting that mistake in the game against AC Mn. But from what I can see, my worries have been for naught. You seem to have recovered well."

    "Yes, I have," Zachary said, nodding emphatically. "That mistake woke me up, and I pushed myself to train more effectively over the past seven days. That''s why I have ovee my fitness issues in a short period of time."

    Coach Trombetta nodded. "Try to get enough sleep today. You need to be in your best state if Coach Allegri decides to bring you on as a substitute in the game tomorrow. Okay?"

    "I understand, coach," Zachary replied. "As long as the coach needs me, I''ll be ready."

    -----

    Zachary departed from the training centerter that evening. A soft smile constantly outlined his face as he sat in the backseat of Angelo''s white Citroen, watching the scenery sh by outside the vehicle''s window. His emotions were almost in a hyper state, and he couldn''t wait for the following day to arrive so that he could y his first official game for Juventus.

    "DING"

    Suddenly, the system notification sound rang within his mind, jolting him back to full attention. He narrowed his eyes as he turned his gaze away from the scenery outside the vehicle''s window.

    "The system has detected that the user has been added to the Juventus squad ying in the 2014/15 Italian Serie A season," the system AI''s apathetic voice followed. "The conditions required to initiate the long-term 2014/15 Italian Serie A Mission have been met."

    "DING"

    "The 2014/15 Italian Serie A Mission initiated sessfully."

    "Does the user wish to view the details of the mission right away?"

    Zachary took a moment to observe Angelo, his driver, who was on the steering wheel. After noticing that the Italian man wasn''t focusing on him, he breathed in and gave a mentalmand, "Please, bring up the details on the interface right away. Make sure they fit on a single screen. I don''t wish to scroll and attract any unwanted attention."

    "DING"

    "Commands received," the system AI intoned. "Mission details have been disyed on the interface."

    Zachary leaned back into the car seat and began perusing through the contents disyed on the crystal-like disy that had appeared before him. He was eager to learn the details of his new mission.

    ****

    G.O.A.T MISSIONS

    ----

    #NEW MISSION: 2014/15 Italian Serie A Challenge

    ->The system has detected that the user is part of the Juventus squad that will y the 2014/15 Italian Serie A season. The system has designed an associated mission for the event.

    ----

    ->The user needs to ept the mission first to stand a chance of winning rewards afterpleting the milestones below.

    ----

    *Milestone 1: y 65% of the fixtures in the 2014/15 Serie A season. The user must be part of the starting eleven or a ying substitute in at least 25 of the total 38 Serie A matches.

    *Milestone 2: Help your teammates be the 2014/15 Italian Serie A Champions.

    *Milestone 3: Provide the most assists in the 2014/15 Italian Serie A season.

    *Milestone 4: Be the top scorer of the 2014/15 Italian Serie A season.

    *Milestone 5: Be the MVP of the 2014/15 Italian Serie A season.

    *Milestone 6: Score 40 or more goals during the 2014/15 Serie A Season.

    *Milestone 7: Help your teammates achieve an unbeaten run throughout the 2014/15 Italian Serie A. The user must work hard to ensure Juventus doesn''t lose even a single match from the beginning to the end of the season.

    ----

    *Rewards:

    ->Milestone 1pletion reward: 2000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 2pletion reward: 2000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 3pletion reward: 10,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 4pletion reward: 20,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 5pletion reward: 30,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 6pletion reward: 100,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 7pletion reward: A dosage of S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir.

    ----

    NB: There will be additional rewards if the user realizes any other milestones that can unlock hidden missions.

    ----

    ->The user can choose not to ept the mission.

    *ept *Reject

    ----

    *Punishment if none of the milestones has been achieved after the stipted time (In case the user epts).

    ->Minus 120,000 Juju-points

    *The user has toplete at least one milestone before the tournament ends to escape the penalty.

    ----

    *Remarks: Only by constantly breaking records can an individual move up the ranks of the greats of any field.

    ****

 Chapter 447: Camilla Visits

    Chapter 447: Cami VisitsZachary immediately tapped his finger on the translucent crystal-like disy to ept the system mission. He didn''t even need to contemte since he was confident in his ability to realize at least one milestone of the 2014/15 Italian Serie A Challenge.

    He could at least start by focusing on keeping himself fit and ying more than 65% of the Serie A matches for Juventus. Then, he would meet the conditions for the first milestone and escape the system penalty even if he failed the rest of the mission.

    As for the milestones that required him to score forty goals or help Juventus achieve an unbeaten run, he wasn''t even five percent sure that he would be able to realize them. He knew that the Italian Serie A was a top football league in Europe, with very intensepetition. He would find it a difficult task if he wished to constantly beat opposing defenders and score goals, week in, week out, as he did during his time in the Norwegian League. He was better off focusing on winning individual games rather than setting unrealistic goals like creating history by scoring more than forty goals in a single Serie A season.

    "We''re here," Angelo said after a few more minutes as he pulled up into one of the parking spaces in from of the J Hotel.

    "Finally," Zachary said. "Thanks for taking care of me again today. I really appreciate the help you have afforded me over the past few days."

    "Don''t mention it," Angelo said, turning his head to nce at Zachary from the driver''s seat. "It''s my job to help you, and I enjoy it. But that aside, what about your appointment with the real estate agent? Can you get time soon and look at the houses he has arranged for you?"

    Zachary sighed and shook his head. "I''m still busy training and trying to fit into the team. So, tell him to give me a few more weeks. When I settle down and achieve stability on the team, we can contact him and look at the houses."

    "Okay, I understand where you''reing from," Angelo said with a smile. "I''ll cancel the appointment until you''re ready. When do you wish for me to pick you up tomorrow?"

    "Pick me up at 10:00 AM," Zachary said. "I must be at the training center by at least eleven tomorrow. I don''t wish to miss the team bus to Verona."

    "Okay, I''ll pick you up at ten," Angelo said, nodding. "Otherwise, have a goodnight."

    "Thanks, and have a good night, too," Zachary said and immediately stepped out of the vehicle. After watching Angelo steer the car away from the hotel, he took a moment to admire the sights around him. He breathed in the fresh and natural autumn fragrances as his eyes took in all the infrastructure and green trees lining up the street in front of the J Hotel.

    The next moment, a smile slowly outlined his facial features as he felt he was in the most optimum state, especially on the eve of his possible debut in the Italian Serie A. He couldn''t exin why, but for the first time since he lost his grandma, he felt like he was alive, driven, and ready to face any challenge that came his way. He was in a good mood, and even the sunset reigning supreme on the western horizon of Turin seemed more beautiful in his eyes.

    "Let''s head into the hotel."

    Zachary ignored the nearby people ncing at him with sparkling eyes and immediately walked into the hotel. He greeted the receptionist before taking the stairs to the third floor. He traversed the spotless clean hallways and arrived at the door leading into his room.

    "Knock! Knock..." He knocked a couple of times before waiting.

    A second or two psed, and then the door silently opened to reveal Cami''s captivating figure in its full splendor. God! She was as gorgeous as ever. She was really a beauty that could cause the downfall of nations with just a smile.

    "Hey, stranger!" She said after a few seconds. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled with warmth, and she immediately jumped into Zachary''s arms. She was like a pretty bird that had just returned to its nest after a long journey across the world.

    "Let''s first enter the room," Zachary said, patting her back and ncing around. Since he was no longer in Norway, he was constantly on guard against the paparazzi. He didn''t wish to see a picture of him being intimate with Cami in the news the following day.

    "Okay," Cami readily agreed and led him by the arm into the room. What followed was only natural. After spending almost a month apart, the two love birds engaged in the age-old ritual of intimacy. There was a hunger in their actions as they embraced and immersed themselves in the sweet throes of passion on the giant bed in the hotel room. They forgot about everything else and didn''t stop until they hit a couple of blissful and fulfilling zeniths in each other''s arms.

    "So, how was your day?" Cami asked while resting in Zachary''s arms an hourter.

    "As good as it can be," Zachary responded, caressing her back. "I made the squad for the game tomorrow."

    "Congrattions," Cami said, smiling and shifting slightly within Zachary''s embrace. "Are you among the starting eleven?"

    "Unfortunately not," Zachary replied with a sigh. "I''m on the bench. But that''s still a good start. As long as I get an opportunity to step on the pitch for a few minutes, I''m sure I''ll be able to convince the coaches with my ability."

    "I''m sure you will," Cami agreed. "Continue working hard, and you''ll eventually cement your rightful ce in Juventus."

    Zachary nodded. "Enough about me. When did you arrive?"

    "At around three in the afternoon."

    "Did the hotel staff give you a hard time?"

    "Not at all," Cami replied. "I was surprised when they readily allowed me into your room. They only asked for my ID, and that was it."

    Zachary smiled. "I had given them your details and informed them to let you into the room. And before I forget, I''m really sorry about not picking you up from the airport."

    "No problem," Cami said. "I''m aware that you were busy preparing for the game tomorrow. Did you get me a ticket for the game?"

    "Of course," Zachary responded. "How could I forget?"

    "Thanks," Cami said coyly and inched closer to Zachary. "I''m really looking forward to seeing you on the pitch tomorrow."

    "Let''s hope that the coach gives me an opportunity," Zachary intoned. "Have you eaten, by the way?"

    "Not yet. I was waiting for you."

    "You must be starving," Zachary said. "Let''s head to the restaurant and eat something. Moreover, we need to go to bed early so that I can rest and be in optimum condition during tomorrow''s game."

    "Okay, let''s clean up and head to the restaurant." Cami readily agreed. "We''ll talk about everything elseter."

    **** ****

 Chapter 448: Season Opener against ChievoVerona

    Chapter 448: Season Opener against ChievoVeronaSaturday, August 30, 2014.

    Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi, ChievoVerona''s Home Ground, Verona, Italy.

    Time: 5:30 PM.

    -----

    The sunset on the western horizon of Turin was glorious, all rosy and salmon-pink. Its golden rays filtered through the sparse clouds and shone down on the crowds flooding into the Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium. Of course, the football supporters were at the famous stadium in Verona to watch the 2014/15 Italian Serie A season-opening game between ChievoVerona and Juventus.

    As the minutes shed by, the atmosphere all around the stadium became more and more electrifying. The fans who had arrived early were already cheering at the top of their voices within the stands. They sang the various famous chants of their respective teams in hoarse voices as they waited for the game''s kick-off at 6:30 PM. They were obviously very excited and looking forward to the season opener.

    Like always, some overly-enthusiastic fans and dedicated journalists had eagerly camped at the stadium gates. At that moment, they had already craned their necks as they watched the road leading up to the stadium with sparkling eyes.

    "The Juventus bus is here," one of the fans in the crowd suddenly yelled to spark off a flurry of activity before the stadium gates.

    The fans started yelling the names of the famous Juventus yers as the bus slowly pulled up in front of the stadium. As for the journalists, they went into alert mode and readied their cameras in preparation to take some photos of the famous football yers.

    Coach Allegri, who had donned a full suit that day, was the first to step out of the bus. He waved to the fans before hurrying forward and entering the stadium. Then, the yers followed after him while also waving to the fans. But they didn''t stop to sign any autographs as they were in a hurry to begin their pre-match warm-up.

    "Did you notice that Zachary was in the squad?" A fan asked his friend when all the yers had entered the stadium. "Why were there rumors of him being unfit yesterday?"

    "Beats me," his friend said, shrugging. "Maybe, the press got it all wrong, like they usually do. But I really hope that he gets an opportunity to y today. I want to see him start scoring goals for Juventus as soon as possible."

    "What worries me is that picture of him enjoying dinner with a girl in some hotel on the inte," the first fan said. "Instead of resting and getting ready for the game yesterday night, he was vibing somedy. Honestly, that kind of behavior seems unprofessional. I hope he doesn''t make another mistake if he gets an opportunity to step onto the pitch today."

    "Don''t be so hard on the guy," His friend said. "Footballers are humans too. They also have the right to enjoy life. We should only care about their performance on the pitch, not their personal lives."

    "What if their personal life affects their performance on the pitch?"

    "Then, we can be harsh on them after the game," the friend responded. "But in Zachary''s case, he''s yet to step on the pitch, and yet you''re already judging him as unprofessional. Let''s wait and see how he performs before puttingbels on him."

    "I hope you are right," the first supporter said. "Let''s enter the stadium. The game is about to begin."

    -----

    The time passed quickly, and soon the clock hands in Turin pointed to the 6:30 PM mark. Without any dys, the referee blew the whistle and signaled the Chievo yers to kick off the game.

    Maxi L¨®pez, Chievo''s center-forward, immediately kicked the ball back into his midfield to kick-start the season-opening game between the two teams. With a simple pass, he found Mariano Izco, Chievo''s central midfielder.

    Mariano Izcofortably controlled the ball close to the edge of the center circle while under no pressure. After only a single touch, he whirled around and passed the ball into his defense to find Bostjan Cesar, Chievo''s center-back.

    Bostjan Cesar surprisingly took his time to react to the pass. The center-back controlled the ball without any sense of urgency in his actions before passing it to Dario Dainelli, his counterpart in central defense.

    But by then, Carlos T¨¦vez, one of Juventus'' two strikers, had already made a spirited run across the field to close down the defender. The Argentine forward tracked down the seemingly stunned Dario Dainelli and slid in wholesale, trying to tackle the ball with an outstretched boot.

    Dario Dainelli, in turn, read the situation urately and quickly whirled around to escape from Carlos'' tackle. But before he could find a safe outlet for the ball, Kingsley Coman, the other Juventus striker, was on him, pressing him and closing down all his passing angles.

    The young Frenchman was aggressive while pressing. He harassed the helpless defender and won the ball in a short span of a few seconds. Before the other opponents could close him down, he squared a pass to Carlos T¨¦vez, the striker who had already picked himself from the ground.

    T¨¦vez was, of course, a man of steel nerves and iron balls. He remainedposed as he controlled the ball with a touch that took him past the other center-back. Then, within a second, he exploded with speed and rounded the keeper to score Juventus'' first goal during the second minute of gamey.

    The striker seemed quite excited by his feat of scoring. He rushed to the corner g while yelling at the top of his voice to celebrate his first goal of the season. It was as if he was announcing to the Juventus fans present in the stands that he was back in business right after the start of the season.

    -----

    The game continued after the goal celebrations. And once again, the Juventus yers utilized high pressing tactics to pressurize the ChievoVerona defenders right after the restart of the game. The men in white and ck ran at the opponents like predators on the hunt and forced them to y the ball high and long on several asions. And that allowed Juventus to constantly regain possession quickly before starting to dominate proceedings again.

    Fifteen more minutes quickly psed as the Old Lady yers slowly built momentum by dominating a considerable fraction of the ball possession. By arraying themselves into a 3-5-2 formation, they managed to pass the ball more fluidly, especially in midfield. They yed with intensity and soon managed to create another clear goal-scoring chance.

    Andrea Pirlo worked his magic in midfield and opened up Chievo''s defense with his signature long-range passing during the 19th minute. With a single ball over the midfield, the Italian Maestro released Stephan Lichtsteiner, the attacking wing-back who had just made a daring run on the right nk.

    Stephan Lichtsteiner was as brilliant as ever. He expertly controlled the ball close to the touchline on the right nk before exploding with speed and racing towards Chievo''s half. A short whileter, he stepped into the final third and unleashed a lofted cross towards the box to create another perfect goal-scoring chance for Juventus.

    Carlos T¨¦vez immediately went into action and raced into the box. His almost instantaneous eleration allowed him to escape from his marker and connect with the descending ball without any pressure. He tapped it into the back of the with an outstretched boot to score Juventus'' second goal in the 18th minute.

    -----

    AC ChievoVerona 0 : Juventus FC 2

    -----

    On the bench, Zachary watched on with mixed emotions as his teammates celebrated their second goal that evening. He was obviously happy that his team was winning and destroying the opponents. But at the same time, he was also worried as there was a possibility of never getting a chance to step onto the pitch if the starting eleven continued performing incredibly well.

    -----

 Chapter 449: Serie A Debut I

    Chapter 449: Serie A Debut IThe Chievo yers seemed to have gotten a wake-up call after conceding the second goal. They arrayed themselves into a 4-5-1 formation and started ying with more intensity. Their hard work paid off, and they managed to choke Juventus'' momentum. In the end, they even avoided conceding another goal until the first half ended.

    After the fifteen-minute half-time break, the yers of both teams returned to the pitch. And without any dys, the referee blew the whistle to restart the game with a Juventus kick-off.

    Carlos T¨¦vez, one of the two Juventus strikers, kick-started the second half by passing the ball back into his midfield to find Andrea Pirlo. Thetter brought it under control as he assessed the situation on the pitch with his eagle-like vision. Then, the next instant, he drew his leg back and unleashed a lofted pass towards the left wing before any opponent could close him down.

    Whoosh!

    Andrea Pirlo''s pass was as spot on as ever. The ball zoomed across and over the pitch like a surface-to-surface missile before descending andnding on Kwadwo Asamoah''s chest.

    Asamoah, on his part, didn''t dawdle with the ball on the left nk. He immediately skipped past a sliding tackle from the opposing winger before squaring a pass to udio Marchisio, the midfielder running in sync with him through the middle.

    The two yers then yed a series of quick one-twos on the left nk as they tore through the field, heading towards Chievo''s goal with an unwavering impetus. A few secondster, they stepped past the boundary of the final third, and the ball naturally found its way back to Kwadwo Asamoah. The Ghanaian midfielder didn''t lose any second smashing the ball with his left boot to unleash a lofted cross towards the box.

    It was another goal-scoring chance right at the start of the second half for Juventus. And, of course, Carlos T¨¦vez, the ever-active striker, went into action almost instantaneously. He jetted into the box like a raging Godzi before pushing off the ground to connect with the iing cross.

    Unfortunately, a little nudge from the opposing center-back rendered his efforts fruitless. His head missed the ball by mere centimeters, thus sealing his fate of missing the perfect chance to score a hat-trick and the third goal for Juventus that evening. He could only ce his hands behind his head and sigh with regret.

    A few seconds psed, and a goal-kick from Chievo''s goalkeeper restarted the game. Once again, the Juventus yers applied pressure on the opponents and won possession back quickly. They started passing the ball among themselves andunched another wave of attacks to kick-start another spell of dominance for the Old Lady.

    The Old Lady yers wouldmence every offensive by building from the back before tearing apart Chievo''s formation with abrupt through-passes from either Andrea Pirlo or udio Marchisio. Their fluid passing and hard work allowed them to control the game and create many goal-scoring chances that almost resulted in the third goal.

    Regrettably, Juventus'' luck was terrible during the second half, and they didn''t convert any of their chances. Kingsley Coman and Carlos T¨¦vez, the two strikers, both missed one-on-ones with the keeper during the 49th and 55th minutes, respectively. Then, during the 67th minute, the Chievo keeper made an incredible save to stop Andrea Pirlo''s long-range effort from finding the back of the. But that was not all. A few more shots smashed off the post while others missed the target by mere centimeters. Juventus'' second half was not going as nned as they couldn''t get the third goal, no matter how hard they tried.

    To make matters worse, a rare and perfect opportunity for Chievo to get back into the game appeared during the 69th minute. The Chievo yers won a corner kick and executed it perfectly to score their first goal for the night during the 71st minute. As a result, the seemingly sure win for Juventus was up in the air as only a single goal separated the two teams when neen minutes were still remaining to the ny-minute mark.

    -----

    AC ChievoVerona 1 : Juventus FC 2

    -----

    On the sidelines, Coach Massimiliano Allegri sighed and shook his head as he watched the Chievo yers celebrate their goal. He was a bit distressed. His yers yed well and created many chances during the second half. But they were not clinical enough within the final third and failed to convert and kill off the game early in the second half. Moreover, they also allowed the opponents to score and crawl their way back into the game. As a result, they were in for a tense final few minutes. They had to remain cautious and alert until the final whistle sounded, or else they might concede another goal and end their first game of the season with only a single point. As far as Coach Allegri was concerned, such a scenario was totally uneptable.

    "I have got to change something," Coach Allegri thought and turned towards his bench. His gaze swept over all the substitutes until it stopped on Zachary Bemba, his most expensive signing for the summer. The young ymaker was the perfect yer to turn a match around if he was at the top of his game. He could create chances out of nothing, take set-pieces with almost inhuman precision, and score almost-impossible goals.

    But the crucial question for the coach to consider was whether the young man was back at the top of his game. Had he really ovee his match-fitness issues? Or did he lie to Coach Trombetta to get some ying time during the season opener? Due to those doubts, the coach was in a dilemma. He was hesitant to introduce the young ymaker into the game.

    "A penny for your thoughts?" Coach Trombetta, the assistant coach in charge of the first team, asked from beside him. "What''s going on in your mind?"

    Coach Allegri sighed again. "I''m just considering whether to introduce Zachary into the game. He''s creative and clinical enough. He might be the yer that helps us ovee ChievoVerona."

    "Then, what is stopping you?" Coach Trombetta asked.

    "I still have doubts about his match fitness," the head coach replied. "Has he really returned to his peak? And has he regained his confidence as a yer, especially aftermitting that blunder against AC Mn?"

    "He already confirmed that he''s in his best shape," Coach Trombetta said. "Moreover, you must have noticed how sharp and impressive he was during the training sessions leading to the match. His dribbling was always unpredictable, his passing urate, and his execution of the tactical drills superb. My conclusion is that he''s fully fit, both physically and mentally."

    "I guess I should trust you on this since you have been close to him during the past week," Coach Allegri said, smiling. "Okay. Tell Zachary to start warming up immediately. I want him on the pitch in less than five minutes."

    "Okay," Coach Trombetta agreed with a smile. "I''ll summon him right away."

    "One more thing," Coach Allegri said. "You''re in charge of exining the n for thest few minutes to Zachary. He has to understand that he will y behind the strikers in our 3-5-2 formation. He has got to stop Chievo''s momentum by taking control of the midfield and creating more goal-scoring chances. And when the opportunities arise, he can try his luck on goal from long range. Maybe, he will score."

    "I understand," Coach Trombetta replied. "I''ll exin all the tactics to him."

    -----

    Zachary could literally feel his heart racing with anticipation when the coaches signaled him to start his warm-up. His spirits had already brightened as he was about to make his official debut appearance for his new club.

    Without losing even a second, he changed into his match gear and went through a dynamic warm-up routine on the sidelines. Hepleted it in only five minutes before rushing back to the technical area to prepare for his imminent substitution into the game.

    "Zachary!" Coach Trombetta called out to him a few secondster. "Come here for a second."

    "Yes, coach!" Zachary replied with zest and elicited a wave of suppressed chuckles from his other teammates on the bench. But that didn''t stop him from running to the coach to receive his match instructions.

    "How do you feel?" Coach Trombetta asked as soon as Zachary stepped before him.

    "Honestly, I''m both nervous and excited," Zachary replied. "I''m also looking forward to stepping onto the pitch."

    "That''s great," Coach Trombetta said, nodding. He then exined the tactics to Zachary for a minute or two before prompting the fourth official to signal his introduction into the game.

    A few seconds psed, and finally, the ball went out of y for yet another Juventus corner kick. The fourth official immediately put up the board to signal Zachary''s introduction into the game. Zachary reced Arturo Vidal in the 77th minute and stepped onto the pitch as an attacking midfielder in Juventus'' 3-5-2 formation.

    -----

    Zachary''s introduction into the game sparked off a wave of mixed reactions among the Juventus fans within the stands. Some supporters were happy to see him on the pitch, while others remained skeptical about his ability to adapt quickly to the highly-intensive Serie A football.

    "Do you think that he will be able to perform today?" A fan asked his counterpart while keeping his eyes on the proceedings on the pitch. "Yesterday evening, there were reports that he wasn''t fully fit. But now, they have brought him into the game! What''s Allegri thinking?"

    "Let''s choose to trust the coach," another fan said. "He must have considered all his other options before bringing Zachary on. And if Zachary ys like he usually didst season, then we might just destroy Chievo during the final few minutes. Let''s wait and see."

    "I hope nothing goes wrong. I don''t wish to start the season with a draw or a loss."

    "Don''t jinx things for us, man," the first fan said. "We''ll win the game. For now, let''s focus. Our yers have finished preparing for the corner kick. They will take it any second from now."

    "Okay."

    -----

 Chapter 450: Serie A Debut II

    Chapter 450: Serie A Debut IIZachary sprinted across the pitch and immediately took up a strategic position within Chievo''s box. Almost instantaneously, Bostjan Cesar, the tall Slovenian center-back, was on him, marking him and harassing him. The man was quite intense with his actions, even before the referee could blow the whistle for the corner kick.

    "Chill out, man," Zachary said. He shrugged the defender off before stepping away and upying another strategic position within the box. He was finally ready to meet the iing corner ball without any disturbance from any defender.

    "You''re not going anywhere," a voice sounded in his ears just as he was in the middle of analyzing his surroundings. He turned around and immediately noticed that it was the same Slovenian defender from before who had chased after him. His actions were even more aggressive, and he immediately held on to Zachary''s shirt to prevent him from moving around.

    "Seriously!" Zachary eyed the defender out of the corner of his eye before choosing to ignore him. He would wait for the perfect opportunity before escaping from the opponent.

    A few more seconds passed, and finally, after a couple of Chievo substitutions, the referee blew the whistle. Andrea Pirlo, Juventus'' deep-lying ymaker, immediately went into action and took the corner kick. He unleashed a teasing ball from the corner spot that stirred a flurry of activity within the crowded box.

    "Here ites!"

    Zachary acted with urgency just as the ball started descending into the box. He shrugged off his marker before sprinting forward and leaping high to tower above his opponents and meet the iing cross.

    His newly-acquired CR7 Aerial Finishing Juju worked like a charm, and his jump took him almost a meter above the ground. Without losingposure, he inclined his head slightly and directed the iing corner ball towards the top right corner. And without any surprise, his effort easily beat the seemingly stunned goalkeeper and allowed him to score Juventus'' third goal for the night in the 78th minute. He had scored with his first touch on the ball after stepping onto the pitch as a substitute.

    "This is great."

    Zachary could hardly believe how easy it was to score as he descended to the ground. Previously, he often found it challenging to find the back of the with his head. But after learning the CR7 Aerial Finishing Juju, everything seemed natural, and Zachary headed the ball home to score his first goal for Juventus in an officialpetition. He could hardly contain his happiness as he raced towards the corner g to celebrate in front of the traveling Juventus fans.

    -----

    "Oh my, God, that was magnificent," thementator yelled in Italian as Zachary raced off towards the corner g to celebrate with the rest of his teammates. "Zachary Bemba, the newly-signed 19-year-old ymaker, has scored his first goal for Juventus in an officialpetition with his first touch in the game. He easily beat all the opposition before leaping high to connect with the corner ball. What a debut for the young man!"

    "Just moments ago, we were specting that he might not manage to make an immediate impact on the game," the comentator chipped in immediately. "But with just a single touch, he has shut everybody down with that well-timed stunning header into the back of the. Indeed, what a debut for the young ymaker."

    -----

    In the stands, Cami''s smile was bright like the noonday sun in summer while watching Zachary celebrating with his new teammates. She was happy to witness her boyfriend score immediately after entering the pitch. She couldn''t wait to congratte him when they returned to their hotel roomter that night.

    -----

    The game continued after the goal celebrations. The Chievo yers tried to smother Juventus'' momentum with hard work and an unrelenting attitude towards the game. But they failed due to the incredible levels of skill present within the Juventus squad.

    The Juventus yers didn''t allow the opponents to do as they pleased. They utilized high-pressing tactics to ensure that they always won the ball quickly after losing it. And in so doing, they managed to dominate proceedings on the field of y while sustaining pressure on Chievo''s defense.

    Zachary, on his part, was full of energy, especially since he''d just stepped onto the pitch. He didn''t stop running and yed fluid and steady passing football by linking up well with Andrea Pirlo and udio Marchisio, his counterparts in central midfield. As a result, he managed to cause plenty of problems for the opponents during the final ten minutes of gamey.

    Additionally, he stuck to his basics and yed one or two-touch football to ensure he didn''tmit any mistakes on his debut day. And whenever there was an opportunity, he would unleash a through pass to find the strikers or take a shot at goal. But even with his impressive performance, he didn''t manage to create any other goal-scoring opportunity for Juventus until veryte during injury time.

    After a failed offensive by Chievo during the 91st minute, the ball naturally found its way to Andrea Pirlo. On seeing the deep-lying ymaker receive the ball, Zachary, who was in a strategic position close to the left nk, reacted immediately and took off towards the other side of the pitch like the wind.

    He had already mastered a Pirlo-Juju and had some understanding of the Maestro''s incredible vision of the pitch during crucial moments of the game. He was sure that Andrea would be able to spot him as long as he made a well-timed run to catch the opponents off-guard.

    "Whoosh!"

    Zachary was like a Ferrari on a form one race track as he tore across the field. He kept running and didn''t stop for anything since he was banking on the fact that Andrea''s pass would arrive at any time. He was hopeful, and that kept him going.

    -----

    On the sidelines, Coach Allegri was tense as he followed the action on the field of y. His gaze alternated from time to time, taking in the silhouette of Zachary, who was sprinting towards the other side of the pitch, and Andrea Pirlo, the ymaker with the ball.

    The next instant, his heartbeat elerated as he saw Andrea draw his leg back and unleash a hell-of-a-pass towards the other side of the pitch. With almost machine-like precision, the Maestro found the sprinting Zachary with a single lofted ball over the entire midfield.

    Zachary, on his part, slowed down slightly before leaping high to connect with the iing pass. He chested the ball down to the green and immediately executed a perfect Marseille turn to skip past an opposing defender. And before any of the opponents could close him down, he prodded the ball forward and continued on his way towards Chievo''s box like a mega hurricane.

    Bostjan Cesar, the Chievo center-back, soon stepped forward to close down his run. But Zachary chose not to tango with him. Instead, he slowed down a bit before unleashing a simple pass towards the right to find Carlos T¨¦vez, the striker who had been running in sync with him.

    It was the perfect opportunity for Juventus to score, and T¨¦vez didn''t disappoint. He maintained hisposure and took a single touch on the ball to step into the box. Then, with a couple of deft touches, T¨¦vez rounded the goalkeeper, who hade out from between the posts to meet him. He buried the ball into the back of the to score Juventus'' fourth goal for the evening in the 92nd minute.

    -----

    AC ChievoVerona 1 : Juventus FC 4

    -----

    "GOAAAAAL!"

    Coach Allegri couldn''t help but yell out loud when the ball nestled into the back of the. He was pleased with his yers as they had executed the counterattack perfectly. With only two passes and the brilliance of three yers, they had managed to tear apart Chievo''s defense and score Juventus'' fourth goal for the night. As far as the coach was concerned, they had yed the perfect attacking football in that one minute.

    Additionally, he was impressed by the uncanny ability of his young midfielder - Zachary Bemba. The young ymaker was superb aftering on as a substitute. He right away made an impact on the game by scoring the third goal for Juventus. Then, minutester, he provided an assist that resulted in the f

 Chapter 451 Full

    <h2 style="font-size: 22.4px;">?451 Post-Match Analysis & Day Off</h2>

    "Good evening, viewers," Emilia Vasquez said while facing the cameras within the ESPN Studios. "Wee back from that exciting match, where Juventus put up an impressive performance to defeat ChievoVerona by four goals to one in their first fixture of the season. With me here in the studio are three gentlemen, namely Alessandro Costacurta, Joshua Morales, and Charles Adams. They are our pundits today, who will help us analyze the just-concluded game. But before we delve into the analysis, let''s start by watching an interesting video. We''ll be right back."

    No sooner had shepleted the sentence than all the screens in the studio started ying the video. One nce was enough to tell all present that it was a rey of a studio debate between Emilia Vasquez and Charles Adams. The two of them were discussing the top transfers of the previous summer.

    "Mark my words," Charles Adams'' mellifluous voice reverberated around the ce a momentter. "Zachary has a high chance of bing a flop at Juventus." The pundit then went on to exin why Zachary would find it a challenging task to adapt to the highly intensive Italian Serie A football. He spoke with total conviction until the short video ended a minuteter.

    A numbing silence descended upon the studio after the cameras focused back on the pundits. A few seconds passed, and then just suddenly, the other pundits, aside from Charles Adams, startedughing. Their shoulders shook as they doubled over with hrity for the next few seconds.

    "That was quite interesting," Alessandro Costacurta said while stealing nces at Charles Adams.

    "Emilia!" Joshua Morales was the next to speak as he tried to smother hisughter after a few more seconds. "I didn''t know that you were such a ruthlessdy. Always remind me not to offend you in the future."

    In response, Emilia just smiled before turning towards the cameras. "That was a rey of Charles Adams, one of our very own pundits, dering that Zachary would be a flop at Juventus. Regrettably, he couldn''t have been more wrong, as Zachary was quite impressive during his debut game today. The young ymaker scored the third goal for Juventus before providing an assist that resulted in Carlos T¨¦vez''ste goal."

    She paused for a moment and turned towards the pundits. "Charles!" She said. "Do you still believe that Zachary will be a flop at Juventus?"

    Charles Adams maintained his poker face and replied, "I wonder why everyone is so excited. Zachary has only yed well in a single game against a weaker team. But that doesn''t prove anything in the long term. We must wait and see how he fares in Juventus'' uing matches before judging whether he''s a sessful signing. If he can continue ying as he did today, I''ll swallow my previousments and apologize to all the viewers for my erroneous analysis of his potential."

    Emilia nodded and turned towards another pundit in the studio. "Alessandro!" She said. "What was your take on the just-concluded game?"

    "It was one-sided," Alessandro Costacurta replied. "From early on in the first half, Juventus was the better team. They controlled the game pretty well by relying on their fluid passing. As a result, they dominated the proceedings on the field of y and created many chances on goal. I''m really not surprised they won the match by four goals to one."

    "ording to you, who would you rate as your best yers in Juventus'' squad during today''s game?" Emilia asked.

    "Carlos T¨¦vez is, of course, at the top of my list," Alessandro replied. "He was impressive on the striking line and scored a hattrick today. In my books, he''s the best yer for Juventus. The second yer on my list is Andrea Pirlo. The deep-lying ymaker was as impressive as ever against ChievoVerona. He was involved in three of Juventus'' four goals on the night. The third and final yer on my list is Zachary Bemba. The young ymaker made quite the impact after stepping onto the pitchte in the second half. He scored the third goal before setting up Carlos T¨¦vez for another. I believe the Juventus executives must be smiling after witnessing his phenomenal debut today. Their 80 million Euros didn''t go to waste."

    Emilia beamed and nodded. "Let''s talk about Juventus'' fourth goal for the night. We all witnessed how Andrea Pirlo found Zachary with that well-timed pass over the midfield."

    "That was quite the goal," Alessandro chimed in. "If you watch the rey, you will notice that Zachary started sprinting towards Chievo''s box immediately after Pirlo received the ball. So, I''m sure that Zachary was aware that his teammate would spot him and link y with him as long as he made a well-timed run across the field. His trust paid off, and as expected, Andrea didn''t disappoint. The Maestro''s long-range pass made its way to Zachary, who, in turn, set up Carlos for the fourth goal. The whole counterattack is a testament to Juventus'' team chemistry on the pitch."

    "Thanks for your analysis, Alessandro," Emilia said. "Juventus will have a two-week rest before facing off against Udinese Calcio on Saturday, 13th September. Then, three days after that, they will y their first Champions League game this season against the Swedish side - Malm? FF. And then, four days after their Champions League game, they will travel to the Lombardy region in Italy to face off against AC Mn in their third Serie A fixture. That''s quite a busy schedule."

    "Indeed, it''s quite a busy schedule," Joshua Morales agreed. "But Juventus should be able to handle it since they have great depth in their squad. For instance, phenomenal yers like Patrice Evra, Simone Pepe, Sebastian Giovinco, and Fernando Llorente didn''t get a chance to step onto the pitch today. If Coach Allegri uses them well in some of the easier fixtures, then Juventus should be able to handle the schedule."

    After the game, the Juventus squad immediately left Verona on the team bus and headed back to Turin. On arriving at the Juventus training center, the yers and technical staff enjoyed ate team dinner while celebrating their victory against Chievo. They finished their victory meal in only thirty minutes and parted ways soon after to return to their respective homes for the night.<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    Zachary, on his part, returned to his room at the J Hotel as he didn''t have a home in Turin yet. He was still full of energy since he had only yed thest fifteen minutes of the game. So, he spent an hour or two in bliss, tangling with Cami before descending into the sweet and weing slumbend.

    The following morning, he woke up early, at six, and went through his morning exercise routine. He spent thirty minutes performing yoga poses to quicken his post-match recovery before washing up and enjoying an early breakfast with Cami on his room''s balcony. All the while, a smile never left his face while chugging down his food and drinks. His spirits were still flying high as his mind reyed some of the crucial moments of his performance during the previous day''s game.

    "You''re smiling a lot today," Cami remarked from across the table after taking a sip of her coffee. "You must be in a very jubnt mood."

    Zachary smiled and said, "How can I not be when my gorgeous and charming girlfriend is having breakfast with me?"

    Cami beamed. "Liar! You must be recalling yesterday''s game."

    "I swear I''m not," Zachary lied through his teeth, without any change in expression. "It''s just that I can''t contain my emotions while looking at your pretty face. I always find myself smiling."

    Cami''s smile brightened, but she didn''t say anything in response.

    "When is your flight?" Zachary asked.

    "In the afternoon," Cami responded. "It will depart from Turin International Airport at 3:00 PM."

    "That means we still have a few hours together before you depart," Zachary remarked as he knifed and pierced a piece of bacon. He gracefully ced it into his mouth with his fork before lifting his head to face Cami again. "Since today is my day off, we could spend the next few hours touring around Turin. What do you say?"

    "A trip around Turin would surely be nice," Cami responded with a smile. "Let''s do that."

    "Okay, a trip it is," Zachary said. "I''ll get Angelo to act as our driver and guide on this trip. Let''s see for ourselves what Turin has to offer."

    -----

    Zachary spent the rest of the morning moving around historical sites in Turin with Cami. While enjoying thepany of one another, they visited several famous museums, cathedrals built during medieval times, and extravagant pces, among other attractions. They didn''t miss out on touring any fascinating sites since Angelo was quite a good guide.

    Of course, a sizeable number of Juventus fans approached Zachary for autographs on several instances while he was on tour around the city. And since he couldn''t just shrug them off, he was forced to take a few minutes to sign their keepsakes before returning his attention to Cami. He was already experiencing how hard it was for footballers to enjoy private lives in Italian cities such as Turin. He even started entertaining the notion of hiring a few bodyguards to keep away the enthusiastic fans while moving around Turin in the future. Otherwise, he might never get a moment of peace to enjoy himself while within the city.

    The minutes quickly turned into hours as Zachary enjoyed his time with Cami. They did everything that couples do together, including having meals, taking photographs, and even making out in an empty old building. They went all out to have a pretty good time until they said their goodbyes at the Turin International Airport at 3:00 PM. They could only cut their blissful time together since Cami had to return to Norway that very afternoon.

    -----

 Chapter 452: Fates of Former Teammates

    Chapter 452: Fates of Former TeammatesZachary returned his entire focus to training after sending off Cami. He spent most of his time in the gym, working on his physical fitness or partaking in the often-intensive team sessions. His work ethic over the following few days was exceptional as he wanted to make it into Coach Allegri''s starting eleven as soon as possible.

    Additionally, he didn''t neglect hisnguage sses. Every evening, after departing from the training ground, he would head to the L''Italiano Porticandonguage school and spend hours trying to master the Italiannguage. His newly-enhanced intelligence worked wonders, and he started speaking a few words in a short span of a few days. He could easily exchange greetings with his Italian colleagues or vocalize a few curse words after seven days of intensive study. He was obviously on a fast track to learning the newnguage.

    A few days quickly passed, and Friday arrived. On the evening of that day, Zachary left thenguage school at around 9:00 PM and returned to the J Hotel. He cleaned up quickly before making himselffortable in a chair on his room''s balcony to enjoy ate-night snack. He was in a good mood as he took in the delightful view of the extensive J Hotel gardens while enjoying his meal.

    At that moment, his mind fell into a period of self-introspection, and he felt like he was living in a blissful utopia. He had a career that many would only dare to consider pursuing within their dreams. Secondly, he had a beautiful girlfriend that could cause the downfall of nations with just a simple gesture. Andstly, he was rich, going by the standards of over 90% of all the people in the world. What else could he ask for from the world? He just had to remain consistent and work hard to refine his skills. Then, he would continue elevating his game with the passing of time while enjoying many more years of career contentment.

    The corners of Zachary''s lips quirked up a little as the refreshing evening breeze caressed his face. His mind achieved a blissful state of rxation, and he quickly finished his meal. He picked up his Italiannguage textbook and began his daily pre-bedtime revision routine. But a few minutester, just as he was starting to immerse himself in the act of learning new Italian words, his phone vibrated from a nearby table and broke him out of his state of concentration. He frowned as he ced his Italian textbook to the side before ncing at the screen. But the next moment, his face eased into a smile as he realized that the WhatsApp call was from Paul Kasongo, his friend and former teammate. He immediately pressed the ept button and positioned the phone next to his ear.

    "Hello, Kasongo," he said, leaning back into his seat. "It has been long. How are you doing?"

    "I''m doing okay," Kasongo replied from the other end of the line. "What about you? How is life taking you in Italy? Have you managed to learn Italian yet?"

    Zachary chuckled, finding his friend quite amusing. "How can I learn a newnguage in just a month? Do you think I''m some brainiac out of a sci-fi movie?"

    Kasongoughed in response. "Anyways, jokes aside, how are you finding life in Turin? Have you managed to settle in?"

    "I''m doing okay while trying to settle down. The only issue hindering me from fitting into the new culture is thenguage barrier. But I have already started taking Italiannguage sses to ovee the challenge."

    "Good for you, my man," Kasongo said. "I''m confident that you''ll achieve a lot at Juventus. Keep giving your all in everything you do, and everything will work out."

    "That''s my intent. Thank you." Zachary responded. "But enough about me. Are you still in Trondheim, or did you finally transfer to a new club?"

    "I''ve alreadypleted a move to a new club," Kasongo replied, his voice filled with a sense of pride. "Can you guess which club it is?"

    "I''m sorry, I can''t," Zachary admitted.

    He hadn''t followed the transfer news for a few days. He was totally ignorant in regards to thepleted signings on the deadline of the transfer window. He didn''t even know which ones among his former teammates had followed his example and transferred out of Rosenborg that summer.

    "Can''t you really guess?" Kasongo asked again.

    "No, I can''t."

    "You''re such a bore, man," Kasongo said, sighing. "Don''t you watch the news? Anyways, I managed toplete a move to Tottenham on Monday evening, just a few hours before the closure of the transfer window. As I speak now, I''m already a Tottenham yer."

    "For real? You''re now a Tottenham yer?" Zachary''s eyes widened as he almost couldn''t believe his ears. It seemed that the future of football was changing fast and bing more and more unfamiliar to him. Moreover, he was well aware that he was the spark that had set off all those changes simply because of interfering with the life of a young footballer while he was still in DR Congo andter encouraging Coach Johansen to sign a few talented yers. He had a feeling that he might turn out to be the institutor of a mega butterfly effect that could send the football world into unpredictable future paths ¡ª totally different from those of his past life.

    "I''m telling the truth, man," Kasongo responded. "If you don''t believe me, you can check the transfer news."

    "Then, congs, my man," Zachary said. "I''m really happy for you. Are you already in London, or are you still in Trondheim?"

    "I''m in London," Kasongo replied. "I have even already trained with the team. That aside, a few of our other former teammates alsopleted moves out of Rosenborg sessfully. Eric Bailly is with me here at Tottenham while Karl Toko Ekambi went to Lyon. As for Nicki, he joined Virreal."

    "Damn!" Zachary eximed. "All our teammates have left Rosenborg. Coach Johansen must be in a foul mood."

    Kasongo chuckled and said, "I don''t think so. From what I heard, management will use part of the money gained from the transfers to sign new yers. There are rumors that Rosenborg could ssh out around 50 million Euros to bring in new talent during the December-January transfer window. Such an amount of money can do wonders in the Norwegian League. Coach Johansen should be able to continue dominating the league after spending such an amount."

    "True," Zachary said. "But they still have to put in ce an excellent recruitment policy. They must sign yers with potential if they are to continue dominating the Norwegian League. By the way, what''s up with Yerry Mina, William Troost-Ekong, Thomas Partey, and Takumi Minamino? Are they still at Rosenborg?"

    "Thomas Partey was close to joining Atl¨¦tico Madrid during thest week of the transfer window," Kasongo responded. "But his move fell through after the Spanish side failed to meet Rosenborg''s asking price of 25 million Euros. Yerry Mina was also about to join Barcelona. But his move also fell through after Barcelona refused to cough out the 28 million for the defender. As for Troost-Ekong and Takumi, they haven''t thought about leaving Rosenborg. They seem to be enjoying their time in Trondheim."

    "I think it''s good that the four of them have remained at Rosenborg," Zachary remarked. "They should be able to help Coach Johansen win the trophy this year."

    "Of course, they will," Kasongo confirmed. "Rosenborg is unstoppable in Norway at the moment. The club is veryfortable at the top of the league table. It''s also ahead of the second-ced by twelve points."

    "Oh, okay," Zachary said. "Then, they should be able to win the Norwegian league this season. That aside, how are you faring in London? Do you think you will be able to make the match squad within a short time?"

    "Honestly," Kasongo replied, "I''m a bit intimidated by everything here. All the yers are talented, and on top of that, they work hard on a daily basis to make the squad. I can''t be sure when I''ll make it into the starting eleven or even the match squad."

    "Just keep on working hard," Zachary encouraged. "You''ll eventually make the squad since I''m sure that Tottenham signed you because they saw potential in you. They can''t just leave you on the bench after coughing out money to get you from Rosenborg."

    "True." Kasongo chuckled. "It was nice talking to you again, Zachary. But for now, I have to say goodnight. I have to train early tomorrow."

    "Okay," Zachary said. "Goodnight to you, too, and let''s keep in touch."

    "Let''s keep in touch," Kasongo replied before ending the call.

    Zachary smiled and returned his focus to cramming Italian words. He was, of course, happy that his former teammates were progressing well. But he also understood that he had to continue working hard and pull out all stops to continue improving himself as a footballer. Or else those former teammates might leave him in the dust in a few years if he cked off.

    -----

    A week quickly went by as Zachary toiled from morning to evening, each day, with the intent to refine his ball skills and improve his physical fitness. And soon it was Saturday, 13th September. It was finally the day when Juventus would face off against the Udinese Calcio.

    For the game that day, Coach Allegri still chose to start with the midfield of udio Marchisio, Andre Pirlo, and Arturo Vidal. As for his other talented midfielders like Zachary Bemba and Roberto Pereyra, he chose to rest them in preparation for Juventus'' opening fixture in the Champions League against Malm? FF. He asserted that rotating the squad would keep all the yers fresh and free from injuries. As a result, they would find it easy to win more than one trophy in a single season.

    -----

 Chapter ?453 Juventus against Udinese

    ?Chapter 453 Juventus against Udinese

    Saturday, September 13, 2014.

    Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy.

    -----

    Once again, the Juventus starting eleven showcased another brilliant performance on the field of y as they faced off against Udinese Calcio in their second fixture of the 2014/14 Italian Serie A season. They controlled the game from the first minute by relying on consistent instances of individual brilliance plus the fluid passing abilities of their three midfielders. They soon built up enough momentum to tear apart Udinese''s defensive shape and create their first clear chance on goal.

    Stephan Lichtsteiner, the highly-agile wing-back, initiated the attack with a sudden and spirited eleration on the right nk during the 11th minute. His speed was incredible, even going by the apex standards in modern football. He broke past Giovanni Pasquale, Udinese''s left-winger, like a bullet train on the rails and continued racing along the touchline, heading towards the other half. A short whileter, he cut into the pitch and started bearing down on Udinese''s box like a raging Tsunami. He skipped past another opponent with another almost-instantaneous burst of speed before sending a curling cross towards the mouth of the goal.

    Whoosh!

    Stephan''s cross was like a divine work of art in motion as it soared above the field of y. No opponent could intercept the ball as it curled and descended towards the box, on a teasing course that was barely beyond the reach of both the Udinese defenders and keeper. It soon plunged downwards, almost abruptly, and zoomed towards the sprinting path of Carlos T??vez.

    "Carlos! T??vez! Carlos..."

    The enthusiastic Juventus fans, seated in the stands behind Udinese''s goal, began chanting Carlos T??vez''s name as he sprinted into the box to connect with the cross. The Argentine''s remarkably swift pace allowed him to inch past the center-backs, and he stretched his leg out to tap the ball into the back of the. Without halting, he raced towards the sidelines to celebrate his fourth goal in just two matches of the recentlymenced Serie A season.

    -----

    Juventus FC 1: Udinese Calcio 0

    -----

    Paolo Favero, a staunch fan of Juventus, had been sittingfortably within the stands of the Juventus stadium, watching the game with his two sons. When T??vez scored Juventus'' first goal for the night, he immediately rose up from his seat and started hopping around like an excited little girl. For the next few dozen seconds, he was like an eager madman, yelling at the top of his voice to let out his happiness.

    But he wasn''t alone in his state of crazed excitement. His two teenage sons were dancing while singing a famous Juventus chant spiritedly. Their voices blended together with those of the other supporters within the stands to institute a booming chorus that almost shook the entire Juventus Stadium to its very core. All the Juventus supporters were obviously having a st as they witnessed their team''s exceptional performance on the field of y.

    "There you have it," thementator''s mellifluous voice reverberated around the stadium when the cheering started subsiding. "Carlos T??vez is on target yet again this season. He connected with that sweet cross from Stephan Lichtsteiner to score an impressive first goal for Juventus during the 11th minute of the game. For sure, he''s a man on fire."

    "Indeed, Carlos T??vez is on form," Federico Mancini, the comentator and in-game pundit, chimed in. "The Argentine bagged a hattrick against Chievo two weeks ago. Just now, he scored another goal against Udinese to take his season tally to four goals in two matches. He''s looking more and more like Juventus'' true number-10, even after losing his shirt to Zachary."

    Davide Labate, the principalmentator, chuckled. "Why are you bringing up the shirt number issue again? Carlos stated in his interview hosted by Sky Italia that he was okay with giving the number-10 shirt to Zachary. Moreover, I think that his new number 32 suits him better. Maybe, that''s why he''s ying better than the version of himselfst season."

    "If you say so," Federico Mancini, the comentator, said with a chuckle. "But shirt number aside, Carlos is by far the best yer for Juventus in this new Serie A season. I wonder how Zachary willpare to him when he finally steps onto the pitch."

    "I think Zachary will do fine if he gets a chance to step on the pitch tonight," Davide Labate said as the cameras focused on Zachary, who was watching the game from the technical area. "Look at how his eyes are glittering with expectation. He''s like a fierce warrior ready to head out to war. He seems like he can''t wait to step onto the pitch."

    Federico chuckled. "I''m sure he wishes to prove himself again during tonight''s match. But the question is: Will he get some ying time today? Or has Coach Allegri decided to rest the young ymaker so as to use him in the Champions League game against Malmo on Tuesday? We can only wait before getting an answer to that question?"

    -----

    The game continued after the goal celebrations. And without any surprises, Juventus continued dominating proceedings by relying on their impressive tactical prowess. The Old Lady yers relied on their incredible ball skills and fluid passing abilities to overpower the weaker Udinese side. And it wasn''t long before they created another chance to score the second goal.

    That time around, it was udio Marchisio who executed the magic. The experienced midfielder tore through Udinese''s midfield by relying on a series of one-two exchanges with his teammates. His well-timed run through the middle afforded him some yards of space right before the edge of the box, and he pulled the trigger before any of the opposing defenders could close him down.

    Boom!

    udio Marchisio''s boot connected with the ball, and he unleashed a long-range effort towards Udinese''s goal from just outside the box. His shooting technique was almost textbook perfect, and he easily beat the keeper with a curling shot into the top right corner. His hard work and quick thinking on the ball allowed him to score Juventus'' second goal on the night during the 38th minute.

    The game continued, and it soon became clear to all that udio''s goal wouldn''t be thest for the Old Lady that night. Nine minutes into the second half, Fernando Llorente struck again topound Udinese''s misery. He connected with a pinpoint cross from Patrice Evra to head home and score Juventus'' third goal in the 54th minute.

    He''d extended Juventus'' lead to three goals with more than thirty minutes of regr ying time remaining on the clock. As a result, he almost couldn''t contain his happiness as he raced off towards the sidelines to celebrate in front of the ever-vocal Juventus fans.

    -----

    Juventus FC 3 : Udinese Calcio 0

    -----

    Coach Allegri was all smiles as he followed the game from the sidelines. He was almost on cloud nine while witnessing his yers wiping the floor with the Udinese side. He was under no pressure since he wasn''t worried that his yers would fail to hold on to the lead during the remaining thirty or so minutes of regr ying time.

    "What is the n for the final thirty minutes?" Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach in charge of the first team, asked from beside him. "Do we bring in a few substitutes and rest some starters like Andrea Pirlo and Carlos T??vez? We need them fresh for the Champions League game on Tuesday."

    Coach Allegri nodded on hearing his assistant''s words. "We should indeed bring on a few substitutes. Tell Kingsley Coman, Simone Padoin, and ??lvaro Morata to start warming up. I need them on the pitch in ten minutes."

    Coach Trombetta raised a brow. "What about Zachary?"

    "What about him?" Coach Allegri fired back in response.

    Coach Trombetta sighed and said, "He performed well during the previous game. He has also been exceptional during training over the previous two weeks. Shouldn''t we reward all his hard work with a few minutes of ying time?"

    Coach Trombetta shook his head while his eyes continued following the proceedings on the pitch. "We don''t need Zachary in this match," he said with conviction. "The boy is just a neen-year-old yer who''s just starting to find his ground in the Serie A. We can''t use him during every game as that will wear him out and make him prone to injuries."

    "But..." Coach Trombetta tried to argue.

    "No buts." Coach Allegri''s tone was firm. "We have a long season ahead of us. We''ll y matches in the Serie A, the Champions League, and the Coppa Italia. So, we''ve got to rest some of our crucial yers when we can. For instance, I can''t utilize Zachary in this game when we''re already leading by three goals. That would be a waste of precious and rare human resources. It''s better to keep him rested and start him on Tuesday against Malm??. Understood?"

    "Yes, boss," Coach Trombetta said, nodding. "I understand."

    "Good." Coach Trombetta nodded with a smile. "Go on and prepare the substitutes. I need them on the pitch in less than ten minutes."

    "Understood," Coach Trombetta said before walking away and heading towards the substitute''s bench.

    Coach Allegri watched his colleague for a moment before sighing and returning his focus to the game. Of course, he had considered introducing Zachary as a substitute against Udinese that evening. But after recalling how the young ymaker was a specialist in Europeanpetitions, who even scored hattricks against several top clubs in the Europa League the previous season, Coach Allegri decided not to follow through with his initial intentions. He decided to leave the young Maestro on the bench so that he could be well rested and ready to start Juventus'' Champions League game against Malmo

 Chapter 454: Finally, In the Starting Eleven

    Chapter 454: Finally, In the Starting ElevenFernando Llorente''s 54th-minute goal was obviously not thest for Juventus on the night. ¨¢lvaro Morata, the newly-signed Spanish center-forward, connected with Andrea Pirlo''s pass to score Juventus'' fourth goal in the 66th minute. Twelve minutester, during the 78th minute, Leonardo Boni, the center-back, outjumped all the other yers in the box to connect with a corner ball and score Juventus'' fifth and final goal for the night.

    The rest of the game was pretty much all about game management. The Juventus yers continued working tirelessly to dominate possession with their slow but steady passing. They kept the ball to themselves and ensured that the Udinese side would not get an opportunity to create any chances on goal during the final minutes of gamey. As a result, the tenacious Old Lady yers saw the game through and defeated the spiritless Udinese side by five goals to nil after four minutes of added time.

    Zachary, on his part, could only watch from the bench as his teammates celebrated their massive win against Udinese Calcio. He felt slightly dejected and confused after failing to get an opportunity to step on the pitch that evening. He couldn''t stomach the fact that the coaches had opted not to give him a chance to partake in the proceedings even after he put his all into training and performed impressively during the team sessions leading to the game against Udinese.

    Were the coaches not watching him during training? Or had management passed a resolution to reduce his ying time so as to cut down on his lofty appearance bonuses? Zachary sighed and shook his head before rising up from his seat and walking down the tunnel with his jubnt teammates.

    He was silent the entire time as he traversed the sparkling hallways of the Juventus Stadium while heading towards the home team''s dressing room. He wasn''t about to involve himself in bantering with his teammates, especially since he wasn''t in the best of moods. He just wanted to quickly reach the dressing room and change out of his match gear before returning to his hotel room to rest and calm himself down.

    "Zachary, a moment, please?" A familiar voice sounded behind him just as he was about to step into the corridor leading to the dressing room. He turned around and realized that Coach Trombetta, the assistant coach in charge of the first team, was the person that had called his name.

    "Hello, coach," Zachary said, holding his position and facing the coach. Even though he was not in a good mood, he forced himself to smile and continued, "Do you need me for anything?"

    "Come; let''s talk for a minute." The coach immediately led Zachary by the arm into a nearby room without giving him a chance to reply. In a short while, the two men stood face to face in what seemed like a staffers'' changing room.

    "How are you?" Coach Trombetta immediately asked before Zachary could say a word. "I noticed you were quieter than usual while walking down the tunnel! Are you okay?"

    "I''m okay," Zachary lied.

    "Really?" Coach Trombetta asked again while studying Zachary''s face with his prative gaze. He seemed skeptical.

    "Of course, I''m okay," Zachary confirmed while maintaining his poker face. "Why wouldn''t I be?"

    Zachary wasn''t about to express his dissatisfaction with the team selection to his new coaches. He had already resolved to bury his frustration deep within his heart and keep working hard during training. He would win his rightful ce on the Juventus starting eleven by showcasing his skills instead ofining and sobbing to gain sympathy from his trainers.

    Coach Trombetta nodded as a mysterious smile outlined his face. "Let me tell you a secret," he said, lowering his voice. "Coach Allegri only left you out of the proceedings today because he''s considering you for a starting position in the Champions League game against Malm? on Tuesday night. So, don''t let any negative feelings affect your sharpness during training on Monday. Continue working hard, and you might get your first start for Juventus on Tuesday night. Okay?"

    "Okay." Zachary nodded as his mood lifted and soared high and beyond. His eyes glittered with a spark of anticipation, and he continued, "I''ll obviously work hard during training on Monday. And as long as I get an opportunity to start the game on Tuesday, I''ll do my utmost not to disappoint. I''ll y my heart out when I''m on the field of y."

    "Good. I like your conviction." Coach Trombetta nodded and smiled. Without saying anything else, he turned around and walked out of the room.

    -----

    After taking a day off to recover from post-match fatigue, the Juventus yers were back on the training ground on Monday morning. They immediatelymenced their preparations for their opening Champions League group game against Malmo, scheduled to be yed on the evening of the following day.

    First and foremost, the yers attended a team meeting chaired by Coach Allegri at 9:00 AM, just after arriving at the training ground. Most of them listened attentively as Coach Allegri exined the tactics for the game against Malmo. As for those like Zachary, Evra, and Morata, who couldn''t understand Italian, they just had to swallow their frustration and continue pretending toprehend the coach''s words throughout the session.

    Fortunately, the coach''s address ended after just an hour and thus saved the non-Italian speakers from their long spell of boredom. Like the rest of their teammates, they were also excited as they waited for the coach to read out the match squad for the following day''s game.

    "These will be our starting eleven for the game against Malmo tomorrow night," the coach stated with a smile as the big screen behind him lit up to disy the names of the yers that had made his match squad. "Gianluigi Buffon will be in goal. In defense, we''ll utilize three defenders. They are Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Boni, and Mart¨ªn C¨¢ceres. Our three central midfielders will be udio Marchisio, Arturo Vidal, and Zachary Bemba. Then, on the nks, we''ll go with Patrice Evra and Stephan Lichtsteiner toplete our midfield of five."

    "Lastly," the coach continued after a slight pause, "Fernando Llorente and Carlos T¨¦vez will y on our striking line toplete our 3-5-2 formation. That''s it for the starting eleven. Any questions?" He nced around.

    The yers remained silent in response.

    "Moving on," the coach said, "On the bench, we''ll have Marco Storari, Angelo Ogbonna, R?mulo, Andrea Pirlo, Kingsley Coman, Sebastian Giovinco, and ¨¢lvaro Morata. That''s it for the match squad. Any questions?"

    "None at all, coach," the yers replied almost in unison.

    Coach Allegri nodded. "Since we''re all on the same page, let''s head out onto the training turfs and start our practice. We all have to do our best as we only have a few hours to go through the drills to prepare us for tomorrow night''s game. Clear?"

    "Clear," the yers replied.

    "Then, let''s move immediately." The coach pped his hands to emphasize his words. "I want you on the training ground, ready for training in ten minutes. We don''t have time to waste."

    -----

 Chapter 455: Coach Trombettaâ€™s Advice

    Chapter 455: Coach Trombetta¡¯s AdviceZachary''s spirits were flying high for the rest of the day. He was ecstatic after making Coach Allegri''s starting eleven for the following day''s Champion''s League against Malmo. His energy and motivation levels were at the best they had ever been as he went through the intensive team drills on the training ground that day.

    He was more hardworking than ever and didn''t stop running during the sessions to prepare for the game. He rushed at the defenders like a maniac, executed sliding tackles like a reincarnation of Sergio Ramos, and even leaped high on several asions to win aerial duels in midfield. His intent was to show and convince the coaches that they hadn''t made a wrong decision by including him in the match squad.

    "Zachary! Come here for a moment." Coach Trombetta yelled from the sidelines right after Zachary executed another sliding tackle to win the ball from Sebastian Giovinco on the training ground.

    Zachary''s heartbeat elerated as he turned to face the coaches watching him from the touchline. His thoughts raced at the speed of light as he wondered whether he hadmitted any mistake during the six-vs-six team drill. Otherwise, why would the coaches go out of their way to call him to the sidelines? He was confused and even forgot to jog to the sidelines after hearing the summon by the coaches.

    "Zachary! Why are you just standing there?" Coach Trombetta yelled again. "Come here, and let''s talk for a minute."

    Zachary didn''t dare dilly-dally any longer. He raced towards the sidelines with all the haste he could muster and stood before the coaches in a matter of seconds.

    Coach Trombetta exchanged a meaningful nce with Coach Allegri before cing his hand on Zachary''s shoulder. "Zachary!" He said as his tone softened. "We need you to understand that you''ll y as an attacking midfielder behind the strikers in the game tomorrow night. You''ll be the pivot that links up y from the midfield to our two forwards. Do you know what that means?"

    Zachary nodded and said, "It means I must constantly receive passes from my fellow teammates and supply them to the strikers as quickly as possible. I must also remain creative on the field of y to spot perfect opportunities to create clear goal-scoring chances for the strikers. That''s my role as an attacking midfielder on the field of y."

    "Good." Coach Trombetta nodded as a smile outlined his face. "I''m d you have a good grasp of your roles on the pitch. But I still have to bring to your attention that there''s one dimension still missing from your ying style."

    Zachary raised a brow as he locked gazes with the assistant coach. "What is it?" He asked.

    "Efficiency," Coach Trombetta replied with a smile.

    "Efficiency!" Zachary raised a brow as he couldn''tprehend the assistant coach''s words. His passing was fluid, and he could easily find his teammates during crucial game moments. How could he not be efficient?

    Coach Trombetta chuckled after noticing his expression. "Let me exin," he said. "You''ll y as an advanced ymaker against Malmo tomorrow night. That means you will essentially serve as the offensive pivot of the team in charge of reading the opposing defense in order to deliver defense-splitting passes to the strikers. You only have to create good shooting and goal-scoring opportunities by utilizing your superior vision, control, and technical skill. Isn''t that so, Zachary?"

    "Yes," Zachary replied.

    "Now, let me exin why we find your ying style inefficient," the assistant coach continued. "For instance, you have been all over the pitch, executing sliding tackles and winning aerial duels during today''s training. But I want you to ask yourself: Do you really need to do all that work on the field?" The coach nced at Zachary intently.

    In turn, Zachary didn''t know how to respond. He remained silent and waited for the assistant coach''s ensuing words.

    Coach Trombetta sighed and continued, "In truth, you don''t need to do all the hard work of tackling and winning aerial duels if you''re the attacking pivot of the team. You even don''t need to run constantly off the ball. Instead, you can choose to conserve energy and remain alert by observing and analyzing everything around you. You remain patient and choose a strategic position for yourself on the pitch. Then, you wait and continue observing and assessing. And when you finally spot the right opportunity, you unleash your burst of skills onto the opponents. You create a perfect goal-scoring chance with a pass, a cross, or a well-timed dribble. That''s the way of an effective attacking pivot. Do you get what I''m saying, Zachary?"

    "Yes, I do," Zachary responded. "So, I should limit my running in the game tomorrow and only aim to create opportunities for the team. Is that it?"

    "That''s basically the gist of it," Coach Trombetta replied. "I know that you were used to ying in a weaker team, where you had to do most of the work to help your teammates win. But we don''t require you to continue ying like that here at Juventus. We have world-ss defensive midfielders and defenders to handle the defensive side of the game here at the club. They have all the qualities to win the ball by executing tackles or leaping high to win aerial duels. They can handle defensive tasks pretty well to ensure we don''t concede goals. As for you, an attacking pivot, you don''t have to involve yourself in their business unless the coach tells you otherwise. On most asions, you only have to receive the ball from them and create opportunities at just the right moment. That''s all we need from you. Understand?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied, nodding. "I''ll follow your instructions during the game tomorrow. Thank you for your advice."

    "Good," Coach Trombetta said, smiling. "If you get time, you can watch some videos of Lionel Messi or Zinedine Zidane in action. Try to analyze how they behave when they are not on the ball, and you''ll be able to understand our advice better. Okay?"

    "Okay, I''ll do thatter today, after training," Zachary responded.

    "Great," Coach Trombetta said. "You can return to training now. But keep in mind what I have just said as you train with your teammates."

    "Aye, coach," Zachary responded before jogging back onto the pitch to rmence his training with his teammates. He was ready to incorporate the coach''s advice into his ying style, starting right then.

 Chapter 456: The 2014â€“15 UEFA Champions League Serial Challenge

    `

    After training that day, Zachary boarded Angelo''s Citroen and quickly returned to his room at the J Hotel for the night. He was eager to wash up and head to bed early so he could be fresh for the game the following day. But just after he closed the door behind him and stepped into hisfy living quarters, a system notification immediately rang within his mind.

    "DING"

    "The system has detected that the user is now a part of Juventus'' 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League squad," the system AI''s apathetic voice sounded in his mind. "Conditions for the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League long-term serial challenge have been met, and the respective system mission initiated sessfully."

    "Does the user wish to view the details of the mission right away?"

    "Yes, please," Zachary replied almost instantaneously. "Bring up the details of the mission right away."

    "Command received," said the system AI as the all-familiar translucent crystal-like disy manifested before Zachary. "Mission details have been disyed on the interface."

    "Great," Zachary said as he tossed the gym bag containing his training gear to the side. Without further ado, he settled on the cozy and wide bed in the hotel room and began perusing the information disyed on the system interface.

    ****

    ----

    GOAT MISSIONS

    ----

    #NEW MISSION: 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League Serial Challenge

    ->The system has detected that the user is part of Juventus'' 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League squad. The system has designed an associated mission for the tournament.

    ----

    ->The user needs to ept the mission first to stand a chance of winning rewards afterpleting the milestones below.

    ----

    *Milestone 1: y over 75% of the fixtures of the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League for Juventus.

    *Milestone 2: Help Juventus qualify as number one (team with most points) from the group to the round-of-sixteen stage of the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League tournament.

    *Milestone 3: Help Juventus qualify for the quarter-finals stage of the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League tournament.

    *Milestone 4: Help Juventus qualify for the semi-finals stage of the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League tournament.

    *Milestone 5: Help Juventus qualify for the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League finals.

    *Milestone 6: Help Juventus ovee all odds and be the champions of the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League tournament.

    *Milestone 7: Provide the most assists in the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League tournament while ying for Juventus.

    *Milestone 8: Be the top scorer of the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League tournament while ying for Juventus.

    *Milestone 9: Score eighteen or more goals to break the individual goal-scoring record in a single UEFA Champions League season convincingly (The system will not consider penalties converted as part of the user''s overall goal tally at the end of the tournament for this specific milestone).

    ----

    *Rewards:

    ->Milestone 1pletion reward: 2,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 2pletion reward: 5,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 3pletion reward: 10,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 4pletion reward: 30,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 5pletion reward: 40,000 Juju Points

    ->Milestone 6pletion reward: 200,000 Juju Points

    ->Milestone 7pletion reward: 70,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 8pletion reward: 100,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 9pletion reward: A dosage of an SS-grade vitality-enhancing elixir.

    ----

    NB: There will be additional rewards if the user realizes any other milestones that can unlock hidden missions.

    ----

    ->The user can choose not to ept the mission.

    *ept *Reject

    ----

    *Punishment if the user doesn''t realize any of the milestones at the end of the tournament: Minus 150,000 Juju points.

    *After epting the mission, the user has toplete at least one milestone before the tournament ends to escape the penalty.

    ----

    *Remarks: Consistency, coupled with the asional breaking of records, is the straight way to the zenith of greatness in any sport. Additionally, the user must understand that a champion is one who is remembered by a generation, but a legend or a GOAT is one who is never forgotten across generations.

    ****

    Zachary breathed in deeply to calm himself down after perusing the contents disyed on the interface. He was in a bit of an agitated mood, especially after his eyes took in the SS-grade vitality-enhancing elixir that was the reward for the ninth mission milestone. He was well aware that he would be able to elevate his attributes by a level or two within a short period if he could obtain such a prize from the system.

    But the crucial point to consider was: Could he ovee all odds and score more than seventeen goals to break Cristiano Ronaldo''s goal-scoring record in a single season? Could he achieve such a feat without including penalties into his goal tally at the end of the tournament?

    After a few moments of introspection, Zachary realized that he would have to y like a freak of nature and, at the same time, be lucky on several asions to score such a number of goals in a single UEFA Champions League season. He would have to bag at least two goals for Juventus in most Champions League fixtures if he wished to stand a chance to achieve such a lofty objective. That was the only way he would be sure to create history and break Cristiano Ronaldo''s single-season goal-scoring record.

    "I can only take things slow," Zachary resolved. "I must focus on achieving results in individual matches rather than setting almost impossible goals."

    All that mattered for Zachary at the moment was to establish himself and seal his ce within the Juventus starting eleven. He wished to y his heart out on the field and convince the coaches and the fans of his ability. He yearned to be a star ¡ª a household name in the whole of Turin as soon as possible. And only then would he begin focusing on battling it out with the other generational greats in the football world.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    Zachary''s phone vibrated from within his trouser pocket just as he was still musing about the new system mission. He immediately fished it out and nced at the screen. The next moment, his spirits lifted as he realized the call was from Emily, his considerate and ever-caring agent.

    "Hello, Emily," he spoke into the phone after pressing the ept button. "It has been long since we talked. How are you doing?"

    "I''m doing okay," Emily replied from the other end of the line. "How''s life at Juventus? Are you settling in well?"

    "I''m doing fine at the club," Zachary replied, his toneced with a tinge of unconceble pride. "I''m in the starting eleven for Juventus'' Champions League game against Malmo tomorrow."

    "Oh, my!" Emily eximed, her voice rising up a notch. "Congs. I''m happy for you. We should maybe meet up and celebrate."

    "Not a chance," Zachary responded without mincing words. "I have to go to bed early today. I don''t wish to doze off during the game tomorrow."

    Emily chuckled. "There''s no need to get all serious. I was only joking. By the way, I''m already here in Turin with Kristin, John Hansen - a cameraman and video editor I hired, Coach Bj?rn Peters, and his wife. They havepleted all necessary procedures and are ready to join your team and start working."

    "Oh, finally," Zachary remarked. "Say hi to them for me."

    There was a few seconds of silence at the other end of the line before Emily spoke again. "How should I arrange them?"

    "Arrange them in a hotel for the moment," Zachary instructed. "We can slowly sort out their living provisions after my schedule opens up."

    "Okay," Emily readily agreed. "That aside, can you get us tickets for the game tomorrow? Or should we go ahead and buy for ourselves?"

    "Of course, I''ll get you the tickets for the game," Zachary responded. "I have ten with me here. Angelo can deliver them to you tomorrow morning."

    "That''s great," Emily said. "Thanks."

    "You''re wee," Zachary replied. "By the way, Cami alerted me that Audi wants to renew my endorsement contract. Have you had from them yet?"

    "Yes, I have. The Audi representatives contacted mest week, wanting to renew your contract as soon as possible. But I decided to ignore them for the time being as I''m aware that you''re busy settling into your new team. Moreover, they were not the only ones. The Nike people also contacted me about a contract extension, while the Puma representatives want to hijack the endorsement deal and bring you over to their side. But, as I said, I''ll continue turning a blind eye to all their offers until I''m sure you''ve settled down in Turin."

    "I think that''s a great n," Zacharymended. "We can wait until I start performing well in the Serie A before negotiating with them. That should elevate our bargaining power by at least a level or two during negotiations."

    "Exactly, my n," Emily confirmed. "I want to get better deals for you this time around. You only need to perform on the pitch to ease the tasks on my side."

    Zachary chuckled and continued chatting with Emily for a few more minutes. They talked about several issues concerning his career, including endorsement deals, training ns, personal trainers, and the sry structure of employees, among other things. After exhausting all topics, they said their goodbyes and ended their long phone conversation.

    Zachary immediately rose from the bed, undressed, and entered the shower. He spent a few minutes cleaning up before settling on his reading table to watch match videos and highlights on hisptop.

    He put extra emphasis on studying how famous ymakers, including Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi, behaved while off the ball. He meticulously analyzed their ying styles for an hour or two before jumping into bed and entering the sweet and weing slumbend. He had done all he could to prepare for the game against Malmo. What remained was for him to step onto the pitch and y his heart out for Juventus.

    -----`

 Chapter 457 Champions League Match Day

    Chapter 457Champions League Match Day

    Tuesday, September 16, 2014.

    Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy.

    -----

    The sunset on the western horizon of Turin wasn''t as captivating as usual that day. Tumultuous, dark, and ragged clouds quickly closed in and filled the sky above to nket the brilliance of the setting sun. Before long, they assembled over the city and formed a thick, grey canopy that released a sudden shower that caught many of the folks in Turin by surprise.

    The most affected by the weather were the thousands of fans queuing at the gates of the Juventus Stadium. Their clothes were soon soaking wet as they braved the rain with the intent of quickly entering the stadium to watch their football club''s first Champions League match that season.

    "Damn it! This rain is going to mess things up big time." John Hansen cursed out as he joined the long queue at the gates of the Juventus stadium. Apanying him were Zachary''s acquaintances, including Angelo Mattiello, Emily, Kristin, Coach Bj?rn Peters, and his wife. They had all decided to watch the match together as a group after receiving the rare match tickets from Zachary.

    "Honestly, I don''t mind this slight drizzle," Emily remarked from her position behind John Hansen in the queue. "I wish it continues raining the entire night." For that match, the agent had gone all out to support her client by donning a Juventus number 10 jersey with Zachary''s name on the back. She had even painted the Juventus g on one side of her face to look like the most enthusiastic fan girl, heading into the stadium to watch Juventus'' Champions League game against Malmo football club.

    "Emily!" Kristin, Zachary''s publicity secretary, chimed in after hearing Emily''s remark. "Care to share why you don''t mind the rain? For me, I find it quite annoying during matches." She was also in a Juventus number 10 shirt that matched her tight denim jeans to emphasize her gorgeous and lithe figure.

    Emily smiled mysteriously after hearing Kristin''s question. "Have you all forgotten that Zachary tends to perform well during the rain? He is always unstoppable during rainy weather."

    "Ohhh, you''re totally right," John Hansen agreed. "I remember Rosenborg''s Europa League home game against Lyonst season. It was literally raining cats and dogs on that day, with limited visibility on the pitch. Other yers struggled to find their rhythm, but Zachary was not affected and yed like a force of nature during that game. He was all over the pitch, dribbling and executing tackles. He even scored twice."

    "That was surely a night to remember," Coach Bj?rn Peters supplied with a chuckle. "During that game, I thought Zachary could evenpete with the best footballers in the world. His creativity, versatility, and work ethic were all out of this world. He did everything possible to ensure that Rosenborg won the game, and I think that was the day the fans in Trondheim gave him the nickname - the Nemesis of Lyon."

    "Now, do you get my point?" Emily asked. "Rain is always good for Zachary. I have a gut feeling that he will surprise us tonight."

    John Hansen nodded and returned his focus to his surroundings. His heart raced with anticipation as his eyes feasted on the enthusiastic crowd of football supporters donning Juventus'' ck and white colors. They seemed not to mind the drizzle as they moved forward in the messy queue of humans before gradually disappearing into the stadium gates.

    At that moment, he realized that Turin''s footballmunity was overly enthusiastic and supportive of their local football club. The Italian supporters were willing to turn up in droves even when their team was facing off against a rtively small club like Malmo. They were, without a doubt, much better supporters than the Norwegians he was used to in Trondheim.

    "Thank God that Zachary got us tickets," John Hansen remarked, turning his attention back to his colleagues. "Otherwise, we might not have found any tickets for sale on the market yesterday evening."

    "That''s true," Angelo Mattiello, Zachary''s interpreter, confirmed. "I highly doubt that you guys would have found any tickets on the open market. You would have had better hope trying to freeze hell instead."

    officials and gained the right of ess to the stadium without much hustle. They 16:46

    soon went through the metal detectors and other rigorous security checks before John chuckled and asked, "Do you think the yers of both teams have already arrived?"

    "I think they are already inside the stadium, going through their pre-match warm-

    ups," Angelo answered as he moved forward in the line and approached the gates. "They should have arrived like thirty minutes ago. It''s almost our turn to enter, guys. Prepare your tickets."

    The rest nodded and fished their tickets out of their pockets. When their group finally arrived before the busy gates a short whileter, they presented them to the officials and gained the right of ess to the stadium without much hustle. They soon went through the metal detectors and other rigorous security checks before finally setting foot into the famous stadium.

    "The atmosphere around here is quite electrifying." John Hansen remarked as he followed his colleagues, heading further into the stands. He was already in love with the ever-vocal crowd that seemed to give life to the stadium.

    "You haven''t seen anything yet," Angelo said, grinning. "Wait for Juventus to reach the semi-final or the final of the Coppa Italia. You''ll be surprised by the enthusiasm of Italian football fans."

    Hansen smiled and continued observing everything around him while moving towards his seat in the stands. His eyes automatically took in the singing group of fans behind one of the goals before his gaze settled on the yers of both teams warming up on the field. At that moment, he finally noticed the visage of Zachary, who was going through a shuttle run routine with the rest of his teammates.

    The young ymaker didn''t seem to mind the slight drizzle as he followed the coach''s instructions to warm up his body. He was the pure definition of a focused yer as he cut through the rain repeatedly on one side of the pitch.

    "You said that Zachary is on the starting line-up?" He asked Emily, who was walking a step ahead of him.

    "Yes, he is," Emily replied, raising her voice to make herself heard over the din in the stadium.

    "Excellent!" Hansen grinned. "I can''t wait to watch him perform his magic on the pitch. Hopefully, he won''t disappoint us this time around."

    "He won''t," Emily replied confidently. "Have you forgotten that the rain hasn''t stopped yet?"

    Hansen chuckled and took his seat in the stands along with the rest of the members of their group. They soon blended well into the rest of the crowd as they waited for the game tomence.

    -----

    Zachary was almost in autopilot mode as he went through the motions of the pre-

    match dynamic warm-up. Hepleted all the routines withoutmitting a single error before returning to the dressing room to put on his match gear.

    He quickly changed into his striped white and ck number 10 Juventus jersey before donning his stockings and stepping into his sleek and green Nike Mercurial Superfly boots. He tied his shoces and then rose up from his seat, finally ready to step onto the field of y for the game.

    "Zachary!" Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach in charge of the first team, called out while approaching his position. "How are you feeling today?"

    "I feel fine," Zachary responded.

    "Are you ready to show those boys from Sweden how we do it here in Turin?"

    "Yes, of course. I can''t wait for the match to begin."

    "I like your confidence." Coach Trombetta nodded and patted Zachary''s shoulder. "Do you still recall our advice to you during training yesterday?"

    Zachary nodded and said, "I''m to limit my running off the ball and only focus on creating goal-scoring chances for the team. In other words, I have to conserve my energy expenditure and utilize my burst of skills at the most opportune moment."

    "Good." Coach Trombetta smiled, patting Zachary''s back again. "Try your best to follow that advice during the game today, and you''ll soon realize how easy football can be. Okay?"

    "Okay," Zachary confirmed.

    Coach Trombetta smiled and said, "I''m looking forward to your performance today. Do your best so that you won''t have any regrets after stepping off the pitch." Without saying any more needless words, he stepped away to join the rest of the coaches in the far corner of the dressing room.

    Zachary remained standing in one spot as his anticipation for the match rose above and beyond the skies of Turin within seconds. He immediately reminded himself to stay calm and soon ignored all the chatter from his teammates around him. He regted his breathing and emptied his mind to achieve a peak state of extreme focus with familiar ease.

    "Ragazzi!" A shout from Coach Allegri soon broke him out of his meditative state. "Il momento ¨¨ adesso..."

    Zachary didn''t understand the coach''sst-minute address before the game. But he still followed the example of his teammates after the head coach finished vocalizing the rapid monologue of Italian words.

    He exchanged high fives with his coaches before stepping out of the dressing room and heading into the tunnel leading towards the field of y. His face was a pure portrayal of focus as he quietly traversed the already-familiar hallways of the Juventus Stadium. A short whileter, he stood in the line of Juventus'' starting eleven, ready to head into the pitch for the game.

    At that moment, he was akin to a raging volcano, ready to erupt anytime. He could hardly contain his anticipation and desire to perform as he waited for the referees to give the go-ahead for the teams to march onto the field of y. He''d already resolved to y his heart out on the field or die trying since he didn''t wish to continue wasting away on the substitutes bench during Juventus'' uing matches.

    16:47

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 Chapter 458: Evolving I

    Chapter 458: Evolving I*FWEEEEEEE*

    Without minding the rain that had just increased in intensity over the past half an hour, the referee blew the whistle at exactly 8:45 PM. And without wasting time, he signaled the Juventus yers to kick off the game.

    Carlos T¨¦vez immediately went into action. He raised his leg and unleashed a simple pass from the center spot back into his midfield. He found Zachary Bemba to kick-start Juventus'' Champions League opening game against Malm? that evening.

    Zachary controlled the ball with ease at the edge of the center circle. He didn''t dilly-dally and immediately flicked it back to udio Marchisio, his counterpart, positioned just a few yards behind him in midfield. And without losing a moment, he sprinted into space towards the other side of the pitch in search of a strategic position within Malm?''s half.

    Marchisio, on his part, easily connected with Zachary''s pass at the border of the middle third. Before any opponents could close him down, he kicked it towards Arturo Vidal, his other counterpart in central midfield, to kick-start a long period of slow but steady possessive football for Juventus.

    For the next few minutes, the Old Lady yers arrayed themselves into a 3-5-2 formation that afforded them considerable numerical and tactical advantages within the midfield and on the nks. By the 10th minute, they were already in control of the game, showcasing their much more refined tactical prowess and organization as a unit. They were far more creative as they went against the Malm? yers arrayed in a 5-3-2 formation.

    In particr, udio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal, the two central midfielders, coordinated well with the three defenders to dominate possession on the field of y. The two midfielders were constantly in motion within the middle and defensive thirds, forming strategic triangles while anticipating, receiving, and releasing passes. Their off-ball runs were well-timed and distinctively confusing, allowing them to catch the seemingly helpless Malm? midfielders off guard on several asions. Additionally, their vision while on the ball was the best of the best. Whenever there was an opportunity, they would release the two wing-backs with pinpoint passes to initiate waves of attacks on Malm?''s defense through the nks. And in such a manner, they managed to create the first goal-scoring chance for Juventus in the 11th minute.

    After sliding in wholesale to win the ball from an opposing midfielder, Arturo Vidal quickly picked himself from the ground before squaring a pass to udio Marchisio, his counterpart in central midfield. Thetter chose not to waste time on the ball and immediately unleashed a lofted pass to find Patrice Evra on the left nk.

    Patrice Evra was as sharp as ever. He elerated and hit top speed within seconds. He raced towards the other half like a bullet just-fired out of a sniper muzzle and easily beat an opposing wing-back by exchanging a couple of one-twos with Zachary, who had made himself avable in the midfield. The wing-back then continued his mad dash along the touchline and soon approached the border of the final third. Before the opponents could close him down, he unleashed a lofted and teasing cross towards the box.

    Whoosh!

    Both Fernando Llorente and Carlos T¨¦vez, the two Juventus strikers, immediately went into action and raced into the box. They timed their runs to perfection and soon battled the Malm? center-backs for aerial superiority. They elicited a wave of cheering around the stadium as they leaped high to connect with the iing cross.

    Unfortunately, Erik Berg, Malm?''s tall center back, managed to get to the ball first and cleared it out of y for a corner kick. The Swedish defender''s efforts allowed his team to avoid conceding a goal during the 12th minute, thus eliciting a round of apuse from the visiting Malm? supporters.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and pointed toward the corner g. On cue, the yers of both teams began flooding into Malm?''s box while Patrice Evra headed towards the corner spot to take the corner kick. A short whileter, the referee finished organizing the yers and blew the whistle to signal the taking of the corner kick.

    Patrice Evra immediately went into action. He sted the ball with his left boot and sent it on a lofted trajectory towards the box. His technique was almost textbook perfect, and the corner ball found one of his teammates in the box. Unsurprisingly, that teammate was one of the tallest yers on the pitch, named Zachary Bemba.

    Chance!

    It was the perfect chance for Juventus to test Malm?''s goalkeeper, and Zachary reacted immediately. He leaped high and utilized his tall physique to outwit Filip Hnder, one of Malm?''s three center-backs, in an aerial battle close to the far post. He towered high above the opponent and angled his head to direct the ball towards the goal.

    His heading technique was without fault, but his efforts didn''t bear fruit. Robin Olsen, Malm?''s keeper, was alert. The number one reacted instinctively and threw himself at the iing ball. He blocked it with his fists to send it out of y for another Juventus corner kick. His acrobatic efforts had managed to save his team from conceding an opening goal in the 14th minute.

    "Damn it," Zachary could not help but mutter a curse under his breath after failing to score. He could only ce his hands at the back of his head as he watched the ball bouncing out of y.

    -----

    In the stands: Angelo Mattiello almost couldn''t believe his eyes after witnessing the save made by Malm?''s keeper. His mouth was agape as he couldn''t understand how the ball had failed to make its way into the back of the. He was just as confused as the rest of the Juventus fans after failing to understand how the keeper could save the ball headed from almost point-nk range.

    "That was a perfect save from Robin Olsen, Malm?''s keeper," Angelo heard thementator say in Italian. "Zachary Bemba had done everything perfectly to beat his marker and direct the corner ball towards the inside of the post. But Olsen''s almost inhuman reactions allowed him to deny Juventus another chance to bag the opening goal during the 14th minute of this Champions League fixture for Juventus. In my books, the number one already qualifies to be Malm?''s best yer during the game''s opening minutes."

    "Indeed, Olsen was quite impressive on that asion," the comentator chimed in. "But let''s discuss Zachary Bemba, the man who was very close to scoring just now. How do you rate his performance so far?"

    "Just so-so," the principalmentator replied. "He hasn''t been hardworking as usual during the opening ten minutes, and he has barely been on the ball. He has been almost invisible on the field of y and hasn''t impacted the game, except a minute ago when he was about to score from the corner kick. He''s like a pedestrian on the field, and in my books, he''s by far Juventus'' worst yer in the opening minutes."

    "That''s a harsh judgment," the comentator said. "But I have to agree with you. I also haven''t seen the Zachary ofst season during this game. And I''m guessing that Coach Allegri might take him off the field if he doesn''t start working hard off the ball to improve his impact on the game within the next few minutes."

    "True," the principalmentator concurred. "Let''s return our focus to the field of y where Juventus is about to take another corner kick. The referee has finished arranging the yers in the box, and Patrice Evra takes the corner. He sends a powerful cross towards the far post. But s, Robin Olsen, Malm?''s goalkeeper, reads the situation well and leaps high to snatch the ball out of the air. His teammates can take a breather as it''s a goal kick for Malm?."

    -----

 Chapter 459: Evolving II

    Chapter 459: Evolving IIZachary positioned himself strategically close to the center circle while waiting for the opposing keeper to take the goal kick. Even in the rain, his breathing was steady as he hadn''t made a lot of runs during the opening fifteen minutes.

    Obviously, he''d followed Coach Trombetta''s advice and remained quiet and almost inconspicuous on the field of y. He had chosen to conserve energy while assessing and studying the opponents in a bid to uncover their weaknesses. He was also busy strategizing how to break them when an opportune moment presented itself. He was just like an assassin, waiting in the dark for the perfect opportunity to unleash his burst of skills and destroy the enemy.

    A few seconds passed, and the Malm? goalkeeper took the goal kick. He smashed the ball, sending it far away, towards Juventus'' half. He was obviously hoping to find one of his forwards or attacking midfielders to initiate a rare wave of attack for Malm?. But his efforts were rendered fruitless by Arturo Vidal, Juventus'' aggressive and highly gifted defensive-minded midfielder.

    Vidal outmuscled an opposing midfielder and pushed off the ground to intercept the ball with his head. He won the aerial duel and directed the ball towards the right nk, where Stephan Lichtsteiner, the wing-back dubbed the Swiss Express, was lurking.

    Whoosh!

    Zachary immediately ran into an unmarked pocket of space close to the centerline on the right nk as Stephan Lichtsteiner connected with the ball from Vidal. His almost-instantaneous run allowed him to escape from the opposing midfielders marking him, and he used his bodynguage to reveal that he wanted the ball. He didn''t call out his teammate''s name but just made himself avable, hoping for a quick pass from Stephan Lichtsteiner.

    Stephan Lichtsteiner''s vision and technical abilities were as impressive as ever. He skipped past an opponent with his first touch on the ball before threading the ball through the gaps in-between the opponents to find Zachary.

    Zachary, on his part, had already resolved that it was the perfect moment to attack when he connected with the ball from Stephan. He had finished his analysis and was ready to unleash his skills and beat the opponents.

    He spun around with the ball glued to his left boot and raced towards the other side of the pitch. In the meantime, his impressive spatial awareness worked wonders, and his sharp mind mapped out the positions of nearby teammates as he dribbled the ball forward.

    A series of observations and assessments were initiated andpleted in a sh within Zachary''s enhanced mind. He noted that Carlos T¨¦vez was running ahead on his right, whereas Fernando Llorente, the other striker, had opened himself up by sprinting into a pocket of space toward the left side of Malm?''s box. Zachary''s eyes continued darting around, and he also spotted the two wing-backs - Patrice Evra and Stephan Lichtsteiner, dashing along the touchline, heading deeper into Malm?''s half.

    It was surprising to Zachary when he realized that most of his teammates hade alive when he was on the ball. All their runs were well-timed ¡ª and if one happened to observe the field from above, one would notice that all the attacking yers for Juventus had already reacted to Zachary moving the ball forward. But the realization didn''t stop Zachary from focusing on the task at hand. He skipped past another opponent with swift and tricky side steps and continued bearing down on Malm? box like a predator on the hunt.

    He was waiting for the right moment to pass to his teammates and release them towards the goal. He was holding on to the ball, hoping to draw the defenders out of their position so that he could free up space upfront and make it easy for the strikers to score.

    But surprisingly, the opposing center backs held their positions and kept an eye on Fernando Llorente and Carlos T¨¦vez. As for the two Malm? defensive wing-backs ¡ª they also stood their ground within their defensive shape to guard against Patrice Evra and Stephan Lichtsteiner, the two Juventus men sprinting towards the box from the sidelines.

    It was as if all the Malm? yers had forgotten that Zachary was a good dribbler. They only delegated Emil Forsberg, one of their defensive midfielders, to check his run through the middle.

    "Here goes nothing."

    Zachary smiled after assessing the situation ahead of him. He slowed down slightly while approaching the box to draw in the opponent. Then, he stepped over the ball once and leaned towards one side, seemingly as if he was about to break past Emil Forsberg on the right. But just suddenly, Zachary altered his center of gravity and exploded with speed on the left. He inched past the helpless defensive midfielder with his instantaneous eleration and afforded himself a few yards of space to work with the ball.

    He remainedposed and prodded the ball forward with the tip of his boot while assessing the situation in the box. And when he judged that the angle was right, he pulled the trigger. The missileuncher juju worked its magic, and he sted the ball from the edge of the 18-yard arc, sending it on a curling trajectory around the defenders and towards the goal. His powerful and well-ced shot found the top right corner and easily allowed him to beat the keeper and score Juventus'' 1st goal for the night during the 17th minute.

    "GOAL!" Zachary yelled at the top of his voice when he saw the ball nestle into the back of the. He had done it. He had delivered and scored during his first Champions League appearance for Juventus.

    It was as if he''d just unloaded a heavy weight off his shoulders, and he couldn''t help but feel that the loud cheering of the Juventus fans was like music to his ears. He immediately tore through the rain, heading towards the touchline before sliding on his knees for a few yards to express his bubbly feelings. He was almost on cloud nine as he had not disappointed his teammates and coaches when it mattered the most.

    -----

    "Oh my goodness me!" Thementator''s mellifluous voice boomed around the stadium as Zachary celebrated his goal with his teammates close to the corner g. "What have I just witnessed? Zachary is back. He''s back in the flesh and has just cut through Malm?''s entire midfield and defense to score an outside-of-the-eighteen stunner for Juventus. What ss! Whatposure! The goal is surely one for the record books."

    "Indeed, that was one hell of a goal," the comentator remarked, trying his best to make himself heard over the din in the stadium. "The keeper couldn''t do anything to save the situation due to the power and impressive curl on Zachary''s shot. He could only watch on helplessly as the ball shed by him and homed into the back of the."

    "I was also impressed by Juventus'' teamwork during the attack leading to the goal," the comentator continued. "Both Fernando Llorente and Carlos T¨¦vez, the two strikers, timed their runs well to draw most of the opposing defenders away from Zachary. They utilized their off-ball runs perfectly to confuse the defense and create space for Zachary to shoot."

    "And don''t forget Patrice Evra and Stephan Lichtsteiner," the principalmentator reminded. "The two wing backs were also rushing in from the nks. Their runs also confused the defenders and created more time for Zachary on the ball. All in all, this was Juventus'' attacking football at its best."

    "Indeed," the comentator agreed. "But let''s not forget to give credit where it''s due. Zachary''s skills were quite impressive during the attack. He easily dribbled past three opponents before smashing the ball into the back of the to score Juventus'' 1st goal for the night. That takes world-ss ability and a spark of genius that nine out of ten professional yers in the world today can''t ignite. And I''m sure the Juventus executives must be grinning while watching this game. They didn''t waste the 80 million they sshed out to acquire Zachary from Rosenborg."

    "This goal changes the entire debate about Zachary," the principalmentator observed. "If he can score a few more like this one, we should start discussing whether he can make it into the list of top yers in the world this year instead of wondering whether he''ll be a flop at Juventus."

    "Only that guy from ESPN thought that Zachary would be a flop," the comentator remarked. "What was his name again?"

    "Charles Adams," the principalmentator replied with a chuckle. "Mark my words, Zachary will be a flop at Juventus. People won''t stopughing whenever they recall what he said. What was he thinking?"

    "Who knows?"

    The twomentators chuckled at that before returning their focus to the game. They were ready to providementary for the proceedings on the field of y after the restart of the game.

    -----

 Chapter 460: Evolving III

    Chapter 460: Evolving IIIThe game continued after the goal celebrations. And without any surprise, the Juventus yers continued dominating the proceedings on the pitch by relying on their steady and fluid passing. Their hard work and tactical abilities allowed them to hoard over 70% of ball possession while remaining solid andpact to deny Malm? any chance ofunching a counterattack. Anyone watching the game could tell that the Old Lady was slowly sealing Malm?''s fate of losing the game on that rainy night.

    The yers at the center of all Juventus'' actions were the three central midfielders - udio Marchisio, Arturo Vidal, and Zachary Bemba. They all continued linking up y with the three defenders and the two wing-backs to execute Coach Allegri''s game n. Their creativity and tactical acuteness were obviously at the zenith of footballing standards whenever it mattered. And although their off-ball runscked any sense of urgency, they still managed to outy Malm? in the midfield.

    Zachary, on his part, was growing more and morefortable within Juventus'' tactical system as the game progressed. He started having more touches on the ball while executing more sessful dribbles to beat the opponents within the middle and final thirds. The young ymaker soon became the true-blue attacking pivot for Juventus, and it didn''t take long for him to create another clear goal-scoring chance for Juventus.

    That time around, the attack began with Gianluigi Buffon''s short goal-kick to Stephan Lichtsteiner, Juventus'' right wing-back, during the 40th minute. After receiving the ball, Stephan acted with all the haste he could muster and passed into the midfield to find udio Marchisio. udio, in turn, worked quickly to skip past an opponent with a deft touch before finding Arturo Vidal on his left. Vidal also didn''t waste a second controlling the ball before looking up once and threading the ball in-between two Malm? midfielders to find Zachary.

    Juventus had upped the tempo within seconds, and of course, Zachary reacted with the same urgency while connecting with Vidal''s pass. The young ymaker looped the ball over Enoch Kofi Adu, one of Malm?''s two defensive midfielders, with his first touch to create a few yards for himself to work his magic. Then, he elerated away from the beaten opponent and hit top speed within a few seconds.

    He''d been conserving energy by remaining quiet and reserved in his style of y for a good fraction of the game. As a result, his stamina reserves were ample enough to support his monstrous burst of speed at that moment. He cut through the rain like a racing cheetah and continued bearing down on Malm?''s half. He soon stepped into the final third, where he met a roadblock in the form of Emil Forsberg, Malm?''s other defensive midfielder.

    Emil Forsberg, on his part, was careful as he stepped forward to check Zachary''s mad dash through the middle. He constantly reminded himself not to react to Zachary''s fancy footwork and side-stepping feints as he closed down the young number-10. Obviously, Forsberg was highly focused on his role as a defensive midfielder and determined to stop the ymaker from beating him again. He was going all out to stop Zachary from initiating another deadly attack against his side.

    But, of course, the determination to seed at something was one thing, while the ability to achieve a purpose was a different factor. It wasn''t a guarantee that every determined person would always realize their objectives. And that was what sealed Emil Forsberg''s fate at that moment as he faced off against Zachary.

    Zachary slowed down and stepped over the ball with his left leg, forcing Forsberg to lean slightly to the right. Then, Zachary abruptly switched his center of gravity and stepped over the ball with his right leg topel the opponent to react and tilt to the left. His footwork was as smooth as moving clouds and flowing water, and he confused the defensive midfielder.

    Forsberg, in turn, was out of options and could only react instinctively to the crisis. His posture was already a mess due to the lightning-fast left-to-right feints executed by the young ymaker. Thus, he could only try his best to save the situation by stretching his leg to tackle the ball off the approaching Zachary''s feet. And that was what further sealed his fate.

    Whoosh!

    Zachary fed the ball through Forsberg''s legs toplete a stunning nutmeg before exploding with pace in anything but an instant. He circumvented the dazed and muddled defensive midfielder from the left and was soon elerating towards the box like a bolt of lightning through the rain. He was on a straight course towards Malm?''s goal.

    Forsberg, on his part, didn''t give up. He muttered a curse under his breath as he immediately tried to turn around and chase after Zachary. But Forsberg''s abrupt 180-degree turn caused some more disorientation to his sense of bnce, and the midfielder tumbled face-first to the ground. He was soon lying prone in the wet grass, watching Zachary speeding away from him. He was demoralized and defeated as he had failed to stop the cunning opponent.

    "Zachary! Bemba! Zachary..."

    The cheers around the Juventus stadium hit a thunderous zenith as Zachary approached Malm?''s box at breakneck speed. He had already noticed his teammates, including the two strikers - Fernando Llorente and Carlos T¨¦vez, running ahead of him. But that didn''t stop him from holding on to the ball longer.

    He had matured as a yer and already developed into a lethal attacking midfielder. He understood that remainingposed and patient during crucial moments was vital when creating a goal-scoring chance. He knew he could draw the opposing defenders out of their positions if he didn''t panic and held onto the ball longer. And if the opposing defenders chose not to bite and close him down, he could also go at it alone and fire at the goal as he had done when he scored the 1st goal. There were just that many options for him as long as he remainedposed.

    All considerations instantly shed through Zachary''s mind as he continued bearing down on Malm?''s box. But just as he was about to consider going at it alone and trying his chances on goal, one of the Malm? center-backs closed him down.

    Filip Hnder was the man in question. He raced away from his position in Malm?''s back-five and ran at Zachary like a raging bull. The center-back''s face was contorted into a grotesque expression as if he wanted to murder Zachary on the field.

    Zachary, of course, wasn''t intimidated by the defender''s aggressive approach. He assessed and analyzed his options within a sh as he slowed down before the arc of the 18-yard-box. His mind went into overdrive mode, and he considered unleashing a through-pass to Carlos T¨¦vez. But Zachary dropped the notion the next moment after realizing that the striker was already in an offside position.

    But that slight indecisiveness cost Zachary a lot of time on the ball. And before he coulde up with a solution, Filip Hnder was on him, trying to tackle the ball. The center-back executed an aggressive sliding tackle over the wet surface and went at Zachary like a deadly snake in the green grass. He seemed not to mind the risk of conceding a free kick and was only hell-bent on stopping Zachary from proceeding forward.

    "Damn it!" Zachary mouthed a silent curse as he watched the dangerous tackle approaching him. His heartbeat elerated as his instincts took over control of his body. He dug his boot under the ball and immediately leaped high and above the tackle.

    Whoosh!

    He could almost hear the wheels in his brain turning and churning as he descended back to the ground with the ball glued to his left boot. Before the other defenders could react and close him down, he elerated and ran through the gap left by Filip Hnder in Malm?''s defensive line. He twisted and turned while making his way into the box, and in some uncanny way, he was soon one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

    Robin Olsen, Malm?''s keeper, did as any experienced goalie would do and ran out of goal to stop him. But Zachary remainedposed and unleashed a simple chip over the approaching goalkeeper. His well-timed release allowed him to loop the ball over the keeper, and he found the back of the again to score Juventus'' second goal in the 41st minute.

    -----

    "Oh my goodness me!" The Italianmentator shouted as Zachary raced towards the sidelines to celebrate the goal. "Zachary Bemba is on fire today. He has once again destroyed Malm?''s entire defense and scored Juventus'' second goal in the 41st minute. His dribbling skills are at an entirely different level whenpared to the version of himselfst season. What can I say? He''s like a totally evolved yer, and it''s as if I''m watching a prime Ronaldinho on the field of y."

    The comentator chuckled. "I''m sure Malm? didn''t expect this version of Zachary while preparing for the game today. He is tearing them apart, and they can''t do anything to retaliate. Look at what happened when Forsberg tried to stop him. The midfielder ended up on the ground, eating mud as he watched Zachary speeding away to score Juventus'' 2nd goal."

    "But I have to say that his y was a bit selfish during the attack," thementator pointed out. "One has to wonder why he didn''t pass to either Fernando Llorente or Carlos T¨¦vez, who were obviously anticipating a pass from him. If he had failed to score, I''m sure Coach Allegri would have been on his case for failing to release the strikers on time."

    "True," the comentator agreed. "But that''s only an if. Zachary delivered once again and scored Juventus'' second goal for the night. So, his selfishness is a non-factor so far."

    "But, I''m sure that Llorente and T¨¦vez must be fuming on the inside," thementator said. "It''s the second time he has chosen to go at it alone and score instead of passing to them."

    "We don''t know that," the comentator argued. "The strikers should also be d that their team is winning. Remember that results are what matter in football. Had he not scored, they would have had a right toin about him. But the point is that he managed to deliver. So, they can only choose to bury their frustrations within their hearts."

    -----

 Chapter 461

    461 First Hattrick for Juventus

    Half-time arrived after a few more minutes of gamey, and the yers of both teams returned to their respective dressing rooms. They were eager to get out of the rain and enjoy a few minutes of rest before returning to the pitch for the second half.

    "That was an embarrassing performance," Age Hareide, the head coach of Malm? Fotbollf?rening, said after his yers had taken their seats within the visiting team''s dressing room. "We were likeplete amateurs against Juventus in the first half."

    "I am amazed and puzzled by how you all failed to stop a single yer from scoring twice using almost the same run through the middle. I can ept the first goal, as that came as a surprise to me. Zachary was exceptional on the ball and easily cut through our entire midfield to score the first goal. But what I cannot ept is the second goal!"

    The coach swept his gaze across the yers. "Zachary utilized the same run through the middle of the pitch, dribbled past a few of us, and even had time to make his way into the box to score his second goal for the night. What the hell were all of you doing? You already knew that he was on form. You had all witnessed how deadly he was on the ball when he scored the 1st goal. So, why didn''t you try your best to stop him?"

    The coach paused and nced around before starting to pace around the dressing room. He stopped beside one of his defensive midfielders a few secondster and said, "Forsberg! What went wrong? Where was your fighting spirit? A simple tug on Zachary''s shirt would have been enough to slow him down and create more time for your teammates to react. Why didn''t you do just that and stop him from scoring?"

    Emil Forsberg sighed and shook his head on hearing the coach''s question. "Coach! Please consider that Zachary is quite fast when you''re facing him one-on-one. His long strides allow him an almost-

    instantaneous eleration during crucial moments, and he can inch past any of us defensive yers with his crazy footwork. Moreover, Zachary uses both legs equally well ¡ª an attribute that makes him almost impossible to outwit during one-on-one encounters. You can choose to check his run on your right, but he will alter his center of gravity within a second and break past you from the opposite direction. And before you realize what''s happening, he is already far away, causing damage to your side."

    "Coach!" Emil Forsberg continued. "I know my words might sound like excuses for my sub-par performance during the 1st half, but I still need to say them. We need to ept and treat Zachary like a world-

    ss yer and find an appropriate strategy to contain him. Otherwise, he''ll continue causing problems for us during the second half. That''s my honest opinion."

    "I was just getting to that," Coach Hareide said, stepping back towards the center of the dressing room. "Zachary Bemba is obviously a talented and skilled attacking yer. He can spot opportunities in a sh and create goal-scoring opportunities. But that shouldn''t cause us to lose our fighting spirit. We can still do our best and use hard work to check his runs. And if that fails, we can foul him. But we can''t allow him to continue doing as he pleases. We must not allow him to cut through our entire midfield as if we don''t exist. We must y aggressively against him and disturb his rhythm, repeatedly, again and again. That''s how we y against a creative yer. Do you tactics board. "That means we''ll need to double-team him while 23:59

    defending against his runs through the middle. Forsberg, you can understand what I''m trying to say, Forsberg?"

    "Yes, coach," Forsberg replied. "But you have not rified how to stop him exactly during the second half? We need an easily executable and realistic strategy if we are to contain him."

    "Our only solution is to avoid one-on-one encounters with him during the second half," the coach replied while walking towards the tactics board. "That means we''ll need to double-team him while defending against his runs through the middle. Forsberg, you can partner up with Adu toplete this task. Your role is to stop him from breaking through the middle at all costs. You can foul or pull his shirt, but I don''t want to see him creating another opportunity during the second half. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," Both Forsberg and Adu replied.

    Coach Hareide nodded and spent a few more minutes exining the tactics for the second half. He then said a few more motivational words to inspire his yers before sending them back to the field of y. He had done all he could as a coach and what remained was for his yers to execute his n and stop Juventus'' momentum during the second half.

    -----

    The game restarted almost immediately after the fifteen-minute halftime break. And as before, the Juventus yers used high pressing tactics to pressure the opponents and win the ball back within seconds. In a short while, they were once again controlling the game with their fluid passing while asionallyunching attacks on Malm?''s defense.

    Juventus was obviously still the better team during the first ten minutes of the second half. But no matter how hard the Old Lady yers tried, they still failed to bag the third goal. Their tactical prowess wasn''t sufficient enough to allow them to tear through Malm?''s defensive shape. They couldn''t link up well to create clear goal-scoring chances as they had done during the first half.

    "They are double-teaming Zachary and killing off our direct routes to goal," Coach Allegri said to his assistants. "I have to say that it''s quite a good strategy."

    The Juventus coach smiled and continued assessing the proceedings on the field of y. And within seconds, he finished aplete analysis of Malm?''s defensive strategy for the second half. He could tell that Age Hareide, Malm?''s head coach, had switched to a 5-4-1 defensive formation since the start of the second half. Hareide had delegated Emil Forsberg and Enoch Kofi Adu, his two defensive midfielders, to mark Zachary and prevent him from creating more scoring opportunities for Juventus. The two Malm? midfielders, in turn, had followed their coach''s instructions to the letter and would sometimes even resort to fouling Zachary whenever they couldn''t stop him. Obviously, they were not giving the young ymaker a moment of peace on the field of y.

    "Coach!" Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach in charge of the first team, intoned. "What''s your n?"

    Coach Allegri smiled and said, "These double-teaming defensive tactics can only work against small teams that can only field a single ymaker. But we''re Juventus! We have many world-ss yers that can rise to the asion and be impressive ymakers. Do we need to fear such tactics? Obviously, that is a big NO. We''ll allow the opponents to continue wasting their energy, double-teaming Zachary. As for us, we''ll create another route towards their goal by introducing Andrea Pirlo into the game. I dare them to double-team two ymakers on the field of y."

    "Nice n, coach," Maurizio Trombetta said with a chuckle. "Zachary can upy the two defensive midfielders and draw them away from Andrea. Andrea, in turn, can take advantage of the circumstances and be the effective deep-lying attacking pivot that initiates our attacks with his excellent passing abilities. It''s indeed a good n. But who are we taking out?"

    "Let''s take out Arturo Vidal," Coach Allegri replied. "We no longer need his defensive capabilities within the midfield, especially since Malm? has already lost all the zeal tounch attacks against us. Let''s introduce Andrea Pirlo in his ce immediately."

    "Okay," Coach Trombetta agreed. "I''ll tell Andrea to start warming up immediately. He should be ready to step onto the pitch within six minutes."

    "That''s okay by me," Coach Allegri said before returning his focus to the game. He was still assessing and analyzing the abilities and habits of his field yers. He was also nning while watching the game with the intent to build a side that was capable of winning trophies on both the Italian and European scenes.

    -----

    Andrea Pirlo immediately took control of the midfield aftering on for Arturo Vidal during the 71st minute. He started utilizing his excellent passing range and vision on the pitch to link y with Fernando Llorente and Carlos T¨¦vez, the two strikers. His technical abilities were the best of the best on the ball, and it wasn''t long before he created a goal-scoring chance for Juventus.

    During the 76th minute, Pirlo skipped past a tackle and unleashed a long-range pass towards the other side of the field. He took out all the midfielders and defenders with a single lofted ball to release Carlos T¨¦vez on a straight course towards Malm?''s goal.

    Carlos T¨¦vez''s pace was as impressive as ever. He escaped the harassment of the opposing center-backs and attempted to connect with Andrea''s pass close to the border of the final third.

    The atmosphere within the Juventus Stadium became more electrifying as the Argentine stretched out his leg to bring the ball under hismand. The home fans cheered at the top of their lungs as they could smell another goal for their club. They were obviously already picturing T¨¦vez scoring the third goal for Juventus on the night.

    But regrettably, T¨¦vez''s control was not the best, and his first touch carried the ball a considerable distance away from him. As a result, he was forced to run an extra seven or eight yards topensate for his blunder. And, of course, that extra distance allowed the Malm? defenders to track back and block his route towards their goal. His chance was gone, and his only option was to keep the attack going by passing to another teammate.

    "Carlos!" udio Marchisio shouted as he ran into an unmarked pocket of space within the final third. "I''m here!"

    After hearing udio Marchisio''s shout, T¨¦vez reacted immediately. He inched past an opponent, (this chap upload first at No(v)el(Bin)heading back towards Juventus'' half, before squaring a pass to Marchisio. Thetter connected with the ball before passing to Andrea Pirlo. Andrea, in turn, unleashed a long-

    range raking pass to find Stephan Lichtsteiner on the right nk.

    The attack was on as Lichtsteiner controlled the ball perfectly close to the touchline. The speedy wing-back fed the ball past an opponent and exploded with pace, racing along the touchline like a bullet train on the rails. When the angle opened up, he unleashed a perfect curling cross that darted towards Malm?''s box like a surface-to-

    surface missile.

    Whoosh!

    Zachary, who had remained quiet over the past few minutes due to the pestering of his two bodyguards, reacted immediately. He exploded with speed and tore through the final third, racing into Malm?''s box like a lightning bolt.

    His long strides ate up yards of space like there was no tomorrow, and he arrived close to the near post in a matter of seconds. A wave of adrenaline flooded through him as he kept track of the fast-

    approaching ball using his peripheral vision. Not even the aggressive defenders in his vicinity could disturb his focus, as the only thing within his eyes at that moment was the fast-descending ball. He wanted to get the header right and score the third goal for Juventus by hook or crook.

    At the right moment, Zachary''s previously-mastered CR7 Aerial Finishing Juju worked like a charm, and he pushed off the ground without a care for anything. He towered above everyone else in the box and seemed to hover in the air for a few seconds while angling his head to brush the ball. His heading technique was excellent, and he directed the ball towards the inside of the far post with the slightest of touches. And naturally, his almost-point nk effort shed past the seemingly dazed keeper and homed into the back of the.

    "GOAL!"

    Zachary yelled at the top of his lungs as his feet touched back on the ground. He felt a sudden re of joy as he had scored his first hat trick as a Juventus yer. He whirled around and raced towards the sidelines before punching the corner g repeatedly to express his delight.

    **** ****

 Chapter 462

    <h2 style="font-size: 22.4px;">?462 Bing a Darling of the Press</h2>

    As an active General Manager at Juventus, Giuseppe Marotta was the man who oversaw most or all of the club''s marketing and sales functions as well as the day-to-day operations. He was responsible for effective nning, delegating, coordinating, staffing, organizing, and decision-making to attain desirable profit-making results for Juventus.

    Giuseppe was always among the first group of people to arrive at the Juventus head office in Corso Galileo Ferraris as he was a very busy man. His early bird routine was the same on the Wednesday after Juventus'' Champions League game, especially since he nned to read through and sign Juventus'' financial statements for the previous months.

    "Anything interesting in the news today?" He asked his secretary when he walked into his spacious office that morning.

    "Well," the secretary said, "There are a lot of catchy headlines about Zachary Bemba''s hattrick in today''s newspapers. Does that count as something interesting?"

    "That''s the only interesting piece of news today!" Giuseppe Marotta sighed as he settled down in his office chair. He was not that concerned about Juventus'' performances on the field of y as he knew that hispetent colleagues were properly overseeing the football side of the club. What troubled him instead were the fluctuating revenues that had constantly impacted the club''s day-to-day activities since the time of the Calciopoli scandal. In particr, he''d been worried about Juventus'' declining shirt and season ticket sales over the past few months.

    "What are the journalists saying about Zachary this time around?" Giuseppe Marotta asked in passing as he booted up hisptop, ready to begin his work for the day. "Are they still predicting he will be a flop at Juventus?"

    "Not at all," his secretary replied. "This time, the journalists haven''t been shy to give Zachary over-the-toppliments for his stunning disyst night. Some have described his performance as the ''wrath of a god'' while others were not ashamed topare him to greats like Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho. I''m telling you: everyone is going crazy about Zachary''s hattrick on the inte."

    "Is that so?" Giuseppe Marotta said, ncing up from hisptop. His eyes lit up as the gears in his mind churned and whirled to formte a bold n. He smiled and instructed, "Bring me all the newspapers for today. I want to see with my own eyes what the journalists are saying about Zachary."

    "Okay, I''ll bring them over to you immediately," the secretary agreed before stepping out of the spacious office. She returned a few minutester with a bundle of all the famous sports newspapers and magazines. She ced it on the General Manager''s table and said, "Here they are. Enjoy reading."

    "Thank you," Giuseppe Marotta said and instructed her to go and mind her business. And without further ado, he began the tedious task of reviewing the content of that day''s newspapers.

    After a few minutes of reading, the General Manager confirmed that all the sports headlines in major Italian newspapers that morning were about Zachary''s stunning hattrick against Malm?. The often cut-throat Italian men and women of the press couldn''t restrain themselves as they praised Zachary for producing one of the finest European disys of his short and budding career. They associated Zachary with several catchy catchphrases and headlines to capture their readers'' attention.

    "It''s the Genesis of a New Legend as Zachary inspires Juventus to a 3:0 Champions League victory over Malm? with a sensational hattrick." That was the headline in Gazzetta Dello Sport - a famous Italian daily newspaper dedicated to coverage of various sports. The journalist who wrote the article then described Zachary''s performance on the night with Italian terms like Mostruoso and L''ira di un dio. But that was not all. Other media outlets, including Tuttosport, an Italian sports newspaper published in Turin, portrayed Zachary''s hattrick as something from another. The press was literally promoting Zachary as the new deity of football in Italy with their exaggerated and over-the-top praises of his performance.

    "This is fantastic! It''s a rare opportunity to improve our shirt and ticket sales." Giuseppe Marotta thought, smiling. He ced the hard copy magazines to the side and turned his attention to his already bootedptop''s screen to peruse more articles about Zachary on the inte.

    Naturally, Giuseppe Marotta soon noticed a few voices of descent among those who reacted to Zachary''s stunning performance on the night. A few haters attributed his impressive achievements to the ring weaknesses of the opponents, while others just expressed that his hattrick was because of luck rather than individual skill. The critics and haters were obviously not ashamed to post such senseless words on the inte.

    "Yes, Zachary scored a hattrick," Roberto Juarez, a famous sports critic, wrote on his blog. "He scored three goals against Malm?, a weak team from the low-tier Swedish league. Big Deal! Why all the hype? I have to point out that I have absolutely nothing against Juventus or Zachary Bemba. I''m even quite happy for him as he''s finally beginning to make his mark in Juventus. But all I''m saying is that this Italian media''s reaction to a hattrick against a weaker side shows how desperate Italian football is on the European Stage."

    Roberto Juarez had only written the article as a passingment after noticing the over-the-top reaction of the Italian press to Zachary''s hattrick. But that one publication caused him problems on that Wednesday morning. Arge group of Italian football fans reacted almost immediately and replied to his post with sharp words. Some people called him a loser desperate for attention, while othersbeled him an ipetent journalist who didn''t understand the game of football. They didn''t mince words with the guy who had just insulted the performance of their new football icon.

    But that was not the end of all the drama on the inte. A war of words erupted at nine in the morning after a Juventus fanpared Zachary Bemba to Cristiano Ronaldo in a Twitter post. The ever-vocal Real Madrid and Manchester United supporters, making up a considerable fraction of CR7''s fanbase, were quick to reply to the Tweet with fiercements. They dubbed the person who posted the Tweet delusional and reminded him about CR7''s multiple Ballon d''Or awards. As usual, they couldn''t allow anyone topare their footballing icon to any other yer, with the exception of Messi, of course.<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    "Giana!" Giuseppe Marotta called out to his secretary after reading the articles about Zachary. "Come here for a second. I have some instructions for you."

    "Yes, boss," the secretary said as she stepped back into the office. "How can I be of service to you?"

    Giuseppe smiled, ncing at his secretary. "Giana! Please head to the publicity office and inform them to find ways to make Zachary''s story more popr. I want him to be a household name in Turin as soon as possible. Only then will we be able to witness a rise in his shirt sales. Understood?"

    "Yes, boss, I''ll go and inform them," the secretary replied dutifully.

    "Good." Giuseppe nodded and returned his focus to hisputer screen. He was ready to begin the tedious work of reading the club''s financial statements before signing them. He couldn''t afford to waste time since he had a long day ahead.

    -----

    After Giuseppe Marotta''s secretary delivered his directive to the people concerned, the highly-efficient machine that was Juventus'' publicity office went into motion. The publicity officers didn''t waste time posting articles and videos about Zachary to make his story more widespread on the global web. They also worked with their contacts in leading media houses, television studios, and radio stations to advertise the product that was their new number 10. They were relentless in their publicity efforts, and it wasn''t long before Zachary''s hattrick became a top trending topic in Italy.

    But that was only the beginning, and what followed was only natural. The rest of Europe caught on to the craze, and several Spanish, English, and French pundits, among others, held talk shows to assess Zachary''s Champions League performance. They dissected his every move during the game against Malm? and evaluated all his goals on several tforms, including YouTube, live television, and radio programs. And like their counterparts in Italy, they were soon showering Zachary with praises and going on about how he was maturing into a footballing sensation very quickly. All that triggered more discussions about Zachary within the European footballmunity, making him a trending topic all over the continent. He was fast bing a superstar without even trying hard.

    "Boss! Boss!" Giana, the secretary, said as she rushed into Giuseppe Marotta''s office on the evening of the same day. "Your strategy worked. There has been a significant increase in the revenue from Zachary''s shirt sales in just a span of six hours. Our outlets are still selling thousands of Zachary''s number 10 shirts even as I speak now."

    "Excellent," Giuseppe Marotta said, smiling. "Inform the publicity office to keep up the hard work. We must utilize this rare opportunity to create our own superstar. We must make him into a global sensation so that he can, in turn, elevate our club''s brand. I can already smell more revenue from shirt sales, mega sponsors, and TV rights. We have a rare opportunity to go big on our hands."

    "But sir," Giana said, "What if Zachary fails to remain consistent and doesn''t perform well during the uing games? Won''t all our publicity effortse back to bite us in the ass? And aren''t we just setting up Zachary for a terrible fall if it so happens that he doesn''t live up to expectations?"

    In response, Giuseppe smiled and said, "I have already talked to the coaches. They all assured me that Zachary is a very disciplined yer who''s hardworking both on and off the field. Additionally, Coach Allegri has praised him on several asions as the most focused and most talented yer he has ever met in his entire life. Giana! Speak honestly. What are the chances of such a yer failing to live up to the expectations?"

    "Very minimal," Giana replied honestly.

    "Then, what''s stopping us from promoting our brand around him?" Giuseppe said. "We only need to incur minimal risk and push him to global stardom. The rest will naturally fall into ce, and we''ll start harvesting rewards from his fame soon."

 Chapter 463

    Zachary wasn''t aware of all the publicity efforts put in motion by the General Manager of Juventus since he had switched off his phone the previous night to avoid distractions. He had zero knowledge about how his incredible performance against Malm?? was fast pushing him to global stardom. He was just in his own small world, trying to recover from his post-match fatigue without a care for anything else.

    He spent arge part of his day off cooped up in his hotel room, going through light exercise routines to quicken his post-match recovery. He performed yoga in the morning, ate a sumptuous room service meal at noon, then went through another yoga routine before activating the GOAT Skills simtor to refine his ball skills. He spent hours practicing free kicks, step-overs, Marseille turns, shooting techniques from inside and outside the box, and other skills within the freakishly realistic virtual world of the system. He didn''t stop training untilte in the evening, long after sunset.

    After stretching his body and going through a warming-down routine, he cleaned up andter feasted on another meal before jumping into bed for the night. He was soon deep in slumbend, dreaming about winning the Ballon d''Or.

    The following morning, he woke up early as usual at around six. He was soon in autopilot mode, going through his yoga routine and then cleaning up and having breakfast before readying himself for Juventus'' team training that day. And by 8:00 AM, he''d already donned his tracksuit, ready to head out of the hotel.

    He scooped up his phone from a nearby table and booted it up for the first time since the night of the match. The next moment, it started vibrating with various SMS, WhatsApp messages, and voicemail alerts -- all tell-tale signs that many people had tried to contact him when his phone was off the previous day. But him being Zachary, he still ignored all the notifications and chose to call Angelo Mattiello, his guide and interpreter, first. He was eager to find out whether the Italian had already arrived to pick him up and transport him to the Juventus training center.

    "Hello, Zachary," Angelo replied from the side of the line right after the call connected. "How''s your morning?"

    "Pretty good," Zachary responded. "Where are you? Have you arrived yet?"

    "Yes," Angelo said. "I''m already here in the parking lot of the J Hotel, waiting for you."

    "Okay, then," Zachary said. "Wait for me a little longer. I''ll be down in five minutes."

    Zachary immediately ended the call before shoving the phone into his tracksuit''s trouser pocket. He then stepped into his glossy green Nike Flex sneakers before throwing his gym bag over his shoulder and exiting his hotel room.

    A few minutester, he had already descended the stairs and arrived at the reception area of the J Hotel. His gait exuded unbridled confidence as he walked towards the counter to hand in his room key. But on the inside, he was in a confused state. He couldn''t understand why all the people he''d met on his way down the stairs had exhibited peculiar mannerisms.

    For instance, the often mean-faced middle-aged waitress that usually dusted the walls shed him a smile when he greeted her. Then, there were the other hotel workers who gave him slight bows when he passed by them. And now, after arriving in the hotel''s lobby, the same scenario was ying out again, and everyone was stealing nces at him as if he was some tourist attraction. The whole situation was odd, especially since he was in the J Hotel -- a facility that usually hosted several famous names from Italy''s football scene all year round. People at such a hotel should not have given him all that attention and respect even if he was a footballer under contract with Juventus.

    "Zachary!" The familiar and beautiful waitress at the counter said, standing up on seeing Zachary arrive. "Good morning to you." She greeted in English as her face lit up with a smile. She was a brte with a full figure, dimpled cheeks, and the brightest blue eyes that Zachary had ever seen.

    "Good morning to you, too, Antone," Zachary responded, shing her a smile. "Here is my key. Please instruct someone to clean my room when I''m away."

    "Don''t worry. I''ll surely do that," Antone readily agreed and received the key from Zachary. "Are you heading out for training?"

    "Yes," Zachary said. "I''m off to the Vinovo to attend the team training until evening."

    "But you''re very early today!" Antone remarked. "Anything special going on at the training center?"

    Zachary nodded. "We''re starting preparations for the game against AC Mn today. So, I naturally have to go early."

    "Aha!" Antone eximed. "Now I remember. You y AC Mn on Saturday night. Do you think we will win?"

    "Of course, we''ll win," Zachary assured, grinning. "Make sure you keep your eyes on the screen on Saturday night. We will discipline those AC Mn boys at the San Siro until they start crying out to their mamas. You wait and see."

    Antone chuckled and said, "Then, I''ll eagerly await the match on Saturday. Otherwise, I wish you luck in your training today. Have a good day."

    "Have a good day, too," Zachary said and stepped away from the counter. He quickly walked out of the hotel before rushing to the parking lot.<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    A few minutester, he linked up with Angelo, and off they went, cruizing into the wide streets of Turin. Angelo was, of course, the driver driving Zachary to the Vinovo for training. He was on the steering wheel while Zachary was in the back seat of thefy Citro??n.

    "Did you watch the sports news yesterday?" Angelo asked after another few minutes of driving.

    "Nope," Zachary replied and started going through the notifications on his phone. "I haven''t watched the news like for forty-eight hours."

    "Then, you missed out big time," Angelo said. "What were you doing? The whole of Italy and Europe was going on about your hattrick against Malm?? yesterday. But you didn''t bother to follow! You''re one weird guy."

    "It was a hattrick against a weak team," Zachary said. "I thought that very few people would care. That''s why I didn''t bother watching the news."

    "You couldn''t have been more wrong," Angelo pointed out. "You''re now like a superstar in Italy. In fact, I would advise you to get some bodyguards soon. Otherwise, you won''t get a moment of peace while moving around Turin. Fans will be lining up to acquire your autograph whenever they see you."

    "So, that''s why everyone at the hotel looked at me as if I was an alien," Zachary remarked, feeling a headacheing. He was beginning to understand that fame wasn''t always a good thing. "I really need to hurry and purchase a house to escape the scrutinizing stares of all those hotel employees." He sighed.

    "Indeed, you should," Angelo agreed while rounding a roundabout and steering the car into another street. "That reminds me. A good vi is up for sale in Pinerolo, in a locality just thirty minutes away from the Vinovo. It has a swimming pool and many other amenities that could suit your tastes. Moreover, the owner is selling it at a rtively low price as hispany has just dered bankruptcy. So, I really hope that you spare some time to look at the vi and see if you like it."

    "How much are they selling it for?" Zachary asked, ncing up from his phone.

    "1.5 Million Euros," Angelo replied. "But it would even go for 2.5 to 3 million if the owners weren''t desperate to sell. It is located in a good neighborhood in Turin."

    "Oh, I see," Zachary intoned. "Then, let''s look at it on Sunday afternoon. That will be the day after our match against AC Mn."

    "Okay," Angelo readily agreed. "I''ll schedule an appointment to look at the house with the real estate agents. They will be ready for you on Sunday afternoon."

    "Good, I''ll buy it if I like it," Zachary said and returned his attention to his phone. He was still going through the notifications, including an email from Emily about a new endorsement contract offered by Nike. So, he remained silent until he arrived at the Vinovo fifteen minutester.

    -----

    Zachary tossed everything else out of his mind and immersed himself into training after arriving at the Vinovo. He ignored all the attention he was getting from the media and spent the entire day going through team drills under the strict supervision of the coaches. And as usual, he didn''t shortchange himself while refining his ball skills or training his physical fitness.

    While training, Zachary also noticed that most of his teammates'' attitudes towards him had changed. It seemed they had totally epted him into the team after he scored the hattrick against Malm??. Unlike before, they all looked at him with respect and adoration. They were even eager to chat and get on good terms with him whenever an opportunity presented itself.

    "Zachary!" Kingsley Coman intoned when the yers were enjoying their lunch at the canteen. "Don''t forget to pass to me during the match against AC Mn. I also want to rub off your glory and score some goals."

    Zachary chuckled and said, "Don''t worry. I''ll pass the ball to you as long as I''m on the pitch and you''re in a strategic position. You have my word."

    "Excellent," Kingsley said, grinning. "Now, I''m eagerly waiting for the match on Saturday. I want to score a goal."

    The rest of the yers chuckled at that before starting to discuss other things. They talked about many concerns, including their objectives, the tactics used by their coach, and their uing fixtures. They were obviously using their lunch break to bond as a team.

    The next few days passed quickly as the Juventus yers went through strict drilling routines to hone their tactics. And soon, Friday, the eve of the day when they would face off against AC Mn, arrived with regal ease. It was finally time for the Old Lady yers to test themselves against another top Italian team. As a result, the entire focus of the Italian footballmunity was beginning to zero in on the famous San Siro Stadium in Mn, Italy.

 Chapter 464 AC Milan VS Juventus Match Preview

    Zachary was in high spirits as he stepped out of Angelo''s Citroen after arriving in front of the J Hotel that Friday evening. He was just from the Juventus training center, where he had attended Coach Allegri''s pre-match tactical briefing. And naturally, he had made Juventus'' starting eleven for the second time in a row within a week.

    He waved Angelo goodbye and took a moment to savor the refreshing sights in front of the J Hotel. He stood motionless, watching the horizon absentmindedly without minding anything around him. The dim moonlight shrouded thend, and a cool and refreshing breeze swept around him to wash away any remnants of heat from the day. However, he didn''t move as if he hadn''t noticed that dusk had already arrived.

    The gears in his mind were stirring and turning as he set goals for the following day''s game. He had messed up big time during the pre-season and caused his team to lose the game against AC Mn. Now that he was back to full fitness, it was time for him to make amends when he faced the Mn boys the following evening.

    He was enjoying his time in Italy. He was having a st ying for Juventus, one of the biggest teams in Europe. And as the highest paid yer in such a famous club, he wanted to prove himself by using his skills to destroy his opponents. He would do his utmost to ensure that no one would stop him during his first game in the San Siro. He would do his best to convince his teammates and coaches that he deserved all the money he was getting from Juventus. He was focused on his goals.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    At that moment, Zachary''s phone vibrated within one of his tracksuit pockets, and pushed him out of his state of contemtion. He immediately fished it out and nced at the screen. The next instant, his face lit up with a smile as he realized it was Cami, his girlfriend, calling. Without hesitation, he pressed the ept button and held the phone against his ear.

    "Hello, Cami," he said, "It''s nice to hear from you. How are you doing?"

    "Honestly, I''m not okay," Cami replied.

    "Oh!" Zachary was a bit shaken. He braced himself and asked, "What''s the matter?"

    "Are you really going to pretend that you don''t know?" Cami questioned. "You switched off your phone and ignored all my calls for two days straight. What''s up with that? Don''t you think about me sometimes? Do I mean nothing to you?"

    In response, Zachary was at a loss for words. He didn''t bother to give Cami excuses as he was sure she wouldn''t buy them. He just replied, "I''m sorry."

    Cami sighed and switched the topic. "Let''s stop with the annoying stuff. How are your preparations for the match against AC Mning along? Did you make the team?"

    "Yes, I''m in the starting eleven," Zachary replied almost instantaneously. "I''m starting for Juventus for the second time in a row. Will you travel to Mn to watch our game? I can get you a VIP match ticket if you''re to consider attending."

    "Thanks," Cami replied. "But unfortunately, I can''t travel to Italy this weekend. I have a lot of deadlinesing up next week. So, I have got to stay home and try to finish my work."

    "I see," Zachary said, feeling a bit sour. He had hoped he could link up with Cami after the game against AC Mn to have some fun. But it seemed he wouldn''t realize his wish, as Cami had chosen to stay back in Trondheim with the excuse of finishing up her work.

    "By the way, has Emily talked to you about the new contract offered by Audi?" Cami asked as if in passing from the other side of the line. "My bosses should have offered your party a lucrative endorsement deal about three weeks ago! But your side is not responding! What''s up? Are the terms of the contract not to your liking?"

    Zachary felt a headacheing and said, "Honestly, I have chosen not to look at any endorsement contract proposals until I settle down in Turin and start ying consistently for Juventus. I wish to limit distractions during this crucial period of my career."

    "Oh, I see," Cami remarked from the other end of the line. "That''s understandable. Anyways, Zachary, it was nice talking to you. Let me say goodbye for now. I know you have to go to bed early so that you can be in good shape for tomorrow''s game. Just remember that I love you."

    "I love you, too," Zachary responded. "Thanks for calling, and goodnight."

    "Goodnight," Cami said before ending the call.

    Zachary sighed as he shoved the phone back into his pocket. He could tell that Cami was a bit angry just from the tone of her voice. She was not her usual charming self ¡ª and as a result, their conversation had felt a bit dry. All that caused rm bells to go off within Zachary''s mind as he could feel the distance between them growing and widening. Their long-distance rtionship would likely fail if he didn''t put in some effort.

    "What''s meant to happen will happen," Zachary thought as he turned around and headed into the hotel. "I''ll try to surprise her with a nice present on her birthday next week. Hope that raises her spirits."

    Zachary tossed all the rtionship issues to the back of his mind as he entered the hotel. As a one-track-minded footballer, he was once again soon contemting the tactics for the following day''s game against AC Mn. He continued pondering various match scenarios until he went to bed at ten that night.<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    **** ****

    Saturday, September 20th, 2014.

    Time: 8:00 PM

    -----

    The electricmps hanging on the walls cast a misty glow upon Cami''s face as shey on a sofa in her living room. She sighed for the umpteenth time that evening as she tenderly caressed her t stomach. The next moment, she seemed to recall something and nced at the big clock on the opposite wall.

    "It''s already time," she mumbled and sat upright on the sofa. She picked up the remote from a nearby table and pressed the red button to power up her 50-inch smart TV. She was, of course, getting ready to watch Zachary''s match against AC Mn.

    As the smart TV was in the process of booting up, she stared at it absentmindedly. Her mind started wandering, and jumbled thoughts about Zachary fleeted around her brain. Was he angry since she hadn''t traveled to Mn to watch his match? Did he ever think about her while they were apart? Did he truly love her? After pondering various questions for a few seconds, she sighed while subconsciously caressing her belly again.

    She was not in the best of moods as she could feel things weren''t going right with Zachary. Over the past few days, he''d again returned to his old habits and started ignoring herpletely. He could spend days without calling or even sending her a simple ''hi'' on WhatsApp. Whether it was because he was busy or something else ¡ª Cami didn''t know. But all she knew was that his ignoring her hurt and confused her a lot. She was often left wondering whether he was serious about their rtionship or if he saw her as a casual partner to have fun with and throw awayter. She was in a dilemma.

    "Ladies and gentlemen," the TV host''s voice reverberated around the room after the TV finished booting up. "We''re about to witness the battle between titans. Viewers! AC Mn will wee Juventus to the San Siro for their first Serie A face-off this season. Both teams have won their opening two fixtures, and whoever wins the game today will end the night at the top of the table. With me here to analyze the game are three pundits, namely: Shaka Hislop, Steve Nicol, and Joshua Morales. Wee to the ESPN Studios, gentlemen."

    "Thank you," the three pundits replied, more or less in unison.

    The host smiled as the cameras focused back on him. "Let''s get right into it and start with your predictions. Gentlemen! Who do you think will win this game? AC Mn or Juventus?"

    "I''ll go with Juventus," Shaka Hislop was the first to reply. "The Old Lady yers are on form this season. I don''t think that AC Mn has what it takes to stop them at the moment. My prediction is 3:1 in favor of Juventus."

    "I''ll also go with Juventus," Joshua Morales said. "They have Carlos T¨¦vez, Zachary Bemba, Andrea Pirlo, and Stephan Lichtsteiner. Those yers are all on-form and have been impressive during the past few matches. They will help Juventus thrash AC Mn 2:0 in the game tonight. That''s my prediction."

    "I''ll go with AC Mn," Steve Nicol said. "AC Mn has the home advantage and a crowd of enthusiastic supporters behind them. AC Mn also has a fairly strong squad that is shaping up well this season. If they can y their cards right, they can defeat Juventus by a goal to nil. That''s my prediction."

    "Thank you, gentlemen," the host said with a smile. "We''ll get back to those predictions after the final whistle. But for now, let''s talk tactics. Shaka! How do you think the two teams will shape up today?"

    "Well," Shaka said as the cameras focused on him, "I think Juventus will use the same system they used against Malmo in midweek. They will y a back three, five midfielders, and two strikers. Two of the central midfielders will concentrate on linking y with the defense, while Zachary Bemba will y an advanced role as an attacking pivot or sometimes as a false nine, as we saw in the game against Malmo. As a unit, the whole Juventus team will try to build up y from the back with slow but steady passes as they search for opportunities. And when there''s a chance, we might witness a moment of magic from the wing-backs, or we could see Zachary, the attacking pivot, dribbling forward or ying a forward pass to the two strikers."

    "AC Mn, on the other hand, will most likely utilize a 4-3-3 formation and y a counterattacking game. Their three central midfielders will remainpact throughout the game to try and stop Juventus'' fluid passing. As for their wingers, they will try to run into the spaces behind the Juventus wing-backs whenever there''s a counterattacking opportunity. They will be looking to catch those Juventus attacking wing-backs off-guard before creating goals-scoring opportunities."

    "Thanks for your analysis, Shaka," the host said before turning towards another pundit. "Joshua! Which yers do you think will be most crucial in influencing the score at the end of this game?"

    Joshua Morales smiled. "On Juventus'' side, it will be Zachary Bemba, Andrea Pirlo, and Carlos T¨¦vez. If those three perform at their best, I''m sure Juventus will win the game. On AC Mn''s side, it should be Sulley Muntari, Nigel de Jong, and Stephan El Shaarawy. Muntari and De Jong, the two midfielders, have to stay on their toes to contain Juventus midfield whichprises the likes of Zachary Bemba, Andrea Pirlo, and udio Marchisio. El Shaarawy, on the other hand, has to take his chances well and ensure that AC Mn gets a goal on the counter. Otherwise, his team will lose to Juventus."

    "Thank you, Joshua," the host said with a smile. "Let''s first turn our focus to the San Siro Stadium, where the yers of both teams are warming up. They are doing their best to prepare for the match that is about tomence. Will AC Mn ovee all odds ande out on top after the final whistle? Or will Juventus y as usual and win the game? Viewers! Stay tuned. We''ll be back shortly to look at the line-ups of both teams."

    **** ****

 Chapter 465 Electrifying Atmosphere At The San Siro

    In one of the famous neighborhoods of Mn stood one of the renowned stadiums in the world that had witnessed arge part of Italy''s footballing history. It was known to many football enthusiasts as the San Siro Stadium, one of the legendary houses of the footballing world that housed two sporting giants - AC Mn and Inter Mn. It was one of the symbols par excellence of the city of Mn, which often attractedrge crowds of supporters yearning to watch live Serie A matches on most weekends.

    On match days, the atmosphere around the stadium was always explosive. Fans would start lining up at the gates hours before the kick-off, and when they finally got the chance to enter the stadium, most would immediately begin cheering at the top of their voices in support of their respective teams. Their support was what gave the San Siro life during football games.

    That Saturday evening, business was as usual at this famous stadium. The fans were chanting at the top of their voices as they watched AC Mn, their local club, facing off against one of their fiercest rivals in Italy. It was only the ninth minute after kick-off, but the supporters were doing their utmost to boost the morale of their yers. They were using their loud voices to support their team and ensure it defeated Juventus, the footballing powerhouse from Turin, Italy.

    "El Shaarawy! El Shaarawy...."

    The AC Mn fans started chanting again as their club initiated another counterattack against Juventus through Stephan El Shaarawy, their left-winger. El Shaarawy controlled the ball well close to the touchline and skipped past a sliding tackle from Stephan Lichtsteiner. Then, before any other opponents could close him down, he elerated to top speed and raced towards the other side of the pitch as if his life was on the line.

    Mart?-n C??ceres, one of the Juventus center-backs, soon stepped towards the nks to close down the AC Mn man. But El Shaarawy was cunning as ever on the ball. He didn''t choose to take on the Juventus man -- but instead squared the ball into the middle, just into the gap left by C??ceres in the backline. And as expected, his brilliant pass also managed to find J??r??my M??nez, the AC Mn center-forward, lurking in that position.

    "J??r??my! M??nez! J??r??my..."

    The cheers around the stadium hit another thunderous crescendo as J??r??my M??nez connected with the ball just before the box. The center-forward turned and twisted to escape from Leonardo Boni, the Juventus center-back, marking him. He executed a couple of body feints to draw the defender out of position and created a pocket of space to work with the ball. And at the right moment, he elerated and rushed past Leonardo Boni to step into the box. He was almost one-on-one with the keeper and ready to shoot at goal.

    But just then, the unexpected happened. Giorgio Chiellini, the other Juventus center-back,mitted a mistake when he rushed in from the other side, trying to cover his teammate. The center-back stretched out his leg and attempted to clear the ball off J??r??my M??nez''s feet. But luck seemed not to be on his side that day, and he caught the striker''s leg just inside the box.

    "Merda! Ma che cazzo!" Gianluigi Buffon, the Juventus keeper, mumbled a few expletives as he watched M??nez tumbling to the ground inside the box. The AC Mn striker''s acting was good, and he rolled on the ground several times while contorting his face in pain. He was obviously exaggerating his reaction to influence the referee''s decision.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee reacted as expected and immediately blew the whistle to award AC Mn a penalty inside the box. But he didn''t just stop at that. He also fished out a red card from his shirt pocket and showed it to Giorgio Chiellini, the defender who hadmitted the foul. The referee had reduced Juventus to only ten men within the tenth minute of gamey.

    "Referee," Gianluigi Buffon yelled, rushing towards the scene. "That was Chiellini''s first foul. Moreover, it wasn''t intentional or malicious. How can you show him a straight red card? Isn''t that too unfair?"

    The experienced goalkeeper was performing his role as captain and trying to convince the referee to change the harsh decision against Chiellini. But his words seemed to fall on deaf ears as the referee only shook his head in response before signaling Chiellini to get off the pitch. His expression said it all, and he wasn''t going to change his decision for anything in the world.

    -----

    "Juventus is in trouble now," Carlo Vanzini, thementator, yelled, allowing his voice to resound across the San Siro Stadium. "They have conceded a penalty and a red card within the tenth minute of gamey. That means they might go a goal down in the next few seconds if AC Mn sessfully converts the penalty. They will also have to y the next 80-plus minutes with only ten men. I can''t picture them winning this game unless something unexpected happens."

    "You''re right," Pierluigi Pardo, the comentator, agreed. "Juventus has been ying possession football with a slow build-up from the back during the opening ten minutes. They have been passing the ball from one end of the pitch to the other, hoping to stretch AC Mn''s midfield and defense. But now that they have lost Giorgio Chiellini, one of their most important center-backs, I also can''t picture them building up slowly from the back to y possession football. They have to adapt and switch to defensive tactics, or else AC Mn will blow them away here at the San Siro."<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    "I''m sure that Coach Allegri should also see what the rest of us see," Carlo Vanzini said. "He should be making a few changes in the next few minutes. He will most likely take out an attacking yer and bring on a defensive-minded yer, preferably one who can y as center-back or a defensive midfielder. But who''ll he take out? Zachary Bemba, Andrea Pirlo, Carlos T??vez, or Kingsley Coman?"

    "I think Zachary Bemba, Andrea Pirlo, and Carlos T??vez are all out of the question," Pierluigi Pardo replied with a chuckle. "Those are yers that make things happen for Juventus. I think Coach Allegri will take out Kingsley Coman and bring on Arturo Vidal, a defensive midfielder. The wing-backs can then push back to form a four-yer defense with the two remaining Juventus center-backs. Then, in the middle, we might see Arturo Vidal, udio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo, and Zachary Bemba partnering up to make things happen for Juventus. Andstly, on striking, it will be Carlos T??vez leading the attack."

    "That''s quite an impressive line-up," Carlo Vanzini, thementator, said. "You might be right. But let''s first return our focus to the field of y where AC Mn is preparing to take the penalty."

    -----

    Coach Allegri was a bundle of nerves as he followed the proceedings on the pitch. He had wanted to utilize possessive football to whittle away AC Mn''s tenacity. But his n was up in mes after Chiellini got the unfortunate red card. The coach could not continue attempting to dominate possession with only ten men on the field. He had to formte a contingency n within the shortest time possible to handle the unfavorable situation and ensure his team came up with a result after the game. He had to make sure that his team didn''t lose to AC Mn, one of their fiercest rivals, despite being a yer down.

    "What to do?" The coach mumbled as he watched Stephan El Shaarawy, AC Mn''s left-winger, preparing to take the penalty. He really hoped that Gianluigi Buffon, his experienced keeper, would rise to the asion and save the spot kick. Otherwise, Juventus would be in deep trouble for the rest of the game.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee''s whistle sounded the next moment, and El Shaarawy started his angled run towards the ball. The AC Mn striker then opened his body and unleashed a grounded shot towards the inside of the left post. His attempt was well-ced and sure to find the back of the if the keeper didn''t save it. But El Shaarawy soon realized that he was out of luck as he was against Gianluigi Buffon, one of the most experienced keepers in the world.

    Everything seemed to happen within a sh, and Buffon reacted by executing an acrobatic dive immediately after El Shaarawy took the penalty. On a full body stretch, he managed to cover a distance of meters within milliseconds and pushed the ball off its intended trajectory with his outstretched fingertips.

    The experienced keeper had managed to save Juventus from conceding a goal from the penalty spot during the twelfth minute. But Coach Allegri was still tense as the danger was still atrge in the box. The ball had altered its course slightly and smashed off the post before returning to the field of y.

    "Damn it! Clear the ball away! Anywhere will do!"

    Coach Allegri shouted from the sidelines as the ball bounced back into the box. The coach''s heart raced with anxiety as he watched the yers of both teams scrambling after the bouncing ball. He only calmed down after Kwadwo Asamoah, his left wing-back, got to the ball first and smashed it towards the touchline on the left to clear away the danger.

    "Phew! That was close," Coach Allegri mumbled, letting out a breath. He angled his head and continued following the ball that was on a course towards the touchline on the left nk. And that was when he noticed the silhouette of a yer in Juventus'' ck and white colors after it. It was Carlos T??vez.

    "Carlos! T??vez! Carlos..."

    The visiting Juventus fans started singing at the top of their voices as Carlos T??vez leaped high and chested the ball to the green. Their voices soonbined to form a booming chorus that shook the San Siro stadium as T??vez skipped past a tackle and took off towards the other side of the pitch.

    The visiting supporters were obviously excited by Juventus'' immediate reaction after conceding and surviving the penalty kick. As a result, they were soon on their feet in the stands as they watched their star yer racing along the touchline to initiate a counterattack for Juventus. They couldn''t hide their agitated emotions as they could smell that it was a chance for Juventus to outwit AC Mn for the first time that evening.

 Chapter 466 A Steady Performance

    The counterattack was on, and most of Juventus'' attacking yers reacted ordingly as Carlos T¨¦vez sprinted with the ball along the touchline on the left nk. Kingsley Coman and Stephan Lichtsteiner darted across the pitch via the right wing while Zachary Bemba raced through the middle in sync with the lightning-fast T¨¦vez. They were like four incarnations of Usain Bolt as they bore down on AC Mn''s goal like a pack of wolves on the hunt. Anyone could tell they had only a single mission on their minds: They wanted to catch AC Mn off guard and score on the counterattack.

    "It''s Carlos T¨¦vez on the ball," the voice of Carlo Vanzini, thementator, resounded across the stadium in tandem with the thunderous cheers. "He has yards of space ahead of him on the left nk. But he chooses to pass to Zachary in the middle. It''s now Zachary on the ball..."

    Pierluigi Pardo, the comentator, followed the proceedings on the pitch with bated breath as his colleague gave the matchmentary. His eyes narrowed into slits, and he watched Zachary connect with the short pass from Carlos T¨¦vez. Zachary then twisted and turned to step away from an opponent before continuing toward AC Mn''s box like a racing cheetah traversing the jungle. The young Juventus number 10 soon stepped into the final third and faced off against the only remaining opponent barring his way towards the goal.

    At that moment, Zachary could basically choose to go at it alone and beat the final defender before trying to score. However, the young Maestro made a surprising decision instead. He held on to the ball for only a few seconds to draw in the remaining defender. And when the opponent took the bait and closed him down, he immediately unleashed a well-timed cheeky pass towards his right to find Kingsley Coman, the other Juventus forward.

    "Oh, my God!" Carlo Vanzini, thementator, continued yelling. "Zachary''s sweet pass has managed to release Kingsley Coman on a straight course towards the goal. The young Frenchman takes a touch and steps into the box. No one can stop him. He shoots. He beats the keeper. Oh, my goodness me! The ball is in the back of the."

    "Goaaaal!" Thementator screamed in sync with the thunderous cheers around the stadium. "Kingsley Coman, the neen-year-old Frenchman, has bagged Juventus'' first goal just seconds after El Shaarawy failed to convert AC Mn''s penalty. We have just witnessed one of the best counterattacking goals in football history. Truly spectacr stuff happening on the pitch."

    Pierluigi Pardo, the comentator, chuckled. "What''s more interesting is that Zachary Bemba, one neen-year-old, linked up with Kingsley Coman, another neen-year-old, during the build-up that led to the goal. The young talents of Juventus are surely incredible."

    "Now that you mention it," Carlo Vanzini said, "I''m surprised Zachary chose to pass the ball instead of trying to test the goalkeeper. He had all the space to shoot at the goal himself but provided an assist instead. He''s a different version of the Zachary we witnessed during midweek."

    "Yes, that''s true," Pierluigi Pardo agreed. "There are many critics and pundits who expressed that Zachary was a very selfish yer after Juventus'' Champions League game against Malmo. Additionally, the critics imed that his selfishness was what allowed him to score more than twenty goals during the Europa Leaguest season. But I don''t see it that way, and I can''t rte to such harsh words concerning Zachary. Instead, I think Zachary is an umonly talented attacking midfielder with an impressive vision on the pitch. He''s able to make the most appropriate decisions during critical moments."

    "For instance, if he notices that the best chance for his team to score is having a go for himself, he will shoot. But if he happens to spot a teammate with higher odds of putting the ball into the back of the, he will pass to that teammate to increase his team''s chances of winning. He''s the kind of midfielder who makes decisions based on the situation. And that exins why he passed to Kingsley Coman instead of having a go at goal himself."

    "You do have a point," Carlo Vanzini, thementator, agreed. "But, let''s return our focus to the pitch where Juventus is preparing to make a substitution. Remember that Coach Allegri''s men are already a yer down, even though they are one goal ahead. They will have to y the remaining 80-plus minutes with only ten men. Can they protect their lead and go home with all three points after the final whistle? Let''s continue following the match to find out."

    -----<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    Zachary rxed a bit when he noticed that Coach Allegri had chosen to rece Kingsley Coman, a striker, with Arturo Vidal, a defensive midfielder. He could immediately tell that the coach was taking precautions by switching to defensive strategies instead of remaining hell-bent on ying possession football with only ten yers on the field. If his guesses were correct, Juventus was about to switch to a 4-4-1 system that would enable them to endure and weather AC Mn''s attacks after the red card.

    "Coach''s instructions!" Arturo Vidal, the just-introduced substitute, said after approaching Zachary. "You''re to continue ying as the attacking pivot in charge of linking up y with Carlos T¨¦vez, our only remaining striker. But you will also have to fall back whenever we''re not on the ball to help in defense. Do you understand?"

    "Yes," Zachary replied.

    "Good. Let''s do our best to protect our lead. We must not lose to AC Mn, even at the San Siro." Arturo Vidal said and stepped away, heading towards his position in defensive midfield.

    Zachary watched the midfielder take his position at the border of the final third before returning his focus to the referee. His fighting spirit was already shooting into the skies as he readied himself for the restart of the game. He wasn''t resigned to losing and yearned to do his utmost to help his team seal victory against AC Mn even with a one-yer disadvantage.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and the game restarted. A few seconds psed, and the AC Mn yers beganunching endless waves of attacks on Juventus'' box. While arrayed in the 4-3-3 system, they utilized their one-yer advantage to outwit Juventus in the most crucial areas of the field and dominate possession. And it didn''t take them long to start creating clear goal-scoring chances that tested Juventus'' tenacity and defensive capabilities on multiple asions.

    Of course, many of AC Mn''s attempts were off target, while only a few were on the mark. But even the few on target couldn''t cause any harm to Juventus due to the impressive form of Gianluigi Buffon, the goalkeeper.

    The experienced shot-stopper made six incredible saves during the first half and even came out on top after a one-on-one encounter with J¨¦r¨¦my M¨¦nez, AC Mn''s center-forward. His performance was out of this world, and he was by far Juventus'' best yer during the first half.

    During the second half, it was almost the same story as in the first. The Rossoneri attacked as if their lives were on the line, searching for that one goal that would put them back on level terms with Juventus. But s, they couldn''t break through Juventus'' defensive formation supported by only ten yers. They couldn''t put a ball past Gianluigi Buffon, the shot-stopper, who was clearly at the top of his game that evening.

 Chapter 467 When Passing Becomes An Art

    As experienced professionals, the AC Mn yers wouldn''t give up the game easily. They continued attacking ¡ª and finally, a clear goal-scoring chance came their way during the 84th minute.

    It all began with Nigel de Jong, the AC Mn defensive midfielder, winning the ball in the middle third. The Dutch midfielder expertly slid in to steal the ball from Andrea Pirlo before threading a pass to Sulley Muntari, his counterpart in midfield.

    Sulley Muntari, in turn, controlled the ball well before passing into the wings to find Keisuke Honda, the AC Mn right-winger. Honda also worked quickly to control the ball and skip past Kwadwo Asamoah''s sliding challenge. When the angle opened up, he immediately unleashed a curling cross towards the box from the border of the final third.

    The attack was on, and many yers in the box reacted to the iing cross. The AC Mn attackers leaped up from the ground to attack the ball and try to score while the Juventus men tried their best to defend and clear the danger away from their box. But in the end, J¨¦r¨¦my M¨¦nez, AC Mn''s center-forward, came out on top.

    The striker won an aerial battle against Mart¨ªn C¨¢ceres around the penalty area and nted a header towards the inside of the right post. His technique was perfect, and he almost caught Gianluigi Buffon off guard with his impressive effort.

    But once again, the experienced Gianluigi Buffon was alert. He threw himself at the ball and stopped it from crossing the line at thest second. And before any AC Mn yers could react, Leonardo Boni, the other center-back, smashed the loose ball away from the box to clear the danger.

    Whoosh!

    The just-cleared ball darted through the air and bounced in the 18-yard box''s arc, close to where Zachary was lurking. It was like the perfect gift for him, and he reacted immediately and pounced on it as if there was no tomorrow.

    His long strides covered about four yards in almost a second, and he got to the ball first before any other yer. Heart racing, he stretched out his leg and expertly looped it over the approaching Sulley Muntari with the simplest of touches. He then exploded with speed and rushed past the helpless opposing midfielder before twisting and turning to dance out of the crowded space in front of the box.

    Whoosh! Whoosh!

    Zachary''s tricky side-steps worked wonders, and he skipped past two other AC Mn yers before creating some space to work his magic. Then, in a sh, he surveyed the scene ahead of him with his eagle-like vision while prodding the ball forward to keep it away from the opponents. And after making his judgment, he unleashed a raking pass towards the other side with the outer part of his boot.

    Whoosh!

    Zachary''s passing technique was spectacr as always, and the ball darted through the air, just out of reach of all the yers that could potentially bar its way. It was like a remote-controlled drone as it made a parab over the pitch and bounced in front of Carlos T¨¦vez, the striker who had just initiated a run towards AC Mn''s box.

    The ever-alert Carlos T¨¦vez, of course, didn''t disappoint. He left his marker in the dust and exploded with speed towards the bouncing ball. The Argentine controlled it in his stride and continued his mad sprint towards AC Mn''s goal. Without losingposure, he rounded the keeper, who hade out to meet him, before burying the ball into the back of the. He had scored Juventus'' second goal for the night during the 85th minute.

    -----

    AC Mn 0 : Juventus FC 2<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    -----

    "Oh my goodness me!" Thementator''s voice resounded around the stadium in sync with the thunderous cheers. "Another perfect counter has allowed Juventus to score their second goal for the night. Absolutely sensational! The pass from Zachary was timed to perfection, and Carlos T¨¦vez''s finish was on point. Simply world-ss! Two great yers havebined to create magic on the pitch."

    Pierluigi Pardo, the comentator, sighed and said, "I''m at a loss for words after witnessing the build-up to the goal. Zachary Bemba was in a crowd of opposing yers when he received the ball in front of his box. But the way he looped the ball over Sulley Muntari and turned and twisted away from the other opponents to create space for himself was the stuff of legends. But that wasn''t all there was to his moment of brilliance. The young ymaker managed to link y with Carlos T¨¦vez with that sweet ball over the entire midfield. His pinpoint pass took all the AC Mn defensive yers out of the equation and released T¨¦vez on a straight course towards goal. What exceptional vision! What an impressive passing technique!"

    "That pass reminds me of Andrea Pirlo''s passes when he''s at his best," Carlo Vanzini, thementator, remarked. "Maybe, Zachary has already begun taking lessons from the Italian Maestro."

    Pierluigi Pardo, the comentator, chuckled. "Juventus is one step closer to beating AC Mn at the San Siro. They only need to defend well for the remaining four minutes and the added time. Then, they will return to Turin with all three points. They will also rise to the top of the Serie A table."

    -----

    On the pitch, the Juventus yers had just finished celebrating their second goal of the night. Like the rest of his teammates, Zachary was in high spirits as his team had ovee a numerical disadvantage and scored two goals against AC Mn. He couldn''t contain his happiness as he walked back to his starting midfield position.

    "Zachary!" A familiar voice called out to him.

    "Carlos! Andrea!" Zachary eximed in response and slowed down. He fell into stride with his two teammates and asked, "What''s up?"

    T¨¦vez grinned and patted Zachary''s back. "That pass from you was sweet. It made my work easy and allowed me to score. Thank you for the assist."

    "There''s no need for thanks," Zachary responded with a smile. "It''s my duty to supply you with balls whenever an opportunity presents itself. I''m d you scored."

    Andrea Pirlo smiled and asked, "Are you trying to take over my role on the team? Why is your ying style simr to mine during today''s game? You copied that pass from me."

    Zachary chuckled and chose not to answer. "The referee is about to restart the game. Let''s hurry and take up our positions. We''ll talk about other issues after the game."

    "Why are you in a rush?" Pirlo asked. "We''re leading by two goals. We need to waste some time before the restart, especially since we''re a yer down. We also need to take the sting out of AC Mn. That''s why all the other Juventus yers are taking their time to retake their starting positions. They are executing a proper endgame management strategy."

    Zachary chuckled again and slowed down his steps. He didn''t need to rush to retake his position after Andrea pointed out Juventus'' endgame management strategy.

 Chapter 468 Post-Match Reaction

    The remaining minutes of the game were all about game management for Juventus. All the Old Lady yers fell back to defend against AC Mn''s continuous attacks after Carlos T¨¦vez got them the second goal. They remainedpact to prevent the opponents from creating goal-scoring opportunities and even resorted to time-wasting tactics to run down the clock. Overall, their defensive discipline was exemry during the final minutes, and they managed to protect their lead until the final whistle sounded.

    At that moment, when the game ended, the San Siro Stadium exploded with thunderous cheers that shook its foundation. The visiting Juventus fans took it upon themselves to overpower their rival fans with their deep and booming voices. They sang the Juventus anthem for minutes before chanting the names of each of their yers. They were having a wonderful time in Mn after their club defeated one of their fiercest rivals by two goals to nil. Not even the loud booing of the few remaining AC Mn supporters in the stadium could deter them from expressing their joy.

    In the meantime, the Juventus yers were also making rounds around the pitch while waving to their jubnt supporters. Their wide grins were a testament to their delight after they overcame a red card disadvantage and overpowered a tenacious AC Mn side at the San Siro.

    "You fulfilled your promise and passed me the ball at the right moment," Kingsley Coman said in French as he gave Zachary a celebratory hug. "Your assist allowed me to score my first goal against AC Mn. Thank you."

    "No problem," Zachary said as he returned the hug. "I''m d you scored. But too bad that we got that red card. Otherwise, we might have linked up to create a few more goals."

    Kingsley Coman chuckled. "True! But what is important is that we won the game. We can rx since we''re already leading the Serie A table."

    "Who says you can rx?" The familiar voice of Coach Trombetta interrupted their happy moment. "We y Casena away from home on Wednesday before weing Atnta to the Juventus stadium on Saturday! Those are two matches in a short span of four days! How can you think of rxing?"

    In response, Kingsley grinned sheepishly and chose not to respond. His expression was like that of a young student caught by a teachermitting a wrong.

    Coach Trombetta smiled after noticing his reaction. "Guys! Even though we can''t rx, we can still celebrate our victory today. Congrattions on defeating AC Mn today. Both of you were exceptional on the pitch."

    "Thanks, coach," Both Kingsley and Zachary responded almost in response.

    Coach Trombetta nodded and turned towards Zachary. "You''re on press duty today along with Buffon. Head to the press area for the post-match interview. There are reporters ready to ask you questions in English."

    "Okay," Zachary readily agreed. He knew that press duty was mandatory for every professional yer, especially in big clubs. So, he had to go and face the journalists whether he wanted or not. "Anything I should watch out for?" He asked Coach Trombetta.

    "Just be yourself," Coach Trombetta responded. "But don''t cause any publicity issues for the club."

    "Okay, I will take note," Zachary said. He nodded to Kingsley Coman before whirling around and jogging toward the press areas. A minuteter, he was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Buffon in front of the cameras, ready and waiting for the post-match interview to begin.

    "Wee, gentlemen!" The Sky Italia reporter said, smiling. He held the microphone towards Buffon and continued, "You overcame a red card disadvantage and defeated AC Mn at the San Siro. How are you feeling?"

    "Terrific," Buffon responded, shifting around. "It always feels good to defeat AC Mn at the San Siro. Moreover, we have also kept a clean sheet and ascended to the top of the Serie A table. That makes our win today even more satisfying."

    The reporter smiled. "As a keeper, you were impressive today. You made many incredible saves to ensure that your team didn''t concede a goal. You even came out on top after a one-on-one encounter with J¨¦r¨¦my M¨¦nez. How did you manage that?"

    "By remaining focused, of course," Buffon replied matter-of-factly. "My team was ying with a red card disadvantage. So, as a keeper, I had to do my best to prevent AC Mn from scoring even a single goal. With that resolve, things worked well for me, and I kept a clean sheet during the game."

    "You''re also the man of the match because of your incredible performance," the reporter reminded.

    Buffon chuckled and shook his head. "I don''t think so. The man of the match should be Zachary. He provided the two assists that resulted in our two goals. He deserves the honor, as we wouldn''t have gotten any result out of the game without him."<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    "But we would have conceded several goals had it not been for your incredible saves," Zachary argued. "That''s why the man of the match honor is yours to take home tonight."

    Buffon chuckled and shook his head in response. But he didn''t continue arguing, probably because he was in front of the cameras.

    "Zachary!" The reporter said with a chuckle. "As Buffon said, your impact on the game was incredible. During the first half, you remainedposed and set up Kingsley Coman for the first goal. But that wasn''t as impressive as how you set up Carlos T¨¦vez for the second goal. I thought you were going to lose the ball. But you surprised me. You surprised everyone and danced out of that crowd of opposing yers before unleashing that sweet pass that set up T¨¦vez for the third goal. How did you achieve all that within seconds?"

    Zacharyughed and scratched his beard. "Honestly," he said, "I don''t know. There was only one thing on my mind at that moment. That was to get the ball away from my box as soon as possible. So, I followed my instincts and found a way out of the crowd of opponents. I created some space for myself, and the rest was easy. I passed the ball to Carlos T¨¦vez, whopleted the rest and scored our third goal."

    The reporter chuckled and said, "You make the entire process sound so easy. But if I may ask: Weren''t you worried about losing the ball while dribbling through all those opponents in front of the box? During the pre-season game against AC Mn, that''s what happened. You lost the ball to Sulley Muntari, who, in turn, initiated the counter that resulted in your team conceding a goal."

    Zachary smiled and shook his head. "My error during the pre-season was only a one-time mistake. I learned a valuable lesson from the mistake and became a better yer. I''m now more confident on the ball and unafraid while taking on opponents. I won''t easily lose the belief that I''lle out on top, even against a crowd of opponents."

    The reporter nodded and smiled. "Gentlemen! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I know you have to prepare to head back to Turin today. So, let''s end the interview here. Once again, congrattions on winning the game today."

    "You''re wee," Zachary and Buffon answered in unison before stepping away from the cameras. They were in a hurry as they had to quickly join their teammates and prepare for the return trip to Turin.

    **** ****

    Emilia Vasquez once again hosted ESPN''s post-match analysis show for AC Mn''s game against Juventus. After watching Zachary''s post-match interview, she faced the cameras with her signature smile and said, "That was an interesting post-match interview. Don''t you think so, gentlemen?"

    Shaka Hislop, one of the pundits in the studio, chuckled when the cameras focused on him. "I like how Zachary simplifies that whole build-up to Juventus'' 2nd goal. He basically said that he unknowingly dribbled his way out of the crowd of opponents before providing a simple pass to Carlos T¨¦vez. It was as if he was talking about something inconsequential, like going to McDonald''s on the weekend to enjoy a burger."

    "But jokes aside," Shaka Hislop continued, "Zachary is steadily growing into his role at Juventus. He''s a very talented and freakishly versatile yer who''s quickly bing a pir that instills confidence in teammates. If he can maintain his form throughout the season, he might make it onto the list of Ballon d''Or nominees next year."

    "Or he might just win the Ballon d''Or," Joshua Morales, the other pundit, chimed in. "Imagine a scenario where Juventus wins the Serie A, the Champions League, and the Copa Italia. Wouldn''t Zachary win the Ballon d''Or if he helped his team win those three trophies?"

    Steve Nicol, the third pundit, chuckled, shaking his head. "Gentlemen! I think we''re getting ahead of ourselves here. The season has justmenced, and you''re already debating next year''s Ballon d''Or winners! We should instead discuss whether he will win the Golden Boy award this year."

    "The Golden Boy award is a done deal for Zachary," Joshua Morales said matter-of-factly. "He has nopetition for that award. He will take home the de if he remains consistent during Juventus'' uing games."

    "Speaking of which, when is the shortlist for the Golden Boy awarding out?" Steve Nicol asked.

    "The nominee list should be out within the next few weeks," Joshua Morales said. "At least, by October 20th."

    -----

 Chapter 469 House-Hunting

    The following day, all Italian sports newspapers were full of details of AC Mn''s match against Juventus. Their articles described all the crucial moments of the game that allowed Juventus to overpower the Mn-based club by two goals to nil. Additionally, the papers gave a detailed analysis of the on-pitch impact of all the yers that yed the game.

    La Gazzetta dello Sport, an Italian daily newspaper dedicated to coverage of various sports, named Gianluigi Buffon as the man of the match with a 10/10 performance. The La Gazzetta journalists exined that Buffon''s incredible disy, which included saving a penalty, was the crucial factor that allowed Juventus to maintain a clean sheet and overpower AC Mn by two goals.

    The newspaper then rated Zachary and T??vez 9/10 and gave a few other Juventus yers, like Leonardo Boni and Arturo Vidal, an 8/10 performance for the night. The pundits were also not shy while showering the entire Juventus squad and their coaches with praise for how they handled the game after the red card. They apuded Juventus'' defensive discipline that stopped AC Mn from creating many goal-scoring chances during the second half.

    Angelo, Zachary''s interpreter/driver, smiled after reading all those articles about Juventus. He was especially pleased with how the newspapers had pointed out Zachary''s tremendous impact on the game.

    "You seem to be in a good mood! What are you reading?" Zachary asked Angelo from across the table. The two of them were in the private booth of a cafe on the outskirts of Turin, waiting for the real estate agent who was supposed to take them to see the vi for sale. Angelo was, of course, passing the time, reading the newspapers while Zachary was enjoying his coffee and browsing the inte on his phone.

    Angelo''s smile widened on hearing Zachary''s question. "I''m reading the sports news," he replied. He then told his boss about how the various newspapers had rated his performance a 9/10 and awarded Buffon the man of the match de with a 10/10 rating. Angelo was very detailed in his exnation and made sure that Zachary understood how the press had reacted to Juventus'' win against AC Mn.

    Zachary smiled and shook his head after hearing Angelo''s response. "I''m surprised by the attention I''m getting from the Italian media. I have only yed two full games for Juventus, but the press is already making me their focus. They have even begunparing me to greats like Ronaldinho, Zidane, and Messi. Their reaction is too exaggerated."

    "Wee to Italy," Angelo said with a chuckle. "That''s how the press reacts to all great footballers ying in the Serie A. It''s even more so when a yer joins a great club like Juventus for a record transfer fee."

    "Like in my case?" Zachary said.

    "Yes," Angelo confirmed. "The reporters and pundits will always analyze your games to verify whether your signing fee was worth it. Of course, if you''re performing well, there won''t be any problems as they will shower you with praise in their articles and make you a superstar in Italy. But if you''re to perform poorly for some time, that''s a different story. They will make you seem like the worst viin in Italian football. That''s Italian media for you. You have to prepare yourself."

    Zachary nodded and nced at his watch. "Is your real estate agent about to arrive? We have already been waiting for like fifteen minutes!"

    "He should be arriving anytime from now," Angelo said. "But to be sure, let me give him a..."

    Angelo stopped mid-sentence as a couple of loud knocks sounded from the door. Before he could react, the door was pushed ajar, and an older gentleman with greying hair and a prominent beard stepped into the private booth. He looked elegant in his grey suit as he smiled at Angelo.

    "Angelo, my friend!" He eximed in English. "How are you doing?" He extended his hand to Angelo.

    "I''m doing okay," Angelo replied after standing up and taking the older gentleman''s hand. "How about you?"

    "I''m also doing fine?" The older gentleman replied before turning towards Zachary. "And this one here must be Zachary."

    "Yes, he''s Zachary Bemba," Angelo confirmed with a smile. "The one and only."

    "Aha!" The older gentleman grinned and stepped forward to extend a hand to Zachary. "I''m Lorenzo D''Alessandro, your go-to guy if you need to purchase a house or any other piece of real estate. It''s a real pleasure to meet you."

    "It''s a pleasure to meet you, too, Lorenzo," Zachary said, standing up and taking the older gentleman''s hand.

    "You look different from how you appear on television," Lorenzo remarked and released Zachary''s hand.

    "Is it because of the cap? Or is it because I''m not in a Juventus jersey?" Zachary chuckled and settled back into his seat.

    "Well," Lorenzo said, giving Zachary a once over, "Even though you are tall, you''re not as intimidating as on television. To a certain extent, you seem like a friendly tourist."

    Zachary chuckled and shook his head. He continued exchanging small talk with the real estate agent before breaching the main topic after a few minutes. "So," he said, "Angelo tells me that you have a vi for sale! Can you give me the details?"

    "I can do better," Lorenzo said with a grin, "I can take you to see the vi, and then you can decide for yourself if you like it. It''s located in the center of Pinerolo, just a few kilometers from here. We only need a few minutes to get there."

    "That''s even better," Zachary responded. "I wish to see the house. But we need to hurry as I don''t have much time."<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    "Okay," Lorenzo said. "Let''s go."

    -----

    Twenty minutester, Zachary''s party of three arrived at the detached vi for sale in Pinerolo Turin. It was like a piece of art on thendscape as it stood there, towering above the surrounding trees in all its grand majesty.

    On first impression, it was a beautiful piece of architecture that captured Zachary''s undivided attention. Its windows were as shy eyes,rge enough to wee any ray of the sun, while its rock walls belonged right where it stood -- as if, by some chance, it had grown up right from that hallowed ground.

    "How''s it?" Lorenzo asked, ncing at Zachary. "Does it suit your taste?"

    Zachary nodded after ncing around one more time. "I''m impressed by the exterior, the elegant driveway, the swimming pool, and therge and impressive gardens. It''s huge. It''s almost like a castle! How much is this piece of property?"

    Lorenzo chuckled like a cunning fox and said, "Hold your horses. Let''s first see what it has to offer on the inside. Then, we can talk about the pricing."

    "Okay, let''s take a look," Zachary agreed after taking a deep breath.

    Lorenzo soon opened the door of the vi and led them inside. And once again, Zachary was dazzled by the vi''s magnificent interior. It was so weing, from the enormous entrance to the wide hallway, causing his spirits to experience a sense of rxation. He fell in love with everything about it, including the paintings adorning the walls, the old-fashioned parquet floor with a blend of deep homely browns, and the walls that were the greens of summer gardens meeting a bold white baseboard.

    In terms of aesthetics, it was an impressive blend of uniqueness and magnificence from the inside out. But that was not all that captured Zachary''s attention. He also liked the enormous interior space of the vi spread over three levels.

    On the first floor: there were tworge kitchens, the first one pleasing to the eyes, with a firece, while the second one was a service kitchen with a functional terrace and an adjacentundry room. There was also a grand dining room, arge hallway, a living room, and arge guest bathroom on the same floor. Then after ascending the stairs to the second floor, one would find four enormous bedrooms with three bathrooms. And if one descended the stairs to the basement, one would find a garage, a cer, and a fitness area.

    Zachary was especially fascinated by the fitness area as it was sizeable enough to amodate all the gym equipment he could conjure up in his mind. He could already picture himself spending many hours training in that space.

    "So, what do you think?" Lorenzo asked after they returned back to the living room. "Do you like the vi?"

    "Yes, I like it," Zachary replied. "So, can you tell me the price now?"

    "Two million Euros," Lorenzo said. "You must remember that this vi would be much more expensive if the owners weren''t in a rush to sell. It would even go for about four million Euros. So, two million is a very fair price."

    Zachary creased his brows. "Why is it that Angelo told me that it was 1.5 million? Why are you increasing the price so suddenly?"

    Lorenzo shot a helpless nce at Angelo before saying, "Angelo must have been guessing. 1.5 million is just too low. You have seen the property for yourself. It''s ideal for those looking for privacy and tranquility but, at the same time; do not want to give up theforts of the city. Don''t you think that it deserves the two million price tag?"

    Zachary shook his head in response. "I had only prepared 1.5 million, and that''s the amount I''m prepared to spend. Otherwise, I will continue house hunting until I find a suitable and cheaper one."

    "This is a bit hard," Lorenzo said, sighing. "1.5 million is just too low. Okay, let''s do it like this. Make 1.8 million, and the property is yours. It is my final offer, as I don''t wish to waste your time bargaining with you. Meet me in the middle, and let''s conclude this deal."

    Zachary thought for a moment and replied, "I would like a day to consider this deal. I''ll give you an answer tomorrow by seven in the evening."

    "Seven in the evening!" Lorenzo remarked with helplessness. "That should be okay. But I can''t promise that this house will still be avable. But I''ll still try my best to wait for you."

    "That''s okay," Zachary said, smiling. "Thanks. You''ll have your answer tomorrow evening."

    Zachary had already decided to buy the vi. But he was holding out on finalizing the deal so as to create time to investigate the exact circumstances surrounding the property. He was that careful as he didn''t wish to fall for a scum just because he was in a hurry to buy the house.

 Chapter 470 Consistency Both On And Off The Pitch

    Zachary called Emily after returning to his hotel room that evening. In as few words as possible, he told her about the vi he''d just seen and expressed his yearning to purchase it as soon as possible. He even mentioned how he''d promised to give an answer to the real estate agent in charge of selling the house by seven the following evening.

    "I think you''re so much in a hurry," Those were the first words Emily said from the other end of the line after hearing Zachary''s narrative. "All deals require patience. To avoid getting scammed or cheated, we need to investigate the circumstances behind the deal before agreeing to it. You need to slow down."

    "I get that," Zachary said. "But I really liked the house. I would be lying if I said I didn''t wish to purchase it as soon as possible."

    "I get where you''reing from," Emily said. "But I still implore you to first get in touch with another real estate agent who can show you other vis in the same price range. After taking a look at the various vis on sale in Turin, you''ll be able to make a more informed decision on whether you like the first one. Additionally, you''ll increase your bargaining power during negotiations after collecting more details about Turin''s real estate market. There''s simply no harm in waiting."

    "I see," Zachary said, sighing. "Seems like I''ll have to break my promise to the real estate agent. I won''t be able to give him an answer tomorrow."

    "That would be for the best," Emily encouraged. "There''s no need to rush when buying such an expensive vi. Waiting a week or two to investigate the exact circumstances of the property is probably okay before making the final decision. If you find it hard to disappoint the real estate agent, you can give me his number, and I''ll talk to him on your behalf. I''m sure I''ll be able to convince him to allow you more time to consider the deal with my bargaining skills."

    "Then, let''s do that," Zachary said. "I''ll text you the number of the real estate agent after the call. Thanks."

    "You''re wee," Emily responded. "But in the meantime, don''t forget to look at other vis for sale in Turin. You never know: You might find a better house in a better neighborhood."

    "Don''t worry," Zachary assured. "I n on doing exactly that."

    "Okay, then," Emily said. "I''ll also work with my contacts in Turin to investigate the circumstances surrounding the vi you just mentioned. I''ll have all information about it by the end of the week."

    "Thanks," Zachary responded. "I guess we should end our conversation here. I have to go to bed early since we have training tomorrow, early in the morning."

    "Okay, all the best. Keep me updated about the progress of your house-hunting."

    "I will," Zachary said. "Have a good night."

    "Have a goodnight, too," Emily responded and ended the call.

    Zachary settled on his bed and decided to make another call. He dialed Cami''s number, and they spent minutes conversing about various topics, big and small. They only ended their call after Cami imed that she had to prepare for the following day''s work before going to bed. She used almost the same excuse Zachary had employed to end the call with Emily a few minutes prior.

    "Oh, my!" Zachary eximed after cing his phone on the bedside table. "I forgot to tell her about my house-hunting." He settled on his bed and considered calling Cami again to tell her about the vi he''d just seen earlier that day. But after a few minutes of pointless contemtion, he sighed and abandoned the notion.

    He figured that it was better to leave her alone since she had explicitly expressed that she had to do preparations for work and go to bed early. He would disclose the house-hunting news when he called her the following day.

    "There''s also her birthdaying up," Zachary thought with a smile. "I should surprise her with something nice."

    Zachary had already noted Cami''s birthday in his phone''s calendar. It was on Thursday, 25th September, the day after Juventus'' mid-week game against AC Cesena. Since he would be free on that day, he nned on surprising her with a dinner date and some presents to celebrate her twenty-six years of life.

    He''d also requested permission to travel to Trondheim and be with his girlfriend on her birthday. And since there were neither training nor any other team activities that day, the club officials had allowed him a two-day traveling window out of Turin. In his own way, he was going all out, trying to be a better boyfriend despite his busy schedule.

    -----

    Over the following two days, Zachary returned his focus to training. He was always a focused participant in the team sessions as the Juventus yers trained intensively to prepare for the game against AC Cesena. And as usual, he was impressive while going through the various tactical drills under the strict supervision of his coaches.<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    But that was not all there was to his schedule. During his free hours in the evening, he would attend his Italiannguage sses and also find an hour or two to go house-hunting. He was as busy as a worker bee over those two days before the game against AC Cesena.

    Fortunately, his focus and hard-working attributes generated tangible results, allowing him not to feel depressed. He progressed well in his Italian studies and had already started pronouncing a few sentences. He could already exchange greetings or ask for food in Italian. He was taking the necessary baby steps toward achieving mastery of thenguage.

    His house-hunting, however, wasn''t progressing so well. He''d looked at three more vis during those two days but failed to find any among them that suited his taste. So, he was still in love with the first vi he''d seen in Pinerolo Turin even after taking the time to look at those houses.

    -----

    Time would always pass by quickly when one was busy. In a blink of an eye, two days passed, and Wednesday arrived. It was finally the day when Juventus would face off against AC Cesena in their first battle of the 2014/15 Serie A season. As a result, all eyes were on the Juventus Stadium that evening.

    In front of tens of thousands of enthusiastic supporters, the Old Lady yers started the match on the front foot. They dominated possession from early on and created many goal-scoring chances by relying on their fluid passing abilities. And naturally, it wasn''t long before they tore apart AC Cesena''s defensive shape and scored their first goal.

    Zachary, who had been as impressive as ever during the first few minutes, opened the goal fest. With machine-like precision, he converted a free-kick from just outside the right edge of the box to beat AC Cesena''s keeper. The ball nestled into the top left corner, allowing him to score another stunning goal from a set piece. He had put Juventus ahead during the 13th minute of gamey.

    After the celebrations, Juventus'' dominance continued, and it wasn''t long before the ball made it into the back of AC Cesena''s for the second time that night. Arturo Vidal, the often defensive-minded midfielder, was the next on the score sheet. After exchanging a couple of one-twos with Zachary and Pirlo, his counterparts in midfield, he magically arrived before AC Cesena''s box and pulled the trigger. He unleashed a missile of a shot from about twenty-five yards and beat the keeper to score Juventus'' second goal during the 38th minute.

    The second half soon arrived, and AC Cesena looked even more powerless to the attacking prowess of the hosts, who duly added another during the 57th minute. Once again, Arturo Vidal was the yer who performed the magic. He found the back of the with another heavy shot from outside the 18-yard-box to score Juventus'' third goal for the night. The midfielder was on fire. He was showing exactly why the coach had selected him ahead of udio Marchisio for that game against AC Cesena.

    With twenty-five minutes remaining, Coach Massimiliano Allegri turned to his substitute''s bench, obviously with one eye on Juventus'' packed schedule ahead. He introduced Simone Padoin, ??lvaro Morata, and Simone Pepe in ce of Zachary Bemba, Carlos T??vez, and Stephan Lichtsteiner in a single go. But despite the changes, Juventus continued to dominate proceedings as they cruised to yet anotherfortable victory. An injury-time goal from ??lvaro Morata allowed them to extend their lead and beat AC Cesena by four goals to nil after the final whistle. They had further cemented their position at the top of the Serie A table with another overwhelming performance.

    The man of the match for the game was obviously Arturo Vidal, the midfielder who had scored a brace for Juventus. The second-best yer was Zachary Bemba, who had sessfully converted another free kick before providing an assist that set up Arturo Vidal for his second goal. Andstly, the third best-rated yer was Andrea Pirlo, the midfielder who had made the most forward passes during the game.

    -----

    Zachary could hardly contain his happiness as he matched down the tunnel after waving to the enthusiastic home fans. He was in high spirits simply because he''d maintained his consistency and put up another solid performance for Juventus. He could sleep well that night, knowing he was making steady progress towards permanently sealing his ce within Juventus'' starting eleven.

    "Zachary, my man," Patrice Evra called out to him as they were about to reach the dressing room. "I''m holding a dinner get-together with a few teammates at my house tomorrow night. Do you wish toe over and celebrate our win over Cesena with us?"

    "Unfortunately, I can''t," Zachary responded, shaking his head. "I''ll be away from Turin tomorrow."

    ? "For real?" Evra asked, stopping dead in his tracks to face Zachary. He continued after lowering his voice, "You know you can get in trouble if you travel without permission. Has the club agreed to this? Have they permitted you to travel out of Turin?"

    "Yes," Zachary replied. "They have allowed me a two-day travel window. Is that surprising?"

    "No," Evra responded. "If you''ve already gotten permission from the club, you can travel at peace. Just remember not to exceed the days of your travel window before returning to Turin."

    "I''ll take note of that," Zachary said with a smile. "Thanks for the advice."

    -----

 Chapter 471 Unexpected Circumstances

    It was a rtively warm autumn morning, at least going by the standards of Norwegian weather. Cami was browsing the morning sports news in the living room of her apartment in Trondheim. The peculiar blend of nerves and worry that had recently be a norm in her life was already taking over her mind like a tiny flying insect stuck in her ear. But she forced herself to continue focusing on the articles on her phone while asionally sipping her coffee.

    As usual, she was following the news updates about Zachary, the only guy she couldn''t seem to push out of her mind no matter how hard she tried. "Zachary Puts Up another Incredible Disy during Juventus'' game against AC Cesena." Her eyes took in yet another catchy headline, and she couldn''t help but smile despite her worries.

    Her mood lifted, and her mind became perkier. She quickly started reading through the article and taking in all the details of Zachary''s performance against AC Cesena. A few secondster, her spirits attained an even higher level of brightness after she learned that Zachary had scored another goal from a free kick before providing an assist that set up Arturo Vidal for another. She was happy that her boyfriend was doing well in his new club. From the bottom of her heart, she wished he would continue shining like a star during Juventus'' uing matches.

    "If he could be as focused as he was on football in other aspects of life, he would be perfect," Cami thought to herself with a sigh. "But I guess it''s true what people say: Nobody is perfect, nobody is a superhero, and the ideal prince charming doesn''t exist."

    Cami shook her head and took another sip of her coffee. Once again, her mind started wandering as she thought about her rtionship with Zachary. He could be sweet and considerate at times. But most of the other times, he was annoyingly detached and uncaring as a lover. He had his imperfections as a person, but she still loved him.

    "If only he could call or text more often, that would solve everything," Cami thought and returned her attention to browsing the inte on her phone.

    While her eyes zed over the same article repeatedly, without registering its contents, she heard the shy knocking echo in the dim and narrow hallway. She raised a brow and quickly noted the time indicated on her phone. It was onlying to 8:00 AM, but someone was already knocking on her door! Who could it be? Who was disturbing her peace that early in the morning? But all those doubts didn''t stop her from getting off the couch and walking towards the front door. She reached it within seconds and then nced through the peephole.

    "OMG!" She muttered a silent exmation and stepped back in surprise the next moment. She had gotten the shock of her life after noticing the person standing before her door. Her heart was racing, and she couldn''t keep a lead on her vtile emotions for a few seconds.

    "Knock! Knock! Knock!"

    A couple of more knocks sounded, pulling her back to reality. She took a few deep breaths to make herself appear more rxed and stepped forward to extend her hand toward the door knob. She was trying her utmost to conceal her eagerness as she slowly opened the door.

    It finally opened with some slight effort on her side, and her eyes glowed with excitement as they took in the visage of Zachary standing at her doorstep. But they also contained a trace of puzzlement deep within them. His arrival was totally unexpected.

    "Zachary!" She eximed, trying her best to sound nonchnt. But clearly, she was doing a shoddy job at it while fidgeting around like a little girl. "What are you doing here?" She asked. "Aren''t you supposed to be in Turin, recovering from your post-match fatigue?"

    "Ta''da!" Zachary replied, summoning a bouquet of red roses from behind him. "Happy birthday, babe!" He presented them to her with glowing eyes.

    "Oh my God! You remembered!" Cami eximed while receiving the roses. Her eyes moistened as she felt warm on the inside. A blissful sensation of sweetness flooded her entire being, and she couldn''t help but jump into Zachary''s embrace. "Thank you for this pleasant surprise. You have made my day." She whispered while burying her head into Zachary''s chest.

    -----

    Zachary had traveled to Trondheim specifically to celebrate Cami''s birthday. So, he spent the entire day hanging out with her. They started their day together with a sumptuous breakfast at home before heading out on a shopping trip around Trondheim. They soon began entering various malls and bought several items that interested them.

    Cami, on her part, had even excused herself from going to work by iming that she wasn''t feeling well that day. As a result, she was living in the moment and celebrating her birthday without any worries weighing down her mind. She felt as free as a bird traversing the expansive skies while spending time with her boyfriend.

    "This watch will look good on your beautiful wrist," Zachary said after they entered a jewelry shop in City Syd, one of the biggest shopping malls in Trondheim. "It''s for you." He smiled at Cami while handing her an 8000 Euro Panth?¡§re de Cartier watch.

    "Oh, thank you," Cami responded and received the watch. She didn''t try to put on any pretenses, like iming that the gift was too expensive or saying anything else along those lines. She immediately wore it on her wrist before they continued their shopping spree.

    The evening hours soon arrived, and they returned to Cami''s apartment. They had an intimate dinner together before falling into each other''s arms and surrendering themselves to the sweet throes of passion.<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    The golden rays of the setting sun shone through the window and curtain, just the same, illuminating their tangled bodies as they gyrated and rose up and down with some uncanny rhythm. They were at the zenith of blissfulness for hours and didn''t stop their age-old ritual of intimacy until long after sunset.

    Zachary regained his wits minutes after the intensive love-making session. "I love you," he said, leaning over and kissing Cami while she snuggled warmly under the duvet.

    "I love you too," she responded, shifting slightly and meeting his gaze with her bright emerald-green eyes. "Thank you for today. I really had a good time."

    "Don''t mention it. It''s what I should do. I''m sorry I haven''t beenmunicating more often over the past few weeks. I always lose myself training."

    Zachary reached his hand to her head and gentlybed her tangled brown hair with his fingers. The dim artificial lighting in the bedroom made her emerald-green eyes brighter as she held his gaze. She looked so beautiful, so vulnerable, and so pure.

    "I''m pregnant," she whispered, turning her gaze away.

    Zachary''s heartbeat elerated within an instant. He thought he had misheard and asked again, "What did you just say?"

    "I said that I''m pregnant," Cami said in a louder voice. "And please don''t act like most men and ask whether it''s yours. I''m very sure that it''s yours."

    "Oh!" That was all Zachary could manage in response. He was so shocked. His heart jumped as the gears in his mind turned and churned, trying to attune to the unexpected situation.

    If he were to be totally honest with himself, he would have to admit that he wasn''t keen tomit to any girl yet. He was still neen in his new life and wasn''t ready to surrender his freedom due to responsibility. He wanted to continue progressing in his career while enjoying life for a few more years. His n was to seed in other areas before considering the prospects of marriage or raising children.

    Additionally, he was shouldering a few insecurities. He feared the notion of totally surrendering himself to another person due to experiences from his previous life. He was worried that he might experience the bitter emotions of heartbreak again if he was to love another person wholeheartedly without leaving any room for retreat. As a result, he had subconsciously always left some leeway for himself during his interactions with Cami. He loved her, yes, but he''d not elevated her status to the level of his confidant within his mind. He hadn''t told her everything, and he''d neither told her about his fears nor his vulnerabilities. He would even spend days without calling her simply because he had always rejected the idea of making her his wife on a subconscious level.

    "Say something, babe," Cam said to break the silence. "Aren''t you happy that we''re getting a child?"

    Zachary sighed. "Of course, I''m happy. But I am also shocked and surprised as well. The news came out of nowhere. How far along are you?"

    "About two months," Cami replied, sitting upright on the bed.

    "That far!"

    "Yes," Cami confirmed. "But I only found out about three weeks ago. I have been meaning to talk to you about it, but there wasn''t any right timing over the past few weeks. You know how we have been."

    "I see," Zachary said. "I need to process everything. Give me some time." He jumped out of bed and went to pour himself a ss of water.

    -----

 Chapter 472 Back In Turin And New Prospective Deals

    Zachary returned to Turin the following morning. He immediately headed straight to the Vinovo and joined in on Juventus'' preparations for the weekend game against Atnta BC. And as usual, he got into a consistent exercising rhythm in almost no time and immersed himself in the team drills under the strict supervision of the coaches.

    As for his situation with Cami, he had already resolved to handle it like a responsible man. Before he parted with her early that morning, he had apologized for his insensitive behavior right after he learned about her pregnancy. He had attributed all his callous actions to the shock he''d received the previous night, especially after finding himself in a situation he hadn''t expected. Then, he ended their talk by assuring her he would be there for her throughout her pregnancy. He even promised to do his best to be an exemry dad and care for the child when ''she'' or ''he'' finally arrived in the world. However, he didn''t mention anything about the prospect of marriage. He would obviously go all out to care for her and the unborn child, but he wouldn''t take that significant step forward to legalize their rtionship. He just wasn''t ready, especially with all that was going on in his life.

    Cami, being her usual understanding self, had listened to him attentively as he spoke. She had at times nodded, as if in agreement, when he said something nice. But most of the other times, she remained quiet and reserved as she took in his words. Then, when the time for parting finally arrived, she kissed him goodbye and wished him a safe journey. She even urged him to call her when he arrived in Turin. After listening to Zachary''s assurances that morning, it was as if she had totally forgotten about his behavior from the previous night.

    "Zachary!" Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach in charge of Juventus'' first team, yelled when the Juventus yers lined up to go through a speed and agilitydder drill on the training turf at the Vinovo. "You''re up. Go first and lead the rest through the footwork drill."

    "Aye, coach," Zachary answered while pushing all the distracting thoughts out of his mind. He immediately took off like the wind and started stepping through thedders. His S+ agility worked like a charm, and hepleted the drill withoutmitting any mistakes.

    "Boni! Sei il prossimo." Coach Trombetta shouted again while pointing at the center-back.

    "S¨¬, allenatore!" Leonardo Boni answered with a loud shout. He also followed Zachary''s example and started going through thedder drill.

    After the center-back, the remaining Juventus yers did the same andmenced the agility training. They stepped through the variousdders arranged on one side of the training ground before moving on to another exercise routine.

    The rest of the day''s schedule was basically full of more intense training regimens. The team covered all aspects required to prepare adequately for the following day''s away game against Atnta. They performed passing exercises and honed their ball work and movements off-the-ball through tactical drills without raising aint. They ended their day with a pre-game tactical meeting chaired by Coach Allegri before dragging their tired bodies away from the Vinovo at dusk.

    Zachary was also exhausted, especially after going all out to impress the coaches during that day''s training. He desperately needed some sleep to recharge his energy and stamina reserves.

    He feared he would fail to perform at his best during the following day''s game against Atnta if he didn''t get ample rest that night. So, he quickly jumped in Angelo''s Citro?n and returned to the J Hotel, which had been his ce of residence since he arrived in Turin.

    After he returned to his hotel room that evening, he only gave Cami a brief call before quickly washing up to refresh himself. Then, without losing any minute, he jumped into bed, ready to sink into the weing embrace of a sweet and deep slumber.

    But just then, his phone started vibrating from a nearby table, its annoying sound shocking his mind back to full attention. He begrudgingly got up from the bed and scooped the phone up before epting the call.

    "Hello, Zachary," a familiar and vibrant voice sounded from the other end of the line when the call connected. "This is Emily. How are you doing?"

    "I''m okay," Zachary responded, sitting back on the bed. "And what of you? How are you doing?"

    "I''m also okay," Emily responded. "Actually, I''m back in Turin. And Ie bearing good news."

    "Is that so?" Zachary''s ears perked up as he became more attentive. He was even no longer feeling sleepy. "What good news? Go ahead and tell me. I''m all ears."

    "First and foremost," Emily said, "My contacts in Turin investigated the circumstances of that mansion for sale in Pinerolo, Piedmont. They didn''t find any issues with its ownership. So, you can go ahead and purchase it. That''s if you still like it."

    "Of course, I still like it," Zachary replied. "I have looked at a few more vis over the past week, but none of them canpare to that one in Pinerolo. I still want to purchase it."

    "Then, you have the go-ahead from me," Emily said. "Do you need some help with the property transfer procedures?"

    "I think I do. I need someone to handle the legal process of the property purchase. Can you help me out?"

    Emily chuckled from the other end of the line. "You seem desperate. But I still have to disappoint you. I have no expertise or experience handling real estate deals, especially in Italy. The best I can do is rmend a suitable solicitor to help you out."

    "Oh!" Zachary said, feeling a bit disappointed. He trusted Emily the most and would have liked for her to handle the legal process of the deal.

    "You don''t need to be worried," Emily said as if reading his mind. "The person I''m rmending is a solicitor and friend, skilled in handling real estate deals. His name is Matteo Tavano, and he operates in Turin. I think he''s the ideal solicitor to help youplete that property purchase."

    "Okay," Zachary said. "I guess I''ll go with that one. How can I get in touch with him?"

    "You don''t need to contact him," Emily said. "I''ll tell him to contact you. When do you n to start the legal process of purchasing the vi?"<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    "Sunday afternoon would be fine. That will be the day after our game with Atnta. I''ll be free."

    "Okay, then. I''ll tell Matteo to contact you on Sunday morning. You can n out the rest of the details with him. But remember to keep me in the loop so I can be ready to help you when a need arises."

    "I''ll do that," Zachary promised. "Thank you."

    "You''re wee. House deals aside: there''s a new big endorsement offer from a newpany. It''s called Vector X, an uing sports goods manufacturer from India. They have sent me a very lucrative offer, hoping to get you on board as their brand ambassador."

    Zachary was a bit confused upon hearing that. "Don''t we still have about two years on our deal with Nike? They have already increased the money they pay me annually to 1.5 million Euros. Why should we consider another footwear manufacturer when there are them?"

    Emily chuckled from the other end of the line. "Before you say anything else, can you first guess the amount Vector X is offering to steal you away from Nike?"

    "I''m not good at guessing," Zachary admitted. "Just tell me."

    Emily chuckled again. "We''re talking about a base ie of six million Euros per year if you be a brand ambassador for Vector X. They also hinted at offering you more than 50 percent of profits from your own branded Vector X merchandise."

    Zachary''s mind went nk on hearing such offers. He was starting to get tempted by the promise of such a lucrative deal. "But we''re still under contract with Nike," he reminded after thinking things through for a moment. "We can''t just walk away from an endorsement contract after receiving another. Nike would sue us for breach of the contract terms."

    "You don''t have to worry about that," Emily assured. "There are always ways to walk away from a contract penalty-free. Just give me the go-ahead, and I''ll handle the procedures for you."

    "I see." Zachary took in a breath of air to calm himself down. As a professional footballer, he understood that he had only a small time window to make big money. He had to utilize all the opportunities to rake in ample savings so that he would be beyond financially stable and never have to face any hardships after his retirement. And as far as he was concerned, the Vector X deal was a chance to add more zeros to his bank ount bnce. He already knew he couldn''t miss it.

    "So, what''s your decision, Zachary?" Emily asked from the other end of the line. "Should we consider the offer from Vector X? Or should we ignore them? It''s your call."

    "I think we should first look at the details of what they are offering," Zachary responded. "If their offer is one we cannot refuse, we can consider terminating our rtionship with Nike."

    "Good call," Emily praised. "Those are exactly my thoughts. I''ll first meet the Vector X representatives and hear out the terms of their offer in detail. If the terms are lucrative enough and hard to refuse, I''ll notify you, and we can start the process of ending our business rtionship with Nike."

    "Are you sure that walking away from Nike won''t have any bacsh on us?" Zachary asked worriedly.

    "Nope," Emily replied, her voice filled with confidence. "The worst that might happen is we pay a reasonable penalty fee for terminating the contract. But even then, it won''t be us paying that penalty. I''ll make sure that the bill falls on Vector X. They will have to pay your breach of contract penalty fee if they wish to steal you away from Nike."

    "You''re evil." Zachary chuckled. "But I like it."

    Emilyughed and said, "I guess we should end our conversation for today. I wish you all the best in the match tomorrow. By the way, I forgot to ask: Did you make the starting eleven again?"

    "Yes, I did," Zachary replied proudly. "I''m once again in the starting eleven."

    "It''s your fourth sessive start for Juventus. Congrattions. Your new coaches are starting to trust you more and more."

    "That seems like it," Zachary said. "Emily. I need to go to bed now. So, let''s continue our discussion some other day."

    "Okay, have a good night."

    "Good night to you, too," Zachary said before ending the call. He ced his phone on the nearby bedside table and jumped into bed. Before long, he was already fast asleep, dreaming about scoring goals during the following day''s game against Atnta.

    -----

 Chapter 473 Against Atalanta

    Saturday, September 27, 2014.

    Stadio di Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy.

    -----

    It was a breezy evening in the scenic city of Bergamo, located in the alpine Lombardy region of northern Italy. Thick clouds blotted out the stars, and a chilly wind asionally blew in from the north ¡ª all clear signs that it might rain anytime. But the promise of bad weather couldn''t stop the enthusiastic Italian football supporters from heading to the Stadio di Bergamo to watch that evening''s Serie A match between Atnta and Juventus.

    By 8:30 PM, more than twenty thousand fans had already taken up the seats in the stadium. They sang at the top of their voices as they awaited the match kick-off, which was only fifteen minutes away. Their enthusiasm was obviously already shooting into the sky.

    Emily and Kristin, the twodies who had journeyed all the way to Bergamo to watch Zachary y, were also among the group of zealous supporters. Their beauty made them stand out from the crowd as they craned their necks to watch what was transpiring on the field of y.

    "Ladies and gentlemen!" The Italianmentator''s voice reverberated around the stadium when the teams started marching out of the tunnel. "Wee to Stadio di Bergamo! We''re about to witness this season''s first Serie A battle between Atnta and Juventus. Atnta will be looking to ovee their poor start of the season, while Juventus will be looking to continue their winning streak and strengthen their position at the top of the Serie A table. So, sit tight and be ready for a tantalizing 90-minutes of football as both teams look forward to winning the game..."

    "This Italianmentator is really boring. His voice makes me feel like sleeping. They should hire Peter Drury to do thementary for the uing Serie A matches." Emily remarked in English after listening to thementator for a few more seconds.

    Kristin chuckled. "Maybe, you find him boring because you don''t understand Italian that well. But ording to the Italians, he might even be a more skilledmentator than Peter Drury."

    Emily smiled but chose not to respond. She was fluent in manynguages, including Italian, and had no trouble understanding and following thementary in Italian. But that didn''t mean that she found it engaging and fascinating. It was instead the opposite. It was monotonous and a bit too t for her liking.

    "I heard that Zachary traveled back to Trondheim a few days back," she said to Kristin. "Do you know what he was doing back there?"

    Kristin shook her head. "I don''t know. I even had no idea that he was out of Turin."

    "Oh!" Emily said and turned her attention back to the proceedings on the pitch. The yers of both teams had just finished their pre-game handshake routine. They were, at that moment, taking their position on the field of y. A few others werepleting somest-minute preparation, like tying and tightening their shoces before kick-off.

    Emily''s eyes kept wandering the field until they lingered on the tall visage of Zachary. He looked more striking and imposing after changing his hairstyle to simple braids with a fading style on the sides. His eyes were darting around the pitch ¡ª a tell-tale sign that he was observing and analyzing his opponents. He was as focused as ever as he prepared to face off against the opponents.

    "Let''s hope everything is okay with him," Emily thought, turning his eyes away from Zachary. When they talked on the phone the previous night, she could sense that a little bit of something was off with his mood.

    He hadn''t even been overly excited after hearing that a new sporting goods manufacturer had offered him a hard-to-refuse endorsement deal. It was as if his mind had been elsewhere throughout the phone conversation ¡ª a signal that caused Emily to worry. But even after sensing all that, Emily had held herself back from asking what was on his mind. She had decided to first watch his performance against Atnta before choosing a way forward.

    -----

    On the pitch, Zachary was in an intense state of focus. He pushed all the distracting thoughts out of his mind as he settled into his starting position outside the center circle. In the meantime, his eyes were in constant motion, observing, analyzing, and assessing his opponents as he geared himself up for the action about tomence.

    As a person living his second life, he understood that he couldn''t let distractions off the pitch affect his performance during matches. If he wished to seed, he would have to leave all his worries outside the stadium and focus only on defeating the opponent. So, not even Cami''s tricky situation could weigh down his mind while awaiting the kick-off whistle. He was as ready as he could be to y his heart out and help his team ovee Atnta.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally blew the whistle to kick-start the game at 8:45 PM. Carlos T¨¦vez immediately went into action. He unleashed a back pass into his midfield to find Zachary and kick off that day''s battle between Atnta and Juventus.

    "Juventus! Juventus..."

    The cheers around the stadium hit a thunderous crescendo for the first time that night as Juventus started controlling the game with their fluid passing. Zachary passed to Andrea Pirlo, who in turn passed to udio Marchisio to initiate a long spell of possession for Juventus. The football flowed like water, and soon, the Old Lady yers started casting waves of attacks on Atnta''s defense.

    It was only on a few asions that they lost possession to Atnta. But even then, they utilized high-pressing tactics to pressurize the opponents and win the ball back as quickly as possible. They were, for sure, the more dominant team during the opening fifteen minutes of the game.

    However, even after dictating the tempo for all those minutes, they still couldn''t find the back of the. It was not that they didn''t try to test the keeper with all the various tricks in their arsenal of tactics. They went all out while attacking but only failed to score due to the brilliance of Marco Sportiello, the Atnta keeper, who made more than six saves during the first 45 minutes of gamey.

    Zachary tried his luck with shots from outside the box during the 20th and 24th minutes. But, on both asions, the keeper negated his efforts by making incredible saves. But those weren''t the only missed chances for Juventus. During the 32nd minute, Carlos T¨¦vez beat the offside trap and connected with a pass from Andrea Pirlo. The Argentine forward controlled the ball well before riffling in a left-footed shot toward the bottom right corner. But s, his efforts didn''t bear fruit due to the inhuman reflexes of the keeper. The shot-stopper''s performance was clearly the only factor preventing Juventus from scoring the opening goal.

    As for the rest of the Atnta yers, they were harmless going forward. They only focused on weathering Juventus'' unending barrage of attacks and didn''t bother to create any significant chances on goal. Due to their docile approach to the game, they didn''t manage to threaten Juventus'' goal even once throughout the entire first half. And quite frankly, they were fortunate not to be behind at the break.

    After the fifteen-minute half-time break, the game restarted. Everything went as expected, and the Juventus yers continued to dictate the tempo with fluid passes. They seemed like a team on track to win the game and go home with three points at the end of the game.

    But circumstances changed twelve minutes into the second half when the downpour started falling from the skies. They found it hard to continue ying their grounded and short passes in the heavy rain. As a result, they could only resort to changing their strategy and ying long balls to ovee the hardships posed by the wet ying surface.

    Zachary, on his part, also found it a bit challenging to perform as usual in the rain. The heavy pelting of water constantly showered his already miserable frame with bouts of fresh and chilling torrents of merciless precipitation. He couldn''t dribble with ease over the wet surface. He also couldn''t see the ball clearly at times. But he still hardened himself and continued focusing on the game without minding the unfavorable conditions. He wished to win, and nothing could stop him from doing so, not even the rain.

    "Zachary!" Coach Trombetta yelled from the sidelines when the ball went out of y for a Juventus throw-in during the 64th minute. "Move forward and y as a false-nine. We no longer need you in the midfield, as we can''t y short passes in this weather. You need to be active in searching for the goal."

    "Aye, coach," Zachary replied and raised his thumb to indicate that he had understood. He agreed with the coach''s decision, as that was the only way to add numbers up front and increase his team''s chances of scoring a goal.

    He had to y as an attacker to help his team ovee the barrier of the wet surface with long balls. The rest would then fall in ce, and he would find opportunities to connect with the defense-splitting passes from Andrea Pirlo and the crosses from the attacking wing-backs.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and motioned for the Juventus yers to take their throw-in. Patrice Evra, Juventus'' attacking wing-back, immediately made a short run toward the touchline on the left nk before throwing the ball into the pitch. His uracy was spot on, and he found udio Marchisio, one of the Juventus midfielders.

    udio Marchisio, on his part, controlled the ball while skipping away from an opponent. When an angle opened up, he squared the ball to find Andrea Pirlo in the space on his right.

    Andrea Pirlo, being the Maestro he was, surveyed the entire situation on the pitch as he connected with udio''s pass. He found the perfect outlet for the ball within seconds and unleashed a lofted pass toward the other side of the pitch. And with that single ball through the rain, he released Carlos T¨¦vez on a straight course toward Atnta''s goal.

 Chapter 474 Diego Simeones Unease

    Carlos T¨¦vez could literally feel his heart hammering like a drum as he beat the offside trap and connected with Andrea Pirlo''s defense-splitting pass. He was obviously aware that only less than 25 minutes remained before the 90-minute-mark. So, he was determined to do all it took to utilize the opportunity and put his team ahead before it was toote.

    "Whoosh!"

    Like a lightning bolt, he cut through the drizzle, his short strides eating up yards of space toward the goal like mad. His level of focus had already reached its zenith, allowing him to remainposed as he prodded the ball forward. And when he noticed the keeper stepping forward to meet him, he squared his body before trying to chip the ball into the inside of the far post.

    But s, luck wasn''t on T¨¦vez''s side that day. Marco Sportiello, the Atnta shot-stopper, was alert again. He brushed the ball with his fingertips, thus sending it off its intended trajectory. As a result, it could only smash off the post before bouncing back into the field of y.

    "Damn it!"

    Carlos T¨¦vez cursed out loud and immediately reacted. He pounced towards the bouncing ball with all the zest he could muster. However, all his efforts were still in vain as an Atnta defender swept the ball out of y to clear the danger before he could reach it. The Argentine could only ce his hands behind his head after missing yet another clear opportunity to put his team ahead during the 67th minute. He was disappointed with himself.

    "Don''t mind! Don''t mind! Let''s stay focused and continue attacking. I''m sure that we''ll score."

    T¨¦vez could not help but tremble after hearing Zachary''s familiar voice sounding within his ear. His despondency immediately disappeared, and a yearning to score and make up for his missed opportunities swelled within him. He was once again ready to rumble and destroy the opponents.

    "Thanks for the encouragement," he said, turning towards Zachary. "I needed that."

    Zachary smiled and nodded back. "We all can miss sometimes," he said. "But what matters is to get our act together and score the next time."

    A strange expression surfaced on T¨¦vez''s face after hearing Zachary''s statement. But he immediately utilized his sleeve to cover it up while wiping the precipitation off his face. On the inside, however, weird thoughts were racing through his mind.

    "We all miss sometimes!" He wondered. "Howe I don''t remember you ever missing a one-on-one with the keeper? Are you mocking me?" The Argentine shook his head, once again feeling frustrated.

    "We need to get ready for the corner," Zachary said from beside him again.

    "Yeah, yeah," T¨¦vez agreed with a smile. "Let''s get ready for the corner." He looked like an exemry teammate consenting to his colleague''s suggestion. But within his mind, he was thinking something else, "This bastard must enjoy poking fun at me whenever I miss an opportunity. I have to score more goals than him this season. Otherwise, his smirk would drive me insane if he were to bag more goals than me."

    T¨¦vez harbored no ill will against Zachary. In fact, he respected the young maestro and was happy to be on the same team as him. But that didn''t mean he would sit back and let the 19-year-old run the show for Juventus. T¨¦vez was alsopetitive by nature. He desired to score more goals and help his team win trophies before he retired. And that drove him to give more than a hundred percent during every match of the justmenced Serie A season.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally blew the whistle to signal the taking of the corner kick after arranging the yers in the box. The next moment, the cheers around the stadium hit another thunderous zenith as Andrea Pirlo, the Italian maestro, sent forth a lofted ball into the crowded box from the corner arc.

    It was another chance for Juventus to try for an opening goal, and of course, most yers went into action. Carlos T¨¦vez ran toward the near post and tried to connect with the iing ball. However, his height betrayed him, and he couldn''t get to it. Then, Leonardo Boni also tried but also failed due to harassment from an opposing defender. And finally, it was Zachary''s turn to act.

    "Whoosh!"

    Zachary pushed off the ground and rose into the air with unstoppable momentum. He battled an Atnta center-back for aerial superiority before angling his head and directing the iing ball toward the top right corner. The CR7 Aerial-finishing Juju bloomed in splendor, and his well-ced effort easily beat the keeper and nestled into the back of the.

    "GOAL!" Zachary yelled out loud after descending back to the ground. At longst, he had managed to break the deadlock and put his team ahead during the 69th minute. He couldn''t contain his delight and rushed toward the touchline to celebrate with his coaches and teammates.

    "This bastard has some dog shit luck," T¨¦vez thought as he chased after Zachary to celebrate the goal. "He has scored another goal from a corner kick. Damn!"

    The Argentine wasining inwardly. But he was also relieved since his team was finally in the lead. He had been feeling the pressure, especially after missing two one-on-ones with the keeper. But after Zachary scored, he felt like he had unloaded a weight off his shoulders. He could finally concentrate on the game without any burdens weighing down his mind.<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    **** ****

    Atnta BC 0 : Juventus FC 1

    **** ****

    Diego Simeone, the head coach of Atletico Madrid, was watching the game between Atnta and Juventus on a screen in his office in Madrid, Spain. Beside him were his two assistants - Germ¨¢n Burgos and Juan Vizca¨ªno, who were also following the Serie A match. The three men were obviously not supporters of Juventus. But they were only doing research to prepare for Atletico Madrid''s Champions League face-off against the Italian giants.

    The diffuse light from the 50-inch t-screen lit up Diego Simeone''s face and highlighted the frown outlining his facial features. He was getting more worried, especially after assessing Zachary''s and Andrea Pirlo''s performances during the game. They were the ymakers for Juventus and would surely give his team a hard timee Wednesday night.

    "We must find a way to prevent Zachary and Andrea Pirlo from creating chances for Juventus," he said to his assistants beside him. "Otherwise, Juventus will tear us apart on Wednesday."

    "I agree," Germ¨¢n Burgos, one of his assistants, said. "Andrea Pirlo is the deep-lying ymaker and can create goal-scoring opportunities out of nothing with his long passes. On the other hand, Zachary is the attacking pivot. He''s a brilliant yer who will cause problems for our defense during the game. We need to stop both of...."

    The assistant coach stopped mid-sentence after realizing that there was another development in the game. He pushed the distracting thoughts out of his mind and started following thementary and the action on the screen.

    "It''s Zachary on the ball," thementator''s voice sounded through the speakers. "He dribbles past one and jumps past another. He''s approaching Atnta''s box at breakneck speed..."

    Diego Simeone was also following the action while holding his breath. The coach got goosebumps all over his body as he watched Zachary wiggle and dance through a group of opponents. Then, like a magician, the young footballer sidestepped past an opposing defensive midfielder and continued bearing down on Atnta''s box like a raging Tsunami. He created ample space to work with the ball and then unleashed a missile toward the goal from outside the box.

    "Zachary takes his chances from thirty yards away," thementator''s voice continued making its way into the ears of the three men. "He shoots. He finds the back of the. Goal! That was a beauty from the 19-year-old ymaker. He has extended Juventus'' lead against Atnta to two goals during the 88th minute. It''s now Atnta zero and Juventus two. The Old Lady is surely in charge..."

    Diego Simeone''s frown deepened. He immediately picked up the remote and lowered the volume of the screen. In the meantime, his mind was racing and working at full throttle. But he still couldn''t find ways to simultaneously contain Zachary and Andrea Pirlo, especially if both ymakers were at the top of their game.

    "Why don''t we treat them like how we treat Real Madrid and Barcelona?" Juan Vizca¨ªno, the other coaching assistant, suggested. "We y a defensive game against Juventus while waiting for opportunities. As for Zachary and Pirlo, we can tell the boys to be extra physical with them. I''m sure they won''t be able to find their best rhythm if we rough them up a few times."

    Diego Simeone sighed. "The first n is okay as Juventus is a much stronger team than us, especially in midfield. We''ll have to y defensively against them to get a result. However, roughing up Zachary and Pirlo might cause problems for us."

    "Why?" Juan Vizca¨ªno questioned. "Is it because of Zachary''s free kicks?"

    Diego Simeone nodded. "The boy''s conversion rate is insane. We can''t gift him free kicks near our box."

    "I think we need someone to watch him throughout the game," Germ¨¢n Burgos said. "We need a yer who''s quick and versatile on the ball and with a lot of stamina to mark him."

    "Like Sa¨²l ?¨ªguez or Koke?" Juan Vizca¨ªno asked.

    "I think ?¨ªguez would fit the role better," Diego Simeone supplied. "His athleticism and game-reading abilities are impressive. He should be able to keep up with Zachary throughout the match."

    Juan Vizca¨ªno nodded, and the three men continued discussing various strategies they could employ against Juventus for a few more minutes. They only ended their talk after the game on screen ended with Juventus still leading by two goals to nil.

    **** ****

 Chapter 475 Agreeing To Purchase A Villa

    The day dawned crisp and clear. The morning sunshine wafted gently in, diffusing across Zachary''s hotel room. The golden rays illuminated his face, and he turned and blinked twice before slowly opening his eyes.

    "What time is it?" He mumbled while turning and focusing his eyes on the clock on the opposite wall. "9:24 AM! I have really slept today."

    He was still fatigued, especially after ying another 90+ minutes of the previous night''s Serie A game against Atnta. His joints ached, and he still felt drowsy, even after sleeping for more than eight hours.

    But as a professional, he knew that he couldn''t allow himself to continue dawdling in bed on his day off. He understood that he had to do his utmost to recover from his post-match fatigue before starting intense preparations for Juventus'' midweek game against Atl¨¦tico Madrid. Otherwise, if he was to rx, he might lose his just-gained ce within Juventus'' starting eleven.

    "Time to rumble."

    Zachary stretched and immediately jumped out of bed. He quickly began his morning routine, which included going through yoga exercises, cleaning up, and eating breakfast.

    Hepleted everything he had to do by 10:30 AM and then sat in front of the TV to pass the rest of his morning free time. Soon, his entire focus was fully-attuned to that morning''s ESPN daily sports show.

    "Zachary scored yet another brace to give Juventus the edge to beat Atnta in yesterday''s Serie A game," Emilia Vasquez, the ESPN presenter, said. She smiled at the cameras and continued, "The young ymaker now has a tally of four goals in five Serie A matches and is just one behind the leading goal scorer, who happens to be his teammate - Carlos T¨¦vez. For a midfielder, those are quite impressive stats."

    "Yes, they are," Joshua Morales, the in-studio pundit, agreed. "Let''s also not forget that he scored a hattrick in the Champions League game against Malmo. That elevates his tally to seven goals in six matches, which is a remarkable feat, especially for a midfielder. And what surprises me is that he''s achieving all this while still at the tender age of neen. He''s got so much potential, and I can''t even imagine how he will evolve as a yer by twenty-five!"

    Emilia Vasquez smiled. "Indeed, he''s an impressive and very clinical attacking midfielder, especially when it matters. His two goals have helped Juventus cement their ce at the top of the Serie A table. He has also allowed his teammates to gain the momentum needed to head into Juventus'' tricky Champions League fixture against Atl¨¦tico Madrid."

    "Yes, that is also an important point," Alessandro Costacurta, the other in-studio pundit, agreed. "The Old Lady yers and coaches needed the win yesterday to raise the atmosphere around the club before starting preparations for the game against Atl¨¦tico Madrid. Everything didn''t go as nned in the beginning due to the defensive tenacity of Atnta. But fortunately, their 80-million signing came through and scored twice during the second half to help them win the game. They are now in the best shape for the game on Wednesday, and I think they have a high chance of winning if they y their cards right."

    "Atl¨¦tico Madrid is not an easy team to beat," Emilia Vasquez pointed out. "They are the current champions of La Liga, and over the years, they have managed to frustrate footballing giants like Real Madrid and Barcelona on several asions. It will be a tough challenge for Juventus to win against such a team."

    "You''re talking about Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s achievements but forgetting about Juventus'' might," Alessandro Costacurta said with a chuckle. "Juventus won the Serie Ast season, even before acquiring Zachary. They would have had a perfect season if they didn''t mess up their Champions League campaign. Now, after signing Zachary, they are an even much stronger team. They have some of the most creative midfielders in Europe at this moment. There''s the ever-creative duo of Zachary and Andrea Pirlo. Then, there''s the ever-consistent support of either udio Marchisio or Arturo Vidal. All these guys shouldn''t lose against Atl¨¦tico Madrid unless Massimiliano Allegri messes up big time."

    "I''m with Alessandro on this point," Joshua Morales, the other pundit, chimed in. "Atl¨¦tico Madrid will likely start with the midfieldbination of Koke, ?¨ªguez, Mendes, and probably Antoine Griezmann as an attacking pivot. Of course, all these are very tactical and skilled yers in Europe. But against the midfieldbination of Zachary, Andrea Pirlo, and udio or Vidal, they are simplycking. The best they can manage is to y defensive football while waiting for an opportunity. But I can''t picture them helping Atl¨¦tico Madrid outy Juventus, especially in midfield."

    "You guys all seem sure," Emilia Vasquez said, smiling. "But I still think Atl¨¦tico Madrid has a high chance of winning the game. The game is in Madrid. Moreover, Atl¨¦tico Madrid has Diego Simeone, the miracle worker."

    "I hear the miracle worker!" Joshua Morales chuckled and shook his head. "Should we have a little bet concerning who''ll win the game between Juventus and Atl¨¦tico Madrid?"

    "Sorry, I don''t bet," Emilia said. "But I still think Atl¨¦tico Madrid has a good chance of winning the game..."

    Zachary shook his head. He couldn''t continue watching after the presenters started some pointless banter among themselves. He was also ufortable with watching the pundits put him on a high pedestal due to a single performance.

    He picked up the remote and switched the channel. Very soon, he started following Sky Sports news while asionally thinking about Juventus'' uing Champions League match against Atl¨¦tico Madrid.

    Diego Simeone, Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s manager, was the type of coach who organized his tactics depending on the opponent. The man often lived off about 35% possession during matches. But even with that little bit of the ball, he would often outss strong teams tactically and defeat them time and time again. It didn''t matter whether a side had Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Lewangoalski. Diego would always try to find a way to win despite the odds against him. And considering all that, Juventus would find it challenging to y against a side managed by such a coach.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    Zachary''s phone started vibrating from the nearby coffee table while he was still following the Sky Sports news. He leaned forward and scooped it up before ncing at the screen. The next moment, his eyes narrowed with discontent when he realized the call was from an unknown number. But that didn''t stop him from epting the call and cing the phone against his ear.

    "Hello," he said, speaking into the phone.

    "Hello, to you too," a deep and vigorous voice, colored by a thick ent, sounded from the other end of the line. "I''m Matteo Tavano, a solicitor based in Turin. I acquired your number from Emily Anderson, the agent, and I''m supposed to be aiding you during your purchase of a vi in Pinerolo, Piedmont."

    "Oh, Matteo Tavano!" Zachary eximed while quickly picking up the remote and lowering the volume of the screen. "Emily told me about you. How''re you doing?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I''m doing fine," Matteo replied, "It''s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Zachary."

    "No, no, no," Zachary said exaggeratedly, "The pleasure is mine. I really need your help whilepleting the purchase of the vi."

    "Of course," Matteo said with a chuckle. "I''ll do my best to offer you the best legal advice money can purchase. But it will cost you."

    Zachary chuckled in response. "Emily should have already mentioned the remuneration details when she contacted you. She''s the person that usually handles all my financial issues."

    "I understand," Matteo said. "I''ll discuss with Emily the issue of payment. Now, concerning the vi in question! When can we meet to iron out the arrangements for the property transfer?"

    "Today, afternoon. It''s my only free day for like the next seven days."

    There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the line before Matteo''s voice sounded again. "The afternoon is fine with me. We can meet and travel together to the vi. Then, after seeing it and talking to the sellers, I''ll immediately begin the legal process of the property purchase. If all goes well, I should finish all the procedurestest by Thursday. How does that sound?"

    "Can''t youplete everything sooner?" Zachary asked.

    "That''s a bit tricky," Matteo said. "You must understand that I''ll have to do all the heavy lifting for the settlement, including preparing, reviewing, and lodging all required legal documents, such as the contract of sale and memorandum of transfer. Then, I''ll have to deal with any issues rted to a property inspection and read the property transfer agreement for any hidden uses. Finally, I''ll conduct a title and certificate search on the property to ensure everything is correct and in order before arranging a settlement between you and the seller. As you can see, I need time toplete all these procedures. Thursday is the best I can do."

    "Okay, then," Zachary said. "Let''s aim toplete the purchase by Thursday."

    "That''s for the best," Matteo said. "So, where do we meet up today afternoon?"

    "Can youe to the J Hotel?" Zachary asked. "We can meet in the restaurant before traveling to Pinerolo to see the vi."

    "What time would you like me toe?" Matteo asked.

    "One o''clock," Zachary responded. "Is that fine by you?"

    "1:00 PM is okay with me," Matteo said. "Let''s meet then."

    "Excellent," Zachary responded. "Then, see youter."

    -----

    As nned, Zachary met up with Matteo Tavano at one o''clock. He was a lean middle-aged man with amber eyes and a receding hairline. He gave off a friendly vibe, and a smile was constantly stered on his face while he greeted and introduced himself to Zachary.

    The two men wasted no time on small talk after exchanging greetings. They immediately started discussing the nature of their business rtionship while enjoying some afternoon tea. Their dialogue went well, and thirty minutester, they traveled to Pinerolo to see the vi. There, they met up with Lorenzo D''Alessandro, the real estate agent in charge of selling the house, and Rardo Costa, another older gentleman who seemed to be the seller. And from there on, everything was straightforward.

    Zachary immediately voiced his intention to purchase the vi at the previously agreed price of 1.8 million Euros. After hearing his deration, neither Lorenzo nor Ricardo bothered to bargain and hike up the price. They immediately consented to the deal and shook hands with Zachary toplete the initial verbal agreement for the transfer of the property.

    They then spent a few minutes discussing and ironing out a few of the more crucial details of the deal under the legal guidance of Matteo Tavano. For instance, they talked about when Zachary would transfer the money for the house and specified when the previous owner would deliver the keys and the ownership papers of the vi. Their talk was fruitful, and they all left happy at dusk after taking another tour around the house and its gardens.

    Zachary, on his part, was feeling quite fulfilled as he sat in Angelo''s Citro?n, heading back to the J Hotel. He was on cloud nine afterpleting a verbal agreement to purchase a mansion that he could only dream of during his previous life.

    All that was left was for Matteo Tavano to conclude the legal end of the deal, and then Zachary would be able to live in the house of his dreams while also ying for one of the biggest clubs in Europe. The notion brightened his spirits, and he returned to his hotel roomter that evening with a smile stered on his face.

    -----

 Chapter 476 Remorse And Self-Introspection

    Zachary was without any worries after leaving the matters of purchasing the vi to Matteo Tavano, the solicitor experienced in handling real estate deals in Turin. He adjusted his mental state and returned his entire focus to training the following day.

    As always, he woke up early, at around six, and went through his morning routine. Hepleted everything he had to do by 8:00 AM and then joined his teammates at the Vinovo, Juventus'' training center, tomence preparations for the Champions League game against Atl¨¦tico Madrid.

    His motivation levels were at their best, and he was soon in full gear, training as always to gain tip-top match fitness before Wednesday night. However, that time around, he didn''t forget his other responsibilities because of training. He continued attending hisnguage sses and made sure to find time to call Cami on a daily basis.

    Aside from that, Zachary also made time to meet with Emily and Kristin after training on Monday afternoon. They met in afy cafe in the middle of Turin and spent a few hours catching up.

    Kristin had already settled in well in the new city. She had already enrolled in the University of Turin and was always attending lectures whenever she wasn''t handling Zachary''s publicity matters. Emily, on her part, was as busy as ever. She had finally registered her own sports agency and was in the process of searching for new talents to represent. All in all, the twodies seemed to be doing quite well in their respective fields.

    -----

    Time would always pass by quickly when one was busy. Hours turned into days, and soon, it was Tuesday, the eve of Juventus'' Champions League fixture against Atl¨¦tico Madrid. And as always, Coach Allegri called all the Juventus first-team yers into the tactics roomte in the evening for the pre-game briefing.

    The pre-match briefing proceeded well as Coach Allegri exined the tactics for the game against Atl¨¦tico Madrid. He rified everything in Italian while asionally allowing Maurizio Trombetta, his assistant, to trante some important points into English. Then, after the tactics presentation, it was time to announce the squad heading to Madrid the following morning. And naturally, the coach named the starting eleven first.

    Gianluigi Buffon would be in goal, while Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Boni, and Mart¨ªn C¨¢ceres would y as the three defenders. Then, in central midfield, it would be udio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo, and Zachary Bemba holding the reigns ¡ª while Patrice Evra and Stephan Lichtsteiner would y on the nks toplete the midfield of five. And finally, Fernando Llorente and Carlos T¨¦vez would y as the two strikers toplete Juventus'' 3-5-2 starting formation.

    After naming the starting eleven, Coach Allegri then moved on to mention those that were on the bench. And without any surprises, Marco Storari, Angelo Ogbonna, R?mulo, Arturo Vidal, Kingsley Coman, Sebastian Giovinco, and ¨¢lvaro Morata were the names on the coach''s list of substitutes. All those yers had trained well over the past two days, and it was natural that they make his squad for the Champions League game against Atl¨¦tico Madrid.

    The naming of the line-up marked the end of the pre-game tactics meeting. As a result, the coach sent the yers back to their homes to rest after repeatedly reminding them to be on time the following morning.

    Their flight to Madrid was at 8:30 early in the morning. So, they had to arrive at Juventus'' training center by 7:30 AM so they would have time to travel to the airport by bus.

    -----

    After leaving Juventus'' training center in the evening, Zachary returned to his room at the J Hotel. After cleaning up, he enjoyed a room-delivered dinner before brushing his teeth and jumping into bed. He was ready to enter into a peaceful slumber ¡ª and in so doing, allow his body to rest and be in the best shape for the following day''s game against Atl¨¦tico Madrid.

    But sometimes, things would not proceed ording to n, and that night was as such for Zachary. He received an unexpected call just after entering between the sheets.

    The call was from Cami, and when he picked it up, his gut feeling immediately warned him that his night wouldn''t go ording to n. But even then, he braced himself and decided to listen to what Cami had to say.

    "Hello, Cami," he spoke into the phone after pressing the ept button. "How is your evening going?"

    Zachary was trying to ease into the conversation. However, there was no response from the other end of the line. He could hear someone breathing... maybe Cami, but she just remained silent. She wasn''t saying even a single word!

    "Hello, Cami," he spoke again, sitting upright on the bed. "Are you there? Are you okay?"

    "Hello, Zach," Cami finally responded in a somewhat unnatural voice. She seemed to be sobbing.

    "Are you okay?" Zachary asked again, his mind sobering up and losing all signs of sleep. He was worried.

    "I''m really not okay," Cami responded in between sobs after a few more seconds.

    "What''s the matter?" Zachary pressed, switching the phone to his other ear. He softened his tone and continued, "What''s wrong?"please visit

    "I lost the child," she responded with almost a whisper.

    "What?"

    "I said I lost the child," she said. "After I came back from work, I started doing someundry. But that''s when I got sudden cramps and abdominal pains and realized I was bleeding. I called an ambnce, and it rushed me to the hospital, only to find out I had had a miscarriage."

    "Oh!" Zachary''s mind nked out after hearing her narrative. And for a few seconds, he didn''t know what to say. His thoughts were muddled and all over the ce.

    He was confused as he should have been relieved after hearing such news. He should have felt rxed as he had not been ready to have a child, especially at that early stage of his football career. However, the reality at that moment was totally different from what he expected. What he felt was the opposite of what he''d envisioned after hearing such unfortunate news.

    The artificial lighting in the hotel room cast a glow upon his face, highlighting his listless expression. In the meantime, a sensation of emptiness flooded his mind, making him feel like he had lost something important. He regretted not treating Cami right when he heard the news of her pregnancy.

    "I''m sorry," he mumbled into the phone after collecting himself.

    "You don''t have to apologize," Cami replied in a more rxed tone. "It wasn''t your fault. It just happened."

    Zachary was at a loss for words after hearing that. He thought for a few seconds before asking, "Where are you now? Are you okay? Do you have any otherplications?"

    "I''m still at the hospital. But I have no otherplications. At least the doctors haven''t found any. Zachary! I have to go now. The doctors are here. They have to conduct more tests. We''ll talkter." After saying that, she immediately ended the call before Zachary could respond.

    Zachary sighed and immediately dropped the phone by his side. The sudden news from Cami had caused his mood to sink and wallow in a whirlpool of wondering what could have been. He could finally rte to the saying - you only know how valuable something is after losing it.

    The reality of losing a potential offspring hit him, and he couldn''t help but sink into a period of self-introspection. He sat there on his bed, staring nkly at the opposite wall. And naturally, moments of his time in Turin shed through his thought center, and he asionally shook his head. He regretted a few things.

    Ever since making his move to Juventus ¡ª no, that''s not right. Ever since his grandma died, he had stopped being down-to-earth in everything he did. For instance, he wasn''t training as much as he had during his initial days at Rosenborg. Additionally, he''d started putting money above everything else, including his love for football. He was even thinking of finding a way out of his contract with Nike in order to score a more juicy deal with another sportswear manufacturer. He''d somehow lost track of his goals along the way, thinking he would achieve greatness by exerting minimum effort, especially with the system as support. But that wasn''t the end of his poor conduct.

    There was also hisckluster treatment of Cami, especially when he heard about the news of her pregnancy. He didn''tfort her or try his best to be there for her. He was unfeeling as he''d only thought about how Cami''s situation might mess up the progress of his career.

    He''d forgotten the values histe grandma had instilled in him while growing up and be a total jackass. He hadn''t acted as a real man and epted his responsibilities. And now, it seemed like the ever-present karma had finally pped him on the cheek due to his transgressions. As a result, he received the unfortunate news that sent him into a whirlpool of regret and self-introspection. Moreover, that was on the eve of the game against Atl¨¦tico Madrid.

    "It''s not toote," Zachary mumbled to himself. "I can readjust and be a better person. I can be someone who makes my grandma in heaven proud. But first, I need to find out if Cami is doing okay. I must make amends. I must apologize. I must be there for her this time around."

    Zachary geared himself. He picked up his phone again and dialed her number. The dial tone sounded within his ear, and then the international call connected. But s, she didn''t pick up. It seemed like she was still going through medical tests, even thatte in the evening.

    "I should wait a bit," Zachary thought, checking the time on his phone screen. It wasing to ten in the night. So, he could wait one more hour before trying her number again.

    The waiting time passed by slowly since he was a bit nervous. Eleven o''clock finally arrived, and he tried calling Cami again. But once again, she didn''t pick, causing him even more worries.

    "I''ll talk to her tomorrow."

    Zachary decided to go to bed as he had to y an important match the following evening. After washing his face, he went in between the sheets, praying and hoping he would sink into a peaceful slumber in a few minutes. But as his mind was not in the right ce, sleep didn''te to him untilte in the wee hours of the morning.

    -----

 Chapter 477 A Talk With The Coaches

    Zachary woke up to the sound of his phone''s rm the following morning. As his slumber lifted, he opened his eyes, eager to take in the growing brightness of the rising sun. However, the next moment, he felt a sensation of tiredness creep all over him. His every eysh seemed to weigh more than it should, while the gravity acting on his body appeared to have multiplied by a factor of ten overnight.

    After spending hours worrying about Cami''s situation, he''d only managed to find sleep around 3:00 AM the previous night. Thus, his head was still foggy and yearning for more hours of rest. But as a professional footballer, he couldn''t give in to that temptation, especially since he had to prepare and head to the Vinovo as soon as possible. Otherwise, he might miss the team bus to the airport and, in so doing, miss the opportunity to partake in Juventus'' Champions League match against Atl¨¦tico Madrid.

    "What time is it?" He wondered while scooping up his phone from the bedside table. He nced at the screen and immediately learned it was thirty-five minutes past six in the morning. He could thus rx since he still had close to an hour to prepare and get to the Vinovo.

    "Oh right," Zachary thought, sitting upright on the bed, "I should try Cami''s number before anything else. Hope she picks."

    He immediately dialed Cami''s number before holding the phone against his ear. The anxiety from the previous night came flooding back to him as the dial tone sounded. But he took a deep breath to calm himself down and continued waiting. He forced himself to remain patient until Cami''s voice sounded from the other end of the line.

    "Hello," she said, sounding a bit sleepy.

    "Hello, Cami," Zachary responded, "How are you today? Are you already out of the hospital?"

    "I''m okay, but still in the hospital. The doctors insisted on conducting a few more tests before discharging me."

    "That should be good news. Right?"

    "Honestly, I don''t know. I have to wait for the results from the medical tests to understand my condition."

    "Oh, I see," Zachary said and turned silent. He waited a few seconds before continuing, "I''m sorry to hear about your condition. And more than anything, I''m sorry I can''t be there for you at this trying moment."

    "I understand," she replied, "There''s no need for apologies. I know you can''t be away from the club, especially with all the matchesing up. And by the way, don''t you have a game against Atl¨¦tico Madrid today?"

    "Yes, I do," Zachary responded.

    "Are you ready?"

    "I''m not sure. But I guess I''ll manage."

    "Why aren''t you sure?" She asked. "Where''s the ever-confident Zachary?"

    "How can I be in top condition after knowing about your circumstances? I''m not a robot, you know."

    Cami chuckled. "You don''t have to worry. I feel fine. I''ll most likely be out of the hospital by noon today. So, focus, and prepare for your game. Don''t get distracted. I''ll feel guilty if you y poorly just because of me."

    "I''ll try to do my best," Zachary promised and continued conversing with Cami. They exchanged more small talk for a few more minutes before they ended the call on a positive note.

    "That went well," Zachary mumbled and ced the phone to the side before jumping out of bed. He was soon in autopilot mode, going through his morning yoga routine, then washing up and having breakfast before exiting his hotel room with his suitcase in tow. He boarded Angelo''s Citro?n a few minutester, and the two of themmenced their short journey to the Vinovo.

    Zachary''s spirits had brightened up again after his phone call with Cami. Even after not sleeping for almost the entire night, he was ready to head to Madrid, Spain, with his teammates and partake in Juventus'' Champions League game. At least, that was what he thought despite his weary appearance.

    -----

    Under the gentle glow of the just-risen sun, Coach Allegri''s face was all smiles as he watched his yers assemble in front of the team bus in the Vinovo''s parking lot. He could tell that his starting eleven and substitutes were in good condition with one sweep of his experienced and discerning gaze. They all seemed to have rested well and were ready to head to Madrid and battle the tricky Atl¨¦tico Madrid side.

    "These yers are really disciplined," he thought as he continued observing the yers. His gaze darted around the ce, passing over Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, Buffon, and the other yers. He was trying to ensure that all his starting eleven and substitutes were okay. But just then, he spotted someone sitting on the ground close to the railing demarcating the parking lot. When the coach focused, he realized that Zachary was the person in question, and he seemed fast asleep while leaning on the railing.

    "Che cazzo..." The coach couldn''t help but mumble a few expletives in his native Italiannguage. His eyebrows involuntarily knitted together, and he stepped through the crowd of yers, heading towards Zachary. The glint in his eyes grew fiercer as he walked forward, and naturally, all the yers made way for him. They didn''t even dare to wake up their sleeping teammate as they seemed to fear the wrath of their coach.

    "Zachary..." Coach Allegri yelled after finally reaching the young Maestro. "Zachary?" He shook him awake.

    Zachary slowly opened his eyes the next moment. For a few seconds, he nced about him, seemingly out of his wits. He was obviously still trying to escape theforting sensation of his sweet and peaceful slumber.

    "Zachary!" Coach Allegri shouted again.

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied almost by instinct that time around. He shook his head as if to clear his head ¡ª and immediately focused on the coach standing before him.

    "Why do you seem like a person who didn''t sleep yesterday night?" Coach Allegri asked in Italian while keeping his scorching gaze on Zachary''s face. "Are you okay?"

    In response, Zachary nked out for a moment and turned to his teammates for help.

    "Oh, damn it!" Coach Allegri sighed. "I forgot that he doesn''t speak Italian." He turned to Maurizio Trombetta, his assistant, and said, "Coach Trombetta! Tell him to follow me. I need to talk to him before we depart for Madrid."

    "Okay, I''ll notify him," Coach Trombetta readily agreed. Without further ado, he approached Zachary and ryed the coach''s instructions. His English was fluent, and he made sure that Zachary understood that the coach wanted to talk to him immediately.

    -----

    Silence reigned supreme as Zachary followed the two coaches out of the parking lot. The rest of the Juventus yers didn''t say a word as they watched his receding back with weird gazes. It was only when his silhouette disappeared inside one of the buildings of the training center that they resumed their conversations. And naturally, the main topic of discussion was Zachary''s strange behavior that morning.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "So," Fernando Llorente was among the first to break the silence. "What was up with Zachary?" He asked Evra.

    "I don''t know," Evra replied. "But if I may guess, he might just have been taking a small nap before the journey. I don''t understand why the coach is making a big deal out of it."

    "A small nap!" Fernando said, his tone skeptical. "He seemed so totally out of it. The coach had to shake him awake several times before he regained his senses."

    "Indeed, that''s strange," Evra said. "And I don''t get why he didn''t wait for us to board the ne before taking his nap. He would have avoided the coach''s scrutiny that way."

    "I think there is something wrong with him," Fernando supplied.

    "Let''s hope that''s not the case," Andrea Pirlo, who was nearby, chimed in abruptly. "We need him to be okay. We need him in the evening against Atl¨¦tico Madrid."

    "True," Evra said. "Let''s hope that he''s okay."

    -----

    In the meantime, Zachary was already facing the coaches in one of the tactics rooms at the Vinovo. Despite his circumstances, he was rxed since he was sure he hadn''t done anything wrong.

    "Okay, Zachary," Coach Trombetta was the first to break the silence in the room. "We''re just checking. Are you okay?"

    "Yes, I''m fine," Zachary replied with a smile.

    "Then, why were you fast asleep in the parking lot?" Coach Trombetta followed up with another question. "You seemed like you hadn''t slept a wink in weeks. Why is that?"

    Zachary thought for a moment and sighed. He took a deep breath and told the two coaches about the unfortunate news he''d received from Cami yesterday night. He also mentioned how he couldn''t sleep afterward with the intent to ensure they understood his circumstances clearly.

    "I''m sorry to hear about your girlfriend," Coach Trombetta said after hearing his tale. Without further ado, he turned towards Coach Allegri and started tranting Zachary''s words. He spewed rapid Italian sentences for about a minute before turning to Zachary once again.

    "So, Zachary," Coach Trombetta articted, "We now understand your circumstances. And we must ask: Can you still feature in today''s game against Atl¨¦tico Madrid? Or do you need time to recover from this setback?"

    "I think I''m ready to y," Zachary replied.

    "You think, or you know?" Coach Trombetta pressed. "This is an important match. We can''t mess it up."

    Zachary thought for a moment and said, "As long as I sleep during the day, I''m sure I''ll be able to perform in the evening."

    "At a hundred percent?" Coach Trombetta asked again.

    "I''m not sure about the hundred percent," Zachary admitted. "I can only answer that after stepping onto the pitch."

    Coach Trombetta nodded and turned towards Coach Allegri. The two men then wasted no time immersing themselves in what seemed like another heated conversation in Italian. And finally, after about a minute, they seemed toe to an understanding and returned their focus to Zachary.

    "So," Coach Trombetta said, "Coach Allegri has made a bold suggestion that will allow you to have a maximum impact against Atl¨¦tico Madrid even if you''re not at the top of your game. Do you want to hear it?"

    "Of course," Zachary replied.

    "You y as a striker in today''s game," Coach Trombetta continued. "As a striker, you won''t have to expend as much energy as you usually do while ying midfield. Your role will only be to apply pressure on Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s center-backs with just your presence while waiting for an opportunity. That way, you will be able to rx during most of the game and only spring into action when the balles your way."

    "Do I have a choice in this matter?" Zachary asked.

    "No, you don''t," Coach Trombetta said, not mincing words. "Since you''re not in your best condition, we prefer that you remain far away from our goal. We don''t want to see you lose the ball close to our box due to apse in concentration. That would hurt us a great deal."

    "Okay, I understand," Zachary said, taking a deep breath. "I''ll follow your suggestion and y on the striking line today. Is there anything else?"

    "No," Coach Trombetta responded. "You can now rejoin your teammates. But remember to get some sleep during the journey. Otherwise, we won''t let you off if you mess up terribly during the game. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied. "I understand."

    "Good." Coach Trombetta smiled and nodded. "Return to the bus. We''ll be setting off for the airport in a few minutes."

    "Okay," Zachary said and stood up. He nodded to the coaches before marching out of the room.

    Naturally, Zachary couldn''t help but think carefully about the actions of the two coaches while on his way back to the parking lot. They had been too eager to summon him just for the simple reason of sleeping before the journey. And then, they used his poor condition that morning as a convenient excuse to push him on the striking line. It was as if they had long thought about ying him in that position for the game against Atl¨¦tico Madrid.

    "The position doesn''t matter at this point," Zachary thought. "I only need to ensure that I make a substantial impact on the pitch wherever I y. That''s what''s important." He geared himself up and immediately quickened his steps, eager to rejoin his teammates in the parking lot.

    -----

 Chapter 478 To The Vicente CalderÃ³n Stadium

    The Juventus squad''s journey from Turin to Madrid was without any issues that morning. As nned, the Old Lady yers and technical staff were on the 8:30 outbound flight from Turin. They spent two and a half hours in the skies before their ne descended and touched down on the runway of the famous Madrid¨CTorrej¨®n Airport.

    Coach Allegri was the first to set foot on Madrid soil. After breathing in to take in the calming Madrid breeze, he smiled and nodded to the nearby staff before turning to face the UEFA guide in charge of Juventus.

    "I''m Pablo Rodr¨ªguez, your guide for this UEFA Champions League trip to Madrid," the middle-aged man said, extending his hand. "Wee to Madrid. Wee to the capital of European football, Coach Allegri."

    "You''re funny." Coach Allegri chuckled, taking Pablo''s hand for a firm handshake. "It''s a pleasure to meet you, Pablo. But I''ll pretend as if I didn''t hear you call Madrid the capital of European football. Is our bus ready?"

    Pablo smiled in response. "Yes, the bus is waiting in the parking lot. It is ready to ferry you to your hotel. We''ve also already handled the airport procedures in your stead. So you don''t need to go through the hustle of airport lines."

    "Thank you, Pablo," Coach Allegri said before turning back to face his yers, who had already assembled behind him. With one nce, he could see signs of dullness and lethargy among their ranks. The short journey had worn them out, and they needed intensive exercise before returning to tip-top condition.

    "Lads!" The coach said in Italian. "Here is our n for today. We''ll head to the hotel and enjoy a light breakfast. After that, all of us, except the sleepyhead Zachary, will go through some drills to warm up our muscles. We''ll end our short training session at around 1:30 PM and then have lunch. Then, after lunch, we''ll rest until 6:30 in the evening before having dinner and then heading to the Vicente Calder¨®n Stadium for our game against Atl¨¦tico Madrid. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers who could speak Italian replied in unison.

    "Excellent," the coach said, nodding. "You can trante my message to your teammates who don''t speak Italian. In the meantime, let''s start making our way to the bus. We must hurry and put in a few hours of training before lunch."

    With that said, the Juventus squad followed after Pablo, the UEFA guide, and they made their way out of the airport through a private exit. In a few minutes, they reached the arranged team bus and boarded it. Then after they all took their seats, the driver eased the bus out of the parking lot, and off they went, heading towards the Arganzu district of Madrid, Spain. They were obviously on their way to the Riu za Espa?a, the hotel which would be their home during their one-day stay in Madrid.

    Madrid was, without a doubt, a beautiful city. It was a metropolis of elegant boulevards, expansive and well-manicured parks, plus breathtaking architecture. But all that couldn''t intrigue Coach Allegri as he had already been to Madrid more times than he could remember. He also couldn''t afford to waste time as he was still refining his game n for the Champions League game against Atl¨¦tico Madrid.

    He had done his best to prepare his yers over the past two days of training at the Vinovo. He''d also done the necessary to increase Juventus'' attacking prowess by pushing the overly-clinical Zachary to the striking line. Everything was in order, and all that remained was to ensure that his other starting eleven were in tip-top shape so they could adequately execute his game n during the match.

    "Coach!" Maurizio Trombetta, his assistant, called from beside him.

    "Yes," Coach Allegri replied.

    Coach Trombetta nced around before saying, "Fernando is not happy after you abruptly took him out of the starting line-up. He has been grumbling to the rest of his teammates throughout the journey."

    "Just let him be," Coach Allegri said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I already exined to him that I made the switch for tactical reasons. He''ll calm down after some time. That aside, you should ensure that Zachary gets some sleep during the day. We want him sharp during the game."

    "I know," Coach Trombetta nodded. "I''ll ensure he gets some rest when the others are training."

    Coach Allegri nodded and returned his gaze to the scenery shing outside of the bus window. He didn''t say another word until the bus arrived at the Hotel Riu za Espa?a.

    -----

    After enjoying ate breakfast at the Hotel Riu za Espa?a''s restaurant, Zachary parted with his teammates. He went straight to his hotel room and changed into some lighter clothes. After switching off his phone, he jumped into bed and was soon fast asleep.

    Unlike the previous night, his sleep was a peaceful one. He was deep in slumber for a good few hours and only managed to open his eyes when the clock hand was pointing to the three o''clock mark in the evening.

    He stretched before jumping out of bed. As his body moved, his spirits brightened, and he felt full of energy. Gone was the tiredness of the morning, and his mind was so rxed without any ounce of fatigue. A smile framed his facial features as he casually executed a set of yoga poses in his hotel room. He was focused on the exercising routine for a few minutes and only stopped when a few drops of sweat started dripping down his forehead.

    "Now, I''m truly ready," Zachary thought. He''d been worried about messing up during the match due to fatigue. But after sleeping for a few hours, those concerns were all gone. He was in the best shape he could be and ready to execute his magic against the Atl¨¦tico Madrid boys.

    "I wonder if Cami is out of the hospital."

    Zachary immediately picked up his phone from the bedside table. He switched it on, hoping to dial Cami''s number and understand her circumstances. But right after the phone booted up, his eyes widened when he saw a message from her.

    "Hello, dear," the message read. "Just wanted to inform you that I''m out of the hospital. The tests revealed that I''m very okay. So you don''t have to worry about me. You can focus on preparing for your match without any worries. Love, Cami."<novelnext></novelnext>

    After reading the message, Zachary felt like he''d unloaded another weight off his shoulder. He smiled and immediately typed a response, making sure to make her understand that he was thinking about her. Then, he threw the phone on the bed before heading to the bathroom for a shower.

    "Knock! Knock!"

    A loud knock sounded on his hotel room''s door just as he stepped out of the shower. He wrapped a towel around himself and immediately walked towards the door. He opened it, only to find Coach Trombetta standing in the doorway.

    "Hello, Zachary," Coach Trombetta said, stepping past Zachary and into the room. It was as if he was entering his own house. "Did you manage to find some sleep?" He asked.

    "Yes, I did," Zachary replied with a smile. "I have just woken up." He closed the door behind him.

    "That''s good." Coach Trombetta smiled. "How are you feeling now?"

    "I''m in good condition," Zachary responded. "Now, I''m sure I''ll be able to perform at a hundred percent. Can you return me to the midfield?"

    "Don''t push your luck," Coach Trombetta said. "The coach has already been lenient enough by allowing you to stay in the starting eleven. Don''t try to dictate what position he ys you in."

    "I understand," Zachary said.

    "Good." Coach Trombetta nodded with a smile. "You should head downstairs and eat something. You''ll need plenty of nutrients and calories to burn during the match."

    "I was just nning to," Zachary said. "I''ll head down for a meal in about fifteen minutes."

    "Then, my work here is done," the coach said, standing up. "I''ll see you again when we''re setting off for the stadium. Don''t bete." Without waiting for Zachary''s response, he marched out of the room before closing the door behind him.

    -----

    The time passed quickly, and soon, the sun sank below the western horizon of the city of Madrid. And just before the clock hand could point to the eight o''clock mark, both teams arrived at the Vicente Calder¨®n Stadium one after the other.

    Despite being the away side, Juventus arrived first. Under the insistence of their head coach, Massimiliano Allegri, they ignored the fans and rushed into the stadium, eager to begin their pre-match warm-up routine.

    The Atl¨¦tico Madrid delegation then arrived after a few more minutes and caused a big hoo-ha at the gates. The home fans started screaming the names of the Atl¨¦tico Madrid yers as they alighted from the bus. Some were even bold enough to ask for an autograph from Diego Simeone, Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s coach.

    Diego Simeone, being the charismatic guy he was, was enthusiastic as ever while facing the Atl¨¦tico Madrid supporters. He signed a few autographs before leading his yers into the stadium. They walked quickly through the tunnel and arrived in their dressing room within a few minutes.

    Coach Diego Simeone immediately instructed his yers to hurry up and prepare for the pre-match dynamic warm-up. Then, he stepped towards his assistant and asked, "Has Juventus released their line-up yet?"

    "Let me check," Germ¨¢n Burgos, the assistant coach, replied. Then, he browsed for information on his tablet for a few seconds before turning to his boss again. "Their line-up is out."

    "Good," Diego Simeone said. "Let me see."

    Without waiting for the assistant to respond, he grabbed the tablet and focused his eyes on Juventus'' line-up. The next moment, his expression turned serious when he noticed that Coach Allegri had chosen to y Zachary on striking. His mind went into overdrive, and he recalled many scenes from Zachary''s past match videos. But even after contemting for a while, he still couldn''t gauge whether Zachary would do more harm upfront than he usually did while ying in the midfield. Additionally, he was at a loss for how to defend against his trickery close to their box.

    "This is going to be tricky," he said to his assistant. "After preparing many strategies to handle Zachary in midfield, this bastard has chosen to y him on striking. Damn it. Why is he ying him out of his natural position?"

    "But they are still ying a 3-5-2 formation," Germ¨¢n Burgos, the assistant coach, pointed out. "Zachary won''t have any impact up front as long as we y a solid game and prevent the Juventus midfielders from supplying him the ball."

    "That may not be so," Diego Simeone said. "The guy is tall and as slippery as a loach. He might punish us by connecting with crosses and long balls to score goals. We must keep reminding the defenders to be on their toes while marking him."

    -----

 Chapter 479 Against AtlÃ©tico Madrid

    The cheers around the Vicente Calder¨®n Stadium hit a thunderous crescendo when the clock hands all around Madrid pointed to the 8:38 PM mark. Under the expectant gazes of the more than 40,000 supporters in the stadium, both teams followed the four match officials and slowly lined up in front of the tunnel.

    The Atl¨¦tico Madrid yers were in their official striped red and white home jerseys matched with blue shorts. On the other hand, the Juventus yers had donned their rare all-green away kits for that face-off against the Madrid side. They all looked dapper as they went through the pre-match routines before running off into the pitch to take their starting positions.

    In the meantime, Coach Allegri also shook hands with Diego Simeone, the tactician who had guided Atl¨¦tico Madrid to La Liga glory the previous season. Since only a few minutes remained until themencement of the game, the two coaches only exchanged a few words before stepping back toward their respective technical areas. Then, they took their seats and patiently waited for the game to begin.

    After upying a position on the visitor''s bench, Massimiliano Allegri began surveying the pitch. His eyes swept over the referee and then a few of his defenders and midfielders before settling on Zachary. The next moment, the coach''s spirits lifted when he noticed that the young number ten was already warming up while assessing the opposition. He seemed as ready as ever to y the game and unleash his impressive skills upon the Atl¨¦tico Madrid side.

    "I really hope he can deliver," Coach Allegri thought. Over the past two weeks, he''d spent countless hours watching Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s previous match videos. His time before the screen was fruitful, and he''d eventually learned how scary Atl¨¦tico Madrid could be on the defensive. You could dominate them in possession and other statistics, but in the end, they could still have thestugh and defeat you just by relying on their tenacious defensive abilities. They were a scary team, and that was why Coach Allegri hade up with the idea of ying the overly clinical Zachary on striking.

    The coach needed Zachary up front to apply pressure on Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s center-backs and hopefully score a goal or two. He needed the boy wonder''s sharpness and clinicality to help Juventus win their first Champions League group stage fixture against Atl¨¦tico Madrid.

    -----

    The minutes passed quickly ¡ª and soon, the clock hands all around Madrid pointed to the 8:45 PM mark. Without further ado, the referee blew the whistle to kick start that evening''s UEFA Champions League game between Atl¨¦tico Madrid and Juventus.

    "It begins."

    Since Zachary was the striker, he was positioned over the ball at the center spot and responsible for kicking off the y that evening. After hearing the whistle, he reacted immediately and kicked the ball back into his midfield, hoping to find Andrea Pirlo. He then took off to the other side of the pitch, eager to take up his attacking position.

    Andrea Pirlo, on his part, controlled the ball from Zachary with ease. Following that, he whirled around before passing to udio Marchisio, one of his counterparts in midfield.

    Marchisio was also quick on the ball. He took a single touch while assessing the situation around him. Then, before any of the opponents could close him down, he unleashed a grounded pass toward the wings to find Stephan Lichtsteiner, Juventus'' attacking wing-back.

    Stephan Lichtsteiner was as impressive as ever on the ball. He controlled it with a single touch and immediately skipped past Koke, one of Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s midfielders. Then, before any other opponent could close him down, he took off and raced along the touchline, spearing deeper into Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s half. When the angle finally opened up, he squared the ball back into the middle to find Andrea Pirlo, the Juventus Maestro, who''d just run into an unmarked pocket of space close to the center line.

    Andre Pirlo, on his part, connected with the ball from Stephan Lichtsteiner with ease. But before he could take a second touch, Sa¨²l ?¨ªguez, one of Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s three midfielders, was on him, all guns zing.

    Sa¨²l ?¨ªguez was merciless while approaching the Italian maestro. He slid forth wholesale, trying to tackle the ball off Andrea''s feet. But his challenge was a bitte, and he missed the ball. Instead, he caught Andrea Pirlo on the ankle and swept him off the ground. He''d obviouslymitted a dangerous foul in the 2nd minute of gamey.

    "Ref! Foul!"

    Arturo Vidal, who was in the vicinity, was the first to yell out after Andrea Pirlo tumbled down and hit the green. The Chilean midfielder rushed to the scene and was soon in the referee''s face,ining about how ruthless Sa¨²l ?¨ªguez''s foul had been. But Vidal wasn''t alone while expressing his dissatisfaction with ?¨ªguez''s challenge. The other Juventus yers, including Zachary, showed solidarity at that moment. They arrived at the scene and started causing chaos while voicing theirints. They were obviously exerting pressure upon the referee so he could consider offering a yellow card to ?¨ªguez.

    However, the Juventus yers soon realized that they were barking up the wrong tree. Felix Brych, the referee, turned a deaf ear to all theirints. He only awarded Juventus a free-kick and then waved the medical team onto the pitch to provide first-aid treatment for the seemingly injured Andrea Pirlo. But he didn''t bother to show Sa¨²l ?¨ªguez, the yer who hadmitted the dangerous foul, a yellow card.

    "Referee! We''re not happy with your decision."

    Giorgio Chiellini, the vice-captain, grumbled after the referee refused to show a yellow card to Sa¨²l ?¨ªguez. The center-back went on another verbal war with the referee while the medics tended to Andrea Pirlo. But once again, the vice captain''sints fell on deaf ears.

    The referee turned away and busied himself with marking out the spot for the free-kick. He was obviously not about to consider Chiellini''sints.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Let''s ignore the referee and prepare for the free-kick," Zachary suggested, intending to cool down the heated atmosphere around the scene. He pulled Chiellini away from the referee and continued, "It''s not good to anger the referee, especially so early in the game. Let''s cool down and focus on the game."

    "Okay." Giorgio Chiellini nodded. He seemed to have calmed down after voicing his dissatisfaction.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle after the medics finished tending to Andrea Pirlo. udio Marchisio immediately took the free-kick short, and Juventus resumed their attack. Over the next few minutes, the football was free flowing as water, as the Old Lady yers moved the ball from one end of the field to the other as they tried to stretch Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s defensive shape. They arrayed themselves in their 3-5-2 system as they outyed the Madrid side and hoarded over 70% of the possession.

    The Juventus yers with the most touches were obviously Andrea Pirlo, udio Marchisio, Arturo Vidal, Patrice Evra, and Stephan Lichtsteiner, who were the five midfielders. They would form triangles and move the ball around the pitch while looking for an opportunity to thread a defense-splitting pass to Zachary and T¨¦vez, the two strikers. And if there were no opportunities, they would instead y the ball into the wings for the wing-backs to deliver crosses into the box. Their versatility was top-notch that evening, and they further cemented Juventus'' dominance during the first thirty minutes. But despite their exceptional performance, they still failed to break apart the tenacity of Atl¨¦tico Madrid during the opening minutes.

    The Atl¨¦tico Madrid yers, on their part, were exceptionally disciplined while alternating between a 4-3-3 and a 4-5-1 defensive shape. They remainedpact and solid in their approach and didn''t allow Juventus to break through their ranks. And if a need arose, they wouldn''t hesitate to foul and bring down any Juventus yer that tried to prate through their defense. They were ruthless individually and as a unit and thus prevented Juventus from scoring an opening goal during the first thirty minutes of gamey.

    But what was surprising was that the referee didn''t show any of the Atl¨¦tico Madrid yers a yellow card, no matter how many fouls theymitted. First, they fouled Andrea Pirlo during the 2nd minute. Then, theymitted other ruthless fouls against Patrice Evra, Carlos T¨¦vez, and Stephan Lichtsteiner. But the referee chose to remain silent and didn''t caution them. As a result, they continued pushing the envelope andmitting more dangerous tackles since there were no consequences for their actions so far. And that was the other reason they managed to keep Juventus at bay during the first thirty minutes of gamey.

    ? -----

    Zachary, on his part, had been following the coach''s instructions to the letter. He had not once tried to fall back and help out his teammates. Instead, he''d positioned himself in the pocket of space between the center-backs while waiting patiently for an opportunity to test Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s keeper.

    He hadn''t seen much of the ball during the opening thirty minutes, especially since he was always tightly marked by two towering Atl¨¦tico Madrid center-backs. He was bored and was just like a spectator, watching the rest of his teammates ying one-touch or two-touch football. He really missed ying in the midfield, where he could constantly be at the center of things.

    "Oh, no!"

    Suddenly, Zachary''s heart went on a wild caper within his chest. He let out a silent yelp as he watched Sa¨²l ?¨ªguez, Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s midfielder, slide in and win the ball from Arturo Vidal close to the halfway line.

    At that moment, it was as if all the Atl¨¦tico Madrid midfielders and attackers had just woken up. They swarmed forward like a pack of wolves while moving the ball quickly among themselves. Their one-two exchanges were lightning-fast and precise, and they managed to tear through Juventus'' defense in mere seconds. They arrived in the final third, and the ball naturally found its way to Koke, Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s creative midfielder.

    Koke remainedposed as he controlled the ball and skipped past Mart¨ªn C¨¢ceres, one of Juventus'' defenders. His impressive footwork and trickery opened a passing angle for him, and he unleashed a simple but deadly ball past the approaching Giorgio Chiellini. He beat the Italian defender with his well-timed through ball and released Mario Mandzukic, Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s center-forward, on a straight course toward Juventus'' goal.

    "Whoosh!"

    Mario Mandzukic was like the wind as he beat the offside trap and connected with the well-timed pass. He controlled the ball mid-sprint and continued racing toward Juventus'' box like there was no tomorrow.

    Gianluigi Buffon, the Juventus keeper, reacted as any keeper should. He raced out of goal, hoping to save the situation by intercepting the approaching Mario Mandzukic.

    But Mandzukic, being the sharp striker he was, remainedposed under such circumstances. He rounded Gianluigi Buffon with a deft touch before burying the ball into the empty to score Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s 1st goal for the night. Then, without halting, he raced toward the sidelines to celebrate with the rest of his teammates.

    -----

 Chapter 480 Reaction

    "What a sensational finish!" Thementator''s mellifluous voice resounded in sync with the thunderous cheers of the home fans around the stadium. "Mario Mandzukic, Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s Croatian center-forward, has scored the opening goal in the 34th minute. It''s now Atl¨¦tico Madrid one and Juventus nil. The Madrid side is ahead even after being on the back foot since the first minute."

    "Really incredible stuff!" The comentator chimed in. "Juventus has been on the front foot and has dominated over 70% possession for most of the first half. But the Turin-based side still couldn''t make anything out of their overwhelming statistics. Instead, it''s the team from Madrid that has utilized its first chance on goal to find the back of the in this highly-contested Champions League group game."

    "That''s Diego Simeone''s Atl¨¦tico Madrid for you," thementator said. "You can dominate them in possession and other statistics, but they will still defeat you at the end of the match. That''s how they broke Barcelona and Real Madrid''s dominance before bing the champions of Spainst season. They''re an incredibly tactically disciplined side under their passionate manager, Diego Simeone."

    "That''s true," the comentator agreed. "I''m sure Coach Allegri should be angry with Arturo Vidal for losing the ball that easily. Had he not lost possession, then Atl¨¦tico Madrid would have found it hard to create any chance on goal during the first half..."

    -----

    Paolo Favero, a staunch Juventus fan, was totally dejected while following the Spanishmentary in the visiting fans section of the Vicente Calder¨®n Stadium. He was angry and disappointed as his ears took in the thunderous cheers of the Atl¨¦tico Madrid fans.

    Paolo had traveled all the way from Turin to Madrid ¡ª to watch his team put on a show and defeat the weaker Madrid side. Over the past few days, Paolo had constantly visualized Juventus putting three past the Atl¨¦tico Madrid keeper within the first half an hour of gamey. But during the 34th minute, his hopes had sunk down the drain after the Atl¨¦tico Madrid side utilized their first chance on goal to score and gain an advantage during the heated Champions League group battle.

    "Why did Coach Allegri y Zachary on striking today?" He grumbled after the cheers died down. "Why did he take him out of our midfield? I don''t understand the coach''s thinking?"

    "I also don''t get the coach''s thinking," Giovanni Favero, his brother, replied from beside him. "Zachary should be the perfect person to break down Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s midfield. But the coach has yed him out of his natural position. It''s absurd."

    Paolo Favero sighed and nodded while his eyes continued taking in the proceedings on the pitch. The goal celebrations had already ended, and the game had just restarted. Juventus was once again on the ball, ying patient ¡ª but short passes.

    The Old Lady yers were obviously trying to stretch and find a way through Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s 4-5-1 defensive system. They remained confident and passed the ball immactely among themselves for the next seven minutes. Their teamwork was incredible, and they once again hoarded over 70% ball possession while sustaining pressure on Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s defense. But they still couldn''t find a goal-scoring opportunity, despite their relentless efforts. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn''t break through Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s tenacious defense.

    "I think Juventus is in trouble," Paolo Favero suddenly heard thementator say. "Their passing is immacte, and they are again dominating the possession. However, they are still far from breaking down Atl¨¦tico Madrid and creating goal-scoring opportunities. They haven''t involved their strikers in their build-up. Additionally, they have really not tested the Atl¨¦tico Madrid keeper since themencement of the game."

    "That''s right," the comentator agreed. "I think Coach Diego Simeone''s tactics are spot on today. He has isted Zachary and T¨¦vez, the two Juventus strikers. And by keeping Andrea Pirlo, Juventus'' deep-lying ymaker, in check, he has choked Juventus'' transition from midfield to striking. That''s why Coach Allegri''s men have not managed to prate Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s defense. They even haven''t had a single shot on target since themencement of the game. Truly surprising!"

    "True," thementator said. "Let''s return to the proceedings on the pitch. It''s Patrice Evra on the ball. He races past Ra¨²l Garc¨ªa and passes to udio Marchisio, the Juventus midfielder. Marchisio is on the ball. He twists and turns away from Koke before passing to Andrea Pirlo."

    "Pirlo receives the ball. He controls it and tries to skip past Sa¨²l ?¨ªguez with his second touch. But, Oh my God! He has been robbed by ?¨ªguez, and Atl¨¦tico Madrid wins possession..."

    "Damn it!" Paolo Favero''s mood sunk. He tightened his fists as he watched Sa¨²l ?¨ªguez win the ball from Andrea Pirlo with a sliding tackle. Then, before the other Juventus yers could react, ?¨ªguez picked himself from the ground and kicked the ball to Mario Mandzukic to initiate another counter against Juventus.

    "It''s another counterattack from Atl¨¦tico Madrid..." Thementator''s voice resounded in the stadium as the Atl¨¦tico Madrid offensive yers flew forward. At that moment, they attacked as a unit and exchanged lightning-fast passes. They tore through the field like a pack of wolves ¡ª and in a matter of seconds; they were bearing down on Juventus'' box.

    A secondter, the ball found its way back to Mario Mandzukic, who had positioned himself, in an unmarked pocket of space, on the left edge of the box. The Croatian center-forward wasted no time controlling the ball mid-sprint before riffling in a carpet shot toward the bottom left corner.<novelnext></novelnext>

    -----

    Zachary, who was in the center circle, was nervous as his eyes followed the ball. With one nce, he could tell that Mario Mandzukic''s effort was on target and headed toward the bottom left corner. It was obviously another chance for Atl¨¦tico Madrid to score and extend their lead.

    However, it seemed that the goddess of luck was with Juventus at that instant. Gianluigi Buffon, the Juventus keeper, was alert. He reacted immediately and went into action with an acrobatic dive. He stretched forth and grazed the ball with his fingertips, thus sending it off its intended trajectory.

    With that incredible save, the keeper managed to save Juventus from conceding a second goal during the 43rd minute. However, the danger was still atrge within Juventus'' box. That was because the ball smashed off the post before rebounding back into the box. It immediately induced a scuffle in the area as the yers of both teams went after the ball with all the haste they could muster.

    But luckily for Juventus, it was Leonardo Boni who got thestugh. The center-back pounced forward like a raging beast and smashed the ball toward the other side of the pitch. His powerful and timely clearance managed to get Juventus out of a precarious situation right before halftime.

    "Whoosh!"

    Zachary immediately took off after the ball. His almost instantaneous eleration allowed him to escape from his markers in the center circle. Then, he raced toward the left wing ¡ª towards the position of the descending ball as if his life was on the line.

    After arriving close to the touchline on the left, he stretched out his leg and brought the ball under control with a deft touch. His immacte ball control elicited cheers and gasps from the crowd. But he remained focused as he whirled around and elerated towards Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s box like a bullet train on the rails.

    His S+ Agility was on full disy as his long strides ate up yards of space, and he stepped into the final third within seconds. But just as he was cutting into the pitch, on a straight course towards Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s goal, he ran into a roadblock in the form of Diego God¨ªn, the opposing center-back.

    The center-back was racing forward, all guns zing, as if he wanted to murder Zachary. However, Zachary didn''t choose to tango with the defender. He instead flicked the ball to his right to find Carlos T¨¦vez, the other Juventus striker. Then, he immediately altered his running course to circumvent the approaching Diego God¨ªn.

    Carlos T¨¦vez, on his part, was also quite impressive. He connected with the ball from Zachary mid-sprint and continued racing toward Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s goal like the wind. Then, when the keeper came out of the box to intercept his run, he selflessly squared the ball back to his left to find Zachary, who was running in sync with him.

    Zachary was asposed as ever before the goal. He controlled the ball at the edge of the box before smashing it into the back of the empty with his left foot. Then, without halting, he raced toward the sidelines to celebrate the equalizer for Juventus with his teammates.

    -----

    "GOAL!" Thementator''s voice reverberated across the stadium as Zachary raced to the sidelines to celebrate with his teammates. "Truly sensational! Zachary has linked up with Carlos T¨¦vez to score an equalizer for Juventus during the 44th minute. With lightning-fast exchanges, they have managed to break down Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s tenacity, and the score is now back to square one. It''s Atl¨¦tico Madrid one and Juventus one. What a wonderful game of football!"

    "Yes, truly sensational stuff from Juventus," the comentator chimed in. "Talk about being clinical! The Juventus strikers are as sharp as ever. They have created something out of nothing. With one opportunity, they have leveled the ying ground again."

    "True," thementator agreed. "It all began with Leonardo Boni''s clearance. Then, Zachary controlled the ball with perfection before going at the Atl¨¦tico Madrid defense like mad. He linked up with T¨¦vez to beat the remaining center-back before burying the ball into the back of the. We''ve just witnessed Juventus at its best. Truly amazing football!"

    -----

 Chapter 481 Second Half Strategy

    The referee blew the whistle for half-time after two more minutes of gamey. Without further ado, the yers of both teams hurried to their respective dressing rooms for the fifteen-minute break.

    "Man!" Patrice Evra patted Zachary''s back as they entered the dressing room. "The way you controlled that ball from Boni was godly. Kudos to you for creating our equalizer."

    "Don''t forget about my contribution," Carlos T¨¦vez hurriedly chimed in from behind Zachary. "Zachary would have found it hard to beat the Atl¨¦tico Madrid defense alone if I hadn''t helped."

    Patrice smiled and stepped back to put an arm around T¨¦vez. "Of course, I can''t forget your contribution, Carlos. But I''m just saying Zachary might still have scored even if he was against four Atl¨¦tico Madrid defenders alone. So, please don''t get so full of yourself for making an assist." He added jokingly.

    "Damn it, Patrice! That''s mean," T¨¦vez said, pushing away Evra. "Do you really have to state the obvious?"

    The rest of the Juventus yersughed at that while settling down on the seats in the dressing room. They soon started gulping down some water while waiting for their coach''s half-time address.

    -----

    Coach Allegri was in a good mood when he stepped into the dressing room at half-time. His spirits were flying high since his yers had scored an equalizer right before the end of the first half. As a result, he could be more flexible with his tactics for the second half since he only had to focus on remaining stable, performance-wise, and winning the game.

    Coach Allegri took a deep breath and swept his gaze across the yers in the dressing room. "Lads!" He said. "Can I have your attention?"

    On hearing his voice, all the yers stopped whatever they were doing. Then, they immediately turned their attention to their coach, ready to listen to his half-time address.

    "Our performance during the first half was sub-par," Coach Allegri began. "First of all, our passpletion rate, especially while going forward, was below standard. Secondly, our reaction as a team after losing the ball had no sense of urgency. Thirdly, we only managed to have one shot on target even after dominating possession for the entire first half. What the hell were you guys doing on the pitch?"

    Coach Allegri shook his head. "You''re clearly a better team than Atl¨¦tico Madrid on paper. But why are you ying a shitty type of football? What is stopping you all, especially our midfielders, from creating chances and providing good service to our strikers?"

    Giorgio Chiellini raised his hand on hearing the question.

    "Yes, Chiellini." Coach Allegri pointed at him. "What''scking?"

    "I think weck team spirit," Chiellini replied. "Weck thatpetitive edge as a team to stake everything against Atl¨¦tico Madrid and win the game. That''s why we''re ying shitty football."

    "That''s fuckin'' right! Thank you, Chiellini," Coach Allegri said, pping his hands for emphasis. "I don''t know what has happened to you guys on the pitch. But I can see it in the way you handle the ball. I can see it in your reactions and runs off the ball. Youck the spirit topete as professionals out there. It''s as if you''re ying a fuckin'' training match without any drive andpetitive edge. You guys tell me! How the hell are we supposed to take on bigger clubs like Barcelona and Real Madridter on in thepetition when you''re ying like this? How are we supposed to have a chance at winning the Champions League if weck the drive to be the winners of our group?"

    Coach Allegri sighed, sweeping his gaze across his yers again. "This can''t go on," he said, his tone softening. "We must go out there and y our hearts out during the second half. We must show Atl¨¦tico Madrid that we mean business. We must show them that we''re here to fuckin''pete and win the game. If we wish to have any hope of ever winning the Champions League, we must build our momentum starting here and now. We must defeat Atl¨¦tico Madrid. Are you guys with me?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers roared back in unison.

    "Good." Coach Allegri nodded and smiled. "Lastly, I''ll talk a bit about the tactics. During the first half, Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s tactics isted our strikers, and we couldn''t link up y with them. That''s why we had limited goal-scoring opportunities and almost no shot on target. We can''t continue ying that way during the second half. We must involve our strikers, especially if we wish to win the game."

    "So, here is our n for the second half," Coach Allegri continued, "I want you to float in as many balls as possible towards T¨¦vez and Zachary. I want to see crosses and defense-splitting passes flying toward Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s box and making their way to our strikers. I especially want Zachary involved in the game right from the first minute of the second half."

    "Andrea!" The coach nced towards Pirlo. "When you get the ball in midfield, your first option before anything else should be to look for Zachary. The same applies to you, Patrice, udio, T¨¦vez, and Stephan. Float in as many crosses and lofted passes ¡ª to ensure that Zachary has good service. I can guarantee that he will fuckin'' win the game for us if you follow those simple instructions. That is why I put him on the striking line today. Are we clear?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied without voicing any objections.

    "Okay, then." Coach Allegri nodded, ncing at his watch. "It''s almost time. Coach Trombetta! Try to trante my words to the none Italian-speakingds as quickly as possible. We must be ready to head back to the pitch within five minutes."

    "Okay, boss," Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach in charge of the first team, answered.<novelnext></novelnext>

    -----

    Zachary marched onto the pitch along with the rest of his teammates after the fifteen-minute half-time break. His yearning to perform was almost shooting through the stadium roof and into the night skies of Madrid. He desired to y his heart out and help his team ovee the tricky Atl¨¦tico Madrid side.

    "Zachary!" Andrea Pirlo suddenly called out to him as they were halfway into the pitch. "I hope you understood Coach Allegri''s instructions for the second half. He wants us to supply you with as many balls as possible. Your only role is to connect with our passes and to test the Atl¨¦tico Madrid keeper. So, you must remain sharp on the striking line."

    "Don''t worry. I''m aware of my role on the pitch." Zachary smiled while nodding. Coach Trombetta had tranted Coach Allegri''s tactics for him. So, he was aware that he would be the talisman during the second half, with the sole role of scoring goals. For the first time as a Juventus yer, he would y as a true-blue center-forward.

    "It''s good that you understand," Pirlo said, patting his back. "Remember to remain alert. My passes will make their way to you when the opposing defense least expects them. Try to connect with them and, at the minimum, please ensure that you test Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s keeper. Okay?"

    "Okay." Zachary concurred.

    "Then, good." Pirlo smiled. "Let''s take our positions and win this game. We''ll celebrate in the hotel lobby after the match."

    Zacharyughed in response and high-fived Pirlo before running to his position. He was ready tomence the second phase of the Champions League group stage battle between Atl¨¦tico Madrid and Juventus.

    -----

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, and the game restarted with Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s kick-off. Mario Mandzukic, Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s center-forward, reacted immediately and kicked the ball into his own half to kick-start the second half.

    Koke, Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s right midfielder, connected well with the pass from Mandzukic. Then, without losing a second, he flicked it to his left to find Sa¨²l ?¨ªguez, his counterpart in midfield.

    Sa¨²l ?¨ªguez, on his part, was a bit slow on the ball. He took a few more unnecessary touches, thus allowing the Juventus attacking yers to close him down. And with no other options, he could only st the ball toward the other side of the pitch to avoid losing possession in a dangerous area.

    "Whoosh!"

    The ball sted by ?¨ªguez soared high into the night skies before descending towards Juventus'' box under the influence of gravity. And without any surprises, it dropped into the outstretched and waiting hands of Gianluigi Buffon, the Juventus goalkeeper.

    "I need urgency on the ball!" Coach Allegri shouted in Italian from the sidelines. "Pass the ball forward. We must pressurize them and score as soon as possible."

    After hearing Coach Allegri''s shout, Buffon reacted with all the haste he could muster. He threw the ball towards Leonardo Boni, the defender waiting at the edge of the box.

    Boni, on his part, controlled the ball well before flicking it to his left to find Giorgio Chiellini, his counterpart in defense. Thetter received it and kicked it toward the left wing, hoping to find Patrice Evra.

    From there on, the Juventus yers started ying with more urgency on the ball. They formed triangles and interchanged lightning-fast passes with a clear intent to break through Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s defensive shape. And when angles opened up, they would float in crosses or lofted passes toward the opposing box, hoping to find Zachary or Carlos Tevez. They were more purposeful in their ying style, and it wasn''t long before they created their first clear goal-scoring opportunity.

    Naturally, Andrea Pirlo was the yer to kick-start the magic during the 56th minute. The Italian Maestro happened to receive the ball in a strategic position before the box after a period of Juventus dominance.

    His ball handling was brilliant and effective. He escaped from his marker with a single deft touch and opened up a shooting angle. Then, before any other opponents could close him down, he unleashed a curling and tricky ball toward the inside of the far post.

    -----

 Chapter 482 A Lightning-Fast Counterattack

    It was the first-clear goal-scoring opportunity for Juventus during the second half. As a result, Coach Allegri couldn''t stop his heart from racing while watching Andrea Pirlo''s effort darting towards goal. He was hoping and praying that the ball would make it past the keeper and home into the back of the. He really wished that his team would score a goal within the opening minutes of the second half.

    But unfortunately, his wishes couldn''te true due to the alertness and brilliance of Miguel ¨¢ngel Moy¨¢, the Atl¨¦tico Madrid keeper.

    Miguel contorted his entire body and sprang into action. Just like an acrobat, he executed a spectacr dive before punching the ball away from his goal.

    "Merda!"

    Coach Allegri couldn''t help but mumble a curse after seeing the Atl¨¦tico Madrid keeper make the sensational save. The coach sighed with dejection while beginning the reflexive motion of cing his hands at the back of his head. At that moment, he really thought that another chance for Juventus to score had already passed and gone down the drain.

    However, Coach Allegri couldn''t have been more wrong. Just as his hands were halfway into the air, they froze abruptly. And just suddenly, his heartbeat quickened again as he noticed a tall silhouette in Juventus'' all-green away kit pouncing towards the ball.

    Of course, it was Zachary taking action, and before any of the opposing defenders could react, the boy-wonder rushed forward like the wind. Without even bothering to control the rebounded ball, he sted it into the back of the and then raced off to the sidelines to celebrate with his teammates. He''d just scored Juventus'' second goal during the 57th minute.

    "I''ll be damned. Where the hell did hee from?"

    Coach Allegri''s jaw dropped as the cheers erupted all around the stadium. He even forgot to celebrate, and he couldn''t hide the surprise in his heart. He stood stock-still, like a statue in a suit, as his eyes took in the sights of Zachary celebrating the goal with the other Juventus yers.

    "This guy has sharp instincts," Coach Allegri thought after calming his vtile emotions. "He''s born to be a natural striker."

    As an experienced coach, Coach Allegri understood how hard a feat it was to score a goal like the one that Zachary had just bagged. The yer''s positioning, spatial awareness, reaction time, and timing all needed to be spot-on to convert such an opportunity. In a nutshell, it all came down to instincts, whereby the yer in question had to have the ability to sniff out a chance and be in the right ce at the right time. Otherwise, that yer would find it hard to convert such opportunities and score goals under pressure.

    "It''s a pity that Zachary is exceptional in midfield." Coach Allegri sighed. "Otherwise, I could have convinced him or even used my authority to turn him into a striker."

    The coach shook his head, pushing the notion out of his head. Zachary was not just an exceptional goal-scorer. He was also a brilliant midfielder who could dribble and unleash defense-splitting passes that could result in goals. And due to those brilliant qualities, the best position for him was the number ten position, where he could y as an attacking pivot and utilize all his skills against the opponents. Thus, the coach would only consider ying him as a striker when Juventus faced off against tricky and defensively-disciplined sides like Atl¨¦tico Madrid.

    -----

    Atl¨¦tico Madrid 1 : Juventus FC 2

    -----

    Coach Diego Simeone frowned and shook his head after ncing at the stadium''s jumbotron. He thought for a moment before turning towards his substitute''s bench.

    "Antoine Griezmann!" He said, ncing at the Frenchman. "Start warming. I want you on the pitch within ten minutes."

    "Aye, coach," Griezmann replied with a smile. He quickly donned his match gear and began his warm-up on the sidelines. He was, of course, exercising urgency in his actions, especially since he wished to enter the game as soon as possible.

    -----

    The game continued after Juventus'' goal celebrations. After conceding a goal, the Atl¨¦tico Madrid yers stopped ying a defensive game. They became more active going forward andunched a series of attacks, hoping to score an equalizer. They took advantage of their versatile 4-3-3 formation to outy Juventus and even dominate possession for the next ten minutes.

    But s, their efforts couldn''t bear fruit due to the outstanding disy by the three Juventus defenders. The Juventus defenders worked hard and thwarted Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s efforts to score a goal by making timely interceptions and winning all of the aerial duels that came their way. As a result, the score remained 2:1 in favor of Juventus until the 67th minute.

    But in-game circumstances are never constant duringpetitive matches. That night, the situation changed rapidly, starting from the 68th minute, just after Coach Diego Simeone introduced Antoine Griezmann as a substitute. The Frenchman was on a roll within minutes after entering the pitch, and he soon went into action and helped Atl¨¦tico Madrid create their first clear goal-scoring chance during the second half.

    Griezman picked up a loose ball close to the center line before exchanging a couple of quick one-twos with Koke. Their immacte give-and-go lightning-fast exchanges allowed them to spear deeper into Juventus'' half, and before long, they were bearing down on Juventus'' box with unstoppable momentum.

    The ball naturally arrived back at the creative Griezman''s feet, and without losingposure, he executed his magic. The Frenchman skipped past Giorgio Chiellini with a skillful couple of touches and raced into the box like a true-blue incarnation of Usain bolt.

    However, as a renowned no-nonsense defender, Chiellini couldn''t allow the Frenchman to beat him that easily. The Italian whirled around with all the haste he could muster before stretching out a hand and tugging at the sprinting Griezman''s shirt.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Chiellini was obviously acting reflexively, without an ounce of ill intent. But that one action of taking the sting out of Griezman''s momentum was what put Juventus in a precarious situation.

    As soon as the defender''s hand made contact with the jersey, Antoine Griezmann acted as any cunning forward would by tumbling to the ground right after stepping into the penalty box. The Frenchman''s acting was at Hollywood level, and he rolled down on the green while holding his head. It was as if he was in great pain and holding on for dear life.

    "Penalty! Foul! Penalty..."

    Amotion broke out on the pitch immediately after, and the Atl¨¦tico Madrid yers, coaches, and fans started shouting at the top of their voices. They went all out as they tried to coerce the referee to give the penalty.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    However, the referee clearly didn''t need their reminders to make his decision. Within a few seconds, he blew the whistle and pointed at the penalty spot. But he didn''t just stop at that. He also showed Giorgio Chiellini a straight red card formitting ast-man foul within the box. The referee had just condemned Juventus to y with only ten men for the remainder of the game.

    -----

    "Dannazione! Che diavolo..." Coach Allegri couldn''t help but mumble a couple of expletives in his native Italiannguage as he watched Chiellini matching out of the pitch. At that moment, his mood hit an all-time low that day, especially since he was clearly aware that his team was in a very precarious situation. His yers were in a tight spot as they had to y thest twenty or so minutes while only ten men. Moreover, that was after conceding a penalty, which was the perfect opportunity for Atl¨¦tico Madrid to score and bring back proceedings to level terms. They were in deep shit as a team.

    -----

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle after organizing all the yers outside the box. Then, without further ado, he signaled Antoine Griezmann, who was already standing on the ball, to take the penalty.

    Antoine Griezmann, on his part, seemedposed as he made an angled run toward the ball. Then, he opened up his body and sent the keeper the wrong way before unleashing a shot toward the bottom left corner.

    Griezmann had obviously tried his best to convert the penalty. However, it was unfortunate that the goddess of luck seemed to be against Atl¨¦tico Madrid that evening. Just at thest moment, the ball bounced and swerved inexplicably. Then, to the gasps of many in the stadium, it sted off the post before rebounding back into the box.

    "Quickly clear the ball away..."

    "Hurry! Go after the ball for the rebound..."

    A couple of loud shouts immediately reverberated across the pitch. But, of course, the yers of both teams didn''t need reminders from their coaches and fans. They reacted like a pack of starving wolves chasing prey and pounced toward the bouncing ball. Then, what followed was amotion in the box for a few seconds ¡ª but at the end of it all, Patrice Evra, the Juventus wing-back, got thestugh.

    Patrice Evra lunged forward and cleared the ball with an acrobatic move that resembled fictitious karate. With a powerful bicycle kick, he sent it flying toward the night skies of Madrid, thereby saving Juventus from conceding a goal during the 71st minute.

    "Excellent!"

    Zachary''s spirits lifted after Patrice Evra made the timely clearance. But that didn''t stop him from taking off and racing after the ball like the wind. His long strides covered dozens of yards within a few seconds, and he got to it just before it could bounce on the ground. Without losing even a second, he controlled it with his chest on the left wing before flicking it forward with his head and then chasing after it.

    The lightning-fast solo counterattack was on, and Zachary continued flicking the ball forward with his head. Then, secondster, he slowed down slightly and finally utilized his boot to flick the ball over the approaching Tiago Mendes. The next moment, his S-graded agility bloomed in great splendor, and he easily circumvented the Atl¨¦tico Madrid defender and beat him for pace.

    From there on, Zachary continued bearing down on Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s goal like a raging Tsunami, his heart and lungs expanding rapidly to supply his body with oxygen. Surprisingly, there was nothing shy about his moves as he cut across the field. But with just a pure explosion of pace, he managed to cut back into the pitch before bolting past Diego God¨ªn, the final defender between him and the goal.

    A few secondster, Zachary was one-on-one with the keeper, who hade out of the goal to meet him. But he remainedposed and dug his left boot under the ball before expertly looping the ball over the head of the approaching keeper and directing it into the back of the.

    "GOAAAL..." Zachary couldn''t help but yell out after the ball nestled into the back of the. He was on cloud nine as he''d just managed to turn the precarious situation of Juventus around with one lightning-fast solo counter.

    He''d scored the third goal for Juventus during the 72nd minute while alsopleting yet another hattrick. As a result, he couldn''t contain his happiness as he raced toward the sidelines to celebrate with his teammates.

    -----

 Chapter 483 Match Ending And Post-Match Reaction

    After the goal celebrations, the game continued. And without any surprises, the Atl¨¦tico Madrid yers relied on their numerical advantage to outy Juventus and dominate proceedings during the final twenty or so minutes of gamey. They were relentless on the offensive and even scored a constion goal through Arda Turan during the 88th minute. But that was all they could manage due to the tenacity of the Juventus team.

    The ten men of Juventus defended as a unit and thwarted most of Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s attempts to create goal-scoring opportunities. Their tactical discipline was outstanding, and they remained aggressive while covering the spaces and marking the opponents during the final minutes. As a result, they held on for dear life and won the game by three goals to one after five minutes of added time.

    "Yeah!"

    Coach Allegri couldn''t help but pump his fists repeatedly after the referee blew the final whistle. His heart throbbed with happiness after his side defeated Atl¨¦tico Madrid, the reigning Spanish Champions and the runners of the previous season''s Champion League. He couldn''t contain his emotions, and he hugged all the members of his technical staff to celebrate. After that, he waved to the fans before heading toward Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s bench to shake hands with Coach Diego Simeone.

    "Congrattions," Diego Simeone said in fluent Italian while smiling and extending his hand. "You got me by switching Zachary Bemba to the striking line this time. It''s your victory."

    Coach Allegri smiled in response and took the other man''s hand for a firm handshake. "Thanks. Your team also yed well. But we were just lucky to win."

    Diego Simeone''s eyes narrowed a bit as he released Allegri''s hand. "Indeed, count yourself lucky. You''re lucky to have a yer like Zachary in your squad. Otherwise, you wouldn''t have won tonight''s game."

    "You''re right." Coach Allegri nodded with a smile. "But don''t forget that he''s a yer I signed."

    "That''s true." Coach Diego Simeone sighed. "But we''ll still have thestugh after the second leg of this fixture in December. Not even Zachary Bemba will be able to save you from losing that game."

    "Let''s wait and see," Coach Allegri said before turning away and heading into the ying field. Very soon, he started moving around and hugging his yers to congratte them upon winning the match.

    -----

    Zachary, on his part, was still overflowing with happiness as he left the pitch and walked down the tunnel with the match ball in hand. Under the guidance of a UEFA official, he took a different route from his teammates and headed to the press area to partake in the post-match press conference.

    "Zachary!" The beautiful female reporter said after he stepped before the cameras a few secondster. "Congrattions upon winning the match."

    "Thank you," he replied with a smile.

    The reporter smiled back and said, "You were outstanding on the pitch today and managed to score your second consecutive hat trick in the Champions League. That implies that your tally in the Champions League is six goals in two matches. How are you managing to score such an insane number of goals in every game?"

    "I guess I could say I''m lucky," Zachary responded with a shrug.

    "Really?" The reporter pressed with a soft chuckle.

    "Yeah, I guess so," Zachary said. "Aside from being lucky, I also have skilled teammates who are good at creating chances. That also helps."

    The reporter smiled. "You yed as a center-forward in today''s game," she stated. "So, most of us are just wondering. Are you thinking of switching positions from midfield and ying as a striker from now on?"

    "Of course not," Zachary said. "I love ying in midfield. That''s my natural position, especially since I love making runs from the back. But even then, I will not hesitate to y striking or any other number as long as it helps my team win the game."

    "There''s also another matter I''m curious about," the reporter continued, "After Antoine Griezmann missed the penalty during the 71st minute, you reacted so fast and chased after the ball cleared by Patrice Evra. How were you able to achieve that? Could you have anticipated that Antoine would miss beforehand?"

    "Of course, I wasn''t sure he would miss," Zachary replied with a hearty chuckle. "But I knew there was a chance as he was against the best goalkeeper in the world. So, I bided my time and remained alert while waiting for an opportunity to counter. And as luck would have it, Buffon saved the penalty, and then Patrice cleared the ball, sending it my way. From there on, I only had to remainposed and control the ball before initiating the counterattack."

    "Well, thanks, Zachary, for answering our questions," the reporter said in a conclusive tone. "Congrattions upon winning today''s game, and I wish you all the best in your uing matches. Have a good night."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Have a good night, too," Zachary responded before stepping away from the cameras.

    **** ****

    "Well, well, well," Emilia Vasquez, the ESPN presenter, said, smiling at the cameras in the studio. "That was Zachary, the hattrick hero, talking to Reba, one of our reporters at the Vicente Calder¨®n Stadium. His second consecutive hattrick in the Champions League has helped Juventus ovee Atl¨¦tico Madrid and ascend to the top of Group A. It''s another phenomenal performance by the 19-year-old ymaker."

    "Indeed," Alessandro Costacurta, one of the in-studio pundits, said as the cameras focused on him. "You know what: I was worried at the start of the match when I noticed that Coach Allegri had yed him as a striker. I thought to myself: What the hell? Why is he ying him out of his natural midfield position? I even believed that Coach Allegri had messed up big time and was only waiting to criticize his tactics at the end of the game."

    Emilia and the other pundits in the studioughed at that.

    "But you guys know what?" Alessandro continued without minding theughter of the others in the studio. "Zachary Bemba went out there and proved me wrong. He proved that he''s a highly versatile yer who can y striking as well as he can y midfield. This guy is a phenomenon. He is slowly ascending to the ranks of the best yers in the world."

    "We also learned another thing about Zachary today." Joshua Morales chuckled. "His instincts for goal are inhuman, and he''s the type of yer who''s a nightmare for defenders. You cannot lose track of him, even for a second, while defending against him on the field of y. Otherwise, he will punish you."

    Emilia Vasquez smiled and said, "Aside from Zachary, most of the other Juventus yers were a bit sub-par today. They dominated possession, yes. But they still couldn''t link up y with Zachary and Tevez, their two strikers."

    "You''re right, Emilia," Joshua Morales, the other in-studio pundit, concurred. "Yes, the Juventus midfielders, especially Andrea Pirlo and udio Marchisio, were not at their best today. Their service to Zachary and Tevez was not that good, and that''s why Juventus didn''t have many shots on goal, despite dominating possession. Fortunately for Coach Allegri, Zachary came through and delivered when it mattered. He scored those three goals, allowing Juventus to win the game."

    "I think you guys are forgetting to give credit to Diego Simeone and his yers," Alessandro Costacurta reminded. "Atl¨¦tico Madrid is the team that outsmarted both Barcelona and Real Madrid to win La Ligast season. So, it''s understandable that most Juventus yers didn''t perform at their best today."

    "You do have a point," Emilia immediately agreed. "In fact, I thought the Atl¨¦tico Madrid yers were pretty unlucky today. They hit the post like three times and even missed the penalty. Had it been their day, maybe they would have converted all those chances and defeated Juventus."

    "But it wasn''t their day, and there are no ifs in football." Joshua Morales hurriedly corrected. "They lost 3:2 to Olympiacos during their first group fixture and have now lost 3:1 to Juventus. They are in trouble as they are at the bottom of group A."

    "It''s just two matches," Alessandro chimed in. "There are still four Champions League group matches remaining. So, Atl¨¦tico Madrid still has a high chance of qualifying for the knock-out stages."

    "Are you forgetting that they still have to face Juventus in Turin on 9th December?" Joshua Morales questioned. "Their chances of qualifying are minimal after losing today''s game."

    "Gentlemen!" Emilia hurriedly chimed in. "The match aside, let''s talk about Zachary. After watching his performances this season, do you think he can win the Golden Boy award?"

    "I think he''s the undisputed yer to win the Golden Boy award," Joshua Morales replied.

    "I''m with Joshua on this one," Alessandro Costacurta also concurred. "Frankly, his level is way above that of the other yers within his age group. He even has the potential to make it in the top ten yers of the world if he can continue putting up such outstanding performances. He''s the real deal."

    "I wonder who else will be on the Golden Boy award nominee list!" Emiliamented. "Can you guys guess?"

    "Well," Alessandro Costacurta replied, "there''s Kurt Zouma, John Stones, Raheem Sterling, Divock Origi, Adnan Januzaj, Luke Shaw, Eric Dier, Aymeric Laporte, and Sa¨²l ?¨ªguez, among others."

    "I think Alessandro has forgotten the names from the Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1," Joshua Morales hurriedly chimed in. "For instance, there''s Kingsley Coman and Mateo Kovacic from Serie A. Then, from Bundesliga and Ligue 1, I can name Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Marquinhos, Adrien Rabiot, Benjamin Mendy, and Lucas Ocampos. All those yers have been exceptional this year ¡ª but they are still not at Zachary''s level. They can''t oupete him for the Golden Boy award."

    -----

 Chapter 484 Hidden System Mission Completion

    It was already way-past midnight by the time Zachary returned to his room on the fourth floor of Madrid''s infamous Hotel Riu za Espa?a. He felt exhausted physically and mentally after ying more than 90 minutes of Champions League football against the tenacious Atl¨¦tico Madrid side. He was eager to jump into bed and enter a long and peaceful slumber.

    However, something unexpected but pleasant happened the next second to interrupt his ns. The all-familiar system notification resounded in his mind immediately after he finished locking the hotel room door behind him.

    "DING"

    "Congrattions to the user for unlocking andpleting a hidden system mission associated with the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League," the system AI''s apathetic voice sounded immediately after. "The user can check the missionpletion details and rewards associated with the missionpletion on the system interface."

    "Eh!"

    Zachary''s heart immediately skipped a bit, and the feeling of exhaustion faded from his mind. A shaky smile slowly outlined his face as the surprise sunk in. He switched on the light and instructed the system AI to disy the hidden missionpletion details.

    ****

    3 New Messages

    -----

    CONGRATULATIONS

    ->You have scored a hattrick against Atl¨¦tico Madrid, a top-level team in the Champions League, andpleted a Hidden System Mission.

    ->You''re one step closer to cementing your name on the list of the most exceptional yers of the generation.

    -----

    ->Mission Rewards

    1) A total of 10,000 Juju points

    2) A chance to draw a skill shard from the system lottery that will allow the user to initiate a serial mission to learn a random GOAT skill

    ****

    "A shard, not a skill?" Zachary was a bit confused after reading the systempletion notification. "System! What is this about?"

    "DING"

    A chime rang in his mind immediately.

    "A shard is a fragment of the total memory and associated system packages needed to learn a skill," the system AI replied. "By drawing a specific shard from the lottery, the user can trigger a serial mission to collect the other fragments needed to learn the specific GOAT Skill. Does the user wish to draw the shard right away?"

    "Yes, this should be simple." Zachary agreed. He still didn''t understand the whole shard thing and how it worked. But he was sure the reward would benefit his career since it was from the system. Thus, agreeing couldn''t bring him any harm.

    "User''smand received," the AI intoned after a few seconds. "System lotterying up."

    No sooner had the system AI''s voice sounded than a big spin-lottery-wheel filled up the translucent blue screen before Zachary. It was the all-familiar wheel with small squares depicting various images of famous yers around its perimeter. Its surface glowed with shiny lights, and there were two purple arms originating from its center and pointing towards one of the squares. And surprisingly, that square contained an image of the legendary Argentine yer - Lionel Messi, with the ball at his feet.

    "This might be a surprisingly great reward," Zachary thought with a smile. He then turned his attention towards the two buttons on the side of the wheel with the phrases ''spin-and-win,'' ''*3 chances,'' and ''confirm lottery'' inscribed below them. Settling down on the bed, he carefully studied their set-up and understood that he had three chances to spin the wheel.

    "Great. I should be able to obtain a great skill with these three chances."

    Zachary''s hopes soared. Without dilly-dallying, he pressed the spin-and-win button, and the wheel spun for a few seconds before slowing down. Its velocity gradually reduced until the purple arms halted while pointing to the square depicting Thierry Henry, the legendary French striker, with the ball at his feet.

    "This makes life difficult," Zachary thought, shaking his head. "But I think I should try again. Maybe, I might get something better."

    The spirit of gambling flooded Zachary''s entire being, and he chose to tap on the spin-and-win button again. The next moment, his heartbeat elerated as the wheel spun faster and faster. Then, after what seemed like weeks to Zachary, it slowed down beforeing to aplete halt. But unfortunately for Zachary, the pointer had pointed to a square with an image of Jaap Stam, the legendary Dutch and Manchester United defender, heading the ball.

    "Damn! I might have messed up big time." Zachary shook his head, a feeling of regret flooding his spirits. He''d just let go of a great chance to draw a Thierry Henry skill shard, hoping to get a better one. But Zachary had instead gotten an opportunity to obtain a Jaap Stam skill shard after spinning the wheel for the second time. As far as he was concerned, it was a total loss, especially since he''d never considered ying as a defender.

    "I still have one chance," Zachary consoled himself. "God! Please help me get a good skill this time around."

    Zachary even turned religious at that moment and mumbled a silent yer. Then, he took a deep breath and rubbed his hands together before tapping the spin-and-win button again.

    "Whoosh"

    That time around, the wheel seemed to spin faster than the previous two times. It rotated for a good four or five seconds before eventually slowing down.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Naturally, Zachary''s eyes were on the wheel at that instant. He watched with bated breath as the pointer slowly moved past the squares with the images of Lionel Messi, Ronaldo Lu¨ªs Naz¨¢rio de Lima, and Andres Iniesta before moving towards another photo of a yer with long hair in a Barcelona shirt. It was a picture of Ronaldinho Ga¨²cho, the Brazillian legend, and former Ballon D''or winner.

    "Please stop! Please stop..."

    Zachary prayed and willed the wheel to stop when the pointer pointed to Ronaldinho''s square. He clenched his fists as his eyes remained glued to the slowly moving lottery wheel.

    The experience of waiting was unnerving due to the tension. But it was worth it as the pointer finally came to a halt at thest moment, just when it was about to move past Ronaldinho''s square.

    "Thank God," Zachary mumbled, his spirits brightening. A soft smile slowly framed his facial features as he''d finally managed to obtain an opportunity to draw a hidden shard from Ronaldinho, one of the greatest yers that ever yed the game. But that didn''t stop him from tapping the confirm-lottery button to approve the result.

    "DING"

    The familiar system notification sounded in Zachary''s mind as his finger left the system interface. Then, with an explosion of digital aesthetics, a glittering image of Ronaldinho popped out of the wheel and slowly floated forward. It soon hovered in front of everything else on the crystal-like disy that was the system interface.

    "DING"

    "Congrattions," the AI''s voice intoned right after. "The user has won the lottery and obtained one of the twelve shards required to learn Ronaldinho''s Step-Over and Feint Kingly Magic."

    "Associated system mission initiated to help the user obtain the remaining eleven skill shards," the AI continued. "Please review the details on the interface to understand the mission."

    Zachary expelled a lungful of air and focused on the translucent crystal-like disy before him. Then, without further ado, he started perusing the mission details.

    ****

    ----

    GOAT MISSIONS

    ----

    #NEW MISSION: Giant-Killer Hattrick Challenge

    ->Score more hattricks against top-level teams within the next two years to acquire more skill shards of Ronaldinho''s Step-Over and Feint Kingly Magic.

    ----

    #NB

    ->The system will award a skill shard for each hattrick scored against the top four teams of the best European Leagues, including the Italian Serie A, the English Premier League, the French League 1, the Spanish La Liga, and the German Bundesliga within the next two years.

    ->For this mission, multiple hattricks against the same team will also be considered. However, the user mustplete the mission target and score eleven more hattricks against top-level teams within two years before obtaining all the twelve skill shards of Ronaldinho''s Step-Over and Feint Kingly Magic. Otherwise, the user won''t be able to meet the requirements to learn the skill."

    -----

    ->The user can choose not to ept the mission.

    *ept *Reject

    -----

    *Remarks: The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible. And that''s also the way of the greats.

    ****

    "This is tough. But I''ll ept it and try my best."

    Zachary thought for a bit and then epted the mission. He knew that scoring eleven more hattricks against the best European teams was an almost impossible feat. But since there was no penalty for failing the system task, there was no harm in trying. He only needed to do his best over the next two years ¡ª and just maybe, he couldplete the mission and obtain all the shards required to learn Ronaldinho''s Step-Over and Feint Kingly Magic.

    "Phew."

    Zachary breathed out and closed the system interface after epting the mission. He then quickly went through his nned pre-bedtime routine, including taking a shower, brushing his teeth, and sending Cami a message before jumping into bed.

    The intense fatigue kicked in right after he went under the covers, forcing his mind to descend into a sweet and weing embrace of slumber. In a matter of minutes, he was fast asleep, dreaming of himself winning the Ballon d''Or.

    -----

 Chapter 485 House Purchase And Preparations For The AS Roma Game

    The following day, the Juventus team returned to Turin in a jubnt mood. All the yers were brimming with excitement and positive energy after defeating Atl¨¦tico Madrid. Their euphoria was infectious, and their bright smiles lit up Juventus'' training center as they alighted from the bus.

    "Juventus! Juventus..."

    "Tevez..."

    The fans waiting eagerly beyond the railings started singing to wee their stars back to Turin. They chanted all the yers'' names for the next few minutes and caused the atmosphere around the gates of the Vinovo to be more electrifying. And when they finally got to vocalizing Zachary''s name, they became even louder. They were like a bunch of madmen as they yelled phrases like "Zachary, the hattrick hero," "Zachary, the nemesis of Madrid," "Zachary, the phenomenon of the Champions League," and so on, and so forth. Anyone watching from the side could clearly tell that they really adored Zachary.

    "The fans are really starting to fall in love with you," Patrice Evra said to Zachary as they started making their way into the training center. "If you continue scoring goals, you might be as famous as Messi and Ronaldo in no time."

    Zachary chuckled and shook his head. "That''s not easy," he said. "Moreover, I don''t really care about fame. I only care about winning as many trophies as possible."

    Patrice gave Zachary a sideways nce and whistled. "Someone is being really humble today afternoon. He doesn''t want fame ¡ª but wants to win many trophies. He''s really modest and unpretentious."

    "Don''t misinterpret my words," Zachary said with a smile. "I was only saying that I don''t y football for fame. I only y football because I love it. Fame is just a bonus for me."

    "No worries. I get you." Patrice smiled and patted Zachary''s back. "Football aside, how are you nning to spend your day off? Do you want toe to my ce to hang out?"

    "Nope," Zachary said. "I will be holding a series of meeting with one of mywyers toplete the procedures to purchase a house today. On top of that, I have to train and attendnguage sses. So, I have no time to hang out over the next three days."

    On hearing that, Patrice seemed stunned. He stopped in his tracks and turned to face Zachary. "Bro!" He said. "You''re buying a house? Where?"

    Zachary smiled and told him about the house in Pinerolo, Piedmont. He described the 14-bedroom vi in vivid detail and then disclosed the money he''d spent to purchase it.

    "Cong''s, man," Patrice said with a smile after hearing Zachary''s description. "You seem to have gotten yourself a good deal. 1.8 million is really not that expensive, especially for the house you just described."

    Zachary nked out on hearing Patrice describe 1.8 million Euros as not expensive. The corners of his mouth twitched ever so slightly, and he couldn''t help but recall details from his previous life.

    Before his rebirth, he''d once yed for TP Mazembe, one of the biggest clubs on the African continent. At one point, he was a key member of their squad and was earning what he thought was good money at the time. But even then, he could never afford to buy a house valued at a million Euros. The hell: He couldn''t even afford to purchase one at 50,000 Euros even after saving a year''s ie. So, when he heard Patricementing on how 1.8 million was really not expensive, feelings of mncholy threatened to overwhelm him.

    But aside from that, Zachary also felt proud of his achievements. He took defiant joy in the fact that he had escaped a life of struggle and joined the ranks of the privileged in the world. He could even afford to ssh 1.8 million Euros on buying a house without batting an eye.

    "Does this mean you''ll soon leave that crappy hotel room of yours?" Patrice asked, clearly unaware of what was on Zachary''s mind. "When do you n to move into the house?"

    "I''m not sure," Zachary replied, shaking his head. "Afterpleting the transfer procedures for the property, I''ll have to hire an interior designer to work on the house. I can only move in after the interior designer finishes work on the house."

    "Okay," Patrice said. "But you should know that interior designers work fast. A good one shouldplete the work on your house within four or five days. Do you wish for me to rmend you one? She handled the interior design of my mansion right after I moved to Turin."

    "Oh!" Zachary''s curiosity was piqued. "How much would I need to spend to hire her?"

    Patrice smiled. "Most interior designers charge for their time by the hour, anywhere from 50 Euros to 500 Euros, depending on their experience. A good interior designer such as her will, of course, charge higher fees. She might charge you roughly 100,000 Euros, plus a few other expenses, to work on your 14-bedroom vi."

    "That''s expensive," Zachary eximed. "I can basically buy a good new house with that 100,000 Euros."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "You have to spend to get the good stuff," Patrice said with a shrug. "There''s no way around it."

    "Okay, then," Zachary said, nodding. "Give me her number. I''ll contact her and see if we cane to an agreement."

    "Good choice, my man," Patrice said. "You won''t be disappointed."

    Zachary smiled in response. He nned to call the interior designer after returning home that very day. He was hoping to have her start interior design work on his soon-to-be mansion immediately so he could move into it at the beginning of the following week.

    -----

    The following three days went ording to n for Zachary.

    On the first day after ying against Atl¨¦tico Madrid, he met Mateo Tavano, the solicitor, andpleted the required legal procedures to purchase the 14-bedroom vi in Pinerolo, Piedmont.

    On the second day, just before going for the team training at Juventus'' training center, he wired the 1.8 million Euro house purchase fees to the seller''s ount, thus bing the legally recognized sole owner of the vi in Pinerolo, Piedmont. He was ecstatic afterpleting the deal and immediately hired the interior designer rmended by Patrice Evra to work on the house.

    As expected, the interior designer was a greedy vulture. She asked for a fee of 115,000 Euros to decorate and furnish the entire ce. But even then, Zachary still chose to go with her after she promised to finish all the interior design work on the house within five days. He could afford to spend the money as he wanted to vacate the hotel room and move into the house as soon as possible. He was eager to have a ce of his own.

    On the third day, after paying an advance fee to the interior designer, Zachary returned his total focus to the team training. He forgot everything else and immersed himself in the team''s preparations for the following day''s Serie A game against the tricky AS Roma side. He was as hardworking as ever while going through the team drills, as he wanted to make the starting line-up for the team once again. And not even the intense precipitation on that Saturday could affect his motivation.

    -----

    The time passed quickly as the Juventus yers went through drills to prepare for the game against AS Roma, and soon evening arrived. Everything went as nned, and Coach Allegri, who had been keenly supervising the training since morning, immediately called the yers into the tactics room for the pre-match tactical meeting.

    After the yers took their seats, the coach wasted no time before starting to exin the tactics. Illuminated by the soft rays of the setting sun streaming in through the open window, his face was stern as he presented the game n to be used against AS Roma. And as usual, he spent roughly an hour describing formations, yer off-ball movements, and marking strategies before reading the starting line-up.

    "Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Boni, Mart¨ªn C¨¢ceres, udio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo..."

    The coach vocalized the names of the starting eleven almost in a single breath. But what surprised many in the room was that he''d decided not to include Zachary in the first eleven for the game against AS Roma. Zachary was instead on the bench with the likes of second-string yers such as Marco Storari, Angelo Ogbonna, R?mulo, Kingsley Coman, and Sebastian Giovinco.

    "As you all know, our game against AS Roma is ate kick-off scheduled to be yed tomorrow at 9:00 PM in the Olimpico di Roma," Coach Allegri said after reading the line-up. "But even if it''s ate kick-off, we still have to set off for Rome early in the morning. That way, we''ll have ample time to rest after arriving."

    "So, here is our schedule for tomorrow," the coach continued. "We should all be here at the Vinovo by 9:30 AM. Then, we''ll take a bus to the airport before boarding an 11 o''clock flight to Rome. After arriving in Rome, we''ll have lunch and rest for two or three hours. Then, we''ll go through a mild exercising routine to refresh our bodies before heading to the Olimpico di Roma to defeat AS Roma. That''s our n for tomorrow. Any questions?"

    The coach nced around. However, all the yers remained silent and didn''t raise their hands. They clearly had no questions for their coach.

    "I''m d we''re on the same page," the coach said. "Let''s call it a day and head back to our homes. But remember, AS Roma is a tricky opponent. So, I want you all to have ample rest tonight so you can be at the top of your game tomorrow evening. I don''t want to see yers dozing off early in the morning before we set off for Rome tomorrow. Clear?"

    "Clear, coach," the yers replied in unison while trying to suppress their chuckles. They''d obviously recalled the amusing incident when the coach caught Zachary napping.

    -----

 Chapter 486 Away Game Against AS Roma

    At exactly 9:00 PM, the referee blew the whistle, and the highly anticipated Serie A battle between AS Roma and Juventusmenced.

    T¨¦vez kicked off the proceedings with a back pass into his midfield with a clear intent of finding Arturo Vidal. From there on, the Juventus yers started passing the ball immactely among themselves and showcased a hunger to dictate proceedings on the field.

    The Old Lady yers were brilliant on and off the ball. They yed with conviction, covering spaces and closing down the opponents as if their lives were at stake. They thus dominated possession in the opening minutes, and it didn''t take long for them to create their first real goal-scoring opportunity.

    It all started with Roberto Pereyra, the freshly-introduced face in Juventus'' midfield. Roberto won an aerial duel against the shorter Miralem Pjanic close to the border of the defensive third during the 13th minute. He towered over the AS Roma man and headed the ball to Andrea Pirlo, who was strategically positioned in an unmarked pocket of space close to the center circle.

    Andrea Pirlo, on his part, was as brilliant as ever while connecting with the ball. He calmly controlled it while assessing the situation on the other side of the pitch. Then, before any of the opponents could close him down, he drew his leg back and unleashed a hell of a pass toward the other side of the pitch.

    "Whoosh"

    T¨¦vez was akin to an unstoppable tempest as he cut through the pitch, chasing after the ball. His short strides covered yards of space within seconds, allowing him to connect with the long-range defense-splitting pass from Andrea Pirlo.

    At that moment, Konstantinos Mans and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, the two AS Roma defenders, were already closing him down, all guns zing. They were trying to sandwich him and stop him from threatening their goal.

    However, the action of the AS Roma center-backs didn''t ruffle the experienced Argentine''s feathers. After controlling the ball, T¨¦vez skillfully faked going right before abruptly altering his center of gravity and whirling around toward the left. And before the two center-backs could react, he exploded with speed and rushed into the box with an indomitable impetus.

    "T¨¦vez! T¨¦vez! T¨¦vez..."

    The traveling Juventus supporters in the stands behind the goal started chanting T¨¦vez''s name as he approached the goal at breakneck speed. Their cheers seemed to boost his confidence, and he rounded the keeper with a couple of deft touches. Before any of the opponents could close him down, he buried the ball into the back of the to score Juventus'' 1st goal for the night.

    "Oh my goodness me!" Thementator''s voice resounded across the stadium as T¨¦vez ran off to celebrate the goal. "Juventus is flying again. Through the phenomenal Carlos T¨¦vez, they''ve broken the deadlock. They have broken through AS Roma''s tenacious defense and scored their first goal for the night during the 14th minute. What a wonderful start for the visitors!"

    "It all began with Andrea Pirlo," the comentator chimed in. "The Italian Maestro looked sharp since the start of the game, and it didn''t take him long to find an opportunity to punish the opponents. With a single unexpected and brilliant ball, he managed to take the entire AS Roma midfield out of the equation while also setting up T¨¦vez for the goal. And T¨¦vez, being the experienced striker he is, didn''t waste the opportunity. He remainedposed and skipped past the two center-backs before burying the ball into the back of the. What an incredible game of football!"

    "This Juventus team is in incredible shape," thementator said. "Even without Zachary Bemba, their undisputed star yer, they still manage to y brilliant football. They are totally destroying AS Roma, which by the way, is the second-ced team on the Serie A table."

    "Indeed," the comentator agreed. "Coach Allegri''s men have been in fine form ever since the start of the game. During the opening fourteen minutes, they dictated the proceedings on the field of y by utilizing their signature passing to dominate possession. I''m particrly impressed by Roberto Pereyra, the new face in Juventus'' midfield. He was relentless in the middle of the pack and has won most of his aerial duels against the AS Roma midfielders. He''s really doing great out there."

    Thementator chuckled. "He should be really motivated. He has to utilize the opportunity to impress his coaches. Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to make it back into the starting eleven, especially with phenomenal midfielders like Zachary, Vidal, Pirlo, and Marchisio present in the side."

    "True," the comentator agreed. "Speaking of which, I wonder why Zachary is on the bench today. He scored those impressive three goals against Atl¨¦tico Madrid during midweek. But Coach Allegri has decided not to include him in the starting eleven! Truly baffling!"

    "It''s a long season of football," thementator said. "So, I''m guessing the coach is only rotating his squad to allow his star yers some time to rest."

    "That makes sense. But isn''t Coach Allegri taking the Serie A lightly? How can he bench his star yer when ying the second-ced team on the Serie A table?"

    "Those are the advantages of having great depth in a squad. Coach Allegri can even field the second team, and it will still put on apetitive disy against the second-ced AS Roma side."

    -----

    AS Roma 0 : Juventus FC 1

    -----

    The game continued after the goal celebrations, and as expected, the AS Roma yers responded almost immediately. They utilized their highly-versatile 4-3-3 formation tounch waves of attacks on Juventus'' defense. They were amazing on the offensive and came close to scoring on several asions. However, the ever-brilliant Buffon came alive in goal and made several saves to deny AS Roma a chance to bag an equalizing goal. As a result, the score was still 0:1 in favor of Juventus when the referee blew the half-time whistle.<novelnext></novelnext>

    After a fifteen-minute break, the game rmenced, and the AS Roma yers runched their offensive. With the words of Rudi Garcia, their passionate manager, doubtless still ringing in their ears, they were like a totally different team. They utilized high-pressing and wing-y tactics to outy Juventus on the field of y. Then, when an opportunity would present itself, they would rely on their highly-agile wide yers to send crosses into the box. They were obviously trying to link y with Francesco Totti, their star striker.

    As an experienced yer, Francesco Totti''s movements off the ball were tricky and brilliant. During the 56th minute, he escaped the notice of the Juventus defenders and connected with an iing cross from Gervinho. He leaped high and headed the ball toward the bottom left corner, with the clear intent to score the equalizer for AS Roma.

    However, his efforts were once again fruitless due to the alertness of Buffon, the highly-experienced Juventus keeper. Buffon immediately executed a full-body dive and punched the ball out of y. His acrobatic effort saved Juventus from conceding a goal during the 56th minute.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and pointed to the corner spot. And without wasting much time, the AS Roma yers quickly took the corner.

    Miralem Pjanic, AS Roma''s highly-tactical midfielder, sent forth a curling ball from the corner g into the box. His delivery was spot-on, and he linked y with Seydou Keita, his counterpart in midfield.

    Seydou Keita, on his part, was brilliant in the air. He towered over the yers in the box before connecting with the corner ball and nting a header toward the goal from around the penalty spot. But fortunately for Juventus, Patrice Evra was present at the far post, and he managed to st the ball away from the goal. And that timely clearance once again saved Juventus from conceding during the 58th minute.

    -----

    "This can''t go on."

    Coach Allegri frowned after watching his side survive yet another attack from AS Roma. His yers had looked sharp in the first half and even scored a goal. But during the second half, they were the opposite. They could only be described as second-best on the field of yer since they were not giving their all to go out and take on the AS Roma yers. They had decided to sit back and defend instead of attacking the opponent. For sure, they were not following the game n.

    "Damn it!"

    Coach Allegri couldn''t help but mumble a curse once again. He was frustrated after watching ¨¢lvaro Morata lose the ball close to the center circle. The Spaniard had just gifted AS Roma another chance to counter andunch another offensive against Juventus by pointlessly holding on to the ball a little longer than necessary.

    "Terrible! Terrible..." Coach Allegri mumbled while following the proceedings on the field. He watched with bated breath as Miralem Pjanic, the AS Roma midfielder, picked up the loose ball and unleashed a grounded pass into the left wing to find Gervinho. And from there on, the counter was on, and the AS Roma yers flew forward.

    Gervinho was like the wind while cutting through the left nk. He skillfully exchanged a couple of one-twos with Seydou Keita, the AS Roma midfielder, before unleashing a cross toward Juventus'' box.

    "Whoosh"

    Within the box, Francesco Totti responded and went into action once again. At just the right moment, he pounced forward and inched past Leonardo Boni with an explosion of speed.

    Totti''s positioning and movements were spot-on, and he connected with the iing cross just close to the edge of the penalty box. He effortlessly outsmarted the defenders and headed home to guide the ball beyond the reach of the helpless Buffon. After that, he raced toward the sideline to celebrate AS Roma''s 64th-minute equalizing goal against Juventus.

    "Terrible!" Coach Allegri shook his head and immediately turned towards Maurizio Trombetta, his assistant. "We need to shake up things on the field to regain momentum. Otherwise, we''ll lose this game."

    "That''s true," Coach Trombetta agreed. "So, what''s your n, boss?"

    Coach Allegri smiled cryptically and said, "Let''s summon the big guns and see if AS Roma can handle it. We must win this game."

    Coach Trombetta smiled back. "Should I tell Zachary to warm up?"

    "Yes." Coach Allegri nodded. "I want him ready to enter the pitch within five minutes. And let''s also add Fernando Llorente into the mix. He''s hungry to y. Maybe, he can also create a difference on the field of y."

    -----

 Chapter 487 Dangerous Substitutes I

    The illumination from the Olimpico di Roma''s bright floodlights lit up the faces of Zachary and Fernando Llorente, highlighting their intense facial expressions as they warmed up on the sidelines. The two Juventus yers were quite focused as they prepared to enter the game. Not even the loud jeers of the hostile AS Roma fans could disturb their concentration as they went through the light warm-up routine.

    "Zachary! Fernando!" Coach Trombetta, the assistant coach in charge of Juventus'' first team, yelled out after the two menpleted another repetition of the warm-up routine. "That''s enough warm-up. Finish putting on all your gear ande here for your instructions."

    "Aye, coach," Zachary and Fernando Llorente responded in unison.

    After hearing the summon of the coach, Llorente readilypleted his warm-up and returned to the bench to finish his preparations. Zachary, however, didn''t immediately answer the assistant coach''s summons. Instead, he followed his own pace andpleted a couple of more stretches to ensure his body was in great shape. Then, after confirming his condition, he hurriedly returned to the bench and changed into his match jersey before rushing toward Coach Trombetta for his match instructions. His eyes shone with immense hunger to enter the game as he stepped before the assistant coach.

    Unsurprisingly, Zachary wasn''t alone in his eagerness to enter the game and perform. Fernando Llorente, the striker who''d finished his pre-game preparations, also exuded an intense fighting spirit as he strode toward Coach Trombetta to receive his match instructions.

    With one nce, Zachary could tell that the striker was starving for game time. Most probably, hisst-minute drop from Juventus'' squad that faced off against Atl??tico Madrid during the midweek had awakened an intense desire to fight for a number in the starting eleven. He looked eager to perform, thus giving Zachary a feeling that his fate might change for the better.

    If the striker maintained his fighting spirit, he might soon evolve into a much more clinical version of the Fernando Llorente that Zachary knew from his previous life. He might mature to be a lethal box assassin, capable ofpeting with phenomenal strikers like Lewangoalski and Luis Su??rez.

    "Zachary! Fernando!" Coach Trombetta said, interrupting Zachary''s musings. "How do you feel? Are you ready to enter the game?"

    "Yes, of course," Zachary and Llorente responded in chorus, their voices filled with unwavering conviction.

    "Good." Coach Trombetta nodded, leaning closer. "Listen, the both of you! We''re in trouble as AS Roma has started overpowering us in midfield. They are dominating possession and creating more chances on goal. We can''t let this go on, especially if we wish to win the game. So, this is where you twoe in."

    "Zachary!" the assistant coach continued after taking a deep breath. "You''ll enter the game in ce of Roberto Pereyra. After you step onto the pitch, try to be more active. y intelligent football, filled with conviction and purpose, and help us dictate the tempo again. You must have already noticed that Miralem Pjanic and Seydou Keita, the two AS Roma midfielders, are moving forward a lot. Try to exploit the spaces they leave behind and run at the opposing defenders. If there''s a chance, try to shoot from outside the eighteen to test the keeper. But if the situation is not right, you can link y with our strikers to advance y and create goal-scoring opportunities. Clear?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied. "I understand."

    "Good," Coach Trombetta said and immediately turned to Llorente. Patting the Spanish striker''s back, he continued, "Fernando! You''ll enter the game in ce of ??lvaro Morata. You''re our second striker, and your only role on the pitch will be to score. So, position yourself well and remain alert on the striking line. Always be ready to convert opportunities thate your way. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," Llorente replied, balling his fist.

    -----

    On the pitch, AS Roma was still dictating the tempo by relying on their brilliant zonal and man-marking strategies. They were totally outying Juventus with their intensity and hunger to win. They even resorted to brutal tackling when proceedings on the field didn''t go their way.

    The AS Roma yers that performed the best were Miralem Pjanic, Daniele De Rossi, and Seydou Keita, the three central midfielders. If a Juventus yer happened to receive the ball in the middle, the three AS Roma midfielders would turn into predators, hunting down the yer in question to win back possession almost immediately. As a result, sliding tackles, fifty-fifty challenges, and ruthless fouls reigned supreme on the football field as the men in maroon colors showed Juventus that football was a physical game. They were obviously not about to entertain any sort of nonsense from Juventus.

    *FWEEEEEEE*<novelnext></novelnext>

    The referee blew the whistle after Seydou Keita slid forward and brought down Andrea Pirlo close to the center circle. But that time, the referee didn''t let off the AS Roma man but instead showed him a yellow card for repeatedly pushing the envelope andmitting borderline challenges.

    "I got the ball first," Seydou Keita obviously tried to protest the caution. "That can''t be a yellow card."

    In response, the referee just smiled and shook his head. And without bothering to argue with the AS Roma midfielder, he pointed toward the sidelines to signal a Juventus substitution.

    It was obviously time for Zachary and Fernando Llorente to enter the game. As a result, the fourth official readily put up the board to confirm the substitutions. Without dilly-dallying, the two substitutes ran onto the pitch while Morata and Roberto Pereyra exited the game and took their seats on the sidelines. And in a matter of seconds, the game was ready to restart with Juventus'' freekick.

    -----

    "De Rossi!" Rudi Garcia, the AS Roma coach, yelled in Italian right after the substitutes stepped onto the pitch. "You''re in charge of marking Zachary Bemba. Don''t allow him to do as he pleases in midfield. Okay?"

    "Okay," De Rossi replied with a thumbs-up. The AS Roma midfielder immediately left his holding midfield position close to the border of the defensive third and then started shadowing Zachary.

    De Rossi was, of course, happy with his coach''s arrangement. His fighting spirit was overflowing as he yearned topete with Zachary and teach him that the Italian Serie A was no joke. He wanted to show the budding ymaker the way of Italian football.

    -----

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, and the game continued. Andrea Pirlo, Juventus'' deep-lying ymaker, immediately took the freekick short to find udio Marchisio, his counterpart in midfield. Thetter controlled the ball while surveying the situation around him to look for options that could be the outlet for the ball.

    "Whoosh!"

    Zachary immediately took off like a rocket right after udio Marchisio took a second touch on the ball. In almost an instant, Zachary exploded with speed, thus leaving De Rossi, his marker, in the dust. And before any other AS Roma yers could react, he was already bolting into an unmarked pocket of space toward the left side of the pitch.

    All midfielders ying on the professional stage had four underlying attributes. They possessed excellent foot-eye coordination, superior peripheral awareness, impable vision-bnce integration, and superb dynamic visual acuity. They could track the movements of other yers and the ball while they (themselves) were in motion or under pressure. And, of course, udio Marchisio, a brilliant and renowned midfielder all over the world, possessed all those qualities. He spotted Zachary''s run almost instantaneously and passed the ball to him.

    "Sweet!"

    Zachary''s mood brightened as he noticed the ball making its way to him. He slowed down slightly and controlled it with an outstretched leg before whirling around to face the other side of the pitch. He was ready to take off toward the other side of the pitch to initiate an attack. But he had to halt his actions the next moment as he noticed that De Rossi was already strategically positioned to block his potential run toward AS Roma''s box.

 Chapter 488 Dangerous Substitutes II

    "This guy is fast!" Zachary was surprised as he quickly took note of De Rossi''s position. But his surprise didn''t dy his actions in the slightest.

    He faked going right before altering his center of gravity and going left. But surprisingly, his feint didn''t manage to throw off De Rossi. The Italian midfielder remained on Zachary like superglue, harassing him physically to stop his run toward AS Roma''s side of the pitch.

    However, Zachary, being a 6''4-foot giant, couldn''t allow a ''small man'' of 6 feet to bully him physically. With a sudden jerk of his shoulder, he shrugged off De Rossi before exchanging lightning-fast one-twos with Patrice Evra on the left nk. His give-and-go passing strategy worked wonders, and he beat De Rossi and two more AS Roma yers before quickly arriving in the final third. And in some magical way, he cut into the pitch with an explosion of pace and soon started bearing down on AS Roma''s box with unstoppable momentum.

    The cheers of the traveling Juventus supporters hit another high as Zachary quickly approached the box. His incredible spatial awareness worked like a charm, and with a single nce, he took note of the position of the yers between him and the goal. Be it the center-backs, the goalkeeper, and his teammates ¡ª they were all crystal-clear in his mental map, allowing him to decide on a shooting angle. He drew back his leg before swinging it hard and fast at the ball.

    "BAM!"

    The sweet sound of his left boot connecting with the ball was audible as the Rocket Launcher Steven Gerrard GOAT Skill activated automatically. And without fear or favor, he sted the ball and unleashed a powerful shot toward AS Roma''s goal.

    "Whoosh! Whoosh!"

    Zachary had smashed the ball with a low spin, thus sending it on a zig-zag trajectory toward the far post. It tore through the air like a lightning bolt, swerving left and right before dipping slightly and homing into the top right corner. Due to its unpredictable movement, the AS Roma keeper couldn''t even react and remained stock still until it had long shed past him and nestled into the back of the.

    -----

    AS Roma 1 : Juventus FC 2

    -----

    "GOAAAL!" Thementator yelled as the score on the stadium''s jumbotron switched to show Juventus'' lead. "It''s another goal for Zachary Bemba, the phenomenal 19-year-old in a Juventus shirt. His impact is immediate. Just seconds after stepping onto the pitch, he has already found the back of the, putting Juventus in the lead again. Truly sensational stuff from the young ymaker!"

    "Yes, Zachary is proving to be a truly amazing yer," the comentator chimed in. "He brilliantly escaped the notice of De Rossi to receive the ball from udio Marchisio. From there on, it was pure magic on the pitch. Zachary exchanged a couple of one-twos with Patrice Evra on the left nk ¡ª and before long, he was in the final third. He beat the keeper effortlessly with an outside-of-the-eighteen shot to score Juventus'' second goal within the 74th minute. Truly amazing skills!"

    "This is a great yer in the making," thementator said with a sigh. "He has all the qualities to make it in the ranks of the greats. His dribbling skills are monstrous, his vision on the pitch excellent, and his finishing superb. If he continues like this, we''ll have to start debating whether he can win the Ballon d''Or."

    In response, the comentatorughed but chose not toment on such a tricky topic.<novelnext></novelnext>

    -----

    The game continued after the goal celebrations. And as expected, the AS Roma yers reacted by going on the offensive again. They repeatedly flew forward while using wing-y tactics to create goal-scoring chances. As a result, crosses into the box became the order of the night as Gervinho and Adem Ljajic, AS Roma''s wide yers, worked their magic. They worked hard over the next few minutes, hoping to create opportunities by linking y with Francesco Totti, their highly-experienced center-forward.

    But their efforts were not sessful that time around. The highly-tactical Juventus yers remained alert and thwarted all the crossesing their way. They remained steadfast while defending and ensured that AS Roma didn''t get any chance to test Buffon, the Juventus keeper.

    "Juve! Juventus! Juve..."

    Slowly but steadily, the game headed into the final five minutes, and the atmosphere around the stadium became more electrifying. An escting number of traveling Juventus fans started singing, causing the thunderous cheers within the Olimpico di Roma to reach a new level. The Juventus fans could obviously sense that their team was about to overpower AS Roma, another strong opponent in the Italian Serie A.

    -----

    Morale was quite crucial for a team to win a game. So, when the fans started singing, the Juventus yers became more energetic. They were more aggressive on and off the ball, and it didn''t take long for them to create another goal-scoring opportunity.

    It all started after a failed AS Roma corner kick during the 87th minute. After picking up the loose ball from the edge box, Andrea Pirlo hurriedly passed the ball to his left, hoping to find Zachary Bemba and initiate a counterattack.

    Zachary, on his part, remainedposed as he adjusted his position and controlled the ball. With a single abrupt turn, he skipped past Adem Ljajic before moving right and sidestepping past De Rossi to create a pocket of space to work with the ball.

    The next moment, his S-graded agility worked wonders, and he elerated to top speed and jumped past another sliding tackle from an opponent. Then, without halting, he continued his mad dash toward the other side of the pitch to advance the counterattack.

    Most AS Roma yers had been attacking the corner kick only seconds ago. So, they were out of shape and not yet back in their half to defend. As a result, Zachary had yards and yards of space to run with the ball before unleashing a simple pass to his right to find Fernando Llorente, one of the two Juventus strikers.

    Fernando Llorente, on his part, was also fast on the ball. He controlled the ball mid-stride and then exchanged a couple of quick one-twos with Carlos Tevez. He circumvented Miralem Pjanic, thest remaining opposing yer, and received an excellent return ball from Tevez.

    From there on, everything was easy for the sharp Spanish striker. Fernando skillfully bolted around the keeper and buried the ball into the. He then raced towards the sidelines, screaming at the top of his lungs to celebrate Juventus'' 3rd goal during the 88th minute.

    -----

 Chapter 489 Agnelli, The Ambitious President

    After Fernando Llorente scored the third goal for Juventus, the game''s tempo slowed down considerably. Of course, the AS Roma yers continued attacking, hoping to get another goal and reduce their losing margin. However, the highly tenacious and disciplined Juventus yers didn''t let them.

    The Old Lady yers yed brilliantly during the final minutes and thwarted all of AS Roma''s attempts to create goal-scoring opportunities. Additionally, they utilized clever game management strategies, including time-wasting and borderline fouls, to take the sting out of AS Roma''s attacking tempo on multiple asions. As a result, they effortlessly held on to their 3:1 lead until the game ended after five minutes of added time.

    After the final whistle sounded, the Juventus yers ran around the pitch celebrating. They were on cloud nine as they had just attained their sixth consecutive win of the recentlymenced Serie A season. They had already amassed a whopping 18 points and were thus the undisputable table leaders of the Italian Serie A. They were already having a great season, for sure.

    **** ****

    "I can''t even begin to express how disappointed I''m with our performance today."

    After the game, Rudi Garcia, the AS Roma coach, took the press conference with a cold expression. He nced into the cameras and continued, "We started slow and allowed Juventus to dictate the tempo during the opening minutes. As a result, we quickly conceded the opening goal, which put us on the back foot. We were also not at our best in our marking during thetter part of the game. We allowed yers like Zachary and udio Marchisio a lot of room in the midfield, permitting them to punish us. All in all, our performance was below standard tonight."

    "Coach," the reporter said, "You just mentioned Zachary Bemba, the young Juventus ymaker. He has been in good form over the past few weeks. He was again the difference in today''s game. What''s your impression of him?"

    "Well," Coach Rudi Garcia said with a sigh, "All I can say is that Coach Allegri is a lucky manager to have such a talented yer in his squad. Zachary is just so good on the field, with an uncanny ability to take hold of the ball, control games, run at yers, pass and score, and be the difference in anypetitive game. Up close or in one-on-one situations: you can''t touch him since he''s always in control. If he has the ball at his feet, he determines everything around him, including the opponent''s decision-making. He''s just so hard to mark, and being his opponent is a hard ce to be."

    "However," the coach quickly continued, "we shouldn''t use his brilliance as an excuse to lose. No disrespect to Zachary, he''s a great yer, but we could have limited his influence on the field if we had utilized proper man-marking and zonal marking strategies. At least, we would have stopped him from scoring the second goal and prevented him from advancing the counter that resulted in the third. But we didn''t try hard enough, and he punished us. And that''s why we lost to Juventus by three goals to one."

    "The loss today was your first this season," the reporter chimed in. "That implies that you now have 15 points, cing you in the second spot behind the table leaders - Juventus, who, by the way, have won all their games this season so far."

    "Yes," Coach Rudi Garcia agreed, "It''s a pity as the loss today puts us three points behind Juventus on the Serie A table. But again, the season has just begun. We have many games ahead of us, and anything can happen along the course of the season. If we work hard and win most of our uing games, it''s highly possible to overtake Juventus on the Serie A table and even win the title. We only have to believe in ourselves."

    "Onest question, Rudi," the reporter said with a smile. "Juventus has already won all their six opening games this season. Do you think they can maintain a perfect winning streak or, at the very least, an unbeaten run until the end of the season?"

    "You''re funny." Coach Rudi Garciaughed on hearing the question. "Do you really think it''s possible for a team in a highlypetitive top league, such as the Serie A, to achieve an unbeaten run? Let''s take a look at Juventus, for instance. They still have to face off against other top teams like Fiorentina, AC, Mn, Inter Mn, and their local rivals - Torino. Do you really think they wille out of all those games unscathed?"

    "I think it''s possible, especially since they have great depth in their squad," the reporter argued.

    "Then, your understanding of football and top-levelpetitive matches is quite limited," the coach said with a scoff. "In football, many things can happen during a season. Injuries can happen, the team''s morale might also dip at certain times, and the opponents might be more prepared than you during some games. Tell me! With all those factors in y, do you think a team can achieve an unbeaten run or a perfect winning streak? Moreover, is that possible in today''s Serie A?" The coach looked at the reporter as if he was a clown.

    "You never know," the reporter answered meekly.

    The coach shook his head, feeling exasperated. "Then, let me tell you this: There isn''t a possibility of Juventus achieving a perfect winning streak or an unbeaten run this season. No disrespect to Juventus ¡ª they are a great side filled with many talents. However, let''s also not forget that the Italian Serie A has grown morepetitive over the past few years. Many dark horses are waiting to upset the big names. So, considering all that, I can say that Juventus will lose a game at some point in time. They will drop three, six, nine, or even more points long before the end of the season, and we''ll be able to catch up with them on the Serie A table. We might even beat them to the title."

    The reporterughed on hearing that. "You must have very great belief in your yers, then."

    "Of course," Coach Rudi Garcia concurred with a nod. "AS Roma is a side filled with many talents this season. We canpete for the title."

    "Okay," the reporter replied, smiling. "Rudi! Thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us. I wish you the best in your uing games."

    "Thank you," Coach Rudi Garcia replied, and the interview ended.

    **** ****

    The following day, Andrea Agnelli, Juventus FC''s president, arrived early in office, at around eight. After signing a few documents on his table, his morning schedule opened up, and he decided to watch the sports news on the big screen in his office.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Switching on the TV, the speakers came alive with the voice of Rudi Garcia, the AS Roma head coach. "You''re funny." Coach Rudi Garciaughed on hearing a reporter''s question. "Do you really think that it''s possible for a team in a highlypetitive top league, such as the Serie A, to achieve an unbeaten run? Let''s take a look at Juventus, for instance..."

    President Andrea Agnelli''s ears perked up after hearing the word Juventus from a rival''s mouth. Then, with utmost concentration, President Agnelli listened to Rudi Garcia''s interview until it ended a few secondster.

    "Does this guy think he''s God?" The president scoffed after hearing the deration of the AS Roma coach, iming that Juventus couldn''t achieve an unbeaten run. The whole interview had really left a sour taste in his mouth.

    "Can we really not achieve an unbeaten run, even in the league?"

    The president started drumming his fingers on his office table until he made a decision. Frowning a bit, he immediately picked up his phone and dialed Fabio Paratici''s number.

    "Good morning, Fabio," the president spoke into the phone after the call connected. "Thanks for a good job with the first team. I''m d we defeated AS Roma yesterday night."

    "There''s no need for thanks, Mr. President. It''s my duty." Fabio Paratici, Juventus'' sporting director, replied with a chuckle from the other end of the line. "I have a feeling that we''ll go ces with the current squad of ours. We might even be major contenders for the Champions League title?"

    "Really?" President Andrea Agnelli''s eyes lit up. "Can we also achieve an unbeaten run in the Serie A this season?"

    "Eehh!" There was an exmation followed by a few seconds of silence before Fabio''s voice sounded again. "Mr. President! Did you happen to watch Coach Rudi Garcia''s post-match interview yesterday?"

    "I just did today morning."

    "Of course." Fabio didn''t sound surprised. "That exins everything, and that''s why you''re calling me today instead of yesterday night."

    "So, Fabio," the president said, without minding his subordinate''s reaction. "The whole Rudi Garcia interview left a sour taste in my mouth. I wish we could prove him wrong in some way."

    "But he was right to a certain extent," Fabio reminded. "It''s almost impossible for a team to achieve an unbeaten run in today''s Italian Serie A."

    "I like your words," the president said excitedly. "I''m d you said ''almost impossible,'' but not ''impossible.'' It indicates there''s a possibility."

    "You can say that," Fabio replied. "But even teams with great squads need heaven-defying luck to achieve the feat."

    "Then, let''s be that team that makes history," President Agnelli chimed in again. "We''ve many talented yers in our squad, including Andrea Pirlo, Zachary Bemba, udio, Tevez, and many others. Let''s focus on achieving an unbeaten run this season. What do we need to do to achieve this?"

    "We need to talk to Coach Allegri about the issue," Fabio responded. "He''s the only one who can answer your questions? But don''t get your hopes up, as an unbeaten run is difficult to attain over a long season of thirty-eight games. Everything has to be perfect for every game, including squad selection, tactics, and yer condition."

    "Isn''t that what we''ve been doing over the past few years?" The president questioned. "We only need to step up a little and aim for a slightly more strenuous goal. We must y every game as if it''s a final ¡ª and just maybe, we can go into the history books of the Italian Serie A. We can even ride that momentum and oupete the best European teams in the Champions League, including Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. We only have to ensure that we don''t lose a game."

    "Okay," Fabio said with a sigh. "Being realistic, the task is almost impossible. But I will still talk to Coach Allegri about the issue today. I will get back to you with a response tomorrow morning."

    "Okay, then. I will be waiting for your feedback tomorrow. Have a good day." The president said before ending the call.

    -----

 Chapter 490 Coach Allegris Demands

    In another office at the Juventus headquarters, Fabio Paratici, Juventus'' sporting director, sighed after ending the call with his boss. The morning sunrays streamed in through the big window on the opposite side, highlighting the helpless expression stered on his face. He was at his wit''s end as he considered how to fulfill President Agnelli''s request.

    "Let''s talk to Coach Allegri first," he thought, standing up from his seat. "He''s the only one who can determine whether the current Juventus squad can achieve an unbeaten run this season."

    After donning his overcoat, he quickly walked out of his office and headed towards the exit of the building. Along the way, many of the Juventus staff greeted him, while a few others nodded to him with smiles. Of course, he responded to their salutations politely, sometimes with a nod, before continuing on his way. And very soon, he exited the main Juventus office building at Corso Galileo Ferraris and walked into the heartwarming autumn sunshine of Turin.

    Standing before the entrance of the head office, Fabio quickly called his driver, who arrived within a few minutes. After exchanging a few words with the middle-aged driver, Fabio boarded his shinning Maserati Quattroporte, and off they went, driving off into Turin''s morning traffic and heading to the Juventus Training Center, also known as the Vinovo. They arrived within 30 minutes, and Fabio alighted from the vehicle and walked into the training center.

    On passing by the gym a few secondster, Fabio was amazed. Through the crystal-clean window sses, he could see yers working out that early morning, even if it was a day off for the Juventus squad. Second-string yers like Kingsley Coman, Paolo De Ceglie, and Simone Pepe were already working with the weights or breaking a sweat on the treadmills and cycling machines. But that was not what shocked the sporting director. Instead, what caused his eyes to bulge out was when he noticed Zachary Bemba, Fernando Llorente, and ¨¢lvaro Morata working out in the gym. After ying a game yesterday, the three yers didn''t utilize the day off to rest. Instead, they had already hit the gym and were busy executing stretches and going through light body-strengthening workouts. As far as the sporting director was concerned, those three yers were not humans, but machines, who didn''t have the word post-match fatigue in their vocabry.

    "Director!" A familiar voice sounded behind Fabio as he was still peeking into the gym. "To what do we owe the pleasure of having you here today morning?"

    On hearing the voice, Fabio immediately whirled around with a smile. And as he expected, he came face to face with Massimiliano Allegri, the head coach of Juventus. The head coach looked all dapper and fit in a tracksuit with thebel of Juventus on his chest.

    "Coach Allegri!" Fabio eximed, still maintaining his smile. "I was just about to look for you. How''s your morning?"

    Coach Allegriughed. "The team is in fine form, and we just defeated AS Roma in Rome yesterday. So, my morning is as good as it can ever be. What about you, director? How''s your morning?"

    "My morning is also great," Fabio replied. "Thanks for a good job yesterday, by the way. The 3:1 victory over AS Roma really lifted the spirits of the fans. But coach! I have to ask. Is it okay for yers like Zachary and Fernando to be training the morning after the match? Don''t they require some rest to recover from post-match fatigue?"

    Coach Allegri smiled and said dismissively, "Let them be. They know their bodies best. Moreover, they didn''t y the full 90 minutes yesterday. So, they should have some fuel left in their reserves to do some training today. There''s no need to worry about them."

    "Okay, if you say so," the sporting director said, casting one more nce into the gym. "But I hope they can remain fit throughout the season. We wouldn''t want our key yers getting injured even before the middle of the season. That would be too unfortunate."

    "Light gym workouts won''t cause injuries," Coach Allegri remarked. "But director! What brings you to the Vinovo today morning?"

    Fabio smiled, turning his attention from the gym and back to the coach. "We need to talk. Let''s head to your office first."

    "Okay," Coach Allegri said.

    Turning around, the coach led the way toward his office while Fabio followed him closely. They quietly traversed the spotlessly clean hallways of the Vinovo until they arrived at arge ss door with Coach Allegri''s doorbel sign. After opening it, they quickly headed inside before taking their seats.

    "So, Mr. Director!" Coach Allegri said, leaning back in his seat. He narrowed his eyes and continued, "What do you need to talk about today?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    In response, Fabio smiled and told the coach about President Agnelli''s ambition to aplish an unbeaten run in the Italian Serie A that season. After that, he asked what was required to achieve such a feat.

    "You guys are really setting very high goals for the team," Coach Allegri said with a bitter smile after hearing Fabio''s question. "But worry not. If we y our cards right, we can really achieve an unbeaten run this season. As the president said, we only need to y every game as a final."

    "Hearing your words brightens my spirits," Fabio said with a hearty chuckle. "So, what''s needed?"

    The corners of Coach Allegri''s lips lifted, and he leaned forward. "I only have one request. That''s for the club to sign another lethal striker and a solid center-back. I''m talking about promising names like Robert Lewandowski, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, tan Ibrahimovic, and Romelu Lukaku on striking, and yers like Nics Otamendi, Diego Godin, and Jose Fonte. Get me two of those yers, one a defender and another a striker, in the January transfer window. Then I''ll have all the tools to aim for an unbeaten run during thetter half of the season. As for staying unbeaten during the first half of the season, that will have to depend on our luck."

    "Those are some big demands you''re making," Fabio said, narrowing his eyes. "Don''t you already have enough defenders and attacking yers?"

    "But they are not enough when targeting an unbeaten run," the coach argued. "To win every game, we must have unbelievable squad depth and lethal options on our bench. For instance, if the going gets tough, we can bring in a lethal striker to shake things up. And in case of injuries, we must rece the injured yers with those of the same quality. That''s how we can y all the games in a season without losing."

    "Could you be hoping to exploit the president''s ambition and sign more yers?" Fabio narrowed his eyes while looking at the coach.

    Coach Allegriughed, shaking his head. "You''re the one who came to me, asking the requirements needed to aplish an unbeaten run. All I did was answer your questions."

    "Well, that''s true," Fabio said, sighing resignedly. "I''llmunicate to the president your demands. But don''t hold much hope, as all the yers you''ve mentioned are expensive. In the meantime, utilize your current squad to win every game. With Zachary and the rest, there''s a possibility."

    "Yes, there''s," Coach Allegri answered. "And for your information, I''m always working hard to win every game. It''s just that factors out of my control, like injuries and yer morale,e into y and cause me to fall short at certain times. Otherwise, I would also love to make history by not losing or winning all the games in a season."

    "By the way, what''s with Zachary?" Fabio asked. "He yed as a striker and performed incredibly against Atl¨¦tico Madrid. Can''t we convert him into a center forward? I''m sure he would do wonders on the striking line."

    Coach Allegri shook his head and said, "I have already thought about that on several asions. However, if we convert Zachary into a forward, we''ll be losing one of the best midfielders in the world. If he ys as a striker, we''ll obviously be underutilizing his vision, passing range, creativity, tactical awareness, and dribbling skills during crucial games. As you can see, the gain doesn''t equal the loss in such circumstances."

    "Okay, I understand," Fabio said, standing up. "I''llmunicate to the president about your demands. Otherwise, thanks for the incredible work with the team, and have a good day."

    "You too," Coach Allegri said and shook hands with the sporting director. "Have a good day too."

    **** ****

 Chapter 491 Zacharyâ€™s New Mansion

    When the sporting director ended his talk with Coach Allegri, Zachary was also finalizing his post-match recovery workout session in the gym. He went through one more repetition of crossbody mountain climbers, followed by starfish crunches and side nks, before concluding his session with a few yoga poses. After wiping his face with a clean towel, he chugged down some water before picking up his gym bag and heading toward the gym''s exit.

    On the way out, Zachary took a cursory nce around the gym. He noticed that Fernando Llorente was still working out with weights on the other side of the room. Meanwhile, ¨¢lvaro Morata, Kingsley Coman, Paolo De Ceglie, and a few others were on the treadmills and the cycling machines. They were all working hard. Most likely, their minds were all full of thoughts of improving their fitness and making it into Juventus'' starting line-up as soon as possible.

    After nodding to a few of the yers more familiar to him, Zachary quickly exited the gym. He entered the showers a few minutester and took a cold bath.

    The shower was quite enjoyable, making him feel quite refreshed after it. Maybe it was because Juventus had defeated AS Roma yesternight or because of the very productive morning gym workout, but Zachary was in a good mood. He couldn''t help but hum The Script''s famous ''Hall of Fame'' hit as he dried himself and organized his hair.

    Briefly admiring his reflection in the bathroom mirror, he saw a face that had grown more austerepared to a year ago. His facial features looked sharp, and the muscles over the rest of his body were well-built and defined as if carved from stone. His hard work in the gym over the past few months had obviously paid off, and he was in the best shape he''d ever been.

    After getting dressed, Zachary heard the phone ring. Picking it up, he realized the call was from his interior designer. He immediately pressed the ept button and held it against his ear.

    "Hello, Zachary!" A vibrant feminine voice sounded from the other end of the line.

    "Hello to you too, Sofia," Zachary replied. "How are you?"

    "I''m okay," she answered. "I''m calling to inform you that I have already finished work on your vi. You cane to look at it at any time. And please don''t forget to prepare the rest of my payment. Thank you."

    "Okay," Zachary answered, feeling his spirits brighten. "I''ll wire the money immediately after looking at the house. Thanks for the hard work."

    "You''re wee. So, when are you free to look at the house?"

    "I would like to look at it today," Zachary said. "If it''s okay with you, I cane to Pinerolo and look at the house in about one and a half hours."

    "That''s perfect," she intoned. "Let''s meet at the vi at around 10:30 AM. I can hand back the keys to you, and then you can prepare to move in."

    "Excellent!"

    -----

    Zachary was quite eager to move into the house. So, after ending the call with the interior designer, he quickly wrapped up everything and exited the training center.

    Outside, in the parking lot, he linked up with Angelo Mattiello, his driver/interpreter. The two of them then wasted no time driving out of the Vinovo and heading to Pinerolo, Piedmont. They arrived one and a half hourster and found the interior designer eagerly waiting for them in front of the house.

    The interior designer was a tall, middle-aged beautifuldy with short blonde hair and a huge bust. Her chest was for the world cup, so potent and threatening to burst out of her tank top. Zachary even suspected that she had artificial imnts.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Thank you foring quickly, Zachary," she said with a smile. "As I said, I have alreadypleted everything. The vi is ready for your viewing."

    "Thank you," Zachary said. "Let''s take a look at it."

    "Okay."

    With that said, their party of three quickly headed into the house. After stepping inside, Zachary was shocked and speechless, even though it wasn''t his first time in the vi.

    By sheer reflex, his eyes lit up after they took in the sparkling old-fashioned parquet floor that had been polished beyond measure. And then, there were the lustrous walls adorned with various paintings. They were like something out of a world-famous art exhibition. They reflected the morning light and caused the entire ce to glow and exude a refreshing feeling. Then, moving on to the furnishings, including the elegant furniture, the chandeliers, the beds, the woolen carpets, the curtains, and the flower vases ¡ª everything had been well selected, cleaned, smoothened, and ced immactely all around the house.

    Just walking through the 14-room vi and allowing his eyes to expand and take in the magnificent ambiance of the ce, Zachary could feel a real sense of peace flooding his soul. The interior designer had really outdone herself within a short period of five days. With a touch of her skilled hands, she had magically transformed Zachary''s vi into a pce. It was like one of those celebrity cribs that Zachary had only seen on TV during his previous life. It was so homely, stunning, and pleasing to the eyes.

    "So, how do you find the ce," Sofia, the interior designer, asked as they walked into another bedroom.

    "Quite good," Zachary replied honestly. "You''ve really transformed the ce. I''m more in love with it. Thank you."

    "You''re wee," Sofia replied as they walked out of the well-furnished bedroom. As they started descending the stairs, she continued, "By the way, your fitness trainer was the one that installed all the equipment in the fitness area. You should also look at it."

    "Okay, let''s head to the basement," Zachary agreed. He wasn''t surprised as he was the one that sent Bj?rn Peters, his fitness trainer, to install the fitness equipment a few days ago.

    The party of three quickly descended the stairs before arriving at the door of the fitness area. On pushing it open, Zachary''s spirits immediately brightened again.

    The gym was luxurious and well-equipped with all the machines that could satisfy any professional footballer out there. Be it dumbbells, barbells, medicine balls, cycling machines, treadmills, etcetera ¡ª they were all in the room. Just looking at them, Zachary could feel his heart racing as he imagined the productive hours he would spend working out in thefort of his own home. He no longer needed to spend long hours in external gyms but would perform most of his physical workouts in his own house. He couldn''t help and sigh, again and again, feeling that being rich was the best sensation in the world.

    "That should conclude the tour of the vi," the interior designer said, interrupting Zachary''s musings. "If everything is to your satisfaction, please transfer the rest of my money to me, and then we can conclude this deal. Is that fine?"

    "Yes, of course," Zachary said with a smile. "I really like what you have done with the ce. Give me a few minutes to wire your money."

    "Okay, thanks," she replied cheerfully and pped her hands.

    Her reaction amused Zachary, but he chose not toment. Instead, he returned to Angelo''s car and quickly worked on transferring the money to her. He wanted to conclude the deal immediately. Then, he would have all the freedom to vacate his hotel room and shift to his new 14-room mansion the following day after training. He was really looking forward to living in a mansion that he could only dream of during his previous life.

    -----

 Chapter 492 Moving House

    After wiring the money to the interior designer, Zachary felt like he''d unloaded a heavy load off his shoulders. He eagerly shook hands with her before saying his goodbyes and sending her out of the vi. He then returned to the vi''s sitting room and settled in one of thefy andvish sofas before contemting his next course of action.

    Coach Allegri had allowed all the team yers a day off after their victory against AS Roma the previous night. So, he had an entire day ahead of him without team training. He figured he could use all that free time to purchase a few more necessities before moving house.

    Thankfully, the interior designer had done most of the required furnishing. Electronics like fridges, microwaves, cookers, washing machines, television sets, and other essentials like crockery, and beddings, among others, were already in the house. So, Zachary only needed to purchase a few minor stuff, like toiletries and towels, and then he would be set and ready to enjoy his new life in his brand-new home.

    Additionally, Zachary thought of how he had discarded most of his training gear, clothes, and shoes before he left Trondheim to join Juventus. Thus, he reasoned that he needed to urgently buy new items if he wished to livefortably in Turin. And being a day off for the squad, he could also utilize it toplete that very task he''d been putting off for quite some time.

    "So, I guess I have to spend a good number of hours shopping today."

    While considering the long hours of shopping he had to endure, Zachary also quickly thought of Cami. She was so good at selecting great items from shops, and she would be of great help if she had some time. She would be the best person to offer great advice and help Zachary purchase quality items.

    "I wonder how she''s doing," Zachary wondered, fishing for his phone from his pocket. "I better call her and tell her about how I finalized the mansion purchase procedures. Maybe, she will agree toe over and help me out while I settle in the new ce."

    Zachary immediately dialed Cami''s number. However, the international call didn''t connect. Only the electronic voice rang into Zachary''s ears, mentioning that: "the number you''re trying to reach isn''t avable at the moment."

    Zachary, of course, didn''t give up after one try but quickly dialed her number through WhatsApp. And voil¨¤, the call indicated that it had connected the next moment. He waited for a few seconds, and Cami''s voice sounded from the other end of the line.

    "Hello, Zach!" She said. "How''s your morning?"

    "My morning is fine. What about yours?"

    "My morning is also going well."

    "Are you okay? Have you recovered?"

    "I think so," she said, sounding a little strange. "You don''t have to worry about me. I''m doing okay."

    "Okay," Zachary said.

    "By the way," she said before Zachary could continue, "I''m d you called. I also wanted to talk to you about something."

    "Okay. Shoot! I''m all ears."

    "My mom was worried about me. You know, with all that happened."

    "Yes..." Zachary was a bit lost with where the conversation was going.

    "So, she came over to visit me ¡ª and off base, without making ns, we up and decided to go on the trip. As I speak, we are now in Prague, visiting my childhood neighborhood. After departing from here, we might tour a few other ces before returning to Norway."

    "Oh, okay," Zachary said. "A trip should be good for you. You need time to unwind, especially considering what you''ve been through."

    "Exactly."

    "But what about work?"

    "I filed for a leave of absence. My bosses were understanding, and they readily agreed. So, I''ll be away from work and Norway for quite some time. That also means we won''t be able to talk quite often over the next few weeks."

    "Okay, so that also exins why I couldn''t reach your number."

    "Yes."

    "How long are you nning to spend traveling with your mom?"

    "Not sure yet," she replied a bit hesitantly. "But my leave of absence onlysts two months. So, my travels won''tst longer than that."

    "Okay," Zachary said, letting out a breath. "I have also justpleted the purchase of a mansion and was nning to invite you for a visit. But it seems that''s no longer possible."

    "So, you''re finally moving out of the hotel room," Cami said with a chuckle. "Congrattions."

    "Thanks."

    "But unfortunately, I can''t visit your new mansion any time soon. That''ll have to wait until after my trip."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "That''s okay. Just focus on enjoying your travels. I''ll also be busy with the club over the next two months. But, of course, I''ll still miss you."

    "Is that so?" Cami chuckled. "I''ll also miss you. Anyways, I''m still on the road. Let''s end our conversation for now. Love you."

    "Love you too," Zachary responded. "Remember to tap on me when you''re avable to talk. Okay?"

    "Okay, goodbye," Cami agreed and ended the call.

    Zachary nced at the phone for a few seconds before shoving it back into his pocket. His gut feeling was telling him that there was something off about Cami''s abrupt decision to travel with her mom. But after a few seconds of contemtion, he decided to push the negative feeling to the back of his mind. Then, without further ado, he stood up from the sofa and exited the house through the side exit.

    "Boss!"

    On seeing Zachary emerge from the house, Angelo Mattiello, who had been waiting by his white Citro?n, smiled. He stepped forward and asked, "Have you finished organizing everything here?"

    "Yes," Zachary replied, smiling back. "The interior designerpleted everything. So, all that is left is to buy some clothes, toiletries, and shoes. Then, I''ll be set and ready to shift into the new house."

    Angelo took a nce at the house and nodded. "What about the security system? Did you have one installed?"

    "There''s one already installed," Zachary replied. "As you can see, there''s a CCTV camera at the gate and all the entrances. That should be enough to scare off the thieves."

    "But to be on the safe side, you should still have the system updated," Angelo advised. "You can hire a securitypany to upgrade the entire system, and then you can be sure you''re safe whenever you''re in your house."

    "Do you know how long this takes to upgrade the security system?"

    "I''m not sure," Angelo answered, shaking his head. "You need to call a securitypany, and they will give you all the details."

    "Okay, I''ll do thatter," Zachary said. "I hope the security system upgrade doesn''t affect my schedule. I really wish to move into the house tomorrow."

    Angelo smiled. "You must remain patient as security is a must, especially for homes of prominent professional footballers in Italy. Spending just a few more days in a five-star hotel won''t kill you."

    Zachary chuckled after hearing that. "Indeed, you''re right. I''ll wait for the securitypany''s verdict before deciding when to move into the house. That aside, I also need to hire a maid to work as the housekeeper, a security guard to man the gate, and another maleborer to manage the gardens and clean the pool regrly."

    "That''s easy," Angelo said. "You can search on the inte for people that fit your criteria. I''ll also keep a lookout for any trained house helpers over the next few days. If I find some, I''ll inform you."

    "Thanks," Zachary said with a smile. "Since we have finished everything here, let''s head out and do some shopping."

    "Okay," Angelo agreed. "We can go to malls like Parco Dora Centro Commerciale and Area 12 Shopping Center. You''ll find everything you need there."

    "Great. Let''s go."

    With that said, Zachary immediately boarded Angelo''s Citro?n, and off they went, heading back towards the center of Turin. Roughly forty minutester, they arrived at Parco Dora Centro Commerciale and thus officially started their day''s shopping trip.

    While wearing a hood, a cap, and dark shades to keep his identity a secret, Zachary moved from shop to shop, buying clothes and other essentials. Although he didn''t manage to conceal his identity the entire time, he still utilized his shopping time well and bought various sets of designer clothes, shoes, training gear, and other stuff for the house. And by evening, he had already filled Angelo''s car with shopping bags.

    He ended his shopping spree feeling aplished and had Angelo drop him at his hotel. The hotel staff helped him carry his shopping bags to his room as he enjoyed an early dinner. Then, afterpleting his meal, he exercised for a few minutes in the gym before returning to his hotel room for the night.

    -----

    Over the next few days, Zachary returned his focus to training. He spent most of the time at the Vinovo, attending team sessions under the strict supervision of his coaches.

    As for the n to move into the new vi, Zachary had postponed it to Friday, which was the day when the securitypany had promised to finish installing the security system. He was patient since he didn''t wish for any disturbances after he''d shifted into his brand-new house.

    Aside from training, Zachary didn''t forget hisnguage sses. Every evening, he would head to thenguage school and spend hours cramming and trying to pronounce Italian words. He was really focused on hisnguage studies as he wanted to learn thenguage as soon as possible.

    Due to the busy schedule, the days passed quickly for Zachary as he trained and studied Italian. He didn''t even have time to meet Emily, his agent, who had been asking him for a meeting. He was so fixed, and before he knew it, it was Thursday, the eve of the day he would shift into his new house.

    Fortunately for Zachary, there were no scheduled Italian Serie A matches for that weekend. There was also no team training starting Thursday, as most Juventus yers had already departed to y the Euro Championships and international friendlies. So, Zachary, being a yer without international duties, eagerly weed the time off and decided to utilize it to settle into his new home.

    After waking up early on Friday morning, he quickly arranged his belongings before checking out of the hotel. He then had Angelo hire a small van that transported his stuff to his vi. As for him, he traveled in Angelo''s Citro?n and also arrived at his new home by 9:00 AM.

    Standing before his house again, he could hardly contain his happiness. A soft smile outlined his face as he really felt blessed to be a highly-paid professional footballer ying for Juventus. He was d that he no longer had to fit himself in a small hotel room but would instead start enjoying life while staying in his 14-room vi.

 Chapter 493 Thoughts about which Country to Represent

    493 Thoughts about which Country to Represent

    The following day was a Saturday. And being a weekend without Italian Serie A matches, it was a rxing one for Zachary, who had just moved into his new mansion.

    He awoke to the rays of the already-risen sun streaming through the shy gap of the window curtain and shining into his eyes. Squinting slightly, he pivoted his gaze on the elegant clock hanging on the opposite wall as he shook off the remaining dregs of sleep.

    The next moment, his heart shook with amazement as he learned it was already 10:00 AM. It seemed thefort afforded by the new mansion was already impacting his work ethic. Without realizing it, he''d slept for so long and even dyed his morning exercise routine.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    Zachary''s phone started vibrating from the bedside table, breaking him away from his thoughts. Picking it up, he realized the iing call was from Emily, his agent. He immediately pressed the ept button and positioned the phone against his ear.

    "Hello, Emily..." Zachary spoke into the phone a bit hesitantly. He felt guilty, especially after putting off the meeting with Emily for quite some time.

    "Hello, Zachary!" Contrary to Zachary''s expectations, Emily''s voice was as vibrant and sweet as ever over the phone. With a light chuckle, she continued, "How is the morning of my most important client? Everything going on well?"

    "My morning is fine, and everything is okay on my side," Zachary responded, a rxing feeling sweeping over him. "How about you, the best football agent in the world? How are you doing?"

    Emily chuckled again. "My morning is fine as well. Did you finally move into your mansion?"

    "Yes," Zachary responded. "I moved in yesterday."

    "So, I guess congrattions are in order."

    "I guess so. Thanks."

    "How''s the new ce?"

    "It''s great," Zachary said. "However, it''s also a bit too quiet as I''m still alone in the house."

    Emilyughed. "Just get a wife," she said jokingly, "The ce will no longer feel lonely."

    Zachary replied with a chuckle but chose not toment.

    "Anyways," Emily continued, "We need to meet ASAP. I need to talk to you."

    "Okay. Can we meet at my house? Is that okay with you?"

    "Yes, that''s okay," she replied.

    "Excellent! I will tell Angelo to pick you up. Where are you at the moment?"

    "B&B Hotel Torino. I''ll be ready to head out at around eleven."

    "Great," Zachary said. "Then, I''ll tell Angelo to pick you up at 11:00 AM. See you in about an hour."

    "Just a moment before you hang up!" Emily hurriedly said. "I''ll being with Kristin. She''s your publicity secretary, and we need to start involving her in some of our work-rted conversations. Don''t you think so?"

    "Good idea," Zachary said. "I have no problem with hering here. And that reminds me: Coach Bj?rn Peters, my fitness trainer, and his wife, will also being here around midday. Maybe, we can all have lunch together and celebrate my moving into the new house."

    "Coach Bj?rn Peters!" Emily mumbled. "The coach from Norway, whose wife you hired as a chef?"

    "Yes," Zachary intoned, "They''ll be staying with me, just for convenience. With them around, I also won''t have to stay alone in such a big house."

    Zachary had already requested his fitness coach and newly-hired chef to move in and stay with him in the new mansion. And fortunately, Coach Bj?rn Peters and his wife agreed to the invite after insisting on taking a pay cut as the coverage for rent. They had thus officially be the other upants of Zachary''s brand-new mansion and would stay with him until further notice.

    "I think that''s a great idea," Emily said after a few seconds. "Having your fitness trainer and chef staying with you will make life easier. They will be in an excellent position to manage your diet, sleep, and training regimens better."

    "That''s the whole idea," Zachary agreed. "Having them here is a blessing for me. Moreover, they will only be upying a small section of the house. They won''t inconvenience me in any way."

    "Great!" Emily said. " I have to dress up and prepare for our meeting. Let''s talk more when I arrive. Goodbye."

    "Goodbye."

    -----

    After hanging up, Zachary jumped out of bed. He quickly went through his fifteen-minute morning yoga routine before washing up and donning a fresh and brand-new Nike tracksuit.

    Zachary then enjoyed a quick breakfast, which included nutritious foods like milk, cereal, fruits, and bacon. Afterpleting the meal and cing the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, he settled on one of thefy sofas in the living room to await Emily''s arrival.

    Leaning back into his seat, he took a moment to admire thevish sitting room of his new home. The next moment, he feltpletely rxed as his eyes took in the sight of the morning sunrays dancing off the paintings, the vases, and the elegant furniture. And once again, his entire being swelled with satisfaction at the realization that he was already one of the few proud owners of mansions priced more than a million Euros in Italy.

    "I can''t be satisfied with only this," Zachary reminded himself. "I have got to keep on working hard. I must make more money and buy more assets around the world."

    Smiling slightly, he decided to watch TV while awaiting Emily and Kristin''s arrival. He picked up the remote and immediately switched on the TV. And just then, the speakers came alive with the sound of ESPN''s eleven o''clock sports show.

    "In other news," the beautiful sports presenter said, "There will be no matches for the English Premier League, the Italian Serie A, the Spanish La Liga, and other top leagues in Europe, as yers take on international duties this weekend. In the Euro Championships, scheduled to be yedter today, Pnd will y Germany, Find will face Greece..."

    Zachary wasn''t so focused as the presenter read out the fixtures for international matches. His manner was calm and rxed as all the mentioned football games had nothing to do with him - a yer yet to decide which country to represent. But just as he was about to switch the channel, a specific detail in the fixtures caught his attention.

    "In the African Cup of Nation qualifiers," the TV presenter intoned, "The Democratic Republic of Congo will be facing off against Ivory Coast in Kinshasa at 4:30 PM Central African Time..."

    Zachary''s heart immediately skipped a beat. "DR Congo is ying against Ivory Coast," he thought. "That''s my dad''s country against my biological mother''s country. I can technically represent either of the two."

    While bathing in the warm autumn sunshine streaming through the wide door and therge windows, Zachary sat there and continued watching the sports show. But his thoughts were in turmoil as he entertained the idea of quickly selecting a country to represent.

    As a footballer with the support of the system, Zachary desired to win every major title out there. He wanted to win the Champions League, the Italian Serie A, the English Premier League, and above all, the World Cup.

    He obviously understood that he could win most of the club football titles by joining great sides. For instance, he could try to win the Serie A and Champions League with Juventus. And if he needed a change and wished for another league title, he could sign with another club from another top European League.

    However, in the case of the World Cup, Zachary had limited options. He didn''t just hope to represent any team in any part of the world but a country from Africa. His wish was to once upon a time make history by helping an African side win the World Cup. At one point during his career, he yearned to stand on the World Cup podium and hold the trophy with African teammates. That was his innermost desire ¡ª a yearning that caused him to be reluctant tomit to DR Congo, his homnd with limited prospects.

    As a person with knowledge of the future, Zachary knew well that the prospects of Congolese football were grim. The management of the country''s football team would remain sub-par, and the quality of the squad would decline over the next few years. And due to those considerations, Zachary couldn''t picture himself winning any title while representing his country of birth.

    However, Ivory Coast, the birth country of his biological mother, was a different story. In the present and the future, the Ivorians had talented footballers like Nics P¨¦p¨¦, Wilfried Zaha, Ibrahim Sangar¨¦, Eric Bailly, Salomon Kalou, Serge Aurier, and the highly experienced Yaya Tour¨¦ in their squad. And with such deadly and highly tactical options in their line-up, Zachary could picture himself aplishing something with them if he represented Ivory Coast.

    He was confident that with the addition of his skills aided by the system, the Ivorian squad would gain the necessary firepower to qualify for the World Cup a few times and move far within the world-famous FIFA tournament. The possibility was definitely there as the Ivorian side had more prospects as a teampared to DR Congo, his homnd.

    "But how do I get in touch with the Ivorian Football Federation? Do I write them an email, or do I call

    them?"

    Zachary shook his head and cast out the notions from his head. Then, after leaning back into the sofa, he quickly thought of his former teammate Eric Bailly, whose fate had taken on a different trajectory, especially after signing for Rosenborg.

    "That guy is also going ces," Zachary thought. "His fate has surely changed for the better."

    Everything started at Rosenborg.

    Influenced by Zachary, a training maniac, Eric Bailly had begun working hard during his first months in Trondheim. Hismitment to football had paid off quickly, and he had attracted the attention of Tottenham after winning the Europa League the previous season. But that wasn''t the end of his sess story. After signing with Tottenham, the Ivorian quickly won a starting position and continued performing impressively. He was even already listed among the most promising young defenders in the premier league.

    "He should be able to help."

    Zachary decided to call Eric Bailly after the conclusion of the AFCON qualifiers the following day. He hoped his former teammate would link him to the Ivorian Football Federation. And if they epted him as a yer, Zachary would be able to kick-start the international side of his career. He would no longer have to stay home during international breaks since he would have a country to represent.

    "Ding! Dong! Ding..."

    The doorbell rang, breaking Zachary out of his musings after a short while. It seemed that Emily and Kristin had finally arrived. So, without wasting time, Zachary quickly walked to the door to let in his beautiful agent and publicity secretary. He was eager to have a heart-to-heart, especially with his agent, concerning the new endorsement deals that had just been offered to him by various international brands.

 Chapter 494 A Relaxing Day with Acquaintances

    494 A Rxing Day with Acquaintances

    On opening the door, Zachary''s eyes lit up as they took in the visages of his two beautiful visitors. As expected, it was Emily and Kristin on the doorstep, glowing with warmth under the rays of the morning sun.

    "Wee,dies," Zachary quickly said with a smile. "It''s nice to see you again." He stepped forward and hugged the twodies one after the other. Then, after exchanging some inconsequential small talk, he invited them to enter his new home.

    Just in passing, Zachary gave them a once-over as they walked by him and entered the house. As usual, Emily looked gorgeous in a formal greydy''s suit and a blue blouse that emphasized her elegance as awyer and football agent. On the other hand, Kristin had gone casual and donned a long-sleeved pink blouse, tight denim jeans, and white sneakers. But, even in those rxed clothes, the Norwegian girl still looked stunning, especially with her cheerful smile that was as bright as the midday sun.

    "This ce looks really amazing," Kristin said after stepping into the living room a few secondster. "The furnishing is just right, and the ambiance superb. You even have a Victorian Viennese Carved Clock on your wall! Truly extravagant! How much did you spend on the interior design of this ce?"

    Smiling slightly, Zachary said, "Most things were originally in the house. I only hired an interior designer to do the final touches. So, I didn''t spend much."

    Kristin chuckled and inclined her head to hold Zachary''s gaze. "It seems you don''t wish to disclose the money you spent. But I can still gauge that you coughed out a lot."

    "Not necessarily," Zachary argued with a slight shake of his head. He then turned towards Emily, who was all along standing quietly by the side, and asked, "Do you want a tour around the house?"

    "Not yet," Emily hurriedly said. "I''ll tour the house after we finish our meeting. Let''s start with the important matters first."

    "Okay," Zachary agreed.

    Emily nodded with a smile. Then, turning towards Kristin, she hurriedly said, "Kristin! You can take some time to tour around the house as I discuss some issues with Zachary. We''ll call you when we require your input."

    "Okay," Kristin replied, her eyes lighting up. She then turned towards Zachary and asked, "Are there any ces around the house that are off limits?"

    "None." Zachary shook his head. "Treat this as a home away from home and move wherever you want."

    "Okay, thanks," she said excitedly. "Then, I''m off. Enjoy your discussion." Without waiting for a response, she quickly walked out of the living room and disappeared through the exit leading to the kitchen area.

    "She seems to be in a good mood," Zachary said after seeing Kristin disappear. "It seems she''s adapting well to life in Turin."

    "Yes, she is," Emily agreed with a nod. "She had an easy time fitting into themunities in Turin as she speaks Italian well. From what she has told me, her studies are also progressing well. Her onlyint is that she has little to do as your publicity secretary."

    "Oh!" Zachary was surprised. "Does she require more tasks in addition to managing my social media ounts? And will she have more time toplete the additional tasks?"

    "Yes, to all questions," Emily said. "Before she left Trondheim, you had promised to make her your personal assistant, with additional tasks that included managing your schedule. Knowing all that, she applied for a part-time program at the university to create more time for more responsibilities. But you, as her employer, have not fulfilled your promise. You have not given her additional tasks that fit her role as a personal assistant."

    "Oh, okay." Zachary nodded. "So, what do you suggest?"

    "Let''s just give her the additional responsibilities," Emily proposed with a smile. "For instance, you mentioned that you''re looking for house helpers, such as a maid and a security guard. With Kristin working as your personal assistant, you don''t need to search for them yourself. You can delegate the task to her instead of wasting your valuable time on it. I''m sure she will be able toplete it diligently with her skills."

    "Is that so?"

    "That was just an example," Emily quickly continued, "but there are many more ways a personal assistant can help you out. She can help organize your schedule, arrange meetings, remind you of important tasks, act as your first point of contact for callers, deal with emails, manage your mansion, and pay the necessary bills on time. As you can see, you, a professional footballer with a tight schedule, definitely need a personal assistant to handle all those misceneous tasks. There''s no way around it. Otherwise, you''ll tire yourself out if you try to do all those small tasks yourself."

    "I understand," Zachary said, nodding. "Then, it''s okay to give her more responsibilities. Let her start her job by searching for skilled and reliable house helpers to work in this vi. Afterpleting that, she can slowly take on the rest of the misceneous tasks around me. But one question. Now that she''s my personal assistant, does she have to stay here?"

    "That''s not necessary," Emily hurriedly said. "She''s your personal assistant, not your wife. She can juste here whenever there''s a need. Other times, you canmunicate remotely, for instance, by phone, when assigning her tasks."

    "Okay, I understand," Zachary said.

    "Great," Emily said. Turning around and settling down in one of the sofas, she continued, "That''s that. So, let''s quickly talk about the endorsement deals. I previouslymunicated how Vector X, a sportswear manufacturing brand, was willing to endorse you. As I said, they are serious about stealing you from Nike. So, tell me! Do you still want us to consider their proposal?"

    "No!" Zachary shook his head. "Let''s not consider it."

    Emily''s eyes widened. Then, her eyebrows twisted together, and she asked, "Why?"

    "We still have a contract with Nike," Zachary answered, holding his agent''s gaze. "Let''s be patient until weplete our remaining two years with them."

    "Oh!" Emily seemed disappointed. "Do you understand that you''re losing out on a deal with an approximate base ie of six million per year? Moreover, there are other benefits thate with the endorsement deal. For instance, thepany promised you a 50% offer of all the profits from your ''very own'' Vector X branded merchandise sales. Do you understand how much that money is?"

    "Yes, I do," Zachary said, sighing. "I''ll probably be missing out on a few hundred million Euros. But I still don''t want us to jump ship and abandon Nike in the middle of our contract. Let''s be patient for the moment, and see how things develop. Maybe, Nike may offer us a better deal in the near future."

    On hearing the response, Emily observed Zachary for a few seconds before sighing and nodding. Forcing a smile, she said, "Okay, let''s hope you''re right, and Nike will give us a great offer soon. Otherwise, we''ll regret not taking this deal."

    "Fear not," Zachary consoled, his voice softening. "As long as I continue performing well on the pitch, more juicy endorsement deals wille our way. For now, I''m just preventing us from turning into unreliable jerks who abandon partners abruptly before the end of the contract duration."

    "Okay," Emily said, nodding. "I understand. I''ll stop all dealings with Vector X with effect from now."

    "Thanks," Zachary said. "And I''m sorry for abruptly changing my mind."

    "It''s okay," Emily said, her smile turning more natural. "I''m your agent, and my only role is to execute your will. So, you don''t need to feel sorry after changing your mind over any particr deal. It''s your right as my client."

    "Okay, I understand," Zachary said, nodding. He then continued discussing a few other issues with his agent while waiting for the arrival of his other guests.

    -----

    As nned, Zachary weed Coach Bj?rn Peters and his wife to his home at midday. After greeting the others, the Peters couple quickly got into the groove ¡ª and together with Emily and Kristin, they agreed to celebrate Zachary''spletion of the purchase of his house that very day.

    For that asion, Inger, Coach Bj?rn Peters'' wife, was the chef. She prepared a wide array of exotic and delicious dishes, which the others enjoyed at lunchtime. Then, after lunch, they all returned to the living room and spent the rest of the evening there.

    While within thefort afforded by Zachary''svish seating room, they enjoyed drinks and talked about many goals, big and small. They even made ns to start a gym in Turin, hoping to attract clients by relying on Zachary''s fame.

    Their discussions were quite enjoyable, and they only managed to exhaust most topics long after the sun had set. They then called it a day, and with that, Emily and Kristin said their goodbyes and left the vi, intending to return to their respective ces of residence for the night. The Peters, on the other hand, immediately upied one of the rooms and thusmenced their agreed-upon habitation of Zachary''s vi. And that was how Zachary''s rxing day with acquaintances ended.

 Chapter 495 Preparing To Return To Action

    After moving into the new vi, Zachary settled into a productive routine. Over the next few days, he would wake up early at around six and either jog around his beautiful neighborhood in Pinerolo, Piedmont, or go through a gym session within thefort of his home. Then, a bitter, after enjoying avish breakfast prepared by Inger, his newly-hired professional chef, he would have Angelo drive him to the Vinovo, where he would spend hours attending Juventus'' team training sessions.

    In the evening, after putting in a few hours of his own personal training to hone his ball skills and free-kick technique, he would head to thenguage school and spend ample time learning Italian. The sses would end at around nine, and he would then have Angelo drive him back to his vi, where he would quickly return to his bedroom and jump into bed for the night.

    Day in, and day out, Zachary didn''t waste any waking moment in the slightest. He was so focused on improving himself as a person and a footballer that he even forgot to reach out to Eric Bailly for a few days. He only recalled that he''d forgotten to call his former teammate after his Thursday sses ended early and his schedule opened up slightly.

    That day, he arrived home at around 7:00 PM and then enjoyed a sumptuous dinner prepared by Inger, his newly-hired professional chef. After the meal, he returned to his room and cleaned up before settling on his bed and dialing Eric Bailly''s number through WhatsApp.

    "Hello, Zach!" Eric Bailly was quick to reply. "Long time no talk, big man. How are you doing?"

    "I''m doing fine, Eric," Zachary replied. "What about you? How is life at Tottenham taking you?"

    "I can say quite well," Eric said with a chuckle. "I have already managed to make the first team. So, I''m having a st ying in the Premiership. The only regret is that you didn''t choose to join Tottenham with Kasongo and me."

    Zachary also chuckled in response. "It wasn''t time for me to join the Premier League. That''s why I couldn''t join Tottenham."

    "Oh!" Eric Bailly sounded surprised. "Does that mean you''ll join in the future?"

    "Maybe, maybe not." Zachary didn''t dare to give a definite answer as he''d just joined Juventus. Sighing slightly, he continued, "For now, I''m still focused on enjoying my time here in Turin. Let''s put club football aside. Congrattions on defeating DRC over the weekend. I saw on the news that you won by two goals to one in Kinshasa."

    "Thanks," Eric Bailly said. "And I''m sorry about my team defeating your home country. We just had to win, as we really wish to qualify for next year''s African Cup of Nations."

    "No problem, man," Zachary said dismissively. "You don''t need to apologize. There''s always a winner and a loser in football matches. And this time, my country was on the losing end. End of story."

    Eric Bailly chuckled in response.

    "Eric!" Zachary said. "I need a favor."

    There were a few seconds of silence before Eric Bailly''s voice sounded again. "Well, that''s surprising. What do you need help with?"

    Zachary took a deep breath and told Eric about his biological mother and how she was from Ivory Coast. Then, building from there, he also informed Eric about his wish to represent the Ivorian football side in as few words as possible. He then ended his short narrative by requesting his former teammate to help him contact the Ivorian Football Federation.

    "Oh, my!" Eric Bailly eximed after hearing Zachary''s request. "Do you really wish to represent Ivory Coast? Are you not joking with me?"

    "Not at all," Zachary assured. "I''m being serious here. I have not yed for any country before. So, if the Ivorian Football Federation is willing to take me up, I''ll dly represent them. I need to y for an African team that has prospects."

    "This is excellent." Eric sounded excited. "I''m getting goosebumps just picturing you in Ivory Coast''s orange jersey, partnering with Yaya Tour¨¦ in midfield. Damn! With your addition, we would go ces, and winning the African Cup of nations or advancing to thete stages of the 2018 World Cup would no longer be just a dream."

    "I''m d you''re so weing of me," Zachary said, surprised by Eric Bailly''s enthusiasm. "So, can you contact the Ivorian Football Federation on my behalf?"

    "Of course, I''ll contact them," Eric agreed readily. "In fact, let me contact the president immediately as this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Ivory Coast. I would regret it for the rest of my life if any other country happened to poach you due to my dilly-dallying. Just give me a few minutes. Okay?"

    "Okay," Zachary agreed. "Call me after you get a response. And thanks."

    "No, don''t thank me," Eric hurriedly said. "I should instead be the one thanking you for choosing to represent Ivory Coast. Just wait a few minutes, and I''ll get an official response from the Ivorian Football Federation president."

    Without waiting for Zachary to respond, Eric Bailly ended the call. It seemed he was in a hurry to call his home country''s football governing body president.<novelsnext>please visit panda-:)????1.co)m</novelsnext>

    Zachary, on his part, decided to busy himself with going through a yoga routine as he waited for Eric Bailly''s response. He went through various rxing yoga poses on the carpeted floor of hisvish master bedroom while listening to hip-hop music in the background.

    Roughly a dozen minutes passed in a sh, and just when Zachary was about to execute the cow pose again, his phone rang, thus breaking him out of his routine. He picked it up and pressed the ept button without ncing at the screen.

    "Hello, Zachary! It''s me again." Eric Bailly''s voice sounded as Zachary held the phone against his ear. "I have just gotten a response from the Ivorian Football Federation president."

    "That fast!" Zachary eximed. "You were able to get a response quickly, even thiste at night."

    "Yes," Eric agreed. "As I said, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Ivory Coast. So, the president had to give me a response as quickly as possible, even if it meant waking up all the top brass of the country."

    "Is that so?" Zachary was a bit amused. "So, what was the verdict?"

    "Of course, it''s a yes from the top brass of the Ivorian Football Federation," Eric answered with a light chuckle. "The entire Ivory Coast, the president of the football governing body, and the rest of the football officials in the country all wish for you to represent them in internationalpetitions. Those were the president''s very own words."

    "That''s great," Zachary said, letting out a breath. "So, what''s needed for me to join the Ivorian Football team? Is there a lot of paperwork required?"

    "Yes, there is," Eric said. "You must process your citizenship papers before you can represent Ivory Coast. But that''s just a minor issue for a yer with your standing. After I talked to the Ivorian Football Federation president, he promised to delegate some people to help you process your papers. So, you don''t need to waste time trying to prepare the paperwork to represent Ivory Coast yourself. Instead, the Ivorian officials will help youplete all the required procedures and,ter on, inform you when everything is ready. Moreover, your biological mother is Ivorian, and you already qualify as an Ivory Coast citizen by descent. So, the process will be quite fast and simple, and you might even be able to represent Ivory Coast during January''s African Cup of Nations."

    "That''s great then," Zachary said. "Thanks."

    "No problem," Eric said. "The Ivorian officials will contact you, most probably tomorrow. They''ll give you more details concerning the necessary procedures."

    "Okay, I will wait for their call."

    -----

    After ending the call with Eric, Zachary took another warm shower before jumping into bed for the night. He slept like a log and only managed to wake up when the clock hand had just pointed to the seven o''clock mark.

    p An dD ????1.cO,,m He quickly went through his morning routine, including yoga, cleaning up, and breakfast, before heading to the Vinovo to attend that day''s team training session. He then spent the rest of the morning going through various teamwork drills under the strict supervision of his coaches.

    At midday, as he took a break from training, he finally received the expected call from the Ivorian officials. After making some small talk, they asked him for his biological mother''s details and contact information, which he eagerly disclosed. Then, they requested his own details before ending the call with a promise to work on all his paperwork within two months.

    Zachary, who was in maniac training mode, obviously pushed the matter of Ivorian citizenship out of his head immediately after cing the phone to the side. He joined the rest of his teammates for lunch at the canteen before attending the afternoon team training session with them. He worked hard for the next hour, only stopping when the coaches called a halt to the day''s training.

    Settling on the sides for a post-training water break, Zachary''s started thinking about Juventus'' tight schedule for the following few weeks.

    It was one hell of a schedule for sure, as Zachary and the other Old Lady yers would have to tough it out with Sassuolo in an away Serie A match the following day before heading to Greece and ying against Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday, four dayster. But that was not the end. After the Olympiacos game, team Juventus would y US Palermo (at home), Genoa (away), and Empoli (away) within a small window of a week before ending their busy schedule with other home games against Olympiacos and Parma on the 4th and 9th of November, respectively.

    Zachary and the rest of the Juventus yers were obviously in for a hard time, as they had to y seven matches in just over three weeks. They were all under immense pressure and had thus been training more intensivelypared to the weeks prior.

    Fortunately, the training on that day, which happened to be a Friday and the eve of Juventus'' game against Sassuolo, had just ended early at around 3:00 PM. Thus, after attending Coach Allegri''s pre-match tactical meeting, Zachary, who was tired as a dog, decided to return home and rest. He was hoping to rx and enjoy his afternoon within the safe confines of his vi so that he would be fresh and ready to y against Sassuolo the following evening.

    -----

 Chapter 496 A Perfect Run Of Seven Games

    As scheduled, Juventus'' match against Sassuolo kicked off at 8:45 PM the following evening in Reggio Emilia, Italy. The action within the Mapei Stadium, Sassuolo''s home ground, heated up quickly, and it wasn''t long before the teams startedunching relentless attacks against one another.

    One minute, the cheers of the visiting fans would hit a thunderous zenith as Juventusunched attacks through their highly-creative yers, like Zachary, Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez, and Fernando Llorente. But a few momentster, it would be the Sassuolo fans singing at the top of their voices as their team attacked Juventus with an indomitable impetus.

    Obviously, both teams wished to draw first blood and score the first goal to gain an advantage early on in the game. They thus continued ying attacking football, going at each other like mad and causing the tension in the stadium to soar to unbelievable levels.

    Spirited counters and wing runs became the order of the evening, and due to the highly offensive football on disy, the game became fast-paced. The team formations also turned almost worthless as the ying field heated up with tension. And in such a manner, the time passed quickly, and soon it was the 27th minute.

    At that moment, it was the Sassuolo yers on the ball. They were trying tounch another offensive against Juventus with snappy exchanges through the middle. However, a misced pass by Simone Missiroli, their central midfielder, rendered their efforts fruitless and sealed their fate of losing possession.

    "Whoosh!"

    Arturo Vidal, the Juventus defensive midfielder who happened to be close by, immediately pounced toward the loose ball. He slid forth and prodded the ball toward the right nk with the tip of his outstretched boot. And with that effort, he set loose Stephan Lichtsteiner and initiated another lightning-fast counter.

    Stephan Lichtsteiner, on his part, controlled the ball mid-stride before continuing his mad dash toward the other side of the pitch. He cut through the nks like an incarnation of the sh while prodding the ball forward. His pace was for the world championships, and he effortlessly raced past two opposing yers before squaring the ball to find Zachary in the middle.

    As usual, Zachary wasposed, fast, and decisive while receiving the ball. Taking it in his stride, he feigned going right before going left to lose an opponent. Then, with a slight shift of pace, he skipped past another Sassuolo yer before expertly threading the ball forward to find Fernando Llorente.

    Fernando Llorente, who happened to be in fine form, of course, didn''t disappoint. He skillfully edged past an opposing center-back to connect with Zachary''s pinpoint pass. He then squared his body and curled the ball over the goalkeeper and into the back of the.

    Llorente''s 28th-minute goal allowed Juventus to gain the advantage, and the score was then 1:0 in favor of the team from Turin. As a result, the almost impossible task ofing back from behind against the best team in Italyy on the shoulders of the Sassuolo yers. They had to attempt to score at least a goal while continuing to defend well to keep the Juventus attackers at bay. Otherwise, they would obviously lose the game on their home ground and thus disappoint their home supporters.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    With the sound of the referee''s whistle, the game rmenced. And as expected, the Sassuolo yers pressed forward, immediatelyunching an offensive against Juventus. Their urgency on the ball was evident in their ying style, and anyone watching the game could tell that team Sassuolo yearned to score an equalizing goal as soon as possible.

    However, as the Sassuolo yers pressed forward, they left spaces behind, and more opportunities began to open up for Juventus on the counter.

    The highly creative Old Lady attacking yers, like Zachary, Tevez, and Stephan Lichtsteiner, took advantage of the situation and almost extended their lead on multiple asions. They even came close to scoring during the 43rd minute as Carlos Tevez''s audacious bicycle kick smashed off the post before bouncing out of y.

    p¨¤§ád¨¢-¨¾?¦Í¨º¦É.§ã¨®§® After the half-time break, the game continued, and the pressure from the Sassuolo yers grew more relentless. By relying on brilliant wing y and long ball tactics, they backed the Juventus yers into their own half and forced them on the defensive during the opening ten minutes of the second half.

    But just as supporters began to think that Juventus was about to concede a goal, a sudden change urred on the pitch. Zachary, who had mostly stayed quiet during the opening minutes of the second half, exploded with brilliance. He dispossessed Francesco Magnanelli close to the border of the final third before kicking the ball to his left to find Patrice Evra on the left nk.

    But Zachary didn''t stop at that. Before Evra could receive the pass, he whirled around and then took off towards the other side of the pitch, hoping to be involved in the attack.

    "Pa..."

    Evra, on his part, effortlessly brought the ball under control on the left nk. Then, racing forward, he exchanged a couple of one-twos with Zachary, who was running in sync with him, as he speared into Sassuolo''s half at breakneck.

    Stepping into the final third, Evra was not selfish. Instead, he chose to slow down and pass the ball to Tevez, who had just floated into an unmarked pocket of space on the left side of Sassuolo''s box.

    Tevez effortlessly connected with Evra''s through ball before whirling around and passing to Fernando Llorente. Thetter took a single touch before flicking the ball back to Zachary, who had positioned himself immactely close to the edge of the box.

    "Whoosh!"

    Judging the angle of the approaching pass, Zachary pounced forward. He didn''t even bother to control the ball but just sted it and sent it on a curling trajectory toward the inside of the far post. His shooting technique was wless, and he beat the keeper to score Juventus'' second goal during the 64th minute.

    With the goal, Juventus gained momentum. They attacked and defended spiritedly during the remaining minutes of the game. They also yed as a unit and denied Sassuolo any chance to score even a single goal. As a result, they managed to maintain their 2:0 lead and win the game after six minutes of added time.

    After the game ended, the Juventus yers were all in a celebratory mood. They had just aplished their seventh consecutive win in the Serie A and further strengthened their position at the top of the Serie A. As a result, they gained confidence as a team and worked even harder over the next few days.

    While training, the days passed quickly, and Wednesday arrived. The Juventus yers, who had finished all their preparations, took an early morning flight to Greece and yed against Olympiacos Piraeus in the evening.

    Maybe, it was because of the traveling or the tight schedule, but the Juventus yers weren''t at their best against the Greek side. They started on the back foot after conceding an early goal during the 5th minute. But an impressive twote goals from Zachary and Andrea Pirlo during the 77th and 91st minutes, respectively, allowed them to win their 3rd sessive Champions League fixture for that season.

    The Juventus yers then returned to Turin the day after the game. After resting for a day, they trained intensively for three days before weing Palermo to Turin. Backed by the support of their home fans, they dispatched their opponents with goals from Arturo Vidal, Fernando Llorente, and Zachary Bemba, thus further cementing their pole position on the Serie A table.

    But that was not the end of their tight schedule. Three dayster, on Wednesday, 29th October, they yed against Genoa away from home and won by two goals to one. For that game, Zachary didn''t score. But he still provided the two assists that resulted in the two goals scored by Tevez and Llorente for Juventus.

    Then, two dayster, on a rainy Saturday evening, Juventus yed against Empoli away from home. For that game, the Old Lady yers were brimming with spirit. They easily thrashed the opponents by three goals to zero after Andrea Pirlo, Zachary, and ??lvaro Morata found the back of the during the 14th, 57th, and 72nd minutes, respectively.

    Juventus'' insanely tight schedule then continued with a return Champions League game against Olympiacos on Tuesday, 4th November. But even after Coach Allegri fielded a second team, Juventus still went ahead to win the game 1:0 with an early goal from Simone Pepe.

    Having rested for more than four days, Juventus'' first-string yers were back in action against Parma on Sunday, 11th November. They yed an impressive game and easily thrashed the opponents by nine goals to zero.

    Fernando Llorente, Carlos Tevez, Zachary Bemba, and ??lvaro Morata all scored braces, while Stephan Lichtsteinerpleted the one-sided demolition of Parma with ate goal.

    And with that, the Juventus yers had sessfullypleted their insanely seven-match tight schedule and remained unbeaten. They still had a perfect run in both the Champions League and the Serie A, without a single loss or a draw. As a result, they were a hot topic in Italy and the rest of Europe, with many famous media outlets citing how they had just aplished the most perfect start of the season in over a decade.

    -----

 Chapter 497 Zacharys Impact on the Team

    Chapter 497 Zachary''s Impact on the Team

    Following Juventus'' 9:0 thrashing of Parma FC, the entire Juventus club was in a celebratory mood. Be it the coaching staff, the club managers, the fans, the medics, and even the cleaning staff ¡ª they were all glowing with radiant smiles on the Monday after the game. Anyone walking around Juventus'' facilities at the Vinovo could tell that there was something different and extraordinary about the club due to their enthusiasm and brimming spirits.

    "I can''t believe we''re still unbeaten even after ying eleven Serie A games and four Champions League matches. We''re almost about to make history." Coach Allegri''s ears picked up a conversation between twodies dressed as cleaners as he approached his office on Monday afternoon.

    "Your information is not right," the other cleaningdy hurriedly reminded. "We''re not just unbeaten in all our games. Instead, we''ve aplished a perfect run, meaning we haven''t lost or drawn a game. As you can see, there''s a big difference between an unbeaten and a perfect run."

    "Oh, my bad!" The other middle-aged cleaningdy nodded. "That''s even more impressive. With Zachary Bemba joining us, our squad has be invincible. I don''t think even the current Barcelona or Real Madrid squads can acquire a point from us. If we chanced upon them, we would thrash them by three or four goals to one."

    "You''re right," the otherdy agreed, nodding like a hen pecking grain. "Barcelona has Messi, and Real Madrid has Ronaldo. But we do have Zachary. I''m also of the view that we would defeat them easily."

    "Yeah..." The otherdy concurred. But just as she was about to continue, she spotted the nearby coach Allegri and let out a little yelp. "Coach! Good afternoon!"

    The otherdy also reacted and followed suit with a greeting. "Good afternoon, coach!"

    Coach Allegri smiled on seeing the reaction of the twodies. They were standing at attention, like a pair of well-trained soldiers greeting theirmander. "Good afternoon to you too,dies!" He returned their greeting with a smile. "How is your day?"

    "Our day is going well," one of thedies responded. "We''re just taking a small break before returning to work."

    "Okay, wonderful." Coach Allegri chuckled. "Don''t mind me. I''m only passing by. Just carry on with your conversation."

    He nodded at them before smiling and continuing on his way. Behind him, he could still hear muffled whispers between the twodies. But he didn''t give any more notice to them and sped up, heading towards his office.

    A few minutester, he entered his office and quickly settled in his chair. He then booted up hisptop and started reviewing the sports news published by reliable media houses.

    Slowly but surely, his smile grew more pronounced as he noticed that all the Italian press was praising Juventus'' form. Famous newspapers, like the La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tuttosport, and the Gazzetta del Popolo, were all writing about how Juventus was doing wonders. They exined how the team had beaten all opposition since the start of the new season and then rated the Juventus yers based on their respective contributions to the team''s perfect run.

    Zachary Bemba was, of course, the yer with the highest rating on Juventus'' squad. Based on the fact that he''d already scored ten goals and provided twelve assists in 10 out of 11 Serie A appearances while alsoting seven goals (with two hattricks on different asions) in the Champions League, most newspapers awarded him a record rating of 9.3/10. The newspapers also exined how Zachary was the most creative and efficient yer in Juventus, with the ability to bring the best out of his teammates and make them tick.

    "Truly remarkable! These articles are right on the money."

    Coach Allegri nodded to himself after reading the information about Zachary. He totally agreed with the newspapers since he understood Zachary''s capabilities quite well.

    After Zachary had settled into the Juventus squad, he didn''t just help the team by scoring goals. Instead, he''d utilized his never-say-never attitude and hardworking ethics to induce an over-the-toppetitive spirit within the entire squad. As a result, the yers, especially the attackers, were more focused than ever, often putting in more hours of training than before. And due to their diligent efforts and yearning to match Zachary''s level, they quickly transformed into better versions and began putting on more consistent and remarkable disys during matches.

    An example was Carlos Tevez, the Argentine who had already scored nine goals in the Serie A. His edge and brilliance on and off the pitch were exceptional over the previous few games, and in just about eleven games, he had alreadyted almost half the total number of all his goals fromst season.

    But he wasn''t the only one that had improved after Zachary''s arrival. There was also Fernando Llorente with seven goals and ¨¢lvaro Morata with five goals. They had turned into goal machines due to two reasons. Firstly, they were working harder than before on and off the pitch. And secondly, they were getting good service from Zachary during matches.

    "Having Zachary on the team is really a blessing."

    Coach Allegri sighed and returned to reading the news on hisptop. For the next few minutes, he took in all the published information quietly, only frowning, smiling, or shaking his head at times. Then, just as he was about to end his reading session, a new headline that had abruptly manifested on the home page of Tuttosport''s website caught his attention.

    "Just in," the headline read, "Zachary Bemba, Juventus'' 19-year-old wonder boy, nominated for the Golden Boy award."

    "Yes! This how it should be." Coach Allegri smiled as his eyes took in the headline. He was obviously not surprised that Zachary was on the 40-man shortlist for the Golden Boy award, an de first established by the Italian paper - Tuttosport.

    Had he not been on the list, then Coach Allegri would have immediately deduced that the entire votingmittee was blind and ipetent.

    "Let''s see who else is nominated."

    Quickly reading the article, Coach Allegri took in more details about the Golden Boy nominations. Aside from Zachary, the other young yers nominated included Liverpool''s Raheem Sterling, Calum Chambers of Arsenal, Luke Shaw of Manchester United, Everton''s John Stones, and Eric Dier of Tottenham. Then, there was Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Bernardeschi Franco (Fiorentina), Kingsley Coman (Juventus), Keita Bald¨¦ Diao (Lazio), Mateo Kovacic (Inter), and many others to make up the 40-man shortlist.

    However, as far as Coach Allegri was concerned, none of those names could hold a candle to Zachary. The coach believed they were there as decorations on the list to apany Zachary, the rightful winner of that year''s Golden Boy award.

    After reading the article, Coach Allegri turned his attention to other issues. He worked on training ns and read scouting reports until evening arrived. Then, just as the sun was about to sink below the western horizon of Turin, he wrapped up everything before exiting the training center and heading to the J Hotel for a team dinner.

    The club officials had organized the dinner for two reasons. Firstly, the yers would be heading for international duty over the next few days. So, the get-together was a way of sending the yers off in good spirits. Secondly, the club management wanted to take advantage of the dinner party and officially recognize the efforts of those yers who had gone above and beyond to help Juventus aplish a perfect run in both the Champions League and the Serie A. In other words, they would utilize the dinner as a ceremony to award Juventus'' best-performing yers for the first quarter of the season.

    **** ****

    Meanwhile, Zachary also arrived at the entrance of the J-Hotel''s restaurant at around six in the evening. He was obviously not at the ce to buy a meal but to attend Juventus'' team dinner.

    On stepping inside, Zachary''s heart skipped a bit. Pausing in his step, he nced at the immactely arranged dinner tables before slowly sweeping his gaze across the room to observe his teammates.

    "Damn! I''m really underdressed." That was the only thought that appeared in his mind the next moment.

    The rest of his teammates, including the often-casually dressed yers like Carlos Tevez, Kwadwo Asamoah, and Giorgio Chiellini, had all donned their impressive suits for the dinner party. They all looked sleek and dapper as they moved around, mingling with each other in the restaurant.

    But what about Zachary? The man himself had not given his attire much thought since, as a new yer, he wasn''t aware of the usual dress code for Juventus'' team dinners. He just put on a tucked-in white shirt with blue jeans and gentle ck shoes before throwing a ck leather jacket on top toplete his get-up. He, of course, looked sleek and fashionable since the attire matched his physique. But the only issue was that he had be the odd man out after walking into the dinner party venue.

    "Eh, Zachary, you''ve arrived! Wee."

    A familiar voice sounded behind Zachary as he walked further into the restaurant. Turning around gracefully, not to knock into anyone, he came face to face with Patrice Evra, who was also in a sleek ck suit. For the asion, the Frenchman had gone above and beyond to dress up. His hair was wellbed, his shoes well-polished, and it was as if he was about to receive a Ballon d''Or or attend the Oscars.

    "How are you, Patrice?" Zachary greeted him with a smile.

    "I''m fine," he replied, giving Zachary a once over. "Zachary, you really look smart. Your outfit is unique, and it adds charm to your entire persona. Keep it up, bro." He ended hispliments with a thumbs-up.

    "Quit messing around, Evra!" Zachary reprimanded. "We were together after the match yesterday when the director invited us for a team dinner. Why didn''t you remind me that the dress code was a suit?"

    Evra chuckled and said, "I''m not your wife. Neither am I your fashion designer. Why should I remind you? But that isn''t the main question. Aren''t you aware that the dress code for work dinners is always a suit? I thought it wasmon knowledge."

    In response, Zachary sighed and shook his head. "I only thought this was a small dinner with the main theme of eating. That''s why I didn''t bother to dress formally."

    "Then, sorry to you, my friend," Evra said, patting Zachary''s shoulder. "But worry not! No one around will hold your poor choice of fashion against you. Come; let''s find where to sit."

    Zachary smiled ruefully before following Evra to one of the tables. He''d already epted his fate of standing out as the ''odd man out'' at the dinner party since he could not just up and depart to change attires.

 Chapter 498 Team Dinner

    Chapter 498 Team Dinner

    Shortly after settling on one of the tables, Zachary busied himself with exchanging small talk with the rest of his teammates. yers like Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo, and even Gianluigi Buffon, the highly experienced captain, approached his table and offered their greetings one after the other. And like Evra, a few, who were more familiar with Zachary, even teased him about his choice of outfit for the dinner party.

    Zachary, of course, was on his best behavior during the party. He returned their greetings with a smile and didn''t get irritated because of their teasing. His heart was like that of a Buddha, without any ripples as he sat there, letting the club''s festive mood wash over him.

    A few minutester, all the yers took their seats around the dinner tables, and the party officiallymenced. The waiters and waitresses swarmed in and started serving the food and drinks. And with that, the bunch of well-dressed Juventus yers busied themselves with their food while at times toasting to each other and exchanging some small talk.

    It was as if the celebratory mood was weaving all the yers, coaches, technical staff, and club officials together as the most magnificent tapestry. They didn''t stop chatting andughing as they feasted. Anyone watching from a distance could see they were having a good time and bonding as a team.

    "Ding! Ding! Ding..."

    Suddenly a couple of rhythmic clinking chimes sounded as the dinner party was in full gear. With a slight tilt of the head, Zachary immediately noticed that Fabio Paratici, the Juventus sporting director, was the source of the sounds.

    Under the artificial lighting in the room, the director exuded a magnificent and proud aura as he rose from his seat. Smiling slightly, he swept his gaze across the room as he continued tapping a spoon against his ss, obviously with the intention of attracting the attention of the others in the room.

    "Buonasera a tutti voi!" He started off his speech by greeting everyone present in Italian. Then, smiling again, he continued spewing Italian words, most of which Zachary could not understand, before switching to English after a few more minutes.

    "For the benefit of some of our brothers here that don''t speak Italian, I''ll switch to English for the next part of my speech," he said with a chuckle. "As I just said, we have been impressive as a team over the past few weeks. Ourpetitive edge has grown to never-before-seen levels, and our team spirit has soared, allowing us to win all our fifteen opening games in the Champions League and the Italian Serie Abined. I can''t even begin to express how happy we''re as the club management with such results. In light of that, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to you all - the yers, the coaches, and the technical staff for the job well done. Cheers to you all!" He raised his ss to toast to everyone around.

    "Cheers!" All the yers, coaches, and technical staff returned the toast with bright smiles before gulping down their drinks.

    Fabio Paratici smiled and continued, "I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the best performers for Juventus during the just concluded month of October. Match in, match out, they are the people who have contributed the most to our sess during the first quarter of the season. They are the heroes of the club who have worked tirelessly to help us aplish a 15-match perfect run this season. When I read your name, please step forward and receive your award from the chairman."

    "First and foremost on the list," Fabio smiled, "Let''s begin by recognizing the efforts of our head coach - Massimiliano Allegri. His tactics have been spot-on, allowing us to win all our games since the start of the season. Ladies and gentlemen! Let''s put our hands together for our head coach as he steps forward to receive his award."

    "Pa, pa, pa..."

    The thunderous pping and apuse resounded across the room as Coach Allegri stepped forward and picked up his de. With a bright smile, the coach shook hands with the chairman and director before quietly returning to his seat.

    "Next," Fabio continued, "I would also like to take the opportunity to recognize the MVP for Juventus for the first quarter of the season, who has been exceptional on the field of y. Firstly, he scored ten goals and provided twelve assists in just ten Serie A appearances. Secondly, he has alreadyted seven goals in three UEFA Champions League appearances with hattricks against Malmo and Atl¨¦tico Madrid. But that is not all. Justing in today, he has also made the shortlist for this year''s Golden Boy award. Ladies and gentlemen! Please put your hands together for Zachary Bemba, Juventus'' MVP for the month of October."

    "Pa, pa, pa..."

    The apuse was even more thunderous as Zachary stepped forward to receive his de. He proudly marched across the room in his blue jeans and leather jacket and stood before Andrea Agnelli, the club chairman.

    "Congrattions," the chairman said, taking Zachary''s hand for a firm handshake. "Keep up the good work." And with a stretch of the hand, the president handed Zachary his award.

    "Thank you," Zachary said with a smile. He then received his award from the outstretched hand of the chairman before whirling around and returning to his seat.

    At that moment, he felt very aplished. His spirits were flying high after the club recognized his efforts. As a result, his smile became even more radiant as he settled back in his seat.

    "Man, congrattions," Patrice Evra whispered from beside him.

    "Thanks," Zachary replied after cing his de on the table.

    "But why didn''t you inform me that you were on the nominee list for this year''s Golden Boy award?" Evra inquired.

    "Why should I inform you?" Zachary asked with a smile. "It''s not as if you''re my girlfriend."

    Evra grinned. "So, that''s how you retaliate. But congs anyway. I''m really happy for you. Keep working hard, and you''ll soon ascend to the top."

    "Sure, thanks again," Zachary whispered before returning his focus to Fabio, the sporting director, who was still continuing with his speech.

    "Ladies and Gentlemen!" Fabio said. "Although we''ve already achieved a 15-match perfect run, we shouldn''t growcent. Instead, we must continue working hard on and off the field to ensure we don''t lose any games throughout the season."

    "Thismunication is just in from the chairman and the entire board," Fabio continued after sweeping his gaze across the room. "If we''re to finish this season without losing any game in the Serie A, each yer will receive a bonus of one million Euros while the technical staff will each receive 100,000 Euros."

    Whispers emerged around the room when the sporting director announced the bonus money. But the director ignored them and continued, "So,dies and gentlemen! Continue working hard to ensure that we win all games this season. Then, the money will be yours. And please never forget that, as Juventus, the sky is our only limit. May god bless you, and continue enjoying yourselves." The president then sat down as the apuse resounded across the room again.

    "So," Evra said to Zachary after the apuse subsided, "Do you think we can achieve an unbeaten run this season?"

    "I think it''s possible," Zachary replied after chugging down his non-alcoholic cocktail. "On paper, we''re the best team in the Serie A. And in theory, we should be capable of defeating all opposition within Italy. So, we only need some luck to achieve an unbeaten run."

    "You seem confident," Evra said after taking a sip of his own drink. "But don''t forget that there are circumstances beyond our control sometimes. Losing a few games is normal even though we''re the best team."

    "That''s why I said we need some luck," Zachary intoned. "But if we''re to achieve an unbeaten run, all that bonus money will take a great dent in Juventus'' financials. I hope the executives know what they are doing."

    Evra smiled. "If we were to achieve an unbeaten run, then there would be no need to worry about the financials. The club would gain back the money through improved television rights deals, sponsorships, and endorsements, plus increased ticket and shirt sales. They wouldn''t be making any losses if we went 38 matches unbeaten."

    "Is that so? Then, I guess there''s no need to worry. The executives must know what they''re doing." Zachary said before returning his focus to his food.

    Evra, on his part, stayed silent, seeming to be thinking about something for a few seconds. Then, he said abruptly, "Most of us are heading off for international duty tomorrow, and as you know, I''m representing France. What about you? Are you going to y for DRC?"

    "No." Zachary shook his head. "I''ll be staying in Turin to train. I have no international duties yet."

    "Are you not eager to y internationals?" Evra asked. "I''m sure that many countries, including France, would wee you into their squads. So, why aren''t you choosing a country to represent?"

    "I have already chosen a country to represent," Zachary replied with a smile. "But I just don''t wish to disclose it for the moment."

    "Oh, okay," Evra said, nodding. "Then, I wish you luck wherever you''ll be. I really hope to see you in the 2018 World Cup. It''s just a pity that I''ll most likely have retired from international duty and won''t be able topete against you."

    Zachary chuckled but said nothing in response. He''d already chosen to represent Ivory Coast during Internationalpetitions. They were a team with a lot of promise and would even win the AFCON would surely increase, and just maybe, they might change their fate and qualify for thepetition. the following year. So, as long as he added himself to the equation, their 2018 World Cup prospects They might even do wonders at the tournament and reach thete stages of the World Cup. Those were his innermost hopes.

    -----

 Chapter 499 New Training Plans

    After leaving the dinner party, Zachary returned to his vi. He waved to Angelo, his driver for the night, and then traversed the walkway cutting across the lush gardens as he slowly made his way toward the vi''s side entrance.

    As he walked forward, the gentle autumn breeze tickled against his face, soothing his emotions and casting a spell of serene tranquility over him. His face broke into a smile, and he took a few moments to observe the scenery around him.

    He could see the water in his swimming pool glowing under the bright glow of the security lights in the distance. Then, whirling around, his eyes took in the tall trees spread around his entire estate. Their green leaves shimmered under the luminous glow of the moon above as they swayed back and forth under the influence of the wind.

    Continuing to look around, Zachary took in the flowers, the walkway with rows ofmp posts on either side, and then the vi, which was like a castle out of a fantasy movie. At that moment, he felt that everything was perfect, and his fondness for his newly purchased vi increased to a higher level.

    Smiling slightly, Zachary decided not to continue dawdling in thepound any longer. Instead, he traversed the walkway and arrived at the side entrance of his vi quickly.

    He didn''t bother to ring the doorbell but just punched in the security code to open the door. It opened with a whoosh, and he quickly stepped into the house, leaving the door to swing shut behind him.

    After walking for a few more seconds, he arrived in his living room and noticed that Coach Bj?rn Peters and his wife, Inger, were still awake. They had been lounging on the sofas while watching TV. But on seeing him arrive, they quickly turned around to greet him.

    "You''re back," Coach Bj?rn Peters eximed, standing up from his seat. "How was the team dinner?"

    "The dinner was great," Zachary responded with a smile.

    "I can see that," Coach Bj?rn Peters said, turning his gaze to the glittering de in Zachary''s hand. "You even won another award. Which one was it?"

    "October yer of the month for Juventus."

    "Then, congrattions," Coach Bj?rn Peters said. "You truly deserve the de. You have been doing impressively on the pitch over the past few weeks."

    "Thanks," Zachary replied before turning his gaze to Coach Bj?rn Peters'' wife. She was a tall, beautifuldy with red hair and bright blue eyes. Nodding at her, Zachary greeted, "How are you today, Inger?"

    "I''m fine, Zachary," she replied with a smile. "Do you want me to fix you ate-night snack?"

    "No, no." Zachary hurriedly shook his head. "I ate a lot at the dinner party. I don''t have any room for more food in my small stomach."

    p¦Á§ád¦Á §«?¦Í¨º|,§ã¨°§® Inger chuckled and nodded in understanding. "I get you," she said. "I guess the party should have been quite enjoyable."

    "It was okay," Zachary said and ced his de on a nearby table. Then, settling down on the sofa, he continued, "I managed to eat my fill and talk to my teammates outside the training field. So, I guess it was enjoyable."

    "That''s good," Inger said.

    "Zachary!" Coach Bj?rn Peters chimed in before his wife could continue. "A few days ago, you mentioned that you would utilize the next ten days without Serie A football to start an intensive training regimen to improve your agility, body coordination, and ball skills. Is that still your n?"

    "Yes," Zachary replied. "I wish to improve my dribbling, ball control, and pace with the ball. And to achieve all that, the first thing to do is to work on my coordination and agility."

    "Okay," Coach Bj?rn Peters said. "But I must inform you that improving agility and coordination takes time. It''s a gradual process, and you need to work on it consistently over a period of more than six months to see initial results. So, as your fitness trainer, my advice to you is this. Let''s start by including a few exercises targeted toward improving your agility and coordination in your current routine."

    "In the beginning, our main training objective will be to stimte your body to limatize to your new regimen without affecting your performance on the pitch. We won''t do anything intensive except for lighter routines of Ball or Balloon Toss, Jumping Rope, Bnce Exercises, Juggling and Dribbling Drills, Cone Weaves, and Shuttle Runs."

    "Then,ter on, like after a month or two," the coach continued with a smile, "we can increase the intensity of the exercises and add in more routines, like swimming and targeted weight lifting, to improve your core strength. As long as we follow such a n, you should be able to feel your coordination and agility improving in about six months."

    "Can''t we shorten the timeline?" Zachary asked.

    "No," the fitness trainer''s voice was firm. "In fitness training, patience is crucial to sess. We''ve got to set achievable goals and work on them consistently for months or even a year to aplish good results. Otherwise, if we''re to rush, we might tire out your body and make you injury-prone. And that''s what we want to avoid here. Our sole objective should be to gradually raise your fitness while also maintaining your productivity on the pitch during football games."

    "Okay, I understand." Zachary nodded. "Let''s begin early tomorrow and follow your n. I really hope to improve my ball skills and agility as soon as possible. I wish to be more effective on the pitch and more clinical in front of the goal."

    "You surely will with time," Coach Bj?rn Peters promised. "As long as you keep working hard off the pitch to improve your athleticism, you''ll soon be deadly. Not even the top defenders in the Serie A will be able to keep up with you."

    "I hope so," Zachary said, nodding. He''d decided to work harder than usual to quickly improve his overall skills and, in so doing, enhance his chances of scoring hattricks against top teams in both the Champions League and the Serie A. Then, he would be closer topleting the system''s new mission and obtaining Ronaldinho''s Step-Over and Feint Kingly Magic.

    "We also need to ensure that your diet keeps up with your training," Coach Bj?rn Peters said after a few seconds. "So, I''ll discuss the training n with Ingerter, and she will arrange an appropriate diet to match your training goals. Please, ensure that you follow Inger''s instructions while selecting the foods to consume over the next few months. Okay?"

    "That''s a given," Zachary said. "I''ll follow her instructions to the letter." He''d hired Inger as his dietician and chef to manage his diet so he would achieve better results during training. So, he wasn''t about to ignore her instructions.

    "Okay, guys," Zachary said, standing up. "Let''s talk again tomorrow. I''m now going to bed."

    "Okay, have a good night," the Peters couple replied more or less in unison. "See you tomorrow."

    "Have a good night too. Bye."

    Zachary responded to their goodnight wishes before quickly stepping out of the living room area and heading up the stairs. He arrived in his bedroom a few minutester and immediately entered the bathroom to take a warm shower.

    After cleaning up and drying himself with a towel, he donned his nightwear and settled on his bed. He then picked up his phone from the bedside table and dialed Cami''s number.

    The next moment, the dial tone sounded, indicating that the call was about to connect. But after a few seconds, an electronic voice reverberated in Zachary''s ear, expressing that the number he was trying to call wasn''t avable.

    Quickly opening his WhatsApp, he sent her a hello. But again, the messaging app quickly showed a single tick on the mailed text, indicating that she hadn''t received the message. She was most likely offline.

    "Is she really okay?" Zachary pondered.

    Over the past two weeks, Cami hadn''t even talked to Zachary once. She''d only sent a text through WhatsApp a week ago, saying she was still traveling with her mom somewhere in Pnd. Then, after that, she''d gone silent again, leaving Zachary to wonder whether she was really okay.

    "Maybe, she''s in a ce withoutwork coverage," Zachary mulled as he ced the phone back on his bedside table. "She might be in a jungle, on a nature tour, or on the road in a rural area. I''ll have to wait for her to call."

    Sighing slightly, Zachary quickly forced himself to push Cami''s matters to the back of his mind. He had many other issues on his mind, including his nned investments, endorsement contracts, and above all, his career and training ns. So, considering all those worries and his busy schedule, he wouldn''t allow himself to spend much time contemting matters he couldn''t control.

    "I should sleep early," Zachary decided and jumped into bed. However, he didn''t sink into slumbend immediately after entering between the sheets. Instead, his mind continued drifting, and he thought about a few more matters that transpired during his first three weeks in his new vi.

    After he''d taken Emily''s advice and delegated more assignments to Kristin, the Norwegian girl became more effective. She was already effectively handling all the misceneous tasks for Zachary, including organizing his schedule, paying bills, representing him in the not-so-important meetings, and so on and so forth. But that was not all she''d achieved over the past few weeks.

    Ten days ago, she''d finally hired house helpers for Zachary. They had quickly taken their posts and were already helping out in the daily maintenance of the vi. As a result, Zachary no longer needed to hire outside help to clean the house or wash theundry. He was already self-contained due to Kristin''s efforts.

    "Okay, I should sleep now," Zachary decided again. "I need to start on my new training regimen early tomorrow."

    And with that, Zachary closed his eyes and sank into a peaceful slumber soon after.

 Chapter 500 Twelve-Day International Break

    For Zachary, days without Serie A football meant more time for training and honing his skills. So, as his teammates left for their respective international duties, he immediately began following his new training regimen.

    Under the guidance and supervision of Coach Bj?rn Peters, his fitness trainer, he went through drills to enhance his agility and coordination day in and day out. Anyone watching his training could tell that he was as focused as ever. He wasn''t cutting corners or taking things lightly as he trained over the next few days.

    That time around, however, Zachary made sure not to overwork himself. He followed Coach Bj?rn Peters'' advice and would only train for half a day.

    As such, Zachary would do gym workouts, cardio, or other conditioning exercises early in the morning, from around six to ten. After that, he would rest for about an hour before running cones and working on his ball skills. Andstly, he would train his free kick technique before endings his day''s training with a warm-down routine at around midday.

    In the afternoon, after having his lunch, it was time to work on improving his other aspects. He would head to thenguage school and spend the rest of his day studying Italian. Then, after that, he would return home and spend time reading, following the sports news, or watching movies within the rxing atmosphere provided by his vi.

    And with all that rxation time on his hands, it wasn''t long before he started feeling well-rested and in bright spirits. As a result, he was really beginning to appreciate the captivating idea of taking time off from his often-hectic schedule.

    Aside from training, learning Italian, and rxing during the twelve days withoutpetitive football, Zachary also spared some time toplete a select few of his long-nned investments.

    He met his investment consultant on Monday, 17th November, just five days before his return to football action. And with her help, he utilized a few million Euros out of his saved 15-million signing bonus and spent the money on buying more shares from promisingpanies all around the globe.

    Within a short two days window, he invested another one million Euros into Te, four million Euros into Netflix, and four million to buy a 2.9% stake in Leeds United, the struggling football club ying in the English Championship. But he didn''t just stop at that. He also went against the expert advice of his investment adviser and sshed out four million Euros on bitcoins before ending his investment craze.

    Of course, after spending all that money, he was only left with roughly a million Euros in his bank ount. But that didn''t worry him in the slightest, as he was still making more money on a weekly basis.

    He was calm and collected since he had his roughly 636,000 Euros a month sry, ying bonuses, and juicy endorsements to fall back on. Additionally, there was still the seventeen million he demanded from Juventus as the bnce from his 32-million signing bonus. So, as far as he was concerned, he wouldn''t go broke even if he tried his utmost.

    Wednesday, 19th November arrived right after Zachary finished making his investments. After attending that day''snguage sses, he returned home early at around 4:00 PM and immediately switched on the TV. Minutester, he started watching Ivory Coast''s match against Cameroon.

    Since Zachary had already decided to y for Ivory Coast, he wanted them to win. But after sitting in front of his TV, he soon realized that his hopes wouldn''t turn into reality.

    Ivory Coast yed well,unching relentless attacks through their agile forward yers like Yaya Toure, Gervinho, Wilfried Bony, and Salomon Kalou. They were the better team on the ying field. However, even after doing all they could to create opportunities, they still failed to break down the tenacious Cameroonian defense. As a result, the game ended 0:0 after four minutes of injury time.

    But even with such a result, the Ivorians were quite happy as they had managed to qualify for January 2015''s African Cup of Nations as second in their group. As a result, they would be heading to Equatorial Guinea two monthster topete for Africa''s most prestigious football trophy.<novelsnext>please visit p¦Á§á?¦Á-:)????1.co)m</novelsnext>

    Having watched the Ivory Coast game, Zachary returned his focus to his training and Italian sses. He busied himself with his nned routines as two days passed in a blink, and Friday arrived.

    Fortunately, by then, all his teammates had returned from their international duties. He turned his attention to Juventus'' official nned schedule, hoping to join the rest of the squad to prepare for the away Serie A match against Lazio. He was ready to return to action with a bang and continue performing impressively for Juventus.

    -----

    On Friday, the team held a light training session in the morning to hone the tactics for the following day''s match against Lazio. Then, at three in the afternoon, Coach Allegri summoned all the yers to the tactics room for the pre-match briefing.

    p¦Ánd¦Á no¦Í?1,§ão§® "Let me take this opportunity to wee you back from the international break," the coach said after all the yers had taken their seats. "I hope you all enjoyed your time while representing your respective countries. Did you?" The coach swept his gaze around.

    "Yes, we did," most of the yers replied more or less in unison.

    "Good!" The coach nodded. "I know that most of you must be tired after ying matches in various localities spread around the globe. But as professionals, you have to toughen up and start focusing on your club duties. And even though we only managed to train for a few hours today, we must still do our best against Lazio tomorrow. We must not lose. And we must note out of the fixture with a measly draw. Instead, we must pull out all stops to defeat the opponents and maintain dominance at the top of the Serie A table. Are you with me, guys?" The coach roared.

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    "Are you with me? Are you ready to defeat Lazio tomorrow evening?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied again.

    "Good." The coach smiled and nodded. He then spent the next few minutesplementing various yers before talking about tactics and how to approach the game against Lazio the following evening. He spoke for an hour and then ended his pre-match briefing by announcing the line-ups.

    On his list were the usual first-string yers, like Zachary, who had rested for almost two weeks during the international break, Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, udio Marchisio, and all the others who had been performing impressively over the past few weeks. And as expected, there was no Patrice Evra, the Frenchman who''d suffered an injury while ying for France a few days prior.

    After announcing the line-ups, Coach Allegri didn''t continue holding up the yers for long. He quickly reminded them to be on time the following day before sending them back to their respective homes. He hoped they would utilize the evening to rest well and prepare mentally for Juventus'' away game against Lazio the following day.

    -----

 Chapter 501 Away Game against Lazio

    501 Away Game against Lazio

    The long-anticipated Serie A battle between Lazio and Juventus kicked off at 8:45 PM on Saturday within the packed Olimpico di Roma.

    For that game, Juventus was gunning for a win so as to cement their lead at the zenith of the Serie A table. On the other hand, Lazio hoped to cause an upset and rise to the fifth position, which happened to be a Europa League spot in Italian football. So, it was another game of high stakes, and it caused a lot of excitement among the fans when the kick-off whistle sounded.

    Having won their past fifteen games in both the Serie A and the Champions League, the opening momentum was definitely behind Coach Allegri''s men. As soon as the referee''s whistle to kick off the game sounded, they showed no signs of slowing down, even while ying at an away ground. They relied on their highly gifted ball distributors, like Zachary Bemba and Andrea Pirlo, to fly out of the traps and tear apart Lazio''s 4-3-3 formation on several asions. And following that, they created three clear chances on goal before eventually taking the lead during the fifth minute of gamey.

    Zachary was the architect again for that opening goal. After receiving a pinpoint pass from Andrea Pirlo, he cut through the left nk like a raging Tsunami before squaring the ball to the immactely positioned Carlos Tevez. And with that, everything else was straightforward.

    Tevez pounced forward to meet the pass with an almost-instantaneous reaction. Then, with a deft touch, he guided the ball past the Lazio goalkeeper to score Juventus'' 1st goal for the night. And with that, the score was 1:0 in favor of Juventus.

    The goal celebrations ended in a few seconds, and the game continued. However, even after scoring, the Old Lady yers didn''t rx. It was as if they were not from the international break, as they showed no signs of fatigue on the field of y. They poured forward on multiple asions tounch deadly attacks against the home team, and it wasn''t long before they created another goal-scoring opportunity.

    That time around, it was Carlos Tevez who engineered the attack. Having connected with a defense-splitting pass from Andrea Pirlo, he ran at the Lazio defenders like an incarnation of a world-sprinting champion. With his agile footwork, he went past one, then the second, before skipping past the third opponent.

    But just as the Argentine was about to escape a fourth opponent, Senad Lulic, one of Lazio''s central midfielders, came sliding in from his blindside with an aggressive tackle. And with that, the opposing midfielder caught Tevez on the ankle and sent him tumbling to the ground.

    Fortunately for Juventus, the aggressive tackle didn''t injure Tevez. Instead, the Argentine had managed to create an excellent free-kick opportunity, which Zachary converted from thirty yards away to score Juventus'' second goal for the night. And with that, Juventus was clearly in the driving seat with a two-goal advantage right before half-time.

    After the fifteen-minute break, the second half kicked off, with many Lazio fans hoping their team would rise to the asion and mount some pressure on the visitors. But they soon realized their wishes were merely pipe dreams after the Juventus yers started the second half in high gear.

    Juventus was flying, and four minutes after the restart, Zachary found himself on the end of a rebound following some brilliant team y and an exchange of clever passes on the left wing. And being in fine form and at the top of his game, he capitalized on the opportunity to steer home from the edge of the box and score Juventus'' third goal for the night.

    With that, Juventus were on the road to thrashing the opponents. They were already three goals ahead during the 49th minute, and anyone watching the game could tell that they had totally outsmarted Lazio. They were miles ahead in passpletion, creativity, and chance conversion. And due to those impressive attributes, it wasn''t long before the Juventus yers created another opportunity to score a goal.

    During the 62nd minute, Stephan Lichtsteiner dispossessed Keita Bald¨¦, the opposing wing yer, close to the border of the defensive third on the right nk. And before any other opponents could close him down, he flicked the ball to Andrea Pirlo to initiate another lightning-fast attack.

    From there on, the counterattack was on, and the Juventus yers bolted forward. Andrea Pirlo passed to udio Marchisio, who quickly passed to Zachary. And before the opposing yers could fall back, Zachary escaped the harassment by an opposing yer before threading a pass back to Stephan Lichtsteiner on the right nk.

    What followed was only natural. Stephan Lichtsteiner used his incredible pace to spear deep into Lazio''s half before finding Fernando Llorente with a tricky and clever chip into the box. And with that immacte assistance, he set up the Spaniard, who quickly hammered home to score Juventus''s fourth goal for the night during the 64th minute.

    After the goal, Coach Allegri made three straight substitutions hoping to rest his yers before the ensuing busy schedule for Juventus. He pulled out Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez, and Zachary and reced them with ¨¢lvaro Morata, Federico Mattiello, and Arturo Vidal.

    However, after stepping onto the pitch, the three substitutes couldn''t match the level of their predecessors. As a result, Juventus attacking brilliance dropped by quite a bit, thus allowing the Lazio yers to push forward andunch attacks of their own.

    With Lazio dictating the proceedings on the field, the Juventus yers found themselves on the defensive during the final ten minutes of gamey. And unfortunately, their often-solid defensive capabilities couldn''t save them, and they conceded a goal during the 88th minute.

    But that was not the end of the action on the field of y. The Lazio yers continued battling, hoping to cut the goal deficit even further. They created more opportunities on goal and even came close to scoring on several asions. Their spirit was brimming, and they were surely causing problems for Juventus.

    Fortunately for Juventus, the goddess of luck seemed not to be on Lazio''s side. Three of Lazio''s well-ced shots missed the target by centimeters, while a few other attempts were intercepted by the defenders or saved by the keeper. The Lazio yers could thus not get the second goal, and as such, Juventus won the game 4:1 after three minutes of added time.

    -----

    After the game, Zachary didn''t immediately return to the dressing room to celebrate with his teammates. Instead, he headed to the press area for the required yer''s post-match interview.

    "Zachary! Wee, and congrattions on putting up another wonderful performance tonight." The Sky Italia reporter said in English as Zachary stepped in front of the cameras.

    "Thank you," Zachary replied.

    "You scored another two goals, taking your tally in the Serie A to 12 goals in twelve Serie A appearances," the reporter said, adjusting the microphone slightly. "You also provided an assist for the first goal, taking your number of assists in the Serie A to 13. How do you maintain such a level of consistency in a top league such as the Serie A?"

    "By training, of course," Zachary answered. "I have always worked hard as a yer, and I''m always looking for opportunities to improve myself. All the hard work allows me to be in the best shape possible during every match. And that''s why I can continue performing and scoring goals for my team."

    "Is that all?" The reporter pressed.

    Zachary thought for a short while before saying, "I have also had ample rest during the 12-day international break. So, I was in the best shape I could ever be for the match against Lazio. I guess that could also have helped."

    "Zachary!" The reporter said after a moment. "Juventus'' win against Lazio tonight has allowed you and your teammates to aplish the 12th sessive win in the Serie A. Do you believe you can maintain this form and continue winning to achieve an unbeaten run throughout the entire season?"

    "Of course, winning all games is our dream as a team," Zachary replied. "As a top team, we''ve never yed to draw or to lose. We always walk onto the pitch and put everything out there, hoping to defeat every opponent, no matter how tough. So, it''s only a given that we''ll continue doing our utmost to win all our remaining games."

    "Of course, we have a challenging series of gamesing up," Zachary continued. "We have to face off against Malm? in the Champions League before ying against Torino, Fiorentina, and Atl¨¦tico Madrid in a short three weeks window. Those are all demanding games. They will obviously test our resilience and capabilities as a team. But with the depth in our squad, I still believe we can win them all, especially if we continue working hard and ying as a team on the field of y."

    "Thank you, Zachary, for staying back to talk to us," the reporter said in a conclusive tone. "I wish you all the best in your uing matches. Enjoy the rest of your evening, and goodbye."

    "Enjoy your evening, too," Zachary said before stepping away from the cameras. Then, after shaking hands with the reporter and the camera crew, he left the press area and quickly headed to the dressing room. He was in a rush as he didn''t want to miss the team bus back to Turin.

    -----

 Chapter 502 Three Games

    502 Three Games

    Having won the game against Lazio, team Juventus gained even more momentum. The yers continued working harder than ever off the pitch, doing their utmost to maintain their tip-top match fitness. And naturally, their relentless efforts and dedication to the sport rewarded them handsomely, allowing them to put up a series of more impressive and consistent performances on the ying field.

    Firstly, they yed their return Champion''s League game against Malm? on Wednesday, 26th November 2014, and won by three goals to nil, even while away from home.

    Fernando Llorente, Carlos Tevez, and udio Marchisio were the undisputed heroes for Juventus during that game, with each scoring a goal during the 39th, 47th, and 78th minutes, respectively. As for Zachary, he didn''t score but only provided an assist that resulted in udio Marchisio''s goal.

    Four dayster, on Sunday, 30th November 2014, Juventus resumed their domestic Serie A duties. They weed Torino FC, their local rivals, to the Juventus stadium for the first ''Derby de Mole'' face-off that season.

    Due to the high stakes associated with the match, the Torino yers were a spirited bunch. They yed impressive attacking football and even scored the opening goal during the 11th minute. However, even doing all that was not enough to allow them to win the heated local derby. Instead, Juventus still came out on top and won the game with a score of 3:1 after Arturo Vidal, ¨¢lvaro Morata, and Andrea Pirlo found the back of the during the 15th, 61st, and 87th minutes, respectively.

    Surprisingly, the on-form Zachary once again failed to score, meaning that he''d gone two games without finding the back of the. But he still put up an impressive performance and managed to provide an assist that resulted in ¨¢lvaro Morata''s 61st-minute goal.

    Having won the local Torino Derby, the Juventus yers were in high spirits. They resumed training after a day of rest and started preparing for their next game, which happened to be against Fiorentina away from home. They soon became busy again as they drilled and conditioned themselves with the clear intent to continue their perfect winning run in allpetitions.

    However, the busy schedule still couldn''t prevent Zachary from celebrating his birthday on Wednesday, 3rd December 2014.

    He was in a hyper mood on that day since he had just turned twenty years. As such, he eagerly left Juventus'' training center immediately after training and returned home for the festivities. Then,ter in the evening, he enjoyed a feast with a select few acquaintances that included Emily (his agent), Kristin (his personal assistant and publicity secretary), Bj?rn Peters (his fitness trainer), Inger Peters (his chef and dietician), Angelo (his driver and interpreter), and a few of his teammates like Patrice Evra, Gianluigi Buffon, and Carlos Tevez.

    The birthday party was quite enjoyable. It was simple, precious, and destined to take a significant position in Zachary''s album of good memories. The only blemish, however, was that he couldn''t enjoy the feast with his grandma, who''d already passed away, and his girlfriend, whose status he didn''t understand quite clearly as she was still traveling. But aside from that, he really had a fabulous time that evening and even received a lot of expensive gifts from his acquaintances.

    "Zachary!" Emily called out to him as they rxed on the couch in his living room after cutting the cake. "I got a gift for you." She handed him a well-packaged box and said, "Open it."

    "Thanks a lot, Emily," Zachary said and opened the box. The next moment, his eyes lit up when theynded on a silver watch, which seemed quite expensive. Its silver surface glittered under the fluorescent lighting in the room, causing Zachary to be fascinated with it. His heartbeat elerated a little, and his mood lifted as he immediately fell in love with the watch.

    "Damn!" Suddenly, Patrice Evra, who was close by, eximed. "That''s a Moon Phase Stainless Steel watch of the renowned Patek Philippe Nautilus collection. It costs roughly 120,000 Euros on the market. Zachary! God! Why can''t I get an agent like yours? I also want a 120,000 Euro watch as a birthday gift."

    On hearing the statement, Zachary nced at Evra with surprise. "This is a 120,000 Euro watch?" He asked to confirm that he hadn''t heard wrong.

    "Yup," Evra replied. "I''m sure it is around that price."

    "I''ll be damned!" Zachary eximed and pivoted his gaze onto the watch again. It was sure pleasing to the eyes, but he couldn''t identify what was particrly special about it. "Why is this watch so expensive?" He asked.

    "The brand, my friend," Evra answered. "Patek Philippe is a long-established Swiss watch manufacturer thatmands a lot of prestige all around the globe. As such, Patek Philippe watches represent swag and ss, especially among the rich, making them unbelievably expensive. So, you could take it that wearing a Patek Philippe watch is simr to driving a Bugatti or Lamborghini for watch enthusiasts."

    "Crazy!" Zachary mumbled. "I have really got a lot to learn."

    "Do you find the watch, not to your liking?" Emily asked.

    "Of course, I like it," Zachary hurriedly said. "It''s a 120,000 Euro watch. What''s there not to like? Thanks a lot for this gift, Emily."

    "You''re wee," Emily said. "I''m also representing another person to deliver a birthday gift to you. Do you still remember Susan Berdal, thedy from Audi?"

    "Oh! I remember her," Zachary said. "She''s the Audi executive that offered me my first endorsement in Norway. Why are we talking about her at this moment?"

    The corners of Emily''s lips curled up into a smile. "She sent you the recently released Audi RS 7 model as a birthday gift. She hopes you can enjoy thefort afforded by the car while traveling around Turin."

    "Okay, I understand," Zachary said. "Thank her for me. I''ll put it to good use."

    "Good," Emily said, nodding. "We''ll discuss the newly-offered terms in the endorsement contract with Audi when you get time. But for now, let me leave the floor for the rest."

    "Okay."

    With that said, the gift session continued with the others in attendance presenting their own gifts. And before long, Zachary received a pair of sleek, gentle shoes from Evra, an iPhone 6 from Kristin, running shoes from the Peters couple, and a few other gifts from the rest of his teammates in attendance. Then, when the gift session ended, Zachary thanked everyone and concluded the birthday party celebrations.

    -----

    While feeling refreshed after celebrating his 20th birthday, Zachary returned his focus to training the following morning. He did his utmost to hone his match fitness before ying against Fiorentina two dayster, on Friday 5th, December 2014.

    For that game, Zachary was at the very top of his game. Five minutes after the kick-off, he made a daring run through the middle, rushing past three Fiorentina yers like the wind. Then, when the angle opened up, he threaded the ball to Carlos Tevez, who converted sessfully from inside the box to score Juventus'' first goal for the night.

    However, making the assist didn''t mark the end of Zachary''s brilliance that night. He was in high gear for the next hour, executing tackles and making daring runs through the wings and the middle. He really terrorized the Fiorentina yers before eventually scoring Juventus'' second goal from a counterattack during the 70th minute of gamey.

    From that point onwards, everything was smooth sailing for Zachary and Juventus. All the Old Lady yers remained tactically disciplined and defended as if their lives were at stake. They managed to keep the Fiorentina defenders at bay and eventually won the game by two goals to zero after six minutes of added time.

    -----

    Coach Allegri was in high spirits after watching his team defeat Fiorentina away from home and obtain their 14th consecutive win in the Serie A that season. He hugged all his yers and congratted them for the job well done before stepping off the pitch and heading towards the press area.

    "Coach Allegri, wee, and congrattions upon winning yet another crucial game in the Serie A," the reporter said after he stepped in front of the cameras.

    "Thanks," Coach Allegri replied.

    "You must be quite happy after winning the game against Fiorentina?"

    "Yes, I am," Coach Allegri said. "It''s another big win for us. The boys were impressive on the field of y and gave everything to win the game. Zachary, for instance, was exceptional and managed to set up the first goal before scoring the second during the 70th minute. There was also Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, and udio Marchisio. Their creativity in midfield today was impressive, and they managed to help us dominate possession throughout the entire duration of the game. Of course, there are moments when we could have done better. We could have capitalized on some of our chances during thete stages of the second half to score one or two more goals. But again, this is football, and even top yers can miss opportunities, especially when the opposition is ying incredibly well on the defensive end."

    "You have already amassed a total of 42 points, and you''re also ten points clear at the top of the Serie A table," the reporter said. "Considering all that, do you think the Serie A is in the bag?"

    Coach Allegri chuckled and said, "That would be my hope. But as we know, anything can happen during the course of a long season. Many uncontroble factors cane into y, and our form as a team can take a dip. So, I can''t say for sure that the Serie A is in the bag, as that would be unprofessional. But I can promise our fans that we''ll continue doing our utmost to win every game. And hopefully, our efforts will be rewarded, and we''ll be able to win the Serie A once again this season."

    "On Tuesday, you''ll face off against Atl¨¦tico Madrid," the reporter stated. "Are you ready?"

    "Not yet," Coach Allegri admitted. "We''ll work on the tactics as a team from tomorrow afternoon til Monday. And hopefully, we should be ready to face off against Atl¨¦tico Madrid by Tuesday."

    "Okay, coach," the reporter said. "Thanks for answering our questions. We wish you all the best while preparing for the game against Atl¨¦tico Madrid. Have a good evening."

    "Thanks. Have a good evening too."

    -----

 Chapter 503 Return Game Against AtlÃ©tico Madrid

    With the return Champions League game against Atl¨¦tico Madrid around the corner, the Juventus yers worked harder than ever. They spent most of their waking hours honing their tactics with the clear intent of defeating Atl¨¦tico Madrid again. And in such a manner, the days quickly passed, and Tuesday, which happened to be the Champions League matchday, arrived.

    On that day, at 9:00 in the morning, the UEFA officials organized mandatory pre-match press conferences for both teams. And naturally, Coach Diego Simeone, who had just arrived in Turin with his yers, took the interview. He answered questions from journalists representing various famous media houses within thefort of Hotel Gnt''s spacious conference room.

    "Coach Diego!" A reporter from BeIN Sports called out. "During the first leg against Juventus in Madrid, you lost the game after conceding three goals, all scored by Zachary Bemba, who has been in great form this season. So, coach! Tell us! How do you n to stop Zachary and the rest of Juventus'' attacking force tonight?"

    "I won''t discuss our tactics here on live television," Coach Diego Simeone answered. "But I can say with a hundred percent confidence that we''re ready and well-prepared to handle whatever Juventus throws at us. As you said, the Juventus attacking yers, especially Zachary, Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente, and Alvaro Morata, have all been in fine form. Whenbined, their attacking prowess is probably rated among the best three in Europe at the moment. But don''t forget that Atl¨¦tico Madrid is a team ustomed to ying against tough opposition. On many asions, we''ve faced off against Barcelona, Real Madrid, and many others bute out on top. I believe we can do the same against Juventus and win this game. That''s my honest belief."

    "Thank you for your response, Coach Diego Simeone," A reporter from Sky Italia said. "What is your minimum expectation for your yers during this match? Is it a draw, or do you wish for Atl¨¦tico Madrid to win the game?"

    "Of course, we''re here to win the game," Coach Diego Simeone replied emphatically. "Over the past few days, we''ve been working hard and preparing for this game. As a team, we''re in the best condition, and we''ll step onto the pitch with the sole goal of defeating Juventus. We want to win, get three more points, and then qualify for the knock-out stage of the Champions League. That''s our sole objective here in Turin."

    -----

    In the meantime, Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus'' coach, also attended to his press duties at the Vinovo, Juventus'' training center. As usual, he was in his sleek ck suit, matched with a white shirt and ck tie, as he replied to the questions fired out by the journalists in attendance.

    "Coach!" A reporter from La Gazzetta dello Sport called out. "You have won all your Champions League group games, thus amassing 15 points from five opening matches. As such, you''ve already qualified for the knock-out stage since you''re eight points clear of the second-ced Atl¨¦tico Madrid. Considering all that, do you n to rest some of your crucial yers, like Zachary, Andrea Pirlo, and Carlos Tevez, especially since this match is practically meaningless in the grand scheme of things?"

    Coach Allegri chuckled and said, "As professional athletes, we always yearn topete against the best in the world. So, as a team, we''ll always wee a game against Atl¨¦tico Madrid, who happen to be the Spanish champions. We''ll do all we can to defeat them and continue our winning streak in allpetitions."

    "But again," the coach continued with a smile, "the season is quite long, and we have a tight scheduleing up. Taking all that into ount, we have to rest some of our yers at certain times to ensure they remain in tip-top condition throughout the season. That also applies to today''s game."

    "Does that mean that Zachary will not get to y today?" Another reporter hurriedly asked.

    Coach Allegri smiled and answered, "I can''t answer that question right now. But I can promise you''ll get the answer to the question when the line-upse outter today."

    "Coach!" A Gazzetta del Popolo reporter in the front row said immediately after raising her arm. "A few weeks ago, Patrice Evra suffered a knock while ying for France and hasn''t featured in any games for Juventus since then? What''s the status of his injury at the moment? Is he able to return to the match line-up today night?"

    On hearing the question, Coach Allegri sighed and shook his head. "Unfortunately," he said, "Patrice Evra suffered another setback during training on Sunday evening. The medical exams he took yesterday revealed that he''d strained the hamstring of his left thigh. He''ll be out for six more weeks, meaning he can only return to action during January."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    -----

    Later that day, just one and a half hours before the highly anticipated kick-off between Juventus and Atl¨¦tico Madrid, the line-ups came out. And as promised, Coach Allegri remained true to his word and benched a few crucial yers.

    The yers in his starting 4-3-1-2 formation were Marco Storari (as Goalkeeper), Paolo De Ceglie, Federico Mattiello, Giorgio Chiellini, and Leonardo Boni (as the defenders), Arturo Vidal, Simone Padoin, and udio Marchisio (as the defensive midfielders), Roberto Pereyra (as the only attacking midfielder) plus Fernando Llorente and ¨¢lvaro Morata (as the two strikers). As for the on-form crucial yers, like Zachary, Andrea Pirlo, Gianluigi Buffon, Carlos Tevez, and Stephan Lichtsteiner, the coach had left them on the bench for that specific game.

    On the other hand, Diego Simeone''s starting 4-2-3-1 formation included all the famous Atl¨¦tico Madrid names, such as Mario Mandzukic, Koke, Antoine Griezmann, Diego God¨ªn, and Gabi, among others. The coach had obviously brought out all his big guns since he had to win the game in order to avoid the unfortunate fate of dropping out of the Champions League at the group stage.

    One and half hours quickly passed after the release of the line-ups, and soon the clock hands around Turin pointed to the 8:45 PM mark. And as scheduled, the battle between Juventus and Atl¨¦tico Madrid kicked off right on time within the packed Juventus Stadium.

    For Atl¨¦tico Madrid, it was a must-win game. Thus, immediately after the kick-off, the yers in striped red and white jerseys poured forward like a swarm of starving locusts. They began to utilize high-pressing tactics to mount pressure on Juventus, and it wasn''t long before they won possession.

    From there on, they quickly gained momentum and started dictating the proceedings on the field of y. They were unlike the Atl¨¦tico Madrid from weeks ago as theyunched relentless attacks against Juventus for the next few minutes.

    Their creativity on the pitch continued blooming as the game continued, and through their creative forward yers like Mario Mandzukic, Koke, and Antoine Griezmann, they came close to scoring a couple of times. They were unquestionably the better team, even though they were ying in front of a very hostile audience of Juventus fans.

    Nevertheless, they couldn''t break down Juventus'' tenacious defense, no matter how hard they tried during the first half. That was because yers like Giorgio Chiellini, and Leonardo Boni, the two center-backs, did their utmost to thwart most of Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s attempts on goal. And with the two Italians holding the backline, the score remained 0:0 until halftime.

    After the fifteen-minute halftime break, both teams emerged unchanged, with neither coach introducing any substitute. As a result, Atl¨¦tico Madrid remained the better team on paper and thus continued dictating the tempo on the pitch.

    Contrary to their usual practice, the impressive attacking and passing capabilities of the Atl¨¦tico Madrid yers were there for everybody to see as the game proceeded forward. At times, they would utilize lightning-fast one-two exchanges to break through the middle, while at other times, they would y an unexpected long ball to find Mario Mandzukic, their highly-clinical center forward. They kept Juventus guessing with their ever-changing tactics before eventually finding the back of the through an outside-of-the-box shot from Koke during the 62nd minute. And with that, the deadlock was finally ripped apart, and the score became 1:0 in favor of the visitors.

    The referee''s whistle sounded after the goal celebrations, and the game restarted with most fans thinking that Atl¨¦tico Madrid would press their advantage and continue ying attacking football. Even thementators believed that the team from Madrid was out for blood, and they wouldunch more spirited attacks against Juventus to get more goals.

    But as the game continued, both fans andmentators soon became wide-eyed as they realized that they couldn''t have been more wrong while predicting the development of the match situation.

    Contrary to the expectations of many, the Atl¨¦tico Madrid yers returned to their old ways and started ying defensive football during the 70th minute. And as such, all the men in the red and white striped jerseys began falling back often to absorb the very-same pressure they had clearly invited from Juventus with their switch of tactics.

 Chapter 504 Coach Allegriâ€™s Impromptu Decision

    The Atl??tico Madrid yers had switched to their usual defensive ying style. Fortunately for them, their defensive efforts weren''t passive as they fell back. Instead, they yed aggressive, hard-tackling football to terrorize the Juventus yers that tried to cut through their ranks.

    For the next few minutes, it was as if they were fighting a war. As such, ruthless sliding tackles, borderline aerial duels, shirt-pulling incidences, and body ms became the order of the night as the game proceeded into thete stages. And soon, it became clear to all that the Atl??tico Madrid yers were out for blood, as not even the four yellow cards disyed by the referee could curb their ruthlessness.

    More minutes passed, and the game approached the 70th-minute mark. And just then, udio Marchisio was on the ball after having intercepted a loose pass close to the center circle.

    Taking the ball in his stride, Marchisio skipped past Gabi, Atl??tico Madrid''s captain, as he navigated his way through the middle, hoping to find a passing angle. But just as he was about to flick the ball to his left to find Simone Padoin, his counterpart in midfield, something unexpected and unfortunate transpired.

    Mario Su??rez, Atl??tico Madrid''s other central midfielder, came sliding in with a ruthless impetus. His boot skidded over the green like a deadly viper traversing the jungle, and he caught udio Marchisio on the ankle.

    "Aaahhh!"

    With an agonized cry, udio Marchisio went down immediately. He then started rolling around on the ground while holding onto his ankle. Anyone could tell he was clearly in pain and most likely injured by the ruthless challenge from the Atl??tico Madrid midfielder.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and immediately rushed to the scene. Then, he quickly summoned the medics, who soon began offering first aid to the injured udio Marchisio.

    The medics focused all their attention on Marchisio''s ankle, hoping to relieve his pain so he would return to action immediately. However, all their efforts were fruitless, and they soon realized that the worst-case scenario had transpired. For sure, udio Marchisio, one of Juventus'' midfielders, had suffered an injury after being on the receiving end of a ruthless tackle. He was in great pain, and they would thus have to ferry him out of the ying field on a stretcher.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    In the meantime, the referee, who happened to be crowded by raging Juventus yers, blew the whistle again. He then pushed himself out of the mass of bodies in striped ck and white jerseys before showing a yellow card to Mario Su??rez, the yer that hadmitted the foul. After that, he blew a whistle again and started marking out the spot for the free-kick. As for theining Juventus yers, he clearly chose to ignore them.

    -----

    "Damn it!" Coach Allegri eximed while running toward the fourth official after noticing that the referee had only shown Mario Su??rez a yellow card for the foul.

    Narrowing his eyes slightly, he yelled at the official, "Mario Su??rez went for the leg instead of the ball. He should receive a red card instead of a yellow card. What''s wrong with you, referees?"

    "Calm down. Calm down, coach..." The fourth official said, trying to soothe Coach Allegri''s ring temper.

    "Don''t you dare say that to me!" Coach Allegri cut off the fourth official mid-sentence. "Don''t tell me to calm down when my yer has just suffered a ruthless tackle that took him out of the game."

    "Calm down. Calm..." the fourth official continued. "It''s unfortunate that your yer has suffered an injury and can''t continue the game. But that was Mario Su??rez''s first challenge. Surely, do you really believe that we should show him a straight red card for such a challenge?"

    "Of course," Coach Allegri stated with anger. "His intent was clearly to injure udio. Based on that, the referee should show him a straight red card. It''s that simple..."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Coach, let''s head back!" Maurizio Trombetta, one of Juventus'' assistant coaches, said, pulling his boss away. "There''s no use arguing with the referees as they won''t change their decisions. Instead, we should calm down and decide on who to bring in ce of the injured Marchisio."

    "Okay."

    Coach Allegri sucked in a long breath and followed after his assistant. He returned to his technical area in seconds and started thinking about the most appropriate substitute to introduce into the game.

    Both Andrea Pirlo and Zachary were still on the bench. They were all highly gifted yers who could enter the pitch and change the game situation quickly. Any of them could work as a substitute for the injured Marchisio at that moment.

    But as the coach was about to select a substitute, his heart skipped a beat as a series of thoughts manifested within his mind. What if Zachary or Pirlo also suffer an injury? Is it worth it for a match that is clearly not that important in the bigger picture of our ns this season? Should I risk them to win the game?"

    The gears in Coach Allegri''s mind kept on whirling and rotating as he predicted a few unfortunate possibilities that could happen if he introduced an important yer into the game. And for seconds, he couldn''t decide what to do until his gazended on Coach Diego Simeone, the Atl??tico Madrid coach, who happened to be watching him with a teasing smile at that very moment.

    "Wait!" He thought with a frown. "Could this bastard have predicted this? After injuring one of my yers, does he think I won''t dare to introduce one of my other creative yers since this is not a must-win game for us? What a cunning bastard!"

    After thinking of the possibility, Coach Allegri couldn''t contain his anger. He turned his gaze away from the Atl??tico Madrid coach and returned his attention to Maurizio Trombetta, his assistant.

    "Coach Trombetta," he said with narrowed eyes. "What''s the score for the game between Olympiacos and Malm???"

    "Thest time I checked, Olympiacos was still leading by two goals to one," Coach Trombetta answered dutifully.

    Coach Allegri smiled. But his smile was a bit sinister. "Seems there''s a possibility of Olympiacos winning. Doesn''t that mean that Atl??tico Madrid will drop out of the Champions League if we force them to a draw or win against them?"

    Coach Trombetta thought for a short while before saying, "Both Atl??tico Madrid and Olympiacos had seven points before today''s games. So, if Olympiacos wins and Atl??tico Madrid draws or loses, Coach Diego and his men will drop out of the Champions League. But why ask all this? What are you thinking, boss?"

    "Just some minor stuff," Coach Allegri said, still maintaining his smile that was not a smile. "Coach Trombetta. Go ahead and prep Tevez, Pirlo, and Zachary as substitutes. Let them start warming up immediately! I want them on the pitch in five."

    "Boss..." Maurizio Trombetta seemed like he was about to argue.

    "Don''t say anything," Coach Trombetta cut him off. "Just carry out my instructions. We need to make the substitutions quickly. Or else, we might concede another goal."

    "Okay, boss," the assistant said with a helpless sigh. "I''ll do as you say."

    ------

 Chapter 505 A 40-Yard Free-Kick

    The three Juventus substitutes finally stepped onto the pitch one after the other after the ball went out of y for an Atl¨¦tico Madrid throw-in during the 73rd minute.

    Andrea Pirlo entered in ce of the injured udio Marchisio while Carlos Tevez substituted in for the underperforming ¨¢lvaro Morata. As for Zachary, he reced Roberto Pereyra, thus bing the only attacking central midfielder for Juventus during the final 17+ minutes.

    After the substitutions, it was time for the game to continue. The referee''s whistle sounded, and Atl¨¦tico Madrid restarted the game by taking the throw in.

    Juanfran Torres, the Atl¨¦tico Madrid right-back, was the man called into action. He raced towards the touchline before nting his feet firmly on the ground and throwing the ball towards the middle.

    The defender''s technique was spot on, and he threw the ball urately, hoping to find Mario Su¨¢rez, who happened to have just moved into an unmarked pocket of space in the middle. However, just before Su¨¢rez could make the connection with the pin-point throw, Zachary, who had just stepped onto the pitch, came rushing in to win the ball.

    Zachary timed his run to perfection before pushing off the ground to leap for the ball. His 6-foot-4 physique yed its role, and he outmuscled the seemingly helpless Mario Su¨¢rez for aerial superiority. And with that, he easily won the ball fair and square before using his head to guide it towards Andrea Pirlo on his left.

    "Pa..."

    With the soft sound of the ball meeting the boot, Andrea Pirlo connected with Zachary''s pass. Then, just before an opponent could close him down, the maestro drew his leg back and smacked the ball expertly to unleash a raking pass toward the other side of the pitch.

    Of course, the Italian maestro wasn''t just ying aimlessly but trying to release Carlos Tevez, the other substitute, who happened to be making a daring run toward the other side of the pitch.

    "Hu..."

    Inhaling deeply, Carlos Tevez leaped high and chested the ball to the ground. He then feigned going left before actually elerating towards his right to lose Gabi, the Atl¨¦tico Madrid captain who had been closely following after him.

    However, just as Tevez was about to dance his way out of another tight space, Jos¨¦ Mar¨ªa Gim¨¦nez, one of Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s center-backs, came rushing in with a flying tackle from the side. The center-back mmed into Carlos Tevez, thus ramming the Argentine off the ball.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and rushed to the scene within seconds. He then went against the bitterints of the Atl¨¦tico Madrid yers and awarded Juventus a free-kick at a spot roughly forty yards from the goal.

    "That was a fair challenge," Gabi, the Atl¨¦tico Madrid captain, argued after the referee had made the decision. "Football is a physical game. There will always be duels based on strength when going for the ball, and that''s what happened with Jos¨¦ Mar¨ªa. You surely can''t penalize him for that."

    "Are you serious!" Leonardo Boni, the Juventus defender who happened to have just arrived at the scene, scoffed. "Do you think this is rugby or American football? When have body ms be a thing in football?"

    Gabi shook his head. "That wasn''t a body m from Jos¨¦ Mar¨ªa. He just went for the ball and overpowered Tevez while at it. Period. Why are you trying to make something out of nothing?"

    "Leonardo!" Andrea called out to his teammate. "Ignore the idiot. We need to prepare for the free kick. Don''t waste time arguing with petty people."

    On hearing that, Leonardo Boni chuckled and said, "Pirlo! You''re right, as usual. I don''t know what got over me to argue with an idiot. But I have learned my lesson. I won''t do it again."

    "Good." Andrea Pirlo gave him a thumbs up.

    Leonardo smiled and took a few steps to approach Pirlo''s position. ncing towards Zachary, who happened to be standing over the ball, the defender asked, "Is he going to take the free-kick?"

    "Yes," Andrea Pirlo replied. "The guy almost never misses, even during training. He''s the perfect man for the job."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "True!" Leonardo agreed. "But this free-kick is almost forty yards from goal. Will he be able to find the target from such a long distance?"

    "Honestly," Pirlo said, "I''m not sure. But when I talked to him, he said that he wanted to have a go at the goal. So, I let him be."

    "Eehh!" Leonardo Boni eximed. "Pirlo! That''s not like you. Isn''t it better to have him deliver a chip behind the defensive line and into the box? I feel that that''s the only way we can score from a free-kick at such a distance."

    Andrea Pirlo sighed and shook his head. "Let''s not talk about this anymore. Zachary hasn''t disappointed us since arriving here. Let''s give him the benefit of the doubt."

    "Okay," Leonardo agreed.

    -----

    In the meantime, Zachary had just finished positioning the ball on the free-kick spot. Sucking in a deep breath to calm himself down, he took a few steps back and started observing the goings-on before him.

    The referee was still organizing the wall, which happened to have only two yers. Most likely, the Atl¨¦tico Madrid keeper thought there was no need for a long defensive wall since the free-kick was almost forty yards from goal.

    As Zachary''s gaze kept roaming around, he noticed more details. He noted how Atl¨¦tico Madrid had set up the defensive backline in front of their box and far away from their goal. It was as if they were most afraid of runs from the other Juventus yers instead of Zachary himself. And most likely, they thought that Zachary wouldn''t go for a shot but would try to link up with his teammates to make something out of the free-kick.

    "Aren''t they taking me too lightly?" He pondered with a smile. But with a single shake of his head, he cast the thought out of his mind. He then took a deep breath and activated the Dead-Ball Specialist Juju while awaiting the referee''s signal.

    A few more seconds passed, and the referee finally finished organizing the yers in front of the box. Then, after taking a strategic position, he blew his whistle and signaled for Zachary to take the free-kick.

    "Whoosh!"

    Zachary went into action right away. Taking a deep breath, he made an angled run toward the ball while emptying his mind. A few long strides allowed him to arrive in front of the ball, and he drew his leg back before swinging it down to smack the ball dead in the center. For that moment, Zachary didn''t bother with tricks but just hit the ball with raw power. So, there wasn''t anything fancy with his technique, but just leg strength on disy.

    "Whoosh!"

    The ball took off like a surface-to-surface missile just fired out of itsuncher. Its white and ck surface glimmered under the bright floodlights of the Juventus stadium as it tore through the air like a lightning bolt. And before the keeper could react or even move an inch, it ricocheted off the crossbar before bouncing into the back of the.

    "Sar¨° dannato!"

    "Che diavolo!"

    Andrea Pirlo and Leonardo Boni, the two yers who happened to be near Zachary, eximed as their eyes widened with surprise. They were so shocked, and they turned to nce at Zachary as if he was a monster in human skin.

    Zachary, on his part, just smiled and raised his arms to celebrate in response. He''d sessfully converted a 40-yard free-kick to score an equalizing goal for Juventus during the 76th minute. He felt giddy with excitement and thus couldn''t stop his heart from going on a wild caper in his chest.

    -----

 Chapter 506 The Coach who Experienced more than Double Emotional Damage

    Chapter 506 The Coach who Experienced more than Double Emotional Damage

    "Damn it! Why does this boy keep scoring against us?" Coach Diego Simeone cursed out loud after Zachary converted a 40-yard free-kick to score an equalizing goal for Juventus. The thunderous cheers around the stadium sounded like funeral songs in his ears, and he couldn''t stop himself from punching the air in front of him. He really felt crestfallen and disoriented after his yers conceded a goal that could potentially force his team out of the Champions League at the group stage.

    Taking a deep breath, he turned toward one of his assistants and asked, "Juan! What is the score for the game between Olympiacos and Malm??"

    "Just give me a moment to check," Juan Vizca¨ªno, the assistant, said before ying around with the buttons on his tablet. Then, a few secondster, his eyes lit up, and he turned to nce at his boss.

    "What is the score?" Coach Diego Simeone hurriedly pressed for an answer. "Don''t keep me guessing. Hurry up and spit it out."

    "The score is 2:2," Juan answered with a smile. "Markus Rosenberg scored the equalizer for Malm? six minutes ago."

    "Yeah!" The coach pumped out his fist, his eyes brimming with hope. "Things are not so bad. But we must still do our utmost to win this game if we want to be sure of qualifying. Otherwise, we''ll really be fucked if Olympiacos scores ate winner against Malm?."

    Juan Vizca¨ªno, the assistant, nodded but didn''t say anything. He continued ying around with the buttons on his tablet while waiting for his boss'' next set of instructions.

    Coach Diego Simeone, on his part, cocked his head slightly to observe Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus'' head coach, who happened to be voicing instructions to his yers. Then, narrowing his eyes slightly, he said, "I don''t know why that bastard, Max Allegri, is trying so hard to win this game. He has brought in all his crucial yers, even though he has already qualified as first in the group. Truly annoying!"

    "Boss!" Suddenly the panicked voice of the assistant rang in his ears. "Konstantinos Mitroglou has just scored the third goal for Olympiacos."

    "What?" Coach Diego Simeone''s heart jumped with unease.

    "I said that Olympiacos has just scored the third goal against Malm?," the assistant said. "And based on the match statistics, Olympiacos is the better teampared to Malm?. So, they have a high chance of winning and qualifying for the next Champions League stage as the second team in Group A. That''s unless we can up our game and defeat Juventus."

    "Damn! How can they score so fast? We''re really fucked."

    Coach Diego Simeone felt like his world had been turned upside down. He knew that Olympiacos would reach ten points if they won the other Group A game. So, that meant that the only way for Atl¨¦tico Madrid to surpass them in such a situation was by winning the game against Juventus. They had to defeat the Old Lady or otherwise face the shameful destiny of dropping out of the Champions League at the group stage.

    "Coach!" Juan Vizca¨ªno, the assistant, called out. "What''s your n?"

    Coach Allegri didn''t answer right away. Instead, he turned his gaze to the pitch to observe Zachary, who was on the ball. The twenty-year-old ymaker was like a whirlwind as he cut through the middle, executing sidesteps to leave opponents in the dust. Zachary then exchanged a couple of one-twos with Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez as he speared deeper into Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s half. A few more strides brought him to the edge of the box, and he unleashed a curling shot toward the top right corner.

    "Damn!"

    At that moment, Coach Diego Simeone really thought that his team was about to concede the second goal. His heartbeat elerated to abnormal levels, and he couldn''t help but clench and unclench his fists as he watched the ball heading toward the goal. He was really nervous.

    Fortunately for the coach, Miguel ¨¢ngel Moy¨¢, the Atl¨¦tico Madrid keeper, was alert and leaped to make the save. The shot-stopper flew through the air with a stunning acrobatic dive before punching Zachary''s effort out of y for a corner kick. And with that, he''d saved Atl¨¦tico Madrid from conceding a goal during the 83rd minute.

    "Damn it!" Coach Allegri cursed for the umpteenth time that night. "What the hell are Gabi and Su¨¢rez doing on the pitch? They allowed Zachary to pass through our ranks with ease. They almost caused us to concede another goal."

    "Boss!" Juan Vizca¨ªno, the ever-dutiful assistant, said. "Ibrahim Afey has just scored the fourth goal for Olympiacos."

    "What?" Coach Diego felt dizzy.

    "I said," the assistant repeated, "Olympiacos has just scored the fourth goal against Malm?. Olympiacos now has a two-goal cushion with only seven minutes remaining to the ny-minute mark. They will most likely win the other final Group A game."

    "Shit! How are they scoring so many goals in a few minutes? Are they ying against Malm?''s under-16 team?"

    Coach Diego took a moment to organize his thoughts before saying, "Unless we defeat Juventus, we''re fucked. Juan! Hurry up and tell ?¨ªguez and Turan to warm up quickly. I want them on the pitch in three."

    "Okay, I''ll tell..." Juan stopped his words midsentence and turned his focus to the pitch. The assistant''s wavering gaze said it all. He clearly thought something unexpected was about to ur on the field of y.

    With a shudder, Coach Diego Simeone followed suit and started observing the proceedings on the field of y. There was already chaos in Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s box since Andrea Pirlo was about to take the corner kick for Juventus. yers of both teams were already pushing and pulling each other as they fought to gain an advantage before the corner ball came in. They were obviously going all out to attack and defend.

    However, Coach Diego Simeone''s heart remained firm even after his eyes feasted on all the confusion within Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s box. He wasn''t that worried, as his yers were so good at defending corner kicks delivered into the box.

    However, what really tickled the coach''s intuitive sixth sense was the sight of Zachary standing before the edge of the 18-yard box. The cunning young bastard had been within the fray inside the box. But after seemingly arguing with one of the Atl¨¦tico Madrid defenders, he''d turned away in anguish before slowly walking towards the edge of the box. And on reaching there, he''d immediately taken up the position while projecting a feeling of not being interested in the corner kick.

    "Damn it! This is bad!"

    An ominous thought immediately swirled around Coach Diego Simeone''s mind. With all the haste he could muster, he started rushing towards the touchline while yelling, "Hurry! Close down Zachary quickly. Don''t let him..."

    But right before Coach Diego Simeone could finish themand, Andrea Pirlo took the corner. The Italian Maestro''s passing skills were among the best in the world. So, he effortlessly floated the ball towards Zachary, who''d already positioned himself at the edge of the box.

    Zachary, on his part, was like a mountain lion pouncing forward as the ball approached his position. With a mighty swing of his left leg, he connected with the ball from Pirlo on the volley and sent it flying toward the goal.

    "Damn!"

    Coach Diego Simeone''s heart jumped into his throat as his eyes followed the ball''s trajectory. The ball was so fast, and before he could even blink, it took a slight deflection off the foot of a yer in an Atl¨¦tico Madrid jersey before homing into the back of the.

    With that, the Italian giants finallypleted theireback with another goal from Zachary during the 85th minute. The score was thus 2:1 in favor of the team from Turin, and they were taking firm steps towards achieving their sixth consecutive victory in the Champions League.

    "We''re in trouble."

    Coach Diego Simeone sighed with helplessness. He couldn''t believe that his yers had lost a crucial lead during the final minutes of gamey. He was disheartened, and his mood was already sinking into the abyss of desperation as he watched the Juventus yers celebrating on one side of the pitch.

    "Boss!" Juan Vizca¨ªno, the ever-dutiful assistant, suddenly called out from beside him.

    For some reason, Coach Diego Simeone felt his heart skip a bit. He turned to face his assistant and asked, "What is it this time, Juan?"

    "Boss!" The assistant said. "David Fuster has just scored another goal for Olympiacos in the other final game of Group A. As we speak, the score is 5:2, and Olympiacos is on course to defeat Malm?."

    "Eehh!"

    Coach Diego Simeone''s shoulders drooped as he received double emotional damage. He felt like the universe was working against his team, and he couldn''te to terms with the fact that a third-rate team like Olympiacos could score five goals in a single Champions League game. What was next? Were pigs about to start to fly? Everything didn''t make sense to the coach, and he felt even more disoriented. At that moment, he really wished to abandon the game and return to the dressing room. But he knew he couldn''t really follow through with the thought as he was the manager of a top European football club.

    "Boss!" Juan Vizca¨ªno, the assistant, called out again.

    "Yes, Juan," Diego Simeone said without masking the annoyance within his voice. "Don''t tell me that Olympiacos has scored a sixth goal!"

    "No, that''s not it," Juan replied. "I only wanted to inquire whether I should continue prepping ?¨ªguez and Turan as substitutes."

    Taking a deep breath, Coach Diego collected himself and said, "Go ahead and tell them to warm up. We''ll throw everything we have at Juventus during these remaining few minutes. Maybe, we can cause ast-minute upset and qualify for the next stage of the Champions League. I hope that luckwill be on our side."

 Chapter 507 Checking Out the Competition

    Chapter 507 Checking Out the Competition

    After conceding a goal, the Atl¨¦tico Madrid yers became more daring on the attack. Theyunched a series of relentless attacks, hoping to score an equalizer and possibly a winning goal before the ny-minute mark. However, all their efforts still remained fruitless due to the tactical discipline and defensive solidity of the Juventus squad.

    The Juventus yers, on their part, were quite impressive during the final minutes. By employing strategies like time wasting, fouls, and parking the bus, they repeatedly took the sting out of Atl¨¦tico Madrid''s offensive attempts. They also constantly fell back as a team and remained solid in defense in order to deny the Madrid-based team any chance to score a goal. As such, they maintained their lead and managed to win the game with a score of 2:1 after six minutes of injury time.

    -----

    The following morning, Zachary woke upte and went through his post-match yoga recovery routine within thefort of his expansive master bedroom. He was in a pretty good mood since he''d scored another two goals in the Champions League the previous night. As such, his motions were seamless and brimming with spirit as he went from pose to pose, hoping to quicken his post-match recovery.

    Afterpleting the yoga routine, Zachary quickly cleaned up and put on a brand-new Nike tracksuit before heading downstairs. On arriving in the kitchen area of his new vi, he spotted Jaslene, his newly-hired maid, cleaning the kitchen.

    She was a beautiful young girl of about 20-something years, and from what Zachary had heard, she was Filipino by descent. That morning, she had donned a pretty and fitting maid''s uniform, allowing her curves to stand out within the otherwise dull atmosphere of the vi.

    "Boss!" She eximed as she caught sight of Zachary. "Good morning?"

    "Good morning to you too, Jaslene," Zachary replied with a smile. "But I already instructed you not to call me boss, as that makes me feel like an old uncle. Just call me Zachary like the rest do. Okay?"

    "Okay, boss..." She replied but stopped abruptly after realizing her mistake. Smiling shyly, she said, "Yes, Zachary. I understand."

    "Good." Zachary nodded and turned his gaze away from her. After sweeping his eyes across the sparkling kitchen and taking in the spotlessly clean tiles, sinks, and floors, he asked, "Where''s Inger? Is she up yet?"

    "Yes, she''s up already," Jaslene replied. "She should be in the dining room at the moment."

    "Okay, then. I''ll go, find Inger. Just continue with your work."

    "Yes, boss."

    Zachary could only smile helplessly in response before whirling around and heading to the dining room. On arriving, he found Inger ying with her phone while seated on one of the chairs around the dining table.

    "Hello, Inger!" Zachary greeted. "How''s your morning?"

    Inger''s smile blossomed as she turned her focus away from her phone. She cocked her head slightly and replied, "My morning is fine. How about you? You woke upte today!"

    "The fatigue from yesterday''s match has taken its toll on me," Zachary responded. "I decided to sleep longer to allow my body to recover quicker."

    "Oh!" Inger''s eyes lit up. "I watched the match together with Bj?rn from here. And OMG! You were really impressive when you came on as a substitute. You even scored the equalizer and winning goal for Juventus. Congs, man."

    "Thanks," Zachary replied, smiling a bit unnaturally. He always found it slightly weird when acquaintances showered him with over-the-top praises. "Is breakfast ready?"

    "Yup," she replied. "I prepared chicken breast with; Avocado, rice, beetroot, spinach, Quinoa sd, and a ss of coconut water. I''ll bring the food over immediately."

    "Thanks."

    With that said, Inger immediately headed to the kitchen before returning with the food a few minutester. She ced it before Zachary and then went away to do her other chores.

    As for Zachary, he quickly busied himself with the food. He ate with relish and finished the meal in less than ten minutes. But since he still felt hungry, he didn''t just stop at that.

    After consulting with Inger, he picked a ss of milk, cereals, and bananas from the fridge before swallowing them toplete his meal. And with that, he finally finished his breakfast and was thus free to focus on other things.

    Coach Allegri had allowed all the Juventus yers two days off after they won the match against Atl¨¦tico Madrid the previous night. Thus, that very day, Zachary had ample free time on his hands, which he mostly spent resting in his new vi.

    He watched birds in his gardens in the morning and then went through a light gym routine at noon before enjoying a sumptuous lunch prepared by Inger, his chef. Then, after taking a short nap in the afternoon, he had Angelo, his driver, drop him at thenguage school, where he spent the rest of the day studying Italian.

    At around 9:00 PM, he returned home, feeling even more tired after spending hours cramming andprehending Italian sentences. He quickly took a shower and dried himself with a towel before descending the stairs and heading to the living room. Along the way, he picked a ss of juice from the fridge before continuing further and settling in front of therge screen to watch European Football.

    Since it was Wednesday night, there were many Champions League games scheduled. For instance, there were high-stakes games like Barcelona vs. PSG, AS Roma vs. Man City, and Chelsea vs. Sporting. They were all live on different paid Television channels in Italy.

    "You''re also going to watch football!" Coach Bj?rn Peters, Zachary''s fitness trainer, eximed on seeing him settle on the couch beside him.

    "Yes," Zachary replied after taking a sip of his juice. "I want to check out thepetition."

    Coach Bj?rn Peters chuckled. "Checking out thepetition is a good practice. But aren''t you worried about oversleeping and beingte for the team training tomorrow?"

    "Nah," Zachary replied with a shake of his head. "We have another day off tomorrow. I don''t have to get up early."

    "Well, that''s new!" Coach Bj?rn Peters eximed.

    "What''s new?" Zachary inquired.

    "I meant Coach Allegri giving you a day off," the fitness trainer replied with a smile. "The man should be over the moon after Juventus defeated Atl¨¦tico Madrid."

    "He sure is," Zachary said as the image of Coach Allegri celebrating the win yesterday appeared in his mind. After the final whistle had sounded, the coach went crazy with excitement and even celebrated before his opponent - Diego Simeone. But he didn''t just stop at that. The coach also awarded all the Juventus yers two days of rest as an appreciative gesture for the job well done against Atl¨¦tico Madrid.

    "That was some crazy stuff..."

    Slowly pushing the memories of yesternight out of his mind, Zachary fixed his eyes on therge screen. The next moment, his eyes lit up when he noticed that the match on the screen was between Barcelona and PSG. He quickly ced his ss of juice on the table before focusing on the proceedings disyed on the screen.

    As usual, Barcelona was the dominant team on the field of y, especially with yers like Messi, Neymar, Pedro, Luis Su¨¢rez, Andr¨¦s Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets in their ranks. After conceding a goal in the opening stages, they quickly flew forward like packs of wolves on the hunt as they mounted a never-ending series of attacks on the Paris-based side. Their teamwork was so out of this world, and they relied on their signature Tiki-taka football to dominate possession and break down PSG''s tenacity as the match proceeded forward. And with that, they managed to win the game by three goals to one after Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Su¨¢rez found the back of the during the 19th, 41st, and 79th minutes, respectively.

    "This Barcelona team is something else," Bj?rn Peters said with a sigh after the game ended. "They are always dictating the tempo in every game they y. No offense to you, Zachary, but I think they have the most lethal attackingbination in the world."

    "No offense taken," Zachary replied with a smile. "I''m aware that Barcelona is a great team. If we chanced upon them, we would have to pull out all stops to get even a draw out of them. They are really a scary team, especially with Messi, Neymar, Iniesta, Su¨¢rez, and their Tiki-taka football to support them."

    "That''s true," Bj?rn Peters said, nodding. "I have a gut feeling that they will be the biggest obstacle for you and your Juventus as you try to win the Champions League trophy this season. You''ll have to defeat them before dreaming about lifting the most prestigious trophy in Europe."

    "True," Zachary agreed as memories of his previous life manifested within his mind. "If we can''t beat Barcelona, we should forget about this season''s Champions League trophy."

    Zachary had been a staunch supporter of the game during his previous life. He was well aware that Barcelona would y incredibly well and put up a series of impressive performances in the Champions League that very season. And if the future proceeded as it should, Barcelona would even overpower Juventus in the final and lift the 2014-15 Champions League trophy. In other words, the Barcelona yers were the fated champions of Europe that very season.

 Chapter 508 Conclusion of the Champions League Group Stages

    Chapter 508 Conclusion of the Champions League Group Stages

    After the Barcelona game ended, Zachary didn''t immediately go to bed. Instead, he remained seated in front of the TV screen, hoping to learn the results of all the other crucial Champions League matches yed around Europe. Of course, he wasn''t alone, but still in thepany of Coach Bj?rn Peters, who''d also stayed awake to watch the post-match show.

    "Wee back from that fascinating game of football between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain," Zachary heard the maic voice of the beautiful TV presenter reverberate through the speakers. "I''m Emilia Vasquez, your host for the Champions League Wrap-Up show on ESPN. And for those just joining us, please be informed that Barcelona has just defeated PSG 3:1 with goals from Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Su¨¢rez. The result has allowed Barcelona to amass 15 points and top Group F ahead of the second-ced PSG. As such, they will be one of the top-seeded teams during the Champions League Round of Sixteen Draw scheduled for Monday, 15th December 2014."

    Turning to nce at one of the in-studio pundits, Emilia Vasquez continued, "Shaka Hislop! The Champions League group stage has concluded satisfactorily for some and frustratingly for others, depending on the team one supports. Isn''t that right?"

    Shaka Hislop smiled and said, "Except for Liverpool and Atl¨¦tico Madrid, all the other teams we expected to qualify did qualify. Strong sides like Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Juventus, Chelsea, and Real Madrid all topped their respective groups. So, I can confidently say that this season''s UEFA Champions League group stage ended in a satisfactory way."

    Emilia Vasquez nodded. "ording to you, which teams are the best performers for the just-concluded group stage?"

    Shaka Hislop immediately replied, "First on the list is definitely Real Madrid. The Madrid-based side was impressive throughout the group stages. With their phenomenal star-studded line-up, which includes highly-gifted attacking yers like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, Modric, and Marcello, they won all their group games and amassed a total of 18 points. They are by far the best-performing team of the group stages with their six out of six wins and a goal difference of 14."

    "Second on the list would be Juventus," Shaka Hislop continued. "The Turin-based club has been in fine form after gaining a boost with the addition of their new ymaker/goal-machine - Zachary Bemba. Simr to Real Madrid, they won all their group games but only fell short because of their goal difference of 12."

    "Third on the list is Bayern Munich. The Munich-based side was also impressive during the group stages. They won five of their games and only lost the game against Manchester City. With their goal difference of 12, they are the third-best performing team in the group stages, just barely ahead of Barcelona, who only have a goal difference of 10."

    "Thank you, Shaka," Emilia Vasquez said and turned towards another in-studio pundit. "Joshua Morales! The Champions League group stages are over, and the representatives of the remaining clubs will travel to Nyon, Switzend, for the draw of the round of 16 on Monday. What should we expect from this draw? Which teams could potentially face off against each other in the Round of Sixteen knock-out phase?"

    "Thank you, Emilia," Joshua Morales said with a smile. "The rules for the draw are pretty straightforward. The top seeds, or in other words, the winners of each group, will go into one pot, while the second seeds in another pot. Then a chosen UEFA representative will draw the teams from the two pots together to determine who faces who. But please note that a club can''t meet an opponent from their own association or from the group stages, and the group winners will be away in the first round of fixtures."

    "For this Champions League draw," Joshua Morales continued, "the top seeds are the group winners in the first pot, who are Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, FC Porto, AS Monaco, Borussia Dortmund, and Barcelona. On the other hand, the runners-up in the other pot are FC Basel, Manchester City, Olympiacos, Schalke 04, Shakhtar Dsk, Bayer Leverkusen, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain."

    "Following that reasoning, potential match-ups for the Round of Sixteen include teams from the first pot, such as Juventus, Real Madrid, or Barcelona, facing off against runners-up from the second pot, such as FC Basel, Manchester City, or Olympiacos."

    "Does that mean there''s a possibility for a match-up between Real Madrid and Manchester City or Juventus and Arsenal?" Emilia Vasquez, the ESPN TV presenter, chimed in with a smile.

    "Yup, there''s a chance," Joshua Morales answered. "If fate wills it, we could see Arsenal facing Juventus or Barcelona facing Manchester City. It all depends on how the draw on Monday will go..."

    -----

    As minutes passed, Zachary got bored with the progress of the TV show. As a professional footballer, he knew there was no point in dwelling on stuff he couldn''t control. So, instead of worrying about the opponent Juventus could possibly face during the Round of Sixteen, Zachary was better off going to bed and resuming his targeted training tomorrow. And with that thought in mind, he quickly got up from his seat, hoping to head back to his room for the night.

    "Are you finally going to bed?" Coach Bj?rn Peters asked before Zachary could even take the first step.

    "Yes," Zachary said, "It''s already past one. I can''t stay up any longer."

    Coach Bj?rn Peters smiled and nodded. "Can I ask you a question?"

    "Go ahead. I''m all ears."

    "Which teams in the runners-up pot would you want Juventus to face during the Round of Sixteen?"

    Zachary smiled and answered, "Shakhtar Dsk, Bayer Leverkusen, Schalke 04, and FC Basel."

    "Eh!" Coach Bj?rn Peters eximed. "You only wish to y against the weaker opponents?"

    "True," Zachary said with a shrug. "Why would I go hunting a wolf when there''s an option of hunting a deer?"

    Coach Bj?rn Peters chuckled. "Then which team in the runners-up pot would you not want to y against during the Round of Sixteen?"

    "Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, and Arsenal," Zachary replied. "I would prefer not to face those in the Round of Sixteen. But again, if the draw pits us against them, I''ll still wee the prospect ofpeting against them. The games will be tough, but our odds of winning will still be high."

    "Okay, then," Coach Bj?rn Peters said with a sigh. "Hope you get an easy opponent for the draw on Monday as I really wish to see you progress further into the Champions League. I can then brag to my friends that my client is doing wonders on the top European Football Stage."

    "Worry not!" Zachary said seriously. "I''ll do my all to win the Champions League at one point in my career. If not this year, then I will try for next year. And if not next year, I''ll try for the year after that and then repeat the process until I help Juventus to bring the Champions League Trophy to Turin. That''s the minimum expectation of myself at this club."

    "Ata boy!" Coach Bj?rn Peters said, giving Zachary a thumbs up. "As the saying goes, if you believe in yourself and have dedication, consistency, and pride, you''ll be a winner. So, keep working hard, and you''ll lift that Champions League trophy sooner than you know."

    "Thanks for the encouragement," Zachary said with a smile.

    "Just a moment before you go to bed," Coach Bj?rn Peters suddenly said solemnly.

    "Yes, what is it, coach?"

    "You haven''t yed for any country. Right?" The fitness trainer nced at Zachary with a glint in his eyes.

    "Yup." Zachary nodded. "I haven''t represented any country in internationalpetitions, but..."

    "You don''t have to exin to me your reasons," Coach Bj?rn Peters hurriedly cut in. "But if you''re still considering a country to represent, could you put Norway in your thoughts?"

    "Coach!" Zachary said with a shake of his head. "I have already chosen a country to represent. As I speak, there are people already helping me to process citizenship papers for that country. So, I can''t represent Norway in the future. I''m sorry."

    "Oh!" Coach Bj?rn Peters'' eyes widened. "Which country is so lucky to have you represent them?"

    Zachary smiled and replied, "I can''t say for the moment. But you''ll know in a few weeks."

    He had already been in touch with the officials from Ivory Coast multiple times. They were working fast to process his papers and had even hinted that they would finalize everything before the end of the year. So, going by that, he would soon be a citizen of Ivory Coast, and he might also be eligible to y for them in January''s African Cup of Nations.

    "Oh, okay," Coach Bj?rn Peters said after hearing Zachary''s response. "It''s a pity you''ve already chosen to y for another country. But again, you must have your own reasons. So, let me wish you the best of luck while representing that country."

    "Thanks for understanding, coach." Zachary smiled. "I have to go to bed now."

    "Okay, goodnight."

    "Good night to you too, coach," Zachary said before walking out of the living room. In a matter of seconds, he ascended the stairs quickly and arrived in his bedroom quickly. He then jumped into bed, hoping to enter a deep slumber and allow his body to recover from the fatigue he''d umted ying against Atl¨¦tico Madrid.

    -----

 Chapter 509 One of those Strange Games

    Chapter 509 One of those Strange Games

    Having rested for two days, Zachary and his teammates returned their focus to their domestic duties. Under the guidance of Max Allegri, their coach, they trained intensively on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday while doing all they could to refine their tactics and hone their match fitness. Then, when Sunday, 14th December 2014, arrived, they put on their match gear and weed Sampdoria at the Juventus Stadium for yet another breathtaking Serie A battle.

    The game was an early kick-off scheduled tomence at 12:30 PM. But even then, it still attracted an enormous crowd of roughly 39,000 football fans, most of which were Juventus supporters. And since Juventus had been performing incredibly well since the start of the new season, those fans were in high spirits while awaiting themencement of the game. Their enthusiasm was so out of this world, and they went all out to sing the popr Juventus chants.

    But there were still exceptions in the crowd, and not all the supporters were busy chanting Juventus songs. Instead, there were also those within their ranks huddled together in the middle section of the stands while discussing their expectations for their team.

    "If we defeat Sampdoria, then we will have extended our perfect winning streak in the Serie A to fifteen matches," Paolo Favero, a staunch supporter of Juventus, said to his friend. "We''re really flying, man."

    "Yeah! We''re indeed flying." Luca Maroni, his friend, who was also naturally a Juventus supporter, agreed. "If we factor in our Champions League campaign, then we already have a perfect winning streak of twenty-one games. It''s simply unbelievable!"

    "We''ve really be invincible after acquiring Zachary," Paolo said.

    "Yeah, we have," Luca agreed. "By the way, how many goals does he have at the moment?"

    Narrowing his eyes slightly, Paolo replied, "Thirteen goals in the Serie A and nine in the Champions League. It''s simply unbelievable! He ys as an attacking midfielder in most games but still scores all those goals."

    "Well, I think he''s scoring a lot bes of how Coach Allegri utilizes him," Luca said. "Within our standard 3-5-2 formation, he often starts in central midfield alongside Andrea Pirlo, our deep-lying ymaker, and udio Marchisio, our defensive midfielder. However, he usually pushes forward and joins our strikers as an additional attacker during critical moments. And that allows him more room and flexibility to provide assists or shoot and score goals."

    "True," Paolo agreed. "He''s a true in-and-out creative midfielder who can y as a Mezz, a box-to-box midfielder, a false nine, and an advanced ymaker. Man! We''re so lucky to have him."

    "Indeed," Luca agreed again. "But he will face a tough challenge when we y against Cagliari Calcio next Thursday. You know how the Cagliari fans are. They will always use whatever means possible, including racial insults, to help their team win the game."

    "Yeah, I know," Paolo said. "It''s a must that they will use racial insults to throw Zachary off his rhythm. And since he''s the best yer in the Italian Serie A at the moment, they might take the insults to a never-before-seen level. I hope things won''t get so bad to the point of forcing him to walk off the pitch."

    Shaking his head, Luca sighed and said, "Let''s pray that the worst won''t ur. I don''t want us to lose the game against Cagliari because one of our yers walked off the pitch. That would truly be unfortunate."

    "Yeah..."

    -----

    The minutes passed quickly, and soon 12:30 PM arrived. And with the referee''s whistle, the Serie A battle between Juventus and Sampdoria kicked off right on time under the fire of the noon sun.

    For that game, Coach Allegri had brought out most of his top guns. Gianluigi Buffon was in goal, while Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Boni, and Mart¨ªn Angelo Ogbonna were the three defenders. Then, Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo, and Zachary Bemba were the three yers holding the reigns in central midfield, while Kwadwo Asamoah and Stephan Lichtsteiner were on the nks toplete the midfield of five. And finally, Fernando Llorente and Carlos T¨¦vez were ying as the two strikers toplete Juventus'' 3-5-2 starting formation against Juventus.

    The start of the game was pretty intense, as the Juventus yers flew forward andunched spectacr attacks through their creative midfielders linking up y with the wide yers. And for the next few minutes, stunning runs through the wings became the order of the day until Juventus finally created a real goal-scoring chance during the 11th minute.

    Stephan Lichtsteiner was the man in action at that moment. After controlling a pin-point pass from Zachary, he raced forward and speared deeper into Sampdoria''s half like a bullet train on the rails. He skipped past a sliding challenge from an opponent and then stepped into the final third. Then, after the angle opened up, he unleashed a raking cross into the box where Fernando Llorente was already lurking.

    "Whoosh!"

    Fernando Llorente reacted immediately and leaped for the iing ball. He effortlessly outmuscled Alessio Romagnoli, the Sampdoria center-back, in a battle for aerial superiority before heading the ball past the keeper to score Juventus'' 1st goal during the 12th minute.

    The game continued after the celebrations, and like always, Juventus didn''t turn down the heat even after scoring the opening goal. The Old Lady yers remained rampant whileunching more relentless attacks on Sampdoria''s defense. And as the game proceeded forward, they created more breathtaking chances as they searched for their second goal.

    Firstly, Carlos Tevez threatened to double the lead during the 22nd minute. However, a slight deflection on an opposing center-back''s boot took the Argentine''s shot wide and away from the goal.

    Momentster, during the 24th minute, Zachary was also about to score after unleashing a long-range missile from the outside-of-the-eighteen. But a stunning save from the keeper denied his effort, and he could only ce his hands behind his head dejectedly.

    But that was not all. Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez, the two Juventus strikers, were again just inches away from scoring during the 33rd and 41st minutes, respectively. But another spectacr save from the keeper and a moment of brilliant defending by one of the center-backs denied the two strikers the opportunity to extend the lead before half-time. As such, the game headed into the break with Juventus only leading by a goal to nil against the underperforming Sampdoria side.

    After the fifteen-minute break, Juventus was even more threatening going forward ¡ª and Sergio Romero, the Sampdoria keeper, soon had to make yet another vital save to deny Fernando Llorente''s finish after a sweeping counter. But that was not the end of Sampdoria''s nightmares. Minutester, during the 61st minute, the busy keeper was called into action again to deny Juventus from taking the lead through another long-range shot from Zachary.

    The game was obviously one-sided, with the Juventus yers looking ever more dangerous on the attack as the match approached the 70th minute. Moreover, the Old Lady yers didn''t just continue relying on wing y and long balls but also utilized the brilliant passing abilities of their yers to hoard more than 70% possession during most moments of the game. And with that, they created even more opportunities on goal by relying on fast and snappy exchanges through the middle.

    They were really doing their utmost to score the second goal and seal their win against Sampdoria, and as a result, everyone watching the game thought their win was a sure-and-done deal.

    But football can change in moments, as it takes only seconds to create an opportunity. And such a scenario soon transpired in the game between Juventus and Sampdoria.

    Three of Sampdoria''s attacking yers took one opportunity to race forward after a failed Juventus corner kick during the 76th minute. They exchanged lightning-fast passes as theyunched a counterattack that caught Juventus napping.

    Then secondster, the ball naturally found its way to Stefano Okaka, one of Sampdoria''s strikers, who remainedposed and hammered it into the back of the to score the equalizer for the visitors during the 77th minute. And with that, the score was back to 1:1 with only 13 minutes + added time remaining to the end of the game.

    -----

    "This is bad," Coach Allegri eximed as he watched the Sampdoria yers celebrating their equalizing goal on one side of the pitch. "I fear that the chances we missed early on maye back to haunt us."

    "True, we have a tricky situation on our hands." Maurizio Trombetta, his assistant, nodded with a frown. "This is one of those strange games of the season where our luck is always at its worst. We''ve been the dominant team ever since the start of the match. We have also created many opportunities and attempted more than fifteen shots on target. However, we still couldn''t score and kill the game off. And even worse, we conceded an equalizing goal during the 77th minute. Truly unfortunate!"

    "Yeah, we''re very unlucky today," Coach Allegri agreed. "But fortunately, we still have thirteen minutes to make something happen. As long as we utilize our yers well, we''ll create more chances and hopefully score before the ny-minute mark."

    "What''s your n, boss?" Coach Trombetta asked.

    "The key to winning such matches is trusting and relying on our best yers," Coach Allegri said. "We need to push them to work harder and create more opportunities. And with that, their individual brilliance will bloom in great splendor, and they can make something happen out of nothing. That''s what we need at this moment. That''s what we need to win this game and maintain our perfect winning streak in allpetitions."

    "Okay," Coach Trombetta said with a smile. "So, going by your words, we must rely on Zachary?"

    "Not just Zachary alone," Coach Allegri said, "We also need Andrea Pirlo, Stephan Lichtsteiner, and Carlos Tevez if we want sure results."

    And with that said, the coach didn''t wait for a response from his assistant. Instead, he walked towards the touchline, ready to summon Andrea Pirlo before giving him the match instructions for the final minutes.

    -----

 Chapter 510 Another Win

    Chapter 510 Another Win

    "Andrea! Listen well!" Coach Max Allegri said to his deep-lying ymaker after he arrived on the touchline. "The next few minutes will be crucial for us if we wish to win this game. We have got to y with a clear purpose when on the ball in order to get a goal quickly."

    Andrea Pirlo nodded and said, "I''m listening, coach. Go on."

    "Okay, here is the n," the coach continued. "Now that Sampdoria has scored, they will grow confident andunch more attacks against us. So, our strategy is to wait and absorb the pressure until we catch them off guard and counterattack against them."

    "Yeah, that might really work," Andrea Pirlo said, nodding pensively.

    "Not so quick," the Coach hurriedly said. "There''s more. At the onset of the counter, I''ll expect the yer with the ball to pass it to you as quickly as possible. And immediately, when you receive the ball, all our attacking yers, including Zachary, Tevez, Lichtsteiner, and even Fernando, will have to start sprinting toward Sampdoria''s box. I expect to see a scenario where Fernando and Zachary are bolting through the middle while Tevez is on the left wing and Lichtsteiner is on the right nk. And with such a scenario, you will have to work fast to release one of the yers. Depending on the circumstances on the field, you''ll utilize your vision and passing range to unleash a through ball quickly to one of those yers. As long as you time your pass well, we should be able to catch Sampdoria''s defense napping and score a goal. Okay?"

    "Okay, I understand, coach," Andrea Pirlo said.

    Coach Allegri nodded and said, "You can convey my instructions to the rest of the yers on the pitch. But remember that we must use the first opportunity thates our way effectively. After the restart, we must make our first counterattack count and get that winning goal. Otherwise, the Sampdoria yers will get wind of our strategy, and they will turtle up and prevent us from easily attacking them again on the counter. Understood?"

    "I understand, coach."

    "Good," Coach Allegri said and nodded again. "The match is about to restart. Head back and execute all my instructions. Remember, we have only one chance."

    "Okay, Coach."

    With that said, Andrea Pirlo quickly chugged down some water before running back towards the pitch. And since the game was yet to restart due to the prolonged celebrations of the Sampdoria yers, he immediately went around, conveying the coach''s instructions to the rest of his teammates. For secrecy, he, of course, didn''t shout them out loud but whispered them in the ears of most of the yers until they all understood the coach''s strategy for thest few minutes.

    -----

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    With the referee''s whistle, the game restarted, with all the fans expecting that Juventus would immediately go all out to get a goal. However, a few minutes after the restart, they all realized their predictions were totally wrong when the Old Lady yers decided to turtle up and absorb the pressure. And instead of doing their utmost tounch attacks and score, the Juventus yers yed defensive football that confused many watching the game.

    "What has happened to Juventus?" Paolo Favero, a Juventus fan, eximed after noticing that his team was ying total defensive football. "Are the yers tired? Are they satisfied with only a draw? Why have they stopped attacking?"

    "Beats me!" Luca Maroni, his friend, said with a shrug. "Maybe, they are guarding against conceding another goal. You know, a draw is always better than a loss."

    "Are you for real, man?" Paolo eximed. "You want us to get a draw against Sampdoria? Then, what happens when we y Inter or AC Mn?"

    Luca shrugged but didn''t answer. At that moment, his eyes were on the pitch, taking in a scenario where Sampdoria had justunched another attack on Juventus.

    With renewed confidence after scoring the equalizing goal, the Sampdoria yers yed beautiful short passes from one end of the field to the other as they tried to stretch Juventus'' defensive shape. They also dictated the tempo for minutes until they found a passing angle and sent forth an abrupt through ball forward to release Pedro Obiang, their left midfielder, on the left wing.

    "This is not good."

    Luca heard another fan grumble as Pedro Obiang controlled the ball. But Luca''s eyes remained glued on the pitch, and he watched the Sampdoria man make a spirited run that allowed him to spear deeper into Juventus'' half. And when the angle opened up, Pedro Obiang released a teasing cross toward Juventus'' box, where a few Sampdoria yers were lurking.

    It was another goal-scoring chance for Sampdoria, and the yers in the box reacted appropriately. The Juventus yers leaped high, hoping to outsmart their opponents and clear the ball. On the other hand, the Sampdoria yers jumped high, hoping to attack the cross and score the winning goal. The yers of both teams were obviously doing their utmost to help their respective sides gain the advantage.

    Fortunately for the Juventus supporters, Leonardo Boni, one of the Juventus defenders, came out on top during the battle for aerial superiority within the box. He outjumped everyone else before heading the ball and clearing it away from the crowded Juventus box.

    "This is a chance..."

    Luca Maroni''s heart skipped a beat as he watched the ball rise above many yers before descending toward the right side of the box, where Andrea Pirlo happened to be standing. And before Luca could catch his breath, the highly-experienced Maestro controlled the ball while spinning around to escape the entanglement of an opponent.

    But that was just the beginning of Pirlo''s magic on the pitch. He prodded the ball forward and past another opponent before unleashing a raking pass toward the right wing. And with that lightning-fast through ball, he managed to find Stephan Lichtsteiner, the attacking wing-back, who had long started making a spirited run toward the other side of the pitch.

    On the right nk, Stephan Lichtsteiner''s spirited run was as breathtaking as ever. He didn''t even halt to control the ball ¡ª but just took it in his stride as he continued bolting towards the other side of the pitch like a predator on the hunt. And when he finally stepped into the final third, he sent forth a lofted cross all the way over the field and toward the left nk, hoping to find Zachary.

    As it was a counterattack, most Sampdoria yers had not yet retaken their defensive positions. As such, Zachary managed to control the ball under no pressure before continuing toward Sampdoria''s box at breakneck speed. He cut through the left wing like a whirlwind and soon started approaching the box like a raging Tsunami.

    There were, of course, a few Sampdoria yers who''d returned or remained back, barring Zachary''s way toward the box. But with a slight shift of pace and a couple of well-timed side steps, he sent them packing and left them in the dust. He then stepped into the box and rounded the keeper, who''de out of the goal to meet him, before burying the ball into the to score Juventus 2nd goal during the 83rd minute.

    "GOAAAL! Zachary has done it again!" Luca Maroni yelled as the ball homed into the back of the. He was over the moon as he jumped and hugged the other Juventus fans around him to celebrate Juventus'' second goal for the night.

    "This counterattack was truly spectacr," he said to Paolo Favero after the cheers started fading. "I can literally feel goosebumps all over my skin just recalling the counterattack. Within seconds, Pirlo found Lichtsteiner on the right nk, who, in turn, found Zachary on the left wing. And from there on, Zachary executed his magic on the pitch and scored the goal. This counterattack was surely for the record books."

    "Yeah," Paolo agreed. "We''ve be more lethal on the counterattack with Zachary, Lichtsteiner, Tevez, and Pirlo ying together on the pitch. When theybine, they turn into monsters on the counter, and I don''t think there''s an opponent out there who can stop them."

    "Zachary has scored his 14th goal in his 14th Serie A appearance this season," Luca said. "He''s averaging a single goal for every game he ys. Doesn''t this mean that he could potentially score 38 goals by the end of the season?"

    "Don''t underestimate his abilities," Paolo scoffed. "There are days when he will bag a brace or a hat trick. So, going by that, he might score more than forty goals in the Serie A this season."

    -----

    After the goal celebrations, the game continued with the Sampdoria yers going all out in search of an equalizer. They showed glimpses of brilliant football as theyunched a series of attacks on Juventus'' defense over the next few minutes. And due to their relentlessness, they even forced all the Juventus yers to fall back and execute the ''park the bus tactic'' during thest five minutes of gamey. For sure, they were doing all they could to get the equalizer against Juventus before the game ended.

    However, the efforts of Sampdoria remained fruitless, especially since theycked the creativity to break through a defensive-minded Juventus team that was hell-bent on protecting their lead. They could not create a meaningful goal-scoring chance or even get an opportunity to take a shot on target during the game''s closing stages. As a result, they lost the match against Juventus by two goals to one when the final whistle sounded after five minutes of added time.

    -----

 Chapter 511 Preparations For The Away Game Against Cagliari

    The day after winning the game against Sampdoria, all Juventus'' yers, coaches, board members, and technical staff turned their attention to the UEFA Champions League Round of Sixteen Draw. They were all anxious to know which team they would face during the next stage of the top European footballpetition. So, when the clock hands around Turin pointed to the midday mark, most of them settled in front of their screens, eager to find out the results from the draw.

    The draw was pretty transparent and straightforward, with two UEFA representatives drawing the seeded teams against the runners-up from the group stages. The officials worked quickly to pick the teams from the pots, and in just twenty minutes, they came out with the list of fixtures for the Round-of-Sixteen knock-out stage, which were as follows:

    -----

    17 February & 11 March 2014

    Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) v Chelsea FC (ENG)

    FC Shakhtar Dsk (UKR) v FC Bayern M¨¹nchen (GER)

    18 February & 10 March 2014

    FC Schalke 04 (GER) v Real Madrid CF (ESP)

    FC Basel 1893 (SUI) v FC Porto (POR)

    24 February & 18 March 2014

    Manchester City FC (ENG) v FC Barcelona (ESP)

    Olympiacos FC (GRC) v Borussia Dortmund (GER)

    25 February & 17 March 2014

    Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) v Juventus (ITA)

    Arsenal FC (ENG) v AS Monaco FC (FRA)

    -----

    "This is wonderful!"

    Zachary, who had been attentively following the draw from thefort of his bedroom, let out a breath after learning that Bayer 04 Leverkusen was Juventus'' opponent for the round of sixteen. As far as he was concerned, it was a blessing to battle the German-based club rather than facing off against sides like Man City, Paris Saint-Germain, and Arsenal, which were rtively stronger teams in their respective leagues.

    As such, Zachary''s heart was finally at peace since he was sure that if the Juventus yers performed as usual, they would thrash the German-based side home and away and qualify for the quarter-finals. Then he would be a step closer to achieving every yer''s dream of winning the UEFA Champions League.

    -----

    After learning the results of the draw, Zachary and his teammates returned their focus to the team training. Under the strict supervision of the coaches, they held full-day sessions at the Vinovo on Tuesday and Wednesday as they prepared for Thursday''s away Serie A game against Cagliari Calcio. And when evening arrived on Wednesday, they answered Coach Allegri''s summons and headed to the tactics room for the pre-match tactical meeting.

    "Good evening to you all," Coach Allegri said when all the yers had taken their seats around the tactics room.

    "Good evening, coach," the yers replied more or less in unison.

    "I hope everyone is already here," the coach said while ncing around. "Is there anyone who hasn''t arrived yet?"

    "We''re all here, coach," Gianluigi Buffon, the captain, answered on behalf of everyone else. "Except Patrice Evra and udio Marchisio, the injured yers, the rest of us are all here."

    "Good!" Coach Allegri smiled and continued, "Tomorrow evening, we''ll face Cagliari Calcio away in Sardinia. It''s another tricky game that will test our winning spirit as a team since we''ll be ying in front of a very hostile crowd of Cagliari supporters. It''s also a game that will test our discipline, character, and ability to focus in the face of all adversity since there''s no doubt that the opponents and their supporters will use every means possible to throw us off our rhythm."

    "They will intimidate us. They''ll y a rough game against us. They will even haul insults at some of our teammates. But no matter what happens, we must not bring ourselves to their level. We must instead remainposed and only focus on winning. We must persevere through whatever they put us through and show them that we''re Juventus, a team that can ovee all with the footballing spirit. Are you guys with me?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Yes, coach," the yers roared back in chorus.

    "Good, I like the spirit," Coach Allegri said and then started presenting the tactics for the game against Cagliari Calcio. He exined how the team would utilize a 4-3-1-2 formation instead of the usual 3-5-2 setup before assigning roles to individual yers. He also talked about yer movements, pressing techniques, and marking strategies before ending his one-hour address by reading out the match squad.

    All the usual suspects, including Zachary, Andrea Pirlo, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Boni, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Fernando Llorente, and Carlos T¨¦vez, made the starting eleven. The only missing names on the squad were, of course, the injured Patrice Evra and udio Marchisio.

    "Tomorrow," Coach Allegri said with a smile, "we n to set off from the Vinovo at 9:00 AM by bus. We''ll head to the airport and take an eleven o''clock flight to Cagliari. So, I expect every yer on the line-up to arrive in the parking lot of the Vinovo by 8:30 AM. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied in chorus.

    "Good." Coach Allegri nodded. "Since we''re on the same page, let me wish you a good night. But please remember to get ample rest today. I want you all at the top of your game tomorrow. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    "You can all go now," Coach Allegri said. "However, Zachary, please stay back for a moment. We would like to have a small chat with you."

    "He doesn''t speak Italian," Coach Trombetta reminded from the side.

    "Oh, shit!" Coach Allegri eximed. "Okay, convey my words to him. We must chat with him before he departs."

    "Okay, I''ll do that," Coach Trombetta agreed before walking towards Zachary''s seat.

    -----

    Zachary, who was almost dying of boredom due to his non-mastery of Italian, quickly learned from Coach Trombetta that the coaches wanted to talk to him. Without hesitating, he answered their summons and followed them to Coach Allegri''s office within the Vinovo. The three of them then quickly took their seats, and their meeting began.

    "So, Zachary," Coach Trombetta said after exchanging a few words with Coach Allegri in Italian. "How far with thenguage studies? Are you close to mastering Italian?"

    Zachary smiled ruefully and said, "Not yet. I can exchange greetings and speak a few sentences. But I still can''t understand the meanings behind Coach Allegri''s long pre-match addresses. Unless someone else trantes for me, I won''tprehend anything."

    "Baby steps are still steps," Coach Trombetta encouraged. "So, as long as you''re making progress, no matter how small, that''s fine."

    "Thanks for the encouragement, coach."

    "Anyways," Coach Trombetta said, "we wanted to chat with you about what you may have to put up with during the match tomorrow. Are you aware of the reputation of the Cagliari supporters?"

    "There are reports that they can be racist at times," Zachary answered. As a staunch football fan during his previous life, he''d obviously heard about the famous incident between Romelu Lukaku and the Cagliari fans. So, he was vaguely aware of how the supporters from Sardinia could behave during matches.

    "The bad news is that those reports are indeed correct," Coach Trombetta said with a sigh. "Some Cagliari fans will do anything to help their team win. At their core, they are really not bad people. They might also not be racist. But when their team is facing off against a yer as incredibly skilled as you, they will use certain ways to help their team win. Those ''ways'' can include hurling racial insults at you, hoping to make you nervous, or throw you off your rhythm."

    "The reason we''re telling you this is to prepare you for tomorrow," the coach continued. "Of course, we will do everything possible as a club to get a fair ying environment for you tomorrow. We''re also working with the Cagliari officials to ensure that the match proceeds smoothly. But as you know, we can''t control every supporter in the stadium. So, if the booing and racial insults begin, don''t try to take on the fans, as that will encourage them to be more rampant with their abuse. You can force yourself to focus on the game and answer them by ying well against them. Or you could signal us to take you off, and then we''ll handle the incident administratively. Is that okay?"

    "Okay," Zachary said with a sigh. "To be honest, I''ve never faced racial discrimination before. The footballmunity in Norway was very weing to all, and no one would go around hurling racial insults during football games. So, I don''t know what to expect or how I''ll feel when the scenario you''ve presented urs. But I can still promise not to focus on the fans but on the game. I should be able to achieve that as long as the on-pitch Cagliari yers don''t join in on the hurling of insults."

    "Good," Coach Trombetta said with a smile. "You should also understand that the best way to counter someone trying to offend you is to ignore thempletely. For instance, when the Cagliari fans insult you, and you continue ying as usual, they''ll realize that they are just barking up the wrong tree. And most likely, they''ll stop the insults. But if you start throwing tantrums or hurling insults back at them, they will think that their strategy to throw you off your game is working, and they''ll increase their booing. So, you have to try your utmost to ignore everything off the pitch. That''s the way to go during tomorrow''s match. Understood?"

    "I understand, coach," Zachary said. "As I said, I''ll try to focus only on the game. So, don''t worry."

    -----

 Chapter 512 Crisis After Crisis

    The following morning, Zachary woke up early, at around six, and enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast prepared by Inger, his professional chef. Then, he spent about thirty minutes meditating in the quiet environment afforded by his bedroom to clear his mind before cleaning up and donning a brand-new Juventus tracksuit.

    Minutester, just as the first rays of the just-risen sun started to stream through the shy gap between the window curtains, he exited his bedroom and descended the stairs. With a measured pace, he headed to the dining room, intending to say his goodbyes to the other upants of his vi.

    Quickly walking through the door to the dining room, he found Bj?rn Peters, his fitness trainer, enjoying breakfast with Inger, his wife, at the dining table. As for Jaslene - his newly-hired maid, she was busy dusting the seats around the bar and coffee area beyond the far side of the dining room.

    Turning his gaze away from the maid, he smiled at Bj?rn Peters. "How''s your morning, coach?" He asked, shing his fitness trainer a smile. "Did you sleep well?"

    "I slept like a baby," the coach replied. "How about you? Are you ready to face off against Cagliari Calcio today evening?"

    "Yes, I''m," Zachary replied, his voice brimming with confidence. He then spent a few more minutes exchanging more small talk with Bj?rn and Inger before exiting the house through the side entrance.

    Three days ago, Audi officials in Italy had finally sent over his new Audi RS 7. It wasn''t anything as shy as a Lamborghini or a Ferrari. But it was still a glittering white machine with outrageous performance, impressive refinement, and surprising practicality.

    Smiling slightly, Zachary unlocked the Audi and ced his gym bag in the boot. Then, he went around the car and opened the front door before settling his tall frame within the spacious driver''s seat.

    With expert ease, he started it up, and the engine came alive the next moment. He eased it out of his estate, and a few minutester, he joined the spacious roads of Turin and started making his way toward the Vinovo.

    Zachary maintained a velocity of around seventy to eighty km/hour, hoping to make it to the training center before 8:30 AM, which was the agreed-upon time for the team to convene before heading to Sardinia for the game against Cagliari Calcio. But just as he was rounding another roundabout along the Via Moncalieri route, he drew the ire of the traffic police after missing a speed limit sign. As such, he had to park his car by the roadside and answer the questions of thew enforcers for a good 20-plus minutes before continuing on his way.

    He arrived safely at the Vinovo fifteen minutester. However, since he''d wasted almost half an hour talking to the traffic police, he waste by about eight minutes. So, his teammates and most coaches had already boarded the bus that would ferry them to the airport by the time he made it to the parking lot. Only Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach in charge of the first team, and the three medical personnel were yet to board. They were anxious and looking around as if they were waiting for someone, that someone possibly being himself.

    "Zachary! There you are!" Coach Maurizio Trombetta eximed when he spotted Zachary. "We were just about to depart without you. Why the hell are youte?"

    Zachary sighed and told the assistant coach how he''d wasted time talking to the traffic police on his way to the Vinovo. Then, he apologized for beingte before asking the coach whether he could board the team bus.

    "Of course, you can board the bus," Coach Trombetta said with a sigh. "However, as you know, the head coach is a person that is strict on timekeeping principles. He has already removed your name from the starting eleven, and you''ll have to start from the bench today evening."

    "But I was onlyte by about eight minutes..." Zachary tried to argue. He was, of course, not happy after being dropped from the starting eleven.

    However, Coach Trombetta stopped him with a simple dismissive gesture. "Zachary!" The assistant coach said. "We all agreed that we had to arrive by 8:30 AM today. But for whatever reason, you arrivedte. So, tell me! Do you want us to turn a blind eye to your beingte? Do you wish for us to ignore the team rules and allow you to remain in the starting line-up? And let''s say we do just that: What happens when another yer arriveste in the future? Will we follow the same example and let that yer go unpunished?"

    On hearing the coach''s barrage of questions, Zachary was at a loss for words. He could only remain quiet as he knew that he was the one in the wrong.

    "Zachary!" Coach Trombetta continued. "I''m sorry to say: But for this game, you''ll have to start on the bench. It''s your punishment for arrivingte. Okay?"

    "Okay, I understand," Zachary replied, sighing heavily. But he didn''t say anything more, as that would be totally meaningless.

    After spending more than four months at the club, he had already learned that Coach Allegri would rarely change his mind after making a decision. So, Zachary was better off remaining quiet rather than challenging the coachingmittee''s abrupt decision to bench him. Additionally, by silently taking the punishment, he would maintain the team''s harmonious atmosphere and increase Juventus'' chances of winning the match against Cagliari Calcio.

    "It''s good that you understand," Coach Trombetta said with a slight smile. "You can board the bus and join the rest of your teammates. We''ll be setting off for the airport in a few minutes."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Okay, coach," Zachary replied and boarded the team bus. He then greeted a few of his teammates before settling in one of the seats towards the back.

    -----

    Later that morning, at around half past ten, the Juventus squad arrived in Cagliari, Sardinia, by ne. After resting for about an hour and having ate morning snack in a cafe, they went through a super-light training session at one of the training grounds in Cagliari before enjoying a highly-nutritious meal selected by the team dieticians. Then, after lunch, they checked into a local hotel and rested for a good four hours before heading to the Stadio Sant''Elia, ready to face off against the tricky Cagliari Calcio side.

    On arriving at the stadium gates, they received a heartwarming wee from the crowd of traveling Juventus supporters, who were eager to get close to the yers. However, as the squad was tight on time, the Juventus yers didn''t stop to sign autographs or take pictures with the excited fans. Instead, they just waved to the supporters before continuing on into the stadium.

    A few minutester, the Juventus squad arrived in the visiting team''s dressing room, and from there on, proceedings moved on quickly. Under the urging of the coaches, the yers hastily finished changing into their training gear before heading to the pitch to go through a pre-match warm-up.

    Minutester, after concluding the warm-up, they returned to the dressing room and donned their match gear. Then, after listening to Coach Allegri''s pre-match address, the yers who had made the starting eleven exited the dressing room with all the haste they could muster before heading back to the pitch tomence their Serie A battle against Cagliari Calcio.

    Naturally, Zachary, the young ymaker serving punishment for histeing behavior that morning, headed to the bench instead of joining the rest of the first-string yers on the ying field. Surprisingly, his absence from the starting eleven caused only a few intuitive Juventus supporters to raise their eyebrows. As for the other supporters, they probably assumed that Coach Allegri had just rested the young ymaker, especially since Juventus was ying against a much weaker Cagliari Calcio side. So, they didn''t react abnormally to his absence from the starting line-up.

    Proceedings moved forward, and the teams went through the pre-match routines, including the customary handshake and captain''s coin toss. Then, when all the clock hands in Sardinia pointed to the seven o''clock mark, the referee''s whistle sounded, and the long-awaited matchmenced with Cagliari Calcio''s kick-off.

    Cagliari Calcio was a team ced thirdst on the Serie A table. They had only aplished a measly result of two wins, six draws, and seven losses out of their opening fifteen Italian Serie A games.

    Their chances of winning were so low that even the bettingpanies had given Juventus a paltry odd of 1.08 to win the game. And due to their greatlycking form and momentum, all the supporters watching the game thought that the flying Juventus squad would make quick work of the Cagliari side.

    But as we all know, there is never a hundred percent certainty when predicting the result of football matches. At certain times, the lower-ced teams could also overpower the footballing giants with the right game n, attitude, match discipline, and some luck ¡ª and that was what happened during that evening''s match between Cagliari Calcio and Juventus.

    With the absence of Zachary from the squad, Juventus struggled to control the game in the early stages. The often-creative and solid midfielders like Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal failed to control the game, especially after being constantly harassed by the hostile Cagliari supporters within the stands. And on several asions of pure carelessness, they lost possession and allowed the ardent Cagliari yers tounch terrifying counterattacks, which eventually caused nightmares for Juventus'' defense.

    In such a manner, the game proceeded forward, and the hardworking Cagliari yers slowly gained the advantage. They built up momentum and confidence, and it wasn''t long before they stunned the traveling Juventus supporters into silence with a sessful counterattack.

    They broke through Juventus'' ranks and raced into the lead during the twelfth minute of gamey, with V¨ªctor Ibarbo, Cagliari''s center forward, teeing up Andrea Cossu to drive past Gianluigi Buffon with a missile from outside the box. And with that, they were firmly in the driving seat and soon built up even more momentum.

    Things could''ve gotten worse for the Old Lady if the highly-experienced Buffon had not been on hand to stop a 15th-minute point-nk header from V¨ªctor Ibarbo, Cagliari''s center forward. Fortunately, after that incident, the Juventus yers seemed to have woken up and begun to exert pressure on the Cagliari goal.

    The on-form Carlos Teves and Fernando Llorente, Juventus'' two strikers, soon became the main threats as they linked up with crosses from the wings to try their luck on goal. They even came close to scoring during the 34th and 39th minutes, respectively, only to be denied by stunning saves by Alessio Cragno, the Cagliari keeper.

    Proceedings moved forward, and the second half soon arrived, with fans andmentators alike thinking that the Juventus yers would shift into high gear to look for an equalizing goal. But the Cagliari yers, who''d started the first half well, once again proved why they were a tricky side to y against, especially at their home ground.

    During the 49th minute, they won a corner kick after executing yet another startling counter against Juventus. Daniele Conti, Cagliari''s captain, took the corner with perfect precision to link up with V¨ªctor Ibarbo, who headed home to score Cagliari''s 2nd goal for the evening.

    The score was then 2:0 in favor of Cagliari, the home team, and Juventus were already staring down the barrel of their first defeat of the season. Be that as it may, they didn''t give up and stepped up their game tounch more purposeful attacks against the opponents. But they still couldn''t find the back of the even a single time as the game approached thete stages.

    Moreover, as the saying goes, misfortunes nevere singly. When people watching the match were beginning to believe that things couldn''t get any worse for Juventus, a reckless tackle from one of the opponents during the 56th minute took Andrea Pirlo, Juventus'' deep-lying ymaker, out of the equation. As such, the Italian Maestro joined udio Marchisio and Patrice Evra on the list of injured yers, thus leaving his teammates to pick up the pieces against the tenacious Cagliari side. For sure, it was one unexpected crisis after another.

 Chapter 513 Zachary Vs. The Cagliari Fans I

    -----

    Cagliari Calcio 2: Juventus FC 0

    -----

    Coach Max Allegri was brimming with fury as he nced at the score on the Stadio Sant''Elia''s massive jumbotron. From his experience as a coach, he clearly understood that the fighting spirit of his yers was at the bottom low for that game against Cagliari Calcio. As such, their passpletion rate was terrible, and they werex and not hardworking enough while taking on the opponents. They were far from their best and had thus already conceded two goals against Cagliari.

    "Boss!" Maurizio Trombetta, Juventus'' assistant coach in charge of the first team, said. "The medics have alreadye to a conclusion. Andrea can''t continue. His calf suffered the brunt of the tackle, and he can''t finish the remaining minutes of the game."

    "Shit!" Coach Allegri muttered under his breath. "This day is turning out to be our worst outing in this Serie A season."

    "Yes, indeed," Coach Maurizio, his assistant, agreed. "So, what''s your n, boss? Should we bring on Zachary to strengthen our midfield? He''s our best option at the moment."

    "Zachary..." Coach Max Allegri mumbled, frowning slightly. Of course, he knew Zachary was the best option to help Juventus out of their predicament. But the challenge was that he was still on punishment after arrivingte that morning. As such, the coach didn''t want to give him leeway by introducing him early into the game.

    As if reading his mind, Coach Maurizio sighed. "Boss! I know that the team should be strict with all yers, especially with regard to disciplinary matters. But aside from that, we sometimes need flexibility while enforcing some punishments. Take Zachary''s case, for example. It was his first time driving in Italy. So, he missed the road sign and incurred the ire of the traffic police, thus arrivingte. So, boss! Considering his circumstances, shouldn''t we give him some leeway? Moreover, we need him in this game. Shouldn''t we stop being rigid and bring him on to help us stabilize the situation? Remember! We must do all our best not to lose this game."

    On hearing his assistant''s words, Coach Allegri narrowed his eyes. He turned his attention back to the pitch and noticed that the medics were about to finish the first aid on the injured Andrea Pirlo. As such, if he didn''t bring on a substitute right away, his team would have to y the next few minutes with only ten men on the field. And just because of that numerical disadvantage, Juventus might concede another goal immediately after the restart.

    "This is really a bad day..." Sighing with dejection, Coach Max Allegri finally made up his mind. He turned his attention back to his assistant and said, "Let''s go with your suggestion. We''ll immediately introduce Zachary in ce of Andrea Pirlo. We''ll also bring on Alvaro Morata for Fernando Llorente to further stabilize our situation and create more chances up front."

    "That''s a good n, boss," Coach Maurizio Trombetta said, his eyes sparkling with expectation. "Both Zachary and Morata have been warming up on the sidelines. I''ll tell them to get ready and step onto the pitch immediately."

    "Good," Coach Allegri said, nodding. "Let them hurry. We don''t want to restart the game with only ten men."

    "Okay."

    -----

    Zachary, who happened to be warming up on the sidelines, sighed with relief after learning that he would be entering the pitch. He hurriedly returned to the bench and changed into his match gear before stepping toward Maurizio Trombetta to receive his match instructions.

    "Zachary!" The assistant coach said, patting his shoulder. "We don''t have much time. So, I''ll have to be brief. You''ll be substituting Andrea Pirlo in our midfield. Just y as a ssical central midfielder and control the y in and around the center of the pitch. That''s all we need from you to take back the initiative against the opponents. Any questions?"

    "None, coach," Zachary responded. "I know what I have to do."

    "Good!" Coach Trombetta smiled. "Don''t forget what we discussed yesterday. Forget the fans during the game and focus only on your football. Okay?"

    "I understand, coach," Zachary replied, his voice brimming with confidence. His yearning for some football action had soared high into the night skies of Sardinia, especially after spending a considerable fraction of the match on the bench. His conviction was beyond normal levels, and he was ready to do his best to help his team turn the game around. As for the Cagliari fans, rumored to have racist tendencies, they could go to hell. He would use his skills to silence them, and everything would be uplicated from there on.

    -----

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee''s whistle sounded a few secondster, and the fourth official put up his board to signal the substitutions. Zachary immediately ran onto the pitch in ce of the injured Andrea Pirlo, while Alvaro Morata, the Spanish striker, reced Fernando Llorente. They quickly took up their positions, and the referee blew the whistle to restart the match with a Juventus free kick.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Since the free-kick position was close to the center circle and far away from Cagliari''s goal, the Juventus yers decided to take it short. Arturo Vidal, Juventus'' defensive midfielder, flicked the ball toward the right wing ¡ª to find Stephan Lichtsteiner, and with that, the game was again underway.

    Stephan Lichtsteiner, Juventus'' attacking wing-back, was as swift as ever on the nks. He fed the ball past Danilo Avr, Cagliari''s left midfielder, before initiating a mad dash toward the other side of the pitch. Then, when the angle opened up, he chipped the ball into the middle to find Zachary, who had just run into an unmarked pocket of space on the border of the final third.

    Zachary relied on his perfect control to connect with the pass from Stephan Lichtsteiner. But no sooner had he made the second touch than the boos and jeers around the Stadio Sant''Elia hit a crescendo. The Cagliari staunch fans behind their goal immediately started hauling insults at him while others vocalized maddening monkey chants, hoping to throw him off his game.

    "What the hell..." Zachary was surprised by the behavior of the fans as he prodded the ball forward. It was as if the entire stadium was against him, as the Cagliari supporters went all out to boo him and disrupt his concentration. And it was at that moment that he realized that it wasn''t good to take the warnings of the coaches lightly.

    "I just need to keep my calm and ignore them..." Zachary thought to himself as he continued moving the ball forward, hoping to initiate an attack against Cagliari. However, one of his touches on the ball was a bit too heavy, and he gifted the opponents a chance to regain possession through Daniele Conti, a Cagliari midfielder.

    Daniele Conti, also the Cagliari captain, was on point when Zachary blundered. He executed a ruthless sliding tackle and booted the ball away from Zachary''s feet to find Antonio Balzano, Cagliari''s right midfielder.

    And with that, Cagliari was again on the counter for the umpteenth time that evening while Zachary was yet to understand how he''d lost the ball. A few seconds had already passed since hemitted the error, but he was still standing in the same spot as a statue, seemingly unaware that he''d just gifted the opponents another goal-scoring chance.

    "Ripiegare e difendere. Ripiegare e difendere..."

    The yells of Coach Allegri jolted Zachary out of his trance, and he whirled around just in time to see Antonio Balzano, the Cagliari midfielder, racing towards Juventus'' half at breakneck speed. He could see that it was another dire situation for Juventus, as most of his teammates had been in Cagliari''s half when he lost the ball.

    "Fortunately, there''s still time..."

    Such a thought shed through Zachary''s mind, and he took off, chasing after the Cagliari man with the ball. His long strides ate up yards of space in seconds, and he cut through the middle of the pitch like a bullet out of a muzzle. He pursued to defend since he was hell-bent on rectifying his blunder by stopping the counter and winning the ball back for Juventus.

    Fortunately for Zachary, Antonio Balzano slowed down after running into a blockade by Giorgio Chiellini right after racing past the center line. The Cagliari man tried to go wide instead of cutting inside with the ball, thus allowing Zachary to catch up from behind. And that simple error was what put an end to Cagliari''s counter.

    Zachary was not the least bit careless when he caught up to Antonio Balzano. He bided his time well and pressured the Cagliari midfielder with his presence.

    He forced Antonio Balzano to make a series of errors, and when the time was ripe, he slid forth without hesitation. He booted the ball toward Giorgio Chiellini and thus stopped Cagliari''s counterattack before it could do any damage against Juventus.

    "BOOOO..."

    Deafening boos and jeers immediately erupted from the stands as Zachary picked himself from the ground after executing the tackle. He could even hear monkey chants mixed in with the sounds as the Cagliari supporters tried to rattle him and throw him off his rhythm.

    But unluckily for them, Zachary had already entered the zone after making that tackle to win back the ball. He was in a high state of focus, and the chants from the stands seemed like background noise without any influence on his mental state.

    "Chiellini!" He yelled towards the center back. "Pass the ball to me."

    On hearing the shout, Chiellini, who was about to pass the ball back to the keeper, immediately halted his actions. He nced at Zachary with a trace of surprise in his eyes and then kicked the ball to him.

    "Excellent..."

    Zachary thought to himself as he brought the ball under control. He was already in the zone ¡ª and as such, his heightened spatial awareness allowed him to have a perfect view of the entire field.

 Chapter 514 Zachary Vs. The Cagliari Fans II

    Zachary''s mind was calm like still water as he quickly moved the ball forward. As he jogged, his S-graded spatial awareness worked like the best of charms, and his eyes took in everything, major and minor, around the pitch.

    Carlos Tevez had initiated a spirited run toward Cagliari''s box through the right nk while Alvaro Morata was bolting through the middle of the pitch. As for Roberto Pereyra, Juventus'' other midfielder ¡ª he had just raced into an unmarked pocket of space close to the center circle and was eagerly motioning for Zachary to pass the ball to him.

    But what surprised Zachary was that he noticed that the three Cagliari midfielders were all out of position. For instance, Daniele Conti, Cagliari''s captain, had floated off to the right nk to keep an eye on Stephan Lichtsteiner, Juventus'' highly agile attacking wing-back, while Albin Ekdal, Cagliari''s other defensive midfielder, was keeping track of Arturo Vidal towards the left nk. As for Andrea Cossu, Cagliari''sst central midfielder, he was quickly closing down Zachary, hoping to pressure him to release the ball.

    The three Cagliari midfielders were obviously trying their best to execute a man-to-man marking tactic to keep Juventus at bay. But after being drawn out of their respective positions by the highly technical Old Lady yers, they had left the middle spaces unchecked, thus leaving a very clear and unmarked highway, from Zachary''s position, through the middle and all the way to Cagliari''s backline.

    And by making such an amateur mistake during the execution of their tactics, the Cagliari men were surely begging for a beating. And if Zachary could get past Andrea Cossu, the only Cagliari midfielder, who was quickly closing down on his position, he might be able to make something out of nothing by going at it alone.

    "Fortune favors the bold..."

    Such a thought shed through Zachary''s mindscape, and at that crucial moment, with barely 30 minutes remaining to the 90-minute mark, he made a bold decision. He ignored the calls of all his teammates and took off towards the other side of the pitch like a flying arrow just let loose by a mighty archer.

    A second or soter, he came across the first obstacle in the form of Andrea Cossu, the Cagliari midfielder. And it was at that moment that the boos and monkey chants in the stadium hit another new high as he prepared to take on the Cagliari man.

    While trying his best to maintain a steady mind, Zachary slowed down to draw in the opponent. Then, just as Andrea Cossu was a meter away, Zachary stepped over the ball once with his left leg while letting his body follow through with the step-over.

    Consequently, Zachary''s tall frame leaned toward the left, giving the impression that he was just about to bolt past Andrea Cossu from that direction. However, as the opponent took the bait and tilted toward the same side, hoping to make a block, Zachary abruptly altered his center of gravity and collected the ball with his right foot.

    His heart racing like a predator on the hunt, he abruptly shifted his frame towards the right by relying on his incredible agility and body control. He then prodded the ball forward and zoomed past Andrea Cossu while readjusting his posture to regain his sprinting form. Then, a secondter, his legs pumped like the pistons of a race car, and he dashed through the space neglected by the Cagliari midfielders. He was on a mission to quickly help his team turn the tides and score a goal before it was toote.

    "BOOOO...."

    "BOOO..."

    As Zachary sprinted forth, loud boos, maddening screams, and irritating monkey chants reverberated, like an antistrophe, instituting a wild typhoon of jeers in Cagliari''s home stadium. Those noises shook the entire ce and eventually resounded in Zachary''s ears. And even while in the zone, those deliberate racial insults jolted his mood and threatened to affect his momentum as he raced forward with the ball.

    But fortunately, he''d already prepared himself when he decided to run with the ball. So, he didn''t try to suppress his emotions but allowed himself to feel the rage from all the booing and jeering. And like a wild horse on a rampage, he let the anguish boil within him before it manifested into a wild frenzy, propelling him forward.

    "Whoosh!"

    Fueled by his anguish, he continued cutting through the pitch like an incarnation of the sh and soon started bearing down on Cagliari''s box. His momentum was unstoppable, and he magically and repeatedly raced past opponent after opponent before eventually making it to the space before Cagliari''s 18-yard box. Then, just before the Cagliari''s center backs could close him down, he surveyed the situation ahead of him with a single nce and decided to go for the spectacr.

    "BAM..."

    The next moment, the sound of his boot connecting with the ball was audible in his ears as he smashed the ball from twenty yards away. His shooting skills and sharpness came into y, and he unleashed a hell of a missile toward the top right corner of the goal.

    "Please, go in..."

    Zachary clenched his fists as he sent the ball flying. His intent was to score a spectacr goal and silence all the fans jeering at him. He was also hoping to score quickly ¡ª and, in so doing, give Juventus a chance toe back into the game within the final minutes of gamey.

    However, the next instant, Zachary felt his mood sink deep into the abyss of desperation, feeling like the world was working against him. He couldn''t contain his frustration as he noticed that Alessio Cragno, the Cagliari keeper, had grazed the ball with his fingertips after making a spectacr dive. As such, the shot-stopper had barely managed to send it off its trajectory, thus sending it out of y for a corner kick. The man had once again saved Cagliari from conceding a goal during the 62nd minute.

    "F*ck..."

    Zachary couldn''t help but mumble a couple of expletives as he watched the ball bouncing out of y. He''d ced the shot immactely but still failed to score due to the alertness of the keeper. As a result, his mental state and confidence took another blow, and he could only ce his hands at the back of his head with regret.

    "Zachary! BOOO..."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Zachary! Screech! Screech..."

    Right then, before Zachary could calm himself down, the Cagliari fans in the stands behind the goal initiated another wave of verbal attacks on Zachary. They hurled out insults, vocalized monkey chants, and even pointed middle fingers at him. They were obviously going all out to affect his state of mind, hoping to make him even less of a threat to their team. Their shamelessness knew no bounds, and they were slowly but steadily wearing away Zachary''s self-control.

    "Zachary! You need to remain calm..." A gentle pat on Zachary''s shoulder helped him calm down as he was about to explode with fury. Turning around, he came face to face with Kwadwo Asamoah, Juventus'' left attacking wing back, who happened to be watching him with concern.

    "Don''t be angry at them," Kwadwo Asamoah continued without allowing Zachary a chance to speak. "You can think of them as a bunch of ignorant fools or barking dogs, and you shouldn''t lower yourself to their level. Okay?"

    "Okay," Zachary responded, taking a deep breath. "I''m calm enough."

    Kwadwo Asamoah smiled and said, "Then, I''m d. Just remember that if you could help us defeat Cagliari in such an atmosphere, that would be the perfect response to their insults. If we can score many goals against them and thrash them so hard that the entire stadium falls silent... Or if we can stifle their shouts by dominating them on the pitch such that they are even ashamed to call themselves Cagliari supporters... How good can that be? For me, that is the perfect revenge against them. Do you understand?"

    "Yes, I do," Zachary replied with a simple nod. He felt incredibly pumped and psyched after listening to his teammate''s words. As such, he yearned to do even more to help his team overpower Cagliari.

    "Thanks." He said to Kwadwo Asamoah after a moment.

    "Don''t sweat it. Teammates are there to help each other out." The Ghanaian replied with a smile. Then, smiling slightly, he continued, "The clock is ticking. So, let''s quickly prepare for the corner. And remember that the whole team is always with you."

    "Okay..."

    Zachary exchanged a few more words with a few other teammates, including Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus'' assistant captain, before taking a position right outside the box to attack the corner. At that moment, he was at the peak of his concentration as he had already pushed the boos from the crowd to the back of his mind. He was waiting and biding his time, ready to take any chance that came his way and, in so doing, get some sweet revenge on the Cagliari fans.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    After organizing the yers within the box, the referee blew the whistle and motioned for Juventus to take the corner kick. Immediately after, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Juventus'' wing-back, quickly took the corner and sent a curling ball toward Cagliari''s box.

    It was a chance for Juventus to test Cagliari''s keeper. As such, most of Juventus'' yers, including Giorgio Chiellini, Carlos Tevez, and Arturo Vidal, leaped up to meet the corner ball. They all battled the Cagliari yers for aerial superiority, hoping to meet the corner ball and score an opening goal for Juventus.

    However, once again, luck was not on Juventus'' side. The Cagliari keeper leaped high and made another timely intervention by punching the ball away from the area and toward the middle. And in so doing, he managed to save Cagliari from conceding a goal during the 64th minute.

    "There''s still a chance..."

    Zachary, who happened to have not made a run into the box, sensed an opportunity as he noticed that the keeper had not punched the ball far enough. He immediately judged that the ball wouldnd only about a dozen yards from the box before springing into action.

    He chased after the ball like a whirlwind and got to it before any of the opponents could close him down. He controlled it immactely before quickly whirling around and looping it over a fast-approaching opponent.

    However, that was not the end of his magic. Keeping the ball close to his feet, he bounded forward and dashed past another opponent with a simple shift of pace.

    His angled run took him toward the left side of the box and further away from the mouth of the goal. Fortunately, he also drew away the Cagliari defenders from their positions as they chased after him, hoping to close down his shooting angle towards the near post. Additionally, he also tricked the Cagliari keeper into shifting toward the near post with his sprint, thus leaving the rest of the goal undefended.

    "Chance..."

    The gears in Zachary''s mind shifted and fell into ce, and within anything but an instant, he judged that there was a gap in Cagliari''s defense. He acted immediately, rxed his spine, and dug his boot under the ball. And with the most delicate of touches, he lifted the ball and looped it over all the defenders in the box, hoping to find the top right corner of the far post.

    "Silence!"

    All the rowdy Cagliari fans behind the posts turned silent as the ball drew a parab from the left side of the box toward the undefended part of the goal. Most probably, they were praying and hoping for the ball to hit the post and bounce out of y. But s, they were out of luck at that moment, and Zachary''s well-ced effort continued moving forward before grazing off the post and eventually homing into the back of the.

 Chapter 515 Zachary Vs. The Cagliari Fans III

    -----

    Cagliari Calcio 2: Juventus FC 1

    -----

    After a few seconds of silence, Zachary''s spectacr goal gave way to thunderous cheers intermixed with annoying boos, monkey chants, and vuvuzs. As the volume of the sounds increased, they blended together into a single booming wave that exploded forth and shook every soul within the Stadio Sant''Elia.

    But all the noise had nothing to do with Zachary, especially since his entire focus was only on the game. He sprinted forward and picked the ball from the back of the next before running all the way back to the middle and cing it on the center spot.

    His hurried actions expressed his intent clearly. He yearned to restart the game quickly after scoring the game so as to keep his team''s momentum going. He desired to increase his team''s chances of scoring a goal or two within the next few minutes. And that way, he wouldn''t have to face the embarrassment of suffering a defeat against a much weaker Cagliari side and its annoying supporters.

    "Ragazzi!" Zachary used his little knowledge of the Italiannguage to call out to his teammates, who were taking up positions on the pitch as they readied themselves for the restart of the game. "We''re just a goal down. We only need to score one more and tie the game. Let''s do this. Let''s show Cagliari that we are Juventus." He ended his little speech by pping his hands for emphasis.

    On hearing Zachary''s loud shout, most of the Juventus yers on the pitch were surprised. They did not respond to his little motivational speech but turned to nce at him with weird looks.

    Their expressions betrayed their inner thoughts, and they seemed amused by the sudden change in the on-pitch behavior of their often-quiet but highly skilled teammate. Most times, he wouldn''t say a word during a match. But right then, he had just yelled at them using a tone of voice more intimidating than the one often used by ''an angry'' Coach Max Allegri. Zachary''s change was sure surprising for them.

    On noticing their slow reactions to his yell, Zachary was a bit annoyed. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he shouted, "Why do you all have nk looks on your faces? Aren''t you aware that we must win this game? We must score as soon as possible. We can''t lose to a weak team like Cagliari. We''re Juventus, for God''s sake."

    At that moment, right after hearing his provocation, his teammates seemed to regain their wits. It was unknown who yelled first. But all the Juventus on-field yers soon joined in to shout, "we''re Juventus," repeatedly, as they waited for the Cagliari yers to take their positions on the other side of the pitch. Their team spirit was overflowing and pouring out of their bodies like a torrent as they waited for the referee to blow the whistle and signal the restart of the game.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally blew the whistle after a few more seconds. Right then, V?-ctor Ibarbo, Cagliari''s center-forward, restarted the game with a back pass toward his midfield. He kicked the ball from the center spot, hoping to find Daniele Conti, Cagliari''s captain, positioned close to the border of Cagliari''s defensive third.

    "High pressing! Let''s close them down right away..."

    Zachary yelled at the top of his voice when he saw the Cagliari man about to control the ball. His blood boiled with an indomitable fighting spirit, and he led the charge toward the other half, intending to deny the Cagliari yers any time to settle down. He was like an incarnation of Usain Bolt on the pitch, and in only a few seconds, he was within meters of Daniele Conti, who happened to have taken a few extra unnecessary touches on the ball.

    "What the hell is this guy doing? Why is he slow? Is he inviting me to take the ball from him?"

    Lightning-fast thoughts shed through Zachary''s mind as he raced forward. But those musings didn''t slow his actions, and he continued closing down the Cagliari captain. Like a mighty lion pouncing on helpless prey, he elerated and ran at Daniele Conti like mad.

    "Man on! Man on..."

    The yells of the Cagliari yers seemed to jolt Daniele Conti from his trance. Raising his head slightly, he noticed that an opponent, who happened to be Zachary, was already bearing down on him. He panicked and hastily whirled around before raising his leg with the intent to kick the ball to Albin Ekdal, his counterpart in Cagliari''s midfield.

    "Chance..."

    Zachary thought to himself as he read the Cagliari midfielder''s intentions like an open book. He didn''t rush to make a sliding tackle as he had previously intended but instead kept bearing down on the opponent while waiting for an opportunity.

    Then, when Daniele Conti swung his leg to kick the ball, Zachary acted with all the haste he could muster. Like a martial artist, he whipped out his leg while being carried by his forward momentum to initiate a sliding tackle. He timed his move to perfection and thus utilized an outstretched boot to block the ball.

    "It actually worked..."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Zachary couldn''t contain his happiness after robbing Daniele Conti of possession and sending the ball only a few meters away. But all the joy he was feeling still didn''t slow down his actions. Instead, the overwhelming delight became fuel for his fighting spirit, and he picked himself from the ground with the urgency of a cat that had just caught the scent of some catnip.

    Adrenaline pumped through his system, and he elerated and pounced on the loose ball like mad. He got to it before any of the Cagliari yers could react, and what followed was obvious.

    The Cagliari yers were slow to react as they had not expected their always-reliable captain to lose the ball in a dangerous area immediately after the restart. So, Zachary took advantage of their sluggishness and cut through them like a knife through butter. He rushed through the middle, skipping past opponent after opponent, as he took a mazy route towards Cagliari''s goal at breakneck speed.

    Of course, a few Cagliari yers reacted better than their teammates while trying to stop him. For instance, Simone Benedetti and Luca Rossettini, the two Cagliari center-backs, tried to block Zachary by relying on their incredible physiques to bar his way.

    But who was Zachary? He was a man who was almost unstoppable after gaining momentum, and as such, they couldn''t stop his run. With just a few side steps and a simple body feint, Zachary sent the two men packing and was soon one-on-one with the keeper who hade out to meet him.

    All that mattered at that moment was remainingposed, and Zachary being Zachary, of course, couldn''t fail at such a simple task. He slowed down slightly to draw in the keeper. Then, when the keeper took the bait and rushed forward, Zachary darted past him toward the right before hammering the ball into the back of the to score Juventus'' second goal during the 67th minute.

    -----

    Cagliari Calcio 2: Juventus FC 2

    -----

    The score on the mega jumbotron changed to confirm Juventus'' second goal as the home fans grew totally silent for the first time that evening. They stopped their booing for a few seconds, and at that moment, Zachary again experienced true bliss, taking joy in the fact that he was the very person that had silenced them.

    However, even while feeling joyful, Zachary didn''t celebrate as usual. Instead, he stood right before Cagliari''s goal and faced Cagliari''s staunch supporters behind the goal before putting a finger to his lips. His message to them was clear: "Please, will you shut up!"

    "BOOO..."

    "Screech! Screech..."

    Zachary appeared to have poked a ho''s nest with his taunting celebration. The fans seemed totally incensed, and they immediately renewed their booing and jeering with an ever-growing momentum. Mixed in with their shouts were even insults targeted at Zachary''s ancestors, family members, etcetera. The Cagliari fans had obviously gone mad with rage after their team conceded an equalizing goal against Juventus. Naturally, emotions of anguish, disappointment, and dissatisfaction were quickly brewing in their ranks.

    Having just scored a goal, Zachary grew more spirited as he sensed their rage. He didn''t know why, but at that juncture, he felt that the anguish of the Cagliari supporters wasparable to the cheers of the Juventus supporters back in Turin. He was experiencing true happiness as he watched the fans who had taunted him the whole evening go mad with rage. As such, the corners of his lips slowly curled upwards as a soft smile outlined his often-intense facial features.

    -----

    On the sidelines, Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach in charge of the first team, sighed and shook his head after noticing Zachary''s actions. He turned towards Coach Allegri and said, "We informed this boy not to agitate the fans. But he went against our advice and taunted the fans after scoring. His future while facing off against Cagliari will be filled with hardships."

    "Who cares about the future?" Coach Allegri answered off-handedly. "I would do the same if I were in his shoes. What matters now is that he has scored two goals and tied the score within seven minutes after stepping onto the pitch. As a result, we still have more than twenty minutes to bag another goal and win the game. We should be able to go home with another three points today."

    "Indeed..." Maurizio Trombetta hummed an agreement. With his experience as a coach, he could tell that the momentum was with Juventus. Thus, if nothing unexpected happened, Juventus would score another goal or two and eventually win the game.

    -----

    The predictions of the coaches were spot on. After the game restarted, the Juventus yers utilized high-pressing tactics to win the ball back as soon as possible. Then, from there on, they startedunching waves and waves of attacks until they created an opportunity for Alvaro Morata, who scored Juventus'' 3rd goal during the 82nd minute.

    However, that wasn''t the end of the drama on the pitch. The game proceeded forward, and during the 87th minute, Juventus won a free-kick right outside the box. And, of course, Zachary being Zachary converted the free kick sessfully to score Juventus'' 4th goal and his third for the evening. He had bagged another hat trick in a Serie A game and thus couldn''t contain his happiness as he picked up the match ball and headed towards the press area for the post-match interview.

 Chapter 516 Post-Match Interview

    Within the press area of the Stadio Sant''Elia, Beatrice Paretti, a Sky Italia sports journalist, scrunched her eyebrows after she received instructions from her immediate supervisor. Frowning slightly, she inquired for rity: "Boss!" She spoke slowly but in a steady voice while holding her phone against her ear. "Did you just ask me not to interview Zachary about how he felt about the racist behavior of the Cagliari fans? Racism is a talking point that can garner the attention of the masses. It can also improve our viewership. So, as reporters, why should we ignore this topic no matter how sensitive it is?"

    Mario Romano, one of the top dogs managing Sky Italia Turin, sighed from the other end of the line. "Beatrice! Let me ask you this. Over the years, Italian football has been dragged through the mud because of ims of racist behavior against foreign footballers. As a result, our public image outside Italy is so poor that foreigners think that a ck or Asian yer will surely face racial insults as long as he appears in Italy. Do you know why?"

    "Isn''t that simply because some fans, for instance, those of Cagliari, are prone to racist behavior?" She voiced her doubts.

    "Yes, there''s that," Mario replied with another sigh. "Some of the fans around Italy are really racist while supporting their respective team. That''s a fact. But that does not mean we have the football league with the most racist incidents in Europe. For instance, if you were to investigate meticulously, you would realize that Spain and France, which happen to be some of the most preferred destinations for every professional footballer worldwide, also experience racist incidents during professional matches almost every other year. But do you know why Spain and France still have a good reputation even after experiencing all those incidents?"

    Beatrice didn''t respond but quietly waited for her boss to continue.

    Taking the cue, Mario said from the other end of the line, "All those leagues have managed to maintain their perfect reputations because the media of their respective countries cooperates with them. Of course, if a racist incident happened during a match, the Spanish or French media would cooperate with the football governing body to issue a statement against the incident. But they will not make it the center of the news by using statements such as ''racism - the cancer affecting Italian football'' like we usually do. Instead, they''ll y it down by using words like some bad seeds among the fans destroyed the harmonious football atmosphere during the match between teams A and B by insulting yers so and so. In that way, they are still fighting against racism, but in such a clever way that they don''t affect the reputation of their respective leagues."

    "So, do you mean that we should follow their example and downy the issue of the Cagliari fans racially abusing Zachary?" Beatrice Paretti hurriedly interjected before her boss could continue. She was getting impatient, especially since she knew Zachary would arrive for the post-match interview soon.

    "Yes, that should be our intent," Mario Romano said. "If Zachary doesn''t mention the issue himself, let''s leave out the ugly stuff from the interview. Let''s leave it for our publicity guys to find a way to handle the incident. As for you, focus on only the football and Zachary''s performance during the interview. Okay?"

    "Okay, got it. I will do as instructed." Beatrice said and ended the call. She couldn''t help but sigh as she shoved her phone back into her pocket.

    She knew that if all institutions at all levels worked hand in hand to fight racism in football, they would attain much better results. But s, there were always obstructions in the battle against this cancer. For instance, some owners of the major broadcasting corporations and a few presidents of the football governing bodies in Italy were always reluctant toe out and condemn racist behavior during matches -- the excuse always being: they didn''t want to hurt the reputation of Italian football. How could they use such ame excuse that couldn''t fool a three-year-old?

    Deep within her heart, Beatrice knew those politicians and businessmen were not giving their all in the battle against racism. But there wasn''t much she could do to change the tide, as she was just a small-time reporter trying to make ends meet. She would obviously not go against the instructions of her bosses and risk her career for a fight that didn''t really concern her well-being.

    -----

    The second Zachary stepped into the press area, a beautiful and formally-dressed journalist with abel of Sky Italia on the breast pocket weed him enthusiastically. Her assistants quickly shoved microphones in his face while her camera crew worked fast to focus their lenses on him.

    "Nice to meet you, Zachary Bemba," she said with a practiced smile. "I''m Beatrice Paretti, a sports journalist from Sky Italia. Thank you for staying back for this interview. It shouldn''t be an easy feat after an intense match like you just yed."

    Zachary nodded and motioned for the reporter to go on with the interview. He was impatient to finish the annoying butpulsory task of talking to the reporters so he could return to the dressing room to shower and celebrate with his teammates. He also needed to eat something as he had expended plenty of energy during the match.

    As if noticing his impatience, the beautiful reporter smiled and went straight to the point. "Zachary!" She said. "Let me start by congratting you upon scoring a hat trick and helping Juventus win yet another Serie A game. But can I ask why you started from the bench today when you are clearly fit and on top of your game?"

    Zachary smiled and replied, "The answer to that question is a team secret. So, I can''t answer it. Sorry."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The corners of the journalist''s lips twitched slightly after hearing Zachary''s response. But she still maintained her professional smile and went on with the interview. "Your hat trick today has taken your tally this season to seventeen Serie A goals in 16 matches and 26 in allpetitions. Your goal-scoring form is impressive. It seems you have adapted well to live at Juventus over the past few months."

    "Yeah," Zachary responded. "My teammates have helped me adapt well within the team. My chemistry with most other yers has improved, allowing me to perform better during games. As I''m sure that my teammates always have my back, it''s easy to let go of most worries and focus on creating goal-scoring chances for my team."

    "Talking about Juventus," the reportermented, "your whole team is in great form. You have won all your matches this season and amassed 48 points. Since you are yet to lose a game, are you gunning for an unbeaten run this season?"

    "As yers, we only leave in the present," Zachary said. "We always take things as they are and only aim to win every game thates our way. As such, we''ll always do our best on the pitch to overpower our opponents. As for lofty goals, like aplishing the unbeaten run, we don''t have to think about such stuff as that will make us lose focus of the present."

    "Let''s talk about today''s game against Cagliari," the reporter said with a smile. "You were so intense after stepping onto the pitch against Cagliari. I saw you chasing loose balls, tackling, and running at opponents like your life was at stake. You even yelled at your teammates several times, which is an obvious contrast to how you''ve always acted in previous matches."

    "Yeah, I did all that cause this game was important to me," Zachary replied. "Firstly, I hate losing, and as a Juventus yer, I had to do my all to help my team win the game, including taking on tasks like motivating my teammates with a few words at certain times. Secondly, I was working hard to suppress the insults and jeers the Cagliari supporters were hurling at me. It''s good that luck was on my side, and I scored a hat trick against Cagliari. Otherwise, I would have had to go back to Turin depressed after enduring the insults of all those supporters."

    "I''m happy for you," Beatrice said before abruptly changing the topic. "Zachary! The Golden Boy award ceremony is tomorrow night, and you are one of the favorites tipped to win the de. Are you excited?"

    "Yes, I''m," Zachary said, smiling. "As a football yer, winning awards is the best testament to my career progress. So, I''ll be looking forward to the award ceremony. I really hope to emerge as the best young yer for 2014."

    "I think you''ll win," Beatrice said.

    "That, I can''t be sure before the results are out." Zachary countered. "The voting process isplex. I don''t know if the majority representatives will vote for me."

    Beatrice chuckled. "Let''s end the interview here. Thanks again for staying back to answer our questions. I wish you all the luck during the award ceremony tomorrow. May you emerge as the overall winner."

    "Thanks," Zachary replied before stepping away from the cameras. He was still feeling the bliss of helping his team achieve aeback against Cagliari. So, he walked with a swagger before quickly arriving at the visitor''s dressing room.

    "Zachary!" Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach, was the first to wee him. "Nice game. You were truly impressive today."

    "Thanks," Zachary replied, feeling contented. He then exchanged a few pleasantries with the other coaches and teammates before celebrating with them in the tight space of the dressing room. Thenter, Zachary washed up and ate some snacks before joining his teammates on a team bus to the airport. He was looking forward to returning to Turin and following the Golden Boy award ceremony scheduled for the following evening.

    -----

 Chapter 517 Preparing For His First Award Ceremony Ever

    The morning sunlight streamed golden through the window in a well-mannered announcement of the already-risen sun. Groaning slightly, Zachary woke up with a start and nced at the clock on the opposite wall.

    "It''s already ten," he mumbled,ing to a realization that he''d already slept for close to eight hours. Without any dilly-dallying, he jumped out of bed, washed his face, and changed into his exercising gear. Then, after stretching slightly, he started his morning yoga practice, hoping to quicken his post-match recovery.

    As he went from pose to pose, memories fromst night''s game manifested within his mind. He smiled as he recalled how he''d gone all out to perform incredibly well and score yet another hat trick. As a result, he''d taken his Serie A goal tally to sixteen, thus surpassing the 13 goals of Luca Toni (from Hes Verona) and the 14 goals of Mauro Icardi (from Inter) to be the top goal scorer of the season so far.

    "Coming to Italy was sure a good decision," Zachary mumbled as he thought about what he''d already achieved within a few months after joining Juventus.

    Aside from solidifying his position on Juventus'' starting line-up, he had also be the top scorer for twopetitions, including the Champions League and the Serie A, right before the half-season mark. His performances for Juventus were ever spectacr, and he was already among the favorites to win the golden boots and take home the MVP awards for the twopetitions.

    Zachary was, of course, not so arrogant to assume that he would have easily achieved such outstanding feats in other teams or leagues except Juventus and the Italian League. For instance, had he chosen to go to the Premier League and join Tottenham, he might still be struggling to reach the five-goal mark even halfway through the season. That was because he would havecked the necessary conditions to seed at such a club and league.

    First and foremost, there was theck of world-ss yers like Andrea Pirlo to support him at Tottenham. That being the case, he wouldck thepetitive pressure to help develop his skills at the club level while also losing the option of gaining highly-skilled teammates to support his goal-scoring form and help him win league games. What would have followed would have been him losing his football instincts and slowly regressing to a mediocre yer, even with the system as support. That was how bad one wrong move could be to a professional football yer.

    Secondly, there was an aspect of the English game being highlypetitive and physical. Zachary felt he was not ready yet to take on such a challenge.

    He figured that he wouldn''t have been able to maintain his incredible performances and consistency in the English premiership. As such, he had readily agreed to join Juventus, hoping to refine his skills in the Italian League before considering the notion of joining an English side.

    "Phew"

    Letting out a breath, Zachary continued going through his yoga practice. He trained for the next twenty minutes while gradually increasing the difficulty of the poses until he felt all his stiff muscles rxing. He then performed a few simple stretches to further loosen his muscles before heading to the bathroom for a shower.

    Ten minutester, he stepped out of the bathroom feeling refreshed. He quickly donned a brand-new tracksuit and stepped into his trendy sneakers while looking forward to the day that had justmenced.

    Coach Allegri had given the entire team a day off after Juventus'' win against Cagliari the previous night. That meant that all the other Juventus yers would be spending time at their homes to rx and recover from post-match fatigue. They wouldn''t have any responsibilities to take up their time until the afternoon of the following day when Juventus'' team training would rmence.

    However, for Zachary, it was a different story. He had to attend the Golden Boy award ceremonyter that evening. As such, he couldn''t rx until he worked on his hair and finished purchasing a presentable suit for the ceremony.

    For any other person, buying fashionable clothes wouldn''t have been a daunting task. But for Zachary, it was the opposite. Firstly, he was used to donning free tracksuits from Nike for seven days straight and had zero experience purchasing a suit in Turin. Secondly, he couldn''t go window shopping from street to street looking for what he needed as he feared the passionate football fans who would readily swarm him for autographs if they ever caught a whiff of him.

    "I better call Kristin to help me out," Zachary thought and immediately picked up his phone. Settling down on his bed, he dialed her number and waited patiently for the call to connect.

    "Hello, Zachary. It''s a wonderful surprise to receive your call today morning." Kristin''s voice sounded from the other side of the line within seconds. She was as bubbly as ever.

    "Hello, Kristin," Zachary replied and then exchanged small talk with her for the next minute. Then, when he judged that the timing was right, he switched gears and went straight to the point.

    "Kristin," he said abruptly. "Do you have some free time today?"

    There were a few seconds of silence at the other end of the line before Kristin''s voice sounded again. "I have a ss from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. But I will be free in the afternoon. Do you need me for anything?"

    "Yeah," Zachary said. "As you know, I''m one of this year''s Golden Boy award nominees. The ceremony is today, and I need your help buying a suit. You don''t have to do much but guide me to shops where I can get one."

    "Oh," Kristin said, sounding a bit surprised. "That''s easy. I know several shops in Turin that sell good suits. Let''s meet at 2:00 PM, and I''ll take you to one."

    "Great," Zachary said. "Where should we meet?"

    "Let''s meet at the Vinovo," she replied. "I''ll be at the gates by two in the afternoon."

    "Perfect. Thanks for your help."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "You''re wee," she said. "See you at two."

    "Okay, see you then," Zachary replied before ending the call.

    -----

    As scheduled, Zachary met up with Kristin at the gates of the Vinovo at 2:00 PM. She was as beautiful and shapely as ever, even in her winter get-up that covered most of her frame. She smiled naturally, exposing her perfect teeth, as she sat beside Zachary in the back seat of Angelo''s Citroen.

    After greeting Zachary, she turned towards Angelo, Zachary''s driver sitting behind the steering wheel. "Hello, Mr. Angelo," she greeted. "How''s your afternoon?"

    "My afternoon is fine," Angelo replied before asking, "Zachary tells me that you''ll be helping him buy a suit. Which one is our first stop?"

    Kristin thought before saying, "Let''s head to the Armani store at Centro Commerciale Lagrange first. We should be able to get what we need there."

    "Okay," Angelo agreed. "Let''s go."

    And with that said, Angelo started up the engine, and they set off toward the Armani store at Centro Commerciale Lagrange. They arrived roughly thirty minutester, and Zachary instructed Angelo to park the car nearby. As for him, he put on hisrge hat and shades to conceal his identity before alighting from the vehicle and entering the store with Kristin.

    After entering the store, Zachary removed his shades, allowing the customers and shop attendants to recognize him. Their eyes lit up, and they couldn''t help but steal a couple more nces at him.

    Fortunately for Zachary, people in the shop maintained their distance and didn''t approach him for autographs. His tense mood rxed as it seemed he wouldn''t have to worry about football fans swarming him while enjoying his shopping.

    "This is the benefit of shopping here," Kristin whispered in Norwegian from beside him. "Customers and attendants are already used to seeing celebrities like football stars, professional athletes, and musicians who usually shop here. Additionally, there are rules prohibiting the harassment of celebrity customers while in the shop. As such, no one will bug you for autographs while in the shop."

    "That''s great," Zachary said, ncing around the shop. His eyes took in all the trendy suits and other pieces of fancy wear around the store. They were all carefully and meticulously organized around the ce to arouse the desires of the customers entering the shop.

    "Hello, esteemed customers," a shop attendant approached them as they were still taking in the sights. She was a beautiful girl in a ck formaldy''s suit with a round face adorned by a pair of slim spectacles. "Wee to Armani! It''s our honor to host you today. How may I be of service to you today?"

    Kristin smiled at the girl and responded, "We need a good suit for him." She pointed at Zachary. "We need it ASAP. He has to put it on for a ceremony today evening."

    "Oh!" The girl said, giving Zachary''s tall frame a once over. "Roughly 6''4 to 6''5 feet and a toned physique. We may have some fine pieces that may suit your taste. Do you wish to see them?"

    "Of course," both Zachary and Kristin replied in unison.

    "Excellent! Follow me." The girl said with a smile before whirling around to lead the way.

    Zachary and Kristin followed her, and after a few minutes, they arrived at the far end of the shop. There they saw many suits in different styles and colors under her guidance.

    Zachary tried them on one by one before selecting a Soho Line single-breasted tuxedo priced at 4,000 Euros as his preferred attire for the award ceremony in the evening. But he didn''t stop at that. He also selected four other suits as emergency wear for future dinner parties before paying for them and exiting the shop with Kristin.

    After buying the suit, the next item on his agenda was to have his hair worked on. He didn''t wish to look like a thug with a scruffy hairstyle while attending the Golden Boy award ceremony in the evening. So, he once again turned to Kristin for advice.

    Kristin was like an encyclopedia for fashion stores around Turin. On hearing Zachary''s plight, she quickly directed Angelo to drive him to a high-profile saloon located somewhere on the outskirts of Turin.

    On reaching there, the hairstylists worked quickly, and in just two hours, Zachary emerged from the saloon, sporting a cool braided and tapered Nipsey-4 hairstyle. His beard and sideburns were also neatly trimmed to highlight his prominent cheekbones and sharp look. He was so suave as he walked out of the saloon.

    Smiling slightly, he rxed as he finally finished preparing for his first award ceremony in his professional football career. He was only remaining with the task of donning his new Armani suit before heading to the Golden Boy award ceremony venue.

 Chapter 518 The Golden Boy Award

    At 7:00 PM that evening, Zachary arrived at Torino Incontra, the Golden Boy award ceremony venue. He was dressed to kill in his new tuxedo that matched well with his polished ck Aubercy Diamond-Studded Shoes. His new hairstyle gave him a rogue feel, and a Patek Philippe moonphase silver watch adorning his wrist highlighted his elegance.

    Smiling slightly, he marched forward and stepped on the red carpet leading to the venue. He walked confidently as the cameras shed to capture his majestic visage.

    "Zachary! An autograph..."

    "Zachary! We love you. You will win for sure..."

    "Zachary..."

    The fans lining along the sides of the entrance went wild with frenzy and started yelling out his name. Zachary was surprised as he hadn''t foreseen such a scenario where the Juventus fans would flood the venue to support him before his first award ceremony. However, as he had already been long used to the ever-present attention from the fans, he didn''t lose himself. He waved to them before continuing his short march on the red carpet.

    Heart beating wildly with excitement, Zachary finally entered the ceremony venue after a short while. He swept his gaze around the ce and noticed that many guests, including retired footballers and journalists alike, had already taken their seats. Most were in the middle of hushed conversations while asionally ncing ahead to catch the performances on the main stage.

    As he continued looking around, Zachary also saw many cameras and their respective crews around the venue. They were probably put in ce by famous Italian Television stations, like Sky Italia, Juventus TV, and Sportitalia, to capture live moments of the asion. By the look of things, the stage had been set, and the award ceremony was about tomence.

    "Zachary!" A middle-aged man with an usher''s badge on his breast pocket called out while approaching from the side. "It''s an honor to have you here. Wee!" He spoke perfect English tainted by a little bit of an exotic ent, typical to Italians.

    "Thank you," Zachary replied, nodding to the man.

    The man smiled and said, "I go by the name - Mario Alberto. I''m one of the ushers for the ceremony. Let me guide you to your seat."

    "Thanks," Zachary replied. "Please lead the way."

    After hearing that, the man''s smile brightened, and he eagerly turned around to lead the way. Zachary followed after him and passed by row after row of guests until he made it all the way to the front seats in the venue. And there, he finally saw the other top nominees for that year''s Golden Boy award.

    Raheem Sterling, the English yer with the second highest probability of winning the award, was at the end of the row, enjoying the performances on the stage.

    Then, Zachary also saw the other nominees in the same front row. They included Kurt Zouma, Divock Origi, Luke Shaw, Mateo Kovacic, and a few more faces Zachary couldn''t recognize. They had all donned stylish suits, probably thinking that they had a chance to win the award. And maybe since they were proud footballers topping their generation, they didn''t bother to initiate a conversation with Zachary when he arrived. They only nodded at him in greeting and returned their focus to the stage.

    Zachary, on his part, smiled at those who nodded at him and then settled down on a seat assigned to him by the usher. On the surface, he seemedposed without any change of expression. However, on the inside, his feelings were a tad bitplicated.

    During his previous life, he could only get glimpses of the faces of all the young football stars seated beside him only on the TV screen. In that lifetime, he could only admire them from afar without daring to dream about everpeting with them. How could he when he was even failing to make it in the low-tiered Congolese League back then?

    But in Zachary''s new life, everything changed for the better. He had obtained the GOAT system, and with its support coupled with his hard work, he quickly rose to prominence on the international football stage. He was only a few days past his 20th birthday, but he was already ying for Juventus, one of the mightiest football clubs in the world. But that was not all. He was also a distinguished yer in the club, able to score goals, match in, match out, and as a result, he had been nominated for the Golden Boy award. It was a fact that he was flying, and he''d already achieved much more than he could have ever dreamt about during his previous life.

    Thinking about all his achievements so far, Zachary felt satisfied, happy, and overwhelmed at the same time. Fame, money, and trophies ¡ª he already had it all at a young age, and nothing was stopping him from soaring even higher into the skies.

    With all those feelings flooding his mind, he warned himself against growingcent and losing it all. He didn''t wish to have any regrets at the end of his career, so he pledged to work even harder andpete for more des. Achieving greatness was the basis of his conviction, and he would do his utmost to grow as a footballer andpete with the best in the world. He would either be sessful or die trying.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Proceedings moved forward quickly, and soon enough, an electrifying opera performance ignited the atmosphere and set the stage for what was toe. Most of the lights dimmed, leaving a single one focusing on the master of ceremonies taking the stage. He smiled as he greeted the audience before introducing the background of the Golden Boy award.

    The MC''s speech was pretty brief. But he still managed to describe how the Golden Boy was an award given by sports journalists to the young male footballer ying in Europe, who was perceived to have been the most impressive during a calendar year. The MC also mentioned that the de was established by the Italian sports newspaper - Tuttosport in 2003 before going¡ªon to introduce the representatives from the other top newspapers around Europe involved in the selection of the Golden Boy.

    Among the dozen or so names mentioned were top media houses like De Telegraaf from the Nethends, Mundo Deportivo from Spain, A B from Portugal, Bild from Germany, and The Times from the United Kingdom. They could all cast a single vote to select the most impressive young yer of the year to win the Golden Boy award.

    The MC went through everything pretty quickly. Eventually, he concluded his address with catchy words to excite the audience before inviting Pavel Nedv¨§d, a former Juventus yer and legend, to present that year''s Golden Boy award.

    Pavel Nedv¨§d, on his part, was as swift as any professional footballer could be while walking onto the stage. He stepped before the podium with a smile and adjusted the microphone to match his height. Then, after greeting the audience and saying a few more perfunctory words in Italian, he finally got to the moment that mattered most.

    "Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "This year''s Golden Boy award goes to one of the most promising yers the world has ever seen. In just one year after stepping onto the professional football stage, he has been the best yer in almost everypetition he participated in. Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for Zachary Bemba, this year''s Golden Boy award winner."

    "p, p, p..."

    The apuse from the audience was like thunder as Zachary stood up and walked to the stage. He moved gracefully, taking advantage of his long strides to reach the podium quickly.

    Finally, the long-awaited moment arrived when Zachary received the glittering Golden Ball from Pavel Nedv¨§d. His smile brightened as he thought about all the sweat and torment he had endured over the past three years while pushing forward to evolve as a footballer.

    The countless hours and days he spent in the gym or on the turfs training all came back to him, flooding his mind and making his feelings a mess. He took a deep breath and thanked the audience and organizers in as few words as possible before expressing his gratitude to those who had expended great efforts to support him. Among those were histe grandma, his coaches, and his teammates. He spoke confidently in English, and in just a minute, he ended his speech and walked down the stage with his Golden Boy award in his hand.

    It was also at that moment the apuse from the audience resounded again tomemorate his winning the first award of his budding football career. He felt good as he took in the acknowledgment of those in the hall, but at the same time, he couldn''t help but think about histe grandma once again.

    "How good would it be if she was here to share all this with me?" He mused, sighing to himself. Then, taking a deep breath to calm himself, he settled back in his seat to wait for the award ceremony to end.

    -----

    Later that night, after taking interviews from various journalists and after answering countless congrattory calls from acquaintances and teammates alike, Zachary finally settled on his bed, feeling worn out to his very core.

    He thought of calling Cami to share his sess with her. But after contemting for a moment, he pushed the idea out of his mind. Cami had been out of reach for the past two months. She would hardly ever receive or respond to his calls or messages, so he figured he was better off waiting for her to reach out.

    Sighing to clear away the gloom of his failing rtionship, he rolled into bed, hoping to sleep early, as he had to attend team training the following afternoon. But right then, before he could even enter in-between the sheets, a system notification reverberated in his mind.

    "DING"

    "Congrattions to the user for winning the first major award of his career andpleting a hidden system mission," the system AI''s apathetic voice sounded immediately after. "The user can check the missionpletion details and rewards associated with the missionpletion on the system interface."

    Zachary''s fatigue was immediately swept away, and his heartbeat quickened with excitement. A soft smile outlined his facial features, and hemanded the system to disy the justpleted mission details.

 Chapter 519 Surprising Rewards From The System

    Zachary blinked reflexively to adjust to the brightness of the translucent crystal-like disy that had just manifested in front of his eyes. Then, without further ado, he started perusing through the details of the justpleted mission.

    ****

    4 New Messages

    -----

    CONGRATULATIONS

    ->You have won the first major award of your career and thuspleted a Hidden System Mission.

    ->You''ve taken your first step toward gaining the recognition of the international footballmunity as one of the most exceptional yers of countless generations.

    -----

    ->Mission Rewards

    1) A total of 100,000 Juju points

    2) An S-grade mental conditioning elixir

    -----

    -> Congrattions to the user once again. Continue working hard and try to win more internationally recognized des, including the Ballon d''Or, as soon as possible.

    ****

    Zachary couldn''t contain his surprise after reading the missionpletion message. The mission was much more rewarding than expected, and he''d obtained quite plentiful benefits. Among those was an S-grade mental conditioning elixir, one of the system''s most potent elixirs that could further fortify his mental capacities. He couldn''t contain his happiness as he perused the contents disyed on the crystal-like system interface again.

    "Based on the system''s rewards," he mused, "it seems that individual aplishments are much more rewarding than those involving team efforts."

    Zachary had already noticed the pattern in the system''s reward policy. For instance, if he became an MVP or top scorer in a tournament, the system would award him more than if he helped his team win a domestic league. So, following that reasoning, the GOAT system was clearly pushing him to improve his abilities while also encouraging him to win more individual des. Maybe, that was the fastest way to achieve GOAT status. He was now even more sure of the conjecture after seeing the reward for winning the Golden Boy award.

    "Let''s just take one step at a time," Zachary mused before returning his focus to the rewards for the hidden missionpletion. His nce fell on the 100,000 Juju point reward, but after a moment of contemtion, he chose to store the amount for future use.

    He had, of course, not forgotten that he would need 1,000,000 points for the next system upgrade. So, he had long started taking every chance avable to stock up on Juju points.

    "Phew..."

    Taking a deep breath, Zachary finally focused on the best reward for the night. It was the S-grade mental conditioning elixir, which happened to be one of the most potent system elixirs that he could consume and not experience side effects. By ingesting the tonic, he would strengthen his mental abilities, such as spatial awareness, tactical knowledge, risk assessment, and mental strength, and thus push his game intelligence to a higher level in a short while.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    But that was not all there was to the elixir''s benefits. Zachary also understood that by improving his mental capabilities, he would gain better body control and thus see a spike in some of his overall ball skills.

    For instance, with a sharper mind, he would assess risks and make decisions within moments during critical moments of the gamey. He would also rely on his enhanced intelligence to execute skills much more quickly and fluidly, thus bing more clinical on the pitch. And as a finishing touch, his passing skills would also benefit from the mental fortification afforded by the elixir.

    As Zachary was well aware that the S-grade mental conditioning elixir was the most suitable system tonic to improve his overall abilities quickly during the middle of the season, he acted immediately. Without even the slightest hesitation, he made up his mind to consume it right then, even before going to bed.

    "System," he called out telepathically while ncing at the interface. "I would like to consume the S-graded mental-conditioning elixir now."

    "Command received," the system AI replied. "Confirming... A single dose of the S-graded mental-conditioning elixir is ready for the user''s use in the system inventory. The user can select the respective card in the inventory to summon the elixir. As a reminder, the user must consume the elixir within five seconds after its removal from the system inventory or risk its effects disappearing."

    "I understand," Zachary replied. He quickly went through the already-familiar process of summoning the elixir from the system inventory before tapping on an image of a small apple with the words "S-grade mental-conditioning elixir" inscribed below it.

    The card soon exploded into glittering particles, and a tiny apple, roughly the size of a small lollipop, materialized from the system''s crystal-like disy. Zachary didn''t waste time admiring its lustrous glow but instead wolfed it down as quickly as possible. Then, he adjusted to afortable position within his bed and covered himself while bracing himself for the elixir''s effects to kick in.

    Everything that followed was all too familiar to Zachary since it was his second time consuming an S-graded mental conditioning elixir. His head started spinning, and an explosion went off in his mind, causing his thoughts to turn into a jumbled mess. He felt himself losing his senses, and after a few seconds, all went dark. The pain and disorientation caused by the S-grade menta- conditioning elixir had once again caused him to ck out.

    **** ****

    In the meantime, Kristin was still awake, tending to her duties as Zachary''s publicity secretary. She worked quickly to post the best pictures of Zachary posing with the Golden Boy award and added captions such as "The beginning of greatness," "The rise of one of the best of a generation," and so on and so forth. She sessfully posted them on all of Zachary''s ounts, including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. And with that done, Kristin finally rxed, washed up, and went to bed, feeling fulfilled. However, she could not imagine themotion that her posts had caused on the.

    A few minutes after Kristin posted the pictures, Zachary''s followers started sharing the posts on their respective pages. A reposting craze followed, and those few images were reposted probably millions of times until the words "Zachary" and "Golden Boy award" became trending topics on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

    In fact, those keywords turned so popr within hours and thus emerged on the list of top google searches in Europe, Africa, and South America. And with that, even the often-neglected and previously forgotten Golden Boy award became a household term for most football lovers worldwide. Indeed, a great person could make everything he was associated with more famous and prestigious, even on an international stage.

    But that was not all there was to the craze. Someizens, including football critics, journalists, and fanatics, soon started a debate about whether Zachary had the potential to win the Ballon d''Or that season. And that was another fuse that caused another explosion of discussions on the inte, causing even presenters of famous sports shows worldwide to join in on the conversation.

    "So, guys!" Emilia Vasquez, one of ESPN''s famous sports presenters in Europe, said on her show the following morning. "There''s a massive debate on the inte that has taken me by surprise. Many notable football critics around Europe and the rest of the world are beginning to believe that Zachary has a chance topete for the Ballon d''Or award this season. What do you guys think?" She turned to the two pundits present in the studio.

    Joshua Morales, the pundit closest to her, smiled at the cameras and said, "I think Zachary has a fair chance ofpeting for the award. First and foremost, his team, Juventus, is already flying and on course to win the Italian Serie A. Their form is so out of this world ¡ª to the point that they haven''t lost or drawn a single time this season. Be it the Champions League or their domesticpetitions ¡ª they still hold a hundred percent winning record. The crucial point is that Zachary has been at the center of it all, putting up spectacr performances and scoring incredible goals to help Juventus continue winning. He has already proven his amazing abilities as an exceptional yer, and I think he has a fair chance topete for the Ballon d''Or."

    Shaka Hislop, the other pundit in the studio,ughed and supplemented with an analysis of his own. "Let''s also not forget that as we speak now, he''s the top scorer of both the Italian Serie A and the Champions League. In my honest opinion, I don''t think he will stop scoring goals as long as he remains fit. Now, imagine Juventus winning both the Serie A and the Champions League. How would the situation unfold? Wouldn''t Zachary be the favorite to win the Ballon d''Or under such circumstances?"

    "Those are sound conjectures, fes," Emilia Vasquez said with a smile. "But the crucial question is: Can Juventus win those twopetitions?"

    "Now, that''ll be difficult for Juventus," Shaka Hislop answered. "Don''t get me wrong. I obviously don''t doubt Juventus'' ability to win the Serie A and maybe another domestic Italianpetition like the Coppa Italia. They are by far the strongest team with the mightiest squad in Italy. That''s why they have achieved a hundred percent record and amassed all the 48 points they could possibly get from their sixteen Serie A matches so far."

    "But if we move to the Champions League, I don''t think they will have it easy," Shaka Hislop continued. "Juventus will have to beat the world''s greatest teams, like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich, in order to achieve continental glory. Can Zachary up his game and perform beyond expectations against such teams? Can he continue putting up spectacr performances to help his team overpower all those giants? Can he continue scoring in the Champions League and outshine other outstanding yers like Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Robert Lewandowski, and Luis Su¨¢rez? All those are questions to consider as we assess Zachary''s chances of winning the Ballon d''Or this season."

    -----

 Chapter 520 An Increase in Stats

    Chapter 520 An Increase in Stats

    Zachary woke up feeling refreshed. After ncing at the clock and noticing that its hand had already passed the eight o''clock mark, he immediately jumped out of bed.

    "The effects of the S-grade mental conditioning elixir are truly wondrous," Zachary mumbled as he walked to the bathroom to wash his face. His memory received a significant boost after he consumed the elixir. Without even focusing, he could recall many Italian sentences that previously seemed like alien text. He felt like, if he tried hard, he might even be able to master Italian within less than six months. But that was not all.

    Zachary also noticed that his spatial awareness had risen to another level. With just a nce, he couldmit all the details around him to mind. Be it their size, the position, and the color of all objects around him ¡ª Zachary could remember all those elements even without trying that hard to observe. Moreover, everything seems to have increased to a higher definition, allowing him to perceive more particrs he had previously ignored.

    "System," Zachary called out as he stepped out of the bathroom. He dried his face with a towel beforemanding, "Bring out my current attributes."

    "Command received," the AI intoned. "User''s attribute dataing up on the interface immediately."

    Zachary smiled. He settled on his bed and started perusing the information that had just appeared on the translucent crystal-like disy before him.

    ****

    *USER STATS

    ->Physical Fitness: S+

    ->Ser Technique: S+

    ->Game Intelligence: SS

    ->Mental Ability and Mindset: S+

    ->X-Factors: S+

    ->GOAT Skills: 10

    ****

    "Oh!" Zachary eximed. "My game intelligence attribute jumped over the S+ grade and improved straight to the SS grade. Wonderful!"

    Zachary was giddy with excitement. His game intelligence had been at the S- grade for a few months. But after consuming an S-grade mental conditioning elixir, he improved straight to the SS grade. His game intelligence was finally catching up with that of experienced world-ss yers like Andrea Pirlo.

    A few weeks ago, Zachary had given in to temptation and scanned Andrea Pirlo with the system''s snooping tool. He finally learned that exceptional yers like Andrea Pirlo didn''t possess abnormally-high physical fitness stats. In fact, Pirlo''s physical fitness attributes, including agility, strength, and stamina, were just at the inferior S- grade average. They were a level lower than Zachary''s S+ fitness stats.

    But what was impressive about Andrea Pirlo was his game intelligence and passing skills. His passing skills, spatial awareness, risk assessment, and mental strength were at the SSS grade, while his tactical knowledge was at the SS grade. Those few attributes ovepensated for his weaker physique, allowing him to gain the ability to y like a maestro on the field of y. He didn''t need to take on yers by dribbling and tackling. Instead, he only needed to find spaces and use his insanely high game intelligence and passing skills during crucial moments. Then, he would be able to influence the game and win matches for his team without overexerting himself.

    Zachary understood the charm of game intelligence after scanning Andrea Pirlo. That was why he was over the moon after leveling his intelligence attributes to the SS grading.

    "System," he called out telepathically. "I would like to see the breakdown of my game intelligence and ser technique stats."

    "Command received," replied the system AI. "Stats breakdown for game intelligence and ser technique will being up on the interface shortly."

    With that said, the crystal-like disy shimmered slightly before bringing up new information on the screen. Zachary reflexively blinked his eyes and began to read through the contents.

    ****

    ----

    ->Ser Technique: (Av. Rating: S+)

    Ball Control: S+

    Dribbling Skills: S-

    Passing uracy: S+

    Body Control: S-

    ----

    ->Game Intelligence: (Av. Rating: SS)

    Spatial Awareness: SS

    Tactical Knowledge: S+

    Risk Assessment: SS

    ----

    ****

    Zachary observed that his spatial awareness and risk assessment were the individual stats that gained the most significant boost. As for tactical awareness, it was stillgging behind at the S+ grading. Perhaps, he needed to y more games and gain more experience before improving the stat.

    Then, there were his ser technique stats. Surprisingly, they hadn''t received any boost after he consumed the S-grade mental conditioning elixir. Maybe, he needed to go through targeted training and get used to his high game intelligence before those technique attributes would level up. That was his gut feeling.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    Suddenly, Zachary''s phone vibrated from the nearby table as he finished reviewing his stats. He quickly dismissed the system interface with a mentalmand before picking up the phone and ncing at the screen.

    The call was from an unknown number. It began with a country code of 225, meaning it was from a foreign country.

    "Could this be from the Ivorian officials? Could they have finished preparing my citizenship papers?"

    The gears in Zachary''s mind turned and fell into ce quickly. He epted the call and ced the phone against his ear.

    "Bonjour, Zachary," the person on the other side of the line greeted in French. "I''m Omar Sangare, an Ivorian official helping with your citizenship papers. We previously talked on the phone."

    "Oh, Sangare!" Zachary eximed. "I remember you. Are my citizenship papers ready? Can I y in the African Cup of Nations next month?" He went straight to the point.

    "The papers are almost ready," the official replied. "As for ying in the AFCON, that will not be possible in your case. We have no problem with you joining us. However, CAF''s bureaucracy has hindered us from registering you for thepetition. Their procedures to approve a change of citizenship for any yer can take roughly six months. Our hands are tied."

    "Oh, I understand," Zachary said, feeling both disappointed and relieved. Joining the African Cup of Nations would increase his chances of winning his first international trophy with Ivory Coast. He knew that for a fact, as the Ivorians had won the 2015 AFCON during his previous life.

    However, partaking in the African tournament would also force him to forego his club duties during January. And since he was a key yer on the team, his absence might affect Juventus'' performance, and his team could drop out of the Champions League, causing him to lose out on attaining European glory. Obviously, he would have had to make a choice if the Ivorians had called him for the tournament. But now, he just needed to go with the flow and concentrate on his club duties. It was a relief.

    "Mr. Sangare!" Zachary said after a moment. "When will my papers be ready? And when can we announce to the public that I''ll be ying for Ivory Coast?"

    "Well..." Mr. Sangare said. "We could make the announcement in a few days when the papers are ready. But again, we don''t want to distract your future teammates and their coaches, who are busy preparing for the African Nations Cup of Nations. So, I suggest that we make the official announcement inte March. That will be after the AFCON and just before the friendlies. It''s a perfect time, in my opinion."

    "Okay, then," Zachary agreed. "We will go with your n. Please try toplete all the necessary procedures before March. I would wish to start ying international games as soon as possible."

    "Sure," Mr. Sangare said with a chuckle. "We also want you to y our international matches soon. So, we''ll obviously work fast to finish all the procedures concerning your citizenship."

    "Excellent," Zachary said. "I have to say goodbye now andmence my morning practice. Thanks for the update."

    "You''re wee. I will keep you updated concerning your whole citizenship change. Otherwise, I wish you luck in your uing games."

    "Thanks, and goodbye," Zachary replied.

    "Goodbye," Mr. Sangare said and hung up the phone.

    Zachary stood in one ce for a moment as he organized his thoughts. The main reason why he chose to join Ivory Coast was topete in the 2018 World Cup. So, Zachary wasn''t overly depressed after failing to join their AFCON squad. He instead felt rxed as he had no diversions to distract him from his club duties.

    But again, not joining the AFCON didn''t mean that his schedule had opened up. He was still as busy as a worker bee, as he had to y in the Italian Serie A, the Coppa Italia, the Supercoppa Italiana, and the Champions League. All those were top tournaments featuring world-ss clubs and talents. Zachary understood that he needed to do his all to remain focused if he desired to perform beyond expectations and help his club win most of thepetitions. There was no way around it.

    The enhancement of his game intelligence hade at the right time. His football brain had experienced a significant boost in its abilities, and as a plus, it could potentially push his ball skills to a higher level if he went through targeted training. Thus, Zachary nned to work hard through the two-week Christmas break. He would go all out to push his body control or dribbling skills to the SS grade. Then, if all went well, he would shine on the football pitche January.

    "Let''s start with the morning training for today."

    Zachary psyched himself up. Without further ado, he started going through his morning yoga routine, hoping to warm up his body for the more intensive team trainingter that day.

    -----

 Chapter 521 Preparing for the Supercoppa Italiana

    Chapter 521 Preparing for the Supercoppa Italiana

    Zachary spent the morning hours going through his physical fitness routines. Under the guidance of Coach Bj?rn Peters, his fitness trainer, he first went through a gym workout to hone his endurance, strength, and body control. Then, when the clock hand pointed to the eleven o''clock mark, he rested for two hours before enjoying a sumptuous lunch prepared by Inger, his chef.

    After lunch, he didn''t continue lounging around in his mansion. Instead, he got into his new Audi RS 7 and headed to the Vinovo for Juventus'' afternoon training.

    As usual, Zachary found dozens of fans and a few journalists waiting around the gates when he arrived at the training center. He rolled down his window and waved at them before continuing towards the parking lot.

    He eased his car into one of the empty parking spots and alighted from the vehicle. He smiled as his eyes caught the visage of Coach Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach, who happened to have just arrived at the training center at the same time as him. The middle-aged coach was in full winter gear, with a thick jacket, a head sock, and gloves to keep the December chill away from his body. His eyes shone when he spotted Zachary.

    "Zachary!" The assistant coach eximed. "Good afternoon!"

    "Good afternoon to you too, coach," Zachary responded while picking up his gym bag from the back seat of his car. He then locked the doors before turning to the assistant coach again. "Coach! You seem to be in a good mood. Where''s Christmas?"

    "It''s too soon to think about Christmas," Coach Trombetta replied with a chuckle. "Congrattions upon winning the Golden Boy award, by the way. Your form over the past year was incredible. You really deserved the honor."

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary responded, grinning. He was in a good mood, especially after consuming an S-grade elixir and improving his game intelligence stats. He felt like everything around him was more vibrant than usual, and he couldn''t stop himself from walking with a slight swagger as he headed toward the inside of the training center.

    "Honestly," Coach Trombetta continued with his praise, "I''m really impressed with your capabilities on the team. Your goal-scoring form is excellent, and if you can continue maintaining your form, you might be able to make it into this year''s Ballon d''Or shortlist."

    Zachary chuckled. "The Ballon d''Or is still a bit far away from me. Setting it as my target would distract me from my current priorities. I only need to continue performing well, and ifdy luck is on my side, I''ll make the shortlist."

    "That''s a good mentality," Coach Trombetta said. "It''s always good to focus on the present. The Supercoppa Italiana is only two days away. It''s a chance for you to pick up your first silverware with Juventus. In this year''s match-up, we''ll face off against SSC Napoli in the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Are you ready?"

    "Yes, I am," Zachary replied, oozing confidence. Consuming the S-grade mental-conditioning elixir had allowed his stats to gain a timely boost right before the Supercoppa Italiana. He was in the best state he could ever be as a footballer. If all went as nned and nothing unexpected happened, he most important determiners of the result of the Supercoppa Italiana. You''ll have to y intelligent 00:03

    football and find a way to create as many chances as you can against Napoli. Additionally, you have would perform beyond all expectations in the Supercoppa Italiana final.

    "I like your confidence," Coach Trombetta said as they continued further into the training center. "But please note that you must give it your all for the Supercoppa. We have to win. Evra, Marchisio, and Pirlo are missing due to the injuries they picked up during previous matches. You''re the only remaining ymaker in the starting eleven. As such, your influence in the midfield will be one of the most important determiners of the result of the Supercoppa Italiana. You''ll have to y intelligent football and find a way to create as many chances as you can against Napoli. Additionally, you have to be quick with your decision-making while on the ball ¡ª or else, the opponents will find a way to mark you and stop you from making your mark in the final."

    "I understand, coach," Zachary said, feeling even more determined. "I''ll do my best during the final. When are we setting off for Qatar?"

    "Tomorrow," Coach Trombetta said. "We''ll fly to Qatar in the morning. If everything goes as nned, we''ll arrive in Doha by 6:00 PM and spend the night there. Then, on Monday morning, we''ll go through a light training session to polish our tactics for the match before spending the rest of the day resting. Finally, in the evening, we will head to the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium for the Supercoppa Italiana final against Napoli. That''s the n."

    As the two conversed, they finally arrived before the dressing rooms. Coach Trombetta said a few more encouraging words to Zachary before heading off toward the coaching staff''s dressing room. As for Zachary, he stepped towards the yer''s locker room while thinking about the Supercoppa Italiana final that was only two days away.

    Inaugurated in 1988, the Supercoppa Italiana was an annual football match contested by the Serie A champions and the Coppa Italia winners from the season prior. However, if the same team had won bothpetitions for the previous football calendar year, the Supercoppa would instead be a match-up between the Serie A champions and the Coppa Italia runners-up.

    During its first few years after its inauguration, the Supercoppa was often¡ªscheduled in the summer as a super cup curtain-raiser to the new season yed in the home stadium of the Serie A champion. However, in recent years, the Italian football league''s governing body had started scheduling the match during the winter. Moreover, the match would often be hosted in stadiums outside of Italy, probably to attract more publicity for Italian football.

    Previous Suppercopas were yed in countries such as Italy, the United States, Libya, and China. As for that year, the match was to be held at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, all the way in Qatar. So, for that matter, the Juventus squad needed to make the more than eight-hour-long flight to Doha to participate in that year''s Supercoppa Italiana.

    Zachary, on his part, was not against making the trip to Qatar. He had already spent roughly four months focusing only on football at Juventus. The daily training and packed match schedule had worn him out to a certain extent, and he figured that a change of scenery would be perfect for him. As such, Zachary was eager to travel to Doha and face off against Napoli there.

    "Maybe, I can also spend a few more days on holiday there after the match," Zachary thought. "Doha should have many world-ss sports facilities. Spending the Christmas break there won''t affect my training ns. I only need to inform the coaches in advance."

    Zachary finally arrived before the yer''s locker room after a few seconds. He pushed the door open and noticed that most of his teammates were already in the dressing room. Some had even already donned their training gear and were about to head out for the training.

    "Ciao ragazzi! Come stai?"

    Using his mastery of broken Italian, Zachary greeted them, one after the other, after stepping into the room. His teammates returned his greetings humorously and congratted him upon winning the Golden Boy award. A few experienced yers, like Gianluigi Buffon and Stephan Lichtsteiner, even encouraged him to keep working hard so he couldpete for the Ballon d''Or. He could tell that they were truly happy for him for winning the Golden Ball award.

    -----

    Thirty minutester, at 2:15 PM, all the Juventus yers had long assembled on the main training turf. The winter breeze sweeping across the ground assaulted them, causing them to tremble as their bodies fought against the cold environmental conditions. But they remained attentive as they listened to Coach Max Allegri''s address.

    "As you all know, the Supercoppa Italiana is only two days away," Coach Max Allegri said as he swept his gaze across his yers. "But the time we have for training is even less than a single day, especially since we''ll spend the entirety of tomorrow traveling. So, guys! We must utilize the limited time today to finalize all our preparations for the Supercoppa Italiana. We must refine our game n for the match against Napoli or risk embarrassing ourselves on Monday evening. Are we together, guys?"

    "Yes, coach!" The yers replied more or less in unison.

    Coach Allegri nodded and flipped his notebook open. "To save time, I''ll first name the match squad for the game. That will allow all the yers on the starting eleven to train in their individual roles today."

    "Gianluigi Buffon will be in goal," Coach Max Allegri announced in a solemn voice. "In defense, we''ll utilize three defenders. They are Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Boni, and Angelo Ogbonna. Moving on to the midfield: we''ll employ Simone Padoin, Arturo Vidal, and Zachary Bemba as our three central midfielders. Simone Padoin and Arturo Vidal will be the holding midfielders, while Zachary will y as the attacking pivot. The three will also work together with Kwadwo Asamoah and Stephan Lichtsteiner toplete our midfield of five. Lastly, Fernando Llorente and Carlos T¨¦vez will y as our forwards toplete our 3-5-2 formation. That''s it for the starting eleven. Any questions?"

    All the yers remained silent and didn''t respond.

    "Now, to the substitutes," Coach Allegri said with a slight nod. "On the bench, we''ll have Rubinho, Marco Storari, Mart¨ªn C¨¢ceres, Filippo Romagna, Federico Mattiello, Roberto Pereyra, Kingsley Coman, Simone Pepe, Sebastian Giovinco, and ¨¢lvaro Morata. That''s it for the match squad. So, let''s start our training for today."

    With the coach''s deration, the training officially started.

    The yers began by going through a thirty-minute warm-up routine before moving on to the actual tactics session. And as nned, they focused on refining their tactics until all the yers on the match squad hadmitted their roles for the game against Napoli to mind. Finally, in the evening, after working so hard for hours, the Juventus yers said their goodbyes to their coaches and returned to their respective homes to rest for the night. They had done all they could to prepare for the match. All that remained was for them to travel to Doha and face off against Napoli in the much-anticipated Supercoppa Italiana final.

    -----

 Chapter 522 The 2014 Supercoppa Italiana Challenge

    Chapter 522 The 2014 Supercoppa Italiana Challenge

    "DING!"

    A system notification sounded in Zachary''s mind when he entered his bedroomter that night.

    "The system has detected that the user is now an active member of Juventus'' 2014 Supercoppa Italiana squad," the system AI''s apathetic voice sounded in his mind immediately after. "Conditions for the 2014 Supercoppa Italiana challenge have been met, and the respective system mission initiated sessfully."

    "Does the user wish to view the mission details right away?"

    "Of course," Zachary replied after switching on his bedroom light. He settled on his bed before continuing, "Please bring up the mission details."

    "Command received," the AI''s voice sounded in his mind again. "Mission details have been disyed on the interface."

    The space before Zachary shimmered with bluish light, and a translucent crystal-like disy manifested before him. Zachary took a deep breath and focused on the mission details that had appeared on the interface.

    ****

    ----

    GOAT MISSIONS

    ----

    #NEW MISSION: 2014 Supercoppa Italiana Challenge

    ->The system has detected that the user is part of Juventus'' 2014 Supercoppa Italiana squad. The system has designed an associated mission for the tournament.

    ----

    ->The user needs to ept the mission first to stand a chance of winning rewards afterpleting the objectives below.

    ----

    *Objective 1: Be the leading ymaker for the 2014 Supercoppa Italiana final by providing the most assists during the game.

    *Objective 2: Help Juventus win the 2014 Supercoppa Italiana final by scoring at least one goal during the game. (To meet the objective, the user must meet two conditions. One, he has to score at least a single goal, and two, he has to ensure that Juventus wins the game)

    *Objective 3: Be the Man of the Match for the 2014 Supercoppa Italiana final.

    *Objective 4: Score a hat trick during the 2014 Supercoppa Italiana final.

    ----

    *Rewards:

    ->Objective 1pletion reward: 5,000 Juju-points

    ->Objective 2pletion reward: 10,000 Juju-points

    ->Objective 3pletion reward: S-grade Agility Enhancement Elixir

    ->Objective 4pletion reward: The second of the twelve shards required to learn Ronaldinho''s Step-Over and Feint Kingly Magic. (Note: This objective is also a partial fulfillment of the conditions toplete the Giant-Killer Hattrick Challenge)

    ----

    ->The user can choose not to ept the mission.

    *ept *Reject

    ----

    *Punishment if the user doesn''t realize at least one objective by the end of the game: Minus 50,000 Juju points.

    *After epting the mission, the user has toplete at least one milestone before the game ends to escape the penalty.

    ----

    *Remarks: The only way to attain greatness is by never giving up while taking small but consistent steps forward.

    ****

    Zachary''s eyes lit up with excitement after reading the mission details. His hopes had already soared high as the system had again offered him a chance to win bountiful benefits if he performed well during the Supercoppa Italiana final. He thus readily epted the mission.

    Among the rewards was an S-graded agility-enhancement elixir which could potentially elevate his speed, body control, and dribbling skills to the next level. There was also a shard of Ronaldinho''s Step-Over and Feint Kingly Magic, which would push him closer to obtaining one of the most effective dribbling styles in the world. Zachary felt even more motivated to try his best during the Supercoppa Italiana as he wanted to go home with all those rewards.

    "Phew!"

    Zachary took a deep breath and nced at the clock on the opposite wall. On noticing that it was already 9:00 PM, he decided to prepare and go to bed as soon as possible. He wished to get ample rest that night before setting off with his teammates to Qatar the following morning.

    After making the decision, Zachary proceeded with haste. He was soon in autopilot mode, washing up, brushing his teeth, and packing his luggage for the following day''s trip. Zacharypleted everything around 10:30 PM and then jumped in bed, hoping to descend into thend of dreams as soon as possible. But just as he was about to cover himself, his phone vibrated from a nearby table, causing him to furrow his brows. He wasn''t expecting any call thatte in the night.

    "Who could it be?"

    While suppressing his annoyance, Zachary scooped up the phone and noticed that the call was from yet another unknown number. The number began with +61, meaning that it was from overseas.

    "Hello," Zachary said after pressing the ept button and holding the phone next to his ear. "Who''s this?"

    There were a few seconds of silence at the other end of the line before a familiar and feminine voice sounded in his ear. "Zachary! It''s me. How are you doing?"

    Zachary''s mind short-circuited at that moment. "Cami!" He called out. "Is that you?"

    "Yes, it''s me," she replied. Her voice was barely audible.

    Zachary took a deep breath and asked, "Are you okay? I haven''t been able to reach your phone for over two months. You also rarely reply to my WhatsApp messages!"

    "Well..." she said. "I got an abrupt offer for a job in Australia some months back. It was a dream job for me. I acted quickly and moved there to begin work immediately. That''s why I have been out of reach recently."

    "Oh..." Zachary said, feeling a bit down. He decided not to ask obvious questions, like ''why didn''t you call me before you moved'' or ''why didn''t you send me your new number when you arrived in Australia?'' Deep within his heart, he knew the answer to all those questions.

    "Zachary..." Cami said after a few seconds. "Let me ask you something. Do you think we have been happy as a couple?"

    Zachary''s heart skipped a beat. He answered, "We had our good times together. We were happy before we got out of touch due to the distance."

    Cami sighed audibly from the other end of the line. "Zachary!" She said. "I have been doing some thinking over the previous few weeks. We should take some time apart to sort out our lives."

    "Time apart..." Zachary''s voice trailed off. He felt a bit empty on the inside.

    "Spending time apart would be the best for both of us," Cami continued. "Firstly, time apart will allow us to concentrate more on our individual careers. You will have more time to focus on your football, and I''ll have more time for my new job. Secondly, time apart will allow us to sort out our feelings for each other. It''s the best solution for our situation."

    "Seems like you''ve got everything sorted out," Zachary said lightly.

    "Zachary!" Cami''s voice rose up a notch. "This is also hard for me... I don''t wish to do this, but we can''t continue on like this..."

    They continued talking for a few more minutes, and Zachary finally consented to Cami''s suggestion. Moreover, in essence, he had no other choice but to ept her terms. They both agreed to take an indeterminate period apart, with the excuse of needing more time to focus on their careers without distractions. They then ended the call on a seemingly positive note and wished each other blessed and good lives.

    Zachary sighed again after cing his phone back on the table. He copsed back into bed and stared at the ceiling for minutes. A fresh lump of emptiness grew within him, and he couldn''t help but wonder when everything had started going wrong with Cami.

    Was it when he signed for Juventus and moved to Italy? Or was it before?

    Zachary''s mind turned and whirled as he thought of the days past when he was still a Rosenborg yer. He had shared intimacy with Cami, and they had seemed like the typical couple in love. Their lovemaking was always breathtaking, and there was mutual respect between them. Those were the good times.

    But again, Zachary hadn''t failed to notice that nothing else was holding together their rtionship aside from their intimacy. They were the perfect couple when they made love, but aside from that, they didn''t have many more things inmon. They didn''t even share many hobbies, beliefs, or cultural values, and their bond was not that firm.

    Their fundamental worlds would not easily intersect since Zachary, himself, was a footballer determined to make it big, while Cami was a corporatedy doing her all to rise up in the business world. Unless some sort ofpromise was reached on both their parts, they would always be like two shining stars that only chanced upon each other and collided before following the naturalws and diverging to continue on along their innate trajectories. Their love was not just deep enough to survive the endless difficulties the world could inflict upon them.

    "Life is not easy."

    Sighing with dejection, Zachary switched off the light and entered between the sheets. He continued thinking about moments with Cami until he dozed off and entered deep sleep around midnight.

    -----

    The following morning, Zachary managed to wake up early, at around six. His previous night''s conversation with Cami was still so fresh in his mind, and his mood was low. But as a footballer yearning to achieve big things, he still forced himself to focus on his priorities. He couldn''t allow himself to be bogged down by just one hardship in life.

    He worked quickly with all the haste he could muster and finished all his preparations by seven in the morning. Then, after having breakfast, he entered his Audi RS 7 and drove to the Vinovo, Juventus'' training center, where he linked up with his teammates. From there, their group boarded a team bus to the airport, thus beginning their long journey to Doha, Qatar, the venue for that year''s Supercoppa Italiana final.

    -----

 Chapter 523 A Perfect Defense-Splitting Pass

    The Juventus squad arrived in Doha at around 5:30 PM. The sun had already set, and the bright artificial lights illuminated the hallways of Doha International Airport.

    Zachary followed the rest of his teammates as they quickly went through the airport procedures and immigration checks. A dedicated team of helpers from the Qatar Football Association aided them, and theypleted the entire process quickly. They then picked up their luggage and exited the airport.

    During the winter months from October to March, the climate in Qatar was, at most times, just mild. From what Zachary had read before traveling, daily temperatures often ranged from 24oC to 35oC during the day and 15oC to 22oC at night. The ce was definitely a much warmer utopia whenpared to Turin.

    Equipped with all that knowledge, Zachary didn''t even bother to put on a jacket. He had only donned a simple Juventus tracksuit, a head sock to keep his braided hair in ce, andfortable Nike sneakers for travel. He continued moving along with his teammates as they followed their guides to the arranged bus for the team.

    "Juventus! Oye!"

    "Zachary! Wee..."

    "Carlos Tevez..."

    "Buffon... We love you..."

    Suddenly, a cacophony of excited voices sounded while the yers were on their way to the arranged bus. The noise immediately captured Zachary''s attention, and he reflexively inclined his head to look.

    A crowd of passionate supporters had gathered a few meters away, just beyond some parked taxis. Most of them were probably Italians who had traveled to support Juventus during the Supercoppa Italiana final, and they were being kept in order by airport security. Zachary also spotted a few men in long, white, and loose Arabic clothing among the crowd. They were most likely members of the Juventus fanbase in Qatar.

    "I didn''t expect that we had a lot of fans in Qatar," Kwadwo Asamoahmented from beside Zachary. He seemed excited. He waved back to the fans while pulling his suitcase towards the waiting bus.

    "It''s the Italian football publicity offices doing their work," Zachary said as he followed his teammates'' example and waved to the fans. "The Italian football governing bodies must have put in quite the effort to market the Supercoppa in Qatar. We might get a full stadium during the game."

    "I heard that the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium only has a capacity of 13,000 seats," Kwadwo Asamoah remarked. "The supporters attending the match will be much fewer than the numbers we usually attract back in Italy."

    "Definitely," Zachary agreed. "But I still like the vibrant atmosphere and the good weather here. It''s a good choice for the venue of the Supercoppa..."

    After some minutes of exchanging small talk and waving to the fans, the Juventus yers finally reached the organized team bus. Their guides helped them load their suitcases into the luggagepartment as they boarded the vehicle. Then, a few minutester, when all the squad members had taken their seats, the bus started moving, and they set off for the luxurious The Ritz-Carlton, Doha hotel.

    They arrived at the hotel roughly thirty minutester and checked into their rooms. After settling down, they enjoyed a sumptuous dinner at the hotel''s restaurant and then had a team meeting chaired by Coach Max Allegri afterward. Then, after about an hour of discussing team ns and strategies for the following day''s game, they ended the meeting and returned to their rooms for the night.

    The night and the following day''s morning hours were all uneventful as all the Juventus yers adhered to the team rules. All the yers woke up early after enjoying a fulfilling night of rest at the luxurious The Ritz-Carlton, Doha hotel before eating breakfast and going through a light training router in the morning.

    The rest of the day went as nned after the morning training. They had their lunch at midday and then attended arranged press conferences at around 1:00 PM before resting during the afternoon. Then, at five in the evening, after enjoying another light meal, they boarded their team bus and headed to the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, ready to face off against Napoli in that year''s Supercoppa Italiana final.

    -----

    Monday, December 22, 2014.

    Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar.

    Time: 6:29 PM

    The weather was just perfect, not so cold and not so hot. The stadium''s floodlights had already been switched on, and they bathed the pitch in a luminous glow. yers of both Napoli and Juventus had already taken their positions, and they were only waiting for the referee to blow the whistle so they couldmence the game.

    A sudden silence descended upon the stadium as the fans stopped singing the chants for their respective teams. The supporters in the stands only waited quietly as the referee nced about him and raised the whistle to his lips.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    Paolo Valeri, the referee for the day, finally blew the whistle, and the stadium came alive once again. The supporters resumed singing as Gonzalo Higua¨ªn, Napoli''s center forward, kicked the ball back into his midfield to kickstart the game. At longst, the 2014 Supercoppa battle between Juventus and Napoli hadmenced.

    In the middle of the pitch, Marek Hamsik, Napoli''s attacking midfielder, effortlessly controlled the ball from Gonzalo Higua¨ªn. He turned and whirled before kicking the ball toward his left, hoping to find Jonathan de Guzm¨¢n, Napoli''s left winger. Thetter received it and tried to y a forward pass to Gonzalo Higua¨ªn, the striker who was already strategically positioned in Juventus'' half.

    However, the ball from Jonathan de Guzm¨¢n was not urate enough. It was easily intercepted by a highly agile Arturo Vidal, who slid in wholesale and poked it to Kwadwo Asamoah, Juventus'' attacking wingback on the left.

    "Ball!" Zachary shouted as Kwadwo Asamoah controlled the ball.

    Kwadwo Asamoah didn''t panic on hearing Zachary''s shout. He effortlessly stepped forward to meet the ball before passing it to Zachary.

    Zachary''s ball control was as brilliant as ever. With light but quick movements, he connected with the pass from Kwadwo Asamoah as his eyes surveyed the situation all over the pitch. Just then, he realized that he could observe and scrutinize the movements of all his teammates much more clearly than before. He naturally spotted Carlos Tevez, the striker who had long initiated a daring run toward the other side of the pitch.

    The Argentine striker was already bolting past bodies and bodies of Napoli yers while swerving left and right. His speed was impressive, and the striker would rush past Napoli''s defensive line within the next five seconds.

    The gears and wheels in Zachary''s enhanced football brain whirled and turned before falling into ce. In a split second, he realized he had to release the ball into the space behind Napoli''s defense within less than four seconds or else risk Carlos Tevez running into an offside position and missing out on an opportunity.

    The first second, Zachary shoved the ball forward with the tip of his boot to prepare for what was toe.

    The next second, he stepped forward with momentum before drawing his leg all the way back like a taut bowstring. He also didn''t forget to align his body at the perfect angle so as to make a wless release. Everything waspleted almost instantaneously.

    Finally, the third second arrived as he swung his leg down and smashed the ball towards the other side of the field. He utilized the toe area of the inside of his boot to unleash a lofted ball toward the space behind Napoli''s backline. Moreover, he had timed the pass faultlessly and only hit the ball during the second before Carlos Tevez could run into an offside position. In essence, he had sent forth the perfect defense-splitting pass to Carlos Tevez.

    -----

    At the other end of the field, Carlos Tevez''s eyes glinted with excitement as he noticed the ball flying toward him. He elerated and raced past the two Napoli defenders trying to box him in before slowing down and chesting the descending ball forward.

    The next second, the adrenaline pumping through his system pushed his speed to the max before the Napoli defenders could recover. He chased after the ball like mad and got to it in only a few seconds.

    With the simplest of touches, he extended his boot and looped the ball over the approaching keeper. Then, he swerved right and circumvented the goalkeeper before collecting the ball again and hammering it into the back of the empty. He had scored Juventus'' first goal during the 1st minute of the Supercoppa Italiana.

    "GOAAAAL...."

    Carlos Tevez couldn''t contain his excitement as the cheers around the stadium hit a thunderous crescendo. A bright smile outlined his often-intense features, and he ran all the way back to Zachary''s position to give him a bear hug.

    "Zachary!" He said with a chuckle. "That was the dream pass for any striker. You timed it so well. Thank you."

    "There''s no need for thanks. It''s what I should do." Zachary''s smile was brighter than usual as he hugged his teammate back.

    The rest of the Juventus yers soon joined the celebrations as the cheering from the stands continued resounding around the stadium. The yers took turns hugging each other before exchanging encouraging words to reinforce their determination to win the Supercoppa Italiana. Their team spirit was overflowing since they had scored their 1st goal during the second minute of gamey. They had obviously set themselves in the perfect position to win the fixture.

    -----

 Chapter 524 Juventus At Its Best

    Two men in ck suits sat in thementator''s booth close to the top of the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium. One was Fabio Crudeli, a middle-aged man with a lean physique, while the other was Tiziano Caressa, an aged man with streaks of white in his hair. They were the two Italian sports journalists chosen to providementary for that year''s Supercoppa Italiana.

    The two men had ample experience and would neverck words for any situation on the field of y. They were like walking football dictionaries, and they would always effortlessly find perfect descriptions for any scenario happening during the game. They were true poets, and anyone listening to theirmentary could vividly visualize the exact ys on the pitch even while not watching a game. If there were awards formentators, maybe they woulde in the second and third-best positions, with only Peter Drury, the British sportsmentator,ing up ahead of them.

    However, just two minutes into the Supercoppa Italiana, the twomentators were already faced with a situation that caused them to be at a loss for words. The light streaming into thementary booth illuminated their stunned faces, and for a moment, they couldn''t find the exact verbal portrayal of what they had just witnessed. They couldn''t understand how Zachary had managed to pick out Carlos Tevez from a crowd of Napoli defenders and provide the defense-splitting pass that resulted in Juventus'' first goal for the night.

    "Well..." Tiziano Caressa, the aged man, sighed and took a deep breath as the cheers around the stadium started dying down. "That was unexpected. Don''t you think so, Fabio?"

    "Of course," Fabio Crudeli, the middle-agedmentator, replied. "It just took Juventus about 70 seconds to score their first goal of this Supercoppa. But even more surprising was the way they scored the goal. I have to say that it was the true definition of magicing alive on the football field. Zachary Bemba received the ball deep in his half, and we all expected him to pass the ball to another midfielder or defender to maintain possession. But the young Maestro did what none of us, including the Napoli yers, had expected. He went for the spectacr and took out the entire Napoli team with a single brilliant ball. His pin-point defense-splitting pass took the opponents out of the equation, and he managed to set up Carlos Tevez for the goal. In my book, this is one of those incidences where the assist is more breathtaking than the goal itself."

    Tiziano Caressa, the othermentator, chuckled. "Zachary Bemba has just shown us what he can do even in the absence of Andrea Pirlo and udio Marchisio, the other two key yers in Juventus'' midfield. His awareness of the spaces around him, game reading, and ability to assess risks during crucial moments should be really exceptional. That was why he effortlessly spotted Carlos Tevez''s run in a split second before providing the perfect pass to set up the goal."

    -----

    On the field of y, the game was yet to restart due to Juventus'' lengthy celebrations. The coaches hurriedly summoned Zachary to the sidelines and gave him a few instructions.

    "Listen, Zachary," Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach in charge of the first team, said. "We don''t need to force anything since we have already scored the 1st goal. So, over the next few minutes, let''s settle down and y possession football. Let''s pass the ball around slowly and confidently as we build up y and look for opportunities. Let''s stay in control, and let''s not create any chaotic situations on the pitch which might benefit Napoli. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary said, taking a quick nce at the pitch. The referee was about to restart the match. So, Zachary quickly stepped into the opponent''s half to stop the referee from following through with the intended action.

    "For us to y possession football," Coach Trombetta continued, "You''ll have to drop deeper into the midfield when necessary. Try to open up the spaces in the middle of the pack by forming triangles with the rest of your teammates. You can asionally y a through-ball to the strikers when you see fit. But please, don''t try to force anything, as that will pointlessly give away our possession. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach. I understand."

    "Good," Coach Trombetta replied. "You can head back to the pitch."

    Zachary nodded and quickly ran to his position. The referee red at him, probably as a form of warning against his time-wasting behavior that dyed the restart. But he just apologized, and the referee let him be. He then took a deep breath and focused his senses in preparation for the action that was about tomence.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee finally blew the whistle after a few more seconds. The cheers resounded around the stadium, and Gonzalo Higua¨ªn, Napoli''s center forward, kicked off the game for the second time that evening. He kicked the ball and passed it ''further'' back into his half to find Kalidou Koulibaly, one of Napoli''s center-backs. It seemed that the striker had learned his lesson, and he was afraid of gifting possession to Juventus by passing the ball to his unreliable midfield.

    In the backline, Kalidou Koulibaly controlled the ball effortlessly. The defender then flicked it to Ra¨²l Albiol, the other center-back, who, in turn, passed it to Faouzi Ghom, the left-back.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Most likely, the Napoli yers were trying to rebuild their confidence by ying short but sure passes at the back. So, their defenders continued passing the ball among their ranks without showing any intent to move it forward. It was as if they were provoking Juventus toe and get the ball ¡ª or else, they would continue ying pointless possession in their backline.

    "High press... Go after the ball. Don''t let them getfortable and y." A loud shout reverberated from the touchline a few secondster. It was from Max Allegri, the head coach of Juventus, and he was waving his arm animatedly to signal his yers to high press the Napoli backline.

    On hearing Coach Max Allegri''s instructions, all the Juventus yers went into action. They pushed forward like a pack of wolves with the intent to close down the spaces and freeze Napoli''s passing game.

    The two Juventus strikers and wing-backs went even a step further to man-mark the four Napoli defenders. They ran at the four Napoli yers like a pack of wolves on the hunt, eventually forcing Kalidou Koulibaly to y the ball high and long. They had thus achieved their objective and frozen Napoli''s pointless passing game at the back. What remained was for them to execute the next step of their game n.

    "Pa..."

    The long ball from Kalidou Koulibaly was brought under control with an outstretched boot in the other half of the field, close to the border of Juventus'' defensive third. The yer in action was Leonardo Boni, one of Juventus'' defenders. With fluid motions, he pocked the ball forward with the tip of his boot. Then, before any of the opponents could close him down, he passed it to Arturo Vidal, one of Juventus'' defensive midfielders, to kick-start a period of dominant possession for Juventus.

    "Pa... Pa, Pa..."

    The passes started flowing like water over the pitch as the Juventus yers moved the ball around. They arrayed themselves in their customary 3-5-2 formation and yed beautiful possession football that wowed critics and fans alike. They froze out Napoli, and by the 15th minute, they had already amassed an incredible ball possession statistic of 74%, while Napoli only had 26% of the ball.

    Zachary, in particr, was especially impressive within the midfield. He followed the coach''s instructions and didn''t force anything. He didn''t even try to execute risky dribbles but just adhered to the basics of passing and receiving the ball.

    You give me the ball, and I pass it to another or return it to you. That was his policy throughout the opening fifteen minutes of gamey.

    Even at the most crucial moments, he would utilize the spaces well by relying on his enhanced game intelligence, graded at SS by the system. The opponents couldn''t seem to find his trails on the pitch, as he was always floating around the opposing yers'' blind spots while asionally moving into gaps. Moreover, by finding the most strategic positions in the middle of the pack, he often provided the best outlet for the ball, thus allowing Juventus to continue dominating possession. His midfield y was simply too spectacr, and even thementators were not shy with their praises when talking about him.

    "It''s Zachary on the ball," Fabio Crudeli, the middle-agedmentator, said, his voice rising up a notch. "He turns and twists and passes it to Arturo Vidal, his counterpart in midfield. Arturo passes to Simone Padoin, who in turn passes back to Zachary. Oh! Juventus'' midfield y is simply incredible. Their midfielders, especially Zachary and Vidal, are in top shape today. They look confident on the ball, and there''s nothing the Napoli yers could do to stop them."

    "Yes, this is Juventus at its best," Tiziano Caressa, the othermentator, supplemented. "Before the game, I thought they would suffer in the absence of udio Marchisio and Andrea Pirlo, the two sidelined by injuries. But I couldn''t have been more wrong. Zachary has stepped up his game to fill the shoes of the two missing experienced yers. He''s ying in a more intelligent fashion and helping his teammates to dominate the game. The Napoli yers can''t do a thing to stop him, and he has already conquered the midfield..."

    "Oh, my! What do we have here?" Fabio Crudeli suddenly interrupted, his voice going up a notch. Thementator seemed excited as if something interesting had just transpired on the field of y.

    "Zachary Bemba is finally willing to take a risk in this game," Fabio Crudeli continued as the cheers resounded. "He sidesteps, dribbles past David L¨®pez, and elerates into space. He looks up once and sends a diagonal ball to the right wing. Oh my, goodness me! He has just picked out Stephan Lichtsteiner, Juventus'' wing-back, on the right nk. What an excellent through-ball! The attack is on, and the Juventus yers are flying forward..."

 Chapter 525 Making The Opponent Feel Hopeless

    On the pitch, the highly agile Stephan Lichtsteiner was already cutting through the right nk like a high-speed Swizz express train. He fed the ball past Christian Maggio, Napoli''s left-back, and beat the man for pace. Then, with the most pin-point of passes, he picked out Fernando Llorente, the Juventus striker, who happened to have just run into an unmarked pocket of space between the two Napoli center-backs.

    "Pa..."

    Fernando Llorente controlled the ball mid-stride without slowing down. He quickly elerated toward Napoli''s box, hoping to leave the opposing center-backs in the dust. However, his speed was not impressive enough, and only a few secondster, Kalidou Koulibaly, the no-nonsense defender, caught up to him and tried to tackle the ball from him.

    Fortunately for Juventus, Fernando Llorente was a very talented and experienced striker. Even though he wasn''t that fast on his legs, he still utilized his body to protect the ball and lured a foul from Kalidou Koulibaly. Moreover, the striker managed to draw the reckless tackle in a position only some twenty-seven or so yards from Napoli''s goal.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle immediately and awarded Juventus a free kick. He also fished out a yellow card from his pocket and showed it to Kalidou Koulibaly, the defender who hadmitted the foul.

    "Zachary! Zachary..."

    "Zachary..."

    The Juventus fans behind Napoli''s goal started chanting Zachary''s name at the top of their voices. Of course, they hadn''t forgotten that Zachary was one of the most clinical free kick takers in the entire world. As such, they were excited by the prospect of witnessing more magic from him as he converted yet another free kick.

    "I will take the free-kick," Zachary dered as he quickly picked up the ball from the ground. Of course, none of his teammates, including Carlos Tevez, Arturo Vidal, and Stephan Lichtsteiner, tried to contest him for the ball. They all knew he was a better free-kick taker than them and thus left him to do what he usually did best.

    "Phew..."

    Inhaling deeply, Zachary strode forward and ced the ball on the spot marked by the referee. He then stepped back to observe the situation ahead of the box but not before activating the Dead-Ball Specialist Juju. As usual, he wished to utilize the skill to increase his analytical abilities, which would, in turn, raise the probability of him converting the set piece sessfully.

    "DING"

    Suddenly, a system notification resounded within Zachary''s mind, causing him to furrow his brows. He was against interacting with the system during a game, as he didn''t wish to draw unnecessary attention to himself. But he still maintained a poker face and listened to the system AI''s following words.

    "The system has detected that the user''s game intelligence has already achieved the SS grading," the AI said. "The user has met all the conditions to master the Dead-Ball Specialist Jujupletely. As such, from this moment forward, the user will not need to utilize Juju points to activate the skill."

    Zachary''s eyes lit up ever so slightly as he tried to contain his happiness. "Will the skill still help me to enter a state of extreme focus before I take a set piece? Will the skill also boost my spatial awareness and risk analysis core attributes while I am preparing to take a set piece?" Hemunicated with the system AI telepathically.

    "Yes, to all questions," the system AI answered. "The Dead-Ball Specialist Juju has be a true-blue passive skill due to your high game intelligence and growing experience of converting free kicks. As long as you are about to take a set piece, your ''spatial awareness'' and ''risk analysis'' core attributes will rise to the next grade. They will ascend to the SSS grade before you take the set piece, thus increasing your conversion chances. Moreover, that will be at no cost of Juju points."

    "Wonderful!"

    Zachary''s heartbeat quickened as he finished his telepathic conversation with the system AI. Taking a deep breath, he calmed his bubbly emotions down and started observing the situation before Napoli''s box.

    The referee was in the midst of arranging the wall roughly ten yards away from the free-kick spot. It was a five-yer wall, with all the Napoli men positioned in the ''most strategic way'' to block all shooting angles to the goal. Additionally, a yer was lying behind the wall, probably to guard against a potential carpet shot from Zachary.

    But that was not all. Zachary also noticed that the opponents were ying a high defensive line to create an offside trap for all those Juventus yers who wished to rush into the box and connect with the set-piece ball. The Napoli men were obviously going all out to prevent Juventus from scoring another goal through a set piece.

    Zachary''s eyes took in all the cement of the yers ahead as his enhanced game intelligence processed the information. The gears in his mind turned before quickly falling into ce. He smiled and reminded himself that all Napoli''s preparations didn''t mean a thing if he made the perfect execution. As long as he found the ideal spot between the goalposts, the keeper and the defenders wouldn''t be able to do a thing to stop the ball from finding its way into the back of the.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    It didn''t take long for Paolo Valeri, the referee, to organize the wall and the yers before Napoli''s box. After a few seconds, he blew the whistle and motioned for Zachary to take the set piece.

    Zachary had already prepared for the moment. He didn''t waste a second before making an angled run toward the ball and swinging his leg at it. He used the inner toe area of his boot to wrap around the ball with the intention of unleashing a curling shot toward the goal.

    "BAM!"

    The sound of the boot meeting synthetic leather reverberated in his ears, and the ball soared from the ground before flying over the wall. At first, it was as if it was heading over the crossbar. However, a few secondster, it dipped abnormally before descending and bouncing right in front of the Napoli keeper, who happened to have alreadymitted himself to a full-body dive. The ball then bounced again and nestled into the back of the, causing thunderous cheers to rise from the stands behind Napoli''s goal.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    -----

    Juventus FC 2 : SSC Napoli 0

    -----

    "Oh goodness me!" Fabio Crudeli, the middle-agedmentator, yelled at the top of his voice as Zachary raised his arms to celebrate. "What a sensational goal! What a beauty! Zachary has just converted a free-kick from 27 yards away to score Juventus'' second goal during the 18th minute of gamey. This young man is flying, and no one can stop him when he stands before a free-kick. We might be witnessing the rise of the greatest free-kick taker in history."

    "His technique is always a marvel to look at," Tiziano Caressa, the othermentator, chipped in. "He is always spot on with his execution when he stands before a set piece. I don''t understand how he does it! His ability is scary."

    "Well..." Fabio Crudeli chuckled. "If you''re ying against Zachary, better not concede a free kick in the areas close to your goal. A free kick within the final third is like a penalty kick in his case. I can''t even remember a time when he failed to convert a set piece in such areas."

    -----

    On the sidelines, Rafael Ben¨ªtez, the head coach of Napoli, was in a sour mood. He couldn''t make sense of what was going on with his yers. He had instructed them not to draw fouls in the final third, but they hadn''t listened. They had conceded a free-kick less than thirty yards away from the goal and gifted Zachary the perfect chance to extend Juventus'' lead to two goals. Coach Ben¨ªtez couldn''t contain his frustration.

    Moreover, he had long noticed that his yers were not working hard enough. Their concentration levels were also a bit off, and theymitted many errors during the opening twenty minutes of the game. In particr, the midfielders were doing a poor job marking Zachary and Arturo Vidal, thus allowing Juventus to conquer the midfield. They were just like amateurs who could handle the pressure of the Supercoppa Italiana final.

    "This can''t go on," Rafael Ben¨ªtez thought after watching for a few more minutes. He turned his gaze to the bench, and his eyes fell on two yers.

    "Dries Mertens and Jorginho!" He said after a few seconds of contemtion. "Start warming up. I want you on the pitch in less than six minutes."

    "Yes, coach!" The two yers replied and changed into their warm-up gear. Then, after chugging down some water, the two yers quickly jogged away from the technical area and initiated their warm-up routine.

    Rafael Ben¨ªtez returned his focus to the field of y, feeling dejected. It was already the 32nd minute of gamey. Marek Hamsik, the man who was Napoli''s captain and attacking midfielder, had justmitted another error. He had fumbled the ball close to the center circle and misced yet another pass, thus gifting free possession to Juventus.

    Arturo Vidal, the Juventus midfielder, who happened to be close by, quickly pounced on the ball and intercepted it. Vidal then yed it to Zachary, who speared into Napoli''s half like an arrow just let loose from a bowstring.

    Coach Rafael Ben¨ªtez suppressed a shudder as he watched Zachary quickly bearing down on Napoli''s goal. Ben¨ªtez couldn''t stop his heartbeat from quickening as Zachary skipped past David L¨®pez, one of Napoli''s holding midfielders, with a simple change of pace. Then, before the helpless Napoli coach could yell out instructions to his yers, Zachary dug his boot under the ball and looped it over the defense to set up Fernando Llorente, one of the two Juventus strikers.

    The attack was on. Fernando Llorente timed his run well and rushed into the space between the two Napoli center-backs. His long strides pumped like the pistons of a race car, and he effortlessly connected with the overhead ball from Zachary right after beating the offside trap.

    What followed depended on Fernando Llorente himself, and the Spanish striker didn''t disappoint. He didn''t even try to control the ball but just extended his boot and guided the ball goalward. His execution was spot on, and he skillfully looped the ball over the keeper, who had unfortunatelye out to greet him. He effortlessly found the back of the and scored Juventus'' third goal for the night during the 33rd minute.

    -----

    Juventus FC 3 : SSC Napoli 0

    -----

    "Damn!"

    Coach Rafael Ben¨ªtez felt like punching someone when he saw the ball homing into the back of the. He was just about to make two substitutions so as to rectify Napoli''s precarious situation on the field of y. But his yers couldn''t hold on for even a few minutes, and they gifted Juventus the 3rd goal during the 33rd minute of gamey. It was simply frustrating.

    Coach Ben¨ªtez''s even felt that the game was a done deal, and he couldn''t visualize how his team would recover from a three-goal deficit. He was even having second thoughts about making the two substitutions as thoughts of giving up took root in his mind. That was what three goals within the opening thirty-two minutes could do to you. They could make you doubt yourself, and there wasn''t a thing you would be able to do but take a more severe beating from the opponents. Football was that merciless to those who gave up early in the game.

    "No, I can''t give up," Coach Ben¨ªtez resolved. "We must do our best until the very end. At least, let''s begin with a small goal of winning the second half."

    As an experienced coach, Rafael Ben¨ªtez quickly discarded the thoughts of surrender. If he couldn''t win the entire Supercoppa, he would at least try to win only the second half. His pride wouldn''t allow him to merely sit back and take a merciless thrashing from Juventus, no matter how good a team they were.

 Chapter 526 Overwhelming Victory

    Coach Rafael Ben¨ªtez finally introduced Dries Mertens and Jorginho into the game during the 38th minute. The two yers came on for Marek Hamsik and Jonathan de Guzm¨¢n and quickly helped stabilize Napoli''s situation on the field of y. But aside from that, they achieved nothing else due to the tenacity shown by the Juventus yers on the field.

    The Juventus yers, on their part, didn''t step on the brakes even after gaining the three-goal advantage. They continued ying beautiful possession football while doing everything possible to deny Napoli any chances of creating goal-scoring opportunities. They were like a well-oiled machine, and they utilized teamwork and individual brilliance to maintain their three-goal advantage until the half-time break.

    The second half of the gamemenced after the fifteen-minute break. The Napoli yers seemed to have woken up and applied pressure on Juventus during the opening minutes of gamey. Theyunched several counterattacks against Juventus and came close to scoring twice during the 49th and 57th minutes, respectively. However, their efforts were rendered fruitless by the unwavering spirit of Juventus'' defenders, and the score remained 3:0 in favor of the Old Lady throughout the second half''s opening minutes.

    As the game continued, the Juventus yers eventually rectified the situation and regained dominance on the pitch. They exuded confidence on the ball and effortlessly outyed Napoli for about a dozen minutes. Moreover, their possession of football also froze out the opponents, thus depriving them of the ability to create opportunities that could result in goals. Evidently, Juventus was in the driving seat, and they were managing the game well.

    However, the excitement wasn''t over, as the situation changed again during the 74th minute. That was because the Napoli yers got a chance to counterattack after a failed wave of attack by Juventus.

    It all started with Rafael Cabral, the Napoli keeper, making a save. The Napoli shot stopper executed a stunning dive and seized a powerful shot from Carlos Tevez out of the air. Then, before anyone could react, the keeper picked himself from the ground before running toward the edge of the box and making a one-handed throw to the left nk. His throwing technique was wless, and he set up Dries Mertens, the substitute winger, for a counterattack.

    Dries Mertens, on his part, was quick to advance the counterattack. He raced along the touchline like a whirlwind before skipping past Leonardo Boni, one of the only two remaining Juventus defenders between him and the goal. Dries Mertens then elerated and cut into the pitch before squaring the ball to the middle to set up a perfect one-versus-one situation between Gonzalo Higua¨ªn and Gianluigi Buffon, the Juventus keeper.

    Cheers mixed with gasps of desperation arose from the stands as Gonzalo Higua¨ªn, the highly clinical Napoli striker, controlled the ball right at the edge of the eighteen-yard box. The Argentine stepped forward confidently before squaring his body and kicking the ball with his instep. He was, of course, trying to score by surprising a keeper with a powerful drive toward the inside of the far post.

    However, the Napoli man''s decision couldn''t have been more wrong.

    Just as Gonzalo Higua¨ªn''s boot connected with the ball, Gianluigi Buffon, the highly experienced Juventus keeper, reacted instantaneously and put his body on the line. Buffon made himself big and lounged forward to throw his entire frame at the ball. His daring gamble paid off, and he blocked the ball with his knee and sent it toward the right side of the pitch.

    "Clear the ball... Be fast..." An anxious roar came from the sidelines. It was from Max Allegri, and he was again doing his best to urge his yers to solve the precarious defensive situation quickly. It seemed he was aiming for a clean sheet, and he didn''t wish to see his team concede even a single goal against Napoli.

    The Juventus defenders obviously didn''t need any reminders and quickly solved the danger. Giorgio Chiellini pounced toward the descending ball and hammered it high and far toward the other side of the pitch before the opponents could close him down.

    "Whoosh..."

    The cleared ball from Giorgio Chiellini traveled high into the air, like a surface-to-surface missile heading to the other side of the pitch. A few secondster, the earth''s gravitational force acted on it, forcing it to descend towards the right nk.

    "Pa..."

    The sound of the ball meeting rock-hard chest muscles sounded ever so slightly. It was Zachary in action, and he had effortlessly leaped off the ground to bring the descending ball under control with his chest.

    "Pa..."

    The sound of a boot meeting synthetic fiber soon followed as Zachary looped the ball over an approaching Napoli yer. Then, with the most spartan of touches, he again flicked the ball over another Napoli yer, who tried to rob him from the side.

    But Zachary didn''t just stop at that and only finalized his disy of skill after executing an stico dribble to escape from an encirclement of three. He then elerated to his top speed and initiated a daring sprint toward Napoli''s box like a raging Tsunami.

    "Zachary! Zachary..."

    The Juventus fans in the stands began yelling Zachary''s name as he cut across the field at breakneck speed. But he stayed calm and didn''t let the noise affect his decision-making. He soon approached the box and unleashed a through-pass toward Carlos Tevez, who had just dashed into an unmarked pocket of space at the edge of the box.

    Carlos Tevez, on his part, was not selfish with the ball. He didn''t even spend time controlling it but just yed it along into the path of Zachary, who was still sprinting toward Napoli''s goal like a rocket.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    One-Two! Through-Pass!

    The lightning-fast exchange of passes between the two yers was all it took to break through Napoli''s defense again. Zachary circumvented Ra¨²l Albiol, Napoli''s center-back, before stepping into the box and connecting with the return ball from Carlos Tevez. He then curled the ball over the approaching goalkeeper and found the back of the to score Juventus'' 4th goal during the 76th minute.

    -----

    Juventus 4 : SSC Napoli 0

    -----

    "GOAAAL...."

    Coach Max Allegri yelled like a madman when Zachary found the back of the. His heart leaped for joy, and the curses from Rafael Ben¨ªtez within Napoli''s technical area sounded like music to his ears. The fact that he was only minutes away from winning yet another Supercoppa Italiana cheered his soul, making him feel like he was walking on clouds. He punched the air again and roared like a beast as his yers celebrated the fourth goal.

    "Damn!" Coach Max Allegri said after a few seconds. He wasn''t cursing out of frustration but out of happiness. "Zachary has done it again. I don''t know what happened to the boy over the past few days, but he looks sharper on the field of y. His decisions have been spot-on during the game, and I can''t find any fault with his y. It''s as if he matured in a short span of less than a week."

    "Maybe, it''s because of winning the Golden Boy award," Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach, replied uncertainly. "He might be that type of yer who gains more confidence and maturity after winning major awards."

    "Maybe, maybe not," Coach Max Allegri said. "Let''s focus on the important stuff first. This game is already in the bag. We need to rest our key yers. We must preserve them for the January games."

    "Excellent n, boss," Coach Trombetta agreed. "Who are we taking out?"

    "Zachary, Tevez, and Arturo Vidal," Coach Max Allegri replied with a smile. "I''ll rece them with Mart¨ªn C¨¢ceres, Federico Mattiello, and Roberto Pereyra. Those three should be able to help us weather the final minutes of the game without taking any damage."

    "Good," Coach Trombetta said. "I''ll go and tell them to warm up. They should be ready to join the proceeding in five minutes max."

    -----

    The game restarted after the goal celebrations. Juventus still didn''t let up the pressure and immediately robbed the ball from Napoli with high-pressing tactics. Then, from there on, they started moving the ball around the field meticulously to outy Napoli.

    Zachary was especially in ck Mamba mode. He continued ying like a Maestro in the middle of the pitch while searching for an opportunity to initiate another attack against Napoli.

    Of course, he hadn''t forgotten the milestones for the system''s Supercoppa Italiana mission. He still yearned for a hattrick that would allow him to win one of the shards required to master Ronaldinho''s Step-Over and Feint Kingly Magic.

    However, Zachary soon conceded that he could not realize his wish since Coach Max Allegri substituted him out of the game during the 81st minute. But again, he was not angry as he understood the coach''s intentions, especially after noticing that Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal had also moved out of the pitch. Obviously, Allegri wanted to rest his yers, and thus, Zachary had no right to question the man''s decisions.

    The Juventus yers remaining on the field didn''t rest on theirurels after the substitutions. They continued ying with tenacity and matching run-for-run against the opponents. They yedpact and solid defensive football during the final moments and eventually won the game with a score of 4:0 after five minutes of injury time. They had finally emerged victorious from the Supercoppa Italiana battle and won their first silverware for the 2014/15 Italian football calendar.

    ------

 Chapter 527 Another System Mission Completed

    A dayter, in the evening.

    The clock hands had just pointed to the seven o''clock mark when Zachary arrived at the Ritz-Carlton, Doha, hotel''s restaurant to attend Juventus'' post-Supercoppa Italiana dinner.

    The multitude of glowing lights within the hall shone upon him, illuminating his well-ironed ck Armani suit and polished shoes. With a smile etched on his face, he stepped further into the hall, hoping to join his teammates, who had arrived earlier. In the meantime, he also didn''t forget to continue observing his surroundings as he moved further into the hall.

    The restaurant was painted in radiant colors of brown and gold that matched the immactely arranged and stylish furniture. The long table close to the balcony overlooking the sea was especially eye-catching. Zachary naturally couldn''t miss the several waiters and waitresses dressed in chic ck and white uniforms that were busy cing dishes on it.

    There were already mouth-watering premium sushi, sashimi, and ceviche served alongside fresh fish, meat, and various vegetable soups on the table. There were also several foreign dishes Zachary had never seen, supplemented with colorful vegetable sds toplete the setup.

    Zachary noted that a few of his teammates had gathered around the table. They were in the midst of selecting the dishes they wanted while the servers poured wine and soft drinks for them.

    "Zachary! You are here!"

    A familiar voice sounded from behind him. Turning around to look, Zachary noticed that Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach, had, at some point, arrived behind him. The man seemed to have gone all out to dress for the party. His ck suit, white shirt, bowtie, and shining ck shoes all outlined his elegance, making him look like a filthy-rich aristocrat.

    "Coach!" Zachary eximed. "You are smart today."

    "Thanks," Coach Trombetta said with a smile. "Your get-up is also not bad. I''m guessing you''ll be able to wow all the prettydies attending the party. How envious!"

    Zachary chuckled but chose not toment. "Coach! I sent in a vacation request to you and the head coach yesterday. I wish to stay in Doha until the football calendar resumes in January."

    "I discussed your request with the boss today morning," Coach Trombetta said. "We have no problem with your staying in Doha for the Christmas break. But please endeavor to return to Turin before 3rd January. We will bemencing our preparation for our Serie A game against Inter Mn then."

    "I will do that. Thanks for your consideration, coach."

    Coach Trombetta smiled and patted Zachary''s shoulder. "We''re here to enjoy and rx but not to talk about ns and whatnot. Let''s pick up some food and join the rest."

    "Okay."

    Zachary walked with Coach Trombetta to the long table at the other end of the hall. He exchanged small talk with his teammates while picking up food before settling on a table at a far corner. He then busied himself with savoring his meal while asionally conversing with teammates and coaches who would stop by his table. Zachary was having a good time rxing after winning the Supercoppa Italiana.

    Zachary''s eyes would, from time to time,nd on the glittering trophy on the high table in the middle of the room. Then, moments from the previous night would flood his mind, and he would vividly recall scoring two goals and providing two assists during the game before lifting the Supercoppa trophy with his teammates. It was a night to remember, especially since the prize was his first silverware with Juventus.

    Additionally, Zachary was overflowing with joy, especially after he hadpleted yet another system mission by winning the Supercoppa. His being the Supercoppa man of the match was an indisputable fact. As such, he had naturally realized two mission objectives that allowed him to win an S-grade Agility Enhancement Elixir and some Juju points. He was obviously taking steady steps to elevate his skills.

    The dinner continued, and a few minutester, a familiar and elegant woman wearing a morous maroon dress approached Zachary''s table. She had blue eyes, smooth skin, and long wavy dark brown hair that cascaded down her shoulders. She was Emily Anderson, his agent, and she was Zachary''s plus-one at Juventus'' dinner party. They should have arrived together at the venue, but a few issues had dyed her.

    Emily smiled as she settled down opposite Zachary. "Sorry, I''mte," she said while positioning her te of food before her. "It has been long. How are you doing?"

    "I''m doing fine." Zachary grinned. "What about you?"

    "I''m also okay," she replied while forking a piece of meat from her te. "But I''m quite busy these days."

    "Oh!" Zachary took a moment to nce at her as she swallowed down her food. "I thought you arrived in Doha yesterday night! What dyed you?"

    "Well..." Emily said a bit hesitantly. "I was actually meeting up with the Nike representatives. They were also here in Doha for the game, and due to your performance, they are growing more interested in offering you a juicier long-term deal. But we haven''t reached any agreement yet."

    "Oh, okay," Zachary said but didn''t ask for details. Emily was a skilled and reliable agent. Zachary trusted her to handle all negotiations on his behalf. He didn''t need to micro-manage her.

    "So, Zachary!" Emily nced up from her te. "What are your ns for January? There''s the African Cup of Nationsing up. Aren''t you going to represent your country?"

    "Nope," Zachary said, lowering his voice. "I''m not going to participate in the AFCON. I''m in the process of switching my citizenship to Ivory Coast, another African country."

    "For real!" Emily''s eyes widened. "Are you going to represent another country but not your home country?"

    "Please lower your voice," Zachary said, his heart skipping a beat for some reason. "I don''t wish for others to know yet."

    "Okay," Emily conceded, "But why is it my first-time hearing this?"

    "Well... I decided on this only a few months ago and immediately started the process. I had always meant to talk to you about it, but different things would alwayse up, and I would often forget about the issue. Sorry!"

    "Zachary..." Emily sighed, seemingly deted. "This is irresponsible behavior. I''m your agent. So, why not talk to me about the decisions that concern your football career? There are a lot of benefits that you could have gotten before switching citizenship. But since you''ve already initiated the process, there''s nothing much I can do to get you those benefits."

    "Sorry..." Zachary said with a smile. "But I really don''t mind missing out on the benefits. My only goal is to get opportunities topete in internationalpetitions. Mary benefits are just a plus."

    "If you say so." Emily sighed again. She nced around the hall, and her eyes naturally floated to the glittering trophy on the table in the middle of the room. She smiled and said to Zachary, "Congrattions upon winning your first silverware with Juventus, by the way. I watched the game, and I was really impressed by the way you handled yourself. Keep up the good work."

    "Thanks..."

    As the two of them conversed, the dinner party finally moved on to the stage of speeches. Fabio Paratici, the sporting director, was the first to address the gathering. He thanked all the yers and coaches for their impressive work ethic and congratted them upon winning the Supercoppa. He then concluded with a few encouraging words before handing over the floor to Max Allegri, the Juventus head coach.

    Max Allegri, on his part, didn''t say much. He only congratted the yers andmended their efforts during the Supercoppa before telling them to enjoy themselves. He then stepped off the stage and allowed the party to move on to the socializing phase of the night.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Zachary was not interested in the social events, which included dancing and making pointless small talk with people who were already tipsy after taking more than a few sses of wine. He said his goodbyes to his coaches and parted with Emily in the hotel lobby. Then, a few minutester, he returned to his room and washed up before jumping into bed.

    It was then he recalled the Supercoppa Italiana system mission. He hadpleted it the previous night but decided against utilizing his rewards since he was already as tired as a dog after ying more than eighty minutes of intensive football.

    But now, since he was already well-rested, it was a different story. He started to seriously consider the option of using the S-grade agility-enhancing elixir as soon as possible. However, he had to ascertain first whether the elixir''s effects would negatively affect his skills and hinder him from performing at his best after the football season restarted in January.

    "System," he called out. "Bring up the missionpletion details for the 2014 Supercoppa Italiana Challenge."

    "DING"

    "Command received," the AI said, and the space before Zachary shimmered as a translucent crystal-like disy appeared. It was the system interface, and inscribed on it were the missionpletion details.

    ****

    #5 new messages

    -----

    CONGRATULATIONS

    ->You havepleted the system mission (2014 Supercoppa Italiana Challenge).

    -----

    ->Mission Summary

    *Objective 1: Be the leading ymaker for the 2014 Supercoppa Italiana final by providing the most assists during the game (Completed by providing two assists that resulted in goals; Rating S; Rewarded 5,000 Juju points).

    *Objective 2: Help Juventus win the 2014 Supercoppa Italiana final by scoring at least one goal during the game. (Completed by scoring two goals that helped Juventus defeat Napoli during the Supercoppa; Rating S; Rewarded 10,000 Juju points).

    *Objective 3: Be the Man of the Match for the 2014 Supercoppa Italiana final (Completed; Rating S+; Rewarded S-grade Agility Enhancement Elixir).

    *Objective 4: Score a hat trick during the 2014 Supercoppa Italiana final (Notpleted; Rating B; Rewarded 0 Juju points).

    -----

    ->Overall Mission Rating: S

    -----

    ->Mission Rewards

    1) A total of 15,000 Juju-points

    2) An S-grade Agility Enhancement Elixir

    -----

    ->Bonus Rewards

    You have earned 5,000 Bonus Juju points.

    -----

    ****

    A sense of contentment filled Zachary''s heart. He contemted for a moment before his eyes fell on the S-grade Agility enhancement elixir that could potentially elevate his agility and dribbling skills by an entire grade.

    "System!" He called out in his mind. "Will there be any side effects if I consume the S-grade agility enhancement elixir? And two, will its effects hinder me from performing at my beste January when the football season restarts?"

    "DING"

    "There will be a few side effects as the S-grade elixir will push your agility to a new grade in only a short span of a few hours," the AI replied. "You won''t be able to control your body well, and naturally, you''ll find it hard to execute your skills fluidly over the next few days."

    "How many days are we talking about exactly?" Zachary inquired.

    "Ten days, give or take," the AI replied. "However. with your SS-grade game intelligence, you should be able to ovee the side effects of the elixir in roughly ten days. Of course, you''ll have to go through a targeted training routine to achieve the desired result."

    "Excellent!" Zachary couldn''t contain his happiness. Juventus'' next game would be against Inter Mn on Tuesday, 6th January 2015. That implied that he had a full thirteen days to undergo targeted training and ovee the side effects of the S-grade elixir. In essence, nothing was stopping him from consuming the S-grade agility enhancement elixir.

 Chapter 528 SS-Grade Agility

    The S-grade agility enhancement elixir looked like a small red berry with glittering lights enveloping it. Inhaling deeply, Zachary summoned it from the system inventory and swallowed it in a single gulp.

    What followed was what he pretty much expected. A refreshing feeling spread from his stomach and washed over his entire body. Then, a tingling sensation spread across his spine and extended toward his mind. He swallowed hard as his muscles started to spasm, and before he could adapt, his eyes rolled backward, and everything turned dark. The elixir had caused him to ck out again, and he fell back into his bed without any awareness of what was around him.

    -----

    The following morning...

    "This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill... fifteen percent concentrated power of will. Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain, and a hundred percent reason to remember the name..."

    The familiar beat of Fort Minor''s ''Remember the Name'' hit single woke Zachary up the following morning. It was his ringtone, and on hearing it, his eyes opened, and he took in everything around him.

    Suddenly, he felt the world he perceived had somehow changed, as everything seemed to be in slow motion. The swaying of the curtain in the morning breeze was a bit off, while the sounds picked up by his ears were more drawn out. For a few moments, he was in a bizarre state, and it seemed like he was watching his hotel room from another dimension. Then, just as he blinked, everything returned to normal, and the feeling disappeared, seemingly as if it had just been an illusion.

    "The effects of the system''s elixirs are growing more and more bizarre as they improve in grade."

    Zachary pushed himself off the bed and focused his senses. The morning sunrays streamed through the shy gap between the curtains and illuminated his facial features. He smiled, feeling refreshed. Obviously, the S-grade agility enhancement elixir had done wonders and allowed him to perceive the world in a slightly different mode from before.

    "Who could be calling at this time of the morning?"

    Zachary had forgotten to put his phone in silent mode the previous night. It continued ringing and repeating the same chorus of Fort Minor''s Remember the Name hit single to capture his attention.

    Zachary groaned and picked up the phone from the table. After ncing at the screen, he smiled as the call was from Samson Damata, the coach from Lubumbashi, DRC.

    "Hello, coach!" Zachary said after epting the call.

    "Hello, Zachary!" The coach replied in Kiswahili. "Let me start by congratting you upon winning the Supercoppa and the Golden Boy award."

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary responded.

    "How are you doing these days?"

    "I''m doing okay. Just pushing on to constantly improve my skills and be a better yer. Aside from that, there''s nothing else going on in my life."

    "Great to hear that. Your grandma would be proud of you if she were still around. May her soul rest in peace."

    "That''s very kind. Thanks."

    "Zachary!" Coach Damata''s voice turned a bit solemn. "Did you decide to change your citizenship to another country? There''s a rumor floating around that you''ll be representing Ivory Coast during international football games. Is that true?"

    Zachary''s heartbeat quickened. He had only told Emily about switching his citizenship to Ivory Coast the previous night. She would obviously not leak the news to anyone as she was a reliable agent who prioritized his needs above everything else. So, how did Coach Damata, who was all the way in DR Congo, find out about the issue?

    "Coach!" He said a bit hesitantly. "Where did you hear this rumor?"

    "You didn''t deny it," Coach Damata said, sighing. "The im must be true. The rumor originated from the Twitter ount of an uing Italian journalist named Fabrizio Romano. In his post, he imed that you would not represent DR Congo but Ivory Coast in the near future. He also imed that the information is totally reliable since he obtained it from a reliable source within CAF."

    A light bulb went on in Zachary''s head, and he finally knew who had leaked the information. Most likely, Ivory Coast had submitted the change of citizenship certification papers to Africa''s football governing body, hoping to meet the requirements for him to participate in the AFCON as an Ivorian. However, the CAF officials had probably not kept the matter confidential and leaked it to Fabrizio Romano and a few other journalists. That should be how the information got out.

    Zachary sighed and inhaled deeply. He didn''t wish to lie to the coach, who had been a friend to histe grandma. He switched the phone to his other ear and said, "Coach! The information is true. I will not be representing DRC during internationals but Ivory Coast."

    There were a few seconds of silence at the other end of the line before Coach Damata spoke again. "Why?" He asked. "You were born in DR Congo! Why change citizenship to another country?"

    "Well..." Zachary inhaled deeply and informed the Coach about his desire for glory during internationalpetitions like the World Cup. In as few words as possible, he ensured that the coach understood his reasons for joining the Ivory Coast side before ending his exnation.

    Coach Damata, on his part, seemed utterly depressed after hearing Zachary''s reasons for changing his citizenship. But as an elder, he still said encouraging words to Zachary and exchanged some more small talk with him. Then, after wishing him sess in his international career, the coach said his goodbyes and ended the call.

    "This is really not easy."

    Zachary shook his head after ending the call. Talking to Coach Damata had filled him with a feeling of guilt. But again, as a yer yearning for big things, he quickly pushed the negative thoughts to the back of his mind. He would not change his decision to y for Ivory Coast as that was the most likely way for him to gun for the World Cup while representing an African nation.

    As for representing DR Congo, he would no longer think about that. His home country had a lot of challenges, including underfunding of the sports sector and corruption on the managerial level. All those problems prevented DRC''s national team from achieving any football sess on the international scene. So, Zachary was better off helping his country in other areas, like building schools and football academies, instead of ying football, which would most likely not achieve anything for them.

    "System!" Zachary said, returning his focus to the important matters at hand. "Please bring up my physical fitness and ser technique attributes."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "DING"

    "Command received. User''s fitness attributesing up shortly."

    A soft smile lit up Zachary''s face as he pushed all the depressing stuff to the back of his mind. He blinked his eyes reflexively and focused on the information that had just appeared on the translucent crystal-like disy before him.

    ****

    -----

    *USER STATS

    -----

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: S+)

    Bnce and Coordination: S- (S+)

    Agility: SS

    Strength: S+

    Stamina: S+

    Endurance Points: 17,500/18,000 (S+)

    -----

    ->Ser Technique: [Av. Rating: S+]

    Ball Control: S+

    Dribbling Skills: S- (base stat still to be determined)

    Passing uracy: S+

    Body Control: A+ (S+)

    -----

    NB: The grades in the brackets represent the user''s base stats or, in other words, the user''s attributes while not under the influence of the elixir''s side effects.

    -----

    ****

    Zachary''s nodded after reading through his new stats. As expected, the S-grade agility-enhancement elixir had pushed his agility attribute to the SS-grading. He was now among the Juventus yers with the highest agility on the squad.

    Over the past month, he had utilized the system''s snooping tool to spy on the stats of his teammates. Most of them only had an agility stat of S-, and even a yer like Stephan Lichtsteiner, known as the Swizz Express because of his daring speedy runs through the wings, only possessed an agility statistic of S+. Perhaps, the only yer in Juventus that could match Zachary''s enhanced speed and agility was Carlos Tevez, the Argentine striker.

    "With an SS grade agility," Zachary thought, "I can probably take my game to another level."

    Agility was a crucial attribute for both attackers and defenders in football. On the sporting field, high agility could allow the yer to react quickly to a stimulus, often presented by an opponent''s movement, before a change of direction or speed. The attribute was the crucial determinant of how swiftly the yer could transition from one motion to another without impacting his bnce. As such, exceedingly agile footballers like Lionel Messi, Arjen Robben, and Cristiano Ronaldo could stop quickly, change directions, and keep moving in one fluid movement. They were the true-blue stars of the game due to their exceptionally high agility.

    Zachary had always yearned to increase his agility attribute so as to be swifter on the ball and more deadly with his dribbling skills. He often dreamt of utilizing high agility and potent dribbling to break deadlocks and impact games. He wanted to evolve into a true-blue ball wizard the world had never seen, and now, he was just a step closer to that goal.

    "I wonder what Messi''s agility is?" Zachary pondered. He had a gut feeling that once-in-a-generation yers like Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho all possessed SSS-graded agility. That was why they could easily y around with top defenders in all the top leagues just by relying on their dribbling skills.

    "I should focus on improving myself step by step." Zachary resolved.

    The S-grade agility enhancement elixir had lowered his ''Body Control'' and ''Bnce and Coordination'' stats to the A+ and S- grading, respectively. So, his next step was to undergo targeted training to ovee the side effect while also pushing his dribbling skills to the next level. Moreover, he had to ovee the side effect within thirteen days max or risk ying against Inter Mn while not at his best.

 Chapter 529 Marked Improvement Over The Christmas Holiday

    Rumors about Zachary changing his football allegiance from DR Congo to Ivory Coast continued floating around the inte throughout the Christmas holiday. But of course, most football fans, especially in Europe and South America, took them in with a grain of salt as they were yet to hear any official statement from Zachary''s publicity team. Moreover, they couldn''t conceptualize why Zachary would change citizenship from one African country to another.

    As far as the fans were concerned, all African nations were ''weak ants'' that would not go far in international footballpetitions. So, why would Zachary initiate the cumbersome process of switching citizenship to another African country? Why would he escape one hopeless nation and join yet another? Why not join powerhouses like France, Belgium, or the Nethends that could increase his chances of gunning for the world cup? Most fans outside of Africa were that skeptical about the rumors concerning Zachary''s alleged change of citizenship.

    The days went by quickly, with neither Zachary''s team nor the Ivory Coast officials confirming the news. And as Christmas Day approached, most football fans worldwide began to dismiss the rumors about Zachary''s change of nationality as pure lies. But then December 26th, the day known as Boxing Day, arrived, and everything was made clear by a hint from Sidy Diallo, the Ivory Coast Football Federation president.

    During an interview with a reporter from The Guardian, the president was asked whether the rumors about Zachary were true. Sidy Diallo, the man himself, smiled and replied, "The tittle-tattle about Zachary Bemba switching citizenship to Ivory Coast is obviously false. His mother is from Ivory Coast, so the boy is not changing his citizenship status. He is simply returning home after spending some time away. I don''t get why that is a surprise."

    "Mr. President!" The Guardian reporter said after quickly catching the hint. "Does that imply that Zachary will represent Ivory Coast during international footballpetitions? Will he y for the Ivorian national football team during the uing African Cup of Nations?"

    "I can''t speak about what will happen in the future as I''m not God," the president replied. "But I can say with a hundred percent certainty that Zachary Bemba is in the process of returning home. We''re processing the necessary documentation, and he should be ready to join us for international friendliester in the year. As for the AFCON, that won''t be possible unless something unexpected happens. That''s all."

    The rification from the Ivorian Football Federation president finally cleared the air, and fans and critics around the globe began to believe the gossip about Zachary changing his football allegiance to Ivory Coast. They then took to the inte and started discussing the matter on various social media tforms.

    -----

    "At least he didn''t switch to one of the filthy rich European or Arab countries," aizenmented in response to the post concerning Zachary''s change of nationality on The Guardian''s page. "He can still promote African football while ying for a country that obviously has more chances to go further in internationalpetitions, like the World Cup."

    "I feel sorry for DR Congo," anotherizenmented with regretful emojis. "They have lost so many exceptional yers to rich countries. yers like Romelu Lukaku, Christian Benteke, Vincent Kompany, Michy Batshuayi, and Steve Mandanda could have all teamed up to make a dream team for DR Congo. But s, all those talented yers were snatched up by rich countries. And now, another uing and talented prospect (Zachary Bemba) has already been snatched. Moreover, it''s not by a rich European country but another African country! Shame! Shame! Shame!"

    "I''m notining," anotherizenmented. "I''m from Ivory Coast, and I can''t wait to see Zachary team up with midfield general - Yaya Tour¨¦."

    "I don''t care what anyone says," a critic posted. "However, Zachary is just a typical greedy yer. He has betrayed his homnd and sold his services to another team with big bucks. Truly a disappointment..."

    -----

    In the meantime, Zachary was still ''enjoying'' his Christmas holiday in Doha, Qatar. He didn''t care in the slightest about the inte debate about him since he was busy undergoing targeted training to ovee the side effects of the S-grade agility-enhancing elixir.

    He had consulted Bj?rn Peters, his fitness trainer, who had readily designed a training routine to match his goals. And throughout the Christmas holiday, he had been following that very routine to stabilize his ''Body Control'' and ''Bnce and Coordination'' stats while also improving his dribbling skills. He was so focused on his training and naturally had no time to concern himself with the chatter and rumors on the web.

    Every morning, Zachary would start his day with a light morning jog. Then, after breakfast, he would go through a light gym session before eating another light snack and heading to one of the indoor training turfs near his hotel.

    On the training turf, Zachary would go through several agility and coordination drills, which included Side Shuffles, Carioca Sideways Runs, Lateral Ladders, Shuttle runs, Cone Work, Ball Work, and other simr routines. Then, after enjoying a sumptuous lunch at his hotel, he would rest or go on a tour around Doha for the rest of the day before going to bed early and then resuming the same routine the following day.

    Zachary was in beast training mode. He was consistent in his endeavors, and by January 1st, 2015, he had already aplished some incredible results. His ''Body Control'' and several other stats had already jumped all the way past the previous S grades and risen to the SS grading. For sure, Zachary''s stats were improving at a much faster rate than he could have previously expected.

    Zachary was so astonished by his rapid progress, but at the same time, also encouraged to continue with his training. He couldn''t rest on hisurels before he digested all the benefits of the S-grade mental-conditioning and agility-enhancing elixirs he had consumed over the past few weeks. He was super motivated.

    Zachary turned his entire training focus to his dribbling skills after oveing the side effects of the S-grade agility-enhancing elixir. He spent most hours of his next two days on the training turfs in Doha while tirelessly going through Cone Weaves, Zigzag loms, Diagonal Dribbles, Square Turns, Shuttle Runs, and several other exercises to improve his dribbling.

    Zachary worked himself like a maniac, and by the end of January 2nd, he finally digested all the benefits of the S-grade agility-enhancing elixir. He pushed his dribbling skills stat to the SS grading and returned to his hotel feeling like a king.

    Later in the evening, after enjoying a room service dinner, he washed up and packed his luggage in preparation for his return back to Turin the following morning. He finished everything by 8:30 PM and settled on his bed in his nightwear. He was ready to check his training progress on the system interface before entering between the sheets to rest for the night.

    "System!" Zachary called out in his mind. "Please bring up the breakdown of all my attributes."

    "DING"

    "Command received. The breakdown for the user''s attributes will being up shortly."

    The dim fluorescent light illuminated the hotel room''s interior while highlighting the smile on Zachary''s face. He inhaled deeply before focusing on the information that had just manifested on the crystal-like disy that had appeared before him.

    ****

    *USER STATS (Breakdown)

    -----

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: S+)

    Bnce and Coordination: SS

    Agility: SS

    Strength: S+

    Stamina: S+

    Endurance Points: 17,500/18,000 (S+)

    ----

    ->Ser Technique: [Av. Rating: SS]

    Ball Control: SS

    Dribbling Skills: SS<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Passing uracy: SS

    Body Control: SS

    ----

    ->Game Intelligence: (Av. Rating: SS)

    Spatial Awareness: SS

    Tactical Knowledge: S+

    Risk Assessment: SS

    ----

    ->Mental Ability and Mindset: (Av. Rating: S+)

    Ser Passion: SS

    Composure and Mental Strength: SS

    Coachability: A+

    Self-Motivation: SS

    ----

    ->X-Factor (Av. Rating: SS)

    Consistency Factor: SSS

    Luck Factor: SS

    Supernormal Factor: S+

    Match Winning Factor: SSS

    ----

    ****

    "This is crazy!"

    Zachary was both shocked and excited beyond measure after perusing through his stats. Happiness resonated through him. He even jumped from the bed and executed a series of wiggly dance steps in his hotel room.

    Ever since the time he consumed the S-grade mental-conditioning elixir, his stats had been rising like a rocket. First and foremost, his game intelligence had soared to the SS grading. Then, he performed incredibly well during the Supercoppa and won the S-grade agility-enhancing elixir, which continued enhancing his stats. His agility hadter risen to the SS grading after roughly ten days of training, and he had also pushed his dribbling skills to the same grade.

    But that was not all.

    In addition to improving his agility and game intelligence, he had also gained a boost in all his football skills, thus pushing his Ball Control, Dribbling Skills, Passing uracy, and Body Control to the SS grading. His other attributes, including Mental Ability and X-Factor, had also evolved and risen to the same grade. He was a totally different version of the yer he was a month ago.

    "But what happened?" Zachary wondered. "System! Why are my stats experiencing a meteoric rise within a short span of just weeks?"

    "DING"

    "The user''s rapid progress boils down to three phases," the AI replied. "One, the user gained unmatched confidence after winning the Golden Boy award. And with that, there was an associated increase in mental ability and a culmination of ball skills."

    "Two," the Ai continued, "The user utilized the S-grade mental-conditioning elixir and pushed his game intelligence to the SS grade. With the increase in the game intelligence, the user finally met the conditions to evolve his game after a period of dedicated training. And that also allowed the user to utilize all his skills in the most effective way."

    "Three, the user triumphed over Napoli during the Supercoppa and won his first silverware with Juventus. He also won an S-grade agility elixir from the system, which pushed his already close-to-breakthrough agility to the SS grade. And with the breakthrough, there were even more benefits. The user evolved all his ball skills and Bnce and Coordination stats to the SS grading. All in all, the user should note that the origin of everything is the increment in the game intelligence attribute. And as long as the user can improve his game intelligence to another level, he will always be close to achieving breakthroughs in other aspects."

    "Oh!"

    Zachary finally saw the light. Most of his stats that had experienced a dramatic rise over the past few weeks depended on the game intelligence stat. Be it Ball Control, Dribbling Skills, Passing uracy, and Body Control ¡ª they all required high spatial awareness, impable risk analysis, and exceptional tactical knowledge for perfect execution. It was a simple truth as a yer wouldn''t be able to utilize spaces well to execute dribbles or unleash pin-point passes without a matching level of intelligence.

    Of course, physical fitness also mattered. For instance, after Zachary consumed the S-grade agility-enhancement elixir, he evolved his agility to the SS grading. He then gained the ability to make movements quicker, and that allowed his ball skills to improve to a higher level. He was now able to react to an iing ball faster or swiftly change directions almost instantaneously to escape a tackle. All in all, everything boiled down to his marked increase in game intelligence coupled with his SS-grade agility.

    "Sweet! With these stats, I can finally refine my ball skills to an unbelievable level. Maybe, I''ll be able to match those once-in-a-generation yers within the next half of the season."

    Zachary''s hopes had already soared into the night skies of Doha. Inhaling deeply to calm himself down, he dismissed the system interface and finished his preparations for his trip back to Turin.

    Then, at around nine, after chugging down some warm water, he jumped into bed and soon entered the warm embrace of a rxing slumber. He had finally finished his Christmas holiday training, and all that remained was for him to return to Turin and wow all the opponents and football fans alike.

    -----

 Chapter 530 Eve Of The Match Against Inter Milan

    Zachary took a flight from Doha to Turin the following morning. After arriving and resting for a night at his mansion, he headed to the Vinovo, where he linked up with his teammates and coaches to go through his first official training with Juventus in the new year.

    The winter in Turin was mild, with daily temperatures much warmer than those he had previously experienced while staying in Trondheim, Norway. Zachary felt that the weather was perfect, and he was in his best state while performing the various tactical drills under the supervision of the coaching staff.

    His enhanced stats were already working wonders on the field, and nothing could stop him from outperforming his teammates on the training ground. He was like a true ball wizard on the pitch, and whether it was perfect dribbles or pin-point passes through a hoard of yers, he continually executed them mboyantly like the best of Maestros. He performed so well over the two days of training to the point of amazing his coaches and teammates alike.

    "Zachary!" Patrice Evra, the French left-back, called out to him after training on Monday evening. The two of them had already finished taking a shower. They were, at the moment, heading to the tactics room for the pre-game tactical meeting that preceded their home battle against Inter Mn.

    "What''s up, Patrice?" Zachary said while slowing down his steps to wait for the Frenchman.

    Evra smiled and patted Zachary''s back. "You were so badass on the training ground today. Your skills are improving at an abnormal rate. What is your secret?"

    "Secrets are not meant to be shared," Zachary responded with a chuckle. "That aside, you look well-rested after taking all that time off. Did your injury heal well?"

    Evra grinned. "Well... you saw me during training! Didn''t you? I can now say that I''m as fit as a fiddle. I''m only waiting for Coach Max to give me an opportunity to make aeback during an official match. Let''s hope the boss will give me a chance during tomorrow''s game against Inter Min."

    "Congrattion upon your sessful recovery," Zachary said with a smile. "With your return, we have more than enough squad depth to maintain our perfect winning streak. By the way, what is the status of Andrea and Marchisio? Are they recovering well?"

    "Yes..." Evra replied while quickening his step to match Zachary''s long strides. "Pirlo should be fully fit within two weeks, give or take. He should return to the squad before our Serie A home game against Chievo Verona. udio Marchisio, on the other hand, needs more time. He can only achieveplete recovery around the first week of February."

    "That''s all good news." Zachary smiled. "With their return, we''ll head into our next Champions League fixture with our strongest side."

    Evra furrowed his brows. "We''ll be facing Bayer 04 Leverkusen from German. Right?"

    "Yes, that''s true. We''ll face Bayer 04 Leverkusen away from home in the first leg of the Round-of-Sixteen on February 25th. Then, on March 17th, we''ll host them in Turin for the return game."

    "Oh!" Evra eximed, seemingly thinking about something. "Bayer 04 Leverkusen''s coach is Roger Schmidt. He''s a tricky one and not easy to defeat. I have watched a few of their games this season, including the one against Borussia Dortmund. They are a team that ys good attacking football under their coach. If we''re not careful, we might not easily ovee them."

    "Yes," Zachary agreed. "Their coach is one of the most underrated coaches in Europe. He was formerly the coach of Red Bull Salzburg. He gave my former team a hard time when we yed against him duringst year''s Europa League. He likes ying counterattacking football, and I guess he will do the same thing when he meets us during the Champions League Round-of-Sixteen stage."

    "That''s a given..." Evra said. "But I still believe no team can stop us this season if we y at our best. We have the capability to beat the world''s best teams, including Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Real Madrid. What could bring us down are game tactics, squad selections, and injuries. Nothing else!"

    "Don''t jinx us," Zachary said.

    Evra shook his head and pursed his lips. "I heard the news about you joining the Ivory Coast National team. I guess we''ll be enemies during internationalpetitions from now on."

    "Yeah! You better be prepared. Otherwise, you''ll be in for a serious walloping when we y against you."

    "Dream on!" Evra chuckled again. "But can I ask why Ivory Coast? Why not join another country with better prospects?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Well... My biological mother is from Ivory Coast, and my gut feeling tells me I will fit well in the team. Additionally, they are one of the few African countries with many uing young footballers on the international scene. If I join them, we''ll have all the arsenal we need to gun for thete stages of the World Cup as an African nation."

    "Oh! So, your dream is to win the World Cup with an African nation?"

    "Yes, that''s my dream. And I guess it''s the dream of many African footballers who have ever yed in the big leagues."

    Evra sighed. "That''s a noble dream, my friend. But it will be hard. I wish you all the luck as you try to realize it..."

    The two of them continued talking until they entered the tactics room. Zachary parted with Evra and conversed with a few teammates and coaches for the next few minutes. Then, when 5:00 PM arrived, he found a random seat and settled down to listen to Coach Max Allegri''s address.

    Coach Max Allegri, on his part, spoke for only an hour. He first weed the team back from the Christmas Holiday before exining the tactics for the game against Inter Mn. He then read out the squad and assigned individual roles to the yers that made his starting line-up before concluding the tactics meeting.

    Zachary thought about the tactics as he drove back to his mansionter that evening. Coach Max Allegri had totally switched up Juventus'' tactics for the game against Inter Mn, and the team would be utilizing a new 4-3-1-2 formation instead of their traditional 5-3-2 formation. Moreover, the coach had also given Evra, the yer from injury, a starting position as the left back. The tactics and line-up confused Zachary, and he wondered what was going on through the coach''s mind.

    "We also won''t be utilizing any wingers during the game. We only have the left and right defensive midfielders in our squad. They aren''t wingers in the traditional sense of football, and I wonder whether they can deliver enough crosses into the opponent''s box!"

    Zachary continued thinking about Max Allegri''s tactics as he guided his Audi RS 7 into the driveway leading to his mansion. He parked the car in front of the house before picking his gym bag out of the back seat and heading towards the house.

    The clock hand pointed to the 7:45 PM mark when he stepped into his mansion. All the other house upants, including Bj?rn Peters, Inger, and the maids, were still awake. They greeted him enthusiastically and asked him about his day.

    Zachary replied to all their queries with a smile etched on his face before enjoying a light dinner and heading to his room for the night. As usual, he didn''t forget to go through his pre-bedtime yoga routine to rx his muscles after a tiring training session. Then, as the clock hands pointed to the 9:15 mark, he washed up and jumped into bed to rest for the night.

    Zachary wanted to sink into a rxing slumber as soon as possible. He hoped to enjoy more than eight hours of rest so as to allow his body to return to its peak condition before the following day''s match against Inter Mn. He wanted to do everything right in order to achieve the best state possible during the game.

    However, when he got in between the sheets, sleep wouldn''te, and his mind started wandering. He thought about many things, including his failed rtionship with Cami, the death of his grandma, and his recent change of nationality to be an Ivory Coast citizen. Many more thoughts raced through his mind, and he finally realized the meaning of true loneliness while pushing for greatness.

    Sure, his football career had progressed at an unbelievable speed. The investments he had made were also promising. But aside from those two elements, he had not developed the other aspects of his life, the most miserable of those being his social acumen.

    First and foremost, he was out of touch with most of his previous acquaintances, including his rtives, former teammates, and other people he knew during his younger years. He had also broken up with Cami, and it was as if he couldn''t maintain all his rtionships long enough. He was alone in every true sense of the world, and the only good thing he had going for him was his football.

    "After tomorrow''s game," Zachary resolved, "I have to spare time and reach out to my former acquaintances like Kasongo, the Ottersons, Marta, Melissa, my former teammates, and my former coaches. I must constantly check up on them, but aside from that, I also have to continue working hard to progress my football career. Football is the greatest thing in my life, and I should endeavor to do my utmost not to lose it."

    With the resolutions made, Zachary''s mood lightened. He was no longer thinking of random things, and a few minutester, he sank into the warm embrace of slumber and soon started dreaming about winning the Ballon d''Or.

 Chapter 531 Against Inter Milan

    Tuesday, January 6, 2015.

    Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy.

    Time: 9:00 PM

    -----

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, and the highly anticipated Serie A face-off between Juventus and Inter Mnmenced. The cheers around the stadium hit a thunderous crescendo as Carlos Tevez, the Juventus striker, kicked off the game with a backward pass. He booted the ball all the way to his backline and found Giorgio Chiellini, one of the two Juventus center-backs, for the night.

    Giorgio Chiellini, on his part, was pretty rxed as he linked up with the ball. He then flicked it to Leonardo Boni, his counterpart in central defense, to kickstart a period of dominance by the Juventus squad.

    Everything was in sailing for the Juventus yers during the opening fifteen minutes. The yers in the striped ck and white jerseys moved the ball around the field immactely while effortlessly monopolizing the ball possession. They relied on their exceptional midfield to dictate the proceedings and gained more and more momentum as more minutes shed by. Their superiority while in their 4-3-1-2 formation was clear for all watching the match, and they looked more and more like the team that would score the opening goal for the night.

    But then, the game situation changed during the 21st minute after Roberto Mancini, the Inter Mn head coach, made a surprising first-half substitution. The Italian tactician bravely took Zdravko Kuzmanovic, a midfielder, out of the game and reced him with Lukas Podolski, an attacking yer who could y on both nks and also as a center-forward. It was a thoughtful substitution on Roberto Mancini''s part, and with that, the game changed beyond measure over the next few minutes.

    First and foremost, Inter Mn switched from a 4-3-1-2 to a 4-4-2 formation after Lukas Podolski stepped onto the pitch. Danilo D''Ambrosio, Juan Jesus, Andrea Ranhia, and Hugo Campagnaro continued maintaining Inter Mn''s backline of four. Then, Mateo Kovacic and Fredy Guar¨ªn adjusted slightly to y as the central midfielders while working hand-in-hand with the freshly introduced Lukas Podolski and Gary Medel toplete Inter Mn''s new midfield of four. Andstly, Mauro Icardi and Hernanes maintained their positions as the two strikers toplete Inter Mn''s 4-4-2 tactical formation.

    The transformations were made in a seamless manner on the field of y as the game continued. And slowly by slowly, the Inter Mn yers adjusted to their new roles and started ying meaningful football for the first time that night.

    Of course, Inter Mn didn''t try to beat Juventus in its ''own game'' of slow but steady possession football. Instead, most of the Inter Mn men just sat back and weathered Juventus'' relentless attacks while waiting for an opportunity.

    Their defense was solid, their midfieldpact, and they tirelessly matched Juventus run for run. They were also patient in their approach and only ensured that Juventus would not threaten their goal. But when an opportunity arose, they would not hesitate to y a long ball forward, hoping to find either Mauro Icardi or Hernanes, the two strikers who were the only Inter Mn yers without defensive duties on the night. But those times they attacked were few and far between as they were clearly focused on the defensive side of the game.

    More minutes passed, and Inter Mn''s tenacity on the field of y remained beyond what words could describe. The men from Mn were obviously on the back foot, but they stayed disciplined and performed their duties wlessly against the much stronger Juventus side. Their hard work evidently paid off, and Juventus only managed to create three opportunities throughout the rest of the first half.

    The first opportunity arose when Zachary unleashed a sudden and brilliant through-pass to set up Fernando Llorente for a perfect one-versus-one with the Inter Mn keeper during the 35th minute. However, the Spanish striker failed to beat the keeper and thus missed out¡ªon the opportunity to put Juventus in the lead.

    Zachary then created the second opportunity by drifting into the wing and unleashing a teasing cross toward the box during the 38th minute. He managed to pick out Carlos Tevez, who immediately controlled the ball and unleashed a snap-shot goalward. However, nothing came of the Argentine''s thoughtful attempt due to the brilliance of the Inter Mn keeper, who spared no effort to save the shot.

    The third and final opportunity for Juventus during the first half was initiated by Patrice Evra during the 43rd minute. The left-back sprinted through the wing like a whirlwind before squaring the ball into the middle to find Zachary, who happened to have dashed into an unmarked pocket of space a few yards away from Inter Mn''s box.

    Zachary, on his part, made the perfect connection with the ball and unleashed a first-time missile of a shot toward the goal from more than thirty yards away. His execution was wless, and he caught the keeper napping. However, the ball swerved and deviated from its intended trajectory at thest minute before smashing off the post and heading out of y. And with that, the score remained deadlocked at 0:0 as the yers headed for the halftime break.

    -----

    "Guys!" Coach Allegri said to his yers after they settled in the dressing room during the halftime break. "Games like this are the ones that will make or break our indomitable sess this season. If we don''t win, our momentum will lower, and we''ll find it hard to attain victory during the next few games. But if we can y brilliantly and defeat Inter Mn right now, at the start of the new year, we''ll build up even more momentum to face all our future opponents. We''ll gain unlimited confidence, and no other team ¡ª whether in Italy or Europe, will be able to match us this season. So, guys! Let''s treat this match as a must-win game. Let''s treat the match as a final. Let''s go out there, utilize all our chances efficiently, and take the lead as soon as possible during the second half. Are you guys with me?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Are you guys with me?" The coach asked again.

    "Yes, coach!" The voices of the yers were even louder that time around.

    "That''s the spirit." Coach Max Allegri smiled and swept his gaze around. "I know that Inter Mn is a good side. They have rtively skilled yers in all areas of the field. But again, so what? The strength of their squad and all their preparations don''t matter because of one single reason. We''re better as a team. We''re are a stronger team, and if we can y at our best, we''ll be able to send them back to Mn crying. So, let''s y with confidence during the second half and win this game. Clear?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good." Coach Allegri smiled and said a few more encouraging words to the yers. He then assigned a few individual roles to all the yers before sending them back to the field of y.

    "Zachary! A moment please!"

    A familiar voice called out to Zachary as he was about to follow his teammates and return to the field of y. Inclining his head to look, he noticed that it was Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach in charge of the first team, who happened to have called his name.

    "Coach! Is there anything else?" Zachary said and stopped in his tracks.

    "More instructions from the boss." The assistant coach went straight to the point. "During the first half, we noticed your impact on the pitch wasn''t high. You''re not as sharp as you were during the Supercoppa final! Is there a problem?"

    "No, coach," Zachary replied. "I was just growing into the game while studying the Inter Mn yers. I''m confident that I''ll perform better during the second half."

    "Then, that''s good," Coach Trombetta said. "Try to take more risks and take on the opponents with your dribbling when you see fit. Additionally, whenever there''s a chance, don''t hesitate. Try to test the keeper from a distance. Maybe you will seed and score. Is that clear?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied.

    "There''s also something else we noticed," Coach Trombetta continued. "There''s a lot of space we can use on the nks. With your speed and dribbling skills, you have a high probability of beating either Danilo D''Ambrosio or Hugo Campagnaro, the opposing wing-backs, during one-versus-one situations. So, try your best to float into the wings and take them on with your dribbling and speed. If you seed, break into the box and try to score or set up one of your teammates. Is everything clear?"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good." Coach Trombetta smiled. "I wish you all the luck during the second half. We have to win this game."

    "We surely will," Zachary promised. Then after chugging down some more water, he exited the dressing room and headed to the field as he thought about his first-half performance against Inter Mn.

    During the first half, his condition had been slightly off due to the recent rapid growth of his attributes. His timing and reactions had been slightly off, especially since he hadn''t gotten used to the SS-grade agility. His body would, at times, move faster than his brain anticipated, and that would cause his actions to be out of sync.

    But fortunately, Zachary overcame the slight difficulty towards the end of the first half. His SS grade game intelligence had worked wonders and allowed him to adapt to his recently enhanced attributes during an intensive match. He was now at a hundred percent match fitness and ready to perform at his best during the second half.

 Chapter 532 SS-Grade Attributes In Action

    The game rmenced after the second-half whistle sounded. But surprisingly, it wasn''t Juventus on the front foot during the minutes after the restart. Instead, it was the Inter Mn yers who initiated the first attack of the second half.

    A minute after the restart, the Inter Mn men flew forward like a pack of predators on the hunt after winning back possession from Juventus. They exchanged lightning-fast passes through the middle as they cut through Juventus'' formation at breakneck speed. They made it to the space before Juventus'' box within seconds, and the ball naturally found its way to the feet of Mateo Kovacic, their attacking midfielder.

    It was the perfect chance to catch Juventus off-guard, and Mateo Kovacic didn''t disappoint. He twisted and turned at the edge of the box before threading a teasing and brilliant ball into the box.

    "Whoosh..."

    A yer in a dark blue jersey moved like the wind and dashed into the box. It was Mauro Icardi, the Inter Mn striker, and he had just beaten the off-side trap before connecting with the through pass from Kovacic.

    What followed was pretty much what everyone in the stadium expected. Mauro Icardi utilized his skills to bring the ball under control. Then, before any of the Juventus defenders could react, the Inter Mn striker unleashed a powerful drive past Buffon, the Juventus keeper, and scored Inter Mn''s first goal for the night. He had drawn first blood and put his team in the lead during the 47th minute of gamey.

    -----

    Juventus FC 0 : Inter Mn 1

    -----

    Roberto Mancini, Inter Mn''s head coach, smiled and raised his arms high when the ball nestled into the back of the. He felt at ease as his yers had utilized their first opportunity during the second half to score their first goal for the night. They were now in the perfect position to sit back and y defensive football while waiting for a chance to counterattack.

    Coach Roberto Mancini celebrated for a few seconds and then tried to rx. But as the excitement of the goal left him, he realized that he was still tense. He couldn''t seem to calm down, especially since he couldn''t be sure of the result until he totally neutralized Zachary Bemba, Juventus'' ymaker.

    The boy''s skills were just messed up, to the point of causing opponents misery. Coach Roberto Mancini understood that it was imperative that he bring out all his guns to contain the young ymaker. Or else, the boy would create a goal-scoring opportunity or even find the back of the before the final whistle sounded.

    "What to do?" Coach Mancini started caressing his chin as he thought about the problem. The game was about to restart, and he had to make a tactical switch before Juventus could find a way to crawl back into the game.

    "Why not let Mateo Kovacic mark Zachary Bemba throughout the rest of the game," Fausto Salsano, his assistant coach, suddenly suggested. "Although still young, Kovacic is a great technician with excellent motor abilities. He''s also highly versatile, and he''ll be able to match Zachary''s athleticism. Moreover, we don''t need him to freeze Zachary out. All he has to do is dy him for a few seconds during crucial moments ¡ª and then that will allow his teammates time to regroup and deal with the danger."

    "That may actually work." Roberto Mancini smiled. "Thank you, Fausto."

    "No need for thanks," the assistant replied. "I''m just doing my job."

    Roberto Mancini nodded. "We''ll need to make some slight adjustments to give Kovacic the freedom to mark Zachary. Firstly, we must switch from a 4-4-2 to a 4-5-1 formation. The extra man in midfield will cover the gaps left behind by Kovacic while he follows Zachary around."

    "So, we need to make a substitution. Right?" Fausto Salsano asked.

    "Yes, that''s what we must do," Roberto Mancini replied. "We''ll bring on Yann M''V, a defensive midfielder, in ce of Hernanes, the striker. Yann should be able to y well in the midfield and help cover Kovacic when necessary."

    "Excellent," Fausto Salsano, the assistant, said. "I''ll go and prep Yann as a substitute. He should be able to enter the field in five minutes tops."

    "Okay. You do that." Roberto Mancini said and then refocused on the game that had just rmenced.

    The Juventus yers had already reacted as expected after conceding a goal. They were, at that moment, moving the ball around the field while trying their best to stretch Inter Mn''s defensive shape. They were doing their best to create spaces and find the opportunity tounch a deadly attack against Inter Mn.

    Coach Roberto Mancini continued watching expressionlessly for a few more minutes. He was only waiting to bring on the substitute before instructing Mateo Kovacic to mark Zachary. So, he remained calm, knowing that the hard times were about to pass even as he watched the much superior Juventus side dominating his team in all areas of the field.

    But suddenly, something transpired on the field that caused Coach Roberto Mancini''s heart to skip a beat. Zachary Bemba floated toward the right wing and linked up with a diagonal pass from Arturo Vidal. The young ymaker controlled the ball perfectly before taking off like a bullet from a gun''s muzzle. His eleration was incredible, and before Roberto Mancini could blink, the young ball wizard had already initiated a one-versus-one situation against Danilo D''Ambrosio, Inter Mn''s left-back.

    "Whoosh! Whoosh..."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Zachary stepped over the ball twice as he slowed down slightly. He then leaned towards the left, seemingly as if he was about to cut past Danilo D''Ambrosio and rush toward the middle.

    But just as Zachary was about toplete the move, there was a slight pause in his movements, and he utilized his left boot to scoop the ball back toward himself. He then swiftly changed his center of gravity and fed the ball through Danilo D''Ambrosio''s legs before continuing on with his mad sprint toward Inter Mn''s box.

    "Damn it!"

    Coach Roberto Mancini couldn''t help but let out a few expletives after witnessing Zachary''s skills in action. The boy had performed a series of movements, including slowing down, a side step, and an stico dribble before elerating again. Hepleted everything gracefully and without losing his bnce, thus denying the defender any chance to recover. His exceptional sprinting abilities had alsoe into y, and Zachary had left the helpless guy in the dust. He was now swiftly bearing down on Inter Mn''s box, and for sure, Roberto Mancini''s team was in a precarious situation because of his wizardry.

    -----

    "Zachary! Zachary..."

    The cheers around the stadium rose to a higher volume as Zachary cut into the pitch like a whirlwind from the right nk. He soon came across the roadblock that was Juan Jesus, the Inter Mn center-back, who was out to mark him.

    The defender swiftly approached Zachary, all guns zing, as if he was about tomit murder. His expression was hideous, and his entire aura explosive as he tried to close down Zachary''s run. The perfect metaphor to describe him was a speeding train, and he looked like he was willing to risk everything and smash Zachary to bits while defending his side.

    Zachary, on his part, wasn''t the least bit fazed by Juan Jesus'' momentum. His SS-grade game intelligence immediately worked wonders, and he utilized his SS-grade agility to perform another series of swift movements.

    His two boots became like the rims of a motorbike in motion as he executed lightning-fast stepovers. And an even more surprising fact was that he didn''t touch the ball even once as he continued sidestepping and approaching Juan Jesus, the defender, whose body was already wiggling left and right ¡ª as if in sync with Zachary''s step-overs.

    A second or twoter, the moment arrived when the two yers were just about to collide. But just at thest instant, when Juan Jesus was stretching out his foot to tackle the ball, Zachary''s SS-grade agility and game intelligence attributes came into y again.

    With the simplest of touches, he utilized the outside of his boot to move the ball slightly to the right, just a few centimeters beyond the reach of the defender''s boot. Then Zachary followed that up with another swift change of his center of gravity and an explosive eleration towards the right. And with that, he seamlessly skirted past the defender and continued on with his insane sprint into Inter Mn''s box.

    All of Zachary''s motions werepleted almost instantaneously. And before Juan Jesus could understand what was happening, Zachary had already speared deeper into Inter Mn''s box to initiate a one-on-one face-off against Samir Handanovic, the opposing goalkeeper.

    Zachary''s overly-high mental strength, graded at SS by the system, allowed him to remainposed even at the most crucial moment. He rushed past the keeper with a simple deft touch before hammering the ball into the back of the to score Juventus'' first goal for the night.

    -----

    Juventus FC 1 : Inter Mn 1

    -----

    "Oh, my goodness me!" Fabio Crudeli, thementator, yelled as the score on the stadium''s jumbotron changed to indicate that Juventus had scored an equalizer. "What a sensational goal we''ve just witnessed. Zachary has done it again. He has just lomed his way from the right wing all the way into the box before scoring Juventus'' 1st goal during the 50th minute. This young man is flying, and his timing is just perfect. Just barely three minutes after Inter Mn scored their opening goal, Zachary responded with one of his own. The score is now 1:1, and everything is back to square one."

    David Ferrini, the comentator for the day, chuckled. "I can say that Zachary''s skills are now close to the top of the international football scene. The two Inter Mn defenders stood no chance against his potent dribbling, and he effortlessly left them in the dust with his swift footwork. This goal has the potential to be the goal of the season."

    "Indeed," Fabio Crudeli agreed. "There''s also something else I noticed. Zachary makes all his dribbles and sidesteps look simple, but they still remain highly effective against defenders. For instance, while approaching Juan Jesus, he didn''t touch the ball even once while executing his step-overs. Then, just abruptly, he tapped the ball slightly, and from there on, Juan Jesus couldn''t see his shadow. Zachary was already hammering the ball into the back of the while Juan Jesus was still frozen at the edge of the box, looking around for his trace."

    David Ferrini chuckled. "It''s always distressing for any defender to face off against a yer as swift and skilled as Zachary. The young Maestro has all the qualities to make any defender feel hopeless. He is highly agile and can unleash brilliant game-changing through passes out of the blue. He has nice physicality, and now, he has proven that he can dribble like Ronaldinho. So, how the hell are defenders and coaches supposed to contain him?"

    "The match has just rmenced," Fabio Crudeli said lightly. "Let''s return to the action on the field of y. Maybe, we''ll soon get an answer on how to contain Zachary Bemba from the experienced Inter Mn coach - Roberto Mancini."

    ------

 Chapter 533 Unparalleled Composure And Skill

    Zachary had long understood that the best way to devastate an opponent and make them feel hopeless was to ''hit them hard'' when they were down. He knew that he had to destroy Inter Mn''s confidence before they could reorganize, so he went into action as soon as the match rmenced.

    He floated toward the right wing again right after Juventus won back the ball from Inter Mn. He then linked up with a linear ball from Stephan Lichtsteiner, and from there on, it was as if he was repeating the actions he had performed only a few minutes prior.

    He elerated to top speed within an instant and pumped his legs like the pistons of a Ferrari on a racetrack. His pace was so out of this world ¡ª and within seconds, he initiated another one-versus-one against Danilo D''Ambrosio, the very same left-back he had beaten only a few minutes ago.

    Zachary was so heartless in his approach. His SS-grade agility came into y, and he ruthlessly side-stepped past the defender, who was already feeling low on confidence. His skills were as potent as ever, and a momentter, he left the helpless defender in the dust. Zachary then elerated along the touchline before cutting back into the pitch like a predator on the hunt.

    A second or soter, Zachary met another barrier. It was in the form of Fredy Guar¨ªn, the Inter Mn defensive midfielder who was closing down Zachary with a ruthless sliding tackle. The midfielder''s boot was like a serpent sliding over the grass, and his intent was obvious. He was willing to rely on any means, whether foul or fair, to take down Zachary and stop him from continuing his sprint toward Inter Mn''s box.

    At that moment, Zachary''s high mental strength worked like a charm, and he remainedposed while facing the sliding tackle from Fredy Guar¨ªn. Zachary utilized his high agility and exceptional ball control to scoop the ball up and lift it over the approaching defensive midfielder''s body. And finally, as a finishing touch, he leaped over the opponent before realigning his posture and continuing on with his insane sprint toward Inter Mn''s box from the right nk.

    Zacharypleted the entire series of movements and beat Fredy Guar¨ªn without losing his bnce. His following actions were like sorcery against the opponents due to his high agility and game intelligence. He effortlessly stepped past another opponent a momentter. And then, as the cheers around the stadium hit a crescendo, he dashed into the box and faced off against the Inter Mn keeper, who had rushed out to greet him.

    It was at that moment that a peculiar feeling of calmness descended upon Zachary''s entire being. His SS-grade game intelligence came into y again, and he judged the actions and intentions of a keeper within a split second. Then, with a smile etched upon his face, he dug his boot under the ball and looped it over the keeper''s head to find the back of the. And with that, he had scored another dazzling goal and put Juventus ahead during the 52nd minute of gamey.

    "GOAAAL..."

    The stadium exploded with cheers as Zachary raced to the corner g and slid on his knees to celebrate. The Juventus fans were yelling like crazy as they had just witnessed more magic from Zachary.

    Zachary, on his part, couldn''t contain his happiness. He had taken a gamble and floated toward the right wing to attack immediately after the restart. His gamble had paid off, and he had scored Juventus'' second even before three minutes had psed from the time heted the first. His dare-devil attitude had obviously worked wonders and allowed him to bag the two goals within a short span of less than three minutes.

    -----

    Juventus FC 2 : Inter Mn 1

    -----

    "It''s another wonderful goal from Zachary," Fabio Crudeli, thementator, said as the cheers started dying down. "Just barely three minutes after he scored the first, he has added to his tally with another sensational goal. He has again lomed his way through Inter Mn''s defense before brilliantly beating the keeper and putting Juventus ahead during the 52nd minute. He''s truly a sensation on the football field, and considering his form, no one can stop him."

    "Yeah, he is a true sensation," David Ferrini, the comentator, agreed. "He has caught Inter Mn''s defense napping twice within less than three minutes. It takes a dare-devil attitude to achieve such a feat in a highlypetitive game of a top league like the Italian Serie A. If he continues like this, he will win both the Serie A yer of the Season and Golden Boot without any challenge."

    "But what do you think about Inter Mn''s defense?" Fabio Crudeli asked. "Zachary has torn through them twice and scored on both asions during the past three minutes. Don''t you think they aren''t doing enough to stop him?"

    "Well..." David Ferrini shook his head and sighed. "The Inter Mn defenders are all top footballers on the international stage. They have always been professional and unrelenting on the football field. So, they should be doing the same in this game and going all out to stop Zachary from making an impact. But the problemes from Zachary''s potent skills. He is so swift with the ball and fast at finding the gaps. He''s utilizing everything he has to render the Inter Mn defenders helpless while also finding opportunities for his team. Unless Roberto Mancini can devise targeted tactics to stop the boy''s antics, he might even score one or two more goals before the game ends tonight."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Well, back to the pitch," Fabio Crudeli said. "Roberto Mancini has switched up Inter Mn''s tactics. He has just introduced Yann M''V, a defensive midfielder, in ce of Hernanes, the striker. With the substitution, Inter Mn has switched from a 4-4-2 to a 4-5-1 formation, and surprisingly, Mateo Kovacic, one of their central midfielders, has begun shadowing Zachary''s every move. Most likely, Roberto Mancini wants the young Mateo Kovacic to man-mark Zachary for the rest of the game."

    "The man-marking strategy might not fully contain Zachary, especially today when he''s at the top of his game," David Ferrini hurriedly said. "But at least Mateo Kovacic''s presence will dy him at certain crucial moments and stop him from effortlessly cutting through Inter Mn''s defense."

    -----

    On the field of y, the game had already rmenced. The Inter Mn yers were on the ball and moving it around with the evident intent to stretch Juventus'' defensive shape. They continued ying short passes among the defenders on the backline for the next few minutes. It was as if they were inviting the Juventus yers to high press if they wished to touch the ball.

    "High press! Go for the ball..."

    As usual, Coach Max Allegri couldn''t bear to see the opponents holding possession for long. He started roaring from the home team''s technical area to encourage his yers to high-press and win the ball back.

    However, right before the Juventus yers could heed their coach''s instructions, an abrupt change urred on the field of y. Inter Mn switched gears through Yann M''V, their newly introduced defensive midfielder. The substitute unleashed a sudden defense-splitting pass toward the other side of the field, just behind Juventus'' backline.

    The pass was so abrupt that it caught all the Juventus defenders napping. Most of them could not react in time as Lukas Podolski came out of nowhere and beat the offside trap to connect with the ball right at the border of the defensive third.

    "Lukas! Podolski! Lukas..."

    The visiting fans began yelling Lukas Podolski''s name after he beat the offside trap and initiated a footrace toward the box. Their voices were filled with boundless excitement since the striker of their team was only a second away from creating a one-versus-one situation against Gianluigi Buffon, the Juventus keeper. Evidently, they were dreaming about the moment the German forward would find the back of the and bring the game circumstances back to level terms.

    But who was Gianluigi Buffon? He was the Juventus captain renowned for his consistent performances throughout his career. His concentration, calmposure under pressure, athleticism, quick reflexes, acrobatic dives, and bravery were insane on the mortal level. For sure, the experienced keeper had outstanding shot-stopping abilities, which allowed him to produce almost impossible saves at crucial moments.

    That time was business as usual for Gianluigi Buffon. He raced out of his goal like a force of nature and threw everything on the line while closing down the swiftly approaching Lucas Podolski with a desperado attitude.

    Finally, it was as if time had slowed as the moment just before the two men were about to collide arrived. Gianluigi Buffon lunged forward to scoop the ball away from Lucas Podolski''s feet. But Lukas, on his part, just shoved the ball to the side, hoping to dodge the keeper''s lunge before scoring in an empty.

    But could that be the end of the tense moment? The answer was no!

    Just at thest instant, when Lucas Podolski was about to dribble past Gianluigi Buffon, the keeper freakishly contorted his body while mid-lunge. Buffon controlled his lunging speed before kicking out with his left boot to poke the ball away from Lucas Podolski''s feet. Moreover, hepleted all the actions in a skillful way by tapping the ball first before sending the striker tumbling to the ground.

    "Foul! Red Card..."

    A thunderous roar sounded within the Juventus stadium immediately after. The Inter Mn fans and yers were obviously incensed. They continued yelling for the referee to carry out justice by showing Gianluigi Buffon a red card and offering a free kick to Inter Mn.

 Chapter 534 A Performance for the History Books

    Chapter 534 A Performance for the History Books

    The referee had been well-positioned and seen what had transpired between Gianluigi Buffon and Lucas Podolski. So, when he heard the cries for a foul from the Inter Mn yers and fans alike, he didn''t even think twice before waving his arms dismissively to shut them down. He remained totally deaf to their appeals and boldly signaled for the game to continue.

    Of course, the Juventus defenders didn''t need the reminder from the referee to get on with the game. Leonardo Boni, the center-back, was already in action, and he had just smashed the ball toward the middle of the pitch, where Carlos Tevez happened to be lurking.

    Carlos Tevez, on his part, dashed away from the defender marking him and connected with the ball. He leaped off the ground and brought it under control with his chest before flicking it toward his right to find Fernando Llorente, his counterpart on the striking line.

    Fernando Llorente also took one touch on the ball to bring it under control. He then kicked it backward to find Simone Padoin, the only Juventus midfielder, who happened to be unmarked at that juncture.

    "Pa..."

    Simone Padoin''s boot produced a slight sound as he connected with the pass from Fernando Llorente. Then, as usual, he first looked in Zachary''s direction to assess whether the young ymaker was in a favorable situation. But s, Zachary was already tightly marked by Mateo Kovacic and Yann M''V, the two Inter Mn central midfielders, and thus wasn''t the perfect outlet for the ball at that very moment.

    Lightning-fast thoughts raced through Simone Padoin''s mind, and he chose the second-best option after briefly surveying the situation on the pitch. The midfielder twisted and turned to avail himself some more space before unleashing a lofted pass over the entire midfield and toward the left wing. His passing uracy was spot-on, and he smoothly picked out Patrice Evra, the Juventus left-back who had long initiated a daring run into Inter Mn''s half.

    "Pa..."

    The sound of chest muscles meeting synthetic leather sounded as Evra controlled the ball on the left nk. He chested it forward skillfully and continued sprinting along the touchline to advance Juventus'' lightning-fast counterattack against Inter Mn.

    Evra was like a true-blue incarnation of Usain Bolt, and a few secondster, he stepped past the border of the final third and squared the ball toward the space before the box. He was, of course, trying to find either Carlos Tevez or Fernando Llorente, the two Juventus strikers that had the habit of lurking around the area.

    "Whoosh..."

    In the middle, Carlos Tevez''s exceptional sprinting speed came into y. The Argentine moved like the wind and left the Inter Mn defenders in the dust before connecting with the square pass from Patrice Evra. Then, before any of the other yers could react, he drew his leg back and unleashed a powerful curling shot toward the inside of the far post.

    At that moment, it seemed like the time for Juventus to score the third goal had arrived, and the cheers around the stadium rose up a notch. But the next instant, those cheers turned into dejected sighs when Samir Handanovic, the Inter Mn keeper, executed an acrobat dive to punch the ball out of y. The Juventus fans were obviously feeling down after their team failed to convert an excellent chance and score their third goal during the 59th minute.

    "Don''t mind! Don''t mind! Let''s forget about the missed chance and prepare for the corner..."

    Coach Max Allegri''s loud voice sounded from Juventus'' technical area as the yers readied themselves for the corner kick. He was obviously reminding his yers not to dwell on the past but to focus on the present. He wanted them to forget Carlos Tevez''s missed opportunity and then go all out to get something out of the corner kick.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee''s whistle sounded a few secondster, and Simone Padoin took the corner kick. The midfielder sent a lofted ball from the corner spot that cut through the air like a surface-to-surface missile. Its speed was so swift, and its trajectory teasing as it soared toward Inter Mn''s already crowded and chaotic box.

    At the edge of the box, Zachary was attentively tracking the ball using his peripheral vision. At the same time, he also observed the reactions of Mateo Kovacic and Yann M''V, the two Inter Mn central midfielders who were marking him. Then, a second or twoter, after he urately judged their intentions and impending actions, he sprang into action.

    "Whoosh..."

    He moved like the wind while utilizing his impressive physical fitness attributes to escape the harassment of the two opponents marking him. He dashed toward the area close to the penalty spot with a death-or-glory attitude and leaped off the ground like a Ninja.

    The CR7 Aerial Finishing Juju worked wonders at that moment, and he easily towered over all the yers in the box before connecting with the corner ball. He tilted his head slightly and guided the fast-iing ball toward the top left corner with a skillful but delicate touch.

    "Whoosh..."

    The ball traveled like a bullet toward the goal, and as expected, Samir Handanovic, the Inter Mn keeper, reacted immediately. The shot-stopper executed an acrobatic dive, hoping to save the situation. But s, Zachary''s header was just too powerful, and the ball brushed by his fingertips before homing into the back of the. And with that, Zachary had just scored his third goal for the night and extended Juventus'' lead during the 61st minute.

    -----

    Juventus FC 3 : Inter Mn 1

    -----

    "GOAAL..."

    It was as if there were explosives going off within the Juventus stadium after Zachary scored the third goal for Juventus. The Juventus fans couldn''t contain their excitement, and they vocalized the famous victory chants of Juventus with their all. Their voices shook the stadium to its very core as the Juventus yers gathered at one of the corner gs to celebrate the third goal.

    "Well..." Fabio Crudeli, thementator, said after the cheers started dying down. "I guess that is it for Inter Mn. Zachary Bemba has just obliterated them by scoring his third goal for the night. The young ymaker has extended Juventus'' lead after getting to the end of the corner ball and finding the back of the with a powerful header during the 61st minute. What a night for the young man!"

    "Indeed, what a night for Zachary Bemba, the twenty-year-old Juventus ymaker," David Ferrini, the comentator for the day, chimed in. "He has justpleted another hattrick during a Serie A match and helped his team ovee Inter Mn, one of their most powerful rivals in Italy. His performance this season deserves to go down in the history books."

    "David!" Fabio Crudeli, the othermentator, called out. "Do you see any way for Inter Mn to crawl their way back into this game?"

    "I really don''t see a way!" David Ferrini was quick to reply. "The Juventus yers have been exceptional during today''s game. They have worked hard and yed brilliant football to overpower Inter Mn in all areas of the field. I''m sure they will continue doing just that to achieve their desired result. Moreover, there''s also Zachary, who has been beyond exceptional. He is an ever-present threat in front of Inter Mn''s goal, and I don''t think there''s a chance for Inter Mn to turn the situation around while he''s still on the field of y."

    "Good analysis," Fabio Crudelimended. "I''m of the same view. Zachary is too much for the entire Inter Mn team. He''s at the top of his game today, and I can''t visualize just how the men from Mn can turn this game around with him on the pitch..."

    -----

    Thementators were spot-on with their projections. During the final twenty-plus minutes, Inter Mn devoted plenty of manpower to contain Zachary. They utilized Mateo Kovacic and Yann M''V, two of their central midfielders, to shadow Zachary''s movements. In doing that, they undoubtedly reduced Zachary''s impact on the field of y. But as a negative, they also left a lot of gaps in midfield as the two men kept running all over the pitch while trying to keep up with Zachary.

    What followed was pretty obvious. The other Juventus yers, including Carlos Tevez, ¨¢lvaro Morata (the substitute), Simone Padoin, and Arturo Vidal, brilliantly utilized the gaps left by the two yers marking Zachary. They created chances during the final few minutes and allowed Juventus to put two more goals past Inter Mn.

    Carlos Tevez scored the fourth goal for Juventus during the 78th minute after skillfully linking up with a pin-point through-pass from Arturo Vidal. Then, ¨¢lvaro Morata, the substitute striker, found the back of the during the 84th minute after a lightning-fast exchange of short passes between him and Simone Padoin, the other Juventus midfielder. And with that, the score was finally 5:1 in favor of Juventus as the game headed into the final few minutes.

    From there on, it was all about game management for Juventus. The yers in ck and white didn''t rx even after ¨¢lvaro Morata scored the fifth goal. They continued ying short but steady passes while asionally employing some time-wasting strategies until the final whistle sounded after three minutes of added time.

 Chapter 535 Incredible Match Statistics

    Chapter 535 Incredible Match Statistics

    Beatrice Paretti, the Sky Italia journalist, hosted the Serie A post-match show that evening. Right after the interviews with the coaches and yers, she smiled at the cameras and said, "Wee back, our dear viewers, from that exciting Serie A battle between Juventus and Inter Mn. It was business as usual for the Juventus squad as they thrashed Roberto Mancini''s struggling Inter Mn by a score of 5:1."

    "Zachary continued his exceptional scoring form and put three past the Inter Mn keeper toplete yet another hat-trick this season," she continued. "Then, as a finishing touch,te goals from Carlos Tevez and ¨¢lvaro Morata sealed the pummeling of the team from Mn. What a game we''ve just witnessed! With me in the studio are two gentlemen who are former professionals that yed in the Italian Serie A. They will help us analyze and scrutinize why Juventus was able to thrash Inter Mn by five goals to one. Alessandro Costacurta and Roberto Baggio! Wee to the Sky Italia studio. We''re d to have you here."

    "Thank you, Beatrice," The two pundits replied, more or less in unison as the cameras focused on them.

    "Let''s get straight to business." Beatrice Paretti smiled at the cameras. "Roberto! You just watched the game. What was the difference between the two teams? Why was Juventus so overwhelming on the field of y to the point of thrashing their old rival, Inter Mn, by five goals to one?"

    "Well, the answer to that question is quite simple," Roberto Baggio said while smiling at the cameras. "The difference between Juventus and Inter Mn was one young yer - Zachary Bemba. His disy was so awe-inspiring during the game, and Inter Mn had no way to handle him. His performance today was a 10/10, and he literally destroyed the opponents just by himself."

    "His three goals were quite impressive," Beatrice Paretti hurriedly chimed in as the cameras focused back on her. "I haven''t seen such goals in a Serie A match for quite a while."

    "Yes, they were quite spectacr goals," Roberto Baggio agreed. "The first and second were pretty much the same. Zachary Bemba escaped his markers and drifted from the midfield toward the wing. He then relied on his swift eleration to set up a one-versus-one against Danilo D''Ambrosio, the Inter Mn left-back. His unparalleled skills allowed him to dash past the defender and lom his way past a few more opponents before stepping into the box and finding the back of the. Those two goals were, in every true sense, spectacles for the record books."

    "As for the third," Roberto Baggio continued, "It was a typical forward''s goal converted from a corner kick. Zachary Bemba showcased his game reading, timing, and finishing skills by towering over everyone else in the box and finding the back of the with a powerful header. The goal might have looked simple to ayman''s eyes, but to all who have ever yed professional football, they would have a different perspective. Zachary did everything right from the time the corner was taken. He utilized his wits to escape the harassment of his markers before timing his run perfectly and connecting with the ball. Zachary did just enough to guide the ball into the back of the. He didn''t apply too much force while heading but merely utilized the ball''s momentum to generate enough power to beat the keeper and bag his third for the night. His finishing at that moment was the pinnacle of goal scoring, even at the world-ss level."

    "Thank you for your analysis, Roberto," Beatrice Paretti said. "I have just looked at the game statistics between the two teams. They are quite astonishing. Juventus dominated Inter Mn in all aspects of the game. Let''s have a look as we continue with our analysis."

    And with that said, the game statistics appeared on the screens around the studio. Beatrice Paretti and the two pundits immediately focused on the stats before continuing their post-match analysis.

    ****

    GAME STATISTICS

    ->Score (Goals)

    Juventus FC (5) : (1) Inter Mn

    -----

    ->Goal Scorers

    Mauro Icardi (Inter Mn) 47''

    Zachary Bemba (Juventus) 50'', 52'', 61''

    Carlos Tevez (Juventus) 78''

    ¨¢lvaro Morata (Juventus) 84''

    -----

    ->Ball Possession

    Juventus FC (72%) : (28%) Inter Mn

    ->Shots on Target

    Juventus FC (9) : (3) Inter Mn

    ->Shots off Target

    Juventus FC (3) : (4) Inter Mn

    -----

    ->Corner Kicks

    Juventus FC (8) : (2) Inter Mn

    ->Fouls

    Juventus FC (7) : (11) Inter Mn

    ->Yellow Cards

    Juventus FC (0) : (2) Inter Mn

    -----

    ->Big Chances

    Juventus FC (10) : (3) Inter Mn

    ->Big Chances Missed

    Juventus FC (5) : (2) Inter Mn

    -----

    ->Passes

    Juventus FC (732) : (271) Inter Mn

    ->urate Passes

    Juventus FC (653/89%) : (204/75%) Inter Mn

    ****

    "This is pretty much what we expected," Alessandro Costacurta, the other pundit present in the studio, said after ncing at the statistics. "Juventus was overwhelming in all areas. Their 5:1 thrashing of Inter Mn doesn''te as a surprise to me."

    Roberto Baggio pursed his lips and said, "At least my old team, Inter Mn, didn''t lose out against Juventus in all aspects. They have more shots off-target, more fouls, and more yellow cards than Juventus. That should count for something. Right?"

    The others in the studio chuckled at that.

    "Alessandro!" Beatrice Paretti hurriedly chipped in. "Look at the time for Zachary''s three goals. He scored during the 50th, 52nd, and 61st minutes. That implies that he destroyed Inter Mn in a brief span of less than a dozen minutes. Truly surprising!"

    "Yes, the fact that Inter Mn conceded the three goals in such a short time period also surprised me," Alessandro Costacurta said. "I think the Inter Mn yers switched off for a bit during those minutes, and Zachary being as sharp as he is, took advantage of theirxity. He first scored two goals within a window of fewer than three minutes before adding the third that pretty much sealed the deal. If Roberto Mancini had taken measures to contain him right after Inter Mn scored, the result might have differed greatly from what we see now. Zachary might not have scored those three goals, and Inter Mn would have had a chance to win or draw the game."

    "I have a different opinion," Roberto Baggio hurriedly said. "Coach Roberto Mancini tried to contain Zachary Bemba by man-marking him with Mateo Kovacic and Yann M''V, during the final twenty-five minutes. But what was the result? Sure, Zachary''s impact on the game was reduced. However, it was at the cost of leaving gaps that were readily utilized by the other Juventus attackers to put two more goals past Inter Mn during thete stages. So, following that reasoning, the result wouldn''t have varied from what it is now, even if Coach Roberto Mancini had utilized two yers to mark Zachary from the very beginning. Inter Mn would have only contained Zachary, but Juventus would still thrash them overwhelmingly."

    "Let''s look at Zachary''s statistics for the game before we continue," Beatrice said, and the screens around the studio shed to show a select few of Zachary''s stats against Inter Mn.

    ****

    ZACHARY BEMBA''S STATS

    ->Minutes yed: 90''

    ->Goals: 3

    ->Assists: 0

    -----

    ->Shots on Target 4

    ->Shots blocked 1

    ->Hit the Woodwork 1

    ->Dribble Attempts (s.) 6(5)

    ->Big Chances Missed 2

    -----

    ->Touches 89

    ->urate Passes 71 (97.2%)

    ->Key Passes 3

    ****

    "Look at his passing uracy," Roberto Baggio hurriedly drew the viewers'' attention to that specific statistic on the screen. "Zachary was so wless with the ball that he achieved a 97.2% passing uracy statistic against Inter Mn. He didn''t lose possession unnecessarily ¡ª a feat that allowed him to have a maximum impact throughout the entire ny-plus minutes of the game."

    "The statistic that really impresses me is the sess rate of his dribble attempts," Alessandro Costacurta, the other pundit, chimed in. "Zachary attempted six dribbles and seeded in five of those. Moreover, three of those resulted in big chances for Juventus, implying that his creativity within the opponent''s half is truly terrifying. He''s really maturing fast and quickly bing a ymaker that can threaten any defense within the top leagues in Europe."

    "Yes, he is improvement has been lightning-fast," Roberto Baggio agreed. "His hat trick today has allowed him to push his Serie A tally to 20 goals. Additionally, he previously scored two goals in the Supercoppa and nine in the Champions League. So, as we speak, his season total in allpetitions is 31 goals, and he has achieved such a feat at a point just after the mid-season mark."

    "I''m just wondering whether Zachary will go on to score 60 goals by the end of the season," Beatrice Paretti said. "If he can score thirty-plus goals right after the mid-season mark, why can''t he score 30 more before the end of the season? We might be looking at a yer that might break most (if not all) goal-scoring records in Europe."

    "Sess doesn''te that smoothly in football." Roberto Baggio chuckled. "Sure, Zachary is a once-in-a-generation young talent. I''m sure that he will score more goals before the season ends. But again, we must understand that coaches and defenders will study and assess him as he continues ying. They wille up with targeted strategies to contain him, and that will limit his goal-scoring opportunities. I''m no prophet of doom, but there''s also the question of whether Zachary can remain a hundred percent match-fit for the rest of the season. Going by the norm, there should be more and more days when he feels tired as the season progresses into itste stages. The fatigue would affect his consistency in the long run, and he might not be able to maintain his goal-scoring form."

    "We''ve talked about Zachary a lot today. Haven''t we?" Beatrice Paretti said with a smile. "Let''s now focus on his team. Juventus has been impressive this season. After beating Inter Mn today, they extended their perfect winning streak in the Serie A to seventeen games. Moreover, they also have six other wins from the Champions League''s group stages and one more from the Supercoppa final when they defeated Napoli. They haven''t lost or drawn even a single game and are probably the best-performing team in Europe this season."

    "Yes, Juventus'' form this season is so astonishing," Alessandro Costacurta said with an audible sigh. "In my honest opinion, I think they will win the Serie A without any challenge. They have won all games and amassed all the 51 points they could possibly get from their 17 Serie A games this season. They are already ahead of the second-ced AS Roma by 12 points, which puts them in the perfect position to win this year''s Serie A. They are really flying as a team, mostly because of the overwhelming disys by Zachary Bemba, their young ymaker, who is like a magician on the field of y."

    Beatrice Paretti smiled. "Juventus will face off against Napoli next Sunday, on the 11th of January, 2015. It will be the second meeting between the two teams this season, and this time around, it''s in the Serie A. Juventus won the previous battle between the two sides during the Supercoppa final. Can they repeat the same performance and extend their perfect winning streak in the Serie A this season to 18 games?"

    "With the form that Juventus is on, I don''t see any way Napoli can defeat them," Roberto Baggio said as the cameras focused on him. "Juventus will head into the fixture with all the momentum to attain victory, especially after having already beaten Napoli in the Supercoppa by four goals to zero. But again, football is sometimes unpredictable. Maybe something unexpected could happen, and we could see an upset by Napoli."

    "In that case," Alessandro Costacurta said lightly, "The sun might just set in the east on the day Napoli manages the upset against a Juventus team that is in good shape. The future is always unpredictable."

    The others in the studio chuckled and ended their analysis of Juventus. They then proceeded on with the show and started discussing the other teams in the Italian Serie A.

    -----

 Chapter 536 Another Victory and a New Challenge

    Chapter 536 Another Victory and a New Challenge

    Five dayster, on Sunday, January 11th, 2015, the Juventus squad traveled to Naples for their away Serie A match against Napoli. The kick-off was at 8:45 PM, and the game between the two sides proceeded as expected.

    Despite being at an away ground, Juventus got off to a flying start and showed no signs of rxing even for a minute as they ran the Napoli defense ragged through the first half. The Old Lady yers were exceptional on the attack, and they had a surprising total of thirteen shots on target during the opening half an hour. However, they still failed to break the deadlock until the 38th minute, right after Arturo Vidal came alive with some magic within the midfield.

    After winning an aerial duel close to the center circle, Arturo Vidal moved like the wind and flew toward the other side of the pitch at breakneck speed. He then exchanged a couple of quick one-twos with Carlos Tevez through the middle before receiving the ball again and breaking into an unmarked pocket of space before Napoli''s box. Then, as a passing angle opened up, the Chilean remainedposed and threaded a fantastic through pass to Zachary Bemba, who continued his rich run of goal-scoring form by finishing superbly from a tight angle.

    The opening goal calmed the nerves of the traveling Juventus supporters, who had previously feared that it would be one of those evenings where the ball would not just go into the back of the, no matter how hard the yers tried. Their worries were soon proven true as Rafael Cabral, the Napoli keeper, made several impressive saves to Deny Carlos Tevez on multiple asions. Then, during the 43rd and 45th minutes, ¨¢lvaro Morata and Stephan Lichtsteiner missed clear goal-scoring opportunities that could have allowed Juventus to extend their lead before the half-time break.

    The second halfmenced after fifteen minutes, and Napoli came out of the tunnel as a much-improved side. The men in blue utilized a mixture of foul y and tight man-marking strategies to contain the on-form Zachary while also doing their best to attack. However, their attacking efforts fell short on several asions, and they didn''t really manage to test Gianluigi Buffon even once during the opening minutes of the second half.

    The Napoli yers were, of course, not just going to give up even after failing to score on multiple asions. Theymitted more men forward andunched more and more fierce attacks on Juventus'' defense as the game approached the 65th minute. They looked like a totally different version of their side from the first half and even came close to scoring during the 68th and 71st minutes.

    But right as the Napoli men were at the peak of their momentum, they faced the challenge most attack-oriented teams face when ying Juventus. As theymitted more numbers forward, they attracted increasingly dangerous counterattacks from the highly-technical Juventus yers, like Zachary, who almost doubled Juventus'' lead during the 76th minute. Napoli only survived due to the brilliance of Rafael Cabral, the Napoli keeper, who again palmed Zachary''s grounded shot out of y to keep his team in the game.

    Juventus'' lead was eventually doubled during the 82nd minute after Ra¨²l Albiol, the Napoli center-back, failed to control a long ball up the pitch on the left side of his goal. Zachary, who happened to be lurking close by, didn''t waste any second pouncing forward like a predator and winning the loose ball. He then elerated to top speed almost instantaneously before squaring a pass to ¨¢lvaro Morata, who unleashed a curling shot past the keeper and scored Juventus'' second for the night.

    The score was then 2:0 in favor of Juventus, and what followed was pretty much an uneventful final few minutes. The Juventus yers resorted to time-wasting strategies to kill off the game by ying monotonous but pointless possession football to deny Napoli any chances to create opportunities. And just like that, the men in striped ck and white jerseys maintained their two-goal lead and attained victory after five minutes of extra time.

    -----

    Having won their away Serie A game against Napoli, the Juventus yers became more spirited about the season. They returned to training after just one day of rest and turned their focus to the next fixture, which happened to be a Coppa Italia home game against Hes Verona.

    The Coppa Italia was Italy''s gship domestic cup. Over the past few years, it continued to enjoy remarkable growth. Many clubs in all of Italy''s top divisions were eager to join the tournament and strive for the sizeable financial and reputational rewards that came hand in hand with lifting the trophy.

    As a football powerhouse in Italy, Juventus had never neglected the domestic cup since its inception. That year was no different, and the Juventus coaches were all eager to partake in thepetition. They pushed the yers to work hard for the following three days in preparation for their first Coppa Italia match against Hes Verona.

    Zachary was among the key yers working tirelessly to attain tip-top match fitness before the game. He didn''tin when the coaches pushed him hard but quietly followed their instructions to the veryst detail. He was as focused as ever as he wanted to raise his skills andpete favorably with the best in the world.

    In the meantime, the rest of the yers couldn''t contain their desire to win everypetition they participated in. Most of them even gave a training maniac like Zachary a run for his money as they prepared for the Coppa Italia.

    Zachary was particrly impressed by the work ethic and determination of Andrea Pirlo, the Maestro who happened to have just returned from injury. Andrea was no longer rxed during training but worked harder than the rest of his teammates, including Zachary.

    Be it gym work in the morning, ball work at lunch break, and extra agility drillste in the evening ¡ª Andrea went through them all on a daily basis during those three days before the game against Hes Verona. He was really going all out to recover full match fitness and return to the squad.

    The days went by quickly as the Juventus yers trained intensively. And just like that, Wednesday, January 14th, which happened to be the eve of the day when they would face off against Hes Verona, arrived.

    Coppa Italia," the system AI''s apathetic voice followed. "The conditions required to initiate the 23:28

    2014/15 Coppa Italia Mission have been met."

    On that day, the Juventus yers trained only up to 3:00 PM. Then, they showered and rested for an hour before heading to the tactics room to attend Coach Max Allegri''s pre-match address for the game against Hes Verona.

    Coach Max Allegri, on his part, didn''t waste a lot of time on the tactics, as he had already gone through the entire game n during the past few days of training. He straight away highlighted a few crucial points before naming the squad, which without a surprise, included the just-recovered Andrea Pirlo. Then, the coach assigned individual roles for the game before sending his yers back to their homes for the night.

    -----

    "DING"

    The system notification sounded in Zachary''s mind right after he stepped into his roomter that night.

    "The system has detected that the user is now part of the Juventus squad ying in the 2014/15 Coppa Italia," the system AI''s apathetic voice followed. "The conditions required to initiate the 2014/15 Coppa Italia Mission have been met."

    "DING"

    "The 2014/15 Coppa Italia Mission initiated sessfully."

    "Does the user wish to view the mission details right away?"

    "Yes, please bring up the details," Zachary answered. In the meantime, he switched on the light and settled on his bed.

    "The user''smand has been received," the system AI said. "Mission details will being up on the interface in a bit. The user can take his time reading them."

    The space before Zachary shimmered with a bright luster after the system notification ended. The crystal-like disy that was the system interface manifested out of thin air, and Zachary immediately focused on its contents.

    ****

    GOAT MISSIONS

    ----

    #NEW MISSION: 2014/15 Coppa Italia Challenge

    ->The system has detected that the user is part of the Juventus squad that will y the 2014/15 Coppa Italia. The system has designed an associated mission for the event.

    ----

    ->The user needs to ept the mission first to stand a chance of winning rewards afterpleting the milestones below.

    ----

    *Milestone 1: y 80% of the 2014/15 Coppa Italia fixtures.

    *Milestone 2: Help your teammates be the 2014/15 Coppa Italia Champions.

    *Milestone 3: Provide the most assists in the 2014/15 Coppa Italia tournament.

    *Milestone 4: Be the top scorer of the 2014/15 Coppa Italia tournament.

    *Milestone 5: Be the MVP of the 2014/15 Coppa Italia tournament.

    ----

    *Rewards:

    ->Milestone 1pletion reward: 100 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 2pletion reward: 2000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 3pletion reward: 10,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 4pletion reward: 20,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 5pletion reward: A random-effect elixir that can increase one of the user''s fitness attributes by an entire grade. The specific attributes that can be improved after consuming the elixir include Bnce and Coordination, Agility, Strength, Stamina, and Endurance.

    ----

    NB: There will be additional rewards if the user realizes any other milestones that can unlock hidden missions.

    ----

    ->The user can choose not to ept the mission.

    *ept *Reject

    ----

    *Punishment if none of the milestones has been achieved after the stipted time (In case the user epts).

    ->Minus 70,000 Juju-points

    *The user has toplete at least one milestone before the tournament ends to escape the penalty.

    ----

    *Remarks: Every little victory counts: Never underestimate the power of small but consistent wins whose effectspound over time.

    ****

    Zachary immediately epted the mission after reading the mission details. Then, he spent the next few minutes washing up before jumping into bed for the night. He was eager to get ample sleep so that he would be fresh and well-rested for the following day''s game against Hes Verona.

 Chapter 537 Back-To-Back Games Against Hellas Verona

    Juventus'' Coppa Italia home game against Hes Verona kicked off at 9:00 PM the following evening. And as expected, it was another night full of excitement for the Juventus supporters who watched the game.

    Zachary and his teammates were in total control right from the start. They overwhelmed the struggling Hes Verona side with their highly-tactical approach featuring slow build-ups using varied passing techniques plus lightning-fast wing-y to unleash sudden crosses into the box. They caught the Hes Verona defenders napping numerous times before eventually scoring three goals during the final fifteen minutes of the first half.

    Roberto Pereyra, one of the Juventus midfielders, scored the first goal during the 31st minute after getting at the end of a pin-point cross from Stephan Lichtsteiner. Then, six minutester, during the 37th minute, Zachary performed his magic again and put the second past the Hes Verona keeper by sessfully converting a free-kick from twenty-nine yards away from goal.

    Finally, the finishing touch for Juventus'' incredible first-half performance waspleted by Arturo Vidal. The midfielder moved like the wind and connected with a square ball outside the opponent''s box. He then unleashed a grounded shot past the keeper and extended Juventus'' lead to three goals right before the half-time break.

    During the half-time break, Coach Max Allegri made a couple of surprising but thoughtful substitutions. He took off Zachary Bemba and Arturo Vidal, the high-performing midfielders, before recing them with Sebastian Giovinco, a left-winger, and Andrea Pirlo, the Maestro who happened to have just recovered from injury. The coach was obviously not trying to malice the yers but to rest them in preparation for the busy schedule that was about toe. He couldn''t risk them during the rest of the game, especially since his team was already leading by three goals against Hes Verona.

    The second halfmenced after the substitutes stepped onto the pitch, and without any surprise, Juventus continued dictating the tempo. Andrea Pirlo was especially impressive, and he effortlessly took control of the midfield by relying on his spectacr tactical awareness. His defense-splitting passes were always spot-on, and by constantly unleashing them, he allowed Juventus tounch a series of increasingly terrifying waves of attack upon Hes Verona.

    Andrea Pirlo eventually created the first opportunity after intercepting a loose pass between two Hes Verona midfielders during the 64th minute. He drove the ball forward into the opponent''s half and unleashed a sudden and deadly long ball over the midfield. He effortlessly set up ¨¢lvaro Morata, who made the perfect connection with the pass and scored Juventus'' 4th goal for the night.

    But that wasn''t the end of Andrea Pirlo''s magic on the field of y. During the 72nd minute, he came alive again and converted a free kick. His technique was wless, and he easily beat the keeper from twenty-four yards away to score Juventus'' 5th goal for the night.

    The rest of the game was pretty much uneventful. Juventus continuedunching more attacks against Hes Verona, hoping to score a sixth goal for the day. However, even while five goals down, the opponents remained solid and thwarted all Juventus attempts before they could do any damage.

    Finally, after three minutes of added time, the game ended with Juventus still leading by a score of 5:0. They had destroyed yet another opponent and continued their record 100% winning streak in allpetitions. They had beaten Hes Verona and thus qualified for that year''s Coppa Italia quarter-finals.

    With the momentum on their side, the confidence of the Juventus yers was overflowing. They only rested for a day before resuming their training. They were obviously intent on preparing for their next Serie A home game, which happened to be against Hes Verona, the same team they had just defeated in the Coppa Italia Round of Sixteen.

    -----

    Sunday, January 18th, 2015

    Three days after the Coppa Italia match between Juventus and Hes Verona¡­

    Team Juventus once again weed Hes Verona to their home ground in Turin. It was Juventus'' 19th Serie A game for the season. The coaches and yers were eager to rack up another win that could push them closer to another Serie A title.

    But despite Coach Max Allegri''s desire to win, he still decided to rest several first-team yers, including Zachary Bemba, Arturo Vidal, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Carlos Tevez, and Fernando Llorente. He left them on the bench and fielded another rtively strong Juventus squad featuring yers like Andrea Pirlo, ¨¢lvaro Morata, Kingsley Coman, and Roberto Pereyra. He also fielded Marco Storari, the second-string keeper, after choosing to rest the experienced shot-stopper - Gianluigi Buffon.

    With such highly technical yers on the line-up, the game started ''on a positive note'' for Juventus. The Old Lady yers didn''t waste time after hearing the kick-off whistle. They flew toward the other half like a swarm of locusts andunched a terrifying wave of attack against Hes Verona during the second minute of gamey. Their teamwork and exchange of passes through the middle were especially impressive, and they effortlessly arrived in the spaces before the opponent''s box.

    "Pa..."

    The ball naturally found its way to Roberto Pereyra, who effortlessly controlled it. The attacking midfielder thenunched a powerful drive toward the inside of the far post, hoping to score Juventus'' first goal for the night. But s, the brilliance of the keeper denied his effort, and he could only put his hands behind his head while sighing with dejection.

    Fortunately, the chance was not over for Juventus. The referee had already blown the whistle and pointed to the corner spot, meaning that Juventus had another opportunity to test Hes Verona through a set-piece. As such, most Juventus yers gathered in the box, hoping to make the perfect connection and guide the corner ball into the back of the.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee''s whistle sounded, and Patrice Evra took the corner kick. The Frenchman didn''t send a curling cross toward the crowded area but instead unleashed an unexpected cut-back pass into the space before the box.

    At that moment, the unmarked Andrea Pirlo set off like a whirlwind and connected with the iing ball just a few yards away from the box. He timed his move perfectly and unleashed a first-time shot that bounded towards Hes Verona''s goal like a bullet.

    "Whoosh..."

    The ball cut through the crowd of yers within the box as it flew toward the inside of the far post. But just at thest minute, a hand appeared in its way and halted its motion. The ball couldn''t continue along its intended trajectory but deviated out of y.

    "Penalty, penalty..."

    A loud call for a penalty reverberated inside the stadium as the Juventus yers and fans alike called out to the referee to make a decision.

    The referee, on his part, didn''t need reminders from the yers and fans. He had been in the perfect position to spot Guillermo Rodr¨ªguez blocking the ball with his hand. Moreover, the Hes Verona defender had denied a clear goal-scoring chance, meaning his fate in that game was final. So, without fear or favor, the referee fished a red card out of his shirt pocket and immediately showed it to the yer. But he didn''t just stop at that. He also pointed to the penalty spot and awarded Juventus a spot kick just after three minutes of gamey.

    -----

    Zachary followed the proceedings from his seat on the bench. He watched expressionlessly as Guillermo Rodr¨ªguez walked off the pitch after receiving the red card. He didn''t feel sympathy for a yer who hadmitted a foul that denied his team a chance to score. That was especially after recalling the incident when Luis Suarez handled the ball and denied Ghana an opportunity to qualify for the World Cup semifinals.

    Minutes passed, and Zacharyter witnessed how ¨¢lvaro Morata stepped forward and converted the penalty to put Juventus in the lead during the 4th minute of gamey. Zachary then rxed and continued observing from the bench as his teammates decimated the opponents by relying on their numerical advantage.

    The Juventus yers seemed to be in the zone. They dictated the tempo throughout the rest of the game and effortlessly put three more goals past the Hes Verona keeper before the final whistle sounded.

    Roberto Pereyra tapped Patrice Evra''s cross into the back of the to score Juventus'' second goal during the 14th minute. Then, Sebastian Giovinco headed home a corner during the 23rd minute to bag the third before Kingsley Comanpleted the thrashing with a stunning outside-of-the-box shotter on during the 76th minute. The score was then 4:0 in favor of Juventus, and the status quo didn''t change until the final whistle sounded.

    Zachary watched the entire game from the bench. Immediately after the final whistle sounded, he got up and congratted his teammates on their overwhelming win before following them down the tunnel to the dressing room.

    As he entered the dressing room, he felt a bit empty after not getting a chance to step on the pitch. Moreover, he couldn''t stop his thoughts from turning quiteplicated as he recalled how his teammates had performed impressively during the game.

    Watching from the bench had allowed him toprehend how Juventus had so many able yers on their squad. However, all those yers rarely got any ying time, not because they were not innately skilled, but mainly due to theirck of consistency across a long span ofpetitive games.

    For instance, ¨¢lvaro Morata was a superb forward who could remainposed and score breathtaking goals on those days when he was at his best. But due to hisck of consistency, Coach Allegri often left him out of the squad and went with Fernando Llorente, the other more consistent striker.

    The situation was the perfect example of how football could be merciless to those who couldn''t remain consistent. Comprehending all that while seated on the bench allowed Zachary to grow as a yer and be more motivated. He had to continue working hard and maintain his form so that he would never face the unfortunate situation of bing a spare tire on any team, no matter how powerful it was, during his career.

 Chapter 538 The Indomitable Juventus Team

    The Juventus yers headed into their next Serie A fixture with boundless confidence. They yed the home game against Chievo Verona on Sunday, January 25th, 2015, and won by another overwhelming margin.

    Zachary, who had just returned to the squad, was especially impressive during that game. Firstly, he provided two assists, one to Carlos Tevez and another to Kingsley Coman, who took their chances well and scored Juventus'' 1st and 2nd goals during the 14th and 23rd minutes, respectively. Then, muchter, during the 73rd minute, Zachary got to the end of a corner ball and headed home to score Juventus'' 3rd goal for the night.

    Chievo Verona got one constion goal back during the 78th minute after exploiting a passing error by Angelo Ogbonna, the Juventus center-back. But their relief didn''tst long as Juventus reacted strongly and quickly through Andrea Pirlo, who came on as a substitute for Zachary.

    The Maestro performed his magic during the 81st minute by unleashing a sudden long ball to find Patrice Evra on the left nk. Patrice Evra, on his part, controlled the ball well before driving forward into Chievo Verona''s half. The Frenchman effortlessly stepped into the final third before sending a long cross toward the box where Fernando Llorente was already lurking.

    Fernando Llorente acted like a true-blue bona fide center-forward and connected with the ball. He escaped the harassment of the opposing center-back with his first touch before drawing his leg back and unleashing a sudden snap-shot towards the inside of the far post. His powerful drive rendered the keeper helpless, and he smoothly found the back of the to score Juventus 4th and final goal on the night.

    With that, Juventus ultimately won the Serie A game with another staggering score of 4:1. As such, the fighting spirit of the yers was already soaring into the skies, and they were even more motivated to prepare for their next fixture, which happened to be an away Coppa Italia quarter-finals game against Parma.

    After a day of rest, the Old Lady yers utilized the whole of Tuesday to refine the game n while also working on their match fitness. Then, when Wednesday afternoon arrived, they boarded the team bus and traveled to the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna to face off against Parma in the Coppa Italia semi-finals.

    Parma was a team struggling close to the bottom of the Serie A table. They had lost most of their matches and were a team that Juventus couldfortably dispatch and qualify for the Coppa Italia semi-finals. So, with all that in mind, Coach Max Allegri opted to rest most of his crucial yers.

    The Juventus coach benched Zachary Bemba, Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, Patrice Evra, Carlos Tevez, and Gianluigi Buffon, among others. He then fielded another team that included yers like Angelo Ogbonna, Simone Padoin, Kingsley Coman, Simone Pepe, and ¨¢lvaro Morata. On paper, the line-up was not Juventus'' best, but the selected yers still yed impressive football against the struggling Parma side after the gamemenced.

    Juventus was the first to settle after a frantic start that saw both sides trade early blows. The Old Lady yers took only twelve minutes to start ying as usual and overwhelm Parma with their signature slow build-ups and tantalizing wing y. They yed well over the next few minutes and even came close to taking the lead when Kingsley Coman unleashed a thunderous effort during the 14th minute. But s, Juventus was unfortunate, as the attempt was repelled by the Parma goalkeeper, who executed a stunning dive to keep the proceedings on the field of y level.

    The game continued, and eventually, the Parma yers found their rhythm halfway through the first half. They surprised Juventus with a counterattack that resulted in a clear goal-scoring opportunity for Cristian Rodr¨ªguez, one of their two center-forwards. However, the shot from the center-forward smashed off the post and headed out of y, and with that, Parma missed the chance to take the lead during the 28th minute.

    The Parma yers were soon leftmenting that missed opportunity when somex defending allowed ¨¢lvaro Morata, Juventus'' center-forward, the freedom to fire an effort goalwards. The keeper tried his best to save the shot. But despite his best efforts, he instead punched it back into the path of the onrushing Kingsley Coman, who tapped home to score Juventus'' 1st goal for the night.

    That goal seemed to spur Juventus to life, and the Old Lady yers yed more intensively. They started mounting relentless waves of attacks through the wing, and in so doing, they continued mounting pressure on Parma''s goal. Eventually, they scored the second goal veryte, during the 78th minute of the game, when Zachary Bemba, who hade on as a substitute, beat the keeper from twenty yards away with a thunderous effort.

    After that, the tempo of the game slowed. The Juventus yers didn''t continueunching relentless attacks against Parma. Instead, they calmed down and yed slow but steady passing football to totally freeze out the opponents. Their tactics during the final minutes weren''t captivating since their ying stylecked the intent to attack. But those tactics still did the job and allowed them to win the game by a score of 2:0 after four minutes of injury time.

    The win against Parma allowed Juventus to qualify for the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia. As such, the Juventus yers were swelling with confidence, and they headed into the February fixtures in fine form.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Juventus was already the nemesis of every Italian team they yed, and everyone was starting to wonder whether they would ever lose or draw a game. Even the often-critical journalists constantly praised them as they whizzed through the February fixtures. But the yers (themselves) overlooked the attention and continued doing their thing on the field.

    On Sunday, February 1st, 2015, they yed their away Serie A game against Udinese Calcio and won by a score of 2:1. Early goals from Fernando Llorente and udio Marchisio, the yer just from injury, allowed them to seal the deal early on in the first half.

    Six dayster, on Saturday, February 7th, they returned to action and thrashed AC Mn at home by a score of 4:1. For that game, Zachary was the star, and he scored twice during the 10th and 21st minutes. The other goals were scored by Carlos Tevez and ¨¢lvaro Morata, who were Juventus'' two center-forwards for the day.

    The win against AC Mn further solidified Juventus'' position at the top of the Serie A table. As such, the Old Lady yers had all the momentum when they yed their away Serie A fixture against AC Cesena eight dayster, on Sunday, February 15th.

    Zachary, ¨¢lvaro Morata, and Andrea Pirlo were the yers that made an impact on that day. They each found the back of the during the 17th, 32nd, and 87th minutes, respectively, and with that, they helped Juventus defeat AC Cesena by a score of 3:0.

    Five dayster, on Friday, February 20th, Juventus faced off against Anta at home. The Juventus yers failed to win for the first time during the season and managed only a 2:2 draw against the away side.

    For that game, Anta was the first to strike and draw blood. They took advantage of corner kicks and scored two early goals during the 3rd and 11th minutes. Fortunately, the Juventus yers regained their confidence during the second half. They responded with stunning long-distance goals from Zachary and Andrea Pirlo during the 77th and 92nd minutes and finally managed to avoid a defeat.

    The Juventus yers didn''t lose their confidence after facing their ''first failure'' that season. They remained steadfast and trained intensively for the following three days before ying their next fixture, which happened to be an away Round of Sixteen Champions League battle against Bayer Leverkusen. They performed impressively and effortlessly dispatched the opponent from German by a score of 3:1.

    Carlos Tevez and ¨¢lvaro Morata each scored a goal during the 13th and 43rd minutes to give Juventus afortable 2:0 lead before the half-time break. But Bayer Leverkusen almost turned the situation around first with a goal of their own andter with another effort that smashed off the post during the opening minutes of the second half. They didn''t lose momentum until Zachary caught their defense napping on the counter and scored another solo goal during the 74th minute.

    After defeating Bayer Leverkusen, the Juventus yers returned their focus to the Italian Serie A. They yed the away fixture against AS Roma six dayster, on Monday, March 3rd, 2015. They struggled due to fatigue and only managed a 1:1 draw against the second-ced team on the Serie A table.

    A goal from Carlos Tevez during the 63rd minute allowed Juventus to take the lead on a day when most Juventus yers performed below par. However, that one goal waster canceled out by a 92nd-minute strike from Seydou Keita, which allowed AS Roma to draw the game and take a point home.

    With that, the Juventus yers dropped points for only the second time in the Serie A that season. But fortunately, it was only a draw, and their unbeaten run in allpetitions was intact. So, they quickly overcame their ''second failure'' for that season and focused on their next fixture, which happened to be the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-finals against Fiorentina.

    -----

 Chapter 539 Progress And Team Status

    ?

    Juventus'' form didn''t diminish over the next two weeks or so. First and foremost, they beat Fiorentina away from home with a score of 0:3 in the Coppa Italia semi-finals. They then returned their focus to the Italian Serie A and won against Sassuolo by a score of 2:0 at home before defeating US Palermo by a score of 1:3 away from home.

    With those wins, Juventus umted 77 out of the maximum 81 points they could have possibly amassed from their twenty-seven Italian Serie A games at that point of the season. Their worst results all season were the two draws against Anta and AS Roma, meaning that their unbeaten run in both the Serie A and otherpetitions was still intact.

    Moreover, after dropping points only twice in the Serie A, Juventus was already ahead of the second-ced AS Roma by 27 points, meaning they were only three victories away from winning the title. They could potentially be the champions as early as Saturday, April 11th, 2015, if they could win their next three Serie A games against Genoa, Empoli, and Parma. They were flying as a team, and no opponent could stop them from achieving glory that season. But first things first, they had to focus on their Champions League return leg against Bayer 04 Leverkusen before thinking about anything else.

    Zachary, on his part, had remained impressive throughout all the games Juventus had yed. He was always the crucial man on the pitch, with a fierce ability to determine the game''s result.

    Zachary had scored a hat trick during the Coppa Italia Serie A game against Fiorentina. But that was not the end of his brilliance. He had also continued his goal-scoring form in the Serie A and put one goal past Sassuolo and two past US Palermo.

    His sharpness in front of the goal was really incredible, and he had already taken his seasonal tally in allpetitions to 45. He had already scored 28 goals in twenty-seven Serie A matches, 10 in seven Champions League matches, 5 in the three Coppa Italia games, and 2 in the Supercoppa Italiana. His overall total was already above forty, meaning he was already close to attaining all the contract bonuses he could possibly earn from Juventus.

    Everything was proceeding smoothly for Zachary, as he was having a great season. And as such, his confidence had already soared to the skies when the time to face off against Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the second leg of the Champions League Round-of-Sixteen arrived.

    -----

    Tuesday, March 17th, 2015

    Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy.

    Time: 8:30 PM

    -----

    Only fifteen minutes were left before the scheduled kick-off time for the Champions League Round-of-Sixteen second-leg battle between Juventus and Bayer 04 Leverkusen. As always, Coach Allegri stood in the middle of the home team''s dressing room, giving ast-minute pep talk to his yers. He was trying to ensure that the main points of the game n hit home before the yers could move out of the dressing room and head to the pitch for the game.

    "I know that we defeated Bayer 04 Leverkusen during the first leg by three goals to one," he said, sweeping his gaze around. "But that does not mean we should rx and yckluster football. Our goal is still the same as it has always been during all the games we have yed this season. We must y impressive football, create opportunities, score goals, and win the game. We must not allow the opponents to shame us, especially when we''re ying at our home ground. We must not only defeat them but thrash them hard simply because..." The coach didn''tplete the sentence but nced around.

    Taking the cue, the yers replied, "Because we''re Juventus."

    "We must destroy them and qualify for the Champions League quarterfinals simply because..."

    "We''re Juventus," the yers replied in even louder voices.

    "Let''s talk about the main points of our game n." Coach Max Allegri smiled. "As I said before, we''ll y with a 4-3-1-2 formation. Evra, Chiellini, Boni, and Lichtsteiner are our four defenders. In addition to sweeping balls and clearing dangerous situations away from our goal, they will also be involved in our slow build-ups as we try to stretch the opponent''s defensive shape. Our three defensive midfielders will be Vidal, Marchisio, and Andrea Pirlo. I don''t need to highlight the role of the three again. Vidal! Marchisio! Andrea Pirlo! You only have to y intelligent football that will conquer the midfield throughout the entire duration of the game."

    "Our attacking midfielder is Zachary," the coach continued. "Zachary! As usual, you will act as our attacking pivot. When you''re on the ball, try to find the spaces and gaps within Bayer Leverkusen''s defense before passing to our strikers. Set them up with well-timed through passes so they can score. But if you also get an opportunity, you can go for glory. You can drive forward or shoot from beyond the box to test the keeper. Are we clear, Zachary?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied in somewhat strained Italian.

    "Don''t forget to float into the wings and initiate one-on-ones with the opposing wing-backs," the coach reminded. "Whenever there''s an opportunity, cut in from the nks and send the ball forward. I''m sure that with your pace, you''ll be able to torture their defenders and create goal-scoring opportunities for us. Clear?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied. "Everything is clear."

    "Good." Coach Max Allegri smiled and nodded. He was especially pleased with Zachary finally mastering some Italian. His job was much more uplicated, as he could finally give the boy instructions without relying on his assistants to trante.

    While maintaining his smile, Coach Allegri inclined his head to gaze at his two strikers for the day. "Morata! Tevez! You''re our two forwards today. Morata! Your role is to stay on the front, waiting for a chance to score. I don''t want to see you falling back unless we''re in a situation where we have to defend against a corner kick or a dangerous set piece. Understood?"

    "Understood!" ¨¢lvaro Morata replied.

    Coach Allegri nodded and turned to the other striker. "Tevez! You, on the other hand, will have to often fall back into midfield to help out Zachary. You two can work together to tear apart their defense with fast one-twos when an opportunity avails itself. Additionally, you will have to fall back and help with defensive duties whenever we''re not in possession. So, you must be ready to give your all and run tirelessly during this match. I don''t want to see you rxing and walking on the field of y. Tevez! Is that clear?"

    "Everything is clear, coach," Carlos Tevez replied.

    "Good," the coach said and swept his gaze around. "Games like this are tricky. Sure, we''re already winning by an aggregate of 3:1, and between Bayer Leverkusen and us, we''re the favorites to qualify for the quarter-finals. But guys! As you all know, game circumstances can change if we''re to rx. We only need to lose focus for a minute or two, and the opponents will score a goal, and then the pressure will be on us. They can then add a second and even a third, and we''ll easily lose our rightful ce in the quarters. That''s how football can change if we lose concentration during a game."

    "So, guys," the coach continued. "Don''t let your guard down when you step onto the pitch. Don''t just y with ax mindset of assuming that we''ve already won the game simply because we have a two-goal advantage from the first leg. That would be a mistake on our part as the opponents would take advantage of that and destroy us. What we need to do instead is y at our best. We must overwhelm the opponents with our tactical prowess and aim for a quick goal early in the first half. As long as we aplish all that, everything else will be straightforward. We can sit back and y on the counterattack as the game progresses. Then, Bayer Leverkusen will be at our mercy. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    "Then, I''m d," the coach said with a smile. He then said a few more encouraging words to his yers before sending them out of the dressing room. He''d finally done his part as a coach to prepare for the game, and all that was left was to see if his yers could execute his game n properly.

    -----

    The cheers around the stadium hit a thunderous crescendo when the yers of both teams walked onto the pitch. The bright floodlights illuminated their glowing jerseys as they went through the pre-match routines, including lining up as the band yed the Champions League anthem, then the customary handshake, and finally, the coin toss. The yerspleted everything quickly, and by 8:43 PM, they were already taking their starting positions on the field of y.

    Like the rest, Zachary stretched and warmed up slightly before taking his position just outside the center circle. His frequent scoring of goals had already allowed his confidence to soar over the past few months. He was in tip-top shape and ready to put out his best once again.

    Although he was at the moment the top scorer of the Champions League with his ten goals, he still couldn''t rx. There were still monstrous yers, like Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Cristiano Ronaldo, scoring goals in the Champions League like there wasn''t a tomorrow. So, as a person who didn''t wish to lose out, he had to y at his best during every game. He had to continue bagging goals match in, match out, without giving all those yers a chance to catch up with him. He had to go all out and do everything possible to win that year''s Champions League Golden Boot.

 Chapter 540 The Strategy Is The Counterattack I

    ?

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle at 9:45 PM. The cheers around the stands immediately hit a thunderous peak as Josip Drmic, Bayer 04 Leverkusen''s center-forward, kicked off the game by sending a backward pass all the way to his backline.

    "Pa..."

    The sound of a boot meeting synthetic rubber sounded as Emir Spahic, Bayer 04 Leverkusen''s center-back, connected with the ball from Josip Drmic. The defender only took a single touch before flicking it to his left to find Wendell, the left-back.

    Wendell, on his part, connected with the ball close to the touchline on the left nk. Then, before any Juventus yer could close him down, he whirled around and fed the ball along the touchline to find Heung-min Son, Bayer 04 Leverkusen''s left-back for the night.

    Heung-min Son didn''t dilly-dally when he connected with the ball. With lightning-fast agility, he whirled and twisted to escape the harassment from Stephan Lichtsteiner before elerating to his top speed within a second.

    From there on, Heung-min Son was like a true-blue reincarnation of the sh as he cut through the pitch while running along the touchline. Along the way, the winger then exchanged a couple of quick one-twos with Josip Drmic, Bayer 04 Leverkusen''s center-forward, to beat a few more Juventus yers.

    The ball naturally returned to him as he cut into the pitch. He collected it midstride and continued racing towards Juventus'' box like a galloping horse on the race track. A few secondster, he beat Leonardo Boni, Juventus'' center-back, with a simple change of pace and dashed into the box like the wind.

    What came next was only natural. Heung-min Son approached the goal from a tight angle before taking on Gianluigi Buffon, the Juventus keeper. Hisposure was remarkable, and he effortlessly curled the ball past the keeper, hoping to guide it toward the inside of the far post.

    At that moment, everything seemed to slow down. All the fans behind Juventus'' goal held their breath as they watched the ball fly past the outstretched hand of Gianluigi Buffon before continuing on its trajectory toward the back of the. But just as the supporters were at the peak of their desperation, a miracle happened. Maybe it was the wind, but the ball deviated at thest moment and smashed off the post before bouncing back into the box. And with that, Juventus barely managed to avoid conceding a goal during the 1st minute of gamey.

    However, the danger was still atrge for Juventus. That was because the just-rebounded ball hadnded in an area within the box where Josip Drmic, Bayer 04 Leverkusen''s center-forward, was lurking. The striker wasted no time pouncing forward and hammering the ball back toward the goal, hoping to score Bayer 04 Leverkusen''s 1st goal for the day.

    "Whoosh..."

    That time, Gianluigi Buffon, the experienced Juventus keeper, was spot-on with his reactions. He threw himself at the ball and, by some miracle, happened to intercept it. He punched it away from the goal and towards the left nk to clear the danger. He had finally saved Juventus from conceding the first goal during the opening minutes.

    "Damn it!" Coach Max Allegri couldn''t help but let out some expletives. "I warned these guys not to put their guard down after stepping onto the pitch. But after only a minute of gamey, they seem to have started ignoring my instructions. I can''t imagine what will..."

    Coach Max Allegri stopped whining as a situation he couldn''t have expected transpired on the field of y. Patrice Evra, the Juventus left-back, had just gotten to the loose ball before turning away from an opponent. The defender then wasted no time ying the ball into the middle to find udio Marchisio, one of the Juventus midfielders.

    udio Marchisio, on his part, didn''t waste time as it was an opportunity to counterattack. The midfielder squared the ball towards the left to find Andrea Pirlo, the Maestro, who happened to have just moved into an unmarked pocket of space close to the center circle.

    "Pa..."

    Andrea Pirlo connected with the pass and controlled the ball with lightning-fast reflexes. Then, before anyone could close him down, he drew his leg back and unleashed a lofted pass all the way over the midfield and toward the other side of the pitch.

    Andrea Pirlo was obviously trying to find Zachary Bemba, Juventus'' ymaker, who happened to have floated toward the right wing. However, due to his rashness when kicking the ball, he misced the pass by a slight margin, and it was heading fast toward the outside of the pitch.

    "Whoosh..."

    At that moment, Zachary went against all expectations and reacted like the wind. He pounced forward and covered half a dozen meters within seconds. Zachary then pushed off the ground with all his might before leaping up and controlling the ball with his back. He sessfully stopped the ball from heading out of y beforending back on the ground and turning to face back into the pitch.

    "Whoosh..."

    A defender slid in wholesale with a ruthless tackle as Zachary tried to realign his posture. It was Wendell, the Bayer 04 Leverkusen left-back. The man glided forth with boundless momentum as if he wanted to ughter Zachary.

    Zachary didn''t seem to panic. He skillfully dug his boot under the ball and looped it over the sliding defender to escape the tackle. Then, with deft motions, hended back on the ground and realigned his posture before taking off toward Bayer 04 Leverkusen''s box like a Ferrari on a form one race track.

    Zachary''s swift pace worked wonders, and his long strides ate up yards of space like nothing. Before Bayer 04 Leverkusen''s defense could get into shape, he was already bearing down the goal and facing off against Bayer 04 Leverkusen''sst defender. He beat the opponent with a few side steps and a slight change of pace before racing forward and finally stepping into the box.

    The moment of truth had finallye, and Zachary''s high mental strength worked like a charm. He remainedposed and skillfully slid the ball underneath the arms of the approaching keeper from a tight angle. His finishing touch was spot on, and he easily beat the keeper to score Juventus'' 1st goal for the night during the 3rd minute of gamey.

    -----

    Juventus FC 1 (4) : Bayer 04 Leverkusen 0 (1)

    -----

    "I''ll be damned!"

    Coach Max Allegri was at a loss for words and could only mumble a few expletives. A few seconds ago, he had started criticizing his yers for losing focus and allowing Bayer 04 Leverkusen to attack them and almost score within the first minute. But his yers had reacted almost instantaneously and exploited the gaps left by Bayer 04 Leverkusen to turn the situation around. They hadunched a lightning-fast counterattack, caught the opponents off-guard, and scored Juventus'' 1st goal for the night. As a result, Juventus was already leading by an aggregate score of 4:1 only after three minutes into the second leg of the Champions League Round of Sixteen fixture.

    "Congrattions, boss! We''re closer to qualifying for the quarter-finals." A voice sounded beside him as he was still processing what had just transpired on the pitch. It was Maurizio Trombetta, his assistant, and he was all smiles after Juventus scored the opening goal.

    "Let''s not talk about the quarter-finals yet," Coach Max Allegri said lightly. "We''re still in the game''s opening stages, and anything can happen. We must not let down our guard until we score a few more goals."

    "That''s a given." Maurizio Trombetta nodded before asking, "By the way, have you noticed that they are not marking Zachary tightly? They didn''t assign any yer to shadow his movements. That was why he effortlessly caught them by surprise and scored."

    "Indeed!" Coach Allegri agreed. "The Germans don''t know how dangerous he can be when left unmarked. They are just treating him like any other attacker. Maybe, we can take advantage of that."

    "Yes," Maurizio Trombetta agreed. "If he can freely float all over the pitch, then his impact today will be unprecedented."

    "That''s true," Coach Allegri agreed. "Let''s allow him to y a free role. He will then have a greater impact especially on the counterattack."

    With that said, the coach wasted no time and called Zachary over. He spent a few seconds giving him new instructions before sending him back to the field of y.

    -----

    The game restarted soon after the celebrations. The Bayer 04 Leverkusen yers, who had just conceded a goal, learned their lesson and didn''t immediately push many yers forward to attack Juventus. They instead settled into a 4-5-1 defensive formation and focused only on resisting Juventus'' relentless attacks. They yed pure defensive football for the next twelve minutes and denied the Old Lady yers a chance to test their goal.

    But as the saying goes, old habits die hard. Fifteen minutes into the first half, the Bayer 04 Leverkusen yers couldn''t resist the temptation of ying as they always did andmitting many bodies forward. They all dashed forward like a pack of wolves andunched another terrifying attack against Juventus.

    Their intent was to score and bring proceedings back to level terms. But once again, luck was not on their side, and a final shot from Josip Drmic, their center forward, was saved by Gianluigi Buffon.

    Gianluigi Buffon, on his part, didn''t waste time after making the save. He reacted immediately and picked himself from the ground before racing toward the edge of the box and throwing the ball towards the left nk. His uracy was spot on, and he effortlessly found Patrice Evra, the Juventus left-back

    Evra received the ball close to the touchline. Then, within anything but an instant, he unleashed a pass into the middle to find Zachary, who was lurking close to the center circle.

    The counterattack was on, and Zachary didn''t dawdle. After controlling the ball, he dashed forward like a lightning bolt and utilized his high agility to circumvent defender after defender. Then, when a passing angle opened up, he threaded a simple through ball to Alvaro Morata, who remainedposed and looped the ball over the keeper to score Juventus'' 2nd goal for the night during the 16th minute. The score was then 2:0 in favor of Juventus, and the Italian giants were closer to qualifying for the Champions League quarter-finals.

 Chapter 541 The Strategy is the Counterattack II

    Chapter 541 The Strategy is the Counterattack II

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    Juventus FC 2 (5) : Bayer 04 Leverkusen 0 (1)

    -----

    "Mamma Mia! Oh, my goodness me!" Tiziano Caressa, the agedmentator, eximed as the Juventus yers gathered around the corner g to celebrate. "Juventus has caught the Bayer 04 Leverkusen defenders napping again. Through Alvaro Morata, they hit the German team on the counter and scored Juventus'' 2nd goal for the night during the 16th minute. They have extended their aggregate lead to four goals and are, without a doubt, the team most likely to qualify for the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. I can''t picture how Bayer 04 Leverkusen can ovee such a deficit."

    "Indeed," Fabio Crudeli, the othermentator, agreed. "Juventus has yers of all types in their squad. They have midfielders with incredible passing ranges, like Andrea Pirlo, Zachary Bemba, and udio Marchisio. They also have abnormally-fast yers, like Patrice Evra, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Carlos Tevez, and Zachary again. When they allbine, they are deadly on the attack. They have all the arsenal to effortlessly tear through the best defenses in Europe and score when they initiate a counterattack. If the Bayer 04 Leverkusen yers don''t stopmitting more bodies forward, they will continue attracting such terrifying counters and even concede more goals before the final whistle sounds."

    "That''s true," Tiziano Caressa chimed in. "Once again, Zachary has been quite remarkable for Juventus. He has scored another Champions League goal to take his tally to 11. Additionally, Zachary was the most impressive during Juventus'' second counterattack. He dribbled past three defenders before threading an assist that resulted in Alvaro Morata''s second goal for Juventus. In my book, Zachary Bemba is the best yer on the field tonight."

    "Yes, the young ball wizard has been quite spectacr throughout the opening fifteen minutes," Fabio Crudeli, the othermentator, supplemented. "Every time he receives the ball, you can''t help but feel that something incredible will happen. He is, without a doubt, a spectacr attacking midfielder, and he is likely to score more goals if the Bayer Leverkusen yers don''t formte a n to contain him."

    -----

    Thementators were totally spot-on with their analysis. Bayer 04 Leverkusen failed to formte a strategy to contain Zachary, thus sealing their fate in the Champions League Round of Sixteen fixture.

    After a failed attack during the 28th minute, Zachary again caught the Bayer 04 Leverkusen yers on the counter. He exchanged lightning-fast passes with Carlos Tevez and Stephan Lichtsteiner as they speared toward the opponent''s half to advance the counterattack.

    The ball naturally returned to Zachary as he stepped past the border of the final third. He collected it mid-stride and skipped past and dribbling skills, he cut through the pitch like a whirlwind while bearing down fast on Bayer 04 Leverkusen''s goal. However, just as a Bayer 04 Leverkusen defender with skillful footwork while continuing to approach the box. Then, when the opposing keeper rushed out from between the posts to greet him, Zachary remainedposed. He finished with a simple chip over the helpless keeper to score Juventus'' 3rd goal for the night.

    But that was not the end of Zachary''s brilliance. Immediately after the second half started, he struck again on the counter. By relying on the same strategy of taking on opposing defenders with his pace and dribbling skills, he cut through the pitch like a whirlwind while bearing down fast on Bayer 04 Leverkusen''s goal. However, just as he was about to drive past another defender and step into the box, he was unfortunately fouled and denied the chance to score his third goal for the night during the 47th minute.

    Fortunately, the referee blew the whistle and offered Juventus a free-kick just outside Bayer 04 Leverkusen''s eighteen-yard box. As usual, Zachary stepped forward and converted the set piece from twenty-two yards away to score Juventus'' fourth goal for the night during the 49th minute. With that, he had also bagged another hat trick ¡ª a feat that allowed him to draw closer to his ultimate goals of winning the Golden Boot and bing the MVP of the Champions League that season.

    The game continued after the goal celebrations. But surprisingly, the Bayer 04 Leverkusen yers, who happened to have conceded a fourth goal on the counter, didn''t curb their desire to attack. Despite the game circumstances, they persistently stuck to their custom offensive ying style and continuedmitting bodies forward. And, of course, their stubbornness left them vulnerable to the Juventus attackers, who remained terrifying on the counterattack.

    Everything that followed was only natural.

    During the 56th minute, Juventus hit them hard again through Carlos Tevez, who linked up with a pin-point pass from Andrea Pirlo to score Juventus'' 5th goal for the night.

    Twelve minutester, during the 68th minute, Juventus tore through them again. A long ball from Andrea Pirlo found Patrice Evra, who exchanged quick one-twos with Zachary to cut through the middle and score Juventus'' 6th goal on the counterattack.

    Five minutester, during the 73rd minute, the same story yed out again. After a failed Bayer 04 Leverkusen corner kick, the Juventus yers did what they had done all night and streamed forward to counterattack. Their snappy exchange of passes left Bayer 04 Leverkusen helpless, and they effortlessly arrived in the final third. It was then that ball naturally found its way to Zachary, and he remainedposed and unleashed a shot from outside the box to score Juventus'' 7th and final goal for the night.

    During the 87th minute, the visitors scored for the first time that night. Bayer 04 Leverkusen sessfully converted a corner kick and cut Juventus'' lead to six goals. However, that was all they could manage, and the game ended when the score was still 7:1 in favor of Juventus.

    -----

    Once again, Beatrice Paretti, the Sky Italia journalist, hosted the Champions League post-match show that evening. She smiled at the cameras and said, "Okay, that was one weird Champions League game. Can anyone help me understand what exactly happened to Bayer 04 Leverkusen?" She turned to look at the two pundits in the studio.

    One of the pundits, who happened to be Roberto Baggio, smiled as the cameras focused on him. "What happened was simple. Bayer 04 Leverkusen tried to y an attacking game against a stronger Juventus side. They left themselves open at the back and attracted more and more counterattacks. That left them with no other possibility but to lose the game by a score of 7:1."

    "All that I understand," Beatrice Paretti said while maintaining her smile. "But after conceding the first or second goal, why didn''t they alter their game n? Why didn''t they y a defensive game instead of remaining adamant and continuing to y on the offensive against Juventus?"

    "Well..." Roberto Baggio smiled. "They initially wanted to equalize the game, but their attack failed. That allowed Juventus to catch them on the counter and score the second goal. Bayer 04 Leverkusen, being an attack-minded team, didn''t give up, though. After settling down for a few minutes, theymitted bodies forward again tounch another attack but failed. Juventus sessfully hit them on the counter, and the cycle continued until Bayer 04 Leverkusen conceded all seven goals."

    "Situations like these can happen during games if a team isn''t careful," the pundit continued. "You concede a goal and attack, trying to equalize, but the opponent counters and scores the second. You try again and fail, but then the opponent continues scoring a second and possibly a third. Before you know it, you have already conceded four or five goals, and that takes all the morale out of you. You will then y the rest of the game without any drive, and in so doing, you will allow the opponent to score more goals. That might be what happened to Bayer 04 Leverkusen."

    "I think Roberto is right," Alessandro Costacurta, the other pundit, said. "I have watched a few of Bayer 04 Leverkusen''s games, and I can say with a hundred percent confidence that they are an excellent attack-minded team. Roger Schmidt, their coach, is a person who believes that attacking is the best defense in any game. Most times, he''s able to utilize high-pressing tactics coupled with prating wing ys to apply pressure on the opponents and possibly score. He should have tried to put into y the same philosophy today. But with the presence of world-ss attacking yers like Zachary Bemba, Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez, and Alvaro Morata on Juventus'' squad, his strategy fell through. He could only watch helplessly from the sidelines as his team copsed under Juventus'' counterattacking strategy and conceded seven goals."

    "Talking about Zachary," Beatrice Paretti chimed in, "He scored four more goals today and pushed his Champions League tally for this season to 14. He is only three goals away from equaling Cristiano Ronaldo''s record of scoring seventeen times in a single Champions League season."

    "Yes," Roberto Baggio agreed with a smile. "Cristiano Ronaldo''s 2013-14 record of the most goals scored in a single Champions League season is under threat. Zachary still has to y two legs of the quarter-finals, then maybe two more legs of the semis before qualifying for the final. If Juventus remains in the tournament up to the finals, Zachary will definitely be among the yers who continue scoring goals. I don''t think he''ll fail to find the back of the three or four more times during those games. There''s a high chance he''ll set a new record by the end of this season."

    "Slow down, Roberto!" Alessandro Costacurta, the other pundit, hurriedly interjected. "Juventus has a possibility of facing off against Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, or Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals. Do you think he can maintain his goal-scoring form against such teams?"

    "Well..." Roberto Baggio replied. "Teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona are harder to score against. Sure, they will go the extra mile to defend while not forgetting to attack the opponents. But we''re talking about Zachary here. He has razor-sharp instincts while in the final third. He only needs a single opportunity, like a free-kick or a slightpse in concentration on the opponent''s side, and he will find the back of the. As long as he remains fit, he''ll continue bagging goals, no matter what teams he faces."

    "The quarter-final draw for the Champions League will be held three dayster, on Friday, March 20th, 2015," Beatrice Paretti, the host, stated as the cameras focused back on her. "Gentlemen! What are your predictions? Who do you think Juventus will face in the quarter-finals?"

    "As I already said, the odds of them facing Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, or Barcelona are high," Alessandro Costacurta dered.

    "I''m of a different view," Roberto Baggio said. "Juventus'' luck this season has been not bad. I think they will face one of the weaker opponents, like FC Porto, Borussia Dortmund, and Paris Saint-Germain."

    "I can see that you all have different predictions," Beatrice Paretti said with a chuckle. She then spent the next few minutes discussing the other Champions League Round of Sixteen fixtures before ending the show.

    -----

 Chapter 542 A Call for International Duty

    Chapter 542 A Call for International Duty

    "DING"

    A system notification resounded in Zachary''s mind when he returned to his roomter that night.

    "The user has just scored more than a hat trick against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, which happens to be a top-four German Bundesliga team," the apathetic voice of the system AI followed. "As a result, the user has met the part-condition of the Giant-Killer Hattrick Challenge and acquired another skill shard of Ronaldinho''s Step-Over and Feint Kingly Magic."

    "The user has now obtained three out of the required twelve shards, meaning that he only has to collect nine more to meet the conditions needed to learn the skill."

    "The user should continue working hard and score more hat tricks against the top-four teams of the best European Leagues, including the Italian Serie A, the English Premier League, the French League 1, the Spanish La Liga, and the German Bundesliga. That way, the user can quickly learn Ronaldinho''s Step-Over and Feint Kingly Magic and push his game to another level."

    Zachary''s eyes lit up after hearing what the system AI had to say.

    A few weeks ago, during the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-finals, he had scored a hat trick against Fiorentina, which happened to be a top-four Italian Serie A team, and obtained a skill shard. Then, tonight, during the second leg of the Champions League Round of Sixteen, he bagged another four goals against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, a top-four German Bundesliga team, and obtained yet another shard. As such, he had now collected three of the twelve required skill fragments, and he was a step closer to learning Ronaldinho''s Step-Over and Feint Kingly Magic.

    Imagining all the glory he could get from learning the skill, Zachary''s spirits soared. He wasn''t satisfied with his current dribbling skills since they were still a level below those of once-in-a-generation dribblers like Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, and Ronaldinho. He figured that if he could learn Ronaldinho''s Step-Over and Feint Kingly Magic, he would gain all the tools to consummate his skills and form a never-before-seen potent dribbling style. Then, by utilizing his well-bnced and still evolving physical fitness attributes, he would bring out the best of the dribbling style and turn into a nightmare that every defender, no matter how skilled, would dread. Within two or three years, maybe all football fields would turn into his backyard, and he would achieve the greatness no football yer had ever aplished.

    "The Champions League quarter-final draw is on Friday," Zachary mused as he settled on his bed. "I wonder what team we''ll get for the quarter-finals."

    The teams that had qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals included Real Madrid, FC Porto, Paris Saint-Germain, FC Bayern M¨¹nchen, Monaco, and Juventus. If nothing too unexpected transpired, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund would also win their games scheduled for the following day and qualify for the quarters.

    Zachary understood that there was rarely a chance for any side to reach the quarters of a prestigious tournament like the Champions League without the matching skills and squad depth. As such, he had long readied himself to meet a strong opponent in the quarter-final. His confidence was boundless after experiencing the recent growth in his skills. No matter whether it was Real Madrid, Barcelona, or Bayern M¨¹nchen, he would readily take them on in sooner rather thanter in the Champions League.

    "Time to go to bed."

    the quarters, especially since it was better to challenge them sooner rather thanter in the Champions League.

    "Time to go to bed."

    After ying ny-plus minutes of intense Champions League football, Zachary''s energy levels had long sunk below the norm. He didn''t go through his pre-bedtime yoga routine but washed up quickly before entering between the sheets. A few minutester, he slowly dozed off and eventually sunk into a peaceful and long slumber.

    The sound of his phone ringing woke him up the following day. Opening his eyes slightly, he immediately realized it was alreadyte in the morning. The sunlight streaming golden through a gap in the curtains illuminated his sleepy face. He raised his hand and shielded his eyes from the assault before extending his hand to pick up the still-ringing phone from the bedside table.

    "Hello," he spoke into the phone after pressing the ept button.

    "Bonjour, Zachary!" A familiar voice greeted him in French from the other side of the line. "I''m Omar Sangare. We previously talked on the phone."

    "Sangare!" Zachary said while pushing himself from the bed into a seating position. "It has been long since westmunicated."

    "Yes, it has been a long time. West talked before the AFCON started. It has been more than two months since then."

    "Yes, that''s true," Zachary replied. "Congrattions upon winning the AFCON, by the way. The Ivory Coast team was impressive throughout the tournament." As he had expected, Ivory Coast performed well during the 2015 African Cup of Nations tournament. They defeated all opponents and finally emerged Champions after beating Ghana in the finals.

    "Thank you, Zachary!" Omar Sangare said from the other end of the line. "We won. But it was tough. Had you been part of our squad, maybe it would have been easier for us to beat Ghana in the finals."

    "That may not be the case," Zachary said. "Let''s put the past aside. The reason for your call should be to tell me good news. Is that right?"

    "That''s exactly so," Omar Sangare said. "We have processed everything concerning your citizenship switch and submitted all the required paperwork to CAF and FIFA. You are now officially a citizen of the Ivory Coast and can y for us during the uing matches."

    "Finally, that''s good news," Zachary eximed. He had hoped that the Ivory Coast officials would process all his change of nationality paperwork by the end of January. But they had gone up to the end of March before finishing everything. At longst, his patience had paid off, and he could finally y international matches under the banner of the Ivory Coast team.

    "Within the next two or three days," Omar Sangare stated, "Someone from our embassy in Italy will deliver the relevant paperwork, including your passport and identity card, to your residence in Turin. Feel free to use them during your uing travels."

    "Thanks," Zachary said. "Are there any uing matches for Ivory Coast? And if there are, will I be part of the Ivory Coast team for those matches?"

    "Yes, to all questions," Omar Sangare replied. "There are international friendliesing up within the next two weeks or so. First, we''ll y Ang on Thursday, March 26th, 2015. Then, three dayster, on Sunday, March 29th, we''ll battle Equatorial Guinea in another friendly. Both matches will be yed at home in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Our coach, Herv¨¦ Renard, has entrusted me with inviting you to the national team for both matches. Will you manage toe?"

    "Of course, I''ll travel and be there before the games," Zachary readily answered. He had long crammed the football calendar. He was sure there was a two-week international break after Juventus'' uing Serie A game against Genoa. As such, nothing would prevent him from traveling to Ivory Coast and joining his new teammates for the friendlies.

    Moreover, he understood that he would never get a second chance to make a fine first impression on his teammates. He didn''t wish to appear as an arrogant and prideful yer who would, without a second thought, dismiss a call from the national team he''d chosen to represent. Instead, Zachary wanted to portray to his new teammates that he was a down-to-earth team yer who would be a dedicatedrade during their endeavors to achieve football glory. Following that reasoning, there was no chance he would ignore his first call on the Ivory Coast team, despite knowing he would only get to y in two almost-pointless friendly games.

    "I''m d you chose to join us for the friendlies," Omar Sangare said excitedly. "When do you wish to travel?"

    Zachary thought before saying, "My club has a Serie A game against Genoa on Sunday, March 22nd. I can only travel after that. Let''s go with Monday, March 23rd. I can take a night flight from Turin on the 23rd and arrive in Ivory Coast the next day."

    "Excellent," Omar Sangare eximed. "Arriving in Ivory Coast on the 24th will allow you two days of rest before the game against Ang. We''ll even get time to conduct a press conference and introduce you to the local fans. It''s truly a good n."

    "I''m d you like the n. If there''s nothing else, I''ll be hanging up." Zachary had just looked at the clock and realized that the time was already approaching ten in the morning. He wanted to end the call quickly and start on his other duties for the day.

    "Just a moment," Omar Sangare hurriedly said. "Don''t spend your money buying a ne ticket. I will e-mail you a first-ss night ne ticket from Turin to Abidjan within the next two days. Are there any airlines you prefer?"

    "Air France and Royal Air Maroc," Zachary replied. "The two airlines should both have flights from Turin to Abidjan. You can go with any of the two."

    "Excellent," Omar Sangare said. "That''s all the information I needed. Have a good day, and see you in Abidjan on the 24th."

    "Thanks for calling, and see you then. I have to go now. Bye."

    Zachary quickly ended the call. He then jumped out of bed and washed his face before starting his morning yoga routine. He was eager to ovee his post-match fatigue and regain a hundred percent match fitness before Juventus'' uing Serie A home game against Genoa.

 Chapter 543 Coach Allegris Advice

    Chapter 543 Coach Allegri''s Advice

    As promised, Zachary received both his Ivorian passport and first-ss air ticket to Abidjan within the next two days. He also met an official from the Ivory Coast Embassy in Italy, who exined issues concerning his citizenship switch to him.

    The Ivorian Embassy official mentioned that Zachary would be entitled to several benefits, including match bonuses and travel allowances, among other perks, while ying for the Ivorian National Football team. As a true-blue Ivory Coast citizen, Zachary could also enjoy all the privileges that all Ivorians were entitled to. Whether it was buyingnd in Ivory Coast or voting, he could enjoy all those rights whenever he wished. And as a surprise, the official mentioned something about the Ivorian government offering Zachary some tax cuts and tax holidays if he ever decided to settle down in Ivory Coast and start businesses there.

    The Ivorians were sure trying to make Zachary feel wee on the C?te d''Ivoire National Football team. But, of course, there was a catch. He had to first represent their country well during international footballpetitions like the World Cup before he could enjoy the most rewarding benefits. There was no way around that.

    After ending the meeting with the Ivorian Embassy official, Zachary readily returned his focus to training. He joined his teammates at the Vinovo, and together, they spent the next few days refining tactics and sharpening the game n for their uing home Serie A game against Genoa.

    As they trained, the hours turned into days, and the eve of the game arrived much quicker than they had expected. They ended their training early, at around 3:00 PM on that Saturday. They washed up and rested for about an hour before heading to the tactical room to attend Coach Max Allegri''s pre-match strategy meeting.

    -----

    Like always, Coach Max Allegri didn''t spend much time exining the tactics that day. He only highlighted a few main points of the game n to ensure that his yers were in the right mindset before the game. After that, he read out the line-up that included his most skilled yers like Patrice Evra, Chiellini, Boni, Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Marchisio, Zachary, Andrea Pirlo, and Carlos Tevez. Then finally, after assigning individual roles, he faced the crowd and started talking about the significance of the game against Genoa with a solemn tone.

    "Lads!" The coach said, sweeping his gaze across his yers. "We''re only two and a half wins away from winning the Serie A title. We''re just a step away from making history and winning the Italian League with eight matches remaining before the end of the season. We could be champions as early as Saturday, April 11th, 2015, if we could attain two victories and a draw in our next three games. What we have to do to achieve our hopes seems simple on paper. But if we falter and lose focus at this crucial moment, everything we''ve worked for all season might blow up in smoke. In the worst case, our fall from grace would start with losing a single game, and our momentum would falter. We would then struggle in the matches that follow, and the cycle would go on ¡ª until the very point when the trophy we were sure to win escapes our grasp."

    "Guys!" Coach Max Allegri continued. "I know that it''s hard to imagine us faltering and losing our overwhelming 27-point lead. I know that it''s hard to visualize our team losing nine of the remaining eleven Serie A games and squandering our chance to win another title. But guys, as professionals, we should all know that anything can happen thiste in the season."

    "Some teams are struggling to avoid relegation, others are fighting to gain a spot to y Champions League and Europa League football, and the remaining few wish to end their season well with a good position on the Serie A table. All those teams will be tough opponents when we chance upon them, especially since they will be willing to do everything possible to go home with a point or three after a game. They will ensure that we sweat and struggle hard to score any goal while out there on the pitch."

    "How do we ovee them? Simple! We remain focused! We remain hardworking! We remain motivated! We prepare and y each of our next three games as if they are all finals. We do what we have been doing all seasons and y with the sole intent of winning. That''s how we remain ahead of everybody else and win the Serie A title. That''s how we be Champions! Do you guys feel me? Are you with me?"

    "Yes, coach!" The yers replied more or less in unison.

    "Are you with me?" The coach asked again in an even louder voice.

    "Yes, coach! We''re with you." The yers roared back to match their coach''s enthusiasm. They all seemed quite motivated after listening to their coach''s little speech.

    "Nice!" Coach Max Allegri inhaled deeply and narrowed his eyes. "Everything starts tomorrow. Our quest to be champions in the shortest time possible will begin when we face Genoa at 3:00 PM tomorrow. What are we to do? Simple! We y as usual and We overwhelm them and thrash them so hard ¡ª and in so doing, we build up more momentum for the uing games. That is all render our opponents powerless in the face of our individual brilliance and formidable teamwork. We y with enough drive and work hard from the first minute of the game so that our opponents will find it almost unimaginable to get even a draw from the match. We overwhelm them and thrash them so hard ¡ª and in so doing, we build up more momentum for the uing games. That is all we have to do, and we''ll still be on the right course to win the Serie A title within the next three games..."

    The coach spent fifteen more minutes voicing out encouraging words to his yers. Then, after ensuring that his message had hit home, he said his goodbyes to his yers and sent them back to their homes for the night.

    -----

    After the tactics meeting ended, Zachary hurriedly stood up and followed the two coaches - Max Allegri and Maurizio Trombetta. He caught up with the coaches as they turned into the hallway heading to the offices and then wasted no time requesting a small discussion with them.

    The coaches had no reason to deny his request. They readily invited him to Coach Max Allegri''s office and offered him a seat.

    "So, Zachary!" Coach Allegri exchanged a nce with his assistant and spoke first. "What is this about? Why do you wish to meet us on the eve of an important game? Is there a problem?"

    "Coach!" Zachary spoke in his somewhat strained Italian. "I''m not facing any challenges at the moment. But I just wanted to inform you that I will travel away from Turin to represent my country during the international break."

    Coach Max Allegri wrinkled his brows. "So, the rumors are true. You''ll represent C?te d''Ivoire."

    "Yes, that''s true," Zachary replied. "I''ll y for C?te d''Ivoire during the uing international friendlies."

    Coach Max Allegri nodded. "When do you wish to travel? And when will you be returning?"

    "I will take a night flight from Turin to Abidjan the day after tomorrow. Then, if everything proceeds ording to n, I should return to Turin eight dayster, on Wednesday, April 1st, 2015. That will be three days before our game against Empoli."

    "Oh!" Coach Max Allegri narrowed his eyes and nced at the calendar on his table. He then turned his gaze back to Zachary and asked, "Can''t you return earlier? Just remember that we''re at a sensitive point of the season. All teams we face will go all out to stop us from winning the trophy this early in the season. We need all our crucial yers, including you, to train adequately for the games."

    "Coach!" Zachary said. "I understand all that. But still, it will be impossible for me to return to Turin before April 1st. Ivory Coast''s game against Equatorial Guinea is on Sunday, March 29th. After the game, I''ll have to rest on the 30th before taking an evening flight from Abidjan to Turin on the 31st. Coach! As you can see, I have already cut my schedule short in order to return to Turin and join the preparations for our game against Empoli as soon as possible. I can''t cut it any further."

    Coach Allegri''s brows remained creased. He inhaled deeply again and said, "Okay! I understand, Zachary. You''re, of course, free to go and represent your country. But please take care of yourself while out there. Protect yourself from injuries during matches, and avoid overstraining yourself. As you already said, you''ll be ying international friendlies. So, there''s no point pushing yourself hard and hurting yourself at this crucial point of the season. Understood?"

    "I understand, coach!" Zachary said. "I will do my best to protect myself while out there. More than anything, I also wish to continue performing well both in the Serie A and Champions League."

    "Good!" Coach Allegri smiled for the first time. "I''m d you understand. After here, you can email human resources about the issue. I''ll give the go-ahead, and they will readily ept your request to travel to Ivory Coast on Monday."

    "Thanks for your consideration, coach," Zachary said with a smile.

    "No need for thanks." Coach Allegri''s smile brightened. He then talked with Zachary about other issues, including his training challenges and personal life. Then, about thirty minutester, they ended their conversation on a positive note and went their own ways.

 Chapter 544 The Shocking Opening Minutes

    Chapter 544 The Shocking Opening Minutes

    Sunday, March 22nd, 2015

    Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy.

    Time: 3:00 PM

    -----

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle on time, and the much-anticipated Serie A battle between Juventus and Genoamenced. The first few minutes were full of midfield battles as both teams fought hard to gain dominance on the field of y. But eventually, after about twelve minutes of intense football, Juventus came out on top by relying on their star-studded midfield, which included world-ss yers like Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, and Zachary Bemba. The team from Turin effortlessly settled into the game and started dictating the tempo. From there on, Juventus'' attacks grew increasingly more threatening, and it wasn''t long before the men in striped ck and white jerseys created their first goal-scoring chance.

    "Whoosh..."

    Zachary, who had already gotten used to his unrestrained role on the Juventus squad, floated into the left wing during the 14th minute. He connected with a raking long ball from Andrea Pirlo and then initiated a two-versus-one battle against Facundo Roncaglia, one of the three Genoa defenders. By working with Patrice Evra, the two of them effortlessly beat the Genoa defender, and before long, they started cutting back into the pitch towards Genoa''s goal.

    "Zachary! Zachary..."

    The cheers around the stadium hit a thunderous peak as Patrice Evra received the ball and quickly threaded it back to Zachary toplete another lightning-fast exchange of one-twos.

    Zachary controlled the ball well without losingposure and squared it toward Carlos Tevez, who happened to have just dashed into an unmarked pocket of space at the edge of Genoa''s box.

    Carlos Tevez, on his part, was quite unselfish at that juncture. He took only a single deft touch to escape from his marker. Then, when the angle opened up, the Argentine unleashed a diagonal pass through the legs of the defender and into the path of Zachary, who happened to have continued his brazen sprinting toward the opponent''s goal.

    With that rapid exchange of passes between Zachary and Tevez, the Genoa center-backs were thoroughly beaten. Their expressions appeared contorted as they instinctively turned around to stare at Zachary, who happened to be already driving into the box like a lightning bolt. But despite their unwillingness to surrender, there was not a thing they could do at that moment to stop him. Like statues, they remained rooted in ce as the cheers rose up a notch in anticipation of Juventus'' first goal on the night.

    "Pa..."

    Zachary slowed down and took another touch as he approached the keeper from a tight angle. Everything before him seemed to slow down at that moment, and he drew his leg back before unleashing a shot toward the goal. His intent was to curl the ball past the keeper and then effortlessly find the inside of the far post before the Genoa defenders could recover.

    However, to Zachary''s surprise, Mattia Perin, the Genoa goalkeeper, reacted abnormally. The keeper, who had already initiated a diving motion to the right, suddenly altered his center of gravity to realign his posture and spring to the left. Moreover, Mattia Perin''s reflexes were lightning-fast, and he managed to graze the ball with his fingertips, thus altering the shot''s trajectory by a slight margin.

    "Shit..."

    Zachary couldn''t help but mutter a curse when he saw the goalkeeper''s fingertips skimming the ball. He had gone for uracy, intending to find the far corner, just inside the far post, as he released the ball. As such, he was already dreading the fact that the slight graze from the keeper would send the ball away from its intended target, and then he would be in for a world of disappointment.

    "BAM!"

    As expected, Zachary''s curling shot didn''t find the inside of the far post. The ball instead smashed off the post before rebounding into the box. Fortunately, Juventus'' chance wasn''t over as Carlos Tevez was the first to pounce toward the just-rebounded ball. The Argentine reached it before all the opponents and unleashed a first-time snapshot toward the middle of the goal. Moreover, he had taken the shot with power and thus effortlessly beat the Genoa keeper, who was still trying to pick himself up from the ground after saving Zachary''s effort.

    "This is it..."

    Zachary, who happened to be watching from the side, felt his hopes soar as the ball dashed past the keeper while heading fast toward the back of the. But the next second, his spirits sank into the abyss of boundless gloom as a silhouette donning Genoa''s red and dark blue jersey appeared out of the blue to intercept the shot. The Genoa man moved like a ghost, and before Zachary could blink, the ball was already being cleared away from the goal line.

    "What the hell..."

    Feelings of surprise and dismay assaulted Zachary''s psyche as he watched the just-cleared ball soar high toward the night skies of Turin before floating out of y. Zachary had tried his best to chip the ball past the keeper and score Juventus'' 1st goal during the 15th minute but failed. Secondster, Carlos Tevez also tried on the rebound but still failed. Moreover, there was also that Genoa defender who appeared out of nowhere to clear away Tevez''s effort from the goal line. The entire series of events reyed through Zachary''s mind, and he could contain his anguish. He was even more disappointed with himself for missing the chance after taking in the dejected expressions of the Juventus supporters in the stands behind the goal.

    "Don''t mind, don''t mind!" A familiar voice sounded beside Zachary as the negative feelings threatened to overwhelm him. "We have missed these two chances. That''s a fact. But let''s get over them quickly and create more opportunities. As long as we keep on testing their defense and keeper, we''ll, at one point, score a goal."

    Zachary inclined his head and realized that the yer trying to console him was Fernando Llorente, Juventus'' second-striker for the day. Smiling slightly, Zachary said, "Thanks, Fernando. I understand what we have to do. Let''s continue creating more opportunities. I don''t believe the Genoa defenders will continue being lucky if we create more chances on goal. We''ll surely score and win the game."

    "That''s the spirit." Fernando Llorente smiled and patted Zachary''s back. "We try once, and if we fail, we try the second, then the third, and countless more times until we finally score. That''s all we have to do until we score."

    Zachary nodded and headed back toward his position in midfield. The cleared ball had moved out of y for a throw-in on the left nk. So, he readily sprinted into an unmarked space close to the left of the midfield and shouted for the ball.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle a second or soter. Patrice Evra, the Juventus left-back, immediately raced towards the line and threw the ball into the pitch. The Frenchman''s uracy was spot on, and he effortlessly found Zachary, who was still lurking in the unmarked pocket of space close to the border of the final third on the left nk.

    "Whoosh..."

    Zachary took off like the wind and connected with the throw-in ball from Patrice Evra. His SS-grade skills worked like a charm, and he brought the ball under control on the first try.

    But right at that moment, his instincts tingled. With a slight incline of his head, he spotted a Genoa yer approaching his position like a speeding train.

    Zachary held his breath and let his instincts take over. He controlled the ball with his right boot while using his body to shield it from the fast-approaching defender. The next second, the Marseille Turn Juju worked wonders ¡ª and just like a true-blue incarnation of the great Zinedine Zidane, he smoothlypleted a 360-degree turn before elerating quickly past the defender.

    Control the ball! Marseille Turn! Instant eleration!

    Zacharypleted the entire series of movements swiftly and gracefully, like a skilled dancer performing an elegant dance with the ball. Before the helpless defender could realize what was happening, Zachary was already dashing past another opponent while approaching Genoa''s box like a raging tempest.

    A few secondster, Zachary floated into the space before the box and faced off against Nicol¨¢s Burdisso, Genoa''s captain and center-back. Zachary didn''t choose to take the defender on with his dribbling skills. Instead, he skillfully threaded a diagonal ball past the defender to set up a one-versus-one battle between Fernando Llorente and the Genoa keeper. Moreover, Zachary''s timing was spot on, and he released the ball a second before Fernando Llorente could run into an offside position.

    At that moment, the cheers around the Juventus stadium hit a thunderous crescendo. Fernando Llorente was, of course, not bothered by the loud noise in the stadium. He connected with Zachary''s pin-point through pass on the left side of the box and drove it forward like the wind. Then, before the Genoa defenders could react, he dug his boot under the ball and dinked it over the keeper with the grace andposure that matched his skills as a world-ss finisher.

    Right after that, Fernando Llorente slowly started raising his hands, seemingly to celebrate. But then, the next moment, his expression turned aghast as something he had not expected transpired. And just by reflex, he ced his already raised hands to the back of his head as the ball smashed off the crossbar and bounced back into the space just before the goal line.

    "The chance is still on," Zachary yelled to remind the stunned Fernando Llorente. "Hurry and go after the ball..."

    Fernando Llorente, being a sharp striker of the world-ss level, didn''t need any reminders on what to do in such a situation. He reacted like a mighty lion going in for the kill and dived head-first toward the still-bouncing ball.

    Right at that moment, when Fernando''s head was ''just about'' to make contact with the ball, the time seemed to slow down, and a gloved hand appeared out of nowhere. It was, of course, Mattia Perin, Genoa''s goalkeeper, in action. The shot-stopper''s acrobatics were almost inhuman as he palmed the ball away from Fernando''s head at thest instant to save the situation.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee immediately blew the whistle and pointed to the corner g after the ball bounced beyond the touchline for a corner kick. But all the Juventus yers, including Zachary, seemed oblivious to the referee''s actions. Their shocked and dismayed expressions said it all. It was as if they were still stuck in a past moment, and they couldn''t believe they had missed yet another clear chance to take the lead during the 17th minute.

 Chapter 545 Deadlock

    Chapter 545 Deadlock

    The referee''s whistle sounded again, and the Juventus yers went into action. Andrea Pirlo smashed the ball from the corner spot and sent it on a curling trajectory toward Genoa''s already chaotic box.

    Within the area, the yers of both teams had long started a messy battle of pulling, grabbing, and shoving each other. As the corner ball descended toward the box, there seemed to be the smell of gunpowder around the area. The scramble was a fight for aerial superiority blown out of proportion. As such, the eyes of all thepeting yers glittered with indomitable fighting spirit as they all struggled to outwit their opponents and meet the corner ball.

    "Whoosh..."

    Leonardo Boni, the Juventus center-back, was the first to overpower an opponent and leap off the ground to meet the corner ball. But under the entanglement of another opponent, his head missed the ball by mere inches, and he could only dejectedly watch it continue toward the direction of the far post.

    "Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh..."

    A secondter, yers of both teams continued towering high into the air to connect with the ball. But their attempts were all futile, and the ball shed barely above their heads as it continued on its teasing trajectory toward the area beyond the far post.

    The next instant, right as the ball was about to float out of y, a silhouette finally connected with it. It was Carlos Tevez, who had long camped in the area just beyond the far post. The center-forward reacted like a Ninja and contorted his physique to throw himself at the ball. He headed it back toward the middle of the box before it could head out of y.

    Another chaotic scuffle followed as the yers of both teams pounced after the returning ball like hungry hyenas going after a helpless rabbit. But eventually, it was Arturo Vidal, the Juventus midfielder, who came out on top to send the ball past an opponent and toward the goal with a raised boot. His luck seemed to smash through the heavens, and by some miracle, his attempt shed through the spaces ''in between'' a hoard of yers before finding the back of the.

    "GOAAAL..."

    Being his usual entric self, Arturo Vidal immediately roared like a madman and started racing toward the corner g to celebrate the goal. But right after taking a few strides, he seemed to realize that something was off about the situation and stopped dead in his tracks.

    The next moment, he reflexively nced toward the referee and noticed that the man was already pointing his arm toward Juventus'' side of the pitch. Everything was then clear to Vidal. The referee had already blown the whistle to cancel the goal and then offered a free-kick to Genoa.

    "Motherfuc..."

    Arturo Vidal used every ounce of his willpower to stop himself from going berserk as he raced toward the referee. His eleration was impressive, and he was in the referee''s face within no time.

    "Ref!" He said with narrowed eyes akin to a predator eyeing its prey. "What did I do wrong? I went for a fair ball and tapped it into the back of the without touching an opponent! So, tell me why you canceled our goal and offered the opponents a free kick. Are you kidding me?"

    "Raised boot!" The referee said lightly and stepped away from Vidal. "The goal will not stand as your actionscked unprofessionalism. You were just inches from kicking Facundo Roncaglia in the head with your boot studs. Had he not stepped back to avoid your lunge, he would now be lying on the ground with a head injury. So, Vidal! Tell me why I should allow a goal scored in such a manner to stand?"

    Vidal was incensed after hearing the referee''s exnation. "Football is a man''s game," he said. "How can you cancel a goal simply because a defender ying in the Italian Serie A, which happens to be one of the top football leagues in the world, was scared to make contact with the ball? Your actions don''t make any sense!"

    The referee smiled and said, "I have already given my exnation. The goal will not stand. Step away and let the opponents take the free-kick."

    "But..." Arturo Vidal was about to continue arguing. But right then, the other Juventus yers, including Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez, and Patrice Evra, swooped in. They pulled the anguished Chilean midfielder away and stopped him from further angering the referee.

    Of course, the other Juventus yers were also unsatisfied with the referee''s decision. But they remained disciplined and handled the situation calmly to prevent the worst-case scenario from happening. They wanted to ensure Vidal wouldn''t get a pointless red card that early in the game.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    A minuteter, after the situation on the pitch calmed down, the referee blew the whistle. The game restarted with a Genoa free-kick. But after only a dozen or so seconds, the Genoa yers lost possession, and the Juventus yers took advantage of the opportunity to continue dictating the game''s tempo.

    The Juventus yers were sure on fire. They continued arraying themselves in their 3-4-1-2 formation whileunching attack after attack against Genoa''s defense. They yed splendid football throughout the rest of the first half and came close to scoring on numerous asions. But again and again, their efforts always fell short when they reached the final third, and they couldn''t find the back of the. As such, the score remained deadlocked at 0:0 as the yers matched down the tunnel for the half-time break.

    After the fifteen-minute break, the game resumed with a bang. The Juventus yers, who had just listened to Coach Max Allegri''s pep talk, continued ying like they were on steroids. From the very 1st minute of the second half, they started dominating proceedings with their neat midfield y while sometimes attacking from the wings to mount pressure on Genoa''s defense.

    Everything that followed was only natural. The Genoa yers couldn''t match Juventus'' individual brilliance and teamwork. As such, the yers in red and blue jerseys fell back into their own side of the pitch to defend. Their strategy was straightforward. They arrayed themselves into a bizarre 3-6-1 formation, with all bodies back in their own half to ''park the bus'' and weather Juventus'' increasingly terrifying attacks.

 Chapter 546 Light at the End of a Tunnel

    Chapter 546 Light at the End of a Tunnel

    The ''parking the bus'' defensive tactic seemed to work wonders for the Genoa yers. It allowed them topensate for theirck of skills with their hard work while toiling like true warriors to prevent Juventus from breaking through their ranks. As such, they kept the game deadlocked at a score of 0:0 as the match approached thete stages.

    Of course, there were times the efforts of the Genoa yers couldn''t stop the inevitable, and the highly tactical Juventus yers would break through them. But during such tense moments, Mattia Perin, the Genoa keeper who had been in fine form from the first minute, would rise to the asion. The miracle worker of a shot-stopper would perform beyond all expectations and save whatever was unleashed at him by the Juventus yers. He was a true-blue world-ss goalkeeper, at least for that specific day.

    For instance, Zachary dribbled past a few Genoa midfielders during the 73rd minute and then unleashed a thunderous shot toward the goal from the edge of the box. But Mattia Perin reacted like an incarnation of a diator and punched the ball out of y to save the situation.

    Six minutester, during the 79th minute, Juventus again tried to find the back of the through Carlos Tevez. The striker turned and twisted to step into the box before unleashing a grounded carpet shot toward the inside of the far post. But once again, the nemesis of Juventus, that was Mattia Perin, made another incredible save and pushed the ball out of y for a corner kick.

    During thest few minutes of the game, the Juventus yers continued attacking and asking all the important questions on the field of y. Be it long-range shots, one-twos to break into the box, and corner kicks ¡ª the Old Lady threw everything they had at the Genoa defense. Their seemingly never-ending attacks caused stress, tension, and anxiety to descend upon the Juventus stadium. And as the game proceeded into injury time, they even shifted into a higher gear and caused all fans and pundits watching the game to hold their breaths.

    Juventus'' highly skilled yers were like demons constantly haunting the Genoa yers during thest four minutes of added time. They switched to a Tiki-taka ying style that featured snappy exchanges of passes. Eventually, they linked up well like bona fide ball grandmasters and broke through Genoa''s ranks during the 94th minute when only a few seconds remained to the final whistle.

    At that crucial moment, the ball naturally returned to Zachary''s feet. He turned and twisted close to the edge of the box before drawing his leg back with the intention to unleash a hell of a shot goalward. The only thought in his mind was to find the top right corner and score a winning goal for Juventus before the referee could blow the final whistle.

    But just then, before Zachary could swing his leg down, something he had not expected transpired. He felt a strong tug on his shirt, and before he could understand what was happening, he found himself tumbling down on the ground with a thud.

    "Foul!"

    "Free kick!"

    The entire stadium erupted into shouts of fouls and free-kicks the next moment. The yells were deafening as all the Juventus fans, yers, and coaches joined together to demand justice for Zachary.

    The referee, who had been in a strategic position to observe the foul, didn''t need any reminders. He stepped forward and showed a yellow card to Nicol¨¢s Burdisso, the center-back who hadmitted a foul by pulling Zachary back. After that, the referee also pointed to the scene of the fouling incident and offered Juventus a free-kick just a few yards from the box.

    "Yeahhhh!"

    The stadium erupted into thunderous apuse after the referee made the decision. The Juventus fans all started jubting as they had finally gotten one final chance to score and take the lead before the game could end.

    Meanwhile, the Juventus yers didn''t lose themselves in the excitement. Instead, they remained calm and held a short meeting to prepare for the free kick.

    "This is ourst chance!" Andrea Pirlo said to Zachary while holding out the ball to him. "Are you confident?"

    "Andrea, please!" Patrice Evra hurriedly chimed in before Zachary could respond. "Stop putting the guy under pressure. Let him do as usual and take the free kick. If he scores, he scores. If he doesn''t, that''s also eptable. We''ll only have to do our best during our uing games andpensate for the draw."

    Andrea Pirlo narrowed his eyes and nced at the seeminglyckluster Evra. But being a calm person by nature, the Maestro didn''t try to say anything else. He shook his head and handed the ball to Zachary before stepping away.

    Zachary, on his part, also shook his head and ced the ball on the free-kick spot. He then raised his head briefly to assess the situation within Genoa''s box while also taking a few steps back from the ball.

    After having a full grasp of everything, Zachary didn''t continue observing. He instead closed his eyes and shut out all the noise. Slowly but steadily, he forgot everything else and entered a bizarre calm state while waiting for the referee to blow the whistle.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee''s whistle sounded after about half a minute.

    Zachary''s eyes opened like two shlight beams, and he took only an instant to observe everything before him. Whatever he saw was in high definition as the Dead-Ball Specialist Juju had already pushed his spatial awareness and risk analysis core attributes to the SSS grading. He took an angled run toward the ball before skillfully drawing his leg back to take the set piece.

    "BAM!"

    His ears picked up the sound of the boot smashing against synthetic rubber. He followed through with his swinging action and sent the ball goalward. His motions were textbook perfect, and he mixed both power and uracy to send a shot above Genoa''s defensive wall.

    SILENCE!

    A numbing silence immediately descended upon the stadium as the curling shot from Zachary soared over the wall like a surface-to-surface missile. All those watching the game held their breaths as they followed the ball''s trajectory.

    The Juventus faithful were obviously praying for the ball to find its way into the back of the. On the other hand, the Genoa supporters, coaches, and yers alike were without a doubt ring at the ball while visualizing words like, "Please, let it be a Miss!" and "Please don''t go into the back of the!"

    Of course, the Genoa faithful envisioned all those nasty phrases and bad luck words with red eyes, and if they could, they would readily reach out to a shaman to curse the ball at that moment. But s, there was nothing they could do as everything happened almost in an instant.

    The ball made a perfect parab over the wall, and before anyone could blink, it started descending toward the goal. The on-form Genoa keeper reacted as he should and executed an acrobatic dive to save the situation. But s, his actions were a tad bit toote, and the ball shed a few inches beyond his outstretched fingertips before grazing off the post and homing into the back of the. And with that, Zachary had saved the day and converted ast-minute free kick to give Juventus the lead during the 97th minute of gamey.

 Chapter 547 The Awestruck Commentators

    Chapter 547 The Awestruck Commentators

    Juventus FC 1 : Genoa CFC 0

    -----

    The loud yells and maddening cheers of the Juventus fans shook the stadium to its core after Zachary converted a free-kick to score the 1st goal of the evening. The situation within the stands also turned messy as the supporters of all age groups jumped, danced, sang, and jubted like a bunch of kids that had just chanced upon Santa us on Christmas Eve.

    During the chaos, some of the supporters even tried to jump over the barricades and rush into the pitch to celebrate. But fortunately, the meticulous stadium security did a remarkable job and stopped the frenzied fans from following through with their intended actions.

    In the meantime, the Juventus yers had also gathered around the corner g to celebrate the goal. They jubted like there was no tomorrow in front of their fans for minutes without minding about anything else. A madness of excitement had long overwhelmed them after Zachary bagged the winner veryte in the game.

    The referee, on his part, didn''t hurry the Juventus yers to end their celebrations as the added minutes of injury time had already psed. He blew the final whistle and brought the proceedings to a close, thus sending the already jubting Juventus fans, yers, and coaches into more frenzy. More chaos and cheers ensued after that, and the situation in the stadium didn''t calm down until after about half an hour.

    "Well, well, well..." Fabio Crudeli, thementator for the day, eximed when the cheers started dying down. "Zachary has done it again. He did what he does best and converted a free kick to score Juventus'' 1st goal for the evening veryte during injury time. When we were all beginning to believe Juventus would drop points today, Zachary Bemba rose to the asion and won the game with barely any seconds remaining on the clock. He is definitely a ball wizard that makes things happen, and he has just given Juventus the most extraordinary ending to the match."

    "I don''t care about what anyone else says," Tiziano Caressa, the othermentator, said. "I also don''t care about the score. But in my book, this is the most extraordinary match ending the Italian Serie A has had all season. Right from the first minute, the Juventus yers threw everything they had at Genoa. But Genoa was a tough nut to crack, and the men in blue and red held their own against the Italian giants. The visitors yed with character and drive and kept the score deadlocked at a score of 0:0 until the veryst minute. They were only seconds away from going home with a point, but then theymitted a foul in front of the box to gift Zachary the perfect chance to go for glory. Had they notmitted the foul, maybe we would have had a different ending, and Genoa would have gone home with a point today."

    "I wonder what went through Nicol¨¢s Burdisso''s mind before hemitted the foul," Fabio Crudeli said. "All of us understand that conceding a free-kick within the final third against Juventus is like conceding a penalty against any other Serie A team! Due to Zachary''s presence, Juventus always has an abnormally high probability of scoring from a set piece rather than from open y. The Genoa coaches should have warned Nicol¨¢s Burdisso about all this before the game. So, why did hemit a foul on Zachary only a few yards from the box? What was he thinking?"

    Tiziano Caressa chuckled. "My friend, you''re forgetting one thing. When you''re a defender, the only instinct that rules your mind is stopping the opponent from moving forward. You might tell yourself not tomit a foul thousands of times before stepping on the pitch. But at the crucial moment, when a forward is just about to leave you in the dust and attack your goal, your instincts will take over. You''ll reflexively try to tackle the ball, and if you can''t, you''ll go for a foul and take one for the team."

    "This is just what happened to Genoa''s center-back - Nicol¨¢s Burdisso," thementator continued. "He didn''t wish to foul Zachary. But when he noticed that the boy wizard was about to pull the trigger, he reacted instinctively and pulled him back."

    "Let''s also not forget that the Genoa yers were already spent at that point in the game. They were tired. They were only keeping Juventus at bay by relying on their drive. But as we all know, sheer will and fighting spirit can only take you so far during an intensive football game, especially on the professional stage. When you''re ying against highly skilled opponents, and fatigue sets in, then your fighting spirit won''t help. Your reactions will slow down, and the only thing you can do to stop your opponent at a crucial moment is to foul."

    "Nicol¨¢s Burdisso had been defending tenaciously for 90-plus minutes against highly tactical and agile yers like Zachary, Carlos Tevez, and Andrea Pirlo. He was already fatigued during the 94th minute, and the only thing he could do to stop Zachary was to pull him back before he could pull the trigger. Of course, the other option was to ignore the dire situation and let Zachary shoot. But we don''t know whether Zachary would have found the target and beaten the keeper to score."

    "Talking about the keepers," Fabio Crudeli said, "Gianluigi Buffon, the Juventus keeper, had a rxed evening. If I remember correctly, the Genoa yers only tasted him twice or thrice, and all asions were during corner kicks. On the other hand, Mattia Perin, the Genoa keeper, had a busy evening. He made a whooping sixteen saves, nine of which were from inside the box. The Juventus yers, including Zachary, Tevez, Fernando Llorente, and Pirlo, tested him countless times. But time after time, he continueding out on top and kept the score deadlocked at 0:0 until the veryst second when he conceded that unfortunate free-kick."

    "His goalkeeping was truly world-ss today," Tiziano Caressa, the othermentator, supplemented. Sighing audibly, thementator continued, "It''s funny how a single instance can change the game oue in multiple ways. Had Genoa managed to draw the game and go home with a point, then Mattia Perin, the Genoa keeper, would have be the undisputable Man of the Match today. But that 97th-minute goal from Zachary cast a blemish on his incredible performance. He has missed the Man of the Match honor, and the saddest part is that he lost it to Zachary Bemba, the only yer who managed to overpower his goalkeeping skills and win the match for Juventus."

    "Talking about Zachary," Fabio Crudeli chipped in with a chuckle, "The young ball wizard''s form in the second half of this Serie A season is really incredible. He just can''t stop putting up phenomenal disys on the field of y, and he also can''t stop scoring. He has achieved remarkable growth and pushed his skills to a world-ss level in just a few months. I remember that during November, right before Zachary won the Golden Boy, we were still debating whether he was qualified to make it into the shortlist of the Ballon d''Or. But four monthster, he has already evolved into a terrifyingly monstrous razor-sharp version of his former self on the field of y. He is, without a doubt, Juventus'' most important yer, and they couldn''t have achieved all their sess this season without his input."

    "Yeah, Zachary''s form is just something else this season," Tiziano Caressa said. "When I''m watching him on the field of y, it''s as if I''m seeing abined version of great yers like Andrea Pirlo, David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldinho. His ir with the ball is something I can''t describe with words. It''s simply world-ss. But that''s not all. He is also a terrifyingly well-bnced yer who can y multiple crucial roles on the field. If you manage to stop his dribbles, he will switch to ying like a Maestro and unleash deadly defense-splitting passes. If you flood the defensive midfield with bodies to stop him from finding spaces, he will simply shrug that off and then float into the wings, where he can initiate one-versus-one battles to destroy your wing-backs. And if everything else fails, he can create a free-kick opportunity and convert it with his incredible set-piece conversion skills. Whatever you throw at him is always not enough, and I can''t think of a way to really stop him from performing his magic on the ying field."

    "In midweek, Zachary scored four goals against Bayer 04 Leverkusen to take his Champions League tally to 14 goals this season," Fabio Crudeli stated. "Today, he has scored ate winner against a tenacious Genoa side and taken his Serie A tally to 29 goals. He has also already found the back of the five times in the Coppa Italia and twice in the Supercoppa Italiana. His overall seasonal total in allpetitions is now a staggering 50 goals, and I can''t help but wonder when this boy will stop scoring!"

    "I don''t think the boy will stop scoring," Tiziano Caressa dered. "He has all the confidence and momentum at this point. As long as he remains fit, there won''t be anything to stop him from giving opponents hell and scoring more goals."

    "Zachary''s form has been significant in Juventus'' conquest for glory this season," Fabio Crudeli said. "As we speak, Coach Max Allegri''s men have already amassed a total of 80 points just after ying their 28th of the total 38 Serie A matches scheduled for this season. After their win today, they extended their lead over the second-ced AS Roma to 30 points. Of course, Roma has the opportunity to narrow the gap again when they face Cesena away from home tonight. But if the team from Rome happens to lose, Juventus would only need one more draw to win this year''s Serie A title. We''re witnessing a weird season where Juventus has dominated the league without losing even a single game."

    "Let''s keep our fingers crossed as we wait for AS Roma''s away game against Cesena tonight at 8:45 PM," Tiziano Caressa said. "AS Roma will have to put up amanding performance and win the game. Or else, they will risk handing the trophy to Juventus much earlier than expected..."

    Thementators continued discussing the Italian Serie A as the fans, who had just watched the match, moved out of the stadium. The two men also talked about multiple topics, including the uing international break, the performances of other teams, and some gossip revolving around famous footballers ying in the Italian Serie A. They only stopped their chatter and departed from thementator''s booth right after the clock hands around Turin pointed to the 6:30 PM mark.

    -----

 Chapter 548 After the Game

    Chapter 548 After the Game

    Zachary returned to the dressing room after going through the mandatory post-match interviews. He didn''t spend much time conversing with his teammates but headed to the bathrooms, where he enjoyed a rxing cold shower.

    Fifteen minutester, he emerged from the shower feeling refreshed. He changed into a brand-new Juventus tracksuit and then said his goodbyes to his teammates and coaches. As usual, a few yers more familiar with him tried to invite him to the post-match victory celebrations in the city. He rejected them in the politest way he could think of before matching out of the locker room. He walked quickly with a slight swagger in his step and soon arrived at the parking lot reserved for the Juventus yers.

    More than two hours had psed since the end of the match between Juventus and Genoa, and the clock hands around Turin had already pointed to the seven o''clock mark. The sun had just descended below the horizon in the west, and the evening had begun to cast its dusky gown upon the city. But even then, the enthusiastic Juventus fans, who should have already headed home, were still camping around the parking lot. They stood beyond the barricades created by the security team, eager to catch brief glimpses of the yers leaving the stadium.

    "Zachary! We love you..."

    "Zachary! Nice y today..."

    "Zachary! An Autograph..."

    Amotion broke out beyond the barricades of the parking lot as Zachary slowly made his way to his car. He, of course, waved back to the fans while smiling to acknowledge their support. However, he ignored all their requests for autographs.

    Zachary was really exhausted after ying more than 90 minutes of intensive Serie A football. He couldn''t spare any time for the fans, as all he could think about was to return home and begin his post-match recovery. Zachary also desired to enjoy a sumptuous home-cooked meal before heading to bed early. That way, he would be fresh and well-rested before traveling to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, the following evening.

    "Boss! Congrattions upon yet another impressive performance."

    A buff man with well-trimmed dark hair, prominent sideburns, and sharp blue eyes greeted Zachary as he approached his Audi RS 7. His name was Lorenzo Rardo, and he was the bodyguard Zachary had hired about a month ago. On top of being skilled in both hand-to-hand and armedbat, the man was also proficient in many other areas. He had taken over from Angelo as Zachary''s driver and was always acting as his shadow whenever he moved around Turin.

    "Thanks, Lorenzo!" Zachary replied with a smile. "Let''s get out of here. I really can''t wait to reach home. I feel like I will copse if I don''t get some rest soon."

    With that said, they both got into the car, and Lorenzo started the engine. With expert ease, he eased the car out of the parking spot, and a few minutester, they were already moving through thene heading away from the stadium.

    As the car moved, the fans camping beyond the road continued yelling Zachary''s name. He rolled down the window and waved at them. But that simple action sent them into more frenzy, and the bolder ones couldn''t hold in their urge to rush towards the car.

    Fortunately for Zachary, the stadium security did their job well and prevented the fans from blocking his departure away from the stadium. And since there were no obstructions, Lorenzo sessfully guided the car into the main road and sped off towards Pinerolo, Turin, where Zachary''s mansion was located.

    After spending more than half a year in Turin, Zachary had already be familiar with all the sights along the road from the Juventus Stadium to his mansion. He turned away from the passing scenery beyond the car window and focused on his phone.

    Leaning back into the car seat, he browsed the current sports news on his phone. He switched from page to page and ignored most of the information and gossip online until a certain headline caught his eye.

    "Juventus to face off against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals," the headline read. "Who wille out on top after this battle between football giants?"

    Zachary was not surprised by the news of Juventus having to face off against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals. He had followed the quarter-final draw on Friday and was aware of who would face whom in the next stage of the prestigious Europeanpetition.

    Borussia Dortmund would face Monaco, Juventus would battle Real Madrid, Paris Saint Germain would take on Barcelona, and finally, FC Porto would y Bayern Munich. The respective teams would y away and home legs in their bids to qualify for that year''s UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

    Having already known about the Juventus vs. Real Madrid fixture, The author, who happened to go by the name Mitch Brown, wasn''t so objective with his analysis of the two teams. He wrote about how Zachary turned his focus to the articleparing the two teams. At first, he was reading it eagerly, but after a few minutes, he creased his brows with displeasure.

    The author, who happened to go by the name Mitch Brown, wasn''t so objective with his analysis of the two teams. He wrote about how Juventus and Real Madrid were equal on most fronts, including squad depth, current form, team creativity, and so on and so forth. But when concluding the article, the writer mentioned something that displeased Zachary. He boldly dered that Juventus would lose to Real Madrid after the two quarter-final legs simply because the team from Turincked the rich experience the Spanish giants had already amassed ying at that stage of the Champions League.

    Being a yer who had already fallen in love with ying at Juventus, Zachary couldn''t ept such a deration. He just shook his head and switched to another article. But that was after vowing to prove Mitch Brown wrong when Juventus finally battled against Real Madrid. He would prepare adequately for the quarter-final that was less than a month away and do his all to help his team ovee Real Madrid.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    Zachary''s phone vibrated and interrupted his browsing a few secondster. On noticing that the call was from Eric Bailly, his former teammate on Rosenborg''s team, he readily tapped the ept button and held the phone against his ear.

    "What''s up, Zachary?" Eric Bailly''s voice sounded from the phone speaker. "How are you doing?"

    "I''m doing okay," Zachary replied. "How about you?"

    "Also doing okay," Eric said. "But by looking at the current sports news, I can confidently say I''m not doing as great as you. Your skills have evolved quickly, and you''re scoring goals like nothing. Congrats, man!"

    "Thanks." Zachary chuckled. "I have also been following the Premier League, and you''re not doing bad yourself! You have already solidified your position as one of the main center-backs of Tottenham. I guess congrats are in order."

    "Thanks!" Eric said from the other end of the line. "I can''t fall behind after seeing you achieve all the sess. I have been working hard to improve my skills."

    "I''m d to hear that," Zachary said. "As Coach Johansen used to say, the sky is the limit if we continue working hard. How''s Kasongo, by the way?"

    "He''s doing fine. I thought you guys were in touch. Why are you asking me about him?"

    "I think he decided to give me the cold shoulder after the news of my switching citizenship to Ivory Coast started circting on the web. Sometimes, he doesn''t pick up my calls. And when he does, he onlyins about how I betrayed my homnd."

    Eric Bailly chuckled. "That''s Kasongo for you. He doesn''t mince words when expressing his displeasure. But since you guys go back a long time, he should be able to ept your reasons for switching nationality if you talk to him."

    "I hope that is the case."

    "Well, that brings me to my reason for calling," Eric Bailly continued. "There''s word going around that you''ll join us in Abidjan for the friendlies against Ang and Equatorial Guinea."

    "That''s true. Of course, I can''t ignore my first invite to the national football team."

    "Excellent!" Eric Bailly said excitedly. "When do you n to travel?"

    "Tomorrow evening. My flight is scheduled to take off from Turin at 7:15 PM tomorrow. I should arrive in Abidjan at around 1:00 PM the day after."

    "That''s a long flight," Eric Bailly said. "I''m also traveling tomorrow evening. But I''ll arrive in Abidjan much earlier than you. Let''s link up when we get there. Since it is your first time in C?te d''Ivoire, I''m volunteering to be your guide. I''ll show you around the ce. What do you think?"

    "No problem," Zachary said. "Let''s link up after arriving in Abidjan. Even though I already have a guide, I will still rely on you to introduce you to my new teammates."

    "Someone seems to be under pressure. Don''t worry! Most of those on the Ivorian National Football team are eager to have you on the squad. They won''t give you any hard time as you try to fit in."

    "Then, that will be a relief," Zachary said. "I don''t wish to butt heads with anyone just after joining the team."

    "I don''t think such a scenario will happen," Eric dered. "Just feel at ease. You''ll get a warm wee when you arrive in Abidjan. You''ll even be overwhelmed by the fans and coaches willing to wee you to the National Football team."

    "Okay, Eric," Zachary said, choosing not to linger on the topic. "I''m just from ying a match. Let''s end our conversation here so I can get some rest."

    "Sure!" Eric said. "We''ll have all the time to catch up when we meet in Abidjan the day after tomorrow. So, good night and see you soon."

    "See you soon! Bye."

    Zachary ended the call. Right then, he noticed that Lorenzo, his new bodyguard, was already easing the car into the driveway heading to his estate. He shoved the phone into his pocket and leaned back into his seat as they approached his mansion.

 Chapter 549 To Abidjan, C?te dIvoire

    Chapter 549 To Abidjan, C?te d''Ivoire

    Having eaten a sumptuous home-cooked dinner prepared by Inger, Zachary headed to his bedroom. He was soon in autopilot mode, packing his luggage for the following day''s trip to C?te d''Ivoire, calling Emily Anderson, his agent, going through a rxing therapeutic yoga routine, and washing up.

    He finished everything he had nned to do by 8:30 PM and then made his way back to the living room. After picking a ss of water from the fridge, he settled into a sofa facing the TV screen to follow the game between Cesena and AS Roma, the second-ced team after Juventus on top of the Italian Serie A table.

    That match that could determine whether Juventus would win the Serie A title much earlier than expected kicked off at 8:45 PM. AS Roma, which happened to be the team that wished to stop Juventus from widening the gap at the top of the table, was the first to settle down in the game.

    Even at an away ground, the AS Roma yers were daring enough to quickly array themselves in an attacking 4-3-3 formation before beginning their relentless assaults on Cesena, the home team. Theybined long ball and wing y strategies to sustain pressure on the opponents during the opening stages. And finally, during the 41st minute, their efforts paid off, and they found a breakthrough. Daniele De Rossi, their captain and holding midfielder, gave them the lead after finding the back of the with a left-footed shot from outside the box.

    The score was then 1:0 in favor of AS Roma, the visiting team, and the game continued after a short spell of celebrations. The AS Roma yers didn''t continue risking tomit many bodies forward. Instead, they yed it safe and settled into a 4-5-1 defensive formation to weather the attacks thrown at them by the visitors for the remainder of the game.

    Their tenacity on the defensive end wasmendable, and they worked like untiring maniacs to thwart all attempts at their goal. They eventually maintained their lead and won the game with a score of 1:0 after three minutes of injury time.

    With that victory, the AS Roma yers pushed their overall tally to 53 points after ying their 28th Serie A game of the season. Of course, a massive 27-point gap still existed between them and the flying Juventus team. But at least they had done all they could to stop the team from Turin from winning the title after the next Italian Serie A match day.

    "Seems like AS Roma isn''t willing to hand you the Serie A title on a silver tter," Coach Bj?rn Peters, who had watched the match with Zachary,mented after the final whistle sounded. "You and your teammates will most likely have to toil for four more points before winning this year''s trophy."

    "I think that''s much better for us as one of the biggest teams in Europe," Zachary said. "Instead of relying on others to hand us the domestic trophy, it''s much more preferable that we toil for it and win it solely because of our efforts and skills. Achieving victory in such a manner will be much more satisfying than winning due to the inadequacy of our opponents."

    "True," Coach Bj?rn Peters agreed. Inclining his head to nce at Zachary, he asked, "You''re setting off for C?te d''Ivoire tomorrow evening. Is that right?"

    "Yes," Zachary answered.

    "Are you traveling alone, or will you move with Lorenzo?"

    "Lorenzo is my bodyguard. I have to travel with him to ensure my security. Aside from him, there will also be Kristin. She will help me handle some misceneous issues when we''re in C?te d''Ivoire."

    "That''s a big entourage," Coach Bj?rn Peters remarked. "But I like it. With Kristin and Lorenzo on your side, I won''t have to worry about your security and health."

    Zachary chuckled at that. He was already dozing at that point. So, he quickly ended the conversation after a minute or so and returned to his bedroom for the night.

    Not having a girlfriend also had its perks. Zachary no longer had to talk on the phone for hours every night. He switched it off without any fear or favor and jumped into bed with the swiftness of an assassin. A minuteter, he slowly started sinking into a rxing slumber while anticipating his first trip to Ivory Coast.

    -----

    The following evening.

    The sun was setting, and the clock hands around Turin had just pointed to the 6:00 o''clock mark when Zachary set off for the airport together with his entourage of two. Lorenzo, the bodyguard dressed in ck jeans with a matching ck t-shirt, was in the driving seat, guiding the Audi RS 7 forward on the road heading to the airport. On the other hand, Kristin, Zachary''s personal assistant, sat beside him in the back, updating him about what to look out for when they arrived in Abidjan, C?te d''Ivoire.

    "I talked to a friend of my dad working for the Norwegian Embassy in Abidjan," Kristin said. "Her advice for us was to remain extremely vignt, particrly in the neighborhoods of Abobo, Adjam¨¦, Treichville, Yopougon, and Attacoub¨¦ due to a high level of crime in those areas. She also warned me against moving about in the evening or during night hours since criminal activity esctes to unbearable levels after dusk. She also talked about the risk posed by demonstrations that could quickly turn violent at any time. Aside from that, she emphasized the need to watch out for the ever-present terrorist threats while in Abidjan..."

    Kristin''s speech was full of warnings. Her depiction made C?te d''Ivoire seem like ''some hell on earth'' where robbers, thieves, terrorists, and prostitutes suffering from sexually transmitted diseases could jump on you any moment. It seemed she had done ample research, but that research only focused on the negatives to ensure their group remained safe during their short stay in Abidjan.

    Zachary listened to her attentively but still chose to internalize her warnings with a pinch of salt. As a person who had already lived in both Europe and the DRC, he had long understood that the perceptions of most Europeans toward African countries could be prejudiced at times. Of course, Zachary knew that criminal activities existed in C?te d''Ivoire, but they shouldn''t be as exaggerated as those portrayed by European media. As such, security wasn''t one of his main worries as he traveled to Abidjan.

    "Did you manage to book us a hotel?" Zachary asked when Kristin finished her address.

    "There was no need for me to book one as Mr. Omar Sangare had already reserved a hotel for us," Kristin said. "Let me see... The one he reserved is called H?tel Ivoire, and from what I have seen on the inte, it''s probably the best in the country."

    "Oh! Then, that''s good," Zachary said with a smile. "Mr. Sangare is already doing a good job as our guide even before we arrive."

    "Yes, he''s really meticulous," Kristin agreed. "He has already sent over a schedule listing all the to-do activities while we are in Ivory Coast. On the list, there are training sessions with C?te d''Ivoire''s National Football team, press conferences, two dinners, and meetings with Ivorian football executives. If you are to go by his n, you won''t have any time to rest when we arrive in Ivory Coast."

    "Of course, I won''t be attending all those activities," Zachary said with a shake of his head. "I''m in Ivory Coast mainly to y football. So, aside from the training sessions and mandatory press conferences, send a message to Mr. Sangare and reject all the other activities on the schedule. Do it now, before we arrive at the airport."

    "Okay." Kristin nodded. "I''ll send Mr. Sangare a message right away."

    As they conversed, Lorenzo navigated the traffic, and forty minutester, they finally arrived at the airport. After finding safe parking for their vehicle, they entered the airport with their suitcases. Without drawing much attention to themselves, they quickly went through airport procedures before heading to the departure gate.

    After a short wait of about fifteen minutes, they boarded the ne and settled into their first-ss seats. Before long, they heard the pre-flight safety announcements, and just after a few more minutes, the ne took off from the runway and soared into the skies. It would make one stop-over in Casanca before continuing its long flight to Abidjan.

    -----

    The following day, at around 1:00 PM, the ne touched down on the runway of the F¨¦lix-Houphou?t-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan. After a few seconds of smooth braking by the pilots, it came to a halt close to the end of the runway.

    Zachary and his entourage followed the other passengers to exit the ne. He had already donned a wide-brimmed sun hat and a pair of oversized retro-shades to conceal his face. No one recognized that he was a famous footballer, and he looked like any other C?te d''Ivoire citizen returning from abroad with two European friends as he descended the airstair. Together with Kristin and Lorenzo, they dodged most of themotion and quickly headed toward the airport''s arrivals section.

    "Zachary! You''re finally here. Wee to Abidjan."

    A tall African man with pronounced cheekbones, a bald head, and an oversized goatee greeted them at the arrivals gate. Before Zachary could ask who the person was, the man pulled them to one side of the hallway and continued, "I''m Omar Sangare. We have beenmunicating on the phone."

    "Oh, Omar Sangare!" Zachary eximed, a light bulb going on in his mind. "It''s nice to meet you in the flesh, Mr. Sangare. Thanks for making time to wee us."

    "It''s my duty," Mr. Sangare said and then shook hands with Kristin and Lorenzo. Then after asking how their trip had been, he went straight to the point, "Let''s not waste much time here. I''ll help you to go through the airport procedures quickly before transporting you to your hotel."

    Mr. Sangare was very prudent and didn''t take up much of their time with pointless small talk. He aided them through all the airport and immigration procedures in a record time of about a dozen minutes before leading them to the luggage im hall. With his help, Zachary andpany didn''t face any challenges, and in just a few minutes, they walked out with their suitcases in tow. They then headed towards the airport exit while conversing among themselves.

    "Many football officials, journalists, and fans have been anticipating the arrival of the footballers on the National Football team," Mr. Omar Sangare said. "We intend to organize a small gathering today so they can interact with the yers who have just returned. Most of your new teammates, including Yaya Tour¨¦, Gervinho, Max Gradel, Wilfried Bony, Eric Bailly, and Ousmane Viera, will all be present. Are you sure you don''t wish to join the fun?"

    "I think I should rest for today," Zachary said resolutely. "I have been traveling since yesterday. I must give my body ample time to recover before I attend training tomorrow. So, I''m sorry, but I can''t join the gathering."

    "That''s okay," Mr. Sangare said with a regretful sigh. "Making ample preparations for our games against Ang and Equatorial Guinea take priority over everything else. So, forget that I asked."

    Zachary nodded and decided to change the topic. "In the schedule sent to us, you mentioned that the National Football team training begins at 9:00 AM tomorrow. If I remember correctly, the venue for the training should be an Abidjan-M''pouto trainingplex. Is that right?"

    "Yes, that''s the venue," Mr. Sangare replied. "It''s a trainingplex that belongs to ASEC Mimosas, one of the biggest football clubs in Ivory Coast. You don''t have to worry about not finding directions to the facility. I will personally guide you there tomorrow morning."

    "Then, thanks in advance," Zachary replied.

    While talking, they continued traversing the airport hallways leading to the exit. Mr. Sangare guided them through VIP sections rarely used by other passengers, and they were out of the airport facility in no time. Without drawing much attention to themselves, they boarded the already waiting convoy of cars and headed to the grand H?tel Ivoire, where Zachary and co spent the night.

 Chapter 550 SS-Grade Core Strength

    Chapter 550 SS-Grade Core Strength

    The first rays of sunlight lit up Zachary''s hotel room the following morning. He rubbed his still-bleary eyes before jumping out of bed and walking to the window. Inclining his head, he noticed that the sky was clear, without any blemishes of dark clouds. The weather in Abidjan seemed perfect that day, and he didn''t have to worry about the possibility of rain drenching him as he went through his first training with the National Football team.

    With a calm mind, he quickly turned away from the window. His gaze passed over thevish furniture and bedding in his hotel room as he walked towards the bathroom. He washed his face, and a few minutester, he settled down on the woolen carpet and started going through his morning yoga routine.

    He performed pose after pose with the resoluteness of a monk and slowly felt his muscles stretch and rx. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead and dampened his shirt after about forty minutes of a fast-paced full-body power yoga workout. He felt a bit lightheaded, and at that moment, he knew that he was almost hitting his limit.

    Yoga was an activity that could burn calories and tone muscles. It was also a total mind-body workout thatbined strengthening and stretching poses with deep breathing and meditation or rxation. For footballers, in particr, consistent yoga practice could gradually increase their flexibility, range of motion, and core strength.

    Zachary, who happened to have remained an ardent practitioner of all kinds of yoga for years, felt he was on a precipice of crossing a threshold that morning. He hardened his heart and continued performing pose after pose of fast-paced power yoga until he felt like he had shattered through a barrier within his body.

    At that moment, he seemed to have transcended to a higher level of life. A blissful sensation immediately washed across his entire body, and he could have sworn that he felt his skin pores opening and closing to take in some mystical energy. He took a deep breath that allowed him to return from the euphoric moment, and that was when he realized that a system notification had just sounded in his mind.

    "DING"

    "Congrattions!" The system AI''s voice was as crisp and clear as ever in Zachary''s mind. "The user haspleted a hidden system mission by shattering through the barriers of muscle power and attaining SS-grade core strength mainly through consistent training efforts. As a token of support, the system has rewarded 20,000 Juju points to the user for aplishing the feat. Please, continue working hard and attain more breakthroughs without relying on the system elixirs."

    "Ehh..." Zachary''s eyes widened with surprise. He had only been going through his usual morning power yoga routine as a warm-up before attending his first training session with the Ivorian National Football team. But just out of the blue, he had made a breakthrough and achieved SS-grade core strength. Moreover, that was through his own efforts without consuming a system elixir.

    Thinking about the entire series of events, Zachary felt like he had just won the lottery after picking up a discarded ticket from the sidewalk. He stood up and flexed his muscles, and it was then that a sheepish smile outlined his face.

    Two months back, during the Christmas break, most of his ball skills, plus agility, and body coordination attributes had all broken through to the SS grading. And now, just before he could attend his first training with the Ivorian National Football team, one of his other fitness attributes had also evolved to the same SS grade. He was developing fast as a yer, and he had a gut feeling that if he could persist with his consistent training routines that covered all areas important to a professional footballer, he would continue making more breakthroughs soon.

    "System!" Zachary called out in his mind. "Show me my current physical fitness and ser technique attributes."

    "DING"

    "Command received. The breakdown for the user''s physical fitness and ser technique attributes will being up shortly."

    Zachary smiled after hearing the system AI''s response. He took a deep breath to calm himself down and focused on the crystal-like translucent disy that had just manifested before him.

    ****

    *USER STATS

    -----

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: SS)

    Bnce and Coordination: SS

    Agility: SS

    Strength: SS

    Stamina: S+

    Endurance Points: 17,500/18,000 (S+)

    ----

    ->Ser Technique: [Av. Rating: SS]

    Ball Control: SS

    Dribbling Skills: SS

    Passing uracy: SS

    Body Control: SS

    ----

    ****

    "Sweet!"

    Zachary''s spirits brightened even further as he nced through his physical fitness stats. Only his Stamina and endurance were yet to break through to the SS grading. If they could also shatter the limit to the next grade, he would evolve into a terrifyingly well-bnced monster of a yer. He would attain a body packed with several abilities and perks that could cause envy to even the most talented footballers of the generation.

    From what he had figured out after constantly utilizing the system''s snooping tool, most other professional footballers possessed physical strength at the S-grading. And if their core strength went beyond the norm, it would only be at the SS grade.

    For instance, Giorgio Chiellini, the Juventus center-back dubbed by many as the diator due to his impressive power on the pitch, only possessed strength at SS grade ording to the system''s snooping tool. Of course, there might be SSS-grade strength abnormalities, such as The Hulk, Mamadou Sakho, Julio Baptista, Adebayo Akinfenwa, Yaya Tour¨¦, and tan Ibrahimovic, among a few others in the world of football. But their numbers on the professional football scene were minuscule for in-to-see reasons.

    If a person had such muscle power, graded at SSS, why wouldn''t he go for boxing, weight lifting, or wrestling, where he would be the king with minimal training? Or better yet, why wouldn''t he go for rugby or American football, the other sports with many positions that relied on impressive strength?

    Why would such a person join football and allow himself to be constantly bullied by lean and weaker yers like Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben, who could render his exceptional strength worthless by relying on their agility and potent dribbling skills?

    Zachary was obviously not born with innate strength. He was just a yer who had relied on the system and its potent elixirs, coupled with his rigorous training, to grow all his physical attributes to the S-grading and beyond. As such, his physical fitness stats were all well-bnced and not like those of innately strong yers who would possess SSS-grade core strength but with other attributes that couldn''t even make it past the A-grade threshold.

    Moreover, Zachary''s physique didn''t grow buff as his attributes evolved, maybe due to the system''s interference or the effect of its elixirs. Even after breaking through the SS-grade core strength threshold, he stayed the same 6''4 lean yer with impressive SS-grade agility and matching body coordination. His muscles were, without a doubt, well streamlined due to his consistent training and the power contained in his body, but they were not as buff as those of heavy-weight boxers, weight lifters, and rugby yers. As such, opponents would never know the astonishing depth of his strength until they experienced it personally.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    Zachary''s phone vibrated from the nearby table as he was still caught up in his euphoria. Picking it up, he realized that the call was from Kristin. He tapped the ept button and held the phone against his ear.

    "Kristin, good morning," he said.

    "Good morning to you too, Zachary," Kristin replied from the other end of the line. "It''s already 7:40 AM. Mr. Sangare will arrive shortly to take you to the Ivorian National Football team''s training venue. You should hurry ande down to take breakfast before he reaches here."

    "Okay, thanks for reminding me," Zachary said. "I''ll be down in fifteen minutes. See you in a bit."

    With that, Zachary ended the call. He washed up quickly in a record time of about six minutes before brushing his teeth and donning a brand-new tracksuit. Then, after arranging his messy braids and tying them into a ponytail, he exited his room, ready to rush down the stairs and towards the dining area for breakfast.

    But just after taking a few more steps, he got a scare of his life. His heart skipped a beat just as he was about to collide with a silhouette just a few paces from his doorway. It was Lorenzo, Zachary''s new bodyguard, and judging by the red eyes, Zachary could tell that the man must not have slept even a wink the entire night.

    "Lorenzo!" Zachary regarded his new bodyguard with a weird expression. "I thought we agreed that you didn''t have to camp out of my room throughout the night. Why are you here and not down in the restaurant having breakfast?"

    "Boss!" Lorenzo Rardo said with a sigh. "I chanced upon some new information while enjoying ate snuck downstairs in the bar. I heard that about two years back, Didier Drogba was robbed while staying in this very hotel. I couldn''t rest at ease knowing the same incident could happen to you. So, I decided to guard the door myself until morning."

    "Oh! There was such an incident." Zachary was surprised. The hotel he was in was one of the best in the country. It was the pre-eminent symbol of Abidjan''s post-colonial 1960s architectural heyday, with a grand feel and atmosphere reminiscent of the pces of old about it. Moreover, it usually hosted many dignitaries that visited C?te d''Ivoire, and numerous security units usually kept watch around its premises. So, how could a robbery incident happen in such a hotel?

    "Boss!" Lorenzo said. "After hearing the rumors, I did some research. From some past web articles, I confirmed that the incident really happened."

    "Oh, okay," Zachary said with a nod. "Thanks for your hard work, then. But since you didn''t sleep at night, how will you manage to stay awake during the day?"

    "Don''t worry about me, boss," Lorenzo said with a smile. "I''ll squeeze in a few hours of sleep while you''re undergoing training. That should be enough for me."

    "Okay." Zachary nodded and decided to inquire no further. "I''m almost runningte. If there''s nothing holding you back, let''s head down and have a quick breakfast before heading to the training ground."

    "Okay, boss," Lorenzo answered. "Let''s go."

    -----

 Chapter 551 The International Aspect of Football

    Chapter 551 The International Aspect of Football

    As nned, Mr. Omar Sangare picked Zachary up immediately after breakfast. The clock hands around Abidjan had just pointed to the 8:10 o''clock mark when they drove out of the gates of H?tel Ivoire and joined the busy streets of C?te d''Ivoire''srgest city that doubled as the economic capital.

    Mr. Omar Sangare''s car was a Toyota Landcruiser. Lorenzo, the bodyguard, sat in the front seat beside Sangare, the driver. As for Zachary, he had made himselffortable in the back seat of the spacious vehicle.

    While conversing among themselves, the car moved quickly, and they passed by many high-rise buildings,rge shopping malls, two bridges, and an extensive golf course. Then, after cutting two final corners, they eventually arrived at the Abidjan-M''pouto trainingplex, which was the venue for the Ivorian National Football Team training that day.

    After finding a parking spot, Zachary said his goodbyes to Lorenzo and walked into the training facility with Mr. Omar Sangare. Theplex was well-maintained, with clean walkways and extensive gardens adorned by meticulously mowed natural grass.

    Zachary followed Mr. Sangare along one of the walkways. They passed by a few of the facility''s staff maintaining the gardens and finally arrived at a two-story building that housed the offices and conference area. They walked into the building and stopped before a door.

    On the door, there was a que with the words conference room. Mr. Sangare knocked once on the door before pushing it open and stepping forward into the room.

    Zachary followed him inside, and his eyes immediatelynded on three men in orange and green tracksuits. They were seated around a long table, and it seemed they had been in the middle of a serious discussion.

    The man seated closest to the door was all too familiar to Zachary. He was Yaya Tour¨¦, the captain of C?te d''Ivoire''s National Football team and a Manchester City legend. The second man was someone Zachary had only gotten to know recently after deciding to switch his international football allegiance. He was Herv¨¦ Renard, C?te d''Ivoire''s National Football coach, who had just helped them win the African Cup of Nations a few months prior. As for the third man, who sat at the far end of the table, Zachary didn''t recognize him.

    "Zachary! Let me introduce these fellows to you," Mr. Omar Sangare spoke in French as they walked into the room. "I guess you already know Yaya Tour¨¦ and Herv¨¦ Renard. They are your captain and coach. As for the gentleman at the far end, he is Sidy Diallo, the Ivory Coast Football Federation president." Omar then turned to the three and continued in a formal tone, "Gentlemen! This one here is Zachary Bemba in the flesh. He''s here to report for National team duty."

    Yaya Tour¨¦ chuckled at that and got up from his seat. Extending his hand to Zachary, he said, "Zachary Bemba! The wonderboy and number 10 of Juventus! I have heard a lot of good things about you. Wee to the Ivory Coast National Football Team."

    Zachary smiled and took the hand for a firm handshake. "Thank you, Mr. Yaya Tour¨¦. I have also heard a lot of incredible things about you. It''s really an honor to make your acquaintance."

    "Is that so?" Yaya Tour¨¦ smiled.

    "Indeed!" Zachary smiled back. He had the utmost respect for the Ivorian midfielder, who happened to be one of the most underrated ymakers of the generation. Zachary was really looking forward to teaming up with him on the national football team. He also hoped that Yaya Tour¨¦''s career wouldn''t follow his previous life''s trajectory, which saw the midfielder retire from international football before the 2018 World Cup.

    "I have a feeling that we might just be good teammates," Yaya Tour¨¦ said while releasing Zachary''s hand.

    "I have the same feeling," Zachary said before turning to the other two gentlemen. He followed the same etiquette and exchanged greetings with both the Ivory Coast Football Federation president and Herv¨¦ Renard, the coach. Then, after some more small talk, they settled around the table and started discussing the important stuff.

    "So, Zachary!" Sidy Diallo, the Ivory Coast Football Federation president, breached the topic of Zachary''s nationality switch. "What are your goals for joining the Ivory Coast National Football Team? What do you hope to achieve?"

    Zachary smiled and replied with confidence, "My goal is simple. I wish to work with everyone on the team to win and continue winning. With my skills, I hope to contribute positively to all endeavors of our national team. Hopefully, with my addition, we can be a team that can ovee all opponents to achieve big things in uing World Cup tournaments."

    "Those are lofty goals," the Ivory Coast Football Federation president remarked. "But I like them. Once again, wee to the National Football team again. We''ll discuss moreter. But now, let me first leave you in the hands of your captain and coach."

    "Thank you," Zachary replied.

    The president nodded and said a few words to Herv¨¦ Renard, the coach. Then, after saying his goodbyes to everyone, he walked out of the conference room with Mr. Sangare, who had been quiet for a few minutes.

    "Well..." Coach Herv¨¦ Renard said. "Since the outsiders have left, let''s get down to team business. Zachary! You''re new on the team. So, I''ll briefly introduce to you how we usually go about our training before international games. First and foremost, let me bring to your attention that training approaches for international football are vastly different from club football due to the limited time teams have before games."

    "For instance, we''ll y Ang tomorrow and Equatorial Guinea three dayster, on March 29th. That leaves us with only a day of training before the first match and only two before the second if we''re to squeeze in the one day of recovery after the first game."

    "As you can see, we have fewer days to train as a team and learn away from the pitch with coaches and teammates. Due to the limited training time, establishing a stable game n bes significantly more challenging. How do we ovee this, though? We focus only on the crucial elements of the game, including the tactics, the yer roles on the squad, and the dynamics of our ying formation. We utilize our limited time to refine those crucial aspects so that we can refine our chemistry as a team and put up a decent performance. As for squad selection, we usually base it on the recent performances at the club level and a yer''s readiness to adapt to our game n. That implies that you''ll always have a high chance of being considered for the starting line-up if you continue putting up consistent and impressive performances for your club. Are we together, Zachary?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied.

    "Good." Coach Herv¨¦ Renard smiled and nced at his watch. "It''s alreadying to a quarter past nine. The others should have arrived. Let''s wind up here and head to the tactics room for our pre-match tactics meeting. Tour¨¦! You can take Zachary to meet his new teammates before we begin official business. I''ll be there in a few minutes with the other coaches."

    "Okay, coach," Yaya Tour¨¦ responded and turned to Zachary. "Zachary! Let''s go. The others should already be waiting in the tactics room."

    Zachary nodded and followed Yaya Tour¨¦ out of the conference room. They walked quickly while conversing and finally arrived at the tactics room, where Zachary met up with his new teammates.

    yers like Eric Bailly, Gervinho, Max Gradel, Wilfried Bony, and many others were in the room. They didn''t put up any airs but weed Zachary warmly to the team.

    After briefly interacting with his new teammates, Zachary was even more delighted with his decision to join Ivory Coast''s National Football team. As such, he was in high spirits when the tactics meetingmenced. He listened attentively as Herv¨¦ Renard introduced the game n for the game against Ang.

    The coach went straight to the point with his address. He talked about how the team would utilize a 3-4-3 formation for the game and emphasized the need to take a safe approach while on the pitch. Then, after about an hour of exining the tactics and game n, he finally ended his speech by reading out the starting eleven that would feature in the game.

    Except for the missing Kolo Tour¨¦, who happened to have just announced his retirement from international football, the line-up didn''t vary from the one that won the African Cup of Nations final two months prior. Boubacar Barry was in goal, the four yers - Eric Bailly, Wilfried Kanon, and Simon Deli were in defense, while Serge Aurier, Serey Di¨¦, Yaya Tour¨¦, and Siaka Ti¨¦n¨¦ were in midfield. Finally, the coach named Max Gradel, Wilfried Bony, and Gervinho as the three strikers toplete Ivory Coast''s 3-4-3 formation.

    As for Zachary, who had just joined the team, he was left out of the starting squad for obvious reasons. Like in all football teams, it didn''t matter whether a yer was a superstar, but he had to earn his ce by putting up impressive disys for any given team before joining that team''s starting eleven. Zachary was in the same situation. He would start on the bench for the game against Ang. Nevertheless, if he came into the game and impressed, the coach would not hesitate to select him as one of the starters for Ivory Coast''s following match against Equatorial Guinea. That was just how football worked since it was a team sport.

    After reading the line-up, Coach Herv¨¦ Renard didn''t continue wasting time with meaningless talk. He led the yers to the training turfs, where they spent the next few hours working on the tactics for the game against Ang. They focused on the individual roles of each yer in the game n and then refined their set-piece ys during theter stages of training. They ended the session at around 4:00 PM in the evening, and with that, the coach sent them back to their respective ces of residence.

    Zachary didn''t return to his residence, though. After leaving the training facility, he linked up with Eric Bailly, his former teammate, who gave him a brief tour of Abidjan. They then ate dinner together while catching up before parting at around 8:00 PM to head back to their respective hotel rooms for the night.

    On returning to his hotel room, Zachary followed his customary practice and went through a pre-bedtime yoga routine. Finally, after ensuring that he had stretched all his crucial muscle groups in a proper manner, he washed up quickly and then went to bed.

    He hadpleted all his preparations, and what remained was to wait for the following day to arrive. If all went ording to n, he would debut for Ivory Coast as a substitute and kick-start the international aspect of his football career.

    -----

 Chapter 552 International Debut I

    Chapter 552 International Debut I

    Thursday, March 26th, 2015

    Stade F¨¦lix-Houphou?t-Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

    Time 7:59 PM

    The kick-off time for the friendly game between Ivory Coast and Ang was only a few seconds away, and more than 45,000 enthusiastic Ivorian fans had already filled up every nook and cranny of the stadium.

    Some fans were already singing famous Ivorian football chants while others were hammering drums, jerricans, buckets, or any other improvised excuse of the instruments they could get their hands on. There were also those blowing vuvuzs like mad and a few others in weird costumes who continued dancing to the beat of the reverberating drums within the stadium.

    All in all, the excitement was already soaring to the skies as the kick-off time drew near, and there seemed to be a magic spell cast upon the stadium. The voices, vuvuzs, dances, and whatever else the supporters were doing all blended together to form a weirdly beautiful and chaotic ensemble. And then, the resulting chorus abruptly rose in volume and hit a thunderous crescendo when the clock hands around Abidjan pointed to the 8:00 PM mark.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, and the friendly game between Ivory Coast and Angmenced.

    The opening fifteen minutes were uneventful as yers of both teams struggled to find their rhythm. The football on disy was anything but neat, especially since there were several yers making blind passes and a few others who tried out dribbles but failed to beat their opponents. And without organization, the two teams could neither settle into the game nor create meaningful chances during the opening stages.

    But, of course, there were always a few yers who would perform above the norm even when their teams were performing below par. Yaya Tour¨¦ was such a yer, and he abruptly came alive during the 23rd minute.

    After intercepting a loose pass from one of the Ang midfielders, Yaya Tour¨¦ drove forward like a Ferrari driver on a form one race track. He skipped past two opponents with a swift change of pace before threading a pass to find Gervinho, one of the three strikers.

    Gervinho, on his part, cut in from the left side of the pitch and linked up with the ball from Yaya Tour¨¦. His speed was like the wind, and a few more strides allowed him to step into the box. He squared his body and unleashed a curling shot goalward, hoping to catch the keeper off-guard and find the inside of the far post.

    However, Gervinho''s luck was on the low side that evening. Land¨² Mavanga, the Ang keeper, by some miracle, managed to get his fingertips on the ball. The shot-stopper pushed the shot away from its intended trajectory, and the ball bounced out of y for a corner kick.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, and the Ivory Coast yers took the corner kick shot. Gervinho quickly flicked the ball to Serey Di¨¦, who, in turn, unleashed a teasing cross toward the already crowded Ang box.

    It was a clear chance for the Ivorians to take the lead, and the yers in orange jerseys went into action. They battled the Ang yers for aerial superiority as they tried to connect with the iing corner ball.

    But at the end of it all, Eric Bailly, the Ivorian center-back, came out on top. He relied on his impressive jumping power to tower over his marker and guide the ball toward the goal. His heading technique was outstanding, and he effortlessly beat the keeper to score Ivory Coast''s 1st goal during the 24th minute.

    The game was then 1:0 in favor of Ivory Coast, and the home fans turned more frenzied. They sang, drummed, and cheered like crazy as the yers celebrated the goal.

    A minute or soter, the game rmenced. The Ivorians, who had just scored a goal, finally settled in the game. Their passes became more uncluttered, and they started hoarding the ball possession.

    But even then, the attacking aspect of their game was stillcking, and they couldn''t create any other meaningful chances. They had no shots on target for the rest of the half, and as such, the score remained 1:0 until they matched out of the pitch for the half-time break.

    After the break, the same situation continued. The Ivorian yers continued dictating the tempo with their neat passing. But they were still not attempting to make those teasing forward passes that could break down Ang''s defense.

    They just continued moving the ball from defense, then to the midfield, and back to their defenders repeatedly without showing -----

    the intent tounch any attack. It was as if they were already satisfied with their 1:0 score, and because of that, they weren''t willing to take any risk andmit bodies forward.

    -----

    Herv¨¦ Renard, the Ivory Coast coach, couldn''t feel at ease with the situation on the pitch. His tension was mounting as his yers had started showing a clearck of drive and passion to push forward and attack. Moreover, due to theirxity, they were slowly but surely inviting trouble by allowing the Ang yers to settle into the game.

    As an experienced coach, Herv¨¦ Renard understood that permitting such a situation to continue was akin to ying with fire. With how the game was going, maybe it wouldn''t be long before the opponents started creating their own chances. And with that in mind, the coach decided to turn to his bench to revitalize his team by making a few substitutes.

    "Zachary Bemba! Salomon Kalou!" He called out to the two yers. "Start warming up. I want you on the pitch in five."

    "Yes, coach," the two yers replied in unison. They then changed into their bibbs and took off to go through warm-up routines on the sidelines.

    -----

    During the 57th minute, the ball went out of y for a throw-in, and the Ivorians finally made their two substitutions. Zachary substituted Siaka Ti¨¦n¨¦, a midfielder, while Salomon Kalou reced Max Gradel, one of the forwards. Immediately after that, the whistle sounded, and the game restarted.

    Zachary adapted quickly after stepping onto the pitch. He settled into his midfield role and started ying simple but neat football.

    As he was new to the team, he didn''t do anything extravagant, like taking on the entire defense with his dribbling. Instead, he stuck to the basics of passing, giving, and going to help his team stabilize the situation on the field of y.

    His ying style was none-contact football that day. He would run into an unmarked pocket of space and receive the ball. And before any opponent could approach his vicinity, he would thread a pass to a teammate in a strategic position. Everything about him on the field of y was tidy, and he didn''t draw any foul or an aerial duel from an opponent for minutes.

    As more minutes passed, he slowly but steadily grew into the game. His ball skills and high game intelligence gradually came into y as he made more touches on the ball. His movements became sharper, and he started exchanging lightning-fast one-twos with Yaya Tour¨¦ and the other Ivorian midfielders. His impressive use of the spaces allowed his teammates to regain their wits, and they slowly began to look sharper on the attack.

    Zachary, though, remained patient and continued sticking to his none-contact football style. He continued floating around the midfield like an assassin waiting for a chance to go in for a kill. Then, finally, during the 81st minute, he found the perfect opportunity to break through.

    A misced pass from an Ang defender saw the ball float into an unmarked pocket of space close to the final third. Zachary, who happened to be nearby, immediately pounced forward with the agility of a predator going in for the kill.

    His long strides nibbled up yards of space like nothing, and he reached the loose ball in a short span of a few seconds. He controlled it midstride and then executed a Marseille turn to skip past an approaching opponent.

    His movements on the turn were elegant and refined, like those of a true-blue gentleman dancing with a fairdy. But those graceful motions still rendered the opponent totally helpless and left the pitiful guy crying for his mama.

    Zachary finallypleted his 360-degree turn and left the opponent in the dust with the swagger of a ball wizard. His SS-grade spatial awareness and risk analysis worked like a charm at that moment, and with a single nce forward, he assessed the situation between him and the goal.

    At that same exact instant, something within Zachary''s mind tingled, and his long-refined football instincts took over. He tightened his core and drew his leg back before swinging it down and hard like a whip.

    His SS-grade body control allowed him to utilize his newly-enhanced SS core strength like a grandmaster. He followed through with his swinging motion and smashed the ball goalward with all the leg power he could muster.

    "BAM!"

    His boot connected with the ball with a bang. However, it didn''t rise but just barely skimmed over the grass while darting toward the goal with the swiftness of a lightning bolt.

    Before Land¨² Mavanga, the Ang keeper, could react and initiate any movement whatsoever, the ball flickered past him like a bullet. And within anything but an instant, it smashed off the post with a bang and homed into the back of the.

    -----

 Chapter 553 International Debut II

    Chapter 553 International Debut II

    "GOAAAL..."

    Zachary raced to the corner g as the cheers around the stadium exploded to almost unimaginable levels. Happiness glowed inside him as he had just scored a monumental goal on his debut day for the national team. His mood continued elevating as the Ivorian fans sang his name, and he finally slid on his knees for a good few meters to celebrate.

    Of course, the other Ivorian yers couldn''t stop their urge to join the celebrations. They quickly gathered around the corner g and started hugging and congratting Zachary.

    Zachary noted that the smiles and words from his teammates were genuine and really from their hearts. It seemed they had totally epted him as a teammate after he showcased his abilities on the field of y. As such, the stares they directed at him contained that boundless respect deserving of a world-ss footballer that could rival once-in-a-generation talents.

    "Nice goal!" Yaya Tour¨¦ patted Zachary''s back as the celebrations were about to end. "But I have to confirm something with you. Were you really intending to go for a Daisy Cutter shot from outside the box when you were going for the goal? Or was the shot just a lucky effort born from an ident?"

    Zachary smiled on hearing Yaya Tour¨¦''s question. A Daisy Cutter in football was a shot simr to what Zachary had just utilized to score the 2nd goal for Ivory Coast. It would skim the ground at high speed while heading for the back of the.

    "Guess!" Zachary said to Yaya Tour¨¦.

    Yaya Tour¨¦ grinned. "Impressive! You intended to unleash such a shot from the get-go. Don''t tell me you''re also a master of high-powered and urate Daisy Cutters from outside the box?"

    "I can''t say I''m a master," Zachary responded. "I''m just a yer who practices my shooting a lot. That allows me to perform at my best during crucial game moments."

    "Well..." Yaya Tour¨¦ said. "I''m d that you have joined our team. Let''s head back into the pitch for the game."

    "Okay..." Zachary agreed. He bowed to the fans to thank them for their support and then headed back to the middle of the pitch.

    -----

    Within the technical area, Coach Herv¨¦ Renard''s mood was a bitplicated. With his experience, he understood how difficult it was to join a new team and continue performing at one''s best. But Zachary had just done ''exactly'' that and performed impressively on his debut for his national team.

    The boy wonder took only a short while to make his presence known after stepping onto the pitch as a substitute during the 57th minute. Through his brilliant utilization of space, he quickly settled into his role and resolved Ivory Coast''s tricky midfield situation. But he didn''t just stop at that. Minutester, the young ymaker came alive again with a dazzling show of dribbling skills. He beat an opponent with an elegant Marseille turn before going for the spectacr and scoring Ivory Coasts'' 2nd goal during the 82nd minute.

    Judging from the way Zachary handled himself right before going for the goal, Coach Herv¨¦ Renard could tell that the boy was the real deal. He was a yer with well-bnced physical fitness, incredible ball skills, and an insane level ofposure during crucial moments. He was the sort of yer that could determine the game''s oue with just a few seconds of brilliance.

    Coach Herv¨¦ Renard could feel his hopes soar to the heavens after such a yer joined his side. He had been entertaining the thought of resigning from his position as head coach of Ivory Coast so as to ept an offer from the top-division French side - Lille. But after getting to experience for himself how monstrous his new yer could be, the coach cast out all such notions from his mind. He immediately resolved to stay with the Ivorian National Football team.

    "With Zachary Bemba joining us, maybe this team can finally achieve big things during uing football matches. Qualifying for the next AFCON and then the 2018 World Cup will not be difficult."

    Optimistic thoughts passed through the coach''s mind. He took a deep breath and continued following the proceedings on the field of y.

    -----

    The game had just restarted with an Ang kick-off. The Ang yers were moving the ball among themselves on their side of the pitch. They yed short and straightforward passes as they tried to stretch the Ivory Coast team shape.

    But just as they were beginning to getfortable, the high press from the Ivorians arrived abruptly. The first to go into action were Gervinho, Salomon Kalou, and Wilfried Bony, the three forwards. The three men ran at the Ang defenders as if their lives were on the line, and it wasn''t long before they forced an error.

    The powerful, energetic, and highly agile Gervinho was the forward that finally got lucky during his high-pressing endeavor. He zeroed in on an Ang right back with boundless momentum, forcing the helpless defender to panic and try to y a long ball forward.

    However, due to the pressure from Gervinho, the clearance from the defender was anything but tidy. Instead of kicking the ball high and far toward Ivory Coast''s side of the pitch, the man hammered it hurriedly and sent it straight to the area just before the border of the final third, where Zachary was lurking.

    Zachary, who had been marking the space in the middle, was surprised when he saw the ball from the defender approaching his position. However, no matter how astonished he was, his reactions remained extremely swift.

    He rushed forward like the wind and quickly controlled the flying ball with his chest. At that same instant, his spatial awareness worked its magic, and he mapped the positions of all teammates ahead of him within his mind.

    The next moment, the gears in his highly-powered mindscape whirled and turned before falling into ce. Something seemed to click within him, and his incredible football instincts took over. As the ball descended to the ground, he kicked it forward first-time and sent it back toward Gervinho, the Ivorian striker who had just forced an error.

    Instant through-pass!

    Everything happened almost in an instant. The defender who had made the error had not even settled down when he saw the ball flying back toward his side from a tricky angle. Before he could align his posture and intercept the ball, a highly agile figure in an orange jersey beat him to it.

    Of course, it was Gervinho in action. The striker connected with Zachary''s first-time teasing ball with a swiftness of a predator hunting its prey. He prodded it forward and skipped past the defender who had initially made the error. Then, before any of the other Ang defenders could react, Gervinho squared his body and dinked the ball over the approaching keeper to score Ivory Coast''s third goal for the night during the 86th minute.

    -----

    Ivory Coast 3 : Ang 0

    -----

    The cheers around the stadium hit another thunderous peak after the ball homed into the back of the. The fans were really excited by their team''s performance against Ang. They didn''t stop singing, dancing, and jubting for minutes.

    Meanwhile, the game restarted again while the fans were still celebrating. The Ang yers, who had just conceded a goal, seemed to lose all morale and motivation. Their wits were at an all-time low, and theymitted more errors, which invited more trouble to themselves during the game''s final minutes.

    The Ivorians, who had already gained all the momentum, couldn''t let go of the opportunity to destroy their opponents. They high-pressed the Ang yers and forced even more errors. Eventually, their efforts paid off during the 92nd minute when Yaya Tour¨¦ intercepted another loose ball just outside the box and hammered it home into the top right corner to score Ivory Coast''s 4th goal for the night.

    The score was then 4:0 in favor of Ivory Coast, and the game slowed down into a spectacle of game management during thest three minutes of injury time. Neither team attacked the other, and as such, the score remained the same until the referee blew the final whistle during the 96th minute.

    -----

 Chapter 554 Another Solid Performance

    Chapter 554 Another Solid Performance

    Three dayster, on Sunday, March 29th, Zachary yed his second match for Ivory Coast''s National Football team. The game was another friendly face-off, and it was against Equatorial Guinea, another African country. It kicked off at 3:00 PM within the grounds of the Stade F¨¦lix-Houphou?t-Boigny, which happened to be the same venue that hosted the match against Ang.

    Zachary, who had just performed impressively during his debut against Ang, made the starting eleven as a central midfielder that afternoon. He yed another impressive game against Equatorial Guinea by putting up a solid performance that wowed teammates, supporters, and fans alike.

    His outstanding midfield y was especially a spectacle for the textbooks. He kept everything simple throughout the game and didn''t do anything shy. But even then, his tidy routine of passing and finding spaces while linking up with the other Ivorian midfielders like Yaya Tour¨¦ and Serey Di¨¦ allowed his teammates to dictate the tempo. They hoarded the ball possession, and it wasn''t long before they began creating clear-cut goal-scoring chances.

    During the 38th minute, a swift exchange of one-twos between Yaya Tour¨¦ and Zachary saw the two of them break through the middle and prate deep into Equatorial Guinea''s defense. As Coast''s 1st goal during the 39th minute.

    The score was then 1:0 in favor of Ivory Coast, and the game they approached the box, the ball returned to Yaya Tour¨¦, who readily released a pass toward the right to find Max Gradel, the forward cutting in from the right nk.

    Max Gradel, on his part, remainedposed. He connected with the ball from Yaya Tour¨¦ and took a touch to rush into the box. A one-versus-one battle against the keeper soon followed, and Max Gradel came out on top. He pulled the trigger early without fear or favor and unleashed a curling shot past the keeper to score Ivory Coast''s 1st goal during the 39th minute.

    The score was then 1:0 in favor of Ivory Coast, and the game continued after a minute or so of celebrations. The Ivorians continued dominating the proceedings on the field of y with their stable passing, and as the game progressed, they continued creating clear goal-scoring chances.

    They were dangerous on the attack and even came close to scoring during the 43rd, 55th, 63rd, and 69th minutes of gamey. However, on all those asions, the Equatorial Guinea keeper performed as if he was inhuman and saved all those goal attempts. As such, the score remained 1:0 in favor of Ivory Coast as the game proceeded into thete stages.

    The 74th minute arrived, and something no one expected transpired in the game. The Equatorial Guinea yers, who had remained on the back foot all afternoon, came alive and flew forward on the counter after a failed Ivory Coast corner kick. With the lightning-fast turnover, they effortlessly broke through the ranks of the Ivorians, who were yet to array themselves back into a proper defensive shape.

    Eventually, after a series of highly urate one-twos, a square pass from the wing saw the ball arrive at the feet of Iban Salvador''s feet. The striker chested it forward to rush past Simon Deli, one of the Ivorian defenders, before stepping into the box. He remainedposed and hammered it on the half-volley to find the top left corner and score Equatorial Guinea''s first goal on the afternoon.

    The score was 1:1, and the proceedings were back to level terms. The game continued, and the Ivorians yers reacted as they should after conceding the goal. They increased the intensity of their attacks and soon started asking all the crucial questions on the field of y. Their offensives grew increasingly threatening as the game progressed until they finally found a breakthrough opportunity during the 78th minute.

    Zachary was the yer that came alive in midfield by unleashing an outside-of-the-boot ''triv'' of a raking pass toward the left nk. And with that one ball, he took all the Equatorial Guinea midfielders out of the equation and found Salomon Kalou, Ivory Coast''s left forward.

    Salomon Kalou reacted quickly and connected with the intelligent pin-point ball from Zachary. The Ivorian forward chested it forward before realigning his posture and taking off towards Equatorial Guinea''s box like a raging hurricane.

    A few seconds of insane sprinting saw Salomon Kalou initiate a face-off against one of the Equatorial Guinea defenders. He remainedposed and tried to rush past the defender with a simple change of pace. But just before he couldplete his intended actions, the defender stretched out a leg and tripped the sprinting Salomon Kalou, who, in turn, tumbled to the ground with a thud.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and immediately awarded a free-kick to Ivory Coast. Zachary stepped forward to take the set piece from twenty-seven yards away without facing any antagonism whatsoever from the other Ivory Coast yers.

    At that crucial moment, Zachary remainedposed and did what he usually did best. He dispatched a simple but fast shot that made a perfect parab over the defensive wall before bouncing right on the mouth of the goal and then homing into the back of the.

    With that, Ivory Coast regained the lead, and the score was then 2:1 in their favor. Even then, the Ivorians, who had already learned their lesson after conceding once, didn''t rx after scoring the second. By relying on their impressive midfield that consisted of yers like Zachary and Yaya Tour¨¦, they dictated the tempo and continuedunching more offensives against the visiting Equatorial Guinea side.

    Zachary was even more impressive during the final stages of the game. He had already gained an initial understanding of all the nuances of his teammates after training with them for days. He effortlessly utilized that knowledge to unleash razor-sharp forward passes that caused a lot of difficulties for Equatorial Guinea''s side.

    But his brilliance didn''t just stop at the passing. During the 87th minute, he also decided to go for glory and skipped past two Equatorial Guinea defenders with his potent dribbling. He effortlessly arrived at the edge of the box and tried to go for the top left corner with an outside-of-the-box missile of a snapshot. But s, an interception from a defender diverted the ball away from the goal for a corner kick, and Zachary could only ce his hands at the back of his head with regret.

    The referee blew the whistle, and Ivory Coast took the resulting corner kick a dozen or so secondster. However, nothing came of it, and the game continued.

    The rest of the game was uneventful. The Ivory Coast yers, of course, relied on their already soaring momentum and continued attacking. But they still couldn''t find another real breakthrough, and as such, the score remained 2:1 in favor of Ivory Coast when the referee blew the final whistle after three minutes of injury time.

    Ivory Coast had achieved yet another victory. Zachary, who had just scored his second goal for his national team, was in very high spirits. He spent minutes hugging his new teammates before walking around the pitch to wave to the fans.

    As he moved around, his ears continued picking up the voices of the Ivorian supporters passionately yelling his name. An honest smile outlined his face, and he even waved at the supporters with more favor.

    At that moment, he could really feel the vor of international football. Aplicated feeling emerged deep within his heart as he could also feel the sincere sentiments and expectations the Ivorian supporters had for him just from their excited yells. He took a deep breath and vowed to do his all to help his national team achieve glory.

    Minutester, Zachary attended a mandatory post-match press conference. He talked about his first experience with the Ivorian national team and also mentioned the goals he wished to achieve with his new teammates. After the session with the journalists, he enjoyed an early dinner with his teammates before returning to his hotel room to rest for the night.

    -----

 Chapter 555 End of First Expedition to Ivory Coast

    Chapter 555 End of First Expedition to Ivory Coast

    Zachary spent the following day in a rxed mood. He woke upte, at 8:30 AM, went through his morning yoga routine, washed up, and then enjoyed a splendid African breakfast at the hotel''s restaurant. Then, with Lorenzo as his shadow, he spent the rest of the morning touring the city of Abidjan before linking up with Eric Bailly, his former teammate, toward noon.

    The two of them enjoyed a drink together before readily deciding to utilize their noon hours for their number one passion. They returned to the Abidjan-M''pouto trainingplex and joined the ASEC Mimosas yers for a light football session.

    There was no intensity whatsoever in the game they yed. As such, Zachary and Bailly both let loose and had the time of their lives while taking turns to y for their respective sides on the training ground.

    Whether it was elegant sombreros, shy nutmegs, stico dribbles, or step-overs and feints, the two yers were not shy to execute them on the training ground. Their exceptional skills that showcased their status as professional footballers based in Europe were on full disy, and they wowed all the ASEC Mimosas yers that afternoon.

    Zachary, on his part, also found a lot of pleasure from ying the game. He had long gotten used to professional-level football and had almost forgotten the beauty of ying football just for fun. Of recent, the game had started bing ''simply work'' to him, and he just regarded football as just a chore he had to do to earn money. But that afternoon, after enjoying that light football session with the ASEC Mimosas yers, that feeling of simply ying to rx on the football field returned to him.

    By the time the session ended, his mood was lighter, and it was as if he had just taken a week-long vacation. He felt pretty stress-free, without any signs of fatigue that were usually obvious in yers who had traveled thousands of miles and yed two back-to-back international games within a short window of four days.

    But of course, he knew that the marvelous feeling was just an illusion born out of a rxing light football session. He understood that he still had to take strict measures to recover from post-match fatigue before returning to tip-top shape. He had to ensure he regained full match fitness before ying Juventus'' game against Empoli, which happened to be only five days away.

    As the clock hands around Abidjan were about to point to the 2:00 PM mark, Zachary said his goodbyes to the ASEC Mimosas yers and parted with Eric Bailly. He returned to his hotel room and enjoyed ate lunch before spending the rest of the afternoon asleep in his room.

    In the evening, Zachary woke up feeling even more refreshed. After washing up, he headed to H?tel Ivoire''s restaurant, where he linked up with his biological mom, who happened to be in Ivory Coast.

    C¨¦leste Kouame, thedy who was Zachary''s biological mom, was as graceful as he remembered. She had long braided ck hair that hung rich and ck about her shoulders, and her stature was tall and elegant. Her pretty smile also seemed genuine as she enjoyed dinner with Zachary. Anyone could tell that she was really having a great time.

    Zachary, on his part, still didn''t know how to deal with the affection from his biological mother. He remained polite and only replied to her queries with short and precise responses. As such, an awkward atmosphere hung about their table until they finished their dinner at around 8:00 PM.

    While departing from the restaurant, she asked whether Zachary could find some time in the near future to visit his maternal grandparents, who were long-time residents of Yamoussoukro, the capital city of Ivory Coast. Zachary didn''t agree, as that was too much of a hustle for him. He simply gave some random excuses of being busy with football training and matches before parting with his biological mom.

    While returning to his room, Zachary bumped into Kristin, his personal assistant, in the hotel lobby. She had had a busy past few days helping Zacharyplete all the misceneous things he had assigned her. Whether it was finalizing the citizenship paperwork for Zachary, finding out the prices for mansions for sale in Abidjan, or signing for match bonuses from the Ivorian Football Federation, she worked tirelessly toplete all the tasks with remarkable professionalism.

    On seeing her, Zachary''s eyes lit up, and he immediately walked toward her. He greeted her and then pulled her to a nearby bar area to ask about the progress of some tasks he had assigned her.

    "So, did you make any progress with searching for suitable houses in Abidjan?" Zachary asked. As a citizen of Ivory Coast, he, of course, had to get himself an address in the country. ordingly, he had already started looking for a house to purchase.

    Kristin smiled on hearing Zachary''s question. "I contacted a few real estate brokers, who showed me a few presentable houses in good neighborhoods around Abidjan. They are in price ranges of 400K to 1.8 million Euros. If you wish, we can look at them before we depart tomorrow."

    "Those prices are a bit too expensive," Zachary remarked. He wasn''t looking for something too extravagant, especially since he would not spend many days in Ivory Coast in the future. He just hoped to buy a presentable house in the range of less than 150,000 Euros, which would only act as his residence during those few days when he would be in Ivory Coast to y games for the national team.

    "Aren''t there cheaper options?" He asked Kristin.

    "There are those options with an asking price of less than 200,000 Euros," Kristin answered. "But from what I have learned, they are in neighborhoods where your security cannot be guaranteed."

    "Oh!" Zachary narrowed his eyes and sighed. "Okay, then. So be it. Compile a list of suitable houses and send it to me. Send the information with pictures, so I can decide which one to purchase."

    "Don''t you wish to inspect the houses yourself before the purchase?" Kristin asked. "You must understand that what is portrayed in the pictures can vary greatly from what''s on the ground."

    "Don''t worry about all that," Zachary said with a smile. "I trust your judgment. Just rmend a few suitable ones to me, and I will choose from those. End of story."

    "Okay," Kristin said, inhaling deeply. "I will do my best to find the best houses for you. Thanks for putting your trust in me."

    Zachary nodded in acknowledgment. He then made some more small talk with Kristin and especially asked about her granddad - Mr. Stein, the scout who brought him to Europe. After learning that the aged scout was okay, he wished Kristin goodnight and returned to his hotel room for the night.

    Minutester, after lying in bed, he thought about his first trip to Ivory Coast. He had performed remarkably and scored twice during his first two games for Ivory Coast. He had also not shied away from bonding with teammates and was thus confident that he had left a good impression on them. He felt that his expedition was a sess, and all that was left was for him to set off for the trip back to Turin, where he would continue his club career.

 Chapter 556 Returning to Turin and Investment Considerations

    Chapter 556 Returning to Turin and Investment Considerations

    After a night of deliberation, Zachary didn''t choose to buy a stand-alone mansion as his home in Ivory Coast. Instead, he decided to go for an entire three-story apartment block priced at around 980K Euros in one of Abidjan''s residential suburbs. He tasked Kristin with finalizing all the purchase procedures in his stead before boarding an afternoon flight together with Lorenzo, his bodyguard, and setting off for Turin.

    Their ne touched down on the runway of the Turin-Caselle Airport at around midday the following day. It was a pretty busy hour within the famous transport hub of Turin, and there were floods of people waiting to board the nes and other swarms going through immigration checks and other procedures.

    Zachary and his bodyguard utilized one of the airport''s ''arrival meet and assist'' fast-track VIP services to avoid all themotion and the lines. They went through the required procedures in less than ten minutes before boarding their Audi RS 7 and returning to Zachary''s vi in Pinerolo, Piedmont.

    Zachary had coughed out ample sums of money to have his mansion renovated over the past few months. Its walls were more polished, and its gardens were lush and green with towering trees. Its aesthetics, both on the inside and outside, were pleasing to the eye, and Zachary felt pretty rxed after returning to its safe confines.

    He entered the house through the front door and greeted the other residents. Heter washed up and enjoyed a fulfilling lunch prepared by Inger, his chef, before returning to his room and descending into a long slumber.

    His fatigue levels were already high after his long journey to and from Ivory Coast. On top of that, he''d also yed two intensive international football matches in hot weather that drained his stamina. So, after returning to the haven that was his vi, he rxed and forgot about everything else. He slept until evening and only woke up because of the aggravating sound of his phone vibrating from his bedside table.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    Turning to one side, Zachary extended his arm and picked up the still-vibrating phone. The next moment, his expression softened when he realized that the call was from Emily Anderson, his agent. He tapped the ept button and immediately held the phone against his ear.

    "Hello, Emily," he spoke into the phone.

    "Hello, Zachary!" She replied in a cheerful voice. "Wee back from Ivory Coast, and congrattions upon aplishing a sessful debut for your national team."

    "Thanks, Emily," Zachary answered. "How are you?"

    "I''m fine," she replied. "What about you? How are you doing?"

    "I am also doing great. But, of course, I can''t escape the fatigue after ying two back-to-back international games."

    Kristin chuckled. She then spent the next minute or so exchanging some more small talk with Zachary before finally breaching the topic that was the reason for her call.

    "Zachary," she continued, "I was just in touch with Kristin. She just informed me that you tasked her with finalizing the purchase procedures for a vi in Abidjan."

    "Yes," Zachary confirmed. "She''s helping me with the purchase. I informed her to contact you so that you can help her with the legal end of matters."

    "That''s what she said," Emily said. "But why are you buying an apartment block in Ivory Coast? I thought you initially only wanted to buy a small house that would act as your temporary home when you''re in Abidjan! Why did you change your mind all of a sudden?"

    "Well..." Zachary replied, "I was studying Ivory Coast''s real estate market the other day and realized it''s really promising. For instance, people who purchased prime plots ofnd at around 40,000 Euros five years ago are now able to sell them for twice or thrice the amount. With such profits up for grabs, I was tempted to take action, and that was how I ended up buying the apartment block. The apartment itself is in a strategic ce, which happens to be a junction between three busy roads. If I develop the property well, there''s a high chance that I''ll reap bountiful profits in the future."

    "All that I understand," Emily said with an audible sigh. "But you should understand that any investment needs hands-on management to make a profit. Real estate might be a high-return venture in Abidjan, but the possibility of you making losses exists, especially if you don''t have suitable personnel to manage the property. And don''t tell me that you can manage it yourself. Considering your busy schedule as a footballer, you might not get time to visit the property for months or even a year. So, Zachary! Tell me! How do you expect to reap profits under such circumstances? For all I know, some conmen or corrupt officials could conspire to sell your property without your knowledge at any time. Then, you would descend into a world of sorrow that would, in turn, affect your football career."

    "The risk is there," Zachary agreed with Emily''s analysis. "But as we all know; you''ll never progress without taking risks. People must go out of theirfort zones to develop. Honestly, I''m just testing the waters in Ivory Coast. But if the investment works out, I''ll purchase morend and property in the country. I understand that doing all thates with risks. However, I also know there are ways to minimize those risks to the bare minimum. I''m no business specialist to conjure sure-proof ways to manage the property. But I''m already paying Miss Heather Miller for that. As my investment consultant, she should be able toe up with appropriate ns to manage my property, and in so doing, she can help me avoid incurring losses due to mismanagement. Isn''t that right?"

    "Yes, that''s true," Emily said. "Bringing an investment consultant on board would work wonders. She can even help you set up apany, which will employ skilled workers to manage your investments in your stead."

    "Then, let''s do exactly that," Zachary said. "Let''s bring Miss Heather Miller on board so she can set up thepany that will manage my investments."

    "Are you sure?" Emily asked. "Setting up apany requires a lot of capital and time. And even though you''ll have employees, there will be times when you''ll be required to appear in thepany in person. All that might divert your attention and affect the future progress of your football career."

    "That won''t happen," Zachary said with confidence. "Investments won''t divert me from my career. They will give me another goal in life, thus allowing me to remain focused. A case in point is that I will not have to spend most of my money on distractions like supermodels, designer clothes, and vacations but on buying property."

    "I guess you''ve thought everything through," Emily intoned. "Let''s hope you''re right. I''ll contact Heather and have her start the procedures for setting up yourpany. She''s also the right person to help Kristin finalize the procedures for the property purchase in Abidjan."

    "True," Zachary agreed. "Just finalize everything with her and inform me about the oue. I''m really looking forward to setting up apany."

    "All that aside," Emily said, "your decision to reject the Vector X endorsement deal was right on the money. Your patience has finally paid off, and Nike just forwarded a new endorsement deal proposal to me earlier today."

    "They have?" Zachary''s eyes lit up. "Tell me the details."

    "Well..." Emily said. "They are proposing a ten-year endorsement deal which will see you pocket an annual ie of roughly 13 million Euros. Moreover, that''s just the ''basic'' earnings. There are uses in their offer that will increase your ie to roughly 18 to 20 million if you can aplish feats that market your name globally. For instance, your annual earnings could increase by a significant margin if you won a Champions League Trophy, the Serie A, and the Ballon d''Or. And if you were to win a World Cup during the contract period, your annual ie might even double."

    "Ten-year deal!" Zachary eximed. "That means I''ll be under contract with them until I hit thirty. What do you think? Is it a good offer?"

    "I can''t say for sure," Emily replied. "At the moment, it seems like a more than good offer. But with how fast you''re progressing as a footballer, I''m not sure that it will still be the best deal, let''s say, in five years. By then, you might have just achieved so much, and manypanies would be willing to offer you double the money Nike is offering."

    "So, what do you suggest?" Zachary inquired.

    "My suggestion is simple," Emily said. "You still have more than a year on your contract with Nike. So, we have some leeway to slow the negotiation procedures while waiting for Nike to make a better offer. In the meantime, you might also be able to aplish more memorable feats on the field of y, thereby increasing our bargaining power."

    "So, your suggestion is to take it slow until Nike caves in and makes a better offer?"

    "Yes, exactly." Emily nodded. "You don''tck money at the moment. So, let''s take our time and negotiate the best contract possible. Let''s remain patient and do things right so that we can push for a deal that will elevate you to the status of one of the highest-earning footballers in the world."

    "I like the sound of that," Zachary said. "Go ahead and do exactly that. But keep me in the loop in case something major happens."

    "Okay," Emily agreed. "We have talked a lot. I guess I have to say goodbye now."

    "Sure! I have also just returned to Turin earlier today. I''m still feeling fatigued. Let''s end our talk here. But please don''t forget to contact Miss Heather Miller about thepany stuff."

    "I will do that," Emily promised. "Goodbye."

    "Goodbye."

    Zachary ended the call. He didn''t continue sleeping after that but descended the stairs and enjoyed dinner with Inger and Bj?rn Peters. After the meal, Zachary watched the sports news for an hour or so before returning to his room. He utilized only about fifteen minutes to shower before jumping into bed for the night.

 Chapter 557 SS-Grade Stamina & Endurance

    Chapter 557 SS-Grade Stamina & Endurance

    Zachary slept like a baby and woke up feeling refreshed the following morning. The clock hands around Turin had just pointed to the 6:30 AM mark when he jumped out of bed before quickly washing his face. He donned a clean tracksuit and exited the bedroom before descending the stairs and heading to the kitchen area.

    As he walked through the doors, his eyesnded on Lorenzo, his bodyguard, who was already waiting for him. The buff man was in his training gear and had settled on one of the chairs around the kitchen table to enjoy a cup of warm milk. Surprisingly, he wasn''t alone at the table but was deep in conversation with Jaslene, one of Zachary''s maids, who was beside him.

    The atmosphere around them was really harmonious. But on seeing Zachary walk into the kitchen, the two of them got up from their seats like two startled rabbits.

    "Boss! Good morning!" Lorenzo was the first to ovee his awkwardness and greet Zachary.

    "Good morning to you too, Lorenzo!" Zachary pretended to have seen nothing and returned their greetings one after the other. He picked a ss of juice from the fridge and gulped it down. Then, after cing the dirty ss in the sink, he turned his gaze back to Lorenzo.

    "Are you ready to head out?" He asked, just to make sure.

    "Almost," Lorenzo replied before downing his milk in a single gulp. "Now, I''m ready. We can head out at any time."

    Zachary smiled. "Let''s go! I need to finish my morning jog before seven."

    "Okay, boss!"

    With that said, the two of them departed from the house. They quickly ran out of Zachary''s estate before joining the streets of Pinerolo, Piedmont.

    The sun was just rising from the eastern horizon of Turin. It gave way to the dawn and the morning brightness that upgraded the world to a higher definition.

    Zachary ran like a marathon champion on the streets while enjoying the morning sun rays shining down upon him. With Lorenzo as his shadow, they maintained a pace of four minutes every kilometer until they rounded a roundabout and started their return journey to Zachary''s estate.

    Zachary, who had long gotten used to fast-paced morning jogs, was still full of energy even after covering more than three kilometers. His breathing was stable, and only a few beads of sweat had begun rolling down his face. It was as if he had been taking a morning walk instead of a high-paced jog.

    Lorenzo, on the other hand, was in a totally different condition. It seemed that he was yet to adapt to Zachary''s fast-paced running. As such, he was already taking in air in rapid gasps while trying to keep up with Zachary.

    Zachary noticed his bodyguard''s condition and slowed down his pace. Instead of simply running forward, he started mixing other routines into his jogging.

    He would run for about fifty meters and then do push-ups, moving squats, or any other exercise to strengthen his lower body. And because of that, Lorenzo managed to keep up with him, and they arrived back on the road that led back to Zachary''s estate without any difficulties.

    Zachary started jogging forward at a constant pace without mixing in any other routines. And just as he was about a kilometer from his mansion, he met a familiar beautiful girl jogging on the road. Her facial features were exquisite, and her figure red hot, especially in the tight jogging apparel. She smiled at Zachary just as they were about to pass by each other.

    Zachary returned a smile of his own out of politeness and then elerated past thedy. At that moment, his heart was as clear as a mirror and without ripples.

    He had already gained immunity against beauties, especially after dating ady as hot as Cami. All that was on his mind was to train and train so as to elevate his skills and progress his career. There was no way he would fall for ady he had met four or five times while jogging around the neighborhood of his estate.

    Zachary quickly approached his mansion at a constant pace after passing by thedy. Then, when he judged that there were only five hundred meters to go, he took off like the wind and continued towards his house at breakneck speed. He soon left Lorenzo in the dust as he cut through the morning breeze like a 400-meter sprinting champion.

    300 Meters! 250 Meters! 200 Meters!

    Zachary''s long strides ate up meters of space like nothing. His breathing quickened, and more and more beads of sweat started rolling down his face like tap water.

    The sprinting was already sapping all his energy, and he could feel his limit approaching. But he hardened his resolve and continued sprinting forward until he dashed through the gates of his estates and reached his mansion.

    As he slowed down and came to aplete halt, he felt a bizarre sensation washing over his entire being. His body and mind achieved a state of total rxation, and he felt some energy returning to his body. His breathing and heartbeat slowed to normal levels, and it was as if he had just taken the most potent energy drink to refill his depleted stamina.

    "DING!"

    A system notification sounded in his mind at that moment.

    "Congrattions!" The system AI intoned. "The user haspleted another hidden system mission by shattering through another barrier and achieving SS-grade stamina and endurance mainly through consistent training efforts. As a token of support, the system has rewarded 40,000 Juju points to the user for aplishing the feat. Please, continue working hard and attain more breakthroughs without relying on the system elixirs."

    Zachary''s eyes lit up on hearing the notification. He couldn''t believe that he had achieved a breakthrough in stamina in just eight days after pushing his core strength to the SS-grade level. He inhaled deeply and summoned the system interface before beginning to peruse through his attributes.

    ****

    *USER STATS

    -----

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: SS)

    Bnce and Coordination: SS

    Agility: SS

    Strength: SS

    Stamina: SS

    Endurance Points: 17,300/72,000 (SS)

    ----

    ->Ser Technique: [Av. Rating: SS]

    Ball Control: SS

    Dribbling Skills: SS

    Passing uracy: SS

    Body Control: SS

    ----

    ****

    "Finally, I have reached this stage..."

    Happiness danced through Zachary''s thoughts. After toiling tirelessly for years, he had finally brought all his physical fitness and ser technique stats to the SS grading.

    His skills had developed at the pace of a rocket escaping Earth''s gravity, and even at just the age of twenty, he was already a football sensation in his own right. Moreover, going by his well-bnced attributes, he wasn''t just any run-of-the-mill talent but a once-in-a-generation yer that could match the best footballers in the world. He was finally a yer who could join any league, no matter how challenging, yet continue performing like a ball wizard.

    "With SS-grade stamina and endurance, I can finally go all out and utilize all my abilities on the field without worrying about exhausting myself quickly."

    Joy sparkled inside Zachary as he continued thinking about histest breakthrough. Contentment flooded his entire being as he understood that he finally had all the fuel and qualifications to run wild on the pitch without worrying about exhaustion.

    Stamina and endurance were both parameters of time for physical activity. But even then, there was a crucial difference between the two concepts.

    ording to what Zachary had learned, stamina was the maximum time the body, or a specific muscle group, could exert ''maximum'' or ''near maximum'' force for a particr physical activity. That implies that with stamina graded at SS by the system, Zachary could sprint at his highest speed for much longer. He could sustain both his potent dribbling and maniac running for more seconds than before, and as such, he would be more effective during counterattacks or one-versus-one scenarios. That was how crucial stamina was to footballers.

    Endurance, on the other hand, was an attribute that determined the maximum time the body or a specific muscle group could exert force or perform physical activity. Compared to stamina, the exerted force did not have to be at maximum, as the goal for endurance was to maximize time. As such, Zachary, who happened to have just experienced an upgrade in stamina, wouldst longer during matches. Moreover, he would not easily suffer from umted fatigue after ying many games in a season. He would remain fresher than most, even during the season''s closing stages when all teams would suffer from depleting energy levels. That was how crucial endurance was for a professional footballer ying for a top club like Juventus.

    man looked totally exhausted, and it was as if he had just run a marathon of 40-plus kilometers.

    Smiling slightly, Zachary dismissed the system interface. Right then, he noticed Lorenzo, his bodyguard,ing through the gates. The man looked totally exhausted, and it was as if he had just run a marathon of 40-plus kilometers.

    "Boss!" He eximed while gasping for breath. "Aside from football, you can maybe consider going for professional athletics. With your pace, you should be able to give the 400 and 800-meter champions a run for their money."

    Zachary chuckled and shook his head. "Aside from possessing world-ss sprinting talent, those professionals spend all their time training for those sprinting events. After years of targeted training, they have already sharpened their bodies and minds to perform specifically on the racing track. Their eleration, stride frequency, and sprinting rhythm are all honed to a level beyond words could describe. Do you expect me to win against such dedicated professionals?"

    "I haven''t seen anyone, including sprinters, maintaining a speed like yours over a distance of half a kilometer," Lorenzo said. "Maybe, you can win."

    Zachary shook his head. "Sess in sports is not that easy. No matter how talented, one must dedicate ample time to training before achieving sess in any given discipline. There''s no way around that."

    Zachary didn''t continue talking to Lorenzo after that. Instead, he stepped to the side and quickly began executing his warming-down routine. He was in a hurry to finish his exercise session before heading to the Vinovo to attend Juventus'' team training that was scheduled to start at nine that morning.

 Chapter 558 Preparations for the Game Against Empoli

    Chapter 558 Preparations for the Game Against Empoli

    Having taken breakfast, Zachary headed to the Vinovo. He arrived a few minutes before nine and quickly donned his training attire. Then, after stepping into his green Nike Mercurial Superfly boots, he exited the dressing room and set off for the main training turf, where the coaches would conduct the official team training that morning.

    His teammates, who had left Turin to y international games for their respective national teams, had already returned. Even yers like Mart¨ªn C¨¢ceres, Carlos Tevez, Roberto Pereyra, and Arturo Vidal, who had traveled all the way to South America to represent their respective countries, were already back on the training ground. They were all in groups of fours and fives performing rondo drills when Zachary arrived on the training ground.

    "Zachary! You''re almostte," Patrice Evra, the French left-back, yelled out on seeing Zachary. "Hurry and join us."

    Zachary smiled and nodded in Evra''s direction. He first took a minute to say hi to his other teammates, who were also in the midst of performing rondo drills in the other groups. Then, after greeting some of the coaches and technical staff, who were already on the training ground, he tightened hisces and joined Evra''s group on the far side of the pitch.

    "Hello, to you all," Zachary said after he arrived before the group.

    "Hello, Zachary..." The other yers in the group, including Patrice Evra, Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez, and Leonardo Boni, high-fived him, one after the other while returning his greetings. Then, they talked about their respective international escapades for about five minutes before finally returning their focus to the rondo drill.

    "Zachary!" Patrice Evra said. "We''re ying a one-touch 4-versus-1 rondo. Since you''re thest to arrive, you will be the monkey in the middle."

    "Ouch!" Zachary said, pretending to be hurt. "You have just utilized a racist term. I''ll sue you for that."

    "Do you have any witnesses?" Evra asked.

    Zachary didn''t reply but pointed at the other three yers in the group.

    Evra turned to the others and asked with a grin, "Comrades! Are you going to sell out a teammate for thister?"

    The othersughed at that and made a few jokes to taunt Zachary and Evra before starting the rondo drill.

    In simple terms, a rondo was a keep-away style drill where one team with more yers ''would try'' to keep possession against a smaller number of defenders trying to take the ball away. It was simr to the children''s game - monkey in the middle. That was why Evra had asked Zachary to be the monkey in the middle since he would be the yer trying to win the ball as the others yed single touches among themselves to keep the ball away from him.

    Zachary, of course, was against remaining as the monkey in the middle for a long time. Within seconds after the drill started, he utilized his SS-grade agility and reflexes to corner Patrice Evra. He won the ball from the Frenchman fair and square before taking his position in the drill.

    With that, Patrice Evra was the monkey in the middle, and he started chasing the ball while trying to win it from the others who continued passing it around him. He eventually cornered Leonardo Boni after a minute or so, and the drill continued at a fast pace.

    The five yers soon immersed themselves in the drill as they yed faster and faster touches while different yers took turns taking on the role of the monkey in the middle. The morning sun shone upon them as they passed the ball around, and beads of sweat started rolling down their faces. But they didn''t stop the rondo drill until the ''very moment'' Coach Max Allegri arrived and summoned them to the center circle of the training ground.

    "Good morning,ds!" The coach said after all the yers had settled down on the green within the center circle.

    "Good morning to you too, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    Coach Allegri smiled. "Let me take this opportunity to wee you back from the international break. Some of you traveled as far as South America, others to Africa, and the rest to various parts of Europe to y international games for your national teams. If you managed to win, congrattions. If, by some chance, you lost any of your international games, work harder so you can win in the future. That''s football! We don''t give up even after losing. We instead work harder and go all out to aplish a better result in the next game."

    "Now, let''s put the international games aside and return our focus to our Serie A matches," the coach continued with a smile. "As you''re all aware, we only have two days before ying our next Serie A home game which happens to be against Empoli. Empoli is a relegation zone. But all that doesn''t matter to us as Juventus. Even if the opponents have been performing poorly up to this point of the club in the bottom half of the table. It has only amassed 33 points from the 28 Serie A games they yed this season. It''s ranked 14th out of the twenty Serie A teams and only four positions above the relegation zone. But all that doesn''t matter to us as Juventus. Even if the opponents have been performing poorly up to this point of the season, we still cannot let our guard down and underestimate them. We must continue doing what we have been doing all season and go all out to defeat them. We must not lose our focus and falter during the game! We must prepare adequately today and tomorrow and ensure we don''t lose the game. That''s all I''m asking of you. Clear?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied in chorus.

    Coach Allegri''s expression turned solemn. "I know we''re are only four points away from winning the title. One win and one draw from the next two games, against Empoli and Parma, will allow us to be the 2014-15 Serie A Champions. But does that mean that we should rx? Does that mean that we should take things easy and save our energy? The answer is a big NO. In professional football, there''s no taking it easy. We have a big responsibility to the fans, the sponsors, and all the other parties supporting us from the background. We cannot just go through the motions and start yingckluster football simply because we''re on the cusp of winning a title. We must continue doing our best off and on the pitch. We must continue doing what we have done all season and make all our supporters proud. Aside from the word victory, nothing else should be in our vocabry simply because we''re Juventus. Are you with me, guys?"

    "Yes, coach!"

    "Are you with me?"

    "Yes, coach!"

    "Good!" Coach Allegri smiled. "Since we have our priorities right, let''s start training. We have limited time. So, we''ll go through a simple dynamic warm-up first. Then, we''ll delve straight into working on the tactics, formations, and game n, as a whole. I need you all to remain focused during today and tomorrow''s sessions so we don''t waste time on simple stuff. Let''s not waste any more time. Training starts now!"

    The coach pped his hands for emphasis, and with that, the preparations for the game against Empoli began. Under the supervision of the coaches, the yers went through drills targeted toward refining their tactics as a team. They trained for long hours over the next two days while also taking some time to attend the theoretical lectures touching upon the game by Max Allegri and the other assistant coaches responsible for the tactics.

    Most yers were still showing signs of fatigue on the training ground, especially after traveling to various parts of the globe to y intensive matches for their national teams. But as professionals, their wills were tenacious, and they didn''t let the fatigue bog them down. They pushed through with their all and persisted in training until the eve of the game against Empoli arrived.

    -----

    That evening, on the eve of the game against Empoli, Coach Max Allegri held a strategic meeting with his assistants. The likes of Marco Landi, Maurizio Trombetta, Luca Stefanini, and Matteo Fabris all met in one of the conference rooms at the Vinovo to discuss the status of their yers and the Juventus team as a whole.

    "Colleagues!" Max Allegri was the first to speak. "You must have noticed that most of our yers who traveled to y Internationals showed clear signs of fatigue during today''s and yesterday''s training sessions."

    "Boss!" Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant in charge of the first team, said. "You''re right. That''s the case. Those who traveled to South America, like Mart¨ªn C¨¢ceres, Carlos Tevez, Roberto Pereyra, and Arturo Vidal, are in even worse condition. But they are not the only ones. I also noticed that Stephan Lichtsteiner, who traveled to Switzend, Kwadwo Asamoah, who traveled to Ghana, and Andrea Pirlo, who yed for Italy twice during the past week, all showed signs of fatigue. I fear they might not be able to handle more than 45 minutes of intensive physical activity if we field them during our game against Empoli tomorrow."

    "Indeed," Coach Max Allegri said with a sigh. "I''m still debating whether to include them in the starting line-up."

    "Coach, can I say something?" Luca Stefanini, the head of the medical team, interjected. "If you can, it''s better you don''t include the exhausted yers on the starting line-up. umted fatigue will put them at risk of injury during the heat of the game. So, why not rest them for the next matches instead of risking them against Empoli?"

    "I''m with Luca on this," Matteo Fabris, the other assistant coach, said. "We still have ten games to y this season, but we''re only four points away from iming the title. So, why should we risk ying our fatigued yers when we''re in such amanding position on top of the Serie A table? Moreover, we shouldn''t forget that we''ll soon be ying against Fiorentina in the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-finals. After that, we''ll face off against Parma away from home before ying Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. We''ll y all those vital fixtures in a short window of less than two weeks. So, why not rest our crucial yers now, so they can be a hundred percent match fit when we y those important fixtures?"

    "Maybe, we can go with your suggestion, Matteo," Coach Allegri said. "But we don''t have to rest all our crucial yers as some aren''t suffering from umted fatigue. For instance, Zachary Bemba has been in tip-top condition during training over the past two days. There are also others, like udio Marchisio, Fernando Llorente, Patrice Evra, Giorgio Chiellini, and Leonardo Boni, who haven''t shown any signs of fatigue over the past two days. They can all start and help us salvage a win against Empoli. Of course, if the need arises, I''ll substitute them long before the end of the game."

    "That works," Luca Stefanini, the head of the medical team, said. "I''m only against ying the yers showing clear signs of fatigue. As for the rest, there shouldn''t be a reason for them not to partake in the game."

    Coach Allegri smiled. He then discussed a few other issues concerning the team with his assistant before ending the meeting and heading to the tactics room for the pre-game tactical meeting.

    -----

 Chapter 559 Coach Maurizio Sarris Targeted Strategies

    Chapter 559 Coach Maurizio Sarri''s Targeted Strategies

    At least seventy-five minutes before the time fixed for the kick-off of any league match, a representative of each participating club had to submit a team sheet by methods approved by the Serie A governing body. The submitted information would contain particrs like the names and shirt numbers of all the team''s yers (including the substitutes), the color of the team''s jerseys (including what the keeper would wear), plus the names and job titles of up to seven officials that would upy the technical bench during that league match.

    The time that Saturday was 8:00 PM, and only an hour remained before the scheduled kick-off of the highly anticipated Serie A league match between Juventus and Empoli. Maurizio Sarri, the head coach of Empoli, had already submitted the mandated team sheet for his club and, in turn, received the one for Juventus. At that moment, he was seated beside Francesco Calzona, his assistant, in the visitor''s dressing room of the Juventus stadium. The ''two of them'' were reviewing Juventus'' team sheet together while waiting for their yers to return from their pre-match dynamic warm-up.

    A solemn expression particrly outlined Coach Maurizio Sarri''s face as his eyes took in the name after another name of Juventus'' starting eleven. As expected, Coach Max Allegri had rested most of his starting yers and fielded a team almost full of second-stringers. But as far as Maurizio Sarri was concerned, that weaker Juventus team was still enough to give Empoli a big challenge.

    Angelo Ogbonna, Leonardo Boni, and Andrea Barzagli were the men in Juventus'' defense of three. Then, Stefano Sturaro, Zachary Bemba, Simone Padoin, Patrice Evra, and the young Federico Mattiello made up the midfield of five. And finally, Coach Allegri fielded Fernando Llorente and ¨¢lvaro Morata as the two strikers toplete Juventus'' 3-5-2 formation.

    It was not the best squad ording to Juventus'' usual standards. But, with a yer like Zachary, the Old Lady''s starting eleven still had strong enough tactical prowess and individual brilliance within their ranks to overpower Empoli and go home with the three points. With all that in mind, Maurizio Sarri had not stopped working out strategies to ensure a win for his yers against such on-form opponents.

    "What we expected happened," Francesco Calzona, his assistant, remarked beside him. "They rested most of their yers who yed international games over the past seven days. The only surprise listings in their starting eleven are Zachary Bemba, Patrice Evra, Leonardo Boni, and Fernando Llorente."

    "Yes," Maurizio Sarri grunted a response. "Zachary''s presence is a surprise. But it''s good that we prepared tactics against him beforehand. At least, without Pirlo and the other Juventus regr starters to support him, we''ll find it easier to execute those tactics and contain him on the field of y."

    "Yeah!" Francesco Calzona agreed. "We''re lucky to face off against a much weaker Juventus team. If we stick to the game n and remain focused, we''ll definitelye out on top against them today."

    Maurizio Sarri nodded. His team, Empoli, was only eleven points above the relegation spots. As such, he would be in even deeper shit and closer to the red zone if he failed to at least go home with a point after the match. More than anything, he needed to find a way to overpower Juventus even while ying away from home. He had to encourage his yers to go for a desirable result and, in so doing, increase the gap between him and the teams upying the relegation spots.

    The time passed quickly as the two coaches reviewed the match sheets, and when the clock hands around Turin were about to point to the 8:30 PM mark, the Empoli yers returned to the dressing room after their warm-up. They settled on the seats around the dressing room and began their final preparations for the game.

    A few more minutes passed, and after Coach Maurizio Sarri judged that the time was right, he took center stage. He spent the next quarter of an hour talking about the main points of the game n, which included ying with a 4-3-1-2 defensive formation with three holding midfielders. He also emphasized the need to remain focused during the game before touching upon the importance of taking advantage of set pieces, like corner kicks, to create golden opportunities against a much stronger Juventus side. Eventually, the coach ended his speech with encouraging words to boost his yers'' morale before summoning his three defensive midfielders to one side.

    "Croce! Valdifiori! Vecino!" The coach looked at his three defensive midfielders with a solemn expression. "As we discussed, you have vital roles during today''s match. You three will take turns marking Zachary Bemba throughout the entire duration of the game."

    "I have disclosed plenty of information about Zachary during the past few preparatory tactical meetings. He is a genius of a creative ymaker who thrives when you allow him to move freely between the lines and pick out passes and shots as he wishes. He has sublime ball technique, exceptional passing, superior vision, rock-solidposure, and world-ss ir, especially with the ball at his feet."

    "All those qualities allow him to remain cunning and press-resistant, even at crucial moments. If you lose sight of him for even a minute, he will not hesitate to immediately carve out beautiful through balls and smart forward passes, which can be a thorn to deal with. Moreover, Zachary also possesses potent dribbling abilities, okay physical power, impressive work rate & aggression, plus world-ss decision-making and anticipation. He''s really a handful of a ymaker, but we can still stop him today if you three work hand in hand to limit his impact on the game."

    The coach''s voice turned more vibrant. "By using specific man-marking strategies and sticking close to him, you can reduce the time he got to do some purpose with the ball to the bare minimum. By staying ''particrly'' close to him, you can make it more challenging for him to y forward passes or cut through the middle wherever he wants."

    "Judging from past performances, Zachary always favors ying forward passes to a wing-back cutting in from the nks or setting up the strikers darting forward through the middle with defense splitting passes between the lines. Other times, he can go at it alone and cut in from the wing while dribbling toward the goal. So, how do you three stop him?"

    "You tight mark him to the very end. You deny him space and time to pick out the passes while blocking his vision and the most obvious passing options. However, remember not to panic at crucial moments. You only have to hold your position and stop him from driving forward and past you with his dribbling and speed. If you aplish that, your teammates will have all the time in the world to fall back into shape and helpbat against the danger."

    "Take my word for it," the coach continued, "Any yer, no matter how talented, will not perform at his best when he has someone constantly breathing down his neck. For instance, if you tightly mark Zachary, he will most likely always receive the ball with his back toward the goal and then fail to turn andy off passes to yers in the spaces ahead of him. And with that, you three will have achieved your goal of making him unable to advance y into the final third in a manner he would have wanted. Clear?"

    "Yes, coach! We understand." The three holding midfielders replied solemnly.

    The coach smiled and continued. "Remember, tight marking alone isn''t enough to contain a yer as skilled and talented as Zachary. You three have to go all out and quickly turn the game from a battle of skill to a contest of physicality and aggression whenever he receives the ball. You can tackle him hard, bump into him with such force and momentum that he shudders, or pull his shirt when the referee''s line of vision is blocked. I''m not encouraging you to behave like foolish rogues bymitting silly and oundish fouls that will bring us trouble. All I am saying is that you remain patient while using your intelligence to nip at his tenacity. Use your strength against him, trip him a little when there''s a chance, or execute other inconspicuous fouls until they pile up to the point of frustrating him and affecting his performance on the field of y."

    "Moreover, by constantly harassing him, you''ll tire him out fast. At first, he may beat you with his superior ball skills. But if you remain have said in your heads?" The coach looked at the three yers before him.

    tenacious and torment him like a parasite, his stamina reserves will drain fast, and he will quickly turn into another run-of-the-mill midfielder on the field of y. Have you guys registered all that I have said in your heads?" The coach looked at the three yers before him.

    "Yes, coach," the three holding midfielders replied.

    "That''s good, then." Coach Maurizio Sarri nodded. "At any given time, one of you three must remain with Zachary to tight mark him while the other two cover the other spaces in the defensive midfield. You must not allow him to leave your sights even for a second on the pitch. Is that clear?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied solemnly again.

    The coach smiled and nced at his watch. He stepped away from his three holding midfielders and said a few morest-minute encouraging words to his other yers. Then, when the clock hands around Turin pointed to the 8:50 PM mark, he dismissed his yers from the visitor''s dressing room and sent them toward the pitch for the match.

    Over the past week, he had done his best to develop targeted strategies for the match against Juventus. He had spent many hours at night watching past match videos featuring yers like Zachary Bemba, Andrea Pirlo, and the other creative Juventus yers before conjuring ns to limit their influence on the pitch. He had passed all the details of the approaches he hade up with to his yers in the best way he could over the past few days of training. Now that the time of the game had arrived, he only yearned to see them execute his game n in a perfect manner before going on to defeat the Italian football giant that was Juventus.

    -----

 Chapter 560 Fox in the Box

    Chapter 560 Fox in the Box

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle at 9:00 PM, and the game between Empoli started immediately after. The Juventus yers were the ones to kick off the game. They sent their home fans into a frenzy of excitement and boundless expectations as they quickly settled into afortable rhythm of slow build-ups during the opening stages.

    The Old Lady yers continued passing the ball among their defenders and holding midfielders while trying to stretch Empoli''s defensive shape. They didn''t try to force anything and only arrayed themselves into their traditional 3-5-2 formation while hoarding most of the ball possession during the opening minutes.

    But as the proceedings moved forward and the 14th minute arrived, most of the Juventus starting eleven on the night demonstrated why they were usually on the bench. The second-stringers who had made the starting line-up showed tendencies toward being impatient. They began rushing and trying outplicated ys and consequently became prone to making amateur mistakes.

    The young Juventus yers, like the 18-year-old Federico Mattiello and the 21-year-old Stefano Sturaro, even made blind passes within the defensive third that almost cost the team dearly. Their negligence really did invite immediate counters from the well-disciplined Empoli yers during the 16th, 21st, and 24th minutes.

    Fortunately for Juventus, Gianluigi Buffon, the experienced keeper, was on fire again that night. He performed beyond expectations on all asions and kept the score deadlocked at 0:0 with stunning saves that wowed the fans,mentators, and yers alike.

    The game was on, and after profiting from the mistakes of the Juventus yers anding close to scoring, the Empoli yers, who had been on the backfoot all night, grew into the game. They quickly settled into a dynamic 4-3-1-2 system and yed intricate and brilliant football against Juventus for the next dozen or so minutes.

    One of the main trademarks of their y was the highly-organized four-man back-line, which remained disciplined at all times to allow Empoli to y a high defensive line and consequently adopt the offside trap strategy against Juventus'' forwards. With that strategy, Empoli''s defense managed to thwart three waves of lightning-fast offensives, which would have otherwise turned into goals if the Juventus yers who had gotten the opportunities were to be onside as they connected with the final through balls that set them up for perfect one-versus-ones against the Empoli keeper.

    The other trademark for Empoli''s game was their zonal marking system that required their defensive yers, including the holding midfielders, to remain synchronized in their movements, anticipate ys, and look at the ball as a point of reference, not their opponents. Except for Zachary, who got special tight marking treatment, Empoli utilized that strategy to create many challenges for the other Juventus yers, who were having an increasingly more challenging game as the minutes shed by.

    The Empoli yers showcased their mastery of the zonal marking strategy as the 30th minute approached. Disregarding the keeper, nine of their ten field yers didn''t match the Juventus team man-for-man. Instead, they concentrated on creating a defensive structure in which horizontal and verticalpactness was the focus. Theypressed the distances between each position of their yers and prioritized controlling and defending spaces at all times.

    Their zonal-marking approach was a bull''s eye on that night. It allowed them to dy and frustrate the underperforming Juventus yers without allowing any sort of pration whatsoever within their defensive block. Moreover, an even more demoralizing fact was that they were not taking risks to embark on sudden attacks against Juventus while executing their tactic. As such, the Juventus yers didn''t get any opportunities tounch any of the terrifying counterattacks they hade to be known for over the past few months. Evidently, Maurizio Sarri, the Empoli coach, had done his homework, and his well-thought-out strategies were enough to give his team a fair chance against the flying Juventus team.

    Zachary, on his part, was also not having it easy. From the first minute, he had been getting ''special treatment'' from Empoli''s three holding midfielders, who annoyingly took turns to stick on him like superglue. Their tight-marking approach was a nuisance for his game, especially since the coach had left the other creative Juventus midfielders like Andrea Pirlo on the bench.

    Zachary found it challenging to escape his markers on numerous asions since he could not easily link y with the less creative on-pitch Juventus midfielders. Even worse, going at it alone and using his dribbling to break through was not an option. His markers were going all out to torment him, and they would not hesitate to kick his shin, step on his foot, bump into him, or execute some other dark arts if he as so much showed the intent to hold onto the ball and advance an attack. The opponents had isted him in such a way, and his impact had been minimal the whole evening.

    The first half passed quietly, and the second halfmenced after to constantly move around the pitch.

    He would be in the midfield at one moment, but a few seconds a fifteen-minute break. Zachary, who had just gotten well-thought-out instructions from his coach, settled down and started floating around the pitch to tire out his markers. He relied on his newly acquired SS-grade stamina and endurance attributes to constantly move around the pitch.

    He would be in the midfield at one moment, but a few secondster, he would take off abruptly and position himself in the wings. At other times, he would be on the striking line, and then he would suddenly fall back and settle in the defensive midfield zone.

    His movements and switch of positions became more erratic as the game progressed. He didn''t make many touches on the ball, but he repeatedly managed to draw his markers out of their holding midfield positions, thus allowing the other midfielders toe alive on the field of y.

    His impact on the pitch became apparent during the 54th minute when he initiated a sudden and spirited run out of the midfield. At the very instant when Juventus was transitioning from its slow build-up to a full-blown offensive, he took off from the center circle and bolted forward like a raging whirlwind toward the left side of Empoli''s box.

    But even though his speed was quite impressive, he still couldn''t shake off Mirko Valdifiori, the holding midfielder who happened to be marking him at that moment.

    But even then, Zachary didn''t lose hope. His strides were spirited as ever as he was sure that drawing away an important Empoli holding midfielder from his position would benefit his team even if he didn''t get involved in the attack. He just continued dashing forward without any care while the midfielder shadowed him.

    -----

    Simone Padoin, the Juventus midfielder, who had just received the ball, spotted Zachary''s run. His instincts almost took control, and he was an instant away from ying the ball to the young number 10. But just then, Coach Allegri''s half-time words sounded in his mind.

    "At crucial moments when Zachary makes sudden runs and draws away the holding midfielders marking him," the coach had said, "all our other midfielders should work quickly and try to utilize the gaps he leaves behind with the sole intent to score..."

    Lightning-fast thoughts raced through Simone Padoin''s mind, and he made a decision within an instant. He took off like a rocket before Empoli''s zonal defense could shape up again and drove straight into the space left by the midfielder marking Zachary. His speed was impressive, and in only mere seconds, he was already stepping into the final third.

    However, more work still awaited him as he approached the box. The Empoli back-four had alreadypacted their defensive line to deny him passage. As such, he couldn''t force his way through their ranks, even if, by some chance, he acquired skills that would match those of Zachary.

    A glint passed through Simone Padoin''s eyes, and his instincts tingled. And right then, he spotted a shadow in Juventus'' white and ck striped jersey about to cut into the space behind Empoli''s back-line on the right nk.

    Simone Padoin didn''t hesitate even in the slightest before threading the ball through a gap between the Empoli left-back and the opposing center-back. With that well-timed pass, he caught the defenders napping and yed the ball into the space just behind the opposing left-back.

    "Whoosh..."

    On the right nk, the young Federico Mattiello, who was Juventus'' wing-back for the day, dashed past the dazed Empoli left-back at the exact moment when Simone Padoin was releasing the ball. His run was well-timed, and he smashed through Empoli''s offside trap by a split second before connecting with the immactely ced through-pass.

    Though still only eighteen years, Federico Mattiello was a yer who could remainposed at certain crucial moments. He drove the ball further toward Empoli''s side of the pitch like a true-blue incarnation of a one-hundred-meter champion. On arriving in the space a few meters from the goalline, Federico did what any wing-back should do. He immediately swung his leg down and sent a hell of a cross towards the box.

    "Whoosh..."

    The ball from Federico Mattiello tore through the air and soared toward the box like a surface-to-surface missile. At that moment, the Empoli center-backs were already in action, tightly marking the two Juventus forwards in the area while also anticipating the iing cross. Their positioning was perfect. As such, everyone watching the game must have thought they woulde out on top and clear the danger.

    But then, something unexpected transpired when everyone''s eyes were still glued on the iing cross. Just when the ball started to descend into the box under gravity, a tall silhouette rushed in from the space beyond the left side of the box.

    It was Zachary, and he had just initiated a sudden run to leave his marker in the dust before racing to meet the iing cross. Like a true-blue fox in the box, he floated into the unmarked space before Empoli''s center-backs and pushed off the ground with all the momentum he had umted.

    He rose into the air like a Ninja and made the subtlest of touches with his head to brush the ball and guide it goalward. His heading technique was world-ss, and he effortlessly found the inside of the far post to score Juventus'' 1st goal during the 55th minute.

    As for the Empoli defenders and keeper, they couldn''t even react. They seemed to know not what was going on, and they were still struggling to mark the other Juventus strikers when Zachary was already outwitting them and finding the back of the.

 Chapter 561 Just A Point Away

    ?

    -----

    Juventus FC 1: Empoli FC 0

    -----

    "Oh, my goodness me!" Fabio Crudeli, thementator for the day, yelled as Zachary ran to the corner g to celebrate the goal. "Zachary has done what he does best again. He found the back of the during the 55th minute to score Juventus'' 1st goal during the 55th minute. What a season this youngd is having! He just can''t stop scoring."

    "Yes, indeed, he can''t stop scoring," Tiziano Caressa, the othermentator, said. "I have just watched the rey. The way Zachary escaped from his marker and floated into the space before the Empoli defense was just ingenious. He waited for the exact moment when Mirko Valdifiori, the Empoli holding midfielder, looked away from him. With perfect timing, he escaped like a fox in the box, and before Valdifiori could spot him again, he was already meeting the ball with his head and scoring the 1st goal for Juventus. His game reading and reaction to abrupt situations on the pitch is simply out of this world."

    "I can''t understand how he makes scoring so easy," Fabio Crudelimented. "By the way, you''re the person always with the statistics. How many goals has he scored so far this season?"

    Tiziano Caressa chuckled. "Today''s goal against Empoli is his 30th in the Serie A. He has also found the back of the five times in the Coppa Italia, twice in the Supercoppa Italiana, and fourteen times in the UEFA Champions League. Aside from that, he also scored two goals during his debut games for Ivory Coast. As such, he has nowted a grand total of 53 goals in allpetitions this season."

    Fabio Crudeli whistled on hearing the statistics. "I don''t think there is any yer in Europe who canpete with him in terms of scoring this season. He might go home with the golden boots of all thepetitions this season."

    Tiziano Caressaughed. "Juventus is now leading by a goal to nil just ten minutes into the second half. Do you think the Old Lady yers will hold on to this advantage and win the game?"

    "Well... I can''t answer that," Fabio Crudeli said. "The Juventus yers havecked the sharpness they usually possess during today''s game. The midfielders have not yed many forward passes, and because of that, their strikers have not gotten many touches within Empoli''s box. If they don''t up their game and start creating chances, then there''s a possibility that they will lose points today."

    "I guess that happens when you are only four points away from winning the Serie A title, yet you still remain with nine games before ending the season," Tiziano Caressa said.

    "True!" Fabio Crudeli agreed. "The Juventus yers shouldck the motivation to give their all, especially since they were already ahead of the second-ced AS Roma by 27 points before the game. But, of course, we can''t forget that a miracle worker like Zachary is still on the pitch. Even if the whole team is ying at a below-par standard, he can still produce moments of brilliance and possibly extend Juventus'' lead."

    "Exactly!" Tiziano Caressa agreed. "If Juventus does win, they will only be one point away from clinching the Serie A title. That would also imply that a draw from their Saturday fixture against Parma would make them the 2014/15 Italian champions."

    "All these are still ifs since today''s game is yet to end," Fabio Crudeli said. "Let''s first wait and see if they can hold off Empoli before counting how many more points they need to be champions..."

    -----

    In the meantime, the game restarted as thementators were discussing. The Empoli yers, who had just conceded a goal, immediately started taking risks by going on the offensive. Theymitted numbers forward for the next twenty minutes, hoping to score and bring proceedings back to level terms.

    Their efforts were quite impressive. They relied on long balls to their two strikers and wing pration ending in crosses to mount increasing pressure upon Juventus'' defense. They even came close to scoring during the 63rd, 70th, and 75th minutes. However, the impressive goal-keeping skills of Gianluigi Buffon, the world-ss keeper, saved the day, thus allowing Juventus to stay ahead on all asions.

    Soon enough, the game proceeded into the final ten minutes. Maurizio Sarri, Empoli''s coach, brought on all three substitutes, hoping to change the game situation. And due to the introduction of fresh legs, Empoli''s attacks grew increasingly more dangerous until the men in red and blue came close to scoring during the 84th minute.

    Piotr Zielinski, the substitute left midfielder, threaded a brilliant pass to Simone Verdi, another substitute who had just taken on the reins on Empoli''s striking line. Simone Verdi, on his part, connected with the through ball well before unleashing a snapshot toward the bottom left corner.

    It was a tense moment for the Juventus fans as the ball headed goalward, skimming over the grass like a snake traversing the jungle. Fortunately for the team from Turin, Gianluigi Buffon, the keeper, came alive at thest moment. He palmed the ball toward the left side of the box, thus saving the day and keeping Juventus in the lead again.

    In the meantime, Patrice Evra, Juventus'' left wing-back, had just collected the ball punched by Buffon. The Frenchman immediately controlled the ball before smashing it toward the other side of the pitch where Fernando Llorente was lurking.

    Close to the center circle, Fernando Llorente held off the defender with his tall physique while bringing the ball under control. He chested it to the ground before threading a pass back into his half toward the fast-approaching Zachary.

    Zachary''s spatial awareness was as sharp as ever. He controlled the ball while mapping the positioning of his teammates within his mind. He then took another touch before unleashing a lofted pass that soared over the defense, heading toward the right side of the pitch, where ¨¢lvaro Morata was lurking.

    "Whoosh!"

    ¨¢lvaro Morata was like the wind as he connected with Zachary''s first-time pass. He chested the descending ball forward and set off on a mad dash for the box. He soon skipped over a challenge from one of the Empoli holding midfielders before beating Federico Barba, the center-back, for pace.

    ¨¢lvaro Morata eventually came out of the challenges on top before prating the box to face off against the Empoli keeper. He remainedposed and looped the ball over the approaching keeper to score Juventus'' 2nd goal for the night during the 85th minute.

    -----

    "GOAL..." Fabio Crudeli, thementator, yelled as the ball nestled into the back of the. "What beautiful football! A splendid counterattack from Juventus has just seen them extend their lead to two goals during the 85th minute. It all started with Buffon palming away the ball to make that save. Then, Patrice Evra found Fernando Llorente with a long ball, who, in turn, found Zachary with a pass back into the middle. Zachary didn''t waste even a second before ying a superb pass over Empoli''s defense. His pass took three Empoli yers out of the equation, thus setting an opportunity for ¨¢lvaro Morata, who remainedposed and scored Juventus'' second."

    "This is team Juventus at their best," Tiziano Caressa, the othermentator, said with an audible sigh. "I believe that this goal has done it and won them the game. They are just one point away from winning the title. But surprisingly, they still remain with nine more Serie A games before ending their season. What a football season they have had!"

    "I believe we''re seeing the making of history," Fabio Crudeli said. "Let''s not forget the fact that they are unbeaten in allpetitions. They haven''t lost a single game up to this point in the season. I''m beginning to believe that they are the best team in Europe at the moment."

    -----

    The gamemenced after the goal celebrations. The Empoli yers seemed to have lost all their morale after conceding the second goal. They startedmitting mistakes in midfield and soon failed to maintain their zonal marking strategy in many crucial areas of the field of y.

    The Juventus yers, who had just built up all the momentum after scoring the second goal, didn''t miss the chance to exploit the weakness of their opponents. Through their excellent midfielders, like Zachary, they maintained possession via quick exchanges of passes. Eventually, their brilliance paid off, allowing them to create a clear goal-scoring opportunity during the 90th minute.

    That time around, it was Carlos Tevez, the substitute who had just stepped onto the pitch, in action. The Argentine striker pushed off the ground in the box and got to the end of a cross from Patrice Evra. He outwitted the center-backs in the air before heading the ball home to beat the keeper and score Juventus'' 3rd goal for the night.

    The game continued after the celebration with Empoli''s kick-off. But nothing noteworthy happened during the game''s closing stages. As a result, Juventus remained in the driving seat and eventually won the game by a score of 3:0 after six minutes of injury time.

    With that ending, the Juventus yers had taken their season tally to a whopping 83 points. They were still 27 points ahead of the second-ced AS Roma and only a draw away from winning that season''s Serie A title. Their season was for the history books, as they could potentially win the trophy before ying theirst nine games of the 2014/15 season.

    -----

 Chapter 562 Serie A Season Decider

    <h4>Chapter 562 Serie A Season Decider</h4>

    Juventus'' following fixture was the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final game against Fiorentina. The match kick-off was at 8:45 PM, on Tuesday, 7th April, just three days after Juventus'' game against Empoli.

    During the first leg of the Coppa Italia semis held in Turin, Juventus defeated the team from Florence by a score of 3:0, with Zachary scoring a hattrick. As of now, they would again y another leg of the semis at Fiorentina''s home ground to decide which one of the two teams would qualify for the 2015 Coppa Italia finals.

    In the case of Juventus, there wasn''t much pressure associated with that very game due to their three-goal advantage from the first leg. As such, Coach Massimo Allegri decided to rest some of his yers in preparation for the uing busy schedule that included a season-deciding Serie A away fixture against Parma the following Saturday and the vital UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid the Tuesday after.

    On Coach Allegri''s squad for the day was Marco Storari as the keeper and a defense set-up that included Paolo De Ceglie, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Boni, and Simone Padoin. In the midfield were the four yers - Stefano Sturaro, udio Marchisio, Arturo Vidal, and Roberto Pereyra, while on striking were the two forwards - Alessandro Matri and ¨¢lvaro Morata. The coach''s game n was for these yers to array themselves into a 4-3-1-2 formation so as to handle Fiorentina''s progressive wing y and abrupt long balls.

    The squad was obviously not Juventus'' strongest, as the coach had left key yers like Gianluigi Buffon, Zachary Bemba, Andrea Pirlo, Patrice Evra, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Fernando Llorente, and Carlos Tevez on the bench. But even then, even with all the big names missing from the starting line-up, Juventus still showed why they were the footballing giants of Italy immediately after the game started.

    Juventus yed a good passing game of slow build-ups and sudden quick transitions into the final third from the first minute. The men from Turin then focused on prating through the ranks of Fiorentina until they eventually scored the first goal through Alessandro Matri during the 22nd minute.

    However, that was not the end of Fiorentina''s misery, as Juventus didn''t let up the pressure after scoring. The Turin-based team continued creating chances and building up more momentum. Eventually, a perfect finish from Roberto Pereyra just before halftime and a header from Leonardo Boni during the 59th minute sealed the deal, thus ensuring that Juventus won the game by a score of 3:0 after four minutes of added time.

    Juventus had yed the perfect possession game that day, and not even the future footballing stars like Mohamed Sh and Marcos Alonso in Fiorentina''s line-up could prevent the result. And ordingly, the win decided Juventus'' fate as the team that would face off against Lazio in that year''s Coppa Italia finals.

    Four dayster, on Saturday, 11th April, Juventus returned their focus to Serie A action. They traveled to the Emilia-Romagna region and faced off against Parma in the very-packed Ennio Tardini Stadium.

    That game was a crucial season decider for Juventus, as they needed only one more point from the match to win the league and be the 2014/15 Serie A champions. But even then, Coach Allegri didn''t field some of his crucial yers since he still had his eyes on the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid the following Tuesday.

    Coach Allegri only made a few changes to the squad that faced Fiorentina. He reced Leonardo Boni, the first-choice center-back, with Angelo Ogbonna. He also changed the striking line and reced ¨¢lvaro Morata and Alessandro Matri, the two forwards, with Fernando Llorente and Kingsley Coman. As for the rest of the squad, it remained the same as the line-up that yed the midweek Coppa Italia semis.

    The match against Parma was the perfect definition of a season decider. Fans of both teams were already yelling like mad and causing tremors around the stadium with the thumping of their feet as the referee blew the whistle.

    In the meantime, the match hadmenced on the pitch. The Juventus yers went all out and relied on their routine slow build-ups and abrupt defense-splitting passes to dominate proceedings during the early game stages. They yed confidently and pushed all the Parma yers into their half of the pitch as the proceedings progressed.

    But as we all know; it just takes a single error for the game situation to turn for the worse. This was the case during the match that day as a mistake in distribution by Stefano Sturaro at the border of the defensive third during the 14th-minute saw team Juventus present the perfect goal-scoring chance to Parma on a silver tter.

    Ishak Belfodil, the Parma striker, immediately pounced on the loose ball like the wind before Juventus'' defense could react. He controlled it well and passed it back to Jos¨¦ Mauri, Parma''s midfielder, thus setting his teammate up for the perfect chance to unleash a shot toward the goal.

    Jos¨¦ Mauri, on his part, didn''t disappoint. He met the ball with a first-time swing, sending it toward the top right corner. He effortlessly beat the keeper with his thunderous effort and thus scored the 1st goal for the home team during the 15th minute.

    The score was then 1:0 in favor of Parma. The Juventus fans who had traveled all the way to Parma started turning anxious and edgy, clearly feeling the heat of the match. They were not even shy to verbally express their doubts over Coach Allegri''s decision to rest some key yers.

    "I just wonder why Coach Allegri left Zachary, Andrea Pirlo, and Tevez on the bench," one Juventus fan grumbled. "Those three didn''t y the semi-final against Fiorentina during midweek! Why is he resting them again? Could they be unfit?"

    "I don''t think so," another fan sporting a striped ck and white Juventus jersey replied. "ording to the news, all three have been training with the first team over the past week. I think Massimo Allegri is simply resting them in preparation for our match against Real Madrid on Tuesday."

    "I don''t like this," the first fan said. "Why can''t we first focus on winning the Serie A before worrying about the Champions League? Because of resting the yers, we might lose against Parma when we''re close to winning the title."

    "Patience, my friend," the other fan said. "It''s just twenty minutes into the game. We only need to score a goal during the remaining 70 minutes, and this year''s Serie A title will be ours. Moreover, should the game situation fail to change by the 70th minute, Coach Allegri will surely bring on the big guns like Zachary. That''s why I''m not so worried about this game."

    -----

    In the meantime, Zachary was also following the game from the bench. He watched expressionlessly as his teammates tried to outwit the tenacious Parma side on the ying field. However, on the inside, he was feeling a bit worried.

    In football, momentum remained a very crucial factor needed to win matches. For instance, if Juventus beat Parma and won the Serie A title that weekend, they would head into Tuesday''s Champions League fixture against Real Madrid with boundless confidence. They would then rely on that morale and impetus built after winning the league to perform at their best against the team from Madrid and possibly defeat them.

    The opposite was also true, and if Juventus failed to beat Parma, they might head into the fixture with low spirits. As such, some yers who relied on confidence would find it difficult to perform at their best. This factor would then affect the overall team''s performance and possibly lead to defeat.

    The worry within Zachary continued growing as he followed the proceedings on the pitch. A frown suddenly outlined his face since he couldn''t understand what some of his teammates were doing on the ying field.

    For instance, Kingsley Coman, Juventus'' striker for the day, had just made an abrupt and well-timed run behind the defensive line. However, Roberto Pereyra, Juventus'' attacking midfielder, who had the ball at that juncture, didn''t send a through-ball forward. Pereyra instead chose to pass it backward to udio Marchisio, thus wasting Kingsley''s efforts.

    Six minutester, during the 34th minute, another vexing incident urred. Arturo Vidal received the ball close to the center line, but he took too many unnecessary touches that allowed the Parma midfielders to rob possession from him. What followed was a lightning-fast counterattack that caught Juventus'' defense napping.

    Fortunately, Marco Storari, the Juventus keeper for the night, was at the top of his game. He made a fingertip diving save and pushed the final rocket of a ball from the Parma striker over the bar. And with that, he managed to keep Juventus'' hope of aeback alive by keeping the score 1:0.

    "This game is bing difficult for us," Patrice Evra, the Frenchman sitting beside Zachary on the bench,mented. "Both Vidal and Pereyra are taking too long on the ball. They have invited trouble repeatedly by allowing the Parma midfielders to close them down. Moreover, they haven''t made many forward passes during today''s game."

    Zachary nodded. "Yes! Their midfield y has been below-par, especially over the past ten minutes. They have also wasted a few good runs made by Llorente and Coman behind the defense. Coach Allegri will surely grill them at halftime."

    Evra sighed. "Our carelessness is allowing the Parma yers to grow in confidence as the game progresses. Their passpletion and possession statistics have all improved over the past few minutes. We''ll surely find it hard to win this game if we don''t score soon."

    Zachary nodded but chose not to reply. Just then, he noticed Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach, exchanging a few words with Coach Allegri. The assistant then nodded and immediately approached the bench with a solemn expression.

    "Zachary, Pirlo, and Tevez!" He called out three names. "Start warming up immediately. The coach wants you to enter the pitch at the beginning of the second half."

    "Yes, coach," The three yers, including Zachary, replied, one after another. They then donned their bibbs and headed to the touchline area, ready to warm up.

 Chapter 563 Controlling The Tempo Of The Game

    ?

    More minutes passed, and soon, it was the long-awaited halftime. The yers of both teams headed to the tunnel for the fifteen-minute break.

    Zachary, Tevez, and Pirlo were obviously among the Juventus yers who returned to the dressing room. They had to receive the coach''s instructions before entering the pitch as substitutes at the beginning of the second half.

    "Listen, guys," Coach Allegri immediately said after all the yers had settled on the chairs around the dressing room. "During the first fourteen minutes, we yed good football against Parma. But I don''t know what happened after that. We all became disorganized on the pitch and startedmitting mistakes. Our midfielders even forgot my pre-game instructions and made a mess of the midfield. The result was Parma catching us off guard and scoring the first goal."

    Coach Allegri paused for a few seconds before continuing, "I don''t want to go too much into our performance for the first half. Those who performed poorly and those who yed well clearly know themselves. What I will do now is n for our second half."

    "This is a game that we must win. We all know that only by putting this league to bed and winning the Serie A trophy today can we create more time for ourselves to focus on the Champions League. On that note, our goals are clear, and I expect all the field yers to give their all during the second half."

    "I want to see each one of you ying brilliant football. I want to see all of you exhibiting world-ss decision-making while on the field of y. And more than anything, I want to see you breaking apart the opponents'' formation and creating chances to score goals."

    "I''ll make a few substitutions for the second half," Coach Allegri continued. "Zachary will rece Roberto Pereyra and be our attacking midfielder, Andrea Pirlo will rece Arturo Vidal in central midfield, and Carlos Tevez will enter the fray as a substitute for Stefano Sturaro."

    "Kingsley Coman! Where are you?" The coach asked, looking around.

    "Here," Kingsley immediately replied and raised his arm.

    Coach Allegri nodded at him. "During the second half, you''ll surrender the striking position to Carlos Tevez. Instead, you''ll fall back and y as our new left midfielder. In that position, you''ll coborate with Andrea, Marchisio, and Zachary to build up y from the middle and left-wing areas before creating chances for our two strikers. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," Kingsley replied with a spirited voice.

    Coach Allegri nodded again and turned to Zachary. "Zachary!" He said. "Your role during the second half will only be to find gaps in their defensive shape before capitalizing on them. I want to see you sending as many through-balls as possible to Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez. Aside from that, I also want you to try your luck from outside the box so that we can slowly add more pressure on Parma''s defense. All in all, y as usual and ensure that we score. But please remember to protect yourself from injuries while on the pitch. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied.

    "Very good." The coach smiled and swept his gaze across the rest of the yers. "The same goes for each and every other yer. y brilliant none-contact football and release the ball as fast as possible to avoid injuries. Avoid taking unnecessary risks like dribbling past several opponents. If we do that, we''ll also be able to avoidmitting unnecessary mistakes like loss of possession during critical moments. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach!" The yers replied in unison.

    Coach Allegri nodded and said, "May luck shine upon us. Let''s go out there and destroy those stubborn opponents. Let''s beat Parma and be Serie A Champions tonight. Are we together?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers'' voices were more spirited as they replied.

    The coach smiled and said a few concluding remarks concerning the formation and game n. By the time he finished, fifteen minutes had almost psed, and he sent his yers back to the pitch for the second half.

    -----

    The fourth official raised the substitution board immediately after halftime. On cue, Zachary, Andrea Pirlo, and Carlos Tevez entered the pitch, one after another, amid thunderous apuse from the traveling Juventus fans. After the substitutes took their positions, the referee blew the whistle, and the second half of the Serie A battle between Parma and Juventusmenced.

    Most substitutes would usually make the mistake of trying to jump right into the heat of things after entering the game. They would attempt to immediately make an impact by going for the spectacr or taking unnecessary risks to prove their worth to the coaches as soon as possible.

    However, Zachary knew better than tomit such a silly mistake. As a substitute midfielder, his first ''course of action'' after stepping onto the pitch was not to attempt spectacr dribbles or unleash long-range rockets of shots toward the opponent''s goal. Instead, it was to make his presence in midfield known to his teammates by exchanging as many urate passes as possible.

    The more urate passes he exchanged with his teammates, the more the other Juventus yers would subconsciously trust his abilities to change the game. And the more trust he gained, the more his teammates would try to look for him whenever they were on the ball.

    Zachary did just that after stepping onto the pitch. He spent the first ten minutes of the second half exchanging quick but urate passes with the teammates around him. His SS-graded passing techniques allowed him to receive the ball well with a single touch before distributing it quickly with his second touch.

    More minutes passed, and Zachary became a midfield pivot within the Juventus line-up. His swift and urate passing gradually evoked feelings of confidence and a sense of urgency in all his teammates. They soon becamefortable on the ball and started ying brilliant football while dictating proceedings on the field. They even continued hoarding more and more of the possession as the game progressed.

    In the meantime, the Parma yers had chosen to shrink back into their half and go on the defensive. They had even arrayed themselves into a 5-4-1 formation, seemingly to defend their one-goal advantage until the final whistle sounded.

    Zachary had already analyzed their set-up and knew their intentions. The gears in his mind turned quickly, and he decided to act and go on the offensive before it was toote.

    After receiving a return pass from Andrea Pirlo during the 61st minute, he whirled around and skipped past Cristobal Jorquera, one of Parma''s midfielders. He then sidestepped past another opponent before creating a few yards of space for himself close to the border of the final third.

    At that exact moment, his SS-graded Spatial awareness worked like a charm, and he spotted Kingsley Coman making a prating and spirited run behind the defense on the left nk. Zachary acted with all the haste he could muster. He unleashed a grounded ball in-between the defensive lines and sent it towards the unmarked pocket of space behind the defender on the left wing.

    Pedro Mendes, one of Parma''s defenders, tried intercepting the ball as it headed toward its intended target. But due to the perfect timing of the release, his efforts were futile, and the ball slowly arrived in the unmarked pocket of space before Kingsley Coman.

    "Whoosh..."

    Kingsley Coman was like the wind as he stormed forward and connected with Zachary''s pass a few yards from the touchline on the left wing. He controlled the ball midstride before the Parma defenders could react and then continued his mad diagonal dash toward the box.

    At that point, another Parma defender had already reacted and raced back to block Kingsley''s run at the edge of the box. However, Kingsley didn''t tango with the Parma yer. Instead, he squared the ball into the middle towards the edge of the box, where Zachary was arriving.

    Zachary''s game reading was as potent as ever, and he effortlessly connected with Kingsley''s pass after another stride forward. But just as he was about to pull the trigger and attempt to score, another defender rushed in from the right side and blocked his shooting angle.

    Zachary, though, didn''t panic. His SS-graded spatial awareness, risk assessment, and ball control attributes came into y. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a trace of a silhouette, donning Juventus'' ck and white jersey, driving into the box from the right side. Without hesitation, Zachary took another touch and released a very light pass toward the sprinting course of the figure in question.

    "Ahh..."

    The defender before Zachary gasped as the seemingly slow ball passed a few inches beyond his left foot. But since he had been angling his body towards his right side to block Zachary, he couldn''t realign his posture in time and get to the ball. He could only turn his head awkwardly to see Carlos Tevez, another Juventus substitute, connecting with Zachary''s pass inside his box.

    "Pa..."

    Carlos Tevez was as sharp as ever. He had already beaten the offside trap with his well-timed run and connected with Zachary''s pin-point pass. He remainedposed and sted the ball past the keeper and into the roof of the to score Juventus'' 1st goal for the night. On cue, Stadio Ennio Tardini exploded into a wave of thunderous cheers as he turned around and headed towards Zachary to celebrate the equalizer.

 Chapter 564 Another Trophy In The Bag

    ?

    Fabio Crudeli was once again thementator for the game. He waited until the thunderous cheers subsided before clearing his voice and saying, "Well, well, well! Juventus has finally scored the long-awaited equalizer. Brilliant midfield y from Zachary Bemba and Kingsley Coman allowed them to prate through Parma''s tenacious defensive set-up. The on-form Argentine striker - Carlos Tevez thenpleted the brilliant passage of y. He connected with Zachary Bemba''s well-timed pass before sting the ball past the keeper to score Juventus'' 1st goal during the 62nd minute. The score is now back to level terms with 28 minutes remaining."

    "This is Juventus at its best," David Ferrini, the comentator, remarked. "They are a team destined to be champions. They always have many dangerous options on the bench that can change the game situation. They also have great team spirit and incredible teamwork, especially when it matters. You can never say you have beaten them until you hear the final whistle."

    Fabio Crudeli chuckled. "Coach Allegri''s halftime changes were spot on. He showed a clear intent to win the game by bringing on Carlos Teves, Andrea Pirlo, and Zachary Bemba, who are by far his best yers this season. These three changed the game considerably and allowed Juventus to dominate proceedings during the second half. Juventus'' midfield has especially been excellent with the addition of Zachary and Pirlo. The midfielders are like a well-oiled machine, exchanging passes to break down Parma''s tenacious formation."

    "True," David Ferrini, the comentator, agreed. "That passage of y that resulted in the first goal started with Pirlo before Zachary did his magic by picking out Kingsley''s well-timed run. This ability to spot such opportunities, even during the most tense of moments, is what has allowed Zachary to be a world-ss midfielder in a record time of a few months."

    "Well, Juventus have finally gotten their equalizing goal," Fabio Crudeli remarked. "If things stay as they are now for the rest of the night, they will win the Serie A even before the second-ced AS Roma y their game tomorrow afternoon. They will have umted 84 points in just 30 matches, and no other team will catch up with them even if they lose their remaining eight games this season."

    "Yeah," David Ferrini, the comentator, acquiesced. "They are in a very advantageous position to win the Serie A trophy before ying theirst eight games. But what do you think they will do now? Will Coach Allegri instruct his men to y it safe and go on the defensive for the remaining minutes? Or will he tell them to continue attacking and go at the opponents with all the intensity they can muster so that they can win the Serie A in style?"

    "I think the Juventus yers will go all out to win the game," Fabio Crudeli said. "With yers like Zachary, Pirlo, and Tevez on the field, they will most likely continue attacking and creating more goal-scoring chances. And since they have already sessfully broken through Parma''s defensive set-up once, they will likely do it again and get their winning goal."

    "Good prediction," David Ferrini said. "I''m also of the same view. But let''s first return our focus to the game, which has already restarted."

    -----

    Thementators were totally right with their predictions. The Juventus yers didn''t choose to go on the defensive after scoring the equalizer. Instead, they maintained an offensive attitude and attacked Parma''s defense like crazy.

    It was as if the goal they scored had reinvigorated their spirits. Each of the Juventus yers raised their game to the next level within those remaining twenty-something minutes. And together with their brilliant midfielders, like Zachary, Andrea Pirlo, and udio Marchisio, they dominated proceedings and hoarded about 70% of the possession. After that, it wasn''t long before they started creating clear-cut chances that almost resulted in goals.

    For instance, Zachary initiated a counterattack by ying a first-time pass toward Kingsley after a failed Parma corner kick during the 71st minute. Kingsley, on his part, did well to advance the counter. He drove into the heart of Parma''s defense, speeding as fast as a Form One driver to initiate a two-versus-two situation.

    The Frenchman eventually yed a final ball to Fernando Llorente, one of Juventus'' two strikers. But luck seemed not to be on Juventus'' side, and the Parma keeper got his fingertips on the final shot from Llorente to push the ball out of y and keep proceedings on level terms.

    Juventus got another clear opportunity during the 76th minute when Paolo De Ceglie, Juventus'' left wing-back for the day, made a spirited run through the nk. He dashed along the touchline, using his pace to rush past two opposing yers before unleashing a lofted cross toward the box from around the border of the final third.

    Fernando Llorente, Juventus'' striker who was naturally in the box, reacted as he should. He leaped off the ground and relied on his tall physique to tower over the Parma center-backs. He skillfully got to the end of Paolo De Ceglie''s cross and guided the ball towards the top right corner with a well-timed header. But s, the Parma keeper once again made an incredible diving save and pushed the ball out of y to keep the score 1:1 during the 77th minute.

    The game resumed after a failed Juventus corner kick. The Old Lady yers continued creating more chances, with the likes of Zachary, Carlos Tevez, and Kingsley Coman alling close to scoring Juventus'' second goal during the game''s final ten minutes. But the abnormal heroics of Parma''s keeper denied their efforts, and thus the game headed into extra time still deadlocked at a score of 1:1.

    The Juventus yers didn''t stop attacking, though. They continued ying their possession football while patiently waiting to break through Parma''s defense as the game slowly approached the 93rd minute.

    It was at that point that the quiet Andrea Pirlo worked his magic. After receiving a return ball from Paolo De Ceglie close to the center circle, he unleashed a long-range diagonal pass over the entire midfield to find Zachary, who happened to have floated into the right wing.

    Zachary, on his part, worked with urgency to connect with the long-range pass from Andrea. He brought the ball under control with his chest before taking another simple touch to loop it over the head of an approaching opponent. Then, his SS-graded agility and dribbling attributes worked like a charm, and he tapped the ball forward to squeeze it through the legs of another Parma yer who was also closing him down.

    With that nutmeg, Zachary skipped past the opponent and suddenly realized that the coast on the right wing was clear. His football instincts bloomed into splendor, and he relied on his SS-grade agility to elerate to top speed in no time. Just like a storm, he cut into the pitch and eventually skipped past another sliding tackle before arriving close to the edge of the box on the left nk.

    By then, the Parma defenders and goalkeeper had all reacted to block his efforts. Two of Parma''s center-backs were guarding strategic positions close to the edge of the box to stop Zachary from pushing into the box from the left side. As for the keeper, he was also guarding the inside of the near post to prevent him from abruptly trying out his luck and scoring from the tight angle.

    A soft smile lit up Zachary''s face as his eyes took the situation in. He slowed down to draw the two center-backs in before raising his foot as if to take a shot at the goal. But halfway through his swinging motion, he rxed his leg and suddenly dug his boot under the ball. He looped it over the two defenders, sending it on a beautiful arc toward the unmarked pocket of space close to the far post, where Kingsley Coman was arriving.

    Zachary''s cheeky pass was like a work of art. Time seemed toe to a standstill as the ball floated over all the yers in Parma''s box. Then, it dipped at the right time and descended onto Kingsley Coman''s head, who, in turn, finished with a simple header to score Juventus'' 2nd goal for the night.

    -----

    PARMA CALCIO 1 : JUVENTUS FC 2

    -----

    The text on the jumbotron in the Stadio Ennio Tardini immediately shimmered and confirmed Juventus'' second goal. Right on cue, the stadium exploded into a wave of cheers, and the atmosphere around the stands turned superheated. The traveling Juventus fans started singing "We''re Juventus, We''re Champions" as the Juventus yers ran toward the touchline to celebrate Kingsley''s goal.

    Minutes passed, and the goal celebrations on the pitch ended. The referee blew the whistle, and the game restarted. But even then, the Juventus fans didn''t calm down. They continued chanting like mad and singing at the top of their voices until the final whistle eventually sounded after seven minutes of added time.

    Right at that instant, more crazy scenes started appearing in the stadium. Coach Max Allegri, who had remained calm even after Juventus scored the second goal, let out a series of incoherent loud yells. He was just like Mad Max, punching the air repeatedly with both his arms while at times half jogging and at other times half-hopping. The feat of his team winning the game and bing Serie A champions had obviously overwhelmed him with joy, and he could only vent his excited emotions using such weird actions.

    Fortunately, the coach wasn''t alone in his weirdness, and thus his actions appeared normal at that juncture. His yers had also already gone mad with excitement. They ran around the pitch haphazardly, like headless chickens, shouting and venting emotions. A few had even removed their shirts and thrown them to the traveling Juventus fans before returning to the pitch to continue celebrating. They obviously couldn''t contain the happiness of putting the Serie A to bed and winning the League with eight games to go.

    Zachary, on his part, also joined the celebrations. He moved around the pitch and waved to the Juventus fans who had traveled all the way to Parma to support their team. At that point, his soul was already swimming in an ocean of happiness, and he eventually went around hugging his coaches and teammates, one after another, to celebrate their early Serie A victory.

    The only blemish to the night was that there would be no trophy presentation, as that had to wait for the final match day of the 2014/15 Serie A season. As such, the Juventus yers would have to wait until the end of May before receiving their rightful silverware.

 Chapter 565 Festivities And The Champions League Quarter-Final Preview

    ?

    Zachary and his teammates took many interviews from reporters that night before leaving the Ennio Tardini Stadium. They then had dinner in one of the restaurants in Parma and checked into a local hotel, where they would spend the night.

    Zachary was exhausted after ying fifty minutes of intensive top-flight football. He excused himself from the rest of his teammates and headed to his hotel room for the night. He then took another shower and dried himself before settling on his bed and switching on his phone for the first time that night.

    Right then, notices of iing messages from various apps on his phone started shing on the screen. Zachary could see hundreds of WhatsApp and Facebook messages and dozens of notifications from his phone''s default SMS app. There were even about ten missed call alerts that blinked on his smartphone after he switched it on.

    Zachary was rmed, wondering why he had suddenly received all those notifications. Not many people in the world had his private contact info. Usually, he would receive around two or three messages from Emily, his agent, or Kristin, his publicity secretary, during the day. And if something important came up within the team, he might receive a few more messages and calls from his teammates and coaches on his private number.

    However, that day was weird, and he received hundreds of notifications on his private line. What was going on?

    Zachary swallowed hard. He subconsciously started going through the notifications, especially those on his phone''s default messaging app. Then, just as abruptly, a soft smile lit up his face as he realized that all were congrattory messages from his acquaintances.

    "To my most valuable client and dear friend," the first message he saw read, "Congrats on winning your first Scudetto with Juventus. It''s a well-deserved victory! Your hard work, dedication, and passion for football have all paid off. You should be very proud of yourself and continue trying your best. With your talent, I believe the sky is the limit, and this is just the start of your journey to winning many more des. Your Agent and Friend, Emily."

    "Heartiest congrattions on your team winning the Serie A title with eight games to go this season," this second message was from Kristin, Zachary''s publicity secretary and personal assistant. "I believe your contribution has been a critical factor in your team''s winning of the league this early. Continue striving forward, and you''ll achieve even greater things."

    "To the Italian champions, and to the best yer on the champions'' team," this message was from Paul Kasongo, his former teammate and friend. "Your teamwork, sportsmanship, and tenacity are an inspiration to me. Congrattions on achieving big things this young, my friend..."

    Many more messages hade in through different tforms, including his private WhatsApp number, Instagram, and Facebook ounts. Most of his acquaintances, whether in Norway or Italy, Coach Damata in DRC, his biological mom, his former teammates from Rosenborg, his new teammates from the Ivory Coast''s national team, the old scout - Mr. Stein, Coach Johnsen, and even Cami, all sent him congrattory messages that night.

    Zachary read through them quickly and felt how good it was to receive appreciation from people he knew. He worked with urgency and replied some messages, like the one from Emily and Kristin.

    After sending the responses, he switched off the light and entered in between the sheets for the night. He let his mind wander, recalling all the crucial moments from the match against Parma before eventually sinking into a dreamless and peaceful slumber.

    -----

    The following morning, at ten, Zachary sat in Juventus'' team bus, which was fast approaching the city of Turin. He was idly chatting about popr sports news in Italy and sometimes bantering with a few of his teammates.

    asionally, he would also gaze beyond the window to take in the passing scenery as the bus sped forward. He was just like a traveler returning home after a rxing adventure.

    A few more minutes passed, and the bus eventually entered Turin City. More vehicles and pedestrians started appearing on the road. Just then, an S-ss ck Mercedes-Benz sped up from behind and caught up with the team bus. It then started honking repeatedly as its window ss lowered. A male driver pushed his head out and yelled excitedly, "Juventus, Ole! Juventus Ole! Siamo I Campioni." The man then hollered a few more words and waved at the bus before stepping on the elerator and speeding off.

    "This..." Zachary was stunned as he nced at the fast-fading ck Mercedes-Benz. But before he could ask his teammates about what had just happened, more drivers speeding past the Juventus bus repeated the same act and continued yelling excitedly. Some were screaming catchphrases like "We''re Juventus! We''re Unbeatable! We''re Unbwogable! We''re Champions from Turin!" Then they would shout a congrattory message at the bus before speeding off and disappearing into the distance.

    But that was not thest of Zachary''s surprise. That was because he soon got to experience how crazy enthusiastic Italian football fans could be as the bus turned towards the road heading to the Vinovo, Juventus'' training center.

    At that point, the Juventus bus was no longer moving alone on the streets. Instead, it had already attracted a convoy of honking cars, dozens of motorbikes, and hundreds of fans wearing Juventus'' official colors.

    The supporters, who were not in vehicles, all crowded around the bus. They continued waving ck and white gs while yelling to vent their excitement. Not even the police could contain them as they tried to wee their heroes, the Juventus yers, who had just won the Serie A trophy with eight games to go.

    In the meantime, some of the Juventus yers who were already used to such scenes pushed their heads out of the windows and waved at the fans. A few, like udio Marchisio and Leonardo Boni, even started singing Juventus'' victory slogans along with supporters. The fans, in turn, responded with more favor and became crazier. They shouted the yers'' names while jogging along with the bus on the street.

    In that manner, the boisterous celebrations continued. The bus moved forward at a not-so-fast pace and eventually arrived at the Vinovo, where even more fans were waiting. The yers exited the bus before waving to the crowd and signing a few autographs. After that, they entered the Vinovo, where they took more interviews from waiting reporters and celebrated their early league victory with the board and management. They were really having a wonderful and busy time after winning the Serie A title.

    -----

    In the meantime, Emilia Vasquez''s Sunday morning sports show had justmenced on ESPN. She first allowed the studio crew to broadcast the boisterous scenes of the Juventus yers, the Serie A champions, arriving at the Vinovo. Then, when the clip ended, she smiled at the cameras and said, "Our dear viewers! Those were the Juventus yers returning to their training ground after beating Parma by a score of 2:1 and winning the Serie A title yesternight. As you have just seen, they were weed by hundreds of Juventus fans waiting along the streets leading to the Vinovo."

    "But enough about all that," she continued. "We''re not here to discuss Juventus''s celebrations after winning the Serie A trophy. Instead, we''re here to review the uing UEFA Champions League quarter-finals scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday nights. With me in the studio are three gentlemen, namely Alessandro Costacurta, Joshua Morales, and Charles Adams. They are our pundits today, who will help us analyze the quarter-final fixtures. But before we dive into all the excitement, let''s look at the quarter-final fixtures."

    As her voice sounded, the technicians in the studio worked their magic. The screens around the ce shimmered before showing the uing UEFA Champions League quarter-final fixtures.

    -----

    Quarter-Finals 1st leg

    To be yed on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at 8:45 PM

    ->Borussia Dortmund Vs. AS Monaco

    ->Juventus FC Vs. Real Madrid

    To be yed on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at 8:45 PM

    ->Paris Saint-Germain Vs. FC Barcelona

    ->FC Porto Vs. FC Bayern Munich

    -----

    "Gentlemen," Emilia Vasquez spoke while the fixtures were still showing on the screens. "Let''s start with Tuesday''s fixture between Juventus and Real Madrid. Thest time Juventus met Real Madrid in the Champions League knockout stages was a decade ago when the Old Lady overturned an away defeat to progress into the quarter-finals with a 2-1 aggregate win. They''ll be looking to repeat the feat this year, only this tie has much more riding on it. A victory would ensure Juventus'' progress to the semis, keeping their hopes of winning a treble or four trophies this season alive. What are your thoughts on this game?"

    "Well, well, well!" Alessandro Costacurta said with a soft chuckle. "This is quite a difficult one to analyze."

    The others in the studioughed at that.

    Alessandro Costacurta shook his head and continued, "Juventus has some of the greatest yers in the world at that moment. There''s Zachary Bemba, who nowadays ys football like an alien. There''s also Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez, Kingsley Coman, udio Marchisio, Arturo Vidal, Leonardo Boni, Giorgio Chiellini, Evra, Buffon, and Fernando Llorente."

    "On the other hand, Real Madrid, of course, has the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo. His prestige precedes him, and we don''t have to introduce him to the viewers." The punditughed. "Real also has Gareth Bale, Isco, Toni Kroos, Modric, Sergio Ramos, James Rodr¨ªguez, Marcelo, Pepe, Varane, Carvajal, and Casis."

    "Looking at these two teams, they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Real Madrid are the reigning UEFA Champions League champions. They have the confidence of champions and plenty of attacking star quality in their squad. yers like Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo, Gareth Bale, Isco, and James Rodr¨ªguez are all dangerous when on the offensive. Their speed, individual brilliance, and tactical prowess allow them to sh forward and catch the opponent off guard within seconds. If Juventus yers are not careful, they may suffer on the counter because of those few attacking yers."

    "Moving on to Juventus," Alessandro Costacurta continued. "I believe they are a more solid and stronger team in midfield. yers like Zachary Bemba, Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, and udio Marchisio are all brilliant midfielders who can decide the game within seconds. If the opponent loses concentration for even a moment, an abrupt long-range defense-splitting pass from Pirlo or a sudden breakthrough run by Zachary will seal the deal. This is the prowess of Juventus."

    "However, I believe that Juventus are still a bitcking on the offensive front. Yes, they have forwards like Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez, who have scored a lot this season. But in my book, these two are still not at a level that can pose much of a threat to the seasoned Real Madrid defense. This is where the problem might ur for Juventus. They might dominate the game. However, even after hoarding all the possession, they might fail to score and seal the game. And if you fail to score against a team like Real Madrid, what follows is obvious."

    "Hmm!" Joshua Morales, the other pundit, harrumphed. "Alessandro! Forgive me. But I''ll have to disagree with your analysis."

 Chapter 566 Speculations And Preparation For The Quarter-Final Against Real Madrid

    All the cameras in the ESPN studios focused on Josua Morales after he made his interjection.

    Emilia Vasquez, the sports show host, smiled. She looked at the pundit and said, "Joshua! Can you tell us why you disagree with Alessandro''s analysis?"

    "Well," Joshua Morales replied. "I''m not getting why Alessandro would specte that a team with the current top scorer of the Champions League will find it hard to score goals. Time and time again this season, we have seen Juventus prate the defenses of robust defensive-minded teams. They put five goals past a team as tenacious as Atl¨¦tico Madrid over the two legs during the Champions League group stages. Aside from that, they have averaged about three or more goals while ying other tough teams in Italy, including AC Mn, Inter Mn, and Napoli. They are a team that can score goals, and I''m sure they will do the same against Real Madrid."

    "I''m not denying that Real Madrid is a strong team," Morales continued. "As a team, they have all the skills and world-ss talents to go out and give Juventus hell during the game, offensive-wise. But we can''t just discount Juventus as they have very creative offensive-minded yers, like Zachary, Tevez, and Llorente, who have proven time and time again that they can rise to the asion and do what is needed to win the game. They will score against Real Madrid, especially when they wee them to the Juventus Stadium on Tuesday. The question will now be whether Real Madrid can score more goals than them over the two quarter-final legs."

    Emilia Vasquez smiled and nced at her iPad. "I have just been looking at the past statistics of the two teams. Juventus has not lost a single game since the beginning of this football season. They have only dropped points twice, that is when they drew against Atnta and AS Roma in the Serie A. They have also won all their Coppa Italia and the Champions League games. They are, for sure, a team on form. Real Madrid, on the other hand, has lost several games. They lost against Barcelona just a few weeks back. They also lost against FC Schalke 04, Athletic Bilbao, Valencia, and Real Sociedad earlier in the season. Andstly, they have also suffered four defeats against Atl¨¦tico Madrid this season. I have, of course, not mentioned the several times they drew against some of their opponents."

    Joshua Moralesughed on hearing the statistics. "Going just by the recent performances, Real Madrid are undoubtedly the underdogs for these two legs of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. They will have to pray and hope that Juventus are not at the top of their game when they meet on the pitch."

    "History doesn''t determine everything," Alessandro chimed in. "With the star quality in their ranks, Real Madrid have a good chance ofing out on top after the two legs. In my honest opinion, I think they have a fifty percent chance of winning the quarter-finals."

    "Gentlemen!" Charles Adams, thest pundit, chimed in. "Let''s also not forget that Luka Modri? and Karim Benzema will likely miss the game due to knee problems. Aside from that, Gareth Bale is also just returning from injury. It isn''t clear whether Ancelotti will ask him to go 90 minutes."

    "This, indeed, could be a problem," Alessandro Costacurta said. "If both Benzema and Bale remain sidelined, then Real Madrid will find it difficult to finish off goal-scoring opportunities."

    Joshua Morales also nodded.

    "Charles!" Emilia Vasquez interjected to redirect the conversation. "What could be some key matchups to expect from this game?"

    Charles Adams smiled. "We should expect to see plenty of wide battles during the game. Juventus''ck of wingers means they consistently shape up very narrow in attack, but that can leave them a little short-handed in the wing areas when they''re out of possession. In this game, they''ll have to work hard to ensure Stephan Lichtsteiner is given a helping hand when up against Cristiano Ronaldo. Midfield shuttlers Arturo Vidal and udio Marchisio must also ensure that full-backs Marcelo and Dani Carvajal aren''t able to venture forwardpletely unguarded."

    "Aside from the wide battle," Charles Adams continued, "we can also expect to see a phenomenal matchup in the midfield. Zachary Bemba and Andrea Pirlo, who have yed incredibly well for Juventus this season, will be battling against Isco and Toni Kroos. The Real Madrid midfielders will have to go all out to stop Zachary''s breakthrough runs through the middle. They will also have to remain alert against the defense-splitting passes from both Zachary and Pirlo, which can do damage when you least expect it. It''s a pity that Modric is out with a knee injury. Otherwise, we would have witnessed a more intensive battle between these midfielders."

    "Don''t forget to mention the matchup between Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus'' center-backs," Alessandro Costacurta said. "Ronaldo always tends to cut into the pitch and make breakthrough runs into or behind the defensive line. Moreover, he has the skills to either take on the defenders and break into the box or shoot from a distance and do the damage. Leonardo Boni and Giorgio Chiellini, the two center-backs, will have to go all out to keep the superstar quiet in the final third."

    "Indeed, that''s a good point," Joshua Morales said. "That also points to a very crucial question. Will Coach Max Allegri go with the 4-3-1-2 or a 3-5-2 formation? We have seen him alternate between the two throughout the season so far. The 3-5-2 is probably a more negative approach due to its tendency to invite pressure. And if you invite pressure from Real Madrid, you all know what can happen."

    Charles Adams nodded. "I think Max Allegri will y it safe and go with a 4-3-1-2 formation. He can field Evra, Chiellini, Boni, and Stephan Lichtsteiner in defense. Then, he can y udio Marchisio, Vidal, and Pirlo as the three holding midfielders while allowing Zachary to remain as the attacking midfielder. Then, he couldplete his 4-3-1-2 set-up with the two strikers - Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente, who have shown time and time again that they can score when it matters this season."

    The other pundits nodded, and the show continued. Emilia Vasquez, the host, eventually steered the discussion towards the other quarter-final fixtures of the UEFA Champions League, and all the pundits gave their careful analyses about them. Towards the end, they focused on analyzing Wednesday night''s fixture between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona before saying their goodbyes to the viewers and ending the program.

    -----

    The Juventus yers only rested for a day after defeating Parma Calcio and winning the league early. Then, when Monday arrived, they returned to the Vinovo to prepare for Tuesday night''s crucial quarter-final fixture against Real Madrid.

    Coach Allegri was strict and meticulous that day. He personally took the yers through the tactical drills and fitness conditioning routines during the morning hours. He ended the physical training at lunch to allow the yers to rest their bodies, especially since the match was the following day.

    The coach then let the yers enjoy lunch and rest for about an hour before summoning them to the tactics room for a pre-game meeting. He immediately started exining the tactics for the game against Real Madrid and eventually discussed all game aspects with his yers. The coach rified the opponent''s weaknesses or strengths, the game n, and individual roles for each field yer before moving on to the squad and ying formations.

    The line-up was pretty much what everyone expected. Itprised Juventus'' best-performing yers at the moment, including Gianluigi Buffon, Patrice Evra, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Boni, Stephan Lichtsteiner, udio Marchisio, Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo, Zachary Bemba, Carlos Tevez, and Kingsley Coman. The only first-stringer out of the starting squad was the off-form - Fernando Llorente, who had struggled to perform during the match against Parma. He would instead be a substitute along with the others like Andrea Barzagli, ¨¢lvaro Morata, Simone Padoin, Roberto Pereyra, and Simone Pepe.

    After reading the squad, the coach looked at his yers and said, "Tomorrow is the big day. It''s the day we face off against Real Madrid at the Juventus stadium. We''ll have a light training session in the morning and rest in the afternoon. Then, at 6:30 in the evening, we''ll all meet here again before heading to our home stadium to wee Real Madrid to Turin."

    "But let me also make a few things clear." The coach swept his gaze across all his yers in the tactics room. "I don''t want to see exhausted yers before we y the game. So, eat healthy food and get ample rest tonight. Don''t spend too much time getting intimate with your lovers to the point of failing to perform during the match."

    The yersughed at that and whistled while a few others called out the names of their teammates.

    "I guess I have said all I wanted to say," Coach Allegri continued. "Let''s meet again tomorrow to make our final preparations for the game." The coach then added a few concluding remarks before sending the yers to their homes for the day. He wanted them to rest early. That way, they would have the required energy levels to face off against the tricky Real Madrid side the following night.

 Chapter 567 Champions League Quarter-Final Match Day

    ?

    Tuesday, April 14, 2015

    Time: 8:00 PM

    Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy.

    -----

    Only forty-five minutes were remaining before the kick-off of the long-awaited UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg battle between Juventus and Real Madrid. The excitement was in the air, and over forty thousand football supporters had already entered the Juventus stadium.

    At the moment, most fans were already singing and cheering while watching the yers of both teams warming up on the pitch. Of course, there were also those few who had already taken their seats in the stands and were only discussing the uing game.

    Paolo Favero, a staunch Juventus fan, looked at the pitch. He observed the Real Madrid yers warming up before saying, "As expected, a few key yers are missing from the Real Madrid squad. I don''t see Luka Modric, ¨¢ngel Di Mar¨ªa, and Karim Benzema. This is good for us."

    "Yeah," Simone Rhi, his friend sporting a ck and white striped Juventus jersey, said. "From the news reports, they are all out injured. There were also reports that Gareth Bale was unfit before the game. Unfortunately, it seems he has already ovee his fitness issues. Aside from Cristiano Ronaldo, he''ll be another dangerous attacking threat within Real Madrid''s squad today."

    Paolo Favero nodded and continued looking at the pitch. His eyes naturally took in the visages of all the famous Real Madrid superstars, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Isco, Iker Casis, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, and James Rodr¨ªguez. At that moment, they were among the ranks of their teammates, going through their pre-game warm-up under the supervision of Carlo Ancelotti, their head coach.

    "This is the biggest test for us in the Champions League this season so far," Paolo Favero eventually said. "Let''s hope wee out on top."

    "Have some confidence, my friend," Simone Rhi reacted. "We have the best-performing squad in Europe this season. We haven''t lost even a single game in allpetitions. So, what''s there to fear? As long as the yers perform as usual, we''ll win."

    "I guess that makes sense." Paolo Favero smiled and turned towards Juventus'' side of the pitch. His eyes naturallynded first on Zachary Bemba, Juventus'' man of the moment. At that juncture, the twenty-year-old phenomenon was among the ranks of the other Juventus yers. He was going through his warm-up under the supervision of Max Allegri, Juventus'' head coach.

    Paolo Favero could see that Zachary looked confident and energetic. The young-y maker went through the rapid jumping squat and heeltap step drills almost without breaking a sweat. For sure, he was a yer who was ready to perform at this crucial juncture of the Champions League.

    "Zachary looks sharp," Simone Rhimented after following his gaze. "I hope the pressure of facing legends like Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time doesn''t affect him. We need him at the top of his game to defeat Real Madrid."

    "Yeah," Paolo said. "Let''s hope he will y as usual."

    -----

    In the meantime, the Juventus yers were in the final stages of their pre-game dynamic warm-up on their side of the field. They went through a few more stretches to loosen their muscles before getting the nod to conclude the session from Coach Max Allegri.

    The yers went to do their own warm-up routines after that. Buffon, of course, went with the goal-keeping coach for his other warm-up while the rest spread out on the pitch to perform various exercises.

    Zachary, on his part, grouped up with Andre Pirlo, Patrice Evra, Carlos Tevez, udio Marchisio, and Arturo Vidal to have a feel of the ball by ying some light passes. They started ying something akin to a rondo but without a yer in the middle.

    "Your former teammate is quite a menace on the pitch," udio Marchisio suddenly said as they were halfway through the drill. He was, of course, referring to Cristiano Ronaldo and talking to Patrice Evra and Carlos Tevez. They were the two yers on the scene that had yed with the Portuguese ace at Manchester United.

    "Yes, CR7 is something else on the pitch," Patrice Evra agreed. "He''s one guy who will give you hell when you''re his opponent. Lichtsteiner will have to remain on his toes in the right back position to prevent him from doing damage."

    After hearing Evra''s words, Zachary subconsciously peeked towards the other side of the pitch where the Real Madrid yers were undergoing warm-ups. His eyes quickly picked out the all-familiar visage of Cristiano Ronaldo, who was seriously performing hip rotation drills under the supervision of one of the Real Madrid assistant coaches.

    "What could his stats be like?" Such a thought shed through Zachary''s mind. He subconsciously held on to the ball a little longer and used the GOAT System''s snooping tool to scan the Portuguese ace.

    -----

    Footballer: Cristiano Ronaldo

    Physical Fitness: SS

    Ser Technique: SS

    Game Intelligence: SSS

    Mental Ability and Mindset: SSS

    X-Factor: SSS

    -----

    Zachary gasped in shock after seeing CR7''s stats on the system interface. The Portuguese ace had roughly the same physical fitness and ser technique stats as his. They were all at the SS-grading, meaning that their various aspects, like Agility, Stamina, Endurance, Ball Control, Dribbling, Body Control, and Passing, were almost at the same level.

    However, CR7 still possessed several advantages over Zachary. He had SSS-graded game intelligence, implying that his spatial awareness, tactical knowledge, and risk assessment attributes on the pitch were a grade higher than Zachary''s. He also possessed SSS-graded Mental ability and X-factor, meaning hisposure and luck aspects were much better than those of Zachary''s.

    It was important to note that a single difference in stats could mean a big difference in abilities, especially at the top level of professional football. For instance, CR7''s SSS-graded game intelligence might seem like a difference of just one grade from Zachary''s SS-ability. However, this contrast was, in essence, an enormous chasm that most yers couldn''t easily bridge while on the pitch.

    That was because the higher your stats were, the harder it was to improve them. Even more so, the higher the attributes, the higher the difference in abilities between two individuals of two close grades.

    With SSS-graded game intelligence, Ronaldo had all the tools to perform at his best and outshine the SS-graded yers of the same attribute during every game. He could instantly make the best decisions on the pitch and utilize his already-high physical fitness and techniques to crash opponents. His high-risk assessment and tactical knowledge could also allow him to assess the game situation quickly, even during critical moments. After that, he would easily use his other abnormal attributes to exploit the gaps and do damage before the opponent could react. This was an advantage possessed by all yers with abnormally-high game intelligence.

    Andrea Pirlo, Zachary''s teammate, also had SSS-graded game intelligence. But the Italian Maestro was still not in the realms of the abnormal yers as his physical stats, like agility and Stamina, were only around the S-grading. They were even a grade lower than Zachary''s.

    Ronaldo, on the other, possessed SS-graded physical fitness attributes along with his overly-high game intelligence, mental strength, and x-factor attributes. This was the difference between a once-in-a-generational talent and an exceptional yer like Pirlo.

    "Zachary, what''s wrong?" Patrice Evra shouted to break Zachary out of his trance. "Is the pressure of facing Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid getting to you? Hurry up and pass the ball."

    Zachary chuckled and returned his attention to his teammates. He continued exchanging quick touches with them until he felt like his mind had achieved its usual tranquility before games. He had even pushed all the concerns regarding CR7''s stats to the back of his mind, and the only thing on his mind was how best to ready himself for the game.

    It was at that juncture that Coach Max Allegri nced at his watch. "Warm-up time is over," he announced. "Quickly return to the dressing room for the final match preparations."

    "Yes, coach!" Most yers, including Zachary, responded and made a beeline for the tunnel.

    At that point, the noise in the stadium had reached thunderous levels. Zachary could hear the familiar booming cheers of the more than twenty thousand Juventus supporters in attendance. They sang some of the Old Lady''s popr chants and, at times, shouted some of the yers'' names as they watched them returning to the dressing room. Zachary could even vividly hear a group in the stands above the tunnel entrance chanting his name excitedly.

    Zachary waved to the fans shouting his name as he immersed himself in the explosive atmosphere before the UEFA Champions League quarter-final. At the same time, he started registering the voices of the opposing supporters, who were singing the names of the Real Madrid yers.

    "Cristianoooo... Ronaldoooo..."

    "Iker... Casis..."

    "Marceloooo..."

    "Pepe..."

    It was as if the traveling Real Madrid supporters werepeting with Juventus'' home fans on who could make more noise. They went all out to shout the names of the Real Madrid yers, thus turning the atmosphere within the Juventus stadium more explosive and chaotic.

    Zachary observed all the excitement and chaos as he headed toward the dressing room for the final game preparations. And right then, something finally registered in his mind.

    He had finally progressed to a level where he could face a team like Real Madrid. He was at a career stage where he could finally y against once-in-a-generation talents like CR7 during a crucial UEFA Champions League quarter-final. It was his dream. But now that he had finally made it, he was at the same time excited and nervous.

    "Do you feel the pressure? Are you a bit nervous?" A familiar voice asked from beside him as he was about to reach the tunnel entrance.

    Zachary turned to the side and noticed that it was indeed Coach Allegri who had spoken. The coach had arrived beside him when he was still deep in his thoughts.

    Zachary chose to be honest with the coach. "This is my first time ying at this stage," he replied in Italian. "I''m really feeling the pressure. I''m also a little bit nervous."

    Coach Allegri smiled and said, "A little bit of pressure before the game will do you good. Hold on to that feeling and let it be the driving force that allows you to perform at your best during the game. But at the same time, don''t let it overwhelm you. I''m looking forward to your performance tonight."

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary replied. "I''ll try my best. No, I''ll do my best."

    "Good." Coach Allegri nodded and patted Zachary''s shoulder. He then quickened his pace and walked into the tunnel entrance.

    Zachary slowed down and cast ast nce at the boisterous atmosphere within the stands of the Juventus stadium. He then followed after his teammates and coaches and stepped into the tunnel.

    Yes, he was still a bit nervous. But he was also looking forward to finally ying Real Madrid. He yearned to prove himself as a great yer. He wished to put up a memorable performance against one of the greatest teams in the world that night.

 Chapter 568 Impressive Start

    <h4>Chapter 568 Impressive Start</h4>

    ?

    Time quickly shed by, and soon, the kick-off time arrived. The yers of both teams, who had just gotten their pre-match instructions from their respective coaches, walked out of the tunnel amid thunderous apuse from their fans.

    The Juventus yers were in their ck and white striped jerseys. Their team stars, like Zachary Bemba, Andrea Pirlo, Kingsley Coman, and Arturo Vidal, all looked suave in the get-up. They held the hands of young kids as they walked onto the pitch.

    The Real Madrid yers, on the other hand, had donned their all-ck away jerseys that night. The eyes of their stars, like Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Pepe, were all shining with a dangerous glint. They didn''t look like footballers heading onto the pitch for a game but scary warriors heading for mortalbat.

    "The Real Madrid yers look scary," Kristin Stein, who had already taken her seat in the Juventus stadium,mented. After obtaining free tickets from Zachary, she couldn''t have missed the match. She had concluded all her chores early and headed to the Juventus Stadium with Emily and a few other friends to watch the crucial first leg of the quarter-final between Juventus and Real Madrid.

    "Real Madrid is a tough team. Moreover, some of their yers, like Sergio Ramos and Pepe, y a rough game. Let''s hope that Zachary doesn''t be a victim of their dark arts," Emily said with some worry. She was seated beside Kristin. But even then, she had to shout to make herself heard due to the sheer noise in the stadium.

    "You don''t need to worry," Kristin consoled. "Zachary is a yer who understands the art of protecting himself on the pitch. In fact, if the opponents dare to y roughly against him, he will most likelye out on top. I won''t be surprised if he manages to win himself a few free-kicks within the final third. If the conditions are right, he might even go a step further and force a red card."

    "That makes sense," Emily agreed. "Let''s hope that everything progresses as you have predicted."

    Kristin nodded and turned her attention to the pitch. The singing of the UEFA Champions League anthem had just ended, and the yers were going through the customary pre-match handshake.

    Everything proceeded smoothly, and the rest of the pre-game routines, including the coin toss, ended in less than two minutes. In the meantime, most yers headed to their respective sides of the pitch and took their starting positions.

    However, the observant Kristin immediately noticed that some Real Madrid yers, like Cristiano Ronaldo, James Rodr¨ªguez, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, and Toni Kroos, were still huddled together close to the center circle. They seemed to be making somest-minute strategizing before the kick-off.

    -----

    As suspected by Kristin, the few Real Madrid yers were, indeed, having ast-minute strategy meeting. James Rodr¨ªguez looked at Sergio Ramos and asked solemnly, "Ramos! Do you still remember what the coach said?"

    "Of course I do," Sergio answered with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Isn''t it just to y holding midfield and stop Zachary''s prative runs? You don''t need to worry. I''ll manage."

    Pepe smiled a bit derisively and patted Ramos'' shoulder. "My friend! Zachary''s conversion rate for set pieces is at an insane level. Remember not to go in wholesale when marking him. Don''t gift him unnecessary free-kicks in the final third."

    Sergio Ramos chuckled. "Look at who''s talking. Is there any other yer who concedes more fouls than you, Pepe? You better watch out. Don''t make reckless tackles in the box or final third."

    "Guys, stop fooling around," Cristiano Ronaldo reminded with his signature ent. "The match is about to start. Ramos! Just take Pepe''s advice. Avoid going in wholesale when marking Zachary. It will be enough to block and dy him for a second or two, as that will allow Kroos to cover you."

    "I will do that," Ramos said, nodding. "Don''t worry."

    "Good," Cristiano Ronaldo said. "Let''s not overthink things at thisst moment. We only have to go on the field and perform as usual. If we do that, we''ll score goals and win the game."

    "True," Pepe said. "Let''s just y our best game. Let''s show these Juventus yers who''s boss."

    The others nodded and immediately ran off to take their positions.

    -----

    The clocks around Turin had just pointed to the 8:45 PM mark. Martin Atkinson, the referee, immediately blew the whistle, and the gamemenced with Juventus'' kick-off.

    Carlos Tevez, one of the two Juventus strikers for the day, immediately yed the ball back to find Andrea Pirlo in midfield.

    The Italian Maestro, on his part, took a touch before threading a pass to udio Marchisio, one of the three holding midfielders of Juventus. And with that, the game settled into a steady rhythm as the Juventus yers started ying their signature slow buildup passes.

    In the meantime, Coach Allegri was busy on the sidelines. He was analyzing Real Madrid''s tactics for the game while trying to adjust his own game n ordingly.

    Coach Allegri readily identified that the ingenious and tactically-flexible Carlo Ancelotti had gone with a 4-4-2 double-6 formation to cover the absence of the injured Modric and Karim Benzema duo.

    The Real Madrid head coach had yed Marcelo, Pepe, Varane, and Daniel Carvajal as the four defenders. He had then fielded Sergio Ramos and Toni Kroos as double pivots or holding midfielders while allowing Isco and James Rodr¨ªguez to y wide midfield roles. Lastly, he yed Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale as the two strikers toplete his 4-4-2 double-pivot formation.

    With his experience, Coach Allegri could see through Carlo Ancelotti''s intent at just a nce. The Italian tactician had obviously fielded Sergio Ramos and Toni Kroos as the two defensive midfielders to prevent Zachary''s prative runs through the middle. The Real Madrid manager had also yed Isco and James Rodr¨ªguez out wide to allow them to exploit Juventus''ck of wingers.

    Coach Allegri studied the opponent''s game n without any change of expression. He had expected all the tactics employed by Real Madrid and put appropriate measures tobat them.

    His only prayer was for his yers, especially Zachary and Pirlo, to follow his instructions. The rest would be straightforward, and his team would likely gain an advantage sooner rather thanter.

    -----

    On the pitch, five minutes of gamey went quietly by.

    Juventus had started the game strongly, and by relying on excellent midfielders like Pirlo, Marchisio, Vidal, and Zachary, they had taken control from the opening minutes. They were dictating the tempo and hoarding about 60% of the possession while patiently waiting to prate Real Madrid''s defensive set-up.

    The 7th minute arrived, and the ball ''naturally'' made its way to the border of the defensive third. It reached Andrea Pirlo''s feet, who had suddenly drifted back into defensive midfield to collect it.

    At that exact moment, something else happened. Zachary, who had constantly been in battle against Sergio Ramos close to the border of the final third, immediately made eye contact with the Italian Maestro. Then, without bothering to identify whether Pirlo had gotten his message, he escaped Sergio Ramos'' harassment and floated toward the left wing.

    It was at that point that the high game intelligence of Andrea Pirlo came into y. He had already spotted Zachary making the abrupt run to overload the left wing. Moreover, it was also a move they had practiced several times during training. So, without dy, the Maestro worked his magic. He sent a long-range pass over the midfield and toward Zachary''s sprinting path along the left nk.

    Zachary, on his part, arrived close to the touchline on the left nk when the pass from Pirlo was about to reach. He stretched out his boot and effortlessly controlled the ball before taking off like a bullet train on the rails toward the other side of the pitch.

    Since Pirlo''s long-range pass had been too abrupt, it had taken most Real Madrid yers out of the equation. As such, Zachary had all the yards of space to utilize on the left nk. He ran like the wind, his long strides eating up yards of space, until he came across the first roadblock in the form of Daniel Carvajal, Madrid''s right-back for the day.

    Zachary remainedposed. His SS-grade agility came into y, and he immediately executed an ''stico dribble'' to draw in the approaching defender. He followed that up with a few step-overs before leaning towards the right, just as if he was about to break through from that direction and cut into the pitch.

    As expected, Daniel Carvajal reacted like a typical seasoned defender. He moved in the same direction, hoping to prevent Zachary from cutting into the pitch and threatening his goal.

    The gears in Zachary''s mind turned and fell into ce within a split second when he noticed Daniel Carvajal''s reaction.

    His SS-grade Bnce and Coordination came into y, and he suddenly stopped midmotion. He abruptly altered his center of gravity and aligned his body towards the left side. Then, just as suddenly, he fed the ball past the defender and exploded with pace, driving along the touchline like a rich kid who had just ''borrowed'' his dad''s Lamborghini.

    His SS-grade stamina worked wonders, and he maintained his top speed until he started cutting into the pitch. He soon skipped past a sliding tackle from Toni Kroos and approached the edge of the box from the left nk.

    At that point, the Real Madrid defenders had already fallen in ce to block his run. Rapha?l Varane and Pepe, the Real Madrid center-backs, were the most problematic and had covered all his shooting angles and possible breakthrough routes into the box. There was also Sergio Ramos, who was rushing at him as if intent onmitting murder.

    Zachary remainedposed despite the circumstances. His spatial awareness worked like a charm, and he spotted Andrea Pirlo arriving at the edge of the box. Without hesitation, he unleashed an abrupt minus, subtracting all the yers crowding around the area and setting up Pirlo for a direct shot on goal.

    Andrea Pirlo was as razor-sharp as ever. He met Zachary''s first-time pass with a st and sent a powerful ball goalward. His shooting technique was what one could call deific, and his powerful shot zoomed in between the legs of the yers in the box, heading towards the goal like a bullet fired from a sniper rifle.

    The tension rose to unbelievable levels as all eyes in the stadium looked towards Real Madrid''s goal, wondering what would happen next. It was at that point that a gloved hand silently appeared. It was Iker Casis, the legendary Spanish keeper, taking action. He dived in at the right time to save the day by punching the ball away from his goal and back into the box.

    "Damn..." Zachary started the action of cing his hands behind his head, thinking that his team had wasted an opportunity. But halfway through the motion, he stopped as he noticed that a silhouette in Juventus'' ck and white jersey had pounced on the rebounded ball.

    Zachary''s hopes soared as he realized that the Juventus man in action was Carlos Tevez. The Argentine striker was like a fox in the box, and he beat all the other yers to the ball before hammering it goalward.

    Tevez smashed the ball with zeal and power, sending it into the back of the to score Juventus'' 1st goal during the 9th minute. Not even the legendary Iker Casis could save the situation due to the momentum behind the shot.

    "GOAAAAL..."

    Carlos Tevez yelled like a madman and raced towards the touchline. He slid on his knees for a few meters before jumping up and punching the air several times.

    His intense celebration showed he was in high spirits after scoring Juventus'' 1st goal in a crucial UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.

    Secondster, the other Juventus yers, including Zachary, arrived and celebrated with him. They yelled like there was no tomorrow in front of their home fans. They obviously couldn''t contain their happiness after taking the first solid step towards winning the quarter-final against Real Madrid.

 Chapter 569 Masters of Counterattacking Football

    <h4>Chapter 569 Masters of Counterattacking Football</h4>

    Juventus FC 1: Real Madrid 0

    -----

    It was as if vocal explosions were going off all around the Juventus stadium after Carlos Tevez scored the first goal of the 2015 UEFA Champions League quarter-final. The more than twenty thousand Juventus fans jumped from their seats and yelled like mad. Their chaotic chorus of voices instantly hit a crescendo that shook the entire ce to the very core.

    "Juventus has drawn first blood through Carlos Tevez," Sandro Pinini, thementator for the day, said after the cheers started fading. "Everything started with a well-time progress of y that could have as well been taken out of a typical coaching tactical book."

    "Andrea Pirlo drifted back towards his goal and received the ball close to the border of his defensive third. He then used his incredible passing range to pick out Zachary Bemba, who had just sailed out of midfield to overload the right wing."

    "Everything was straightforward from there on. Zachary did what he usually does best. He used his incredible ball skills and agility to beat Daniel Carvajal and skip past a sliding tackle from Toni Kroos. He approached the box from the left side and brilliantly yed a ball back towards the middle to find the arriving Andrea Pirlo."

    "The experienced Andrea Pirlo didn''t disappoint. He effortlessly found the target with a first-time shot. Iker Casis got a glove on the ball and denied the Italian Maestro''s effort. But that wasn''t enough to stop Juventus from capitalizing on the opportunity. Tevez was in a perfect position and reacted to meet the rebound and score Juventus'' 1st goal during the 9th minute. What a brilliant passage of y! What a brilliant Juventus!"

    "Indeed, what a brilliant Juventus," Carlo Zampa, the othermentator, agreed. "But I have to say that Real Madrid have brought problems upon themselves. They are ying a 4-4-2 double-pivot formation with two holding midfielders and two wide advanced midfielders."

    "Yes, such a setup has made it hard for Juventus'' attacking yers to prate the heart of Real Madrid''s defense through the middle. But at the same time, it has allowed Juventus plenty of freedom to conquer the central midfield and dictate the tempo. The result is the goal we have just witnessed."

    "True," Sandro Pinini said. "The game has just restarted. Despite conceding the goal, Real Madrid still uses the same system. Sergio Ramos and Toni Kroos are ying as defensive midfielders, while Isco and James Rodr¨ªguez are the advanced wide midfielders. I don''t know what Coach Carlo Ancelotti is nning. But from what I can see, his tactics are inly handing Juventus control of the game. This will continue causing his team more trouble."

    "And who gave Ancelotti the idea to use Sergio Ramos as a defensive midfielder?" Carlo Zampa, the othermentator, questioned. "No disrespect to Ramos. He''s an incredible defensive yer. But we have to understand that he''s not a midfielder."

    "In this game, his up against incredible midfielders like Zachary Bemba, Andrea Pirlo, udio Marchisio, and Arturo Vidal. They are leading poor Ramos by the nose and dictating the tempo. Take the goal Real Madrid conceded as an example. One abrupt run from Zachary was enough to shake him off and leave him confused. Following that, the young ymaker got the freedom to drift into the wing and hurt Real Madrid. The rest we all know, and the result is Juventus'' 1st goal for the night."

    Sandro Pinini chuckled. "I don''t want to me Sergio alone. The rest of the Real Madrid midfielders are also not doing enough. They have not yed any crucial forward passes. As a result, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo (their two strikers) have barely gotten touches on the ball during the opening ten minutes."

    "The game is still in its early stages," Carlo Zampa remarked. "Maybe, Real Madrid will eventually settle and up their game. Hope it won''t be toote for them."

    "Who cares?" Sandro Pinini chuckled again. "The Juventus fans in this stadium should be pleased with Real Madrid''s performance. Most must be hoping that Real Madrid continues ying below-par football."

    Carlo Zampa also chuckled and continuedmentating on the progress of the y.

    -----

    The game continued as thementators discussed. Juventus still dominated the proceedings by relying on their supreme number of brilliant midfielders. Passes flowed like spring water from one Juventus yer to another, allowing the team from Turin to dominate possession.

    In that manner, ten more minutes quietly passed, and the 25th minute arrived. Zachary once again executed a sudden dash to escape the entanglement of Sergio Ramos. He raced from the attacking midfield zone and drifted back to the defensive third.

    It was a move that the team had practiced on the training field several times. As such, everything that followed was smooth and natural.

    Patrice Evra, the left wing-back, immediately reacted. He skipped past James Rodr¨ªguez, Real Madrid''s right midfielder, and squared the ball to Zachary, who had just arrived at the border of the defensive third.

    Zachary''s reaction was lightning-fast. He effortlessly controlled the ball and spun around to execute a Marseille turn. His SS-graded coordination, agility, and dribbling all came into y, and he skipped past Isco, one of Real Madrid''s advanced midfielders, before reorienting himself and facing the other side of the pitch.

    The next moment, his eyes glowed with resolve as he realized he had a few dozen yards of space to work with. Adrenaline rapidly pumped into his system, and he raced towards the other side of the pitch like a lightning bolt.

    As Zachary initiated the run from deep midfield, the rest of the Juventus yers reacted as they had practiced in training. The wing-backs Patrice Evra and Stephan Lichtsteiner raced along the touchlines, shooting towards Real Madrid''s half like speeding electric trains. Aside from them, Carlos Tevez, Kingsley Coman, udio Marchisio, and Andrea Pirlo also made strategic runs through the middle to prate the heart of Real Madrid''s defense.

    At that juncture, the Juventus yers were like a wolf pack that had caught the scent of the most delicious prey. They all swarmed forward together with Zachary, hoping to do more damage to their opponents.

    In the meantime, Zachary had just met an obstacle in the form of Sergio Ramos as he went past the centerline. But he didn''t choose to tango with the guy since he knew that the Spaniard was a master of defensive dark arts. Instead, Zachary yed a one-two with udio Marchisio to go past Ramos before continuing his run.

    Sergio Ramos, of course, reacted as the typical Ramos. He spun around, intending to pull Zachary''s shirt and stop his run toward his box. But s, his efforts were fruitless.

    Zachary was too fast for the Real Madrid yer. He increased his speed to the max within a few strides and escaped the reach of Ramos. He continued darting through the middle and rushing toward Real Madrid''s box like a whirlwind until he came across a blockade by Toni Kroos.

    At that moment, Zachary''s SS-graded passing skills worked like a charm. Choosing not to take on the German midfielder, he reacted instantaneously. He released the ball to Andrea Pirlo, the Italian Maestro, who had positioned himself within a strategic unmarked pocket of space close to the left side of the box.

    Andrea Pirlo was as tactically brilliant as ever. He took one touch before unleashing a seemingly uplicated but teasing cross towards the box. His passing uracy was world-ss, and he picked out Kingsley Coman from the crowd of yers in the box.

    Chance!

    A momentary silence descended upon the stadium as Kingsley Coman reacted to meet the ball. The Frenchman leaped up from the ground and outmuscled his fellow countryman Rapha?l Varane in the air. Without fear, he angled his body well and nted a header goalward.

    An anxious atmosphere fell upon the stadium. All eyes and cameras were on the ball from Kingsley as it quickly darted towards the goal. Kingsley, himself, had also turned to follow the trajectory of his effort. Time seemed to have slowed as he anticipated the moment the ball would nestle into the back of the.

    But the unexpected happened, and two gloved hands abruptly appeared at thest moment. Iker Casis, the Real Madrid keeper, had taken action. He bravely executed a full-body dive and snatched the ball out of the air with his two hands. And with that, he managed to prevent Real Madrid from conceding the second goal during the 26th minute.

    However, the Real Madrid keeper didn''t just stop at making the save. Casis rose from the ground with all the urgency he could muster. And before Zachary and his teammates could react, the Spaniard rushed toward the edge of the box and unleashed a long-range one-handed throw toward the left nk.

    "Counterattack!" Coach Allegri''s yell sounded from the sidelines. "Fall back! Quick!"

    "Shit..." Zachary cursed, fearing the worst. He turned in time to see Marcelo, Real Madrid''s left-back, receiving the ball close to the touchline on the left nk. Zachary immediately raced back towards his half. But deep in his heart, he knew he waste.

    The counterattack proceeded as Zachary had expected, and Marcelo drove the ball like a speeding Ferrari through the left wing. Arturo Vidal, the Juventus midfielder who had stayed back, tried to stop him. However, the Brazilian yed it safe and released the ball toward the middle to find Gareth Bale before the opponent could close him down.

    Gareth Bale, on his part, reacted as the typical Bale. He collected the ball midstride before running at Leonardo Boni and Giorgio Chiellini, the two Juventus center-backs. He continued darting forward and inching closer to the defenders until the veryst moment when he unleashed a well-timed pass toward his right to find James Rodr¨ªguez.

    The pass from Bale was just precise, and it released Rodr¨ªguez at the right moment before he became offside. Rodr¨ªguez took a touch and raced forward before finding himself with only the keeper to beat.

    Gianluigi Buffon, Juventus'' experienced keeper, responded as he should. He raced out of goal, hoping to corner Rodr¨ªguez and deny him time topose himself. Moreover, he made himself big to close down most of the shooting angles avable to the opponent.

    But s, James Rodr¨ªguez seemed to have anticipated Buffon''s reaction and didn''t take a shot at the goal. Instead, he unleashed a simple chip over the keeper towards the far post, where Cristiano Ronaldo was arriving.

    Cristiano Ronaldo''s response in front of the goal was textbook perfect. He met the chip from Rodr¨ªguez and headed into the empty. Hepleted the lightning-fast counterattack and scored Real Madrid''s 1st goal for the night during the 26th minute. And with that, the proceedings were back to level terms.

 Chapter 570 The Prepared Casillas

    <h4>Chapter 570 The Prepared Casis</h4>

    "It''s Juventus one and Real Madrid one," Sandro Pinini, thementator, yelled at the top of his voice. "A well-executed counterattack ending with a Cristiano Ronaldo finish has allowed the Madrid-based side to bring proceedings back to square one. Now, this is the Real Madrid that I know. If they get a chance, they will make it count."

    Carlo Zampa, the othermentator, chuckled. "We''ve been mentioning how Juventus has dominated the game and dictated the tempo since the first minute. Their teamwork has been brilliant, and they have created a few good chances against Real Madrid during the first 25 minutes. They clearly seemed like the favorites to win the UEFA Champions League quarter-final."

    "But what do we have on our hands now? With one counter, with the first clear chance, everything has changed. Real Madrid have overturned the status quo, and gotten the crucial away goal that has clearly put them in a very advantageous position to win the quarter-final."

    Sandro Pinini nodded. "I just think the Juventus yers lost their focus before that goal. Most yers shed forward to attack and forgot their defensive duties while facing a team with fast and technically gifted attack-minded yers like Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Marcelo, and James Rodriguez. In my book, this is a typical way of courting death. The result is the counterattack and the goal we''ve just seen."

    -----

    The game restarted after the goal celebrations. The Juventus yers learned their lesson from conceding the equalizer and stoppedmitting numbers forward. They seemed happy to allow the Madrid-based team more territory and were content to soak up the pressure while waiting for opportunities to form counterattacks.

    The Real Madrid yers, on the other hand, sprung to life after scoring the equalizer. Their midfielders, like Toni Kroos, Isco, and James Rodr¨ªguez, all upped their game and started ying brilliant football. Their passpletion rate grew to incredible levels until they were constantly asking all the crucial questions on the field of y.

    The game continued as more minutes shed by quickly. Madrid''s growing presence in the game eventually manifested into a clear goal-scoring chance during the 43rd minute. Cristiano Ronaldo was the man in action, and he drove through the left wing and cut into the pitch after connecting with a through pass from Toni Kroos.

    Ronaldo then exchanged a couple of precise and quick one-twos with Gareth Bale to get past Stephan Lichtsteiner, Juventus'' right-back. He approached the box from the left side before unleashing a pinpoint cross towards the far post, where James Rodr¨ªguez was arriving.

    James Rodr¨ªguez stormed forward in the box like a panther going in for a kill. He raced past Giorgio Chiellini before pushing off the ground and meeting the ball from Ronaldo with a first-time diving header. He sent the ball goalward, hoping to score Real Madrid''s second goal during the 43rd minute.

    Fortunately, luck seemed to elude Real Madrid, and the header smashed against the crossbar the next moment. The Juventus fans in the stands behind the goal let out sighs of relief as the ball bounced back into the box without doing any damage. But they didn''t take their eyes off the field as the game dynamics continued changing.

    This was especially so since Patrice Evra had just collected the rebounded ball within Juventus'' box. The left-back worked with all the haste he could muster and kicked it toward Andrea Pirlo, who had just positioned himself in a strategic pocket of space at the border of the defensive third.

    Andrea Pirlo, on his part, also reacted faster than ever. He took just a single touch on the ball before hammering it to Carlos Tevez, who had just drifted into the right wing.

    Juventus'' counterattack was on, and the ''on-form'' Tevez worked his magic. He exploited the space left by Marcelo, the Madrid left-back who had just been on the attack. He cut through the right nk uncontested before stepping into the final third and eventually cutting into the pitch to head towards the box.

    Pepe, one of Real Madrid''s center-backs, came forward to stop Juventus'' counter. However, Tevez didn''t wait for the defender to close him down. He instead yed a square pass into the middle to find Kingsley Coman, who had just arrived at the edge of the box.

    Kingsley Coman didn''t loseposure as he controlled the ball. He outwitted Rapha?l Varane, the Madrid center-back, and effortlessly yed a back-heel pass towards Zachary, who was also quickly approaching the box.

    Zachary was in a highly focused state as he connected with the ingenious pass from Kingsley just a few meters away from the box. He collected the ball midstride and bounded forward. He hoped to quickly open up the angle to pass or to take a shot at the goal.

    But right then, he felt a strong tug on his shirt that halted all his ns. He loosened his gait and allowed the offender to pull him back. And as expected, he felt himself tumbling to the ground within seconds.

    "FOUL..." Most of the Juventus fans and yers in the stadium yelled, more or less in unison.

    Martin Atkinson, the referee, didn''t need the reminder, though. He blew the whistle and quickly arrived at the scene. Without fear or favor, he awarded the free-kick just a few meters from the box before showing a yellow card to Sergio Ramos, the Real Madrid yer who hadmitted the foul.

    "Phew..."

    Zachary breathed a sigh of relief and rose from the ground. He ignored the Real Madrid yers crowding around the ref to argue their case and picked up the ball. He then walked to the side and patiently waited for the situation on the pitch to calm down.

    Kingsley Coman and Carlos Tevez suddenly approached Zachary.

    Zachary smiled and nodded at the two yers.

    "Do you need our help?" Tevez asked after taking a position beside Zachary.

    Zachary shook his head. "I''ll just go for the goal as usual. However, as you know, Iker Casis can sometimes turn into a miracle worker between the posts. Just be ready to tap the rebound into the back of the if, by some chance, he saves my free-kick.

    "Noted," Both Tevez and Kingsley replied.

    Right then, a few other Juventus yers, like Pirlo, udio Marchisio, and Patrice Evra, started crowding around Zachary. They all encouraged him to rx and act as usual without any pressure. After that, they walked into Real Madrid''s box to perform their own roles during the taking of the free-kick.

    A minute passed, and the 45th minute arrived. The referee finished organizing the defensive wall and the other yers in the box before taking a strategic position at the side. He then blew the whistle and motioned for Zachary to take the free-kick.

    -----

    Iker Casis, Real Madrid''s keeper, had watched plenty of Zachary''s past performances in preparation for the game. He had learned that the young ymaker could use both feet well when working with the ball. But when it mattered, like while taking free kicks, he would pull the trigger with his more powerful left leg nine out of ten times.

    Through his pre-game research, Casis also discovered another habit of Zachary. The guy always liked to send free-kicks over the wall before finding the furthest top corner away from the keeper''s position.

    For instance, if the keeper positioned himself to the right between the posts, Zachary would target the top left corner with uncanny uracy. This was how the guy had outwitted many keepers and built up a highly abnormal set-piece conversion rate.

    However, Casis had prepared for all this trickery. He had organized the defensive wall toward the right side of the goal. He had also positioned himself slightly towards the left in-between the posts to bait Zachary into sending the ball over the wall and targeting the top right corner.

    Everything would be easy as Casis knew where the ball would be arriving. All he had to do was to use his world-ss incredible reactions to dive toward the right before saving the day.

    Casis waited with bated breath as Zachary took a few steps back from the ball. He raised his concentration to the max, making sure to study and analyze each of the free-kick taker''s actions.

    A few more seconds passed, and he finally saw Zachary approach the ball from an angle. Casis got ready to dive as the young dead ball specialist reached thest moment and initiated the motions to unleash a shot toward the goal.

    The next moment, Casis'' sharp eyes saw Zachary''s left boot swing down and connect with the stationary ball. In his highly focused state, time seemed to slow down, and he started orienting his body, preparing to dive toward the top right corner.

    But just then, his mind suddenly froze and caught ice. He nked out as he noticed a sh of motion zooming under the feet of one of the defenders in the wall, who had just jumped.

    "Shit! A carpet shot!" Casis let out an inward curse.

    He quickly tried to adjust his body, desiring to do his best to save the day. But everything had happened so fast, and the shot from Zachary was already darting toward the goal like a lightning bolt. It shed past his left, barely skimming over the grass and giving him no time to react.

    All his preparations became null and void. And all he could do was turn his head and watch the ball home into the bottom left corner.

    -----

    Juventus FC 2: Real Madrid 1

    -----

    The cheers exploded in the Juventus stadium as the home fans celebrated their team''s second goal right before halftime. In the meantime, Zachary allowed his mind to soak into the joy of scoring his team''s second goal as he raced towards the corner g to celebrate.

 Chapter 571 Excellent Game Management

    <h4>Chapter 571 Excellent Game Management</h4>

    The referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the first half after Zachary scored the second goal for Juventus. On cue, the yers of both teams made a beeline for the tunnel for the halftime break.

    On the way back to the dressing room, the jubnt Juventus yers continually discussed the just concluded half. Some were joking around, while a few others were reviewing some of the moments from the game as they traversed the tunnel.

    Patrice Evra suddenly approached Zachary and put an arm around his shoulders. "Zachary! That free kick was ingenious. We all thought you would go for the top corner, but you eventually went for a carpet shot. Was it your n all along?"

    "Nope!" Zachary responded with a smile. "I only changed my mind at thest moment for two reasons. One: I noticed that James Rodr¨ªguez, who was part of the defensive wall, was about to jump when I was going to take the free kick. Two: I watched Iker Casis'' bodynguage and noticed that he was about to dive toward the direction I intended to target with the free-kick ball. So, I thought to myself: Why not go for a carpet shot under the wall to catch all of them by surprise?"

    "Impressive! You managed to observe all those details at thest moment before you took the free kick!" Patrice Evra eximed. "Your awareness of details on the pitch is insane. Sergio Ramos must be cursing himself now for gifting that free kick to you."

    Zachary smiled, feeling quite good about the free kick he had just converted. He had gambled and taken a different approach. Fortunately, his bet had paid off, and he had caught Iker Casis and his defensive wall unawares to score the second goal with his carpet shot.

    As the two men talked, they finally reached the dressing room. Together with the other yers, they went through the halftime motions, including hydrating, listening to Coach Allegri''s pep talk, and easing themselves. After finishing everything, they quickly exited the dressing room and returned to the pitch for the second half.

    Amid the thunderous apuse reverberating in the background, the referee blew the whistle, and the game resumed.

    The second half started at a much more sedate pace, with Juventus keen to keep possession and resist conceding an equalizing goal. The yers in the ck and striped jerseys maintained a strict 4-3-1-2 formation as they yed steady passes that allowed them to dictate the tempo.

    They became the better team on the field of y for the next ten minutes. But due to their cautious style for the second half, they didn''t create any remarkable goal-scoring chances.

    The 55th minute arrived, and the Real Madrid yers, who had only been second-best on the pitch, suddenly upped their game. They increased the pressure on Juventus'' defense through a series of connected moments of brilliance from their incredible line-up of attack-minded yers, like Christiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, James Rodr¨ªguez, and Marcelo.

    Desperate to grab another equalizer, they went all out to attack and create more chances. Eventually, Christiano Ronaldo, Toni Kroos, and Chicharito, the substitute forward, all came close to scoring with clever efforts during the 61st, 68th, and 73rd minutes. But the brilliant goalkeeping antics by the experienced Gianluigi Buffon saved the day on all asions and kept Juventus in the driving seat.

    By then, everyone in the stadium could feel the game gradually slipping away from the Spanish giants as the 80th minute approached. But the Madrid-based team maintained their mindset of reigning champions. They continuedmitting numbers forward while patiently waiting for a chance to prate Juventus'' defense.

    Their hard work eventually paid off during the 84th minute when Gareth Bale made his presence known by dribbling past Patrice Evra and approaching the box from the right side. The Welshman then sent a tantalizing pass across the mouth of the goal, where Chicharito and Ronaldo were lurking.

    However, the two Real Madrid attackers failed to connect with the pass, and the ball shed past the goal area, eliciting gasps from the watching fans before continuing to the other side of the pitch.

    udio Marchisio hurriedly collected the loose ball before it could head out of y on the right nk. He yed a one-two with Stephan Lichtsteiner to skip past Marcelo before ying a forward pass to Andrea Pirlo.

    Andrea Pirlo passed to Arturo Vidal, who also connected with Zachary through a lightning-fast exchange of short and urate passes. The swift and brilliant passage of y then continued, with the Juventus midfielders shing forward to counterattack against Real Madrid like a pack of wolves on the hunt.

    The ball eventually returned to Zachary as he crossed the center line. He controlled it midstride and skipped past a sliding challenge from Sergio Ramos. He then continued darting through the middle like the speedster he was until he came across another obstacle in the form of Pepe at the border of the final third.

    Zachary didn''t choose to take on the no-nonsense defender. Instead, he quickly yed a diagonal pass to his right to find Carlos Tevez, who had been running in sync with him.

    The well-timed pass released Tevez just at the right moment before he could step into an offside position. A deft touch allowed the Argentine to go past Rapha?l Varane, the other Real Madrid center-back, before facing off against the keeper.

    At that moment, everyone in the stadium expected Tevez to try his luck and go for glory. However, the experienced Tevez chose a different option. He didn''t try to beat Casis. But he instead squared the ball and found ¨¢lvaro Morata, the substitute striker, who had just made a daring run on the other side of the box.

    ¨¢lvaro Morata, on his part, just remainedposed and connected with the pass while unmarked and without any pressure. Hepleted one of the most effortless finishes in professional football by tapping the ball into the back of the empty to score Juventus'' 3rd goal for the night.

    -----

    Juventus FC 3: Real Madrid 1

    -----

    The cheers exploded into another thunderous peak of vocal chaos as ¨¢lvaro Morata ran towards the touchline and celebrated the goal with his teammates. The Juventus fans started chanting victory slogans without a care for anything in the world. Their voices and stomping of their feet even caused slight tremors to course through the area.

    "Mama Mia!" Carlo Zampa, thementator, yelled at the top of his voice. "Another counterattack has allowed Juventus to pick the lock of the Madrid defense during the 85th minute. ¨¢lvaro Morata, the substitute who has just entered the game, has be yet another tormentor of Real Madrid today. He has scored the 3rd goal and given the Old Lady a huge boost in this UEFA Champions League quarter-final."

    "This was a goal out of the blue," Sandro Pinini, the othermentator, remarked. "For thest twenty minutes, we saw the Real Madrid yers ying brilliant football and sustaining considerable pressure on Juventus'' defense. They were even close to scoring an equalizer just moments ago. But after failing to capitalize on the opportunity, they have conceded another goal. I''m guessing that even the Juventus fans are surprised by the current score."

    Carlo Zampa chuckled. "Football is a game that can change within seconds. But I''m also guessing it was part of Juventus'' game n to sit back and draw in the Real Madrid yers. The Turin-based team obviously invited the pressure before getting the perfect chance to counterattack and score the third goal. Their management of the game has surely been excellent."

    "The question now is what will Real Madrid do?" Sandro Pinini questioned. "Will they y it safe and wait for the second leg before thinking about overturning this result? Or will they go all out and continue attacking to reduce the score difference?"

    "Well," Carlo Zampa said. "Real Madrid are inherently an attack-minded team. They will likely continue attacking and trying to get another goal before the game concludes."

    "That approach can open them up to more counters from Juventus," Sandro Pinini said.

    "Yes, that is true," Carlo Zampa agreed. "If Real Madrid goes all out to attack, they will be at constant risk of facing another counterattack. In fact, they might concede a 4th goal if they are not careful. But all that is the least of their concerns at the moment. I''m sure all the Real Madrid yers and coaches should be racking their brains on how to get another goal before the final whistle. They have to do this to stand a chance against the on-form Juventus in the second leg of the quarter-final."

    -----

    In the meantime, the match restarted, and as predicted by thementators, Real Madrid went on the attack. They dominated possession, hunting for their second goal as the game ticked toward its conclusion.

    Their attackers, like Christiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, all tried to break into the box with their speed and creative footwork during thest three minutes of regr time. However, the untiring defensive duo of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Boni continuously stopped most of their good attacking work, thus saving Juventus from taking any damage.

    The only scare was when Javier Hernandez, aka Chicharito, took a heavy fall in the box in an attempt to win a penalty during the 90th minute. Fortunately for Juventus, the officials waved away the incident, and the game continued.

    Nothing eventful happened after that, and the game fell into a steady rhythm as the Juventus yers saw out the remaining time like the old-fashioned defensive unit they had always been. They stayed strong in possession and frustrated the opponents with time-wasting tactics until the referee eventually blew the final whistle to mark the end of the match.

 Chapter 572 Interlude and Match Against Lazio

    Chapter 572 Interlude and Match Against Lazio

    After taking a few interviews with reporters, Zachary returned to the dressing room. He showered and enjoyed dinner with all his teammates at the stadium, allowing himself to soak in the jubtory mood of triumphing against Real Madrid for the first time in his career.

    Then, after having his fill of the food and drinks, he said goodbye to his teammates and coaches before slowly making his way to the stadium exit. He repeatedly nodded at the guards and some of the night staff he met until he exited the tunnels and arrived at the parking lot.

    Although it was close to midnight, a few fans and journalists were still camping beyond the barricades separating the yer parking lot from the outside area. They all shouted and waved at Zachary when he slowly walked through the parking lot.

    Zachary naturally waved back at them before ignoring thempletely. He then quickly approached his Audi RS 7, eager to return to his mansion and rest for the night.

    "Boss! You''re back!" Lorenzo Rardo, his bodyguard/driver, stepped out of the car and weed him. Without giving Zachary a chance to speak, he smiled and continued, "Congrattions on winning the match. Your performance was once again extraordinary."

    "Thanks, Lorenzo." Zachary smiled and nodded. "But I''m quite tired. Let''s head home immediately."

    "Okay!" Lorenzo agreed and opened the door for him.

    Zachary got into the back seat, and Lorenzo closed the door. The bodyguard then took his position on the steering wheel and eased the car out of Juventus Stadium''s parking lot with expert familiarity. Before long, they joined the main road to Pinerolo, Piedmont, and speeded towards Zachary''s mansion.

    Zachary fell into a trance as the night scenery shed outside the vehicle''s window. His feelings slowly became a jumbled mess of pride and mncholy as he recalled all he had gone through over the past few years.

    He had yed in the academy in Norway only three years back. But within a short window, he had matured and joined one of Europe''s top leagues.

    He was now a proud Juventus yer who had achieved incredible feats during his debut season. He had even just contributed to his team''s victory against Real Madrid, which happened to be one of the strongest teams in Europe.

    Zachary felt like he was walking on the clouds because of all the progress he had made in his career. But at the same time, he was also a bit sorrowful since he couldn''t share all the results of his sess with histe grandma, who had been the person that cared most about him in both of his lives.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    Zachary''s phone suddenly vibrated and broke him out of his trance. He fished it out of his pocket and nced at the screen. His expression softened on seeing that it was another person who really cared about him. He pressed the ept button and held the phone against his ear.

    "Hello, Emily," he said. "You haven''t gone to bed yet?"

    Emily chuckled from the other side of the line. "How can I go to bed when my most important client is still busy working? Anyways, we left the stadium only about forty minutes ago. I''m now enjoying dinner with Kristin before returning to my hotel room for the night."

    "Oh! Why didn''t you invite me? I would have loved to have dinner with the two of you."

    "How could we dare to take you away from your teammates right after the match?" Emily questioned. "By the way, Kristin is saying hi. Aside from that, congrattion on winning the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final. And congrattions on overpowering Real Madrid for the first time in your career."

    Zachary beamed. "Thanks. And say hi to Kristin. Thank her on my behalf for doing great work on the publicity side before the game."

    "Okay," Emily said, and then there were a few seconds of silence before her voice sounded again. "Zachary! Do you remember the Nike deal I told you about?"

    "Yes. I remember you saying something about Nike proposing a ten-year-long endorsement deal with many attractive benefits."

    "That''s the one," Emily said. "The Nike representatives have finallye through with a great offer. They recently forwarded the proposal with incredible endorsement terms to me. If you partner with them, you could earn a potential annual ie of 15 to 20 million Euros within a few years."

    "Oh!" Zachary''s heart skipped a beat. He was obviously very interested in the deal. The only problem was that the timing wasn''t right since he couldn''t divert his attention from football at that juncture. He couldn''t afford to focus on other things when the UEFA Champions League trophy was still in the bnce.

    "I''m proposing that we meet and discuss the terms further," Emily suggested from the other side of the line. "What do you think?"

    "I think we should postpone everything to do with this deal."

    "Oh!" Emily eximed, clearly surprised. "I can say that this is a deal Zachary took a few seconds to organize his thoughts before saying, "I think we should postpone everything to do with this deal."

    "Oh!" Emily eximed, clearly surprised. "I can say that this is a deal that only the best sports personalities can receive. Why aren''t you interested?"

    "Don''t get me wrong," Zachary hurriedly said. "I''m very interested in the deal. But the timing isn''t right since all my focus will be on the Champions League for the next few weeks. I wish to give my all to help my team to attain European glory. So, I can''t afford any distractions at this juncture."

    "Oh, so that is the case," Emily said, sighing with relief. "I get you now. Your football career is, of course, the priority. It''s the only thing attracting all these famouspanies to invest in you. So, go ahead and do what you ought to do to attain more glory in your football career."

    "Thanks for understanding," Zachary replied. "But what about the potential deal with Nike? How do we handle it now?"

    "Well, Nike is a sportspany. They should understand that sports professionals must focus and go all out to win tournaments. I''ll talk to them and ensure that they understand your position. We can then postpone all the negotiations to June after you''re free from your team''s Champions League obligations."

    "Thanks again," Zachary said. "You''re the best."

    "You''re wee," Emily replied. "Before I forget, I should also inform you that Miss Heather Miller finished all the groundwork to set up yourpany. But I''m guessing you won''t have time to finalize the process."

    "Sorry, but that''s really the case," Zachary said. "For now, I''ll only spend all my time preparing for the Champions League, the Coppa Italia, and the remaining games of the Serie A. So, let''s postpone everything outside football to June after we finish the current football season."

    "Okay, let''s do that," Emily promised. "I have to say good night now. If there''s nothing else, I''ll be hanging up."

    "Goodnight to you, too. And thanks for calling," Zachary said and ended the call. He then leaned back into the seat and continued enjoying the ride back to his mansion in Pinerolo, Piedmont.

    -----

    The Juventus yers only took a day off before returning to training. They headed to the Vinovo, Juventus training center, on Thursday morning tomence preparations for their uing Serie A game against Lazio.

    Meanwhile, all the other first-leg Champions League quarter-final games had concluded over the previous two nights. Borussia Dortmund defeated AS Monaco at home by a score of 1:0. Barcelona then overwhelmed Paris Saint-Germain by a score of 4:1, even while ying at an away ground. Andstly, FC Porto thrashed Bayern Munich with a score of 3:1 at their home stadium in Portugal.

    All the Juventus yers, including Zachary, had already learned about the results by Thursday morning. But they didn''t give the info much attention, especially since they were already in training mode to prepare for their next two fixtures.

    Under the supervision of the Juventus coaches, they gave their all on Thursday and Friday. They went through targeted fitness routines and strict tactical drills while simultaneously preparing for their games against Lazio and Real Madrid.

    Time shed by, and Saturday evening eventually arrived. The Juventus yers, who had already won the title, returned to their home stadium to face off against Lazio in their 31st Serie A fixture of the season.

    With Wednesday''s crucial away game against Real Madrid in mind, Coach Max Allegri rested most of his star yers. He left the likes of Zachary, Carlos Teves, Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, udio Marchisio, and Stephan Lichtsteiner on the bench. He only fielded a squad filled with many second-stringers.

    The result was the game turning into a tricky hassle, with Juventus struggling to match Lazio''s intensity during the first half. The defense even made a mistake and allowed Mirov Klose, Lazio''s center forward, to score the opening goal during the 42nd minute.

    Fortunately, the Juventus yers on the field responded appropriately and got the goal back through Fernando Llorente during the 72nd minute. They then yed a tenacious defensive game that repeatedly stopped the tricky Lazio side from scoring more goals for the rest of the game.

    And with that, Juventus avoided a loss yet again by securing an eptable 1:1 draw, even in the absence of most of their first-team yers. Moreover, they had also pushed their season tally to 87 points and increased their point difference with the second-ced AS Roma to a whopping 29 points.

    They were obviously flying as a team, and no one in Italy could stop them. They thus turned all their attention to the uing UEFA Champions League second-leg fixture with all the confidence and momentum they had umted over the weekend.

 Chapter 573 Second Leg of the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final

    Chapter 573 Second Leg of the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final

    Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

    Santiago Bernab¨¦u Stadium, Madrid, Spain.

    Time: 7:30 PM.

    -----

    Juventus'' team bus snaked through the route crowded with yelling supporters and arrived at the famous Bernab¨¦u Stadium. It parked within the designated area after the gates, and the doors opened amid thunderous apuse.

    The yers and coaches started alighting from the vehicle, causing amotion. Cheers hit a thunderous crescendo, and cameras shed at the speed of bullets fired from a machine gun as the excited supporters and journalists tried to take photographs of the famous team from Turin.

    "This is surprising. We have a lot of fans here," Zachary, who was among thest yers to exit the bus, eximed. He could see many people sporting Juventus'' stripped ck and white jerseys around the route leading further into the stadium gates. They were all shouting and holding their smartphones up to take photographs of the yers.

    "A few of these fans are Italians living in Madrid," Patrice Evra, who was walking beside him, remarked. "However, most others are our supporters from Turin who have traveled all the way here to support us. They would obviously not miss tonight''s crucial match, which will determine whether or not we qualify for the UEFA Champions League semi-final."

    "It''s great that they are here," Zachary said. "Otherwise, we might have been overwhelmed by all these Real Madrid fans crowding around the ce."

    "True!" Evra smiled and walked towards the stairs leading further into the stadium.

    Zachary waved to some of the fans, who were continuously yelling his name, and continued following his teammates and coaches. He passed through a wide entrance and left the chaos behind before eventually entering the tunnel to the dressing room.

    His ears soon picked up the thunderous cheers of those fans who had already entered the stadium. His blood boiled with a blend of both excitement and anxiety as he traversed the tunnel.

    It would be the first time he would y a match against Real Madrid in their world-famous home ground of Santiago Bernab¨¦u. Everything around, including the opposing fans and the atmosphere within the ce, was a bit alien and overwhelming. He couldn''t stop his heart from racing in anticipation of the action about tomence.

    After walking for a few minutes, the Juventus yers arrived in the visitor''s dressing room of the Santiago Bernab¨¦u Stadium. Everything was ready and prepared. Juventus'' all-blue jerseys for that day had already been neatly folded and ced on the benches around the room. The only thing remaining was for the yers to put them on before heading to the pitch for the match.

    However, that was for minutester, as the yers had to undergo the mandatory and necessary pre-match warm-up before focusing on anything else.

    The Juventus yers were as professional as ever on that front. Without even waiting for the instructions from their coaches, they quickly started on their pre-match routines. They were almost in autopilot mode as they went through the dynamic warm-ups before returning to the dressing room and donning their all-blue jerseys for the match.

    At that point, Coach Max Allegri took center stage and gave his pre-match pep talk. He didn''t delve into much of the tactics since he had exined the game n only hours prior. Instead, he talked about the need for teamwork, fighting spirit, courage, hard work, and brilliant decision-making on the field of y before sending his yers to the pitch for the game.

    It was already 8:35 PM by then. There were only ten minutes remaining before the scheduled kick-off time for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final between Juventus and Real Madrid.

    The fans of both teams had already taken up all the seats in the stadium. They sang and cheered at the top of their voices as the yers walked onto the pitch and lined up in front of the tunnel. Their voices caused the atmosphere to be super-charged as the time for kick-off slowly approached.

    Zachary took it in all as he went through the pre-match routines. He allowed the tension to build up within him as he went through the singing of the Champions League anthem.

    Yes, he was a bit nervous. But he was likewise fit and in top shape. He had also received special instructions from his head coach that allowed him to remain confident. What remained was for him to do his best and utilize all his skills to execute his part of Juventus'' game n after the gamemenced.

    -----

    The referee blew the whistle on time, and the game kicked off.

    The Real Madrid fans, who understood that their men needed to overturn a 3:1 deficit from the first leg, immediately went all out to support their team. Their voices were loud enough to smother any other noise in the stadium. Even the matchmentator couldn''t get hismentary through the bluster.

    Coach Allegri took in all the cheers calmly and focused on the game. But a few minutester, he couldn''t help but frown when he noticed Real Madrid dominating the early stages. The opponents had even conquered the midfield and were already dictating the tempo.

    "Our yers arecking sharpness," he said to Maurizio Trombetta, his assistant. "They are allowing Real Madrid a lot of freedom on the ball."

    "Indeed," Maurizio Trombetta replied. "Pirlo, Vidal, Marchisio, and even Zachary all seem out of sorts. They are always a secondte while closing down the Real Madrid midfielders."

    Coach Max Allegri nodded and continued watching the game. He had already noticed that Carlo Ancelotti had gone with a 4-3-3 attacking formation. The Italian tactician had yed Isco, James Rodr¨ªguez, and Toni Kroos in a triangr-shaped midfield. Those three were brilliant. They were already causing Juventus many problems during the opening ten minutes.

    In defense, Carlo Ancelotti had gone with four defenders, including Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Varane, and Daniel Carvajal. These four were quite solid at the back. They had sealed the door shut and stopped Juventus from ying forward balls.

    Lastly, Christiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Gareth Bale were on the attack toplete Real Madrid''s 4-3-3 attacking formation. Each of the three had already shown sparks of brilliance in the opening ten minutes. And if the Juventus yers remained careless, they could suffer their wrath at any moment.

    "The situation doesn''t look good," Maurizio Trombetta, the assistant coach, said from the side. "Should we make a few changes to our ns?"

    "No." Max Allegri shook his head. "It''s still too early. Let''s give the boys some time to settle into the game."

    -----

    In the meantime, twelve minutes went by silently as the game continued. The Madrid fans didn''t lose hope, though. They continued cheering on their team, hoping for a miracle. They used loud voices to encourage their yers to give their all to get an opening goal.

    Their voices seemed to achieve a positive effect within less than a quarter of an hour. The Madrid yers responded to the raucous crowd by flying out of the traps andunching endless attacks against Juventus'' defense.

    The reigning champions then built up on the momentum. They set a blistering early tempo and overpowered Juventus in all areas of the field. Their passes connected with a clockwork rhythm as they advanced through the ranks. Soon enough, they started creating chances at the goal, with Gareth Bale eventuallying close to scoring during the 16th minute.

    This all started with a well-time through-pass from Toni Kroos that released the Welshman, allowing him to st forward like a Tsunami. Gareth Bale then used his pace to fly past Patrice Evra before breaking into the box and shooting from a tight angle.

    Fortunately for Juventus, Buffon was on form again. He reacted by punching the ball out of y for a corner kick. And with that, he saved Juventus from conceding the opening goal on the night during the 16th minute.

    All the Real Madrid yers, including the central defenders - Sergio Ramos and Varane, came forward and crowded into the box. They were obviously looking for a chance to overturn the deficit from the first leg. The corner kick was such an opportunity they had been waiting for.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, and Isco took action. The Real Madrid midfielder sent a brilliant cross into the crowded box from the corner spot.

    The iing ball caused chaos to descend into the area before the goal. yers of opposing teams were shoving and pulling each other. They all fought with their all, hoping to gain aerial superiority before meeting the fast-approaching corner ball.

    Fortunately for Juventus, it was Giorgio Chiellini who came out on top. The untiring Juventus center-back towered over James Rodriguez and a few surrounding yers before clearing the danger. He sessfully headed the ball towards the left side of the pitch and saved his team from another precarious situation.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    Just as the Juventus yers, coaches, and fans began to rx, the whistle sounded. All eyes and cameras turned towards the referee, who was already pointing at the penalty spot. Moreover, the official didn''t stop at that. But he also showed a yellow card to Giorgio Chiellini, who clearly couldn''t make sense of what was transpiring.

    What happened?

    Zachary took it in all with a dazed expression. A moment ago, his team had sessfully defended a corner and were about tounch their counterattack. But within seconds, everything had gone upside down, and they conceded a penalty.

    It wasn''t good news for Juventus. It was the worst situation possible in a second-leg game of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final, especially since Real Madrid could capitalize on the penalty to reduce the 3:1 aggregate score difference to only one goal.

 Chapter 574 Clinging On

    Chapter 574 Clinging On

    The cheers rose to another thunderous peak after the referee awarded Real Madrid a penalty. The home fans couldn''t hide their excitement. Their shouting and yelling caused an explosive atmosphere around the Santiago Bernab¨¦u Stadium.

    "Well, well, well," Rob Daly, one of thementators, said. "We have gotten ourselves some early drama in the game. The referee has just awarded Real Madrid a penalty. The Los ncos now have the perfect start for the second leg of this UEFA Champions League quarter-final. Should they convert, they will trim the 3:1 deficit from the first leg to only a single goal."

    "The rey has juste in, and I can now see why the referee decided to award the penalty," Andy Brassell, the othermentator, said. "Giorgio Chiellini clearly manhandled and pulled down James Rodriguez before heading away the corner ball. Some referees usually don''t penalize such fouls with penalties since everyone is fighting with their all to get to the iing ball. But Jonas Eriksson, today''s referee, has taken a harsh stand."

    "Yes, he has, and I think he has the grounds to make such a decision," Rob Daly said. "Giorgio Chiellini clearly made a clumsy foul and invited the decision. He has to face the consequences with his teammates for using foul means to outwit the opponent while within the box."

    -----

    In the meantime, Christiano Ronaldo had stepped forward to take the penalty. The Real Madrid man made no mistake on the spot. He sted the ball down the middle and found the back of the to score Real Madrid''s 1st goal on the night.

    The score was then 1:0 in favor of Real Madrid for the night. But the aggregate score for the quarter-final remained 3:2 in favor of Juventus. As such, Juventus was still the team in the driving seat, and if the status quo remained the same, they would be the ones to qualify for the semis.

    The Real Madrid fans knew all this. They wasted no time before using loud voices to cheer on their team. They shouted chants of support when their team had the ball and then booed with untiring dynamism when Juventus was in possession.

    In the meantime, the Real Madrid yers were also doing their part to make aeback. Buoyed by the goal they had just scored, they roared forward and continuedunching lethal attacks against Juventus'' defense. They relied on exceptional wing-y tactics and through balls from their midfielders to continue creating clear-cut goal-scoring chances.

    In particr, Christiano Ronaldo was an imminent threat on the counterattack and even came close to scoring twice. But surprisingly, he squandered his chances, once when he opted to pass instead of shooting from eight yards out during the 34th minute and again during the 42nd minute when heshed wide from the edge of the penalty area after a mesmeric first touch.

    After that, Juventus somehow clung on until halftime without conceding another goal against the spirited Real Madrid team. But that was at the cost of all their yers, including Tevez and Zachary, falling back in their half to defend.

    -----

    With how the Juventus yers had just performed, the atmosphere was somber within their dressing room at halftime. Even the often-hyper yers, like Patrice Evra and Arturo Vidal, remained silent. They didn''t let out even a squeak as they waited for their coach to take center stage.

    Coach Max Allegri looked at his yers, who were clearly in low spirits, and shook his head. "Listen," he said. "We all need to forget our performance during the first half. We must now start thinking about how to handle the second half."

    "I know that ying against a team like Real Madrid at their home ground is difficult. It''s even more so with all their home fans, who are constantly booing us whenever we''re in possession. But as professional footballers ying for Juventus, we have to ovee this. We must stay calm and quickly settle down in the game. We must lose all the pressure and start ying at our best."

    Coach Allegri swept his gaze across the dressing room. "During the second half, Real Madrid will continue attacking us and trying to score another goal. They willmit more men forward and try to get that equalizer to tie the aggregate score."

    "But what will we do? We''ll remain solid both in midfield and back. We''ll hold possession when possible. But if the going gets hard, we''ll all fall back and defend. We''ll absorb the pressure and do our best not to concede another goal."

    "You must all not get anxious when we''re doing this. I''m sure that even if we''re on the defensive 80% of the time, we''ll still get a few opportunities to threaten them, especially on the counter. Those who get hold of the chances must remainposed and convert them. This is how we''ll win the quarters and qualify for the Champions League semi-finals. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    "Understood?" The coach asked again with a louder voice.

    "Yes, coach," The yers yelled back with more energetic voices.

    "Good," the coach said with a smile. He then gave special instructions to yers like Zachary, Tevez, and Andrea Pirlo. After concluding everything, he sent his yers back to the pitch for the second half of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg match.

    -----

    The Juventus yers started the second half much better than they did during the first. They followed their coach''s instructions and remained solid andpact while performing their defensive and midfield maneuvers. They maintained a strict 4-3-1-2 formation that allowed them to seal the door on the Los ncos and prevent them from finding any spaces through the middle.

    Off course, Carlo Ancelotti''s men soon found a solution to this tactical ploy. They expanded the pitch width with Christiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale going further into the wings. Aside from that, their two wing-backs (Marcelo and Daniel Carvajal) started taking a riskier approach by floating forward to overload the nks.

    With the strategy, Real Madrid was back in business within a few minutes. They relied on their phenomenal wingers to make runs into Juventus'' half before floating crosses to Karim Benzema, the center forward. And if that failed, the nk yers, be it Marcelo, Ronaldo, Bale, or Carvajal, would square the ball to find the midfielders or cut into the pitch and race towards the box themselves.

    Their brilliance eventually paid off, and they created a clear goal-scoring chance during the 62nd minute when Christiano Ronaldo showcased his ss by skipping past Stephan Lichtsteiner. The Real Madrid ace side-stepped past the Juventus defender with spellbinding footwork before approaching the box from the left side. Ronaldo then sent an inviting cross across the goal mouth, where Karim Benzema happened to be arriving.

    Karim Benzema, on his part, outjumped Giorgio Chiellini, the defender who was a bit too careful because of the yellow card he had previously received. Benzema then met the iing cross with a header and sent the ball towards the goal from a tight angle.

    Fortunately for Juventus, the experienced Gianluigi Buffon was alert again. The goalkeeper reacted appropriately and punched the ball out of y for a corner kick. And with that, he saved Juventus from conceding the second goal on the night during the 63rd minute.

    All the Real Madrid yers, including Varane, Sergio Ramos, and Kroos, crowded in the box again after the referee awarded the corner kick. They all started moving around the area while anticipating the corner ball.

    It was at that time that the referee blew the whistle. On cue, Isco, the Real Madrid midfielder, took the corner kick and sent a curling cross towards the box.

    Chaos immediately exploded within the box as the yers of both teams tried to outwit their opponents and meet the corner ball. But at the end of it all, Leonardo Boni was the person toe out on top.

    The Juventus central defender towered over everyone in the box before clearing the danger. He beat Varane in a battle of aerial superiority and sent the ball towards the center.

    Zachary, who had also been defending the corner, reacted instantaneously. He took off from the box and chased after the ball that was heading towards Rodr¨ªguez.

    He hit top speed within seconds and managed to reach it just as Rodr¨ªguez was about to control it. He stretched out his leg ever so slightly, and with the simplest of deft touches, he pickpocketed the Real Madrid man.

    Heart racing, he circumvented Rodr¨ªguez, who was attempting to pull his shirt, before realizing that the pitch before him had opened up. He was even more surprised when he noticed that aside from Iker Casis, the keeper, he couldn''t see any other Real Madrid yer between him and the goal.

    Adrenaline immediately coursed through Zachary''s system, and he elerated. He pumped his feet like the pistons of a speeding race car and bolted through the middle of the pitch.

    The scenery around him shed by quickly as he ran, and soon, he met Iker Casis, who hade out of the goal to greet him. He remainedposed and rounded the keeper with a few deft touches coupled with a swift change of pace before dashing forward and hammering the ball into the back of the empty.

    But even then, he didn''t halt or slow down. Instead, he ran around the goal and dashed toward the corner g while enjoying the thunderous cheers of the visiting Juventus fans in the stands. Andstly, he slid on his knees for a few meters and punched the air to celebrate the goal.

    stly, he slid on his knees for a few meters and punched the air to celebrate the goal.

    He was happy. He felt fulfilled after scoring a crucial goal that could seal his team''s qualification to that year''s UEFA Champions League semis.

 Chapter 575 The Italian Defensive Game at Work

    Chapter 575 The Italian Defensive Game at Work

    "GOAL!" Rob Daly, thementator, yelled as Zachary moved to celebrate with his teammates. "He has done it again. Zachary Bemba has scored his 16th goal in this year''s Champions League season. He robbed James Rodr¨ªguez and went clean through from the halfway line. Nobody could keep up with him, and he bided his time and waited and waited before rounding Iker Casis and slotting the ball into the back of the."

    "What pace! What skills! Whatposure! This is the Zachary we have alle to know, love, and fear. He''s often the savior of his team and the nemesis of all opposing teams. He is an exceptional young talent who can make something happen from nothing. With just one counterattack and bam, he scored a crucial goal for Juventus during the 65th minute. He got the equalizer on the night and extended Juventus'' aggregate score to 4:2."

    "His goal might have even won the quarter-final for Juventus," Andy Brassell, the othermentator, said. "Only 25 minutes remain before the end of the game. I don''t see any chance of Real Madrid overturning this 4:2 aggregate score, especially against a team as defensively disciplined as Juventus."

    Rob Daly sighed. "The Real Madrid yers have tried their best. They have been exceptional on the pitch and created many goal-scoring chances against Juventus. There was even a moment towards the end of the first half when I thought they would get the equalizer and tie the aggregate score of this quarter-final. But one counterattack from Juventus has changed everything, and they now have to overturn a deficit of two goals or face elimination from the Champions League."

    "Well, this is football," Andy Brassell said. "Games can change within seconds. Moreover, there were always signs of Juventus breaking away since the start of the second half. The more men Real Madridmitted forward, the more they increased their risk of facing a counterattack. The poorly taken corner finally did them in. A superb clearance header by Leonardo Boni and some sluggish defensive y from James Rodr¨ªguez was all it took for Zachary to break through and punish the Los ncos on the counter."

    "That''s true," Rob Daly agreed. "Now we have to ask ourselves the same old question: What will Real Madrid do after conceding the goal?"

    Andy Brassell chuckled. "They are already behind by two goals in this quarter-final. They have no choice but to throw caution to the wind and go full out on the attack. They will have to find a way to score two goals in these remaining twenty-something minutes or risk elimination from this Champions League."

    "Indeed," Rob Daly said. "There is no choice but to go all out on the attack in their case. But this could gift Juventus more opportunities to counterattack."

    "Maybe, maybe not," Andy Brassell said.

    -----

    Real Madrid 1 (2): Juventus 1 (4)

    -----

    Coach Max Allegri took another nce at the jumbotron hanging on one side of the Santiago Bernab¨¦u Stadium and nodded to himself. His boys had finally done what they ought to do.

    They had remained solid and avoided conceding a goal, and when the chance came, they hit Real Madrid on the counterattack and got that crucial goal. They were now firmly in the driving seat of this UEFA Champions League quarter-final.

    Coach Max Allegri could feel eruptions of hope and joy exploding in his mind. But he used his experience and forced himself to remain calm. He returned his gaze to the pitch where the game had just rmenced.

    Real Madrid had already reacted as expected. They had alreadymitted more numbers forward, and almost all the yers in the team, save for Varane and Iker Casis, had pushed forward into Juventus'' half. They were all going at full throttle to break down Juventus'' tenacity. They were using everything in their arsenal to get a goal and have some hope of overturning the two-goal deficit before the final whistle sounded.

    Coach Max Allegri remained calm and turned towards Real Madrid''s bench. As expected, he saw Carlo Ancelotti and his assistants prepping Chicharito as a substitute.

    The Italian tactician was probably about to bet all his chips by having his team go all out on the offensive front during the remaining minutes. In fact, Coach Allegri wouldn''t be surprised if the tactician sacrificed some of his defense for more firepower on the striking line.

    "Well, don''t you wish to attack?" Coach Max Allegri thought to himself. "Let me humor you and allow you to attack however you want by going on the defensive."

    Coach Max Allegri was a typical Italian Coach. He wouldn''t do something as needless as encouraging his team to continue going all out on the attack when they had a two-goal advantage against a team like Real Madrid with only twenty minutes remaining.

    He would instead stick to his basics and frustrate the opponents with the Italian defensive game. He would y it safe and see his team through to the semis without taking unnecessary risks.

    As the considerations shed in his head, he turned towards his bench. His eyes swept over all his substitutes until they settled on one of his most solid defensive yers outside his starting eleven. "Andrea Barzagli," he called out. "Get ready to rece Morata. I want you on the pitch in less than five minutes."

    "Yes, coach," Barzagli replied. He immediately put on his gear and ran off to warm up.

    Coach Allegri then considered how Andrea Pirlo was getting tired in midfield. He turned to another substitute who had some good pace and stamina. "Roberto Pereyra, you should also get ready. I want you to rece Pirlo within five minutes tops."

    "Yes, coach," Roberto Pereyra replied before dressing up and running away for the warm-up.

    Coach Max Allegri nodded to himself. He returned his gaze to the pitch, where his team was still under pressure.

    Gareth Bale had just exchanged a series of quick one-twos with Daniel Carvajal to break past Patrice Evra and approach the box from the right wing. Bale then drove into the box without slowing down before squaring a pass into the middle.

    Coach Max Allegri watched it all and felt his heart rising into his throat. He was like a tense string as he noticed Karim Benzema connecting with the intricate pass from Bale before hammering it Fortunately, Gianluigi Buffon, the ever-reliable captain, was alert again. He dived and went on a full stretch before getting a goalward with a first-time swing.

    Fortunately, Gianluigi Buffon, the ever-reliable captain, was alert again. He dived and went on a full stretch before getting a well-timed hand onto the ball. He pushed it slightly off its intended course, forcing it to miss the post by mere inches before going out of y.

    "This can''t go on."

    Coach Max Allegri expelled a breath he didn''t know he had been holding. He turned to his assistants and told them to notify Andrea Barzagli and Roberto Pereyra to hurry their preparations. He wanted to get them on the pitch to calm the situation before it was toote.

    -----

    The ball went out of y for a Real Madrid throw-in during the 71st minute. On cue, the fourth official raised the board, and the two Juventus substitutes entered the game. They took their positions in defense and midfield, thus changing Juventus'' ying formation into a 5-4-1 system.

    With the addition of the two pairs of fresh legs, the Juventus team quickly settled down. They became even more solid in defense and midfield, with more capacity to absorb more pressure. They continued ying a defensive game, with all yers falling back into their half to protect their two-goal advantage during the remaining minutes.

    Of course, Real Madrid didn''t go down without fighting. The Los ncos started ying long balls and crosses to their strikers in the box to bypass the overwhelming numbers in Juventus'' midfield and defense. Aside from that, the midfielders, like Toni Kroos and Isco, also began trying their luck with shots from way outside the eighteen, hoping that the keeper would spill the ball and present a chance to score to one of their forwards.

    They were really going out to get a goal and get back into the game during the final minutes. But try as they had, Real couldn''t breach Juventus'' imprable backline. Most of their attempts went wide, while the ever-reliable Buffon calmly dealt with the ones that somehow found the target.

    In that manner, the minutes passed, and the 90th minute approached. By then, the Juventus yers, including Zachary and Tevez, were already in the zone, ying a true-blue Italian defensive game.

    They held possession when possible, fell back when needed, wasted time when there was an opportunity, and avoided the temptation of doing something as needless asunching more attacks. They remained disciplined and continued seeing out the final embers of the quarter-final with minimal fuss.

    Eventually, the five minutes of added time also psed, and the referee finally blew the long-awaited whistle. And with that, the Juventus yers finally sealed the deal and won the 2014/15 Champions League quarter-final with an aggregate score of 4:2.

    They had taken another step toward achieving European glory, and that left all their fans beyond themselves with excitement.

 Chapter 576 UCL Quarter-Finals Wrap-up

    Chapter 576 UCL Quarter-Finals Wrap-up

    A very odd atmosphere had descended over the Santiago Bernab¨¦u Stadium with the sound of the final whistle.

    The Real Madrid fans were quiet as they digested the bitter reality of their team''s elimination from the UEFA Champions League. Their faces were glum, and some were even crying. Others were holding their hands behind their heads, just like a group of mourners at the funeral of one of their close ones.

    On the contrary, the Juventus fans were at the zenith of their joy after witnessing their team ovee the reigning champions and eliminate them from Europe''s most prestigiouspetition. They had taken over the Santiago Bernab¨¦u and were constantly singing and yelling at the top of their voices.

    Such scenes were what Zachary saw as he moved around the pitch to celebrate with his teammates after the heated quarter-final game. A wide smile had already outlined his facial features, and he felt he was at the peak of life. He couldn''t contain his happiness after eliminating a team as strong as Real Madrid from the Champions League.

    "Congrattions upon putting up another exceptional performance tonight," a reporter said after abruptly shoving a microphone into his face. "How do you feel after eliminating the reigning champions and qualifying for the semis?"

    "Happy, of course," Zachary replied, the smile never leaving his face. "The game was tricky, and we were on the back foot for a long time. But I''m still satisfied with what we did. Yes, the first half was tough, and we even conceded a goal. But we changed for the better during the second half and yed a solid game. We got the required result and won the game. Now, we can begin preparing for the semis."

    The reporter smiled and nodded. "You got your 16th goal for this Champions League campaign. You''re only one goal shot from equaling the record Ronaldo setst year after he found the back of the seventeen times to be the yer with the highest number of goals ever in a single Champions League season. Do you have the confidence to break or surpass this record?"

    "I''m not sure," Zachary said. "Scoring goals sometimes depends on luck. Sometimes, it''s your day, and you will effortlessly find the back of the. Other times, you can try dozens of times and still fail to put the ball in the back of the. So, I don''t know whether or not I will score in the uing semis. But I''m confident that I''ll do my best to help Juventus win the next stage of the Champions League."

    "Zachary, thanks for answering my questions," the reporter said with a smile. "And congrattions again upon qualifying for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. I wish you the best in your uing matches."

    Zachary nodded and shook hands with the reporter. After saying his goodbyes, he walked away and followed his still-jubnt teammates and coaches to the dressing room.

    -----

    Meanwhile, BT Sport''s UEFA Champions League wrap-up show had justmenced. The main presenter was Gary Lineker, and with him were the three pundits - Michael Owen, Rio Ferdinand, and Steven Gerrard.

    Gary Lineker waited for the broadcast from the Santiago Bernab¨¦u Stadium to end before smiling at the cameras and saying, "Our dear viewers! That was Zachary Bemba, the match winner, speaking to one of our reporters at the Santiago Bernab¨¦u. For those just joining us, he''s the one who scored Juventus'' goal on the night and helped them secure their qualification for the Champions League semi-finals."

    "What a game we just had!" His smile widened, and he turned to nce at the pundits for the game. "Gentlemen! Let''s start with Zachary Bemba''s performance in the quarter-final. He scored andmark 16th goal for this Champions League campaign. He''s only one away from equaling Christiano''s record of the most goals in a season. Do you see him getting this goal and putting his name in the record books?"

    Michael Owen smiled. "Zachary Bemba has been brilliant over the past few games. He''s a yer who is always hungry and eager to score whenever he''s on the pitch. He will get the goal in one way or another and equal the record. He might even get two and surpass the record."

    "I can''t dispute that." Rio Ferdinand grinned. "Zachary is a brilliant yer in and out. Tonight, we saw for ourselves what he can do with even a single opportunity. He''s one yer who can create something out of nothing. I would instead be surprised if he failed to find the back of the over the two legs of the semi-final."

    "That brings us to our next question." Gary Lineker smiled. "Does he make the Ballon d''Or shortlist for this season?"

    "That''s a no-brainer," Michael Owen said. "He will be on the shortlist, and he will be one of the top contenders. In fact, he might as well go home with the prize if he can score a few more goals and help Juventus win the Champions League."

    "I agree with Michael on this one," Steven Gerrard said. "Zachary Bemba has already made plenty of contributions towards Juventus'' sessful defense of their Serie A title. He has also scored more than fifty goals in allpetitions this season. If his team can win the Champions League, the Ballon d''Or could be his for the taking."

    "Well," Gary Lineker said. "Before we continue discussing the quarter-finals, let''s look at the results from the other fixtures."

    As his voice sounded, the camera crew quickly changed the pictures on the big screens to the results of the other Champions League quarter-final fixtures.

    -----

    UCL Quarter-final Results

    yed on Tuesday, April 21, 2015

    ->Bayern Munich 6 (7) - (4) 1 FC Porto

    ->Barcelona 2 (6) - (1) 0 Paris Saint-Germain

    yed on Wednesday, April 22, 2015

    ->Real Madrid 1 (2) - (4) 1Juventus FC

    ->AS Monaco 1 (1) - (2) 1 Borussia Dortmund

    *Results in brackets are the aggregate scores over the two legs.

    -----

    "The surprise for the weak was Bayern Munich," Gary Lineker spoke while the results were still showing on the screens. "The German champions overcame a two-goal deficit from the first leg to win the quarter-final by an aggregate score of 7:4."

    "Barcelona also performed as usual and defeated Paris Saint-Germain 2:0 on the night to win the quarters by an aggregate score of 6:1. The match between Monaco and Borussia Dortmund was full of ups and downs, with the French team being the first to find the back of the. But Dortmund eventually got the better of Monaco by scoring an equalizerte in the game."

    "We now have ourselves two great semi-final fixtures to look forward to. Juventus will face Borussia Dortmund, with the first leg of the semis in Turin. On the other hand, Barcelona will battle Bayern Munich in the other semi-final, with the first leg at the Camp Nou in Spain."

    "Wow!" Michael Owen chimed in. "The battle between Barcelona and Bayern Munich is going to be a huge one. One side has the free-scoring trio of Neymar, Su¨¢rez, and Messi, while the other has Robert Lewandowski and Thomas M¨¹ller. The midfield face-off between Barcelona''s Busquets, Rakitic, and Iniesta, as they sh with Bayern Munich''s Xabi Alonso, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Thiago Alc¨¢ntara, will also be interesting to see."

    "Don''t forget the battle between the two coaches - Luis Enrique and Pep Guardi," Steven Gerrard reminded. "It will be interesting to see whether the new coach of Barcelona can outwit the former one."

    The othersughed at that.

    Gary Lineker smiled. "What about the other semi-final fixture between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund?"

    "In all honesty," Rio Ferdinand replied, "Juventus have it a bit easy during the semi-finals. They are against Borussia Dortmund, a team that hasn''t been in great form and is currently only 7th in the Bundesliga. With the form Juventus is on, I expect them to win. Unless something goes terribly wrong, I expect them to put this semi-final to bed and qualify for the finals."

    "Borussia Dortmund is not so weak as a team," Michael Owen reminded. "They have names like Marco Reus, Ciro Immobile, Ilkay G¨¹ndogan, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Mats Hummels, and Shinji Kagawa. They also have J¨¹rgen Klopp, a coach with a knack for performing on big asions. I have a feeling that the game won''t be that easy."

    "They are a good team," Rio Ferdinand agreed. "But against the flying Juventus, they still fall short. Unless there is a miracle, I can''t see them outperforming Juventus, a team with yers like Zachary, Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez, and many others."

    "Well, gentlemen," Gary Lineker, the presenter, interrupted. "The match is on May 5, roughly two weeks away. But between now and then, Juventus will have to y three Serie A games. First, they will y Torino away from home and then face Fiorentina at home before battling Sampdoria in another away fixture. All matches are within a short window of seven days."

    "The Serie A fixtures no longer matter for Juventus since they are already champions," Michael Owen said. "I''m sure Coach Allegri will rest most of his key yers, including Zachary Bemba, Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez, and even the defenders, like Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Boni. He could use his second squad so as to allow his first team to focus on only preparing for the Champions League semis."

    Gary Lineker nodded, and the show went on. The pundits continued discussing football issues until the TV program ended forty minutester.

    -----

 Chapter 577 Preparations for the Upcoming Busy Schedule

    Chapter 577 Preparations for the Uing Busy Schedule

    With a spot in the UEFA Champions League semis secured, the Juventus yers took Thursday off to rest and recover from the post-match fatigue. Then, when Friday morning arrived, they all picked up their boots and headed to the Vinovo tomence preparations for their next games.

    They were about to begin a busy schedule of four fixtures. They would first y Torino away from home on Sunday, April 26th. Then, they would face off against Fiorentina at home on Wednesday, April 29th. Lastly, they would battle Sampdoria on Saturday, May 2nd, before hosting Borussia Dortmund the following Tuesday, May 5th, for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

    Bearing all that in mind, a spirited Coach Allegri, who couldn''t hide his smile after beating Real Madrid, summoned the yers into the tactics room before the trainingmenced on Friday morning. He called them for a crucial strategy meeting to talk about how they could handle the next three fixtures of the Serie A while also prepping for the Champions League semi-final against Borussia Dortmund.

    "Good morning, guys," he said with a smile after the yers had taken their seats around the tactics room. "I expect you all had a wonderful time rxing yesterday. And I do hope that you didn''t spend too much time getting intimate with your other halves or going out to party with an excuse of celebrating our win against Real Madridst night. Right?"

    The yersughed at that, with some whistling and throwing in a few jokes.

    Coach Max Allegri grinned. "I had a rxing day, myself. Thank you all for not asking. Now, back to business. You all know that we have a busy ten-day fixed schedule ahead of us. We''ll y Serie A matches (both away and at home) against Torino, Fiorentina, and Sampdoria in a seven-day window. Then, after that, we''ll wee Borussia Dortmund to Turin for the first leg of our UEFA Champions League semi-final battle."

    "These are four matches in ten days, with short windows of two or three days between them. Our first team can''t handle them all, as that would increase our cumtive fatigue and eventually lower our performance levels. We might even risk putting up a terrible performance in the UEFA Champions League semis if we only use our first-team yers for all the fixtures."

    The coach nced around and continued, "Here is what we''ll do to ovee this tricky situation. We''ll separate the team into two units. The first unit will include eleven of our best yers at the moment. They will not participate in the tiring drills to prepare for our next three Serie A matches."

    "Instead, they will train at another ground solely to prepare for the first leg of our UEFA Champions League semi-finals against Borussia Dortmund. Of course, they''ll still have to participate in our tactical meetings for the Serie A matches since I n to use them as substitutes in all the games."

    "Moving on. The second unit will include the rest of you who won''t make the first eleven. You''ll undergo the training drills to refine our tactics for our Serie A matches. You''ll then get opportunities to serve during our matches against Torino, Fiorentina, and Sampdoria. At that point, you must do your best to perform so we can continue winning and maintaining our unbeaten run."

    The coach swept his scorching gaze across some yers before saying solemnly, "I know some of you might be thinking that we''re already this season''s Serie A champions, and it wouldn''t matter even if we lost the next three games. You better discard such notions out of your heads. You better correct your attitudes, as we need to continue winning. I especially don''t want us to suffer any losses. I want us to continue our unbeaten run for as long as possible."

    "Moreover, if some of you from the second unit perform well, I can decide to promote you to the first unit. Then, you will y our uing Champions League fixtures. So, don''t lose hope even if you''re not mentioned in the first unit today. Just continue doing your best on and off the pitch, and I will surely give you an opportunity. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    "Good," Coach Max Allegri said with a nod. "Now, let me read the eleven yers in the first unit. We have Buffon, Patrice Evra, Leonardo Boni, Giorgio Chiellini, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo, udio Marchisio, Zachary Bemba, ¨¢lvaro Morata, and Carlos Tevez. You eleven will train on the second pitch solely to prepare for our Champions League semis, and I''ll supervise most of your training myself. Do your best, as you risk facing relegation to the second unit if you perform below par during our training sessions."

    "As for those I haven''t named in the first eleven, they will all stay on the first pitch and train with Coach Trombetta. But don''t rx. Even while focusing on the other unit, I will still make time to monitor you to ensure you don''t embarrass us when you y our next three Serie A games. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers not mentioned in the eleven of the first unit replied with vigor. They were right to do so as they would get more match time, with the best eleven out of the way.

    Coach Allegri nced at them and nodded. He then made a few concluding remarks before sending the two groups of yers to their respective training grounds.

    -----

    Zachary was not too happy with the coach''s arrangement. In fact, he wasn''t alone with regard to the matter. The other Juventus yers also had downcast looks as they headed to the second training ground tomence their preparations for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semis.

    "I feel likemitting a few mistakes during the uing drills," Arturo Vidal was the first to break the silence on the subject. "Maybe the coach will relegate me to the second unit, and I''ll be able to y our next three games."

    A few othersughed at that but silently agreed with Vidal.

    All footballers who could rise to the top had a few traits inmon. They were hungry to perform, and they relishedpetition. They would always do their best to get into the starting eleven for every game that came their team''s way, with some even risking to hide injuries to achieve the goal. Such was the nature of professional athletes.

    So, you could imagine their feelings when they heard the coach''s announcement of the training n. Some of them were even regretting why they had been too impressive over the past few weeks. They were not too happy with joining the first unit, which would be sitting out their following three Serie A fixtures.

    "You guys shouldn''t feel down," Buffon, the captain, suddenly said as their group of eleven approached the second training ground. "The coach is doing this for the good of the team. Since we''re already champions, he doesn''t want to waste most of our energy on the remaining Serie A games."

    "Moreover, there''s something else I''m sure about. The coach will not dare to rest all of us for all three games. He will rotate and give each of us some match time during the ten days so we can maintain our sharpness and individual ying rhythms while heading into the fixture against Borussia Dortmund."

    "I think what the captain says is true," Zachary, who had remained silent, said. "The coach will use us as substitutes or allow us to start one or two of the three games."

    As a footballer, he understood he could lose some of his sharpness if he went ten days without ying top-level football. The experienced Allegri was even more aware of this. As such, the coach would have to give his starting eleven some ying time during the ten days before the game against Borussia Dortmund.

    As the yers whined among themselves, they finally reached the second training ground. Coach Allegri arrived soon afterward, and the trainingmenced immediately.

    They started the session by going through the warm-up exercises. Then, after achieving a good workout rhythm, they went into the agility and stamina drills before eventually delving into the routines targeted toward the actual tactics of the Champions League semi-final.

    They practiced various transitions of y that they could execute sent them back to the resting room.

    Zachary followed after the rest of his teammates to the locker against Borussia Dortmund for about two hours before the coach sent them back to the resting room.

    Zachary followed after the rest of his teammates to the locker room. He then headed to the bathroom and showered before going to the canteen. He grabbed some snacks of bread, bananas, and milk from the counter and then settled down on one of the tables to enjoy the food.

    It was at that point that his phone started vibrating. He fished it of out his pocket and nced at the screen.

    A few doubts shed within his mind when he noticed the call was from Kristin Stein, his publicity secretary. He was confused as she had long cultivated the habit of never calling when he was training with the team. Nevertheless, he pressed the ept button and held the phone against his ear.

    c71241599ffa2342522e9fa0e93245a9d8ec4ad4e8c3c5baf0c66a8666374fd0c18cf25f85fb9e0995aa560458105d35ab2b328b8d9e9696a32f2622adae0a4f32409ea22ca300072b5e873116ad6685635133386a566bddfa2d2304ad5da

 Chapter 578 The Not-So-Important Derby Della Mole

    Chapter 578 The Not-So-Important Derby De Mole

    "Hey, Kristin!" Zachary spoke into the phone. "What''s up?"

    "Hey, Zachary!" Her voice sounded from the other end of the line. "I''m calling to inform you that I''m about to travel out of Turin. I''ll be away for about a week, so don''t be surprised when you try my phone and find it unavable."

    "Oh!" Zachary said while noting that her voice sounded a bit off. He asked, "Is anything the matter? Are you facing any challenges?"

    A few more seconds passed, and she answered, "Honestly, this has to do with my grandpa. His health has gotten worse. He is undergoing treatment at the Hauknd University Hospital in Bergen. I''m heading there to see him."

    "Your grandpa is not well!" Zachary''s eyes narrowed.

    Kristin''s grandpa was Mr. Martin Stein, the same old scout who brought him from Lubumbashi before sending him to the football academy associated with Rosenborg Football Club in Trondheim, Norway. He had even proposed that they start a sports agency and talent development center together in DR Congo a few years back. But he didn''t immediately agree to the proposal since he was still trying to establish himself as a professional footballer.

    "How is he coping up?" He asked Kristin.

    "Honestly, he''s not doing well," she replied. "The doctors say that he has a problem with his liver. They will be carrying out more tests before making sure."

    "That''s too unfortunate," he said. "I really wish him a quick recovery. Do you need any help?"

    "Not right now," she said. "Maybe it would..." She stopped mid-sentence.

    "Maybe it would?" Zachary probed.

    There were a few more seconds of silence before she spoke. "I know this is selfish of me, considering your fixed schedule. But could you spare some time to visit the old guy? He had always looked forward to meeting and talking to you again."

    Zachary considered his schedule over the next few days and said, "I would surely like to visit him. But I''ll have to first request permission from the club and my coaches. If they agree, I''ll link up with you in Bergen, and we can visit him together."

    "That''s great," she said, her voice more rxed. "Just tap on me on WhatsApp when you confirm with your coaches."

    "Okay," Zachary agreed. They then started discussing work-rted matters, like his publicity events with Nike and Audi. They talked for about ten minutes before she hung up with the excuse of having to catch a flight.

    Zachary pushed the phone back into his pocket before considering how he could fulfill Kristin''s request.

    Coach Max Allegri nned to rest him over the period of the following three Serie A games. But that didn''t mean the coach would agree to his travel request to Norway. On the contrary, the coach could refuse while thinking of not exhausting one of his yers crucial to his team''s performance in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

    "Well," Zachary thought with a sigh. "I''ll just put in the request. If they agree, well and good. If they don''t, I''ll be honest with Kristin about it."

    With the resolution, his mood cleared. He pushed the matter to the back of his mind and started enjoying his food. He ate with all the haste he could muster, as he had to rest for only an hour before attending more tactical training sessions in the afternoon.

    -----

    The hours on Friday and Saturday went by quickly as the two units of the Juventus team underwent their respective training regimens under the supervision of their coaches.

    Sunday, April 26th, the day of Juventus'' first match in the busy ten-day schedule, arrived, and yers attended their final pre-match tactical meeting. After the coach finished going through the game n again, they took their team bus to the nearby Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino to battle their close rivals, Torino FC, in yet another Derby De Mole of Turin.

    For Torino FC, this was a high-stakes game to determine whether they would qualify for the following season''s Europa League. They were also ying for pride, with the yearning to embarrass Juventus in the derby. As such, they fielded all their best yers, hoping to put up one of their best disys for the season.

    For Juventus, a team that had already secured the Serie A title, the game was just an inconsequential fixture and a not-so-important derby match stalling their preparations for the UEFA Champions League semis.

    Coach Allegri did what everyone expected. He rested seven of his best yers and fielded a team full of second-stringers. He left crucial names like Zachary, Tevez, Andrea Pirlo, and udio Marchisio, among others, on the bench, showing that he was not that invested in the famous Turin derby.

    The gamemenced at 3:00 PM, with Torino setting a blistering tempo from the first minute. The men in maroon colors rushed forward, tearing through Juventus'' ranks with lightning-fast one-two exchanges before eventually ying a final pass to Fabio Quagliare, their forward.

    Fabio Quagliare, on his part, remainedposed and took a touch that carried him past Angelo Ogbonna, the Juventus center-back for the day. The striker then drove forward and fired a grounded shot towards the inside of the far post from a tight angle.

    Fortunately for Juventus, the ball rebounded off the post and headed out of y. And with that, Juventus survived an early goal during the second minute of gamey.

    The game resumed immediately after with a Juventus goal kick. But the spirited Torino yers didn''t waste a minute before winning possession back.

    The home yers then settled into a steady rhythm of ying intricate one-twos in the middle while sometimes using abrupt runs through their wing areas to pressure Juventus. They soon became the better team on the field of y and forced the opponents on the defensive. Moreover, when they lost the ball, they would immediately press the opponents to win back possession as soon as possible before rmencing their relentless attacks.

    Their brilliant efforts eventually paid off during the 35th minute when a loose pass from Simone Padoin, the Juventus left-back for the day, allowed Matteo Darmian to exploit the space behind Juventus'' backline. The other Juventus defenders were clearly caught off guard as the Torino man beat the offside trap before collecting the ball and unleashing a thunderous shot from beyond the edge of the box.

    Matteo Darmian''s shooting technique was brilliant, and his shot sted past Marco Storari, Juventus'' keeper for the day, before finding the back of the. With that, the score was 1:0 in favor of Torino, and the Juventus yers had to find a way to make aeback.

    On that front, Coach Max Allegri fumed and yelled at his yers from the sidelines, making his feelings known to everyone watching. He even instructed some of his first-team yers he had left on the bench to start warming up. His warning was clear. If the team didn''t start performing, he would probably make some first-half substitutions without a second thought.

    Fortunately, Juventus'' field yers spared him the trouble by soon settling down. They began ying brilliant football and set a relentless tempo as they searched for an equalizer. They constantly beat down on Torino''s door and came close to scoring several times.

    However, the home team yed solid defensive football and thwarted all of Juventus'' opportunities. They held on and walked down the tunnel for the halftime break while still leading by a goal to nil.

    The second halfmenced after the fifteen-minute break, with Juventus continuing to rain down more pressure on Torino''s defense. The men in the striped ck and white jerseys yed ingenious football, with the highlight being when Fernando Llorente got to the end of Roberto Pereyra''s well-timed pass during the 72nd minute.

    Fernando Llorente remainedposed and showed his ss as a striker. He drove past the Torino center-backs with a simple weave-and-turn before pulling the trigger. He slotted the ball past the keeper and finally found the back of the to score Juventus'' 1st goal on the afternoon.

    The proceedings were back to level terms, and the score was 1:1. Be that as it may, the Juventus yers didn''t step on the brakes. They continued using prating interchanges through the middle to break down the still-tenacious Torino side.

    Eventually, their efforts bore fruit during the 83rd minute when Fernando Llorente got to the end of another brilliant diagonal pass from Stefano Sturaro, one of the midfielders. Llorente overpowered one of the Torino center-backs in an aerial battle before heading past the keeper and scoring Juventus'' second for the day.

    The score was then 2:1 in favor of the visiting Juventus. Coach Max Allegri immediately made appropriate changes and introduced Patrice Evra, a defender, and Arturo Vidal, a defensive midfielder. The two bolstered Juventus'' defensive efforts and allowed the visiting team to whittle away the remaining minutes without much fuss.

    Eventually, the referee blew the whistle after three minutes of added time. And with that, the game ended with Juventus still leading by two goals to one.

    The Juventus yers and coaches couldn''t contain their happiness as they had won yet another Serie A game and pushed their season tally to 90 points with six matches to go. They even had a huge opportunity to topple the team''s 102-point record set by Antonio Conte''s Juventus during the previous Serie A season.

    Zachary, who had watched the whole game from the bench, was also excited. He had long forgotten his discontent resulting from not getting some ying time. He really felt good about being a part of a team that was going ces and close to breaking records.

 Chapter 579 Against Fiorentina

    Chapter 579 Against Fiorentina

    Three dayster, on Wednesday, April 29th.

    Juventus weed Fiorentina at their home ground in Turin for their 33rd fixture of the 2014-15 Serie A season.

    Coach Max Allegri was still maintaining his n of resting his crucial yers. He once again fielded a team almost full of second-stringers. But what excited most fans was that he bolstered the ''seemingly weak'' starting squad with the addition of Zachary Bemba, Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez, Leonardo Boni, and Giorgio Chiellini, who were all first-team yers of the highest quality.

    When asked why he hadn''t rested all his first-team yers for that game against Fiorentina during the pre-match press conference, he replied, "I don''t want my yers to get rusty before our semi-finals against Borussia Dortmund. I must bnce resting them with giving them some game time for the next seven days."

    The reporter then asked, "There are still six games to go before the end of the season. But aside from already securing the title, you and your boys have already amassed a whopping 90 points. You''re in a great position to break the record of umting the most points ever in a single Serie A season by surpassing the 102-point mark."

    "Are you actively looking forward to breaking this record? Or is it not one of your key objectives, especially with your uing hectic schedule that includes the Champions League semi-finals?"

    Coach Max Allegri smiled at the reporters and said, "We''re Juventus. We always y to win every game. We''ll try to do the same for our remaining Serie A fixtures."

    The coach''s responses excited the Juventus fans, who were more than eager to see their team continue winning. They were all in a hyper mood as they waited for the game tomence that Wednesday night.

    The pre-match proceedings ended quickly, and the game kicked off right on time at 8:45 PM.

    The Juventus team immediately started on the front foot by dominating possession against Fiorentina. Their first-team creative yers, including Zachary, Andrea Pirlo, and Tevez, linked up well with the rest early on. Their exchange of the seemingly slow but intricate passes saw them dictate the tempo and create a few chances before the half-hour mark.

    Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente, the two Juventus attackers, even came inches close to scoring during the 16th and 29th minutes, respectively. But the brilliant efforts of the Fiorentina keeper saw their efforts denied, and the score remained tied at 0:0 with less than a quarter an hour to go to halftime.

    The Juventus yers didn''t give up even after missing opportunities. They maintained their 4-3-1-2 formation and continued dictating the tempo with their intricate passing while waiting for the perfect opportunity to prate Fiorentina''s tenacious defense.

    Their efforts eventually paid off during the 43rd minute when Zachary suddenly worked his magic in the middle of the park. He skipped past Alberto Aquni, one of the Fiorentina midfielders, and made one of his signature prating runs through the middle.

    Zachary continued forward and skipped over another sliding tackle before loming his way past two more defensive opponents.

    Speed like the wind, he approached the final third and yed a well-timed through ball past the strikers to release Carlos Tevez.

    Carlos Tevez, on his part, was as sharp as ever. He elerated to top speed and beat Fiorentina''s offside trap before connecting with the pass from Zachary. The Argentine then drove the ball into the box like a predator on the hunt before sliding it past the keeper with a left-footed drive. He effortlessly found the far bottom corner and scored Juventus'' first goal on the night during the 44th minute, right before halftime.

    The first half ended immediately after the ensuing celebrations, and the yers walked down the tunnel for halftime.

    Coach Max Allegri acted with urgency to give his halftime pep talk. He didn''t say anything concerning changing the tactics against Fiorentina. Instead, he encouraged the yers to remain hardworking and disciplined during the second half. He also urged them to y boldly and get one or two more goals before sending them back to the field for the second half.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle, and the second half began, with Fiorentina ying much better football.

    The men in purple arrayed themselves into a 3-5-2 t formation, which worked wonders and soon allowed them to overpower Juventus in the middle areas. They then set a stable tempo and began relying on long balls over the midfield to apply a fair amount of pressure on Juventus'' backline.

    The tides of the game seemed to have changed, and it wasn''t long before Fiorentina started creating chances against Juventus. Mario G¨®mez and Mohamed Sh even came close to capitalizing on two floating passes, the first time during the 51st minute and the second time during the 56th minute. However, on both asions, Juventus'' ever-tenacious defensive duo of Leonardo Boni and Giorgio Chiellini stood firm and thwarted their goal attempts.

    But the misses didn''t discourage the Fiorentina yers, who continued attacking with increasing intensity. Theymitted more men forward, with even their defensive midfielders pushing into Juventus'' half. Marcos Alonso and Joaqu¨ªn S¨¢nchez, the two wing-backs, had also started ying as true-blue attacking wingers to bolster Fiorentina''s hunt for the equalizer.

    But what the Fiorentina yers seemed to forget was that Juventus was a monster of an entity on the counterattack. They were soon punished for that oversight when Andrea Pirlo collected a loose ball at the edge of the box after a failed Fiorentina corner kick during the 59th minute.

    Andrea Pirlo didn''t waste time finding Zachary, who had just arrived in an unmarked pocket of space on the left wing. And with that, the counter was on, and the attackers in the striped ck and white jerseys bounded forward like a pride of lions on the hunt.

    Zachary exchanged snappy one-twos with Carlos Tevez and Roberto Pereyra as they tore down Fiorentina''s unprepared defense. They moved from one end of the pitch to another within less than ten seconds, and the ball eventually returned to Zachary as he stepped into the final third on the left nk.

    Zachary collected it mid-stride and cut into the pitch without slowing down. He then skipped past a tackle from the ''veryst'' Fiorentina yer, who had remained back to defend, and opened up the space toward the goal. Everything else was simple, and he immediately squared a pass to find the arriving Fernando Llorente in the middle.

    Fernando Llorente was in the right ce at the right time as the ball arrived towards him. He remainedposed and took a touch to control it before hammering it goalward and past the keeper. He found the back of the and scored Juventus'' second goal on the night during the 60th minute.

    The score was then 2:0 in favor of Juventus, and Coach Max Allegri returned to his recent antics of ever wanting to rest his crucial yers. The Juventus manager substituted Zachary Bemba, Carlos Tevez, and Andrea Pirlo out of the game. And with the absence of the three, the situation on the pitch became trickier.

    The Fiorentina yers became bolder and bolder and attacked with more zeal. Diagonal passes into the box became the order of the night as Mario G¨®mez and Mohamed Sh, the two attackers, continued making spirited runs behind the Juventus backline. They were really going out to score a goal and find some lifeline for aeback.

    However, their efforts bore no fruit, mainly due to Juventus'' tenacious defensive efforts. The yers of the Turin-based team relied on their same old tricks to see out the remaining minutes of the game. They fell back and remained solid in defense while maintaining a fair measure of a threatening counterattacking presence.

    And with that, the game fell into a steady rhythm, with Fiorentina continuously on the attack while Juventus mostly defended. Unsurprisingly, no more eventful urrences transpired until the referee blew the final whistle after three minutes of added time.

    -----

    Following the usual practice, the coach gave the Juventus yers a day off after their game against Fiorentina. The intent was for them to recover before returning to the training ground.

    Zachary, who had provided two assists in the game the previous night, woke up early at around five, feeling more refreshed than fatigued. He quickly went through his morning routines before packing a light luggage and setting off for the airport with his bodyguard - Lorenzo.

    He had finally received a response concerning his travel request to Norway the previous evening, right before the game against Fiorentina. The club management had permitted him to go on the journey on his off day, which happened to be Thursday. But there was also a condition. He had to return to Turin the same day and be ready to attend Juventus'' training on Friday.

    Zachary had no problem with the conditions set by the club. He nned to take a six-in-the-morning private chartered jet to Bergen and visit Mr. Martine Stein, Kristin''s grandpa and the scout who brought him to Norway. He would spend about one hour or two with the old gentleman before relying on the same private jet to return to Turin by evening.

 Chapter 580 Seeing Mr. Stein Again

    Chapter 580 Seeing Mr. Stein Again

    A sparkling white private jet touched down on the runway of a small airstrip in Bergen at 10:45 AM. It soon came to aplete halt and quickly extended its airstair.

    Zachary and Lorenzo, who were the only passengers on board, immediately moved to exit from the small aircraft. They carried their bags and slowly walked down the stairs. They soon stepped onto the tarmac and started heading towards the Audi SUV parked a few dozen meters away from the runway.

    As they walked, Zachary squinted his eyes against the almost-blinding sunrays while constantly breathing in to take in the refreshing spring air of Bergen. A soft smile outlined his face, and he sighed again and again at thefort and speed of the private jet.

    They had only set off from Turin at 7:00 AM. But due to the efficiency of the private jet, they had covered the trip that could have taken them five-plus hours in only three hours and forty-five minutes. They had arrived in Bergen much earlier than expected, and they now had all the time to visit Mr. Martin Stein before returning to Turn in the evening.

    Such was the efficiency of using a private chartered jet. It allowed you to travelfortably and quickly without experiencing themotion of stopovers. You could even dodge the fuss associated with busy airports at your destinations by choosing tond at a private airstrip like they had just done.

    After experiencing how wonderful the private jet could be, Zachary even considered acquiring one for himself for a minute. But after recalling its purchase price that could go anywhere in the range of 2 million Euros and above, plus the associated costs of jet fuel, he sighed and shook his head.

    Yes, he would get himself one in the future. But that would be after his retirement when he had saved plenty of money or gained ample returns from his investments. That was his immediate n.

    "Boss!" Lorenzo, the bodyguard, called out, thus interrupting Zachary''s reverie. "I booked the car for us to use during our short stay here in Bergen. The driver already knows what to do. He''ll take us straight to the Hauknd University Hospital."

    "Great," Zachary said and stepped into the back seat of the waiting SUV. Lorenzo didn''t follow him in the back. Instead, he sat beside the driver before giving the guy a few instructions.

    The driver nodded at all the instructions and quickly eased the car out of the private airstrip. He gradually elerated out of the gates, and soon, they were cruising through the neat streets of Bergen.

    As the familiar architecture of Bergen shed by, Zachary recalled some moments from hisst visit to the ce. He had enjoyed dinner with Mr. Martin Stein, who had been quite spirited. The old scout had even proposed they work together to start a sports agency and talent development center in Africa. But, with his career in mind, he hadn''t replied positively to the suggestion.

    "I wonder if he still wishes to start the agency!"

    Thoughts shed through Zachary''s head as the car moved forward. Eventually, they slowed down and approached the gates of the Hauknd University Hospital, where Kristin was already waiting.

    "Zachary, you made it," Kristin said with a smile as Zachary stepped out of the car. "How are you doing?"

    "I''m doing fine," Zachary replied with a smile and hugged Kristin. "How are you? And how is your grandpa doing now?"

    "Well, I''m not in the best of moods," she replied while returning the hug. "My grandpa''s condition has improved. But he is still weak. The doctors say the cause might be the Hepatitis infection he suffered some years back. It could have damaged his liver."

    "I''m really sorry to hear that," Zachary said. He released Kristin from the hug and continued, "I really hope he gets well soon."

    Kristin nodded and sighed at that. "I''ll take you to see him now. I left when he was still awake and waiting for you. Follow me."

    Zachary nodded and followed after Kristin. They walked through the clean hallways of the hospital and passed by many medics in their uniforms, plus some patients, before eventually arriving at a door within the private ward.

    Kristin knocked a few times before pushing the door open.

    Immediately, the scene inside the room, with the haggard-looking Mr. Stein lying on the hospital bed, presented itself before Zachary''s eyes. He winced despite himself as the moment reminded him of thest days of his grandma.

    "Kristin! You''re back?"

    An unfamiliar voice sounded from within the room. Zachary turned to the source and realized that the person who had spoken was a blonde middle-aged woman seated on the other side of the hospital bed. She had a graceful air about her persona, and her oval face still showed clear signs of the stunning beauty she had been during her younger years. She also resembled Kristin to a certain extent and was probably her mother.

    "Mom!" Kristin replied as they walked into the room, thus confirming Zachary''s suspicions. "I have brought Zachary. He''s a professional footballer Grandpa wanted to meet."

    "Oh, so this is Zachary," Kristin''s mother said. She stood up and extended her hand to him. "I have seen you a couple of times on TV. I have also heard a lot about you from Kristin and Mr. Stein. But this is the first time we''re meeting."

    "Yes, that''s right," Zachary replied. "It''s nice to meet you, ma''am." He took her hand in greeting.

    Kristin''s mom smiled. "Thanks for taking great care of Kristin. Since childhood, her dream has always been to follow in her grandpa''s footsteps by working in the football industry. As her mom, I''m very thankful to you for offering her such a great opportunity."

    "No need for thanks," Zachary said with a dismissive wave of his hand. Suddenly, something triggered his senses, and he turned his gaze towards Mr. Stein. The sickly old gentleman seemed to have been sleeping moments ago. But the voices had most likely interrupted his rest. He was now awake and ncing at Zachary with a weak smile.

    "Zachary! You''re here?" He said in a barely audible voice. "I''m d you made it. Otherwise, if you had dyed, I might have gone to heaven without seeing you."

    "Hello, Mr. Stein," Zachary greeted and sat on a chair beside the hospital bed. "You must not speak like that. A positive mindset is crucial for your recovery."

    Mr. Stein smiled and sighed. "It feels like just yesterday when I traveled to Lubumbashi and saw a boy with potential partaking in one of the trials. I brought him to Europe, thinking he might mature into another solid footballer who could help my former team, Rosenborg, achieve its past glory."

    "But within a short five years, he has already exceeded all expectations and even joined one of the greatest teams in Europe. He even has a chance of making this year''s Ballon d''Or shortlist. What a legend you''ve created in this short window, Zachary! I feel like discovering you can be considered the greatest and most important achievement in my scouting career."

    Zachary smiled and chose not to reply.

    It was at that moment that Kristin''s mom interrupted. "We two need to get some fresh air," she said. "You guys can take your time talking." She tactfully pulled Kristin out of the room and closed the door behind her.

    Mr. Stein smiled and turned in bed. "Do you remember my proposal from years back? I suggested we coborate to start a sports agency and talent development center."

    Zachary nodded. "I do remember the proposal. In fact, I was constantly thinking about it while on my way here. But don''t burden yourself with such issues at the moment. You only need to focus on your recovery, and we can talk about the proposal after you heal."

    Mr. Stein sighed again and said quietly, "I know my body well. I don''t think I have much time."

    Zachary''s eyes shed and narrowed. He looked at the sickly old scout but decided not to give needless words of advice or constion.

    "You must be thinking that I have chosen to give up the battle early," Mr. Stein continued. "But let''s forget all that and focus on what''s important. Have you ever had a dream you wanted to aplish so badly? I''m talking about something you yearn and dream to do before your life''s journey ends."

    Zachary nodded. Bing a professional footballer and ying for one of the best teams in the world had always been his dream in his two lives. But he had already realized it when he joined Juventus the year prior.

    Mr. Stein smiled. "Then, you can understand me. I''ve always yearned to put up talent development centers in Africa. These centers will then help develop most of the neglected footballing talents there and help them have a chance of overturning their fate. At least, I want to set the foundation for this goal before I leave this world."

    Zachary took a deep breath and sighed. He considered how the old scout had saved him a lot of trouble by bringing him to Europe and asked, "How can I be of help, then?"

    "I hope to use your name to market this venture," Mr. Stein said.

    "Oh," Zachary said with some surprise. "Don''t you want me to invest any money?"

    Mr. Stein shook his head. "If I asked you for capital and still used your name to market the venture, I would be unfairly exploiting you. You must understand that the poprity associated with your status can already match millions of dors. We only need to use this poprity to elevate the venture. And for that, we''re willing to surrender 30% of shares in thepany responsible for managing the entire project."

    "Oh!" Zachary eximed. "This seems like a good deal. I don''t see any reason to reject your proposal. I will notify Emily Anderson, my agent andwyer, to meet your people soon. She''ll be in charge of discussing all the progressive matters rted to the venture."

    "Great," Mr. Stein said and let out a breath. "I''m d that you agreed to this. Thanks a lot."

    "No problem." Zachary smiled and changed the subject. They started discussing various topics, big and small, including current football news, club politics of the most prominent teams in Europe, and even the future of the transfer market. They talked for about an hour until Zachary said his goodbyes and left the hospital.

    He had fulfilled his promise to Kristin and visited Mr. Stein in the hospital. They had even agreed to coborate to start a massive project in Africa. His next order of business was to return to Turin and continue preparing for the uing matches, including the Champions League semis.

 Chapter 581 One More Win in the Serie A

    Chapter 581 One More Win in the Serie A

    Zachary didn''t immediately leave Bergen after saying his goodbyes to Mr. Stein, the old scout. Instead, he headed to a nearby restaurant with Kristin and Lorenzo, where they enjoyed a sumptuous lunch together.

    They discussed various topics while eating and only finished the food an hourter, at around 1:30 PM. They said their goodbyes outside the restaurant and parted ways soon after, with Kristin returning to the hospital to stay with his grandpa.

    Zachary, on his part, immediately left the peaceful Bergen with his bodyguard. He headed to the private airstrip and boarded the private chartered jet back to Italy. Their flight was quick and without any issues, and they arrived in Turin three and a half hourster, at around six in the evening.

    After exiting the aircraft, Zachary boarded his Audi RS7, driven by his bodyguard Lorenzo. They left the airport and set off for his mansion in Penarol, Piedmont. They cruised at a not-so-speedy pace and arrived about an hourter when evening had just cast its dusky gown over Turin.

    Zachary thanked his bodyguard and immediately moved to enter his mansion. He walked through his grand and richly nted courtyards that were like a piece of art under the illumination of the fluorescent lights. He continued moving forward as he felt his mood lighten before entering the house from the side entrance.

    He found Jaslene, one of the housemaids, doing some chores in the kitchen. He greeted her with a smile before continuing and entering thevish-looking living room area.

    There, he saw Coach Bj?rn Peters, his fitness trainer, who lived with him. The buff guy was chatting with Inger, the wife, as they followed a cooking show on TV. On hearing Zachary''s footsteps, they both turned and nced his way.

    "Zachary, you''re already back from Norway!" Inger was the first to break the silence with an exmation. "Wee back."

    "Thanks," Zachary replied and ced his bag on the side. He then greeted Coach Bj?rn Peters as he walked into the living room area and settled into one of the rocking chairs.

    "You must be exhausted and hungry," the ever-caring Inger said. "I''ll prepare something delicious for you to eat. It won''t take long." Then, without waiting for Zachary to respond, she rushed off to the kitchen to follow through with what she had just said.

    Coach Bj?rn Peters looked at her disappear behind the door and turned to face Zachary. "She''s quite a good chef. Isn''t she?"

    "Yes, she is," Zachary replied with a sincere smile. "Thank you for bringing her along to be my chef. I''ve long graduated from eating substandard food ever since she arrived."

    Coach Bj?rn Peters smiled back and said, "At least you''re honest. She''s the best thing that has ever happened in my life." The coach then nced at Zachary with a strange smile and inquired, "Have you thought of getting a wife of your own?"

    Zachary''s lips twitched at the corners. "Not at the moment. But I will do the needful when I meet the right person."

    Coach Bj?rn Peters nodded. "I used to see you with that beautifuldy. What was her name again? It was Cami, I think. But it has been months since Ist saw her. What happened?"

    "Things didn''t work out, and she left," Zachary said, sighing. "She even got a job far away in Australia."

    "Oh, sorry to hear that. But I''m guessing a few months should have psed since you separated. Haven''t you thought about getting yourself a new girlfriend? She doesn''t have to be someone you''ll really marry. But she can be someone beautiful and caring that can asionally take your mind off the stressful day-to-day stuff. Don''t you think so?"

    Zachary''s eyes shed with a strange light. He leaned back in his seat, wondering why the coach was so talkative about rtionship stuff today. He sighed again and said, "I don''t wish to enter a rtionship to only y around. I''ll have to continue waiting until I meet the right person."

    If there was one thing that his time with Cami had taught him, it was that rtionships could really get tedious andplicated if genuine feelings were not involved. As such, he had long promised himself that his next rtionship would only be with a girl he really loved.

    Coach Bj?rn Peters sighed after hearing Zachary''s response. "I think phrases like ''meeting the right person'' and ''encountering a girl one really loves'' are overrated in real rtionship matters. Remember, love is a choice and a decision because your actions determine if it lives on or ends."

    "Instead of waiting for a girl that will give you butterflies and make your heart race, why not go out there and pick yourself a beautiful one with a good character? Then, you can slowly learn and grow to love her as time passes. And I''m sure that if you do your utmost to care for her, she''ll also eventually grow to love you back."

    Zachary chuckled and shook his head with helplessness. "Why do you sound like a rtionship guru today? Why are you giving me so much ''Love Doctor'' advice?"

    Coach Bj?rn Peters grinned. "I''m just trying to be there for my client and friend in a positive way. Aside from advancing your football career, I would also love to see your progress in personal matters. By the way, are you from visiting Mr. Stein in the hospital?"

    "Yup." Zachary nodded.

    "How''s the old scout doing?"

    "Not so good," Zachary responded. "He can still converse. But from what I heard from Kristin; his liver has severe problems."

    Coach Bj?rn Peters sighed and said, "That''s too bad. The scout used to be one of the caring ones. He discovered many talents from around the world and brought them to clubs in Scandinavia. Rosenborg and the NF Academy you were previously in also benefited from him considerably. I hope he gets better soon."

    "That''s my wish, too," Zachary said. He then continued discussing with the fitness coach about inconsequential matters before eventually changing the subject to his personal training.

    In particr, they discussed how he could avoid the usual end-of-season fatigue. They explored the prospect of altering the training ns already in ce so as to allow him more time to rest during thest few weeks of the season. They also examined the notion of changing his diet to boost his energy levels with the appropriate food.

    It was at that point that Inger brought the food. She gave it to Zachary and joined the conversation with her input as his professional chef. Everything progressed smoothly, and they devised a sketch of a training and dieting n that could reduce his fatigue levels considerably by the time Zachary finished the food.

    Zachary thanked the couple for everything after pushing his te aside. He then exchanged some more small talk with them before picking up his hand luggage bag and heading to his bedroom upstairs.

    He hoped to go to bed early and have a good rest. Then, he would have all the required energy to attend Juventus'' training the following day.

    -----

    As nned, Juventus'' training resumed the following Friday morning. The two units continued training apart, with one preparing specifically for the Champions League semis against Borussia Dortmund, while another had its eyes on the proceeding Serie A match against Sampdoria.

    Zachary was in the first unit since he was one of the best yers (if not the best yer) in Juventus. He didn''t feel fatigued since he had relied on afortable private jet to travel to Norway and back. He was energetic the whole day as he went through drills targeted towards refining the tactics for the UEFA Champions League semi-final during the entire course of the day.

    -----

    The hours on Friday shed by quickly, and Saturday soon arrived. It was yet another match day for the Juventus team, and the yers and technical staff arrived at the Vinovo at around nine.

    They boarded their bus a few minutester and set off for the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa to y against UC Sampdoria in their 34th Serie A battle of the season.

    For that game, Coach Allegri maintained his intent of resting his crucial yers for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals against Borussia Dortmund. He once again fielded a team with many second-stringers and opted to leave ymakers like Zachary, Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez, and many others on the bench.

    But even then, even with all the missing first-team names, Juventus still showed why they were the giants of Italy when the matchmenced at 6:00 PM. The Old Lady yers put up a solid performance characterized by zealous defensive tenacity and a few brilliant moments of counterattacking football to topple the tricky Sampdoria side.

    Arturo Vidal, one of the few first-team yers on the field that day, was the person who eventually exploited one of the rare chances of the game. After making a prating run from deep within the midfield, the Chilean outwitted the Sampdoria defense and got to the end of a long cross from Stephan Lichtsteiner. He rose into the air a few yards from the near post and ingeniously headed the ball past the keeper to score Juventus'' one and only goal on the night during the 31st minute of gamey.

    After that, the Juventus yers maintained their defensive tenacity and whittled down all the remaining minutes, with brilliant defensive efforts matched with an equal measure of counterattacking brilliance. They defended while keeping the Sampdoria yers on tenterhooks until the final moment.

    With that, they had maintained their 1:0 lead and won yet another Serie A game. They had also extended their season-long unbeaten run and pushed their Serie A tally to a whopping 96 points with four matches remaining to the end of the season. Their next order of business was to wee Borussia Dortmund to the Juventus Stadium on theing Tuesday for their first-leg battle of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

 Chapter 582 First Leg of the UCL Semi-Final Against Borussia Dortmund

    Chapter 582 First Leg of the UCL Semi-Final Against Borussia Dortmund

    Tuesday, May 5th, 2015

    Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy.

    Time: 8:40 PM.

    -----

    Only five minutes were remaining before the first leg of the long-awaited UEFA Champions League semi-final battle between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund. The fans of both teams had already filled up the stands. They were cheering at the top of their lungs while eagerly waiting for the referee to blow the kick-off whistle.

    On the pitch, proceedings were also moving forward smoothly. The yers had justpleted most of their pre-match routines. They were taking their positions while waiting for their captains to finish the mandatory coin toss that would mainly decide which side would kick off the game.

    Zachary was obviously among the Juventus starting yers. He had rested enough over the past ten days and was as fresh as ever. His energy levels were sky-high, and he was ready to do his best against Borussia Dortmund.

    Zachary took his starting attacking midfield position right outside the center circle and started observing the Borussia Dortmund yers on the other side of the pitch. He could see famous names from his previous life, like Ciro Immobile, Marco Reus, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Ilkay G¨¹ndogan, and Mats Hummels, taking up their positions. They all looked sharp and ready to give their all during the game.

    Zachary then turned to Borussia Dortmund''s bench and saw another renowned and all-familiar figure from his previous life. The person in question was J¨¹rgen Klopp in the flesh. He was the budding coach of Dortmund who wouldter manage Liverpool and guide them to Premier League and Champions League glory.

    At the moment, Klopp was yet to reach his peak as a football tactician. But even then, he was already a tricky manager to y against since he had a knack for performing during big moments. Moreover, his game already had a vor of the annoying gegenpressing that wouldter be his trademark tactic when he reached the peak of his career.

    Zachary turned away from the German tactician while fully knowing that the game could be tricky with such an opponent overseeing things. He cast the irrelevant thoughts out of his head and did a few stretches. Then, just as his body warmed up again, he saw the referee initiating the motions to blow the whistle.

    The game was about tomence, and Zachary could hear the cheers of the fans hitting a thunderous peak. The atmosphere turned vtile within seconds, tempting him to nce toward the stands. He immediately saw the Juventus fans disying a tifo that was already lighting up the whole ce with its visual imageryprising of Juventus'' traditional colors.

    Zachary felt reassured after taking in the sight. He knew that Juventus'' job for the semis was already half-done with the support of the fans behind the team. He smiled and returned his attention to the proceedings on the pitch.

    The referee soon blew the whistle. On cue, the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semismenced, with the early pace of the match rivaling the electric intensity inside the stadium.

    The Juventus yers grabbed the ball from the get-go and maintained possession during the early stages. They arrayed themselves into their 4-3-1-2 formation and exchanged intricate and well-timed passes. They relied on their midfield of Zachary, Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, and udio Marchisio to overwhelm the opponents and dictate the tempo for the first ten minutes.

    On the other hand, the Borussia Dortmund yers were not so quick to settle into the game. They couldn''t even take advantage of their 4-3-3 formation to maintain possession or initiate any form of gegenpressing. They fell back and defended like some typical defensive-minded team while waiting for a chance to counterattack.

    With Juventus attacking and Borussia Dortmund defending well, the game fell into a steady rhythm without any team creating clear chances on goal. However, all that changed when udio Marchisio yed a well-timed through ball to Carlos Tevez during the 14th minute.

    The on-form Carlos Tevez used his pace to race past Mats Hummels, the Dortmund center-back, before connecting with the through pass from udio Marchisio. Tevez then remainedposed and hammered the ball goalward from around the edge of the box. He unleashed a shot towards the inside of the far post, hoping to score Juventus'' 1st goal on the night.

    However, Tevez''s luck wasn''t the best that night. The Dortmund keeper reacted and threw himself at the iing ball. He punched it away from the goal and beyond the box.

    It was at that moment that the strategic Ilkay G¨¹ndogan went into action. The German midfielder hurriedly collected the ball cleared by the keeper from around the edge of the box. He then yed a first-time diagonal pass toward the left wing where Marco Reus, Dortmund''s winger for the day, was lurking.

    Marco Reus effortlessly controlled the ball close to the center line on the left nk before whirling around and setting off toward the other side of the pitch.

    Speed like the wind, Marco skipped past Stephan Lichtsteiner, the Juventus right-back, before squaring the ball into the middle to find Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the forward running in sync with him.

    Aubameyang was just too sharp for udio Marchisio while connecting with the pass from Marco Reus. He met the ball with a simple mesmeric touch that took him past the Juventus midfielder. Then, without losing a moment, he yed a pass forward to release Ciro Immobile, Dortmund''s center-forward, on his way toward the goal.

    "Whoosh!"

    Immobile was like the wind as he beat the offside trap and controlled the ball mid-stride. He then took another touch and unleashed a goalward shot from around the edge of the box, hoping to score Dortmund''s first on the night during the 15th minute.

    Fortunately for Juventus, the ever-alert Gianluigi Buffon was on the pitch. The keeper reacted fast and punched the ball to safety and towards the left side of the box.

    Patrice Evra, who was nearby, picked up the just-cleared ball. He then wasted no time before whirling around and beyond the reach of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who was closing him down. And just as quickly, he yed a forward pass towards the middle of the field to find Andrea Pirlo.

    Andrea Pirlo also worked with the same urgency to advance another attack for Juventus. He evoked his Maestro sorcery and looped the ball over a crowd of yers to find Zachary, who had just floated into the right wing.

    Another blistering counter for Juventus was on, and Zachary did the needful. He pushed off the ground and controlled the ball with his chest without any pressure. He then turned around and set off for Dortmund''s goal while speeding up like a Ferrari on a Form One race track.

    He soon met an obstacle in the form of Ilkay G¨¹ndogan, one of the Dortmund midfielders, while cutting into the pitch. But he remainedposed and zoomed past the midfielder with a few step-overs followed by a simple change of pace.

    Zachary then continued running at the Dortmund defenders while noting everything around him. He circumvented another defender as he approached the final third, and when the angle opened up, he yed a well-timed forward pass to Carlos Tevez.

    Carlos Tevez was quite ingenious on the striking line. He timed his run to perfection and beat Dortmund''s offside trap. He raced through the gap between the opposing center-backs before connecting with Zachary''s inviting pass.

    All that remained at that moment was the telling touch, and Tevez showed his ss andposure as a striker. He calmly drove the ball forward before kicking it goalward. He sted it past the helpless Dortmund keeper and into the back of the to score Juventus 1st goal for the day during the 16th minute.

    -----

    The cheers hit another thunderous peak as Carlos Tevez ran to the touchline to celebrate the goal. They caused the already vtile atmosphere to be more explosive, with some fans even going as far as removing their shirts while yelling at the top of their lungs. They couldn''t contain their excitement after their team drew first blood and scored the first goal in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

    "Well, well, well," Ian Crocker, thementator, said after the cheers started fading. "It''s Juventus one, and Dortmund zero. After a few minutes of nerve-wracking counterattacks from both sides, the Turin-based team has finally found a breakthrough. They scored the first goal on the night through Carlos Tevez during the sixteenth minute. They have gotten the perfect start to this first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals."

    "Damn! The football over the past few minutes has been electric," Tony Gale, the othermentator, remarked. "We first saw Juventusunch an attack that set up Tevez for a one-on-one with the Dortmund keeper. However, the Argentine missed the opportunity and allowed the German outfit tounch their own counter."

    "But the Dortmund yers also wasted their counterattacking opportunity when Ciro Immobile saw his shot saved by Buffon. That set up another counterattack for Juventus, which saw Zachary work his magic on the right nk before cutting into the pitch and finding Tevez again. That time around, Tevez didn''t miss. He remainedposed and put the ball into the back of the to score Juventus'' 1st for the night."

 Chapter 583 A Good and Bad First Half

    Chapter 583 A Good and Bad First Half

    The game continued after the celebrations.

    It was as if the opening goal had injected another wave of energy into the Juventus yers. They continued ying intricate passing football, characterized by slow build-ups leading to abrupt through passes into the heart of the opposing defense. Their 4-3-1-2 formation worked wonders, allowing them to control possession over the following few minutes.

    The game then fell into a stable rhythm, with everything looking fine and dandy in the case of Juventus. But just as the 22nd minute approached, something unexpected transpired in the heart of the Old Lady''s defense.

    After receiving a backward pass from Andrea Pirlo, Giorgio Chiellini, one of Juventus'' center-backs, was unlucky to slip while trying to y a routine long ball. The mistake cost his team greatly and allowed Marco Reus, Dortmund''s winger who happened to be nearby, to take full advantage.

    The crafty Marco Reus wasted no time pouncing on the loose ball before any other Juventus defenders could react. He then used his pace to cut into the box before slotting a curling shot past Gianluigi Buffon. His effort was spot on, and he found the inside of the far post to score the first and equalizing goal for Dortmund during the 22nd minute.

    "Well, that came out of nowhere," Ian Crocker, thementator, said as Marco Reus ran to the sidelines to celebrate the goal. "Juventus has been dominating proceedings ever since they scored the opening goal. But one blunder of Giorgio Chiellini, their center-back, gifted the opponents a rare chance to score and bring proceedings back to square one. The score is now 1:1. A game of football can really change within moments."

    "Indeed," Tony Gale, the othermentator, concurred. "The goal is even more significant for Dortmund since it''s a crucial away goal that can determine whether they qualify if they tie the aggregate score after the second leg of these semi-finals. Unless Juventus scores another goal, the German outfit will head into the second leg with a clear advantage."

    In the meantime, the game resumed with a Juventus kick-off. The Old Lady yers didn''t allow the unexpected goal they conceded to affect them in any way. They stuck to the game n and continued dictating the tempo with brilliant exchanges, especially in the middle.

    Zachary, in particr, became more active. He was constantly on the move in the midfield and asionally floating into the wings while exchanging passes with his teammates. His ingenious and dynamic ying style brought calm and confidence to his team. It also allowed Juventus to take back control of the game.

    Juventus then continued dictating the tempo as the game approached the 30th minute. They even started creating clear goal-scoring chances, with Carlos Tevezing close to scoring with a header during the 32nd minute and ¨¢lvaro Morata wasting a one-on-one opportunity against the Dortmund keeper three minutester.

    The Dortmund yers, on their part, remained defensive for most of the game and onlyunched asional counterattacks. Due to Juventus'' dominance on the field, they didn''t even get opportunities to execute Coach J¨¹rgen Klopp''s signature gegenpressing. They mostly remained in their half while holding on for dear life against Juventus'' relentlessness.

    A few minutes passed in that manner, and just when the game was approaching the 40th minute, another momentous change happened. Zachary, who had just floated into the right wing, used his pace to break past Marcel Schmelzer, Dortmund''s left-back for the day. He then raced along the touchline on the right side of the pitch before cutting towards the box, momentum like a whirlwind.

    Mats Hummels, the Borussia Dortmund captain and center-back, soon came forward to mark him. The defender didn''t rush in wholesale. Instead, he approached with caution while aligning his body to block Zachary from cutting past him and into the pitch.

    Zachary read Hummels'' intent within seconds as he sped forward. He didn''t try to dribble and cut into the pitch, as that would slow down the attack. He instead drew back his leg and unleashed a curling chip towards the box where ¨¢lvaro Morata was lurking.

    In the box, ¨¢lvaro Morata reacted instantaneously. He sped forward and raced into the unmarked pocket of space before Sokratis Papastathopoulos, the other Dortmund center-back. The Spaniard then pushed off the ground and headed the ball goalward, intending to score Juventus'' second goal on the night.

    "BAM!"

    The sound of the header smashing against the crossbar reverberated the next moment. ¨¢lvaro Morata''s effort had missed the mark by centimeters, and the ball had just bounced off the bar before rebounding into the box.

    Morata witnessed all this and reacted instinctively. He pounced towards the rebounded ball with all the haste he could muster. But unfortunately for him, he saw Sokratis Papastathopoulos, the Dortmund center-back, clear it away from the box before he could cover half the distance.

    In the meantime, the just-cleared ball soared into the air with a whooshing sound before descending into the middle third, close to the center circle. Andrea Pirlo, who happened to be close by, pounced towards it. He then rose in the air and battled an overly zealous Ilkay G¨¹ndogan before heading the ball back toward Dortmund''s box.

    Andrea Pirlo went to the ground while clutching his calf after heading the ball. The aerial battle against Ilkay G¨¹ndogan or his poornding had probably caused him an unexpected injury.

    The referee saw all this. But he waved for the game to continue and yed an advantage when he saw Zachary collect the ball headed by Andrea Pirlo at the border of the final third.

    Zachary, on his part, didn''t think twice before advancing the attack. He brought the ball to the ground within an instant before executing a Marseille turn to skip past Henrikh Mkhitaryan, one of the Dortmund midfielders.

    Zachary then elerated to top speed within seconds and approached Dortmund''s box while using his SS-graded spatial awareness to keep a handle on what was around him. As he continued running, he saw Tevez making a prating dash on the left side of the box. He also caught a glimpse of ¨¢lvaro Morata, who had just returned from the offside position and was already waiting near the area for an opportunity.

    Zachary caught all the details as he ran at Dortmund''s defense. The gears in his mind turned, and he exchanged a one-two with Morata before breaking into the area from the right edge of the box.

    At that point, the space had opened up, and only the keeper remained between him and the goal. Not wishing to take unnecessary risks, he took one more touch to draw in the keeper before squaring the ball to Carlos Tevez, who was running in sync with him.

    The pass left the keeper and the whole defense out of sorts. It also allowed Tevez to receive the ball unmarked close to the goal. He extended his leg and tapped into the back of the empty to score Juventus'' second for the night during the 41st minute.

    The score was then 2:1 in favor of Juventus. But the Old Lady yers, including Tevez, the goal scorer, didn''t head to the sidelines to celebrate the goal. Instead, they all rushed towards the center circle, where Andrea Pirlo was still painfully clutching his calf as if injured.

    On cue, the Juventus medics all rushed on the pitch, hoping to provide first aid and get the Maestro back into the game. But their expressions soon turned somber as they realized Pirlo''s injury wasn''t light. They wasted no time signaling Coach Max Allegri, who started preparing for an appropriate substitution.

    A few more minutes passed, and the medics finally helped Andrea Pirlo off the pitch. Their initial assessment was that he had sprained the calf muscle of his right leg. However, they had to do more tests to determine the extent of the damage and how fast he could recover.

    Roberto Pereyra immediately came on for the injured Pirlo. The game continued immediately after, with the Juventus yers ying more defensively. They all fell back and started weathering the attacks from Dortmund, intending to guard and maintain their 2:1 lead up to halftime.

    However, all that changed when a failed attack from Dortmund presented Zachary with the perfect opportunity to counterattack during the 45th minute. He collected a loose pass from one of the Dortmund yers before twisting and turning to create some space he could utilize. Then, without wasting a second, he looked up and unleashed a racking pass toward the other side of the pitch with the outside of his boot.

    His ingenious pass immediately removed the Dortmund midfield and defense from the equation. It flew through the air unimpeded beforending in front of Carlos Tevez, who had long initiated a daring run towards the other side of the pitch.

    The counterattack was on, and Carlos Tevez timed his run perfectly without being offside. He was like the wind as he headed the ball forward and past Mats Hummels, the Dortmund center-back. Without slowing down, he continued running while driving the ball onwards with his head.

    He eventually brought the ball to the ground after leaving Mats Hummels in the dust. He sprinted forward and then rounded the keeper, who hade out of goal to meet him before sending a shot into the back of the empty to score Juventus 3rd goal on the night during the 45th minute.

    The score was then 3:1 in favor of Juventus, the highlight being that Carlos Tevez had scored all three goals. The Argentine couldn''t hide his happiness after finallypleting the hat trick. He yelled at the top of his voice while running towards the sidelines to celebrate.

    Zachary was also in a good mood, as he had provided all the assists that resulted in all three goals. He was even more delighted when he joined Tevez and his other teammates to celebrate on one side of the pitch. He also couldn''t suppress the joy of being part of a winning team.

 Chapter 584 Breaking Through the Gegenpressing

    Chapter 584 Breaking Through the Gegenpressing

    The referee blew the whistle for halftime soon after the goal celebrations. The yers of both teams immediately headed to their respective dressing rooms for the break.

    The Juventus yers couldn''t contain their happiness since they were already leading by a 3:1 score. Most were all smiles, while a few continuously cracked jokes as they walked toward the dressing room.

    On the other hand, the Borussia Dortmund yers were in low spirits. They walked with contorted expressions as they traversed the tunnel and eventually arrived in the visitor''s dressing room. They then remained silent and gloomy while waiting for their coach''s halftime address.

    Coach J¨¹rgen Klopp, who had arrived earlier, pped his hands to draw their attention. He narrowed his eyes and said, "That was a terrible first half."

    "We were supposed to use counter-pressing tactics to choke their build-ups before they transitioned into their midfield y. But we didn''t work hard to do any pressing up the pitch. We allowed the Juventus defenders and midfielders to y at their own pace. The result is the three goals we conceded during the first half." At this, the coach shook his head.

    "Before the game, I emphasized the need for counter-pressing to win against Juventus. When we lose possession, we must run at them like mad and force them tomit errors. We must not give them any second to settle down and pick any of their midfielders or initiate a counter. We must struggle hard to win back the ball andunch another immediate attack against them. The strategy is simple, and it''s how we stop Juventus."

    J¨¹rgen Klopp''s expression turned somber. He spent the next few minutes pointing out the mistakesmitted by his yers during the first half. He then gave them tips to improve their game as a team before sending them back to the pitch for the second half.

    -----

    The second half started after the fifteen-minute break, with the Dortmund yers exhibiting more energy and spirit on the ying field. They were more active than they were during the first half and fought with their all to win possession during the first few minutes. Then, after getting hold of the ball, they raced out of their half and immediatelyunched an attack against Juventus'' defense.

    Ilkay G¨¹ndogan was the initiator of the attack. He collected a loose ball close to the center circle and found Henrikh Mkhitaryan, his counterpart in midfield, with a brilliant pass through the middle. His through ball was perfect, and he set Mkhitaryan up for a one-on-one against Arturo Vidal high up the pitch.

    Henrikh Mkhitaryan, on his part, yed brilliantly and escaped the harassment of Vidal with a well-timed first touch followed by an abrupt 180-degree turn. He then unleashed a first-time lofted diagonal pass towards the left wing, where Marco Reus was lurking.

    Marco Reus controlled the ball with his chest in the wing before twisting and turning to skip past Stephan Lichtsteiner, Juventus'' right-back for the day. The winger then sprinted along the touchline on the left nk before unleashing a cross towards the box from around the border of the final third.

    The tricky lofted ball flung Juventus'' box into a vtile state, with Ciro Immobile and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang simultaneously going into action.

    The two forwards battled the Juventus defenders, hoping to connect with the iing cross. They were doing everything possible to get their team a 2nd goal. They wished to reduce the score difference between them and Juventus to only one goal.

    But try as they had, their efforts soon became fruitless due to Leonardo Boni''s game-reading brilliance. The center-back read the iing cross like an open book before clearing the ball away from the area and towards the left wing.

    Patrice Evra, Juventus'' left-back, collected the just cleared ball, intending to pass and initiate a counter against Dortmund. But no sooner had he taken a touch than two Dortmund yers rushed towards him, all guns zing as if they wished tomit murder.

    Not wishing to lose possession, Patrice Evra acted quickly and passed the ball back to Gianluigi Buffon, the keeper.

    Buffon controlled the ball well, close to his goal. But before he could take a second touch, Ciro Immobile, the Dortmund forward, rushed toward him with a speed rivaling that of a predator on the hunt.

    Buffon reacted as any experienced keeper and also passed the ball quickly. He yed it into the right wing to find Stephan Lichtsteiner, Juventus'' right-back.

    Stephan Lichtsteiner wasfortable while receiving the ball. But before he could do anything with it, he faced the same problem, eerily simr to what his two teammates had just gone through. Within a blink, he saw Marco Reus, Dortmund''s left-winger, closing him down like there was no tomorrow.

    Stephan Lichtsteiner hurried to release the ball into the middle towards udio Marchisio. But his unsettled mind, mainly caused by the fast-approaching Marco Reus, affected his uracy, and the pass went slightly off the mark. The ball didn''t find its intended target but floated into a pocket of space close to Ilkay G¨¹ndogan, the Dortmund midfielder.

    On the sidelines, Coach Max Allegri witnessed all this and shook his head. His heart wasn''t at ease as he had just seen Borussia Dortmund executing the gegenpressing strategymon in some top teams in Germany.

    The strategy was all about counter-pressing. At its core, it required a team to win the ball back from the opposition immediately after losing it, preferably in advanced areas of the pitch.

    Dortmund had just done that and forced three Juventus yers tomit a few eras. They used their pressing to pressure the opponent and win back the ball immediately after they lost it in advanced areas. Moreover, they had justunched another offensive before Juventus'' defense could reorganize itself.

    Coach Max Allegri''s eyes narrowed as he saw Ilkay G¨¹ndogan, the midfielder who had just collected the loose ball, feed it straight into the heart of Juventus'' defense. The midfielder effortlessly picked out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had already made a spirited run on the right side of Juventus'' box.

    Aubameyang, on his part, gathered the ball mid-stride with a brilliant touch that took him past Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus'' center-back. Then, without losing a second, he drew his leg back and unleashed a carpet shot towards the bottom left corner.

    Fortunately for Juventus, Buffon was once again alert. He reacted brilliantly and dived to punch the ball away from the goal and back into the pitch.

    Ciro Immobile, the center-forward lurking in the box, pounced towards the loose ball. The striker moved like an assassin and slid in all guns zing before kicking it back towards the goal.

    Coach Max Allegri felt his heart start to race as he witnessed everything. Time seemed to freeze in his eyes as the ball from Ciro Immobile rolled towards the goalline. But just as he was about to break from pressure, a yellow boot abruptly appeared at thest minute and blocked the ball.

    Coach Max Allegri let out a breath he didn''t know he was holding. He rxed as his eyes registered that Stephan Lichtsteiner, Juventus'' right-back, had acted on time and saved Juventus from conceding the 2nd goal during the 49th minute. Moreover, the defender had also sent the ball away towards the middle third to clear the danger.

    "At least we can have a few seconds to rx and reorganize." The thought shed through Coach Allegri''s head as he saw the ball soar above the pitch. He breathed another sigh of relief and prepared to give tactical instructions to his on-pitch yers.

    But right then, Coach Allegri stopped whatever he was nning when he saw Zachary, his best yer, pounce towards the ball that had started descending. His eyes lit up when he witnessed the boy wonder controlling the ball with his chest.

    Nuri Sahin, the yer ying as Dortmund''s defensive midfielder, immediately raced towards Zachary to close him down. However, thetter reacted calmly by spinning around and executing a swift Marseille turn with the ball sticking to his left boot.

    The cheers and whistles from Juventus'' home fans reached another peak as Zacharypleted the move with grace to spin around and away from the opponent. Even more yells of excitement sounded when the boy wonder elerated to top speed within a second and started racing toward the other side of the pitch like a bullet train on the rails.

    Juventus had finally broken through Borussia Dortmund''s gegenpressing, and the counterattack was on for the first time during the second half. Zachary continued sprinting forward, doing what he always did best. His long strides consumed yards of space like nothing as he cut through the middle like a specter.

    He eventually drove deep into the opposing half and lomed his way past Sokratis Papastathopoulos, the Dortmund center-back. He then remainedposed and yed a pass forward to release ¨¢lvaro Morata, who had just made a spirited run towards the box.

    Morata timed his run well and connected with the ball from Zachary without being offside. He then took another touch and stepped into the box before slotting the ball past the keeper with a well-time chip. His effort found the back of the, and with that, he scored Juventus'' 4th goal on the night during the 50th minute.

 Chapter 585 Concluding A Masterclass of Football Against Dortmund

    Chapter 585 Concluding A Masterss of Football Against Dortmund

    Juventus FC 4: Borussia Dortmund 1

    -----

    The stadium''s jumbotron showed a fresh score when the game resumed with Dortmund''s kick-off. The mood became more electric, with the Juventus fans continuously cheering at the top of their lungs as the match continued. It was like party time in the Juventus Stadium, with the fans already celebrating their likely qualification for the UEFA Champions League final.

    "Juve...We''re finalists," The zealous supporters shouted again and again. They sang while jumping up and down like little kids who had just received their favorite birthday presents. They couldn''t suppress their joy as their team was already leading by a score of 4:1 in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund.

    In the meantime, the game had taken a strange turn.

    The 4th goal was like thest straw that broke the camel''s back in the case of Borussia Dortmund. It sapped the life out of the yers of the German-based team and caused them to lose the fighting spirit and momentum they had just gained during the second half. Their football turned chaotic without organized tactics, and they startedmitting many mistakes on the ying field.

    J¨¹rgen Klopp, the head coach of Borussia Dortmund, yelled and yelled repeatedly, hoping to use his passionate shouts to re-energize his yers. But his boys seemed oblivious to his efforts. They continued ying hopeless football and showed very little zeal to aplish anything on the ying field.

    Under the urging of their coach, the on-form Juventus yers obviously didn''t miss the signs. They swarmed forward and took advantage of Borussia Dortmund''sxity to go on the offensive. They started ying faster and faster passes through the middle while, at times, unleashing sudden through balls toward their two men on the striking line.

    As the game approached the 70th minute, the game became even more one-sided, with Juventus bing increasingly more dominant on the ying field.

    In particr, the Juventus midfielders, like Zachary, Arturo Vidal, udio Marchisio, and the substitute - Roberto Pereyra, yed the football of their lives. Their intricate exchange of passes and brilliant usage of space in the middle allowed Juventus to set a blistering tempo against the German outfit. They outwitted the Borussia Dortmund midfielders and began creating more goal-scoring chances.

    Juventus'' hard work first showed signs of bearing fruits again during the 74th minute, when Zachary dribbled past Ilkay G¨¹ndogan and broke into the final third with yet another prating run. Zachary then tried his luck from 32 yards away and unleashed a missile of a shot towards the goal. But the keeper saved his effort, and the score remained 4:1 in favor of Juventus.

    Two minutester, during the 76th minute, Juventus got another clear chance when Fernando Llorente, the substitute striker, got to the end of a cross from Patrice Evra. Llorente outwitted Dortmund''sx defense and dispatched a header towards the goal from around the penalty spot. But like before, luck wasn''t on Juventus'' side, and the ball smashed off the post before heading out of y.

    The missed chance didn''t discourage the Juventus yers, who were already brimming with killing intent. They continued ying direct offensive football to force their opponents into more dire straits until they got a breakthrough during the 81st minute.

    Everything started with Stephan Lichtsteiner, Juventus'' right-back for the day. He yed brilliantly on the right nk and beat Marcel Schmelzer, the Dortmund right-back. Lichtsteiner left the opposing defender in the dust and raced forward before unleashing a curling cross towards the box.

    In the box, the lurking Fernando Llorente went into action. He rose from the ground and met the cross from Lichtsteiner with a well-timed header. He effortlessly outwitted the Dortmund defenders and guided the ball toward the goal.

    However, the keeper reacted on time and punched the effort back into the pitch. The nearby Mats Hummelspleted the defensive y by sweeping the ball away from the box and sending it toward the center of the pitch.

    Leonardo Boni, the Juventus center-back who had been ying so high up the pitch during the past few minutes, collected the cleared ball. He effortlessly brought it to the ground with his chest before feeding it into the left wing to find Patrice Evra, Juventus'' left-back for the day.

    Patrice Evra also worked with urgency. He took a single touch before squaring the ball to Roberto Pereyra in the middle.

    Roberto Pereyra also received it and yed a first-time pass to Arturo Vidal, his counterpart in midfield.

    Arturo Vidal continued the fluid passing football by immediately ying the ball to Zachary, who had floated into a narrow pocket of space before the box.

    Zachary rushed forward as if about to collect the ball while taking note that Sokratis Papastathopoulos, the Dortmund defender, was on his heels. He raised his leg as if he was about to control it. But at the veryst instant, he stopped his actions and let it pass under his foot.

    Zachary''s ''no-touch'' brilliant y took Sokratis Papastathopoulos out of the equation and allowed the lurking Fernando Llorente to collect the ball unmarked. The Juventus forward wasted no time taking another touch before hammering the ball past the keeper and into the back of the to score Juventus'' 5th goal on the night during the 82nd minute.

    The score was then 5:1 in favor of Juventus. But the home team didn''t put a foot on the braking pedal. Buoyed by the thunderous support from their fans, they continuedunching even more attacks until they created another opportunityte in the game during the 91st minute.

    Once again, Zachary worked the magic in the middle of the field when a passing mistake by Nuri Sahin, Dortmund''s defensive midfielder, allowed him to collect a loose ball close to the border of the final third. He didn''t waste a second before ying a forward ball toward the left side of the box, right into the sprinting path of Roberto Pereyra, his counterpart in midfield.

    Roberto Pereyra seemed to be having a time of his life on the ying field. He timely beat the offside trap and connected with the inviting pass from Zachary.

    Without losing hisposure, he left Lukasz Piszczek, Dortmund''s right-back, in the dust and drove into the box with a terrifying pace. He squared his body and chipped the ball over the approaching keeper to score Juventus'' 6th goal on the night during the 91st minute.

    The score was then 6:1 in favor of Juventus, and the home team yers finally started showing signs of fatigue. They slowed down the tempo and started ying pointless possession football until the referee blew the final whistle after four minutes of added time.

    Proceedings had finallye to a close. The Juventus yers were all over the moon in delight after showcasing a football masterss against Borussia Dortmund in the crucial first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final fixture. They were all smiles as they had already secured a five-goal advantage before heading into the second leg in Germany.

    Zachary, on his part, was also in a good mood.

    Yes, he hadn''t scored, which was a bit unfortunate. But he was still content with being involved in all the goals and providing five assists during the just-concluded game. A grin was already outlining his face as he went around the pitch to thank the Juventus fans while at times stopping to hug his teammates.

    -----

    "Mr. Klopp! What exactly happened out there? Why was it so easy for Juventus to y through your boys?" A reporter asked J¨¹rgen Klopp during the post-match press conference.

    J¨¹rgen Klopp sighed and shook his head. "Honestly, I''m not sure myself. We started the game okay and even got ourselves a crucial away goal early. But after that, we seemed to switch off, and everything started going downhill. We allowed their midfielders a lot of freedom. And since they had a yer as brilliant as Zachary Bemba overseeing things, they effortlessly punished us. The result is a 6:1 score in their favor."

    "Speaking of Zachary," the reporter said, "He didn''t score. But he was the best yer on the pitch. He was involved in most crucial ys and even provided five assists that resulted in goals. Didn''t you have any strategy to contain him at the beginning of the game?"

    On hearing the question, J¨¹rgen Klopp sighed and shook his head again. "All I can say is that Juventus was far better than us on the field of y. They showcased a football master ss and outwitted us in many areas of the field. We also didn''t do enough and allowed their yers, like Zachary and Tevez, to punish us. That''s why the score ended 6:1 in favor of Juventus."

    "Onest question," the reporter said before Klopp could walk away. "Do you think you still have a chance to overturn the result when Juventus visits you in Germany next week?"

    "Of course," J¨¹rgen Klopp replied. "The chance is obviously slim. But as a professional football team, we will do everything possible to grab it. We''ll fight until the very end. And even if we fail, we won''t have any regrets since we''ll have already done our best to overturn this terrible first-leg score."

    "Well, thank you, sir, for answering my questions," the reporter said. "I wish you all the best in your uing matches."

    J¨¹rgen Klopp nodded and turned to leave. He was in a hurry, maybe to meet his yers.

    -----

 Chapter 586 Result from The Other Semi-Final

    Chapter 586 Result from The Other Semi-Final

    The following day was a Wednesday. It was also an off day for the Juventus yers, who had just won the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final battle against Borussia Dortmund by a whooping score of 6:1.

    With that in mind, Zachary slept untilte and only woke up long after sunrise at around 11:00 AM. He quickly went through his morning routine, including his yoga exercises, cleaning up, having breakfast, and chatting with Coach Bj?rn Peters. Then, as the clock hands around Turin were about to point to the midday mark, he donned some of his better garments, including jeans, a T-shirt, and white sneakers, before heading out of the house towards his parked Audi RS7.

    "Good afternoon, boss!" Lorenzo Rardo, his bodyguard, greeted him as he approached. As usual, the buff guy was sporting an all-ck attire, including a ck suit, a long-sleeved T-shirt, shoes of the same color, and dark shades. He just looked suave and imposing as he stood there beside the vehicle.

    "Good afternoon, Lorenzo," Zachary returned the guy''s greeting with a smile. "You''re smart again. You almost look like someone heading to a wedding reception."

    "Thanks for thepliment, boss." Lorenzo grinned. He then gave Zachary a once over and said, "You''re also smart in your own way, boss."

    Zachary''s lips twitched at the corners on hearing thepliment. He looked at his loose-fitting T-shirt paired with the faded ck jeans and shook his head. "Let''s head out," he said, not wishing to linger on discussing fashion. "It''s my off day today. I wish to spend some time visiting museums and other rxing ces today."

    "Oh, okay," Lorenzo agreed. "Where are we heading to first, boss?"

    "Let''s start with the Armeria Reale, the Royal Armory of Turin," Zachary replied. "After touring the ce, we''ll n from there and see where to go next."

    "Okay, boss," Lorenzo naturally agreed.

    The bodyguard took the steering wheel after Zachary settled in the back seat. He started the vehicle, and they soon set off and exited the mansion''s gates.

    An hourter, they arrived at the Armeria Reale, where Zachary spent another hour admiring art pieces, real cold weapons, and statues of knights from the past era. He had a great and rxing time at the museum, with the only nuisances being some fans who were constantly interrupting him to ask for autographs or selfies with him.

    At around two in the afternoon, he found a random cafe and enjoyed lunch with his bodyguard. But just as he finished eating and was about to leave the ce and head to the next museum, more fans approached him and started asking the usual.

    Zachary chose to remain amodating since he was a public figure. He signed as many autographs as possible and posed for a few pics with the zealous fans. He only excused himself about an hourter with the help of the robust Lorenzo before getting into his vehicle.

    They set off for the Museo Nazionale dell''Automobile, the next museum on their tour schedule. Zachary had already learned his lesson and done his best to conceal his face with arge hat and tinted sses by the time they arrived. He didn''t attract much attention and was at peace as he took his time to enjoy the collection of cars on disy in the museum.

    After another hour, Zachary left the automobile museum with a big smile. He felt content after seeing many ssic Italian cars, like the Bernardi from 1896, the Fiat from 1899, the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost from 1914, and the old racing cars by Ferrari and Alfa Romeo.

    By then, the sun was already descending towards the west of Turin, and the clock hand on his watch was about to point to the 5:30 PM mark. After considering how the museums could close soon, he decided not to continue his tour. Instead, he instructed Lorenzo to drive him back to his mansion, where he spent most of the evening refining his skills in the system''s GOAT Skills Simtor.

    His evening hours passed quickly, and he soon enjoyed a sumptuous dinner prepared by Inger, his chef. He felt even more rxed after enjoying the meal and nced at his watch.

    It was 8:20 PM, and the other UEFA Champions League semi-final between Barcelona and Bayern Munich wouldmence in twenty-five minutes.

    Zachary hurried upstairs to his bedroom''sfy bathroom to shower. He finished cleaning up in only fifteen minutes before returning to the living room downstairs to catch the semi-final on his big screen.

    Coach Bj?rn Peters, the fitness coach who lived in the mansion, had already settled in one of the cozy sofas before the screen. Beside him was Inger, his wife, who also happened to be Zachary''s live-in chef. On noticing Zachary enter, smiles lit up the couple''s faces as they weed him with favor.

    Zachary settled on another sofa and cracked jokes with them as he waited for the semi-final between Barcelona and Bayern Munich tomence. But since only five minutes remained before the big moment, he diverted some of his attention to check out the line-ups of the two teams on the screen.

    He immediately saw all the famous names, including Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Su¨¢rez, Andr¨¦s Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Gerard Piqu¨¦, Javier Mascherano, and Dani Alves, on Barcelona''s starting line-up.

    He then noticed that Bayern Munich had simrly put forward a strong line-up. He could see names like Robert Lewandowski, Thomas M¨¹ller, Juan Bernat, Xabi Alonso, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, Thiago Alc¨¢ntara, J¨¦r?me Boateng, Medhi Benatia, Rafinha, and Manuel Neuer on their starting list of yers.

    After disying the line-ups, the view on the screen changed to show the technical areas of the two teams. Zachary first noticed some of the notable personalities sitting on Barcelona''s bench, including Pedro, Xavi, and the equally famous Luis Enrique - the coach of Barcelona. As for Bayern, there were substitutes like Mario G?tze, Dante, Javi Mart¨ªnez, and the renowned Coach Pep Guardi, Bayern''s manager.

    "These two are all tough teams," Coach Bj?rn Petersmented after seeing the yers take their positions on the ying field. "Which among them would you prefer to meet in the finals?"

    "Why are you asking him about the finals when he hasn''t yed the second leg?" Inger interrupted before Zachary could reply.

    Coach Bj?rn Peters scoffed at his wife. "Juventus won the first leg by a score of 6:1 yesterday. Could you also be like J¨¹rgen Klopp, who believes that Dortmund still has a chance to overturn the result during the second leg?"

    Inger scoffed back. "What do you know? I''m just looking out for Zachary. I don''t wish us to pressure him with unnecessary considerations when he still has to y many more matches before ying the final."

    "Do you think he''s that delicate?" Coach Bj?rn Peters said and turned away from his wife. He faced Zachary and asked again, "Do you prefer to meet Barcelona or Bayern Munich in the finals?"

    Zachary was a bit amused after witnessing the couple''s bantering. He smiled and replied, "As you said, both are tough teams with strong line-ups and equally brilliant managers. I''m okay with meeting any of the two."

    "That''s a good mindset," Coach Bj?rn Peters agreed. "Finals are always something else, where even a weaker team can overpower a giant of Europe. So, it doesn''t matter whether you meet Bayern or Barcelona. Instead, what is crucial is that you make do with the time avable to make your best preparation for the final. When the dayes, do your best to win and leave everything else to a higher power."

    "Indeed." Zachary nodded and focused his gaze on the screen. For the next ny-plus minutes, he watched Barcelona disy a brilliant performance to thrash Bayern by a score of 3:0 in the first leg of the other UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

    The game started at a zing tempo, with the Barcelona yers begging for a penalty just minutes into the match after Jerome Boateng barged into Luis Suarez inside the box. The referee was unmoved. However, the fast start was a clear indication Barcelona meant business.

    The hosts built on that momentum and soon overwhelmed the Munich-based team. Tiki-taka became the order of the night, and the incredible Lionel Messi quickly scored a brace inside the first 30 minutes to give Barcelona a deserved 2:0 lead during the first half.

    Of course, the Bayern Munich yers also had their moments, especially when some great work from Thomas Muller left Lewandowski unguarded within the box during the 36th minute. But the Polish international''s header missed the mark, and the score remained 2:0 in favor of Barcelona.

    The Bayern Munich yers then fell back and defended while pushing for opportunities on the counterattack. But their defensive tenacity couldn''t match Barcelona''s attacking intensity, which had increased to an unbelievable level after halftime.

    The Barcelona yers yed fine and fluid passing football to break through Bayern''s Munich ranks many times. They even created several clear chances on goal. But they ''simply'' couldn''t put the ball past Neuer, who once again showed why he was among the nominees for the previous year''s Ballon d''Or.

    The score remained 2:0 in favor of Barcelona until injury time when the Bayern yers tried tounch an offensive of their own but messed up terribly.

    Things got worse for the Bavarians as Lionel Messi collected a loose pass after the failed attack before initiating a counterattack towards the other side of the pitch.

    Lionel Messi dribbled past a few yers before ying a forward pass tounch Neymar on a straight path towards the goal. Thetter remainedposed and rounded Neuer, the on-form Bayern keeper, before putting the ball into the back of the to score Barcelona''s third and final goal on the night.

    Zachary sighed as he watched the referee blow the final whistle after five minutes of injury time. He could guess that Juventus would likely face Barcelona in the finals of the UEFA Champions League since the Catns already had a three-goal advantage before ying the second leg. So, he had to start working hard with the rest of his teammates to prepare for the game.

 Chapter 587 Against Cagliari

    Chapter 587 Against Cagliari

    Three dayster, on Saturday, May 9th, team Juventus weed Cagliari Calcio at their home ground for their 35th Serie A match that season.

    Coach Max Allegri saw no need to rest all his yers since Juventus already had a 6:1 advantage over Dortmund while heading into the following Wednesday''s second-leg battle of the UEFA Champions League semis. He fielded a rtively strong squad with big names like Zachary, udio Marchisio, Arturo Vidal, and Carlos Tevez in the midfield.

    The yers he chose to rest on the day included the defenders, namely Patrice Evra, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Leonardo Boni, Giorgio Chiellini, and ¨¢lvaro Morata, the second-striker. Of course, he also left out the injured Andrea Pirlo, who had suffered a calf injury during the Dortmund game.

    The gamemenced at six in the evening, with Juventus ying as usual and pressuring Cagliari from the get-go. The men in the striped ck and white jerseys arrayed themselves into a 4-3-3 attacking formation to break down the opponents with endless barrages of attacks. They exuded energy all over the pitch and didn''t look like a team that had just yed an intense Champions League semi-final only days ago.

    Zachary, on his part, had a personal vendetta against the Cagliari fans, who had booed him with racist chants during the game at their home ground earlier in the season. He channeled the annoyance he felt for them into energy and momentum on the pitch. He relied on those negative feelings to drive himself to work harder against the opponents.

    Soon enough, he was like an incarnation of a monster on the pitch. His stamina seemed endless as he yed brilliant football to link up with his teammates while searching for opportunities to break through the opposition. His skills were also what one could call divine, and the opponents couldn''t find a way to stop him.

    His energy and dynamic ying style quickly motivated his teammates to y like him, and it wasn''t long before Juventus started creating clear goal-scoring chances. They asked all the crucial questions on the field, with Carlos Tevezing close to scoring during the 14th minute of gamey. But a stunning save by the keeper denied the Argentine another goal in the Serie A.

    The game continued after that, and Juventusunched another attack within a minute. Zachary won a ground duel against Jo?o Pedro, one of Cagliari''s midfielders, before driving straight into the heart of the opposing defense. He lomed past two more opponents with godly speed and well-timed step-overs before unleashing a missile from thirty yards away.

    The Cagliari''s keeper was again alert and managed to dive in for the save. On a full stretch, he got his hand on the powerful ball and punched it away from his goal.

    Fernando Llorente, the ever-lurking striker in the box, reacted as he should on seeing the keeper make the save. He pounced towards the rebounded ball with all the haste he could muster before tapping into the back of the to score Juventus'' 1st goal on the night during the 16th minute.

    The score was then 1:0 in favor of Juventus, but the Bianconeri continued ying as before. They built on their momentum and tore through Cagliari''s defense time and time again, only to be denied by the keeper''s stunning efforts.

    The proceedings moved forward in that manner until some intelligent y by Carlos Tevez on the right nk allowed Zachary to find a breakthrough during the 37th minute.

    Carlos Tevez was at the top of his game once again. He used his pace to leave Danilo Avr, Cagliari''s left-back, in the dust before cutting into the pitch. He approached the box from the right side and then sent a negative pass towards the arc of the eighteen-yard box, where Zachary was arriving.

    Zachary didn''t think twice before swinging his left boot to meet the pass from Tevez. His SS-grade core strength attribute and Rocket Launcher skills immediately came into y. He made a first-time connection with the ball and sted it goalward with all the leg power he could muster.

    "Whoosh!"

    With a whoosh, the ball flew off like a surface-to-surface missile. It deflected off the leg of a Cagliari defender trying to block it before smashing off the crossbar and homing into the back of the. As for the keeper, he couldn''t react, one because of the deflection and two because of the sheer speed and momentum behind the effort.

    The score was then 2:0 in favor of Juventus with only seven minutes to halftime. Usually, teams in such circumstances would slow the tempo and maintain the lead until the half ended. But this was not the case for Zachary and his teammates, who seemed to be out for blood.

    The Old Lady yers attacked and attacked during those seven minutes. Their efforts bore fruit, and Juventus tore apart the opposition twice before the end of the half. Zachary converted a free-kick during the 42nd minute to score the 3rd before Carlos Tevez added a 4th during the 45th to push the score to 4:0 right before halftime.

    Coach Allegri, who was grinning from ear to ear, returned to his usual antics of resting yers during the break. He substituted Zachary, udio Marchisio, and Carlos Tevez out of the game before bringing on Stefano Sturaro, Kingsley Coman, and ¨¢lvaro Morata.

    The three substitutions weakened Juventus to a certain extent. But even then, Cagliari didn''t get the better of the Bianconeri when the second half started.

    Yes, the Old Lady yers yed at a slower tempo due to their missing ymakers. But they still managed to whittle away at Cagliari''s defense with steady build-ups in the middlebined with brilliant moments of wing y by Kingsley Coman.

    Kingsley Coman was especially at his best that evening. He won a couple of dribbling duels against the Cagliari left-back and sent a few crosses that almost resulted in goals.

    Fernando Llorente was twice the beneficiary of those crosses. But the brilliant efforts of the Cagliari keeper saved the day and denied the Spaniard any opportunity to put his name on the score sheet yet again.

    The game soon approached the 75th minute, with Juventus still dictating the tempo with steady possession. It was then that Cagliari took a corner but failed to convert.

    The lurking Kingsley Coman immediately came alive tounch a counter. He collected the just-cleared ball from around the arc of the eighteen-yard box before initiating a foot race with the Cagliari yers. He cut through the middle like a whirlwind and skipped over a tackle before ying a forward pass to release ¨¢lvaro Morata.

    ¨¢lvaro Morata, who was still a bit fresh after onlying on as a substitute at halftime, didn''t disappoint. He calmly connected with the pass from Kingsley before rounding the keeper and scoring Juventus'' 5th goal for the night during the 76th minute.

    The score was then 5:0 in favor of Juventus, and the situation was getting ugly for the Cagliari yers, who showed no signs of recovery.

    They yed like amateurs for the rest of the game and continuedmitting mistakes in midfield and defense. They eventually gifted Juventus another goal during the 88th minute when a loose pass from one of their defenders ended up at the feet of Arturo Vidal, who was lurking in a strategic pocket of space in the final third.

    Arturo Vidal remainedposed and acted like the seasoned midfielder he was. He fed the ball back into the heart of Cagliari''s defense to find ¨¢lvaro Morata, who showed his ss as a striker and slotted past the keeper from the edge of the box to score Juventus'' 6th on the night.

    It was another football masterss by the Juventus yers, who continued working hard during the final minutes. They didn''t do anything like ying defensive tactics against the weaker Cagliari team. They continued holding on to possession andunching more attacks until the referee blew the whistle after three minutes of added time.

    With that, the Juventus yers had won another game with a score of six goals. They had also pushed their tally in the Serie A to a whopping 99 points with three games to go before the end of the season. They even had a chance of breaking the 102-point record set by themselves the past season if they could grab four more points from their remaining fixtures.

    As a yer on such a team, Zachary was in a jolly mood as he moved around the pitch to thank the fans with his teammates. His spirits were already swimming in an ocean of happiness since he had disyed another brilliant performance in the Italian Serie A.

    He had scored two more goals against Cagliari and pushed his goal tally for the Serie A season to 33. He was contented as he was already the top scorer and far ahead of the other candidates for the Golden Boot of that season.

    Moreover, if he added his goals from the otherpetitions into the mix, his total for Juventus would rise to 56 goals in just a single season. Such a feat had already allowed him to win all the bonuses Juventus promised him when he signed the contract with the club. With all that in mind, he was even more happy knowing that millions of Euros would soon find their way into his bank ount.

 Chapter 588 Good Results from Two Games

    Chapter 588 Good Results from Two Games

    Per usual practice, the Juventus yers took a day off after winning the game against Cagliari. They spent their entire hours on Sunday resting before returning to the training ground on Monday morning.

    The football season was in itste stages, and most coaches of top teams were already doing their best to reduce the intensity of the training schedules. They were trying not to burn out the energy of their yers when there were still crucial tournaments, like the Champions League and their respective leagues, at stake.

    Coach Allegri obviously had such considerations while designing the training for his yers over the following two days. On Monday, he took them through only one hour of intensive training and discussed game tactics with them for another hour before sending them to rest for the day. He repeated the same routine on Tuesday, save for the fact that he didn''t send the yers back home in the afternoon.

    The coach instead extended the tactical meeting and picked the line-up for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final.

    The selected yers then grouped up with the coaches and technical staff in the evening. They took the team bus to the airport and boarded an evening flight to Germany, eager to y the second leg of Juventus'' Champions League semi-final against Borussia Dortmund. They arrived in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, at around eight and checked into a hotel, where they spent the night.

    The coach took them through a one-hour light training session the following morning. He then discussed more tactics against Dortmund with them for two hours before sending them back to the hotel to rest for the day.

    They passed the day in a rxed mood in their respective rooms, only opting toe out for lunch at 1:00 PM and an evening snack at 6:30 PM before they set off for the match venue in their team bus. Under the guidance of the German police, they snaked their way through the streets of Dortmund before eventually arriving at the Signal Iduna Park, Borussia Dortmund''s home ground, at 7:30 PM.

    The pre-match proceedings moved forward quickly, and the gamemenced at 8:45 PM.

    Coach Max Allegri had fielded his strongest squad, save for the injured Andrea Pirlo. As such, the on-form Juventus started the game incredibly well despite being away from home.

    Carlos Tevez was once again Dortmund''s tormentor right from the get-go. Some brilliant midfield y by Juventus saw the Argentine striker connect with a pass from Patrice Evra deep in the opposition''s half. Without hesitating, Tevez pulled the trigger from 30 yards out and beat the keeper to score Juventus'' 1st goal for the night during the 3rd minute.

    It was the perfect start Juventus needed as they had extended their aggregate lead to 7:1 early in the second leg of the semi-final. They decided to conserve strength and slow their tempo of y. They allowed Dortmund to y on them and dominate possession as they defended staunchly without making any mistakes.

    The match proceedings moved forward in that manner. But Dortmund''s control of the game was not allowing the yers of the German outfit to carve out any opportunities. They even tried their best through their wing y to send crosses to Aubameyang, their center-forward. However, Juventus'' disciplined defense repeatedly cleared the danger time and time again without any mishaps.

    The halftime whistle eventually came with Juventus having beenfortable since their goal and Dortmund finding only half-chances from Marco Reus and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. As such, the yers of the German-based team needed to improve if they hoped to avoid another embarrassing score.

    However, the signs of improvement never came after the second halfmenced. Yes, the Dortmund yers continued dominating possession. But they were poor in the final third and continuously failed to convert their dominance into actual goal-scoring chances. They didn''t have even a shot on target during the first fifteen minutes of the second half.

    The game continued, and circumstances worsened for Dortmund when the Juventus yers starteding out of their shells tounch counterattacks. The initiator was Arturo Vidal, who won a ground duel against Henrikh Mkhitaryan with a sliding tackle before poking the ball towards the nearby Zachary.

    Zachary, on his part, didn''t do anything shy after receiving the ball. He acted as a typical midfielder and yed a first-time pass towards the left nk. He unleashed a pinpoint ball toward where Carlos Tevez was lurking.

    The counterattack was on, and the on-form Carlos Tevez didn''t disappoint. He chested the ball to the ground and used his swift pace to beat Sokratis Papastathopoulos, the Dortmund right-back for the day. He cut into the pitch from the left nk before ying a pass to ¨¢lvaro Morata, who was eagerly waiting for an opportunity close to the edge of the box.

    Morata skillfully controlled the ball close to the edge of the box. He turned and twisted past Mats Hummels, the Dortmund center-back, with the ball glued to his foot. Then, when the angle opened up, he pulled the trigger and slotted the ball past the keeper to score another goal for Juventus.

    The score was then 2:0 in favor of Juventus on the night, and the Juventus yers must have felt they had already done enough during the semi-final. Theyfortably fell back into their half and defended without mishaps until the game ended after four minutes of added time.

    With that, Juventus finally emerged victorious in the UEFA Champions League semi-final. They had yed a solid two legs of football and defeated Borussia Dortmund by an aggregate score of 8:1 to qualify for the finals in Berlin. They would y against Barcelona, the Spanish team that had overwhelmed Bayern Munich in the other semi-final with a 5:3 aggregate score.

    The prospect of ying in the final seemed to re-energize the Juventus yers and coaches. Three dayster, on Saturday, May 16th, they headed into their next away Serie A fixture with boundless momentum. They showcased another incredible performance and overwhelmed Inter Mn, even while they were ying away from home.

    The game didn''t start in their favor as Mauro Icardi, one of the opposing center-forwards, put Inter Mn ahead during the 9th minute with a simple tap into the back of the following a well-taken corner kick. But the Old Lady yers didn''t give up even after facing the early upset. They showed the character of champions and sustained pressure against the opponent until they found a breakthrough through Zachary during the 36th minute.

    Zachary again showed his ss and took the opportunity calmly. He converted a free-kick from a tight angle to score his 34th goal in the Serie A that season. He was steadily making firm steps towards winning his first Golden Boot in the Italian League.

    The score was then 1:1, but the Juventus yers didn''t rx. They continued dictating y against Inter Mn through their brilliant exchanges in the middle. They dominated possession and created more and more goal-scoring chances until a foul on Fernando Llorente within the box saw them win a penalty during the 42nd minute.

    Fernando Llorente stepped forward and calmly converted the penalty. He sent the keeper the wrong way and found the back of the to score Juventus 2nd goal that evening.

    The score was then 2:1 in favor of the visiting Juventus. The Inter Mn yers reacted byunching endless attacks during the second half. They even came close to scoring several times, with Xherdan Shaqiri, Mateo Kovacic, and Marcelo Brozovic all getting clear opportunities to put the ball behind the back of the during the 51st, 67th, and 73rd minutes respectively. However, the stunning saves from Marco Storari, the stand-in Juventus keeper, allowed the Turin-based team to escape unscathed on all asions.

    The game then proceeded into thete stages, with Inter Mn attacking relentlessly in search of an equalizer while Juventus calmly defended. Like most other adversaries that had already yed against Juventus, the Mn-based team seemed to have forgotten that Juventus were dangerous on the counter.

    Juventus soon punished them for their oversight when Marco Storari made another stunning save before rushing to the edge of the box and unleashing Zachary on a counterattack with a one-handed throw during the 86th minute.

    Zachary did what he usually did best. He calmly collected the ball close to the touchline on the left nk before whirling around and sprinting towards the other side of the pitch with all the speed he could muster. He left most Inter Mn defenders in the dust and eventually cut into the field to head towards Mn''s box.

    At that juncture, Gary Medel, the defensive midfielder who had stayed back to defend, tried to close Zachary down. But Zachary stepped past him with a swift change of pace before continuing towards the box. He then calmly rounded the approaching keeper and put the ball into the back of the empty to score Juventus'' 3rd goal during the 86th minute.

    Zachary didn''t halt his run, though. He ran towards the touchline and celebrated his 35th Serie A goal in front of the traveling Juventus fans. He was really having the time of his life ying for Juventus, and he repeatedly pumped his fist again and again to vent his excitement.

    After the goal celebrations, the game resumed, with the Juventus yers continuing to frustrate Inter Mn with their game management tactics. They yed solid defensive football and wasted time whenever they could until the referee blew the final whistle after six minutes of added time.

 Chapter 589 Discussing Records

    Chapter 589 Discussing Records

    Emilia Vasquez''s ESPN Sunday morning sports showmenced at 11:00 AM the following day. With her in the studio were the usual pundits, including Alessandro Costacurta, Joshua Morales, and Charles Adams. She calmly introduced them to the viewers watching before smiling and tackling the main topic to start off her program.

    "Our dear viewers," she said while facing the cameras. "Yesterday evening, we all watched Juventus humble Inter Mn with a score of three goals to one, even while ying away from home in Mn. The victory allowed them to extend their lead at the top of the Italian Serie A table to 102 points. With just one more draw, they will shatter the record they setst season and achieve new heights in the Serie A."

    "Gentlemen!" She turned away from the cameras and faced her three pundits. "If we''re to start counting from the previous season, Juventus have extended their unbeaten run in the Italian Serie A to 45 matches. Thest time they faced a defeat was in an away game against Napoli at the end of Marchst year."

    "That aside, they also haven''t faced any defeats in all the otherpetitions this season. They have already yed twelve Champions League games, one Supercoppa final, and four matches in the Coppa Italia without losing a game. Their worst results have only been a few draws, meaning their unbeaten run in allpetitions is at a whopping 62 games. Such a statistic is insane, especially in top-flight European football."

    "Yes, such a statistic is startling," Alessandro Costacurta, one of the pundits, agreed. "Formerly, AC Mn held the longest unbeaten run in Europe after going 58 games unbeaten from 1991 to 1993. Other teams with unbeaten records included Bayern Munich (after ying 53 games from 2012 to 2014 without a loss), Arsenal (with 49 unbeaten runs from 2003 to 2004), and Juventus (with 49 unbeaten games from 2011 to 2012)."

    "But as of now, Juventus has smashed all those records and gone 62 games unbeaten. We have to agree that they are currently the best team in Europe. No other can match how they have yed and handled matches this season."

    "No argument about that," Charles Adams, the other pundit, concurred. "They won the Italian Serie A with eight games to go. Aside from that, they have already won the Supercoppa Italiana and qualified for the Italy Cup and UEFA Champions League finals. Going by the statistics, they are the best team in Europe, and if things continue going their way, they might grab themselves a quadruple this season."

    "Gentlemen!" Emilia Vasquez smiled at her pundits. "What do you think has allowed Juventus to achieve such sess?"

    Joshua Morales sighed and said," Zachary Bemba. His addition to the team was like fixing thest gear, thest piece missing from Juventus. In just a few months, he has established himself on the team and helped Juventus be more threatening on the attack. Whenever he''s on the pitch, you''ll always get that feeling that Juventus can score anytime. I think he''s the main factor that has allowed the Turin-based team to achieve such heights this season."

    "Speaking of Zachary," Emilia Vasquez said, "He scored two more goals during Juventus'' game against Inter yesterday. He has now pushed his Serie A goal-tally this season to 35. He has also already found the back of the twice in the Supercoppa, five times in the Coppa Italia, sixteen times in the UEFA Champions League, and twice more while ying the two international friendlies for Ivory Coast. That puts his total for Juventus at a surprising 58 goals. If we add his two goals for Ivory Coast, he has already found the back of the sixty times in a single season."

    "His stats are insane," Joshua Morales said with a gentle shake of his head. "I have been looking at the records, and the record number of goals scored by a yer in a single Serie A season currently stands at 36. Gino Rossetti set the goal-scoring record while ying for Torino during the 1928-29 season. If Zachary can score two more goals during Juventus'' remaining two Serie A games, he will push his goal tally to 37 and smash this record to be the all-time top scorer in a single Serie A season."

    "Additionally," Joshua Morales continued, "Zachary Bemba has already scored 16 goals in the Champions League this season. If he can score two more, he will smash Christiano Ronaldo''s seventeen-goal-record to be the all-time top scorer in a single UEFA Champions League season."

    "Do you think he can break the records?" Emilia Vasquez inquired as the cameras focused back on her.

    Joshua Morales smiled. "Smashing the record of the Serie A will depend on whether Coach Max Allegri rests him to preserve his energy for the UEFA Champions League final."

    "As we all know, Juventus only has two fixtures remaining in the Serie A. But they still have to y Lazio in next Wednesday''s big Coppa Italia final before facing off against Napoli at home three dayster on Saturday, May 23rd. They will then return to action after seven days on Saturday, May 30th, when they battle Hes Verona in theirst Serie A fixture, which happens to be an away game. Finally, after all that, they will y the UEFA Champions League final against Barcelona in what could be their most crucial fixture this season on Saturday, June 6th."

    "All this seems like a tight schedule, and going by how Coach Max Allegri has been managing his yers this season, he will most likely rest Zachary at least for one of the Serie A games. Because of this simple fact, Zachary will have limited opportunities to score more goals. So, unless he scores a brace or a hat trick in a single match, he won''t be able to break Gino Rossetti''s record of 36 goals in a single season."

    "As for breaking Christiano''s Champions League record of 17 goals in a single season, I can''t predict that. Juventus will be taking on a Barcelona side that is truly strong, even by the strictest of standards, in the big final in Berlin. Everything is possible in such a final. I can''t envision how the game will progress, and neither can I predict whether Zachary will score against Barcelona. We''ll have to wait and see whether he can perform beyond expectations and break the record."

    "I have also looked at one record that we didn''t mention," Charles Adams, the other pundit, said. "It''s the phenomenal record set by Lionel Messi during the 2011-12 season. The incredible Argentine ymaker scored a noteworthy 73 goals, which included scoring a La Liga-record 50 goals in only 37 games and finding the 14 times in the Champions League. And with that, he became the highest-scoring yer in a single European season when considering allpetitions."

    "That''s indeed an incredible record by Messi," Alessandro Costacurta remarked. "Zachary only has 60 goals in allpetitions and is still 13 away from the 73-goal record with only four games to go. I guess he has no chance of breaking the record this season."

    Emilia Vasquez, the host, nodded and smiled. "The Coppa Italia final will kick off at 8:45 PM next Wednesday. Juventus will be facing off against a tricky Lazio side. All eyes will be on the game as it will decide whether the Juventus yers can keep their hopes of a quadruple alive by winning yet another trophy this season. Do you see them oveing Lazio and going with another big prize home?"

    Alessandro Costacurta chuckled. "I know that in most cases, anything can happen in a football game. But this time around, I think the saying won''t stand."

    "Juventus has been in incredible form. Weeks ago, they put six goals past a tricky Borussia Dortmund side during the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semis. Then,ter on, they again scored six against Cagliari and beat Dortmund again before humbling Inter Mn with a 3:1 score even while ying away."

    "It''s unfortunate that Andrea Pirlo, one of their ymakers, is still out of action with a calf injury. But I can still picture them continuing their form by putting up another incredible performance against Lazio. They will most likely defeat the opponent and go home with their 3rd trophy of the season. My prediction is 3:1 or 4:2 in their favor."

    "Zachary is the current top scorer of the Coppa Italia with five goals," Emilia Vasquez chimed in. "He''s only ahead of Mirov Klose, the Lazio center-forward, by two goals in the race to win the Coppa Italia Golden Boot. What is the likelihood that the German forward will score two more goals for Lazio during the final to share the honor of winning the Coppa Italia Golden Boot with Zachary?"

    Alessandro Costacurta chuckled. "Honestly speaking, Mirov Klose''s chances are minimal. We shouldn''t even debate whether he will score the goals and catch up to Zachary. Instead, the more appropriate topic of discussion should be how many times Zachary will find the back of the in the Coppa Italia final to extend his incredible goal-scoring record this season."

 Chapter 590 Eve of the Coppa Italia Finals

    Chapter 590 Eve of the Coppa Italia Finals

    For Zachary, time was passing really quickly as he prepared for the Coppa Italia finals against Lazio with his teammates. He was in a ck Mamba state of mind as he went through the team tactical drills on Monday. Then, Tuesday arrived, and he attended the pre-match tactical meeting at around three in the afternoon before saying his goodbyes to those at the training ground and heading home to rest for the day.

    Lorenzo Rardo, his bodyguard/driver, drove him back to his mansion, where he spent the evening hours napping. Training had exhausted him considerably that day, so he slept deeply until his phone''s ringtone woke him up.

    He opened his eyes groggily and extended his arm to pick up the annoyingmunication device from his bedside table. On ncing at the screen, he noticed that it was Emily, his agent calling. He turned and made himselffortable in bed before pressing the ept button and holding the phone against his ear.

    "Hello, Zachary," Emily''s voice immediately sounded from the other end of the line. "How are you doing?"

    "Hello, Emily," he replied. "I''m doing okay. What about you?"

    "I''m also okay. I just arrived in Rome to watch your Coppa Italia finals against Lazio tomorrow."

    "That''s nice," Zachary said. "Should I reserve a match ticket for you?"

    "Please do, and thanks," she said with an audible sigh. "The tickets for the finals are selling like hotcakes here. You can''t get one unless you go to those expensive dealers. When are you guys arriving in Rome, by the way?"

    "Tomorrow in the afternoon," Zachary said. "We''ll arrive with the team bus and rest only for an hour or two in Rome before heading to Olimpico di Roma to y the final. That''s the n. But you don''t need to worry. I''ll send you an electronic match ticket tonight."

    Emily chuckled. "That''s the least of my worries. By the way, I just received a call from one of Mr. Martin Stein''s people. He contacted me to inquire about the n to start a sports agency and talent development center in Africa. You can imagine my surprise as I knew nothing about such a venture."

    "I''m so sorry," Zachary apologized. "I meant to inform you about the project. But the whole thing escaped my mind due to how tight and busy the end-of-the-season schedule has been. But I did agree to start the venture with Mr. Stein. It''s something he proposed when I was still in Norway."

    "Oh!" Emily said, her tone bing sharp. "So, where do you n to set up this project exactly? How much do you intend to invest in this project? Who''s going to handle the groundwork for the project? I hope you aren''t counting on me to help you do all this."

    "Not at all," Zachary said. "Kristin will handle most of the work, especially since this is an idea from her grandfather. She''ll be responsible for designing it and taking it off the ground. As for you, I hope you provide some help by doing some supervision, contract work, and feasibility assessment during the course of the project. You''re the person I trust most. So, I really do hope you can help me on this one."

    "Zachary..." Emily''s tone softened. "I''m a football agent, you know. I should be working hard to get more clients, hoping to make it big in the football industry. But here you are, delegating charity work to me."

    "That''s where you''re wrong, my dear agent," Zachary said while pushing himself up from bed. He switched the phone to his other ear and continued, "I think the project proposed by Mr. Stein has the potential to unearth many talents from Africa. If you can take advantage of it, you could find more promising footballers while doing work on the project. By the way, have I forgotten to mention that I''ll be offering you five percent of the shares I receive from the parentpany that will handle the entire venture?"

    "Really?" Emily''s voice rose up a notch.

    "Of course, I mean what I say," Zachary assured. "Moreover, I don''t just n to set up the agency and talent development centers in only one country. I want us to tap all of Africa, including West African countries like Ivory Coast, DRC, Cameroon, and Senegal. As you know, all these are ces brimming with talented footballers. If you y your cards right, you can discover many neglected promising footballers from there."

    There were a few seconds of silence on the other side of the line before Emily spoke again. "Okay, let''s say I am in. What exactly do you want me to do? How do you want me to help with the project?"

    Zachary smiled, knowing that Emily had bitten the bullet. "The first step is to meet Mr. Stein. He has a lot of promising ideas. You can listen to them and assess whether they''re feasible. Then, we can start from there and see how best to start off this venture."

    "Okay," Emily said again. "But you owe me for this one."

    "Thanks," Zachary said. "You''re the best."

    "You''ve learned how to be cheeky," sheined. "The project aside, how are the preparations for the two finals going?"

    Zachary sighed. "We''re trying our best. All my teammates are training harder than ever. No one has said anything. But I''m sure they wish to win a quadruple this season."

    "A quadruple would be interesting," she remarked. "Moreover, it''s feasible for your case. You and your Juventus teammates have already won the Supercoppa Italiana and the Italian Serie A. If you win the Coppa Italiana finals tomorrow night, you''ll only remain with the Champions League toplete the quadruple. I think you guys can achieve this."

    "We''ll try our best," Zachary said. "The matches might be difficult. But we''ll give our all to take home all the trophies. Then, I can invite you to the after-party."

    "You said so yourself," she replied with another soft chuckle. "I''ll be waiting for the invite after the Champions League final. But before thinking of all that, make sure you win the game against Lazio tomorrow."

    "That''s a must," Zachary said.

    "Great. We have talked for quite a while. Let me wish you a good night."

    "Good night to you, too, and thanks for the call."

    "Don''t forget my match ticket, and all the best in the final tomorrow. I''ll be praying for your win. Good night!"

    "Thanks."

    She then switched off the phone without saying anything else.

    Zachary smiled. He looked at his phone screen and saw many notifications from WhatsApp and his default SMS app. After opening them, he realized most were from his acquaintances wishing him the best in the following day''s Coppa Italia finals against Lazio.

    Zachary''s mood brightened after reading some of the messages. He ced his phone to the side and called out to the system AI in his mind. "System! Please bring up the details of the 2014/15 Coppa Italia Challenge on the interface. I would like to see them."

    "DING"

    A system notification chimed in his mind.

    "The user''smand has been received," the system AI said. "The 2014/15 Coppa Italia Challenge Mission details will being up on the interface. The user can take his time reading them."

    The space before Zachary''s eyes flickered with a bright luster after the system AI''s voice sounded. On cue, the system''s translucent and formless disy manifested out of thin air, and he immediately focused on its contents.

    ****

    GOAT MISSIONS

    ----

    #The 2014/15 Coppa Italia Challenge

    ->Mission Status: epted and In Progress

    ----

    *Milestone 1: y 80% of the 2014/15 Coppa Italia fixtures [In Progress: yed 60% of games so far].

    *Milestone 2: Help your teammates be the 2014/15 Coppa Italia Champions [In Progress: Awaiting result from the final].

    *Milestone 3: Provide the most assists in the 2014/15 Coppa Italia tournament [In Progress: Awaiting result from the final].

    *Milestone 4: Be the top scorer of the 2014/15 Coppa Italia tournament [In Progress: Awaiting result from the final].

    *Milestone 5: Be the MVP of the 2014/15 Coppa Italia tournament [In Progress: Awaiting result from the final].

    ----

    *Rewards:

    ->Milestone 1pletion reward: 100 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 2pletion reward: 2000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 3pletion reward: 10,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 4pletion reward: 20,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 5pletion reward: A random-effect elixir that can increase one of the user''s fitness attributes by an entire grade (The specific attributes that can be improved include Bnce and Coordination, Agility, Strength, Stamina, and Endurance).

    ----

    NB: There will be additional rewards if the user realizes any other milestones that can unlock hidden missions.

    ----

    *Punishment if the user fails to realize any of the milestones.

    ->Minus 70,000 Juju-points

    *The user has toplete at least one milestone before the tournament ends to escape the penalty.

    ----

    *Remarks: Every little victory counts. Never underestimate the power of small, consistent wins whose effectspound over time.

    ****

    Zachary''s eyes gleamed with desire after he perused the Mission details again.

    He had long been captivated by the reward for milestone 5, which happened to be a random-effect elixir that could increase any of his fitness attributes, including Bnce and Coordination, Agility, Strength, and Stamina/Endurance, by an entire grade. As long as he could be the Coppa Italia MVP, he would be able to push one of his stats to the SSS grading. It was a great temptation that he couldn''t resist.

    "I guess I''ll have to work harder than ever during the final against Lazio to really secure this reward." His fighting spirit was like never before as he prepared to y yet another final in his career.

 Chapter 591 Excitement for the Coppa Italia Finals

    Chapter 591 Excitement for the Coppa Italia Finals

    Wednesday, May 20th, 2015.

    Olimpico di Roma, Italy

    -----

    The sunset was glorious, all rosy and salmon-pink. Its golden rays shone relentlessly on the countless football fans slowly making their way into the gates of the renowned Olimpico di Roma. Nheless, most of them didn''t mind the difort as all they could think about was the Coppa Italia finals between Juventus and Laziomencing in about two hours.

    Paolo Favero, a staunch Juventus supporter, was already wearing his stripped ck and white jersey as he waited to enter the stadium with his family. He looked at the boisterous scenes around him with eyes gleaming with excitement. His hopes had already soared as he nced at all the other fans in Juventus colors who were also waiting to pass through security and enter the match venue.

    Thest time Juventus won the Coppa Italia was all the way back in 1995. Twenty years had passed since then, and the club had added plenty of silverware to their trophy collection in Turin. But they were still facing a drought for the Coppa Italia title. It was as if someone had cursed them never to win that domesticpetition, and no matter how hard they tried, they couldn''t aplish Copa Italia glory.

    "This time, for sure," Paolo Favero thought. "We must defeat Lazio and take home this trophy. With the form we''re in, no one can stop us."

    "Dad! Enemy spotted in the vicinity." One of his two boys suddenly yelled and pointed to a fan in Lazio''s blue shirt who happened to wander into the Juventus crowd.

    The boy was not the only one looking at the overconfident Lazio fan. All the other Juventus supporters around the ce had started eyeing him as if he was an enemy who had killed their entire family. There were even those who were more undisciplined and booed the fan directly.

    "Danilo, dear!" Paolo Favero''s wife called out to her son. "Can you not go around calling people enemies? He''s not an enemy. He''s just a supporter of an opposing team, here to enjoy the game like you."

    "No, he is an enemy," Paolo Favero emphasized while eyeing the Lazio fan sharply. "But boys, you don''t need to worry about him. We''ll defeat him on the pitch when the matchmences."

    He could oftenpromise and agree with his wife on other matters. But not on an issue as sensitive as this. God forbid! But what if she misguided his two sons and influenced them to support some other team? He felt he must make matters regarding Juventus clear to his two boys.

    "Look at you misguiding the kids," his wifeined. "First, you allowed them to leave home on a school night. Now, you''re pointing out imaginary enemies to them."

    "Dear, we already talked about this," he said. "We agreed that they would watch the finals before returning their focus to their homework..."

    It was at that time that some othermotion arose around the ce. Thinking of a ''certain'' possibility, Paolo Favero discarded all he was about to say. He whipped his head around and immediately saw Juventus'' bus slowly snaking through the crowd of supporters, who had already gone bonkers with boundless excitement.

    "Juve, Oye..."

    "Zachary, Oye..."

    "Buffon, Oye..."

    The fans shouted again and again as the bus slowly approached the gates. The whole ce turned more boisterous and superheated. The excitement had descended with the arrival of team Juventus.

    -----

    Zachary watched all the enthusiastic fans through the bus window. Although he had already experienced the Italian football culture countless times, he still couldn''t get used to how supercharged the football fans could be, especially before and after games.

    To them, it was as if a football match was something to die for or probably a religion. They would always be in hyper states whenever it was a match day. They would always go far and beyond to support their respective teams. It was even more so on that day of the Coppa Italia final.

    The intensity of the cheers increased a notch as the bus halted in a designated area before the stadium. The fans grew even wilder and yelled the names of the Juventus yers who were alighting from the bus.

    As usual, Zachary was among thest to exit the vehicle. He maintained a professional smile and waved to the excited fans. He then followed after his teammates and quickly entered the tunnel, eager to y the Coppa Italia final.

    He had already done all his preparations and even enjoyed a peaceful rest the previous night. He felt refreshed and energetic. He felt like he was in his best state, and all that remained was to step onto the pitch and destroy the opponents. He had to do his best to put up an incredible performance so he could secure the random-effect elixir from the system.

    ----

    Proceedings moved fast from there on. The Juventus yers arrived in the dressing room and quickly donned their gear. Then, they underwent their dynamic pre-match warm-up in front of the tens of thousands of fans already in the stadium before returning to the dressing room to prepare for the game.

    In the meantime, Coach Max Allegri was studying the opponent''s line-up. He was in a deep state of concentration as he looked at the names on the chart while considering how his tactics coulde into y against Lazio.

    Stefano Pioli, the Lazio coach, had gone with a 3-4-2-1 formation for the final. It was a bnced set-up with a lot of central focus. It had a strong core, with most of the yers upying the middle areas of the field.

    It was also a defensively sound formation, with two defensive midfielders, two attacking wingbacks, and a duo of creative attacking midfielders all attacking as one and falling back to support the three defenders whenever necessary. It was definitely an annoying structure for opponents with a strong midfield.

    "This sly bastard..."

    Coach Allegri immediately read the intent behind Stefano Pioli''s set-up. The Lazio coach probably nned to concentrate his team''s efforts in the middle areas to mitigate the threat of Juventus'' midfield of Zachary, udio Marchisio, and Vidal. The man intended to crowd the middle and use superior numbers to bnce out Juventus'' brilliance in those zones.

    But could the strategy work? Coach Max Allegriughed. As an experienced football tactician, he had already predicted such a set-up while designing the gamen for the final. As long as his yers, like Zachary Bemba, Patrice Evra, Carlos Tevez, and Stephan Lichtsteiner, fulfilled their responsibilities, he was confident that he would repeatedly break through the opponent''s set-up and eventually win the game.

    Feeling confident, he ced the opponent''s line-up to the side and took center stage in the dressing room. He smiled when he saw that all his yers had finished donning their match gear. Then, he nced at his watch and noted that only ten minutes remained until the kick-off before quickly tackling the crucial business of addressing his yers.

    "Listen, guys," he said. "We''ve already trained enough for the past few days. So, I won''t waste time discussing tactics at thisst minute. But all I''m asking is that you head into the final with the attitude of champions. I want to see you working hard on the pitch."

    "I want to see you ying brilliant team football that doesn''t include stupid mistakes while on the ball. I want to see you dominate the game from the get-go and quickly destroy the opponent. I want to see you frustrating the opponent with quick goals and possession football so they won''t develop any hopes of winning the final in their minds."

    "Zachary Bemba, Carlos Tevez, and the others with attacking responsibilities!" He swept his gaze across the yers in question.

    "Yes, coach," they replied.

    "I want to see your magic on the pitch from the very first minute. I want to see you try to break them down with an attack during the opening few minutes before they can settle into the game. If possible, we must score a goal before they can gain any rhythm in this final. Are we together?"

    "Coach, we''ll try," Zachary replied.

    "I''ll do my best," Carlos Tevez said.

    "Great," The coach nodded and turned towards his three defenders. "Boni, Chiellini, and Barzagli! I want to see only neat football at our backline. I want to see you release the ball promptly. I also want to see you clear every danger thates your way without creating troublesome situations for the team. But I don''t want to see us concede a goal from the first minute until the final whistle sounds. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach. We''ll try our best..." The three defenders replied.

    "Good!" The coach nced at his watch. Only seven minutes were remaining to the start of the game. He smiled and continued, "It''s time, and I have probably already said whatever I wanted to say. Just head out there and y as usual. Just head on to the pitch and destroy the opponents. Just go and win us the Coppa Italia. We''re Juventus!" He ended his speech with a cheer.

    "We''re Juventus!" The yers yelled back in unison.

    Coach Max Allegri smiled. He called a few yers, like Zachary, Carlos Tevez, and Arturo Vidal, to the side to emphasize a few points of the game n. Then, after ensuring they had understood everything, he sent them out of the dressing room along with his other yers to the pitch. He had done his job as a coach, and all that remained was for his yers to enforce his tactics on the ying field.

 Chapter 592 Relentless Attacking from the Get-Go

    Chapter 592 Relentless Attacking from the Get-Go

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle at 8:45 PM and signaled the Juventus yers to kick off the Coppa Italia final. Carlos Tevez, the striker already standing over the ball ced at the center spot, immediately passed it back into his midfield to find udio Marchisio, one of Juventus'' central midfielders for the day.

    udio Marchisio, on his part, didn''t do anything sshy with the ball. He took a single touch before dispatching it to his left to find Arturo Vidal, one of his counterparts in midfield.

    By then, Mirov Klose, the Lazio center forward, had already stormed into Juventus'' half to close down the ball. However, Arturo Vidal remained confident andposed while facing the iing opponent. The Chilean even took two more touches before ying the ball into the wing to find Patrice Evra, Juventus'' left wing-back for the day.

    Patrice Evra was also without any pressure. He calmly collected the ball close to the touchline on the left nk before ying a one-two with Vidal to escape the harassment of Du?an Basta, the yer ying as the wide right midfielder for Lazio.

    Then, when the space opened up, Evra pushed forward and soon stepped past the center line. ?tefan Radu, one of Lazio''s three center-backs, rushed forward to close the Frenchman down. However, Evra didn''t choose to take him on but instead squared the ball into the middle to find Zachary.

    The coach''s pre-game address shed through Zachary''s mind as he connected with the pass from Evra. The manager had said to go all out and attempt to find a goal within the opening minutes before the opponents could settle down into the game. Zachary, being the daredevil he was, immediately followed the coach''s instructions that suited his tastes.

    Without hesitation, he hit his top speed and set off towards Lazio''s box. He dribbled the ball forward and cut through the middle beforeing across the first obstacle in the form of Danilo Cataldi, one of Lazio''s defensive midfielders.

    He didn''t lose hisposure and stepped past the Lazio man with a few well-timed side steps, plus an almost instantaneous eleration. He continued driving towards Lazio''s backline, where he found two more roadblocks in the form of Stefan de Vrij and Santiago Gentiletti, the other two opposing center-backs.

    Zachary didn''t choose to take them on, though. His SS-graded spatial awareness and ball technique attributes came into y, and he yed a forward ball to Carlos Tevez, who was already waiting in a pocket of space on the right side of the box.

    Carlos Tevez, on his part, was unselfish after connecting with the pass. He just flicked the ball with his first touch towards the sprinting path of Zachary, who was already continuing his run into the box.

    Zachary smiled, and his blood boiled with anticipation when he saw the Argentine y him on with a first-time snappy flick. He wriggled through the space between the Lazio center-backs and collected the ball mid-stride.

    Of course, the defenders attempted to stop him. But he remainedposed and took another deft touch to open the space and step into the box. The angle naturally opened up, and he hammered the ball goalward, hoping to score Juventus 1st goal for the night during the very 1st minute.

    Unfortunately, Etrit Berisha, the Lazio keeper, was alert. He dived and stretched out his body to block the shot, which was on course toward the inside of the far post. But even then, he didn''t clear the danger and instead pushed the ball back into the box.

    Chaos immediately descended in the box as the yers of both sides struggled to get to the ball first. They all rushed forward with eyes full of vibrance, yearning to beat their opponents to it. Even the Lazio keeper swiftly crawled forward, hoping to get another hand on the ball and clear it away.

    Eventually, Fernando Llorente, the striker ever-lurking in the box, was the one who came out on top. The Juventus forward beat everyone to the bouncing ball and immediately guided it back toward the goal with his knee.

    It was a tense moment. The passing of time seemed to slow down as all eyes and cameras focused on the ball heading toward the back of the. But at the veryst moment, ?tefan Radu, the Lazio captain and center-back, swooped in and blocked the ball before it could cross the line. Moreover, the Lazio man didn''t just stop at that but also cleared it away and sent it flying with a stunning volley.

    However, had hepletely cleared away the danger? The answer was a big no as udio Marchisio, the Juventus midfielder waiting at the border of the final third, immediately collected the just-cleared ball. Without giving the opponents time to settle down, he fed it into the right wing to find Stephan Lichtsteiner, who had been left unmarked for some seconds.

    Stephan Lichtsteiner was swifter than ever while connecting with the pass. He effortlessly controlled the ball in open space on the right side of the box before drawing his leg back and unleashing a lofted pass towards the area.

    Disorder again swept through Lazio''s box as the cross from Lichtsteiner flew in like a surface-to-surface missile.

    The Lazio center backs in the area pushed off the ground to clear it away with their heads but missed. The Juventus strikers, including Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente, tried to go for glory and guide it into the but also missed. The ball just eluded them and continued flying towards the outer left side of the box until a silhouette wearing a Juventus jersey pounced on it.

    The person who had taken action was Zachary. He had chosen a strategic spot in the box and bided his time until he saw the ball evade all the other yers. Then, when it was only meters away, he reacted and swung his outstretched leg at it. He caught it on a first-time volley with a bang and sent it bolting toward the goal like a bullet from a sniper.

    Whoosh!

    A whooshing sound followed the bang as the ball rocketed through the spaces between the yers in the box. The keeper once again reacted and tried to save the day. But the sheer velocity behind the effort rendered the poor guy''s efforts useless, and the ball shed just inches away from his outstretched fingers before homing into the back of the.

    Zachary immediately felt like he was swimming in an ocean of happiness when he saw the ball nestle into the back of the. He had scored yet again and taken his tally for the Coppa Italia to 6 goals. He ran towards the touchline and celebrated like mad as he was already on course to win his first Golden Boot in Italy.

    -----

    SS Lazio 0: Juventus FC 1

    -----

    In the meantime, the cheers hit a thunderous crescendo as the info on the stadium''s jumbotron changed to show the new score.

    Juventus had set a lightning-fast tempo right from the get-go and immediately scored a goal during the 3rd minute of gamey. They were already firmly in the driving seat of the final, even before Lazio could start ying.

    Coach Max Allegri watched his yers celebrating and nodded to himself. Everything had gone ording to n, with Juventusunching a wave of attack and sustaining pressure on Lazio right after kick-off. The efforts had paid off, and his team was on the right track to win yet another trophy that season.

    "Don''t rx," he yelled towards his yers when they finished celebrating the goal. "Proceed ording to n and continue attacking. But watch out for their counterattacks..."

    Coach Allegri paced the entire length of his technical area as he continued shouting instructions at his yers. He repeatedly reminded them of their positions and roles to ensure they didn''tmit any errors. Then, after the game restarted, he calmly folded his arms across his chest and continued enjoying the performance of his yers.

    The Lazio yers appeared to have woken up after conceding the goal. They started arraying themselves into their 3-4-2-1 formation while linking y through the middle. They seemed to want to use their superior numbers in midfield to overwhelm Juventus in the middle zones.

    But was it a good idea to try and overpower a team like Juventus through the middle? The answer was a no, and Juventus soon showed why when Arturo Vidal executed a bold sliding tackle to win possession from Felipe Anderson close to the center line on the right nk during the 11th minute.

    Patrice Evra, the wing-back lurking nearby, immediately pounced towards the loose ball. He swiftly collected it and skipped past Senad Luli?, Lazio''s wide midfielder, with a swift turn. Then, without waiting for any other opponent to close him down, he unleashed a forward pass, hoping to find Zachary, who had just moved into a pocket of space close to the border of the final third.

    Zachary immediately escaped his marker and connected with the pass on the turn. He then executed a few side steps and stepped past an opponent. But before he could take another stride forward, Danilo Cataldi, another Lazio defensive midfielder, swept in with a sliding tackle. The Lazio man caught his calf with the studs of his boot before sending him tumbling to the ground.

 Chapter 593 A Scare

    Chapter 593 A Scare

    A bolt of pain shot through Zachary when the opponent''s boot connected with his calf. He winced despite himself as he tumbled toward the ground at the border of the final third.

    "Foul!"

    "Yellow Card!"

    "Red Card!"

    A wave of cries and pleas for the foul and the corresponding disciplinary action immediately arose in the stadium. All the Juventus yers, coaches, and most fansbined their voices to demand justice for Zachary. They yelled and yelled to ensure that the yer who hadmitted the foul didn''t get away scot-free.

    But the referee clearly didn''t need the reminders. He blew the whistle and arrived on the scene within seconds before showing a yellow card to Danilo Cataldi, the midfielder who hadmitted the foul against Zachary.

    The ref then checked on Zachary, who was still in pain on the ground. After noticing his condition, he immediately signaled to the technical area for the medics toe onto the pitch.

    As the situation seemed quite critical, the medics arrived in a matter of seconds. They applied first aid and started checking the extent of the damage as the whole Juventus side sank into a tense state.

    Fans, coaches, and teammates were anxious as they feared the worst. They all watched with creased brows as they waited for the verdict of the medics, which seemed to be taking forever.

    -----

    "This could be bad," Fabio Crudeli, thementator, said. "Zachary rarely ever stays on the ground after facing a tackle. He''s always eager to get back up and restart the game as soon as possible. That''s why I find this situation worrying."

    "Indeed, he was clearly in pain when he went down after facing that tackle from Danilo Cataldi," David Ferrini, the comentator, replied. "The situation could turn into a nightmare for Juventus as they head into the Champions League final that is only two and a half weeks away. They have already lost Andrea Pirlo to injury. It''ll be the worst possible situation if they again lose Zachary before facing off against Barcelona."

    "Zachary had really started the game well," Fabio Crudeli remarked. "He was involved in every wave of attack that Juventusunched against Lazio and even scored the first goal. Moreover, he''s just a few goals away from breaking a few records. I really hope there''s nothing wrong with him."

    "The medics are helping him off the pitch," David Ferrini said. "He''s limping and can''t walk by himself. I can also see Roberto Pereyra, one of Juventus'' substitute midfielders, warming on the sidelines. Do you think he will continue?"

    "If I were the Juventus coach, I would stay on the side of caution and take him out of the game," Fabio Crudeli said. "But I''m not sure what Coach Max Allegri will do. I guess it will depend on what the medics tell him."

    "True!" David Ferrini said. "Let''s wait and see what happens."

    -----

    Emily Anderson was tense when she saw Zachary limping off the pitch in pain. A small voice in her mind repeatedly mored that the worst had happened. But she chose to ignore the thought and continued watching on with worry.

    Of course, she had heard the words of the twomentators that were full of negativity. But she just scoffed at them and continued praying for her client. She wanted him to be well. She wanted him to y all of Juventus'' remaining crucial games so he could push his career to another level.

    She was seated in Juventus'' side of the stadium. The fans around her were likewise worried as they waited for the verdict of the medics. Was he okay, and would he return? Their bodynguage said all they were thinking as they continued waiting.

    Then, the moment came when Zachary finished talking to the medics and started jogging on the sidelines. At first, he was struggling and running unnaturally. But after a few strides, he appeared to shake off whatever pain he was facing and started sprinting along the touchline.

    All the Juventus fans in the stadium, including Emily, immediately stood up and started cheering. It was as if they had just won another final, and their voices and apuse quickly hit a crescendo.

    "Zachary! p! p! Zachary..."

    Emily didn''t know who started yelling Zachary''s name. But within moments, she heard all those around her growing more and more animated as they repeated the same word. It was as if they hoped to boost Zachary''s recovery with their voices.

    -----

    In the meantime, Zachary was still doing a few sprints along the sidelines to run off the pain from the knock. He felt warm when he heard the cheers of the fans and started working harder. Soon enough, he shook off the pain before approaching Juventus'' technical area again.

    "How are you feeling?" Coach Max Allegri was the first to step forward and ask. "Do you think you can continue?"

    "Yes, I can," he answered right away. "I no longer feel any pain in my leg."

    "Ohh!" Coach Allegri said. He looked at the nearby medics as if asking them for confirmation.

    "He could have suffered a slight impact injury," one of the medics said. "But it doesn''t appear serious at first nce. He can continue."

    Coach Max Allegri let out a breath and turned back to Zachary. "Okay, you can return. But if you feel any difort, remember to tell us. I don''t need to caution you about the disadvantages of hiding any injury!"

    "Yes, coach."

    "Good, off you go. Try to y non-contact football that focuses on passing instead of dribbling. Release the ball as fast as possible to prevent the opponents from tackling you. Okay!"

    "Okay. Point noted."

    -----

    The game had already restarted even when Juventus was still down to ten men. A few minutes ago, Carlos Tevez had taken the free-kick. But his uracy wasn''t spot-on, and he had instead hit the defensive wall and failed to convert.

    Fortunately, the ball had headed out of y for a Juventus corner kick. But even then, the Juventus yers had failed to capitalize on the opportunity and guide the ball into the back of the. They had instead gifted possession to the Lazio yers, who quicklyunched a counterattack against Juventus.

    The Lazio yers were like a pack of wolves as they streamed through the middle and advanced the attack. They exploited their temporary numerical advantage and effortlessly cut through Juventus'' midfield, which stillcked Zachary''s presence. They exchanged intricate and snappy passes through the middle until they fed the ball to Felipe Anderson, one of their attacking midfielders.

    "Ref! Ref..."

    Zachary shouted from the sidelines, hoping to re-enter the game quickly. But both the referee and the fourth official ignored him, and he continued waiting along the touchline while witnessing the opponents attack his team. It wasn''t a good experience. Nevertheless, he didn''t lose his cool and forced himself to remain calm as he watched Felipe Anderson thread a pass forward, hoping to find Mirov Klose, the Lazio center-forward.

    Mirov Klose swiftly escaped from Giorgio Chiellini and connected with the ball on the half-turn. The German then turned and twisted at the edge of the box before sting the ball goalward, hoping to score Lazio''s 1st goal on the night during the 16th minute.

    Zachary fidgeted as he watched the ball zooming towards the inside of the far post. Fortunately, Marco Storari, the stand-in goalkeeper, was alert and saved Juventus from the precarious situation. Like a Ninja, the shot-stopper executed a dive on a full stretch before snatching the ball out of the air.

    "Ref, can I enter now?" Zachary asked the fourth official after seeing Marco Storari make the save.

    The fourth official signaled the referee, who, in turn, waved to allow Zachary on the pitch.

    Zachary''s heart boiled with excitement as he re-entered the game. He took a position beside the touchline on the left nk and started yelling out to Marco Storari, the keeper, to send the ball his way.

    Marco Storari, on his part, didn''t disappoint. He leaped up from the ground like a cat that had caught the scent of catnip before racing towards the edge of the box and unleashing a goal kick towards the left far side of the field.

    Adrenaline pumped through Zachary''s system as he saw the ball soar toward the left nk. The pass wasn''t that urate since Marco Storari had overhit it and almost sent it towards the corner g.

    But that small challenge didn''t discourage Zachary, who was already chasing after the flying ball like his life was on the line. His strides covered dozens of yards in seconds, and he got to it just in time with an outstretched left leg.

    He slid forward for a few meters and controlled the ball on the touchline before it was about to bounce out of y on the left nk. Then, without a moment to lose, he picked himself on the ground, eager tounch another attack.

    Just then, ?tefan Radu, the Lazio captain and defender, rushed forward, hoping to stop the potential attack. The Lazio man wasing in all guns zing with a sliding tackle.

    However, Zachary dug his boot under the ball and looped it over the defender. Without losingposure, he followed that up with a leap over the helpless guy, who continued sliding out of the pitch. Then, after reorienting himself, he elerated and took off towards Lazio''s goal like the wind.

    His SS-grade agility worked wonders, and he approached the box from the left side in a sh. Santiago Gentiletti, the other center-back, rushed forward to stop him. But he chose not to take on the defender and instead squared the ball into the area toward the lurking Fernando Llorente.

    Fernando Llorente did what was expected of him as a striker. He connected with Zachary''s pass and effortlessly tapped the ball into the back of the to score Juventus'' 2nd goal on the night during the 17th minute.

 Chapter 594 A Game of Ups and Downs

    Chapter 594 A Game of Ups and Downs

    "GOAAAAL!" Fabio Crudeli, thementator, yelled at the top of his voice in concert with the thunderous cheers around the stadium. "It''s Juventus two and Lazio zero. A well-worked-out counter that saw the ball move from the keeper to Zachary and finally to Fernando Llorente allowed them to extend their lead during the 17th minute. They are now firmly in the driving seat in this Coppa Italia semi-final."

    "Why do I have the feeling that the referee somehow helped Juventus," David Ferrini, the othermentator, said. "He dyed Zachary''s return until Lazio failed to convert their attack. Then, he waved Zachary on before the Lazio yers could reshape up in defense and gifted him the perfect opportunity to advance the counter."

    Fabio Crudeli chuckled. "But Zachary''s absence also allowed Lazio to dominate the previous few minutes of the game. So, you could also say that the referee directly helped Lazio by dying Zachary''s return."

    David Ferrini nodded. "Zachary seems to have recovered well after facing that tackle from Danilo Cataldi. His speed and brilliance on the ball are as great as ever. He worked hard to keep the ball from Marco Storari in y before driving toward the box and finding Fernando Llorente with a pin-point pass. Fernando Llorentepleted the counter with a tap into the back of the to score Juventus'' second goal. But I think eighty percent of the credit for the goal should go to Zachary."

    "True," Fabio Crudeli said. "He looked as dangerous as ever while cutting in from the left nk. Let''s hope he will do the same when he ys against Barcelona in the Champions League finals two and a half weekster."

    -----

    The game restarted after the celebrations with a Lazio kick-off.

    The Lazio men connected a few passes, hoping to maintain possession and settle down after conceding the goal. But the Juventus yers gave them no time to build anything on the field.

    The men in the striped ck and white jerseys worked harder than ever immediately after the restart. They high-pressed the opponents and put them under immense pressure with their untiring runs. Eventually, they forced them to y the ball long towards Juventus'' side of the field during the 21st minute.

    Andrea Barzagli, one of the Juventus center-backs, immediately took action and received the ball deep in Juventus'' half. Then, without hesitating, he fed it into the middle to find udio Marchisio, who had floated into an unmarked pocket of space outside the center circle.

    udio Marchisio worked with urgency after receiving the ball. He took only a single touch before ying it into the left wing to find Patrice Evra, who had long initiated a spirited run towards Lazio''s side of the field.

    The ever-tenacious Evra didn''t disappoint. He leaped and chested the ball to the ground without any pressure. He then drove along the touchline and prated Lazio''s half beforeing across an obstacle in the form of Danilo Cataldi, one of Lazio''s defensive midfielders.

    Evra confidently fed the ball forward before trying to go around from the other side. But before the Frenchman could realize his n, the already-charged Danilo Cataldi slid in with merciless impetus and tackled him with a two-legged tackle.

    "Aahhh!"

    Patrice Evra immediately let out a painful gasp as he tumbled to the ground. He rolled around a few times while holding his ankle.

    "Ref!" Giorgio Chiellini, the acting captain, rushed towards the referee and held out his two fingers. "This is the second time Danilo is endangering the safety of our yers. The first time, he almost took Zachary out of the game. Now, we don''t know whether he has injured Evra. For how long will you allow this to go on..."

    Giorgio Chiellini stopped midsentence as something else had transpired at the scene of the tackle. Patrice Evra had just picked himself from the ground before shoving away Danilo Cataldi, the yer who had just brought him to the ground with a two-legged lunge.

    Danilo Cataldi was also not to be outdone. He returned the favor by bumping his chest against Evra and thus began the period of chaos on the pitch.

    The other yers from both teams rushed to the scene and involved themselves in the messy confusion. Some went forward to hold Evra and Danilo back, while others joined in on the pushing and shoving. Shit had gone down quickly, and the fight had escted.

    Upon seeing all this, the referee didn''t lose a second before running past Giorgio Chiellini and hurrying to the scene to stop the fight. The linesmen also rushed in from the sidelines and started working hard to separate the yers involved in the scuffle. Fortunately, their efforts bore fruit, and order returned to the pitch in less than a minute.

    But what was unfortunate for the yers was that the ref didn''t just stop at stopping the fight. He instead exchanged a few words with the linesman before walking back to the scene and delivering a yellow card to Patrice Evra, who had initiated the fight. Then, as a final act, he showed the second yellow card to Danillo, followed by a red card, before signaling the yer to walk off the pitch.

    The Juventus fans immediately cheered to celebrate the red card decision, especially since Danilo was the same yer who almost took Zachary, their team''s ymaker, out of the game a few minutes prior. Besides, they were also delighted by the red card since they would y the rest of the game with a numerical advantage.

    As for the Lazio supporters, they were in a gloomy mood. Most booed the referee, while others started walking towards the stadium''s exit. Their expressions inly expressed what they felt. They couldn''t stomach their team''s performance in the Coppa Italia finals. They were fed up with the game.

    -----

    "It''s just the 23rd minute," Fabio Crudeli, thementator, remarked. "But we''ve already had enough drama in the game, and the Lazio fans are beginning to exit the stadium. What a superheated final we''re having on our hands! Do you think the referee was right to show Danilo a red card?"

    "I think the answer is yes," David Ferrini, the othermentator, replied. "Danilo has yed a rough game tonight. He first took down Zachary and got himself a yellow card during the 11th minute. Then, just now, during the 21st minute, he has again taken down Patrice Evra with a two-legged lunge. Not counting his involvement in the scuffle, I think the two fouls are enough to gain him a red card sending off."

    "True!" Fabio Crudeli agreed. "The Lazio side is now down to ten men in this Coppa Italia final. They will have to y the remaining sixty-plus minutes with a numerical disadvantage. Do you think they can put up a fight against Juventus and still salvage something out of this game?"

    "To be honest," David Ferrini said, "I think they don''t have a chance. Let''s not forget that they failed to sustain any pressure against Juventus when they still had eleven men on the ying field. Now that they are down to ten, they need prayers and all the luck they can get to avoid a thorough smashing in this Coppa Italia final."

    -----

    The game had just rmenced with the Juventus yers taking the free-kick short. Andrea Barzagli had just taken it and yed the ball to Leonardo Boni, his counterpart in defense, to kickstart another period of dominance by Juventus.

    Even with the clear advantage of two goals, the Old Lady yers didn''t step on their brakes. They repeatedly arrayed themselves into their 3-5-2-t formation and relied on their numerical advantage to sustain pressure on Lazio. They continuously utilized slow build-ups to set the tempo in their defense and midfield before trying to create goal-scoring opportunities with sudden through balls.

    The Lazio yers, on their part, had reacted by falling back into their half to defend. They had already parked the bus containing all their field yers before their goal, hoping to prevent Juventus from doing any more damage against them. They were defending as a team, clearly not wishing to concede another goal before halftime.

    But could their efforts save them against the flying Juventus? The answer was obvious, especially when Patrice Evra and Stephan Lichtsteiner, the two wing-backs, started making much more daring oveps through the nks.

    The two yers repeatedly connected with passes from Zachary and the other Juventus midfielders before making spirited runs towards the other side of the pitch. Their wing-y on the night was exceptional, and they continuously sent crosses towards the box, hoping to find Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente, Juventus'' two strikers. They didn''t rest on theirurels until they created another goal-scoring chance during the 32nd minute.

    The opportunity began with a curling cross from Patrice Evra, which flew into the area. Carlos Tevez, one of the Juventus strikers, escaped the harassment of the Lazio defenders and connected with the cross on the volley to unleash a shot towards the goal. However, his effort smashed off the post before floating towards the right side of the box.

    Arturo Vidal, who was lurking nearby, immediately pounced towards the ball. He controlled it well and quickly unleashed a chip towards Fernando Llorente, the Juventus striker still lurking in the box. However,dy luck seemed to not be on the striker''s side, and one of the defenders cleared the ball before he could get his head on it.

    The just-cleared ball then flew through the air before descending and bouncing around the arc of the eighteen-yard box. It was at that point that the waiting Zachary took action. He met it on a volley and sted it back towards the goal. His leg power and shooting technique worked wonders, and his thunderous effort straightaway beat the keeper and found the top right corner. He raised his arms to celebrate as he had just scored the 3rd goal for Juventus during the 33rd minute.

 Chapter 595 Coppa Italia in the Bag

    Chapter 595 Coppa Italia in the Bag

    The score was then 3:0 in favor of Juventus. But that didn''t stop the Juventus yers from continuing their relentless attacks. They cornered Lazio over the following few minutes to create many chances that almost resulted in goals.

    The main highlight was when Fernando Llorente connected with a well-taken corner kick to nt a goalward header from close to the near post during the 39th minute. However, Etrit Berisha, the on-form Lazio keeper, was alert again and managed to push the effort out of y for another corner-kick.

    Stephan Lichtsteiner, the Juventus right wing-back, quickly took the resulting corner-kick and sent a curling cross towards the box.

    Zachary went into action again to meet the iing ball. He escaped the harassment of his marker before rising from the ground and producing another fine header a few meters away from the far post. But luck wasn''t on his side that time, and his effort smashed off the post before bouncing in the box.

    Stefan de Vrij, one of the three Lazio center-backs, immediately cleared the just rebounded ball. He smashed it with all the power he could muster, sending it flying towards Juventus'' side of the pitch.

    But before the Lazio yers could rx, Patrice Evra, who had stayed back to defend, collected the ball right after it bounced in Juventus'' half. The Frenchman hammered it back into the heart of Lazio''s defense to initiate another attack on the opponents.

    Arturo Vidal, the yer lurking around a pocket of space outside the Lazio box, outwitted his opponent and headed the ball towards the right nk. His heading uracy was spot-on, and he effortlessly found Stephan Lichtsteiner, who was still unmarked in the wing.

    Stephan Lichtsteiner, on his part, controlled the ball well. Then, he elerated and cut into the pitch to approach the box from the right side. He bided his time and waited until one of the defenders rushed forward to close him down before unleashing a negative pass toward the arc of the eighteen-yard box.

    udio Marchisio, who was already waiting in the arc, reacted appropriately. He connected with the pass from Lichtsteiner and swiftly controlled the ball. Then, he took another touch to find the best angle before sting the ball towards Lazio''s goal.

    His shooting technique was spot on, and the shot managed to bend around the defenders before heading towards the inside of the far post. But just at thest moment, the gloved fingertips of the Lazio keeper grazed the ball''s surface and altered its trajectory by a slight margin. The minute change sent the effort smashing onto the post and bouncing back into the area.

    The eyes of Zachary, who was lurking nearby, lit up when he saw the ball rebound towards him. Without hesitation, he lunged forward and met it with an outstretched boot. He pocked it past the keeper and into the back of the to effortlessly score Juventus'' 4th goal for the night during the 40th minute.

    -----

    "There it is again," Fabio Crudeli, thementator, yelled as Zachary ran towards the touchline to celebrate. "Zachary has found the back of the for the third time toplete a hattrick and score Juventus 4th goal on the night during the 40th minute. He has also pushed his Coppa Italia goal-tally to eight with that effort. He''s already the sure favorite to take home the Golden Boot, and I don''t think Mirov Klose can still close the gap to share the honors."

    "Well, Zachary''s sharpness has been exceptional during this final," David Ferrini, the othermentator, said. "He has been constantly moving around to search for opportunities. He has also linked up well with his teammates to allow them to dominate Lazio in the midfield. If the status quo on the field remains constant, he will go home with the Man of the Match de after the final."

    -----

    The game continued after the goal celebrations, with Juventus continuing to dominate the proceedings by relying on their numerical advantage and superior number of phenomenal creative yers.

    This was team Juventus at their domineering best, controlling possession with a maestro''s grip and pulling Lazio apart as they pleased. They created two more goal-scoring opportunities before halftime, with Carlos Tevez and Fernando connecting with pin-point through-balls in the box during the 43rd and 46th minutes, respectively. However, the Lazio keeper was alert again and managed to save Lazio from further embarrassment on all asions.

    The first half eventually ended with Juventus still leading by four goals to nil. Coach Max Allegri was already smiling from ear to ear when the Juventus yers returned to the dressing room for the halftime break. He smiled and gave Zachary a bear hug. "Nice y," he said and then started patting his back.

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary replied, and all the yers in the dressing room started whistling and pping their hands. They were congratting Zachary for scoring yet another hat trick in their own way.

    "How is that leg of yours, by the way?" Coach Max Allegri asked after the others stopped apuding. "That tackle from Danilo caught you straight on the calf. It could have caused some damage."

    "I think the leg is fine," Zachary said while swinging his foot. "I can still continue."

    Coach Max Allegri smiled but shook his head. "That''s not a good idea. You and Evra should sit out the second half. We''re already ahead by four goals. I don''t wish to risk any yers who might have sustained some injuries. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary said and nodded.

    "Great." The coach smiled. "You have already done your job, and we''re already winning. Just sit back and allow your teammates toplete the rest."

    "Okay," Zachary said. He then nodded at the coach before settling on one of the benches to drink water.

    -----

    Soon afterward, Coach Allegri finished his halftime pep talk, and the yers returned to the pitch. Of course, Zachary and Evra didn''t follow the rest. They instead donned their jackets and settled on the bench with the other substitutes to enjoy the rest of the game.

    Roberto Pereyra took Zachary''s ce, while Simone Padoin reced Patrice Evra. The game began immediately after at a much more sedate pace, with Juventus ying steady football thatcked urgency. As for the Lazio yers, they were defending tenaciously and waiting for opportunities on the counterattack.

    However, the early red card had done Lazio in, and those counterattacking opportunities never came. The men in blue couldn''t extricate themselves from the precarious situation they had found themselves in. They could only defend with all their men and hold on for dear life as the game progressed.

    Of course, the Juventus yers were not about to show them mercy. They upped the tempo and eventually created an opportunity to score during the 78th minute.

    Roberto Pereyra, the substitute, did some fine work in the middle of the field. He exchanged swift one-twos with Arturo Vidal to break through the ranks of the Lazio yers before prating the final third. Then, he remainedposed and yed a forward pass to Carlos Tevez, who slotted the ball past the keeper to score the 5th goal for Juventus on the night.

    The score was then 5:0, and the Juventus yers started slowing the tempo down. They managed the rest of the game well and gave away nothing in the final minutes. They didn''t allow Lazio even a single opportunity to get a constion until the game ended after five minutes of injury time.

    With that, Juventus had finally won the final against Lazio with a 5:0 score, and the celebrationsmenced. The Old Lady yers and technical staff all started jubting as they had added another trophy to their collection. They went around the pitch, hugging one another and asionally thanking the fans, who were equally boisterous.

    Zachary was obviously among the jubting yers. The cheers of the Juventus fans felt like the best music to him. It was as if he was drunk on happiness since he had scored a hat trick on the night and contributed considerably to his team winning the finals.

    He felt like he was living the sweetest dream ever, as he had also ended the Coppa Italia as the undisputable top scorer with eight goals. He was about to win another Golden Boot from anotherpetition, and hopefully, he would also be securing a potent elixir from the system soon.

    "Now, only the UEFA Champions League remains," Zachary thought and clenched his fists. He felt a fire burning in his heart as he enjoyed another moment of sess in his football career.

    Minutes passed as Zachary and his teammates celebrated. Eventually, the moment arrived when they received the trophy in front of their equally excited fans. They became crazier with their festivities and ran around the pitch for more than fifteen minutes before taking the jubtions to their dressing room. They would surely be getting very little sleep that night, especially since they had just won their third major trophy of the season.

 Chapter 596 After the Final

    Chapter 596 After the Final

    Zachary returned to his hotel room after taking several interviews with reporters and then spending an hour celebrating with teammates and coaches. As he expected, a system notification sounded in his mind after he closed the door and switched on the light.

    "Congrattions to the user forpleting the 2014/15 Coppa Italia Challenge mission," the system AI''s apathetic voice sounded at that moment. "The user can check out the interface for more details on the missionpletion details and associated rewards."

    Zachary''s eyes gleamed with excitement as he ced his gym bag and the box containing his Coppa Italia golden boot and medal to the side. He forgot the pain he felt in his calf due to the tackle he faced during his match and settled on the bed. Then, without further ado, he began perusing the contents of the missionpletion message.

    ****

    #5 new messages

    -----

    CONGRATULATIONS

    ->You havepleted the system mission (2014/15 Coppa Italia Challenge).

    -----

    ->Mission Summary

    *Milestone 1: y 80% of the 2014/15 Coppa Italia fixtures (Completed; Rating A+; Rewarded 100 Juju points).

    *Milestone 2: Help your teammates be the 2014/15 Coppa Italia Champions (Completed by helping Juventus defeat SS Lazio during the final; Rating S+; Rewarded 2,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 3: Provide the most assists in the 2014/15 Coppa Italia tournament (Not Completed; Rating D, No Reward).

    *Milestone 4: Be the top scorer of the 2014/15 Coppa Italia tournament (Completed by scoring eight goals during the tournament; Rating S+; Reward 20,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 5: Be the MVP of the 2014/15 Coppa Italia tournament (By far the best yer ording to system statisticalputations. Completion with Rating S+ and rewarded a dosage of a random-effect elixir that can increase one of the user''s fitness attributes by an entire grade. The specific attributes that can be improved include Bnce and Coordination, Agility, Strength, Stamina, and Endurance.).

    ----.

    ->Missionpleted almost with perfection.

    Overall Mission Rating: S

    -----

    ->Mission Rewards

    1) A total of 22,100 Juju-points

    2) An S-grade random-effect elixir that can increase one of the user''s fitness attributes by an entire grade.

    -----

    ->Bonus Rewards

    You have earned 5,000 Bonus Juju points.

    -----

    ****

    Tang Mu grinned when he confirmed that he had secured the random-effect elixir from the system. All his physical fitness attributes, including agility, strength, stamina, endurance, and bnce & coordination, were already at the SS grading. So, as long as he consumed the elixir, he would immediately push one of them to the SSS grading.

    The SSS grade in fitness was like an untouched level that he hadn''t seen any yer possessing after repeatedly using the system''s snooping tool. And not even world-ss yers like Christiano Ronaldo, Pirlo, and Gareth Bale had pushed those few attributes to that level.

    Of course, most possessed the SSS-grade game intelligence that allowed them to perform incredibly well on the field. However, their agility, strength, stamina, endurance, and bnce & coordination were still at the level of the SS grading. As such, if Zachary could push one of his physical fitness attributes to the SSS grading, he would be standing at the top of the football world, at least fitness-wise.

    "System," he called out in his mind. "Please bring up my current physical fitness and technique attributes."

    "Command received," the apathetic voice of the System AI immediately sounded in his mind. "The user''s fitness and technique attributes will being up shortly."

    As the voice ceased, the translucent and intangible crystal-like disy before Zhary flickered and disyed the requested information. His eyes lit up, and he started studying his attributes.

    ----

    ****

    *USER STATS

    -----

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: SS)

    Bnce and Coordination: SS

    Agility: SS

    Strength: SS

    Stamina: SS

    Endurance Points: 2,300/72,000 (SS)

    ----

    ->Ser Technique: [Av. Rating: SS]

    Ball Control: SS

    Dribbling Skills: SS

    Passing uracy: SS

    Body Control: SS

    ----

    ****

    "The best oue would be to improve my agility stat after consuming the random effect elixir," Zachary thought while looking at his attributes. "I could then possess the speed that could give Usain Bolt a run for his money while also retaining my ball skills. At that time, I would be a real nightmare for all the defenders I faced."

    Zachary felt hopeful. But no matter how eager he was, he understood that immediately consuming the elixir was a terrible idea.

    He knew that elevating one of his physical fitness attributes, like agility, by a whole grade would throw his rhythm off. He would then struggle to perform as usual during the crucial UEFA Champions League final that was only two and a half weeks away.

    "Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!"

    Right then, his phone vibrated from one of his pockets. He fished it out and nced at the screen. He smiled when he realized it was Emily calling before pressing the ept button and holding the device against his ear.

    "Hi, Zachary," her bubbly voice immediately sounded from the other end of the line. "Congrats upon winning yet another trophy and Golden Boot. Remember to take me out to celebrate."

    Zachary chuckled and replied, "I surely will. Come to Turin any time, and I''ll take you out for dinner."

    "You said it yourself," Emily said. "I hope you don''t forget."

    "I won''t," Zachary promised.

    "I was worried when I saw you go down in pain after facing that tackle from Danilo," she said with concern. "Are you okay? Is your leg fine?"

    Zachary sighed and chose to be honest with his agent. "There''s some pain around my calf muscle. I don''t think it''s anything serious. But I might still have to rest on the sidelines for a few days to recover."

    "Taking time to recover is the best choice," she said. "Make sure that you see a physician as soon as possible. And remember not to strain your leg unnecessarily before you understand the extent of your injury."

    "Of course, that''s what I n to do," Zachary said. "I will visit the team physician tomorrow after returning to Turin."

    "Great," Emily said, her voice filled with relief. "You and your Juventus have nowpleted a treble, including the Supercoppa, the Coppa Italia, and the Serie A trophy you''re yet to receive. Only the Champions League remains before you and your teammates etch your names in the history books by winning a quadruple."

    "Yes, only the UEFA Champions League final against Barcelona remains," Zachary said. "It will surely be a tough battle when we face the Catns. But we''ll try our best to win. We''ll go all out to bring the trophy back to Turin."

    "I will be praying for you to achieve all the glory," Emily said. "You must be tired after ying the final. I''ll now leave you to rest. Congrattions again upon winning the Coppa Italia. Keep working hard, and you''ll continue achieving more glory."

    "Thank you, my dear agent," Zachary said. "Your words have already filled my soul with motivation. I will do my best to continue performing well."

    "There you go, being cheeky again," Emily said. "Good night!"

    "Good night to you, too."

    She then switched off the phone.

    Zachary was just about to ce the phone to the side. But it once again vibrated, indicating some iing messages. He swiftly opened them and noticed they were from his acquaintances and old teammates congratting him upon winning the Coppa Italia.

    Zachary felt warm, especially when he saw the WhatsApp message from Kristin. The girl congratted him on the Coppa Italia victory and also inquired if he was okay after facing the dangerous tackle during the game.

    He replied that he was alright and thanked the girl for her concern. He then asked about her grandfather''s health, and she responded that the old scout was undergoing treatment and improving. But she emphasized that the hospital was not about to discharge him.

    Zacharyforted her with a few words and encouraged her to stay strong before ending the chat. But before he could ce the phone down, it vibrated and indicated another iing call. He nced at the screen and immediately pressed the ept button when he noticed it was Paul Kasongo, his friend and former teammate, calling.

    "Yo, Judas!" Kasongo''s voice sounded from the other end of the line when he held the phone against his ear. The guy had started calling Zachary the name after he switched his national allegiance to y for Ivory Coast.

    "Yo, short man!" Zachary replied with a chuckle. "You''re calling sote!"

    Kasongo sighed audibly. "I just watched your game. Man! Even though you yed a single half, you performed like the GOAT. Congrattions upon winning another trophy."

    "Thanks," Zachary said. "How are you doing, by the way? How''s life at Tottenham?"

    "Same old," Kasongo said. "I''m still working hard to secure a permanent starting position on the team. Hopefully, I can do so next season."

    "Just continue working hard," Zachary said. "You''ll achieve your goal."

    "True that," Kasongo said. "It has been long since we got together. Maybe we can n to go on holiday together after your Champions League finals against Barca. What do you think?"

    "That''s a good n," Zachary said. "Let''s talk more about it after the final."

    "Great," Kasongo said. "I will get in touch then. Otherwise, let me leave you to sleep. Goodbye and good night!"

    "Good night to you, too," Zachary said.

    He ended the call and then switched off the phone before it could vibrate again. He ced it on his bedside table before undressing and heading to the bathroom. Within fifteen minutes, he finished showering and immediately jumped into bed, eager to rest for the night.

 Chapter 597 The Diagnosis

    Chapter 597 The Diagnosis

    The Juventus yers, coaches, and the rest of the technical staff took their team bus and departed from Rome the following day. They arrived in Turin two and a half hourster, around midday, only to be received with yet another hero''s wee.

    Thousands of supporters donning Juventus'' stripped ck and white colors lined and crowded the streets leading to the Vinovo to wee the Coppa Italia champions. They cheered, waved, danced, and yed all sorts of musical instruments as the Juventus bus slowly made its way towards the gates of the training center. It was like a festival in that part of Turin.

    The only blemish to the celebrations was that there was no trophy parade, especially since there were still crucial matches, like the Champions League final, for the Juventus yers and coaches to consider. They all remained seated in the bus without showcasing the Coppa Italia medals and trophy they had won the previous night. Only a few overexcited yers asionally pushed their heads out of the bus windows to wave to the simrly enthusiastic fans as the bus moved forward.

    After thirty more minutes, the bus finally snaked its way out of the crowds of supporters and entered the gates of the Vinovo. The driver expertly brought it to a halt, and without further ado, the yers started walking out.

    The first ones to step out were the two Juventus medics, followed by Zachary, who could only walk with a pronounced limp. The injury he received after taking the tackle from Danilo had worsened overnight. He even had to hold on to the shoulder of one of the medics for support as he stepped down from the bus.

    The reporters waiting beyond the barricades immediately filmed Zachary with their phones and cameras as they saw him limping out of the bus. The hubbub of activity increased among their ranks, and some didn''t lose time before starting to yell out their questions.

    "Zachary," one reporter shouted, "How do you feel? Are you seriously injured?"

    "Zachary! Do you think you can return to training soon?"

    "Zachary! Do you think you will y in the Champions League final against Barcelona?"

    Zachary felt helpless when his ears picked up the questions from the reporters. He was already in a bad mood after he found that his injury had worsened overnight. He felt even worse when all those voices began moring around him to inquire when he would return to training or if he would y the Champions League final in two and a half weeks.

    "Ignore them," Coach Max Allegri''s voice suddenly sounded behind Zachary. "Don''t worry about the inconsequential things. At the moment, you only need to go to the hospital for further diagnosis. We''ll think and talk about everything elseter. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary said.

    By then, his other teammates had stepped out of the bus. They also wished him the best and encouraged him to stay positive while heading to the hospital. In return, he thanked them for their concern and encouraging words before leaving with Luca and Marco, the two medics.

    They soon boarded a Juventus van and quickly departed the Vinovo under the witness of the reporters and hundreds of fans present. Within forty minutes, they arrived at the Juventus Stadium.

    They parked the car and headed straight to the J|Medical, where Zachary underwent several stringent diagnostic tests to determine the extent of his injury. The top specialists at the health center associated with Juventus quickly found the root of the matter and brought him to one of the waiting rooms to discuss his injury.

    "It''s nice to meet you, Zachary," the medic in the whiteb coat said after they settled down on the sofas in the room. "I go by the name of Marcello Bassi. I''m a physiotherapist here and a big fan of yours and the Juventus team behind you."

    "Nice to meet you too, Dr. Bassi," Zachary said with a smile. "It''s always great to meet a Juventus fan."

    "But it doesn''t beat the feeling of meeting a Juventus star out of the training facilities." The doctor chuckled. "By the way, no need to address me formally. Just call me Macello, and that will do."

    "Okay, Marcello, it is," Zachary said. He nced at the file before the medic and continued, "I''m a big boy. Just give it to me straight. Is my injury serious?"

    Dr. Marcello Bassi smiled assuringly. "You suffered a mild calf contusion after taking a blow to your lower leg. Fortunately, the on-pitch medics handled the first aid quite well, and you only need around twelve days to recoverpletely."

    "Twelve days!" Zachary frowned. "Today is Thursday, May 21st. If I factor in twelve days of recovery, I can only return to training on Monday, June 1st. That will only be four days before the day of the Champions League final against Barcelona. Is there a way we can shorten my recovery time?"

    "No," the doctor said. "The time I have given is the shortest we can go before allowing you to return to your routine schedule of training and ying matches. Moreover, this time may lengthen to fourteen or twenty-one days if you don''t follow our advice and take proper measures to care for your injury."

    "I see," Zachary said and expelled a heavy breath. He felt depressed when he learned he would have to sit out Juventus''st two Serie A fixtures. That was even more so when he recalled that he would no longer have an opportunity to break the record of 36 Serie A goals a season set by Gino Rossetti when he yed for Torino during the 1928-29 season.

    "Look on the bright side," Dr. Marcello Bassi said after taking in his reaction. "The injury could have turned out worse, and you might have had to stay out of action for maybe a month. But what you suffered is only a mild calf contusion. If we manage it well, you will recover and have four days to prepare for the Champions League final against Barcelona. In my books, this is the best oue, as you''ll be able to partake in the only remaining game that still matters for Juventus."

    "That''s indeed so," Zachary said with a smile. Of course, he knew he had gotten off lucky with a twelve-day injury. But as a footballer who loved being on the pitch, he couldn''t help but be greedy for more. "So, what should I do topletely recover from this injury within the twelve days you mentioned?" He sighed and faced the doctor.

    "Now, you are talking." Dr. Marcello Bassi grinned and pped his hands. "Firstly, you must not strain the leg during the next twelve days. That means no exercising and no kicking the ball. Do you copy?"

    "Yes, doctor," Zachary answered.

    The doctor nodded and continued. "Secondly, you must understand that the whole team, including your coach and the Juventus board, are worried sick about your situation. They have already tasked me with ensuring you don''t mess up during your recovery. So, you''ll being here every day, and I and the other experts here at J|Medical will take you through the rehabilitation process ourselves. Understood?"

    "Yes, doctor," Zachary replied.

    The doctor nodded, about to say something else. But just suddenly, the phone he had ced on the side vibrated. He mumbled a sorry and picked up themunication gadget before ncing at the screen.

    "It''s Coach Massimiliano Allegri himself!" He eximed and raised his head to look at Zachary. "He might be following up on your case. Sorry! I need to pick this up."

    "No worries," Zachary said with a smile. "Just go ahead and take the call."

    The doctor nodded and pressed the ept button. He then spent the next two minutes conversing with the coach, the subject being Zachary''s injury. He exined the nature of Zachary''s injury and mentioned the recovery time about twice before eventually ending the call.

    No sooner had he put the phone back on the table than Zachary''s own began ringing. He fished it out of his pocket and nced at the screen. "The coach is also calling me," he said to the doctor before pressing the ept button.

    "Hello, coach," he spoke into the phone after holding it against his ear.

    "Hello, Zachary," Coach Max Allegri replied from the other end of the line. "I''ve just heard the diagnosis of your injury from Dr. Marcello Bassi. It''s good news that you only require around twelve days to recover. So, this is my advice. Don''t worry about other matters. You must follow the doctor''s instructions strictly and ensure you''re back to full fitness in the stipted time. Then, I and the other coaches will do our jobs to prepare you for the UEFA Champions League final during the remaining four days. Okay?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary said like a dutiful soldier. "I''ll follow the doctor''s instructions to the letter."

    "That''s good," Coach Max Allegri said. "I have said all I have to say. Let me leave you in the hands of the doctor, and I wish you a quick recovery."

    "Thanks, coach."

    "You''re wee."

    The coach then ended the call.

    Zachary smiled and pushed the phone back into his pocket. He then nced at the quietly waiting Dr. Marcello Bassi, and they soon began discussing the rehabilitation n for his injury.

 Chapter 598 Final Serie A Home Game of the Season

    Chapter 598 Final Serie A Home Game of the Season

    Zachary began undergoing treatment after discussing his rehabilitation n with the doctor. The medics at J|Medical were quite attentive to him, and they immediately started helping him through the recovery process that wouldst an estimated twelve days.

    As he yearned to return to full fitness within the stipted time, he followed the doctor''s instructions and focused only on his recovery. He missed his yoga routine and didn''t head to the training ground the following morning. He instead returned to J|Medical and continued with his rehabilitation.

    In the meantime, his teammates hadmenced preparations for Juventus'' next home Serie A game against Napoli. Under the supervision of the hyper Coach Max Allegri, they went through two drilling sessions on Friday during the morning and afternoon hours. Then, when Saturday arrived, they headed to the Juventus Stadium in the evening, one to wee Napoli for their secondst battle for that Serie A season, and two, to finally receive their Serie A trophy after the match.

    For the game against Napoli, Coach Allegri once again rested most of his yers who had yed the Coppa Italia final during midweek. He yed a defense of four second-string yers, including Kwadwo Asamoah, Angelo Ogbonna, Andrea Barzagli, and Simone Padoin. He then fielded a midfield with Arturo Vidal, udio Marchisio, Stefano Sturaro, and Roberto Pereyra. Andstly, he fielded a striking line of ¨¢lvaro Morata and Kingsley Coman toplete his 4-3-1-2 formation.

    The fans couldn''t hide their worries, as it seemed like Juventus was giving up the match when the line-ups came out. Even thementatorsmented how all the big names, like Leonardo Boni, Giorgio Chiellini, Patrice Evra, Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente, and the two injured yers - Andrea Pirlo and Zachary Bemba, were missing. They even predicted Juventus would lose to Napoli, which had brought out all the big guns like Gonzalo Higua¨ªn, Dries Mertens, and Lorenzo Insigne, among other first-team yers.

    Fortunately, the before-the-game parading of the Coppa Italia trophy by the Juventus yers seemed to wash away all the worries about the squad. Everything proceeded smoothly, and by the time the match kicked off at six in the evening, a festive atmosphere had long eclipsed the entire Juventus Stadium.

    Since it was the day of the Serie A trophy presentation, Zachary, who could only walk with the help of crutches, had also headed to the Juventus Stadium with the team. He sat on the bench during the game and watched his teammates y brilliantly against the opponents.

    He smiled when he saw the Juventus yers swiftly settle into a steady ying cadence, incorporating slow exchanges of passes at the back followed by lightning-fast transitions in the midfield. They dominated possession and sustained pressure against the opponent until a rare goal-scoring opportunity arose during the 13th minute.

    The opportunity all began with a daring run through the right wing by Kingsley Coman. The Frenchman beat Faouzi Ghom, the Napoli left-back, before cutting into the pitch and squaring the ball to Roberto Pereyra, who had floated into an unmarked pocket of space before the box.

    Roberto Pereyra showed why he was a brilliant attacking midfielder. He controlled the ball well and immediately fed it between the legs of Miguel Britos, the Napoli center-back. He stepped past the already-defeated defender with swift eleration before pulling the trigger and sting the ball past the keeper to score Juventus'' 1st goal during the 13th minute.

    The score was then 1:0 in favor of Juventus, and the game resumed after the goal celebrations. The Napoli yers seemed to have gotten the perfect wake-up call after conceding the goal. They swiftly settled down and started ying clever football, highlighted by their spirited runs through the wings followed by crosses into the box. They attacked and attacked, hoping to score an equalizer as soon as possible.

    However, the Juventus yers yed as usual on the defensive end. They remained organized andposed at the back while defending tenaciously to protect their goal. They calmly thwarted Napoli''s attacks several times and maintained their 1:0 lead until the first half ended.

    After the fifteen-minute break, the second half started with the Napoli yers continuing from where they had left off. They repeatedly unleashed long balls and crosses into the box, hoping to find Gonzalo Higua¨ªn, their center forward. They increased the tempo andunched attacks on Juventus'' defense, wishing to create an opportunity to score the equalizing goal.

    Their efforts bore fruit during the 50th minute when Kwadwo Asamoah, Juventus'' left-back for the day, brought down Jos¨¦ Callej¨®n, the Napoli right winger, who had just prated the box. The foul was clear to everyone watching, and the referee showed Asamoah the yellow card before awarding a penalty to Napoli.

    Gonzalo Higua¨ªn stepped forward and took the penalty. But Gianluigi Buffon read him like an open book and dived the right way to save the effort. Unfortunately for Juventus, Buffon only managed to push the ball back into the box and allowed David L¨®pez, the Napoli midfielder, to convert on the rebound. The Napoli man remainedposed and slotted the ball past Buffon to score Napoli''s 1st goal on the evening.

    The score was 1:1, and the proceedings returned to square one. The Napoli yers gained more momentum from the goal they had just scored and continued attacking. They worked harder than ever to create opportunities while remaining on guard against Juventus'' counterattacks. However, a rare mistake nulled all their hard work when Walter Gargano, one of their defensive midfielders, took too many touches deep within his half and allowed udio Marchisio to rob him of possession during the 77th minute.

    Arturo Vidal, the Juventus midfielder lurking nearby, didn''t waste time before pouncing on the ball. He fed it forward to ¨¢lvaro Morata, who, in turn, yed brilliantly and squared it to find Stefano Sturaro, one of Juventus'' midfielders for the day.

    Thetter also remainedposed and pulled the trigger from a tight angle. He expertly chipped the ball over the keeper and into the back of the to score Juventus'' 2nd goal on the evening during the 77th minute.

    The score was then 2:1 in favor of Juventus, with only thirteen minutes of authorized ying time remaining. However, the Napoli yers didn''t lose heart and continued attacking. They yed exceptionally well and came close to scoring several times. But then again, they alwayscked that final finishing touch and repeatedly failed to put the ball into the back of the.

    The ny minutes eventually psed, and injury time arrived while team Napoli was still going all out to find the equalizer. It was then another twist in the game happened.

    The Juventus yers won a rare corner kick after failing to convert a counterattack. Stefano Sturaro took the corner kick and sent a curling cross into the area. However, Lorenzo Insigne, the Napoli winger who had fallen back to defend, handled the ball within the box while trying to clear it away.

    It was the perfect end that Juventus had been looking for, and Simone Pepe, the substitute, stepped forward to convert the penalty. He effortlessly sent the keeper the wrong way and found the back of the to score Juventus'' 3rd goal on the night.

    The score was then 3:1 in favor of Juventus, and the game resumed after the celebrations. The Juventus yers resorted to what they do best and managed the game well in the final two minutes of injury time. They held on tenaciously and maintained their 3:1 lead until the referee blew the whistle to end the game.

    With that, the Juventus yers had won yet another game and pushed their Serie A season tally to 105 points. They had also broken the 102 maximum points a season record set by themselves the previous season.

    But all that didn''t matter since their game against Napoli was their final home game for that Serie A season. They didn''t care about anything else as it was finally the day they would receive their rightful Serie A trophy. They couldn''t contain their delight and started celebrating before their fans, who responded with their own thunderous cheers.

    Zachary was still under strict orders from the doctor not to strain his leg unnecessarily. He moved with the help of crutches and joined his excited teammates on the pitch. He didn''t do anything excessive but only walked around slowly while waving to the fans and sometimes bumping fists with his teammates.

    Some, like Patrice Evra and Giorgio Chiellini, tried to approach and lift him. But he quickly waved them away with the excuse of not wishing to worsen his injury with uncontrolled movements.

    Eventually, he felt tired of walking with the crutches and stopped somewhere in the middle of the pitch. It was then that a few reporters stealthily tried to approach him. But the medics and assistant coaches, who were nearby, quickly chased them away.

    Zachary was inwardly grateful to the men who were keeping watch for him. He smiled and stayed in one ce as his ears continued picking up the cheers from the stands. His heart soon started pounding with boundless excitement as he awaited another defining moment of his career when he would receive his first Serie A trophy and golden boot.

 Chapter 599 Serie A Trophy Presentation

    Chapter 599 Serie A Trophy Presentation

    Chapter 599: Serie A Trophy Presentation

    The cheers around the Juventus Stadium continued increasing in volume as the trophy presentation drew closer with the passing of every second.

    Talk about a festive carnival: that was what was transpiring in this famous football ground in Turin, with all the home fans yelling and singing at the top of their lungs without a care for anything else in the world. Their faces were depictions of heartful delights with all their smiles and the joyful atmosphere around them as they waited for their team to receive their rightful Serie A title.

    In the meantime, the organizers had already set up everything necessary for the trophy presentation on the pitch. The podium was already in ce, and the individuals to present the des had already taken their positions. The Juventus yers, on their part, had already crowded a few meters from the podium while basking in the glory and joy of lifting yet another trophy.

    Just then, the mellifluous voice of the ceremonymentator sounded, "Ladies and Gentlemen! The faithful of the Old Lady! The unwavering fans of the great Juventus! Let me take this opportunity to present the first yer to ascend the podium to receive a medal. He is none other than our dearest and most brilliant attacking midfielder, the nightmare of opponents, and the one whose talent knows no bounds - Zachary Bemba."

    "He has already scored 35 Serie A goals this season and is already ahead of the second-ranked top-scorer of the tournament by 13 goals. So, the Serie A management and other stakeholders have unanimously agreed to hand him the yer-of-the-Season de with the Serie A Golden Boot tonight, even before thest match day."

    "The faithful of the Old Lady! Let''s put our hands together for this young footballer who has achieved so much in his first season at Juventus. Let''s apud Zachary Bemba as he ascends the podium."

    As the voice ceased, Zachary''s ears picked up even more explosive cheers sounding all over the stadium. He felt warm and proud from the bottom of his heart and started making his way up the podium with the help of his crutches.

    The medics, who were nearby, hurried forth to help him up the stairs. But he waved them away for one simple reason. He wanted to ascend the podium and receive his first Serie A winner''s medal with his own strength. And not even the mild calf contusion would stop him from achieving his small wish.

    The cheers increased in volume after Zachary reached the top of the podium. Then, they exploded into a thunderous peak, like dozens of TNT vocal bombs detonating all at once, when Zachary finally received his Serie A medal, Golden Boot, and yer-of-the-Season award.

    What followed was obvious. Thousands of Juventus supporters chanted his name as he ced his crutches to the side and raised his des above his head. The voices even increased beyond their previous peaks as he posed for the cameras with his three awards.

    At that exact moment, Zachary''s feelings wereplicated. He felt contentment, pride, happiness, relief, and a little remorseful as he stood on the podium, basking in all the glory.

    Yes, he was happy that he yed so well the entire season and received the recognition of everyone after receiving the des. But he also felt some regret threatening to bubble within him after recalling that he couldn''t share all his sess with the only person who had done her best to push him up from the ground, even with her limited resources in both his lives. He felt his eyes threatening to turn misty as he couldn''t share his glory with histe grandma.

    After a few seconds, Zachary sighed and pushed back the tears before walking towards the other side of the podium with the help of his crutches. He paused when he passed by the Serie A trophy standing in the center and felt his mood improve after he bent forward and kissed its surface. Then, he hurried to the side to wait for his teammates and coaches to ascend the stage.

    "Ladies and Gentlemen!" The voice of thementator sounded again. "The next to ascend the podium is Carlos Tevez. He has been a faithful servant of the Old Lady and scored eighteen Serie A goals this season. Please put your hands together for Tevez as he receives the ''Best Forward of The Season Award'' and his Serie A medal."

    More cheers sounded, and Tevez quickly ascended the podium. He received his medals from the officials with a smile before kissing the trophy and joining Zachary on the side.

    "The faithful of the Old Lady!" The mellifluous voice of the ceremonymentator sounded yet again. "Our next yer to step on the podium is Giorgio Chiellini, our rock in defense. Please put your hands together as he receives the ''Best Defender of the Season Award'' and his Serie A medal."

    Amid the thunderous cheers, Giorgio Chiellini ascended the stage and received his medals before kissing the trophy and joining Tevez and Zachary.

    "The faithful of the Old Lady! Words alone cannot describe how much this coach has achieved at the club during his first season in charge of Juventus. Ladies and Gentlemen! I present Massimiliano Allegri, our manager and the tactical brain behind our team. Please put your hands together for this gentleman as he ascends the podium to receive the ''Serie A Coach of the Season'' and his medal."

    The cheers hit an even more explosive peak immediately after thementator mentioned Massimiliano Allegri''s name. The man himself didn''t seem fazed by the thunderous atmosphere in any way. He calmly straightened his tie as the cameras focused on him before ascending the stairs and receiving his awards. He then exchanged words with the Serie A officials presenting the des for a few dozen seconds before heading to the side to wait for the big moment.

    The voice of the ceremonymentator continued sounding as more and more yers ascended the podium and received their des. Proceedings moved forward fast, and the assistant coaches and the technical staff also received their honors under the witness of the thousands of Juventus supporters. Then, the big moment finally arrived, and one of the officials finally picked up the trophy and slowly walked forward before handing it to Gianluigi Buffon, the captain.

    Gianluigi Buffon also did his part and slowly raised the Italian Serie A trophy above his head as the fireworks went off in the background. After that was an hour of festivities as the Juventus supporters and fans continued going wild with excitement while celebrating their team''s fourth consecutive Serie A title.

    All in all, it was a ''crazily festive'' night at the Juventus Stadium.

    -----

    Zachary had to return to J|Medical for his calf contusion rehabilitation treatment early the following morning. With that in mind, he excused himself from the celebrations early before having Lorenzo, his bodyguard, drive him back to his mansion in Pinerolo Piedmont. He arrived around 10 PM and found Bj?rn Peters, his live-in fitness coach, still seated in the living room, along with his wife Inger, who also happened to be Zachary''s live-in chef.

    "Zachary! Wee back," Inger was the first to greet him. "Congrattions upon winning the Serie A trophy. I''m really happy for you." She stepped forward to hug him.

    "Thanks, Inger," Zachary replied. He ced his crutches to the side and epted the hug while nodding at his fitness coach.

    "Why are you looking at me with a guilty expression?" Bj?rn Peters questioned with a smile as he rose up from the sofa. "I''m also quite happy for you. Congrattions once again, big man! I can now brag to my peers that my client has won another major trophy in Europe." He also stepped forward for a hug.

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary replied and stepped away from Inger. He then epted the bear hug from his fitness coach before moving to the side.

    "Zachary! Are you hungry?" Inger, the ever-dutiful live-in chef, asked. "I could make something delicious for you real quick."

    "No worries, Inger," Zachary replied. "I ate with the team after the game. I''m already full and only yearning to head to bed and rest."

    "Where are your Serie A medals?" Inger asked again.

    "Still in the car," Zachary replied. "There was no way I could carry them while walking with the crutches. So, I instructed Lorenzo to bring them inside the houseter."

    "That makes sense," Inger said.

    "How''s your injury, by the way?" Coach Bj?rn Peters interjected.

    "I feel like I''m recovering well after undergoing three days of treatment sessions at the J|Medical," Zachary replied with a smile. "The pain around my calf muscles has alsorgely disappeared. However, the medics have advised me to continue using crutches to avoid straining the leg. They say that the crutches are crucial to my recuperation if I wish to heal within the twelve days they set for me."

    "They are right," Coach Bj?rn Peters said with a nod. "What usually makes yer injuries worse is not following medical instructions and straining the hurt muscle, joint, or bone before full recovery. So, I hope you remain obedient to the doctors without doing anything stupid."

    "I won''t," Zachary promised and nced at his watch. "It''s gettingte. I''ll be heading up to my room to sleep. So, goodnight."

    "Okay, then," Coach Bj?rn Peters replied. "Let''s wish you a good night too. We''ll talk again tomorrow."

    "Thanks," Zachary said and nodded at his fitness coach again. He then picked up his crutches andboriously ascended the stairs. He eventually arrived at his bedroom door and entered the spacious andfy ce.

    "Ding!"

    The all-familiar system notification sounded in his mind after he closed the door behind him.

    "Congrattions to the user forpleting most of the major milestones of the 2014/15 Italian Serie A Challenge mission," the system AI''s apathetic voice followed. "The user can check out the interface for more details on the missionpletion details and associated rewards."

 Chapter 600 Final Game of the Season

    Chapter 600 Final Game of the Season

    Despite having expected the system notification, Zachary still felt excitement sweep over him when he heard it in his mind. He hurriedly ced his crutches to the side before settling on his bed and instructing the system AI to bring up the missionpletion details.

    ****

    #4 new messages

    -----

    CONGRATULATIONS

    ->You havepleted the system mission (2014/15 Italian Serie A Challenge).

    -----

    ->Mission Summary

    *Milestone 1: y 65% of the fixtures of the 2014/15 Serie A season. The user must be part of the starting eleven or a ying substitute in at least 25 of the total 38 Serie A matches (Completed; Rating S; Rewarded 2,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 2: Help your teammates be the 2014/15 Italian Serie A Champions (Completed; Rating S+; Rewarded 2,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 3: Provide the most assists in the 2014/15 Italian Serie A season (Awaiting results from the final Serie A game against Hes Verona).

    *Milestone 4: Be the top scorer of the 2014/15 Italian Serie A season (User has already scored 35 goals and is ahead of the second-ranked yer on the top-scorers list by 13 goals. The system has deemed the user to have alreadypleted the milestone with a rating of S+ and rewarded 20,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 5: Be the MVP of the 2014/15 Italian Serie A season (User haspleted the mission by winning the Serie A yer-of-the-Season de; Rating S+; Rewarded 30,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 6: Score 40 or more goals during the 2014/15 Serie A Season (Awaiting results from the final Serie A game against Hes Verona).

    *Milestone 7: Help your teammates achieve an unbeaten run throughout the 2014/15 Italian Serie A. The user must work hard to ensure Juventus doesn''t lose even a ''single'' match from the beginning to the end of the season (Awaiting results from the final Serie A game against Hes Verona).

    ----

    ->The system will tally the rest of the missionpletion details after Juventus'' final Serie A game against Hes Verona.

    ->The system encourages the user to work hard during the final game toplete the remaining milestones and attain the maximum rewards.

    -----

    ****

    "How am I supposed to work hard when I''m injured?" Zachary sighed and shook his head.

    Juventus'' away game against Verona was on Saturday, May 30th, 2015. However, the earliest he could fully recover (ording to the medics at J|Medical) would be two days after the game on Monday, June 1st. That meant he could only hope and pray that his teammates would go all out to get at least a draw, even in his absence, if he wished to win the other mission prizes from the system.

    "Well," Zachary thought. "The team is powerful even without me. They should be able to attain a draw against Hes Verona even while ying at half their best. Let''s hope that luck will be on their side."

    Zachary pushed his worries to the back of his mind and dismissed the system interface. He then quickly took a shower before drying himself and jumping into bed for the night.

    He woke up early the following morning and returned to J|Medical, where he continued undergoing rehabilitation. His treatment was quite rewarding, and he felt most of the difort in his calf disappear by the end of the session. But even then, he followed the doctor''s instructions and continued relying on his crutches for support while walking.

    The following six days were even more tedious, especially since he couldn''t train or kick the ball. He felt bored as he had to do repetitive rehabilitation exercises to strengthen his calf muscles without further hurting them.

    Fortunately, his yearning to return to full fitness eclipsed all hardships. He remained motivated, especially since he could perceive his injury healing at a noticeable rate with the passing of each day.

    Eventually, Saturday, May 30, the day when Juventus'' would y the away game against Hes Verona, arrived. By then, the doctors had already cleared him to walk without crutches, and he eagerly traveled with his teammates to Verona, hoping that they would achieve at least a draw, which would, in turn, allow him to win another S-grade elixir from the system.

    Proceedings went ording to schedule, and the game started at 6:00 PM in the almost fully packed Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi. He sat on the bench during the entire match and watched his teammates put up a barely eptable performance against the opponents.

    Maybe it was due to Juventus having already won all the trophies in Italy, including the Supercoppa, the Coppa Italia, and the Serie A, that season. Or perhaps it was because it was thest Serie A match day. But the Old Lady yers seemed tock fighting spirit on the pitch and only yed at a sub-par level against the weaker Hes Verona side.

    Roberto Pereyra was the exception. He yed like a world-ss attacking midfielder from the get-go and looked sharp every time he got hold of the ball.

    The highlight of his performance was when he connected with a through pass from udio Marchisio before dribbling past one of the defenders and pulling the trigger from around twenty-eight yards out. His shooting technique was superb, and he found the back of the with the missile of an effort to score Juventus'' 1st goal during the 41st minute.

    The score was then 1:0 in favor of Juventus, and Zachary sighed with relief as he watched his teammates celebrating the opening goal. His hopes soared as he thought the lead would motivate them to y better football and thrash Verona by a score of two or more goals. However, right after the second half started, he noticed that he couldn''t have been more wrong.

    The Hes Verona yers came out of the dugout with boundless team spirit. They yed brilliant football right from the restart andunched an immediate attack against Juventus. They prated Juventus'' half by relying on Juanito G¨®mez, their left-winger, who effortlessly beat Simone Padoin in a one-on-one battle before squaring the ball into the middle.

    Leandro Greco, a Hes Verona attacking midfielder, collected the ball around the edge of the final third before exchanging a brilliant one-two with Luca Toni, the Verona center-forward, to beat Arturo Vidal. The angle then opened up, and Greco pulled the trigger from thirty-two yards out, hoping to score Hes Verona''s 1st goal during the 46th minute.

    Unfortunately for him, there was Buffon in Juventus'' goal. The experienced keeper threw his body at the thunderous long-distance effort before punching the ball out of y for a corner kick.

    But was Juventus out of the woods yet? The answer soon became apparent when Bo?ko Jankovi?, the Hes Verona right-winger, took the corner kick. He unleashed a tricky cross that eluded all the yers crowding in the box before eventually finding its way to Luca Toni, the striker lurking close to the far post.

    Luca Toni, on his part, performed his job well as a center-forward. He met the ball with a diving header and guided it into the back of the to score Hes Verona''s first goal of the evening during the 48th minute.

    The game resumed after the goal celebrations, with the Verona yers continuing to y a solid game, incorporating stable defending and long balls forward. They yed brilliantly for the next ten minutes and came close to scoring twice.

    The momentum was on their side, and they continued attacking. Unfortunately for them, Juventus relied on their Champion''s luck and counterattacked after they failed to convert yet another opportunity.

    Roberto Pereyra was once again the man of the hour. He took advantage of a rare mistake from one of the Verona midfielders to win back possession before setting up Carlos Tevez with a long ball over the top.

    Tevez, on his part, was brilliant as ever. He easily beat an opponent with his swift pace on the right nk before squaring the ball to set up Fernando Llorente, who converted from inside the box to score Juventus 2nd goal during the 59th minute.

    The score was then 2:1, and the Juventus yers fell back and started defending while waiting for the final whistle. They yed with spirit and purpose, hoping to see the game through before returning home with another win.

    However, another twist eventually urred in the game during the 90th minute. Arturo Vidal, who had been brilliant the entire game,mitted a rare mistake and brought one of the Verona midfielders to the ground a few meters away from the box.

    The referee awarded the free kick, and the Verona yers readily took advantage of the opportunity to hit back at Juventus. Juanito G¨®mez was the man of the hour, who sent a perfect curve ball over the defensive wall to find the back of the and score the equalizer during the game''s closing stages.

    The score was then 2:2, and Zachary could only sigh from the bench as he watched the Verona yers celebrating their equalizing goal. After witnessing how circumstances had progressed on the pitch over the past few minutes, he even feared the worst could happen.

    Fortunately, his worries didn''te true. The Juventus yers seemed to have received a wake-up call after conceding the goal. They defended tenaciously throughout the closing stages until the referee blew the whistle after six minutes of injury time.

 Chapter 601 End of the Italian Serie A Season

    Chapter 601 End of the Italian Serie A Season

    Zachary was brimming with happiness after the game ended. A soft smile lit up his facial features as he watched his teammates celebrate the win against Verona.

    Juventus had finally concluded all 38 matches of the Serie A season without ever suffering a defeat. As such, he hadpleted the system mission milestone to help his teammates achieve an unbeaten run throughout the 2014-15 Serie A season and secured himself yet another potent S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir.

    Aside from that, his thirteen assists during the season also allowed him to remain at the top of the assist leaderboard. Even though he didn''t y Juventus''st two fixtures, he was still ahead of the other Serie A''s most creative yers, including Marek Ham?¨ªk and Paulo Dyb, who had eleven assists that season.

    For that one reason, he had alsopleted the 3rd milestone of the 2014-15 Serie A challenge and won himself more Juju points. Adding on the ones he had secured after Juventus won the title seven days prior, he had raked in a total of 64,000, plus 20,000 bonus Juju points afterpleting six of the seven milestones of the mission.

    The only imperfection in his missionpletion rate was that he had only scored 35 goals in the Serie A. As such, he didn''t meet the mission requirement to bag 40 goals and thus missed out on the handsome reward of 100,000 Juju points.

    Zachary had long be aware that the usefulness of system perks like Juju points and even the skills mastering functions towards him were diminishing as his skills approached the SSS grade. But he still wished to collect the rewards and upgrade the system. He yearned to see whether it would eventually produce an elixir reward above the S grade that would make his abilities almost inhuman.

    "Why are you spacing out here?" Patrice Evra''s voice sounded beside him. "Why note into the pitch and celebrate the final day of the Serie A season with your teammates?"

    "Sure," Zachary grinned and agreed. His calf contusion had already mostly healed after undergoing the best of the best rehabilitation sessions at the J|Medical. He walked without difort and followed Evra onto the pitch.

    Before long, he started hugging the teammates and coaches he chanced upon. He congratted them upon concluding the season without facing any defeat. In turn, they replied with warm words, which includedpliments about his winning the Golden Boot and Serie A yer-of-the-Season award.

    Zachary didn''t stop at just hugging his teammates but eventually approached the stands where the excited Juventus supporters were seated. He waved at them, and they replied excitedly and yelled his name as if there was no tomorrow.

    The fans closest to the pitch even started asking for his autograph. But he politely ignored them before turning around and heading towards Coach Max Allegri.

    "Zachary! It''s nice to see you walking without crutches again," Coach Max Allegri smiled and hugged him. "We didn''t get an opportunity to talk before the game. I hope you''re recovering well."

    "I am," Zachary assured the coach. "The doctors have already cleared me from using crutches. But they warned me against kicking the ball before Tuesday, June 2nd."

    "That''s reasonable," Coach Max Allegri said with a nod. "A contusion usually requires two weeks to heal. You should count your blessings since you will only take twelve days to recover. That aside, I hope you have been studying past Barcelona games during your injury spell."

    "I have," Zachary said. "I have watched many of their recent matches, including their two semi-final legs against Bayern Munich. Their tiki-taka style,bined with the individual brilliance their attackers and midfieldersmand, is something else. We must y our best football to beat them during the UEFA Champions League finals."

    "That''s true, but they must also be at their best to beat us," Coach Max Allegri said with a chuckle. "Many eyes are watching, so let''s not discuss sensitive issues like the Champions League now. We''ll talk more when youe for training on Tuesday."

    "Okay," Zachary said. He then exchanged some more small talk with the coach and a few other teammates before heading back to the dressing room with them. The whole team nned to clean up quickly before taking their bus back to Turin that very night.

    -----

    The following day was a Sunday. As always, Emilia Vasquez''s ESPN Sunday morning sports showmenced at 11:00 AM, with her introducing Alessandro Costacurta, Joshua Morales, and Charles Adams, the three pundits to the viewers.

    She then made a few jokes before smiling at the cameras and saying, "Our dear viewers! Yesterday was the final match day of the 2014-15 Serie A season. We all witnessed the performances of the various big names in Italy, with the highlight being Juventus having to push through a stormy evening at Verona''s home ground to extend their unbeaten run with a 2:2 score."

    "The Old Lady yers were shaky on the night. But they still managed a draw against Hes Verona and pushed their season tally to a record 106 points. That also implies that theypleted the Serie A season without ever facing a defeat and also extended their unbeaten run in allpetitions to 65 games. They have set a new record in Europe."

    "They surely have," Alessandro Costacurta, one of the pundits, agreed. "As we said before, Bayern Munich was previously the team with the longest unbeaten run after they yed 58 games without facing a defeat from 1991 to 1993. As of now, Juventus has long smashed this record with their own 65-game-long unbeaten record. Moreover, they are in a good position to extend it to 66 games unbeaten after the Champions League final scheduled for next weekend."

    Emilia Vasquez smiled and asked, "Do you think they can win? Can they beat Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League final next weekend? Let''s not forget that theyst won thepetition in 1996. Can they finally put smiles on the faces of their fans by bringing that glorious European Trophy back to Turin?"

    "That''s a hard question," Alessandro Costacurta replied. "Barcelona and Juventus are all great European teams that have performed brilliantly all season long. I don''t have to say much about Juventus with all their feats, including three domestic trophies and an incredible unbeaten run. If they can get Zachary Bemba back to full fitness before the final, they could win the UEFA Champions League trophy."

    "Nheless, we also can''t count out Barcelona, the Catns, from the final. Yes, they have had it rough a few times and suffered some defeats here and there. But they are a team with an incredible Tiki-taka ying style made possible by all the brilliant stars on their starting line-up."

    "Their world-ss attack-minded yers like Andr¨¦s Iniesta, Neymar, Luis Su¨¢rez, and Lionel Messi can make the impossible happen. Their presence is why Barcelona has already won this season''s La Liga and Copa del Rey. I won''t be surprised if they perform incredibly well and destroy Juventus during the final."

    "You talked about a crucial point of Juventus having to get Zachary back to full fitness before the final," Emilia Vasquez chipped in. "News out of the Juventus camp is that he''s recovering well from the calf contusion, and he will likely make it in time for the final in six days. We also saw him walkingfortably around the pitch after Juventus''s match against Verona yesterday. But even if he recovers, there''s another issue for Juventus to consider. Will the injury affect his form in any way?"

    "That is indeed an important point," Charles Adams, the other pundit, replied. "We all know that injuries in sports are not just a physical issue. Excluding the obvious matter of affecting the athlete''s fitness, they can also bring about mental challenges like the fear of reinjury and a drop in confidence levels. Aside from regaining fitness, Zachary must ovee all these within the next six days if he wishes to y at his best during the final."

    "I agree that all that Charles said is true," Joshua Morales, thest pundit, remarked. "But let''s all not forget that Zachary Bemba is an incredibly talented yer who has achieved so much during his debut season at Juventus. He should possess the mental fortitude to ovee all those issues before ying the final. Moreover, Zachary''s half-best might still be among the top performances during any football match. Even if he''s not fully match-fit, he will still impact the final."

    "If we''re to look at both teams objectively, Juventus is still the underdog for the final," Charles Adams said. "They already have two crucial yers who might not be fully fit for the game against Barcelona. Let''s put aside Zachary''s injury concerns for a moment. But I still haven''t heard any news about Andrea Pirlo''s recovery from the Juventus camp. I''m not certain, but he could also miss the final."

    "Then, let''s look at Barcelona," he continued. "All their crucial yers, including Dani Alves, Gerard Piqu¨¦, Ivan Rakiti?, Sergio Busquets, Andr¨¦s Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Luis Su¨¢rez, and Neymar, are all fully fit and avable for selection. I can''t guess how the final will end. But I''m sure all those world-ss yers, especially Messi, Iniesta, and Neymar, will be a nightmare for Juventus during the game."

    "I think that''s enough about the Champions League final," Emilia Vasquez, the presenter, hurriedly said before the debate could continue. "We''ll delve into more discussions about the UEFA Champions League final again on our Wednesday night show. But for now, let''s return our focus to the just concluded Serie A season."

    The three pundits smiled and nodded. They then started discussing the season performances of the other Italian teams until the show ended after an hour.

    -----

 Chapter 602 The Eve of the Champions League Final

    Chapter 602 The Eve of the Champions League Final

    After gaining approval from the doctors, Zachary finally returned to the Vinovo to rmence his training early morning on Tuesday, June 2nd. His teammates weed him with warmth and enthusiasm when he stepped on the training ground, making him feel like he had never been absent. He responded with warm words before heading to the sidelines where the coaches were standing.

    "Zachary!" Coach Max Allegri called out to him. "Wee back. I hope you''re now fully recovered."

    "Thanks, coach," Zachary replied in fluent Italian. "Of course, I''m back to full fitness already. How''s your morning, by the way?"

    "My morning is great, especially since you''ve returned to the training ground," the coach said with a chuckle. "We can now begin serious preparations for the Champions League final. I hope you already went through the calf strengthening exercises while healing."

    "I did during thest seven days of my recovery period," Zachary said. "My calf muscles are already back to normal."

    "Okay, that''s a relief," Coach Max Allegri said with a smile. "But to be safe, we''ll still not rush you into the intensive exercises. You can do some little ball work, including rondos and the lighter tactical drills, with the others for today. But please take it slow until we''re sure you''re back to full fitness. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach," Zachary replied.

    "Good," Coach Max Allegri nodded with a smile. "You can now join the others. We''ll begin the warm-up drills as soon as possible."

    "Yes, coach," Zachary said. He then ran back to the pitch and joined his teammates.

    The training sessionmenced after a few minutes, and Zachary immediately matched his teammates to perform all the warm-up exercises. Whether it was the light jogs, high knees, butt kicks, leg swings, and kickbacks, among other routines, he went through them all without experiencing any bit of difort in his calf muscles.

    Later, at around ten, he joined the team tactical drills focusing on formations and swift transitions from defense to striking. He again performed exceptionally well and impressed his teammates and coaches. His sharpness on the ball and passing uracy were near-perfect, causing those watching to wonder whether he was just from injury. But even then, the coaches insisted he take things slow and sent him back home to rest at lunchtime.

    He returned to the training ground on Wednesday morning, feeling well-rested and energetic. He again performed well and impressed the coaches during the morning sessions. But they still didn''t allow him to partake in the intensive afternoon sessions. Instead, they dispatched him off to the gym, where he spent two hours undergoing gym work under the supervision of the Juventus on-pitch medics.

    The following day was a Thursday, and only two days remained before the long-awaited UEFA Champions League final. As such, the coaches integrated Zachary into all the team''s training sessions to allow him to master the tactics for the game against Barcelona.

    Zachary, in turn, worked harder than ever to master everything the coaches required of him. He was abnormally motivated since he wanted to y his best football ever during the Champions League final. He struggled hard and learned all the tactics, set-piece routines, and attacking transitions by the end of Thursday.

    Then, Friday, which happened to be the eve of the Champions League final, finally arrived. Zachary once again performed exceptionally well during the morning sessions. His dribbling sharpness, set-piece precision, and passing acuity had almost returned to normal. He impressed all the coaches again with his skills on the training ground and ended the four-day preparations for the final on a high note.

    What followed was the moment of truth. Coach Max Allegri summoned all the yers to the tactics room for the pre-game tactical meeting at midday. He wasted no time and began to talk about the final against Barcelona immediately after the yers took their seats.

    "I hope you''re all having a wonderful afternoon," he began. "We''ve been seriously preparing for the UEFA Champions League final for five days. We have all worked hard to grasp the tactics for the game against Barcelona. And tomorrow is finally the day we put all those strategies to the test. It is the day we''ll go all out to win the Champions League and bring the UEFA trophy back to Turin. Are you guys excited?"

    "Yes, we are," the yers replied, more or less in unison.

    "Are you ready to head to Berlin and win the Champions League trophy?"

    "Yes, we are," the yers replied again.

    "I like the spirit," Coach Max Allegri said with a smile. "As you all know, we n to travel to Berlin on a 4:00 PM flight today. We hope to arrive at around eight and spend the night there. Then, we''ll inspect the venue for the final and hold a light training session tomorrow morning. After that, we can all rx in Berlin while waiting for the final."

    "Since our time is scarce, I''ll now read the provisional line-up for tomorrow. In goal, we''ll go with Gianluigi Buffon, our captain, while our backline will constitute Patrice Evra, Leonardo Boni, Giorgio Chiellini, and Stephan Lichtsteiner."

    "Moving on to midfield. We''ll y with three holding midfielders, including Arturo Vidal, Roberto Pereyra, and udio Marchisio, while Zachary Bemba will y as our sole advanced ymaker. And finally, we''ll utilize the services of Carlos Tevez and ¨¢lvaro Morata as our two strikers toplete our 4-3-1-2 formation."

    "Moving on to the bench," the coach continued. "We''ll have Marco Storari, Andrea Barzagli, Simone Padoin, Stefano Sturaro, Kingsley Coman, Fernando Llorente, andstly, Andres Pirlo, who is not with us at the moment but has just passed the fitness tests today."

    Most yers, including Zachary, cheered when they heard Andrea Pirlo''s name on the line-up. The Maestro had been nursing a calf injury, which he picked up during the first leg of Juventus'' semi-final against Borussia Dortmund about four weeks ago. Fortunately for Juventus, he had passed the fitness tests on time and could thus partake in the following day''s final. Of course, his presence was more than weed by all the Juventus yers and coaches who yearned to win the Champions League more than anything.

    Coach Allegri smiled when he saw his yers cheering. He nodded and said, "First, listen, people. As we''ve already discussed all week, Barcelona, our opponents, are a team that relies on their incredible Tiki-taka style to break down opposing teams. They will y short, intricate, and urate passes throughout the game, with the primary aim being to keep possession for long periods, work the ball through various channels, and ultimately reach advanced positions, where they can create scoring opportunities."

    "Tobat this ying style, we must work hard in defense and midfield. We must go all out to win the ball before hitting the opponents with swift counterattacks. That''s why we''ll have three holding midfielders on the pitch, with the role to win back possession and set up Zachary, Tevez, and Morata with first-time through passes."

    "All in all, we won''t try to beat Barcelona at their own style of Tiki-taka football. But we''ll instead rely on our hard work to break down their passing before unleashing through passes to our attackers, who will do their best to score. Are we on the same page, guys?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    "Do any of you have any questions?" The coach asked.

    Zachary gritted his teeth and raised his hand.

    Coach Max Allegri was surprised. But he still gave him the go-ahead to ask the question by pointing at him.

    "Coach!" Zachary began. "Our 4-3-1-2 line-up is narrow and will leave openings in the wing areas for Messi and Neymar to exploit. Of course, we can rectify that by having one of our holding midfielders cover the nks when Barcelona is attacking through the wing. But that will again leave gaps for the strong Barcelona midfield to exploit in the middle. Coach! How should we handle this problem?"

    Coach Allegri smiled. "Of course, I know well that weck numbers in the wings. But we can''t sacrifice any of our midfielders to rectify the problem. So, what we can do is to remain tenacious while defending."

    "In particr, all midfielders must work hard to cover our two wing-backs when they are up against Barcelona''s wing duo of Messi and Neymar. I know that that will also leave gaps in the midfield. But we can also ovee that through collective hard work when we defend as a team. Does that answer your question, Zachary?"

    Zachary nodded and showed no change of expression. But on the inside, he was still worried.

    He feared that theck of numbers in the wings would give Barcelona''s incredible wingers opportunities to create several goal-scoring opportunities, like what transpired in the final of his previous life. But since the coach had already decided, he could only remain silent and wait for the game before thinking about how to rectify the issue himself.

    Coach Allegri smiled and turned away from Zachary. "Whether I mentioned your name on the line-up or not, we''ll all travel together to Berlin for the finals. We''ll board the flight as a team at 4:00 PM and hope to arrive in Germany by eight. So, you should all return home and pack your bags before quickly returning here. We must set off for the airport at 2:45 PM. Understood?"

    "Yes, coach."

    -----

 Chapter 603 Pre-Match Excitement Around the Olympiastadion

    Chapter 603 Pre-Match Excitement Around the Olympiastadion

    Saturday, June 6th, 2015

    Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany.

    Time: 5:45 PM

    -----

    The atmosphere in this famous city in Germany was beyond explosive.

    The excitement levels had already risen to the skies as fans of both teams eagerly awaited themencement of the UEFA Champions League final between Juventus and Barcelona.

    There were still three hours to the kick-off of the highly anticipated final. Nevertheless, thousands of supporters donning their respective team colors had long crowded along the routes leading to the renowned Olympiastadion, which was obviously the venue of the battle between two footballing giants gunning for European football glory.

    With just a nce, one could see many somebodies in blue and ga jerseys hoisting up posters of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Andr¨¦s Iniesta, among other Barcelona stars. Then, looking across the street, one could spot other fans in Juventus'' ck and white colors holding up banners of Juventus yers like Zachary Bemba, Gianluigi Buffon, Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo, Leonardo Boni, Giorgio Chiellini, and Arturo Vidal, among other famous Old Lady stars.

    The fans of both teams were doing their best to support their teams even before themencement of the final. Their excited voices asionally ignited the atmosphere around them as they sang chants of their teams or the names of their footballing stars.

    Paolo Favero, a staunch fan of Juventus who had arrived in Berlin the previous day, was among the crowd. Beside him were several friends who were of the same football religion. They had also traveled to watch the final, and just like him, they were also sporting Juventus ck and white striped jerseys.

    Unlike his friends, Paolo was particrly quiet that evening. He was full of grand expectations for his team but also a bit anxious. His heart was already beating fast and hard with yearning as he waited for the game that could make or break his team''s football season.

    If Juventus could win, they wouldplete a year of football on a high note. But if they lost, many would forget their achievements in the other domesticpetitions, and all the glory would go to Barcelona.

    There was also the question of Zachary winning the Ballon d''Or at stake. If the Old Lady could beat the Catns, he would increase his chances of bing the best yer in the world by a significant margin. But if the results were the other way round, then Lionel Messi, the incredible star of Barcelona, would most likely win that prestigious award another time.

    "Paolo!" Greta Stefani, a bubbly-looking girl who was one of his friends, called out. "Don''t stand there and ruin the mood. Come and join us! Let''s take a selfie tomemorate this moment."

    Paolo smiled and nodded. He quickly joined his other friends, and they started posing for photographs while still within the boisterous crowd of Juventus supporters. They repeatedly immortalized the moments before the final, hoping to keep them alive forever, especially if Juventus came out on top after the game.

    But could they get their wish? Would their dreamse true? Would they witness their team winning the Champions League trophy and finallypleting a long-awaited quadruple? They would start getting answers to their questions when the match between Juventus and Barcelonamenced in three hours.

    -----

    The pre-match extravaganzas continued as the minutes shed by. The atmosphere grew even more heated as more and more enthusiastic football devotees crowded along the streets leading to the stadium. There were also droves of many others who were impatient. They didn''t wait outside the stadium for the teams to arrive but headed inside, hoping to grab their seats before it was toote.

    One and a half hours passed just like that, and the clock hands around Berlin finally pointed to the 7:15 PM mark. It was at that moment that the visage of the first team bus started appearing in the distance, causing all the waiting fans outside the stadium to go even more wild with excitement.

    The bus in question snaked its way through the crowds, and before long, everyone outside the stadium could make out its blue and ga colors, meaning it belonged to Barcelona.

    On realizing what it represented, most of the Juventus supporters crowding along the roads wrinkled their faces with annoyance. It was as if their eyes had identallynded on the foulest substance in the world, and they quickly turned their heads away with irritation.

    But it was a different story for the Barcelona fans, who immediately turned more jubnt. They cheered with more zeal, their passionate voices constantly vocalizing names like Lionel Messi, Neymar, Iniesta, and Luis Su¨¢rez as they watched their team bus slowly approach the stadium entrance.

    In response, some of the Barcelona yers, like Gerard Piqu¨¦, Dani Alves, Neymar, and Luis Su¨¢rez, pushed their heads out of the bus windows and waved to the crowds, causing more waves of delight to explode all over the ce.

    But that was only the beginning, and the excitement levels soon reached a climax when the Barcelona yers began alighting from the bus. All the famous stars, including the mesmerizing Lionel Messi, the incredible Iniesta, and the tantalizing Neymar, all walked with a purpose as they left the bus and headed towards the stadium entrance. Of course, some waved to the waiting fans once or twice, causing them to almost die from delight before they disappeared into the tunnels leading to the dressing room.

    "Did you just notice that," Enzo Ballesteros, a young man sporting a Barcelona jersey, said. "This is real... I think Messi just waved and smiled at me..."

    "Stop dreaming!" Andres Casteno, his friend simrly in a Barcelona jersey, squashed his ims without fear or favor. "We''re standing behind dozens of supporters wearing the same Barcelona jersey. How could Messi''s gaze jump over all those people to wave and smile at you? Do you think you''re his long-lost rtive?"

    "I knew you wouldn''t believe me even when I''m speaking the truth," Enzo said with a casual shrug. "Andres! Do you think we''ll win the final? Do you believe that we''ll beat Juventus and achieve European glory?"

    "We surely will," Andres Casteno said emphatically. "All our stars are in great shape. Messi is as great as ever, while other yers like Rakiti?, Busquets, Neymar, Iniesta, and Su¨¢rez are at the top of their games. But on the side of Juventus, Zachary Bemba has just returned from injury, while Andrea Pirlo is doubtful for the final. Without those two, Juventus willck the sharpness they havemanded all season, and we can defeat them by ying our usual game of denying them possession."

    Enzo was just about to say something else. But right then, amotion broke out from the other side of the road upied by the Juventus fans. Thinking of something, he turned towards the distance and saw Juventus'' bus slowly approaching.

    It snaked through the boisterous crowds and quickly arrived before the gates. Without further ado, the Juventus yers, including Zachary and the supposedly injured Andrea Pirlo, alighted from the vehicle and waved to the fans before disappearing towards the tunnels.

    "Juventus! Juve..."

    "Andrea..."

    "Zachary Bemba..."

    "Carlos Tevez..."

    At that instant, the Juventus fans showed why they were the big bosses of Europe when it came to cheering their teams. They yelled like there was no tomorrow, their chorus of chaotic voices hitting a drawn-out crescendo until all the Juventus yers had disappeared inside the stadium entrance. After that, they all started rushing towards the stadium gates like a flood, eager to take their seats before the warm-up routines of both teamsmenced.

    -----

    Zachary followed his teammates down the stairs and into the tunnels leading to the dressing room. He had arrived with his teammates and coaches in Berlin the previous evening, and as nned, they had spent the night at the historic Hotel Berlin.

    After enjoying a peaceful night of rest, they followed a morning routine of having breakfast, inspecting the pitch of the Olympiastadion, and going through a light training session under the supervision of the Juventus coaches. Then, aside from taking meals, they spent the rest of the day rxing in their rooms, and here they were now, ready to y the UEFA Champions League final against Barcelona.

    Zachary''s heart pumped fast with boundless excitement as he walked towards the dressing room. The almost-silent waves of cheers trickling into his ears continuously ignited his fighting spirit. He was growing more and more eager to step on the pitch and perform at his best.

    He was obviously aware that he had just returned from injury and was not yet at his peak. But he truly believed that he could ovee that small hardship with his incredible array of skills. He would also utilize his passion for the game to ovee his limits and ensure that he did his part during the game. He didn''t wish to let his teammates down.

    Boundless expectations shed through his head as he followed his teammates and coaches. Under the guidance of the UEFA officials, they soon arrived before their assigned dressing room. But before they could enter, the door on the other side opened, and the Barcelona yers, including Messi, Neymar, Iniesta, and several others, started striding out.

    Without as much as saying a simple hi, the Catns, who were already in their warm-up gear, slowly made their way past the simrly silent Juventus yers. They treated the Old Lady yers like air and didn''t say any needless greetings. Then, under the lead of Andr¨¦s Iniesta, their captain, they soon picked up their pace and started disappearing around the bend leading to the pitch.

    Zachary could feel the tension building around the rest of his teammates and coaches as they all watched the disappearing backs of the Barcelona yers. The fighting spirit around the team was palpable, and the vibrancy of some yers, like Patrice Evra and Stephan Lichtsteiner, who would be facing off against Messi and Neymar, was sky-high. One thing was for sure. All the Juventus yers yearned to step onto the pitch and do their best to help their team win the final.

    "Well! What are you all gawking at?"

    Coach Max Allegri''s voice dissipated the tense atmosphere around the ce just after the Barcelona yers disappeared around the bend. As usual, he had dressed to kill, his fitting ck suit, matching tie, and gentle shoes making him look like the perfect gentleman. But his eyes were the opposite of what a gentleman should possess. They exuded an intense fighting spirit as he swept them across his yers.

    "As you can all see, we''re a bit behind the opponents," he said. "Let''s hurry and prepare before heading to the pitch for our pre-match warm-up."

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied before flooding into the dressing room.

 Chapter 604 The Peak Stage of European Club Football

    Chapter 604 The Peak Stage of European Club Football

    Emily Anderson, Zachary''s agent, had already taken her seat in the stands of the Olympiastadion to watch the Champions League final. Her emotions were beyondplex as she waited to witness her young client''s performance in a match that could define his career.

    She worried for Zachary as she understood that he had just ovee a minor injury. But even then, she still wished to see him defymon sense and perform beyond expectations.

    She wanted to see him y exceptionally well during the final so that he could take home the Champions League trophy. She hoped to see him outshine everyone else that season and raise his chances of winning that year''s Ballon d''Or.

    Sitting close to Emily were some of Zachary''s acquaintances who had alsoe to see him face Barcelona. They included his former teammates, like Paul Kasongo, the Otterson brothers, Mikael Dorsin, and Thomas Partey. There were also his employees, plus former and current trainers nearby, including Coach Bj?rn Peters (his fitness trainer), Coach Johansen (the Rosenborg coach), Inger (his live-in chef), Lorenzo Rardo (his bodyguard), and Kristin Stein, who had taken some time away from nursing his sick grandpa to watch the game.

    Emily Anderson was only close to Bj?rn Peters, Kristin, and Inger. She had tried conversing with them while watching the two teams go through the pre-match dynamic warm-ups that had started only minutes ago. But because of the sheer intensity of the noise around the ce, Emily had quickly abandoned the notion. She just gave up as she didn''t have the energy to continue yelling at the top of her lungs just to make a simple discussion possible.

    And so, she remained silent while taking in the boisterous scenes within the stadium.

    On the pitch, the yers of both teams were seriously going through the pre-match warm-up routines. The Barcelona yers had taken up one side of the pitch while the Juventus stars had upied the other. Both teams didn''t give any attention to their fans as the only thing that seemed to be on every yer''s mind was preparing for the soon-tomence final.

    Emily''s eyes took in all these sights. Her gaze paused on famous Barcelona yers like Lionel Messi, Andr¨¦s Iniesta, and a few more for a second or two. But she soon ignored them, as they didn''t interest her much. She readily returned her focus to Zachary, who was repeatedly running through cone drills as he prepared for the game that would define his career. Her eyes softened, and she silently wished him the best during the game for the umpteenth time that evening.

    -----

    The pre-match proceedings moved forward fast when the yers ended their warm-up routines. They returned to their dressing rooms, where they quickly made their final preparations, including donning their match gear and listening to the pre-match addresses of their respective coaches.

    The clock hands around Berlin soon pointed to the half-past eight mark, signifying that only fifteen minutes remained before the nned kick-off time of the game. On cue, the yers and coaches put everything else aside before heading out into the tunnels, eager to make their way to the pitch. They walked quickly, and within half a minute, they all made two neat lines before the stairs leading to the ying field.

    At that juncture, the Barcelona yers queued on the right side of the tunnel, beginning with Andr¨¦s Iniesta, their captain. In a simultaneous fashion, the Juventus yers also lined up on the left side, starting with Buffon, their goalkeeper and captain. And, as usual, groups of youngsters sporting simr jerseys to the two sides also made a timely appearance to hold the hands of the stars of their respective teams.

    Everything was in ce, and the schedule progressed quickly and smoothly. The match officials picked up the ball and led the two lines of yers and the lucky kids holding their hands up the stairs and towards the pitch.

    Under the focus of countless cameras, they soon passed by the UEFA Champions League trophy disyed atop a magnificent stand and swiftly exited the tunnels. They immediately stepped onto the pitch of the Olympiastadion, where their senses took in the thunderous apuse and other wondrous scenes of the opening ceremony.

    The pitch had long turned into something akin to a gigantic piece of artwork. Within less than thirty minutes, when the teams were preparing, the organizers had finalized everything to do with the UEFA Champions League opening ceremony. They had spread expansive and blue carpet-like decorations all over the field, with the highlight being the gs of Juventus and Barcelona held up by smartly dressed individuals on each side. Then, at the center of it all was arge depiction of a ball made up of blue stars that was the logo of this prestigious Europeanpetition. The scenes of the opening ceremony were just that dazzling.

    Zachary observed all the incredible sights as he followed his teammates and lined up before the dugout. His ears could pick up the loud chants of the more than 70,000 supporters in attendance that soon subsided and gave way to the UEFA Champions League Anthem sung by a choir of musicians smartly dressed in all-ck suits. His heart continued racing all the way up to the point when the pre-match routines ended, and he took his position on the field of y.

    Everything around, including the breathtaking depiction of a giant trophy hanging on one side of the stadium and the spectacr colors within the stands, reminded him that he was already experiencing the peak stage of European club football. And all he had to do was perform as usual and help his team win yet another trophy for that season.

    A couple of more minutes passed, and the big moment arrived. The referee finally blew the whistle to signal themencement of the match, causing waves of thunderous cheers to explode around the Olympiastadion.

    On cue, Carlos Tevez, the striker waiting over the ball, flicked it to the nearby ¨¢lvaro Morata. Thetter passed it back toward the side Juventus to kick start the long-awaited UEFA Champions League final.

    The action was on, and the Juventus yers quickly arrayed themselves in a 4-3-1-2 formation while moving the ball forward during the opening minutes. They yed slow but intricate passes at the back, hoping to quickly settle down in the game before attempting to create goal-scoring chances.

    As for Barcelona, they organized themselves into their traditional 4-3-3 formation before quickly starting to work hard to win possession. And as usual, some of their yers, like Luis Su¨¢rez, Ivan Rakiti?, Sergio Busquets, and Andr¨¦s Iniesta, were exceptional on this front. They ran at every Juventus yer who received the ball until they forced a long pass forward out of Roberto Pereyra, who was ying as one of Juventus'' three defensive midfielders.

    That instance marked the change in possession from Juventus to Barcelona, with the Catns soon starting to do their thing of ying short and intricate passes that were the true defining feature of their Tiki-Taka style. They quickly worked the ball from defense, hoping to exploit any gaps within the midfield.

    But of course, the Juventus team had prepared well for this situation by fielding three defensive midfielders plus Zachary, the advanced ymaker, in the middle of the field. They had all the numerical superiority in the central positions ¡ª a reality that forced the Barcelona yers to fail miserably at their first attempt to execute their Tiki-Taka football.

    But would this simple hardship stop Barcelona from finding a way to dominate the game? Would fielding many midfielders prevent the Catns from doing what they do best? Would this strategy stop one of the best teams in Europe from dominating possession?

    The answer became apparent within the next three minutes.

    The Catns didn''t waste much time before utilizing the wing areas instead of working the ball through the crowded defensive midfield channels.

    Everything began with Jordi Alba, Barcelona''s left-back for the day, who unleashed a pass along the touchline to find Neymar on the same left nk during the 4th minute. His timing was perfect, and he took advantage of Juventus''ck of wingers to find his Brazilian teammate in space.

    Of course, Juventus tried to close this gap in their formation by having Arturo Vidal step out of the midfield to close down Neymar. But Neymar did his magic and skipped past the opponent before ying a couple of one-twos with Andr¨¦s Iniesta to exploit the gap left by Vidal in midfield. They then continued linking up well to rush past Stephan Lichtsteiner, Juventus'' right-back, before finding themselves deep within Juventus'' half.

    At that point, Barcelona showed why they were one of the most dangerous sides within the advanced positions of the final third. Their snappy passes flowed fluidly like stream water among their yers, including Sergio Busquets, Andr¨¦s Iniesta, Ivan Rakiti?, and Luis Su¨¢rez, until the ball returned to Neymar, who had just stepped into an unmarked pocket of space at the edge of Juventus'' box.

    Neymar, on his part, didn''t choose to take on any defenders with his dribbling. He instead yed another sweet and immacte pass to Andr¨¦s Iniesta.

    Thetter also didn''t lose a second before turning with the ball and squaring it further into the box. His timing was beyond perfect, and he managed to thread the ball toward the sprinting path of Ivan Rakiti?, who was arriving in the area.

    All this was Barcelona at its best, with Ivan Rakiti?pleting the perfect passage of y. The Croatian outwitted a couple of Juventus yers to connect with Iniesta''s pass before maintaining hisposure and hammering a shot past the outstretched arms of Buffon. And just like that, he effortlessly found the back of the to score Barcelona''s first goal for the night during the 5th minute.

 Chapter 605 Crisis

    Chapter 605 Crisis

    Barcelona''s 5th-minute goal didn''t unsettle Juventus'' game n. The Italian giants remained patient and defensive while waiting for chances to counterattack. But in so doing, they allowed Barcelona to continue dominating possession. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The Barcelona yers were really on fire after scoring the early opening goal. They continued avoiding Barcelona''s midfield while repeatedly utilizing the spaces on the nks to advance the ball out of the final third. Their Tiki-taka was as potent as ever as they went at Juventus with everything they got.

    But, like with every football match, even the best of teams couldmit some mistakes. Even the best yers could misce a pass or two, or fail to dribble past an opponent, thereby gifting possession to the opponent. That was what happened during the 16th minute of gamey.

    Andr¨¦s Iniesta, Barcelona''s captain, worked his magic and found Neymar with a through ball to an advanced position on the left wing. However, the Brazilian winger tried to dribble past Stephan Lichtsteiner and failed miserably. A sliding tackle from the Juventus right-back robbed him of the ball, and he ended up gifting possession to Juventus.

    What followed was a fierce counterattack by Juventus. udio Marchisio, one of Juventus'' three defensive midfielders, reacted immediately. He collected the loose ball and swiftly passed it to Arturo Vidal, his counterpart in midfield.

    Arturo Vidal was like a magician on the ball at that juncture. He took a well-timed first touch to step past Ivan Rakiti?, the Barcelona midfielder harassing him, before unleashing a pass forward to find Zachary.

    Zachary felt his heart pumping hard as he met the ball from Vidal close to the center circle. He collected it on a half-turn before spinning around and facing towards Barcelona''s side of the pitch.

    Of course, the Barcelona yers didn''t allow him the freedom to advance the ball. Sergio Busquets, Barcelona''s defensive midfielder, swiftly rushed forward to close him down. The midfielder came in all guns zing, knowing full well that Juventus'' counterattack would be deadly if Zachary took a few steps into Barcelona''s half.

    Zachary, on his part, didn''t panic as he watched Busquets closing him down. He stepped over the ball once and leaned to the left as if wishing to rush past Sergio Busquets in that direction. But just as the opponent began reacting, he suddenly halted his bodily motion halfway.

    Zachary''s SS-graded bnce, coordination, and dribbling skills bloomed in full splendor. He deftly altered his center of gravity and abruptly shifted to the right. He then increased his speed and carried the ball via Sergio Busquets'' opposite side toplete his incredible dribble.

    Of course, Sergio Busquets didn''t let him go as a final was on the line. The Barcelona midfielder swiftly whirled around and tried to take Zachary down by grabbing and pulling his shirt.

    But who was Zachary? He was a yer who had gotten used to such situations while ying against the most ruthless defenders in the Italian League.

    He relied on his experience to wiggle his body out of the way and bend forward. In so doing, he dodged Sergio Busquets and continued advancing the fierce counterattack towards Barcelona''s half at a lightning-fast pace.

    What followed was a disy of Zachary''s sprinting abilities. He cut through the pitch like a thunderbolt and jumped over a tackle from Javier Mascherano as he continued approaching the box.

    As expected, Gerard Piqu¨¦, Barcelona''s center-back, finally rushed forward to check his run after he entered the final third. Nheless, Zachary chose not to tango with the center back. He instead waited and waited for the defender to approach before executing his move. He unleashed the ball to his left at the right moment to find Carlos Tevez, the Juventus striker, who had made a timely move past the defensive line.

    Olympiastadion, the famous stadium of Berlin, exploded with cheers as Carlos Tevez controlled the ball mid-stride with acres of unmarked space ahead of him. The Argentine striker wasted no time before driving forward like the wind towards Barcelona''s box.

    Marc-Andr¨¦ Ter Stegen, the Barcelona keeper, rushed out of goal to meet him at the edge of the box. The keeper timed his move well to block all the shooting angles and force Tevez to drift further to the right.

    But Tevez didn''t give up as a rare opportunity to score an equalizer for Juventus was before him. He used his speed and footwork to rush past the keeper before unleashing an effort toward Barcelona''s goal from a very tight angle.

    A momentary silence descended upon the pitch as the ball drifted forward, on course towards the back of the. But just at thest moment, before it could cross the line, a silhouette slid in and intercepted the effort.

    The Barcelona yer who had acted was Dani Alves. The Brazilian rushed in, skidding as if thews of physics didn''t apply to him, before raising his boot and kicking the ball away. He made a timely interception to save Barcelona from conceding the equalizing goal during the 17th minute and sent the ball flying towards the left side of the box.

    "Shit!"

    Both Zachary and Tevez reacted to seeing such an unexpected result. They didn''t lose any second before racing towards the ball. They hoped to collect it and resume the attack against Barcelona''s goal right away.

    However, all their efforts amounted to nothing as Gerard Piqu¨¦, the Barcelona center-back, beat them to the ball. The Barcelona man smashed it with zest and cleared it away from his half. He sent it flying like a surface-to-surface missile toward the right side of the pitch.

    "Hurry and fall back! Shape up and defend..."

    Massimiliano Allegri''s panicked voice sounded from the sidelines at that moment. The Italian coach spewed words at the pace of a machine gun, calling for his yers to shape up and avoid Barcelona''s counterattack.

    But s, the Juventus yers were not supersonic racing machines. They had all advanced forward to attack Barcelona''s half and couldn''t regain their defensive shape immediately. They could only struggle to run back into their positions as Lionel Messi connected with the long ball from Gerard Piqu¨¦ in an advanced position on the right nk.

    The counterattack was on for Barcelona, and Messi didn''t waste the rare opportunity. He effortlessly collected the ball before driving forward like a Form One driver on the race track.

    The Argentine used abination of his footwork and brilliant change of pace to dribble past udio Marchisio. He then skipped past a sliding challenge from Leonardo Boni before prating the box from the right side.

    The experienced Gianluigi Buffon rushed out of goal to stop the attack. But Lionel Messi remainedposed and did his magic. He dipped his shoulder and skipped past Buffon with his signature change of pace before threading the ball towards the goal from a tight angle. He effortlessly found the back of the to score Barcelona''s second goal for the night.

    It was only the 18th minute of the UEFA Champions League final. But Barcelona was already leading by two goals to nil. For sure, Juventus was in crisis.

 Chapter 606 An Opportunity

    Chapter 606 An Opportunity

    The game continued after Barcelona''s goal celebrations.

    The Catns were still on fire, even after scoring the second goal. They continued applying pressure on Juventus'' defensive set-up with their Tiki-Tiki style while trying to find spaces to exploit all over the field. They were relentless with their attacks while dominating sixty percent of the ball possession.

    The Juventus yers, on their part, were performing below par. Their tactics were a mess, and they couldn''t check the performance of the more driven Barcelona yers. The Old Lady yers could only hold on for dear life as they waited for half time, the only time they could reorganize.

    Regrettably, the old saying held true for Juventus, and bad things came in twos or threes. When everything was going downhill, something worse happened sooner rather thanter.

    The Juventus yers had stuck to their game n even after conceding the two goals. They had remainedpact in midfield and defensive as a whole. They had focused on preventing Barcelona from advancing into forward areas by crowding out those central areas in front of their box.

    But the same issue that had caused them to concede the first two goals still impacted them. Their narrow 4-3-1-2 formation, focusing on numerical superiority andpactness in central areas, left a lot of gaps on the nks. The same problem allowed Barcelona to exploit theirck of wingers and the acres of space in the wings to create another goal-scoring chance during the 39th minute.

    Lionel Messi was once again the man who initiated Barcelona''s brilliant passage of y. He drifted into the central areas and connected with a pass from Sergio Busquets before working his ball magic.

    The little Argentine wonder skillfully skipped past Arturo Vidal before cleverly switching y to the left side of the pitch with a sudden long pass over the middle. He pinged the ball to Jordi Alba on the opposite border of the penalty area, who skillfully exchanged a lightning-fast one-two with Neymar to break into the box from the left side.

    The Juventus defenders couldn''t scramble back in time and prevent the damage before the Jordi-Neymar quickbination ended with Luis Su¨¢rez receiving the ball within the box.

    Luis Su¨¢rez, on his part, was asposed as ever. He turned and twisted to avail space for himself and force a shooting angle. Then, just as suddenly, he hammered a carpet shot through the defender''s legs and found the bottom left corner to score Barcelona''s 3rd goal on the night during the 40th minute.

    -----

    Juventus FC 0 : FC Barcelona 3

    -----

    The cheers around the stadium hit a crescendo as the information on the jumbotron refreshed to indicate the new score.

    The Barcelona fans were already going bonkers as they jubted like never before. They sang at the top of their voices and hugged each other like the best buddies as their team celebrated the third goal on the field of y. They were having the time of their life as they witnessed their team destroy Juventus, another footballing giant in Europe.

    "Well, well," the voice of Steve Bower, thementator for the night, sounded at that moment. "This is aplete smashing by Barcelona. The Catns have outmatched Juventus in every aspect of the game, whether in tactics, morale, or individual brilliance. It''s only the 40th minute, but they are already leading by three goals to nil. The 2015 UEFA Champions League final might already be theirs."

    "True!" Conor McNamara, the othermentator, said. "I expected a tightly contested match. But Juventus has really disappointed me. All the Old Lady yers seem tock the zeal to win the final. Theyck creativity and are not doing enough off the ball, an issue that has allowed Barcelona to find spaces in the advanced areas of the field. I don''t know what''s up with them."

    "Massimiliano Allegri''s tactics have also been below par," Steve Bowermented. "I can see what he''s trying to do. He wants his yers to remainpact in the midfield while waiting for opportunities to counterattack. But this is clearly not working. The Barcelona yers aren''t making many mistakes on the ball, leaving no chances for Juve to exploit andunch their counters."

    "Indeed," Conor McNamara agreed. "The only critical mistake that could have resulted in a goal was that of Neymar. That was when the Brazilian winger tried to dribble past Stephan Lichtsteiner during the 16th minute and failed miserably. Juventus capitalized on the mistake andunched a counter, which ended with Tevez on a one-on-one with Ter Stegen, Barcelona''s keeper, at the other end of the pitch." n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "However, Carlos Tevez missed the God-sent opportunity, allowing Barcelona tounch their own counterattack. That was what resulted in the second goal for Barcelona."

    "Well," Steve Bower said. "Those are the issues thate with missing opportunities in a high-stakes football game. The missed chances alwayse back to bite you."

    "Barcelona has been a better side at converting chances. First, they benefited from Juventus'' missed opportunity to score the second goal. They have now extended their lead to three goals after a brilliant switch-of-y by the one and only - Lionel Messi allowed Jordi Alba to find Luis Su¨¢rez in the box. Su¨¢rez, on his part, didn''t miss and found the back of the to score Barcelona''s third with only five minutes before halftime."

    "Do you think Juventus still has a chance?" Conor McNamara asked. "Can they turn this game around and win the final?"

    Steve Bower chuckled. "It will be difficult since they are ying Barcelona, one of the best, if not the ''very best'' European team. But I still think they can if they change a few things."

    "One, they must find a way to get Zachary more involved in the game. They must find a way to allow him to y to his strengths. He has been on the defensive, constantly running around his half to block passing routes the entire time. He''s not a number six. He''s a ymaker ¡ª a goal-creator, and I don''t think this is where a brilliant number 10 should be. Instead, he should be on the other side of the pitch, running at the Barcelona yers and creating goal-scoring chances."

    "Two, Max Allegri should introduce Andrea Pirlo and a wide yer like Kingsley Coman. By doing that, he will increase his team''s prospects ofunching counters through Pirlo''s long balls while also checking Barcelona''s dominance in the wing areas."

    "That might not work," Conor McNamara remarked. "But you must understand that Allegri must take off a central midfielder to bring on a winger. That will open up spaces in the central areas for Barcelona''s strong midfield to exploit. The switch could work against him."

    "True," Steve Bower agreed. "But Max Allegri has got to do something. Right? He doesn''t have many options since he''s already losing the final by three goals to nil. He has to risk it and take off a midfielder to bring on one more attack-minded winger."

    Conor McNamara chuckled and continued with the gamementary. "Well, the game has restarted, and Juventus are on the attack for the first time in what has really been a while. udio Marchisio is on the ball. He passes to Arturo Vidal, who in turn finds Carlos Tevez."

    "Carlos Tevez on the ball. He turns and ys the ball to Zachary. Zachary has controlled it well. Oh, what an intelligent set of skills. Zachary has skipped past Ivan Rakiti? with a brilliant disy of footwork. He ys the ball back to Tevez. Oh, it''s a foul!"

    "Javier Mascherano, one of Barcelona''s center-backs for the day, has taken out Carlos Tevez, his countryman, with a ruthless sliding tackle just a few yards away from the box," thementary continued. "The referee has shown him a yellow card and awarded Juventus a free-kick in a dangerous area with only two minutes remaining to half time. This could be a chance for Juventus to grab a lifeline for this game."

    "Indeed," Steve Bower, the secondmentator, agreed. "Juventus have Zachary, one of the most lethal dead-ball specialists in the world. If he can make something out of the free-kick, it could be the beginning of Juventus''eback in this UEFA Champions League final."

    -----

    Zachary''s heart was beating fast and hard with tension as he took a few steps back after cing the ball on the free-kick spot. He knew what was at stake, so he couldn''t seem to contain his anxiety.

    If he could find the back of the and score, his teammates'' morale would explode, and Juventus would have a better chance at making aeback during the second half.

    But if he failed to convert, the situation would be different. His team would head into halftime while demoralized, and that could push them to continue performing below par during the second half.

    That was how crucial the free-kick was at that point in the game. It could literally decide which team would have the momentum during the second half of the UEFA Champions League final.

    ''I must score.'' Zachary resolved. He took a deep breath and started observing the situation ahead of him.

    The referee had already finished organizing the cement of the wall. Some Barcelona yers, including Neymar, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Piqu¨¦, Luis Su¨¢rez, and Ivan Rakiti?, had already taken their positions in the defensive wall.

    But that wasn''t the end of Barcelona''s defensive arrangements. Andr¨¦s Iniesta, the Barcelona captain, had lied down behind the defensive wall to block any avenues of a potential carpet shot below the wall that might threaten his goal.

    Lastly, the other Catns were tightly marking the Juventus yers in the box while Ter Stegen, the keeper, was between the posts, watching Zachary like a predator watching its prey.

    That was how far Barcelona had gone to ensure Zachary wouldn''t convert the free-kick. That was how serious the Catns were in stopping any chances of Juventus making aeback. They wanted to crush any hopes of Juventus before seeing their win through during the second half.

 Chapter 607 A Possible Turning Point

    Chapter 607 A Possible Turning Point

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The referee blew the whistle and signaled for Zachary to take the free kick. On cue, a stillness seemed to descend upon the stadium as everyone watching waited with bated breath for the result that could be a turning point for Juventus in the game.

    Zachary could feel the force of the full tension in the air. The anxiety was a result of the expectations ced upon his shoulders. But he forced everything else out of his mind and focused only on the free-kick.

    He relied on his SS-graded spatial awareness and risk assessment to assess the defensive wall set-up and the positioning of the keeper in a few seconds.

    His Dead-Ball specialist juju soon came into y. He made an angled run towards the ball before swinging his foot at it. His connection was just right, and he skillfully unleashed a curling shot over the defensive wall, hoping to find the top right corner. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    By then, Marc-Andr¨¦ Ter Stegen, the Barcelona keeper, had long taken action. He dived like a Ninja and threw himself towards the fast-approaching ball. At the same time, he stretched out a hand and struggled with his all to finally graze the ball with his fingertips.

    That touch was the difference between heaven and hell. It sent the ball off its intended trajectory only by a slight margin. But that minor deviation was enough to cause an entirely different result from the free-kick.

    BAM!

    The thunderous free-kick ball smashed off the corner of the crossbar before bouncing back into the box.

    What followed was a scuffle as the yers of both teams went after the rebound like cats that had just caught the scent of catnip.

    ¨¢lvaro Morata, the nearby Juventus striker, was the first to attempt to get to the ball as soon as possible. But the much more spirited Javier Mascherano beat him to it and cleared it out of y for the corner kick with a daredevil diving header.

    ''Shit!"

    Zachary watched it all happen and felt like his world had turned darker. The cheers around the stadium felt especially grating to his ears. He could imagine that most Barcelona fans were busy celebrating that he had failed to convert the free kick while those of Juventus had their hopes shattered.

    ''Wait, why does this situation bring some familiar memories? There''s still a chance!''

    Zachary''s expression turned earnest when he noticed the Barcelona yers crowding around their keeper to celebrate the save. He made eye contact with Carlos Tevez before racing to the corner g like the wind.

    He swiftly picked the ball from the ball boy and ced it on the corner spot with all the haste he could muster. Just then, he noticed that Carlos Tevez, the striker who had gotten his sign, was already sprinting towards the corner g like a lightning bolt.

    Zachary quickly took the corner kick short and sent the ball to the approaching Tevez without waiting for the referee''s whistle. He yed a simple pass to the Argentine, who, in turn, exchanged a couple of one-twos with him as they swiftly approached the box.

    By then, the Barcelona yers had started reacting to the situation. They were trying to shape up and defend against the quick corner kick. There were even a few, like Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakiti?, who were swiftly racing forward to check Zachary and Tevez''s efforts.

    But all their actions eventually fell short as Zachary didn''t let them do as they intended. He received yet another return pass from Tevez before dipping his shoulder and stepping past Sergio Busquets with a swift change of pace.

    The dribble allowed him to escape one opponent and cut further toward the central areas and toward the left corner of the box. But he didn''t have any shooting angles avable as Ivan Rakiti? was already closing him down while covering the space he could exploit to take a shot at the goal.

    It was at that moment that Zachary''s SS-graded attributes came into y. His high body control and risk assessment qualities bloomed in great splendor, and he raised his leg as if he were about to unleash a missile of a shot at the goal.

    The approaching Ivan Rakiti? responded as expected. His body reacted instinctively, and he turned his face away while pushing his leg forward to block the would-be shot.

    Zachary''s expression loosened, and he abruptly halted the down-swinging motion of his leg on seeing the opponent''s reaction. Then, before Ivan Rakiti? could recover, he immactely moved the ball to the side and opened a shooting angle. He availed some space for himself before pulling the trigger and unleashing a curling shot around the many yers in the box.

    Whoosh!

    The ball seemed to defy the very corews of physics. It bent all the way beyond the line of the goalpost before dipping and curling back toward its intended target. It soared in such an awkward trajectory before bouncing a few inches inside the far post and nestling in the back of the.

    "GOAL!"

    Zachary pumped his fist to celebrate his 17th goal in the Champions League that season.

    He had equaled Cristiano Ronaldo''s record of the most goals scored in a single Champions League season. But he didn''t waste time celebrating since his team still trailed 3:1 against Barcelona.

    He just rushed forward and picked the ball from the back of the. Then, just as swiftly, he sprinted all the way across the pitch before cing the ball back atop the center spot.

    Zachary was using his actions to express his intentions. He wanted his teammates to follow his example and y with urgency. He wished for them to quickly build momentum and try toplete aeback against Barcelona.

    Of course, his teammates didn''t let him down. They quickly followed his cue and took their positions. Their eyes were brimming with fighting spirit, meaning they hadn''t given up on the game. They could at least still give Barcelona hell until the veryst minute of the game.

    *FWEEEEEEE*

    The game restarted after a few minutes with Barcelona''s kick-off.

    The Juventus yers rushed forward and tried to win possession back. They used high-pressing tactics to pressure the Barcelona defenders and midfielders and force them tomit mistakes. They did everything possible to win the ball and create another chance before halftime.

    Nheless, their efforts didn''t amount to much due to clever game management strategies employed by Barcelona.

    The Catns didn''t lose their calm after conceding. They instead skillfully held on to the ball with their Tiki-Taka style for the remaining minutes of the half withoutmitting any blunders.

    In that manner, the seconds slowly turned into minutes until the referee eventually blew the halftime whistle. He ended the first half and sent the teams into the tunnel with Barcelona still leading by three goals to one.

 Chapter 608 Relentless Chasing of the Game

    Coach Allegri''s expression was somber as he weed his yers into the dressing room for the halftime break. He understood he had to straighten his yers'' attitudes towards the game or risk shamefully losing the final.

    He quickly started his pep talk and requested his yers to work harder off the ball during the second half. He also encouraged them not to give up the game and urged them to continue fighting with all they had, emphasizing that goal-scoring chances would eventuallye if they maintained their fighting spirit.

    Finally, the coach narrowed his eyes and started announcing the changes for the second half.

    "Vidal and Morata," the coach said. "You will give way to Andrea Pirlo and Kingsley Coman during the second half. With them on the pitch, we''ll switch to a 4-4-1-1 formation."

    "Pirlo and Marchisio will y as typical central midfielders upying the center of the field. Zachary will be our attacking midfielder with the additional role of boosting Tevez on striking. As for Roberto Pereyra and Kingsley Coman, they will y as our wingers during the second half."

    "The strategy is still the counterattack," the coach continued. "We defend and tirelessly work off the ball. We ensure we don''t concede another goal until a chance avails itself. If we get the counterattacking opportunity, we y neat football and advance the ball through the wings or the middle, depending on the avable space on the field."

    "Pirlo, we''ll require your expertise for this strategy to work." The coach turned to nce at the silent Maestro. "Whenever there''s a chance to counterattack, you must quickly use long balls to find Coman, Pereyra, or Zachary up the pitch. That will allow us to skip over Barcelona''s midfield and quickly threaten their defense after a turnover."

    "I understand, coach," Pirlo gave his word.

    The coach nodded and nced at his watch. He then said a few more words to boost his yers'' morale before sending them back to the pitch for the second half.

    -----

    The referee blew the whistle after the two Juventus substitutes stepped on the pitch. On cue, the second half of the UEFA Champions Leaguemenced with Barcelona''s kick-off amid the thunderous cheers within the Olympiastadion.

    The Barcelona yers immediately resumed their typical tactics. They started passing the ball among themselves with short and intricate passes.

    A point to note was that they lowered the intensity of their runs since they were ahead by three goals to one. But they were still doing everything they could to control possession as they advanced the ball through avable avenues.

    Of course, the Juventus yers couldn''t let the opponents do as they pleased since they needed goals sooner rather thanter. They had to work hard off the ball and win possession or risk never obtaining an opportunity to stage aeback.

    "Push forward! High press and win back the ball!"

    Max Allegri''s voice was constantly sounding from the sidelines. He couldn''t sit still as he urged his yers to be more aggressive and obtain possession.

    In response, Juventus came alive with the coach''s constant urging.

    The Juventus attack-minded yers, including Zachary, Tevez, Roberto Pereyra, and Kingsley Coman, rushed forward like a pack of wolves on the hunt. They flooded into the advanced positions within Barcelona''s half to high-press the opponents. They did everything possible to pressure the opponents and force mistakes out of them.

    In turn, the Barcelona yers responded appropriately, just like the world-ss talents they were. They quickened their passing tempo and moved the ball around with a clockwork rhythm.

    Busquets to Iniesta! Rakiti? to Messi! Jordi Alba to Neymar, and so on and so forth!!

    Barcelona was simply at the best of its game, with passes flowing with the precision ofser beams from one yer to another in quick session. Tiki-taka soon became the order of the evening as the ball moved around the pitch.

    Of course, the Juventus yers didn''t give up fighting for possession even under such circumstances. They had to continue working hard off the ball to match or raise the tempo and, in so doing, force mistakes out of Barcelona. They had to chase the game with all their resolve until a chance availed itself.

    Fortunately, such a chance soon came when Barcelona failed to convert an opportunity during the 52nd minute.

    Lionel Messi had cut inside the pitch and yed a forward pass to Luis Su¨¢rez, who was arriving at the edge of the box. Thetter skillfully skipped the ball and left it for Neymar, who wasing in from the left nk.

    It was a crucial chance that saw Neymar pull the trigger and unleash a curling shot towards the goal. But the experienced Gianluigi Buffon, Juventus'' keeper, read the Brazilian''s effort like an open book and effortlessly snatched the ball out of the air.

    That wasn''t the end of the exciting action, though, as Buffon didn''t rest on hisurels. The keeper quickly picked himself up and raced to the edge of the box. He hastily tossed the ball to Andrea Pirlo, the substitute midfielder who had just availed himself within an unmarked pocket of space in the defensive right midfield. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Pa!

    The sound of the ball meeting a boot reverberated as Andrea Pirlo deftly controlled the ball. The Maestro then took another touch while scanning the field before doing what he did best.

    He smashed the ball with a downward swing of his boot and unleashed a diagonal pass over the midfield. He skillfully took the opposing midfielders out of the equation by finding Kingsley Coman with a single long pass into the left wing.

    Whoosh!

    Kingsley Coman was like a whirlwind as he raced forward and connected with Andrea Pirlo''s pin-point pass.

    The counter was on, and the winger relied on his fresh legs to drive into the space left by Dani Alves on the left wing with all the pace he could muster. He soon stepped into the final third before squaring the ball to find Zachary in the middle.

    Zachary, on his part, rushed away from Javier Mascherano, the defender harassing him, before connecting with the pass from Kingsley. He calmly collected the ball before ying an immediate diagonal pass to the right side of the box on the half-turn. He was hoping to find Roberto Pereyra, the other Juventus winger.

    Roberto Pereyra didn''t disappoint since he had already made a timely run from the right wing toward Barcelona''s box. He calmly connected with the pass from Zachary and drove into the box with his pace. He then waited and waited to draw in the defenders before calmly squaring the ball toward the box, where Carlos Tevez was arriving.

    It was a rare chance, and Carlos Tevez ensured that it counted. The Argentine pounced forward and skipped past Gerard Piqu¨¦ with his pace before calmly guiding the ball into the back of the with a simple tap. He relied on the ball''s initial momentum to expertly squeeze it past the Barcelona keeper and score Juventus 2nd goal on the night during the 53rd minute.

    -----

    Juventus FC 2 : FC Barcelona 3

    -----

    The cheers of the Juventus fans hit a crescendo as the info on the stadium''s jumbotron refreshed to indicate the fresh score. The Old Lady faithful were beyond themselves with joy as their team was almostpleting a seemingly impossibleeback. They were all smiles and expectant to see their team score a third goal.

    As for Tevez, thetest goal-scorer, he was brimming with boundless fighting spirit. He didn''t waste time celebrating but quickly snatched the ball from the keeper before sprinting across the pitch and cing it atop the center spot. He, too, was like Zachary and only yearned for his team to win the Champions League final.

 Chapter 609 We Attack, You Attack!

    Chapter 609 We Attack, You Attack!

    The game took an exhrating turn between the 60th and 72nd minutes, with both teams unleashing a flurry of heart-pumping attacks. It was a football frenzy that left everyone on the edge of their seats.

    The Barcelona and Juventus yers threw caution to the wind and engaged in a game of high-octane football. The once tiki-taka style of Barcelona and Juventus'' midfieldpactness were nowhere to be seen. It was as if the yers had all gone rogue, throwing all tactics out of the window and ying with reckless abandon.

    The tension was palpable, and the excitement was at an all-time high as both teams went head-to-head in a thrilling match for the ages. With every passing moment, it seemed like the game could swing in either direction.

    Barcelona would surge forward with lightning-fast speed that could rival the world''s top sprinters, leaving Juventus scrambling to keep up. But just when it seemed like Barcelona had the upper hand, Juventus would make a startlingeback, snatching the ball andunching a counterattack that had fans on the edge of their seats, breathless with anticipation. It was a match that would go down in history as a true battle of champions.

    Picture this: twelve minutes of heart-pounding action, with speedsters like Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Su¨¢rez, Dani ves, Zachary Bemba, Kingsley Coman, Carlos Tevez, and Stephan Lichtsteiner bringing their A-game to the field.

    These speedsters were on fire, receiving the ball from their defensive counterparts and taking off like lightning bolts, driving through the field with all their might, exploiting gaps in the opposing formation, and attempting to score. It was raw and pure attack-minded football at its very best.

    The theme for those minutes was clear - "We attack, you attack!" And attack they did, with raw and relentless energy, leaving tactics and formations behind.

    But despite the sheer brilliance on disy, the score remained unchanged for a long time. Barcelona was leading 3:2 against Juventus, but the game was far from over. The pressure was intense, and the fans were at the edge of their seats, waiting for the moment when everything would change.

    And finally, after minutes of unrelenting action, the moment arrived during the 72nd minute. The yers'' hard work and determination paid off, and the game reached a new level of excitement.

    Kingsley Coman cut into the pitch from the left wing as if his ass was on fire. He fed the ball past Ivan Rakiti?, one of Barcelona''s midfielders, before beating him for pace.

    The Frenchman quickly approached the box and pulled the trigger from a position thirty yards away from the goal. He sted the ball and sent it towards Barcelona''s goal before any other opponent could close him down.

    But luck seemed to elude Juventus again, and the ever-energetic Javier Mascherano threw himself forward and blocked the shot with his chest. The Barcelona man did his job perfectly for the umpteenth time during the game and sent the ball toward the left side of the box.

    Jordi Alba, the Barcelona left-back who was ''just'' returning from an attacking position, met the ball that had just been cleared by his defensive counterpart. The Spaniard wasted no time before turning around and unleashing a pass forward. He fed the ball along the touchline on the left nk and quickly found Neymar, Barcelona''s left forward.

    Yet another counterattack was on for Barcelona, and Neymar couldn''t waste the opportunity. He sprinted along the touchline on the left before eventually cutting into the pitch and ying a brilliant forward pass toward Luis Su¨¢rez, his counterpart on Barcelona''s offensive front.

    That pass from Neymar was something else. The release was perfect and inviting for a talented forward like Luis Su¨¢rez. And, of course, the vampire in the box did what he usually did best.

    Su¨¢rez timed his run well to escape the harassment from Leonardo Boni. He then expertly met the ball on the turn and unleashed a hell of a shot towards the goal from the edge of the box. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Luckily for Juventus, Buffon, the experienced keeper, did his job well once again. He dived the right way and punched the ball back into the pitch, hoping to save the day.

    The Juventus yers and fans were about to let out sighs of relief. But then again, another twist happened.

    The ball punched by Buffon fell toward the just arriving Neymar, who did the needful. The Brazilian siphoned the momentum out of the ball with meticulous control before quickly pinging it forward. He found the back of the and scored Barcelona''s fourth goal for the night during the 73rd minute.

    "Merda! Porca miseria!" Buffon cursed. His face fell as he saw the Barcelona yers sprinting towards the corner g, arms raised in triumph.

    The Juventus keeper had been filled with hope as his team had fought back from a three-goal deficit to narrow the gap to just one during the second half. But just when he thought they were about to pull off a sensationaleback, Barcelona hit them with a devastating counterattack and scored their fourth goal of the night.

    Buffon could only shake his head in frustration and curse his team''s bad luck. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but he knew they would have to regroup ande back stronger after the restart.

    "Guys! Don''t give up. Don''t give up! We still have more than a quarter of an hour to y. We have time to score two more goals."

    Zachary''s voice suddenly sounded in Buffon''s ears, further reminding the shot-stopper that they couldn''t surrender yet. His spirits lifted, and the discouraged look disappeared from his face. Heart brimming with fighting spirit, he fetched the ball from the back of the and threw it towards the center.

    The already-waiting Carlos Tevez received the ball and ced it atop the center spot with all the haste he could muster. A minuteter, when the Barcelona yers finally finished celebrating, the game restarted with Juventus'' kick-off.

    With just the first few touches, everyone watching could tell that Juventus meant business. The Old Lady yers showed their fighting spirit through their sharpness on the ball. And for the first time that evening, they yed brilliant passes that wowed the spectators and pushed Barcelona back into its own half.

    The game continued taking a strange turn, with the Italian giants using some of the tactics Barcelona had used against them during the first half. They avoided the crowded middle areas and relied on brilliant wing y from Kingsley and Pereyra to repeatedly bombard Barcelona''s box with never-ending crosses.

    The passage of y was on the side of Juventus, and as a result, Zachary''s talent finally bloomed in great splendor. He remained on his toes, working hard on and off the ball, doing whatever he could to create opportunities until a sure chance finally came his way.

    Everything started with Kingsley Coman, who was ying the football of his life. The Frenchman got to the end of a forward pass from udio Marchisio, and he sent a first-time cross towards the box from a position just a few meters away from the touchline.

    Tevez, the striker lurking around the box, leaped high to meet the cross. But the ever-spirited Gerard Piqu¨¦ won the aerial battle and cleared the danger with his head.

    Fortunately for Juventus, the clearance wasn''t the best, and Zachary managed to collect the second ball right at the edge of the box. Without waiting for anyone to close him down, he decided to pull the trigger. He skillfully unleashed a snap shot that deflected off Javier Mascherano''s leg before homing into the back of the.

 Chapter 610 Boundless Fighting Spirit

    Chapter 610 Boundless Fighting Spirit

    Everyone watching couldn''t believe it! Zachary had finally scored Juventus'' 3rd goal and closed the score difference between the two teams to only one goal during the 78th minute of the game.

    It was an incredible feat that pushed his Champions League goal tally for the season to a whopping 18 goals! And that was not all - he had finally surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo''s record of 17 goals during the 2013-14 season. He was at the top of Europe, at least in terms of goals!

    But Zachary didn''t bask in the glory as his team was still trailing Barcelona by one goal. He knew there was still work to do. He quickly retrieved the ball from the back of the and ced it on the center spot, ready to continue the game.

    -----

    Juventus FC 3: FC Barcelona 4

    -----

    "Wow, what a match we have here!" eximed Steve Bower, thementator, as the Juventus fans erupted into cheers in the stadium. "Barcelona had afortable lead of three goals to nil before the end of the first half, but Juventus hase back in the second half with a vengeance and narrowed the score difference to just one goal!"

    "Juventus has been ying some fantastic football, and it''s now anyone''s game with just over ten minutes left on the clock. Conor, who do you think wille out on top?" asked Bower eagerly.

    "I couldn''t tell you, Steve. This has been a rollercoaster of a match from start to finish," replied Conor McNamara, the othermentator. "I had my money on Barcelona at the start of the game, but Juventus has really surprised us with their fighting spirit, especially in the second half."

    "During the first half, I obviously thought it would be an effortless win for Barcelona. They were leading by three goals at one point. But the Juventus yers came out of the tunnel with boundless fighting spirit and proved me wrong. They quickly found the back of the twice and narrowed the score difference to only one goal."

    "The game was in their reach at that point, but then Barcelona scored the fourth goal. At that point, I thought this is it. I assumed the Catns would manage the game well and freeze out Juventus for the remaining minutes. But here we are again, and Juventus has alreadyted the fourth. The result can go either way after all we''ve experienced." n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Speaking of which, Juventus is on the attack once again!" eximed Bower as the game resumed. "They''re ying some really beautiful football, keeping possession with short passes and trying to break through Barcelona''s defense."

    "Pereyra has the ball now, and he''s driving through the right wing. He''s exchanging some quick passes with Zachary, and he''s past Alba!" cried Bower excitedly. "He''s heading straight towards the box, and he crosses the ball, looking for Tevez. But Ter Stegen, Barcelona''s keeper, is there to punch the ball out of y for Juventus'' corner kick! What a save!"

    With just minutes left on the clock, it was impossible to predict which way the game would go. But as of now, Juventus had just won itself a crucial corner kick.

    -----

    Imagine the scene: it was the 85th minute of the Champions League final, and Juventus was down three goals to four against Barcelona.

    The tension was already palpable as both teams had fought tooth and nail to im the most prestigious football title in Europe. The stadium was packed with passionate fans from all over the world, and every single one of them was on the edge of their seat, waiting for the result from the corner kick.

    In a desperate bid to equalize, most Juventus yers rushed into Barcelona''s box, leaving only their shorter counterparts to guard against a counterattack. With the clock ticking down, they crowded the area, determined to outsmart their opponents and benefit from the corner kick.

    Of course, the Barcelona yers didn''t allow them to do as they pleased as the final was on the line. The Catns were aggressive and even caused a little scuffle within the box while defending their goal. Fortunately, the referee quickly resolved everything before blowing the whistle and signaling for Juventus to take the corner kick.

    As Roberto Pereyra, the Juventus yer waiting beside the corner g, skillfully sent a lofted ball towards Barcelona''s crowded box, chaos erupted in the box. yers pushed and pulled their opponents before leaping to meet the iing goal. But then, out of nowhere, a silhouette in a Juventus jersey raced towards the near post.

    It was Zachary, who had gone into motion after escaping his marker. He leaped off the ground as if gravity had no hold on him and angled his head to graze the iing cross from the corner spot. His bnce, coordination, and aerial finishing juju worked wonders as he timed his header to perfection and skillfully guided the ball towards the goal.

    The whole series of events happened within an instant, and before the Barcelona keeper and defenders could react, the ball was already nestling into the back of the.

    GOAL!

    86th minute! Juventus 4: Barcelona 4

    Juventus had finally equalized, and the stadium erupted into thunderous cheers. The Juventus fans, who had been quiet for most of the game, were now on fire, jubting their team''s fourth and equalizing goal. They waved their gs and scarves, chanted their team''s name, and hugged each other as if they had just won the lottery.

    Zachary raced towards the stands, raising his fist to celebrate with all those excited fans. They responded with more pronounced cheers and continued jumping around as if they had achieved some sort of joyful salvation.

    Soon enough, the other Juventus yers and substitutes arrived to join the celebration. They hugged Zachary, patted him on the back, and shouted words of encouragement to each other. They even joked about how he had set a new unbreakable record for the most goals scored by a single yer in a Champions League season.

    But Giorgio Chiellini, the assistant captain, was quick to halt the celebrations. "Guys, we have only scored an equalizer," he reminded them. "Let''s head back and fight for the Champions League trophy as a team. Let''s score another goal and be the champions of Europe. We can do this! We can win the Champions League!"

    The rest of the Juventus yers made their agreements known with their loud yells. They bumped fists together and returned to the pitch with gazes brimming with boundless fighting spirit.

    They were ready to battle Barcelona and score a goal during the remaining few minutes. They hoped to overwhelm their opponents and return to Turin with the most noble of European football titles.

 Chapter 611 Tension During the Final Minutes

    Chapter 611 Tension During the Final Minutes

    The final minutes of the UEFA Champions League final between Juventus and Barcelona had everyone on the edge of their seats. As the game resumed with a Barcelona kick-off, tensions skyrocketed, and the excitement was palpable. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    But what happened next was beyond anyone''s expectations. Both teams seemed to have reached a tacit understanding when Juventus finally scored the equalizing goal. It was as if fatigue had taken over, and they slowed down the game''s tempo during the final four minutes before the 90-minute mark.

    Despite the game''s momentum being on team Juventus'' side, they surprisingly yed it safe, emphasizing long passes and through balls to break down the opponent while keeping their defense intact.

    Their strategy paid off as they created one final chance during the 89th minute when Kingsley Coman connected with a long pass inside the box. However, luck was not on his side, and the Barcelona keeper managed to save his thunderbolt of an effort.

    The 90th minute arrived soon enough, and Marc-Andr¨¦ Ter Stegen, the Barcelona keeper, did something he hadn''t done all game. Probably to y it safe, he tossed his team''s standard modus operandi of ying short passes from behind out of the window and signaled for all the Barcelona yers to push forward.

    His teammates reacted in various ways, with most defenders, like Gerard Piqu¨¦ and Jordi Alba, trying to discourage him from taking a long goal kick. But Marc-Andr¨¦ Ter Stegen firmly shook his head and chased them away before smashing the ball from his box to send it towards the other side of the pitch.

    As the ball soared through the air, the fourth official suddenly appeared on the touchline, disying his glowing red board for all to see. The numbers on the board revealed an additional five minutes of ytime, sending shockwaves through the crowd and causing stress levels to skyrocket even further. It was a nail-biting moment that left everyone on the edge of their seats, wondering what would happen next.

    "Listen up, folks! The match officials have just announced the added time," eximed Steve Bower, thementator, as the football action continued with some intense aerial duels between Barcelona and Juventus yers to receive the just-taken goal kick.

    "We''ve got five minutes of added time left in this heart-pumping Champions League final," continued Steve, the excitement in his voice palpable over the thunderous cheers in the stadium. "That means if neither team can score a winning goal in the next five minutes, they''ll have to battle it out in extra time. And if that still doesn''t determine a victor, it''s all down to the nail-biting penalties. This is it, folks - the moment we''ve all been waiting for!"

    "I have a strong feeling that the two teams will reach a stalemate during the final thirty minutes of extra time," Conor McNamara, the othermentator, excitedly predicted. "After giving their all on the field for the past 90 minutes, both teams are likely to be exhausted. I anticipate that there won''t be any further goals before the added minutes end."

    "Hold on a second!" Steve eximed as the tension on the pitch reached its peak. "It''s an intense moment as udio Marchisio and Ivan Rakiti? collide mid-air, both yers looking injured and in pain. But wait, the referee has made a controversial call, awarding a free-kick to Barcelona and penalizing Marchisio for a foul."

    "Barcelona now has a golden opportunity to take the lead," Conor interjected, his voice filled with excitement. "The free-kick is over fifty yards away from the goal, but if they can take advantage of this chance and send their yers charging into the box, they could score ast-minute winner to be the European Champions! It''s all or nothing now, and the tension couldn''t be higher!"

    "Juventus could do the same," chuckled Bower. "Barcelona yers might miss the free-kick, leaving an opening for Juventus to counterattack. With yers like Zachary and Tevez, the Italian giants could win the game before regr time ends."

    "Interesting, very interesting," replied McNamara, chuckling. "We''ve witnessed eight goals in this Champions League final, yet we still don''t know who will be the European Champion. This match has been one for the history books."

    -----

    The atmosphere in the stadium was electric as Barcelona lined up to take the crucial 92nd minute free-kick against Juventus. The fans were on the edge of their seats, their eyes glued to the pitch, praying for their team to score the winning goal.

    The tension was palpable, the air thick with anticipation as Luis Enrique, the Barcelona coach, made two daring substitutions before the kick.

    Andr¨¦s Iniesta, who looked exhausted, was reced by Xavi, a midfielder, but surprisingly, Luis Su¨¢rez, a striker, was also taken off and reced by Pedro, a winger. The move was seen as risky, as Barcelona had lost two key yers, one from the midfield and the other from the striking line. But the time hade, and the referee blew the whistle, signaling the restart of the action.

    Xavi, who had just stepped onto the pitch, took the free-kick, sending the ball hurtling towards the box on a lofted and curling trajectory.

    The anxieties of the supporters, yers, and coaches crescendoed. A momentary lull seemed to descend upon the stadium, and some fans could be seen praying to their gods, ancestors, or whatever higher power as the ball began its descent.

    But all that was just background bluster as the crucial happenings were on the field of y at the edge of Juventus'' box.

    The yers of both teams acted to meet the iing ball, with the Barcelona yers doing their utmost to escape their markers while the Juventus men did everything possible to stop them. M¨ºl¨¦es that involved shirt grabs, arm locks, body blocks, and other tactics to outwit opponents happened all along Juventus'' defensive line as every yer tried to connect with the free-kick ball at the edge of the box.

    At the end of it all, Leonardo Boni came out on top. The Juventus defender towered over everyone at the edge of the box and headed the ball away, sending it towards the right wing.

    However, before the Juventus yers and fans could sigh with relief, Pedro, the substitute who had just stepped onto the pitch, collected the ball. The Spanish winger didn''t waste a second before feeding a cross back towards Juventus'' box.

 Chapter 612 The Victors and the Defeated

    Chapter 612 The Victors and the Defeated

    The pressure on Juventus'' defense immediately skyrocketed as the ball they had just cleared came back flying towards the box within seconds. Chaos descended, and a few yers, like the already-exhausted Stephan Lichtsteiner and Roberto Pereyra, lost the yers they were marking.

    The lurking and never-tiring Javier Mascherano took advantage of the situation after escaping the harassment of Pereyra. The Argentine timed his run well and met the iing cross with a thunderous header.

    Buffon read the Argentine like an open book and dived the right way. He got his fingertips on the ball, sending it slightly off its trajectory. It pounded off the goalpost and headed towards the left side of the box.

    Jordi Alba picked up the pieces and resumed Barcelona''s wave of attack. He collected the ball at the edge of the box and squared it back into the area. He sent it on a grounded trajectory across the mouth of the goal, where many Barcelona yers were still lurking.

    More havoc urred within Juventus'' box as yers of both teams pounded forward, heads, chests, hips, or legs first¡ªto connect with the ball. But eventually, Lionel Messi, the Argentine magician, outwitted everyone with his timed run.

    Messi abruptly lunged forward and slid in front of one of the Juventus defenders before meeting the cross with an outstretched boot. He skillfully tapped home, using the ball''s momentum to ease it past Buffon''s outstretched hand and score Barcelona''s fifth goal for the night. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "GOOOOOAAAL!" shouted Steve Bower, thementator, as Messi''s strike rippled the. "Unbelievable! Absolutely unbelievable! Juventus had fought tooth and nail toe back from a three-goal deficit and level the score at 4-4. But just when the game seemed to be heading towards extra time, Messi produced a moment of magic in the 93rd minute to put Barcelona 5-4 ahead! Listen to the noise! With only two minutes of added time left on the clock, the stadium has erupted into a frenzy of excitement and celebration as Messi''s goal might have most likely sealed the victory for Barcelona!"

    "Wow, I still can''t believe it?!" yelled Conor McNamara, the othermentator. "Barcelona has taken the lead with a score of 5 to 4! Juventus put up a great fight, ying some aggressive football, and nearly had Barcelona on the ropes. But then, the legend himself, Lionel Messi, came to the rescue and scored the fifth goal for Barcelona. What a thrilling game!"

    "Conor! I have to say that this has been a Champions League final, no - the Champions League finale for the ages," chuckled Bower. "It has had all the tactics, the moments of suspense, the goals, and it''s yet to end. Who knows? Maybe Juventus can score the fifth, and the game can head into extra time."

    "Wow, that would be absolutely epic - I mean, the kind of thing that bes the stuff of legends," Conor eximed. "Anyway, let''s get back to the live action. The Juventus yers are about to restart the game. From the looks on their faces and their bodynguage, it''s obvious that they haven''t given up yet. They still believe they can score within the remaining two minutes and ultimately win the final."

    ----

    The game resumed, with all the Barcelona yers, including Messi, falling back to their half to defend for dear life. The Catns yed like never before and parked the bus before their goal to squash any chances of their unrelenting opponents scoring an equalizing fifth goal.

    As for the Juventus yers, they all did the opposite. They put their every skill and every ounce of determination on the field of y, hoping to score an equalizer during the remaining one minute or two. They yed sharp football that relied on long balls from Pirlo and wing y ending in crosses to bombard Barcelona''s box.

    But that was not all. The other Juventus midfielders and defenders, like Zachary, udio Marchisio, Patrice Evra, and Leonardo Boni, also did their part. They all tossed their defensive and midfield duties out of the window and pushed forward like a pack of hunting wolves, hoping to score in those final few minutes.

    Zachary, in particr, took his game to another level. He floated out of the crowded midfield and overloaded the left wing. His tactical switch soon paid off during the 96th minute when a just-cleared ball came his way.

    He advanced carefully while fully knowing that the chance could be thest for Juventus. Heart racing, he worked with Kingsley Coman in an excellent disy of snappy one-twos to cut from the wing and arrive around the edge of the box.

    Bracing himself and skipping past Neymar, who was surprisingly in defense, he pulled the trigger. He swung his leg masterfully and smashed the ball, sending it flying towards Barcelona''s goal with all the strength he could muster.

    ''Please, go in!''

    Zachary tightened his fists and watched his shot heading towards the top corner. But just then, he noticed a gloved fist suddenly appearing in the ball''s trajectory before sending it out of y for a corner kick. It was, of course, Marc-Andr¨¦ Ter Stegen, the Barcelona keeper, who had acted. And he had saved his team from conceding a goal again.

    "Damn it!" Zachary let out a frustrated exmation.

    Despite the setback, he refused to give up hope and dashed towards the corner, aiming to take the corner kick swiftly. However, just as he was closing in, the referee''s whistle red loudly, causing him to freeze in his tracks.

    The sound echoed throughout the stadium, sending shivers down his spine. He turned around, and his worst fears were confirmed.

    The Barcelona yers were ecstatic, cheering, hugging each other, and raising their arms in triumph, while his teammates slumped to the ground, their faces etched with disappointment.

    The referee had obviously ended the game, and Barcelona had imed the 2015 Champions League title once again, crushing his dreams.

    Zachary was devastated as he turned to look at the jumbotron of the Olympiastadion. As he read the ring red letters that showed Barcelona had emerged victorious over Juventus with a score of 5:4, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of disappointment.

    The once vibrant world around him seemed to have turned dull, and he felt an overwhelming wave of sadness wash over him, leaving him with no constructive thoughts. The weight of the loss was too heavy to bear, and he sank to his knees on the pitch, staring at the final score listlessly. A single tear streamed down his cheek as he grieved over the loss.

    As he kneeled there, lost in his own thoughts, his emotions were all over the ce. But just then, he felt aforting hand patting his shoulder.

    When he looked up, he saw some of his coaches standing behind him, including the likes of Max Allegri and Maurizio Trombetta. Even though they looked crestfallen after losing in the final, their eyes were focused on him, filled with concern and empathy.

    Coach Allegri nodded at Zachary with a warm smile and another reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Great job, Zachary!" he eximed. "You and your teammates yed your hearts out today, and it showed. Although we didn''te out victorious, I want you to remember that you gave it your all out there. Your hard work and determination were clearly evident in your performance today."

    He continued, "Let''s not let this defeat bring us down. Instead, let''s use it as motivation to achieve even greater victories in the future. Remember, every loss is just another opportunity toe back stronger. Keep pushing forward, Zachary."

    Zachary nodded in agreement, feeling slightly dejected but also proud of his team''s effort. He exchanged a few words with Coach Allegri and the other coach before slowly walking toward the sidelines to join his teammates. Despite the loss, he knew they had all given it their best shot, and they woulde back even stronger next time.

    The rest of the evening was a blur for Zachary. He mechanically went through the motions while receiving his loser''s medal and Champions League golden boot.

    Despite countless congrattory and constion messages from his teammates and opponents, he was still dejected as he watched Barcelona lift the coveted trophy. He knew that he had lost the game, but he was determined to use this defeat as a driving force to further his career.

    As he clutched his golden boot and match ball, which he had earned by scoring a hat trick, Zachary walked towards the dressing room, lost in deep thought.

    The stadium was still buzzing with noise, but his mind was elsewhere. He knew that he would never forget this moment, but he swore to use it as a motivation to work harder and win the Champions League trophy for his team.

 Chapter 613 After the Champions League Final

    Chapter 613 After the Champions League Final

    It was a warm, sunny Sunday morning, and the world was already basking in a refreshing radiance. A gentle breeze was blowing through the streets of Berlin, making it the perfect day for sports enthusiasts to get out and y.

    But for Emily Anderson, the brilliant agent who managed superstar football yer Zachary Bemba, the Sunday was about one thing: the much-awaited ESPN sports show.

    Fans from all around the world were eagerly waiting for thetest updates and insights on their favorite teams and athletes. For them, the show was the perfect tform to conclude another week of thrilling games and matches. And Emily was no exception.

    Her beautiful blue eyes were glued to the TV screen in her dimly lit hotel room, watching highlights of the epic Champions League final from the night before. The morning rays streaming in through the opposite window highlighted her listless facial expression. She was having one of those mornings. She was tired, at a loss, and feeling down.

    Emily had stayed up way past her bedtime to support Zachary''s team in their highly anticipated match against Barcelona: the UEFA Champions League final. Despite all the hard work and dedication that Zachary and his team had invested in the game, they faced a crushing defeat, which left Emily feeling heartbroken and frustrated. She couldn''t shake off the overwhelming sense of regret she felt for them. Witnessing their loss had left her dazzled with feelings of loss and disappointment.

    Narrowing her eyes with tiredness, Emily noticed the post-highlights ads ending and the ESPN sports showmencing. She pushed all the irrelevant worries out of her mind and focused on therge t screen in her hotel room.

    The charming Emilia Vasquez was the host, and she was joined by her panel of experts, including Alessandro Costacurta, Joshua Morales, and Charles Adams. With an infectious smile etched on her face, Emilia introduced the pundits one by one, building up the anticipation for the main content of the show.

    And then, the moment everyone had all been waiting for arrived. "Our dear viewers!" Emilia eximed, her voice oozing with excitement. "Last night, we witnessed the most exhrating Champions League final in recent memory. In a heart-stopping match that ended in a spectacr nine-goal thriller, Barcelona triumphed over Juventus with a score of 5-4 at the Olympiastadion of Berlin, winning the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions of Europe title. Lionel Messi''ste goal in the 93rd minute sealed the deal and propelled the Catns to a treble this season." n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The energy in the studio was electric as Emilia turned to her pundits with a delightful chuckle. "Gentlemen!" she eximed. "Let''s dive straight into it. What are your thoughts on Barcelona''s stunning victory yesterday?"

    Alessandro Costacurta let out a hearty chuckle. "All I can say was that the Champions League final was beyond epic. The two teams yed their hearts out, electrifying all the fans with a match for the history books. The game could have gone either way, especially during those heart-pumping minutes between the 60th and 72nd minute. But in any football game, there''s always a winner and a loser. This time, Barcelona came out on top. But had luck not been on their side, they could have lost."

    Emilia Vasquez beamed while eyeing the pundit. "Alessandro! Are you implying that the game result was mostly because of Barcelona''s luck but not their tactics?"

    "Emilia! Don''t get me wrong!" said Alessandro with a refined shake of his head. "The Catns employed great tactics, especially during the first half. They outyed Barcelona and scored those opening three goals that eventually meant everything during the game''ste stages. But had they missed those chances or had Juventus woken up earlier, we could have had an entirely different result."

    "I couldn''t agree more with Alessandro," added Joshua Morales, the other pundit. "Looking back at the first half, Juventuscked the courage and spirit in their ying style and tactics. They sat back and defended without applying any pressure on Barcelona. It was like they were asking for trouble! They allowed Barcelona to dominate the possession, dictate the tempo, and send countless balls into their box. As a result, they conceded three goals in the first half, which almost ended the game."

    "However, things changed dramatically in the second half," stated Morales after a brief pause. "The Italian giants emerged from the tunnel with a newfound energy and began attacking with much greater intensity. They made some smart substitutions, bringing on Pirlo and Kingsley, who could have ¨C maybe ¨C been introduced earlier in the game. Consequently, their whole team began to y like they were genuinely determined to win the final."

    "They gave Barcelona a tough time throughout the second half, and at some point, it seemed like they might evene out on top. Unfortunately, luck wasn''t on their side, and they conceded a crucial free-kick during injury time. This allowed Barcelona to push forward and ultimately secure their victory."

    "That sums about everything, I guess! Thanks, Joshua, for your analysis," said Vasquez with her signature smile.

    "It''s my pleasure, Emilia!" Morales gave her a polite nod.

    Vasquez''s face lit up with a wide grin as the cameras zoomed in on her. "Alright, folks, let''s talk about the real deal here. We all witnessed some top-notch footballst night. It was the kind that kept us on the edge of our seats. Neymar, Lionel Messi, Luis Su¨¢rez, Dani ves, Zachary Bemba, Kingsley Coman, Carlos Tevez, and Stephan Lichtsteiner - they all yed their hearts out. But here''s the million-dor question: who among them deserves the crown of excellence?"

    "I would say Messi," replied Charles Adams, thest pundit.

    "My vote also goes to Messi," said Alessandro with a smile. "The Argentine scored the winning goal. That''s why the match officials awarded him the ''man of the match'' de after the game yesterday night."

    "Whoa, hold on a minute, folks!" Morales eximed. "Let''s take a step back and disregard the game''s oue for a second. Instead, let''s examine the post-match statistics to determine which yer performed better. Messi yed a direct role in three of Barcelona''s goals and only scored twice. However, what about Zachary? He had a hand in all four of Juventus'' goals and even bagged a hat-trick. Based on the stats alone, who was the superior yer?"

    "Hello Joshua, while Zachary yed exceptionally well and was a tough opponent for Barcelona during the second half, it''s important to acknowledge that Barcelona eventually won the final. Messi''s winning goal was a crucial moment in the match, and it would be fair to say that he yed a significant role in securing Barcelona''s victory. In football, it''s important to recognize the efforts of all match winners, and on this particr night, Messi''s contribution was particrly noteworthy."

    "Excuse me, gentlemen," Emilia interjected, "but there''s another matter we ought to consider. Does Barcelona''s victory in the final have any bearing on the oue of the uing Ballon d''Or awards? I mean, with Messi on the winning team, he''s likely to have a significant advantage in winning yet another Ballon d''Or award. Isn''t he?"

    "I think he will have an advantage," replied Alessandro. "He scored the winning goal in the Champions League final and helped his team win a trophy. I think he will win the de again."

    "Absolutely," nodded Morales, "I''ve always held Zachary in high regard. He''s an exceptional yer who''s led his team to new heights with his impressive tally of 64 goals in a single season, including 19 in the Champions League, breaking the record for the most goals scored in a single football year. But the reality is that winning the trophy is what counts. So, I wouldn''t be surprised if those journalists vote for Messi instead."

    Emily had been glued to the TV, watching the show with rapt attention. But as soon as she heard Morales''test analysis, her face fell, and she sighed heavily.

    Morales'' words were logical and well thought-out, but Emily couldn''t bear to hear them, not when the memory of yesterday''s Champions League final was still so raw and painful. Without hesitation, she reached for the remote and switched off the TV, knowing she needed time to process her emotions.

 Chapter 614 Zacharys Plans

    Chapter 614 Zachary''s ns

    Emily slowly rose from the bed and stretched her arms above her head before making her way to the bathroom. She turned on the shower and waited for the water to warm up before stepping in. The warm water cascaded down her body, instantly rxing her tense muscles. Shethered up her body and washed her hair, taking her time to enjoy the peaceful moment.

    After about thirty minutes, she turned off the shower and stepped out, wrapping herself in a soft towel. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and started applying her makeup. She carefully applied foundation, blush, eyeshadow, and mascara, taking care to enhance her natural beauty.

    Just as she was finishing up, her phone started vibrating loudly on the bedside table. Irritated at the interruption, she walked over and picked it up, ncing at the screen. Her expression softened as she saw that the caller was Zachary, the client she hadn''t spoken to since the game.

    "Hi, Zachary!" Emily spoke after cing the ept button and holding the phone against her ear. "I''m d you called, and I hope you''re doing well. How are you feeling today, and how has your morning been so far?"

    "I''m doing okay," he replied, but he didn''t sound okay.

    Emily detected ack of liveliness in his voice and empathetically inquired, "Are you really okay? Please remember that I am here for you, and you can always confide in me."

    He hesitated before speaking again, "Honestly, I feel down. Losing the Champions League final hit me more than I expected. I guess I''m a sore loser." He ended with a self-deprecatingugh.

    "I''m so sorry," she said with genuine sympathy. "I can''t even begin to imagine what you must be going through. But please don''t forget that time is a great healer. Every day that passes, you will feel a little better and closer to your old self. Also, if you focus on the positives, this loss could be a turning point for your football career. It may even give you the extra motivation you need to excel. So, please stay strong and keep pushing forward, Zachary."

    "You always know how to make me feel better, Emily," said Zachary. "You''re an amazing agent and friend! Thank you!"

    "You''re wee," Emily replied cheerfully. "I''m guessing you didn''t just call to hear my pep talks!"

    "Emily, you know me too well," chuckled Zachary. "I have a proposition for you. Let''s speed up all the ns this summer break. Whether it''s finalizing and renewing all our endorsement deals or starting up my investmentpany, I want us toplete everything quickly so that I can refocus on my football career."

    "Is that so?" Emily''s voice rose up a notch. "How do we go about this?"

    "Start by fast-forwarding the talks with the Nike representatives," Zachary said. "If possible, I would like to sign the new agreement before I leave for my vacation. Also, bring Miss Heather Miller on board and let her think of a way to quickly put all my investments under my newpany."

    "Okay, I''ll call Miss Heather and bring her on board," replied Emily. "But we all need to meet and discuss everything in detail, including the capital input for the newpany and the new investments you will make."

    "That''s a must," Zachary said. "We''ll meet back at my house in Turin after I return. Let''s meet next Wednesday morning. I''ll call on Tuesday to confirm everything."

    "Okay, I think I''ll make it," Emily said. "Zachary! There''s a question I must ask." N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Go ahead and shoot. I''m all ears."

    "I''m not saying it has happened, but let''s say one of the biggest teams in the world showed interest in having you on their squad. And suppose they were to trigger your release use, what would your thoughts be on the matter?"

    "Emily, it doesn''t matter which team has made the offer. I''m not leaving Juventus," he said with determination. "I''m happy with my career progress, and don''t forget that I have a great chemistry with my teammates. Besides, I want to win the Champions League before I even consider moving."

    "Okay, I get it," Emily let out a sigh. The top teams, such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich, had all been calling her non-stop to poach Zachary from Juventus during the uing transfer window. However, Zachary had no ns to move, so she would have to turn down all these offers.

    "Can you tell me your ns for the summer break?" asked Emily.

    "I told Kasongo that we''d go on vacation together during the break," he exined. "But I want to finish setting up thepany and signing the new Nike endorsement deal before I take off."

    "Wow," eximed Emily. "So, our training maniac is finally taking a break. Interesting!"

    "Ha ha, you know what they say - vacation doesn''t mean taking a break from fitness," Zacharyughed. "I''m actually traveling with my fitness trainer to keep me in shape. We''re nning to do some daily workouts so that I don''t lose all the progress I''ve made all these years. It''s important to me to stay fit and healthy, even during the summer break!"

    "Ah, now that''s the Zachary I know," joked Emily over the phone. "For a moment there, I thought someone was impersonating you." She had been feeling down after watching Juventus losest night, but talking to her client and friend Zachary always seemed to lift her spirits.

    Zachary replied with a chuckle, and they continued to catch up about everything that had been going on in their lives. He told her more details about his uing ns for his holiday from football, discussing his training schedules and the specifics of his investments and potential new endorsement deals. Emily listened intently, always impressed by Zachary''s determination and dedication to everything he did.

    As the call went on, Zachary continued to act as the adult, keeping the conversation focused and on track. Emily appreciated his steadiness, which helped to ground her and bring her back to a more positive mindset. By the time they said their goodbyes, Emily was feeling much better than she had before the call started.

    She hung up the call and let out a self-deprecating smile. As the agent, her job was to console her client, who had lost a crucial game. However, Zachary had quickly taken over the task and had be the one tofort her instead.

    ----

 Chapter 615 UEFA Champions League System Mission Results

    Chapter 615 UEFA Champions League System Mission Results

    The Juventus team had a challenging time in Berlin, where they yed against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League Final. Although they lost the game, the team left the city with their heads held high and their spirits unbroken on Monday morning, knowing they had yed their best.

    As they stepped off the ne at Turin-Caselle Airport, they were greeted by a heartwarming and unexpected sight: arge crowd of devoted fans waving banners and chanting their names. The supporters had gathered to show their unwavering love for the team despite the disappointment of the defeat.

    The yers, who were visibly tired and emotionally drained after enduring the intense game, were deeply moved by the passion and energy of the fans. They stopped to take photos and sign autographs for the supporters, who never stopped cheering and apuding them.

    Amidst the cheers and apuse of their supporters, the yers finally boarded the team bus, eager to leave behind the football season and embark on their well-deserved vacations. Their fans'' unwavering support had been a constant source of motivation, helping them to keep their spirits high throughout the season. The yers were grateful for the loyalty and encouragement they received from their fans.

    "Hey Zachary, I''m curious! What exciting ns do you have for this much-awaited vacation?" Patrice Evra asked with a friendly smile as the bus left the airport. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Nothing much," said Zachary, "just nning to travel while working out with my fitness coach."

    "Wow, that''s fascinating!" Evra eximed. "If you get a chance, you should definitely consider visiting France. I would be happy to host you and take you on a tour of Paris. It''s an experience you won''t regret."

    "Interesting idea," Zachary pondered. "But I need to discuss it with my travelpanion first. I''ll let you know my decisionter."

    Evra was about to add something, but the team bus joined a busier road, and more crowds of supporters appeared, cheering and chanting the Juventus team slogans while waving their banners at the passing bus. Zachary gazed out at the enthusiastic fans and sighed, "They''re still cheering us, even after we lost the final. Can you imagine how ecstatic they would have been if we had won?"

    "I can only imagine," Evra let out a regretful sigh. "If only we had won, we wouldn''t hide inside these buses. Instead, we would be up there, on top of the bus, presenting the trophy to this beautiful city while our fans cheered us on. It would have been a magnificent scene."

    Zachary slumped back into his seat and muttered, "But we didn''t win!" The Champions League final had not gone as nned, and his mood was down in the gutters. However, he took a deep breath andposed himself before continuing his conversation with Evra, who was seated next to him on the bus.

    They chatted about everything from the just-concluded season to uing international games and even reminisced about Evra''s role in Manchester United''s 2008 Champions League victory. Their conversation only came to an end when the bus rolled into the parking lot of the Vinovo - Juventus'' training center.

    As Zachary said his goodbyes to his teammates and coaches, he couldn''t wait to get in his sleek ck Audi RS7 and head home. Waiting for him was Rardo Lorenzo, his trusted driver and bodyguard, who greeted him with a warm smile and opened the car door for him.

    As they hit the highway, they chatted about the Champions League final and navigated through the bustling Turin traffic. After an hour, they finally arrived at Zachary''s stunning mansion in Pinerolo, Piedmont. It was the perfect ce to unwind and rx after a long weekend that had been filled with ups and downs.

    "There he is!"

    "It''s the man himself."

    As the car came to a halt, Zachary was startled by loud yells from the mansion''s front door. He wondered if he had arrived at the wrong ce. However, when he exited the car, he was immediately surrounded by a crowd of familiar faces. Kristin Stein, Emily, Bj?rn Peters with his wife, Boyd Johansen (his former coach), Kasongo, a few other former teammates, and even the Old Mr. Stein were standing before the front entrance, beaming at him with warmth and affection. It was an unexpected and heartwarming surprise for Zachary.

    "What''s all this about?" Zachary inquired.

    Emily, his agent, stepped forward and gave him a friendly grin. "Come on, don''t be a party pooper. We''ve put together a cozy gathering to wee you back from Berlin. We only want you to join us in celebrating the amazing opening season you''ve had with Juventus. Would you do us the honor?"

    Zachary''s heart swelled with joy as he heard the response. He couldn''t wait to chat with his friends and join the festivities. After dropping his luggage off upstairs and taking a refreshing cold shower, he was ready to party! As the day turned into evening, Zacharyughed, danced, and enjoyed himself with his friends, making memories that wouldst a lifetime.

    Most of his visitors, including Emily, Kristin, and Mr. Stein, eventually left the mansion around 9:00 PM. He then excused himself from the still energetic Bj?rn Peters and his wife and went upstairs to his bedroom. He was eager to review the recentlypleted system missions.

    "System!" he mumbled. "Bring up the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League Serial Challengepletion details!"

    "Command received," the system''s indifferent voice echoed in Zachary''s mind. "The details of the mission are now avable on the interface. Please take a moment to review them."

    Zachary nodded and focused on the shimmering, transparent screen that had materialized before him. Without dy, he began to scrutinize the specifics of thepleted task.

    ****

    #5 new messages

    -----

    CONGRATULATIONS

    ->You havepleted the system mission (2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League Serial Challenge).

    -----

    ->Mission Summary

    *Milestone 1: y over 75% of the fixtures of the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League for Juventus (Completed; Rating A+; Rewarded 2,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 2: Help Juventus qualify as number one (team with the most points) from the group to the round-of-sixteen stage of the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League tournament (Completed; Rating A+; Rewarded 5,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 3: Help Juventus qualify for the quarter-finals stage of the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League tournament (Completed; Rating A+; Rewarded 10,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 4: Help Juventus qualify for the semi-final stage of the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League tournament (Completed; Rating A+; Rewarded 30,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 5: Help Juventus qualify for the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League finals (Completed; Rating A+; Rewarded 40,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 6: Help Juventus ovee all odds and be the champions of the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League tournament (Failed! No reward).

    *Milestone 7: Provide the most assists in the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League tournament while ying for Juventus (Notpleted! No reward!).

    *Milestone 8: Be the top scorer of the 2014¨C15 UEFA Champions League tournament while ying for Juventus (Completed; Rating S+; Rewarded 100,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 9: Score eighteen or more goals to break the individual goal-scoring record in a single UEFA Champions League season convincingly (Completed; Rating S+; Rewarded a dosage of an SS-grade vitality-enhancing elixir).

    ----

    ->Missionpleted rating: Subpar!

    Overall Mission Rating: B

    -----

    ->Mission Rewards

    1) A total of 157,000 Juju-points

    2) A dosage of an SS-grade vitality-enhancing elixir.

    -----

    ->No Bonus Rewards!

    -----

    ****

 Chapter 616 Swallowing Elixirs Like Theres No Tomorrow

    Chapter 616 Swallowing Elixirs Like There''s No Tomorrow

    Zachary couldn''t help but let out a heavy sigh as he meticulously reviewed thepletion details for the UEFA Champions League mission. A wave of mncholy washed over him as he realized this was the first time he had received a subpar mission rating since acquiring the system.

    He had been on the cusp of winning the Champions League and reaching the pinnacle of his football career. However, the depressing one-goal difference that led to his team''s loss against Barcelona in the Champions League final had shattered his dreams of glory.

    "I''ll do better next time," he promised himself as he settled back on his bed. The football season had already ended. What he had to do now was to focus on improving his skills so that he could be an unbeatable force that could crush all obstacles that stood in the way of his football dream.

    He pushed the distracting thoughts aside and focused on the rewards he had earned bypleting various system mission details for the season.

    First off, he scored over 200,000 Juju points from these missions. However, he was still far from the one million needed to ''level up'' the system to level six.

    On top of that, he got his hands on three potent elixirs that could take his fitness to new heights. These included the top-tier S-grade and SS-grade Vitality enhancing elixirs, which were his rewards for helping Juventus achieve a season unbeaten run in the Serie A and breaking the individual goal-scoring record for a single season in the Champions League.

    As if that wasn''t enough, he also snagged the S-grade random effect elixir, which could boost one of his attributes, including Bnce and Coordination, Agility, Strength, Stamina, or Endurance, by an entire grade. As long as he could consume them, he would be an unstoppable force that could crash all opponents on the football field.

    "Time waits for no man," Zachary muttered. "I should begin consuming the elixirs."

    He didn''t have football matches or training sessions scheduled in theing weeks. This meant he could focus on consuming all the elixirs to boost his fitness to a whole new level. Then, during the summer break, he nned to devote his time to training and perfecting his improved physique.

    But first, he exited his room and informed Bj?rn Peters that he didn''t wish to be disturbed. Then, he returned to his room and settled on his bed before summoning the S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir from the system inventory.

    The elixir looked like a tiny banana, simr to its lower-quality versions. Without hesitation, Zachary swallowed it in two quick bites.

    A rush of coolness and a tingling sensation swept over his entire body as the elixir began to take effect. Due to his already top-notch SS-grade fitness, the difort was brief, and soon, he felt a surge of limitless energy coursing through him.

    His eyes glinted with boundless determination as he felt the slight changes. After noting that his body and mind were at their peak, he immediately summoned the SS-grade version of the vitality-enhancing elixir, which was his reward for breaking the individual goal-scoring record for a single Champions League season.

    Zachary quickly nced at the small banana-shaped elixir before swallowing it in two swift gulps. This SS-grade elixir packed a much more powerful punch than its S-grade counterpart. As the elixir took effect, he was overwhelmed by waves of excruciating pain.

    The agony persisted for about an hour before a refreshing sensation washed over him in waves. At that moment, he felt rejuvenated and sure that he had fully absorbed the elixir. His body pulsed with limitless energy, and his muscles seemed to ripple with newfound strength. For a fleeting instant, he felt capable of kicking down a wall.

    "Sweet," Zachary murmured as he clenched and unclenched his fists. He rose from his bed and ran through a few yoga sets until he felt more in tune with his improved body. Then, after resting for a short while, he settled back on his bed and summoned the S-grade Random effect elixir from the system inventory.

    Zachary braced himself, taking a deep breath before downing the grape-shaped elixir in one swift gulp. But before he could savor its vor, a powerful tremor surged through his body, sending shockwaves through his limbs and spine before engulfing his mind.

    Time seemed toe to a standstill as his mind went totally nk. Maybe a moment or hours passed without him knowing, but he eventually regained consciousness, and his perception of his surroundings returned.

    On opening his eyes, everything around him seemed different. The swaying of his bedroom''s curtain in the night breeze passing through the open window seemed more sluggish than usual, while the sounds picked up by his ears were longer and more drawn out. It was a bizarre sensation that made him feel like the world was in slow motion.

    Fortunately, the abnormal feeling passed quickly, and his perception normalized. He took a deep breath before calling out to the system.

    "System," he said, his heart racing with anticipation. "Please bring up my current physical fitness and technique attributes."

    "Command received," the apathetic voice of the System AI immediately sounded in his mind. "The user''s fitness and technique attributes will being up on the interface shortly."

    As the voice ceased, a translucent crystal-like disy that was the system interface manifested before his eyes. He calmed his mind and started reviewing the information disyed by the system.

    ----

    ****

    *USER STATS n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    -----

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: SS+)

    Bnce and Coordination: SS

    Agility: SSS

    Strength: SS

    Stamina: SS+

    Endurance Points: 2,300/72,000 -> SS+

    ----

    ->Ser Technique: [Av. Rating: S+ (SS)]

    Ball Control: S+ (SS)

    Dribbling Skills: S+ (SS)

    Passing uracy: S+ (SS)

    Body Control: S+ (SS)

    ----

    Note: The grades in the brackets are the base stats of the use without the side effects of the elixirs. The user should work hard to master his improved body and ovee the elixir''s side effects.

    ****

    "Wow, this is incredible," Zachary eximed with a wide grin. The elixirs had sparked a remarkable transformation, taking his physical prowess to new heights and leaving him absolutely thrilled.

    Not only did the vitality-enhancing elixirs boost his stamina and endurance from SS to SS+, but the Random-Effect Elixir also worked wonders, elevating his agility from SS to SSS. This unprecedented achievement filled him with boundless joy and a sense of exhration.

    Zachary routinely used the system''s snooping tool to check out other football superstars, but he''d never seen anyone with stats higher than SS+. Not even Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi had surpassed those stats. This meant that with his newly acquired SSS grade agility, Zachary had the potential to dominate the football world if he could learn to use it effectively on the field.

    "One step at a time," mumbled Zachary as he took a deep breath to steady himself. After ncing at the system interface again, he discovered the anticipated side effects of imbibing three potent elixirs. All his technique stats, from Ball Control and Dribbling Skills to Passing uracy and Body Control, had plummeted from SS to S+ grading.

    Zachary wasn''t too concerned, though. With two months of summer break ahead, he was ready to put in the work with Bj?rn Peters, his personal fitness trainer. His goal was to return to peak performance before joining his Juventus teammates for the uing season, where they would continue aiming for both domestic and European glory.

    -----

 Chapter 617 End-of-Season Dinner Party

    Chapter 617 End-of-Season Dinner Party

    ***VOLUME 005: THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME***

    -------

    Saturday, June 2nd, 2018

    Turin, Italy

    -----

    The sun was setting over Turin, painting the sky with a breathtaking shade of ck. Anticipation was in the air as something big was about to happen at the J|Hotel, the luxurious five-star amodation owned by Juventus, the revered Italian football team.

    As the highly anticipated end-of-season Juventus team dinner drew near, the hotel entrance was abuzz with excitement and media attention. Fans anxiously awaited a glimpse of their favorite yers while paparazzi held their cameras, constantly searching for the perfect shot.

    Soon enough, the excitement became palpable as the star yers of Juventus began arriving in style, each stepping out of their sleek Porsche vehicles and onto the red carpet with an air of boundless grace.

    The roar of the ecstatic fans and the sh of cameras quickly filled the air as the yers and technical staff slowly made their way into the luxurious J|Hotel, many of them arm in arm with their significant others. Of course, there were also a few lone wolves among the group - those single bastards who walked the red carpet alone, disappearing into the hotel with an air of mystery and intrigue.

    The atmosphere was electric, the air thick with anticipation. Suddenly, a sleek ck Audi Q7 made its grand entrance, rolling up to the entrance with all the grace of a panther. As the car came to a stop, a tall and enigmatic figure emerged, sending a ripple of excitement through the crowd. The night just got a whole lot more fascinating!

    "Zachary! Zachary, we love you..."

    "Zachary! An autograph..."

    "Zachary..."

    The sound of many voices grew louder and louder until it reached its peak. A frenzied atmosphere engulfed the red carpet as therge crowd grew more frantic, eagerly anticipating a glimpse of Zachary, the young football sensation who had be a household name in Turin and Juventus over thest four years. At twenty-three years old, he had already taken the football world by storm, and his arrival was met with sheer enthusiasm.

    As he made his way down the carpet, all eyes were on him, and the energy in the air was electric. The atmosphere was positively charged as fans mored for his attention, their voices rising. Meanwhile, reporters jostled for position, eager to get past security and score an exclusive interview with the superstar.

    As Zachary observed the hustle and bustle around him, he experienced a mixture of emotions. The memories of his team''s back-to-back defeats in the Champions League finals came rushing back to him. It was a gut-wrenching experience to lose twice in a row, first to Barcelona in 2014-15 and then to Real Madrid in 2015-16. He could still feel the pain of those losses, and the thought of facing the fans had been unbearable.

    But Zachary was not one to give up easily. He and his teammates had worked tirelessly to make things right and bring home European football glory for Juventus. And they did just that. Against all odds, they went all the way and defeated Real Madrid in the 2016-17 final to finally clinch the coveted Champions League title.

    But they didn''t stop there. In the recently concluded 2017-18 season, they showed their dominance again and eventually beat Liverpool in the finals to win a consecutive Champions League title. Zachary couldn''t be prouder of his team''s achievements, and the joy of finally winning the trophy twice was indescribable.

    His face lit up with a wide grin as he reminisced about the unforgettable victories. With his head held high, he walked the red carpet, acknowledging the cheering crowd with a proud wave. Enthusiastic fans eagerly reached out for autographs and handshakes, which he happily obliged before disappearing behind the grand doors of the J|Hotel.

    From the moment he crossed the venue threshold, he was transported to a world of sophistication and refinement. A courteous guide led him through the bustling entrance crowd, expertly navigating him to the dinner party.

    As he entered the room, he was greeted by a vibrant atmosphere that filled him with anticipation. He was met with a chorus of warm and friendly voices from his Juventus teammates, coaches, and technical staff, all apanied by their significant others. The soft strains of ssical music filled the air, harmonizing with the lively chatter of the guests.

    The waiters and waitresses, moving with effortless grace, weaved through the crowd, deftly serving wine and other refreshments, adding to the lively ambiance of the evening. It was evident that everyone was eagerly awaiting the start of the dinner, and the festive excitement was palpable, filling the room with an electric energy.

    As Zachary settled into a seat and grabbed a refreshing non-alcoholic mojito from the server, an unmistakable voice caught his attention. "Zachary, you''ve finally made it!" Coach Max Allegri eximed, waving in his direction.

    Zachary saw his coach approaching and greeted him with a smile. "Hey coach, it''s good to see you," he said. "That ck tuxedo looks really sharp on you."

    Coach Allegriughed. "Thanks, Zachary. You''re looking pretty sharp yourself. Have you thought about wearing suits more often? You might catch the eye of someone special."

    Zachary''s face lit up with a grin as he approached the coach. The two engaged in some friendly chitchat, reminiscing about their recent season filled with numerous victories, including clinching the Italian Serie A and the Champions League again.

    As the conversation continued, a few more teammates, including Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, and Stephan Lichtsteiner, joined in, and their lighthearted banter soon turned into a lively affair filled withughter and jokes. But the sudden appearance of Andrea Agnelli, the chairman of Juventus Club, brought an unexpected interruption to their lively banter.

    Without wasting time, Coach Allegri quickly stood up, greeting the chairman with open arms. "Wee, Chairman!" he eximed, setting the tone for the rest of the team.

    Andrea Agnelli returned the warm gesture, congratting the team on another sessful football season. He greeted the coach and shook hands with the yers, a smile never leaving his face. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Coach, Zachary!" The chairman interrupted their conversation and asked to speak with them privately after making more small talk. "Could I have a word with you both, in private?" he said.

    Coach Allegri nced at his watch and nodded in agreement after exchanging a nce with Zachary. "Yeah, let''s chat in one of the private booths outside," he said. "We should be quick. Or we''ll miss the dinner party."

    With a boisterous chuckle, the chairman motioned towards the exit and led the way out of the bustling dinner venue. As they strode through the dimly lit hallway, the cacophony of chatter and clinking of silverware gradually dissipated, and the air was filled with an expectant atmosphere. Soon enough, they arrived at a secluded private booth, and the mood shifted abruptly from lighthearted to solemn.

 Chapter 618 Farewells

    Chapter 618 Farewells

    Andrea sighed and calmly asked Zachary, "I was wondering if you have faced any issues with the club since you came to Turin?"

    "Absolutely not!" Zachary replied with a smile. "I''ve had an amazing time at Juventus, and that''s a big reason I''ve been able to aplish so much during my time here."

    "Zachary," Andrea said. "I understand that you''re considering your options, but we value your contributions to our team and would like to continue our partnership. We are willing to offer youpetitive terms that reflect your value to us, and we are also open to discussing other ways we can support your career goals. That aside, Coach Allegri has expressed his admiration for your leadership potential, and we would be honored to have you as a captain in the future. We hope you will consider extending your contract with us, and we aremitted to making you an integral part of our team''s sess."

    "Let''s notplicate things, Chairman," Zachary sighed, shaking his head. "Over the past four years, I''ve given my heart and soul to Juventus. I''ve fulfilled all the terms of my contract, worked tirelessly with my teammates, and won four consecutive Serie A titles, two Champions League trophies, and a few other awards. However, it''s time for us to part ways, and I hope we can do so on good terms. Juventus will always have a special ce in my heart."

    The chairperson politely turned to Zachary and asked, "Is there any chance you would reconsider? We are willing to offer you a weekly sry of 300,000 Euros plus other favorable benefits."

    Zachary shook his head firmly. "Chairman!" he eximed, "My decision is not motivated by money or any other benefits from the club. I only want to explore new horizons in my football career outside Italy. Chairman, please allow me to pursue this opportunity."

    Andrea let out a sigh and leaned back in his seat. "I see your point," he replied, "So be it. Apart from this, congrattions on the sess you have achieved at Juventus. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors."

    "Thank you, Mr. Chairman," Zachary replied respectfully.

    Andrea nodded and smiled. "You''re wee. You may now return to the dinner party. Let me speak with your coach for a few minutes."

    Zachary nodded to both gentlemen before rising from his seat and exiting the private booth.

    -----

    As soon as Zachary closed the door behind him, an unsettling stillness descended upon the secluded booth. The Juventus coach and chairman looked at each other with expressions of dismay, their silence speaking volumes. For a whole minute, nobody said a word, making the atmosphere feel even more tense and ufortable.

    "Max," said Andrea, the club chairman, with a hint of disappointment in his voice. "We have suffered a huge loss this time. The entire board is on my case for allowing a talented yer like Zachary to leave the club as a free agent. We should have sold him to one of the clubs that were interested in him during the previous transfer window."

    "Chairman, I think you''re forgetting one thing," said Coach Max Allegri. "Between 120 to 140 million offered for Zachary during thest transfer window and Champions League trophy, which one would you choose as a club president?"

    Agnelli had a confident grin as he shook his head. "Come on now, choices are for those whock drive and direction. If you truly want to seed, you do not choose. You just have to be willing to take advantage of every opportunity thates your way."

    "You have spoken as a businessman," said Allegri. "But in this case, your principles don''t apply. If we had sold Zachary before his contract expiredst season, we would have missed out on another Champions League victory. For me, that would have been uneptable."

    "I understand your point," responded Andrea. "But the fact remains that we suffered a tremendous loss. We should have negotiated a much longer contract when we signed him from Rosenborg four years ago. By the way, have you found a recement for him yet?"

    "The team has a solid midfield with Dyb, Sami Khedira, Pjanic, and Marchisio," the coach noted. "However, we cannot solely rely on them after Zachary''s departure. To remainpetitive both domestically and in Europe, we must acquire another world-ss creative midfielder."

    "Got it," replied the chairman. "I''ll ry the message to the scouting department to start their search for a new midfielder. With the World Cup just around the corner, we can only hope that some top-tier talents will emerge during the tournament."

    After nodding in agreement, the coach and the president exchanged a few more words in their private booth. They then returned to the dinner party, which was already in full swing.

    -----

    Back to the dinner party!

    Zachary sat down at the exquisitely arranged dining table, feeling a rush of mixed emotions. His heart was pounding in his chest as he took in the beautiful d¨¦cor and surroundings.

    Amidst thepany of his cherished teammates and coaches, a lively ambiance of mixed emotions filled the surroundings - a blend of mncholy and felicity. The room was adorned with Juventus gs and banners, and the big screens started disying Zachary''s memorable moments on the field.

    As the night wore on, the Juventus yers and coaches pulled out all the stops to show Zachary how much he meant to them. They shared heartfelt speeches, warm embraces, and lots ofughter. The air was filled with the aroma of delicious Italian food and the sounds of clinking sses and chatter.

    Zachary''s gaze was fixed on his colleagues as the excitement built up. Overwhelmed with emotion, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of love and appreciation radiating towards him. Zachary remembered all the times he had fought hard on the field, all the times he had pushed himself to the limit, and all the times he had celebrated with this team.

    But the pinnacle of the evening was when Coach Allegri took the stage and listed Zachary''s incredible achievements at Juventus. He recounted how Zachary had be a top scorer and the season''s best yer for the Serie A three seasons in a row. He then highlighted how Zachary helped Juventus win two Champions League trophies before presenting him with another yer of the Season award. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    The audience was ecstatic, and the apuse was deafening. Zachary was overwhelmed with joyful emotions and could hardly contain his tears as he epted the award. He was grateful for the love and support shown to him by his teammates and coaches. He felt proud and aplished, knowing that his hard work had not gone unnoticed.

    As the night slowly came to a close, Zachary scanned the room, taking in the warmth and joy that filled the air. He knew this was a night that he would cherish forever - a night that would always hold a special ce in his heart. Everyone joined in to celebrate his immense contributions to the team and wished him all the best for his next adventure.

 Chapter 619 Living A Dream I

    Chapter 619 Living A Dream I

    The following day!

    Zachary hit the snooze button one too many times, and when he finally woke up, he couldn''t believe it was already 9:00 AM. He quickly jumped out of bed and started his morning routine, determined to make up for lost time.

    First, he flowed through a few sun salutations in his yoga routine, feeling the tension in his muscles ease away. Next, he hit the shower, washing away the remnants of yesterday''s exhaustion. Having cleaned up, he put on his clothes and ventured outside, feeling revitalized and ready to tackle the day ahead.

    As he leisurely descended the stairs, he couldn''t help but marvel at the exquisite sights that adorned the walls of his opulent mansion. The breathtaking art pieces he had carefully collected over the years breathed an air of sophistication into his abode, making it feel like a true masterpiece.

    He let out a deep sigh and shook his head. He couldn''t help but feel like his life was too good to be true. He was only twenty-three, but his football career and investments had already soared to incredible heights, earning him a worth of over a hundred million. What more could he ever want when he already had it all?

    "I need a new challenge," he mused to himself. "I crave a fresh environment, maybe a different league, where I can truly feel the exhration of striving to win trophies."

    For four years, his team, Juventus, had ruled the Italian football scene with an iron fist. They had won every trophy and de avable in the country and even tasted triumph on the European and World Club stage.

    It was an incredible ride, but he knew deep down that he was ready for a new challenge. That''s why he made the tough decision to reject an extension of his contract with Juventus and embark on a new adventure in the football world.

    "I should focus on the uing World Cup in Russia before thinking about my future club," he decided.

    Zachary''s journey after bing a citizen of Ivory Coast was nothing short of remarkable. In just four years, he established himself as a key yer in their national team, going above and beyond to help them qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

    His tenacity and grit were on full disy in November 2017 - when he scored ate winner against Moro, leading Ivory Coast to an unforgettable victory and securing their spot in the prestigious global football tournament.

    Zachary''s dedication to the team was awe-inspiring and a true-blue reflection of his love for the game. With unwaveringmitment, he gave his all to the team and left no stone unturned in his pursuit of excellence. And now, he was all set to join his Ivorian teammates in Russia, where they would take on some of the world''s top footballing nations in the World Cup.

    Zachary was fully prepared and ready to embark upon this adventurous journey that promised to be an exciting one. He felt enthusiastic and optimistic about giving his best shot and achieving glory.

    Upon entering the dining room, Zachary''s mind was still overwhelmed with thoughts of his uing trip to Russia. Upon reflection, he decided to attend to his most pressing matters in Italy before joining the Ivorian National team.

    As he approached the dining table, he was greeted by Bj?rn Peters, his fitness trainer, and his wife, who were already enjoying breakfast. They exchanged warm greetings and made some small talk. Bj?rn and his wife were curious about the Juventus dinner from the previous night, and Zachary was happy to chat with them about it.

    The atmosphere at the table was lively, and the conversation between them was going well until his phone started vibrating, interrupting their flow. He fished it out of his pocket, only to discover that it was Emily Anderson, his agent, calling. A smile crept up on his face, and he politely excused himself from the table to answer the call, wondering what good news she had for him this time.

    "Hey there, Emily! Good morning," he cheerfully greeted.

    "Good morning to you too, Zachary," she replied. "I''m already here in Turin with Miss Heather Miller. Can we meet up? We need to discuss some important matters regarding thepany before you get busy with the World Cup in Russia."

    Zachary let out a chuckle. "Funny you mention that. I was just about to give you a call regarding the same matter. Would it be alright if we meet up at my ce in Piedmont?"

    "Sure," responded Emily. "We''ll be there in forty minutes. Looking forward to seeing you then."

    Zachary let out a satisfied grunt and ended the call, a grin spreading across his face. He had worked tirelessly for the past three years, pursuing his passion for football and setting up apany to invest in bitcoins, shares, and real estate. Its name was Bemba Holdings Limited, and with the help of brilliant financial advisors like Miss Heather Miller and his knowledge of the future, they had already amassed a fortune worth over a hundred million in just three years.

    As he strolled back to the dining table, he couldn''t help but wonder what kind of surprise Emily and Miss Heather had in store for him this time. With excitement surging in his chest, he quickly gobbled up his breakfast, eager to find out what they had nned. Once he had finished his meal, he made his way to the living room and eagerly awaited the arrival of the twodies.

    After twenty minutes, they arrived at his mansion''s living room. Bothdies looked impably professional. Emily had chosen a dark blue suit that hugged her curves and highlighted the blue in her eyes. Miss Heather Miller wore a ck suit, which perfectly matched her spectacles and gave her a sophisticated business look. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    As the two women entered the room, Zachary sprang up from his seat, beaming with excitement. "Wee,dies!" he eximed, enveloping Emily in a warm hug before politely nodding to Miss Heather Miller. "Please, have a seat," he gestured towards the plush chairs, eager to make his guests feelfortable and at home.

 Chapter 620 Living A Dream II

    Chapter 620 Living A Dream II

    As thedies made themselvesfortable on the plush sofas, the aroma of freshly brewed tea soon wafted through the air. The attentive maids quicklyid out an array of delectable snacks to nibble on as they engaged in light-hearted small talk. However, as the clock ticked away, it was time to delve into the more pressing issues concerning thepany.

    "Zachary, I wanted to discuss some of our current investments," Miss Heather, the acting CEO of thepany, began. "I''m concerned about our cryptocurrency investments, specifically Ethereum and Bitcoin. As you know, both have decreased significantly in value over the past five months. For instance, Ethereum''s worth was at a high of 1100 Euros per coin in January. But now, its value has dropped to approximately 500 Euros per coin.

    "Simrly, Bitcoin has also been fluctuating, and it''s currently valued at around 5500 Euros,pared to over 9000 Euros in January. As you''re aware, the cryptocurrency market is highly vtile and unpredictable. Given our initial investment, which has already yielded hundreds of millions, I strongly suggest we sell all our coins. Doing so will provide us with a secure and stable financial footing."

    "Ah, I''m not really worried about the cryptocurrency market fluctuations," Zachary said confidently. He had future knowledge that cryptocurrencies would eventually surge to new heights, so he had to remain patient with his investments, waiting for the right time to cash in. "How much profit have we made so far from our initial cryptocurrency investments?" he asked Miss Heather.

    Miss Heather consulted her tablet and informed, "We put 4 million Euros into Bitcoin in November 2015. Its value has increased by about eighteen times and is currently worth around 72 million. Furthermore, we invested 5 million Euros in Ethereum in June 2016, which has grown roughly thirty times and is currently worth about 150 million."

    "That''s okay, but not good enough," Zachary said with a slight nod. "I''m prepared to take a chance and hold onto the cryptocurrency for an extended period to ensure our profits keep increasing."

    "But..." Miss Heather started to say.

    "Miss Heather, no need to worry," Zachary interjected. "Our strategy involves taking the long view, so it''s best to not stress over minor details. I''ve already decided, and we''ll hold on to the cryptocurrency for a few more years. Speaking of which, how are our shares in Te, Netflix, and Leeds United performing?"

    "Although there hasn''t been a significant change, the situation is steady," Miss Heather responded. "We''ve seen a 36% increase in the value of our Te shares - now worth approximately 2.7 million Euros. Our Netflix shares have grown by approximately 69%, bringing their worth to around 6.8 million Euros from the initial 4 million Euros. Finally, our investment of 4 million Euros in Leeds United shares has grown by about 0.5%, providing returns of approximately 20,000 Euros."

    "Looking good," Zachary said with a grin. "We can hold onto the shares and expect a decent profit on our initial investment after a few more years. Are you still equipped with enough funds to support thepany? Or should I transfer more money to you?"

    Miss Heather responded, "We have sufficient funds already. Additionally, our property investments in Ivory Coast have begun generating decent rental ie. Hence, we can utilize that as the operational capital for thepany."

    "Excellent work," eximed Zachary. "I truly appreciate your hard work and dedication to thepany. Keep up the great work!"

    "Sure thing," Miss Heather replied with a smile. "Regarding the cryptocurrency, have you given it any more thought? It''s important to note that virtual currency rates can be highly vtile, and if we''re not cautious, we could risk losing all the progress we''ve made so far."

    "Miss Heather, I understand the risks involved, but I''m willing to take the chance," Zachary confidently stated. "Let''s leave it at that and move forward with our n." Zachary had future knowledge about the cryptocurrency market. He knew that Bitcoin and Ethereum would skyrocket in value in 2021. Therefore, he didn''t want to sell them before they reached their full potential.

    "Alright, I understand," Miss Heather said calmly. "That''s all I wanted to share. I''ll leave you two to have some privacy and discuss things between yourselves. Emily must have a lot to talk to you about." She then excused herself and left the living room without hesitation.

    Emily smiled at Zachary and said, "She does have a point, you know. Investing in cryptocurrency is a risky venture. I don''t know why you aren''t willing to sell when you have already made over a hundred million Euros from your initial investment."

    Zachary smiled mysteriously and spoke lightly, "I have my considerations. By the way, do you have any good news for me?"

    "I indeed do," Emily eximed, her face lighting up. "I''ve been busy reaching out to all the top football clubs, and guess what? They''re all moring to sign you up! You''ve got many options, from Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich to Atl¨¦tico Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, PSG, and many more. So, where do you see yourself ying next?"

    Zachary spoke with confidence. "The English Premier League! That''s where I see myself taking my football career to the next level."

    Emily''s eyes lit up with excitement. "Ah, I had a feeling you''d say that. But which club would be your dream team? Is it Manchester City, Liverpool, or Chelsea? Or perhaps you have your sights set on another team?" she asked curiously. "Tell me all about it!"

    "I can go to any team with apetitive edge in the Premier League, aside from Manchester City," Zachary stated. "Just do your best to get me a good contract with one of the promising teams."

    Zachary had already familiarized himself with the GOAT System''s workings and knew that the bigger the challenge, the greater the rewards. This was why he wasn''t interested in joining Manchester City, the team that had dominated the Premier League in his previous life. Instead, he had his sights set on clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, and Arsenal, which would put his skills to the test and offer substantial rewards once he had aplished the system''s missions.

    "Being open to various options is great," Emily remarked. "However, to make it easier for me to find you a rewarding contract in a promising football club in the Premier League, it would be helpful if you could tell me your first choice. I will make sure to prioritize that from the beginning."

    After a moment of thought, Zachary spoke up. "If I had to choose, Liverpool would be my top pick, followed by Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester United in that order."

    "Sure thing," replied Emily with a grin. "I''ll make Liverpool the top priority, but I''ll also stay in touch with other promising English Premier League clubs. We will initiate the transfer process after you finish representing Ivory Coast in the World Cup."

    "That sounds like a good n," said Zachary. "I also wish to focus on the World Cup first."

    More topics about the uing World Cup naturally came up as Emily and Zachary continued chatting. Emily quickly pointed out that Zachary''s group was no easy feat, with Spain, Portugal, and Iran all in the mix. She reminded him of the teams'' respective FIFA rankings and how challenging it would be for Zachary and his teammates to qualify out of their group.

    Zachary listened attentively, nodding his head in agreement. "I know. It''s going to be tough," he said with a sigh. "But I''m up for the challenge."

    Emily smiled at his determination. "I have no doubt that you''ll give it your all," she said with a reassuring hand on his arm. "You''ve got this."

    Zachary grinned, feeling grateful for Emily''s support. "Thanks," he said. "I''m hoping for some good results from the World Cup."

    As their conversation continued, Emily asked Zachary about his travel ns. He told her he was leaving on Wednesday and had a busy schedule ahead of him. He was set to meet his Ivorian teammates in Edinburgh and y a friendly game against Scond on June 7th before heading to Russia for the World Cup.

    "Wow, that''s quite the itinerary," Emily said, impressed. "You must be excited."

    "I am," Zachary replied with a smile. "I can''t wait to get started."

    Emily wished him all the best and promised to watch his games closely. "I''ll be rooting for you," she said with a grin.

    Zachary thanked her again and watched as she and Miss Heather left. He couldn''t help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves as he thought about the challenges ahead. But with his wide array of football skills and boundless determination, he knew he was ready to take on the world.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

 Chapter 621 The 2018 FIFA World Cup Challenge

    Chapter 621 The 2018 FIFA World Cup Challenge

    Zachary had a hectic Monday and Tuesday in Turin, Italy, with a jam-packed schedule of meetings with representatives from variouspanies that sponsored him. He was racing against time to make it to all his appointments. On Tuesday morning, he had a highly anticipated meeting with Nike. The meeting was a crucial one as they were his primary sponsor. It held significant importance on his agenda.

    Three years ago, they had offered him an eight-year deal worth a staggering 180 million Euros! Zachary had jumped at the offer and was now earning a jaw-dropping 22.5 million Euros annually as one of their top brand ambassadors.

    Zachary was thrilled to meet with the Nike representatives to discuss which boot he would wear at the uing World Cup. They strategized how he could promote the shoe at the tournament and make it the talk of the football world. After considering his options, Zachary quickly decided on the Nike Mercurial Roc - a boot designed for yers who craved lightning-fast speed and agility. He even got to try them on, along with a stylish Nike tracksuit, for a quick photoshoot before bidding farewell to the Nike team.

    He spent the rest of the Tuesday visiting all his friends and acquaintances in Turin. He spent some quality time with his coaches and the technical staff at Juventus, reminiscing about the good times they had shared. As the sun descended toward the horizon in the west, he returned to his sprawling mansion in the tranquil town of Piedmont. The excitement of a new adventure ahead was palpable as he packed his bags and prepared for his next destination. He was ready to join his Ivorian teammates in Edinburgh the following day, where they would y a friendly against Scond before heading to Russia topete in the World Cup.

    Zachary spent the rest of the evening chatting with his fitness trainer, Bj?rn Peters, and the coach''s lovely wife, Inger. The trio enjoyed a sumptuous dinner before bidding each other goodnight. Once back in his room, Zachary took a rxing shower and slipped into hisfy boxers. As he settled into his bed, his curiosity piqued, and he decided to check out his stats and the new system mission that had only been assigned to him a few days ago. "System," he called out in his mind. "Please bring up my current stats on the interface."

    "DING"

    "Command received," the system AI replied immediately. "User-stats dataing up on the interface."

    With that said, the crystal-like disy shimmered slightly before showing his primary attribute data.

    ****

    *USER STATS

    ->Physical Fitness: SSS

    ->Ser Technique: SS+

    ->Game Intelligence: SS

    ->Mental Ability and Mindset: SS

    ->X-Factors: SS+

    ->GOAT Skills: 12

    ****

    After analyzing the stats, Zachary gave a nod and requested the system to disy a breakdown of all his attributes. "System, can you show me the breakdown of all my attributes?" he asked.

    The system responded with a DING sound and instantly presented the desired data on a translucent crystal-like disy, making it easy for Zachary to review.

    ****

    *USER STATS (Breakdown)

    -----

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: SSS)

    Bnce and Coordination: SS+

    Agility: SSS

    Strength: SS+

    Stamina: SSS

    Endurance Points: 108,500/110,000 (SSS)

    ----

    ->Ser Technique: (Av. Rating: SS+)

    Ball Control: SS

    Dribbling Skills: SS+

    Passing uracy: SS

    Body Control: SS+

    ----

    ->Game Intelligence: (Av. Rating: SS)

    Spatial Awareness: SS

    Tactical Knowledge: S+

    Risk Assessment: SS

    ----

    ->Mental Ability and Mindset: (Av. Rating: SS)

    Ser Passion: SSS

    Composure and Mental Strength: SS+

    Coachability: A+

    Self-Motivation: SS+

    ----

    ->X-Factor (Av. Rating: SS+)

    Consistency Factor: SSS

    Luck Factor: SS+

    Supernormal Factor: S+

    Match Winning Factor: SSS

    ----

    ****

    As Zachary scrolled through the list of his attributes, he couldn''t help but grin. Three years of hard work and dedication had paid off, and he was now a football star with an impressive record. He had not one, but two Champion League trophies, four Serie A titles, and two Coppa Italias under his belt. And that was just the beginning.

    What''s truly exciting was thatpleting various system missions over the years had enabled him to upgrade his attributes to a level that was nothing short of amazing. Although Zachary''s "Bnce & Coordination" and "Strength" attributes were behind at the SS+ grade, all his other physical fitness stats had reached the SSS grade. His ser technique skills were equally impressive, with two being graded at the SS level and the rest at the SS+ level.

    But that''s not all. His "Game Intelligence," "Mental Ability and Mindset," and "X-Factor" attributes had also risen over the years. They were all at the SS level or above, making Zachary one of the most well-rounded and skilled football yers in the world. All that hard work had definitely paid off.

    Zachary couldn''t contain his excitement and eagerly called out to the system once again. His curiosity was piqued and he couldn''t wait to check out the new system mission. "Hey there, System! Could you bring up the details of the 2018 World Cup Challenge?"

    "Command received," said the system AI as the all-familiar translucent crystal-like flickered to show the requested information. "Mission details have been disyed on the interface."

    ****

    ----

    GOAT MISSIONS

    ----

    #NEW MISSION: 2018 FIFA World Cup Challenge

    ->The system has detected that the user is part of Ivory Coast''s 2018 FIFA World Cup squad. The system has designed an associated mission for the tournament.

    ----

    ->The user needs to ept the mission first to stand a chance of winning rewards afterpleting the milestones below.

    ----

    *Milestone 1: y over 75% of the fixtures of the 2018 FIFA World Cup for Ivory Coast.

    *Milestone 2: Help Ivory Coast qualify from group B to the ''round-of-sixteen'' stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament.

    *Milestone 3: Help Ivory Coast qualify for the quarter-finals stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Tournament.

    *Milestone 4: Help Ivory Coast qualify for the semi-final stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament.

    *Milestone 5: Help Ivory Coast qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.

    *Milestone 6: Help Ivory Coast ovee all odds and be the champions of the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament.

    *Milestone 7: Be the top scorer and win the Golden Boot of the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament while ying for Ivory Coast.

    *Milestone 8: Be the best yer of the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament and win the Golden Ball while ying for Ivory Coast.

    ----

    *Rewards:

    ->Milestone 1pletion reward: 1,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 2pletion reward: 40,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 3pletion reward: 100,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 4pletion reward: 200,000 Juju-points

    ->Milestone 5pletion reward: 500,000 Juju Points

    ->Milestone 6pletion reward: SSS-grade mental conditioning elixir.

    ->Milestone 7pletion reward: SSS-grade vitality-enhancing elixir.

    ->Milestone 8pletion reward: SSS-grade Spatial Awareness Conditioning elixir.

    ----

    NB: There will be additional rewards if the user realizes any other milestones that can unlock hidden missions.

    ----

    ->The user can choose not to ept the mission.

    *ept *Reject

    ----

    *Punishment if the user doesn''t realize any of the milestones at the end of the tournament: Minus 500,000 Juju points.

    *After epting the mission, the user has toplete at least one milestone before the tournament ends to escape the penalty.

    ---- n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    *Remarks: It is impossible to win the race unless you venture to run, and impossible to win the victory unless you dare to battle.

    ****

 Chapter 622 Ivorian Teammates

    Chapter 622 Ivorian Teammates

    Zachary''s eyes lit up as he scanned through the thrilling details of the 2018 FIFA World Cup challenge. Excitement surged through his veins as he didn''t hesitate to tap the ''ept'' button. He was all set to embark on an exhrating mission to conquer the system assignment. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    The 2018 FIFA World Cup challenge was an adrenaline-pumping, heart-racing mission he had eagerly anticipated for months. He knew that winning the World Cup would be an arduous task, especially as the most formidable footballing nations in the world were fiercely vying for the prestigious trophy.

    But the sheer excitement of the challenge was enough to fuel his passion and drive him to push himself beyond his limits. After all, the promised system rewards were beyond incredible, and with each system milestone he achieved, he would unlock bonuses that would gradually elevate his skills to superhuman levels. He yearned to put forth his best effort and ovee all the challenges ahead. He was determined to aplish all the system mission milestones and obtain the three SSS-grade elixirs. Zachary just finished going through the system''s mission and closed the interface. He was feelingpletely drained and exhausted, so he decided to call it a day and crawled into his bed. As hey down on hisfortable bed, he gradually drifted off to sleep. He slept soundly through the night, without any disturbances. He woke up when his phone rm went off at six, reminding him of the new day ahead. He immediately jumped out of bed and went through his morning yoga routine, stretching his limbs and waking up his muscles. He then headed to the shower, where he spent a few minutes cleaning up and feeling refreshed. After getting dressed, he walked down the luxurious halls of his mansion to the dining hall, where he enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast. He sat at therge mahogany table, savoring the vorful food and enjoying the serene atmosphere. As he ate, he chatted with his fitness trainer, Bj?rn Peters, who had also woken up early to send him off. After breakfast, he said his goodbyes to Bj?rn and headed out of the mansion, suitcase in hand. He headed to the driveway, where his sleek Audi Q7 was parked, waiting for him. He hopped in the back seat, and Lorenzo, his driver, started the engine. They were headed to the airport, where he would catch a morning flight from Turin to Edinburgh to meet his Ivorian teammates. As they drove and navigated the early morning traffic, he couldn''t help but feel excited for the World Cup adventure that awaited him. He was eager to meet his teammates and start training. They would fight together for the next few weeks as they vied for the coveted World Cup Trophy.

    Finally, Zachary made it to the airport after a grueling hour-long journey. Apanied by his trusted bodyguard and driver, Lorenzo, they breezed through the airport procedures and before they knew it, they were already boarding their flight to Edinburgh.

    As they took off, the feeling of excitement and anticipation was palpable. The ne soared high in the sky, and Zachary couldn''t help but look out of the small window to take in the breathtaking view. The sun was rising, and the golden hues of the sky added to the captivating moment. The flight to Edinburgh took five hours, but it was afortable journey. The cabin crew ensured the passengers were rxed, and the in-flight entertainment system kept everyone upied. Zachary spent some time reading a book, while Lorenzo took a nap. As the ne began its descent, Zachary''s heart quickened with excitement. He peered out the window, watching as the sprawling city of Edinburgh came into view. Winding roads, bustling streets, and a sea of people below - it was a sight to behold. Zachary couldn''t help but marvel at the vibrant colors of the buildings against the lush greenndscape. The reason for his visit wasn''t leisurely, though. He was there to meet up with his Ivorian teammates and gear up for the friendly match against Scond the next day. The anticipation was palpable, and Zachary couldn''t wait to get started.

    The moment the ne''s wheels touched the tarmac, Zachary and his trusted bodyguard, Lorenzo, were ready to roll. They sailed through security checks with the finesse of seasoned travelers. Once they got their hands on their luggage, they were greeted by Seko Bakari, the official representative of the Ivorian Football Federation. Seko was the man with the n, and he led them straight to the Delta Hotel where the Ivorian National Football team was camped out.

    After getting settled into his room and freshening up, Zachary couldn''t wait to finally meet his Ivorian teammates and coaches. They all convened in one of the conference rooms at 3:00 PM, brimming with excitement and anticipation for the challenges ahead.

    As Zachary walked into the room, a familiar voice eximed, "There he is, the man himself!" He turned to see none other than Eric Bailly, his former teammate, grinning from ear to ear.

    "Hey there, Eric!" Zachary eximed as he approached the center back and gave him a warm hug. "It''s so great to see you. How have you been? What''s been going on with you over at Tottenham these days?"

    Eric grinned, "Same old, same old. Just grinding away to keep my spot on the squad. Oh, and by the way, congrattions on winning your second consecutive Champions League trophy."

    Zachary couldn''t help but chuckle as he thanked his former teammate. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he made his way around the room, greeting his other Ivorian teammates. The room was filled with some of the biggest names in Ivorian football, including the likes of Serge Aurier, Wilfried Zaha, Serey Di¨¦, Ibrahim Sangar¨¦, Franck Kessi¨¦, Max Gradel, Maxwel Co, Nics P¨¦p¨¦, Jonathan Kodjia, Salomon Kalou, and Gervinho. It was truly a star-studded gathering that left Zachary feeling expectant and excited to be amongst such greatpany a week before the World Cup.

    However, despite the impressive gathering, Zachary couldn''t help but feel a tinge of regret. One of the best yers to ever y for Ivory Coast, Yaya Tour¨¦, was missing from the room. Zachary knew that Yaya had resigned from the Ivorian National team three years prior, but he still couldn''t help but think how great it would have been to have him there.

    As Zachary and his teammates were engrossed in a lively chat, the door suddenly burst open, and in strode a stern-looking middle-aged man with an entourage of five. It was none other than Herv¨¦ Renard, the head coach of the Ivorian National Team, apanied by his assistants.

    Herv¨¦ Renard was a legend in the African football scene, having coached the Ivory Coast National team to victory in the African Cup of Nations in January 2015. He had been at the helm of the team since July 2014 and had continued to deliver impressive results. With Zachary joining the team, Herv¨¦ Renard''s sess story only got better, culminating in Ivory Coast''s qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. It was an exciting time for the team and a momentous achievement for everyone involved.

 Chapter 623 Friendly Against Scotland

    Chapter 623 Friendly Against Scond

    As Herv¨¦ Renard walked into the room with a grand entrance, Zachary couldn''t help but admire how he exuded confidence and ease. The coach went around the room, shing a warm smile to each of his yers and making them feel seen and appreciated. He took the time to engage in small talk, inquiring about everyone''s well-being and showing a genuine interest in their lives outside the game.

    His yers felt a sense of belonging and unity as Herv¨¦''s warm andmanding presence filled the room. They knew they were in good hands with a coach who could inspire and motivate them to achieve greatness. As soon as he stepped onto the stage, the coach''s charisma permeated the air, attracting everyone''s attention and respect. His yers were captivated by his words and inspired by his unwavering confidence. After setting the tone with his engaging personality, he began discussing the tactics for Ivory Coast''s friendly game against Scond.

    "Tomorrow marks the day we face Scond in our final friendly match before the World Cup," the coach announced in fluent French. "Since most of you have just joined the team and haven''t had the chance to train with your teammates yet, we''ll keep the tactics fairly straightforward for tomorrow''s game."

    "Our game n remains unchanged from our previous matches. We aim to maintain possession while creating opportunities to score. If there''s a turnover, we promptly apply pressure using a high press and try to regain possession as much as possible. Lastly, we deploy a high defensive line and utilize offside traps to frustrate our opponents. I kindly ask you to try your very best to fulfill those requests for tomorrow''s game."

    "Moving on to the squad," the coach said, scanning the room. "Our starting line-up for the match is as follows: Our keeper will be Sylvain Gbohouo, while Serge Aurier, Eric Bailly, Lamine Kon¨¦, and Wilfried Kanon will y as our four defenders. We''ll then go with Serey Di¨¦, Franck Kessi¨¦, and Zachary Bemba for our midfield. Finally, for our forwards: we''ll have Wilfried Zaha and Nics P¨¦p¨¦ on the nks while Gervinho will y as our center forward toplete our 4-3-3 formation."

    "The yers who haven''t been mentioned will be on the bench for tomorrow''s game," said the coach reassuringly. "But don''t worry, there''s no limit on substitutes for this friendly match, so everyone will have a chance to step onto the pitch and show off their skills."

    "Do you have any questions?" asked the coach.

    "No coach," the yers responded in near-unison.

    Uponpleting the squad reading, the coach took a moment to address the yers, conveying his contentment with the team''s development. "It seems we''re on the same page," he said with a smile, "and we''re moving in the right direction. However, there''s still more work to be done." The coach then announced that the yers could take the rest of the day off. However, he emphasized that they had to be fully prepared for the morning training session the following day. "The training session is critical," he stressed, "as we need to fine-tune some of our tactics before our friendly match against Scond in the evening."

    Finally, the coach urged the yers to stay focused and disciplined during their rest period. "We need to remain disciplined and keep the momentum going," he said. "We must ensure we''re in top shape for the match."

    With that said, the coach ended the meeting and sent his yers away from the conference room. The yers left feeling motivated and eager to work towards their next goal.

    -----

    Thursday, June 7th, 2018

    Easter Road Stadium

    Edinburgh, Scond

    -----

    The atmosphere was electric in Edinburgh as the sun dipped low in the sky. All eyes were fixed on the football stadium, where Scond was about to y Ivory Coast in a friendly match. The anticipation was palpable, with fans on the edge of their seats, eagerly waiting for the game to begin. The energy was infectious, and you couldn''t help but feel caught up in the excitement.

    On the field, both teams had their top yers ready to go. Scond had an impressive starting line-up featuring the likes of Andrew Robertson, Scott McKenna, John McGinn, and Stuart Armstrong. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast was not to be underestimated, with a formidable team that included Serge Aurier, Eric Bailly, Zachary Bemba, Wilfried Zaha, Nics P¨¦p¨¦, and Gervinho, among other prominent names in African football. It was set to be a thrilling match, and the tension was mounting with each passing moment.

    At exactly 7:00 PM, the referee nced at his watch before blowing the kick-off whistle, signaling the start of the battle. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Both teams yed it safe while assessing each other''s tactics, abilities, and weaknesses in the opening minutes. As a result, the initial phase was uneventful, with neither team willing to take any chances or make mistakes.

    Ivory Coast delivered a consistent performance by sticking to their stable game n. Their strategy involved gradual buildups incorporating short passes and a few runs through the wings. Their game n routinely paid off as they sessfully delivered some well-executed crosses into the box, resulting in some impressive headers that headed straight toward the goal - but were unfortunately thwarted by the Scottish goalkeeper.

    While Ivory Coast came out strong and aggressive, the Scottish team took a more cautious approach, prioritizing their defense and determined to not let a single goal slip in during those crucial opening minutes of the match. Executing this strategy demanded plenty of concentration and self-control, but the potential rewards were enormous in the long run.

    The score remained deadlocked at 0:0, even after fifteen minutes of gamey. But despite theck of significant action on the pitch, the tension in the stadium continued to build as both teams tried to gain an advantage. The crowd cheered every time a yer from their team gained possession of the ball, and the yers themselves looked focused and determined as they moved the ball around the field. As the minutes ticked by, it became clear that this would be a closely contested match, with neither team willing to give an inch.

    The football match continued uneventfully until the 34th minute when Jack Hendry, one of the Scottish defenders, made a terrible mistake that changed the game''s tempo. He tried to clear the ball but ended up miskicking it, serving it to the highly agile Gervinho, who was lurking close to the edge of the box.

    Being the experienced yer he was, Gervinho made the best decision after collecting the ball. He passed it to Zachary, who had just sprinted into the pocket of space close to the border of the final third.

    Zachary''s eyes scanned the field as he quickly retrieved the ball. His heart was pounding with excitement as he searched for his teammates. He spotted an opening and then, with lightning-fast reflexes, stepped past John McGinn, one of the Scottish defensive midfielders. Zachary then quickly seized the opportunity to take advantage of the opposing team''s disorganization caused by the error. Being an SS-graded passing Maestro, he executed a through pass with precision that only he could possess toward the right wing.

    The ball soared through the air, guided by Zachary''s expert touch. And then, like magic, Wilfried Zaha, Ivory Coast''s right winger, appeared like a specter close to the touchline on the right nk. He was sprinting towards Scond''s defensive third at breakneck speed, ready to take on the opposition. Zachary had done his part - now it was up to Zaha to make the most of this golden opportunity.

 Chapter 624 In the Lead

    Chapter 624 In the Lead

    Wilfried Zaha was bursting with anticipation as he saw Zachary''s timely through pass heading his way. The thrill of ying alongside a skilled midfielder like Zachary was always a highlight for him. Zaha took a calcted risk and made a daring run to outpace the defense, but Zachary''s eagle-eye vision spotted him just in the nick of time, and he delivered the ideal pass. It was a moment of pure magic that any footballer would envy.

    Zaha didn''t let his excitement affect his performance. He connected with Zachary''s pass and controlled the ball with an outstretched leg. Then, with lightning-fast reflexes, he whirled around and fed the ball past Graeme Shinnie, Scond''s left-back, before beating him for pace.

    As he cut into the pitch from the right nk, Kevin McDonald, one of the Scottish defensive midfielders, tried to stop him. But Zaha was too quick for him, and with a simple change of pace, he effortlessly glided past the midfielder and continued his mad dash towards the box.

    Scott McKenna, the Scottish center-back, was the next person in line who tried to stop Zaha. However, Zaha made the right decision and chose not to tango with the defender. Instead, he quickly squared the ball into the box, hoping to find one of his Ivorian teammates. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    In the box, Gervinho reacted to Zaha''s pass and slid forward, trying to tap the ball into the back of the. But a slight interference from Jack Hendry, the other Scottish center-back, took the ball away from him, thus denying the Ivorian forward a chance to score.

    But was that the end of the wave of attack from Ivory Coast? The answer was a big NO, as the deflected ball glided towards the left nk where Nics P¨¦p¨¦, Ivory Coast''s left-winger, was lurking.

    Nics P¨¦p¨¦ wasted no time as he collected the ball and bolted towards Scond''s box, his speed fast and furious. His audacious move caught the attention of the entire Scottish defense, and a few defenders scrambled to stop him. They lunged forward, hoping to prevent him from delivering a cross into the area.

    However, Nics P¨¦p¨¦ had a trick up his sleeve. Instead of unleashing a cross into the box, he outsmarted everyone on the pitch by passing the ball backward to the edge of the box where Zachary was arriving.

    Zachary''s heart raced as the ball glided towards him. It was a make-or-break moment, and he had to rely on his instincts and unleash his ball skills to score a goal. With lightning-fast reflexes, he kicked the ball with all his might, sending it soaring towards Scond''s goal with breathtaking speed and power.

    The ball was like a guided missile, rocketing through the air, leaving everyone in awe. But, just as it was about to hit the target, it took a deflection off the thigh of one of the Scottish defenders. It was a moment of pure uncertainty, and before anyone could react, it homed into the back of the, signifying that Ivory Coast had scored its first goal of the match during the 35th minute of gamey.

    What followed was a period of ecstasy for Zachary and his teammates. Without a moment''s dy, they all ran straight to the corner g, jumping and high-fiving each other in a frenzy of excitement. The air was electric with the energy of their aplishment, and they yearned to keep going. The game was far from over, but that first goal had lit a fire within them - and they were ready to ze a trail to the finish line!

    Once the yers positioned themselves, the referee signaled the start of the game with a whistle, and the match resumed.

    The tension was high as the first half of the game between Scond and Ivory Coast was alreadying to a close. Scond was trailing behind by one goal, but the yers were not ready to give up. They decided to take a risk and started attacking with all their might. Long balls and crosses into the box became the order of the evening as the Scottish yers pushed forward.

    But the Ivorian defenders were not to be underestimated. They remained disciplined and organized, thwarting every attempt that came their way. The Scottish yers were frustrated as they struggled to break through thepact defense. And so, as the teams made their way down the tunnel for half-time, the score remained 1:0 in favor of Ivory Coast. But there was still the second half, and it was still anyone''s game for the taking.

    At half-time, the Ivorian coach, Herv¨¦ Renard, made a bold move that got everyone following the friendly game talking. He subbed out every starting yer except the goalkeeper and sent out a different team. What was Herv¨¦ Renard thinking? Well, the French tactician wanted to use the friendly match as an opportunity to assess the progress made by the yers on the bench. He wanted to see if they had what it took to make it to the starting line-up.

    Zachary was sitting on the bench during the second half of the game, feeling a bit fidgety. The Ivorian second-string yers were now battling against the Scottish side, and he couldn''t help but feel a twinge of envy as he watched them run up and down the field. Despite his restlessness, Zachary was still rooting for his team, hoping they woulde out on top.

    In the meantime, the Scottish yers persisted with their strategy, relentlessly attempting to score an equalizer against Ivory Coast by employing long balls and crosses. It was a nail-biting series of minutes for everyone on the bench, and Zachary could feel the tension in the air as the game unfolded before his eyes.

    Eric Bailly voiced his concern to Zachary, "The Scots are starting to dictate the pace of the game. If we''re not careful, they might score anytime."

    "Don''t worry," Wilfried Zaha reassured them. "Our boys are still warming up. That''s why the Scots have the upper hand at the moment. Once we settle in, we''ll regain control of the game. Zachary, what''s your opinion?" The forward turned to him.

    "Let''s wait and see," Zachary responded. Although he had been a member of the Ivory Coast team for three years, he still wasn''t well-versed in the team''s second-string yers. As a result, he couldn''t offer an urate assessment of them.

    Wilfried Zaha steered the conversation in a new direction, as nothing noteworthy was yet to happen on the field. "Hey, Zachary!" he called out. "We really missed you during the AFCONst year."

    "Unfortunately, I couldn''t join you guys due to my injury," Zachary exined. "I kept up with the game on TV and saw that we lost to Egypt in the round of sixteen."

    Serge Aurier said from the side, "Oh, don''t remind me of that game. We held Egypt for the entire 90 minutes. But we conceded a stupid goal during additional time. It was Mohamed Elneny who scored the winning goal against us."

    Eric Bailly sighed deeply and said, "I hope we can perform better in the World Cup and qualify out of the group by beating Portugal and Spain."

    Zachary exuded confidence, "We can take on any opponent and go even further in the World Cup. All we need to do is give it our all and leave no room for regrets."

    Wilfried Zaha interjected, "Zachary is right! We have to treat every game as the finals. With the best midfielder in the world on our team, we can beat anyone." He gave Zachary a knowing look.

    Eric Bailly jokingly remarked, "Yeah, with a Maestro like Zachary on our side, what have we got to fear? As long as we give him the ball, goals wille our way." Hisment elicited chuckles from the rest of the group.

    "Guys..." Zachary was on the edge of his seat, ready to say something, but he stopped as something crucial happened on the field.

 Chapter 625 Game ending & Plans for the World Cup

    Chapter 625 Game ending & ns for the World Cup

    Zachary''s entire focus was now on the field of y.

    Scond had been putting up a persistent offense, with their yers constantly pushing forward and attacking Ivory Coast''s defense. However, despite their efforts, they couldn''t capitalize on their most recent corner kick. To make matters worse, they carelessly lost possession of the ball and served it on the tter to Ivory Coast.

    Simon Deli, the substitute center-back, spotted an opportunity tounch a counterattack. He pounced on the loose ball before sending it soaring towards the left wing, where Salomon Kalou waited patiently.

    As soon as Salomon received the ball, he wasted no time and made a swift move, expertly controlling it with his chest before propelling it forward and elerating towards Scond''s side of the pitch with lightning speed.

    The atmosphere was electric! The tension was palpable as everyone watched in awe of the Ivory Coast forward, Salomon Kalou. He dashed through the gaps left by the Scottish yers, who were caught off guard by his relentless offensive. The crowd was at the edge of their seats as they witnessed his impressive skill and agility.

    Suddenly, the Scottish center-back, Scott McKenna, charged forward to stop the counterattack. But Salomon was too fast, and he swiftly squared the ball to find Max Gradel, who was running along with him through the middle.

    Max Gradel was an often underrated yer - but in that moment, his exceptional talent was apparent to everyone watching. He quickly received a pass from Salomon Kalou, and without hesitation, he darted into the heart of the Scottish defense like a hot knife through butter. His impressive disy of skill could single-handedly win games.

    Eventually, Max Gradel ran into Jack Hendry, the other Scottish center-back, as he approached the box. But Max didn''t try to dribble past the defender. Instead, he yed a timely pass towards his left to unleash Jonathan Kodjia, the substitute center-forward, towards Scond''s goal.

    Jonathan Kodjia was another hardworking forward on the Ivorian team. He had his game face on and worked tirelessly to stay onside, timing his run to perfection. When Max Gradel''s pass came his way, he pounced on it with lightning-fast reflexes, taking a few quick strides into the box. With a deft touch, he lobbed the keeper and found the back of the, sending the Ivorian bench into a frenzy and securing Ivory Coast''s 2nd goal during the 77th minute!

    "Whoa, did you see that? It was a thing of beauty!" Eric Bailly eximed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "That counterattack was lightning fast! The Scottish team didn''t stand a chance and were caughtpletely off guard."

    Zachary couldn''t help but smile as he nodded in agreement. Having teammates like Max Gradel, Jonathan Kodjia, and Salomon Kalou, who could execute lightning-fast counters, filled him with excitement. With their skills on the team, Ivory Coast''s chances of making it far in the uing FIFA World Cup tournament were much better.

    The match wasn''t over yet, even after the crowd-pleasing goal celebrations. The Scottish team refused to back down and continued their relentless pursuit of victory. However, the Ivorian yers were not to be underestimated - their discipline and tenacity were on full disy. And boy, did they put up a fight! They were like an imprable fortress, blocking every attempt made by the Scottish team.

    As the clock ticked down, the tension was palpable. The Scottish team continued doing everything possible to score, but the Ivorian defense was too strong for them. And in the end, they emerged victorious, with a well-deserved 2:0 win. What a game!

    -----

    The day after the Ivorian team''s friendly match against Scond, their coach, Herv¨¦ Renard, called for a team meeting in the conference room. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the team''s performance during the game. Without wasting time, the coach started to coach the team right away.

    During the meeting, Herv¨¦ Renard pointed out that the team had been too passive during the game. Although they managed to score the first goal, they allowed Scond to dominate the game, and the opposing team almost scored the equalizer. The coach emphasized that this was not the kind of ystyle he expected from the team and that they needed to improve their performance before facing stronger teams like Portugal or Spain.

    Renard also highlighted that if the team continued to y with suchckluster football, they would have conceded three goals or more in a match against stronger teams. Therefore, he urged the team to work on their weaknesses and embrace a more proactive approach in their uing games.

    "Alright, let''s shift our focus from the match with Scond and concentrate on our uing ns," said the coach after reviewing his team''s performance. "We will stay in Edinburgh for three days to prepare for the World Cup. During our stay, we have nned a few team training sessions to fine-tune our strategies and assess our World Cup group opponents'' match videos. Once we finish our training, we will head to Russia on Tuesday to continue our training while waiting for the World Cup tomence."

    "Moving forward," the coach spoke authoritatively, "I need you to maintain discipline throughout our preparations for the World Cup. Stay focused solely on training and avoid any unprofessional behavior. Can I count on you to do that?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    "Good," the coach nodded. As he wrapped up the team meeting, he quickly nced at his notes and looked up at his yers. "Now, before we call it a day, let''s look at our opening group fixtures for the World Cup. Maxime, could you please help us turn on the screen?" he asked one of his assistants.

    Without any hesitation, Maxime nodded and swiftly turned on the screen. He deftly manipted his tablet and promptly disyed the requested information to the yers. The team eagerly nced at the screen, meticulously analyzing the uing matches.

    ****

    FIFA World Cup Group B

    1. Portugal

    2. Spain

    3. Ivory Coast

    4. Iran

    -----

    FIFA World Cup Group B Fixtures for Ivory Coast

    ->15th June, 2018: Ivory Coast Vs. Iran (Venue: Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg)

    ->20th June, 2018: Portugal Vs. Ivory Coast (Venue: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow)

    ->25th June, 2018: Spain Vs. Ivory Coast (Venue: Mordovia Arena, Saransk)

    ****

    "Alright boys, listen up!" Coach Herv¨¦ Renard dered, his voice booming with authority. "Our first game is just seven days away, against Iran. We''re not going to beat around the bush here - this game is make or break for our World Cup dreams. And let''s face it, our matches against our next opponents - Portugal and Spain will be anything but easy. So, we need to focus all our energy and attention on this first match and give it everything we''ve got. Are you with me?" n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The yers responded with a resounding "Yes, coach!" as they pumped their fists in the air, their eyes filled with determination.

    "That''s what I like to hear!" The coach grinned, his eyes twinkling with pride. "Alright then, let''s get to work. We''ll start our training and preparation for the match against Iran tomorrow morning. Dismissed!"

    The meeting ended, and Zachary left the conference room along with his teammates while feeling pumped up and ready to take on any challenge that came his way. He knew that with their coach''s unwavering support and the morale of his teammates, they could conquer any obstacle and emerge victorious. The road ahead would be tough, but they were ready to give it their all.

 Chapter 626 To Russia for the World Cup

    Chapter 626 To Russia for the World Cup

    After the Ivorian National team yed a friendly game against Scond, they quickly moved on to the next phase of their training. The team was well aware of the immense challenge that awaited them in their opening World Cup group match against Iran. They knew that they had to prepare thoroughly to stand a chance. So, for the next three days, the team was fullymitted to intense training exercises with the aim of improving their teamwork and tactics. They worked tirelessly to improve their skills and strategies, leaving no stone unturned.

    Throughout their intensive training, the team honed several skills to ensure they were ready for the big stage. With unwavering determination, they put in endless hours of practice to improve their ball control, passing uracy, and strategic positioning. They also devoted their time to perfecting specific ys and set pieces - which they nned to unleash during the tournament. Their hard work and dedication were evident in their exceptional performance on the training field. Zachary himself was on fire during the Ivorian National Team training! He was as focused and diligent as ever, pushing himself above and beyond toplete every task assigned by the coaches. Not only that - but his sheer determination and strong work ethic gradually rubbed off on his teammates, inspiring them to get in on the action and train like ''maniacs'' themselves.

    Zachary himself was on fire during the Ivorian National Team training! He was as focused and diligent as ever, pushing himself above and beyond toplete every task assigned by the coaches. Not only that - but his sheer determination and strong work ethic gradually rubbed off on his teammates, inspiring them to get in on the action and train like ''maniacs'' themselves.

    Zachary was also pleased with the Ivorian National team''s preparations, which sometimes went beyond physical training. Under the guidance of Herv¨¦ Renard, their coach, the Ivorian team was also highly invested in establishing a robust team dynamic. They focused on building strong bonds amongst themselves, which would gradually be the backbone of their sess on and off the field.

    With their rigorous training regime and unyieldingmitment, the Ivorian national team steadily built a foundation to be a formidable force in the uing World Cup. Equipped with their well-coordinated teamwork and honed strategies, they were geared up to face any adversary that came their way.

    Finally, the long-awaited Tuesday arrived, and the Ivorian National team was all set to embark on their journey. With their adrenaline pumping and excitement high up in the air, they took an early morning flight from Edinburgh to Voronezh City in southwestern Russia, where their designated base camp for the World Cup awaited them. Upon arrival, the team checked into their hotel and rested for an entire afternoon before diving into their business again. On Wednesday morning, they dedicated themselves to rigorous training and strategic nning for their uing game. They paused and took a break in the afternoon after their coach confirmed their tactics were sound.

    On Thursday, the day before their first World Cup game against Iran, the team went through a light training session in the morning to make final adjustments to their tactics. They didn''t want to tire themselves out before the big game. So, in the afternoon, they rxed and rested for a few hours before gathering to watch the World Cup opening ceremony as a team in one of the hotel''s conference rooms.

    While watching the World Cup opening ceremony, Zachary found himself bored out of his mind. He had to endure a long and tedious speech from the Russian president, followed by irrelevant singing and dance performances that didn''t match his team''s aspirations in the tournament. However, Zachary used this time to bond with his Ivorian teammates, which was the only positive aspect of the event.

    After the opening ceremony, Zachary and his teammates decided to stay in the conference room. They didn''t want to miss the World Cup opening match where Russia was ying against Saudi Arabia.

    As they sat glued to the screen, they witnessed Russia trouncing the Saudi Arabian side with a score of five goals to nil. This remarkable achievement marked a great start to Russia''s World Cup campaign.

    "The Saudi Arabian didn''t try their best during the game," observed Coach Herv¨¦ Renard after the match. "They didn''t work hard off the ball and left their defense vulnerable to the Russian attacks. As a result, they conceded five goals to the hosts. We must not repeat their mistakes during our game against Iran tomorrow, boys. We need to work hard on and off the ball and put up a determined fight against the Iranians if we want to win our opening game. So, are you with me?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers responded spiritedly.

    The coach nodded and nced at his watch. "It''s gettingte, and we should grab some dinner before calling it a night. But before we do that, let me announce the squad for tomorrow''s game against Iran," said the coach, smiling at his yers. "Our starting line-up will be the same as during our friendly against Scond," he continued. "Our keeper will be Sylvain Gbohouo, who has been in top formtely. As for our defenders, we have Serge Aurier, Eric Bailly, Lamine Kon¨¦, and Wilfried Kanon, who are all fierce, determined, and rock-solid in defense. Together, they''ll form a formidable backline that our opponents will struggle to prate." He moved on to the midfield, saying, "We''ll be going with Serey Di¨¦, who is a master at controlling the defensive midfield, Franck Kessi¨¦, who is a versatile yer with great vision, and Zachary Bemba, who is the best ymaker in the world. Our midfielders will be the engine that drives our team." The coach then revealed the forwards, saying, "For our front line, we''ll have Wilfried Zaha and Nics P¨¦p¨¦ on the nks. They are both quick and agile. They also have great pace and dribbling skills. And ying as our center forward toplete our 4-3-3 formation, we have Gervinho, one of the most experienced yers on our squad."

    "Finally, to the substitutes that will make up our bench," continued the coach. "We have Abdoul Karim Ciss¨¦, Badra Ali Sangar¨¦, Simon Deli, Isma?l Traor¨¦, Adama Traor¨¦, Mamadou Bagayoko, Cheick Doukour¨¦, Ibrahim Sangar¨¦, Maxwel Co, Jean Micha?l Seri, Max Gradel, Jonathan Kodjia, and Salomon Kalou." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Upon announcing the squad, the coach smiled and offered his yers some further words of motivation. He spoke with a firm andmanding voice, conveying his expectations and goals for the uing match. He reminded them of their strengths as a team and emphasized the importance ofmunication and teamwork on the field. The yers listened attentively, some nodding in agreement while others seemed lost in thought. When the coach finished speaking, he looked around at the team, making eye contact with each yer before giving them a nod of approval and dismissing them from the conference room.

    ------

    The following day!

    The Ivorian football team had a busy and eventful day ahead of them. They woke up early in the morning, packed their bags, and bid farewell to theirfortable base camp in Voronezh. After that, they boarded a morning flight to Saint Petersburg, where they were scheduled to face off against Iran in a crucial Group B opening match at the Krestovsky Stadium.

    Upon their arrival, they were immediately ushered into press conferences, where they faced tricky and challenging questions from journalists. They also had the opportunity to inspect and take in the stunning features of the brand-new Krestovsky Stadiumter that morning.

    After the press conferences and stadium inspection, the team came together for a sumptuous lunch, where they shared stories,ughed, and bonded over theirmon goal. They then spent the rest of the day resting, strategizing, and mentally preparing themselves for the uing match.

    At four o''clock in the afternoon, the Ivorian team exited their hotel and boarded the awaiting bus that would take them to the stadium. Excitement was running high, as they knew they were about to engage in a challenging football match against their Iranian opponents.

    The Krestovsky Stadium weed them with a spectacle of passionate football fans who had already crowded along the roads, creating an electric atmosphere that filled the air with excitement. The energy around the stadium was sky-high, and you could feel the anticipation building with every passing moment. As the bus pulled up to the stadium gates, Zachary''s heart began to race with anticipation. The thunderous cheers of the crowd were so loud that he could feel them vibrating through the windows. His excitement grew as he followed his teammates out of the bus, ready to take on the challenge of the game ahead.

    As soon as he stepped outside, Zachary couldn''t help but wave back to the enthusiastic fans calling out his name. The rush of adrenaline that surged through his veins was unlike anything he had ever experienced. After he finally walked into the stadium, he felt a mix of emotions as he looked around and saw the sea of fans, all of whom had gathered to watch him and his teammates take on their Iranian opponents. Seeing all the hustle and bustle, Zachary was determined to bring his A-game to the field of y and im victory over his first opponent in the World Cup. The excitement of ying in his first World Cup was palpable, and he was eager to showcase his skills and quickly make his mark on the tournament.

 Chapter 627 A Great Start Against Iran

    Chapter 627 A Great Start Against Iran

    The Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg, Russia, was an incredible sight that evening as the World Cup Group B opening match between Ivory and Iran was about to kick off. The brand-new stadium, known for its impressive architecture and outstanding facilities, was fully packed and brimming with an electrifying atmosphere that was hard to ignore.

    Fans from all over the world had converged at the stadium, eagerly anticipating the start of the game. The stands were packed with people sporting Ivory Coast''s orange colors and Iran''s traditional white. The energy and enthusiasm among the crowd were palpable as they eagerly waited for the game to begin.

    As the clock approached 5:00 PM, the excitement and anticipation reached a fever pitch as the yers emerged from the tunnel and walked onto the field. The stadium erupted with cheers as the teams took their positions and lined up before the tunnel for the pregame ceremonies.

    The sheer magnitude of the event was apparent in the sea of colors and gs waving high in the air. The stadium was filled with the sounds of drums, vuvuzs, and cheers as fans from both sides got ready to sing their national anthems with pride. It was a momentous asion that brought people together from around the globe to witness the magic of the beautiful game. The passion and devotion of the fans were evident, and it was clear that this was more than just a sport - it was a way of life for many of those in attendance.

    Zachary felt emotional as he stood on the field, taking in the sights and sounds around the colossal stadium. The cheers and chants of the passionate fans were deafening, and the palpable energy of the stadium was enough to send shivers down his spine. As the pregame rituals began, he felt his heart rate increase in anticipation of the match ahead.

    Dressed in the iconic orange number ten jersey of Ivory Coast, Zachary exuded boundless confidence. His Nike Mercurial Roc boots perfectly matched his outfit, and their sleek design made him feel light on his feet. As the Ivorian national anthem began to y, Zachary closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He felt a sense of pride and responsibility wash over him as he thought about the weight of that particr moment. He understood that all eyes were on him during his debut World Cup match for Ivory Coast, but he didn''t let the pressure get to him. He was well-prepared for the challenge and was confident in his abilities to perform at his best.

    Although he knew it would be a difficult match against Iran, he had confidence in his and his teammates'' abilities. They were determined to put their hearts and souls into the game and leave no stone unturned to ensure victory. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    With the reverberating sound of the national anthems still echoing in the stadium, the yers from both teams performed the customary pre-match handshake before sprinting onto the pitch. As the excitement built up, the referees called over the captains for the all-important coin toss to decide who would have the first kick. It was a thrilling moment, and both teams were eagerly anticipating the start of what promised to be an epic game. In the end, Iran won the coin toss, implying they would kick-start the game.

    Havingpleted the pre-match procedures, Gervinho, the captain of the Ivorian team, swiftly made his way back from the center of the pitch and signaled for a team huddle. The Ivorian yers, including Zachary, gathered around him and took a knee. They said a short prayer and exchanged words of encouragement, gearing up for the game ahead. With renewed energy, they took their positions on the field of y, ready to give it their all and emerge victorious.

    As Zachary settled into his attacking midfield position just outside the center circle, he scanned the Iranian yers on the opposite side of the pitch. He couldn''t recognize any of them from his current or past life, suggesting they may have been yers from lower-level leagues without much exposure in Europe''s top teams. But he didn''t dare underestimate this unfamiliar group of footballers as they were ying with the pride of their national team on the line.

    Suddenly, the referee looked at his watch and blew the whistle, signaling the start of the match. Sardar Azmoun, the Iranian center forward, wasted no time and swiftly kicked the ball back into his own half, igniting the crowd''s cheers and setting the tone for the game ahead.

    The Iranian team lookedfortable as they quickly settled into their 4-1-4-1 starting formation. Omid Ebrahimi, the defensive midfielder, seized the ball and wasted no time before unleashing a fierce pass towards the left wing. The ballnded perfectly at the feet of Karim Ansarifard, the Iranian left-winger, who was already waiting eagerly to make a move.

    Karim was like a bolt of lightning as he deftly collected the ball close to the touchline on the left and began a daring run towards Ivory Coast''s half. With incredible speed, he exchanged a one-two with the Iranian captain, Masoud Shojaei, and beat Wilfried Zaha as he charged towards the Ivory Coast''s half through the left nk. It seemed like nothing could stop Karim''s run until Serge Aurier, the Ivorian right-back, swooped in with a perfectly timed sliding tackle to steal the ball away. This led to a swift turnover as Serey Di¨¦, the Ivorian defensive midfielder, quickly seized the opportunity and snatched the loose ball before passing it on to Franck Kessi¨¦, his counterpart in midfield.

    Franck Kessi¨¦ was a force to be reckoned with as he zoomed past the Iranian midfielders, leaving them in his wake. With lightning-fast speed, he yed the ball to Zachary, who wasted no time before ying a swift one-two with Nics P¨¦p¨¦. It was like watching a well-oiled machine in action as the three yers moved in perfect harmony, cutting through Iran''s defense like a knife through butter. The crowd was on their feet, roaring with excitement as they watched the exhrating disy of skill and teamwork.

    As the three Ivorians approached Iran''s box, the tension grew palpable. Zachary received the ball, but an Iranian defender was hot on his heels. With lightning-fast reflexes, he stepped over the ball and executed a sudden change of pace that left the defender in the dust. The crowd erupted in apuse as Zachary charged forward, inching closer and closer to the goal. It was a match-determining moment early in the game, and Zachary tried his best to make it count. As he saw an opening for a shot, he steadied himself and unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box. His foot connected with the ball with incredible force, sending it past one of the center-backs and hurtling towards the goal. The crowd held its breath, waiting for the moment of impact. It was a spectacr shot, and Zachary could feel the excitement building in his chest. But just when the ball seemed destined for the back of the, Alireza Beiranvand, the Iranian keeper, sprang into action. He dove with incredible speed and agility, stretching his body to the limit. His fingertips grazed the ball, sending it out of y in a breathtaking disy of athleticism to save his team from conceding the 1st goal during the 3rd minute.

    What a save!

    The stadium buzzed with anticipation as the referee blew the whistle and pointed toward the corner spot. The Ivorian team had prepared for such a moment during their week-long training, and they wasted no time following their coach''s pre-match instructions. With a quick nce towards his teammates, Serge Aurier, the Ivorian right back, stepped up to take the corner kick. The crowd held their breath as he sent a perfectly lofted ball toward the crowded box, hoping to add more pressure to the opponents. It was a tense moment, but the Ivorians wereser-focused on the ball, determined toe out on top. A heated battle ensued inside the box as yers from both teams jostled for better positioning, jumping high in the air to reach the iing corner ball. All tall Ivorian yers like Eric Baily, Nics P¨¦p¨¦, and Gervinho rose to the challenge, disying exceptional athleticism and skill. However, Zachary, the young and talented forward of Ivory Coast, was the yer who finally emerged victorious. Zachary''s skills were on full disy as he expertly outwitted his marker, creating space in the crowded box with a clever feint. With the ball flying towards him, he leaped high into the air and timed his header to perfection from an acute angle, sending the ball towards the inside of the far post. The stadium erupted into another frenzy as the ball sailed past the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper and nestled into the back of the.

    Zachary''s goal was a testament to his exceptional talent and hard work. The intensity and thrill of the game were set from the outset, as the goal came just four minutes into the game. Rushing towards the corner g, Zachary slid on his knees for a few meters, basking in the glory of his awe-inspiring moment.

 Chapter 628 In the Driving Seat

    Chapter 628 In the Driving Seat

    Kristin Stein was more than just Zachary''s personal assistant and publicity secretary. She was his biggest fan, and nothing would have stopped her from attending Zachary''s debut match in the World Cup.

    She had been eagerly waiting for this moment for weeks, counting down the days until the tournament began. At the moment, she was among thousands of Ivorian fans who had traveled from Africa to witness their team''s opening match against the Iranian side.

    As soon as Zachary scored the opening goal against Iran, the stadium erupted with an ear-splitting roar of excitement. Kristin could feel the Krestovsky Stadium quaking beneath her feet due to the loud sounds of cheers, drums, and vuvuzs around her.

    She looked around and saw thousands of people jumping up and down, waving gs and chanting "Ivory Coast" and Zachary''s name. It was a moment of pure joy and ecstasy for Kristin and every other Ivorian fan in the stadium.

    As Kristin continued looking around, she couldn''t help but notice the vibrant energy emanating from the group of people seated next to her. They were all acquaintances and some rtives of Zachary, who hade from far and wide to witness his World Cup debut.

    Emily, Bj?rn Peters, Inger, C¨¦leste Kouame, and Natasha Kone - all of them were cheering and yelling, their voices ringing out loud and clear after Ivory Coast scored the opening goal in the match. The excitement in the air was palpable, and Kristin couldn''t help but get swept up in the moment.

    "Wow, did you just witness that?!" screamed Emily Anderson, Zachary''s agent. "He''s done it again! Zachary just scored in the World Cup! This is incredible; I need to share this on my status right now!"

    "Man, I hope Zachary scores more goals and bes the top scorer of the World Cup," eximed Bj?rn Peters, Zachary''s fitness trainer. "If that happens, I could boast about how I trained him to my friends and colleagues and make them all jealous."

    Kristin couldn''t help but shake her head with a chuckle as she listened to the fitness coach''s enthusiastic words. She turned her gaze towards the only person who seemed to maintain their calm amidst all the chaos. It was C¨¦leste Kouame, Zachary''s biological mom, who hade all the way to witness her son''s World Cup debut. Kristin could see the pride and joy in her eyes after Zachary scored Ivory Coast''s opening goal, making his biological mother emotional.

    Seated beside C¨¦leste was Natasha Kone, Zachary''s step-sister, who waspletely losing her mind with excitement. Unlike her mother, the teenage girl had already gone bonkers with joy and was cheering her lungs out with the other Ivorian fans to celebrate their early lead. The stadium was filled with an electric atmosphere, and Kristin felt privileged to be a part of this incredible moment. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Well, incredible stuff we''re seeing on the pitch!" eximed Alistair Bruce-Ball, thementator, his voice echoing through the electrifying atmosphere of the Krestovsky Stadium. "Great start for Ivory Coast as they take the lead against Iran! Zachary Bemba - the young football sensation, has just graced us with a stunning header from an impossible angle in just the fourth minute. This is what we call a perfect start for the African team! And Chris, what''s your take on this opening goal of a game?"

    "Well, Alistair, Ivory Coast is on fire today!" replied Chris Sutton, the comentator. "They havee out all guns zing, attacking Iran relentlessly from the very beginning. Talented Ivorian yers such as Serge Aurier, Zachary Bemba, Franck Kessi¨¦, and Nics P¨¦p¨¦ have already demonstrated their exceptional skills on the field, leaving their opponents in awe. They executed a brilliant counter-attack and won a corner kick that led to the opening goal. This is just the beginning, and I can''t wait to see what''s in store for us!"

    -----

    As the match progressed after the goal celebrations, it became apparent that the Ivorian team was on an absolute rampage. After gaining the early lead, they had takenplete control of the game, disying spectacr ys that left their opponents struggling to keep up. With precise passing and unmatched individual skills, the Ivorian yers had the upper hand over their opponents, pushing all eleven Iranian yers back to their own half.

    One yer who stood out in the first half was Zachary. His performance was nothing short of sensational! He had the entire midfield under his spell, weaving his way around the pitch with the grace of a world-ss Maestro. The way he found himself in unmarked pockets of space, received the ball, and unleashed defense-splitting passes that caused chaos in the Iranian defense was nothing short of amazing.

    But that wasn''t all! Zachary also routinely teamed up with his Ivorian mates, disying his dribbling skills and executing one-twos with impable precision to break through the Iranian defense. His creativity and spatial awareness were out of this world, always bringing out the best in his teammates as theyunched wave after wave of fierce attacks on the opposition.

    The first half of the match was a rollercoaster of emotions for Zachary and his team, to say the least. Despite their incredible dominance on the field, they failed to extend their lead, thanks to the tenacious Iranian defense and on-form goalkeeper, who prevented them from scoring several times. It was a nail-biting experience for everyone, but fortunately, the Ivorian team remained steady in the driving seat with a score of 1:0 as the teams headed into halftime.

    The atmosphere was still hyper as Zachary and his Ivorian teammates walked down the tunnel to the dressing room. High-fives and congrattions were exchanged among everyone, creating a lighthearted and joyous environment. Zachary felt a sense of pride and achievement as he chatted with his teammates about the game''s highlights.

    Once inside the dressing room, Zachary sat down in the dressing room, feeling tired. He grabbed a bottle of water and some refreshments to quench his thirst.

    As he sipped on the water, he couldn''t help but feel grateful for the opportunity to y for a giant of African football, the Ivorian National team. The first half of the game against Iran had gone ording to n, and he was looking forward to the second half with renewed confidence.

    Just then, Herv¨¦ Renard, the coach of the Ivorian National team, stepped up and began to speak. Apuding, he said, "Great job, everyone! I''m pleased with how we yed in the first half. We took the game to the Iranians with great enthusiasm from the get-go. Our teamwork was also outstanding, which is why we''re ahead."

    The coach''s demeanor became more solemn as he inquired, "But the question is, have we done enough? Is scoring a single goal against the Iranians, the weakest team in our group, enough to propel us to the next round of the World Cup?"

    The coach''s words hung in the air with a weighty silence as the team contemted the gravity of the situation. They knew they had to step up their game and win by arge margin if they wished to secure their ce in the following round of the tournament. It was now or never! They had to give it their all to ensure they umted a better goal difference against Iran.

    "Listen up!" continued the coach. "Our current situation demands our full effort and determination. We''re up against some tough teams like Portugal and Spain after Iran. That''s why we must capitalize on this opportunity to improve our goal difference and increase our chances of progressing from the group stage."

    "We must be ruthless in the second half and score more goals. Zachary, Franck, P¨¦p¨¦, Zaha, and Gervinho! You five are our main attacking yers! You need to step up your game. I don''t want to see any hesitation, and I want you to be more daring, creative, and clinical in front of the goal. You need to up the tempo and create more chances to score."

    "However, we can''t afford to lose focus and concede a needless goal while on the offensive. So, we must fall back and defend as a team whenever we do not have the ball."

    The coach stood before the team, his voice firm and full of conviction. "I''m not asking you to do the impossible," he said, emphasizing each word. "But I am demanding that you give it your all. We''re in this together, and we''re going to win together. Let''s show the Iranians what we''re made of!"

    The team was already feeling the heat of the uing second half, but their coach''s passionate words motivated them. They could sense his determination, and it sparked a fire within them.

    "Are we together?" the coach asked, looking at each yer in turn.

    Excitement and determination filled the air as the yers eximed, "Yes, coach!" With their confidence and spirit surging, they were ready to take on the uing second half. It would be a true-blue test of their skills and teamwork, but they were determined to face the challenge head-on ande out on top.

 Chapter 629 A Great Opening Game

    Chapter 629 A Great Opening Game

    The start of the second half of the game was nothing short of electrifying as the Ivorian team stepped up their game to extend their lead. They started with a fierce attack that left the Iranians scrambling to defend their goal.

    Wilfried Zaha emerged as the hero of the moment. He received a beautiful diagonal pass from Serey Di¨¦ and took off down the right wing like a rocket, leaving the Iranian defenders in his wake.

    Ehsan Hajsafi, the Iranian left-back, tried to stop Zaha in his tracks, but his efforts were in vain against the Ivorian''s lightning-fast footwork. With a burst of energy and skill, Zaha danced past him and raced towards the box, dodging defenders like they were standing still.

    As he approached the box, Zaha took a deep breath andunched a cross that could only be described as perfect, heading straight towards his teammates. The fans were on the edge of their seats as the ball sailed towards the box with pinpoint uracy, wondering who would be the one to finish it off and score another goal.

    The cheers in the stadium hit a crescendo as Gervinho, the Ivorian center forward, stepped up to connect with Zaha''s cross. He was facing the Iranian center backs who were determined to stop him in his tracks. But Gervinho was quick on his feet, and with a deft move, he outwitted the defenders and got to the ball first.

    Without wasting a moment, Gervinho rose into the air from around the edge of the penalty box and nted a header towards the top right corner. Everyone held their breath as the ball soared towards the goal, but just when it seemed like it would find the, Alireza Beiranvand, the Iranian keeper, sprang into action.

    Beiranvand''s lightning-fast reflexes were on full disy again as he dived expertly, stretching out his hand to push the ball off its trajectory. The ball hit the goalpost with a resounding thud before bouncing back into the box.

    The air around the stadium immediately became charged with sky-high levels of suspense as Gervinho sprang into action, determined to seize the rebound. But before he could make his move, Roozbeh Cheshmi, the fearless Iranian center-back, made a daring interception. With lightning-fast reflexes, Cheshmi swooped in and booted the ball away from danger, saving the day for his team.

    Yet the Ivory Coast''s relentless attack persisted, their offensive threat loomingrge over the Iranians. And just as the ball was cleared, itnded tantalizingly close to the border of the offensive third, where Zachary pounced on it with lightning speed.

    Iran''s defensive midfielder, Omid Ebrahimi, was also in the vicinity. He reacted instantly and made a daring move, rushing forward to steal possession from Zachary.

    But Zachary acted fast and utilized his skills to smoothly slide his boot under the ball and cleverly arc it over Omid. In a split second, he outmaneuvered his opponent and swiftly sprinted towards Iran''s box like a bullet shot from a gun, causing the spectators to sit on the edge of their seats in anticipation.

    That was not the end of it, though! Zachary''s exceptional speed and incredible dribbling skills were again on disy as he charged towards the edge of the box within seconds. However, Morteza Pouraliganji, the towering Iranian center-back, stood in his way, determined to stop him in his tracks.

    But who was Zachary? He was a yer with exceptional skills and an unwaveringmitment to the game. He never gave up, and this was evident at such a moment when his team was struggling to break through the opponent''s defense.

    His agility and quick thinking skills came into y, and he quickly analyzed the situation on the field within anything but an instant. He noticed Nics P¨¦p¨¦, the Ivorian left-winger, making a run towards the left side of the box. At that moment, Zachary knew ''exactly'' what he had to do.

    With lightning-fast reflexes, Zachary improvised a n and unleashed a breathtaking teasing pass through the legs of the center-back. His precision was ''beyond incredible'' as he threaded the ball perfectly into the unmarked pocket of space on the left side of the box. The crowd was left in awe of his quick thinking and skillful execution.

    Nics P¨¦p¨¦, on his part, quickly seized the God-sent opportunity and charged forward towards the goal with incredible speed and determination after getting to the end of Zachary''s pinpoint pass. The defenders were left scrambling to keep up, but it was toote!

    As P¨¦p¨¦ approached the keeper, the entire stadium held its breath. The keeper, who hade out of the goal to meet him, looked determined to block any attempt. But P¨¦p¨¦ had other ns. He took a shot with such precision and power that the ball sailed past the keeper''s outstretched hands and flew towards the top corner of the.

    The crowd erupted into a frenzy of excitement as the yers celebrated this heart-pumping moment of incredible teamwork and skill. It was only four minutes into the second half, but Ivory Coast had already scored another goal, making the score 2:0. The energy in the stadium was electric, and the fans couldn''t wait to see what was next.

    -----

    "Whoa, hold onto your seats, folks!" eximed Alistair Bruce-Ball, thementator, as the match between Ivory Coast and Iran reached a fever pitch. "It''s Ivory Coast 2 and Iran 0, thanks to Nics P¨¦p¨¦''s spectacr goal! With a magical pass from Zachary, P¨¦p¨¦ kept his cool and beat the keeper to score Ivory Coast''s second goal in the 49th minute. Chris, what a game this has been so far!"

    "Absolutely incredible!" replied Chris Sutton, the comentator. "Ivory Coast has been relentless with their attack, and Zachary''s exceptional skill finally paid off with a game-defining moment. That beautiful pass through the legs of the defender found its way to P¨¦p¨¦, who did what he does best and scored a sensational goal, bringing the score to 2:0 in favor of Ivory Coast. This match is full of excitement!"

    "Can the Iranians turn the situation around?" Bruce-Ball asked eagerly, leaning forward in his seat.

    Chris shook his head, eyes glued to the ying field. "Ivory Coast has been dominating since the start of the game. They''re ying with incredible skill and have already scored two goals. Unless a miracle happens, I don''t think the Iranians have a chance ofing back." His words hung in the air, the tension in thementator''s booth palpable as they all watched the match with bated breath.

    -----

    Thementators'' predictions became increasingly urate as the game progressed. Tensions rose as the Iranians, who were trailing behind by two goals, summoned their strength andunched a series of lightning-fast counterattacks during the 61st, 70th, and 77th minutes, hoping to turn the game around.

    The energy was electric as the crowd held its breath, waiting to see if the Iranians could close the gap. But the Ivorian defenders were not to be underestimated. With incredible skill and agility, they thwarted each of their opponent''s goal attempts, leaving the crowd in awe of their unwavering determination.

    As the clock ticked towards the 80th minute mark, the Ivorian Coach, Herv¨¦ Renard, made a bold move. He brought on some fresh legs by substituting Gervinho and Nics P¨¦p¨¦ and introduced Salomon Kalou and Max Gradel to the game.

    The game''s momentum shifted dramatically after the substitutes stepped onto the football pitch. With their fresh legs, the Ivorian team immediately altered their strategy, slowing down their tempo and focusing on controlling the game. They began to disy their exceptional ball control skills, focusing on precision passing and maintaining possession, which prevented the Iranians from creating any chances of aeback.

    However, the Iranians were not ready to throw in the towel yet. They upped their game, increasing their intensity and charging forward relentlessly, determined to outmatch their African opponents.

    Despite their best efforts, their eagerness proved to be their downfall. As the Iranians repeatedly charged forward, they left themselves open to counterattacks that eventually worsened their situation, thus allowing the Ivorians to capitalize on an opportunityte into the game.

    The crucial moment urred during the 91st minute when Iran had a chance to score from a corner kick. However, their efforts were in vain as they failed to convert the opportunity. Ivory Coast quickly seized the ball andunched a counterattack.

    With his quick thinking and dazzling skills, Zachary became an instant hero, earning des from all around. He snatched up the stray ball from the edge of the box, and with a swift turn and a twist, he skillfully evaded an Iranian midfielder. In a sh, he surged forward, and the field opened up before him, presenting him with the perfect opportunity to showcase his SS-grade passing talent.

    Without hesitation, Zachary unleashed a spectacr pass with the outside of his boot, sending the ball soaring over the midfield towards the left wing. And there, waiting for it like a predator stalking its prey, was Salomon Kalou, the substitute forward who had just been introduced into the game. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    It was a thrilling moment when Salomon Kalou, the athletic wonder, was passed the ball by Zachary. His timing was impable as he burst forward like the wind, leaving hispetitors in the dust.

    As he closed in on the penalty box, the keeper tried desperately to stop him, but Kalou was undeterred. With the grace of a gazelle, he elegantly lifted the ball over the keeper''s head and sent it soaring into the back of the to score Ivory Coast''s 3rd goal for the evening during the 92nd minute.

    The game raged on after Kalou''s goal, but it was clear that the Iranians were no match for Ivory Coast''s unstoppable force. Despite their best efforts, the Iranians couldn''t find the back of the, and Kalou''s goal signaled the end of their hopes.

    As the final whistle sounded, the stadium erupted in a frenzy of excitement. Ivory Coast had emerged victorious with a stunning 3-0 win against Iran in their opening match of the World Cup. The Ivorian yers had dazzled the crowd with lightning-fast speed, jaw-dropping skill, and seamless teamwork, resulting in a well-deserved victory.

    The Ivorian team erupted into celebrations. The yers sprinted around the pitch, exchanging high-fives and hugs while the crowd cheered and apuded wildly. The stadium echoed roars of joy as they celebrated the team''s incredible victory. With three points secured, Ivory Coast has set the stage for an unforgettable World Cup journey.

 Chapter 630 Post-Match and the Portugal vs. Spain Thriller

    Chapter 630 Post-Match and the Portugal vs. Spain Thriller

    After the Ivory Coast and Iran game, Mark Pougatch, the famous sports presenter for ITV, gathered a group of top-notch pundits to discuss the match in a post-match show.

    The panel included the likes of ven Bilic, Eni Aluko, Ryan Giggs, and Gabriel rke, who shared their expert opinions on every aspect of the game. From analyzing the yers'' performances to uncovering the game''s highlights, they dived into every detail to give viewers an unforgettable experience.

    As the post-match show heated up, thementators couldn''t help but talk about Zachary''s outstanding performance. Everyone was in awe of the star yer who yed a vital role in all three of Ivory Coast''s goals. It was an unforgettable moment for Zachary and his team, and thementators couldn''t stop raving about his brilliant moves.

    Ryan Giggs himself couldn''t help but marvel at Zachary''s effortless goal-scoring skills. "Did you see how he scored Ivory Coast''s first goal?" Ryan eximed. "It was insane! A header from such a tight angle is never easy, but Zachary made it look like child''s y."

    "Zachary timed his run perfectly, shook off his marker, and then angled his head just right to direct the ball past the keeper and into the back of the. The momentum behind the cross did the rest of the job. It''s rare to find yers possessing the talent and uracy to execute a wless header from such an arduous angle. Zachary is truly a master of his craft!"

    ven Bilic shook his head andmented, "I''ve been following the World Cup for years and couldn''t help but notice something. It''s a tough pill to swallow - but we must admit that African teams often struggle with their attacking y."

    "African sides usually make poor decisions in the final third and struggle with their technique, resulting in ack of effectiveness when attempting to score goals. Surprisingly, many of their yers y for top European teams. Teams like Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Ghana have all had strong representatives in European clubs, but for some reason, they don''t seem to perform as well for their national teams."

    "I think this is about to change during this World Cup, with Zachary taking the stage," continued ven. "I say this because what I saw today in the match between Ivory Coast and Iran was not an underperforming Zachary - but the same Zachary who has helped Juventus win many trophies, including two Champions League titles, over the past few years."

    "Despite being in a different team, which I have to say was a bit weaker than he''s used to, Zachary was still as creative as ever and as sharp as ever in front of goal."

    "Let''s discuss Ivory Coast''s second goal, shall we? It was an incredible disy of skill. Zachary made a perfectly timed run, which opened up the entire Iranian midfield. He didn''t stop at that but threaded the ball through the defender''s legs, finding Nics P¨¦p¨¦, who finished the move."

    "The same can be said for the third goal. Despite being surrounded by Iranian yers, Zachary created space for himself with a simple twist and turn close to the edge of his box. He thenunched a counter with a long-range pass using the outside of his boot. This resulted in Salomon Kalou''s 92nd-minute goal. Zachary is truly at the top of his game, and if he keeps performing like this, he will undoubtedly help Ivory Coast progress far in this year''s World Cup."

    With a grin, the presenter, Mark Pougatch, eagerly acknowledged ven''s contribution. "Thanks for that, ven! As we''ve all witnessed, Ivory Coast and Zachary have just bagged a crucial three points by defeating Iran with a stunning three-nil victory in their opening Group B game. But hold on to your seats, as the road to the World Cup knockout stages has only begun for them. They''ll now have to face the mighty Portugal and Spain in their uing games, and it''ll be a nail-biting journey ahead. Eni, do you think they''ve got what it takes to make it through?"

    "I truly believe they have a shot," Eni Aluko eximed, her voice brimming with confidence. "The Ivorian team boasts an incredible lineup this time, featuring talents such as Serge Aurier, Eric Bailly, Wilfried Zaha, Nics P¨¦p¨¦, Gervinho, Zachary, and Salomon Kalou, all eager to showcase their skills."

    "I can''t stress enough the importance of Zachary''s influence on the team - he''s the driving force behind the Ivorian side, igniting his teammates and propelling the team forward. With his exceptional talent, he''s bound to elevate the team''s goal-scoring abilities and propel them to great sess in the World Cup."

    Mark Pougatch shed a grin as he turned toward the cameras, clearly impressed by Eni''s response. After a quick remark, he smoothly redirected the show''s attention to the much-anticipated sh between Portugal and Spain.

    With both teams boasting football icons such as Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Isco, Sergio Ramos, and Gerard Pique, the experts dived into a thorough analysis, holding the audience spellbound until the show''s end.

    -----

    Zachary and his teammates left the Krestovsky Stadium forty minutes after their triumphant three-nil win against Iran. With spirits soaring high, they boarded their team bus, eager to continue the celebrations. Later, after arriving at their hotel in Saint Petersburg, they savored a delicious dinner before gathering in the conference room to catch the thrilling Portugal vs. Spain game.

    The football match was nothing short of a nail-biting thriller that kept the spectators on the edge of their seats. It started with a bang, as Cristiano Ronaldo confidently converted a penalty and scored the first goal for Portugal within just 5 minutes of the game.

    However, the Spaniards were not ready to give up so easily. They showcased their possession-based style of y and dominated the match for most of the opening minutes. With quick and intricate passing sequences, they created many problems for Portugal''s defense, giving them a tough time. Diego Costa, the Spanish striker, was a constant threat upfront and eventually scored an equalizer in the 27th minute.

    Just as the excitement started to subside, a sudden twist urred during the 44th minute. Unfortunately, the Spanish goalkeeper, David de Gea, made a costly mistake, allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to capitalize on the situation and score his second goal of the night. The audience erupted in joy as the Portuguese team gained a much-needed boost in their confidence.

    As the second half kicked off, the tension around the game was still palpable. The Spanish team was determined to turn the match around and started attacking with newfound vigor. The midfield duo of Andr¨¦s Iniesta and Sergio Busquets seemed to be everywhere on the field, and their relentless pressure on the Portuguese side was paying off.

    Suddenly, the crowd erupted as Diego Costa scored his and Spain''s second goal in the 56th minute of the game. It was a moment of pure magic as he outsmarted the defenders and found the back of the with a shot from inside the box. But the Spanish team was not done yet. And three minutester, Nacho Fern¨¢ndez scored an absolute screamer from outside the box to give Spain a 3:2 lead against Portugal during the 59th minute.

    The Portuguese side was left in utter disbelief as the Spanish fans erupted in joy. It was a stunning turn of events, and the momentum hadpletely shifted in favor of the Spanish team. But the drama was far from over, and just when it seemed like all hope was lost, Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and delivered a jaw-dropping free-kick in the 85th minute toplete a hattrick and level the score once again.

    As the clock ticked into injury time, both teams were neck and neck with a 3:3 scoreline. Spain tried to maintain their dominance on the field with their possession y, but they were also on the lookout for any chance to score. However, one small mistake on their part left them vulnerable to a counterattack, which the Portuguese team seized upon with ruthless efficiency.

    It all started with Jo?o Moutinho, who grabbed the loose ball just outside the box on the left nk and passed it to Jo?o M¨¢rio, the substitute. Jo?o M¨¢rio then yed a couple of one-twos with none other than the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo, and the duo darted towards Spain''s side of the pitch like lightning bolts, leaving their opponents in the dust.

    It was a tense moment as the crowd held their breath, anticipating what would happen next. The ball was passed to yet another substitute, Ricardo Quaresma, who finished from inside the box to score Portugal''s 4th goal! The stadium erupted with cheers as Portugal took the lead in the game''s closing stages.

    What an exciting match it was! The fans were on the edge of their seats throughout, and the final result left them absolutely thrilled!

    However, Zachary, who was watching the game with his fellow teammates in the conference room, couldn''t help but narrow his eyes as the referee blew the final whistle. Something didn''t feel right, and he couldn''t shake off the feeling of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, albeit one which was troubling.

    Suddenly, it hit him - the 2018 World Cup match between Portugal and Spain during his previous life was also a thriller of goals! Both teams had put up an incredible fight, only to tie 3-3 in the end. But this time, things were different, and Portugal had managed to snatch ate fourth goal to secure a win. Zachary was left wondering, what the heck was going on? n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    "Man, these two teams are going to be a real challenge for us," Eric Bailly interrupted Zachary''s train of thought. "Their attack and midfield are top-notch, world-ss. If we want to make it out of the group, we''ll need to go all out and give it our best shot."

    Gervinho, the captain, spoke up with a confident tone, "Let''s not put too much pressure on ourselves. We''ve got this! As long as we y as a team and give it our all, we can definitely take on Portugal and Spain. It won''t be easy, but we''re up for the challenge!"

    Zachary also chimed in, beaming with enthusiasm, "Gervinho is absolutely right. We only need to focus on our game n and give it our all. I have a strong feeling that we''ll qualify out of the group."

    The rest of the team nodded in agreement, exchanging high-fives and words of encouragement. They were all pumped up and ready to show the world what they were made of. As they returned to their rooms for the night, they couldn''t wait to hit the training field and start their preparations for the next game.

 Chapter 631 Gearing Up for the Match against Portugal

    Chapter 631 Gearing Up for the Match against Portugal

    Five days after their first match, the Ivorian team arrived at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow to face off against the mighty Portuguese side in their second World Cup game. The atmosphere was electrifying as they stepped off the bus into a sea of noisy fans and shing cameras.

    Zachary was thest to disembark, and the excitement was almost too much for him to bear. The crowd was a riot of color, with journalists and fans vying for his attention. The fans were shouting and cheering, desperate to catch a fleeting glimpse of the star footballers, while the journalists were jostling for position, their cameras shing like fireworks on New Year''s Eve. It was yet another moment that would stay with Zachary forever.

    Zachary''s experience at Juventus allowed him to remain steadfast and unfazed by the excitement. The crowd''s roar was still deafening as he walked towards the stadium''s gates, but Zachary kept his cool and even waved back at some of the fans. He then followed his teammates down the tunnel and into the dressing room, where they quickly changed into their warm-up gear.

    With the adrenaline pumping through his veins, Zachary couldn''t wait to hit the pitch and start his pre-game warm-up dynamic routine. As he stepped onto the field, waves of excitement and anticipation for the game ahead welled up like ocean tides inside him. Nothing could break his focus now.

    With his coaches guiding him, he went through an intense routine that included jogging, high knees, leg lunges, and some ball work to get a feel of the ball. As he stretched and flexed his muscles, he felt the adrenaline coursing through his veins, fueling his passion for the game. With each passing second, his focus grew more potent, and he knew that nothing could stand in his way. With his team by his side, he felt prepared to dominate the field ande out on top as the victor!

    After fifteen minutes of grueling exercises, he finally had a chance to nce at the other side of the pitch. That''s when he saw them. The famous Portuguese yers had arrived and were already in the midst of their warm-up. Zachary''s eyes lit up as he recognized some of the biggest names in football - Cristiano Ronaldo, William Carvalho, Bernardo Silva, Pepe, and Bruno Fernandes, among other stars. They were all there, going through their individual sessions, while others were huddled up for a game of rondos.

    As Zachary watched them, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of awe. He had yed against some of these yers in the Champions during his tenure at Juventus and realized how formidable a force they were on the football field. Now that he was about to face them in the World Cup, the experience would be even more thrilling.

    It was then that something incredible happened. Ronaldo and Pepe noticed Zachary watching them and nodded at him, acknowledging his presence. It was a small gesture, but it meant a lot to Zachary. It was a sign that even the greatest yers in the world could no longer ignore his talent and determination.

    -----

    Over on the opposite end of the field, the Portuguese team was wrapping up their warm-up routine. Cristiano Ronaldo disyed impressive footwork by juggling the ball effortlessly while Pepe, Jo?o Moutinho, and William Carvalho were stretching on the sidelines, preparing their bodies for the uing match.

    As Pepe nced at Zachary, he expressed his concern to Ronaldo, "That guy is a real threat. He was the driving force behind Juventus'' back-to-back Champions League titles. He even came close to snatching the Ballon d''Or from youst year! And now that he''s ying for the Ivory Coast, our challenge has be even more daunting."

    Ronaldo nodded, his juggling never slowing down. "Zachary is a great yer, especially in the midfield. He''s got some serious creative skills, but he''s almost a lone ranger in the Ivory Coast side, without any backup from other world-ss midfielders. If we stick to our game n and iste him, he won''t be able to make his mark on the game. But Pepe, we need to be extra cautious and avoid giving away silly setpieces in our defensive third. That guy can be a real menace when taking setpieces."

    "Got it," Pepe responded. The group then continued their warm-up drills while chatting about the imminent match.

    -----

    The warm-up time flew by, and before they knew it, the Ivorian yers had returned to their dressing room. As they prepared for the game, tension filled the room. They hastily donned their sports attire, double-checking that everything was in ce.

    Zachary was tucked away in a corner, his orange number 10 jersey a perfect fit. His heart thumped wildly with anticipation as he slipped on his matching stockings and brand-new green Nike Mercurial Roc boots. The tension in the air remained palpable, but Zachary couldn''t help but feel invigorated by his teammates'' energy and boundless fighting spirit. They were all determined to give it their all in the uing challenge. Suddenly, Herve Renard, the coach of the Ivorian National Football team, took center stage and pped his hands to get everyone''s attention. With his trademark white shirt and ck trousers, he exuded amanding presence as he began his pre-match pep talk, his stern expression adding to his authority.

    The coach''s voice boomed through the dressing room as he began his speech. "Gentlemen, today is the day we''ve been preparing for over the past four days. Our only goal is toe out on top against Portugal, and we''re more than ready to make it happen."

    "We''ve worked tirelessly over the past few days, going through numerous drills to prepare for this game, and I''m confident that we''re fully prepared. All we need to do is go out there and y our hearts out. We must y as a cohesive unit and leave no room for error. We cannot afford to make any mistakes that could cost us the game."

    "We must recognize that this is a challenging group and every game and result counts. Our win against Iran gave us three points, but that''s not enough to guarantee our ce in the knock-out stages. That''s why we must do everything possible to get a favorable oue from this game. We must give it our all to defeat Portugal and secure six points, paving our way to the round of sixteen. Together, we can make it happen. Are you with me, guys?"

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied almost in perfect unison, their voices reverberating through the dressing room.

    "I like the energy," eximed the coach, beaming with pride. "Let me quickly summarize our game n for the final time ahead of our match against Portugal. We''ll be sticking to our 4-2-3-1 formation for most of the game, ying with caution in defense while maintaining a high line. We''ll also focus on keeping possession of the ball as much as possible, using our wide spaces tounch our attacks. And when we''re not in possession, everyone except Gervinho, our center-forward, must track back and defend as a team. Is everything clear?" n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Yes, coach," the yers replied.

    The coach then singled out Zachary and said, "Zachary, we are counting on you today. You''ll need to y as an attacking number 10 while taking on some defensive duties to strengthen our defensive midfield. You''ll also need to coordinate our central midfield y when we''re on the attack. So, you must be vignt and give your best performance. When you have the ball, you can take on the defenders or pass the ball to your teammates. It''s up to you to make the right decision in midfield. Can we rely on you for this?"

    "Yes, coach," replied Zachary, his voice brimming with confidence. "I will try my best."

    The coach nodded and then discussed other vital aspects of the game n. He spoke in a measured and confident tone, re-emphasizing the importance of a strong defense and well-coordinated offense. He went into great detail, reminding each yer of their roles in the uing game based on their strengths and the Portuguese side''s weaknesses. He singled out Serge Aurier and the center-backs, cautioning them to be extra vignt while marking Jo?o M¨¢rio, Bernardo Silva, and Cristiano Ronaldo, three of the most creative attacking yers on the opposing team''s starting line-up. The coach''s speech was punctuated by passionate and intense moments as he outlined various strategies and potential scenarios that could arise during the game. He again emphasized the importance of teamwork andmunication, urging each yer to support and encourage their teammates while on the field. Throughout his speech, the coach checked his watch periodically, ensuring that his address remained within the allotted time frame. He concluded his speech by reminding the yers of their shared goals and the importance of giving their all on the field. Upon receiving the coach''s final words of encouragement and reminder to maintain focus and discipline throughout the game, Zachary''s countenance brightened. The coach''s wordshad an almost immediate impact onhim, rekindling his determination and boosting his confidence.He felt an intense urge to demonstrate his team''s abilities against Portugal and secure another three points.

    His eagerness to contribute to his team''s victory was palpable, and he was determined to leave no stone unturned in his quest to help his team qualify for the World Cup knock-out stages.

 Chapter 632 A Tense Opening Minutes

    Chapter 632 A Tense Opening Minutes

    The Luzhniki Stadium was a sight to behold as the Portugal vs. Ivory Coast FIFA World Cup match was about to begin. The stands were a kaleidoscope of colors, with fans from both sides waving gs and banners, their faces painted in their respective team colors. Excitement and anticipation filled the air, and the stadium was abuzz with conversation.

    The yers from both teams had already taken their positions on the field, their expressions solemn and focused. The Ivorians were d in their striking orange jerseys, which contrasted sharply with the Portuguese side''s white away jerseys. The lush green turf was immactely groomed and ready for the yers to work their magic.

    BBC One already had itsmentators in the stadium, and everyone was prepared and ready for the game. Vicki Sparks, thementator, surveyed the field with a smile. After a deep breath, her maic voice came alive as sheunched into the matchmentary.

    "This is promising to be an epic showdown!" she eximed. "Portugal''s Cristiano Ronaldo is back and hungry for more victories. After scoring a sensational hattrick in the opening game against Spain, he''s ready to make history by scoring the 85th international goal of his football career."

    "But don''t count out Ivory Coast''s Zachary Bemba, the twenty-three-year football sensation," she continued. "He''s just made his debut in the World Cup, and he''s already making waves. He scored one goal and provided two assists in Ivory Coast''s opener against Iran, and today, he''s determined to leave his mark by leading his team to triumph over Portugal. It''s going to be an unforgettable match!"

    "I recall they were both contenders for the Ballon d''Orst year," added Martin Keown, the comentator. "Zachary yed a vital role in helping Juventus win the Serie A and Champions League titles, but unfortunately, he missed a significant portion of the season and the AFCON due to injury."

    "Cristiano, on the other hand, was the man who clinched the prestigious Ballon d''Or award after leading Real Madrid to the La Liga title and ying a crucial part in Portugal''s UEFA European Championship victory. This time, I fear Zachary might miss out on the Ballon d''Or again if he doesn''t help his team progress far in the World Cup."

    "Zachary is an exceptional yer, and it''s a pity that he hasn''t won the Ballon d''Or even once," shared Vicki, expressing her disappointment. "But anyways, let''s focus on the game now! The referee is just about to blow the whistle, and the match is set to begin with Portugal''s kick-off."

    The atmosphere in the stadium was electric as the much-anticipated match kicked off. Portugal''s yers immediately took charge of the field, organizing themselves into a high-octane 4-1-3-2 formation. -----

    The atmosphere in the stadium was electric as the much-anticipated match kicked off. Portugal''s yers immediately took charge of the field, organizing themselves into a high-octane 4-1-3-2 formation. William Carvalho and Joao Moutinho, the dynamic midfield duo, took up positions centrally, quicklymoving around the pitch and exchanging rapid-fire passes to establish an electrifying tempo right from the get-go. The crowd was on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating what would happen next.

    Despite the Ivorians'' attempts to break out of their shell and win possession, the Portuguese showed no signs of relenting. They disyed an impressive variety of attacks, with Joao Moutinho eventually moving into more attacking spaces and often operating as high up the pitch as Ronaldo. The excitement levels in the stadium continued growing as Portugal dominated the match. Shortly, a thrilling moment of the game urred during the 9th minute. The dynamic defensive midfielder, William Carvalho, abruptly upped his attacking rhythm and unleashed a sudden pass into the right wing. The ball flew through the air with incredible speed and precision,nding a few meters ahead ofBernardo Silva - the right winger with lightning-fast reflexes.

    In an electrifying moment, Bernardo Silva charged ahead like a hawk swooping down for its prey. With incredible skill and finesse, he swiftly seized control of the ball and glided effortlessly down the right nk, leaving opponents in his wake.

    Just as he was about to spear into the offensive third, Wilfried Kanon, the Ivorian left-back, rushed forward to stop the attack. Kanon angled his body perfectly to prevent Bernardo Silva from cutting into the pitch and threatening his goal.

    However, Bernardo Silva was not one to be easily deterred. He yed a series of one-twos with Jo?o Moutinho, who had just stepped out of the midfield to overload the wing. The two of them skillfully skipped past the hapless Ivorian left-back with ease, leaving him in their wake. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As Portugal kept pushing forward, the crowd''s cheers grew louder and more intense, creating an electrifying atmosphere that put enormous pressure on their Ivorian opponents. Just then, the ball was yed to Jo?o Moutinho again, who quickly smashed the ball, sending a cross towards the box from the right wing.

    The tension intensified as the ball soared through the air, and everyone held their breath in anticipation, waiting to see what would unfold. Suddenly, Cristiano Ronaldo sprang into action. With a masterful feint, he outmaneuvered Eric Bailly, the Ivorian center-back, before elerating into the box with a single-minded determination.

    He took off from the ground and leaped into the air, aiming a powerful header towards the goal from the fringes of the penalty area.

    As the ball shot forward, it seemed like it had a mind of its own, twisting and turning with a wicked spin. Everyone held their breath, wondering if it would find its way into the back of the. But suddenly, a hand appeared out of nowhere, rising like a superhero''s cape. The person in action was Sylvain Gbohouo, the brilliant Ivorian goalkeeper. With the speed of a lightning bolt, he lunged towards the ball and punched it away with an incredible dive, sending it soaring out of y for a corner kick. It was a moment of pure athletic brilliance that left many African fans on their feet, cheering and apuding.

    Sylvain Gbohouo''s voice boomed across the field as he rose from the green. "We need to stay focused, guys! Conceding a goal is not an option!" he roared. His teammates could feel the intensity in his words, and they knew they had to give it their all. "Bailly, keep an eye on that Christiano guy. Don''t let him get even a single free header!" Sylvain continued. "Aurier and Kone, make sure you cover your teammates! And Serey Di¨¦, fall back quickly and defend when we don''t have the ball!" Meanwhile, excitement was building as both teams readied themselves for the corner kick. The Portuguese yers were quick on their feet, taking up strategic positions, eager to connect with the iing ball and score a goal. However, the Ivorians were not about to let that happen. They were determined to defend their goal with all their might and keep the score 0-0.

    As the tension mounted, the crowd was on the edge of their seats, waiting to see who woulde out on top in this nail-biting moment. But that was not all. The bench was also filled with substitutes, coaches, and the technical staff of both teams, who couldn''t contain their anxiety.

    The referee finally blew the whistle, signaling the Portuguese yers to take the much-awaited corner kick. Bernardo Silva had been preparing for this moment, and with his eyes fixed on the ball, he waited patiently before swinging his leg and sending a cross towards the box.

    The ball flew through the air with swift precision, causing the yers of both sides to scramble around the box, eager to outwit their opponents. More tension filled the air as the Portuguese yers leaped high, each determined to seize the opportunity and score.

    Amid this chaos, Cristiano Ronaldo emerged as a winner, jumping forward with incredible grace to connect with the iing cross. However, his rival Eric Bailly was not about to let him have an easy win. Baillystuck to the Portuguese number 7 like superglue, engaging him in a thrilling battle of aerial superiority until Ronaldo missed the ball by mere centimeters, causing a collective groan from the crowd.

    But the excitement didn''t end there. The ball continued on its trajectory, bouncing towards the left wing, where Nics P¨¦p¨¦ was strategically waiting. With impressive agility, he quickly chased after it, his eyes fixed on the ball as he brought it under control close to the touchline before it could move out of y. The cheers erupted again as the fans watched NicsP¨¦p¨¦strategically maneuver the ball and take off toward the other side of the pitch, leaving both opponents and teammates in the dust. In a sh, the Portuguese left midfielder, Jo?o M¨¢rio, charged forward to stop the attack, but Nics P¨¦p¨¦ had other ns. Without hesitation, Nics P¨¦p¨¦ cleverly squared the ball to Zachary, who had already started running in sync with him through the middle. The atmosphere in the stadium reached a fever pitch as Zachary received the pass around the center circle and continued his relentless run, his long strides devouring yards of space like a hungry predator. The African fans in the stands were on their feet, cheering and celebrating this magnificent disy of skill and teamwork.

 Chapter 633 A Rare Opportunity

    Chapter 633 A Rare Opportunity

    The counterattack was on, and Zachary''s heart thumped against his chest like a drum as he charged ahead. His eyes were fixed on the other side of the pitch, but he couldn''t ignore the looming figure of Jo?o Moutinho, the Portuguese central midfielder, who had positioned himself to stop his advance. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As Zachary approached, Moutinho advanced with the same intensity, ready to initiate a tackle. But Zachary remained calm and collected. He executed a dazzling step-over, leaning his body to the left as if he were going to break through that direction. Moutinho mirrored his movements, leaning in the same direction, his eyes fixed on the ball.

    But what Jo?oMoutinho didn''t realize was that the slight shift of Zachary''s body was just a feint, a clever trick to throw off his opponent''s judgment. As Moutinholeaned in, Zachary took advantage of the opportunity and shifted his center of gravity. In a split second, he burst forward from the opposite direction, leaving Moutinhobehind and pushing the counterattack to the next level. A triumphant smile curved his lips as he sprinted forward, his eyes fixed on the box as he swiftly approached the final third.

    Meanwhile, the crowd roared as they witnessed a three-vs-two scenario unfolding on the field. Zachary was nked by his teammates, Nics P¨¦p¨¦ on his left and Gervinho on his right, both sprinting forward in unison, ready to pounce. Meanwhile, the opponents were in a desperate struggle to keep up, with only C¨¦dric Soares and Rapha?l Guerreiro barely scrambling back to halt the attack.

    Zachary remainedposed as he took in the situation, his mind racing with possibilities. He yed the ball to Nics P¨¦p¨¦ on his left, who deftly passed it back as he charged past the Portuguese right-back, C¨¦dric Soares.

    As Zacharypleted the sprint past Soares, the crowd was on the edge of their seats, captivated by his movements, which were a blur of grace and agility. He used his lightning-fast reflexes and cunning strategy to position himself for a possible goal, causing Portugal''s final defender, Rapha?l Guerreiro, to be visibly agitated. Guerreiro clearly panicked, and as Zachary stepped into the box and prepared to take the shot, the Portuguese defenderunched a sliding tackle, aiming to stop him in his tracks. But Zachary refused to be intimidated. He stood his ground, knowing the referee''s watchful eye would catch any foul y.

    Zachary''s mind raced as he tried to outsmart his opponent with another step forward, but Guerreiro''s tackle caught him by surprise and swept him off his feet. Zachary hit the ground with a sickening thud, and the stadium fell silent as the crowd gasped in horror, waiting to see if he would get up.

    Just as things seemed bleak, the whistle sounded, and the referee rushed over without hesitation. He checked on Zachary before dramatically awarding Ivory Coast a penalty. But that wasn''t all - the referee also pulled out a red card and brandished it in Guerreiro''s face, sending shockwaves throughout the stadium. It was a clear and decisive call, as Guerreiro''s careless foul had robbed Zachary of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity from inside the box. However, the Portuguese yers and coaches were furious with the decision and started protesting. But the referee, being firm and just, waved them away while calmly noting the incident in his small book.

    -----

    "Wow, we have got some real action happening here!" eximed Vicki Sparks, thementator, with a hint of excitement in her voice. "We are just 11 minutes into the game, and it''s already a nail-biting thriller."

    "Hold your breath, folks! Rapha?l Guerreiro, the Portuguese left-back, has been given a red card formitting ast-man foul within the box. With only ten yers left on the field, Portugal is now under immense pressure."

    "And the drama doesn''t end there! Ivory Coast has been awarded a penalty kick and an opportunity to take the lead in this high-octane match. Martin, what do you think about the referee''s decision?"

    "In my opinion, it was the right call,"mented Martin Keown, the comentator. "Rapha?l Guerreiromitted a foul in the box, which denied Zachary an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. I must emphasize that Guerreiro''s sliding tackle was a risky move that backfired. This unfortunate incident could have easily been avoided if he had exercisedsome bit ofpatience. But let''s be fair. It''s tough to keep your cool during the heat of the game! It''s what makes football thrilling!"

    -----

    Back on the pitch, Zachary had already finished getting first aid from the medics. There was still some slight pain affecting his calf, but it was minor, and he could run it off as the game progressed.

    His only focus was now on the penalty, which he had chosen to take himself after discussing with his teammates. The pressure was high, but he knew he had to make this shot count, especially since goal-scoring opportunities were always rare when ying against great sides like the Portuguese football team.

    With his heart racing and his mind focused, Zachary took a deep breath and prepared himself for the critical moment. He ced the ball on the penalty spot and took a few angled steps back. The crowd was silent as they watched him, waiting with bated breath.

    Ignoring everything around him, he cast a fleeting nce at Rui Patr¨ªcio, the keeper, taking in his position and bodynguage. Then, he took another breath and focused all his attention while waiting for the referee to blow the whistle.

    The tension levels skyrocketed as the referee finally blew the whistle. Zachary sprang into action, jogging confidently towards the penalty spot. He paused for a split second, taking one final nce at the keeper before striking the ball with all his might.

    As the ball soared through the air towards the top right corner of the goal, the fans held their breath in anticipation. It was a shot of perfect precision, and it was evident that Rui Patr¨ªcio had no chance of stopping it. The spectators watched in awe as the ball thudded into the back of the, and the stadium erupted into a chorus of cheers and apuse. It was a truly spectacr moment.

    -----

    Portugal 0 : 1 Ivory Coast -----

    The words on the stadium''s jumbotron immediately changed to show the new score. Zachary had done it! He had converted the penalty and given his team the lead during the 13th minute of gamey. It was a moment of pure joy and triumph, and Zachary couldn''t contain his excitement. He raced to the touchline, sliding on his knees for a few meters to celebrate the goal. The African fans in the stands went wild, blowing their vuvuzs, chanting his name, and cheering him on. It was another moment he would never forget.

 Chapter 634 A Tight Score

    Chapter 634 A Tight Score

    Explosive mes of excitement engulfed the stadium when Zachary''s incredible celebration set the field aze. The Ivorian yers and substitutes hurried to the touchline, embracing Zachary with bear hugs and high fives while cheering with all their might. In response, the African fans in the stands roared with thunderous apuse as if they were longing to rush into the field and be part of the electrifying festivities.

    But the celebrations were cut short by the sudden yell from Maxwel Co, one of the substitutes. He had an important message from the coach. "Guys!" he said, trying to grab everyone''s attention. "Now that we''re in the lead, the coach wants us to work hard and avoid conceding a goal until half-time. We must y as a team, work harder off and on the ball, and give our best shot. You can do it, guys! And if you can''t, I''m still waiting on the bench to take any of your positions."

    The field yers acknowledged the coach''s words. But they couldn''t resist snickering at Co''s joke about taking their position on the pitch. With the referee already urging them to return to the field, the Ivorian team exchanged a few words of encouragement before rushing back to their positions, ready to continue the game. The shrill sound of the referee''s whistle soon reverberated throughout the stadium, cutting through the electric atmosphere of the game. The yers of both teams charged forward, their movements sharp and precise as they battled to gain control of the ball. The air was thick with tension as each side tried to assert their dominance, but as the minutes ticked by, it was soon apparent that Portugal''s red card had already changed the game''s momentum.

    With only ten yers left on the field, Portugal struggled to keep up with their Ivorian opponents. Their movements were slower, and their passescked their usual precision. William Carvalho and Joao Moutinho, the two midfielders, yed it safe most times, opting for safer passes instead of daring, riskier ones. They struggled to get the ball to their forwards, leaving Gon?alo Guedes and Christiano Ronaldo stranded and isted for long periods. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Moreover, as the game heated up, the stakes got higher. Portugal''s coach, Fernando Santos, had to make a tough call and substitute Jo?o M¨¢rio, a winger, with M¨¢rio Rui, a left-back. The hope was to bolster the defense and mitigate the impacts of the red card.

    But the substitution did little to improve the situation, and as the end of the first half approached, Portugal''s fatigue became more apparent. It was a tense and nerve-wracking few minutes for the Portuguese fans watching, as their team was forced to y defensively, with their Ivorian opponents controlling the pace for the first time that evening. On Ivory Coast''s side, Zachary was already on fire, his stamina seemingly endless as he ran around the pitch, exchanging precise passes with his teammates. As if that wasn''t enough, he would sometimes rely on his SS grade spatial awareness and risk assessment to spot any gaps left behind by the struggling Portuguese side before using his terrifying passing skills to deliver a sudden defense-splitting pass forward.

    The crowd was on the edge of their seats, cheering loudly as he once again executed his magic during the 43rd minute. With a burst of energy, he received a pass from Serey Di¨¦, spun around Jo?o Moutinho, and raced ahead, leaving everyone in his wake. The stadium erupted with thunderous apuse as he speared deeper into Portugal''s half, leaving the opposition scrambling to catch up.

    He swiftly approached the final third of the pitch with remarkable speed and agility, evading a sliding tackle from an opponent and gracefully snaking his way around William Carvalho. He then remained focused and determined to create another opportunity for his team despite the presence of two towering figures - Jos¨¦ Fonte and Pepe, the two center-backs - who had already positioned themselves to stop his run.

    Moving at a lightning pace, he spotted Wilfried Zaha about to race past M¨¢rio Rui, the substitute left-back, and into an unmarked pocket of space on the right wing. In a sh, he knew this was his chance to make something happen and solidify his team''s advantage.

    With precision and skill, he held onto the ball, drawing in the opponents until the very moment when Zaha was just about to rush into an offside position. Then, with lightning speed, his boot deftly dug under the ball, lifting it and sending it soaring high into the air, over the heads of all the defenders, with a graceful arc that left them all standing still. The crowd''s deafening roar filled the stadium as the ball flew toward its target. With astonishing speed and agility, Zaha leaped forward and skillfully controlled the ball with his chest before deftly maneuvering it down the field. Zahacharged towards the box, eyes fixed on the prize, waiting for the right moment to make his move. Suddenly, he precisely passed the ball toward the area, sending it skimming along the ground like a guided torpedo.

    Like a bolt out of the blue, Gervinho, the Ivorian center-forward, sprang into action, already having outmaneuvered the Portuguese defenders. He surged forward with incredible velocity, his quick movements making it appear like he was gliding across the field. With a deft slide, he met the ball perfectly, tapping it with just the right amount of force into the back of the.

    The Ivorian fans in the stands erupted in cheers as Gervinho jogged toward the touchline to celebrate his first goal of the 2018 World Cup. However, his joy was short-lived as he suddenly halted halfway through his celebration. The referee had raised his arm and pointed to his ear, indicating that a VAR check was needed.

    The jumbotron immediately shed the words "Checking Goal" and "Possible Offside" as the Video Assistant Referees got to work. The tension was palpable as everyone waited with bated breath for the decision. And then, in just a few seconds, the verdict was in - the goal was canceled! The referee was not even sent to the pitch-side monitor.

    A brief rey on the jumbotron showed that a small part of Gervinho''sfoot had been offside, and the Ivorian yers and fans were crestfallen as their joy quickly turned to frustration. It was a moment that would be etched in their memories forever - the moment when VAR intervened and denied them another goal in a heated game against Portugal.

    The match resumed with heightened anticipation soon after, but the remaining few minutes of the first half were rtively uneventful. As a result, the score remained 1-0, with Ivory Coast leading, as the yers walked down the tunnel for the half-time break.

    Fernando Santos, the coach of Portugal, made another substitution and brought in Bruno Fernandes to rece Jo?o Moutinho. This tactical move soon proved to be advantageous for the Portuguese. With Fernandes joining the team, they were infused with a sudden burst of liveliness and enthusiasm in the first few minutes of the second half.

    Despite being a man down, the Portuguese yers upped their game and started linking up with each other through their seamless passing. Bruno Fernandes was at the center of it all, running all over the pitch and tackling to gain an edge for his side. Everyone could feel his dominating presence on the pitch as he exhibited his remarkable abilities and skills.

    Bruno Fernandes also unleashed a few defenses-splitting passes to his teammates, particrly to the team''s star yer, Cristiano Ronaldo. Although Ronaldo tried his chances from outside the box twice, he unfortunately missed the target on both asions.

    As the game gradually progressed towards thest quarter of an hour, Portugal increased their attacking efforts, scrambling to equalize the score against Ivory Coast. They put up a brave fight, persistently pushing forward with all their might, but the Ivorian defense remained resolute against their persistent attacks. With each passing minute, the game became more intense and the stakes higher.

    The Ivorian yers, aware of the danger posed by Portugal, adopted an aggressive approach, pressing high up on the pitch and disrupting Portugal''s attempts to build up their y from the back. But even then, the Portuguese still created some clear-cut chances, but fortunately for the African fans, Ivory Coast''s defense remained solid and unyielding.

    As the game entered its final stages, the tension in the stadium reached a new fever pitch, with fans of both teams on the edge of their seats, anxiously hoping for a positive oue. The Portuguese fans were praying and balling their fists, urging their team to score, while the Ivorian supporters were nervously holding their breath, hoping their side would hold on to their lead.

    Having sensed the pressure, the Ivorian yers redoubled their efforts, determined to protect their lead at all costs. With every passing moment, they defended as if their lives were on the line, working hard on and off the ball despite having the numerical advantage.

    Their relentless hard work eventually paid off, and they managed to maintain their 1:0 lead until the final whistle sounded after six agonizing minutes of added time. It was their second win of their World Cup campaign, which immediately put them firmly at the top of the Group B table with six points.

    As the final whistle blew, there was an explosion of joy and excitement among the Ivorian yers. They couldn''t contain their joy and started running around the pitch, hugging each other and celebrating their hard-earned victory. It was a moment they would cherish for a long time, a testament to their hard work, dedication, and team spirit.

 Chapter 635 Unwavering Resolve

    Chapter 635 UnwaveringResolve

    As the Ivorian football team returned to their dressing room, the atmosphere was charged with electricity. They had justpulled offa stunning 1-0 victory against Portugal, and the yers could hardly contain their excitement. Their faces repeatedly shed with broad grins as they burst into song and dance, like a group of carefree kids who had just stumbled upon a treasure trove of candy. The room was filled withughter and chatter as they changed out of their sweaty match gear and cleaned up, still high on the thrill of their victory. The energy in the air was palpable, a mix of joy, relief, and a sense of aplishment that came with achieving something great.

    As the celebrations were in full swing, Zachary was in the thick of all the action, soaking in every moment of the spectacr experience. Despite being a novice to the team and the World Cup, he felt a strong sense of belonging among his Ivorian teammates. He was going all out in the revelry, meeting everyone''s enthusiasm at every turn while cracking jokes and exchanging pleasantries with his fellow yers. It was a moment of pure bliss and camaraderie that they would all treasure and reminisce for years.

    Eventually, the excitement finally subsided, and Herv¨¦ Renard, the coach, took the stage, ready to address his yers.

    With a voice brimming with excitement, he eximed, "I don''t care what anyone else says, but we yed an outstanding match out there! We worked as a team, put in our best efforts, and managed to secure a favorable oue against one of the top footballing nations in the world. I couldn''t be prouder of each and every one of you!"

    The yers erupted into cheers andughter, the room once again filled with the sound of their banter and camaraderie. But just as the noise reached a crescendo, the coach raised his hand, calling for silence.

    "Hey, hold on a second!" he said, and the room fell silent. The yers leaned in, eager to hear what the coach had to say.

    "Our win against Portugal has put us in a great position. We''ve secured six points and are currently leading the Group B table. But listen up, we''re not out of the woods yet. Ourst game is crucial, and we can''t afford to lose focus. If we do, Spain and Portugal could easily surpass us with their goal difference, and our World Cup dreams and hopes coulde crashing down."

    The coach''s words hit the yers like a ton of bricks, causing them to snap out of theircency. They knew deep down that he was right. Memories of Ivory Coast''s past few World Cup participations came flooding back, and with them, the pain of early elimination due to careless mistakes by their team. It was time to put in the hard work - to sweat, bleed, and ensure that such a history wouldn''t repeat itself.

    The coach''s tone turned serious as he continued addressing the team, "We can''t afford to forget that our remarkable win against Portugal will mean nothing if we fail to progress from the group stage. We must remain focused andmitted as we approach the crucial uing days. Let''s devote all our energy to preparing for our final group match against Spain so we can secure a ce in the Round of Sixteen. We''re on the brink of making history, and I haveplete faith that we can achieve it!"

    The yers nodded in agreement, knowing that their coach was right. They knew they couldn''t let their guard down now and had to give it their all in thest game.

    Zachary also listened intently as the coach spoke, nodding at every word. As a seasoned professional footballer, he knew the stakes were high in the World Cup, and the Ivorian team couldn''t afford to let their guard down for even a moment. Thest game against Portugal had been a rollercoaster ride, with the ten-man Portuguese team putting up a brave fight in the second half. Zachary couldn''t help but wonder how the game would have gone if the Portuguese hadn''t received a red card early on. And with powerhouse teams like Brazil, France, Spain, Ennd, Belgium, and Croatia still in the tournament, Zachary knew that the Ivorian team had to bring their A-game to every match.

    Zachary was also fully aware of his crucial role in the team. His every move on the pitch would significantly impact Ivory Coast''s uing World Cup matches ¡ª and although he couldn''t control his teammates'' performance on the field, he could take charge of his game and strive to be more efficient and clinical. Driven by such unwavering determination, Zachary was ready to push himself to the limit and leave no stone unturned in his quest for excellence. He was determined to make asting impression on the world stage, and nothing could deter him from trying his utmost to help Ivory Coast progress far in the World Cup.

    The coach didn''t waste any time before dismissing his already exhausted yers. However, before calling it a day, he took a moment to appreciate the outstanding performances of a few yers who contributed significantly to the team''s victory. Among them were Zachary, Zaha, Nics P¨¦p¨¦, and Eric Bailly, who had yed their hearts out on the field.

    As the team boarded the bus that would take them back to their hotel in Moscow, they were greeted by a massive crowd of jubnt fans, waving gs and cheering loudly in appreciation of their victory. The yers couldn''t help but feel a sense of joy as they basked in the crowd''s adoration. A few of them, including Bailly, Zaha, and P¨¦p¨¦, leaned out of the windows, waving back and soaking in the moment.

    However, Zachary, who had exerted himself to the limit during the match, decided to take a breather and rest. He looked out of the bus window, taking in the sights and sounds of the city as they drove past. It wasing to 7:00 PM, but the Moscow streets were alive with activity, and the atmosphere was electric, especially with the excitement of the ongoing World Cup.

    The Ivorian yers soon arrived at the hotel. The hotel staff gave them a warm and weing reception as they made their way to the restaurant. The aroma of mouth-watering cuisine wafted through the air, enticing them to their reserved dining area.

    Upon entering the restaurant, the team was greeted with a feast fit for royalty. The spread was magnificent, with sulent grilled meats, fresh sds bursting with vibrant colors and vors, and decadent desserts that looked too good to be true. The yers'' eyes widened with delight as they took in the array of delectable dishes before them, causing their stomachs to grumble in anticipation. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Zachary was not an exception, as his mouth watered when he surveyed the delicious meal before him. He had yed for over 90 minutes in the intense football match and looked forward to indulging in the delicious food. He eagerly joined his teammates at one of the tables and savored every bite as the cuisine vors repeatedly exploded in his mouth.

    While eating, he could hear the Ivorian yers around him swapping stories, sharingughs, and reliving the exhrating moments of their victory against Portugal. The camaraderie was palpable, and the satisfaction was evident as he enjoyed every bite while basking in thepany of his teammates.

    After the satisfying meal, the Ivorian yers promised their coach that they wouldn''t drink alcohol and then headed to the hotel bar to watch the other Group B match between Iran and Spain. The stunning Russian waitresses and attentive waiters quickly tended to their every need, serving them refreshing non-alcoholic cocktails and snacks as they eagerly awaited the starting line-ups for the two teams toe up on the big t screen.

    Zachary was seated close to Bailly and Serge Aurier. The atmosphere in the bar was electric as the match was about to start. One of the servers promptly handed him a bottle of mineral water, which he gratefully epted before turning his focus to the game. From the opening minutes, it was evident that the Spanish side was in a dominating position. They quickly overwhelmed the Iranian team, with Sergio Busquets, Andr¨¦s Iniesta, and Isco ying a brilliant midfield game. They moved around the pitch, exchanging Tiki-Taka touches and showcasing their impressive skills with effortless grace. And as if that wasn''t enough, the Spanish midfielders also repeatedly linked up with the defenders to build up y slowly from the back before engaging the wingers to try and break through the Iranian defense. With their impressive performance, Spain dictated the tempo while dominating the game with over 70% possession.

    Meanwhile, the Iranians remained hardworking and yed as a team to thwart Spanish attacks. They put in a valiant effort, especially in defense, putting their bodies on the line to block shots and tackles. Upfront, they missed a few chances and had one of their goals ruled out by VAR. Ultimately, the Spaniards sealed their win with Diego Costa''s 55th-minute goal,which finally brokethe Iranian defense. Zachary was thoroughly impressed by Spain''s ability to control the game using their Tiki-Taka style of y. Moreover, they seemed a much stronger side than Portugal.

    As Zachary finally left the bar after the game, he felt a sense of unease at the prospect of facing such a challenging Spanish team in theirst Group B game. Nevertheless, he was determined to do his utmost to help his team ovee them. He wanted to bring out his A-game in the final group match to ensure Ivory Coast qualified for the knockout stages.

 Chapter 636 To the Kaliningrad Stadium

    Chapter 636 To theKaliningrad Stadium

    With just a day left to their crucial and final Group B match against Spain, the excitement levels of the Ivorian footballers were soaring into the ninth heaven. There was electrifying energy in the air as they stepped onto the training ground that sunny Sunday afternoon.

    Every yer was on their toes, ready to give their best in theirst training session before their final group-stage match. Zachary, the team''s star yer, was in his element, gliding past imaginary defenders with unmatched ease and fluidity. His moves were as smooth as a flowing river, a sight that left everyone in awe. The team was pumped up, and there was a palpable buzz about what Zachary could do against Spain.

    The coach of the Ivorian team, Herv¨¦ Renard, stood at the sidelines with his trademark white shirt and slicked-back hair. His gaze was sharp as he keenly assessed the performance of each yer. He knew they had to perfect every aspect of their game to have any chance against Spain. The training session began with passing drills, emphasizing quick exchanges and movement off the ball. Coach Herv¨¦ Renard immediately started barking instructions at the yers, urging them to maintain intensity and focus.

    "Focus,ds!" he yelled. "We must be sharp against Spain''s pressing when we''re on the ball! We must be quick, precise, and decisive to stand a chance against their midfielders."

    The training continued, and Zachary''s natural ir quickly caught the eye of his teammates, especially when he executed and unleashed his deft touches and precise passes. Eric Bailly, the team''s defensive stalwart, nodded as he intercepted one of Zachary''s through balls.

    "Nice vision, Zachary. We''ll need that against Spain''s midfield tomorrow night," Eric Bailly remarked, acknowledging the importance of Bemba''s ymaking abilities. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The session eventually transitioned to set-piece drills, with Zachary showcasing his prowess from dead-ball situations. His free-kicks curled effortlessly into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

    "Zachary, great work! Keep practicing those free-kicks. We might need one against Spain," Coach Herv¨¦ Renard remarked, a hint of optimism in his voice.

    As the training session progressed, the team''s attacking and defensive units were put through their paces. Zachary''s understanding with his starting midfield partners, Serey Di¨¦ and Franck Kessi¨¦, was evident as theybined for slick one-twos and decisive runs through the middle.

    "You guys can be a nightmare for opposing midfielders. Keep that chemistry going," Coach Herv¨¦ Renard encouraged, pleased with the telepathic link between his starting midfielders.

    Gervinho, the captain known for his infectious positivity, rallied his teammates with words of encouragement.

    "Believe, guys. We''vee this far, and we''re not stopping now. Spain may be favorites, but we have the heart and skill to beat them," Gervinho''s words resonated with determination, igniting a fire within the Ivory Coast squad.

    As the intense training session ended, the yers were exhausted but exhrated. Their jerseys were drenched in sweat, and their faces were beaming with tired but satisfied smiles. They knew they were ready for the ultimate showdown - a sh of the titans - and the Ivory Coast team was determined to leave their mark on the World Cup stage.

    After a refreshing shower, the team hopped onto the bus and returned to their hotel. To their delight, they were weed with a feast fit for champions. The anticipation for the forting game was palpable and contagious as they indulged in an early dinner at the hotel restaurant.

    As the sumptuous meal ended, Coach Herv¨¦ Renard summoned his team to a final meeting in one of the conference rooms. His voice, a perfect blend of inspiration and tactical insight, echoed through the room as he addressed his yers, who sat transfixed, hungry for every morsel of wisdom he imparted.

    "Tomorrow, we face Spain, a team of unparalleled quality. But let not their reputation intimidate you - for they are as human as we are. We have grinded hard and prepared meticulously for this moment. This is our opportunity to inscribe our name in the annals of history," Coach Renard''swords reverberated in the hushed room, each yer hanging on to every syble he articted.

    The coach then exined the game n for the final time, outlining the team''s 4-2-3-1 formation and each yer''s role. He reminded his yers to stay strong and brave, especially in the face of the Spanish team''s formidable reputation. Finally, he sent his team off to their rooms, hoping they would get a good night''s rest before the game.

    As Zachary returned to his room, the excitement and nerves pulsed through his veins. He took a soothing shower, letting the water wash away his nerves before settling on his bed. His phone buzzed with messages from his loved ones, friends, and former teammates, all sending their unwavering support and belief in him and the team. With each message, he felt more and more ready to take on Spain and show the world what they were made of.

    With a heartfelt smile, Zachary replied to his two faithful allies, Emily and Kristin, who had been with him throughout his football career. He appreciated their unwavering support and didn''t hesitate to thank them. His anticipation for tomorrow''s game was palpable as he switched off the phone. Although it wasn''t the final match, it was still a game of paramount importance that could determine whether or not Ivory Coast made it to the next stage.

    Zachary began visualizing the ys he nned to use in the game the following day. He knew this match was crucial, and he wanted to ensure that he and his team were prepared for anything that coulde their way. He thought about the different strategies he could use, the tactics that had worked in the past, and the ones he could try for the first time.

    As the night passed, Zachary felt a mix of anticipation and nerves. He tried to sleep, but his mind was racing. The morning and afternoon were uneventful, but the tension in the air was sky-high. Later in the evening, as the team bus made its way to the stadium, Zachary couldn''t help but take in the sights of Kaliningrad city. He saw the beautiful ssic architecture, the eye-catching Staraya Pregolya River, and the excited fans ready to watch the game.

    As they arrived at the Kaliningrad Stadium, Zachary''s heartbeat quickened as Ivory Coast''s bus pulled up to a chorus of cheers from their passionate supporters. Following his teammates and coaches, he stepped out and was greeted by waving gs and raucous chants of "Les ¨¦l¨¦phants!" The energy was infectious, fueling the yers with a sense of purpose.

    Meanwhile, Spain''s arrival was met with an even greater enthusiasm. The Spanish contingent, known for their ''fervent'' support, painted the stadium entrance in a mosaic of red and yellow. gs waved, and songs echoed, creating a vibrant tapestry of footballing passion.

    And finally, as both teams stepped onto the pitch for the pre-match warm-up, thementators introduced the uing battle in Group B of the World Cup. "We''reing to you live from the Kaliningrad Stadium, where Spain is about to take on the Ivory Coast team, which has been the surprise package of the tournament," eximed Steve Wilson, the leadmentator, his voice resonating across the airwaves, setting the scene for millions of viewers worldwide.

    "Indeed, Steve! Ivory Coast has been the revtion of this World Cup, led by their maestro Zachary Bemba. His creativity and goal-scoring prowess have propelled the Elephants to the top of Group B after defeating Iran and Portugal in their opening two games. But Spain, despite their slip-up against Portugal, showed their true potential in thest game.It''s a must-win for both teams," Martin Keown, the comentator, added, analyzing the stakes.

    Meanwhile, on the pitch, yers from both teams went through their routines, stretching, passing, and shooting to shake off any lingering nerves. Zachary''s movements were fluid, his touches precise as he prepared himself mentally for the uing challenge.

    As the clock ticked closer to kick-off, the anticipation in the stadium reached a crescendo. The fans waved gs frantically and blew vuvuzs with unbridled enthusiasm, creating an incredible atmosphere. The teams lined up for the national anthems, and the stadium roared in anticipation.

    The anthems finally ended, and the crowd once again erupted with cheers. Meanwhile, thementators kept the excitement high with their electrifyingmentary, making every moment even more thrilling.

    "Let''s dive straight into the starting line-ups and brace yourselves for a game of top-tier football!" said Steve. "The Spanish Armada sails in with their potent 4-3-3 formation, led by the ever-reliable David de Gea between the posts. In front of him, the defensive wall boasts names like Carvajal, Piqu¨¦, Ramos, and Alba, a fortress indeed!"

    "In the heart of the midfield, we have the maestro himself, Andr¨¦s Iniesta, pulling the strings alongside the midfield maestros Sergio Busquets and Thiago Alcantara. And up top, brace yourselves for fireworks with the trio of Isco, Silva, and the fiery Costa! It could turn into a Goals galore."

    "Ivory Coast isn''t one to be outdone as they step up to the te with a daring 4-2-3-1 formation, ready to shake things up! Gbohouo stands tall in goal, while Aurier, Bailly, Kon¨¦, and Kanon form an imprable defense. They have proven themselves to be a wall that has not been easy to breach in this World Cup campaign."

    "But hold on, it''s in the midfield and attack where the real magic happens for the Elephants!" eximed Steve, his voice rising with excitement. "Zachary Bemba, the midfield dynamo, takes center stage, orchestrating ys with finesse! And on the wings, we have the speedsters Zaha and P¨¦p¨¦, ready to unleash chaos!"

    "And leading the charge, none other than the seasoned campaigner Gervinho, a goal-scoring machine in his own right! Ivory Coast is here to make a statement, folks, and they mean business!"

    The stadium reverberated with cheers as both teams lined up, the atmosphere charged with anticipation. It was a sh of styles, a battle of skill and determination, and the stage was set for the final Group B match between Spain and Ivory Coast.

    -----

 Chapter 637 High-Stakes Battle between the Elephants and Spain

    Chapter 637 High-Stakes Battle between the Elephants and Spain

    The referee''s whistle finally pierced the air at 8:00 PM sharp, signaling the start of the highly anticipated encounter. Spain got the game underway, immediately asserting their trademark Tiki-Taka style.

    Andr¨¦s Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, and David Silva were in perfect harmony, orchestrating Spain''s possession game in the opening minutes. Their quick passing and intelligent movement off the ball immediately put Ivory Coast on the defensive.

    Iniesta glided across the pitch, effortlessly evading challenges and picking out teammates with pinpoint passes. Busquets acted as the midfield pivot, dictating the game''s tempo with his calm distribution. Meanwhile, Silva''s silky skills on the wing kept Ivory Coast''s full-backs on their toes.

    As the clock ticked closer to the 10th-minute mark, the Spanish team''s dominance on the field became even more evident. Their passes were crisp, and they relentlessly probed for openings in Ivory Coast''s defense. The crowd was mesmerized by Spain''s fluidity, and each time they retained possession for prolonged periods, the stadium erupted with chants of "Ole!"

    Despite their control of the game, Spain couldn''t find the back of the. The Ivorians showed impressive teamwork, holding their defense line and frustrating the Spaniards at every turn.

    But Spain came agonizingly close to scoring the opener on a few asions, particrly during the 17th minute when Andr¨¦s Iniesta sent a beautiful looping ball to Diego Costa, who was poised to take a straight path towards the goal. However, Costa missed the opportunity, and the score remained 0:0.

    The game continued, with Spain dominating y with over 65% possession. But even then, Ivory Coast''s Zachary Bemba remained an asional threat in midfield with his ir and creativity. And as the game settled into a rhythm, Zachary found himself in a pivotal moment during the 21st minute.

    Breaking free from his marker, Zachary surged through the middle, leaving defenders trailing in his wake. His nimble footwork and vision allowed him to navigate through the Spanish midfield, drawing gasps of admiration from the crowd. However, just as he approached the edge of the box, Sergio Ramos, Spain''s seasoned defender, made a desperate lunge to stop him.

    The referee''s whistle punctured the air as Zachary tumbled to the ground, earning a free-kick for Ivory Coast in a dangerous position. The stadium fell into a hush, the tension palpable as Zachary prepared to take the set-piece opportunity.

    -----

    "Smart y by Ramos, but this presents a dangerous set-piece opportunity for Ivory Coast," Steve Wilson, the leadmentator, noted, acknowledging Ramos'' tactical acumen. "We all know Zachary Bemba is a set-piece specialist. He''s got a conversion rate that''s off the charts! This could be the moment he puts Ivory Coast in the lead!"

    "You can feel the anticipation in the stadium. Bemba has a chance to make history here," eximed Martin Keown, the comentator, perfectly capturing the moment.

    ----- n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    On the pitch, Zachary exchanged quick words with Wilfried Zaha and Gervinho, his teammates, as they gathered around the ball. "We have to make this count, guys," Zachary urged, his eyes gleaming with determination.

    Wilfried nodded in agreement. "I''ll make a run to the far post. If the balles my way, I''ll finish it," he said confidently.

    Gervinho, known for his agility and trickery, added, "I''ll hover near the wall. If they leave a gap, I''ll exploit it."

    The trio''s brief conversation reflected their understanding and trust in each other''s abilities, honed on the training ground over the past few days. With a nod from the referee, Zachary stepped back, measuring his steps as he eyed the goal from twenty-four yards away. The Spanish wall lined up, their expressions focused, while Ivory Coast''s fans held their breath.

    With a swift run-up, Zachary struck the ball with power and finesse. His Dead-Ball specialist juju worked like a charm as he sent the ball curling over the wall and into the top corner of the. It seemed simple and easy, and the stadium erupted in disbelief and jubtion as Zachary wheeled away in celebration, his teammates rushing to congratte him.

    The Spanish goalkeeper, David de Gea, could only watch helplessly as the ball nestled into the back of the, marking Ivory Coast''s first goal that evening. The moment was etched in history, showcasing Zachary''s ability to deliver under pressure and ignite his team''s hopes.

    -----

    "Unbelievable scenes here in Kaliningrad! Bemba''s brilliance has given Ivory Coast the lead during the 22nd minute. It''s now Ivory Coast 1 and Spain 0," Steve Wilson, thementator, eximed, capturing the magnitude of Zachary''s stunning free-kick.

    "Wow, what a historic moment in the World Cup!" yelled Martin Keown, the comentator. "The Spaniards are in total shock as Ivory Coast has taken the lead. With Spain on the brink of elimination, this game is bound to be even more exciting."

    "In Group B, Ivory Coast is now leading the table with 9 points, leaving Portugal in second ce with 4 points, Spain struggling at third with 3 points, and Iran in the fourth with just a single point. But wait, folks! We still have over 60 minutes of football left to y, and as we all know, anything can happen in this beautiful game. So, get ready for some adrenaline-pumping action!"

    -----

    After conceding a stunning free-kick goal from Zachary Bemba, Spain responded with a renewed sense of urgency and determination. The Spanish team intensified their attacks and put Ivory Coast''s defense under immense pressure. The midfield trio of Iniesta, Busquets, and Silva orchestrated wave after wave of assaults, relentlessly probing for gaps in Ivory Coast''s disciplined backline.

    The Ivorian defenders, however, stood firm, showcasing their tenacity and resilience.Eric Bailly and Serge Aurier made crucial interceptions and tackles, while Serey Di¨¦ and Franck Kessi¨¦ patrolled the defensive midfield with authority, breaking up Spanish attacks and initiating counterattacks. Even attacking yers like Zachary Bemba, Wilfried Zaha, and Nics P¨¦p¨¦ dropped deep to support the defense, highlighting Ivory Coast''s collectivemitment to preserving their lead.

    As the first half gradually ended, Spain and Ivory Coast headed to their respective locker rooms. Despite conceding an early goal, Spain''s yers seemed unfazed and exchanged looks of determination and encouragement. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast''s yers looked exhausted yet focused after defending against Spain''s relentless attacks.

    In the locker room, coach Herv¨¦ Renard gathered his Ivorian yers with a fiery speech that filled the room with passion and conviction. "Boys, we''ve shown the world we have what it takes out there. We''re leading against one of the best teams in the world, and that''s something to be proud of."

    "But we can''t let our guard down just yet. We must keep up our discipline, staypact, and fight for every ball as a team. Remember, we''re not just ying for ourselves; we''re ying for our nation and people. Let''s go out there in the second half and show the world what we''re made of. Believe in yourselves, support each other, and let''s hold onto this lead with everything we''ve got!"

    The team members nodded with a burning determination in their eyes. The second half would be the ultimate test of their resilience and teamwork. However, they were all set to rise to the asion and demonstrate their unwavering fighting spirit to the world.

    As the second halfmenced, the tension in the stadium hit a new high as Spain upped their tempo,unching relentless attacks against Ivory Coast''s defense. Fueled by their desire to equalize, the Spanish yers moved the ball with purpose and urgency. Even then, Ivory Coast''s defensive resilience still shone through. Zachary Bemba, known for his attacking prowess, dropped deep to help shore up the defensive midfield, while Wilfried Zaha and Nics P¨¦p¨¦ tracked back to support the defense. The center-back trio of Lamine Kon¨¦, Eric Bailly, and Wilfried Kanon put their bodies on the line, making crucial interceptions and blocks.

    The game''s physicality escted, with Ivory Coast yers resorting to tactical fouls to disrupt Spain''s rhythm. Yellow cards were brandished, with Kon¨¦, Bailly, and Kanon cautioned for their robust challenges. The referee''s whistle punctuated the y as tempers red on the pitch.

    But even with Ivory Coast''s valiant defensive efforts, Spain continued to press forward. And just as the clock ticked towards the 79th minute, a rarepse in concentration from Ivory Coast proved costly. AndresIniesta, lurking in midfield, seized the moment. With a defense-splitting pass that looped over Ivory Coast''s backline, he found Isco making a darting run into the box. The stadium was hushed as Isco deftly controlled the ball and lifted it over the onrushing goalkeeper with a delicate chip. The ball nestled into the, sparking wild celebrations among the Spanish fans and yers alike.

    Thementators'' voices rose in excitement as they witnessed the equalizing goal. "What a moment of brilliance from Spain! Iniesta''s vision and execution were sublime, and Isco''s finish was sheer ss. Ivory Coast''s defense was finally breached after a valiant effort. We have a game on our hands now!"

    The scoreboard read 1-1, the tension in the stadium palpable as both teams pushed for a decisive goal in the closing minutes. The game had transformed into a thrilling contest of skill, determination, and tactical prowess, captivating fans worldwide.

 Chapter 638 Game Ending and Group B Final Standings

    Chapter 638 Game Ending and Group B Final Standings

    With only eight minutes left on the clock, the excitement was palpable as Spain and their coach, Fernando Hierro, hatched a daring n. In a bold move, Hierro called the fourth official to swap out Diego Costa, Thiago, and David Silva for three substitutes - Iago Aspas, Marco Asensio, and Rodrigo. The strategy was clear: to ramp up Spain''s offensive power and secure that all-important second goal before the clock ran out. It was a high-stakes gamble, but with the clock ticking down, there was no time to waste.

    The excitement around the stadium rose as Hierro''s bold moves left thementators in awe. "Oh my! This is a daring decision by Hierro," eximed Steve Wilson, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "He''s taking a massive gamble, throwing caution to the wind, and hoping these fresh legs will give the Spanish attack the boost it needs. This is a make-it-or-break-it moment for Spain, and the tension is truly palpable!"

    "You''re absolutely right," replied Martin Keown, his comentator. "Costa, Thiago, and Silva have been working their socks off, but they''ve struggled to prate the Ivorian defense. Aspas, Asensio, and Rodrigo are apletely different proposition, with their direct and speedy approach that could catch Ivory Coast off-guard. It''s going to be a thrilling contest!"

    The atmosphere on the pitch was transformed as soon as the substitutions were made. The Spanish team was infused with a new burst of energy, attacking Ivory Coast with renewed vigor. Aspas, Asensio, and Rodrigo blended seamlessly into the team, their movement and coordination evident from the first touch.

    Thementators were repeatedly yelled at the top of their voices as Spain took control of the game for extended periods. "Did you see that passing?" eximed Steve as Spain staged several intricate midfield passes. "This is vintage Spanish football - a quick one-touch y that''s hard to defend against."

    "The Ivorian defense is under immense pressure now, pushed back into their own half," added Martin, the othermentator. "Can they hold on?"

    The Spanish yers seemed omnipresent all over the field, their rapid-fire passes creating openings and opportunities with every move. Iago Aspas asionally raced down the wing, delivering dangerous crosses into the box. Asensio also became a constant threat as he repeatedly unleashed thunderous shots from outside the penalty area, testing the Ivorian goalkeeper time and again. There was also Rodrigo, whose movement off the ball created space and confusion in the Ivorian defense.

    "It''s relentless pressure from Spain,"mented one of the analysts. "They''re throwing everything they have at Ivory Coast. It''s just a matter of time before they find that breakthrough."

    The atmosphere in the stadium remained electric - the air filled with a palpable tension as the clock ticked closer to the final whistle. Spain''s supporters were on the edge of their seats, urging their team forward, sensing that a goal was imminent. Thementators, too, were swept up in the exciting game moments, their voices rising with each Spanish attack. It was a true spectacle to behold.

    "Asensio with another shot!" shouted Steve as the ball whizzed towards the goal. "Saved by the goalkeeper! But Spain is not giving up!"

    Then, a few secondster...

    "And now Rodrigo!" eximed Martin, the othermentator, as Rodrigo danced past defenders. "Can he find the? Oh, just wide!"

    Such remarks by thementators became the order of the evening as the Ivorian defense was hanging on by a thread, their yers scrambling to block shots and intercept passes. They looked so vulnerable against Spain but surprisingly didn''t concede, and the score remained 1-1.

    Even then, Spain''s relentless onught continued, and the Ivorian coach, Herv¨¦ Renard, knew he had to act fast. With his team under immense pressure and Spain dominating possession, Renard made a bold move. He signaled for Cheick Doukour¨¦, a tenacious midfielder, to rece the tiring Gervinho, injecting fresh energy into the Ivorian midfield. Simultaneously, Maxwel Co entered the fray, taking over from the exhausted Wilfried Zaha, adding pace and vigor on the Ivorian nks. Thementators were quick to analyze these changes. "Renard is not sitting back and watching. He''s making changes to match Spain''s intensity," remarked Steve, his voice tinged with excitement. "Doukour¨¦ and Co could be the spark Ivory Coast needs to weather this Spanish storm!" Meanwhile, amidst the chaos of the game''s final minutes on the pitch, Zachary and Eric Bailly took charge of rallying their teammates. Their voices cut through the noise, urging their fellow Ivorian yers to stay focused and organized.

    "Come on, guys! We''re almost there, stay tight!" Zachary''s voice echoed across the field, a beacon of determination amidst the frantic pace of the match.

    Renard''s instructions from the sidelines also added to the sense of urgency. "Keep defending as a team! We''re minutes away; give it your all!" His words reverberated through the Ivorian yers, instilling a renewed sense of purpose.

    However, Spain continued their onught as if there were no tomorrow. In the 86th minute, they even carved out a clear-cut chance that had the crowd holding their breath. Iago Aspas, ever the opportunist,tched onto a precise cross from Marco Asensio and unleashed a thunderous first-time shot from the edge of the box. The ball seemed destined for the top corner, but Gbohouo, the Ivorian keeper, soared through the air like a phoenix, his fingertips brushing the ball and diverting it out of y with a stunning diving save. The Ivorian fans cheered like mad, letting out sighs of relief after seeing the keeper''s heroics keeping the scoreline 1-1.

    "Unbelievable save from Gbohouo! His save has kept Ivory Coast in this game," eximed onementator, his voice filled with awe. "Spain is throwing everything at them, but Ivory Coast still holds firm! Spain will now have a chance to test Ivory Coast''s defense from this corner kick."

    The intensity on the pitch was matched by thementary box, where the analysts dissected each moment with an ever-increasing passion. The game hung in the bnce as fans of both teams held their breath, their prayers mingling in the charged atmosphere. Marco Asensio stepped up to take the corner kick, his eyes locked on the swirling sea of yers in the box. With the referee''s whistle cutting through the noise around the stadium, heunched the ball into the melee, sparking a battle of wits and physicality.

    The box became a cauldron of scrambled actions as yers jostled for position, leaping to meet the iing ball. Amidst the chaos, Eric Bailly rose above the fray, timing his jump to perfection. His powerful header sent the ball soaring out of danger, much to the relief of the Ivorian faithful.

    But in football, transitions can be lightning-fast, and Ivory Coast capitalized on the swift turnover after the failed corner kick. Zachary, positioned strategically near the border of the final third, pounced on the loose ball like a predator that just sensed an opportunity. With a burst of speed and skill reminiscent of Ronaldinho, he danced out of an encirclement of Spanish yers with mesmerizing footwork, leaving opponents grasping at thin air.

    The stadium erupted in gasps and cheers as Zachary weaved past more Spanish yers, disying abination of finesse and raw athleticism. Just as he broke past the centerline and set his sights on the opposition''s goal, Jordi Alba, the Spanish left-back, made ast-ditch tackle to stop him in his tracks. The referee''s whistle blew, and Alba received a yellow card for the foul, granting the Ivorians a rare opportunity to take a breather and regroup during the 89th minute.

    The resulting free-kick was taken slowly as the Ivorian team tried to break Spain''s momentum. However, the referee cautioned Zachary, who was seen as the main culprit for the time-wasting incident, and the game continued.

    But the Spaniards weren''t about to give up. With their eyes set on the World Cup knockout stages, they surged forward again, putting tremendous pressure on the Ivorian defense. They won the ball back quickly and resumed their dominance, relentlessly probing for openings and testing the Ivorian defense.

    The tension was palpable as the clock ticked down, each minute feeling like an eternity for both sets of fans. Ivory Coast, determined to hold on to their hard-earned point, employed the "park-the-bus" tactic, throwing all their yers behind the ball to thwart Spain''s relentless attacks.

    Eventually, the added minutes psed, and despite Spain''s valiant efforts, including a narrow escape for Ivory Coast in the 92nd minute when Rodrigo''s header threatened the inside of the post, the game ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.

    The final whistle unleashed mixed emotions as yers copsed to the ground in exhaustion or embraced each other in mutual respect.

    Zachary, the backbone of Ivory Coast''s unwavering spirit, led the way in the celebrations. His teammates gathered around him, cheering and hugging as they savored their victory. With seven points in the bag, they had sealed their spot as Group B leaders and their ce in the next round, triggering scenes of jubtion and camaraderie.

    "Unbelievable, we did it, guys! We are the group leaders, and we are heading to the knockout stages!" Zachary''s voice boomed over the celebrations, a testament to the team''s collective determination and unity.

    His teammates echoed his enthusiasm while exchanging high-fives and hugs, their emotions running high. Together, they had made history by securing their team''s spot in the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time ever.

    -----

    In the meantime, the stadium echoed with a mix of relief and excitement. Thementators, perched high in their booth, reflected the electric atmosphere in theirmentary.

    "Wow! What a match we''ve just witnessed here today!" eximed Steve, the leadmentator, his voice brimming with excitement. "The sh between Spain and Ivory Coast was nothing short of spectacr, with both teams pushing themselves to the limit."

    "Although Spain had the upper hand for most of the game, Ivory Coast managed to hold on and secure a well-deserved 1-1 draw. And let''s talk about Zachary - he was absolutely phenomenal, scoring his third goal in this World Cup campaign. Ivory Coast is lucky to have such a talented yer on their side!"

    Martin, his comentator, echoed, "I couldn''t agree more, Steve! And what a result for Ivory Coast - with seven points, they''ve clinched the top spot in Group B, securing their spot in the knockout stages of the World Cup. This is a huge achievement for them, and I can''t wait to see what they''ll bring to the next round!" n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The cameras panned to the ecstatic Ivorian fans waving gs and chanting in celebration. Thementators continued to dissect the implications of the match, noting the performances of key yers and the tactical battles that unfolded.

    "Meanwhile, in the other Group B game," Steve continued, "Portugal managed to secure a 1-0 victory against Iran, confirming Ivory Coast''s qualification as the group leader with seven points, followed closely by Portugal with six points. Spain settles for third ce with four points, and unfortunately for Iran, they finish at the bottom of the group with zero points."

    The comentator, Martin, added, "Looking ahead to the knockout stages, we''re in for some exciting games. Ivory Coast will be up against the runner-up from Group A, while Portugal will face off against the Group A winners. Both matches will be intense showdowns between top-tier teams, witheitherRussia or Uruguay potentially in the mix."

    As the cameras panned over the yers, capturing their reactions of joy and disappointment, thementators bid farewell with a final thought, "It''s been a wild ride in Group B, but the true test awaits in the knockout rounds. Stay tuned for more thrilling World Cup action!"

 Chapter 639 The Ivorian Team Spirit

    Chapter 639 The Ivorian Team Spirit

    The morning after the intense match between Ivory Coast and Spain was a mix of exhaustion and excitement for Zachary. The adrenaline rush of scoring a crucial free-kick and helping his team secure a draw against the mighty Spanish team had left him physically drained but mentally exhrated. As he rolled out of bed and stretched his weary muscles with a post-match yoga routine, his mind raced with thoughts of the uing knockout stages and the dream of guiding Ivory Coast to the World Cup quarter-finals.

    After Zachary finished his yoga routine and freshened up, he headed to the hotel restaurant for breakfast, where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon weed him. Upon entering the bustling dining area, he quickly spotted some of his teammates seated at arge table, chatting andughing over tes of food. Sylvain Gbohouo, the team''s goalkeeper, acknowledged Zachary with a nod as he joined Eric Bailly, Nics P¨¦p¨¦, Wilfried Zaha, and Serge Aurier at their table.

    "Morning, everyone," Zachary greeted as he settled on one of the chairs, pouring himself a cup of milk.

    "Morning, Zachary! The hero of yesterday''s match!" Nics P¨¦p¨¦ eximed with a grin, eliciting chuckles from the others.

    "Ah, don''t start with that," Zachary replied modestly, though the pride in his eyes was unmistakable. "It was a team effort, and we got the job done."

    Sylvain Gbohouo nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. That draw against Spain was crucial. Seven points and leading Group B! Who would''ve thought?"

    "It was a tough game, though," Eric Bailly remarked, spearing a piece of fruit. "Spain always keeps any team on their toes."

    "That''s for sure," Wilfried Zaha chimed in. "But Zachary''s free-kick was a stroke of genius. Poor de Gea didn''t stand a chance!"

    The group erupted intoughter and nods of agreement, reminiscing about the pivotal moment when Zachary''s free-kick had caught Spain''s goalkeeper off guard, finding its way into the back of the.

    "Sylvain, did you see de Gea''s face? He had no idea what hit him!" Eric Bailly eximed, mimicking the bewildered expression of the Spanish goalkeeper.

    Sylvain chuckled, shaking his head. "I thought he was a statue rooted to the ground as the ball sailed past him!"

    Nics P¨¦p¨¦, always one for a good joke, added, "Maybe we should give him some tips on how to defend against Zachary''s free-kicks next time!"

    The breakfast-filled banter continued as they relived the match highlights, from Eric Bailly''s heroic defensive tackles to Wilfried Zaha''s lightning-fast runs down the wing. Serge Aurier, the team''s experienced defender, chimed in with his analysis of Spain''s tactics and how they managed to hold off the Spanish attack.

    "They''re a tough team, no doubt about it," Serge said thoughtfully. "Their Tiki-taka swift one-touch y was beyond annoying, and they had us by the ropes during the second half. But we held our own and came out with a valuable point. That puts us in a great position for the knockout stages."

    As they were chatting away, the TV screen in the restaurant flickered to life, and suddenly, the familiar faces of Reshmin Chowdhury, Leon Osman, and Joleon Lescott appeared on the screen, hosting the BBC Four Sports morning show. They had been religiously tuning in to the program every morning during breakfast at the World Cup, and that day was no exception.

    "Hey, check it out! It''s Reshmin and the gang," Wilfried eximed, pointing to the TV.

    The group turned their attention to the screen as Reshmin Chowdhury, the presenter, began discussing the previous day''s matches, including the Ivory Coast versus Spain showdown. Leon Osman and Joleon Lescott, former footballers turned pundits, shared their insights and analysis of the game, praising Ivory Coast''s resilience and singling out Zachary''s free-kick as a moment of brilliance.

    "That goal from Zachary was pure ss," Leon Osmanmented, his tone impressed. "To pull off a free-kick like that in such a crucial match takes real skill and nerves of steel. That, for me, is among the best goals of this tournament."

    Joleon Lescott agreed wholeheartedly with a nod. "I couldn''t agree more. The set piece that Zachary struck wasabsolutely beautiful- a screamer that reminded me of a ssic Beckham goal. But let''s not forget about his teammates from Ivory Coast, who showed great determination throughout the game. They''re definitely a team to keep an eye on as the knockout stages approach."

    The yers at the table exchanged proud nces, their chests swelling with pride at the recognition of their hard work and dedication on the international stage.

    "They''re talking about you again, Zachary," Serge Aurier teased, nudging his teammate yfully.

    Zachary shrugged, trying to downy the attention. "Just doing my part for the team."

    The discussion on the TV shifted to the final Group B standings. "With that draw against Spain," Reshmin continued, "Ivory Coast secures the top spot in Group B with seven points. A remarkable achievement considering the caliber of teams in this group."

    "Ivory Coast is set to face the hosts, Russia, in an exciting round of sixteen sh," Leon said eagerly. "Russia has been in incredible form, winning 5:0 against Saudi Arabia in their first game and 3:1 against Egypt in their second. Although they lost their final group match against Uruguay, they are determined to qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals. With their massive crowd of enthusiastic home supporters, they will be a tough team to beat. The Ivorians will have to bring their A-game and y wlessly to secure a victory."

    The Ivorian yers'' interest was piqued at the mention of their uing opponent. Russia, with the home advantage, posed a formidable challenge.

    "Home advantage can be a game-changer," Nics P¨¦p¨¦ remarked thoughtfully. "But we''ve shown we can hold our own against tough teams."

    "As the pundits said, we''ll need to bring our A-game," Eric Bailly added. "But I believe in this team. We have the talent and the determination to go far in this tournament."

    The conversation drifted to tactics and strategies, each yer offering insights based on their experiences and observations. It was a dynamic exchange, reflecting the team''s continuous improvement and adaptability mindset. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Amidst the good-natured banter and jokes, Zachary stood up, his voice ringing out with conviction. "We''vee too far to give up now," he said. "Let''s keep pushing forward and make our mark on this World Cup!"

    His teammates nodded in agreement, their eyes shining with the shared vision of sess. With a final round of high-fives and well-wishes, the Ivory Coast yers dispersed, ready to tackle the next phase of their journey. The next few days were filled with intense training sessions as the team honed their skills and fine-tuned their tactics. The air was electric with excitement and anticipation as the yers mentally prepared themselves for the crucial round of sixteen sh against Russia.

    As the team trained tirelessly, Zachary, the linchpin of their midfield, poured his heart and soul into every session. His eyes were not only on the Ivory Coast''s uing sh but also on the unfolding drama of the World Cup as other powerhouse teams secured their spots in the round of sixteen.

    The news of Brazil, Ennd, France, Argentina, and Croatia all progressing to the knockout stages filtered through to the Ivorian camp. It reminded them of the caliber ofpetition they faced, fueling their determination to leave their mark on the tournament.

    Zachary, however, remained undeterred. He was a beacon of leadership on the training ground, inspiring his teammates with his work ethic and passion for the game. His ability to ignite the team''s spirit was evident in every drill and scrimmage as they fine-tuned their tactics and strategies.

    During team meetings, the focus was razor-sharp. The coaching staff dissected Russia''s strengths and weaknesses, formting a game n tailored to exploit any of their vulnerabilities, however small. Zachary''s analytical mind came to the fore as he studied video footage and discussed tactics with his fellow yers, offering insights and ideas to gain an edge over their opponents.

    Off the field, the atmosphere was a mix of nerves and excitement. The yers, aware of the magnitude of the uing match, also found moments of solidarity andughter amidst the intense preparations. They leaned on each other for support, forming a tight-knit unit bonded by their shared goal of reaching the quarter-finals.

    The days passed in such a manner, and as June 30th, the eve of the match,dawned, anticipation hung heavy in the air. The hotel where the Ivorian team stayed in Moscow buzzed with activity as the final preparations began. Zachary woke up early, his mind already focused on the task ahead. He went through his morning pre-match gym and yoga routines single-mindedly, ensuring that every aspect of his preparation was wless.

    At breakfast, the mood was a mix of nerves and determination. The yers exchanged nods and words of encouragement, silently steeling themselves for the challenge ahead. Coach Herve Renard delivered a morning pep talk, emphasizing the importance of staying disciplined on the final day before the game.

    "Today is the final day to prepare, boys," he said, his voice carrying weight and authority. "We''ve worked tirelessly for the past few days, and I believe we''re ready to face Russia. But let''s not lose focus just yet. We''ll be refining our tactics onest time this morning, and in the afternoon, we''ll be taking a well-deserved break to rest up for tomorrow''s big game. Then, we''ll start tomorrow with a light warm-up before heading to the Luzhniki Stadium for the ultimate showdown against Russia in the evening. And I know we''lle out victorious, no matter what!"

    The yers nodded in agreement, their resolve hardened. Zachary caught the eye of his teammates, a silent understanding passing between them. They were ready.

    The rest of the day was a blur ofst-minute preparations. The team went through a final training session, fine-tuning their set pieces and reviewing their tactical approach. As one of the leaders on the field, Zachary took it upon himself to rally the team, instilling confidence and belief in their abilities.

    The team gathered for dinner in the evening, and there was a feeling of unity andradeship as they prepared to face the challenges ahead. They shared stories and jokes, easing the tension and mentally preparing themselves for the uing battle.

    Zachary finally found a quiet moment to himself as the night progressed. He sat by the window, gazingoutat the Moscow city lights, lost in a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. He was grappling with the weight of expectations, the thrill ofpetition, and the sheer joy of performing on the World Cup stage.

    "Ivory Coast versus Russia," Zachary whispered, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Tomorrow, we will write our story."

    With that resolve firmly entrenched in his heart, Zachary retired to his room, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement about the uing match. Sleep came slowly, and when it did, it was filled with dreams of glory and triumph on the football pitch.

 Chapter 640 Brilliant Corner-Kick

    Chapter 640 Brilliant Corner-Kick

    With only one African team making it past the group stages, the support for Ivory Coast was animated and widespread. Football enthusiasts across the African continent rallied behind the team, hoping for a memorable victory against the hosts. Of course, the passion was more buoyant in Abidjan, the Ivorian Capital.

    The streets of Abidjan hummed with excitement and unlimited expectations as Sunday, July 1st, heralded the sh between Ivory Coast and Russia in the World Cup round of sixteen. Among the throngs of fans making their way to bars and viewing venues that afternoon, three friends from Universit¨¦ F¨¦lix Houphou?t-Boigny stood out. Kwame Bamba, Adeoluwa Soro, and Yannick Gou¨¦ had decided to skip their final year research work, deeming the allure of the World Cup match too enticing to resist. They were bold and adventurous, eager to immerse themselves in the excitement of the game.

    As they arrived at a lively bar in Abidjan, just half an hour before the kick-off, Kwame, Adeoluwa, and Yannick were met with an enthusiastic crowd of fans, all scrambling to get the best seats to catch the action. But the determined trio wasn''t discouraged. They quickly spotted an empty table in the farthest corner - and then, with a shared grin, climbed onto it to secure their viewing spot.

    The bar was alive with energy and conversations in French and other localnguages as pundits on the screen analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of both Ivory Coast and Russia. Kwame, Adeoluwa, and Yannick leaned in, their eyes glued to the screen as the experts dissected the uing match. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "You see," Kwame remarked, gesturing at the screen, "Zachary Bemba will be key for us today. His performance in midfield can make all the difference."

    Adeoluwa nodded in agreement, a look of expectation on his face. "Absolutely. He''s the engine of our team, dictating the tempo and creating opportunities. If he''s on form, we have a real chance. Even if Russia double-teams him the entire game, he''ll still create two or more deadly chances for us."

    Yannick, always the analyst, said, "But let''s not forget the importance of our defense. Though Gbohouo has been excellent in goal, Aurier, Kon¨¦, Kanon, and Bailly must be at their best to counter Russia''s aggressive attack. If we want to win, we must control the midfield and defend as if our lives depend on it. And wouldn''t it be amazing if we could score early and stun their supporters into silence?"

    It felt like they were the Ivorian yers themselves, prepping for the big game in Russia. Everyone was eager to share their insights and predictions, each more passionate than thest. In the meantime, the atmosphere in the bar grew more explosive, with a tangible sense of unity and national pride filling the air. Fans of all ages had already gathered to support their team, and it was clear that nothing could dampen their spirits.

    Minutes passed just like that, and as the clock ticked closer to the start of the match, Kwame, Adeoluwa, and Yannick exchanged nervous nces, the anticipation building to a crescendo. This was more than just a game; it was a chance for Ivory Coast to make history and advance to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

    "Here we go," Adeoluwa said, his voice filled with anticipation as the yers lined up on the pitch. "It''s time for Zachary and the boys to show what they''re made of."

    With a collective cheer from the crowd in the bar, the referee blew the whistle, signaling the start of what promised to be an exhrating and fiercely contested match between Ivory Coast and Russia. The eyes of the nation were fixed on the screen, hearts pounding with hope and excitement as the drama of the World Cup unfolded before them.

    -----

    Meanwhile, on the other side of the world...

    The Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow pulsated with explosive excitement as Ivory Coast and Russia faced off in the round-of-sixteen sh. The energy was palpable as the clock struck 5:00 PM, and the game began. The Russian fans, draped in their national colors and waving gs, roared with animated passion, creating a mind-blowing cacophony of support for their team. The atmosphere became electric, with chants and cheers echoing through the stadium, spurring on the Russian yers with every move.

    On the pitch, however, the Ivorian yers remained focused andposed, their eyes locked on the ball as they sought to settle into their 4-2-3-1 formation while finding a suitable rhythm. Ignoring the raucous cheers from the stands, they passed the ball with precision and purpose, forming triangles and maintaining possession as they looked to dictate the tempo.

    At the heart of Ivory Coast''s midfield was Zachary, a maestro¡ªor rather, the maestro with the ball at his feet. Falling back into a defensive midfield role, he acted as the engine that drove his team forward, his incredible passing skills allowing Ivory Coast to keep control of the game throughout the opening minutes. With each crisp pass, Zachary orchestrated the flow of y, guiding his teammates with calm authority. As the game entered its 9th minute, Zachary decided to elevate his performance to another level. Receiving a return pass from Serey Di¨¦, he saw an opportunity to exploit the space ahead. With a burst of sleek side-steps and agility,he weaved past not one but two Russian midfielders - Roman Zobnin and Aleksandr Samedov - leaving them trailing in his wake.

    The field suddenly opened before Zachary, his spatial awarenessing into y as he spotted Wilfried Zaha sprinting down the right wing. Channeling his inner SS-grade Pirlo-esque ir, Zachary unleashed a sublime long-range pass that sliced through the Russian defense, finding Zaha in stride as he surged toward the opposition''s half.

    The Russian fans, who had been roaring moments ago, fell silent as Zaha controlled the ball with grace and precision. Like a whirlwind, he darted past Yuri Zhirkov, Russia''s left wing-back, before delivering a curling ball into the penalty area.

    However, Sergei Ignashevich, Russia''s seasoned center-back, was alert to the danger. Reacting quickly, he intercepted Zaha''s cross and cleared the ball out of y, conceding a corner kick to Ivory Coast.

    The hush that had momentarily fallen over the stadium was broken by a collective gasp from the Russian supporters, followed by renewed chants and cheers as they urged their team to defend resolutely. The home crowd was on their feet after their defense thwarted an early Ivorian chance during the 10th minute.

    That aside,the Russian coach, Staniv Cherchesov, was also fuming on the sidelines.He barked orders at his midfielders, his voice echoing across the pitch as he admonished them for allowing Zachary to control the midfield in the opening minutes.

    "y like professionals! Stop Zachary at all costs! Don''t allow him to do as he pleases! Don''t allow him to deliver those long-range passes to the Ivorian wingers!" the coach thundered, his frustration evident in every word. Meanwhile, on the opposite end, Zachary was in the thick of the action, strategizing with Wilfried Zaha as they prepared for the corner kick. "Zaha, if you get the ball from me again, cut inside and take on the defenders," Zachary advised, his eyes alight with determination. "You''ll have a better chance to create a scoring opportunity."

    Zaha nodded, acknowledging the advice as he positioned himself in anticipation of the iing corner kick. The other Ivorian yers also crowded into the box, ready to pounce on any opportunity that came their way.

    At that moment, the tension around the pitch hadalreadyrisen againas the Ivorians prepared to take their corner kick. All eyes were on Nichs P¨¦p¨¦ as he swung the ball into the crowded box. Both teams sprang into action, determined to gain the upper hand. The ball sailed towards the goalmouth, but the Russian defender, Ilya Kutepov, reacted swiftly and appropriately. With lightning speed, he headed the ball away, conceding another corner kick.

    Quick to adapt, Ivory Coast changed their strategy for the subsequent corner kick, opting for a routine they had practiced during training. With a simple signal from P¨¦p¨¦, Zachary, who had been waiting in the box, swiftly fell back¡ªto the outside of the eighteen before the corner kick was taken. Quick to adapt, Ivory Coast changed their strategy for the subsequent corner kick, opting for a routine they had practiced during training. With a simple signal from P¨¦p¨¦, Zachary, who had been waiting in the box, swiftly fell back¡ªto the outside of the eighteen before the corner kick was taken. P¨¦p¨¦ wasted no time and sent the ball toward Zachary with pinpoint uracy. That was when the magic happened!

    In a moment of brilliance, Zachary met the ball with a first-time swing of his boot, catching it on the volley with perfect timing from the edge of the box. The ball rocketed off his foot like a surface-to-surface missile, zipping through the sea of bodies in the box with astonishing speed and uracy.

    The Russian goalkeeper, Igor Akinfeev, was caught off guard as the ball thundered towards the goal. With a resounding thud, it struck the inside of the post before ricocheting into the back of the. Silence!

    The Russian fans, who had been raucous at the start of the match, fell into stunned silence as Zachary raced to the sidelines, his teammates engulfing him in jubnt celebrations. However,the atmosphere was much different in one corner of the stands as the African fans erupted in cheers. They roared with pride, their belief in their team reaffirmed by Zachary''sbrilliance.

    The game had shifted gears in a sh, and Ivory Coast had seized the advantage during the 13th minute, thanks to Zachary''s instinctive strike and the team''s quick thinking on the set-piece. They were in the lead, the score now 1-0 in their favor.

 Chapter 641 A Stalemate

    641 A Stalemate

    As Zachary''s thunderous volley found the back of the, the bar in Abidjan erupted into jubnt celebrations. Kwame Bamba, Adeoluwa Soro, and Yannick Gou¨¦ caught up in the euphoria, joined the chorus of cheers and hugs that swept through the crowd. Strangers became instant friends as they high-fived and chanted in unison, their voices echoing with Ivorian pride.

    Across from them, a particrly passionate fan had shed his shirt, his fists pumping in the air as he bellowed the names of Ivory Coast and Zachary. The excitement levels were sky-high, the energy waves profound as the fans reveled in their team''s early lead against Russia.

    As the cheers began to subside, the familiar voice of thementator on the screen caught their attention again. Thementator''s excitement was evident as heuded Ivory Coast''s stunning goal and Zachary''s exceptional skill in executing the volley that had left the Russian goalkeeper helpless.

    "Did you see that goal?" Kwame eximed, turning to his friends with a wide grin. "Zachary''s on fire tonight!"

    Yannick nodded enthusiastically. "That was insane! What a strike! We''re off to a great start."

    Caught up in the excitement, Adeoluwa added, "I told you Zachary was the one to watch. He''s a game-changer!"

    Their conversation was filled with adrenaline and excitement, their voices blending with the cheers and chants reverberating through the bar. But as the match progressed, their attention was again drawn to the intense action unfolding on the screen.

    With the Russian fans rallying behind their team, Russiaunched a wave of attacks in response to conceding the opening goal. They controlled the game for a few tense minutes, probing the Ivorian defense for an opportunity to equalize.

    The Russian midfielders were particrly bold and daring as they settled into a profound rhythm and started unleashing long-range passes into the heart of the Ivorian defense. Their intentions were clear; since they couldn''t break through Ivory Coast''s midfield and defensive shape with grounded passes, they would now try searching for opportunities using long balls to their strikers.

    To the surprise of many, their efforts soon paid off, and they found their chance during the 16th minute. It was Aleksandr Samedov, the midfielder, in the thick of the action. He unleashed a long-range ball from deep within Russia''s midfield and sent it towards Ivory Coast''s side of the pitch.

    On the other side, Artem Dzyuba, the ever-hardworking center forward, also went into action as the ball descended toward him. He outmuscled Lamine Kon¨¦, the Ivorian center-back, in a battle of pure strength close to the edge of the box before chesting the ball down. Then, just as swiftly, he whirled around the defender and unleashed a thunderous shot toward the goal, aiming to level the score.

    His technique was wless, and the ball took off with incredible speed, heading for the inside of the right post with a wicked curl. But Sylvain Gbohouo, Ivory Coast''s goalkeeper, showcased remarkable athleticism and reflexes, diving to punch the ball out of y and deny Russia a goal during the 16th minute. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The referee blew the whistle and pointed to the corner spot, and the bar erupted into renewed cheers and apuse as Gbohouo''s save kept Ivory Coast in the lead. The fans, still buzzing from Zachary''s goal, were now appreciating the heroics of their goalkeeper as well.

    "That was close!" Adeoluwa eximed, his eyes glued to the screen. "Gbohouo saved us there!"

    Kwame nodded in agreement. "We need to stay focused. Russia won''t go down without a fight."

    With a grin, Yannick added, "But with Zachary and Gbohouo in top form, I''m confident we can see this through!"

    The energy in the bar was vtile! Fans were on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the moment the Russians would take their corner kick. There was also a palpable sense of tension in the air, adding to the excitement of the game.

    ------

    Meanwhile, the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow was now a cauldron of emotion as Russia prepared to take the corner kick in the 17th minute of their round-of-sixteen sh against Ivory Coast. The home fans, their passion palpable, had created an explosive atmosphere that reverberated through the skies and sent tremors through the stadium.

    The noise was deafening, a relentless roar that seemed to fuel the Russian yers as they crowded into the box, their eyes fixed on the goal ahead. The Ivorian defenders, momentarily affected by the overwhelming support for the hosts, felt the pressure mounting as they braced themselves for the impending corner kick. Fortunately, in that moment of chaos and cacophony, Ivory Coast''s leaders stepped up. The goalkeeper, Sylvain Gbohouo, the experienced forward and captain, Gervinho, and the midfield maestro, Zachary, took it upon themselves to rally their teammates. Amidst the ear-splitting noise, their voices rang out, urging their fellow yers to block out the distractions and stay focused on the task before them.

    "Stay sharp! Ignore the noise! Eyes on the ball!" Gbohouo shouted, his voice cutting through the tumultuous crowd.

    Eyes zing with determination, Gervinho added, "This is our moment! We can''t let them score!"

    Remainingposed amidst the chaos, Zachary directed his teammates calmly. "Mark your men! Stick to your positions!"

    Their words of encouragement and guidance injected a sense of calm amidst the storm. Encouraged by their leaders'' resolve, the Ivorian yers squared their shoulders and prepared to defend the corner kick with renewed determination.

    Seconds ticked by just like that, and as the referee signaled for the corner to be taken, the noise reached even greater heights. Yuri Zhirkov, stationed at the corner spot for Russia, wasted no time before taking charge of the corner kick. The crowd held their breath as the ball was sent on a curling trajectory into the packed box, with yers from both sides hustling to get a piece of the action.

    There was pushing, shoving, and grappling as the yers tried to gain an advantage, creating a chaotic scene. The ball ricocheted wildly around the box, causing even more confusion and raising the tension in the stadium. Suddenly, out of the chaos, the ballnded at the feet of Russia''s towering striker, Artem Dzyuba. With lightning-fast reflexes, Dzyuba seized the opportunity and unleashed a sudden strike that flew past the Ivorian defender Franck Kessi¨¦ and into the back of the.

    The stadium erupted in a deafening roar as Russia equalized just five minutes after conceding a goal. The scoreline now read 1-1 in the 18th minute, and the fans apuded wildly as the Russian yers embraced and celebrated their swift response to Ivory Coast''s opening goal.

    The game eventually continued after the celebrations amid high expectations. But, the Ivorian yers seemed heartbroken after conceding the equalizer, which was an unfortunate twist after the initial joy of scoring the opening goal only minutes ago. Their devastation showed on their faces, and their performance was below what it had been during the opening minutes.

    The Russians took advantage of the drop in the Ivorians'' energy levels, and as the game progressed, their confidence grew, buoyed by the thunderous cheers of their home crowd. They relentlessly attacked the Ivorian defense, employing long balls and crosses to unsettle them.

    Despite the pressure, the Ivorian goalkeeper, Sylvain Gbohouo, and his stalwart defenders held their ground, exhibiting an unwavering resolve. They tirelessly defended their goal, thwarting the Russian advances several times to keep the scoreline level at 1-1 until the teams went down the tunnel for the halftime break.

    As the Ivorian yers returned to the dressing room, the atmosphere grew tense, and a heavy mood filled the room. The yers caught their breath and regrouped, knowing that the second half would bejustas grueling as the first. The Ivorian coach, Herv¨¦ Renard, strode into the room with a solemn expression etched on his face, his eyes zing with determination. He meant business. He wasn''t about to let his team y like amateurs any longer.

    "Gentlemen, listen up," Renard began, his voice ringing with unconcealed urgency. "We''re better than this, and we must go out there and show it in the second half. We must y with precision, intensity, and heart. We need to prove to the world that we belong here."

    Renard paced the room, his words resonating with each yer. "We have a game n and need to stick to it. When we defend, we must do it like our lives depend on it. We must do our best to avoid conceding another careless goal. And when we attack, we must do so with purpose and precision. No more hesitation, no more doubts."

    Renard''s words were a rallying cry, a call to arms for his team to rise above adversity and showcase their true potential. "Remember why you''re here. Remember the pride of wearing the Ivory Coast jersey. Let''s go out there and y football!"

    With a few inspiring final words, Renard motivated his yers and infused them with a renewed sense of determination. The halftime break ended, and the Ivorian team emerged from the dressing room with a steely resolve, ready to take on the challenges of the second half head-on.

 Chapter 642 To the Quarter-Finals

    642 To the Quarter-Finals

    A noticeable change swept through the Ivorian yers as the second halfmenced. Inspired by their coach''s impassioned halftime talk, they adopted a calmer, moreposed approach to the game. The frantic panic and drop in energy of the first half gave way to a measured and patient style of y, characterized by precise passing and intelligent build-up from the back.

    In the heart of the midfield, Zachary''s talents shone brightly again. He mesmerized the crowd with every touch of the ball and confounded the Russian midfielders with his world-ss dribbling and impable passing skills. His ability to dictate the game''s tempo became evident as he orchestrated Ivory Coast''s attacks, threading passes through tight spaces and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates.

    However, as Zachary''s influence on the game grew, so did the desperation of the Russian yers. Unable to contain his relentless runs and intricate footwork, they resorted to increasingly physical tactics, resulting in a flurry of fouls against the Ivorian ymaker. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    The referee''s patience wore thin as the fouls piled up, disrupting the game''s flow. Over the course of a few minutes, he brandished four yellow cards at the Russian yers, who had resorted to fouling Zachary in a bid to stifle his impact. The Russian fans, frustrated by the perceived harshness of the referee, booed vehemently, their displeasure echoing through the stadium.

    Despite the rough treatment, Zachary continued to ply his trade, refusing to be deterred by the physicality of the opposition. His resilience and skill kept Ivory Coast in the game as they continued to push forward, probing Russia''s defense in search of a breakthrough.

    The Russians, while relieved to have curtailed Zachary''s influence to some extent, knew that the Ivorian ymaker remained a potent threat. The game had be a battle of wits and wills, with both teams locked in a tense struggle for supremacy on the pitch, but Zachary seemed to remain the key. So, the Russians became even more shameless and double-teamed him, hoping to smother his impactpletely.

    The game continued, and as the 82nd minute approached, a sense of stagnation had settled over the pitch. Zachary was still tightly marked by Aleksandr Samedov and Roman Zobnin, the tenacious Russian midfielders. Their vignt eyes and physical presence deterred any attempts to involve Zachary in the y, leaving the game in a lull with few notable attacks.

    Sensing the need for a spark, the coaches made a few substitutions, attempting to inject fresh energy into their respective teams. However, the tactical stalemate persisted, exacerbated by Russia''s adoption of time-wasting strategies to preserve the scoreline.

    The Ivorian fans were on the edge of their seats as the game progressed to the final five minutes without any noteworthy opportunities for their team. But just when the tension in the stadium was almost unbearable, Zachary suddenly moved, unleashing a burst of sheer brilliance that left the spectators stunned during the 87th minute.

    It began with a relentless disy of pure determination and team spirit. Sensing an opportunity, Zachary escaped his markers and surged toward Daler Kuzyayev, the Russian midfielder,who wasabout to control the ball on the wing. With lightning speed, Zachary executed a skillful sliding tackle, his boot skimming through the grass like a viper on the hunt as he stole the ball cleanly from Kuzyayev''s grasp.

    Before the Russians could react, Zachary was back on his feet, racing toward the opposite end of the pitch with a singr focus. His speed was breathtaking, leaving opponents in the dust as he cut inside from the wing.

    Yuri Zhirkov, Russia''s wing-back, attempted to thwart Zachary''s run, but the Ivorian ymaker glided past him effortlessly, using abination of quick sidesteps and a routine change of pace.

    As Zachary approached the box, Fyodor Kudryashov, another Russian defender, moved in to halt his progress. Undeterred, Zachary showcased his agility and ball control, dancing past Kudryashov with a stunning series of mesmerizing moves reminiscent of a skilled breakdancer.

    With the tension mounting and the stadium holding its breath, Zachary found himself face-to-face with the goalkeeper, who had rushed out to meet him. In a moment of sublimeposure, Zachary skillfully lifted the ball above the keeper''s outstretched arms, sending it looping gracefully into the back of the.

    -----

    The bar in Abidjan erupted into a frenzy of celebration as Zachary''s stunning goal rippled the during the 88th minute.

    Kwame Bamba, Adeoluwa Soro, and Yannick Gou¨¦ caught up in the euphoria, leaped onto the table, their jubnt dance drawing cheers and apuse from the ecstatic crowd. The atmosphere was like a vtile chemical reaction, filled with the infectious joy of victory as people banged tables, clinked beer bottles, and chanted Zachary''s name.

    Amidst the revelry, the rey of Zachary''s goal appeared on the screen, prompting a hushed wonderment to settle over the fans. They watched in awe as Zachary showcased his incredible skills, agility, and precision, leaving everyone watching astonished.

    "Did you see that? Zachary is a genius!" Adeoluwa eximed, his eyes wide with amazement.

    Kwame nodded enthusiastically. "That goal was pure magic. He''s the hero tonight!"

    Unable to contain his excitement, Yannick added, grinning, "I knew Zachary woulde through! This here is our moment!"

    Their conversation was brimming with excitement and admiration for Zachary''s talent, a testament to the passion for their national team. As they discussed Ivory Coast''s prospects for the remaining minutes of the game, their smiles widened, fueled by the hope of victory.

    The game resumed, and the tension in the bar was palpable as fans nervously watched the final moments unfold on the screen. Prayers and cheers filled the air as Ivory Coast''s yers disyed resilience and determination, defending their lead with unwavering spirit.

    Finally, after six agonizing minutes of added time, the referee''s whistle pierced the air, signaling the end of the match. The bar erupted into triumphant cheers and apuse, joyous tears glistening in the eyes of many.

    "We did it! We''re through to the quarter-finals!" Kwame shouted, his voice filled with joy.

    Adeoluwa hugged his friends tightly. "I can''t believe it! Zachary led us to victory!"

    Yannick, wiping away tears of joy, eximed, "This is a historic moment for Ivory Coast! We''re going all the way!"

    The bar reverberated with celebration, the sound of cheers andughter mingling with chants of triumph. For the fans gathered there, it was a night they would never forget. It was a night when their team''s resilience and Zachary''s brilliance united them in a shared sense of pride and aplishment.

    -----

    Meanwhile, on the other side of the world...

    The Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow echoed with the bittersweet symphony of victory and defeat after the final whistle blew. The Russian fans slumped in their seats, disappointment etched on their faces, while Ivorian supporters erupted in euphoria, their cheers filling the air with an electric buzz.

    Zachary, the match-winning hero, was at the center of it all. His teammates lifted him on their shoulders, chanting his name with eagerness. His heart swelled with pride and joy, knowing that his two goals had secured Ivory Coast''s historic qualification for the World Cup quarter-finals.

    As he basked in the crowd''s adtion, Zachary couldn''t help but reflect on his journey. From the small fields of Norway, where he first kicked a ball as a professional footballer with dreams in his eyes, to this grand stage where he now stood triumphant, it had been a remarkable odyssey of passion, dedication, and relentless pursuit of excellence.

    Maxwell Sterling, the BBC One sports correspondent, approached Zachary for a post-match interview, his camera crew capturing every emotion on the maestro''s face.

    "Zachary, congrattions on a phenomenal performance," Maxwell''s voice boomed through the speakers. "You were absolutely brilliant out there, scoring two goals and taking your tally for the World Cup campaign to five goals. How do you feel?"

    Zachary couldn''t help but grin from ear to ear, his eyes twinkling with pride. "Thank you so much. It''s an honor to contribute to our team''s sess today."

    Maxwell leaned in closer, his eyes curious. "Can you walk us through that amazing run you made from the wing and scored the winning goal in the 88th minute? What was going through your mind at that moment?"

    Zachary''s eyes sparkled with memories and emotions. "It was like time stopped," he replied, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "I saw the opening and just went for it. The defenders were closing in, but I took the risk, and everythingjustfell into ce. I pushed myself to the limit, and the adrenaline rush was incredible.When the ball hit the back of the, it wasanindescribablefeeling.I knew we were on the way to victory, and it was all worth it!"

    Maxwell nodded, impressed by Zachary''sposure and skill under pressure. "And what does this victory mean for Ivory Coast, especially reaching the quarter-finals for the first time?"

    A wide grin spread across Zachary''s face. "It''s a moment of pride for our nation... for our continent, Africa," he dered. "We''ve worked tirelessly to get here, and this is just the beginning. We want to go all the way and make our country and continent proud."

    The camera zoomed in on Zachary''s determined expression, capturing the fire in his eyes and the unwavering belief in his team''s abilities.

    Maxwell then shifted the focus to the uing challenges. "Looking ahead to the quarter-finals, you will face Croatia or Denmark. What are your thoughts on the team''s preparation and chances?"

    Zachary''s demeanor turned serious, his gaze unwavering. "We know it''s going to be tough," he admitted. "But we''re ready. We''ll train harder, strategize better, and leave everything on the pitch. We believe in ourselves, and that belief will carry us through."

    As the interview concluded, Zachary''s words resonated throughout the stadium, igniting a sense of hope and determination among fans and viewers alike. He was not just a footballer but also a symbol of resilience, passion, and the relentless pursuit of dreams¡ªa true winner on and off the field.

 Chapter 643 Arriving in Sochi

    Chapter 643 Arriving in Sochi

    The morning after their thrilling 2-1 victory over Russia, the Ivorian national team gathered for breakfast, their spirits still buoyed by their previous night''s triumph. After filling their stomachs and enjoying some well-deserved rxation, they packed their bags and headed to the airport in Moscow. Their destination? Sochi, where they would face Croatia in the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup six dayster.

    As they stepped onto the ne, the air was filled with an unexpected sense of ease andfort. The Ivorian yers, Eric Bailly, Serey Di¨¦, Maxwel Co, and Cheick Doukour¨¦, were in high spirits, exchanging jokes and witty remarks without a care for anything in the world. Theirughter echoed through the cabin, drawing amused smiles from the other passengers and their coach, Herv¨¦ Renard.

    Even as the ne soared through the skies en route to Sochi, the atmosphere among them remained lighthearted and rxed. Between the bursts ofughter and football banter, they also discussed everything from rtionships to money and life.

    Eric Bailly, known for his infectious humor, sparked a conversation about rtionships. "Hey, Cheick, have you finally found a girl who can keep up with your dance moves?" he teased, referring to Cheick Doukour¨¦''s attempt at a dancing celebration during a previous training session.

    Cheickughed and replied, "Not yet, Eric! But I''m still searching for that ''special someone'' who can keep up with me on the dance floor."

    Serey Di¨¦, always the voice of reason, interrupted, "Remember, guys, it''s not just about finding someone who can dance with you. It''s about finding someone who can dance through life with you."

    Their conversation then shifted to lighter topics like money and the luxuries they dreamed of enjoying one day. Maxwel Co, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, shared a humorous anecdote. "I once dreamed of buying a private ind and inviting all of you for a party," he joked, earning chuckles from his teammates.

    Wilfried Zaha, known for his extravagant fashion sense, couldn''t resist adding, "And I''d be there with my designer suits, making sure we''re the best-dressed party on the ind!"

    As the ne continued its journey, the yers relished in each other''spany, sharing stories, jokes, and dreams for the future. Despite the intense pressure of the World Cup, these moments of levity served as a reminder of the joy and friendship that football could bring, both on and off the pitch.

    Renard, seated with the coaching staff, couldn''t help but shake his head with a smile at the yers'' antics. Despite their yful demeanor, he knew they deserved this moment of rxation. They had poured their hearts into the game against Russia, and a bit ofughter and camaraderie was the perfect way to unwind.

    Meanwhile, Zachary sat quietly, his attention focused on his phone. He scrolled through the sports news, taking in the headlines about his heroics on the pitch. One headline caught his eye, describing his left foot as a "special strategic weapon" against Russia, highlighting his instrumental role in securing the victory for Ivory Coast.

    However, his brows furrowed when he stumbled upon articles specting about his uing transfer. Transfer rumors were swirling, with journalists like Fabrizio Romano hinting at a potential move to a Premier League club. Zachary sighed and switched off his phone, shaking his head in annoyance. He was fullymitted to the World Cup campaign and didn''t want distractions, even about his future club.

    Beside him, Wilfried Zaha couldn''t resist poking fun at the situation. "Hey, Zachary, Crystal Pce could use a yer like you!" he joked, a yful glint in his eyes.

    Zachary chuckled and shook his head, ying along. "As tempting as that sounds, I''ll stick to the World Cup for now."

    The flight to Sochi continued smoothly, with the yers enjoying the journey and relishing the anticipation of their uing quarter-final match. Two hourster, the air hostess announced their imminent arrival in Sochi, signaling the next chapter in Ivory Coast''s World Cup journey.

    When they finally touched down in Sochi, they were greeted by the warm embrace of the coastal city. Exiting the ne, they were whisked away in a waiting bus, their anticipation growing as they headed to their hotel. After checking in, Coach Herv¨¦ Renard surprised them with the news that they would have a day off to explore Sochi.

    Excitement bubbled within the team as they quickly organized themselves for a tour around the city. Apanied by knowledgeable tour guides, they embarked on a journey of discovery, eager to immerse themselves in the beauty and culture of Sochi.

    Their first stop was the breathtaking ck Sea coastline, where the azure waterspped against the golden sands, creating a picturesque scene that left the yers in awe. The cool sea breeze rejuvenated them, setting the tone for a day of exploration.

    Next, they ventured to the base of the majestic Caucasus Mountains, their peaks towering above them in a disy of natural grandeur. The yers marveled at the panoramic views, snapping photos and sharing moments of wonder as they soaked in the mountainousndscape.

    The tour then took them to Riviera Park, a verdant oasis of lush greenery and vibrant flowers. Strolling along the winding paths, they enjoyed the tranquil ambiance, taking a break from the intensity of football to appreciate the beauty of nature.

    At the Sochi Tea ntations, they learned about the rich history of tea cultivation in the Russian region, sipping on freshly brewed tea and savoring its aromatic vors. The serene surroundings provided a peaceful respite for the yers, allowing them to unwind and rx.

    The final leg of their tour led them to the enchanting Dagomys Botanical Garden, where a dazzling array of nt species greeted them at every turn. The vibrant colors and fragrant blooms captivated their senses, creating a unique sensory experience.

    As evening approached, they headed to Sochi Olympic Park, a symbol of sporting excellence and achievement. Standing on the green field of the First Olympic Stadium, Zachary couldn''t help but visualize the uing quarter-final match against Croatia. The prospect of facing formidable opponents like Luka Modri? and Ivan Rakiti? stirred hispetitive spirit, fueling his determination to give his best on the field.

    The serene moment stretched on, and while still lost in his thoughts, Zachary was brought back to reality by Eric Bailly''s cheerful voice. "Hey, Zachary, what''s on your mind? You look like you''re nning our victory already!"

    Zachary chuckled, shaking off his reverie. "Just visualizing the game ahead, Eric. But for now, let''s enjoy this moment."

    The day ended with a delightful dinner at the hotel, where the team bonded over delicious cuisine and sharedughter. As they retired to their rooms for the night, a sense of anticipation and focus settled over them. The day of rest and exploration had rejuvenated their spirits, preparing them for the rigorous training and intense preparation awaiting them as they geared up for the crucial quarter-final sh against Croatia.

    -----

    Meanwhile, in another part of Sochi...

    Emily Anderson, Zachary''s agent, was in great spirits as she arrived in Sochi by train with a close-knit group of Zachary''s acquaintances. They were eager to explore the scenic coastal city before witnessing Ivory Coast''s crucial match against Croatia in six days. Among them were Zachary''s dedicated personal assistant, Kristin Stein,Zachary''s meticulous fitness trainer, Bj?rnPeters,Bj?rn''s warm-hearted wife who also served as Zachary''s talented chef, Inger,Zachary''s biological mother, C¨¦leste Kouame, andZachary''s vibrant step-sister, Natasha Kone.

    As they disembarked at Sochi and checked into their hotel, Emily decided to share a room with Kristin. The room was cozy, with a view of the bustling streets below and the distant glimpse of the ck Sea. After settling in, they sat on the plush couch, their excitement palpable.

    "Do you think Zachary can continue performing well in the World Cup?" Kristin asked eagerly, flipping through her tablet to check thetest news. "Can he lead Ivory Coast to victory against Croatia?"

    Emily smiled proudly. "He''s been exceptional, as always. I think he''ll be just as sharp against Croatia. As long as his teammates and coaches support him, Ivory Coast will most likely win."

    Kristin nodded in agreement. "I can''t wait to see how he fairs against Croatia''s Luka Modri? and Ivan Rakiti? in midfield. It''s going to be an intense battle."

    Just then, Emily''s phone rang, interrupting their conversation. Her voice waslow and almost mutedas she spoke to someone on the other end, scheduling a meeting with club representatives interested in signing Zachary. Kristin couldn''t help but lean in, curious to hear more.

    Once Emily hung up, Kristin couldn''t contain her excitement. "So, did you secure a club for Zachary?" she asked eagerly.

    Emily chuckled. "Not yet, but I''ve narrowed the options to four English Premier League clubs. They''re offering great terms, but I want Zachary to focus on the World Cup before diving into negotiations."

    Kristin''s expression turned thoughtful, a hint of worry clouding her features. Emily noticed the change and gave her a reassuring smile. "You seem worried, Kristin. What''s on your mind?"

    Kristin let out a heavy sigh and hesitated before speaking. "It''s Zachary''s career. It''s progressing so fast. I''m not sure I can keep up."

    Emily nodded, understanding the feeling all too well. "I know what you mean. But let me tell you something. If youreallywant something, you must fight for it with all your heart, or you''ll regret itter."

    Kristin looked at Emily with a mixture of gratitude and uncertainty. "I don''t know if I have what it takes," she said softly.

    Emily smiled reassuringly at her. "You have everything you need, Kristin. You only have to believe in yourself and go for it."

    The solemn atmosphere quickly passed, and as they got ready for bed, the thrill of being in Sochi and watching Zacharypete in the World Cup filled them with excitement for whaty ahead. Their conversation turned to lighter topics, but the anticipation of the uing days lingered in the air.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 644 To the Fisht Olympic Stadium

    Chapter 644 To the Fisht Olympic Stadium

    The days leading up to the quarter-final match against Croatia were intense and focused for the Ivorian national team. Coach Herv¨¦ Renard was in high gear, orchestrating rigorous training sessions and nning the game strategy with his assistants. Every yer was pushed to their limits, both physically and mentally, knowing that they were on the cusp of a historic achievement in the World Cup.

    On the training ground, the yers disyed unwavering dedication. They honed their fitness, fine-tuned their skills, and absorbed every instruction from the coaching staff. There were noints, only a shared determination to give their all for Ivory Coast.

    Off the field, Coach Renard and his team of assistants immersed themselves in analyzing Croatia''s past matches. They dissected every y and scrutinized every move, searching for weaknesses and opportunities to exploit. Their game n was meticulous, designed to counter Croatia''s strengths and capitalize on any openings. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Interestingly, the football camp remained a hub of discipline and focus. Strict protocols were in ce, and yers were disallowed from venturing beyond their residences and training grounds. Despite the restrictions, the team remained highly motivated, fueled by the prospect of advancing further in the World Cup.

    Zachary, the team''s linchpin, epitomized hard work and dedication. He absorbed the drills with boundless keenness, always eager to learn and improve. His leadership on and off the field inspired his teammates to match his level ofmitment.

    As the days passed in a blur of training sessions, tactical discussions, and mental preparation, the anticipation for the quarter-final match reached a fever pitch. Finally, the day arrived. It was Saturday, 7th July, the very day when Ivory Coast would face Croatia in a sh of spirits on the grand stage of the World Cup quarter-finals.

    On that morning of the quarter-final sh against Croatia, the Ivory Coast national team indulged in a much-needed rest period. The past few days had been a whirlwind of intense training sessions, tactical discussions, and mental preparation. Finally, with the game looming on the horizon, the yers took the opportunity to unwind and rx in the hotel lounge.

    Laughter and banter filled the air as the yers conversed and joked around, easing the tension that naturally came with such a high-stakes match. They loungedfortably, some flipping through magazines while others engaged in light-hearted conversations about anything but football.

    The time passed unnoticed, and as midday approached, the team gathered for a sumptuous lunch, enjoying several delicious dishes while basking in theid-back atmosphere. However, the tranquility was soon disrupted as Coach Herv¨¦ Renard called Zachary aside.

    "Zachary,e with me to the conference room. It''s time for the pre-match press conference," Coach Renard announced, his tone tinged with authority and anticipation.

    Zachary, though not particrly fond of press conferences, nodded in understanding. In football, the coach''s instructions were akin to military orders from a general, and Zachary knew the importance of adhering to them.

    As they entered the conference room, Zachary and Coach Renard were greeted by a sea of journalists, cameras shing, and microphones poised. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as the reporters prepared to grill the Ivory Coast representatives.

    Coach Renard answered most of the questions, his demeanorposed and professional as he discussed the team''s preparations and strategy against Croatia. His answers were insightful and offered a glimpse into the meticulous nning behind Ivory Coast''s approach to the crucial match against Croatia.

    However, amidst the barrage of questions, a journalist from the BBC caught Zachary''s attention. She directed her inquiries ''specifically'' at him, delving into various aspects of the uing game and Zachary''s role within the team.

    "Zachary, how do you n to counter Croatia''s midfield dominance?" the journalist asked, her gaze focused and professional.

    Zachary, poised and articte, responded, "By working hard as a team and ying smart. Croatia is a formidable opponent, especially in midfield. We''ve studied their y extensively and have prepared strategies to neutralize their strengths. It will be a collective effort from the team, and I''m confident we''ll execute our game n effectively."

    The journalist seemed or pretended to be impressed with his answer and continued, "You''ve been exceptional during this World Cup campaign, scoring in every game for Ivory Coast. Do you think you can continue doing the same against Croatia?" Zachary grinned and replied, "Well, if the opportunity presents itself during the game, I''ll give it my best shot. But my focus is not just on scoring - it''s on teamwork. I''ll be happy even if my teammates score the crucial goals and we win against Croatia. It''s all about putting the team first."

    The questions continued, covering topics ranging from tactics to team dynamics. Zachary answered each query with professionalism and confidence, showcasing his understanding of the game and his role within the team.

    As the press conference concluded, Zachary rejoined his teammates, the weight of anticipation and excitement hanging in the air. The stage was set for a thrilling encounter on the field, and the Ivorian team was ready to give their all in pursuit of victory.

    More hours passed, and the evening finally descended upon Sochi with a palpable tension in the air. After a light dinner that barely settled the nerves of the Ivorian yers, they boarded their bus, their minds singrly focused on the looming showdown against Croatia. The once light-hearted atmosphere that had apanied their morning hours was now reced by a quiet intensity, each yer lost in their thoughts, mentally preparing for the crucial game ahead.

    As the bus navigated through the bustling streets of Sochi, the outside world seemed to blur into insignificance. yers stared out of the bus windows, their expressions varying from devoted contemtion to steely determination. Zachary, known for his calm demeanor, resorted to music to ease his mind. He plugged in his headphones, immersing himself in a ylist that seamlessly blended Afro-beats with the raw energy of rock music. The rhythmic melodies served as a soothing balm amidst the mounting pressure of the approaching World Cup quarter-final.

    Minutes stretched into eternity as the bus edged closer to the hallowed grounds of the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi Olympic Park. The tension inside the vehicle mirrored the electric anticipation simmering outside. The streets were alive with fans, their enthusiasm painting the city in a kaleidoscope of Ivory Coast''s vibrant orange and Croatia''s iconic red and white hues.

    The Ivorian supporters lined the roads, waving gs and banners emzoned with messages of encouragement. Their chants were loud and heated, igniting a fire within the yers as the bus meandered through the jubnt crowds. Some yers couldn''t resist the urge to wave back, their faces breaking into fleeting smiles at the overwhelming support.

    Finally, the bus arrived at the gates of Sochi Olympic Park, greeted by a thunderous roar from the gathered fans. The yers disembarked, their hearts swelling with pride at the passionate reception. They exchanged nods and gestures of appreciation before disappearing into thebyrinthine corridors leading to the heart of the massive stadium.

    Finally, inside the dressing room, a sense of purpose permeated the air. The Ivorian yers donned their warm-up gear, each movement a ritualistic preparation for battle. They then headed to the field, and the coaches guided them through a rigorous pre-game warm-up routine with determination and strategic focus.

    Across the pitch, the Croatian team engaged in their own warm-up drills, their presence a looming reminder of the formidable challenge ahead. But Zachary and his teammates remained steadfast, their focus unwavering as they warmed up their muscles and prepared themselves for the battle ahead.

    The energy in the stadium reached a fever pitch as kickoff drew near. The stands pulsated with the collective heartbeat of fans from both nations, their cheers and chants creating an electrifying atmosphere. The tension among the yers was palpable, each step towards the opening whistleden with anticipation and expectation.

    As the teams retreated to their respective dressing rooms for final preparations, the stage was set for a sh between two teams no one would have expected to make it this far in the World Cup on the pristine turf of the Fisht Olympic Stadium. The dressing room buzzed with a charged energy as the Ivorian yers quickly donned their match gear. Zachary felt a rush of adrenaline as he pulled on his orange number ten shirt. The weight of the World Cup quarter-finals hung heavy in the air, each yer acutely aware of the significance of the uing match.

    Coach Herv¨¦ Renard stood before his team, his eyes reflecting determination and unwavering belief. His voice, usually calm and measured, now carried a vigorous intensity as he delivered his final pep talk. "Gentlemen, this is it. This is our moment to shine, to show the world what we are made of," he began, his words resonating in the room.

    He paced back and forth, his words punctuated by the rhythmic thud of his footsteps. "Today, we face Croatia, a formidable opponent, but remember, we are Ivorian warriors. We y as a team... we fight as a team, and we win as a team," he continued, his voice rising with passion.

    "Leave everything on that field. y with heart, y with courage, and y with pride. There are no second chances and no room for regrets at this stage of the World Cup. This is our time to seize glory, to make history," Coach Renard emphasized, his gaze locking with each yer in turn.

    He then delved into the intricacies of the game n, reinforcing key strategies and tactics before concluding with some powerful encouraging words. "Stay disciplined, stay focused, and execute the n wlessly. Believe in yourselves, believe in each other, and we will emerge victorious," he said, his voice turning into a thunderous roar reverberating off the walls.

    Fueled by their coach''s passionate words, the Ivorian yers responded with a resounding roar. The collective spirit in the room was palpable, a unified determination coursing through their veins.

    -----

    Meanwhile, in the Croatian dressing room, Coach tko Dali? stood before his yers with a calm yet authoritative presence. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the focused expressions of his team. They were on the cusp of a crucial World Cup quarter-final match, and Dali? knew the importance of his words.

    "My warriors, today we face a formidable opponent in Ivory Coast. Do not let their underdog status fool you. They possess world-ss talent, especially in yers like Zachary Bemba," Coach Dali? said, his voicemanding the attention of every yer in the room.

    He singled out his midfield maestros, Luka Modri?, Ivan Rakiti?, and Andrej Kramari?, urging them to be vignt and closely monitor Zachary''s movements throughout the game. "We cannot afford to give Zachary an inch of space. Shut him down, cut off his supply lines, and we will nullify their attacking threat," he emphasized, his words resonating with the midfield trio.

    Coach Dali? then outlined the zonal marking strategies and defensive tactics designed to stifle Zachary''s influence on the game before summarizing everything into a few sentences. "Stay disciplined, stay organized, and work as a unit. We control the tempo, and we dictate the y," he reiterated, instilling a sense of tactical awareness in his yers.

    He stressed the importance of sticking to the game n while allowing for creativity and adaptability on the field before reminding the yers of their team''s identity. "Remember our strengths, y to our style, and trust in each other. We havee this far because of our unity and determination. Today is no different."

    With a final nod of encouragement, Dali? looked at his watch, signaling that it was time for them to take the field. "Go out there and give it your all. Leave nothing behind, and let''s bring home the victory."

    Inspired by their coach''s words, the Croatian yersexited the dressing room with renewed purpose. They knew the challenges thaty ahead. But they were ready to face them head-on, fueled by Dali?''s calm yet motivating pep talk and their determination and skills.

    -----

 Chapter 645 A VAR Moment Full of Anxiety

    Chapter 645 A VAR Moment Full of Anxiety

    The atmosphere in Abidjan was palpable, a tense calm before the storm as fans gathered around every avable screen, their eyes glued to the unfolding spectacle. The streets were abnormally quiet. It was almost as if the entire city hade to a standstill to witness this monumental sh between Ivory Coast and Croatia. Families huddled together in their living rooms, friends crowded around TVs in bars and restaurants, and even night workces seemed to have paused their activities, all in anticipation of the World Cup quarter-final game.

    In homes across Abidjan, the TV screens flickered to life, one after another, disying the familiar sight of the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi. Thementator''s voice echoed through the speakers, greeting viewers in French and setting the stage for what promised to be an unforgettable match. And as the Ivory Coast and Croatia squads were announced, a sense of pride and excitement swept through the Ivorian fans.

    The starting line-ups were disyed on the screen, showcasing the talent and determination of both teams. Ivory Coast went with their trusted 4-2-3-1 formation, fielding a squad that had brought them sess in previous matches. Familiar yers like Serge Aurier, Eric Bailly, Zachary Bemba, Wilfried Zaha, Nics P¨¦p¨¦, and Captain Gervinho were ready to give their all for their country.

    On the other side, Croatia, also adopting a 4-2-3-1 setup, boasted a formidable squad led by the midfield maestros Luka Modri? and Ivan Rakiti?. With Mario Mand?uki? leading the attack, they were a force to be reckoned with.

    As the national anthems echoed through the stadium, emotions ran high in Abidjan. The fans watched with bated breath, their hearts beating in unison with their team''s determination.

    And then, as the clock struck 7:00 PM Abidjan time, the moment arrived. The referee''s whistle pierced the air, signaling the start of the quarter-final showdown between Ivory Coast and Croatia.

    -----

    Meanwhile, on the other side of the world...

    The World Cup quarter-final between Ivory Coast and Croatia was a sh of titans right from the opening whistle. The atmosphere in the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi crackled with anticipation as both teams battled fiercely for midfield dominance in the opening minutes.

    The Ivorian yers, donning their iconic orange jerseys, looked determined as they pressed forward, eager to impose their style of y on the match. Zachary Bemba, the talented ymaker, was at the heart of Ivory Coast''s midfield as always, orchestrating their attacks with quick feet and sharp vision.

    On the other side, the Croatians, in their distinctive red and white kits, showed no signs of backing down. Led by the experienced Luka Modri? and Ivan Rakiti? in midfield, they were keen on showcasing their technical prowess and tactical edge.

    As the game continued, the intensity became even more heated. Both teams engaged in a series of shes in midfield, fighting for every inch of space and possession. The midfield battle was particrly fierce, with several aerial duels and sliding tackles flying across the green from all directions.

    Suddenly, in the 6th minute of the game, Zachary Bemba found himself with the ball at his feet, looking to break through Croatia''s defensive lines. With a burst of speed, he surged toward the other half, only to be slowed down by Ivan Rakiti?''s well-timed shirt pull. The referee blew the whistle, awarding a free-kick to Ivory Coast. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Quick to capitalize on the set-piece opportunity, Ivory Coast took the free-kick quickly, sending a lofted ball toward the Croatian penalty area. Their captain and center-forward, Gervinho, made a darting run, hoping to connect with the ball and create a scoring chance.

    However, Croatia''s defensive stalwart, Dejan Lovren, had other ns. Anticipating the y, he read the ball''s flying trajectory perfectly, intercepting it before it could reach Gervinho. Lovren cleared the danger with a well-timed header, sending the ball back toward the midfield.

    In the ensuing midfield battle, Andrej Kramari? rose high to challenge Serey Di¨¦ for an aerial duel. The sh of heads was intense, with both yers disying their determination to win the battle for aerial superiority. But in the end, Kramari? got a decisive touch, directing the ball towards his midfield partner, Luka Modri?.

    Luka Modri?, known for his exquisite passing and vision on the field, effortlessly controlled the ball with ir. With a quick nce up the field, he spotted an opportunity to exploit the Ivorian defense. Without any hesitation whatsoever, Modri? unleashed a perfectly weighted curling forward pass, using his signature triv technique.

    The ball sailed through the air with a wicked spin, catching the Ivorian defenders off-guard. Ivan Peri?i?, Croatia''s dynamic winger, had already anticipated the pass and was making a spirited run down the left nk towards Ivory Coast''s half.

    The stadium erupted, voices cheering in excitement as thementator''s voice boomed over the crowd''s roar. "Luka Modri?, the Puppet Master, pulls the strings again in the World Cup with a masterful pass! Ivan Peri?i? is on the move, folks!"

    Ivan Peri?i?, with his pace and skill, received the ball in stride and continued his relentless charge towards Ivory Coast''s territory. Serge Aurier, Ivory Coast''s right-back, sprinted to intercept him, but Peri?i? had other ns.

    As Peri?i? stepped into the final third, he feigned to cut inside, only to unleash a devilishly curling cross towards the crowded box. The ball hung in the air with an intense spin, teasing the defenders and goalkeeper alike. In the heart of the chaos, Mario Mand?uki?, Croatia''s towering center-forward, made his move.

    Mand?uki?, known for his aerial prowess, leaped with determination, aiming to meet Peri?i?''s cross and convert it into a goal-scoring opportunity. However, Ivory Coast''s resilient center-back, Eric Bailly,was up for the challenge.

    However, the jubtion was short-lived as the referee suddenly halted y, his finger pointing to his earpiece. The stadium fell silent as the words "Checking Possible Penalty" and "Handball" shed on the big screen, indicating that VAR (Video Assistant Referee) was reviewing a potential penalty incident.

    The contest became even more fierce as Bailly, with his tenacity and defensive acumen, engaged in an aerial battle with Mand?uki?. The two giants shed mid-air, each determined to gain the upper hand. Mand?uki? used his physicality to try and muscle past Bailly, but the Ivorian defender matched him step for step.

    Amidst the chaos, Mand?uki? managed to get a touch on the ball, attempting to direct it towards the goal. However, Bailly''s timely intervention saw the ball deflect off his leg and out of y for a corner kick, much to the relief of the Ivorian fans.

    Croatia wasted no time and took the resulting corner kick quickly. Luka Modri?, Croatia''s maestro in midfield, delivered another intelligent ball into Ivory Coast''s packed box, aiming to capitalize on the confusion. The box turned into a battleground as yers jostled and fought for supremacy.

    Chaos again ensued as the ball deflected off a few bodies within the box. Fortunately, Eric Bailly showed hisposure under pressure and rose to the asion again. He positioned himself well, anticipating the ball''s trajectory, and executed a timely clearance to alleviate the danger. The Ivorian fans erupted, cheering excitedly, as they believed their team to have weathered the storm. They hugged and exchanged high-fives, assuming they had escaped an early scare in their heated quarter-final game against Croatia.

    However, the jubtion was short-lived as the referee suddenly halted y, his finger pointing to his earpiece. The stadium fell silent as the words "Checking Possible Penalty" and "Handball" shed on the big screen, indicating that VAR (Video Assistant Referee) was reviewing a potential penalty incident.

    The anxiety immediately soared as yers from both teams awaited the VAR decision that could alter the course of the quarter-final match. The fans held their breath, their eyes glued to the screen, as the VAR officials scrutinized the rey from multiple angles.

    Zachary was also tense as he waited for the VAR''s decision. His heart was beating like a drum in his chest, and he could seem to calm down. He was worried about conceding a penalty and a goal early in the game.

    As the seconds passed, the suspense grew thicker, wrapping the stadium in an invisible cloak of anticipation. The Croatian supporters were on the edge of their seats, hopeful for a favorable oue, while the Ivorian fans were filled with anxiety, praying for a reprieve.

    Finally, the referee moved, darting towards the pitch-side monitor with a sense of urgency. The stadium seemed to hold its breath as the referee studied the rey, analyzing every angle of Lamine Kon¨¦''s handball in the box.

    The screen disyed a close-up of Kon¨¦''s arm position as the corner ball descended into the box. Was his arm in a natural position? That was the critical question that would determine the fate of the penalty decision.

    The tension escted as the referee deliberated, his decision carrying immense weight. Finally, the Ivorian fans'' groans of frustration filled the air as the referee pointed to the penalty spot, awarding Croatia a golden opportunity to take the lead.

    Meanwhile, the Croatian supporters erupted into jubnt cheers, their excitement palpable as Luka Modri? stepped up to take the penalty. The pressure was immense, but Modri? remainedposed andfocused on the task.

    The referee''s whistle pierced through the tense silence soon after, signaling themencement of the penalty kick. Modri?''s movements were swift and deliberate as he approached the penalty spot, his eyes locked on the ball.

    Modri? then unleashed the shot, sending the ball hurtling towards its target with precision and power. Sylvain Gbohouo, the Ivorian goalkeeper, reacted instinctively, diving with all his might to make the crucial save.

    The ball seemed to move in what could only be slow motion, sailing towards the bottom left corner and narrowly evading Gbohouo''s outstretched hand. The collective gasp from the Ivorian fans echoed through the stadium as they watched helplessly, their hearts sinking as the ball found the back of the.

    1-0 shed on the jumbotron, indicating Croatia''s lead as their fans roared to celebrate their opening goal during the 9th minute. On the other hand, the Ivorian yers and supporters were crestfallen, the weight of the early deficit weighing heavily on their shoulders.

    The atmosphere in the stadium shifted dramatically, with Croatia gaining momentum and confidence from their early lead. As for the Ivorians, they were facing an uphill battle to w their way back into the quarter-final encounter.

 Chapter 646 Searching for the Equalizer

    Chapter 646 Searching for the Equalizer

    As the cheers from the Croatian fans reverberated through the stadium, the Ivorian team felt a collective pang of disappointment. The early goal conceded during the 9th minute had dampened their spirits, casting a temporary shadow over their determination. On the Ivorian bench, the atmosphere mirrored the subdued mood on the field, with yers exchanging looks of concern and frustration.

    Sensing the need to uplift his yers, Coach Herv¨¦ Renard sprang into action. With amanding presence, he rose from his seat and marched towards the touchline, his voice cutting through the stadium''s din like a rion call. His words were brimming with encouragement, strategy, and unwavering belief in his team''s abilities.

    "The game is far from over! Stay focused! Stick to the n!" His booming voice carried across the pitch, reaching each Ivorian yer with its resolute tone.

    The yers, shaken from their momentarypse, absorbed their coach''s words like sponges. There was finally a renewed sense of purpose and determination as they prepared to restart the match after Croatia''s goal.

    As the game resumed, the Ivorian yers showcased a newfound vigor. They pressed harder, chased every loose ball, and disrupted Croatia''s attempts to control the tempo. The midfield duo of Luka Modri? and Ivan Rakiti? found themselves under constant pressure as the Ivorians refused to give them time on the ball.

    Coach Renard''s instructions echoed in their minds, urging them to push forward relentlessly. The Ivorian midfielders and attackers, including the dynamic quartet of Zachary, Franck Kessi¨¦, Wilfried Zaha, Nics P¨¦p¨¦, and the seasoned Gervinho, disyed exceptional off-the-ball movement.

    Their persistence finally paid off during the 16th minute when the Ivorian yers showcased their determination and skillin a whirlwind of action. They crafted a promising opportunity that left the Croatian defense scrambling to respond.

    The sequence began with Franck Kessi¨¦''s audacious sliding tackle near the center circle, a move that caught Andrej Kramari? off guard and sparked a quick transition for Ivory Coast.

    Serey Di¨¦ quickly seized the loose ball and scanned the field for options, only to find Zachary tightly marked by Luka Modri? and Ivan Rakiti?. Understanding the need for a change in strategy, Serey Di¨¦ opted for a swift pass to the right wing, seeking out the reliable presence of Serge Aurier.

    Aurier, everposed under pressure, received the ball with poise before immediately redirecting it down the touchline to find Wilfried Zaha. Zaha, a master of agility and pace, wasted no time as he maneuvered past Ivan Strini?, leaving the Croatian left-back trailing in his wake.

    As Zaha surged forward, he initiated a fluid exchange with the experienced Gervinho, who had made a decisive run into the wing. The one-twobination between Zaha and Gervinho showcased the synergy and understanding among Ivory Coast''s attacking unit as they quickly cut into the pitch, heading toward Croatia''s box at breakneck speed.

    The ball was eventually returned to Gervinho, and he executed a deft minus pass toward the edge of the box, where Zachary had expertly just evaded his markers. Zachary immediately sensed the opportunity to strike with his SS-graded game intelligence. He met the pass from Gervinho with a lightning-fast swing of his boot, sending the ball hurtling toward the top left corner of the goal.

    The fans around the stadium watched with wide eyes, not even blinking a bit, as the ball sailed through the air, its trajectory seemingly destined for the back of the. However, a gloved hand appeared in its way at the veryst moment as Danijel Suba?i?, Croatia''s goalkeeper, leaped into action. Suba?i? exploded with sheer reflex and agility, deflecting the ball just enough to divert it out of y for a corner kick.

    A collective gasp was immediately heard from the crowd, matched by the collective disappointment of the Ivorian yers, none more so than Zachary himself. His hands instinctively flew to the back of his head, a gesture of frustration and regret at the missed opportunity to level the score.

    The referee blew the whistle, and the Ivorians immediately began preparing to take the crucial corner kick. With Serge Aurier standing over the ball, the Ivorians knew this could be the moment to turn the tide in their favor. Aurier''s lofted ball finally sailed into the box, igniting a frenzy of activity as yers from both teams fought for position.

    Franck Kessi¨¦, known for his aerial prowess, leaped into the air alongside Gervinho and Eric Bailly, hoping to get a decisive touch on the ball. However, Dejan Lovren, Croatia''s formidable center-back, rose above the chaotic crowd, using his physicality and defensive edge to clear the danger with a powerful header.

    As the ball flew out of the box, the always-vignt Zachary immediately sensed the danger of a counterattack brewing. He took off like a Ferrari on a Form One race track, his focusser-sharp as he tracked the movement of Luka Modri?, Croatia''s midfield maestro.

    Modri?, ever the orchestrator, deftly controlled the ball and looked to initiate a quick transition, eyeing Mario Mand?uki? as his target. Zachary''s football instincts quivered, and he recognized the imminent threat. He unleashed a burst of speed that propelled him across the field like aet streaking through the night sky.

    Zachary''s every muscle tensed and exploded with raw power as he closed the gap, zeroing in on Mand?uki? just as the ball left Modri?''s foot. As he finally reached the center line and caught up with the forward, he made a split-second decision fueled by sheer instincts. Zachary slid in all guns zing and executed a perfectly timed tackle that cleanly won the ball from Mand?uki?''s feet. The collision also sent Mand?uki? sprawling to the turf, a testament to the raw power behind the tackle. Tempers immediately red as the Croatian yers and technical staff erupted in protests, moring for a free-kick. They believed Zachary''s challenge was overly aggressive to the point of even deserving a yellow card. However, after a moment''s consideration, the refereewaved away their appeals, deeming Zachary''s tackle fair and well-executed.

    For Zachary, there was no time to revel in his defensive triumph. With a quick nce to ensure Mand?uki? was back on his feet, he immediately returned his focus to the game. The ball was finally in his possession, and he wasted no time beforeunching another lightning-fast counterattack, driving towards Croatia''s box with speed and resolve.

    The Ivorian fans cheered at the top of their lungs, clearly energized by Zachary''s decisive intervention and follow-up run. On the sidelines, Coach Herv¨¦ Renard nodded approvingly, recognizing the crucial role Zachary had just yed in averting a potentially dangerous situation.

    Zachary''s instincts took over as he danced past Ivan Rakiti?, his movement fluid and deceptive. With a well-timed step-over followed by swift eleration, he left Rakiti? trailing in his wake, a testament to his SSS agility. His mind was already two steps ahead as he spotted Gervinho''s well-timed run into the box.

    Without hesitation, Zachary unleashed a perfectly weighted lofted pass, sending forward a ball that seemed to hang in the air for an eternity before descending like a guided missile toward the area between the defensive line and the box. Gervinho read the trajectory urately, timing his run to perfection to stay onside.

    Back on the field! Zachary''s mind was only on the task at hand. He wanted to unlock Croatia''s defense and create a scoring opportunity for his team. As he surged forward, his mind raced faster than his feet. He was the architect of this moment, the conductor orchestrating Ivory Coast''s symphony of attack. He calcted the angles, assessed the defense, and visualized the y unfolding like a master strategist on the battlefield with every stride he took.

    Croatia''s defensive line had shifted, attempting to catch Ivory Coast''s attackers offside. It was a tactic they had relied on in previous matches, but Zachary wasn''t about to fall into their trap. His eyes darted across the field, analyzing the positioning of his teammates and the gaps in the Croatian defense.

    Eric Bailly and Lamine Kon¨¦ were pressing high, disrupting the rhythm of Croatia''s backline. On the wings, Wilfried Zaha and Nics P¨¦p¨¦ were ready to pounce, their pace and skill a constant threat. And then there was Gervinho, the seasoned forward, positioned strategically to exploit any opening.

    Zachary''s instincts took over as he danced past Ivan Rakiti?, his movement fluid and deceptive. With a well-timed step-over followed by swift eleration, he left Rakiti? trailing in his wake, a testament to his SSS agility. His mind was already two steps ahead as he spotted Gervinho''s well-timed run into the box.

    Without hesitation, Zachary unleashed a perfectly weighted lofted pass, sending forward a ball that seemed to hang in the air for an eternity before descending like a guided missile toward the area between the defensive line and the box. Gervinho read the trajectory urately, timing his run to perfection to stay onside.

    As the ball dropped from the heavens, Gervinho''s chest met it with a delicate touch, guiding it forward into his stride. The Croatian goalkeeper rushed out, a looming obstacle in Gervinho''s path, but the Ivorian forward remainedposed.

    Gervinho deftly rounded the keeper, leaving him stranded and grasping at thin air. The goal was gaping, an invitation that Gervinho epted with a single-minded intent. His strike was refined and wless, and the ball finally thundered into the back of the with power.

    The stadium erupted with cheers and apuse as Gervinho wheeled away in celebration, his teammates rushing to congratte him. But amidst the jubtion, there was a moment of apprehension as the VAR check loomed.

    The rey shed on the screens, dissecting every angle of the y. Was Gervinho onside? Did he time his run to perfection? The uncertainty weighed heavily on the Ivorians, the oue hanging in the bnce. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Fortunately, relief flooded the Ivorian fans and yers as the referee''s decision came through only a few secondster. Goal confirmed! Gervinho''s effort stood, and the scoreline read 1-1. Ivory Coast had finally equalized the score during the 19th minute.

 Chapter 647 Another Moment of Magic

    Chapter 647 Another Moment of Magic

    The cheers of the African fans were still echoing through the Fisht Olympic Stadium as Gervinho''s jubnt celebration faded into the background. The scoreboard now read 1-1, an emblem of Ivory Coast''s resilience and ability to stage aeback. As the game restarted, anticipation hung thick in the air. Fans of both teams braced themselves for a fierce battle, expecting the teams to ramp up their attacking efforts and quickly search for the winner. But instead, the game took on a more cautious tone.

    Ivory Coast, lifted by their equalizing goal, now adopted a more prudent approach. The memory of Croatia''s early goal was still fresh, a brutal reminder of how quickly things could go wrong. So, they remained defensive, opting to weather through the next few minutes without taking unnecessary risks.

    Zachary, Wilfried Zaha, Nics P¨¦p¨¦, and even Gervinho, who had been relentless in their offensive pursuits, were now forced to repeatedly fall back to support their defense. The Ivorian strategy had shifted; it was no longer just about scoring but also about preventing Croatia from finding the back of the again.

    Surprisingly, Coach Herv¨¦ Renard, who was often attack-minded, now supported their approach. His voice repeatedly echoed from the sidelines, urging his Ivorian yers to y smart and focus on defense for the next few minutes. His tactical adjustments were evident in their y. The team had now formed apact unit with tight defensive lines and meticulously coordinated movementsin their 4-2-3-1 formation. They weren''t going to give Croatia any space to exploit.

    On the other side, Croatia was not content with just sitting back. Their midfield maestros, Luka Modri? and Ivan Rakiti?, continued orchestrating creative ys with their usual ir and precision. Modri?, in particr, seemed determined to break through the Ivorian defenses at all times. His eyes constantly scanned the field, looking for any opportunity to send a defense-splitting pass towards Mario Mand?uki? or the speedy wingers - Ivan Peri?i? and Ante Rebi?.

    His brilliance was a threat again during the 27th minute after he received the ball near the center circle. With a quick nce upfield, he spotted Mand?uki? making a run behind the Ivorian backline before unleashing yet another pass that caught the Ivorian defense off guard. Modri?''s pass was another beauty of a through ball, curving and dipping perfectly into Mand?uki?''s path, who controlled it expertly. But before Mand?uki?could pull the trigger, Eric Bailly surged forth like a storm, sliding in with a perfectly timed tackle to clear the danger. The Ivorian fans breathed a collective sigh of relief.

    The game continued in this manner, a tense tactical match where every move was carefully calcted. The Ivorians defended with determination, their backline and midfielders working tirelessly to intercept passes and block shots. A few more minutes passed without much happening until Croatia had another opportunity during the 36th minute. This time around, Rakiti? found himself with space just outside the box. He unleashed a powerful shot, but Sylvain Gbohouo was up to the task, diving to his right to parry the ball away. The rebound fell to Peri?i?, who attempted a quick follow-up, but Serge Aurier was there, blocking the shot with his body and clearing the ball to safety. But that wasn''t the end of the excitement, as the failed attempt swiftly turned into a counterattacking opportunity for Ivory Coast.

    Franck Kessi¨¦, one of Ivory Coast''s midfielders, quickly picked up the ball before unleashing a long-range pass toward the right wing. Seemingly out of nowhere, Wilfried Zaha appeared and chested the ball down. He then raced forward like the wind and soon initiated a 2-versus-2 scenario.

    Eventually, Zaha cut inside and squared the ball toward Coratia''s box, where Gervinho was arriving. The captain rushed forward to tap the ball home, but his attemptcked the power to trouble Suba?i?, who made afortable save.

    As the half-time whistle approached, the usual tension that one would expect from such a stage of the World Cup had lessened, as both teams hadn''t created any noteworthy opportunities over the past few minutes. And when the referee finally blew for half-time and the yers walked off the field, it wasn''t surprising that the score was still level at 1-1.

    As the Ivorian yers returned to the dressing room, a solemn air enveloped them. Coach Herv¨¦ Renard soon stood before them, his eyes aze with intensity. He pped his hands to draw their attention and began his half-time pep talk.

    "Listen up, men. We''ve already shown them we can score," Renard began, his voice steady and filled with conviction. "Gervinho''s goal was just the beginning. We can do it again. We must believe in ourselves and seize every opportunity thates our way. This game is ours for the taking, but we must stay focused."

    The yers nodded, absorbing his words. Renard paced the room, his gaze sweeping over each of them. "Stay disciplined. Croatia wille at us hard, but we can''t afford to concede another goal. Keep your shape, staypact, and be vignt. We cannot let them break through."

    He then shifted to tactics, pointing out adjustments on the whiteboard. "Press high when there''s a chance, but fall back quickly if we lose the ball. Zachary, Zaha, P¨¦p¨¦, I need you to be quick on the counter. Kessi¨¦, Di¨¦, support the defense but be ready tounch forward when needed."

    With his final words, Renard raised his voice, "We''re not here just topete; we''re here to win. Go out there and y with your hearts. Leave everything on that pitch."

    The yers responded with a resounding cheer, their spirits lifted by their coach''s words. As they returned to the pitch, the atmosphere in the stadium was electric, anticipation hanging heavy in the air.

    The second half kicked off, and it was clear that both teams were ready to fight tooth and nail for a ce in the semi-finals. The Croatians, eager to regain their lead, started strong. In the 49th minute, Ivan Peri?i? found himself with space on the left wing andunched an attack. He sprinted towards the Ivorian box, but Serge Aurier was ready. Aurier stripped the ball from Peri?i?''s feet with a perfectly timed tackle and turned over possession. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Serey Di¨¦, positioned nearby, quickly seized the loose ball. He looked upfield and saw Zachary breaking free from his markers. Without hesitation, Di¨¦ passed the ball to Zachary, who immediately surged forward, leaving his Croatian pursuers in his wake.

    On the sidelines, Croatian coach tko Dali? shouted furiously at his midfielders for allowing Zachary so much space. But Zachary was in a zone, his focus unbreakable. He was moving at breakneck speed, the ball seemingly glued to his feet. He felt an exhrating rush as if he were flying.

    Ivan Rakiti? came forward to intercept him, but Zachary executed a wless step-over and elerated past him effortlessly. Next, Luka Modri? tried to halt his progress, but Zachary deftly looped the ball over the Croatian ymaker''s head and continued his run. The crowd gasped in awe as he evaded a sliding tackle and wove past another Croatian yer.

    Everything around him was a blur, the crowd''s roar like boring roadside music fading away from his ears. Before he knew it, he was already approaching Croatia''s box, and the shooting angle was opening up. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins. Trusting his instincts, he pulled the trigger and smashed the ball with the mighty swing of his left boot.

    The ball soared through the air like a missile, its wicked spin making it a formidable target for Danijel Suba?i?, the Croatian goalkeeper. Suba?i? dived and stretched out his hand, desperately attempting to save it. But the spin took the ball just beyond Suba?i?''s reach. It ricocheted off the post with a satisfying thud before nestling into the back of the.

    The following moments saw the stadium remain eerily silent as if everyone collectively held their breath. Then, an explosion of sound erupted from the Ivorian supporters. Zachary had done it during the 50th minute, just five minutes after half-time. He had scored a spectacr goal to put Ivory Coast ahead, and the score now read 2-1. It was yet another moment of magic from him.

    Zachary''s teammates swarmed him, their faces alight with joy and disbelief. Gervinho, Zaha, P¨¦p¨¦, Kessi¨¦, and the rest ¨C they all embraced him, patting his back and ruffling his hair. In the stands, the Ivorian fans were still cheering loudly, their voices filled with joy as they waved their gs with pride.

    On the Croatian bench, Dali? looked stunned. His yers, too, seemed momentarily shell-shocked. But there was no time to dwell on their misfortune. The game was far from over, and both teams knew it.

    The referee signaled for the game to resume, and as the ball was ced back in the center circle, the Ivorians took a moment to catch their breath. They were finally in the lead and knew they had to hold on to it.

    Renard quickly shouted instructions from the touchline, urging his yers to maintain their focus andposure. He was sure of what the response of the Croatians would be. They would approach the rest of the game with renewed vigor, and his team had to be prepared for the onught.

 Chapter 648 The Feeling of Rewriting History

    Chapter 648 The Feeling of Rewriting History

    The cheers within the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi were deafening as the game clock ticked past the 55th minute. Ivory Coast still held onto their slender 2-1 lead courtesy of Zachary''s sensational 50th-minute goal. Undeterred, the Croatiansunched a series of attacks, desperately searching for an equalizer. Their pressure was relentless, and it seemed like an unending barrage of red and white shirts pushing forward for the next ten minutes.

    The Ivorians, however, stood their ground with unwavering discipline. Their defenders, led by Eric Bailly and Serge Aurier, repelled wave after wave of Croatian assaults, defending like there was no tomorrow. As for the midfield, Serey Di¨¦, Franck Kessi¨¦, and the tireless Zachary tracked back, cutting out passes and blocking shots. The entire team was locked in, their focus sharpened by the knowledge that they were incredibly close to making history. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    As the clock approached the 60th minute, Croatia fashioned another golden opportunity. Ante Rebi? found space on the right and whipped in a low cross towards Mario Mand?uki?, who was lurking in the box. The powerful Croatian striker controlled the ball with his back to goal, spun around Lamine Kon¨¦, and fired a shot. But Sylvain Gbohou, the Ivorian goalkeeper, was equal to the task. He dived to his left, making a crucial save that denied Croatia yet again.

    Croatian coach tko Dali? was livid on the sidelines. He knew his team needed a spark, a change to break through the Ivorian defense. He swiftly called for two substitutions, bringing on Marcelo Brozovi? for Ivan Peri?i? and Mateo Kova?i? for Andrej Kramari?. The fresh legs were meant to inject new energy and creativity into the Croatian attack.

    The game resumed with an even greater intensity from Croatia. With Brozovi? and Kova?i? on the field, the Croatians looked more dynamic, more threatening. They whipped in crosses, yed intricate passes around the box, and took shots from a distance. Each attack was met with a collective gasp from the fans, a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

    The Ivorians, however, were resolute. They scrambled, slid, and blocked, doing everything possible to keep the ball out of their. But their defensive efforts came at a cost. Wilfried Kanon and Franck Kessi¨¦, two of their key yers, sumbed to injuries from the relentless exertion. Kanon pulled up with a muscle strain, and Kessi¨¦, exhausted, signaled that he couldn''t continue.

    Herv¨¦ Renard, the Ivorian coach, quickly responded. He brought on Cheick Doukour¨¦ and Jean Micha?l Seri, both defensive midfielders, for the injured yers. It was a clear tactical decision to bolster the defense. Renard knew they were in the final stretch and that maintaining their lead was paramount.

    The game continued, and as the match clock ticked towards the 70th minute, Croatia''s attacks grew more desperate. The Ivorians were now ying with a back three supported by three defensive midfielders, two attacking wingers, Zachary, the attacking midfielder, and even Gervinho, the striker. All the Ivorian yers on the pitch had fallen back, parking the bus in their half, crowding out the passingnes, and leaving no space for the Croatians to exploit. It was a defensive wall, a bulwark against the Croatian side.

    No heart patient would have stood the pressure of the Fisht Olympic Stadium at that moment. If the World Health Organization had to set safety levels, the pressure was high above the standard, a risk to anyone watching.

    Every clearance by the Ivorian defenders, every save by Gbohou, was met with roars of approval from the Ivorian fans. Time seemed to slow as the clock inched towards the 80th minute. The Croatians, sensing the urgency, threw everything forward. They sent in high balls, hoping for a knockdown or a lucky break.

    And finally, in one heart-stopping moment, a long cross from Brozovi? found Mand?uki? racing toward the far post. The striker headed the ball towards the goal, and for a split second, it seemed destined for the. But Gbohou was there again, stretching to tip the ball away. Eric Bailly scrambled to get the ball further away. But the rebound fell to Modri?, who fired a shot through a sea of bodies, only to be blocked by Bailly, who threw himself in front of the ball again.

    The minutes ticked away, each feeling like an eternity in hell for the Ivorian supporters. They chanted, sang, and willed their team to hold on. Meanwhile, on the pitch, the yers were running on pure adrenaline, their legs heavy but their hearts determined. Every tackle and every interception was met with cheers as they inched closer to their dream.

    As the game entered stoppage time, Croatia made one final push. Modri? sent in a corner, and the ball pinballed around the box. Gbohou punched it away, but only as far as Kova?i?, who volleyed it back towards goal. The shot was deflected wide, and the referee signaled for another corner. The tension was unbearable.

    The corner was whipped in, but Aurier rose highest, heading the ball clear. It fell to Zaha, who sprinted upfield, taking precious seconds off the clock. The Croatian defenders chased him down, and the ball went out for a throw-in. The referee nced at his watch, and then momentster, he blew the final whistle.

    A ring roar erupted from the Ivorian fans. The yers fell to their knees, exhausted but ted. They had done it. They had held on to their 2-1 lead and booked their ce in the semi-finals of the World Cup. The Ivorian substitutes and coaches poured onto the field, their faces alight with joy. They embraced each other, their collective happiness palpable as they realized the magnitude of their achievement. Coach Herv¨¦ Renard, usuallyposed and tactical, was swept up in the moment. He moved from yer to yer, hugging them tightly, whispering congrattory messages and words of encouragement.

    Among the sea of celebrating Ivorians, Zachary stood still for a few seconds, absorbing the gravity of what they had just aplished. The cheers from the crowd washed over him, a wave of sound and emotion that filled him with a deep sense of fulfillment. In his previous life, it had been Moro that broke the barrier for African teams. But in this life, it was none other than Ivory Coast¡ªa team he yed for¡ªthat had made history by reaching the World Cup semi-finals first. The realization hit him hard. He had been a part of something monumental that would be remembered for generations.

    His teammates surrounded him, their happiness infectious. Zachary''s heart swelled with pride and determination. This victory was sweet, but he knew their journey wasn''t over. His dreams were boundless, and his hunger for more sess in the World Cup was insatiable. He wanted to take his team even further, to the finals, and to bring the ultimate glory to Ivory Coast.

    Around him, the celebrations continued in full force. Gervinho, who had scored the equalizer, was lifted high by his teammates. Eric Bailly and Serge Aurier shared a heartfelt embrace, their contributions in defense evidently a crucial factor in their victory.

    Wilfried Zaha and Nics P¨¦p¨¦ danced with the substitutes on the sidelines, their moves reflecting the rhythm of victory that beat in every Ivorian heart.

    The fans in the stands were no less exuberant. They sang, chanted, and waved their gs with an infectious energy. Many had tears of joy streaming down their faces, overwhelmed by the pride and happiness of seeing their national team achieve such an incredible feat. The sense of unity was overwhelming; it was a moment where every Ivorian and African, whether on the pitch, in the stands, or back in their homes before their screens, felt connected by a shared dream and triumph.

 Chapter 649 Stage Set for the World Cup Semi-Finals

    649 Stage Set for the World Cup Semi-Finals

    Zachary was finally drawn back into the fray by his teammates. They pped him on the back, congratting him for his pivotal role in their victory. His goal in the 50th minute had been a turning point, a moment of magic that shifted the momentum in their favor. But Zachary understood that it was not just his brilliance but the relentless team effort that brought them this far. Every yer had given their all, and that collective pursuit of glory had seen them through.

    Coach Renard gathered the team in a huddle on the field. His voice, usually calm and instructive, was filled with emotion. "You have made history today," he told them. "But this is just the beginning. Believe in yourselves. Believe in each other, and we can achieve even greater things. The finals are within our reach."

    The Ivorian yers responded with a resounding cheer. They were ready to take on whatever came next. Their journey was far from over, and they were determined to make the most of it. As they broke from the huddle, they waved to the fans, acknowledging their support and sharing the moment.

    Zachary took a deep breath, letting the moment sink in. The noise, the colors, and the joy! It was all a blur of happiness and achievement. But amid the celebrations, his focus remained sharp. He knew this was a stepping stone, a significant one, but a step nheless towards their ultimate goal. The finals were in sight, and with the momentum they had, anything was possible.

    As the team made their way back to the dressing room, the chants of the Ivorian fans followed them, a constant reminder of the support and love that drove them forward. Zachary walked with his head held high, his heart filled with pride. This was a moment he would cherish forever! It was a moment he knew had rewritten history.

    In the dressing room, the celebrations continued. The yersughed, sang, and reveled in their victory. Coach Renard, still beaming with pride, urged them to savor the moment while keeping their eyes fixed on the future. "Celebrate tonight," he said. "But when tomorrowes, our focus shifts to the next challenge. There''s more history to be made."

    Zachary nodded along with his teammates, a determined smile on his face. The journey had been long and arduous, but the taste of victory was sweet. And with the support of their fans and the strength of their unity, they were ready to conquer whatevery ahead.

    -----

    Meanwhile, the post-match show on BBC One began, andthe screen cut to the iconic studio, where Gary Lineker, the seasoned presenter, sat alongside an esteemed panel of pundits. The atmosphere echoed with remnant bouts of excitement following Ivory Coast''s historic 2-1 victory over Croatia. The panel featured former football stars Rio Ferdinand, n Shearer, Didier Drogba, Jermaine Jenas, J¨¹rgen Klinsmann, and Gabby Logan, each ready to dissect the thrilling quarter-final match.

    Gary Lineker opened the discussion with his trademark smile, "Wee back to our World Cup post-match analysis. What a game we just witnessed! Ivory Coast has made history by reaching the semi-finals, and it was a match filled with drama, skill, and determination. Let''s dive right into it."

    n Shearer, the legendary striker, was quick to share his thoughts. "What a performance from Ivory Coast! And what a game from Zachary. He was absolutely sensational today. His assist for the first goal was exquisite, and that solo effort for the second goal¡ªsimply world-ss."

    Rio Ferdinand nodded in agreement. "Zachary''s ability to drive through the midfield and take on opponents was outstanding. That run where he dribbled past the entire Croatian midfield before scoring was a moment of pure magic. It reminds me of Ronaldinho''s performances in his prime, and it''s the kind of y that can change the course of a match."

    Didier Drogba, the Ivorian legend, beamed with pride. "As an Ivorian, I couldn''t be prouder. Zachary has been phenomenal this entire tournament. He now has six goals, and his performance today showed why he''s a contender for both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball. But it wasn''t just him¡ªevery Ivorian yer gave their all."

    Jermaine Jenas added, "Absolutely, Didier. The whole team was solid. Their defense was resilient, and their midfield controlled the game well. Even when Croatia was piling on the pressure, the Ivorians held their ground. It was aplete team effort."

    Gary Lineker then steered the conversation towards the uing semi-finals. "After the historic quarter-final win against Croatia, Ivory Coast will face Ennd, who secured a 2-0 victory over Sweden earlier today. Let''s talk about that. Rio, n, how do you see this match-up?"

    n Shearer leaned forward, a hint of patriotic excitement in his voice. "Ennd has been fantastic so far, andI believewe have the quality to reach the final. Our defense has been solid, and our attacking options are potent. But we must be cautious. Ivory Coast has shown they''re not to be underestimated."

    Rio Ferdinandchipped in, "Ennd will need to be at their best. Zachary is a yer who can change the game in an instant, and we''ve seen how effective Ivory Coast can be both defensively and offensively. It''s going to be a tough match."

    Didier Drogba couldn''t hide his confidence in his country''s chances. "Ennd is strong, no doubt. But Ivory Coast has heart, and they have Zachary, who''s been a game-changer. If they y with the same spirit and discipline they showed today, they can beat Ennd."

    J¨¹rgen Klinsmann, the former German striker, offered his perspective. "It''s going to be an intriguing match. Ennd has the quality and depth, but Ivory Coast has momentum and a belief that''s hard to quantify. If they can harness that energy and Zachary continues his form, they could surprise everyone."

    Gabby Logan then shifted the focus to the other semi-final. "Let''s not forget about France versus Belgium in the other semi-final. They are two strong teams with incredible depth and several individual talents! What are your thoughts on that match, J¨¹rgen?"

    Klinsmann responded, "That match is a heavyweight sh. France has been clinical, and their depth is impressive. Belgium, on the other hand, has shown they can beat anyone on their day. It''s too close to call, but I''m leaning slightly towards France due to their overall squad strength."

    Gary Lineker wrapped up the segment, "So, to summarize, we have two exciting semi-finalsing up. Ivory Coast vs. Ennd and France vs. Belgium. The World Cup continues to deliver thrills and unforgettable moments. Thank you, gentlemen, for your insights."

    As the show continued, the panelists further dissected the nuances of the Ivory Coast vs. Croatia match, reying key moments and discussing tactical decisions. They highlighted Zachary''s brilliance, the team''s defensive resilience, and the pivotal saves by Sylvain Gbohouo. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    The conversation naturally flowed back to the semi-finals, with each pundit sharing their predictions and analyses. The excitement and expectations were high, as the World Cup''s final stages promised more drama and spectacr football.

    The show concluded with a montage of highlights from the day''s matches, set to a stirring soundtrack, reminding viewers of the beauty and unpredictability of the World Cup. As the camera panned out, Gary Lineker signed off with a smile, "Join us again for the semi-finals. It''s going to be unforgettable. Good night for now!"

    In the show''s aftermath, the jubnt sights in the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, Russia, and brief insanely triumphant scenes of the streets back in Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast, shed by on the screen. Fans were shown celebrating their team''s historic achievement, their gs waving high and their voices echoing with prideful songs.

 Chapter 650 Injury Worries and Rising Tension

    650 Injury Worries and Rising Tension

    Over the following three days, Coach Renard remained in the thick of the action, molding his yers for the uing crucial semi-final sh against Ennd. The pressure was sky-high as the Ivorian yers pushed themselves on the training ground, acutely aware that their next match would determine the fate of their World Cup dreams. However, the team faced an additional hurdle with three injured crucial yers.

    Franck Kessi¨¦, the dynamic midfielder, was nursing a knock and would not recover and be fully fit for the semi-final. Wilfred Kanon and Gervinho, the team captain and inspirational leader, were also out due to muscleplications. Their absence was a blow for the Ivorian team, which didn''t have a great depth of talented and experienced yers in the squad. But Coach Renard didn''t waste time dwelling on misfortune and had already devised a n topensate for his missing starting yers.

    Cheick Doukour¨¦, a stalwart in the defensive midfield, and Adama Traor¨¦, a reliable left-back, were set to step into their natural positions. Salomon Kalou, the seasoned forward, would take up the right wing, while the versatile Wilfried Zaha would be moved to the striking line. Renard had initially considered pushing Zachary forward to the striking line. But he had quickly dismissed the idea, recognizing that Zachary''s presence was crucial in the midfield.

    Three days passed in a blur of focus, and today was thest day of training as it was the eve of their semi-final against Ennd. But Coach Herv¨¦ Renard remained focused as he stood on the sidelines, his gaze sharp as he observed his team''sst intensive training session.

    The past few practice sessions had also been grueling but necessary as he integrated the three yers recing his injured starters for the semi-final against Ennd. The coach understood one fact. For the Ivory Coast team to stand a chance against Ennd, Cheick Doukour¨¦, Salomon Kalou, and Adama Traor¨¦ had to coordinate seamlessly with their teammates to avoid any mistakes during the crucial moments of the uing match.

    Renard was meticulous in his approach, even during thatst practice session. He put the team through intense drills, ensuring the recements could seamlessly blend into the game n without a hitch. His voice carried across the training ground, a constant reminder to maintain discipline and precision. The yers responded with determination, pushing themselves to their limits under the watchful eyes of their coach.

    Cheick Doukour¨¦, stepping into the defensive midfield role, demonstrated his ability to read the game and break up opposition attacks. Adama Traor¨¦, taking up the left-back position, showcased his defensive prowess and ability to support the attack through the nks. Salomon Kalou, the veteran forward, brought experience and a calm presence on the right wing, while Wilfried Zaha effortlessly adapted to his new role as a striker.

    Renard also emphasized the importance of finding Zachary, the team''s ymaker, whenever they had possession. Zachary had been the linchpin of the Ivorian attack throughout the tournament, his vision and skill creating numerous scoring opportunities. The coach drilled this strategy into the yers'' minds, ensuring that they would instinctively look for Zachary in crucial moments. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    As the evening approached, Renard decided to end the training session early. He wanted his yers to rest and recharge for the monumental task ahead. Gathering them around, he spoke with a mix of authority and encouragement.

    "Well done, everyone," Renard said, his voice steady. "You''ve worked hard, and we''re ready. Remember everything we''ve practiced. Stay disciplined, stay focused, and stay sharp. Trust in each other, and we will seed."

    Interrupting with a yful tone, Eric Bailly quipped, "Let''s not forget to always look for Zachary whenever we''re on the ball. Right, coach?"

    A hush fell over the training ground as the coach shot Eric Bailly a disapproving look. Just as tension mounted and the yers feared the worst, a smile graced Renard''s lips. "You''re absolutely right, Eric," Renard remarked casually. "Whenever we have possession, we need to seek out Zachary. He''s the one who drives our team. Thanks for sharing, Eric. Now, could you do fifty push-ups for me?" His expression turned serious as he locked eyes with Bailly.

    "Aye, coach," Bailly responded and got down to it. The rest of the yers chuckled as he began doing the push-ups, his speed so fast that he was doing almost two sets per three seconds. Before long, he finished the required number of push-ups and rejoined his teammates.

    Renard smiled and continued his speech. "We''ve put in the work. You''ve shown incredible dedication and skill these past few days. So, I''ll tell you these words again. Trust in yourselves, trust in each other, and trust in the n. We''re ready for tomorrow. Now, get some rest and focus. This is our moment."

    With that, he dismissed them. The yers quickly washed up, and the locker room filled with the sounds of water running and muted conversations. The tension was omnipresent, weighing down the Ivorian yers like a heavy mountain. But so was the camaraderie as they knew they were on the cusp of something historic. They just had to get past Ennd in the following day''s semi-final.

    Zachary had been quiet and solemn during training. But he finally started conversing with his teammates as they boarded the bus back to the hotel. They chatted animatedly about the uing match between France and Belgium, each offering their predictions on who would emerge victorious.

    "I think France will edge it," said Doukour¨¦, leaning back in his seat.

    "Belgium''s attack is too strong," countered Zaha. "De Bruyne and Lukaku are in top form."

    Zachary listened, a slight smile ying on his lips. The banter was a wee distraction from the pressure of their impending game.

    When they arrived at the hotel, the team headed straight to the dining room for an early dinner. The mood was lighter now, the yersughing and joking as they ate. The familiar rituals and routines wereforting and a reminder of the journey they had undertaken together.

    After dinner, they dispersed to their rooms, each yer retreating into their own space to rx and mentally prepare.

    Zachary switched on his phone, which immediately buzzed with several messages. His acquaintances, including Kristin, Emily, Kasongo, Bj?rn Peters, Inger, and his biological mother and stepsister, had all sent their best wishes for the game.

    He chuckled, particrly at the message from Emily, his agent. Her text was as professional as ever, but there was also warmth there that made him smile. He decided to call her.

    "Hey, Emily," he greeted when she picked up. "Got your message. So, are you rooting for Ennd or us tomorrow?"

    Emily sighed dramatically. "Zachary, you know I have to support my nation. But as your agent, I''ll always root for you. So, let''sjustsay I''m in a bit of a conflict here."

    Zacharyughed. "Fair enough. I''ll take what I can get. How''s everything on your end?"

    They talked for a while, catching up on thetest news about Kristin and other mutual acquaintances. Emily filled him in on some developments in the sports world, and they shared a fewughs. It was a way to unwind and momentarily shift focus from the mounting pressure.

    Time flew by, and before he knew it, Zachary nced at his watch and realized it was nearly 9:00 PM. The semi-final between France and Belgium was about to begin.

    "I should go, Emily. The game''s about to start."

    "Alright, Zachary. Give it your all tomorrow. We''re all cheering for you."

    "Thanks, Emily. Talk soon."

    He hung up and headed to the hotel bar, where arge screen had been set up for the yers to watch the match. The bar was already humming with pre-game excitement as his teammates gathered, eager to see who could be their potential opponents in the final.

 Chapter 651 Mental Preparation

    651 Mental Preparation

    Zachary quickly found a spot in the bar as the game kicked off. He settled into his seat, his eyes glued to the screen as the semi-final between France and Belgium began.

    From the onset, Belgium dominated. Their y was fluid and dynamic, weaving intricate patterns across the pitch. Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard orchestrated attacks with masterful precision, slicing through the French defense time after time. The bar erupted in gasps with each near miss, the tension mounting with every passing minute.

    Despite Belgium''s relentless pressure, France''s defense held firm. Hugo Lloris made several crucial saves, and his reflexes and positioning were impable. Then, in the 52nd minute, the moment came. A corner for France. Antoine Griezmann delivered a perfect cross into the box, and Samuel Umtiti rose above the Belgian defenders to meet it. His header was powerful and precise, sending the ball past Thibaut Courtois and into the back of the.

    Zachary wasn''t surprised by the turn of events. He had witnessed this moment in his past life, a strange d¨¦j¨¤ vu that left him feeling nostalgic and determined. He sighed, reflecting on how unpredictable football could be. Despite Belgium dominating most of the game, France found the, securing their ce in the final.

    Time whirled by, and as the final whistle sounded, confirming France''s victory, Zachary stood up and stretched. His mind was already shifting to the next day''s challenge. The lesson from the evening was clear: in football, dominance doesn''t always trante to victory. It was an encouraging reminder that even if the Ivorians couldn''t dominate the stronger English side, they could still win.

    Zachary turned to his teammates, who were still buzzing with post-match discussions. "Goodnight, everyone," he called out, garnering a few nods and waves in return. He left the bar, walking briskly back to his hotel room.

    Once inside, Zachary closed the door and leaned against it for a few seconds while taking a deep breath. The day had been long! Tomorrow promised to be even more intense. But he was ready.

    With a calm settling over him, he changed into his nightwear, brushed his teeth, and crawled into bed, his mind reying the training sessions and tactics discussed over the past few days.

    His phone buzzed with a few more messages of support from friends and former teammates, which he quickly skimmed through, smiling at their words of encouragement. He replied with a quick thank you before setting his phone aside. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    As hey there, the day''s events slowly faded from his mind. He knew that a good night''s rest was crucial¡ªnot just for him to perform¡ªbut for the entire team. They would need every ounce of energy and focus to face Ennd tomorrow night. Zachary closed his eyes, letting the day''s fatigue wash over him.

    In the silence of his room, he allowed himself a moment of quiet reflection. This World Cup had been an incredible journey, and the semi-final was another step towards the ultimate goal. He felt a deep sense of pride and responsibility since he carried his team''s hopes.

    With those thoughts, he drifted into a restful sleep, ready to face whatever challenges the following day would bring. The night passed, and the dawn of a monumental day arrived. Zachary woke upter than usual, the weight of the uing match still heavy on his mind. He moved through his morning routine with a deliberate calmness. Breakfast was a quiet affair, a simple meal that provided the necessary fuel for the day ahead. After eating, he went through a light yoga session, stretching his muscles and focusing his mind. A short gym session followed, just enough to keep his body agile without overexerting himself.

    The rest of the day was spent in restful preparation. Zachary mostly stayed in his room, reading, meditating, and visualizing the game ahead. Meal times provided brief interludes where he interacted with his teammates, sharing knowing nces and quiet words of encouragement. There was a barely suppressed pressure in the air, a mix of excitement and anxiety everyone felt.

    As evening descended, the team gathered to board the bus that would take them to the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. The atmosphere inside the bus was thick, with even more stress levels. No one spoke; each yer was lost in their thoughts, mentally preparing for the challenge that awaited them. The streets of Moscow flew by outside the windows - but inside the bus, time seemed to stretch endlessly with the silence reigning supreme.

    When they finally arrived at the stadium, they were greeted by a deafening roar. The sea of fans was muchrger than they had ever seen before. Ivorian gs waved proudly, and the support was overwhelming. It wasn''t just Ivory Coast''s fans but the whole of Africa rallying behind them. Supporters from Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, and other African nations had gathered to support thest African team in the World Cup.

    The following minutes blurred past quickly as the Ivorian yers headed to the pitch and went through their pre-game warm-up. And when they finally finished stretching their muscles and returned to the locker room, the tension grew even more palpable. 23:16

    Zachary felt even more yearning to secure a victory for Ivory Coast as he waved to the fans. Their cheers and chants filled the air, a powerful reminder of what was at stake. He followed his teammates and coaches into the stadium, the noise from the outside crowd fading as they moved into the inner sanctum of the arena.

    The following minutes blurred past quickly as the Ivorian yers headed to the pitch and went through their pre-game warm-up. And when they finally finished stretching their muscles and returned to the locker room, the tension grew even more palpable. Coach Herv¨¦ Renard gathered the yers for a final pep talk. His voice was steady and calm, instilling confidence and focus in each yer. He reminded them of their journey, of the hard work and sacrifices that had brought them to this moment. He spoke of belief, discipline, and the importance of every single y.

    Zachary''s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, yet he remainedser-focused on the task ahead. He visualized the field, the positions, andthe movements. He thought about the strategies they had practiced and the weaknesses they had identified in the English defense. He felt the weight of expectation but also the fire of determination.

    As they suited up and prepared to step onto the field, the noise from the stadium crowd filtered back into their consciousness. It was almost time. The final checks were made, and the teams quickly lined up in the tunnel, ready to emerge into the cauldron of the Luzhniki Stadium.

    The walk onto the pitch was surreal, with Ennd in their customary white jerseys and Ivory Coast in their traditional orangecolors. The cheers were deafening, the energy almost tangible as all the English star yers, including Harry Kane, Kyle Walker, Ashley Young, and others, lined up on the field.

    Zachary felt an adrenaline rush, his senses heightened, every nerve ending tingling with anticipation as he swept his gaze over his opponents. He then nced at his teammates, seeing the same determination mirrored in their eyes.

    The national anthems yed, and Zachary''s anticipation rose to even greater levels. This was more than a game; it was a historic moment, a chance to make history for Ivory Coast and Africa. As the anthems concluded, the yers shook hands, and the captains exchanged pennants.

    The stadium erupted again, and Zachary took his position on the field. His mind was clear, his body ready. The semi-final against Ennd was about to begin, and he was determined to give everything he had to help his team reach the final.

 Chapter 652 A Surprisingly Self-Destructive England

    652 A Surprisingly Self-Destructive Ennd

    The Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow was fully packed with fans brimming with anticipation. They were all waiting to witness the historic World Cup semi-final game between Ennd and Ivory Coast.

    On one side stood the English team, a formidable array of talent donned in their pristine white jerseys. Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, Harry Maguire, Jordan Henderson, Kieran Trippier, Jesse Lingard, Ashley Young, Raheem Sterling, and the highly clinical Harry Kane, among other talents, were ready to take on the challenge ahead. Meanwhile, on the opposite side, the Ivorian yers, d in their striking orange kits, were equally prepared. Among them were Eric Bailly, Zachary Bemba, Wilfried Zaha, and Nics P¨¦p¨¦, all poised and ready for the World Cup semi-final battle.

    Seconds passed, and as the clock struck 9:00 PM, the referee''s whistle sounded, signaling the start of the highly anticipated semi-final sh. Harry Kane, Ennd''s talismanic striker, booted the ball back to his midfield, kicking off the game. The fervent supporters of both teams immediately erupted in cheers and chants, the noise reverberating like thunder.

    Jordan Henderson, Ennd''s defensive midfielder, received the ball from Kane before swiftly passing it to Ashley Young on the left wing. But the Ivorians were not content to sit back and watch Ennd dominate them. They surged forward like a pack of wolves on the hunt, with Wilfried Zaha leading the charge in a high press. However, the English yers remainedposed in the face of the pressure. They quickly demonstrated their expertise and poise by calmly passing the ball within short to medium distances. They organized themselves into a 3-1-4-2 structure and retained control while aiming to initiate their offensive moves from the back.

    Minutes ticked by with Ennd dictating the tempo, their crisp passing and controlled y hinting at a strategy designed to wear down the Ivorians. But in the seventh minute, a shift in momentum urred. Seeing an opportunity to breach the Ivorian midfield, Dele Alli drove forward, rushing from deep within midfield towards Ivory Coast''s territory. However, his run was abruptly halted by Zachary Bemba, who read the y perfectly and forced Dele Alli to retreat. With the Ivorian press intensifying, Dele Alli yed the ball back to Harry Maguire on the left side of the box.

    The situation turned from bad to worse for Ennd as Salomon Kalou, Ivory Coast''s right winger for the night, was already hot on Maguire''s heels, his high pressing adding to the mounting pressure on the defender. But Maguire sensed the danger and chose the safer route, passing the ball back to Jordan Pickford, the Ennd goalkeeper. Everything seemed calm as the ball rolled toward the English goalkeeper, a routine maneuver meant to reset Ennd''s structure. But just suddenly, something unexpected unfolded in that instant.

    It was Wilfried Zaha, who was lurking with predatory instincts, that took action. He seized the moment, and as the ball made its way to Pickford, he elerated, appearing at the edge of the box as if from thin air.

    The spectators collectively held their breath, the tension real and tangible as the unexpected situation caught everyone watching unawares. Even yers of both teams watched with wide eyes as Zaha and Pickford sprinted toward the ball, eager to gain the advantage. But at the end of it all, Zaha''s speed and anticipation gave him the edge.

    Zaha eventually reached the ball first and controlled it deftly mid-stride. His first touch was immacte, a slight nudge with the outside of his boot that barely allowed him to glide past Pickford with an elegance that belied the high stakes of the moment. With the English keeper now out of position and grasping at thin air, Zaha faced a tight angle, but hisposure was unwavering. He raised his leg, and with a delicate chip, he sent the ball sailing into the back of the to score Ivory Coast''s 1st goal of the night during the 8th minute.

    Silence!

    For a split second, there was numbing silence¡ªa collective intake of breath from the stunned English yers and their supporters. Then, the realization hit, and the Ivorian section of the stadium erupted in euphoric celebration. The score read 1-0 in favor of Ivory Coast, and Wilfried Zaha ran off to celebrate the goal. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The English yers were visibly shocked, their faces showing their dismay. Their early dominance was undone by one mistake, a mistimed pass, and Zaha''s opportunistic brilliance that sealed the deal for Ivory Coast. At that moment, expectations of an overpowering English performance were suddenly thrown into disarray, and the crowd could feel the seismic shift in the game''s momentum. Not many could believe the turn of events.

    As Zaha ran towards the corner g, arms outstretched and face alight with joy, he was joined by his Ivorian teammates in a spirited celebration. The Ivorians had drawn first blood in a manner that sent a clear message: they were here to fight, and they were more than capable of causing an upset in the semi-final.

    Meanwhile, as the celebrations went on, thementators'' voices filled the airwaves, capturing the moment. "Wilfried Zaha has just put Ivory Coast ahead in the 8th minute!" Clive Tyldesley, one of thementators, eximed. "An incredible turn of events here! Ennd, known for theirposure, has self-destructed. Harry Maguire''s error gifted Zaha the perfect opportunity, and he didn''t miss!"

    "Credit must also go to Herv¨¦ Renard," Glenn Hoddle, anothermentator, chimed in. "His tactical vision has paid off brilliantly. With Gervinho injured, cing Zaha up front seems like a masterstroke."

    Back to the pitch, the Ivorian yers were jubnt, their celebration prolonged. Zachary hugged Zaha and said, "Well done, Wilfried! That was brilliant!" he eximed, patting Zaha on the back. Zaha, still grinning ear to ear, nodded appreciatively.

    A minuteter, the brief celebration was finally over after the repeated urges of the referee, and the yers quickly reset their focus. The lead was theirs, but the match was far from over. Zachary immediately stepped up to be the team motivator in the absence of the injured Gervinho. He gathered his teammates for a quick huddle. "Alright, we''re in the lead now. Let''s stay sharp and keep our heads. Zaha, keep pressing those center-backs. They''re already shaken and under pressure. They could make another mistake if you continue ruffling their feathers."

    Zaha nodded, determination etched on his face. "Got it, Zachary. Let''s keep pushing."

    The yers marched back to their positions, a renewed sense of purpose in their steps. The cheers from the crowd slowly faded into the background as the referee signaled for the game to resume.

 Chapter 653 A Shocking Turn of Events

    653 A Shocking Turn of Events

    Ennd looked visibly shaken by the early setback and were eager to reim theirposure. Harry Kane restarted the game and passed the ball back to Jordan Henderson, who immediately sought to reestablish control.

    The Ennd yers built up from there, and for the next few minutes, they worked tirelessly, trying to rebuild their rhythm. They passed the ball around the back and midfield, hoping to set the tempo and regain control. The Ivorians, however, remained relentless in their press. Zaha followed Zachary''s advice to the letter and hounded Harry Maguire and John Stones, the English center-backs. His off-ball runs were relentless. They repeatedly forced the English defenders to y quicker than they werefortable with.

    But that was not all, as Zachary, Serey Di¨¦, and the newly introduced Cheick Doukour¨¦ were also working hard in midfield. They ran at the English midfielders like mad, giving them no seconds on the ball. They high-pressed like there was no tomorrow and ensured that ''not a single'' Ennd yer had the time to make any crucial decision that could hurt Ivory Coast.

    With their backs against the wall, the English yers quickly adapted their strategy, shifting to aggressive wing-y tactics. Kieran Trippier and Ashley Young began making daring runs down the nks, sending cross after cross into the box in search of their star striker, Harry Kane. However, the Ivorian defense remained resolute and well-organized. Serge Aurier, Eric Bailly, and Lamine Kon¨¦ were as tenacious as ever at the back. They repeatedly thwarted these attempts, keeping Kane under tight surveince and clearing all the dangerous balls.

    As the game reached the 29th minute, a significant shift in momentum urred. Ennd earned a corner kick after a relentless attack. The anticipation around the stadium mounted as Ashley Young stepped up to take the corner. His delivery was precise, and he sent the ball spiraling into the crowded Ivorian box with a nasty curl. What followed was a fierce aerial battle. yers jostled and leaped, hoping to connect with the iing corner ball. But it was Cheick Doukour¨¦, the recently introduced defensive midfielder, who rose highest. Towering over three English yers, Doukour¨¦ headed the ball with amanding presence, sending it flying out of the danger zone.

    The ball soared beyond the box, finding Salomon Kalou lurking on the edge, who deftly chested it down. With Jesse Lingard closing in, Kalou turned smoothly, leaving the English midfielder in his wake. He spotted Zachary Bemba running into an unmarked pocket of space outside the eighteen-yard box and yed the ball to him. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Zachary''s heart raced as he received the pass. He knew this was a golden opportunity to extend their lead. Without hesitation, he began his daring run through the middle. His movements were graceful yet rapid, a blur of orange slicing through the white shirts of the English midfield press. He danced past one yer, then another, his speed, agility, and side-steps leaving them in his wake. With the pitch now opened up, he swiftly advanced the counterattack, his long strides eating up yards of space by the second.

    The crowd''s roar grew louder as Zachary approached the edge of the box. He could almost taste the goal, but then, out of nowhere, Kyle Walker lunged in with a ruthless sliding tackle. The contact was hard, sending Zachary tumbling to the ground. Cries of dismay erupted from the Ivorian bench and their fans. The referee wasted no time, blowing his whistle and pointing to the spot of the foul. He reached into his pocket and produced a yellow card for Walker, much to the dissatisfaction of the English supporters.

    Zacharyy on the ground for a few seconds, catching his breath and assessing the damage. Thankfully, he was unhurt. He got to his feet, brushing off his teammates'' concerned nces. The free-kick spot was just twenty-eight yards out¡ªan excellent position for a set-piece specialist like Zachary. His Dead-Ball Specialist Juju could be put to use again.

    He blocked out everything around him and ced the ball carefully, his mind focused and clear. The wall of English yers lined up, and Jordan Pickford, the English goalkeeper, positioned himself, eyes locked on Zachary. The tension in the stadium was mounting, but Zachary was as calm as ever. His SS+ Composure and Mental Strength kept him above all the pressure as his simrly highly-graded Tactical Awareness and Risk Assessment attributes helped him assess the situation before him.

    Having studied the goings on in Ennd''s box, Zachary took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the goal. He had practiced this countless times. He knew he had to make this opportunity count, as a one-goal lead was precarious against a team as formidable as Ennd. He took a few steps back, then ran up and struck the ball with precision and skill honed over thousands or even ten thousands of times on the training ground. His Dead Ball Specialist Juju,bined with his SS-graded game intelligence, all worked like a charm, and the ball soared over the wall, curling towards the top right corner.

    Pickford dived, his fingertips grazing the ball, but it wasn''t enough. The ball kissed the underside of the crossbar and nestled into the back of the. For the second time that night, the stadium fell silent for just a moment in awe of Ivory Coast''s efforts. And then, just as abruptly, the African fans erupted into thunderous cheers, vuvuzs blowing and chaotic dances filling the stands.

    Ivory Coast had stunned Ennd again and doubled their lead to 2-0 during the 32nd minute. Zachary''s teammates swarmed him, their joy unrestrained. They almost couldn''t believe they were already leading by two goals against one of the best teams in Europe after just over half an hour of gamey.

    On the sidelines, Coach Herv¨¦ Renard pumped his fists in the air, his tactical decisions paying off. Thementators were also in awe. "What a sensational free-kick by Zachary Bemba! Ivory Coast has doubled their lead, and it''s that man again making the difference! Ivory Coast is now 2-0 up against Ennd. This is incredible!"

    "The precision, the confidence¡ªZachary has been nothing short of spectacr during this World Cup campaign," anothermentator added. "He has done it again tonight, and Ennd has a mountain to climb now."

    The celebrations eventually ended, and as the yers reset for the restart, Zachary''s mind was already on the next y. There were still many minutes of the game on the clock, and he knew they couldn''t afford to rx, not even for a second. His focus was unwavering, his desire to help Ivory Coast reach the World Cup final driving him forward.

    As they retook their positions, Zachary yelled and encouraged his teammates to stay focused and keep pressing hard. The game was theirs to win, and with each passing minute, the dream of reaching the World Cup final would grow closer to reality.

 Chapter 654 The Usually-Notoriously Tricky 2-0 Lead

    654 The Usually-Notoriously Tricky 2-0 Lead

    The intensity on the pitch was mounting with each passing second as the semi-final between Ivory Coast and Ennd continued in the Luzhniki Stadium. The scoreboard showed 2-0 in favor of the Ivorians, thanks to Wilfried Zaha''s opportunistic brilliance and Zachary Bemba''s sensational free-kick. However, Ennd''s determination was unwavering, especially with the match still in the first half. They weren''t ready to surrender.

    In the 36th minute, Ennd prepared tounch another offensive. John Stones initiated the move, passing to Jordan Henderson. Henderson, with a quick nce up, found Dele Alli. Alli did not waste any time and yed a swift pass to Jesse Lingard. Lingard felt Zachary closing in and, after a single touch, released the ball to Kieran Trippier on the right wing.

    Trippier, known for his speed and daring runs, raced down the touchline. Adama Traor¨¦, Ivory Coast''s left-back for the day, sprinted forward to intercept. But Trippier executed a slick one-two with Raheem Sterling, and they seamlessly cut into the pitch, leaving Adama in the dust. Sterling, now with the ball, dribbled past Lamine Kon¨¦ with ease, leaving the Ivorian center-back in his wake. As he entered the box, the cheers from the English fans reached a fever pitch.

    The English fans could almost smell the goaling as Sterling raised his leg to unleash a shot. But just at thest moment, a silhouette slid in, blocking the ball and sending it out for a corner kick. The hero was Serge Aurier, whose timely intervention saved the day.

    The pressure on Ivory Coast continued mounting. Ennd quickly set up for the corner, and Kieran Trippier sent in a curling ball, creating chaos in the box. Bodies shed, and the uncertainty about who woulde out on top was all around the danger zone. Eventually, Harry Maguire towered over everyone and got the decisive touch, heading the ball toward the inside of the right post. Time seemed to slow as the ball flew through the air, destined for the back of the. But before it could cross the line, Serge Aurier was there again, intercepting and booting it away from the danger zone. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    The ball soared high andnded out of y on the left touchline for a throw-in. The African fans sighed with relief while the Ivorian yers exchanged high-fives, celebrating their defensive effort. But Zachary couldn''t shake off his worry, as a 2-0 lead was usually notoriously tricky. If Ennd managed to pull one goal back, the momentum could shift dramatically. The English team would be invigorated, believing they were within striking distance of aeback. Zachary knew they had to maintain their solid defense and prevent Ennd from scoring for as long as possible. But that wasn''t enough. They also had to continue looking for opportunities tounch counterattacks on Ennd''s defense and force the opponents to feel some pressure. And if possible, they had to score another goal to seal the deal.

    As the game resumed, the tension in the stadium remained electric. Ennd, increasingly desperate to w their way back, pressed harder. Their passes were crisper, andtheir runs more aggressive. They showcased the English attacking game, pushing all the Ivorians, except Wilfried Zaha, into their half. They were going all out to find a way back into the semi-final.

    On the other hand, the Ivory Coast yers remained vignt, aware of the stakes. They were disciplined as they formed neat defensive lines with their 4-2-3-1 formation as they defended. And just like that, the minutes ticked by with Ennd dominating possession, but the Ivorian defense, led by Serge Aurier and Eric Bailly, stood firm.

    In the 39th minute, another English attack began, prompting more cheers from the watching crowd. Henderson, always reliable, yed a long ball to Raheem Sterling. Sterling controlled it expertly and sprinted down the right nk. Cheick Doukour¨¦ rushed out of midfield to stop the attack, but Sterling had other ns. He sent in a dangerous cross aimed at Harry Kane. The English striker leaped, but Eric Bailly rose higher, clearing the ball with a powerful header. The just-cleared ball fell to Jesse Lingard, who unleashed a volley from a few yards outside the box. The shot was fierce, curling dangerously towards the inside of the left post. But Sylvain Gbohouo, the Ivorian goalkeeper, made a spectacr save, diving to his right to palm the ball away.

    The Ennd faithful and yers groaned with frustration,menting yet another missed chance. Their dismay was mounting as they could see the clock ticking away, yet their team was still trailing by two goals.

    Meanwhile, the Ivorians regrouped quickly, with Sylvain Gbohouo yelling and shouting words of encouragement to his teammates. He urged his teammates to stayposed while holding their lines and seizing any counterattacking opportunities that came their way. The game was far from over, and every second counted.

    Minutes ticked by, and as the half-time whistle approached, Ennd threw everything they had at the Ivorian defense. Trippier and Young continued their relentless runs, and Henderson and Alli pushed forward with intent. But the Ivorian defense, bolstered by their midfield, remained unyielding.

    The 44th minute eventually arrived, with the Ivorian yers ''very much'' looking towards the half-time break. But it was then that another shift in momentum urred as Sterling found himself in a promising position just outside of the box after receiving a pinpoint pass from Harry Kane.

    In a sh of brilliance, Raheem Sterling dribbled past Cheick Doukour¨¦ and Lamine Kon¨¦ before pulling the trigger from the edge of the box. His technique and uracy rang true, and for a moment, the ball looked destined for the inside of the far post. But it then curled slightly and smashed off the post before rebounding into Sylvain Gbohouo''s waiting hands.

    It was another missed chance, with the goalpost doing the work this time!

    The Ivorians sighed with relief as Sylvain Gbohouo restarted the gamey with a long goal kick. Midfielders geared up to meet the ball and win the advantage for their teams. But right then, the referee blew the whistle, signaling the end of the first half.

    It was time for the half-time break, and the Ivory Coast yers headed off the pitch while still leading Ennd 2-0 in the World Cup semi-final. Relief washed over them as they made their way to the dressing room, and as they arrived, they exchanged high-fives and fist bumps before settling down to quench their thirst.

    Herv¨¦ Renard, their coach, quickly took center stage. "Well done, everyone," he began, his voice steady but intense. "You handled the first half brilliantly, and we''re leading Ennd by two goals. But remember, we can''t afford to be overly conservative in the second half. Keep defending strongly, but look for opportunities to break past Ennd''s defense. We need to make them feel threatened."

    The yers nodded, absorbing his words, and Renard continued with a few more encouraging remarks. He urged them to remain disciplined, y as a team, and y their hearts out on the pitch. He then gave a few personal instructions to some of the yers before eventually sending them back to the pitch. The second half began soon after, and Ennd resumed their relentless pursuit of a goal, pushing forward andunching attack after attack. The Ivorians defended tenaciously, thwarting most of the offensives. But as the minutes ticked by, exhaustion began to set in, leading to asional mistakes.

    Sylvain Gbohouo, Ivory Coast''s goalkeeper, remained a fortress,fortably saving every shot that came his way. He was now the acting captain in the absence of the injured Gervinho. His team spirit was evident for anyone watching as he did his best to keep Ivory Coast in the lead time after time.

    The Ennd coach, Gareth Southgate, was not satisfied with what he saw. Determined to change the course of the game, he brought on Marcus Rashford and Jamie Vardy, recing Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling. His intent was clear. He wanted to strengthen Ennd''s attacking power and get one goal back before it was toote.

    The substitutes stepped onto the pitch, and Ennd''s offensive intensified. They pushed harder, searching desperately for a breakthrough. The Ivorian defense held firm, but the pressure was mounting. Eventually, in the 72nd minute, Marcus Rashford, with his lightning speed, glided past Cheick Doukour¨¦, looking to pull the trigger from outside the box. Cheick Doukour¨¦, hot on his heels, attempted a sliding tackle but caught Rashford instead. The referee''s whistle pierced the air, awarding Ennd a free-kick just outside the box and showing Doukour¨¦ a yellow card.

    The anxiety levels around the stadium immediately skyrocketed as Marcus Rashford and Kieran Trippier stood over the ball. The English fans roared, sensing a crucial moment. Ivory Coast''s yers formed a wall, their faces etched with determination. Gbohouo positioned himself, his eyes locked on the ball, ready for whatever came next.

    Seconds ticked by, and all of a sudden, the cheers in the stadium subsided. Kieran Trippier stepped up, his eyes focused and unwavering. He took a deep breath and then a few steps forward, striking the ball with the inside of his boot. His set-piece skills were squeaky clean, and the ball curved around the wall, heading for the top corner. Gbohouo leaped, hoping to save the day again, but his outstretched glove was nowhere near the ball. The bulged, and the stadium erupted in cheers. Ennd had pulled one back, making it 2-1 during the 73rd minute.

    The English yers didn''t celebrate but rushed forward to pick the ball from the back of the. Their actions conveyed their intent. They didn''t want to waste any time. They wished to restart the game as soon as possible.

    Zachary could feel the momentum shifting as he retook his position, looking to restart the game. What he had feared had happened, and Ennd had gotten one goal back with almost 20 minutes still on the clock. He knew they were in for a fight, so he rallied his teammates. "Stay focused! We still have the lead. Defend with everything you''ve got, and let''s look for our chances on the counter!"

    His teammates acknowledged his advice as they also retook their position. Their eyes were brimming with spirit, and they would do whatever it took to maintain their lead until the final whistle.

 Chapter 655 A Stunner from Over 35 Meters Out.

    Chapter 655 A Stunner from Over 35 Meters Out.

    The game restarted at the Luzhniki Stadium with Ivory Coast holding onto the delicate 2-1 lead against Ennd, keeping the crowd in suspense. The Ivorians, keen to protect their advantage, immediately tried to dominate possession, passing the ball around and attempting to run down the clock. But the English yers, rejuvenated by their recent goal, were relentless. They swarmed the Ivorians like vampires after smelling blood, pressing high and hard, leaving no time for leisurely y.

    Even the English forwards¡ªHarry Kane, Jamie Vardy, and Marcus Rashford¡ªjoined the effort, running tirelessly to win back possession. Ennd was going all out, and their persistence paid off when they forced the Ivorians to y a high ball towards Ennd''s territory. Harry Maguire was calm and collected as he received the long ball and controlled it perfectly. He passed it to Jordan Henderson, who in turn found Dele Alli. The game intensity suddenly shifted, and the English midfielders began to build their attack methodically, moving the ball with purpose and patience. They didn''t force anything for the next few minutes. Instead, they linked up with short passes, ying the ball from touchline to touchline as they searched for opportunities to break Ivory Coast.

    A momentary calm settled upon the field as one team defended while the other moved the ball around withoutunching deadly offensives. But as the game clock neared the 80th minute, the intensity rose again as Ennd shifted gears. Marcus Rashford suddenly sprinted down the left wing,bining seamlessly with Ashley Young. The two exchanged quick one-twos, skillfully bypassing Serge Aurier and cutting into the pitch. They advanced towards Ivory Coast''s box like predators closing in on their prey. Eric Bailly rushed to intercept them, but the ball was yed to Rashford once more. The angle was tight, but Rashford still pulled the trigger and unleashed a powerful shot, aiming for the inside of the near post.

    Unfortunately for Ennd, Sylvain Gbohouo, Ivory Coast''s vignt goalkeeper, was ready. He dived instinctively, blocking the shot with his chest. The ball rebounded off him,nding dangerously in front of the goal mouth. Jamie Vardy, the ever-consummate poacher in the box, reacted with lightning speed, sliding in to tap the ball into the. But Serey Di¨¦, having tracked back with determination, reached the ball first and booted it away from danger.

    The ball soared through the air, evading several English yers who lunged to intercept it beforending on the other side of the box. The Ivorians breathed a sigh of relief, but the respite was brief as the danger was still atrge. Ennd regrouped quickly,unching another wave of attack. Kieran Trippier picked up the loose ball and, with a quick nce up the field, sent a curling cross back into the box. The ball arced beautifully, heading straight for Harry Kane.

    Kane, positioned perfectly, went into action, rising above the defenders and connecting with a powerful header. The ball rocketed towards the top corner, but Gbohouo, in an incredible disy of reflexes, stretched to his full height and tipped it over the bar. The stadium erupted in a mix of groans and cheers¡ªEnnd''s near-miss had the fans on the edge of their seats.

    The resulting corner was taken quickly by Ashley Young. The ball whipped into the box, causing chaos as bodies shed and scrambled for strategic positions in the danger zone. Fortunately for the Ivorians, Eric Bailly towered over everyone and got his head to it first to clear the immediate danger. The ball flew out towards the right touchline, where Wilfried Zaha picked it up and began to sprint down the wing, initiating a counter-attack.

    The English midfielders and defenders scrambled to get back as Zaha, with blistering pace, darted past one English yer, then another. The roar of the African fans reverberated as he showcased his ss and surged forward like a tsunami.

    Finally, as he stepped into Ennd''s half, he looked up and spotted Zachary making a run down the center. With a perfectly timed pass, Zaha fed the ball to Zachary, who controlled it expertly and charged towards the box. The Ivorian fans cheered with renewed energy, sensing another chance to extend their lead.

    John Stones, Ennd''s steadfast center-back, was quick to react, though. He swiftly closed the distance, determined to stop Zachary and thwart the counter-attack. Undeterred by the approaching defender, Zachary executed two swift step-overs, momentarily confusing Stones. Seizing the moment, he elerated, attempting to rush past the English defender.

    But Stones didn''t relent since allowing Zachary through could spell the end of Ennd''s World Cup hopes. His mind was already made up, and as Zachary surged forward, Stones twisted around andtched onto Zachary''s shirt, pulling with all his might. Zachary felt the tug but remained focused on the goal, determined to push through. He just needed to get past Stones, and then, he would only have one more English yer and the keeper to beat.

    The crowd''s roar reached a crescendo as Zachary tried to power forward, but Stones was relentless. He grabbed Zachary''s shirt, holding on for dear life and refusing to let go. The relentless pull finally seeded in dragging Zachary to the ground. On cue, the referee''s whistle pierced the air, signaling a free-kick for Ivory Coast and a yellow card for John Stones.

    Zachary picked himself up, a mix of frustration and determination in his eyes. He had been inches away from a potential game-clinching goal, only to be thwarted by a foul. The free-kick awarded was a good 35 meters from the goal. It just felt like a poor constion. But there was no time to dwell on missed opportunities. The game was still on, and the stakes were higher than ever.

    Zachary focused on the task at hand, preparing for the free-kick. As he assessed the situation, Zaha, Eric Bailly, and Nics P¨¦p¨¦ approached him, eager to discuss their strategy.

    "How do you want to take this?" Bailly asked, his voice steady but tense.

    "It''s too far out," Zachary replied, ncing at the distance between him and the goal. "Let''s go with a simple chip into the box. You guys can try to go for the ball and score." N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Zaha shook his head, a determined glint in his eyes. "No, Zach. You should try your luck and go directly for the goal. We can''tmit too many yers forward. If we miss, we''ll be inviting a counter-attack from Ennd."

    Zachary considered Zaha''s suggestion. It was risky and bold, but he trusted the power of his leg and the unpredictability of football. Maybe a miracle could happen. "Alright, let''s do it," he agreed. "I''ll go for it."

    He backed away from the ball, making some distance for a more powerful run-up. As the referee finally blew the whistle, signaling the restart, Zachary took the longer-than-usual run toward the ball. He caught it square with the upper toe area of his boot, unleashing his Missile Launcher Juju.

    The ball rocketed off his foot, zigzagging unpredictably through the air. Jordan Pickford, Ennd''s goalkeeper, barely had time to think or react. The ball sted into the back of the with a resounding thud, sending shockwaves through the stadium.

    For a moment, the stadium was stunned into silence. The fans, yers, and everyone else watching seemed frozen as they processed what they had just witnessed. Zachary had converted a free-kick from over 35 meters out with a long-range missile, scoring Ivory Coast''s third goal during the 84th minute.

    The silence was quickly shattered by the roar of the Ivorian fans. They erupted into wild celebrations, their vigorous cheers echoing through the stadium as thementators excitedly announced the goal and Zachary''s heroics.

    Fueled by adrenaline and excitement, Zachary sprinted toward the sidelines to celebrate with his coaches and teammates. Zaha approached him with a wide grin, a look that said, "I told you so."

    "See? I knew you could do it!" Zahaughed, pping Zachary on the back.

    Zachary chuckled and high-fived him. "Thanks for the push, Zaha. I couldn''t have thought about trying if you hadn''t made the suggestion."

    As he celebrated with his teammates, Zachary felt pride and determination welling up in tides within him. They were now leading 3-1, and as long as they maintained theirposure and avoided mistakes, they were on their way to the World Cup finals.

 Chapter 656 Onwards, To the Finals

    656 Onwards, To the Finals

    The game resumed after the goal celebrations, with the English yers immediately trying to organize another offensive. But the goal they had just conceded seemed to have taken the wind out of their sails. Their attacks, which had been relentless and aggressive, nowcked the same intensity and sharpness. They resorted to long balls and hopeful crosses to Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy, desperately seeking a miracle.

    Ivory Coast, buoyed by their two-goal cushion, fell back into their half, defending with everything they had. It was as if their very existence depended on stopping every English advance. Bodies were thrown in the way of shots, legs were extended to intercept passes, and headers cleared dangerous crosses. The minutes dragged on, each one feeling like days in hell as Ennd''s frustration grew. But not much changed as the English yers were visibly exhausted, their movements slower and less coordinated. The urgency in their y had dissipated, reced by a sense of desperation. Pacing the sidelines with a furrowed brow, Gareth Southgate decided to make onest change, bringing on Trent Alexander-Arnold for Ashley Young. It was a final roll of the dice, but even this substitution seemed too little, toote.

    As the game approached injury time, the Ivory Coast yers could feel the weight of history pressing down on them. Every second brought them closer to an unprecedented achievement. Ennd managed to muster two more attacks during the added time, but they were half-hearted,cking the conviction that had defined their earlier y. The Ivorians held firm, blocking, clearing, and frustrating their opponents at every turn.

    Finally, afterwhat seemed likean eternity of torture, the referee blew the final whistle. The sound wasbotha signal of victory and a release of immense tension. The English yers copsed to the ground, their faces etched with the agony of defeat. Their World Cup dreams had shattered, the realization hitting them like a physical blow.

    In stark contrast, the Ivorian yers erupted into jubtion. They had done it. They had made history, bing the first African nation to qualify for the World Cup finals. The sense of aplishment and pride was overwhelming. Tears of joy streamed down their faces as they hugged each other, their coaches, and even some fans in the stands closer to the field.

    Zachary found himself amidst the ecstatic chaos, his heart pounding with a bit of disbelief and overwhelming joy. He looked around at his teammates, each a hero in their own right. They had fought tooth and nail, defied expectations, and carved their names into the annals of football history. The dream was now within reach. They had one more match to go, one more hurdle to ovee. France awaited them in the finals, but for now, they could bask in the glory of their monumental achievement.

    As the yers began theirp of honor, Zachary caught sight of Zaha, who grinned broadly and gave him a thumbs-up. "Told you to go for it, and that''s what changed everything," Zaha shouted over the noise.

    Zacharyughed, feeling a surge of camaraderie and affection for his teammate. "One more to go," he shouted back, his mind already looking forward to the next challenge. They had made history, but their World Cup journey wasn''t over.

    As the jubnt Ivorian yers finally began heading back to the dressing room, their victory still fresh and their smiles wide, ire Arnoux from beIN Sports approached her camera crew in tow. Coach Herv¨¦ Renard noticed her and immediately stepped forward, ready to share his thoughts on the historic match.

    "Coach Renard, congrattions on this incredible victory," ire began, her voice barely audible over the celebratory din. "How do you feel after leading Ivory Coast to their first World Cup final?"

    Herv¨¦ Renard''s face lit up with a genuine smile. "Thank you, ire. It''s an indescribable feeling. This victory is not just for our team - but for the entire nation of Ivory Coast... and for all of Africa. The boys yed with heart and soul, and it''s a testament to their hard work and dedication."

    ire nodded, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "The game was intense, especially in the second half when Ennd scored. How did you keep the team focused and maintain the lead?"

    Renard took a deep breath, recalling the nail-biting moments. "Ennd is a formidable team. We knew they woulde at us with everything they had. But the key was to remain calm andposed. We emphasized solid defense and seized every counter-attack opportunity. The yers executed our game n perfectly. It was crucial for us not to only defend but also to pose a threat offensively... And that isexactlywhat we did."

    "And speaking of offense," ire continued, "Zachary Bemba was phenomenal today. Two stunning free-kicks! He''s now leading the race for the Golden Boot with eight goals. What can you say about his performance?"

    Renard''s expression softened with pride as he spoke about his star yer. "Zachary has been exceptional throughout this tournament. His skill, determination, and ability to stayposed under pressure are remarkable. Those two free-kicks today were a disy of his incredible talent. He''s not just a goal-scorer but a true leader on the pitch. His vision and execution have been crucial to our sess."

    ire nced at the statistics she had on her notepad. "With Harry Kane and Luka Modri? trailing him with six goals and Kylian Mbapp¨¦ with five, Zachary is in a strong position for the Golden Boot. How significant is this achievement for him and the team?"

    Renard''s smile widened. "It''s a huge aplishment. Winning the Golden Boot would be a justified testament to Zachary''s hard work and dedication. But he''s not focused on individual des; his primary goal is to help the team win. That''s what makes him such a valuable yer. His contributions on and off the field have been instrumental in getting us to the final."

    ire''s admiration was evident as she wrapped up the interview. "Thank you, Coach Renard, and best of luck in the final against France. The whole world will be watching."

    Renard nodded, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Thank you, ire. We''ll give it our all."

    As he turned to rejoin his celebrating team, Renard felt a surge of pride and anticipation. The journey had been long and arduous, but they were now on the brink of making history. The ultimate prize was still up for grabs, and they were ready to fight for it with everything they got. N?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 657 Zacharys Top Supporters

    657 Zachary''s Top Supporters

    As Emily Anderson stepped out of the Luzhniki Stadium, her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The bright floodlights pierced through the dark Moscow sky, but the excitement of the game was fading fast. Ennd''s loss bore heavily on her heart, leaving her national pride bruised by the defeat.

    However, as Zachary''s agent, there was a sense of relief and pride that she couldn''t ignore. His performance was just too outstanding. Aside from propelling Ivory Coast into the World Cup final, his feats had also significantly boosted his market value and future prospects.

    Beside her walked a lively entourage: Kristin, Zachary''s dedicated assistant; Bj?rn Peters, his ever-enthusiastic fitness trainer; Inger, his meticulous chef; C¨¦leste Kouame, his proud biological mother; and Natasha Kone, his vibrant step-sister. The group couldn''t mask their excitement, their minds still riding the high of Zachary''s exceptional game. Natasha and Bj?rn couldn''t stop animatedly discussing the two stunning free-kicks he converted, their voices ovepping enthusiastically, while Kristin chimed in with yfulments.

    As they boarded the bus back to their hotel in Sochi, the conversation flowed effortlessly, a mix of admiration for Zachary''s skill and yful banter. The journey was filled withughter and excitement, the reality of the moment enveloping them. They knew they were part of something historic.

    After a quick dinner at the hotel, they dispersed to their rooms, each carrying the night''s events deep in their hearts. Emily and Kristin shared a room, and as they entered, Kristin immediately switched on the television. The screen flickered to life with ITV''s post-match analysis, hosted by Mark Pougatch and featuring a star-studded panel of pundits: Gary Neville, Lee Dixon, Roy Keane, Ian Wright, Ryan Giggs, and ven Bilic.

    Emily and Kristin settled onto their beds, their attention riveted to the screen. The discussion was candid and engaging, the pundits diving straight into the heart of Ennd''s defeat.

    "Harry Maguire''s early error set the tone," Gary Nevillemented, his regret evident since he was an Englishman. "It was a gift to Zaha, and from there, it was an uphill battle."

    Roy Keane, never one to mince words, nodded in agreement. "You justcan''t afford to make those mistakes at this level. It''s a no-brainer! Whenyou''reup against yers like Zaha and Zachary, who are so clinical and can pounce on any error, you must not lose focus, not even for a second. But credit to Ivory Coast and Zachary in particr. What an outstanding performance!"

    Ian Wright leaned in, clearly thrilled. "Those free-kicks! Especially the second one¡ªfrom over 35 meters out, and he just smashed it in. Thest time I saw something like that was in Roberto Carlos'' time. This could be the standout goal, the best goal of this World Cup campaign."

    Ryan Giggs joined in with his characteristic calm demeanor. "Zachary''s technique is something special. He''s got the power but also the precision. Thatbination is lethal for any goalkeeper and defenses standing at the opposite end of his free-kicks."

    The others nodded as ven Bilic jumped in, his voice filled with admiration. "And let''s not forget his overall impact. He''s not just scoring; he''s creating chances andleading the team. He''s been a phenomenon in every game he''s yed during this World Cup."

    The discussion shifted to Ivory Coast''s prospects in the final against France. Lee Dixon expressed cautious optimism. "France is a tough opponent, but if Zachary ys like he did today, they have a real shot. They only need a bit of luck to create history by bing the first African nation to lift the World Cup."

    Mark Pougatch steered the conversation towards individual des. "Zachary is now leading the Golden Boot race with eight goals. He''s ahead of Harry Kane and Luka Modri?, who have six each, and Kylian Mbapp¨¦ with five."

    Roy Keane, always the realist, nodded thoughtfully. "If Ivory Coast wins the final and Zachary continues this form, he could as well take home the Golden Boot, the Golden Ball, and maybe even the Ballon d''Or."

    ven Bilic chimed in with a smile. "I believe his main rival for the Golden Ball is Kylian Mbapp¨¦. However, he shouldbe the definite frontrunner for the Ballond''Or. Idon''t see anyone elsing evenclose, especially since CristianoRonaldo''s Portugal, LionelMessi''s Argentina, andModri?''s Croatia have already been knocked out."

    Roy Keane agreed, "I was certain he would have clinched the Ballond''Orst season after his victories in the Champions League and the Serie A. Ican''t understand why theydidn''t award it to him. But this time, he should definitely bag it."

    Emily felt a rush of pride hearing these des. Zachary''s journey had been incredible¡ªand now, he stood on the cusp of greatness. Kristin nced over at her, a knowing smile on her face. "Looks like your client is the talk of the town."

    Emily chuckled, her heart swelling with pride and excitement. "He''s also your boss. And let''s agree that he deserves all the glory. He''s worked so hard for this moment."

    The show continued with more analysis, but the energy in the room had shifted. As the pundits dissected every y and every decision, Emily couldn''t help but feel a profound sense of anticipation for whaty ahead. The final against France loomedrge, but anything seemed possible, especially with Zachary leading the charge.

    The post-match show eventually wrapped up, and Emily turned to the travel suitcase resting against the wall. She pushed the day''s excitement to the back of her mind as the practicalities of her job demanded attention. She unzipped the suitcase and pulled out five neatly organized files¡ªeach representing a leading Premier League team eager to sign Zachary. With the World Cup nearing its end, she knew it was time to start analyzing these offers to secure the best possible future for her star client. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    The first file she opened was from Manchester City. They were keen to bring in a new midfielder following the departure of Yaya Toure. Emily read their initial offer, noting the impressive signing bonus and substantial weekly wages. However, she doubted Zachary would choose Manchester City. The team was already stacked with talent, and joining them wouldn''t pose much of a challenge for a yer of his caliber.

    She moved on to the other files: Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham. All the clubs had shown clear interest, offering enticing financial packages and the ''promise'' of being a central figure in their squads. As a free agent, Zachary had the luxury of choosing his next destination without any transfer fees, making him even more attractive to these top clubs.

    Kristin, who had remained quiet while observing from the side, broke the silence. "So, which club do you think Zachary will join after the World Cup?"

    Emily smiled, taking a moment to consider. "It''s hard to say for sure, but I think he''ll probably join either Arsenal or Liverpool. Both clubs have shown a lot of interest. They also offer the challenge and prestige he seeks to advance his career."

    Kristin nodded thoughtfully. "Arsenal or Liverpool... Both would be exciting. But it means we''ll all have to shift from Turin to Ennd when Zachary changes clubs."

    Emily chuckled softly. "That''s the life of anyone working in football. Except for a few cases, we always move from one country to another. It''s part of the journey."

    They fell into afortable silence, each lost in their thoughts. Emily continued reviewing the files while Kristin pondered the inevitable changes ahead. The transition from Italy to Ennd would be significant, but it was a testament to Zachary''s rising star and the opportunities that awaited him.

    "Do you think he''ll adjust well to the Premier League?" Kristin asked, breaking the silence again.

    Emily looked up, her eyes sparkling with confidence. "Zachary has the talent and the determination to seed anywhere. The Premier League will be a new challenge, but I have no doubt he''ll thrive. Just look at what he has achieved during this World Cup campaign. Does he look like a yer who will fail to adapt to another league?"

    Kristin smiled, reassured by Emily''s confidence. "I''m sure you''re right. It''s just that everything is happening so fast."

    Emily nodded. "It is, but that''s the nature of the sport. One moment, you''re celebrating a victory... And the next, you''re nning for the future. It''s all part of the adventure."

    They chatted a bit more, discussing the logistics of moving, the excitement of the potential new clubs, and the incredible journey they had all been on with Zachary. Their bond had grown strong, forged through the highs and lows of professional football.

    Eventually, the conversation wound down. Kristin switched off the television, and they headed to the bathroom to shower and get ready for bed. Minutester, as Emily finallyy in bed, her mind still whirring with thoughts of transfer negotiations and future prospects, she couldn''t help but feel a surge of pride. Zachary''s journey was far from over, and she was honored to be part of it.

    Kristin''s soft voice broke the quiet. "Do you think he''ll win the Ballon d''Or?"

    Emily smiled in the darkness. "If he keeps ying like this, I believe he will. The sky''s the limit for Zachary."

    With that, they both drifted off to sleep, dreaming of what the future held for their extraordinary client and the adventures that awaited them all in the dynamic football world.

 Chapter 658 The Final Countdown

    658 The Final Countdown

    Four days had slipped by like grains of sand through an hourss, and now, it was finally Sunday, July 15th¡ªthe day of the World Cup final. The Ivory Coast yers, who had trained and prepared arduously, were now in a pristine state of controlled anticipation. The day had finally arrived, and the tension in the air was noticeable all around them.

    Zachary spent the morning in his hotel room, lost in the pages of a novel. The story helped to calm his nerves and distract him from the looming final. asionally, he paused to sip water, ensuring he remained well-hydrated. He also had his meals on time, knowing the importance of maintaining his physical readiness for the high-intensity game ahead. Periodically, he would chat with teammates like Zaha and Eric Bailly, sharing light-hearted jokes to shake off the anxiety.

    After lunch, the atmosphere began to change. The casual ease of the morning gave way to a more solemn and focused energy. The final was scheduled for 6:00 PM, and the yers knew that every minute counted. They began their final mental preparation, pondering their strategies and visualizing their roles on the pitch.

    At 3:00 PM, Herv¨¦ Renard, the Ivorian coach, summoned the team to the conference room for their final pre-match tactics session. The room was filled with quiet determination as the yers took their seats, their faces a mixture of nerves and steely resolve.

    Renard greeted his yers with a calm, reassuring smile. "We''ve already gone over these tactics in our previous training sessions, but I want to reiterate our n for rity," he began. "We''ll stick to our 4-2-3-1 formation. However, this time around, we''ll y narrow, especially when we don''t have the ball. Our main goal is to close down the half-spaces and cut off the possible passingnes, thus preventing France from easily prating through the middle."

    He borated more on the formation, emphasizing a few more crucial points for a few minutes before eventually turning to the defenders. "Wilfried Kanon, you''re back in the starting eleven after oveing your injury. You''ll need to be on your toes marking Kylian Mbapp¨¦."

    "Mbapp¨¦ is fast and unpredictable, but you have the skill to handle him. Just be brave, believe in yourself, and stick to the basics. Don''t feel too much pressure, and remember that even if he breaks past you, there''ll be our defensive midfielders to help you out. Eric Bailly, Lamine Kon¨¦, and Serge Aurier, you''ll need to watch the other French forwards. Communication and coordination will be key."

    Renard''s eyes scanned the room, locking on each yer, ensuring they felt the weight of their roles. "Serey Di¨¦ and Franck Kessi¨¦, you are our two defensive midfielders, our double pivots. You must remain vignt, cutting off passingnes and supporting our central defense. If our wing-backs are in trouble, you must also try to cover them and prevent Mbapp¨¦and ise Matuidi from cutting inside."

    "Zachary," he said, turning to his star yer, "you, Zaha, P¨¦p¨¦, and Kalou must give it your all. Zaha, you''ll be our center-forward, while Zachary, you''ll y your natural midfield position. Use your vision and creativity to open up opportunities... And if there''s a chance, seize it. Remember that we''ll get only a few chances in this final, so you must be razor-sharp and clinical whenever we go forward."

    "P¨¦p¨¦ and Kalou, you''ll be on the nks. But don''t spread out too wide as we want to keep it narrow. Drop back when we''re defending and cover the half-spaces to ensure their wingers don''t drift inside. You also need to support the wing-backs."

    The room was silent, the gravity of the moment sinking in. Zachary felt a surge of determination. He nced at Zaha, P¨¦p¨¦, and Kalou, who gave him confident nods. They knew what was at stake and were ready to leave everything on the pitch.

    Renard finished with a few more encouraging remarks, "We''vee this far, and now we stand on the brink of history. We are the first African team to reach the World Cup final. Let''s go out there and y with the heart and passion that has brought us this far. Give it everything you have... And no matter what happens, know you have made your country proud."

    The yers rose, a collective sense of purpose uniting them. They filed out of the conference room and returned to their rooms to change into their tracksuits. The final preparations were made in silence, each yer lost in their thoughts, visualizing their roles and the uing battle on the pitch.

    In his room, Zachary donned his tracksuit, the weight of the Ivorian crest on his chest a reminder of the hopes and dreams of millions resting on their shoulders. He closed his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath, centering himself.

    As he reopened his eyes, a fierce determination shone in his gaze. He was ready to give his all and lead his team to World Cup glory. The thought of helping Ivory Coast ovee France in the finals fueled his determination, and he was prepared to do whatever it took to achieve victory.

    -----

    Meanwhile, the French camp was also buzzing with anticipation. The final tactics meeting was underway in the grand conference room of their hotel, and Didier Deschamps, the French coach, stood at the front, his presencemanding attention. The yers were seated and listening intently, their faces reflecting a mix of nerves and determination. The World Cup final was just hours away, and every word from their coach was critical.

    Deschamps began by reiterating their formation¡ªa tried-and-tested 4-2-3-1. The n was simple yet effective, designed to maximize their strengths and exploit any weaknesses in the Ivorian side. He spoke with rity and purpose, his voice steady and confident.

    08:09

    As he wrapped up the overview of their tactics, he turned to N''Golo Kant¨¦, the team''s most hard-working and industrious defensive midfielder. Kant¨¦''s role was pivotal. He was to shadow and neutralize Zachary Bemba, the Ivory Coast''s dynamic ymaker and midfield engine. Deschamps fixed his gaze on Kant¨¦, his eyes intense.

    "N''Golo, your role is crucial. You must mark and neutralize Zachary Bemba''s threat. Can you handle that?" n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Kant¨¦, usually reserved, nodded and replied, "I''ll try my best, coach."

    Deschamps wasn''t satisfied. He shook his head and leaned in closer, speaking in a way that left no room for arguments. "I need more than that, N''Golo. I need certainty. Can you stop him?"

    Kant¨¦''s eyes narrowed as he considered the challenge. After a moment, he straightened up, patted his chest, and said with unwavering resolve, "I''ll stop Zachary at all costs."

    Deschamps nodded, finally satisfied. He turned his attention to Paul Pogba. "Paul, you''ll need to cover for N''Golo when he''s out of position. That aside, keep things tidy in the midfield. Push forward when there''s a chance and drop back to support the defense when they''re under pressure. Remember, we must dominate the game."

    "Sure, coach." Pogba nodded, his expression serious. Deschamps then shifted focus to the attacking yers. "Kylian," he said, addressing Mbapp¨¦, "y your game, just like you always do. Use your speed and creativity to break them down. Give them hell, and try your luck on the goal whenever you see fit."

    Mbapp¨¦ gave a confident nod, a small smile ying on his lips. He was ready to electrify the pitch with his pace and ir.

    Deschamps continued, "Antoine, ise, Olivier¡ªyou also must be sharp upfront. y and move like we have practiced during our training sessions over the past few days. We need to get a goal, maybe two, as quickly as possible. We have to kill off their hopes early."

    Griezmann, Matuidi, and Giroud listened intently, their faces set in steely determination. They knew the weight of their roles and the importance of delivering when it mattered most.

    Deschamps then emphasized a few more crucial points of their game n, his voice resonating with authority. "Remember, we are the better team. We havee this far because of our skills and determination, not just by luck. So, while you''re on the pitch, remain confident. Keep things simple, and enjoy your football. Dominate them with your skill and teamwork."

    He paused, letting his words sink in, before delivering his final remark. "Let''s win the World Cup."

    The yers responded with a resounding roar, their spirited voices echoing around the conference room. Their readiness for battle was evident in the auras they exuded.

    Deschamps smiled and finallydismissed the yers. They rose from their seats and left the conference room as Deschamps watched them go, knowing he had done everything he could to prepare them. The rest was up to them.

    As the French yers returned to their rooms to get ready, the sense of anticipation grew. The corridors of the hotel were filled with tense energy, the echoes of footsteps a reminder of the impending sh.

    The final was hours away, but the battle lines had already been drawn. On one side, Ivory Coast, a team driven by a dream and a few yers of extraordinary talent, was the underdog. On the other, France, a squad brimming with skill, experience, and unyielding determination, wished more than anything to win the game and lift the World Cup trophy.

 Chapter 659 The Battle Begins

    659 The Battle Begins

    At 4:45 PM, the Ivorian yers, dressed in their team tracksuits, eagerly hopped onto the bus bound for the Luzhniki Stadium. Excitement crackled in the air, and you could feel the anticipation building with every passing moment. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As they exited their hotel premises, they were greeted by arge gathering of fans and journalists lining the streets. The crowd''s energy was electric, a bluster of cheers and waving gs creating a vibrant send-off for the team.

    From his seat on the bus, Zachary Bemba looked out of the window¡ªat the sea of faces. He saw many African fans, their numbers more than ever, and their expressions filled with hope and pride. It once again stirred something deep within him. The sight reminded him of the responsibility they bore. They weren''t just ying for themselves or their team; they were ying for an entire continent. But that responsibility came with immense pressure.

    Zachary knew that if they lost the final, all the glory they had achieved would be overshadowed by the disappointment of falling at thest hurdle. They would be a footnote in the story of the World Cup winners, a cautionary tale of what could have been.

    To block out the growing anxiety, Zachary put on his headphones and switched on his music. The familiar beat of "Hall of Fame" by The Script and will.i.am filled his ears, the motivational lyrics resonating deeply. He subconsciously started humming along, his fingers tapping away the rhythm on his knee. Slowly, the anxiety began to ebb away, reced by a surge of determination.

    He noticed his teammates turning to look at him, curiosity piqued by the music he was humming. Those who understood English quickly joined in, singing along to the chorus, while the others pped their hands and banged the seats in time with the beat. The atmosphere in the bus then slowly transformed from tense to jubnt. Wilfried Zaha and Eric Bailly, ever the entertainers, took the lead, their voices rising above the din, turning the bus into a moving choir. Even some bold members of the coaching staff joined in, pping and singing, their earlier seriousness melting away in the shared moment of camaraderie.

    When they finally arrived at the Luzhniki Stadium, the tension had been reced withughter and jokes. The power of music had worked its miracle, easing their nerves and lifting their spirits. As they disembarked, they were greeted by another sea of fans, the noise almost deafening. They could hear their names being shouted by the crowd, the resulting excitement a tangible force that threatened to sweep them off their feet. Zachary could see the pride and hope in the eyes of the fans, a reflection of what they were ying for.

    The yers waved to the fans before quickly disappearing into the stadium. After arriving in their dressing room, they changed into warm-up jerseys and headed to the pitch. They found the stadium a cauldron of noise, packed with over 70,000 supporters of different origins, colors, and cultures, hoping to witness the sh between Ivory Coast and France. Under the urging of Coach Herv¨¦ Renard, the yers ignored the crowd and focused on their warm-up routine. The familiar exercises grounded them, providing a semnce of normalcy amid the chaos.

    Three minutes into their routine, the French team stepped onto the pitch, greeted by a roar of approval from their supporters. But Zachary and his teammates remained focused, their eyes fixed on their task. Theypleted their warm-up within 20 minutes and returned to the dressing room, where they went through their final preparations. Hydrating, visiting the washroom, and even a pre-match prayer¡ªall were done with an air of calm determination.

    As Zachary pulled on his orange number ten jersey andced up his Nike Mercurial Roc boots, he felt the familiar pre-match pressure returning. But he weed it, knowing that ''the little pressure'' could sharpen his performance. At that moment, Coach Herv¨¦ Renard pped his hands to draw everyone''s attention.

    "Alright, listen up!" Renard''s voice cut through the murmur of the room, and the yers turned to face him, their expressions solemn. "This is it. The moment we''ve been working towards. The moment you''ve dreamed of since you first kicked a ball. We''ve prepared... we''ve trained, and now it''s time to give it everything we''ve got."

    He paused, letting his words sink in, his gaze moving from yer to yer. "We''re up against a strong team. France has the talent and the experience. But so do we. Remember our tactics¡ªstick to the 4-2-3-1, y narrow, and deny them space. Wilfried Kanon, you''ll need to be sharp while marking Mbapp¨¦. Eric,Lamine, and Aurier keep an eye on the rest of their forwards. And everyone, stay disciplined."

    He turned to Zachary and Zaha. "You two are our key. Zachary, control the midfield like you always do. Zaha, we need your speed and creativity up front. Give it your all. No regrets."

    The coach''s words were met with nods and murmurs of agreement. The tension in the room was unmistakable. But it was a focused tension, the kind that precedes greatness.

    Renard took a deep breath and continued, "I know I have said these words many times, but I''ll repeat them today. This is our chance to make history. To be legends. Remember why you''re here. Remember who you''re ying for. Now, let''s go out there and win the World Cup!"

    The Ivorian yers erupted with a zealous roar, their hearts aze with determination. They strode out of the locker room, their thoughts solely focused on the uing battle on the field.

    With each step through the tunnel, the distant thunder of the crowd grew louder, echoing in their ears like a powerful symphony.

    As they advanced, they came face to face with the formidable French squad, their deep blue jerseys a striking contrast in the dim light. Among them were Rapha?l Varane, Paul Pogba, N''Golo Kant¨¦, Kylian Mbapp¨¦, Antoine Griezmann, and Olivier Giroud, with steely gazes that reflected unwavering resolve.

    Zachary spotted ise Matuidi, a teammate from his past year at Juventus. They exchanged a brief nod, a silent acknowledgment of respect and friendship, and just as quickly, Zachary refocused back on the task ahead. There was no room for distraction now. This was the pinnacle of their journey.

    The anticipation built as the teams eventually lined up at the tunnel''s exit. The air was thick with expectation, every second stretching into an eternity. Finally, the referees, ball in hand, led the teams out onto the field. The stadium exploded into noise¡ªa mor of cheers, vuvuzs, and whistles that all blended into a chaotic symphony of excitement. The ground seemed to tremble under the sheer weight of the collective energy.

    The national anthems began, each note sung with pride and vigor. Zachary felt a surge of emotion as "L''Abidjanaise" filled the air, his heart beating in time with the rhythm. The pre-match handshakes followed each yer exchanging formal gestures, masking the fiercepetitiveness that simmered beneath the surface.

    The captains met in the center for the coin toss. With Gervinho injured, Sylvain Gbohouo stepped up, assuming the role of leader. The coin spun in the air, catching the light beforending. The decision was made, and the captains returned to their teams. Sylvain called the Ivorians into a huddle, his voice steady andmanding.

    "Our motto today is unending focus and sharpness," he urged, his eyes sweeping across each face. "y like warriors and destroy the opponents. We''vee too far to falter now."

    A collective roar of agreement rose from the group, voicing a primal sound that ignited Zachary''s anticipation even more. They then broke the huddle, moving to their positions on the pitch. The clock was nearing 6:00 PM. The referee checked his watch, nced at the keepers, and then, with a sharp blow of the whistle, the World Cup finalmenced.

    France started the proceedings with Olivier Giroud nudging the ball back into midfield. Paul Pogba, with his characteristic grace, controlled the ball before passing it to Samuel Umtiti, who quickly ryed it to Rapha?l Varane. The French began their methodical build-up, passing the ball back and forth, establishing their rhythm.

    The Ivorians, disciplined and focused, adhered to their game n. They maintained tight lines, resisting the urge to press high. Instead, they focused on stability, hoping to bar the French yers from easily breaking their defensive set-up early in the game. As the two teams settled into their respective rhythms, the game quickly became a tactical dance, with France probing and Ivory Coast absorbing, each side testing the other''s resolve.

    Zachary held his position, eyes scanning the field, mind working through every possible scenario. Hemunicated with his teammates, signaling them to stayposed and hold their ground. This was the calm before the storm, a necessary phase to weather the initial onught from France.

    Then, as the clock ticked past the fifteen-minute mark, the Ivorians began to grow into the match. They started to push forward, asionallyunching calcted high presses. Wilfried Zaha, Nics P¨¦p¨¦, and Salomon Kalou, swift and cunning, led the charges, applying pressure on the French midfielders and defenders. Zachary always followed, trying to utilize his incredible game reading and spatial awareness to anticipate the opponents'' passes. All the other Ivorian yers also started making asional strategic runs, hoping to dispossess France.

    Finally, their hard work paid off, and an opportunity arose when Zachary intercepted a loose pass from Pogba. He calmly collected the ball and sidestepped past Antoine Griezmann, looking to break through the middle. But just as he began to get into a profound dribbling rhythm, a short man seemingly appeared out of the blue, sliding forward and sweeping Zachary off his feet. It was N''Golo Kant¨¦ who had taken action.

 Chapter 660 The Turning Point

    660 The Turning Point

    Zacharyy on the grass, wincing as he massaged his shin where N''Golo Kant¨¦''s boot had caught him. The pain was sharp but manageable. It was more a result of the impact than any significant injury. As he sat up, Wilfried Zaha, Eric Bailly, and Franck Kessi¨¦ were already by his side, their faces etched with worry.

    "Are you alright?" Zaha asked, extending a hand to help him up.

    Zachary smiled reassuringly. "I''ll be fine," he said, grasping Zaha''s hand and quickly rising to stand back on his feet.

    "Watch out for Kant¨¦," Zaha warned. "He''s out to get you."

    Zachary chuckled. "I will," he replied, turning his attention to the rest of the field. He immediately saw Salomon Kalou and Serey Di¨¦ arguing with the referee, their gestures animated.

    "Calm down, guys," Zachary called out as he hurried over to them. "Don''t y into their hands. Focus on our game."

    The two yers nodded, eventually heeding his advice, and returned to their positions. Secondster, the referee gave N''Golo Kant¨¦ a stern verbal warning before blowing his whistle to restart the game.

    Zachary quickly took the free-kick, passing it short to Franck Kessi¨¦. But as soon as Kessi¨¦ received the ball, Antoine Griezmann was upon him, forcing a quick pass back to Eric Bailly.

    Bailly was also under pressure from Olivier Giroud, so he wasted no time before passing the ball to Sylvain Gbohouo, the Ivorian goalkeeper. Gbohouo scanned the field and saw Kylian Mbapp¨¦ sprinting towards him. Deciding not to take any risks, heunched the ball high and far downfield.

    Wilfried Zaha positioned himself near the edge of the final third, ready to contest the aerial ball with the French center-backs - Samuel Umtiti and Rapha?l Varane. Using his body effectively, Zaha held them off and expertly chested the ball down, ying it back into the midfield, where Zachary was charging forward.

    But Zachary wasn''t alone. N''Golo Kant¨¦ was right on his heels, sticking to him like a shadow. Zachary, though, grinned, knowing his superior SSS grade agility could leave Kant¨¦ behind. He elerated, pulling away¡ªbut then felt a tug on his shirt. Kant¨¦ had grabbed him, pulling him back.

    Incensed, Zachary stopped and turned to face Kant¨¦, who quickly apologized. "It was instinct," Kant¨¦ said hurriedly. "I didn''t mean to."

    Zachary couldn''t help but find the situation ironic. Twice now, Kant¨¦ had fouled him and imed it was unintentional. The referee intervened, stepping between them and showing a yellow card to Kant¨¦.

    The French yers and fans groaned in frustration. A yellow card this early in the 20th minute meant Kant¨¦ would have to y cautiously for the rest of the match.

    Zachary took a deep breath, pleased with the decision. He positioned himself for the free-kick, the stadium watching with bated breath. He knew this was a critical moment. It was only 20 minutes into the game, but the intensity had already reached unprecedented levels.

    The referee''s whistle cut through the noise, signaling the restart. Zachary nced at the French wallprised only of two yers, then at his teammates, before focusing on the ball.

    He struck it with practiced skill, sending it curling into the box. The French defense scrambled, clearing the ball, but it fell to Franck Kessi¨¦ at the edge of the area. Kessi¨¦ took a touch and fired a shot, but it was blocked by Varane.

    The ball ricocheted back towards Zachary, who controlled it with an almost effortless deft touch. He looked up, spotting Zaha making a run into the box.

    His instincts churned, and without hesitating, Zachary flicked the ball over the defense, and Zaha met it with a powerful header. Unfortunately, the French goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris, made a spectacr save, tipping the ball over the bar.

    The crowd roared in appreciation of the thrilling sequence. The Ivorians were undeterred, lining up for the corner kick with renewed determination. Zachary also jogged into the box, his mind clear, his focus sharp. He knew they had the momentum. The game was still young, and they had to capitalize on every opportunity.

    The referee''s whistle soon pierced the air, signaling Nics P¨¦p¨¦ to take the corner kick. Positioned before the corner spot, P¨¦p¨¦ delivered a beautifully curling ball into the box.

    Zachary timed his run perfectly, using his 6''4 frame to tower over the French defenders. His eyes were locked on the fast-approaching ball, ready to guide it into the with a powerful header.

    But then, another figure entered his line of vision¡ªSamuel Umtiti, rising to meet him in an aerial duel. Zachary didn''t back down, angling his head to win the battle. The ball sped towards them, and just as Zachary prepared to connect, he saw the ball hit Umtiti''s slightly raised arm.

    Umtiti flinched but quickly pretended nothing had happened, deflecting the ball away. Paul Pogba seized the opportunity, booting the ball clear of the box.

    Zachary and his teammates erupted, yelling at the referee for a penalty, waving their arms frantically. But the referee waved off their pleas, motioning for the y to continue.

    In the meantime, Antoine Griezmann swiftly collected the cleared ball, turning and passing to Kylian Mbapp¨¦, who was already sprinting down the right wing, ready tounch a counterattack.

    Just then, another twist happened. The referee blew his whistle again and pointed to his ear, signaling a VAR check. The stadium''s jumbotron shed "Checking Possible Penalty" and "Handball," sending shockwaves through the pitch. Mbapp¨¦, frustrated, halted his run while an anxious atmosphere settled over the crowd.

    The French yers surrounded the referee, arguing their case, but he waved them off and soon jogged to the pitch-side monitor. He reviewed the rey of Umtiti''s handball, clearly seeing the ball strike the defender''s hand. The crucial questions now were whether Umtiti''s hand was in a natural position and if the handball was intentional or denied a goal-scoring opportunity.

    The referee made his decision and ran back to the pitch, pointing to the penalty spot and awarding Ivory Coast a penalty. He also showed Umtiti a yellow card, much to the relief and joy of the Ivorian fans and yers. The French fans, however, erupted in outrage, cursing the intrusion of VAR into the beautiful game of football.

    But all that had nothing to do with Zachary. He stepped forward, his heart pounding with the weight of the moment. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    It was the 23rd minute, and he had the chance to put Ivory Coast ahead. The stadium fell into a tense silence as he ced the ball on the spot. He took a deep breath, blocking out the noise and pressure, focusing solely on the goal before him.

    Hugo Lloris, the French goalkeeper, stood poised, his eyes locked on Zachary. Zachary took a few steps back, visualizing the shot. The referee blew the whistle, and in that instant, time seemed to slow down. Zachary surged forward, striking the ball withposure and practiced skill.

    Everything that followed happened so fast, and the ball sailed through the air, curving away from Lloris''s outstretched arms and burying itself in the back of the.

    The stadium erupted into thunderous cheers and groans, a symphony of contrasting emotions. Zachary sprinted towards the corner g, his teammates piling onto him in celebration. Ivory Coast was ahead, 1-0, and the dream of lifting the World Cup grew closer.

    -----

 Chapter 661 A Glimpse of Glory

    Chapter 661 A Glimpse of Glory

    Kristin was in the heart of the Luzhniki Stadium, lost in a sea of ecstatic fans. Beside her were Emily and Zachary''s closest supporters. The energy was electric, the air thick with excitement after Zachary converted the penalty in the 23rd minute. She jumped and yelled like a little girl, hugging Emily tightly. "Zachary''s done it again!" she shouted, her voice lost in the thunderous roar around her.

    Vuvuzs, cheers, and African drums filled the stands, creating a thrilling concerto of celebration. The floor beneath them seemed to shake under the weight of the exuberant fans. As the initial frenzy began to calm, Kristin heard thementator''s voice cut through the noise.

    "Zachary has done it again! This time from the penalty spot, putting Ivory Coast in the driving seat in the 23rd minute. That''s his ninth goal of this World Cup tournament, inching him closer to the Golden Boot. Unless Kylian Mbapp¨¦ can score four more, Zachary is on his way to iming the title."

    The othermentator chuckled, and Kristin shook her head, sharing a knowing nce with Emily. They were on the brink of witnessing history, and Zachary was leading the charge. Kristin and Emily turned their focus back to the pitch, where the game was restarting.

    The French yers had regrouped. Their faces were etched with frustration, but determination zed in their eyes. They needed to respond quickly.

    The urgency in their y was palpable as they moved the ball around with skillful uracy. It eventually found its way to Kylian Mbapp¨¦, their star forward, who seemed like a man possessed.

    In a sh, Mbapp¨¦ burst past Wilfried Kanon, Ivory Coast''s left-back, cutting into the pitch from the wing with blistering speed. Eric Bailly and Serey Di¨¦ rushed to intercept him, but Mbapp¨¦ had anticipated their move. He squared the ball to Antoine Griezmann at the edge of the box.

    Griezmann, unmarked, took a single touch before unleashing a rocket of a shot towards the goal.

    The tension in the stadium spiked to unbelievable levels as the ball zoomed towards the. Sylvain Gbohouo, Ivory Coast''s goalkeeper, was beaten. But then, the ball smashed off the post and rebounded towards the left side of the box. Mbapp¨¦ was there, ready to pounce and take another shot.

    Out of nowhere, Lamine Kon¨¦ slid in like a python through the grass, throwing his body in the way. He blocked Mbapp¨¦''s shot, sending the ball out of y. On cue, the referee whistled and awarded France a corner kick.

    Zachary''s heart pounded as he raced back towards the box to defend against the corner kick. The post had saved them this time, but he knew they couldn''t rely on luck.

    "Let''s focus!" Zachary yelled, rallying his teammates. "Mark every Frenchman tightly. We can''t let them score!"

    The Ivorian yers, galvanized by Zachary''s call, positioned themselves to defend the corner. The French fans were roaring, urging their team forward, while the Ivorian supporters beat their drums in defiance.

    Antoine Griezmann moved into position, ready to take the corner kick. The tension mounted as he sent a well-ced curling ball into the box. Zachary, using his height and strength, positioned himself to clear it. The ball came in fast, and he leaped, connecting with a powerful header that sent it out of the danger zone.

    The ball fell to Franck Kessi¨¦, who controlled it expertly beforeunching a counterattack. The Ivorian fans erupted in cheers, sensing an opportunity. Kessi¨¦ sprinted up the field, passing to Wilfried Zaha, who was making a run on the right wing.

    Zaha cut inside, dancing past a defender, and unleashed a shot that was narrowly saved by Hugo Lloris. The ball went out for another corner, and the Ivorian fans roared with approval, cheering their team''s boldness.

    Kristin could hardly contain her excitement. The following minutes were a whirlwind of emotions, each moment more intense than thest. Ivory Coast was fighting tooth and nail, defending andunching asional counterattacks, and Zachary was at the heart of it all. She clutched Emily''s hand, her knuckles white, as she watched the drama unfold on the pitch. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The game continued at a breakneck pace, with both teams trading blows. Ivory Coast defended with grit, while France attacked with relentless pressure. The minutes ticked by, each one bringing them closer to half-time. But the Ivorian defense, led by Eric Bailly, still held firm, repelling wave after wave of French attacks.

    As the half-time whistle finally blew, Kristin released a breath she didn''t realize she''d been holding. The score remained 1-0, Ivory Coast holding onto their slim lead. She tried to calm her still-racing heart as the yers jogged off the pitch, sweat-soaked and determined.

    Zachary and Ivory Coast were halfway there, but the battle was far from over. Kristin knew the second half would be even more challenging, but she believed in Zachary and the team.

    -----

    The atmosphere in France''s dressing room at half-time was solemn. The team trailed 1-0 to Ivory Coast in the World Cup finals, a scenario Didier Deschamps found uneptable.

    His voice echoed off the walls, sharp and urgent, as he demanded focus and heart from his yers. His eyes zed with intensity as he addressed them.

    "Listen up, everyone," he said, his voice steadying, but the intensity remained. "We''re behind, but we still have forty-five minutes to change everything. A one-goal difference doesn''t mean we''re out of the game, so we don''t need to rush or force anything. Let''s remain patient in our y. Let''s stick to the game n during the second half."

    Deschamps walked among his yers, his presencemanding their full attention. "But we also need to be sharp while going forward. We need to get the ball to Kylian and ise as frequently as possible and let them advance our attacks. They can cut inside or send crosses from the wings. Olivier, you and the others must be ready to connect with those crosses and put them in the back of the."

    His words were measured, each carefully chosen to ignite the fighting spirit within his team. "Remember, we''ve been here before. We know how to handle pressure, and we know how toe back from a one-goal deficit. So, go out there and y smart, y hard, and let''s create opportunities. This is our moment to attain World Cup glory. Don''t let it slip away."

    Deschamps concluded with a few encouraging remarks, his tone softening but no less powerful. "Believe in yourselves. Believe in your teammates'' skills and dedication. We can do this. We can win the World Cup!" With that, he sent his yers back to the pitch for the second half, their resolve visibly strengthened.

    -----

    Meanwhile, in the Ivory Coast dressing room, the mood was one brimming with quiet determination. They led 1-0, but Coach Herv¨¦ Renard knew they couldn''t afford to rx. His voice was calm but firm as he addressed his yers, the moment''s gravity clear in his tone.

    "We''ve done well so far and gotten the first goal, but the job is only half-done," Renard said, his eyes meeting each yer''s. "The second half will even be more challenging as France wille at us with even more ferocious waves of attacks. But fear not, as we can stille out on top as long as we y our hearts out there on the field. Let''s stay focused, and keep everything simple! If you have the ball, pass to a free teammate. If that''s not possible, clear it out. Let''s avoid mistakes."

    Renard stood in the center of the room, his gaze intense and reassuring. "Let''s stick to the game n. Let''s continue ying narrow and deny France any chance of breaking through the middle. Let''s defend well, but let''s not hesitate to counterattack when we see an opportunity. We''ve practiced this. We know what to do."

    His voice carried a calm authority that instilled confidence in his yers. "This is our chance to make history, to win the World Cup for Ivory Coast and the whole African continent. We only have 45 minutes to go, but we must stay disciplined and not lose focus for even a second. We must stay strong. Remember, we''re in control, and we can see this through."

    "Zachary," the coach addressed his star midfielder, "You need to be cautious when you have the ball because the French midfielders are targeting you. But you also need to be bold. Whenever you spot an opening, go for it and start an attack with your dribbling. Remember, we have the VAR now, so any foul against you will not go unnoticed by the referees. y your game and make life difficult for the French. Try to draw fouls and make them umte more yellow cards. This will make them y more carefully, giving us the advantageter in the game."

    Renard then turned to his other yers, his voice imbued with quiet strength. "Believe in each other when out there on the field. Believe in yourselves and fight for every ball. Do not give them an inch, y like champions, and leave no room for regrets. We can win the World Cup." With those words, he sent his yers back to the pitch, their spirits bolstered for the battle ahead.

    -----

 Chapter 662 The Daring Solo Dash and the Roars of Abidjan

    662 The Daring Solo Dash and the Roars of Abidjan

    The second half of the World Cup final between Ivory Coast and Francemenced with the referee''s whistle piercing the tense atmosphere of the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

    The Ivorians had the kick-off this time, and Wilfried Zaha, the center forward, stepped up to restart the gamey. Positioned at the center spot, he booted the ball back into the Ivorian midfield, finding Franck Kessi¨¦ with a precise pass.

    Kessi¨¦ was swift, knowing the French yers were already charging forward. He took a single touch before passing to Zachary.

    As Zachary prepared to receive the ball, he noted Olivier Giroud closing down on him. But panic was not in Zachary''s nature. He swiftly brought the ball under control with his left foot and nudged it forward, just a step ahead, baiting Giroud to go for it.

    When the ball was just outside Giroud''s reach, Zachary suddenly stopped it with his foot, his SS+ dribbling skills, bnce, and coordination working wonders. With a graceful rotation, hepleted a stunning Marseille turn, leaving Giroud behind and eliciting cheers and gasps from the crowd.

    The second half had just begun, but Zachary was eager to exploit every opportunity against the French defense. He revved forward, leaving the disoriented Giroud behind.

    His eleration was reminiscent of a Dodge Challenger¡ªand within seconds, he was at his top speed, gliding past Antoine Griezmann with a simple side-step and heading toward French territory, his silhouette a sh of orange cutting through the middle.

    He remained alert, and as he crossed the center line, he caught a sh of movement to his left. With his incredible dynamic visual acuity, he identified the fast-approaching N''Golo Kant¨¦, who seemed to be preparing to sweep him with a sliding tackle.

    Zachary''s instincts kicked in. He slowed down, dug his boot under the ball, and leaped up just as Kant¨¦''s tackle shed past where he had been an instant before. Zacharynded back on the green, the ball seemingly glued to his foot, eliciting more gasps of admiration from the spectators.

    In his peripheral vision, Zachary saw Pogba rushing in from the right, attempting to close him down. But Zachary gave the French midfielder no chance, elerating again and pulling away, his strides a blur like the rims of a speeding motorcycle.

    Everything around him faded into the background, and before he knew it, he was stepping into the final third, facing off against the French center-backs - Varane and Umtiti. They held their positions, wary of Zachary''s potent dribbling.

    But Zachary had other ns. He spotted Zaha making a run on his left. Without hesitation and with eyes fixed on the center-backs, he unleashed a no-look pass reminiscent of peak-Ronaldinho style.

    The ball gracefully found the sprinting Zaha. With elegance and agility, Zachary circumvented the center-backs, whose attention was momentarily diverted by Zaha. He raced past them just in time to receive a perfectly timed return ball from Zaha.

    Controlling the ball mid-stride, Zachary found himself with only Hugo Lloris, the French keeper, to beat. Adrenaline pumped through his body as he focused solely on the goal, the crowd''s roar fading into the background.

    He saw Lloris rushing out to meet him but remained steadfast. With a well-timed move, he rounded the keeper, leaving Lloris grasping at thin air. The goal was now gaping, and Zachary smashed the ball into the back of the, scoring Ivory Coast''s second goal in the 46th minute.

    A stunned silence fell over part of the crowd. The yers and bench were momentarily speechless, and even thementators paused. But the Ivorian fans didn''t care. The score read 2-0 in favor of their team, the Elephants, and they couldn''t help but erupt in wild celebration, yelling like mad.

    Zachary had made another of his signature runs through the middle, breaking down France almost single-handedly before finding the back of the and doubling Ivory Coast''s lead. This was his tenth goal of the World Cup campaign, and he rushed toward the bench to celebrate with his coaches, substitutes, and teammates.

    The second half had barely begun, yet Zachary had already delivered a decisive blow that could crush France''s hopes for aeback.

    -----

    Meanwhile, far away in Abidjan, Ivory Coast''s capital... the atmosphere could only be described as explosive. As Zachary''s goal hit the back of the in the 46th minute, a long-drawn-out eruption of noise swept across the city like a powerful bomb.

    The Ivorian fans celebrated the goal with a collective intensity that seemed to make the whole city beat as one. Whether in homes, taxis, buses, or pubs, everyone was yelling, their voices united in a chorus of euphoria as they sensed World Cup glory inching closer.

    In one bustling pub, Kwame Bamba, Adeoluwa Soro, and Yannick Gou¨¦, the three university students in their final year, were among the sea of fans. They yelled and celebrated like there was no tomorrow, matching the intensity of everyone around them. The bar reverberated with vigor¡ªlike a living organism pulsating with hope and excitement.

    Then, the rey of Zachary''s stunning solo run appeared on therge screen. The pub fell silent as all eyes were fixated on the disy. They watched in awe as Zachary dribbled past one French yer after another, his grace a blend of Zidane''s elegance and Ronaldinho''s mboyance.

    He did the almost impossible, weaving through the French midfield and defense before slotting the ball into the. It was like a dream for every Ivorian fan in the pub, and Kwame, Adeoluwa, and Yannick were no different.

    The eyes of the three students glistened with tears, but as men, they pushed the overwhelming emotions to the back of their minds, bracing for the next wave of tension as the game restarted.

    Thementator''s voice resonated through the speakers, eximing how Zachary, the sh of orange, had struck again to double Ivory Coast''s lead. But he warned that the French were now more determined than ever.

    The bar watched, silence again reining supreme as the game resumed with Franceunching an immediate offensive. Paul Pogba quickly found Antoine Griezmann, who yed the ball to ise Matuidi on the left wing.

    Matuidi drove forward, attempting to skip past Serge Aurier, Ivory Coast''s right wing-back. But Aurier was having none of it. He slid in with a hard tackle, sweeping Matuidi off his feet and sending the ball out of y.

    The referee''s whistle blew, awarding France a free kick close to the touchline while giving Aurier a stern verbal warning.

    The French took the free kick quickly. Antoine Griezmann sent a curling ball over the Ivorian defense toward the box, but the alert Eric Bailly sped back and intercepted it, smashing it out of y for a throw-in.

    The bar erupted in cheers and sighs of relief, Ivory Coast having survived another onught. Time seemed to be crawling as it was only the 50th minute.

    The French took the throw-in with urgency. Lucas Hernandezunched the ball to ise Matuidi, who tried to control it with his chest but was immediately engaged by Franck Kessi¨¦. They fought for possession, jostling and pushing until the ball went out of y, this time for an Ivorian throw-in.

    Kwame Bamba leaned over,menting, "It seems Coach Herv¨¦ Renard and the boys are starting to manage the game."

    Adeoluwa Soro nodded, adding, "That''s the right thing to do at this point of the game. We''re two goals ahead. We''ve got to waste as much time as possible and constantly break the y to stop France from building momentum."

    Yannick Gou¨¦ also chimed in, eyes brimming with hope. "We must stop France from scoring even a single goal. If the French get one back, the game will be tenser. I don''t want to suffer a heart attack because of the pressure during the final minutes."

    The othersughed to let off some steam as the game continued on the big screen.

    The French yers tried to link y together and prate through the wings, but the Ivorian yers were relentless. They fouled, tackled, and used every tactic in the book to break up the y. Each disruption brought cheers from the bar, the tension easing slightly with each passing minute.

    Gradually, the game approached the 65th-minute mark. The score remained 2-0 in favor of Ivory Coast. Though still tense, the fans in the pub began to believe that their dream of World Cup glory might juste true. Every pass, tackle, and save was met with cheers or groans, the emotional rollercoaster of the match reflected in their extreme reactions.

    Kwame, Adeoluwa, and Yannick huddled together, their eyes never leaving the screen. "We''re so close," Kwame muttered, his voice tinged with hope and anxiety.

    "It''s already the 70th minute, and only 20 more minutes of normal ying time remain," Adeoluwa replied, his fists clenched. "We just need to hold on."

    Yannick, ever the optimist, grinned, masking his anxiety. "We will. This seems to be our time. For sure, we can win."

    The game pressed on, and with each passing second, the dream of victory seemed closer to bing a reality. In Abidjan, the city''s heartbeat pounded with anticipation, every cheer a testament to the unbreakable spirit of the Ivorian people. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    But suddenly, the Ivorian fans grew quiet as the situation changed on the screens. Tension gripped the entire city as Paul Pogba suddenly yed the ball expertly over the defense to find Kylian Mbapp¨¦ unmarked and sprinting on the right nk.

 Chapter 663 The Fight for Glory

    663 The Fight for Glory

    Kylian Mbapp¨¦ raced forward as if his life depended on it as he anticipated the overhead ball from Paul Pogba. Time seemed to slow down, and he chested it forward with incredible finesse.

    Wilfried Kanon, Ivory Coast''s left wing-back, shed forward to intercept him, but Mbapp¨¦ deftly fed the ball past the Ivorian defender and raced ahead like Usain Bolt, leaving Kanon trailing in his wake.

    Mbapp¨¦ then cut back into the pitch, charging towards the box with unwavering determination. Eric Bailly, who had just made a timely recovery, rushed to stop him at the edge of the box.

    But Mbapp¨¦ danced left and right, his footwork exquisite and efficient, before breaking past Bailly and stepping into the box. With only Sylvain Gbohouo, the Ivorian keeper, to beat, Mbapp¨¦ boldly unleashed a powerful shot aimed at the inside of the far post.

    Gbohouo''s instincts were spot on, though. He stretched out his leg and managed to block the shot. The stadium held its breath as the ball rebounded back into the path of Mbapp¨¦, who was ready to pull the trigger again.

    Lamine Kon¨¦, the other Ivorian center-back, charged back, desperate to eliminate the danger. But Mbapp¨¦ suckered him in with a feint, stepping towards the center before pulling the trigger again. The ball sailed past Gbohouo and into the, and with that, he scored France''s first goal of the night during the 74th minute.

    The French fans erupted in celebration, their cheers reverberating through the stadium. They now felt that their team had a great chance ofpleting aeback.

    But Mbapp¨¦ didn''t join them in the celebration. He quickly picked the ball from the back of the, raced back to the center, and ced it at the center spot. He exchanged silent nods with his teammates, and they swiftly retook their positions, their mannerisms resembling seasoned military men preparing for battle.

    Their intentions were clear. They meant business and wanted to restart the game as quickly as possible.

    -----

    In the Ivorian technical area, Coach Herv¨¦ Renard felt the pressure rising, his heart racing. France''s goal had just made the situation on the field precarious.

    His team was now only leading by a single goal, and with more than a quarter of an hour left in regr ying time on the clock, there was plenty of opportunity for the French to do more damage. He knew he had to act swiftly and decisively, starting with motivating his yers.

    Renard strode to the touchline, his voice cutting through the stadium din. "Don''t lose heart! Defense! Give more than 100 percent! We are still leading! We are on the brink of a historic victory..." His words resonated with the yers, and he could see them regaining their determination.

    With his yers reinvigorated, Renard turned his attention to the tactical error that had led to France''s goal. He had noticed Wilfried Kanon showing signs of exhaustion earlier, as he had been marking the relentless Mbapp¨¦.

    But still, Renard had dyed substituting Kanon, hoping he could continue doing a great job. But world-ss yers like Mbapp¨¦ only need a moment ofpse to capitalize.

    Recognizing the urgency, Renard called for a substitution when the ball went out of y for a throw-in. He swapped the exhausted Wilfried Kanon with Adama Traor¨¦, a fresh left-back, to mark Mbapp¨¦ and stop him from causing further damage. Additionally, he brought on Maxwel Co for Nics P¨¦p¨¦, hoping Co''s fresh legs would aid Traor¨¦ in marking Mbapp¨¦.

    On the opposite bench, the French coach, Didier Deschamps, responded with a substitution of his own. He reced ise Matuidi with Ousmane Demb¨¦l¨¦, seeking to bolster France''s attacking prowess.

    The game restarted after the substitutes took their positions. The French yers resumed their relentless offensive, their spirits lifted by the goal they had just scored. They moved the ball around energetically, probing for gaps in the Ivorian defense.

    But as often happens with teams focused on an aggressiveeback, the French left themselves vulnerable to counterattacks. This nearly cost them in the 81st minute when Franck Kessi¨¦, ever alert, intercepted a loose pass from Paul Pogba at the edge of the box. He quickly looked up and found Zachary just outside the defensive third.

    Zachary received the ball on the half-turn, eyes scanning the field for an opportunity to counterattack. The tension in the stadium was palpable as the French fans held their breath, knowing how dangerous Zachary could be.

    Zachary didn''t hesitate and tried to pull away from N''Golo Kant¨¦, but Kant¨¦, reading the situation perfectly, took a daring risk. He swept in with another of his signature tackles, halting Zachary''s charge forward and sending him tumbling to the ground with a thud.

    An air of uncertainty immediately enveloped the pitch. N''Golo Kant¨¦ was already on a yellow card, yet the foul he had justmitted against Zachary deserved another.

    Some of the Ivorian yers ran to the referee, demanding justice, while the French yers stepped forward to plead their case. But after some deliberation, the referee gave Kant¨¦ only a verbal warning and awarded a free-kick to Ivory Coast.

    Zacharyy on the ground, disappointment mingling with pain. He would have loved for Kant¨¦ to receive a red card, as the midfielder''s boot had caught him on the shin of his right leg, causing considerable damage.

    Moreover, the fact that even the VAR did not decree the foul as deserving of a red card added to his frustration. If he didn''t know better, he would think the officials favored France.

    His teammates gathered around him, worry evident on their faces. "Are you okay?" they asked, concerncing their voices. But Zachary didn''t know how to reply. He was just filled with frustration.

    In the meantime, the referee summoned the on-pitch medical staff, who rushed to Zachary''s side. They quickly pulled down his stocking and examined the injured area. His shin was already swelling, so they applied ice before helping him off the pitch to the sideline.

    A tense air hung over the field as the game restarted without Zachary. The French quickly won back the ball andunched another swift attack, exploiting their temporary numerical advantage. They cut through the middle, where Zachary was absent, their passes flowing like running water.

    Antoine Griezmann eventually found Paul Pogba at the edge of the box. Before the Ivorian defenders could react, Pogba prodded the ball forward to open the shooting angle and swiftly pulled the trigger. The ball flew off his boot with incredible speed, deflecting off Serey Di¨¦''s thigh and finding the back of the.

    Finally, the French had gotten their second and equalizing goal during the 84th minute. The score was now 2-2. They had taken advantage of Zachary''s absence from the midfield to inflict significant damage.

    Zachary was still receiving treatment on the sidelines. He felt his heart clench as he watched the French yers celebrate. Ivory Coast had only needed to hold on for a few more minutes to win the World Cup, but now their task had be much more challenging.

    As he brooded, Cheick Doukour¨¦, one of the Ivorian substitutes, approached with a message from Coach Herv¨¦ Renard. The message consisted of a single question: Can you continue?

    Zachary eagerly nodded and said yes. Although he still felt pain in his shin, there was no way he would step off the pitch and leave the match in the bnce. He wanted World Cup glory and knew he had to see it through himself.

    Seeing his resolve, Doukour¨¦ smiled and rushed back to deliver Zachary''s response to the coach. The medics narrowed their eyes, seeming to want to offer some words of caution. But Zachary shut them down before they could speak.

    He had a stock of vitality-enhancing elixirs, the rewards from winning the Champions League and the Serie A in the past season. Even if his injury worsened, he could rely on those elixirs to heal and achieve his peak quickly after the match. But as of now, he had to step back on the pitch and see the game through.

    He told the medics to apply some pain relief to his shin. With a bit of coaxing, they agreed and sprayed his shin. As the drug was absorbed into his skin, he felt the pain ebb slightly, bringing some relief.

    Feeling relieved that the injury might not be serious, he pulled up his stockings, got up, and headed to the touchline. At first, he limped, but then he started jogging until he reached the centerline. The referee quickly waved him on, and he rejoined the y, determined to grow back into the game.

    A few secondster, after the ball went out of y for a throw-in, Didier Deschamps, the French coach, called for a substitution. He took off N''Golo Kant¨¦ and brought on Steven Nzonzi, unwilling to risk keeping Kant¨¦ on the pitch with the threat of a red card hanging over him.

    The game continued after that, with Zachary fighting through the pain and looking to help his team create more scoring opportunities. Ivory Coast''s defense also tightened, knowing they had to withstand the French pressure in the final minutes. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Buoyed by the two goals they had just scored, the French yers of course tried their best to create chances. They seamlessly blended wing-y tactics, short passes, and crosses as they searched for a breakthrough. But their efforts remained futile as the Ivorian yers kept their lines tight, barring them from breaking through the middle.

    As for Zachary, he moved with a purposeful efficiency, constantly avoiding unnecessary actions as his mind was focused on one objective. He was lurking and waiting for an opportunity. He was waiting for the French to make a mistake, and then he would pounce forward and capitalize on it.

 Chapter 664 The Final Push

    664 The Final Push

    The game trudged on, with France relentlessly attacking and throwing everyone forward in a desperate bid to break the deadlock. But the Ivorians defended like mad and held their ground.

    The intent of the Ivorian yers was clear to everyone watching: they would allow France to dominate possession, but there was no way in hell they would let the French forwards break through the middle and threaten their box. Keeping their lines tight, they constantly discouraged the French from making meaningful forward passes.

    Minutes ticked by without any significant events, and finally, it was the 90th minute, with the score still 2-2. The fourth official on the sidelines put up the board, indicating an added six minutes of injury time.

    The French yers, noticing the added time, seemed to muster the strength for a fewst pushes, hoping to score a winning goal and prevent the game from going into extra time.

    France started their build-up from the defensive midfield, with the substitute defensive midfielder Steven Nzonzi ying the ball to the right wing to find Benjamin Pavard, the right-back.

    Since all the Ivorian yers were defending in front of the ball, Pavard had all the space he needed to make a daring run through the wing. He drove the ball forward before finally passing it to Kylian Mbapp¨¦, France''s right winger.

    Mbapp¨¦, phenomenal ever since he scored France''s first goal, controlled the ball well and tried to step past Maxwel Co, the Ivorian left-back, who had fallen back to defend. But Mbapp¨¦''s efforts soon turned fruitless as Adama Traor¨¦, the wing-back, rushed forward to double-team him, stopping him from breaking inside.

    Undeterred, Mbapp¨¦ expertly yed the ball into the space behind the two Ivorian yers, finding Antoine Griezmann, who had timed his run perfectly towards the edge of the box.

    Griezmann controlled the ball close to the left side of the box before cunningly squaring it back towards the circle of the eighteen and finding the arriving Paul Pogba.

    Pogba received it and tried a swift snapshot from outside the box, hoping to recreate more heroics and score the winner. But Serey Di¨¦ threw himself forward, blocking the shot and stopping it from continuing on its trajectory to the goal.

    The blocked ball rebounded and flew towards the right side of the box, where Serge Aurier received it. Ousmane Demb¨¦l¨¦ was closing him down, but Aurier skipped away gracefully.

    Spotting Zachary already racing towards the other side of the pitch on the left wing, Aurier''s instincts kicked in. He immediately fed the ball along the line, aiming to find Zachary and initiate a counterattack.

    Aurier''s pass was perfect, and Zachary connected with it on the half-turn, noting Steven Nzonzi closing down on him. Composed, Zachary feigned a rush along the touchline toward French territory.

    Nzonzi, taking the bait, charged to block Zachary''s run. But in the nick of time, Zachary abruptly halted, spinning past the defensive midfielder with the ball glued to his left foot. His elegance was unmatched, and suddenly, the field opened before him.

    He saw that Rapha?l Varane and Samuel Umtiti, the French center-backs, were out of position, having been involved in France''sst build-up for their attack. His heart raced, and he didn''t hesitate.

    Heart racing, he bolted away from Nzonzi, who was now trying to grab his shirt, and charged toward France''s box. Varane and Umtiti scrambled to catch up, but Zachary''s SSS-grade speed was not for show.

    Although he still felt the pain from N''Golo Kant¨¦''s earlier tackle, he pushed through, racing toward the box like aet shooting through the sky.

    The pain in his shin tried to slow him, but Zachary pushed it to the back of his mind. Everyone was on the edge of their seats as it was the 90th minute, and Zachary had a clear chance to score and put Ivory Coast ahead again.

    Hugo Lloris, the French keeper, rushed out to meet him. But Zachary boldly held onto the ball a moment longer, and as Lloris approached, he dug his boot under the ball and looped it over the keeper''s outstretched hands.

    Tension mounted, the stadium holding its breath as the ball arced perfectly and bounced toward the back of the. Rapha?l Varane, having made a desperate recovery, charged back, hoping to intercept it. But before he could reach it, the ball bounced over the goal line, signifying that Zachary had just scored Ivory Coast''s third goal in the 91st minute.

    The stadium exploded with cheers from the Ivorian fans as the score on the jumbotron changed to 3:2. Zachary hadpleted a counterattack, scored a hat-trick, and bagged the 11th goal of his World Cup campaign, potentially the winning goal of the final.

    However, he couldn''t celebrate as the dash from the wing to the goal had taken everything out of him. The pain from his shin spiked, and he felt he couldn''t continue, no matter how much he tried to force himself.

    His teammates rushed to celebrate with him, but Zachary hurriedly told them he was injured. Wilfried Zaha, Eric Bailly, and the others narrowed their eyes, restraining themselves from jumping on him in celebration. They then signaled the referee and the technical bench, and the medics rushed onto the pitch.

    When the medics pulled down Zachary''s stocking, everyone gasped at the sight of his swollen shin. They couldn''t believe he had sprinted past the French defenders with such an injury. What kind of tenacity did he have?

    Zachary calmed them down. "It actually looks worse than it is," he assured them. Seeing them nod, he continued, "I''m sorry I can''t continue. But keep fighting and hold on to the lead."

    His teammates thumped their chests, with Zaha taking the lead. "You have done your part, Zachary. Now, rest well, and we''ll see this through. We promise," they said one after another.

    Zachary nodded and was then carried off the pitch on a stretcher. Cheick Doukour¨¦ immediately took his ce, and the game resumed. The French yers, now desperate, threw everything into their attempts to equalize.

    They yed like men possessed,unching offensive after offensive at the Ivorian defense. Even Rapha?l Varane, known more for his defensive prowess, surged forward to initiate the attack.

    Wilfried Zaha moved to intercept him, but Varane executed a perfect diagonal pass to Ousmane Demb¨¦l¨¦ on the left wing. Demb¨¦l¨¦ chested the ball down and attempted to sprint past Serge Aurier. However, Aurier, always sharp, executed a hard sliding tackle, sending Demb¨¦l¨¦ tumbling to the ground.

    The French yers cried foul, and the referee rushed to the scene, issuing a yellow card to Aurier and awarding France a free-kick.

    Zachary was now watching from the bench while receiving treatment. He felt his heart clench. Such free-kicks were dangerous as they provided golden opportunities for the opponents tounch the ball into the box.

    He watched with bated breath as Antoine Griezmann stepped up to take the free-kick. Griezmann sent a long, curling ball over the Ivorian defense towards the box. yers from both teams rushed to contest it, but Varane perfectly timed his run and came out on top. He angled his head, guiding the ball towards the top corner with textbook precision.

    Zachary''s heart sank as he saw the ball heading for the back of the. He hoped for a miracle, perhaps for the ball to hit the post, but his wishes were in vain.

    Unfortunately, the ball flew past Sylvain Gbohouo''s outstretched hands and found the back of the. On cue, the French fans, yers, and coaches cheered with renewed vigor, their voices shaking the stadium.

    Zachary felt something inside him break, tears welling up as he realized France had equalized. The game was headed into extra time, and he was already off the pitch. He covered his face with his hands, hoping to conceal his frustration and tears from the ever-watching cameras.

    But just as he hit his lowest point, the atmosphere in the stadium suddenly changed. The cheers of the French fans abruptly stopped, reced by groans and boos.

    Zachary quickly removed his hands from his face and was pleasantly surprised. His mood lifted as he saw the referee pointing to his ear while the stadium jumbotron shed the words "Checking Goal" and "Possible Offside." His spirits lifted from the depths, his heart pounding as the stadium waited with bated breath for the decision.

    Finally, after a few tense moments, the VAR officials reached a decision. The words "Decision, No Goal" appeared on therge screen, indicating Varane was offside.

    On seeing the verdict, Zachary was overwhelmed with emotion. He jumped up and yelled, wincing just as abruptly as his shin throbbed with pain. The medics who had just attended to him urged him to calm down, but Zachary couldn''t let his injury dampen his joy.

    Amidst the excitement, the pitch was engulfed in chaos as the French yers swarmed the referee, passionately arguing their case. The linesmen intervened to restore order, and eventually, the situation calmed down. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    As the game resumed, France made a final desperate attempt to turn the tables. However, the Ivorians, showing newfoundposure, focused on keeping the French at bay.

    Time seemed to crawl as France struggled to create any significant opportunities. But they couldn''t find the back of the, and after an excruciating eight minutes of added time, the referee finally brought the World Cup final to a close. Ivory Coast had finally emerged victorious.

 Chapter 665 World Champions

    665 World Champions

    As the final whistle sounded, the French yers copsed on the grass, their frustration and exhaustion evident in their expressions. In stark contrast, the Ivory Coast yers, fans, and bench erupted in cheers, their joyous shouts filling the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

    Zachary couldn''t believe it. They had done it¡ªthey had won the World Cup. Tears of joy streamed down his face as the reality of their victory sank in. His teammates rushed from the pitch to celebrate with him, their faces alight with the joy of being world champions.

    However, Coach Herv¨¦ Renard quickly stepped in, warning them to be careful and not to worsen Zachary''s injury. Despite his stern tone, it was clear that the coach himself was just as emotional and overjoyed as the rest.

    Renard gave Zachary a gentle pat on the shoulder. "Well done," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "You scored a hat-trick and helped us win the World Cup."

    Zachary''s teammates also exchanged high-fives with him, their joy evident in their mannerisms. The celebrations then began in earnest as the yers embraced,ughed, and sang, their collective happiness creating a thrilling atmosphere in the stadium.

    Meanwhile, the stadium crew swiftly set up for the trophy ceremony. Workers hurriedly assembled the podium at the center of the pitch, unfurling a massive banner that read "World Cup Champions."

    The glittering World Cup trophy was then carefully ced on a pedestal, its golden surface gleaming under the stadium lights. The anticipation around the stadium intensified,pounded by the joy, disbelief, and pride that the Ivorian yers and their supporters felt.

    Soon enough, the Ivory Coast yers gathered near the podium, their excitement mounting. The officials began organizing the ceremony, and the cheers of the African fans in the crowd grew louder.

    Zachary was still overwhelmed with emotion. But he still found himself at the center of attention as his teammates gathered around him, reliving the moments of the just-concluded game.

    The proceedings moved forward quickly, and the stadium announcer''s voice suddenly boomed over the loudspeakers, "Ladies and gentlemen, please wee the world champions, the World Cup winners, Ivory Coast!"

    As the announcement sounded, the cheers of the Ivorian fans hit a crescendo, their voices shaking the entire stadium. Zachary soaked his mind in the excitement, his heart swelling with pride as he stood alongside his teammates.

    The ceremony thenmenced with the presentation of individual awards. First, the Best Young yer award was announced, and the spotlight turned to Kylian Mbapp¨¦. Despite the loss, the young French star received a warm ovation as he stepped forward to ept his award, his talent undeniable.

    Next came the Best Goalkeeper award. The announcer''s voice rang out, "The award for Best Goalkeeper goes to Sylvain Gbohouo of Ivory Coast!" The Ivorian goalkeeper, a key figure in their triumph, walked up to the podium, greeted by apuse and cheers. He lifted the award high, a Cheshire cat''s grin on his face.

    The anticipation built as the announcer moved on to the Golden Boot award. "With an incredible 11 goals in this World Cup campaign, the Golden Boot goes to Zachary Bemba!"

    Since he was still nursing his injury, Zachary hobbled to the podium with the support of Eric Bailly. The crowd cheered as he epted the award, the Ivorian fans singing his name animatedly.

    His emotions overwhelmed him as he held the Golden Boot, the culmination of his hard work and dedication. He felt blissful as such fulfilling moments were what he had always been chasing, what he had always yearned to experience ever since his rebirth. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    But the des didn''t stop there. The announcer continued, "And the Golden Ball for the best yer of the World Cup also goes to Zachary Bemba!"

    The stadium once again erupted in cheers as Zachary epted the prestigious award. His teammates surrounded him, their pride and joy evident. Zachary couldn''t help but be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the moment.

    The presentation of the individual medals for both teams quickly followed, and finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived.

    The stadium fell silent as Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, stepped forward, holding the World Cup trophy. The Ivorian captain, Gervinho, was called to receive the trophy on behalf of the team. Although he didn''t y the final because of an injury, he was still the man to do the honors.

    Gervinho''s face beamed with pride as he stepped forward on the podium. The president handed him the trophy, and Gervinho raised it above his head.

    The stadium exploded in celebration. Confetti rained down, the golden kes shimmering in the stadium lights. The Ivorian yers gathered around their captain, each wanting to touch the trophy¡ªto feel the reality of their achievement. They had done it. Against all odds, they had won the World Cup.

    As the celebrations continued on the pitch, the yers'' emotions were a mix of joy, relief, and disbelief. Zachary, despite his injury, was at the heart of the celebration. Eventually, his teammates couldn''t resist the urge to lift him onto their shoulders, carrying him around the pitch in a victoryp. The fans chanted his name, their footballing icon, their champion.

    Coach Herv¨¦ Renard, usuallyposed, couldn''t hide his tears of joy. He hugged each of his yers, his pride evident. This victory was not just a win on the field but a testament to their hard work, unity, and determination. They had faced formidable opponents, ovee challenges, and emerged victorious.

    08:09

    The ceremony eventually moved to a more personal celebration. The yers'' immediate families joined them on the pitch, sharing the moment.

    Zachary was the odd man out, as he no longer had any close family members ever since his grandma had passed away. There was, of course, his biological mom. Their rtionship had improved over the past three years, but they were still not that close.

    Though all that wouldn''t dampen his spirits at such a momentous asion.

    The celebrations moved forward, and the media eventually swarmed the pitch, capturing the historic moment. Interviews were conducted, and Zachary found himself in front of a microphone. "Zachary, how does it feel to win the World Cup and receive the Golden Boot and Golden Ball?" a reporter asked.

    Zachary, still emotional, took a moment topose himself. "I just can''t exin the feeling," he began. "This is a dreame true. We worked so hard for this, and to finally achieve it, it''s surreal. I couldn''t have done it without my teammates, our coach, and the support of our fans. This victory is for everyone who has always believed in us."

    "Your performance was phenomenal, especially those solo runs you made for thest two goals," said the reporter. "Can you describe what went through your mind during those moments?"

    "Sure," Zachary replied. "For both goals, when I got the ball, I saw a bit of space and decided to go for it. I knew the French defense was strong, but I trusted my speed and ability to navigate through. As I ran past their defenders, I focused on keeping myposure and ensuring I ced the shots well. And both times, the ball hit the back of the, and the adrenaline rush was incredible."

    The reporter continued, "Those final minutes should have been tense after you were forced off the pitch due to injury. What was going through your mind during those final moments?"

    Zachary smiled, a mix of relief and joy in his eyes. "I was praying for the whistle to blow. The tension was unbearable, but when it finally ended, it was pure joy. I''m grateful for this moment... and I''ll cherish it forever."

    "Lastly, what message do you have for the fans back home who have been cheering for you all along?"

    Zachary took a deep breath and sighed. "I want to say a massive thank you to all our fans. Your support has been incredible, and it means the world to us. This victory is for you as much as it is for us. We felt your energy and passion every step of the way, and it motivated us to give our all. Thank you for believing in us and celebrating this historic moment with us. We couldn''t have done it without you."

    The interview soon ended, but the celebrations didn''t stop. The Ivorian team eventually moved to the locker room, where the party showed no signs of slowing down. Music red, and the yers danced, their joy infectious. The World Cup trophy was passed around, each yer taking a moment to hold it, to feel the weight of their achievement.

    Zachary sat down after a while, his injury forcefully reminding him to take it easy. He looked around at his teammates, their faces glowing with happiness.

    This victory wasn''t just for Ivory Coast; it was a triumph for the entire African continent. They had made history as the first African nation to im the World Cup. And as the age-old adage goes, where there was a first, a second would surely be within reach.

    Their unprecedented achievement sparked an ardent hope in Zachary that it would ignite a fire within African athletes, propelling them to strive for greatness and bring even more glory to their nations.

    Amid his thoughts, Coach Renard gathered the team together. "I just want to say how proud I am of all of you," he began. "You yed your hearts out during this World Cup campaign, and this victory is a result of your hard work, dedication, and unity. Enjoy this moment because you''ve earned it."

    The yers cheered, pumping their fists in the air. "To victory!" they shouted in unison. The party continuedte into the night, the joy of their triumph echoing through the stadium.

 Chapter 666 The Morning After and System Mission Completion

    666 The Morning After and System Mission Completion

    The day dawned crisp and clear over Moscow, the city bathed in the golden light of the summer morning. Inside the luxurious confines of the team hotel, Zachary Bemba stirred groggily in his bed.

    It was already 10:00 AM, ate start for someone as disciplined as him, but the night before had been a rollercoaster of celebrations. Ivory Coast had clinched the World Cup, and Zachary had be the tournament''s top scorer and best yer, earning him the coveted Golden Boot and Golden Ball.

    Despite the triumph, exhaustion weighed heavily on him. His body, conditioned to endure the rigors of professional football, still ached from the previous day''s exertions.

    His shin also throbbed painfully¡ªa reminder of the knock he had taken in the final. The team medics had provided only some first aid, and now, every step was a sharp reminder of the grueling match he had endured with his teammates.

    He longed to continue sleeping, but as a professional athlete, discipline won out. He forced himself to get out of bed, aware that he needed to take some breakfast and address his throbbing shin.

    Zachary shuffled to the bathroom with the help of his clutches, hoping to freshen up. The cool water sshed on his face brought a semnce of alertness. After he was done, he donned his Ivory Coast tracksuit, its bright colors a wee contrast to his tired reflection in the mirror. He switched on his phone, and immediately, a flood of messages began to fill the screen.

    He smiled as he scrolled through the numerous congrattory messages. They came from all corners of the globe¡ªformer teammates and coaches, endorsement brand representatives, and even strangers whose lives had been touched by his performance. One message, however, stood out. It was from Coach Damata, the old football mentor from Lubumbashi, DR Congo.

    Seeing the message, Zachary felt some guilt. He couldn''t help but imagine how wonderful it would have been to win the World Cup for his home nation. For a moment, the thought lingered, filled with the bittersweet notion of what could have been.

    But reality soon anchored him. He had already changed his nationality, and nothing would alter that. Moreover, the DR Congo teamcked the experience and collective skills to win the World Cup.

    Although he couldn''t deny his guilt, he resolved to support DR Congo''s football through other means, particrly his project with Mr. Stein to establish football academies in the country.

    With a mental note to elerate his ns for the academies, Zachary picked up his clutches and headed toward the door, eager for breakfast. Just as he was about to leave, his phone rang. It was Emily Anderson, his agent. He answered, her voice bubbling with excitement.

    "Zachary! Congrattions! World Cup champion, Golden Ball, and Golden Boot winner! How does it feel?" Emily''s enthusiasm was infectious.

    "Thanks, Emily. It feels surreal. I can''t believe we did it," Zachary replied, smiling even though he was on the phone.

    In the background, he heard another familiar voice. "Congrattions, Zachary!" It was Kristin, his long-time friend and PR manager.

    "Thank you, Kristin," Zachary responded warmly.

    Emily''s tone suddenly shifted to one of concern. "Zachary, how''s your injury? I saw how you were hobbling during the celebrationsst night."

    Zachary hesitated, trying to downy the seriousness of his injury. He had a card up his sleeve¡ªthe few vials of potent elixirs in the system inventory. As long as he used one of the vitality-enhancing elixirs, he would heal almost immediately. "It''s just a small knock. I got better after the on-pitch medics gave me some first aid," he said casually.

    "Are you sure? Your health is important. I really think you should get it checked out properly," Emily insisted.

    "I''m okay, really. No need to worry," Zachary reassured her, though he could sense her skepticism.

    Emily sighed, clearly not convinced. "Even if you''re alright, you should still have your shin checked by a doctor."

    "I promise I''ll get a check-upter," Zachary said, trying to appease her.

    There was a brief pause before Emily changed the topic. "Alright, enough about that. I want us to resolve your transfer situation as quickly as possible. When can we meet to discuss the offers from the Premier League clubs?"

    Zachary considered his schedule. "I''m leaving Moscow and heading back to Abidjan with the team tomorrow morning. If it''s urgent, we can meet this afternoon. Otherwise, we can wait until I''m back in Europe."

    "It''s urgent, Zachary. Your transfer situation has dragged on long enough. The club representatives are constantly on my case. We need to meet this afternoon and finalize your decision."

    Zachary agreed, knowing it was time to make a choice. "Okay, let''s meet at the hotel this afternoon. I have nothing else scheduled for the day."

    They finalized the n and hung up. Zachary shoved the phone back into his pocket with a smile. But he didn''t continue heading out for breakfast.

    The conversation with Emily had reminded him of something important. Instead of hobbling around on crutches and attracting unnecessary attention from the press and teammates, he should consume the vitality-enhancing elixirs in his system inventory to heal his injury quickly.

    With his mind made up, Zachary settled back on the bed and summoned the system''s translucent interface. It appeared out of thin air, like a spectacle from a sci-fi movie, shimmering before him.

    He navigated to the system inventory and selected one of the elixirs he had kept there since receiving it as a reward for winning the previous season''s Serie A title with Juventus.

    The S-grade vitality-enhancing elixir was like he remembered, shaped like a tiny banana. He had resisted the urge to take it before the World Cup, knowing it could affect his control over his body, thus hindering him from being at his peak during the tournament. But now, with no immediatepetitive matchesing up, there was nothing to stop him.

    He readily swallowed the elixir, feeling its effects almost immediately. A refreshing sensation spread throughout his body, focusing on his injured shin.

    The difort was intense but brief,sting only about thirty seconds before an invigorating sensation took over. Zachary felt his physique grow slightly more robust, but more importantly, his shin was as good as new. The elixir had worked its magic.

    Smiling, Zachary decided to also take the SS-graded version of the vitality-enhancing elixir, one of the rewards for winning the Champions League with Juventus the previous season. The SS-grade elixir was also shaped like a tiny banana¡ªbut much more potent.

    He swallowed it and felt his blood boil. His bones became ticklish, and the pain washed over him in waves as it worked its magic. Fortunately, the difortsted about five minutes, after which a refreshing feeling washed over him.

    He could feel his body growing immune to the SS-grade elixirs, offering diminishing returns. He needed more potent elixirs to continue enhancing his abilities.

    Fortunately, with the World Cup victory, he was about to acquire some SSS-grade elixirs, which would improve his attributes significantly as he prepared to join the English Premier League.

    Suppressing his excitement, Zachary decided to check his current attributes. He called out to the system in his mind, instructing it to bring up his Physical Fitness and Ser Technique stats. The system AI responded, and the translucent screen shimmered before disying the required information.

    -----

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: SSS)

    Bnce and Coordination: SS+

    Agility: SSS

    Strength: SS+

    Stamina: SSS

    Endurance Points: 98,500/110,000 (SSS)

    ----

    ->Ser Technique: (Av. Rating: SS+)

    Ball Control: SS

    Dribbling Skills: SS+

    Passing uracy: SS

    Body Control: SS+

    ----

    Zachary sighed as he stared at the information disyed on the system interface. As expected, none of his attributes had experienced an upgrade after he consumed the elixir. It was clear that his body had grown immune to the effects of the SS-grade elixirs due to his already high stats.

    He quickly calmed himself, pushing aside the frustration. There was another task at hand, one he had resisted the previous night amid celebrations.

    He needed to check his missionpletion details for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Challenge. More importantly, he was eager to receive the rewards from the system. With his eyes alight with anticipation, he called out to the system AI in his mind and instructed it to bring up the missionpletion details.

    ****

    #5 new messages

    ----- n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    CONGRATULATIONS

    ->You havepleted the system mission (2018 FIFA World Cup Challenge).

    -----

    ->Mission Summary

    *Milestone 1: y over 75% of the fixtures of the 2018 FIFA World Cup for Ivory Coast (Completed; Rating S; Rewarded 1,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 2: Help Ivory Coast qualify from group B to the ''round-of-sixteen'' stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament. (Completed; Rating SS; Rewarded 40,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 3: Help Ivory Coast qualify for the quarter-finals stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Tournament (Completed by scoring a brace that helped your team qualify; Rating SS; Rewarded 100,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 4: Help Ivory Coast qualify for the semi-final stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament (Completed by scoring one of the goals that helped your team qualify; Rating S; Rewarded 200,000 Juju points).

    *Milestone 5: Help Ivory Coast qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals (Completed by scoring two of the three goals that helped your team qualify; Rating SS; Rewarded 500,000 Juju points).

    08:10

    *Milestone 6: Help Ivory Coast ovee all odds and be the champions of the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament (Completed by scoring a hat-trick that helped your team be champions; Rating SSS; Rewarded a dosage of an SSS-grade mental conditioning elixir).

    *Milestone 7: Be the top scorer and win the 2018 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot (Completed by scoring 11 goals for Ivory Coast in their World Cup campaign; Rating SS; Rewarded a dosage of an SSS-grade vitality-enhancing elixir).

    *Milestone 8: Be the best yer of the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament and win the Golden Ball (Completed; Rating SSS; Rewarded a dosage of an SSS-grade Spatial Awareness Conditioning elixir).

    ----

    ->Missionpleted rating: Beyond Exceptional!

    Overall Mission Rating: SS

    -----

    ->Mission Rewards

    1) A total of 841,000 Juju points.

    2) A dosage of an SSS-grade mental conditioning elixir.

    3) A dosage of an SSS-grade vitality-enhancing elixir.

    4) A dosage of an SSS-grade Spatial Awareness Conditioning elixir.

    -----

    ->Bonus Rewards for the beyond exceptional performance!

    1) A Random Technique Upgrade Token.

    -----

    ->Please note that the SSS-grade rewards and the Random Technique Upgrade Token are items beyond the current system level. Please upgrade the system if you wish to receive them.

 Chapter 667 The Long-Overdue System Upgrade

    667 The Long-Overdue System Upgrade

    A smile spread across Zachary''s face as he read the system missionpletion message on the translucent interface. The three SSS-grade elixirs promised immense benefits, far more potent than the SS-grade ones he had just used.

    His eyes then fell on the Random Technique Upgrade Token. Though he wasn''t exactly sure what it did, he felt excited at the prospect of its potential.

    "System, what does the Random Technique Upgrade Token do?" he asked, his mind brimming with anticipation.

    The system AI responded immediately. "The Random Technique Upgrade Token is one of the high-end system rewards. When used, it will randomly improve one of your Football Technique stats by a level. This includes Ball Control, Dribbling Skills, Passing uracy, and Body Control."

    Zachary''s excitement spiked. His ball skills had always been one of the most challenging aspects of his game to improve. They required natural talent and relentless training from a young age.

    Over the years, he had elevated them to the SS and SS+ grades, making him one of the best yers in the world. But to be the undisputed best, the GOAT, he needed to push beyond those almost unbreachable boundaries. Every physical fitness, football technique stat, and attribute of his had to reach the SSS grade or beyond.

    For physical fitness, game intelligence, and spatial awareness, he had now obtained the three SSS-grade elixirs to start the process. As for his techniques, the Random Technique Upgrade Token was his key to further enhancement.

    The thought of how much he would improve after using these rewards filled him with an almost unbearable excitement. He could envision himself bing a beast on the pitch, a force no opponent would dare to challenge.

    Suppressing his excitement, Zachary focused on thest message on the system interface. It mentioned that the SSS-grade rewards and the Random Technique Upgrade Token were items beyond the current system level and that he needed to upgrade the system to receive them.

    The news was a bit of a letdown, but not too much. Zachary already had the required Juju points to upgrade the system.

    Thest time he had upgraded the system was over three years ago, just before signing with Juventus. After that, he had be less reliant on the system as his physical fitness improved, allowing him to master skills and maneuvers through sheer training.

    But now, with the opportunity to receive such significant rewards, he had to upgrade the system again. It was a necessary step on his journey to iming a top seat among the greatest footballers of his generation and even in the entire history of the sport.

    With his mind at ease, Zachary navigated to the system''s translucent home page and looked at the contents.

    -----

    **** N?v(el)B\\jnn

    GOAT SYSTEM

    SYSTEM LEVEL: 5 (1,921,100/1,000,000 Juju points to level up)

    USER: Zachary Bemba

    AGE: 23 years

    TALENT ASSESSMENT: Grade-SS+

    JUJU-POINTS: 1,921,100

    (Evaluation: One of the very best at the moment and the entire history of football)

    ----

    USER MENU

    *USER STATS

    *GOAT MISSIONS

    *SYSTEM SHOP

    *SYSTEM LOTTERY

    *SNOOPING TOOL

    *TRAINING TOOLS

    ----

    ****

    Aplicated feeling emerged within Zachary as he looked at the contents of the system''s home page. He couldn''t help but remember when he had just undergone a rebirth and obtained the system.

    He had been so reliant on the various system functions, desperate to raise his then-mediocre talent. But now, he was already an SS+ grade talent, one of the ''very best'' in football history, at least ording to the system. He felt a swell of pride, sensing that he was just a thin line away from the threshold of previously unreachable greatness.

    Zachary calmed himself and turned to his next task: upgrading the system. With 1,921,100 Juju points umted, nothing was stopping him. He called to the system in his mind and instructed it tomence the upgrade.

    The system responded, informing him that one million Juju points would be deducted to upgrade from level 5 to level 6 and that it would shut down for 72 hours during the upgrade process. That also meant he wouldn''t ess any of its functions until the 72 hours psed.

    "Confirm the upgrade," Zacharymanded without hesitation.

    A translucent ept button appeared on the screen before him. He tapped it, and the system quickly began its familiar upgrade sequence. After watching for a while, he disengaged the interface, his thoughts turning to the hunger gnawing at him. He needed breakfast.

    Since the elixirs had already cured his injured shin, he no longer needed crutches. Walking boldly out of his room, he headed to the restaurant. As he arrived, he found his teammates still having breakfast. Like him, they must have woken up quitete after celebrating untilte the previous night.

    Eric Bailly looked up and grinned. "Look who''s finally awake! Sleepyhead!"

    Wilfried Zahaughed and said, "There''s our hat-trick hero!"

    Zachary ignored their teasing and greeted his teammates. Their faces still glowed with satisfaction after beating France and winning the World Cup. He could feel the positive energy radiating from each of them as if the victory had added something extra to their auras. They exuded boundless confidence and excitement.

    Sylvain Gbohouo, always observant, noticed Zachary''s absence of crutches. "Hey, Zachary, you''re not using crutches anymore. Did you get better?"

    Hearing the question, the other Ivorian yers around the tables also realized the abnormality and nced at Zachary questioningly. Zachary, of course, couldn''t exin that he used some mythical elixirs to instantly heal his injury. He downyed his response.

    "I told you guys, the injury looked worse than it actually was. The first aid treatment I received from the medics after the game did the trick. I can walk normally now. But I still can''t do rigorous exercises."

    His teammates seemed to buy the exnation, nodding and returning to their meals. Zachary settled down at one of the tables, joining them for breakfast. The room was then filled withughter and lively conversation, everyone basking in the afterglow of their historic win.

    As he enjoyed his meal, Zachary couldn''t help but reflect on his journey again. From a yer of mediocre talent to one of the best in the world. He hade a long way!

    The system had been instrumental in his rise, and now, with the impending upgrade, he was on the brink of achieving even greater things. The following 72 hours would be a test of patience, but the wait would be worth it as he would receive the SSS grade elixirs and the Random Technique upgrade token after the upgrade.

    After breakfast, Zachary excused himself from the lively dining hall, weaving through the maze of jubnt teammates. He longed for some solitude before meeting Emily, a quiet interlude where he could escape into the pages of the sports manga he had ordered some days prior.

    This year had been a relentless vortex of training sessions and high-stakes matches, and he desperately needed some downtime to recharge.

    Some of his teammates tried to rope him into various activities as he headed to his room. Eric Bailly and Nics P¨¦p¨¦ wanted him to join a spirited yStation tournament. Wilfried Zaha and Serge Aurier proposed a tour around Moscow, promising an adventure filled with sightseeing and fun.

    Though their offers were tempting, Zachary politely declined. Today, he had a singr goal: to bezy and unwind in thefort of his hotel room.

    Seeing his stance, his teammates finally relented, letting him go with understanding nods and a few good-natured jibes about him being a monk. Zachary chuckled and waved them off, grateful for theirradeship but eager to enjoy some rare alone time.

    Back in his room, he settled into thefy armchair on his balcony, the city of Moscow sprawling below him. With a sigh of contentment, he opened the manga and began to read.

    The world of fiction enveloped him, offering a delightful escape from the real-world pressures of professional football. asionally, he looked up from the pages to take in the view, marveling at the blend of historic architecture and modern skyscrapers. Life was just that good!

    When hunger or thirst struck, he ordered room service. The beautiful Russian waitresses swiftly delivered his meals, their presence a fleeting distraction from his otherwise tranquil retreat. Winning the World Cup had certainly afforded him some luxuries, and he relished every moment.

    Hours flew by in a blissful blur until the clock struck 1:00 PM. Zachary reluctantly put down his manga as he realized that Emily would arrive at the hotel to discuss his transfer situation in about an hour.

    He took a quick shower, the cool water refreshing him for the uing meeting. Once dressed, he joined his teammates for a hearty lunch in the restaurant, enjoying the light-hearted banter and sharing excitement over their recent triumph.

    After lunch, Zachary moved to one of the private booths, seeking a quieter spot to prepare for his meeting. He pulled out his phone and called Emily, informing her of his location.

    She responded promptly, saying she would be there with Kristin in around ten minutes. With everything in ce, Zachary hung up, feeling a mix of anticipation and excitement bubbling within him.

    As he waited, he couldn''t help but think about the Premier League offers Emily had mentioned. His heart raced at the prospect of joining one of the top clubs in Ennd, taking his career to new heights.

    The World Cup victory had been a monumental achievement. But he knew that his journey was far from over. There were new challenges to conquer and new records to set, and Zachary was more than ready to embrace them.

 Chapter 668 The Crucial Decision

    668 The Crucial Decision

    The private booth at the luxurious Moscow hotel was a haven of privacy andfort, adorned with rich wooden paneling and plush leather seats.

    The soft hum of the air conditioner provided a gentle backdrop to the anticipation Zachary felt as he waited for Emily and Kristin to arrive. Momentster, the door swung open, and both women entered, their smiles lighting up the room.

    Emily was her usual epitome of professionalism, with her long brown hair tied into a neat ponytail. Her bluedy''s suit, perfectly tailored, matched the striking color of her eyes.

    Kristin, on the other hand, exuded a more casual elegance. Her blonde hair cascaded down her face like a waterfall, framing her features beautifully. She wore a flower-patterned white dress that entuated her lean yet gorgeous figure.

    As they stepped in, their enchanting smiles brought an immediate warmth to the booth. Zachary stood up from the sofa, greeting them with warm hugs. Their congrattions flowed freely, celebrating his monumental achievements: winning the World Cup, the Golden Boot, and the Golden Ball.

    "Where are your awards, by the way? I want to touch them and bask in your glory," Kristin teased, smiling warmheartedly.

    Zachary chuckled, shaking his head. "I don''t have them with me. It would be a joke if I kept them on my person and then ended up losing them to a thief in a hotel. I gave them to the hotel management for safekeeping in their safe."

    Kristin nodded, understanding. "That makes sense, but you must let me touch them at some point."

    "Of course," Zachary promised, still smiling.

    Suddenly, a beautiful Russian girl d in a captivating waitress uniform entered the booth. She did a double-take upon noticing Zachary, her professionalposure momentarily slipping. But she quickly collected herself and took their orders. They each asked for juice and a few snacks, and the waitress hurried off, leaving the room once more private.

    Emily leaned back with a teasing glint in her eye. "That waitress was clearly smitten by you, Zach. You should consider getting her number."

    Zacharyughed. "When did you switch from being my agent to my wingman?"

    They shared a few moreughs, their friendship evident andforting. But soon, Emily''s expression turned solemn. She locked eyes with Zachary and ced five files on the table between them.

    "I''ve analyzed all the offersing in from the Premier League," she began, her tone professional and focused. "These are the most attractive, fitting your status and career goals."

    Zachary''s gaze shifted to the files. The names of the clubs were printed on the covers, each representing a potential future. Emily''s seriousness mirrored the weight of the decision before him.

    "Which of these clubs will you consider?" Emily asked, her voice solemn.

    Zachary took a deep breath, his mind racing as he surveyed the files Emily ced on the table. Thebels were clear: Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham¡ªthe titans of the English Premier League.

    With her usual poise, Emilymented that the offers from all the clubs were almost identical, given that Zachary was a free agent. She then fell silent, waiting for him to make his decision.

    Zachary immediately dismissed Manchester City. Joining a club that dominated the league every year would not present the kind of challenge he sought.

    Moreover, the World Cup had taught him that the system rewarded him more for achieving the seemingly impossible. Easy victories would not yield the SSS-grade elixirs and Technique Upgrade tokens he desired to push his skills to the GOAT level.

    His gaze then passed over the files for Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham, but none of those clubs felt right to him.

    When he reached the file for Manchester United, he hesitated. The club''s history and struggles made it an intriguing option, offering the best challenge. Yet, the issues at United seemed deeply rooted in their management and structure¡ªproblems that even his presence might not solve. With a sigh, he set the file aside.

    His eyes finally settled on Liverpool''s file, and his face lit up. Liverpool had built a formidable team and had a coach known for extracting the best from his yers. Additionally, partnering with Sadio Man¨¦ and Mohamed Sh tickled his anticipation, as they would create a lethal attacking trio if he joined Liverpool.

    Now came the question of potential system missions. Although Liverpool was destined to win the UEFA Champions League the following season, leaving no chance for an immediate system mission with SSS-grade rewards, there were still the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the Premier League to conquer. He could challenge for those in his first season.

    Emily, sensing his indecision, cut in gently. "Are you finding it hard to decide?"

    Zachary didn''t reply. Instead, he picked up the Liverpool file. Emily and Kristin exchanged knowing nces, their smiles indicating they had anticipated this choice.

    Emily quickly gathered the other files and tucked them into her oversized handbag, leaving only Liverpool''s on the table. She opened it and pulled out two sheets of paper, handing them to Zachary.

    "These summarize the offers from Liverpool''s representatives," Emily exined. "Read through them, and let me know if I should proceed with negotiations."

    Zachary nodded, acknowledging her words, and picked up the papers. The first sheet detailed the financial aspects of Liverpool''s offer. He quickly skimmed through the figures, noting the impressive terms:

    -----

    Wages

    Weekly Sry: ¡ê350,000

    Signing Bonus n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Signing Bonus: ¡ê20 million

    Performance Bonuses

    Goal Bonus: ¡ê20,000 per goal

    Assist Bonus: ¡ê10,000 per goal-assist

    Appearance Bonus per Game: ¡ê20,000 per appearance

    Match Winning Bonus per Game: ¡ê50,000 per game the team wins

    Achievement Bonuses

    Champions League Victory Bonus: ¡ê1.5 million

    Premier League Title Bonus: ¡ê1 million

    FA Cup Victory Bonus: ¡ê500,000

    EFL Cup Victory Bonus: ¡ê300,000

    Ballon d''Or Win Bonus: ¡ê1 million

    Team of the Year Bonus: ¡ê500,000

    yer of the Month Bonus: ¡ê25,000

    yer of the Season Bonus: ¡ê100,000

    League Top Scorer Bonus: ¡ê100,000

    Image Rights and Sponsorships

    Percentage of Image Rights: 60%

    Exclusive Club Sponsorship Deals: Additional earnings from club-specific sponsorship deals.

    Welfare and Lifestyle Offers

    Luxury Housing: A high-end property in Liverpool. It will be fully paid for by the club.

    Car Allowance: Three luxury cars provided by the club.

    Private Jet ess: Limited ess to a private jet for personal use.

    Personal Staff: Provision for a personal chef, driver, and security detail.

    Relocation Assistance: Comprehensive support for relocating Zachary''s immediate family and subordinates to Liverpool, including schooling for children, if applicable.

    Health and Fitness

    08:15

    Medical Coverage: Full medical and dental coverage for Zachary and his immediate family.

    Personal Physio and Fitness Trainer: Dedicated personal physio and fitness trainer provided by the club.

    Recovery Facilities: ess to thetest recovery technology and facilities, including cryotherapy chambers and state-of-the-art gym equipment.

    Contract Length and Extension Options

    Initial Contract Length: 4 years, with an option to extend the contract an additional year.

    Automatic Extension use: Automatic one-year extension triggered by performance metrics (e.g., number of appearances or goals).

    Release use: ¡ê150 million

    -----

    Zachary''s eyes sparkled as he scanned the pages before him. The numbers were dazzling¡ªEnglish clubs certainly knew how to entice yers withprehensive bonuses for almost every conceivable achievement. Excited, he looked up at Emily and asked for her professional opinion.

    Emily leaned back slightly, her expression thoughtful as she began. "Let''s start with the weekly wage. They''re offering ¡ê350,000, which is fantastic and ording to the top standards of Premier League clubs. Of course, I''ll push for the highest possible figure during the final negotiations."

    Zachary nodded, appreciating her frankness. Emily moved on to the signing bonus. "They''re offering ¡ê20 million, which is a strong figure, especially since you''re a free agent who just won the World Cup and is a strong contender for the Ballon d''Or. However, given your status, I strongly believe we can negotiate this up to at least ¡ê30 million."

    Zachary''s excitement grew. A signing bonus of ¡ê30 million would be monumental.

    Emily continued, addressing the performance bonuses. "These are very generous. Premier League clubs typically offer such bonuses, and they don''t usually budge on these, so there''s no need to push for more here. The same applies to the achievement bonuses¡ªthey''re already quite substantial."

    She paused, ncing at the next section of the contract. "Now, about the Image Rights. Liverpool is offering you 60%. This is good, but I strongly believe we can push for at least 70%."

    Zachary cut in, curiosity piqued. "Can you exin the Image Rights and Sponsorship section?"

    Emily smiled, nodding. "Of course. Image rights pertain to themercial use of your likeness¡ªyour name, image, and other personal attributes in advertising and promotional materials carried out by the club. Essentially, it''s about how much control you have over your personal brand and how much revenue you earn from it."

    "If you control a higher percentage of your image rights, you get arger share of the profits from endorsements and sponsorship deals offered to the club under your banner. Sponsorships are agreements where brands pay the club and you to promote their products or services. Having a higher percentage means more ie from these deals."

    Understanding dawned on Zachary''s face, and he nodded. Emily moved on to the other benefits. "The benefits they have offered are pretty standard¡ªluxurious housing, state-of-the-art training facilities, personal physiotherapists, andprehensive medical care. We won''t push for more here. However, we need to address the Release use of ¡ê150 million."

    Emily''s tone turned serious. "I''ve already spoken to Liverpool''s representatives. They''re adamant about the release use. The club wants to ensure they don''t lose yers to other clubs after investing so heavily in them."

    Zachary understood the importance of the release use. It was a safeguard for Liverpool, ensuring that only a club willing to pay a substantial fee could lure him away. "That makes sense. I''m okay with the release use."

    Emily nodded, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Excellent. I''ll proceed with the negotiations and aim to secure the best possible terms for you."

    Zachary felt a wave of gratitude towards Emily. Her expertise and dedication were invaluable, as always. "Thank you, Emily. I trust youpletely."

    Kristin, who had been quietly observing, chimed in with a warm smile. "You''re in good hands, Zach. Emily will make sure you get the best deal possible."

    Emily gathered the papers, slipping them back into the file. "I''ll get started on this immediately. We should have a finalized contract soon."

 Chapter 669 Homecoming Glory

    669 Homing Glory

    Zachary couldn''t contain his excitement after he heard Emily''s promise. The prospect ofpeting in the English Premier League, the most-watched football league in the world, filled him with anticipation.

    He felt a deep sense of satisfaction within him as Emily made a few phone calls while Kristin offered her silent support. The path ahead was clear, and he was ready to take the next step in his remarkable journey.

    The beautiful Russian waitress returned with their drinks and snacks, her cheeks blushing as she served Zachary. Emily, who had just finished her phone calls, couldn''t resist another yful nudge. "Seems like you''ve made quite an impression," she teased.

    Zachary just smiled, choosing not to respond, while Kristin watched from the side with a barely noticeable flicker of emotion in her eyes.

    Before long, the conversation lightened, turning to their uing move from Turin to Liverpool. They delved into discussions about their future home, specting what life in Liverpool would bring and sharing the thrill of starting afresh. The private booth resonated withughter and a strong sense of friendship.

    In the middle of their conversation, Kristin suddenly brought up Zachary''s return trip to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, scheduled for the next day. "I''m nning to travel tonight so I can arrive before you and organize your schedule in Abidjan," she informed him.

    Zachary nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, Kristin. I''m grateful for everything you and Emily have done for me since my academy days."

    Just then, a thought crossed Zachary''s mind, and he leaned forward slightly. "Kristin, can you organize a private chartered ne from Abidjan to Bukavu, DR Congo? I want to travel silently and quietly back to my birthce to pay homage to myte grandma since I''ve just won the World Cup. But I don''t want the public to know about my trip."

    Kristin''s eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded professionally. "Of course, Zachary. I''ll make all the arrangements."

    Emily, however, frowned. "Zachary, I''m concerned about your safety. DR Congo is often reported on international news as politically unstable, and you defected from there to y for another country. It might not be safe."

    Zachary smiled reassuringly. "I understand your concerns, Emily. But the subordinates of Mr. Stein, Kristin''s grandfather, are already in Bukavu setting up the foundation for the first football academy in DR Congo. They will take care of me."

    Kristin readily supported his im. "Yes, Emily. My grandfather''s people are there, and they can ensure Zachary''s safety."

    Emily sighed but eventually relented. "Alright, but please travel with your bodyguard."

    Zachary nodded. "I will. Kristin, please make those arrangements as well."

    The mood lightened once more as they moved on to other topics. Soon, the clock hit 4:00 PM, and thedies said they had to leave. Emily would travel to Ennd that night to start the final contract negotiations with Liverpool. As for Kristin, she would head to Abidjan to organize Zachary''s schedule before his arrival.

    Zachary smiled and gave them warm hugs. "Thank you both for everything. Safe travels."

    As Emily and Kristin left the private booth, Zachary felt waves of satisfaction welling up like tides within him. He was on the verge of a significant career move, and his future seemed brighter than ever.

    Returning to his hotel room, he eagerly picked up his sports manga, ready to lose himself in the world of fiction. The evening passed uneventfully, and Zachary enjoyed a quiet night''s sleep.

    Eventually, the morning light filtered through the curtains of his hotel room in Moscow, casting a golden glow on Zachary''s face. He woke up with a start, the memory of their World Cup victory fresh in his mind.

    The sense of aplishment from winning the World Cup filled him with pride and anticipation for the return journey to Africa. He stretched and yawned, feeling rejuvenated thanks to the system''s vitality-enhancing elixirs. It was as if the exhaustion from the grueling World Cup final had never existed.

    Zachary quickly showered and donned his Ivorian tracksuit. At precisely 6:00 AM, he retrieved his World Cup medal, Golden Boot, and Golden Ball from the hotel safe. With his awards finally in his hands, he joined his Ivorian teammates for an early breakfast in the hotel dining room.

    The atmosphere was a mix of fatigue and exhration. yers exchanged stories andughter over tes filled with eggs, toast, and fresh fruit. The glistening World Cup medals around their necks added something unique to their auras and an extra sparkle to the morning.

    As Zachary entered, the yers whistled and cheered. Some stood up and jokingly offered to help him carry his awards. Zachary grinned and held his trophies close, like a kid guarding his candy from potential thieves. The room erupted inughter, and the mood around the team soared.

    Coach Herv¨¦ Renard stood up, clinking his ss to get their attention. "Gentlemen, I just want to say once more how proud I am of each and every one of you. Your discipline,mitment, and hard work have paid off. Today, we return to your homnd, and now also my homnd as champions. Enjoy this moment, for it is one you will cherish forever."

    The team erupted in apuse and cheers. Sylvain Gbohouo, the Ivorian goalkeeper, nudged Zachary with a grin. "Ready for the parade, Zachary?"

    Zachary was already picturing the jubnt crowds in Abidjan, the endless speeches, and the time-consuming celebrations. Finding a quiet spot to continue reading his sports manga seemed a more attractive option if he could have his way. "Honestly, I find such public events more unnerving than preparing for a World Cup final. But I''ll try my best to keep calm and have fun."

    Gbohouo chuckled. "These celebrations are what we y for, my friend. Enjoy them."

    Zachary smiled. "I''ll try."

    By 6:45 AM, they had checked out of the hotel and boarded the team bus. As they sped towards Sheremetyevo International Airport, the city of Moscow blurred past the windows, a backdrop to their thoughts of homing.

    The bus was filled with a mix of excitement and reflection. Each yer was lost in their thoughts, cherishing the memories of their historic win.

    When they finally arrived at the airport, they were surprised to find a flurry of activity. Fans and media personnel from Russia and the rest of Europe crowded around, eager to catch a glimpse of the World Cup champions.

    Zachary and his teammates navigated through the organized chaos with a sense of purpose, their presencemanding the attention of everyone around them.

    As they moved through security and airport procedures, Zachary couldn''t help but smile at the sight of younger fans calling out his name. One particrly enthusiastic boy caught his eye, waving a shirt and a marker in his direction.

    Zachary quickly broke away from the team, bent down, and signed his name on the boy''s shirt, earning an ear-to-ear grin from the young fan.

    As he rejoined his teammates, Eric Bailly turned back, a yful glint in his eye. "Zachary, you''re a superstar even in Putin''snd!" he teased.

    Zachary chuckled, shaking his head. "Guess I''ll need a few more bodyguards soon."

    The mood around the team remained hyper as they continued through the terminal, causing quite a stir. By the time they reached the private chartered ne waiting on the tarmac, the airport had practicallye to a standstill, all eyes on the triumphant Ivorian squad.

    At 7:30 AM, the ne''s wheels lifted off the ground, and they were airborne, bound for Ivory Coast. The flight was a serene contrast to the chaotic excitement that awaited them.

    Most yers sumbed to the exhaustion of their World Cup journey, dozing off in their seats. Others, like Zachary and Zaha, rxed with movies or music, their minds osciting between the euphoric memories of the final and the anticipation of their homing. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Eventually, the ne finally descended towards F¨¦lix-Houphou?t-Boigny International Airport around 1:00 PM Abidjan time, and the cabin buzzed with palpable excitement.

    yers stirred awake, exchanging eager looks and wide grins. They straightened their orange tracksuits and ranbs through their hair, preparing for the cameras that would soon capture their triumphant return.

    The moment the ne touched down smoothly, a cheer erupted from the yers. They were home. They were back on African soil. As the cabin door opened, the warm, humid air typical of Abidjan filled the ne, enveloping the team in a familiar embrace.

    Coach Herv¨¦ Renard and his assistants were the first to disembark, followed by Gervinho, who carried the World Cup trophy high, his smile as bright as the African sun.

    Zachary followed, stepping onto the tarmac and into a hero''s wee with his des in hand. The airport was lined with military personnel and dignitaries, their faces beaming with pride. Beyond the barriers, the crowd''s roar was deafening, a wave of national pride and joy.

    Ivory Coast had waited for this moment, and now it had arrived.

    A convoy of vehicles awaited them, ready to transport the team through the streets of Abidjan. As they boarded the open-top buses, the yers were handed Ivorian gs, which they waved enthusiastically.

 Chapter 670 Abidjan Celebrates

    670 Abidjan Celebrates

    The convoy set off, and the city erupted in celebration. The streets were a sea of orange, white, and green¡ªthe national colors. Music filled the air, a perfect mix of traditional rhythms and modern beats that mirrored the nation''s blend of heritage and progress.

    Zachary stood at the edge of the bus,ughing as he saw hispatriots celebrating their victory like mad. But on the inside, he felt a mix of emotions. He hadn''t grown up in Ivory Coast, having switched citizenship when he was already a professional footballer. Nevertheless, the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd made him feel at home.

    As the convoy moved through the city, they passed icondmarks¡ªthe St. Paul''s Cathedral, the bustling markets, and the majestic Presidential Pce. Each stop was met with more jubnt crowds, their cheers echoing the team''s achievements.

    The convoy finally arrived at the National Stadium, where a grand ceremony had been organized. The stands were filled with thousands of fans, their excitement palpable. A stage had been set up at the center of the field, adorned with gs and banners celebrating the team''s victory.

    President ssane Ouattara, apanied by other dignitaries and representatives from the Ivorian Football Federation, stood ready to wee the team, a broad smile on their faces. But today, he and the other big potatoes were not the main attraction. They were just the ashers weing the return of the country''s triumphant warriors.

    The yers finally disembarked and made their way to the stage, and the crowd''s cheers reached a fever pitch. Gervinho stepped forward, holding the World Cup trophy high above his head, and the stadium erupted in explosive apuse. The cheers seemed to shake the very foundation of the stadium.

    After several minutes, President Ouattara raised his hand, and the crowd gradually quieted down. His voice carried over the noise of the crowd with the help of the speakers as he began his speech.

    "Today, we celebrate not just a victory in football¡ªbut a victory for our nation," he dered. "Our team has triumphed over everyone else in Russia and brought the World Cup trophy home. They have shown the world the strength, resilience, and unity of Ivory Coast. We are proud of each and every one of these yers." N?v(el)B\\jnn

    The yers took their seats, their expressions a mix of pride and humility. Zachary, though a bit bored by the speeches, used his experience from high school math lessons to stay alert.

    The crowd erupted again, but the president''s raised handmanded attention, bringing them back to silence. "We will provide each yer with a significant mary reward, acknowledging their dedication and hard work. In our country''s National Order of Merit, team officials will also be awarded the rank of Commander, while the coaches and yers will be named Chevalier and officers.

    "Additionally, we will offer them prime real estate in Abidjan, ensuring they have a ce to call home in our beautiful capital. And when they finally retire from their football careers, we will also grant them honorary titles and positions within the sports ministry and other relevant departments, hoping they will continue fostering football talent in our country."

    Zachary felt a swell of pride. These rewards were not just symbols of gratitude but also amitment to the future of football in Ivory Coast. He hoped that this gesture would trigger more African countries to do the same, and just maybe, African sports would then prosper.

    In the meantime, the president continued, detailing ns to build new sports facilities and academies, ensuring the nation''s youth had the resources to pursue their dreams. He also routinely praised the footballers, making them feel appreciated.

    Later on, as the ceremony concluded, the yers mingled with the dignitaries and fans, the atmosphere one of joy and celebration. Zachary felt a sense of belonging he hadn''t expected. Despite hisplicated feelings about his nationality, the love and pride radiating from the crowd made him feel at home.

    The sun finally set over Abidjan, casting a warm, golden hue upon the stadium. The president and other dignitaries departed with their security details, but the celebrations showed no signs of slowing down.

    Local musicians took the stage, rousing the crowds with electrifying performances. They even called some footballers to join them, and the yers eagerly epted, dancing and singing with the exuberant fans.

    Zachary watched the unfolding chaos with a smile, but as the situation turned more disorderly, he decided it was time to leave. He sent a quick message to Kristin, then said his goodbyes to his teammates. They tried to tempt him to stay for the night''s celebrations, promising him a tour of Abidjan''s famous nightlife.

    "Come on, Zach! You''ve got to see the city at night," Eric Bailly urged,ughing.

    But Zachary remained unmoved. "Thanks, guys, but I need some rest. There''s still a lot ahead of us," he replied with a smile, politely declining the invitations.

    He made his way towards the stadium exit. The fans went wild, calling out his name and trying to get near him. But the military personnel were efficient, keeping the excited crowd at bay. Finally, after some struggle, Zachary exited the stadium, nked by his escorts.

    He soon spotted Kristin and Lorenzo Rardo, his bodyguard, standing beside a sparkling white Toyota Land Cruiser V8. They waved, and Zachary quickly walked over to them, greeting them warmly.

    "Congrattions again, Zachary!" Kristin said, her eyes shining with pride. "You''re now a national hero."

    "Thanks, Kristin. It''s been an incredible day," Zachary replied.

    Without wasting time, he climbed into the back seat of the SUV. Lorenzo took the driver''s seat while Kristin sat in the passenger seat, and they set off, still under military escort, to one of Zachary''s properties in Abidjan.

    As they left the stadium behind, Zachary looked out the window, watching the jubnt crowds celebrating in the streets. The vibrant energy was contagious, but he was d to head towards a quiet refuge. He needed to clear his mind and n his next moves.

    "So, what''s the n now?" Kristin asked, turning in her seat to face him.

    Zachary sighed, leaning back. "Rest, for starters. Then, we''ll need to finalize the move to Liverpool. You know that Emily''s already working on the contract details."

    Kristin nodded. "I''ve arranged everything for your trip to Bukavu after we''re done here. The private ne will be ready when you are."

    "Thank you, Kristin. I appreciate everything you''re doing for me," Zachary said, his voice sincere.

    They soon arrived at Zachary''s property, a modest butfortable house on the outskirts of Abidjan. The military escort ensured everything was secure before taking positions around the ce to ensure they remained undisturbed throughout the night.

    Zachary entered the house, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. It was quiet, a stark contrast to the noise and excitement of the day. He went to his room, showered, changed intofortable clothes, and copsed onto the bed.

    As hey there, he thought about the journey ahead. Winning the World Cup was a dreame true. But he knew it was just one step in his career as there were more challenges to face before he could achieve pure transcendence in football and maybe be the GOAT.

    He drifted off to sleep with a smile, dreaming of a beautiful future filled with possibilities of greatness. Tomorrow, he would rest and recover. After some resetting, he would prepare for his move to Liverpool and the next chapter of his incredible journey.

 Chapter 671 The System Upgrade is Complete

    671 The System Upgrade is Complete

    The day after the World Cup trophy parade passed quietly in Abidjan. The bustling city seemed to have taken a collective breath after savoring Ivory Coast''s recent World Cup victory.

    Zachary, the man of the moment, remained holed up in his house on the city outskirts, immersing himself in his mangas while waiting for the system toplete its 72-hour upgrade.

    He did spare some time to talk to Kristin during meals, and as usual, their conversations were light and filled with a shared sense ofpanionship. But most of his time was spent with his beloved mangas, a simple pleasure that provided him sce amidst the storm of his rising fame and the demanding requirements of the football profession.

    On the morning of his second day in Abidjan, Zachary woke upte to the familiar sound of the system''s notification. His heart quickened as he realized the system had finallypleted its upgrade.

    He sat up in bed and readily summoned the translucent system interface. It flickered before him like a hologram from a sci-fi movie, a blend of the futuristic and the fantastical that had be an integral part of his life.

    As he scanned the home menu, he was relieved and surprised to see that the system had reached its maximum level, upgrading from Level 5 to Level 6.

    Complicated feelings welled up within him. This system had been his constantpanion since his rebirth, guiding him from a mediocre yer to the world-ss athlete he had be.

    The realization that the system had reached its final level made him feel like their journey together was moving into its closing stages. He sighed, a mix of nostalgia and determination in his breath, and turned his attention to the other contents on the system interface.

    This time, there were not many changes after the upgrade. The interface was cleaner and more intuitive, but the core functionalities remained unchanged.

    The most significant change he noticed was that he could now ess his rewards for the World Cup mission. His eyes lit up as he saw the rewards: three SSS-grade elixirs and the Random Technique Upgrade totem.

    These were incredibly valuable, capable of raising his attributes and making his skills even more lethal just before his transfer. They would be crucial to the next stage of his career if his move to Liverpool worked out as nned.

    As Zachary continued navigating the system interface, he finally noticed a new benefit on the system interface. He could now purchase any skills he wanted from the System Shop, provided he had the required Juju points. However, this option wasn''t particrly beneficial at the moment.

    He had already mastered various skills, such as the Step-Over and Feint Kingly Magic of Ronaldinho, making him a formidable threat to any defender on the field. These techniques were already seamlessly integrated into his unique ying style, so he wasn''t keen on acquiring more from the system, at least for the moment.

    Yet, he wouldn''t shun this new benefit, especially since the future was always uncertain. There mighte a time when he would need apletely different skill set to ovee a tricky situation. At that time, the system shop and his Juju points would be his saviors.

    Pushing these distracting thoughts aside, Zachary turned his attention to the SSS-grade elixirs. These were the rewards from the system for his outstanding performance at the World Cup. He couldn''t wait to see how they would boost his abilities once he consumed them.

    Zachary felt optimistic as he still had over two weeks left until the 2018-19 English Premier League season-opening games. Even better, he wouldn''t need to join Liverpool''s pre-season tour since he had just yed in the World Cup finals.

    This meant he had ample time to consume and digest all the rewards from the system before training arduously and allowing his body to limatize to its improvements over the next two to three weeks. There was really nothing stopping him from consuming the elixirs.

    But first, he needed to settle his affairs before consuming the elixirs. Thest thing he wanted was to make Kristin worry in case something unexpected happened.

    With his mind made up, he dismissed the system interface with a mentalmand and took a deep breath before stepping into the shower. As the warm water washed away the remnants of sleep and tension, he geared up mentally for the crucial day ahead. Today would be another pivotal day on his journey to reach the peak of greatness.

    After his shower, he slipped into his favorite pair of jeans and a cozy T-shirt. Stepping out of his bedroom, he was greeted by the warm embrace of the morning sun flooding the house with light.

    As he entered the living room, he found Kristin seated on one of the sofas, engrossed in a book. Her presence brought a sense of normalcy and calm to the house.

    Seeing him, Kristin greeted warmly, "Good morning, Zachary. How did you sleep?"

    He smiled, feeling the familiarfort of her voice. "I slept well, just like a baby."

    Kristin closed her book, her eyes sparkling with warmth. "That''s good to hear. Would you like some breakfast?"

    Zachary sighed inwardly, feeling a pang of guilt. "Kristin, you don''t have to cook for me. You''re my PA, not my chef. I asked you to hire a chef when we arrived, remember?"

    Kristin waved away his concern with a gentle smile. "Zachary, it''s no trouble at all. We''re only here for a short time, and I enjoy cooking. Plus, hiring someone new couldpromise your security. I''d rather handle it myself."

    08:17

    Zachary knew she was saying this to ease his guilt, but he appreciated her dedication. "Thank you, Kristin."

    As she made her way to the kitchen, Zachary settled himself at the dining table. He didn''t have to wait long. In just fifteen minutes, Kristin reappeared, carrying a tray with fried eggs, slices of bread, a banana, and a cup of hot milk. She ced it before him, and he thanked her once more before digging in.

    Kristin sat across from him, a soft smile ying on her lips. "Yesterday was quite eventful," she began. "A lot of local journalists wanted toe in and interview you. I had to refuse them, and the military escort helped chase them away. Otherwise, they might have forced their way in."

    Zachary nodded, chewing thoughtfully. "You''ve worked hard, Kristin. Continue refusing any interviews. I don''t want media attention while enjoying my only vacation of the year."

    Kristin promised with a nod. "I will. You deserve the rest."

    Afortable silence settled between them as Zachary continued his breakfast. Then, Kristin broke it with a hint of excitement in her voice. "Speaking of ns, Lorenzo has already traveled ahead to Bukavu. He''s preparing for our arrival, ensuring the ce is secure."

    Zachary nodded, already aware of Lorenzo''s meticulous preparations. "That''s good. We should prepare as well. We''ll be traveling to Bukavu tomorrow morning."

    Kristin smiled and replied, "Understood. I''ll make sure everything is ready."

    Zachary quickly finished his breakfast and looked up at Kristin with a grateful smile. "Thank you for the food, Kristin."

    Kristin chuckled. "d you enjoyed it. How was it?"

    "Tasty enough that I might just have to change your job from PA to personal chef," Zachary teased, a yful glint in his eyes. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Kristinughed, her eyes alight with thepliment hidden behind his words. "I wouldn''t want to take Inger''s ce," she said, picking up the dishes. She headed towards the kitchen, but Zachary quickly stopped her.

    "I''m feeling a bit fatigued," he said. "I''m going to continue resting for a few hours. Please make sure I''m not disturbed."

    Kristin looked at him, a flicker of concern crossing her face. She probably wondered why he was breaking his routine to sleep during the day, but she didn''t voice her doubts. Instead, she smiled warmly. "Of course, Zachary. I''ll make sure you''re not disturbed."

    "Thank you," he replied, giving her a reassuring smile before heading back to his room. Now that he had given an excuse to Kristin, he was ready to consume the SSS-grade elixirs and see how they would improve his abilities.

    Zachary locked the bedroom door behind him to ensure privacy and settled on his bed. He summoned the system interface, the ethereal screen flickering into existence before him.

    After a few more taps, he navigated to the system inventory, where the life-like icons of the SSS-grade mental conditioning elixir, the SSS-grade vitality-enhancing elixir, the SSS-grade Spatial Awareness Conditioning elixir, and the Random Technique Upgrade Token filled the slots.

    Suppressing his excitement, Zachary began by tapping on the icon of the vitality-enhancing elixir, which appeared in the shape of a tiny banana.

    As his finger left the interface, the small banana popped out of the screen, and he caught it deftly in his hand. Without wasting a second, he swallowed it, knowing he had to consume it within five seconds of its appearance.

 Chapter 672 Ascending to New Heights

    672 Ascending to New Heights

    A refreshing sensation welled up within Zachary''s entire body, spreading like a tide after he swallowed down the SSS-grade vitality-enhancing elixir.

    He felt a profound rxation as if his skin and muscles were under the care of the best masseuse in the world. But just as he was getting used to thefortable feeling, sharp pains assaulted him from all over his body.

    Zachary quickly picked up one of his T-shirts and bit down on it to stifle his cries. He copsed on the bed just as popping sounds emerged from his body, seeming as if his bones were cracking and reassembling at a rapid pace.

    The pain was excruciating, unlike anything he had ever experienced. His muscles and joints itched painfully as the elixir worked its magic. The SSS-grade version was potent, and the distress it caused was almost unbearable.

    But Zachary had faced death once. He summoned every ounce of his willpower to endure the agony. His vision blurred with tears, but he held on, gritting his teeth against the pain. Seconds stretched into an eternity, but finally, the pain began to subside.

    He took a moment to catch his breath, the T-shirt falling from his mouth, damp with sweat and saliva. He got up from the bed and marveled at the changes coursing through his body.

    His muscles felt denser, his bones sturdier, and his movements more fluid. It was as if he had been reborn, his physical capabilities enhanced to a new level beyond what any ordinary human could ever dream about.

    With a deep breath, Zachary knew he wasn''t done yet. He still had two more elixirs to consume and was ready for whatever came next.

    The vitality-enhancing elixir had tested his willpower. But he had emerged more vigorous and more resilient. Now, he was prepared to face the challenges the other elixirs would bring.

    Summoning the system interface once more, determination burned in his eyes. His next goal was the SSS-grade mental conditioning elixir, designed to refine his cognitive abilities and improve his mind''s control over his body.

    This elixir would even negate the side effects of the potent vitality-enhancing elixir he had just consumed. Without hesitation, he summoned the SSS-grade mental conditioning elixir, which appeared in the shape of a small apple, and readily swallowed it.

    This time, no sharp pains were assaulting his body. Instead, a jolt akin to an electric shock emerged from the base of his spine, moving upwards along his back before hitting his brain like a bolt from the blue.

    Zachary''s mind immediately nked out, and he lost his perception of his surroundings. He felt empty, unable to form even a conscious thought for what seemed like an eternity. Fortunately, his mental tenacity allowed him to push through until the weird sensations gradually began to ebb. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Slowly, his perception of the outside world began to return. He blinked his eyes and found that he had already copsed on the floor.

    Breathing in to center himself, he picked himself up from the floor, only to realize that his mind and senses had be sharper. His thoughts were more coherent and faster, and his memory seemed to operate with photographic preciseness.

    He could recall the finest details of his surroundings without looking, from the texture of the carpet under his feet to even the minute set up of the chairs he had seen in his living room early that morning. His sense of time had also improved; moments felt more substantial, giving him more control over his reactions and decisions.

    Zachary felt an unprecedented rity and focus. His mind was a sharpened de, ready to cut through any mental fog or distraction. He could feel the difference in his connection to his body as if every muscle, nerve, and fiber was perfectly attuned to his will.

    The previously vivid side effects of the vitality-enhancing elixir had also disappeared, reced by a harmonious bnce within his system. He could sense his heightened physical capabilities and knew he could control them with newfound exactness.

    After savoring the changes he had experienced, Zachary nced at the time on his phone. It was only nearing midday. Relieved, he realized he hadn''t been out for long and still had some time to consume thest elixir.

    Zachary once again summoned the system interface, navigating to the system inventory. Only the life-like icons of the SSS-grade Spatial Awareness Conditioning elixir and the Random Technique Upgrade Token remained.

    He focused on the Spatial Awareness Conditioning elixir, knowing it would be his next test for the day. This elixir would enhance his perception of space and movement, making him more adept at navigating the field and avoiding defenders. It would grant him an almost preternatural awareness of his surroundings.

    He readily summoned the SSS-grade elixir, which took the form of a small ginger root. Without hesitation, he swallowed it, feeling its slightly rough texture slide down his throat.

    The effect was almost immediate, and he felt his head spinning. But with the experience from the other elixirs, he held on with pure willpower and managed to settle himself on the bed before he could fall back to the ground.

    His head throbbed, and his thoughts turned messy as he lost perception of his surroundings again. Gradually, he felt disconnected from the world, as if his awareness had been pushed out of time and space and into some blurry, bleak dimension.

    Negativity began to creep into his mind, but as the difort became almost unbearable, the weirdness passed. His perception of his surroundings returned. Moreover, it was much more acute than ever.

    His eyes were sharper, and he could even see a tiny spider weaving almost translucent cobwebs in the corner of the ceiling. His hearing was more sensitive; if he focused, he could hear Kristin turning the pages of a book in the living room.

    His sense of smell had also heightened, allowing him to detect the faint odor of the shirt he had worn that morning. The Spatial Awareness Conditioning elixir had worked wonders, and his senses had risen to unprecedented levels.

    Zachary narrowed his eyes, wondering whether he could still be ssified as human. Everything about him was bing extraordinary because of the system, like the incredible stuff of movies. He didn''t really know what he would eventually turn into.

    Breathing deeply, he suppressed the weird thoughts and returned his focus to his immediate objective. His goal was now to achieve peak greatness in football, and he wouldn''t let anything stop him.

    Next, he had to use the Random Technique Upgrade Token. But before that, he first summoned the system interface to check his current attributes.

    The holographic screen flickered before him, and he navigated to the attribute section. His stats were disyed in detail, showing marked improvements in several areas.

    ****

    *USER STATS (Breakdown)

    -----

    ->Physical Fitness (Av. Rating: SSS)

    Bnce and Coordination: SSS

    Agility: SSS

    Strength: SSS

    Stamina: SSS

    Endurance Points: 159,950/160,000 (SSS)

    ----

    ->Ser Technique: (Av. Rating: SS+)

    Ball Control: SS+

    Dribbling Skills: SS+

    Passing uracy: SS+

    Body Control: SSS

    ----

    ->Game Intelligence: (Av. Rating: SS+)

    Spatial Awareness: SSS

    Tactical Knowledge: SS

    Risk Assessment: SSS

    ----

    ->Mental Ability and Mindset: (Av. Rating: SS+)

    Ser Passion: SSS

    Composure and Mental Strength: SSS

    Coachability: A+

    Self-Motivation: SS+

    ----

    ->X-Factor (Av. Rating: SSS)

    Consistency Factor: SSS

    Luck Factor: SS+

    Supernormal Factor: SS+

    Match Winning Factor: SSS

    ----

    ****

    Zachary smiled as he took a look at his attribute page. His physical and mental stats were now off the charts.

    His "Strength" and "Bnce and Coordination" attributes, which had been stuck at the SS+ level for quite some time, had experienced a breakthrough, shooting up to the SSS grading.

    The maximum cap of his SSS-grade endurance had also increased from 110,000 to 160,000 points. Zachary felt a surge of pride; these significant transformations would help him take his game to the next level and allow him to be a demon on the pitch.

    But these weren''t the only benefits he gained from consuming the three SSS-grade elixirs.

    His Game Intelligence attributes, including Spatial Awareness and Risk Assessment, had also shot to the SSS grade, while his Tactical Knowledgegged just a bit behind at the SS level. His other mental abilities had also improved, making Zachary feel like he''d experienced transcendence.

    Turning to his ser technique stats, Zachary wore a relieved expression.

    Usually, after consuming potent elixirs like the vitality-enhancing elixir and putting his body through significant transformations, his technique attributes¡ªsuch as Ball Control, Dribbling Skills, Passing uracy, and Body Control¡ªwould experience a slight decline, falling by a grade or two.

    However, because he had consumed the vitality-enhancing elixir alongside the mental and spatial awareness conditioning elixirs, these attributes had instead experienced improvements. Even his Body Control had shot to the SSS grade.

    Thebination of elixirs had created a synergistic effect, harmonizing his physical enhancements with his mental acuity, thus stabilizing and even enhancing his technical abilities.

    Zachary couldn''t contain his joy. He didn''t have to deal with the usual side effects of consuming the vitality-enhancing elixir this time.

    Moreover, he suspected that if he went through targeted training over the next few weeks, some of his ser technique stats might improve even further as the effects of his improved cognitive abilities continued to work wonders. These were the benefits of SSS rewards from the system.

 Chapter 673 Sparks in the Darkness

    673 Sparks in the Darkness

    With renewed focus, Zachary turned his attention to the Random Technique Upgrade Token. This was the final piece of the puzzle, thest step in his nned transformation for the day.

    Summoning the coin-like token, he watched it appear in his hand, glowing with an otherworldly light. He knew that using this token would randomly upgrade one of his techniques, potentially giving him an edge that most yers could only dream of.

    Taking a deep breath, he activated the token. The light it exuded intensified, enveloping him in a warm glow. A surge of energy coursed through his body, targeting his neural pathways and muscle memory. His mind buzzed with new information, and blurry images shed with his every thought as one of his core techniques was refined.

    The processsted only a few moments, but Zachary felt a profound change when it was finally over. He essed the system interface to see which technique had been upgraded.

    A flicker of disappointment shed through his eyes as theynded on his Ser Technique section. He had hoped to raise his Dribbling Skills to the SSS grade first. Instead, the random upgrade token raised the level of his "Ball Control" stat to the SSS grade.

    Nevertheless, he readily suppressed his disappointment. He sighed, understanding that the change was still beneficial to him.

    "Ball Control" was a foundational skill that could do wonders if trained to an incredible level, like the SSS grade. It was the bedrock of all technical skills, enabling better dribbling, passing, and shooting. With impable ball control, one could effectively dictate the game''s tempo, making them more formidable on the field.

    Zachary observed his stats for thest time before dismissing the system interface with a mentalmand. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction as he rose from his bed.

    He had pushed his limits and emerged sturdier, more capable, and more determined than ever. His journey was far from over, but he was better equipped to face whatevery ahead.

    He stole a quick nce at his phone and saw that it was almost 1:00 PM - just about time for Kristin to call him for lunch. In need of a refresh, he headed to the bathroom for a brisk shower, shedding off the day''s weariness and sweat.

    Emerging from the shower, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and couldn''t help but notice the transformation. Hisplexion seemed smoother, his muscles more defined, and his eyes held a fierce determination reminiscent of a battle-hardened warrior. Tying back his braided hair with a scrunchie, he suited up in a fresh Nike tracksuit, ready to face the rest of the day.

    Emerging from his bedroom, he spotted Kristin putting the finishing touches on lunch, just as he had anticipated. She extended an invitation to join her for the meal, and soon, they were seated at the table, relishing the delicious food.

    After the satisfying meal, Zachary expressed his gratitude to Kristin and then excused himself, making a beeline for his secluded gym at the rear of his residence.

    His immediate goal was to engage in exercises targeted at helping his body adapt to his newfound abilities. Despite the assistance provided by the mental conditioning elixir in this area, Zachary still yearned to employ traditional gym routines to further enhance his mastery over his physical faculties.

    The gym was stocked with modern training equipment, thanks to the meticulousness of Kristin and Bj?rn Peters, his fitness trainer. The two of them had taken the time to travel to Abidjan while he was still in Turin and had filled the ce with all the necessary equipment.

    Zachary readily entered the room and started exercising. He didn''t overwork himself but did light exercises, only aiming at improving his body control and coordination at a manageable pace.

    He began with a few bnce drills, using a Bosu ball to challenge his stability. He then moved on to agilitydders, weaving in and out to enhance and grasp his footwork and quickness.

    Afterward, he did single-leg squats and lunges while maintaining perfect form to refine his core strength and bnce. Finally, he spent time on the resistance bands, working on histeral movements and explosive power.

    As the evening arrived, he finished his training session and left the gym feeling aplished. After hydrating with several sses of water, he headed to his bedroom, where a refreshing shower awaited before he dove into bed for a quick nap.

    His awareness drifted into slumbend until a sudden knock on the door jolted him awake. He opened his eyes and immediately noticed the evening darkness that had already descended outside. Hastily rising from his bed, he walked to the door and pulled it open, only to find Kristin standing there.

    "You''ve been asleep for nearly three hours, and it''s nearly eight now," she said, her voice soft. "Dinner''s all set. Come, let''s eat together."

    "I''ll be there soon," Zachary replied, returning to his room. He sshed cold water on his face at the sink, allowing it to rejuvenate him fully. Feeling more alert, he headed to the dining room, ready to enjoy the meal and Kristin''spany.

    As they ate, their conversation gradually turned to their ns for the next day, their journey to Bukavu, and how long Zachary intended to stay there.

    "We''ll spend two nights in Bukavu," Zachary said, "and then head back to Turin to wait for Emily to finalize the negotiations with Liverpool. As long as we get the green light, I can sign the new contract, and we can start the moving process."

    Kristin nodded thoughtfully. "We''ll need to apply for English visas since Britain isn''t in the Schengen area."

    "I''ll leave all that to you, Kristin," Zachary said, smiling. "If the move to Liverpool works out, I trust you''ll handle everything."

    Kristin smiled and was about to reply. But just then, the power flickered, and the house was plunged into darkness.

    The sudden change startled them, but Zachary quickly reached for his phone to use the shlight. Standing up from the table, he said, "It should be the asional power outage, the load shedding that sometimes happens in Abidjan. Let''s check the generator."

    Kristinplied, and they moved through the darkened house together, their steps cautious. The generator was in the shade outside the back of the house, and the night air was cool and refreshing.

    As they arrived before the generator, Zachary started fumbling with the controls, trying to get it to start. But as someone only obsessed with football, he failed.

    Kristin stepped closer, saying, "Let me help."As she stretched out her arm, their hands brushed against each other, sending an unexpected jolt through Zachary. He subconsciously nced at her, their eyes meeting in the dim light. The closeness, the touch, it all felt electric.

    Zachary''s heart raced as Kristin''s fingers deftly navigated the generator''s controls. The darkness around them seemed to magnify the intimacy of the moment. He could hear her soft, steady breathing and feel the warmth of her body close to his with his newly enhanced perception. The cool night air contrasted sharply with the heat rising between them.

    "Here, try this," Kristin said, her voice barely above a whisper. She guided his hand to a lever, their fingers intecing briefly.

    Zachary swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. "Okay," he managed to say, his voice a bit hoarse. He followed her instructions, and with some effort, the generator roared to life, and the lights flickered back on.

    They stood there for a few more seconds, bathed in the soft glow, their faces inches apart. The tension was almost tangible now, an invisible thread pulling them together. Zachary could see the reflection of the generator''s light in Kristin''s amber-brown eyes and how her lips parted slightly as she caught her breath.

    "Thank you," Zachary said, his voice barely more than a whisper. He was vividly aware of how really close they were and the charged atmosphere between them.

    Kristin smiled softly. "It''s what I''m here for," she replied, her voice equally quiet.

    For a moment, neither of them moved. The world outside seemed to disappear, leaving just the two of them standing in the glow of the generator. The air was thick with unspoken words and feelings they had long buried, a maic pull that neither could ignore.

    Zachary felt his resolve wavering. He wanted to lean in, to close the gap between them, but he hesitated, unsure of how Kristin would react. She seemed to sense his internal struggle, her eyes searching his face for answers.

    "Kristin," he began, his voice shaky, "I..." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    But before he could finish, Kristin took a small step back, breaking the spell. She nced away, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks. "We should probably get back inside," she said, her tone returning to a more professional demeanor.

    Zachary nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and disappointment flooding through him. "Yeah, you''re right."

    They returned to the house in silence, the moment of closeness lingering between them. Once inside, the normalcy of their surroundings seemed almost jarring.

    Zachary couldn''t shake the feeling that something significant had just happened, something that had the potential to change everything.

    As they returned to the dining room, the conversation quickly shifted back to their ns. They discussed logistics, travel arrangements, and the uing negotiations with Liverpool.

    Everything seemed just as before. But the electric moment by the generator remained at the forefront of Zachary''s mind, a tantalizing hint of possibilities that could have been.

 Chapter 674 A Journey of Memories and New Beginnings

    674 A Journey of Memories and New Beginnings

    The next day, Friday, July 20th, 2018, dawned bright and early for Zachary and Kristin. By 8:00 AM, they were already airborne, on the private ne Kristin had chartered, heading toward Bukavu.

    The flight was uneventful, for the most part, allowing Zachary to rx and gather his thoughts. However, as they approached Kavumu Airport in Bukavu, the ne encountered turbulence due to windy weather. The descent was shaky, but fortunately, the skilled pilot navigated the aircraft smoothly, and they touched down on the runway at around 11:30 AM.

    Exiting the ne, Zachary and Kristin were immediately greeted by the sunny Bukavu weather. They slipped on their shades to shield their eyes from the re and headed toward the waiting vehicle beyond the runway. Moving discreetly to avoid drawing attention, they walked briskly across the tarmac while maintaining quick and purposeful steps.

    At the designated VIP exit, they found Lorenzo, Zachary''s bodyguard, waiting with two armed African men beside an SUV and a military pick-up. Lorenzo greeted them warmly, weing them to Bukavu with the ease of a local.

    Lorenzo then took their luggage, and Zachary, noticing the armed men, asked Lorenzo in Italian, "What''s with the two armed men?"

    Before Lorenzo could respond, Kristin interjected in Italian, "They''re some of the mercenaries hired by my grandfather to guard the academy project workers in Bukavu."

    She then switched effortlessly to French, greeting the men with familiarity before introducing them to Zachary.

    "This is Augustin Tsumbu," she said, pointing to one of the men, "and this is Andre Kankonde."

    Both men seemed excited to see Zachary, greeting him enthusiastically. Zachary responded warmly, and the men''s initial hesitance melted away. They even asked for his autograph, which he graciously provided.

    After a few more minutes of chit-chating with Kristin and Lorenzo, Zachary hopped into the SUV alongside Kristin. Lorenzo took the wheel while the two armed men jumped into the pick-up.

    The pick-up led the way, with Lorenzo close behind. He and Kristin asionally hashed out details about their ns while Zachary remained silent, taking in the sights of Bukavu shing by outside the window.

    The bumpy dirt roads of Bukavu brought back a flood of memories for Zachary. He remembered living here with his grandmother, but now she was gone. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he focused on the journey ahead.

    Minutes passed, and as they approached Bukavu City, Zachary instructed Lorenzo to stop at a flower shop. Lorenzoplied, purchasing a bouquet of fresh flowers.

    The journey resumed, and soon, they branched off from the main dirt road, taking an even bumpier path. Minutester, they arrived at Zachary''s grandmother''s farm, a spread of about four acres, now somewhat overgrown and neglected. The workers Zachary had hired to maintain the ce seemed to have abandoned their duties.

    The sight of the bushy farm and the great-looking bungalow he had built three years ago filled Zachary with nostalgia and sadness. The ce felt deste without his grandmother.

    Kristin sensed Zachary''s somber mood and inquired softly, "What''s the n, Zachary? The workers you hired aren''t even here."

    "Give me a few minutes," Zachary responded, grabbing the flowers from the car. He strolled around the house to the banana ntation behind it, where his grandmother''s grave was nestled.

    The path was familiar, yet each step felt heavier as he neared the grave. The ntation was quiet, the only sounds being the rustle of leaves and distant bird calls.

    Finally, he reached the simple headstone that marked his grandmother''s final resting ce. Kneeling before it, he ced the flowers gently on the grave, a wave of emotion washing over him.

    "Grandma," he whispered, his voice breaking slightly, "I''m back."

    He stayed there for a while, lost in memories and silent conversations with the woman who had meant so much to him. The wind rustled the banana leaves above, a gentle reminder of the life that continued to grow around him.

    When he finally stood up, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. His grandma was gone, but he had resolved to do something significant to honor her memory. He couldn''t let the farm, the ce she had cherished and cared for, fall into neglect.

    Returning to the front of the house, Zachary found Kristin, Lorenzo, and the two armed men waiting. Kristin gave him aforting look before asking, "Do you want to stay at your grandma''s house for now?"

    Zachary quickly shook his head. The harrowing sight of his grandmother''s property in such a state was too much to bear. He didn''t want to spend another hour in Bukavu. Without responding to Kristin''s question, he asked, "Has the ne already left?"

    Kristin seemed confused. But she replied, "No, I booked it for three days. It''s waiting at Kavumu Airport until we head to Nairobi. But the pilot and crew might have gone to a hotel."

    "Call the pilot and ask if he''s ready to fly to Nairobi immediately," Zachary said urgently, pointing to the neglected surroundings. "I don''t want to stay here."

    00:11 n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Understanding his distress, Kristin nodded and stepped aside to make the call. After about five minutes, she returned with good news. "The pilot and crew are still at the airport. They only need to refuel and do a few checks, and the ne would be ready to go."

    Relieved, Zachary looked at his grandmother''s farm onest time before climbing into the SUV. The armed men again led the way in their pick-up, with Lorenzo following in the SUV. Zachary and Kristin sat in the back seat, the silence heavy with unspoken ns.

    Finally, Zachary broke the silence. "I''ve been thinking about what to do with my grandma''s farm. I want to buy morend around it and quickly build the first football academy in DR Congo tomemorate her."

    Kristin raised an eyebrow. "Won''t that conflict with the academy we''re building in the Bukavu City center?"

    Zachary shook his head. "Even if we build ten academies in Bukavu, it wouldn''t be enough for all the young people here who dream of bing footballers. This new academy will be the main one, and the one in the city center will be a branch. I''ll fund the entire project."

    Kristin nodded, impressed. "I''ll inform my grandfather. With the funds avable, we can start the project soon."

    "Thank you," Zachary said, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders.

    The journey continued uneventfully, and they eventually arrived at Kavumu Airport to find the pilot, crew, and ne ready. Thanks to Kristin and Lorenzo handling all the travel procedures, they quickly boarded, eager to leave Bukavu and travel to their final stopover in Africa: Nairobi.

    As the ne took off, Zachary stared out the window, watching Bukavu disappear beneath the clouds. His mind buzzed with ns and hopes.

    He was determined to honor his grandmother''s legacy through the academy, offering young people the opportunity to pursue their dreams. It was the perfect way to pay tribute to the woman who always believed in him. As the aircraft soared toward Nairobi, Zachary felt a newfound resolve to turn his dream into reality.

    The following flight from Kavumu to Nairobi was remarkably smooth, allowing Zachary to unwind and reflect. Uponnding at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 2:31 PM, the sun was still high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the tarmac.

    Kristin, whose meticulously organized ns had been disrupted by Zachary''s abrupt decision to leave Bukavu, turned to him with a question.

    "Do you want us to travel straight to Turin, or would you prefer to spend a few days in Nairobi?" she asked.

    Zachary''s sour mood had already dissipated after the peaceful flight. He smiled and replied, "Let''s spend a few days in Kenya. Think of it as a short vacation before I dive back into my routine of training and matches."

    Kristin nodded and began making calls as they exited the ne. They continued into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, but their peace was interrupted as they went through procedures when Zachary started attracting attention. A few fans recognized him, their excited yells drawing more onlookers.

    The always-vignt Lorenzo kept the fans at bay until airport security arrived to guide Zachary out safely. He sighed as he entered the hired car, reflecting on the demanding nature of celebrity life. Even on vacation, he couldn''t escape the eyes of his fans.

    After the initialmotion, Zachary was relieved to reach their hotel, where they would spend the next few days. It was the luxurious Giraffe Manor, a ce where elegance met the wild spirit of Africa. The unique charm of the hotel, with giraffes poking their heads through the windows, immediately set a rxing tone.

    But that was only the beginning, as their following adventure in Kenya''s National Parks was even more remarkable. From witnessing the Great Migration at Maasai Mara to marveling at the majestic elephants against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro at Amboseli National Park, each day was filled with awe-inspiring moments.

    Their journey culminated at Lake Nakuru National Park, where they were treated to a vibrant disy of mingos and rhinos, making their experience in Kenya''s rich biodiversity immersive and unforgettable.

    The peaceful ambiance around the parks allowed Zachary to unwind and savor the experience. It was so enchanting that he spontaneously decided to prolong their visit. However, on the fifth evening, while enjoying dinner with Kristin and Lorenzo at the hotel, Zachary received an eagerly anticipated call from Emily.

    "I''ve finished the final negotiations with Liverpool," she said, her voice brimming with excitement. "They are ready to finalize the contract. They hope you can travel to Liverpool as soon as possible to go through the medical andplete the transfer procedures."

    Zachary''s heart raced with excitement. "That''s great news, Emily. I can travel to Liverpool next week."

    "Perfect," Emily replied. "The people from Liverpool FC will soon contact Kristin to arrange your travel. Be ready."

    As Zachary ended the call, a wave of anticipation washed over him. His vacation in Africa had been a wee respite, but now it was time to return to his professional life and embrace the new opportunities awaiting him in Liverpool.

 Chapter 675 A New Dawn

    675 A New Dawn

    On Monday, July 30th, 2018, just as the golden hues of dawn painted the Nairobi skyline, Zachary Bemba stepped out of Giraffe Manor, savoring the final moments of his tranquil vacation.

    As he settled in the waiting SUV, the World Cup champion, Golden Ball victor, and Golden Boot winner felt a mixture of excitement and anticipation bubbling within him. He was on the cusp of something monumental, as today was the day he would embark on a new chapter in his illustrious career.

    Apanying him were his trustedpanions: Kristin, his personal assistant, and Lorenzo, his ever-vignt bodyguard. An excited atmosphere surrounded them as the SUV smoothly navigated through the bustling streets of Nairobi, making its way to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

    The journey through the city was mostly uneventful, but as they approached the terminal, fans and photographers swarmed towards them, eager for a glimpse of the global footballing icon.

    The past few days had been rife with media gossip in Nairobi, and it wasmon knowledge that Zachary was in Kenya. So, he wasn''t surprised or overwhelmed by the attention.

    He graciously waved back and smiled at the enthusiastic fans, even stopping briefly to sign autographs and take selfies. Despite the early hour, he could already feel the explosive energy among the waiting crowd, especially since rumors of his monumental move to Liverpool already had everyone buzzing.

    At the airport, Zachary received VIP treatment, breezing through security and into the first-ss lounge of Qatar Airways. By mid-morning, they were airborne, leaving the African continent behind as they sped towards Manchester Airport.

    The first-ss cabin offered luxuriousfort, with spacious seats that reclined into beds, gourmet meals, and personalized service. Kristin and Lorenzo sat across from him, engrossed in their thoughts and activities. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    As they settled into the flight, Zachary turned to Kristin. "Why are we heading to Manchester instead of Liverpool?"

    Kristin smiled. "Liverpool John Lennon Airport doesn''t handle intercontinental flights from East Africa. Manchester is the closest major airport."

    Zachary nodded in understanding. "For a moment, I thought Emily had tricked us and made me sign for one of the Manchester clubs," he joked, a smile ying on his lips.

    Kristin chuckled, shaking her head. "No such tricks, I promise."

    Theyughed and soon returned to their own activities.

    The long flight allowed Zachary a respite to reflect on his achievements and the challenges ahead. The transition from Juventus to Liverpool was a monumental step, promising new opportunities and immense pressure.

    But he felt more prepared and skilled than ever, having utilized the system rewards to enhance his footballing abilities. He was ready to embrace his new role at a new club in a new city.

    Hours passed, and eventually, the ne touched down at Manchester Airport just as the sun dipped below the horizon. Liverpool''s representatives were waiting to ensure a seamless transfer from the aircraft to the airport exit.

    But even then, a few fans still recognized Zachary as he exited the terminal and began snapping photographs, their excitement palpable. Fortunately, the Liverpool representatives seemed too experienced at handling such situations. They briskly whisked him and his entourage away, settling him in a sleek ck car before themotion could get out of hand.

    The convoy then took off, and the drive to Liverpool, though short, was filled with quiet anticipation. Zachary gazed through the window at the passing countryside, taking in Cheshire''s lush green fields and quaint viges. The picturesquendscape offered a serene contrast to the whirlwind of emotions within him as he mentally prepared for the next few days.

    As dusk fell, they arrived at The Titanic Hotel, a luxurious hotel in the heart of Liverpool. The historic building, blending its grand architecture and modern amenities, was a fitting residence for the next chapter of Zachary''s journey.

    Zachary''s room offered a stunning view of the Mersey River, its waters reflecting the twinkling city lights. As he settled into the plush surroundings, he allowed himself a moment to breathe and take it all in.

    The weight of his grandmother''s legacy, the excitement of his uing transfer, and the serenity of his current surroundings blended into a harmonious sonata of emotions.

    After taking a rxing shower, Zachary decided to order room service. Within minutes, a polite knock echoed through his room, and as he unlocked the door, a courteous staff member dressed in the hotel''s immacte uniform entered with a silver trolley.

    "Good evening, Mr. Bemba," the server said, smiling warmly. "Tonight, we have a special rmendation to wee you to this great city: a traditional British roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and seasonal vegetables. It''s a favorite here at the Titanic Hotel."

    Zachary thanked the server and watched as the meal was elegantly arranged on the table. The aroma was enticing, and the presentation was impable.

    He sat down to enjoy the hearty dish, savoring each bite. Although he was away from the football club¡ªand without any uing games, he still adhered to his disciplined lifestyle, opting for fresh fruit juice instead of alcohol.

    After dinner, Zachary nced at the clock and noted that it was just reaching 9:00 PM. He booted up his tablet and connected to the inte to pass the time.

    The inte was buzzing with rumors of his imminent move to Liverpool. Someone seemed to have leaked the news, and journalists had already gotten some details about his sry and contract terms. It was surprising how the English media was so good at digging up gossip.

    Just as he was immersed in reading an article, his phone rang. It was Emily.

    "Hey, Zachary," Emily greeted, her voice brimming with excitement. "Everything is set for tomorrow. I just wanted to discuss a few important points in the contract."

    "Sure, Emily. What''s new?" Zachary asked, leaning back in his chair.

    "Well, most of the terms and uses remain as we discussed. But there are a couple of updates. First, I managed to secure you a signing bonus of ¡ê30 million, which will be paid in batches of ¡ê7.5 million over the four years of your contract," Emily exined.

    "That''s fantastic news, Emily!" Zachary replied, genuinely impressed. "You''ve outdone yourself again."

    Emily continued, "And if you perform well during your tenure and Liverpool triggers the Automatic Extension use for an additional year, you''ll be entitled to an extra ¡ê7.5 million, bringing your total signing bonus to ¡ê37.5 million."

    "Emily, you''re amazing! Thank you for getting me such a great deal," Zachary said, his excitement evident.

    "I''m d you''re happy with it. There''s one more thing. I managed to negotiate the image rights. You''ll retain 70%," Emily added.

    Zachary was thrilled and thanked her again, not forgetting to add a few ttering remarks. They then discussed a few more details before Emily wrapped up the conversation. "Rest well, Zachary. Tomorrow is a big day."

    "Thanks, Emily. Goodnight," Zachary replied, feeling gratitude for his dedicated agent.

    He brushed his teeth and soon dove into his bed. The night passed peacefully, and he slept like a magnate in the luxurious hotel.

    The morning dawned crisp and clear. After enjoying a hearty breakfast, Zachary was escorted to Liverpool John Lennon Airport for a symbolic arrival orchestrated by the club representatives. He found it amusing, considering he had already spent the night in the city.

    The scene that greeted him was nothing short of extraordinary. Thousands of Liverpool fans had already gathered, but the representatives were skilled and managed to sneak him into the airport without drawing the attention of the enthusiastic fans.

    Soon, his symbolic arrival was set, and he stepped out to show himself to the crowd. What happened next could only be described as thunderous explosions of excitement. The gathered Liverpool fans started waving banners and chanting his name. The media thronged, cameras shing, capturing every moment.

    As Zachary came out of the airport, Liverpool FC''s ambassador, Kenny Dalglish, and CEO, Peter Moore, were there to greet him. Kenny''s warm handshake and Peter''s weing smile instantly made Zachary feel honored and at home.

    He felt the weight of expectations as he digested the knowledge that these two big shots from the club were there only to wee him. But he was not intimidated, knowing he had the skills to meet their expectations.

    A brief press interaction followed. Zachary stood before a sea of microphones and shing cameras, his face reflecting humility and excitement.

    "Wee to Liverpool, Zachary!" a journalist shouted. "How do you feel about joining such a historic club?"

    "I''m thrilled and honored to be here," Zachary began, his voice steady and confident. "Liverpool is a club with a rich history and incredible fans. I''m eager to contribute to the team''s sess and bring more trophies to this great club."

    Another reporter asked, "What are your immediate goals at this club?"

    Zachary smiled, "My main goal is to integrate well into the team and work hard to achieve our collective objectives. Winning the Premier League and Champions League would be incredible, and I''m ready to give my all."

 Chapter 676 The Beginning of a New Chapter in Liverpool

    676 The Beginning of a New Chapter in Liverpool

    The press interaction ended soon, and Zachary was immediately whisked away from the airport to Liverpool''s trainingplex, Melwood, where Emily awaited him. They again quickly reviewed a few more uses of his contract, discussing the finer details like performance bonuses and other personal terms.

    After an hour, Zachary was satisfied with the terms and felt a sense of relief as the formalities were nearlyplete. He was a person of the football field and didn''t like going through such extended formalities, but he understood it was an essential step in his career.

    Next on the agenda was a thorough medical examination at Spire Liverpool Hospital. Under the watchful eye of Dr. Andy Massey, Zachary underwent a series of tests. The medical team, efficient and professional, left no stone unturned, ensuring that Zachary was in peak condition.

    The recent consumption of SSS-grade elixirs had enhanced his skills and attributes, but Zachary was relieved to find no noticeable but bizarre transformations in his body. The needles pierced him as expected, and his blood was still red. The only abnormality the doctors found was that his body was at its very peak, like that of someone who maintained a monk-like disciplined lifestyle.

    "Zachary, you''re in remarkable shape," Dr. Masseymented while observing the results. "How do you manage to stay this fit?"

    Zachary smiled. "A disciplined lifestyle and lots of hard work." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The medical staffughed and made a few jokes about his extraordinary fitness levels, but the atmosphere was light and friendly. With the medical procedures behind him, Zachary was then taken to Anfield. The iconic stadium and its rich history were the perfect setting for his official wee.

    As Zachary stepped onto the pitch, he was greeted by the sight of the towering stands and the echo of past glories. The stadium was empty now, but he could almost hear and feel the crowd''s roar and the weight of their expectations. This was where legends were made, and he was ready to be one of them.

    Soon enough, Zachary met with more of Liverpool''s top brass, including Sporting Director Michael Edwards and COO Andy Hughes. They weed him warmly, their enthusiasm mirroring the excitement of typical Liverpool devotees.

    "Wee to Anfield, Zachary," Michael said with a smile. "We''re thrilled to have you here."

    "Thank you, Michael. It''s an honor," Zachary replied, shaking his hand firmly.

    Andy Hughes chimed in, "Let''s show you around. There''s a lot to see."

    The tourmenced, starting with the trophy room. Zachary''s eyes lit up as he took in the sight of the club''s illustrious collection. The gleaming silverware included the Premier League trophy, multiple Champions League cups, and several domestic cups.

    "These trophies represent our history and the hard work of every yer who has worn the Liverpool jersey," Andy exined.

    Zachary felt a deep sense of pride and responsibility as he gazed at the trophies. He was now a part of this storied institution. It was a surreal moment, realizing that he had joined one of those clubs he could only watch on TV but never dreamt of joining during his previous life.

    As they moved on, the walls were adorned with posters and memorabilia of Liverpool legends like Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard, and Ian Rush. Each image told a story of glory and numerous battles fought and won.

    "You''re walking in the footsteps of giants," Michael said, noticing Zachary''s awe. "But we believe you have the potential to create your own legacy here."

    Zachary nodded, feeling the weight of their expectations. But his determination was also surging. He wanted to live up to these legends and carve his name into the club''s history.

    The tour soon ended, and they headed to a private room at Anfield. Surrounded by club officials and his entourage, including Emily, Kristin, and Lorenzo, Zachary settled on the long table to sign his contract with Liverpool FC. Cameras clicked, and shes popped as he put pen to paper, finally making his transfer official.

    As he finished signing, Michael shook his hand. "Wee to the Liverpool family, Zachary."

    "Thank you. I won''t let you down," Zachary replied, his voice filled with conviction.

    The club''s website and social media channels exploded with the news, weing him to Liverpool. A photoshoot followed, where he posed with a Liverpool jersey, beaming proudly.

    Afterward, Zachary enjoyed ate lunch with the big shots, discussing the club''s future and his role in it. The atmosphere was warm and encouraging, with everyone expressing their anticipation for the uing season.

    Later in the evening, the day culminated in a press conference. Zachary faced a room packed with journalists, his heart pounding with nerves and excitement. He took a deep breath and stepped up to the podium before expressing his excitement about joining Liverpool.

    As he finished conveying his thoughts, a reporter raised a hand. "What are your goals for this season, Zachary?"

    Zachary''s eyes gleamed with determination. "To lift trophies," he dered. "From my days at my first club, Rosenborg, to my time at Juventus, my goal has always been the same. And now, it''s no different here at Liverpool."

    Another journalist asked, "What attracted you to Liverpool?"

    "The club''s history, the passion of the fans, and the ambition of the team were all major factors. Liverpool is a club that strives for greatness, and I want to be a part of that journey..."

    He answered questions with confidence and humility, winning over even the most skeptical reporters. Finally, as he left the conference room, he was met by a select group of Liverpool fans.

    The fans were hyper and excited to see him, and Zachary knew he couldn''t disappoint them. He took time to sign autographs and pose for photos, endearing himself to the supporters who would soon be cheering his name from the stands.

    Eventually, Zachary left Anfield with Emily and the rest of his entourage in one of Liverpool''s sleek ck cars. Apanied by security organized by the club, they made their way through the city. The city lights of Liverpool twinkled around them, a vibrant reminder of the new life awaiting him.

    The traffic at this hour was light, a stark contrast to the bustling streets of Turin, where Zachary had spent thest few years ying for Juventus. He found the rtive calm refreshing, a wee change from the constant congestion he had grown used to.

    They arrived back at The Titanic Hotel around 8:00 PM. Emily suggested they have dinner at the hotel restaurant to celebrate the day''s sess. Zachary agreed, feeling exhausted from the long day yet also excited about the prospect of beginning the next stage of his career in Liverpool.

    With the decision made, they walked through the hotel''s grand lobby, the rich decor and elegant ambiance making Zachary feel at ease. The Titanic Hotel''s design, with its nods to Liverpool''s maritime history, added a sense of grandeur to their surroundings. The staff guided them toward the restaurant, where the soft lighting and stylish furnishings created a warm, inviting atmosphere.

    They settled at a table by the window, offering a stunning view of the Mersey River. Zachary noticed a few curious nces from other diners, but for the most part, they were left to enjoy their meal in peace. He appreciated the quiet, feeling a sense of normalcy amidst the whirlwind of his transfer.

    The menu offered a variety of dishes, but Zachary, ever disciplined, chose a lean grilled chicken breast with a side of quinoa sd, ensuring he stayed on top of his fitness regime. Emily opted for a sea bass dish, while Kristin and Lorenzo selected steak and vegetables. They toasted with sparkling water, maintaining Zachary''s no-alcohol policy.

    As they began their meal, the conversation naturally turned to their recent move from Turin to Liverpool. Emily, cutting into her sea bass, broke the silence. "Today was exciting¡ªbut also challenging," she said with a smile. "It''s good it ended sessfully."

    She looked at Zachary. "How did you find everything? Are you starting to like life in Liverpool?"

    Zachary chuckled. "The wee was overwhelming, especially during the symbolic arrival at the airport. The fans, the stadium, the football culture¡ªeverything is incredible. And I must say, the traffic here is much more manageable than in Turin."

    Kristin nodded with a smile. "If the traffic stays like it was today, getting around will be much easier."

    "And speaking of getting around," the always-quiet Lorenzo then chipped in, "We''ll need to arrange to move your important belongings from Turin to Liverpool, including your medals, awards, and other personal items."

    Zachary nodded. "Yes, I''ll need my World Cup medal, Golden Boot, and Golden Ball moved as well. They''re still in a vault in Abidjan. Kristin, can you handle that?"

    Kristin smiled, her spirited amber-brown eyes reflecting a refreshing determination. "Of course, I''ll coordinate everything and make sure your items are safely transferred here."

    Emily smiled and turned to Zachary. "Just so you know, mypensation for negotiating your transfer is being handled by the club. You don''t have to worry about a thing."

    "That''s good to hear," Zachary replied. "I really appreciate all the work you''ve done."

    They continued their meal, discussing Zachary''s uing schedule. Training sessions, media obligations, and promotional events were all on the horizon. It was going to be a busy period, but Zachary felt ready. He was eager to return to the field and contribute to his new team.

    As they finished dinner and made their way back to their rooms, Zachary felt a profound sense of satisfaction. The day had been long and eventful, but it marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his career. He was now a part of Liverpool FC, ready to face the challenges and seize the opportunities ahead.

 Chapter 677 Settling In

    677 Settling In

    The following day, Zachary woke up to the soft glow of sunlight filtering through the curtains of his room at The Titanic Hotel. ncing at the clock, he realized it was already 8:30 AM. It had been a busy day yesterday, and his body still craved rest, but he knew he had a full day ahead.

    He began his morning routine with his customary yoga session, feeling the familiar stretch of his muscles bringing him into focus for the day. A refreshing shower followed, washing away the remnants of sleep and rejuvenating his spirits. Then, once dressed, he joined Kristin, Emily, and Lorenzo for a hearty breakfast in the hotel''s elegant restaurant.

    The Titanic Hotel''s restaurant was a haven of luxury and tranquility. Soft music yed in the background, and the morning sun cast a warm glow over the tastefully decorated interior.

    The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked pastries filled the air. Zachary appreciated the peaceful ambiance, a wee deviation from the maelstrom of his recent transfer activities.

    Over breakfast, they chatted casually about the day''s ns and the previous day''s excitement.

    Kristin was set to leave for Turin to coordinate the transfer of Zachary''s belongings, ensuring his move from Juventus to Liverpool would be as seamless as possible. Lorenzo, his bodyguard, would apany her to oversee the security aspects of the process.

    Emily, too, had ns to travel, citing business in London, but promised to return in a few days to check on Zachary''s settling in.

    After finishing their meal, they prepared to part ways. Zachary hugged Kristin and bumped fists with Lorenzo, thanking them for their help and support.

    Emily also received a warm farewell, her promise to return soon offering him somefort. They then headed to their respective rooms to finalize their travel preparations while Zachary returned to his room to wait for the arrangements from his new club.

    Once in his room, Zachary began checking out information about the Liverpool team on the.

    He read about their performance in the preseason tour in the USA and noted with excitement that they had just defeated Manchester United at the Michigan Stadium two days ago. The team''s sess pumped him up even more and fueled his eagerness to join his new teammates on the field.

    Momentster, his phone rang, breaking his concentration. It was Ray Haughan, Liverpool FC''s yer liaison officer.

    00:13

    Zachary quickly picked up, and Ray''s friendly voice greeted him. "Good morning, Zachary! I''m downstairs, ready to take you to your temporary residence in Liverpool City Center. It''s a luxurious apartment arranged by the club, offering you privacy andfort."

    "Thank you, Ray. I''ll be down in a few minutes," Zachary replied, appreciating the club''s care for hisfort.

    Packing was quick as Zachary always traveled light. He threw his tracksuits, running sneakers, gym clothes, football boots, and other essentials into his suitcase. He then double-checked that he hadn''t forgotten anything and exited his room.

    As he stepped into the hallway, a hotel staff member quickly approached him, offering to help with his luggage.

    "Thank you," Zachary said, handing over the suitcase.

    "My pleasure, sir," the staff member replied, effortlessly carrying the suitcase and leading the way to the lobby.

    Downstairs, Ray Haughan was waiting by two sleek ck cars, evidently sent by the club. The hotel employee ced Zachary''s suitcase in the boot of one of the cars as Zachary greeted Ray.

    "Morning, Ray," Zachary said with a smile.

    "Good morning, Zachary. Ready for your new home?" Ray responded warmly.

    "Absolutely. Let''s get going."

    They got into the cars, and soon they were off, leaving the premises of The Titanic Hotel. As they drove through the streets of Liverpool, Zachary noticed the city''s morning charm. The traffic was still light at this hour, a wee change that Zachary was already starting to like about Liverpool.

    As they drove, Ray began to talk about the apartment. "The apartment is in the Liverpool City Center, in a neighborhood called Ropewalks. It''s a vibrant area with character and full of cafes, restaurants, and shops. The club has arranged for you to stay there temporarily while we prepare your permanent residence, which I promise will be a high-end property that meets all your needs."

    Zachary appreciated the details. "Sounds perfect, Ray. I''m looking forward to seeing it." N?v(el)B\\jnn

    The journey continued smoothly, with Zachary taking in the sights of his new city. The mix of historic buildings and modern architecture gave Liverpool a unique charm that he found appealing.

    Soon, they arrived at the apartment building. Its sleek exterior and expansive ss windows hinted at the unforgettable views that awaited inside. Stepping into the lobby, Zachary was immediately struck by the tasteful decor and undeniable sense of refinement.

    Ray led Zachary to his apartment, opening the door to reveal a spacious and elegantly furnished living space. Therge windows flooded the room with natural light, and the view of the city skyline was breathtaking. The interior promisedfort and style, with plush sofas, a state-of-the-art kitchen, and a cozy bedroom.

    "This is fantastic, Ray," Zachary said, genuinely impressed. "I like the ce. Thank you for arranging this."

    "You''re wee, Zachary. I''m d you like it. If you need anything, just let me know. The club wants to ensure you''refortable and well cared for."

    Zachary then barely had time to settle into his temporary apartment before he was on the move again.

    After cing his suitcase in his bedroom and sshing water on his face to refresh himself, he locked the door and followed Ray Haughan back out of the building. The next stop was Melwood Training Ground, where a new round of introductions awaited him.

    At Melwood, Zachary was introduced to a team of dedicated professionals whose sole focus was to support his performance and well-being. The physiotherapists, nutritionists, and personal trainers would all y crucial roles in ensuring he stayed at the peak of his abilities.

    Each meeting with the professionals was thorough and exined how they would work together to optimize his health and performance.

    The physiotherapists demonstrated advanced techniques and equipment to prevent injuries and aid recovery. The nutritionists reviewed his dietary ns, tailoring them to his specific training needs as an elite footballer ying for Liverpool. Personal trainers discussed personalized workout regimens to enhance his strength, agility, and endurance.

    By noon, Zachary felt reassured by the professionalism and expertise of the Liverpool staff. He knew he was in good hands. But he also couldn''t help but wonder what he would do with his own people, like his physical fitness trainer and chef, since the club was already providing him the same services they provided.

    After a hearty lunch, Ray Haughan took Zachary on a tour of Liverpool City. They visited vitalndmarks, starting with the historic Albert Dock. The beautiful waterfront area, with its rich maritime history, captivated Zachary.

    Next, they explored the vibrant Liverpool ONE shopping district, bustling with activity and life. The sight of fans wearing Liverpool jerseys and scarves warmed Zachary''s heart. The city''s passion for football was evident everywhere, and he felt a growing connection to his new home.

    The day progressed, and they visited several other areas where Zachary saw more passionate fans. The city''s rich history and spiritedmunity resonated deeply with him, and by the time they finished the tour, he felt a profound sense of belonging.

    The day eventually concluded with dinner at the Hope Street Hotel near Melwood. The hotel''s historical charm and elegant atmosphere provided the perfect setting for a rxing meal. Over dinner, Ray and Zachary discussed the day''s events and the exciting journey ahead. Ray''s enthusiasm and support made Zachary feel weed and valued.

    After dinner, Ray and Zachary''s new bodyguards drove him back to his temporary residence in the Ropewalks neighborhood. The area''s vibrant nightlife and artistic vibe gave it a unique charm. Zachary spent the night reflecting on the whirlwind of the past few days, feeling a mixture of exhaustion and excitement.

    The next day, Zachary and Ray continued their tour of the city. They visited essential shops, clinics, banks, and schools. Ray introduced Zachary to important ces like Barys Bank, the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, and top schools like Liverpool College.

    These visits were crucial in helping Zachary get acquainted with his new environment and ensuring he had everything he needed for afortable life in Liverpool.

    Later in the afternoon, they returned to Melwood, where Ray handed Zachary a personalized training schedule. This schedule was designed to gradually reintegrate him into full training after his recent World Cup participation. To Zachary''s relief, Ray also informed him that all the formalities and tours were almost over, and he could start serious training the next day.

    Zachary returned home early and spent the rest of the day resting. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction, knowing that the initial phase of his transition wasplete. He was now ready to focus on what he did best¡ªying football.

    On the morning of August 2nd, Zachary arrived at Melwood Training Ground by 9:00 AM, brimming with anticipation. Andreas Kornmayer, Liverpool''s head of fitness and conditioning, greeted him warmly. After a brief introduction, Zachary underwent aprehensive fitness assessment. The tests measured his strength, endurance, agility, and overall physical condition.

    The results confirmed what the medical team had noted earlier¡ªZachary was in remarkable shape. In fact, he was at the very peak of physical fitness even when considering the strictest standards in world football.

    Andreas tailored a series of drills to ease him into Liverpool''s routines, focusing on gradually improving his already peak fitness. The session included light cardio, strength training, and flexibility exercises. Zachary enjoyed the structured approach, feeling his body respond positively to the regimen.

    The training session ended with some light ball work, and as Zachary dribbled, passed, and took a few shots on goal, a smile spread across his face. It felt good to be back on the field, kicking the ball again. The familiar sensation brought a rush of joy and excitement.

 Chapter 678 Embracing the Red

    Chapter 678 Embracing the Red

    The following day was Friday, August 3rd. Zachary arrived at Melwood Training Ground with a spring in his step early in the morning. The fresh, crisp air filled his lungs as he walked through the gates, the already-familiar hum of activity around him. But his optimism quickly turned to a resigned sigh when he spotted Ray Haughan waiting for him near the entrance. He had a feeling that his nned morning training schedule was about to be interrupted again.

    Ray, always the epitome of professionalism, greeted him with a warm smile. "Good morning, Zachary. How are you today?"

    "Morning, Ray. I''m good, ready to train," Zachary replied, though his tone held a hint of trepidation.

    Ray''s smile grew wider, sensing Zachary''s unease. "I know you''re eager to train and get on the field, but there''s something important we need to handle first. Follow me."

    Zachary nodded, masking his disappointment. As they walked through the pristine corridors of Melwood, the morning calm allowed Zachary to admire the facilities in an even greater detail. The state-of-the-art training equipment, the perfectly maintained indoor fields, and the motivational quotes adorning the walls all spoke to the club''smitment to excellence.

    Ray led him to one of the conference rooms. "Today, you''ll have to chat briefly with J¨¹rgen Klopp," he said, opening the door and gesturing for Zachary to enter.

    Even though he was already one of the best yers in the world, Zachary''s heart raced. Meeting the legendary manager, even via video call, was both an honor and a nerve-wracking prospect.

    Inside the room, a technician was setting up the video conferencing equipment. Therge screen at the front flickered to life, disying the Liverpool logo before transitioning to the video call interface.

    "Don''t worry, Zachary. J¨¹rgen is very excited to speak with you," Ray reassured him, patting him on the back. "Just be yourself."

    Zachary took a deep breath and settled into the chair, staring at the screen. As soon as the connection was made, J¨¹rgen Klopp''s face filled the screen, his infectious smile and warm demeanor instantly putting Zachary at ease.

    The technician finished his setup and gave a thumbs-up. "All set. The call will start in a few moments."

    Zachary took a deep breath and settled into the chair, staring at the screen. As soon as the connection was made, J¨¹rgen Klopp''s face filled the screen, his infectious smile and warm demeanor instantly putting Zachary at ease.

    "Hello, Zachary!" Klopp''s maic voice burst through the speakers, filling the room with his characteristic energy. "Wee to Liverpool! How are you?"

    "Hello, Coach. I''m good, thank you. It''s an honor to speak with you," Zachary replied, his nerves slowly dissipating.

    "The honor is mine," Klopp said, his eyes gleaming enthusiastically. "I''ve been following your career for a while, from the time you helped Rosenborg win the Europa League, then at Juventus, andtely with Ivory Coast at the World Cup, and I must say, we''re thrilled to have you here. You are one great yer."

    "Thanks, coach, for thepliment," Zachary said, feeling instantly valued and honored. It was good to hear his new coach praise his past deeds.

    "How are you settling in?" Klopp asked.

    "Everything''s going well so far. The city and the people have been very weing," Zachary replied.

    "Excellent! Now, let''s talk football," Klopp leaned forward, his tone bing more solemn but still filled with warmth. "We''re very excited about your role in the team. Your skills as an attacking midfielder are exceptional, and we believe you can bring something special to our squad."

    Zachary nodded, his excitement building. "I''m ready to give my best, Coach."

    "That''s what I like to hear!" Klopp eximed. "Our strategy this season will still focus on high pressing, quick transitions, and maintaining a high tempo throughout the game. My n for you is to y behind the forwards, where you can use your vision and creativity to unlock defenses. How does that sound?"

    "Perfect. That''s exactly where I feel mostfortable," Zachary replied, feeling a surge of adrenaline.

    "Great! We want you to integrate quickly into the team, but we''ll also ensure you have enough time to get up to speed with our style. The team is currently in the USA for the preseason, and we''ve just had a fantastic win against Manchester United at Michigan Stadium," Klopp said, his pride evident.

    "I saw the match highlights. The team looked incredible," Zachary said, genuinely impressed.

    "Thank you. We have a strong squad, and with you joining, I believe we can achieve great things this season," Klopp said, his confidence infectious. "One more thing, Zachary. Have you thought about which shirt number you''d like to wear?"

    Zachary hesitated for a moment before answering. "I''d love to wear number 8 if that''s avable."

    Klopp''s smile widened. "Number 8, another legendary number at Liverpool. It suits you. Consider it yours."

    "Thank you, Coach. It''s an honor to wear that number," Zachary said, feeling a sense of pride surge from deep within him.

    "Fantastic! We''ll make the official announcement soon. For now, focus on getting to know the facilities and the staff. We''ll catch up again when the team returns to Melwood. Wee to the Liverpool family, Zachary. We''re counting on you," Klopp said, his tone both reassuring and motivating.

    "Thank you, Coach. I won''t let you down," Zachary replied with conviction.

    As the call ended, Zachary sat back, a smile spreading across his face. The conversation with Klopp had not only reassured him but also ignited a fire within. He was even more ready to prove himself and be an integral part of Liverpool FC.

    Ray, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward. "How was it?"

    "Brief but straight to the point. My first impression: The Head Coach is incredible and everything I expected and even more," Zachary said, his mind still reying the call.

    Ray nodded. "That''s J¨¹rgen for you. Now, let''s get you to your training."

    Zachary then emerged from the conference room, feeling even more motivated. Ray Haughan, sensing his excitement, gave him an encouraging nod.

    The two made their way through the bustling corridors of Melwood, heading toward the training facilities. The anticipation of getting back into a structured training regimen invigorated Zachary. The pristine surroundings and state-of-the-art equipment filled him with confidence.

    Soon enough, Zachary''s personalized training for the day began with light gym work to ease him into Liverpool''s intense routine. The session started with dynamic stretches, mobility drills, and other exercises focused on core strength.

    Under the watchful eye of Andreas Kornmayer, Liverpool''s head of fitness and conditioning, Zachary effortlessly moved through the regimen, his impressive SSS-grade fitness levels evident with his every action.

    Kornmayer, though, remained meticulous, ensuring Zachary maintained proper form. "Great work, Zachary. Let''s move on to some resistance training."

    Zachary proceeded to lift weights, focusing on building endurance and explosiveness. The session included squats, deadlifts, and power cleans, each set pushing him closer to peak performance. Despite the intensity, Zachary relished the challenge, knowing it was necessary to adapt to Liverpool''s demanding style of y.

    By noon, Zacharypleted his training and headed to the canteen for lunch. The club''s nutritionist, Mona Nemmer, had prepared a meal n to fuel his body for the uing rigorous sessions. He enjoyed a bnced meal of grilled chicken, quinoa, and several fresh vegetables, all aimed at optimizing his recovery and performance.

    Later that afternoon, Zachary met some first-team members, those few yers who were either recovering from injuries or not on the preseason tour. Nathaniel Clyne and Adam Lana were among the first to greet him.

    "Wee to Liverpool, mate," Clyne said, offering a fist bump.

    Lana smiled warmly. "Great to have you here. Heard a lot about you."

    "Thanks, guys. It''s great to finally be here," Zachary responded, feeling the enthusiasm in their words. Although his presence would add to morepetition for spots within the midfield and limit their chances on the starting line-up, they still weed him warmly.

    After the introduction and a little more chitchat, they headed out to one of the training turfs for some lighter ball work. Clyne and Lana watched from the sidelines as Zachary effortlessly dribbled through cones with deft footwork. His speed and control were evident, and their cheers spurred him on.

    "Let''s see you take some free kicks," Lana suggested, pointing to a setup with dummies. "I''ve heard that you are a specialist in that area."

    Zachary nodded, stepping up confidently. He ced the ball down, took a deep breath, and sent it curling over the dummies into the top corner of the. The sheer joy of striking the ball and the apuse from his new teammates filled him with even more pride.

    As the evening approached, Zachary ended his training and followed Clyne and Lana to Anfield for another private tour. The historic stadium loomed ahead once again, its aura almost tangible. They explored the iconic Kop, meticulously delving into the team museum and soaking in the club''s rich history.

    "Just imagine the crowd''s thunderous cheers on match days," Clyne said as they finally stood on the pitch, taking in the grandeur. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Zachary closed his eyes, envisioning the battles toe. "I can''t wait to experience it."

 Chapter 679 A New Home and Anfields Embrace

    679 A New Home and Anfield''s Embrace

    The following day, which happened to be Saturday, August 4th, was filled with even more distractions for Zachary from his nned training.

    Following a brief morning workout, he was whisked back to Anfield for a series of mediamitments. From striking poses in the new kit to starring in promotional videos and conducting interviews for the club''s official media channels, it was a morning that could only be described as packed.

    Although the frequent disruptions were a bit frustrating, Zachary maintained hisposure. His message was clear and unwavering as he answered the media people''s questions, "I am here to win and contribute to Liverpool''s legacy."

    In the afternoon, Zachary visited the Liverpool FC Foundation. Engaging withmunity projects and meeting local fans and volunteers, he witnessed firsthand the club''smitment to social causes. The experience was humbling, reinforcing his decision to join a club that valued not just sess on the pitch but also making a positive impact on the public.

    Zachary left the Foundation with a sense of fulfillment. The interactions with themunity deepened his connection to Liverpool, making him even more determined to seed. As the day drew to a close, he returned to his temporary residence in the Ropewalks neighborhood, reflecting on his recent few days in Liverpool.

    Each step, each interaction, solidified his ce within the Liverpool family. Although the days ahead promised more challenges, Zachary was ready. His new chapter at Liverpool FC had just begun, and he was determined to write a story of triumph and legacy. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The following two days were then filled with intense personal training schedules for Zachary at Melwood. Each session grew progressively challenging, blending technical drills, strength and conditioning, and tactical briefings. Andreas Kornmayer, the head of fitness and conditioning, ensured that Zachary''s routines were meticulously nned.

    In the mornings, Zachary engaged in high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to boost his cardiovascr fitness and explosiveness. This was followed by technical drills focused on ball control and precision passing. Andreas and Pepijn Lijnders, the assistant manager, supervised these sessions closely, constantly pushing Zachary to refine his skills.

    "Keep your head up, Zachary. Always be aware of your surroundings," Lijnders would remind him as they practiced situational drills.

    Afternoons were dedicated to strength and conditioning. Zachary lifted weights, performed resistance exercises, and worked on agility drills. The aim was to build his strength while maintaining his agility and speed, crucial for his role as an attacking midfielder.

    During breaks between these physical drills, Zachary attended one-on-one meetings with crucial Liverpool staff, including analysts and tactical coaches. They reviewed game footage, dissecting every detail to help him understand his role within the squad. Assistant manager Peter Krawietz, known for his analytical expertise, walked Zachary through clips of Liverpool''s recent matches.

    "Watch how our midfielders position themselves during transitions," Krawietz exined, showing footage of their recent preseason games. "See how Wijnaldum, Henderson, and Milner are moving. You''ll be crucial in our setup¡ªwhen you finally join them on the field. Your role will include linking the y, creating opportunities, and scoring goals whenever an opportunity avails itself during a game."

    They also analyzed footage of top opponents, emphasizing how Zachary''s skills could exploit their weaknesses. This meticulous approach allowed Zachary to grasp the tactical nuances and his specific responsibilities within Klopp''s system.

    Despite the rigorous schedule, Zachary also allowed himself rxing moments in the evenings. He took the opportunity to explore Liverpool further, visitingndmarks like the majestic Liverpool Cathedral and the immersive Beatles Story Museum. The city''s vibrant culture and rich history captivated him, helping him feel more at home.

    Time passed, and on the evening of Monday, August 6th, as Ray drove Zachary back to his temporary apartment, he shared some exciting news.

    "The squad''s back in Liverpool after their 5¨C0 win against Napoli in Irnd," Ray said, ncing at Zachary with a smile. "They''ll face Torino at Anfield tomorrow at 6:00 PM in theirst preseason friendly."

    Zachary''s heart raced. "Will I get to meet the squad?"

    "Probably not tomorrow," Ray replied. "You''ll be busy in the morning with another task."

    "Another media engagement?" Zachary asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

    Ray chuckled. "Rx, the media engagements are almost over. Tomorrow morning, you''ll head out with me to check out the new house the club has identified for you."

    Zachary''s disappointment faded instantly. "Really? Where is it?"

    "You''ll see," Ray said with a mysterious grin. "Just be ready by eight."

    The night passed uneventfully, and as nned, Ray picked Zachary up from the apartment in Ropewalks at eight in the morning. They drove through the bustling streets of Liverpool, passing icondmarks like the Royal Liver Building and the picturesque Albert Dock. The city''s blend of modernity and history further intrigued Zachary as they made their way to the neighborhood where his potential new home was.

    They arrived in the affluent area of Woolton, known for its leafy streets and upscale residences. The house was a stunning modern mansion, set back from the road with a spacious, well-manicuredwn. The exterior featured sleek lines,rge windows, and a mixture of brick and ss that gave it a contemporary yet warm appearance.

    "This is it," Ray said, pulling into the driveway. "What do you think?"

    Zachary stepped out of the car, his eyes lighting up with appreciation. Although the property wasn''t as expansive as his previous home in Turin, it still hinted at a tranquil atmosphere of luxury andfort. He walked up the stone pathway, taking in the serene surroundings and the privacy offered by the house.

    Inside, the house was even more impressive. The foyer opened into a grand living area with high ceilings, flooded with natural light. The design was modern but cozy, with plush furnishings and tasteful decor. A state-of-the-art kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, a spacious dining area, and multiple living spaces made the house perfect for rxation and entertaining.

    Ray led Zachary upstairs to the master bedroom, which featured arge balcony overlooking the expansive backyard. The ensuite bathroom was a masterpiece of design, with a freestanding bathtub, a walk-in shower, and elegant fixtures.

    "This is incredible," Zachary said, imagining himself unwinding here after long training sessions.

    Ray nodded. "The club wanted to ensure you had a ce that felt like home before your schedule became intense. There''s also a dedicated gym and a media room downstairs."

    Zachary''s excitement was palpable. "I love it. This ce is perfect."

    When they finally concluded the tour, Zachary''s face was already beaming with genuine satisfaction. The mansion and its sleek lines, spacious rooms, and serene surroundings were everything he could have hoped for.

    Despite his wealth, which could easily afford him a more extravagant property in Cheshire''s Golden Triangle, he felt no need for excess. This house was perfect, offeringfort and privacy, ideal for someone who would live alone most of the time.

    "When can I move in?" Zachary asked Ray eagerly.

    Ray reached into his briefcase and handed Zachary a set of documents. "You can move in anytime. Here are the ownership papers. The club has already taken care of everything."

    Zachary took the papers, skimming through the contents. The realization that he was now a homeowner in Liverpool flooded him with a wee feeling of stability. He looked up at Ray, a n forming in his mind. "How about moving in today? My schedule is about to get intense, and it would be great to settle in before training ramps up."

    Ray nodded, agreeing immediately. "That sounds like a great idea. It will be easier to focus on training once you''re settled."

    With their decision made, Ray drove Zachary back to his temporary apartment in Ropewalks. Zachary quickly packed his belongings, which fit into a single suitcase. He scanned the apartment that had been his home for the past few days for the final time, feeling excited about this new chapter.

    The drive back to Woolton was smooth, and Zachary felt a growing sense of anticipation as they approached his new home. Upon arrival, he unpacked his suitcase, arranging his clothes and personal items in the spacious master bedroom. The house already felt like home, and as he walked through its rooms and corridors, he felt genuinely contented.

    Later in the afternoon, Ray returned to pick him up for Liverpool''sst preseason friendly against Torino at Anfield. As they approached the iconic stadium, Zachary could feel the electric atmosphere even from a distance. Fans were pulsating with excitement, their passion noticeable in the air.

    Inside Anfield, Ray led Zachary to the VIP section, where he settled into his seat, eager to watch his new team in action. The stadium was a sight to behold, with its sea of red, the famous "This Is Anfield" sign, and the numerous "You''ll Never Walk Alone" banners. Zachary felt both proud and humbled, once again relishing the fact that he was now part of this historic club.

    The match kicked off, and Zachary watched intently, analyzing the team''s dynamics. Liverpool yed with intensity and heart, eventually defeating Torino 3-1. Zachary''s excitement grew with each goal, imagining himself on the pitch and contributing to such victories.

    After the final whistle, the atmosphere shifted from celebratory to ecstatic as the club prepared to introduce their new star. The stadium lights dimmed slightly, and the announcer''s voice boomed across Anfield, introducing Zachary to the crowd. He walked onto the pitch, holding a Liverpool jersey with the number 8 proudly disyed.

    The cheers of the crowd were deafening. Fans chanted Zachary''s name, their enthusiasm overwhelming. Zachary waved, feeling a profound connection with the supporters.

    After a brief walk around the pitch, he spent time signing autographs and posing for photos, soaking in the adoration and passion of the Liverpool faithful. The warmth of their support was unlike anything he had experienced before.

    As he interacted with the fans, Zachary thought, "This is just the beginning. I''m here to y football, win, and make history with Liverpool."

    Later on, as the evening drew to a close, Zachary returned to his new home in Woolton. The day had flooded him with ever-changing waves of feelings and experiences, but as he settled into his cozy new bed, he felt prepared. He was ready to embrace his new life, confront the forting challenges, and make a significant impact at Liverpool.

 Chapter 680 First Team Training with The Reds

    680 First Team Training with The Reds

    After the preseason friendly against Torino, the Liverpool team took two well-deserved days off to recover from their rigorous preseason schedule. This break meant Zachary still had to wait for a while longer before meeting his new teammates.

    However, the upside was that Liverpool FC''s yer liaison officer, Ray Haughan, no longer interrupted his days with media engagements and formalities.

    Zachary seized the opportunity to totally immerse himself in his conditioning training, focusing on high-intensity interval training and simted match scenarios. His sessions with the club''s nutritionist also continued, as the club aimed to keep his diet and recovery optimal as his training intensified.

    Time passed swiftly, and Friday, August 10th, finally arrived. This day marked the return of the Liverpool yers to training, with the Premier League season opener just two days away on the 12th.

    Zachary woke up early, feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation. He breezed through his morning routine¡ªyoga, a shower, and a light breakfast. Just as he finished, Ray arrived at his new mansion in Woolton, ready to drive him to Melwood for his first official team training with Liverpool.

    "Morning, Zachary! Ready for the big day?" Ray greeted him with a smile.

    "Absolutely, Ray. I can''t wait to meet everyone," Zachary replied, his enthusiasm sky-high.

    Ray chuckled. "I can tell. Let''s get you to Melwood, then."

    They left Zachary''s house and drove through the leafy streets of Woolton, heading towards Liverpool''s training center. The journey took only about twenty minutes, with Ray providing Zachary with somest-minute insights about his new teammates and the training routines. As they pulled up to Melwood, Zachary''s excitement surged.

    Stepping out of the car, Zachary immediately noticed the difference in the atmosphere at Melwood. The training center buzzed with activity. yers and staff moved about with purpose, a sharp contrast to the quiet days he had spent there alone. The energy was infectious, and Zachary felt a renewed sense of determination.

    As he walked towards the training facility, Zachary encountered some of his new teammates for the first time. Jordan Henderson, the team captain, was the first to approach him with a weing smile. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Zachary, right? Wee to Liverpool," Henderson said, extending his hand.

    "Thanks, Jordan. It''s an honor to be here," Zachary replied, shaking his hand firmly.

    "Great to have you. How was the transition from Italy?" Henderson asked as they walked.

    "It''s been smooth so far. I really enjoyed my time in Turin. But I felt it was time for a new challenge. Liverpool feels like the right ce for me," Zachary said.

    Next, he met Roberto Firmino, whose broad smile and warm demeanor instantly put Zachary at ease. "Hey, Zachary! Looking forward to ying alongside you," Firmino said.

    "Likewise, Roberto. I''ve heard great things about you," Zachary responded.

    Firmino grinned. "I watched some of your World Cup games. You were incredible. Congrattions on winning it."

    "Thank you! It was an unforgettable experience. I still can''t believe we beat Ennd in the semifinal," Zachary said, ncing at Henderson with a yful smile.

    Henderson chuckled, seemingly not minding the hidden verbal jab. "Yeah, that was a tough match. You guys deserved it, though. Ivory Coast yed brilliantly."

    As they continued chatting, they eventually reached the locker room. Zachary paused for a moment, taking in his surroundings. The locker room was modern and spacious, with each yer having a personalized areaplete with their name, number, and gear neatly arranged. The room exuded a sense of history and pride, adorned with photos and memorabilia of Liverpool''s glorious past.

    Zachary found his locker,beled with his name and the iconic number 8 jersey hanging inside. Smiling, he settled on one of the seats, ready to change into his training gear. But just then, he paused as several familiar faces, including Sadio Man¨¦, Mohamed Sh, Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Georginio Wijnaldum, and Naby Ke?ta, arrived in a group.

    Sadio Man¨¦ and Mohamed Sh were the first to enter the dressing room. They did a double take upon seeing Zachary and whistled. "New arrival, new arrival!" Man¨¦ called out, grinning.

    "Wee, Zachary!" Sh added, extending his hand.

    "Thanks, Sadio. Thanks, Mo. It''s great to finally meet you guys," Zachary said, shaking their hands.

    "We''ve all seen your skills. You''re going to be an incredible addition to the team," Man¨¦ said.

    "Absolutely. Winning the Champions League and the World Cup...And also being the top scorer and best yer in all thosepetitions. We''re lucky to have you," Sh added.

    Zachary felt honored to meet African legends like Man¨¦ and Sh, whom he had only seen on the screen during his previous life. "Thank you. It means a loting from you guys. I''m really excited to be here and contribute."

    The group continued chatting as they changed into their gear. Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Wijnaldum, and Ke?ta all greeted Zachary warmly, expressing their excitement about his arrival.

    "Your World Cup campaign was amazing. How did it feel to win the Golden Boot and Golden Ball?" Wijnaldum asked.

    "Everything from that night was like a blur. All I remember is what I felt after we won the World Cup. It was unlike anything I''ve ever experienced¡ªeven surpassing the thrill of clinching the Serie A and the Champions League titles at Juventus. As for the Golden Boot and Golden Ball, they were just the icing on the cake," Zachary replied.

    "Although I haven''t had the chance to lift the World Cup, I can only imagine," Alexander-Arnold said with a grin. "Winning a trophy of that magnitude must be mind-blowing. But you were incredible during the tournament, and we''re looking forward to seeing those skills in action here."

    "Thanks, Trent. I''m ready to give my all," Zachary said.

    The yers then continued chatting as they changed into their gear. The conversation shifted from the World Cup to Liverpool''s training schedule and the uing season opener against West Ham United. The excitement for the new season was infectious, and Zachary felt a sense of camaraderie and Liverpool''s typical fighting spirit already building.

    Suddenly, J¨¹rgen Klopp entered the locker room, apanied by his assistant, Pepijn Lijnders. Klopp''s presencemanded instant respect, and the room quickly fell silent. His energy was contagious, his eyes bright with enthusiasm as he faced his yers.

    "Good morning, everyone," Klopp began, his voice booming with a unique blend of warmth and authority. "I hope you''re all feeling rested and ready. Before we get started, I want to take a moment to wee our new signings properly. You''ve already met Naby Ke?ta, Fabinho, and Alisson during the preseason tour."

    The yers nodded and murmured their acknowledgments. Klopp continued, "Today, we also formally wee Zachary Bemba to the squad. As many of you know, Zachary had an outstanding World Cup with Ivory Coast and has already shown his ss by winning the Champions League twice with Juventus. Let''s give him a warm Liverpool wee."

    The room erupted in apuse and cheers. Zachary stood up, smiling broadly. "Thank you, Coach. Thank you everyone for the warm wee. I''m excited to be here and looking forward to working with all of you," he said, addressing his new teammates.

    Klopp nodded appreciatively. "Great to hear, Zachary. Now, let''s talk about our preseason. We had some fantastic results against Manchester United, Napoli, and Torino. You all showed great spirit and teamwork. But now, it''s time to switch our focus to what matters. It''s time to prepare for the Premier League."

    He paused, scanning the faces of his yers. "Our first match is against West Ham in two days. We must be sharp, focused, and ready to give everything on the pitch. So, today''s training will be crucial in setting the tone for our season. Let''s get to work."

    With that, Klopp pped his hands, signaling the start of the session. The yers made a beeline from the locker room, heading towards the training grounds.

    Then, once everything and everyone was in ce, the training began with warm-up drills led by fitness coach Andreas Kornmayer. Zachary seamlessly integrated into the routine, feeling the familiar burn of high-intensity exercise. He was excited to return to structured club training, pushing himself hard to prove his worth.

    As the session transitioned into tactical drills, Klopp and his assistants closely monitored Zachary''s every move. The team worked on pressing style and quick transitions, hallmarks of Klopp''s strategy. Zachary remainedposed and focused solely on following the coaches'' instructions and keeping his y simple and effective.

    But even then, Zachary''s skills and adaptability were evident. He executed each drill deftly, showing an almost masterful familiarity with the tactics.

    As the session progressed, he also began interacting more with his teammates, exchanging passes with Henderson, linking up with Firmino in attack, and working on set pieces with Man¨¦ and Sh. The chemistry was promising, and Zachary felt deep within his heart that he would make a great team with everyone when he finally stepped onto the field.

    Another hour passed, and the training session finally came to an end. Klopp gathered the team for a brief address.

    "Excellent work today, everyone," Klopp said, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. "I saw a lot of good things out there. Our movements off the ball were swift, and our passing precise. But remember, it''s all about building on this every day. Keep this intensity, this focus, and we''ll achieve great things this season."

    The yers nodded, feeling the weight of his words. "Now, rest up, recover well, ande back ready for another session in the afternoon," Klopp concluded.

    Finally, the yers were dismissed, and Zachary returned to the locker room with his new teammates. He was exhausted but exhrated. The training had been intense, but he had held his own and felt that he had already started earning the respect of his new teammates and coaches.

    As he settled back in the locker room, his mind raced to the next challenge. If he could keep up his performance during the afternoon and tomorrow''s training, he could secure a spot in Liverpool''s squad for the season opener against West Ham United. That was his goal for the moment.

 Chapter 681 Season-Opening Game against West Ham

    681 Season-Opening Game against West Ham

    The moment Zachary found out he wasn''t on the squad for Liverpool''s uing match against West Ham United on Sunday, August 12th, it felt like a punch to the gut.

    Being the dedicated footballer that he was, the news hit him hard. He couldn''t help but feel frustrated as J¨¹rgen Klopp revealed the squad during the team''s tactical meeting on Saturday evening. After giving it his all in training and pushing himself to the limit, not making the cut was a tough pill to swallow.

    Despite the disappointment, Zachary understood Klopp''s decision. He recognized that he was still new to the club and had only been able to participate in a few training sessions. He understood why the head coach could doubt his match fitness for the big game.

    Sighing, Zachary quickly pushed the disappointment behind him, setting new objectives. He resolved to continue training hard and aim to make the squad for the next game.

    After the tactical meeting, he said his goodbyes to his new teammates and prepared to leave Melwood. However, Coach J¨¹rgen Klopp called him aside for a private conversation.

    "Zachary," Klopp began, his voice gentle yet firm, "I know you put in a lot of effort over the past two days, and it''s tough not making the squad for tomorrow."

    Zachary nodded, meeting Klopp''s gaze. "I''m disappointed, but I get it, Coach. My main challenge is fitting into the squad, especially since I missed the preseason."

    Klopp nodded and ced a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You''ll eventually make the squad and cement your ce in this club. I have no doubt about that. But you''ve only had a couple of training sessions with us. Remember, we only left you out this time to allow you an opportunity to settle in and adapt to our style. Your talent and potential are unquestionable, and you''re a vital part of my ns for this season."

    The words eased Zachary''s disappointment, recing it with renewed determination. "Thank you, Coach. I''ll keep working hard."

    "That''s what I want to hear," Klopp said with a smile. "Now, get some rest. We''ll need you ready and sharp next week."

    Feeling more motivated after the talk, Zachary left Melwood. The bodyguards arranged by Liverpool drove him back to his new mansion in Woolton, where he spent the night peacefully, his mind now focused on the future.

    The following day, the morning of Liverpool''s season opener against West Ham, Zachary woke up early. He went through his usual morning routine with a sense of purpose. Yoga, a refreshing shower, and a light, nutritious breakfast set the tone for the day. He then headed to Melwood for a light training session focused on fitness maintenance.

    As Zachary stepped onto the grounds of Melwood, he sensed the crackling energy in the air as everyone hustled and bustled about, feverishly preparing for the uing game. The anticipation was palpable, lighting a fire in Zachary''s belly and propelling him forward with renewed determination.

    In the gym, he went through a series of light exercises designed to keep his body in peak condition without exhausting him. He kicked things off with a brisk treadmill warm-up, swiftly moving on to agility drills and light strength training. Throughout the session, Zachary locked into a steady groove, honing his every movement and technique with unwavering focus.

    Zachary''s mind remained clear and centered on his routines. The only distraction was the asional nces at the clock that reminded him of the match scheduled to kick off at 2:30 PM. He could almost hear the roar of Anfield and feel the vibration of the stands under the feet of thousands of Liverpool fans, even though the stadium was close to 4 miles away from Melwood.

    Afterpleting his session, he showered and changed, feeling invigorated. Although he wasn''t part of the squad today, he was still part of the team. So, as the hours ticked down to the match, Zachary spent some time reviewing tactical notes and watching footage of West Ham''s recent games, immersing himself in Liverpool''s strategy.

    As noon approached, Zachary finally stopped reviewing West Ham''s recent games as the atmosphere around Melwood grew tenser. He could already feel that the final preparations for the match were in full swing.

    yers began arriving, each wearing expressions of intense focus and determination. The first-team yers, like Sadio Man¨¦, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Sh, and the rest, all exuded powerful auras, like warriors preparing for battle.

    Zachary greeted them warmly, wishing them luck. "Good luck out there, Sadio," he said, patting Man¨¦ on the back.

    "Thanks, Zach," Sadio replied with a smile. "We''ll bring home the win."

    As Zachary continued to exchange greetings, he felt a sense of camaraderie building. Though he wasn''t ying, he felt deeply connected to the team''s journey.

    Just before the yers began boarding the bus to Anfield, Klopp approached Zachary and patted his shoulder. "Keep the fire, Zachary. Your time will soone."

    Zachary nodded, his heart swelling with resolve. "I''ll be ready, Coach."

    Klopp smiled, his eyes twinkling with his characteristic warmth. "That''s the spirit. Are you nning to watch the game?"

    "Of course," Zachary replied without hesitation.

    "Good man," Klopp chuckled. "You''re more than wee to join us in the dressing room after the match. You can get a feel of the atmosphere." N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Thanks, Coach. I''d love that."

    Klopp nodded, giving Zachary a final pat on the shoulder before boarding the bus. As Zachary watched the bus pull away, he felt a renewed surge of yearning and determination.

    He was eager to be on that bus, heading to Anfield to y the game, but he knew he had to remain patient. As the coach said, his time woulde, and he would be ready to seize the opportunity.

    He turned away from the bus that had just disappeared beyond the gates and headed to the cafeteria. He chose a hearty lunch of grilled salmon, quinoa sd, and steamed vegetables. The meal was light yet packed with the necessary nutrients to keep him energized and focused.

    By the time he finished his lunch, it was already 1:15 PM. Ray Haughan, Liverpool FC''s yer liaison officer, arrived just in time to pick him up. "Ready to go, Zachary?" Ray asked with a friendly smile.

    "Absolutely," Zachary responded, eager to experience his first Premier League match day at Anfield.

    The drive to Anfield was short but filled with excitement. As they approached the stadium, Zachary noticed the streets lined with fans dressed in red, singing and cheering in anticipation. Some of them caught a glimpse of Zachary in the car and waved enthusiastically.

    "Hey, look! It''s Zachary Bemba!" A fan''s shout caused excitement to sweep through the crowd. More and more supporters turned towards the car, yelling Zachary''s name and waving frantically.

    Zachary reciprocated, feeling the warmth of the weing fans. The car glided through the bustling crowd, eventually pulling into a VIP parking area at Anfield.

    Ray then led Zachary through the entrance, navigating past security and heading straight into the stadium''s inner sanctum. The pre-game buzz was electrifying, filled with the sounds of chanting fans and the aroma of freshly cut grass drifting through the air.

    As they arrived at the VIP section, Zachary settled into a plush seat with an unbeatable view of the pitch. The stadium was a sea of red, pulsating with energy as kickoff loomed. Zachary observed the yers warming up, marveling at their agile and energetic movements.

    The excitement continued mounting, and just before the match kicked off, the stadium reverberated with the heartfelt anthem "You''ll Never Walk Alone." A shiver ran down Zachary''s spine as he heard Ray''s earnest yet off-key rendition, joining thousands of fans in song.

    Despite Ray''s slight disharmony, the unity and passion of the Liverpool supporters were evident, leaving Zachary moved by their unwavering camaraderie and devotion to their team.

    As the game began, Zachary was fully immersed. He studied every move, every pass, and every tactical shift, absorbing the team''s style and strategy. Despite not being on the pitch, he felt every moment deeply, living the highs and lows alongside his teammates.

    The match continued, and Zachary cheered, clenched his fists in tension, and celebrated as Liverpool dominated West Ham. The team''s fluid y and relentless pressing were a joy to watch, and the goals came in a flurry, each one met with a roar of approval from the Anfield faithful.

    The first to score was Mohamed Sh with a right-footed shot after meeting a cross from Andrew Robertson during the 19th minute. The precision of the cross and Sh''s positioning left West Ham''s defense scrambling, and the stadium erupted as the ball hit the back of the.

    Sadio Man¨¦ then made the score 2-0 after getting to the end of James Milner''s pass during the 45th minute. It was a well-timed run and a clinical finish demonstrating Man¨¦''s sharpness andposure. Then, as the half-time whistle blew, the fans were on their feet, cheering their team''s impressive performance.

    The second half continued at a simr tempo, with Liverpool pressing high and creating chances. Man¨¦ added another to make the score 3-0 during the 54th minute, disying his incredible pace and finishing skills again. His celebration was a testament to the team''s unity and determination.

    Finally, Daniel Sturridgepleted the thrashing by scoring the fourth goal during the 88th minute. Coming off the bench, Sturridge made an immediate impact, poking the ball in after a corner. The joy etched on his face was mirrored by the ecstatic fans in the stands.

 Chapter 682 Zacharyâ€™s Gradual Integration at Liverpool

    682 Zachary¡¯s Gradual Integration at Liverpool

    When the referee finally blew the final whistle, the stadium vibrated with even more intense explosions of delight. The fans yelled and celebrated Liverpool''s resounding 4-0 victory in their season-opening game. As he took in the sights and the atmosphere, Zachary couldn''t help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride and anticipation for the season ahead.

    A bitter, Ray led Zachary down to the dressing room as Klopp had invited. The atmosphere inside was jubnt, with yers celebrating and congratting each other.

    Klopp spotted Zachary almost right away and waved him over. "Wee to Anfield after a win, Zachary!" N?v(el)B\\jnn

    The other yers noticed him, too. "Great to have you here, mate!" Henderson said, pping him on the back.

    "You''ll be out there with us soon," Firmino added, his smile infectious.

    "Thanks, everyone," Zachary replied, his voice full of gratitude. "It was amazing to watch you all y."

    As the celebrations continued, Zachary felt a deep sense of belonging. He knew his journey with Liverpool had only begun, but he was already an integral part of the family. Just then, Klopp requested everyone''s attention andmenced his post-match address.

    "Okay,ds, gather round," Klopp started, his voice carrying authority and warmth. "First off, fantastic job out there today. You were all brilliant. Mo, that first goal set the tone. Well done."

    Sh nodded a modest smile on his face.

    "Sadio, Roberto, your pressing was relentless. That''s what we need in every game. Keep it up."

    Man¨¦ and Firmino exchanged a nod of acknowledgment.

    "And Sturridge, great impact off the bench. That''s what we expect from everyone,ing in and making a difference."

    Sturridge grinned, clearly pleased.

    "But," Klopp continued, "we''re not perfect yet. Firstly, we need to tighten up a bit at the back. For instance, there were moments when we could have been punished today. Such moments could jeopardize our seasonter¡ªwhen we are up against stronger opponents. And in midfield, we need to move the ball quicker at times. Keep working on those transitions, and let''s try to always unlock defenses before they reorganize..."

    The yers listened intently, soaking in every word.

    "Remember," Klopp concluded, "this is just the beginning. It''s a long season, and we need to keep this level of performance if we''re to have any chance of toppling Man City this season. Stay hungry, stay humble, and keep pushing."

    13:14

    Zachary listened, feeling a mix of admiration and motivation. Klopp''s words were inspiring, and his clear, straightforward feedback resonated with Zachary''s desire to improve and contribute.

    After Klopp finished his speech, Zachary said his goodbyes to his teammates and left the dressing room under the guidance of Ray. The post-match atmosphere was electric, with fans still chanting and celebrating inside the stadium.

    Theughter and the hum of excited conversation among the Liverpool staff and media people echoed through the hallways. The adrenaline from the just-concluded match was still high, and Zachary couldn''t help but feel a part of it, even though he hadn''t yed.

    As they exited Anfield, Zachary nced back at the stadium. He felt determined and eager to contribute to such a winning atmosphere.

    He and Ray then made their way to the car, and soon, they were driving through the bustling streets of Liverpool. The city was alive with post-match celebrations, fans in red jerseys flooding the streets, singing and chanting in joyous unison.

    Ray, ever caring and attentive, drove him back to his new mansion in Woolton. They didn''t talk much as Zachary was still immersed in the game that had just concluded, reying crucial moments in his mind.

    He visualized how he would tackle certain situations, anticipating how he could help Liverpool win even more. The drive gave him time to reflect and strategize, his reinforced mind spinning with ideas and possibilities.

    As they neared his mansion, Zachary''s phone suddenly rang. He nced at the caller ID and saw it was Kristin. Answering, he heard her cheerful voice.

    "Zachary! I''ve made all the arrangements in Turin. I''m ready to move your important belongings to Liverpool."

    "That''s great, Kristin," Zachary replied, his tone filled with gratitude.

    "Thank you for handling everything so efficiently. I really appreciate it."

    "It''s my pleasure," Kristin said. "I''ve scheduled everything, and I''ll oversee the packing myself to ensure nothing is missed. Is there anything specific you want to be done?"

    "You can coordinate with Ray, Liverpool FC''s yer liaison officer. He can help with any logistics here in Liverpool."

    "Of course. I''ll contact Ray before the day ends," Kristin assured him.

    "Thank you, Kristin. You''re bing much more than a PA to me. Your attention to detail is incredible," Zachary said sincerely.

    "That means a lot, Zachary. I''m here to make your life easier, and I''m happy to do it," she responded warmly.

    After the call, Zachary felt a sense of relief. Hisplete relocation to Liverpool was finally underway, and he could focus entirely on his new journey. When Ray dropped him off at his mansion, he turned his gaze to Zachary with a smile.

    "Do you need the club to organize a chef or any other staff to help you manage the house?" Ray asked.

    Zachary shook his head. "No, thanks. I''m starting to get used to staying alone, and I usually eat most of my meals at Melwood. I''m good for now."

    Ray nodded understandingly. "Alright, but don''t hesitate to ask if you change your mind."

    As Ray drove away, Zachary walked into his mansion, exhausted yet contented. That aside, Ray''sst question had reminded him of something he had been neglecting.

    He needed to decide whether to keep the services of Coach Bj?rn Peters, his fitness trainer, and Inger, his chef. The club''s professionals were already offering him simr services, so he wondered if he still needed the extra help.

    He thought about the high standards of Liverpool''s coaching staff and the club''s top-notch facilities. It seemed redundant to keep external help when he had ess to the best resources. Yet, a sense of loyalty and familiarity with Bj?rn and Inger had repeatedly made him hesitate.

    While contemting his next steps, he finally arrived in his kitchen. The kitchen was a modern masterpiece, with sleek granite countertops, state-of-the-art appliances, and an expansive ind in the center. Therge windows let in thest of the evening light, casting a warm glow over the space.

    The ce felt luxurious and weing¡ªyet there was a sense of emptiness that Zachary couldn''t shake off. He was still adjusting to his new mansion in Woolton, Liverpool.

    He poured himself a ss of juice, savoring the freshness. ncing at his watch, he noticed it was just about 5:30 PM. Deciding it was a good time, he picked up his phone and dialed Bj?rn''s number. Bj?rn answered almost immediately, his voice filled with warmth and enthusiasm.

    "Zachary! Congrattions on your transfer to Liverpool. I watched the game today. What a fantastic start for the team!" Bj?rn said.

    "Thanks, Bj?rn. It''s been quite a journey so far. How are you and Inger doing?" Zachary replied.

    "We''re doing well and getting used to the new routine without you here in Turin. How are you finding Liverpool?"

    "It''s been good. The city is vibrant, and the club is amazing. The facilities here are top-notch. I''m really excited to be a part of this team," Zachary said, his voice filled with genuine enthusiasm.

    "That''s great to hear. Have you decided what you''ll do with your mansion in Turin?" Bj?rn asked.

    Zachary paused, thinking about the spacious vi he had left behind. "I think I''ll keep it for now. It''s a beautiful ce, and who knows? I might need it for holidays or off-season retreats. Plus, it holds a lot of memories," he said.

    "That makes sense. It''s always good to have a ce to return to," Bj?rn agreed.

    After a few more minutes of chitchatting about Liverpool, Turin, and life in general, Zachary took a deep breath. He was about to bring up the topic of continuing their professional rtionship, but Bj?rn beat him to it.

    "Zachary, there''s something I need to tell you," Bj?rn began, his tone more serious. "Inger and I have decided to stay in Turin. We''ve settled well here. We want to start building our family. Relocating to Liverpool at this point would be too disruptive for us."

    Zachary felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had been wrestling with the troubling decision of letting go of Bj?rn and Inger''s services, and now it seemed the decision had been made for him. "Ipletely understand, Bj?rn. You''ve both been incredible, and I''m grateful for everything you''ve done for me. I wish you all the best in Turin," he said sincerely.

    "Thank you, Zachary. It''s been a pleasure working with you. I''m sure you''ll do great things in Liverpool. We''ll always be cheering you on," Bj?rn replied.

    They then chatted for a few more minutes, reminiscing about their time together and sharing good wishes for the future. The call ended on a positive note, leaving Zachary feeling lighter and more focused.

    cing the phone down, he looked around his kitchen and exhaled. Now that the matter of Bj?rn and Inger was resolved, he could focus entirely on his football. Tomorrow was a day off for the team, but he knew he had to train individually¡ªif he wanted to make the starting lineup as soon as possible.

 Chapter 683 A Busy Week at Melwood

    683 A Busy Week at Melwood

    The next day, Zachary rose at the crack of dawn, the first rays of sunlight filtering through the windows of his grand mansion in Woolton. Eager to kick off his day, he embarked on the short journey to Melwood, the training ground of Liverpool Football Club.

    As Zachary arrived at Melwood, he noticed the hustle and bustle of the past few days was now absent since the yers had been granted a well-earned rest after their emphatic win against West Ham the previous night. Only a handful of maintenance staff were present, immersed in their duties, which lent an unusual aura of tranquility to the usually bustling training grounds.

    Undeterred by the peaceful surroundings, Zachary maintained his determined focus. He exchanged warm greetings with the few staff members he encountered, their friendly hellos echoing in the quiet air. Then, without dy, he proceeded to the gym to begin his rigorous early morning workout. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The gym at Melwood was state-of-the-art, equipped with everything an elite athlete could need. Zachary started his session with a dynamic warm-up, focusing on mobility and flexibility. He moved through a strict series of stretches, lunges, and rotational exercises to prepare his body for the intense workout ahead.

    Next, he hit the treadmill for a steady-paced run, maintaining his endurance and cardiovascr fitness. After a 20-minute run, he transitioned to high-intensity interval training, incorporating sprints and incline runs. This mix ensured he worked on his speed and stamina, all crucial elements for a midfielder in Klopp''s high-pressing system.

    After a brief water break, Zachary then moved to strength training. He began withpound lifts: squats, deadlifts, and bench presses, which helped build and condition his power and strength.

    Each lift was performed with unwavering focus, emphasizing proper form and technique. Following thepound exercises, Zachary targeted specific muscle groups, working through a circuit of plyometric drills, resistance band exercises, and core stability workouts.

    The final part of his gym session was then dedicated to agility and bnce. He navigated through an agilitydder, performed cone drills, and used a Bosu ball to challenge his stability. Every movement was deliberate, aimed at enhancing his quick footwork and reaction time on the pitch.

    The hours passed just like that, and as Zachary finished his individual trainingter in the evening, he felt aplished and ready for the team training tomorrow.

    After ncing at his watch and noting that it was already close to 6:00 PM, he hit the showers. The hot water was refreshing, washing away the sweat and fatigue from his intense workout.

    Changing into a fresh tracksuit, he headed to the cafeteria and enjoyed an early dinner. The meal was an enticing and wholesome spread - sulent grilled chicken, fluffy Irish potatoes, fragrant rice, and an assortment of perfectly steamed vegetables.

    Following his satisfying dinner, Zachary ventured into one of the state-of-the-art technical rooms at Melwood, a dedicated space for dissecting game footage. The room boasted enormous screens and cutting-edge yback technology, allowing a deep dive into match analysis.

    Settling into afortable chair, Zachary immersed himself in reviewing the past game footage of Liverpool. His mission was to grasp his new teammates'' nuances, strengths, and vulnerabilities on the field. Additionally, he sought to gain new insights into Liverpool''s ying style and delve into the intricacies of Klopp''s system.

    His SS+ Game Intelligence worked wonders as he took meticulous notes while watching the footage of Liverpool''s 4-0 win against West Ham.

    He observed how Trent Alexander-Arnold exploited the nks with his pinpoint crosses, how Jordan Henderson dictated the tempo in midfield, and how Roberto Firmino''s movement created space for others. Mohamed Sh''s clinical finishing and Sadio Man¨¦''s relentless pressing were also evident, showcasing the team''s attacking prowess.

    Zachary also paid particr attention to how the team transitioned from defense to attack, noting the quick, incisive passing and the off-the-ball movements that disorganized West Ham''s defense.

    He saw how the team pressed high up the pitch, suffocating the opposition and regaining possession swiftly. The footage revealed the intricate patterns and synchrony required to execute Klopp''s tactics effectively.

    Eventually, he ended the session as the clock hands were about to hit the 8:30 PM mark. Then, with his mind still spinning with ideas from what he saw in the video footage, Zachary headed back to his new mansion in Woolton and spent another peaceful and quiet night there. The sense of progress and purpose filled him with contentment as he drifted into a wee slumber.

    The following days were a blur of intense training sessions at Melwood as the yers returned from their day off. Zachary poured his heart and soul into honing tactical understanding, fitness, and technical prowess.

    Each morningmenced with invigorating team warm-ups, leading into strategic drills to reinforce Klopp''s high-pressing philosophy in the yers'' minds. The yers dedicated themselves to perfecting their pressing patterns, coborating in small groups to fine-tune their coordination and timing.

    Zachary also participated in positional drills, learning to integrate himself into Liverpool''s fluid system. He worked on his passing uracy, one-touch y, and movement off the ball. Klopp and the coaching staff provided constant feedback, helping him adapt to the team''s style.

    He even spent hours in one-on-one sessions with Klopp and the coaching staff, discussing his integration into the team''s strategy. Additionally, assistant coach Peter Krawietz put Zachary through extra drills, honing specific areas of his game identified during his previous matches at Juventus and with Ivory Coast to ensure he would fit into Liverpool''s ying system.

    Krawietz also designed drills to improve Zachary''s defensive positioning, awareness, and ability to break up opposition y. They worked on intercepting passes, making timely tackles, and initiating counter-attacks. Zachary also practiced long-range passing and shooting, adding even more versatility to his game.

    The exercises were meticulously nned, and by the end of each day, Zachary was exhausted but satisfied, knowing he was making progress. His dedication and hard work did not go unnoticed by his teammates and coaches, who appreciated hismitment to fitting into the team seamlessly.

    The days passed swiftly just like that, and finally, it was Friday, August 17th. Liverpool''s next Premier League game was only three days away, and just in time, the focus shifted to full-blown preparations for the uing match against Crystal Pce.

    The high-intensity training sessions became even more grueling on Friday. But Zachary thrived even under pressure by relying on his SSS-grade physical fitness and SS+ Game Intelligence.

    Then, on Saturday, Zachary went through even more on-pitch drills in the morning. The rigorous drills were designed to perfect the team''s pressing game and quick transitions.

    Zachary found himself in various scenarios, mimicking the possible challenges they might face against Crystal Pce. The coaching staff and the team also meticulously trained set pieces, positioning, and ball movement, ensuring every yer knew their role.

    Later in the day, Zachary attended tactical briefings, analyzing Crystal Pce''s ying style to further prepare for the away game. The Liverpool coaches and staff were thorough, breaking down Crystal Pce''s strengths and weaknesses. Zachary appreciated their dedicated efforts, which fueled his determination to be at his best.

    Sunday then arrived, and the intensity of training reduced considerably. The yers gathered for a light morning session focused on maintaining their match fitness. They engaged in rondos, light jogging, and stretching exercises to keep their muscles loose and ready. The mood among the team was upbeat and focused, a mix ofpanionship and anticipation for the game the next day.

    Amidst the exercises, the yers exchanged banter and words of encouragement, further strengthening their connection. For Zachary, it was clear that the team''s bond was growing stronger as they prepared for the showdown against Crystal Pce. The light-hearted moments intertwined with the focused mindset highlighted the unity and preparedness of the team.

 Chapter 684 Final Preparations for the Crystal Palace Game

    684 Final Preparations for the Crystal Pce Game

    Later on, after the light training session, the Liverpool yers headed to the tactical briefing room at Melwood, a state-of-the-art facility equipped with thetest technology to aid in game preparation.

    The room was spacious, with tiered seating arranged to ensure every yer had a clear view of therge screen at the front. The atmosphere was a distinctive one of focused anticipation, with everyone eager to absorb Klopp''s insights and strategies.

    Klopp stood at the front, next to the screen disying various tactical diagrams and video clips. Hemanded the room''s attention with his presence, abination of authority and encouragement.

    "Alright,ds, listen up," he began, his voice carrying through the room. "First, I want to announce the squad for tomorrow''s game."

    He paused, letting the anticipation build. "Our starting eleven for tomorrow will be Alisson in goal; Virgil and Joe as our center-backs; Robbo and Trent as our full-backs; Gini as our defensive midfielder; James and Naby as our attacking midfielders; Bobby as our center forward, with Sadio and Mo on the nks. The substitutes will be Simon, Joel, Alberto, Jordan, Adam, Zachary, and Daniel."

    Zachary''s heart raced as he heard his name. Although he was just a substitute, making the match squad was a promising start. He felt aplished and excited, knowing he was one step closer to proving himself on the pitch.

    Klopp continued, diving into the game n. "We''ll be sticking to our 4-3-3 triangr formation," he said, using aser pointer to highlight the positions on the screen.

    "For the first fifteen minutes, we must control the tempo and dominate possession with our passing. The idea is to keep the ball moving quickly and make them chase shadows. We''ll also aim to score an early goal to take the momentum out of Crystal Pce. Their home crowd will be loud, so let''s silence them early."

    He nced around the room, making eye contact with each yer. "After the first fifteen, we''ll start pushing forward more aggressively. Sadio, Mo, Bobby, you''ll need to exploit the nks and create space. Trent and Robbo! Support the attacks, but be ready to track back quickly. We can''t afford to be caught out on the counter."

    Klopp then focused on the opposition. "Watch out for their key yers," he said, pulling up footage of Crystal Pce''s recent games. "Christian Benteke is strong in the air; Virgil, Joe, don''t let him outmuscle you. Wilfried Zaha will try to use his pace and trickery; Trent, stay tight and don''t dive in. Andros Townsend has a wicked shot from a distance; Robbo, you must close him down quickly. And Aaron Wan-Bissaka is solid defensively and will look to join their attacks; Sadio, make sure you track his runs."

    He then mentioned a few details about the other Crystal Pce yers before addressing specific yers directly. "Virgil, you''re our leader at the back. Organize the defense and make sure we staypact. Gini, you''re the pivot; keep the ball circting and protect the backline. Bobby, press high and force them into mistakes. Sadio, Mo, use your speed to constantly get behind their defense."

    Klopp''s voice was filled with conviction. "Remember, we need to stay disciplined. Our pressing game has to be relentless and clever, and our transitions must be swift and efficient. Trust in the work you''ve put in. Stay focused and y with intensity. Every tackle, every pass, every run must count. Let''s win convincingly and show all our next opponents that we mean business this season."

    With the tactical reviewplete, the yers dispersed, some heading for additional recovery sessions, others seeking quiet reflection. The atmosphere in the room shifted from intense focus to a more rxed yet anticipatory vibe.

    Zachary nced at his phone and noticed that it was justing to 4:00 PM. With the evening still young, he followed some teammates and headed for additional recovery sessions.

    Melwood, Liverpool''s iconic training ground, boasted top-notch recovery facilities to ensure yers were in peak condition. Zachary made a beeline for the hydrotherapy area, where a series of pools, hot tubs, and cold baths awaited. This was a typical spot for yers to engage in recovery routines, especially on the eve of a big game.

    As Zachary entered the hydrotherapy area, he spotted Sadio Man¨¦ and Roberto Firmino, who were already undergoing recovery sessions. The room was serene, with the gentle sound of water and the asional hum of therapeutic jets. The atmosphere was calm but purposeful, with yers focused on their routines.

    Zachary joined them, easing into one of the cold baths to reduce any possible inmmation and speed up muscle recovery. After a few minutes of silence, he decided to strike up a conversation to pass the time. "So, what''s the atmosphere like at Selhurst Park?" he asked, looking at Sadio and Roberto.

    Roberto,monly called Bobby by the Liverpool yers and fans, smiled and leaned back in the warm pool. "Selhurst Park? It''s intense, man. The fans there are really passionate. They''re loud, and always make sure you feel their presence from the first minute to thest."

    Sadio nodded in agreement. "Yeah, they''re one of the noisiest crowds in the league. The atmosphere can be quite intimidating, especially for new yers. But it''s also what makes ying in the Premier League special. Every game feels like a big asion."

    Zachary soaked in their words, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. "Sounds like it''s going to be a real test. How does Crystal Pce y?"

    "Crystal Pce is a solid team," Bobby replied. "They''re physical and like to y on the counter-attack. yers like your Ivorian teammate, Wilfried Zaha, and Andros Townsend can be dangerous, especially if given space."

    Sadio added, "And don''t forget Benteke. He''s a handful in the air. We''ll need to be on our toes defensively and ensure we don''t give him any easy chances."

    Zachary nodded thoughtfully. "It seems quite different from what I experienced in the Italian Serie A. The games there are more tactical, with a lot of emphasis on defense."

    Bobby smiled. "Yeah, the Premier League is different. It''s faster¡ªmore physical, and every game is a battle. But that''s what makes it the best league in the world. You''ll adapt quickly, Zachary. You''ve got the talent and the skills for it." N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Sadio chimed in, "Exactly. Just keep doing what you''re doing. Train hard, y smart, and you''ll fit right in."

    Their words were reassuring, filling Zachary with confidence. He appreciated the advice and support from his new teammates. As they continued their recovery routines, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, with the trio sharing stories and jokes, further strengthening their bond.

    Eventually, after finishing the hydrotherapy session, Zachary felt rejuvenated and vigorous, his body refreshed and ready for the challenges ahead.

    He bid farewell to Sadio and Bobby and headed to the stretching area, where he underwent a series of flexibility exercises to ensure his muscles were loose and ready for the following day''s game. The routine included dynamic stretches, foam rolling, and some light yoga poses to enhance his range of motion and prevent injuries.

    As he stretched, he thought about the uing match. The tactical briefing had been thorough, and he felt prepared. The conversations with his teammates had given him valuable insights into what to expect at Selhurst Park and a deeper understanding of the Premier League''s unique challenges.

    With his recovery sessionplete, Zachary then hit the showers. The warm water cascaded over him, washing away the day''s fatigue and leaving him feeling refreshed. He then changed into a fresh tracksuit and walked to the cafeteria for an early dinner.

    The cafeteria was buzzing with activity, filled with the sounds of ttering cutlery and friendly chatter. Zachary grabbed a nutritious meal, focusing on foods to fuel his performance¡ªlean proteins,plex carbohydrates, and plenty of vegetables. He joined his teammates at one of the long tables, enjoying the camaraderie and light-hearted banter that helped ease any pre-match nerves.

    After dinner, the yers began to drift out of the trainingplex, heading home to rest and prepare for the matchday. As Zachary was new to Liverpool, the club had arranged for a yer liaison officer to drive him home. Ray, the very same person who had been guiding him, was waiting for him outside Melwood.

    The drive from Melwood to Woolton was quiet and reflective. The streets were calm, bathed in the soft glow of streetlights, with the asional group of fans still discussing the team''s chances.

    Zachary looked out of the car window, his mind filled with thoughts of the game. He felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Tomorrow could be his chance to prove himself. Even if he was just a substitute, he knew that any opportunity on the pitch was a chance to make a mark.

    As they neared his mansion, Zachary''s phone buzzed with a message from Klopp, encouraging all the yers to rest well ande in with the right mindset for the game. This further reinforced Zachary''s determination to be at his best.

    Ray pulled up outside Zachary''s mansion, and Zachary thanked him before exiting the vehicle. The house loomed grand and quiet, a new but weing space. It wasing up to 7:30 PM as Zachary entered, the silence within the house contrasting with the bustling energy of the day.

    He eventually settled in the living room and decided to pass the time by watching Premier League highlights. He analyzed the ystyles of various teams and picked up on subtle tactics that coulde in handy. Afterward, he unwound by reading a manga, a pastime that helped him rx and clear his mind before bed.

    By 10:00 PM, Zachary felt a sense of calm and readiness. He had done everything he could to prepare for the match, and as he climbed into bed, he visualized the game, picturing himself making key ys and helping his team secure a victory.

    With those thoughts in mind, he let himself drift into a restful sleep, ready to take on whatever challenges the following day would bring.

 Chapter 685 To Selhurst Park

    Chapter 685 To Selhurst Park

    Zachary woke up early before the first light of dawn filtered through his window.

    It was 6:00 AM, and today was the day he might y his debut for Liverpool in their away game against Crystal Pce. Bursting with anticipation, he quickly got ready, packed his gear, and exited his new mansion in Woolton.

    The bodyguards who had been with him during his initial days in Liverpool were no longer necessary. The city, familiar with its football stars, was a safe haven, and the club trusted that Zachary could now move around without a tight security detail. However, Ray, the ever-reliable yer liaison officer, was already waiting outside, ready to drive him to Melwood.

    "Morning, Ray," Zachary greeted, appreciating the continuity of Ray''s presence.

    "Morning, Zachary. Ready for your big day?" Ray replied with a smile.

    Zachary nodded, his excitement evident in his smile as they hopped into the car and cruised towards Melwood. The streets of Liverpool were still and peaceful, the city slowly stirring from its slumber.

    Upon arriving at Melwood, they found the training ground already buzzing with activity. The yers and staff were all decked out in sharp club suits, evidently ready for the journey ahead.

    The mood was a blend of determination and team spirit. Coaches and staff hustled about, putting the finishing touches on their preparations. Though serious about the task ahead, the yers exchanged lighthearted banter, a way to squash the pre-match jitters. The whole atmosphere was charged with a sense of purpose and excitement.

    In the cafeteria, the team gathered for a light breakfast at around 7:15 AM. Zachary found himself chatting with James Milner and Virgil van Dijk. Milner, ever the seasoned professional, shared some encouraging words.

    "Just remember to keep it simple on your debut. Don''t try to do too much," Milner advised while grinning. "Stay calm, and whatever you do, don''t trip yourself and over the ball."

    Virgil joined in with a chuckle. "Save the theatrics for the stage, not the pitch. Klopp wouldn''t be impressed. Just focus on your game, and you''ll shine out there."

    Their words were bothforting and amusing, helping Zachary rx. Time passed swiftly, and at 8:00 AM sharp, the Liverpool team boarded the luxurious team bus. Zachary sat next to Milner, who continued to share insights about ying in the Premier League.

    The journey to Selhurst Park in London, spanning approximately 220 miles, was estimated to take about five hours. As the bus departed from Melwood, Zachary peered through the window, soaking in the stunning English countryside.

    The verdant fields and charming viges provided a tranquil backdrop to the intensity of the football pitch, allowing him a peaceful moment of reflection.

    The atmosphere on the bus was rxed but focused. Some yers listened to music, lost in their worlds with headphones on, while others watched movies or studied match footage on their tablets.

    Zachary took advantage of the time to analyze Crystal Pce''s ying style and mentally rehearse Klopp''s tactical instructions. He also enjoyed chatting with Milner and van Dijk, feeling morefortable with each passing mile.

    Time passed swiftly as the team bus continued rolling towards London. Zachary watched the urbanndscape gradually rece the countryside.

    This was Zachary''s first journey by bus with the Liverpool team from Melwood to London, and he couldn''t help butpare it to his travels in Italy.

    In Turin, where he had spent the past few years ying for Juventus, the scenery was different, with mountainous backdrops and historic architecture dominating the skyline. On the other hand, London was a sprawling urban jungle with a mix of old and new.

    As the bus navigated through the city outskirts, Zachary appreciated the blend of cultures and the vibrant atmosphere even without seeing the iconic centralndmarks.

    Around 1:00 PM, the team bus pulled up to the luxurious Hilton London Croydon, a favorite among Premier League teams for its top-notch facilities and proximity to Selhurst Park. The yers disembarked, each one carrying an air of focus and determination. They were here for business.

    After checking in, the team headed to the hotel''s dining area for a nutritious meal meticulously arranged by Mona Nemmer, Liverpool''s head nutritionist. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Zachary opted for a hearty yet healthy meal of baked salmon, sweet potato mash, and a mixed greens sd with a light vinaigrette. The meal was designed to provide the perfect bnce of protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins to fuel them for the evening match.

    Post-lunch, the yers had some downtime, and Zachary retreated to his room. He took a short nap and then listened to music before spending some minutes visualizing his potential performance on the pitch. The calm before the storm allowed him to center himself and focus on the task ahead.

    At 4:00 PM, Zachary left his room as the team gathered for a scheduled tactical briefing with Klopp and the coaching staff. Soon enough, they began reviewing Crystal Pce''s key yers and defensive strategies in one of the conference rooms.

    Although they were going through the same familiar motions and tactics again, Zachary paid close attention, eager to absorb every bit of information.

    The briefing ended at 5:00 PM, and the yers had a light snack of fruits, nuts, and energy bars to keep their energy levels steady. It was essential to have this snack now, with the match kick-off at 9:00 PM, ensuring they were neither too full nor too hungry by game time.

    Zachary then went through his pre-match routine, ensuring all his gear was ready. He also spent a few moments in quiet reflection, feeling the weight and excitement of the uing game. The minutes shed by, and before he knew it, the clock hands pointed to 7:00 PM.

    Zachary exited his room and joined his teammates as they boarded the bus for the short trip to Selhurst Park. The drive through South London was bustling, with fans already making their way to the stadium and vendors selling team merchandise.

    Zachary relished the new sights as the bus continued forward, absorbing the vibrant energy of match day.

    As they approached Selhurst Park, the atmosphere became even more charged. Crowds of fans, d in red and blue, lined the streets, their cheers and chants already a deafening roar even though more than an hour remained until kick-off.

    The Crystal Pce supporters were known for their passionate home support, and tonight was no different. Some fans booed as the Liverpool bus passed by, a few holding up signs taunting the visiting team.

    However, a sizeable number recognized Zachary and yelled his name, a testament to his world-ss status and recent World Cup victory. Despite the rivalry, there was a measure of respect for the talent he brought to the pitch.

 Chapter 686 Premier League Match Day Anticipation

    Chapter 686 Premier League Match Day Anticipation

    The famous Crystal Pce stadium finally loomed ahead after a few more minutes, its lights shining brightly in the evening dusk. Zachary''s anticipation surged, and he felt his adrenaline spiking.

    The bus pulled into the stadium''s parking area, and the yers disembarked, their focus intensifying with each step. Zachary took a deep breath, soaking in the charged atmosphere around him as he followed his new teammates out of the bus.

    As he walked towards the entrance, the reactions of the Crystal Pce fans were a mix of hostility and awe. The boos were louder now, but Zachary also heard murmurs of his name, whispers acknowledging his prowess and the impact he could have on the game.

    This was the Premier League, where respect for skill often transcended club loyalties, even if only briefly. As he took everything in, Zachary appreciated such a footballing culture.

    Inside the stadium, the Liverpool squad made a beeline for the visiting team''s locker room, where they quickly began their final preparations.

    Though not as grand as Anfield''s, the locker room was functional and filled with all the necessities to ready the team for the game. The room buzzed with focused energy as yers changed into their warm-up kits and prepared for the pre-match dynamic warm-up.

    Then, as the stadium filled up, the team took the pitch for their warm-up. In the midst of the noise and excitement, Zachary remained focused, going through his pre-game routines until he feltpletely locked in.

    After the warm-up, the yers gathered again in the visiting team''s dressing room for Klopp''s final pep talk. With his trademark passion and tactical insight, Klopp stressed the importance of a strong start, maintaining possession, and exploiting Crystal Pce''s defensive weaknesses. His words fired up the team, setting the stage for the exciting showdown ahead.

    Finally, at 8:50 PM, Klopp concluded his pep talk and sent the team out of the dressing room. As they left, Klopp patted Zachary on the shoulder and said, "You''re starting on the bench, but be ready. We might need you out there."

    Zachary nodded, meeting Klopp''s eyes with a gaze exuding confidence and determination. "I''ll be ready, coach," he promised.

    Following his teammates out of the dressing room, Zachary entered the tunnel leading to the pitch. The atmosphere was hyper, the noise from the crowd now a resounding roar.

    Zachary also felt the uniqueness of Selhurst Park, with itspact design that felt more intimate and intensepared to Anfield''s grandeur. The fans seemed closer to the field, their energy overwhelming.

    As Zachary finally stepped onto the pitch and took his ce on the bench, he scanned the stadium. The stands were packed, the fans creating a sea of red and blue. The pitch looked pristine, a perfect stage for the night''s drama.

    Zachary''s hope soared as he knew that tonight could be the night he made his mark in the Premier League with Liverpool in such an atmosphere.

    Settling into his seat, he watched the starting eleven line up on the field before the tunnel. The floodlights cast a brilliant glow over the stadium, and the sounds from the massive crowd built to a crescendo of expectation as the yers went through their pre-match handshakes.

    Zachary took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment and the promise of what was toe.

    -----

    Meanwhile, as the yers took their positions on the pitch, n Parry and n Smith, the Sky Sportsmentators, were doing their own thing. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    As always, they were positioned in theirmentary booth high above the pitch, with a perfect view of the action below. They began theirmentary, their vibrant voices echoing through the stadium and into the homes of millions of viewers.

    "Ladies and gentlemen, wee to Selhurst Park for this exciting Premier League sh between Crystal Pce and Liverpool," n Parry began, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "It''s a packed house tonight, and the atmosphere is electric."

    "Absolutely, n," n Smith chimed in. "And what a game we have in store. Liverpool areing off a strong win against West Ham¡ªand they''re looking to build on that momentum here tonight."

    "Let''s not forget Crystal Pce''sst match," Parry continued. "They secured a solid 2-0 victory away at Fulham. It was an impressive performance, and they''ll be looking to bring that same energy here at home."

    The cameras panned across the field, showing the yers shaking hands and preparing for kick-off, and then focused momentarily on Zachary, seated on the Liverpool bench.

    "And there he is," Parry continued, his tone shifting to one brimming with anticipation. "Zachary Bemba, the man of the hour and Liverpool''s newest star. What a journey this young man has had."

    "Indeed," Smith agreed. "Zachary Bemba, fresh from a ster World Cup campaign with Ivory Coast where he won the World Cup trophy, the Golden Boot, and the Golden Ball. Not to mention his impressive stint with Juventus, where he secured several Serie A titles and two Champions League trophies."

    "He''s certainly a yer to watch," Parry added. "There''s a lot of excitement about his move to Liverpool, and fans are eagerly waiting to see what kind of impact he''ll make in the Premier League."

    The camera lingered on Zachary, capturing his focused expression as he watched the action unfold on the field.

    "Will tonight be the night he makes his debut for Liverpool?" Smith pondered. "And if so, what kind of difference will he make? We''re all eager and waiting to find out."

    Parry then shifted the focus back to the match-up. "Crystal Pce will be a tough opponent. yers like Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke can be dangerous against big teams like Liverpool. Zaha''s pace and Benteke''s aerial threat will test Liverpool''s defense."

    "Absolutely," Smith eximed. "I can''t wait to see how Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez handle those challenges on Liverpool''s side. It''s also going to be fascinating to witness Klopp''s strategy in action."

    "Klopp will likely aim to dominate the midfield," Parry chimed in. "With Wijnaldum, Milner, and Ke?ta starting, they''ll look to take control of the game and set up opportunities for their dynamic front three of Firmino, Man¨¦, and Sh. And if Zacharyes on during the game, Liverpool will have even more firepower in midfield and upfront to really overwhelm Crystal Pce."

    In the meantime, the anticipation in the stadium reached a fever pitch as the captainspleted the coin toss, and the yers took their positions, ready for kick-off. Then, as the referee finally blew the whistle to kick off the game, the cheers hit another explosive crescendo.

    Zachary felt the adrenaline surge through his veins. The crowd''s overwhelming energy, the yers'' intensity, and the moment''s significance allbined to create a heady mix of excitement and determination. He was ready for whatever came next, fully prepared to seize any opportunity given to him by the coach.

 Chapter 687 The Call to Action

    Chapter 687 The Call to Action

    The Liverpool yers arrayed themselves into their familiar 4-3-3 triangr formation and began passing the ball around, following Klopp''s match strategy to the letter.

    The goal was clear: control the tempo, dominate possession, and remainposed through the tricky opening minutes of an away game. Each pass and each movement was measured and deliberate, as Liverpool sought to impose their rhythm on the game.

    Crystal Pce, meanwhile, set up in a solid 4-4-2 defensive structure. Their strategy was to frustrate Liverpool and look for opportunities to counterattack. Every yer, including strikers Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha, fell back to fortify their defense, forming a tenacious wall against Liverpool''s advances.

    The match then unfolded predictably in the first fifteen minutes. Liverpool maintained control, moving the ball efficiently and effectively, but struggled to create clear goal-scoring chances. Crystal Pce''s defense held firm, absorbing the pressure and denying Liverpool any space to exploit. The Reds, however, remained unfazed, continuing to execute their game n with patience and precision.

    Finally, at the 15th-minute mark, the Liverpool yers upped the tempo. Their movements became sharper, their passes quicker. The intensity of their press increased, pushing Crystal Pce deeper into their own half. The change in pace was evident, and the pressure began to mount on the home side.

    In the 24th minute, Liverpool''s efforts finally showed the first signs of paying off as a swift transition from defense to attack caught Crystal Pce off guard.

    Georginio Wijnaldum intercepted a pass and quickly released the ball to James Milner. Milner received it with a deft touch and then sent it forward¡ªto Sadio Man¨¦, who had just positioned himself past the halfway line.

    Man¨¦ was as collected as ever as he connected with the pass. Turning sharply, he sprinted down the left wing, dragging defenders along with his run before switching y with a perfectly timed cross-field pass to Mohamed Sh on the right nk.

    Sh received the ball with a great first touch and immediately set off on a dribble past Patrick van Aanholt, Crystal Pce''s left-back. With a burst of speed and a clever feint, Sh beat van Aanholt and surged towards the penalty area. The home crowd''s cheers quieted as Sh approached the box like the wind at breakneck speed.

    Mamadou Sakho, Crystal Pce''s center-back, rushed forward, scrambling to close down the attack. But Sh showedposure and didn''t try to take on the center-back. Instead, he squared the ball toward the middle, finding Roberto Firmino in space.

    Firmino received the ball with his back to the goal and then turned swiftly away from his marker to unleash a first-time shot towards the bottom left corner.

    The stadium held its breath as Firmino''s technique and uracy were impable, and the ball seemed destined for the back of the. But at thest moment, Wayne Hennessey, Crystal Pce''s goalkeeper, performed an incredible dive, stretching out a hand to intercept the ball. The home crowd erupted in relief as the ball was deflected to the other side of the box.

    Zachary was still watching intently from the bench. He ced his hands behind his head, mirroring his teammates'' reactions as the close call had been a moment of high tension, a glimpse of the brilliance Liverpool could unleash at any moment.

    He quickly turned his attention back to the pitch as Aaron Wan-Bissaka collected the intercepted ball and sent it along the line to find Andros Townsend, Crystal Pce''s right winger.

    The counterattack was on, prompting Klopp to start yelling from the sidelines for his yers to fall back quickly. But Townsend was already in motion, connecting with the ball from Wan-Bissaka before ying a diagonal ball to Christian Benteke in the middle.

    Benteke expertly used his body to hold off Joe Gomez, one of Liverpool''s center-backs, and controlled the ball with his chest. Georginio Wijnaldum, the defensive midfielder nearby, tried to rush back and help, but Benteke gave him no chance. He quickly passed the ball to Wilfried Zaha, who had just made a daring run on his right.

    Zaha effortlessly connected with the pass and used his pace and trickery to drive into the box, looking to create a clear goal-scoring opportunity. But just as he pulled the trigger, Virgil van Dijk, who had tracked back, slid in and blocked the shot, sending the ball out of y for a corner kick.

    The entire Liverpool bench, including Klopp and Zachary, let out a breath of relief, having just survived a dangerous Crystal Pce counterattack. It had been an exciting and intense few minutes of y that wowed the fans, but for the substitutes and coaches, it was just pure torture as they watched the unpredictability of the situation on the ying field.

    Crystal Pce took the corner kick, but it didn''t result in anything due to Liverpool''s well-organized set-piece defense. After that, the game continued with Liverpool pushing the counterattack behind them and dominating possession while Crystal Pce defended tenaciously and asionallyunched counterattacks.

    The match was exciting as both teams created several half-chances, but the score remained 0-0 until the 43rd minute when Liverpool got a clear chance to punish Crystal Pce.

    The opportunity was created by Sadio Man¨¦, who connected well with a pass from James Milner and then tried to drive past Aaron Wan-Bissaka. But just as Man¨¦ stepped into the box, Wan-Bissaka slid in, attempting to tackle the ball but failed, instead tripping Man¨¦ and sending him tumbling to the ground. The referee immediately blew the whistle and pointed to the penalty spot before awarding Wan-Bissaka a yellow card.

    James Milner stepped up to take the penalty. The stadium held its breath as Milner, known for hisposure under pressure, prepared to convert the spot-kick.

    He took a few steps back, then approached the ball with confidence. With a swift and decisive strike, he sent the ball low and hard into the bottom left corner, out of Wayne Hennessey''s reach. The Liverpool bench erupted in cheers, and Zachary felt a surge of approval as he saw his new team take the lead against Crystal Pce.

    The score now stood at 1-0 in favor of Liverpool, and the yers celebrated briefly before refocusing on the final minutes of the half.

    Momentster, as the halftime whistle blew, the teams began to make their way to the tunnel. Zachary watched as Wilfried Zaha, his teammate from the Ivorian National Team and fellow World Cup winner, passed by the Liverpool bench. Zaha acknowledged Zachary with a nod, and Zachary nodded back, a silent exchange of respect between friends now on opposing sides. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Zachary then chose not to follow his teammates into the locker room. Instead, he joined the other substitutes and stepped onto the pitch, beginning some ball work to get a feel for the ball¡ªjust in case Klopp decided to call on him.

    The atmosphere in Selhurst Park whirred with excitement as the fans noticed Zachary on the field. Known worldwide for his recent World Cup triumph and other des, Zachary''s presence added an extrayer of intrigue to the match.

    As he began his warm-up, the crowd''s murmur turned into a mixture of cheers and jeers. While loyal to their team, some of the Crystal Pce fans couldn''t help but be awed by Zachary''s skills.

    The cameras quickly focused on him, and soon, the jumbotron disyed his ball control mastery. With his newly acquired SSS-grade Ball Control, Zachary juggled the ball effortlessly, turning his warm-up into an entertaining spectacle for the fans.

    Time passed quickly, and soon halftime ended. Zachary returned to the bench with the other substitutes as the starting yers emerged from the tunnel. His heart beat with the hope that Klopp would give him an opportunity to prove his worth.

    The second halfmenced with Liverpool maintaining their dominance in possession. They patiently worked the ball to break down the resilient Pce defense, their movements sharper and more decisive.

    Klopp''s halftime pep talk must have invigorated the team, with Sadio Man¨¦, Mohamed Sh, and Trent Alexander-Arnold frequently finding themselves in promising positions. Man¨¦ used his pace and trickery to dart past defenders, Sh cut inside from the wing with his lethal left foot, and Alexander-Arnold unleashed precise crosses from the right nk.

    Despite Liverpool''s best efforts, Crystal Pce''s defenders and keeper remained resilient, frustrating Liverpool''s attempts repeatedly again and again.

    The score remained 1-0 in favor of Liverpool, but an anxious air hung over their bench. The unease was understandable, as a single goal was never enough against a team like Crystal Pce, known for their ability to surprise with a counterattack or a well-executed set piece.

    The proceedings moved forward, and as the game approached the 70th minute, Crystal Pceunched another dangerous counterattack.

    Wilfried Zaha connected with a surprise long pass from Luka Milivojevic, sprinting down the left nk. He cut inside and took a powerful shot, but Alisson Becker made a crucial save, pushing the ball out for a corner. The Liverpool bench collectively sighed in relief, knowing how close they hade to conceding.

    Seeing the situation, J¨¹rgen Klopp shook his head and turned to the bench. His intense eyes scanned his yers before settling on Zachary and Jordan Henderson.

    "Zachary, Hendo, warm up!" he barked, his voice carrying the moment''s urgency.

    Zachary''s spirits soared as he quickly rose and began his warm-up routine with Henderson. This was the moment he had been waiting for, the chance to prove himself on another big stage.

    As he warmed up, he could feel the weight of the moment. The fans, the floodlights, and the crowd''s cheers all fueled his anticipation. His heart pounded with excitement and determination as this was his chance to make an impact, to show why Liverpool had brought him to Anfield.

 Chapter 688 The Debut

    Chapter 688 The Debut

    As Zachary and Jordan Henderson geared up on the sidelines, a sense of anticipation swept through Selhurst Park.

    The Crystal Pce fans and bench appeared increasingly anxious. Having witnessed Zachary''s World Cup brilliance and impressive Champions League performances with Juventus, they knew his entry into the match would make things more challenging.

    Meanwhile, the few Liverpool fans who had made the trip to London were visibly thrilled, their cheers growing louder and more passionate as Zacharypleted his warm-up on the sidelines.

    Thementators, n Parry and n Smith, added to the anticipation. "And there he is, Zachary, warming up on the sidelines," n Parry announced. "The world-ss signing from Juventus, fresh off a World Cup victory with Ivory Coast. This could be a game-changer, n."

    "Absolutely, Parry," n Smith replied. "Zachary''s presence on the pitch is bound to lift Liverpool. We''ve seen what he can do on the biggest stages. The Crystal Pce defense will have their hands full when he steps onto the field."

    As the seconds ticked by, the ball went out of y for a Liverpool throw-in during the 73rd minute. J¨¹rgen Klopp finally called the two substitutes over, whispering a few words into their ears, which were inaudible to the watching crowd. However, the solemn nods from Zachary and Henderson and Klopp''s earnest expression made it clear that he was giving them critical instructions.

    The fourth official then raised the substitution board, signaling the first change. Jordan Henderson reced James Milner in central midfield. Then, the official fumbled with the board again before finally disying Zachary''s number.

    The excitement around the stadium spiked as Zachary prepared to step onto the field for his debut, recing Naby Ke?ta in midfield. Klopp gave him a pat on the shoulder, and the few traveling Liverpool fans behind one of the goals stood up, holding banners to wee Zachary to Liverpool.

    Thementators were also animated. "And here he is, Zachary is finally making his debut for Liverpool," n Parry eximed. "A yer with numerous Serie A titles, two Champions League trophies, and a recent World Cup victory. This is a huge moment for him and the club."

    "Indeed, Parry," n Smith added. "And he''s wearing the iconic number 8 shirt, following in the footsteps of legends like Steven Gerrard. The fans are in for a treat. Let''s see what Zachary can bring to this already dynamic Liverpool side."

    Zachary, however, was focused on the game. The crowd''s excitement faded into the background as he exchanged nces with his teammates, who nodded encouragingly. He jogged onto the pitch, taking his position in midfield, slightly towards the right side, ready to receive the throw-in.

    The referee then blew the whistle, and the game restarted with Trent Alexander-Arnold making the throw-in to Mohamed Sh, who had opened himself on the right nk.

    Sh received the ball with his back to the opposing goal, bringing it under control with his chest. He held off Patrick van Aanholt, the Crystal Pce left-back marking him tightly, before ying the ball to Georginio Wijnaldum, the midfield pivot.

    The link-up between the Liverpool yers was seamless, a result of many hours of practice. Wijnaldum received the ball and immediately yed it forward to find Zachary, who had just stepped away from his marker. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Zachary''s newly acquired SSS-grade Ball Control was magical as he received the ball with a well-timed, effortless first touch. He expertly shifted his body, letting the ball roll past Luka Milivojevic, Crystal Pce''s central midfielder, who tried to sneakily dispossess him.

    Zachary felt the slight tug on his shirt as Milivojevic attempted to recover, but his SSS-grade agility allowed him to elerate away, leaving the midfielder behind.

    Now, with a bit of space and a few precious seconds to decide his next move, Zachary''s SSS-grade Spatial Awareness kicked in. He spotted Sadio Man¨¦, unmarked and beginning a daring run down the left wing.

    Zachary''s reinforced mind and high game intelligence worked in harmony as he assessed the risks and opportunities within an instant. Without hesitation and before any other opponents could close him down, he raised his leg and unleashed a daring cross-field pass over the entire midfield.

    The ball soared gracefully through the air, perfectly weighted, and descended just as Man¨¦ arrived. The few traveling Liverpool fans roared with excitement at Zachary''s firstplete pass for Liverpool as Man¨¦ chested the ball forward and continued his run toward the other side of the field.

    Zachary''s clever pass had bypassed most of the Crystal Pce defense, giving Man¨¦ a clear path. However, as Man¨¦ approached the edge of the box, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who had initially seemed out of position, recovered quickly.

    The defender intercepted Man¨¦ with a perfectly timed sliding tackle. Man¨¦ tried to outmaneuver him, but Wan-Bissaka''s daring slide brought him to the ground. The Liverpool yers, including Roberto Firmino and Jordan Henderson, yelled out for a foul.

    The referee, faster than the protests, blew his whistle and awarded Liverpool a free-kick just a few meters from the left edge of the box. Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a yellow card for Wan-Bissaka. The Liverpool fans erupted with anticipation as the referee didn''t just stop at that but showed Wan-Bissaka a red card for his second yellow of the match, sending him off.

    Some chaos emerged on the pitch as the Crystal Pce yers tried to argue their case, but the referee dismissed them with a wave and motioned for Wan-Bissaka to leave the pitch.

    It was then that an air of calmness descended around the Liverpool camp. With a numerical advantage, they were less worried about letting their 1-0 lead slip away. Klopp nodded repeatedly, clearly pleased with his substitute, Zachary, and the immediate impact he had already made on the game.

    Meanwhile, the referee was already organizing the defensive wall on the pitch. As for the Liverpool yers, they quickly set up for the free-kick close to the edge of the box, gearing up for another opportunity to extend their lead.

    Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson, Sadio Man¨¦, Mohamed Sh, and Zachary all stood around the ball, each a free-kick specialist in their own right. Although they didn''t argue, it was evident that each of them wanted to take the kick.

    Virgil van Dijk, sensing the tension, stepped in. "Guys, let''s give this one to Zachary. It''s his debut, and he''s earned it," he said, his calm authority leaving no room for dispute.

    Zachary thanked his new teammates and picked up the ball, cing it carefully on the free-kick spot. He could feel the eyes of everyone¡ªthe fans, the opposing yers, his teammates, and coaches¡ªon him. But hisposure and mental strength allowed him to push through and block out the pressure.

    His enhanced spatial awareness and game intelligence then came into y as he observed the setup of the Crystal Pce defense.

    He noticed the defensive wall, tightly packed and positioned near the left edge of the box, around 20 yards from the goal. The Crystal Pce goalkeeper stood alert, slightly off-center, trying to cover as much of the goal as possible. As for the Liverpool yers, they had already positioned themselves strategically, ready for any rebounds or second chances.

    After making his observations, Zachary took a deep breath and centered himself. He couldn''t deny feeling the pressure of the moment¡ªon his debut match for Liverpool¡ªbut he reminded himself that a little bit of pressure was good. He had converted many free-kicks before, and this was no different.

    The seconds ticked by, and then all other thoughts faded into the background as the referee blew the whistle. Zachary took a few steps back, then made an angled run towards the ball, striking it cleanly with his right foot.

    The ball soared gracefully over the wall, curving beautifully, although it packed an incredible momentum behind it. The Crystal Pce goalkeeper stretched to his full length, but the shot was perfectly ced, sailing just out of his reach and into the top right corner of the.

    The stadium erupted as the ball nestled into the back of the, signifying that Liverpool had extended their lead to 2-0 in the 77th minute. The Liverpool bench jumped up in unison, celebrating wildly. Even Klopp pumped his fists, a broad smile spreading across his face, clearly pleased with Zachary. On the pitch, Zachary''s teammates rushed to him, patting him on the back and offering high fives.

    "Great strike, Zach!" Jordan Henderson eximed, his voice full of admiration.

    "Wee to Liverpool, mate!" Sadio Man¨¦ added, his grin wide and genuine.

    "Keep it up! We need more of that," Trent Alexander-Arnold said, a mix of excitement and encouragement in his tone.

    Zachary celebrated in a reserved manner, aware of the moment''s significance while showing his respect for the opposition. He hugged his teammates, acknowledging their support while feeling like he had unloaded a weight from his shoulders.

    He hadn''t messed up on his debut; instead, he had already begun to silence the doubters. His future at Liverpool now seemed even more promising.

    As the yers finally returned to their positions to restart the game, thementators were still discussing the goal excitedly.

    "Well, n, what a debut for Zachary! Scoring from a free-kick like that just a few minutes after stepping on the pitch as a substitute¡ªit was simply sublime," n Parry said, his voice filled with awe.

    "Absolutely, n. His technique was simply wless... And to do that under pressure¡ªin front of these fans, it''s something special. Liverpool have got a gem on their hands here," n Smith replied, his tone equally enthusiastic.

 Chapter 689 The Game-Changer

    Chapter 689 The Game-Changer

    The game restarted with Liverpool in high spirits and Crystal Pce looking increasingly deted. With the score at 2-0 and a numerical advantage, Liverpool''s yers were more energetic, sensing an opportunity to secure a decisive victory.

    Crystal Pce tried to move the ball around, but Liverpool''s high pressing quickly pinned them back in their half. Sadio Man¨¦, Roberto Firmino, and Mohamed Sh were relentless, running at the defenders with the intensity and hunger of a pack of wolves.

    Like in their opening match against West Ham, Liverpool''s front three executed their high pressing with surgical precision. Firmino, the tireless workhorse, led the charge through the center while Man¨¦ and Sh closed in from the nks, cutting off passingnes and putting immense pressure on the ball carriers. Crystal Pce''s defenders, already rattled by the loss of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, found themselves overwhelmed and without time to make clear decisions.

    Eventually, as the ball was yed back to Mamadou Sakho, the panic of the Crystal Pce defense was even more evident. Firmino was already breathing down his neck, forcing a hurried clearance.

    However, Sakho''s attempt to clear the danger resulted in a weak, inurate pass thatnded directly at Jordan Henderson''s feet in midfield. Henderson quickly controlled the ball, surveying his options before sending it towards the left nk to find Andrew Robertson, Liverpool''s marauding left-back.

    Robertson received the ball effortlessly and surged forward, racing down the wing with Andros Townsend, now acting as a makeshift wing-back, struggling to keep up.

    As Townsend closed in to challenge, Robertson cut inside, ying a quick pass to Henderson, who was in sync with the left-back''s run. Henderson, without hesitation, fed the ball to Zachary, who had expertly found space again.

    Zachary, now donning Liverpool''s iconic number 8 shirt, controlled the ball, his newly acquired SSS-grade Ball Control making it look effortless. His movements were then fluid and reminiscent of "the great Ronaldinho" as he anticipated James McArthur''s approach.

    With McArthur closing in, Zachary executed a perfect step-over, leaning left to deceive the midfielder before quickly shifting his center of gravity and darting to the right. His body control was impable, maintaining possession and bnce as he glided past McArthur.

    In that split second, Zachary was also aware of everything around him¡ªthe positioning of his teammates, the defensive setup of Crystal Pce, and the opportunity lying ahead. His SSS-grade Spatial Awareness kicked in again, allowing him to spot Roberto Firmino making a clever run towards the edge of the box. Then, with a deft touch, Zachary flicked the ball past thest defender and into Firmino''s path.

    Firmino, always the opportunist, took the pass in stride, entering the box with only the goalkeeper to beat. His shot was precise, aimed low and hard towards the far corner. But Hennessey, Crystal Pce''s goalkeeper, dived and managed to intercept the ball, sending it out for a corner. The Liverpool fans let out gasps at the missed opportunity before cheering in appreciation of the y, recognizing the brilliance of the build-up.

    The Liverpool yers quickly put Firmino''s missed opportunity behind them and took the corner kick without hesitation. Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered a precise ball from the corner spot towards the crowded box.

    The tall Liverpool yers, including Virgil van Dijk, Zachary, and Joe Gomez, leaped to meet the descending ball. However, their aerial prowess was matched by Crystal Pce''s James Tomkins, who finally managed to clear the danger, sending the ball towards the right side of the box.

    Nevertheless, the threat was far from over for Crystal Pce. Mohamed Sh, always alert and quick, intercepted the ball just beyond the edge of the box. Known for his unpredictable dribbling and sharp instincts around the penalty area, Sh began to drive back into the box.

    Having studied Liverpool''s past match videos, Zachary anticipated Sh''s next move. He knew Sh would likely cut inside and look to deliver a minus pass back into the box¡ªa pattern often seen in Liverpool''s attacking y.

    Zachary felt a surge of anticipation and immediately moved to a narrow, unmarked pocket of space just beyond the penalty spot. As expected, Sh danced past a Crystal Pce defender and sent a precise minus pass towards Zachary. Time seemed to slow as Zachary met the ball with a well-timed swing of his boot, sending it between the legs of an approaching defender and towards the goal.

    A tense air hung over the box as the ball traveled on a low trajectory, skimming the ground before taking a slight deflection off a defender''s leg. Everything clicked, and the deflection sent the ball sailing into the back of the. Crystal Pce''s goalkeeper, Hennessey, was left rooted to the spot, turning only to see the ball nestled in the goal.

    The stadium erupted as Liverpool extended their lead to 3-0 in the 81st minute, just four minutes after their second goal. Zachary''s spirits soared, and he raced towards the corner where the traveling Liverpool fans were seated, near the far right end of the pitch. The fans cheered animatedly, waving banners with Zachary''s name and likeness, celebrating their new hero.

    Zachary felt ted and more relieved as he took in their reactions. He had scored his second goal on his debut, a dream start to his Liverpool career. He pumped his fists and then pointed towards the sky, a gesture of gratitude and acknowledgment of the moment''s significance. His teammates quickly joined him, surrounding him with hugs, high-fives, and excited shouts.

    -----

    The Liverpool bench also cheered loudly as the yers and staff celebrated the decisive third goal. Klopp couldn''t hide his delight as he watched his team celebrate.

    Zachary had impressed him immensely; his anticipation, situational awareness, and decision-making in tight areas and critical moments on the pitch were world-ss. Klopp knew the club had finally acquired a yer who could push them to the next level.

    As the game restarted, Klopp settled back in his seat and sipped his water. He didn''t need to continue yelling from the sidelines; his yers were still executing their game n cleverly and perfectly. This was the fun part of coaching talented and world-ss yers. He just sat back and enjoyed the rest of the game, watching his team overpower their opponents.

    Liverpool continued to press high, and Crystal Pce found it increasingly difficult to escape their own half. The intensity of Liverpool''s y was unrelenting, with every yer contributing to the cause.

    The midfield trio of Henderson, Wijnaldum, and Zachary controlled the tempo, dictating the game''s flow and constantly pushing forward. Zachary''s brilliance became more evident with every touch, his vision and control setting him apart.

    Time passed just like that, and as the clock ticked towards the 90th minute, Zachary suddenly unleashed a perfect through pass, releasing Mohamed Sh on the right wing.

    Sh, as always, controlled the ball with expert precision and raced forward, leaving opponents in his wake. Approaching the box, he delivered a low cross that skimmed across the mouth of the goal towards the arriving Sadio Man¨¦ on the other side. Man¨¦, ever the professional, slid in to tap the ball into the back of the, scoring Liverpool''s fourth goal during the 90th minute.

    Klopp''s hopes soared as he watched Man¨¦ celebrate with his teammates. As a coach, he could effortlessly analyze the game and recognize how Zachary''s introduction had transformed the entire Liverpool team, enhancing their midfield and attacking prowess.

    Zachary was like an engine, driving the team forward with every y. Klopp thought to himself, "This boy is special. His debut performance is beyond impressive¡ªit''s game-changing."

    -----

    The game continued after the goal celebrations, but Liverpool eased off their attacking intensity, focusing on maintaining stability during the added minutes. They dominated possession, moving the ball around with confidence andposure. Crystal Pce, deted and outyed, couldn''t muster a response.

    Finally, the referee blew the final whistle, signaling the end of the game. Liverpool had secured a resounding 4-0 victory. Zachary had made a phenomenal debut, scoring two goals and participating in the build-up of another, firmly establishing himself as a crucial yer for the team. The fans, ecstatic and hopeful, cheered loudly, chanting his name.

    As the yers walked off the pitch, Zachary''s teammates surrounded him, offering congrattions.

    Henderson pped him on the back. "Great game, mate. You''ve really made a mark today."

    Sh, smiling broadly, added, "That pass was brilliant, Zach. Keep it up."

    Van Dijk nodded in approval. "You''re fitting in perfectly. Well done."

    Zachary felt a swell of pride. "Thanks, guys. It means a loting from you all. I''m just happy to help the team."

    As they made their way towards the tunnel, Zachary spotted Wilfried Zaha, his teammate from the Ivorian national team. Despite Crystal Pce''s loss, Zaha approached with a smile. "Zach, man, what a debut! You were on fire out there."

    "Thanks, Wilf," Zachary replied, genuinely touched. "It was tough out there, but I appreciate it."

    Zaha extended his hand for a shirt exchange. "Let''s swap jerseys. You earned it."

    Zachary grinned, and they exchanged shirts, a sign of mutual respect. "Thanks, Wilf. Keep your head up. You yed well."

    "Cheers, Zach. We''ll win the next time," Zaha said, patting his shoulder before heading off. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    With the exchangeplete, Zachary returned his focus to his teammates, who were still buzzing from the victory. Klopp approached him with a broad smile. "Well done, Zach," he said, pping him on the back. "You''ve made a fantastic start. Keep this up, and we''ll achieve great things together."

    Zachary nodded, feeling a mix of relief and excitement. "Thank you, coach. I''m just d I could contribute."

    Klopp''s eyes sparkled with determination. "This is just the beginning, Zach. And wee to Liverpool again."

    As they walked off the pitch, the roar of the few traveling Liverpool fans echoed in Zachary''s ears, a reminder of the support and expectations that would drive him to even greater heights. He knew he had found a new home where he could thrive and make a real impact.

 Chapter 690 Post-Match

    Chapter 690 Post-Match

    Emily Anderson sat in her cozy London apartment, the glow of the television screen illuminating the room as the post-match analysis began on Sky Sports.

    She had spent the day negotiating a new endorsement deal for Zachary, and now, with the workday over, she could finally rx and savor the match she had just watched. Her heart swelled with pride as she reflected on her client''s magnificent performance for Liverpool.

    David Jones, the seasoned presenter, smiled warmly at the camera, weing the audience back from the intense match between Crystal Pce and Liverpool.

    "Wee back, everyone, to our post-match coverage," David began. "What an incredible game we''ve just witnessed at Selhurst Park, where Liverpool triumphed with a resounding 4-0 victory over Crystal Pce. Let''s turn to our pundits, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, to dissect how Liverpool managed such an impressive performance today."

    Emily leaned forward in her chair, eager to hear what the pundits had to say about Zachary''s debut.

    "Jamie, let''s start with you," David continued. "How did Liverpool manage to secure such a dominant victory today?"

    Carragher leaned forward, his enthusiasm evident. "David, it was a masterss from Liverpool. They were relentless in their pressing and clinical in their finishing. The high pressing from the front three, especially after Wan-Bissaka''s red card, was crucial. Man¨¦, Firmino, and Sh ran at the defenders tirelessly, forcing errors and winning back possession in dangerous areas."

    Gary Neville nodded in agreement. "Absolutely, Jamie. Liverpool''s energy and intensity were too much for Crystal Pce to handle, especially after going down to ten men. But what stood out to me was the impact of their new signing, Zachary Bemba. He was exceptional."

    Emily couldn''t help but smile. She never doubted Zachary''s talent ever since she saw him ying in an academy footballpetition in Riga, and now he was finally getting the global recognition he deserved. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    David turned to Gary. "Yes, Gary, Zachary Bemba made quite an impression. Can you talk us through his debut performance?"

    Gary smiled. "Zachary Bemba was outstanding. He brought a new dimension to Liverpool''s midfield. His situational awareness, decision-making, and technical ability were on full disy. The free-kick he scored to make it 2-0 was sheer brilliance. Toe in on your debut and perform like that shows he''s a special talent, a generational great."

    The screen transitioned to a clip of Zachary''s stunning free-kick, the ball curling beautifully over the wall and into the. Emily''s heart raced with pride and excitement as she relived the moment.

    "Let''s not forget his chemistry with the other yers," Jamie added. "Zachary linked up seamlessly with Henderson and Wijnaldum, and his pass to Sh that led to Man¨¦''s goal was superb. It''s like he''s been ying with them for years."

    David then skillfully shifted the conversation to Zachary''s dribbling skills. "His dribbling is also incredible. Gary, how does his ball control and handlingpare to some of the greats we''ve seen over the years?"

    Gary leaned back, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "David, watching Zachary today reminded me of legends like Ronaldinho and Zinedine Zidane. His ability to control the ball effortlessly, even in tight spaces, was extraordinary. His dribbling is smooth, and he has this knack for making the ball almost stick to his feet¡ªwhich is reminiscent of the best dribblers in the game."

    Jamie chimed in. "Absolutely, Gary. That moment when he shifted his body and left McArthur behind was pure magic. It''s not just about speed; it''s about how he reads the game¡ªhow he anticipates the defender''s moves and then makes those subtle adjustments to glide past them. It''s a joy to watch."

    David nodded. "We have J¨¹rgen Klopp''s post-match interview ready. Let''s hear what he had to say about today''s win and Zachary''s debut."

    The screen cut to Klopp, who was all smiles as he faced the reporters.

    "J¨¹rgen, congrattions on a fantastic win," the reporter began. "What are your thoughts on today''s performance, especially Zachary Bemba''s debut?"

    Klopp''s eyes sparkled with delight. "Thank you. It was a brilliant team performance. Theds were incredible today, especially with our pressing and finishing. As for Zachary, what can I say? He was magnificent. Scoring two goals on his debut and how he controlled the game, it''s clear we have a very special yer in our squad."

    The reporter pressed on. "How do you see Zachary fitting into the team in the future?"

    Klopp''s smile widened. "He fits perfectly. His understanding of the game, his vision, his ability to find space and create opportunities ¨C he''s everything we hoped for and more. The chemistry with the other yers is already there, and it''ll only get better."

    Emily felt a rush of satisfaction. Klopp''s words echoed her thoughts about Zachary''s potential and future at Liverpool.

    The screen then transitioned back to the studio, where David, Gary, and Jamie continued their analysis.

    "Jamie, Klopp seems very pleased with Zachary. How important is his performance for Liverpool moving forward?" David asked.

    Jamie replied, "It''s massive, David. Having someone like Zachary who cane in and make such an immediate impact is invaluable. He adds depth and quality to the midfield, and his ability to score and create chances will be crucial in the long run."

    Gary added, "I agree. Zachary''s debut performance sets a high standard. If he can maintain this level, Liverpool will be a formidable force this season. His presence gives Klopp more tactical flexibility, and that''s a huge advantage."

    David turned back to the camera. "Well, there you have it. Aprehensive victory for Liverpool, a ster debut for Zachary Bemba, and plenty to look forward to this season. Thank you, Gary and Jamie, for your insights. We can''t wait to see how this Liverpool team progresses. Stay tuned for more post-match analysis and highlights."

    Emily sat back, her excitement palpable. She knew this was just another step on Zachary''s journey to greatness. The endorsements, the des, and the recognition he deserved were all within reach now. She grabbed her phone and sent a quick text to Zachary.

    "Congrattions, Zachary! What a debut! The sky''s the limit from here. Proud of you!"

    As she watched the highlights and punditry, Emily''s mind spun with the possibilities ahead. Zachary Bemba was a star on the rise, and she was right there with him, ready to help him reach even greater heights.

    -----

    The clock was ticking past 11:00 PM as Zachary and his Liverpool teammates filed back into the dressing room at Selhurst Park. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and victory, and the yers were in high spirits, chatting animatedly about the match and congratting each other on their performances.

    In the dressing room, the post-match routine kicked in swiftly. The yers stripped off their kits and headed for the showers. The hot water offered a brief respite, washing away the grime of the match and helping to rx their tired muscles. After showering, they dressed infortable travel attire provided by the club.

    A quick, nutritious meal awaited them¡ªabination of lean proteins, carbohydrates, and vegetables designed to aid recovery. The yers ate efficiently, knowing they had a tight schedule. Some opted for a post-match massage, administered by the club''s physios, to ease any lingering stiffness or minor knocks they had picked up during the game.

    By midnight, the team was ready to leave Selhurst Park. They boarded the team bus at 12:30 AM, eager to return to Liverpool. As professional footballers, they had to follow a strict traveling schedule, ensuring they returned home to begin their post-match recovery at the club''s state-of-the-art facilities as soon as possible. Spending the night in London might have been morefortable, but their rigorous regimen demanded otherwise.

    The bus journey back to Liverpool was a mix of fatigue and quiet reflection. The euphoria of the 4-0 victory over Crystal Pce lingered, but the adrenaline was waning fast. Most yers quickly settled into their seats, pulling on headphones or scrolling through their phones. Then, thebination of the engine''s hum and the bus'' gentle rocking was thest straw that lulled many to sleep.

    Zachary sat by a window, gazing out at the passing lights of the city. His mind reyed the highlights of his debut, including the free-kick that soared into the, the second goal heted from Sh''s pass, and the final moments leading to Man¨¦''s goal.

    He felt a profound sense of aplishment and belonging. He had pictured this moment countless times over the past week, and now it was a reality.

    As the bus sped along the motorway, Zachary''s eyelids grew heavy. He let his thoughts drift, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up. He dozed off, his head resting against the bus window.

    A long whileter, the bus finally pulled into Melwood, Liverpool''s training ground, at around 4:30 AM. The yers stirred, gathering their belongings and filing off the bus. They exchanged tired but satisfied farewells, each heading off to their respective homes to catch what little sleep they could before the recovery sessions beganter.

    Ray, the yer liaison officer, was waiting for Zachary. "Great game tonight, Zachary," he said with a warm smile as he ushered Zachary into the waiting car.

    "Thanks, Ray," Zachary replied, stifling a yawn.

    The drive to Zachary''s mansion was quiet. The streets of Liverpool were nearly deserted at this hour, and the car moved swiftly through the city. Zachary leaned back in his seat, reflecting on the whirlwind day. The sense of achievement and relief was overwhelming. He had proven himself on one of the biggest stages in football, and now, he felt even more eager to face other Premier League opponents.

    Feeling a buzz in his pocket, Zachary pulled out his phone and switched it on. Messages flooded in, congratting him on his sessful debut. He quickly scanned through the notifications. There were messages from Kristin, his PA, who was in Turin organizing the transfer of his essential belongings from Italy; Emily, his agent, who was in London; some of his Ivorian teammates; and his new Liverpool teammates.

    Zachary smiled as he read through the messages. Kristin''s text was detailed and businesslike, congratting him on his performance and updating him on the logistics in Turin. Emily''s message was filled with excitement and pride, noting how his performance had already created a buzz among potential sponsors. His Ivorian teammates sent short but heartfelt messages, while his Liverpool teammates joked about his debut goals and how they looked forward to more of the same.

    He decided to respond to Kristin and Emily first. He sent a quick thank you message to Kristin¡ªand then asked for a detailed update when she had a chance. To Emily, he wrote: "Thanks for the support! Let''s talk tomorrow about the endorsements. Tonight was just the beginning."

    Satisfied, Zachary put his phone back in his pocket. The car continued its smooth journey through the quiet streets, the lights of Liverpool reflecting off the windows.

    They arrived at Zachary''s new mansion in Woolton around 5:00 AM. Zachary thanked Ray and headed inside, finding the house dark and silent. He went straight to bed, the day''s fatigue pulling him into a deep sleep almost instantly.

 Chapter 691 The 2018-19 English Premier League Challenge

    Chapter 691 The 2018-19 English Premier League Challenge

    When Zachary eventually stirred from his slumber, he blinked, squinting against the bright morning light pouring into his room. ncing at his phone, he realized it was already 11:30 AM. But even at thatte hour, the cozy bed still seemed to call out to his name.

    His new mansion in Woolton featured a spacious, modern bedroom adorned with captivating minimalist art and sleek, functional furniture. Large windows bathed the room in natural light, creating a serene atmosphere that made it difficult to leave theforting embrace of the inviting bed with its crisp white sheets and plush pillows.

    Despite the allure of lounging in bed, Zachary summoned his determination, shaking off his exhaustion andpelling himself to start the day. With a determined resolve, he finally roused himself and made his way to the bathroom.

    The bathroom was equally luxurious, with marble countertops and a walk-in shower that doubled as a steam room. The cool tiles under Zachary''s bare feet helped wake him up as he sshed water on his face and brushed his teeth. After a quick shower, he felt more awake, though the fatigue from the previous night''s match and the long journey back still weighed on him.

    Returning to his bedroom, Zachary unrolled his yoga mat on the floor. The spacious room provided ample space for his customary yoga routine. He moved through a series of stretches, focusing on his breathing and the sensation of his muscles extending and rxing. The yoga helped ease the post-match fatigue and cleared his mind, preparing him for the day ahead.

    After wrapping up his yoga session, Zachary made a beeline for the kitchen. The culinary haven boasted top-of-the-line appliances and a spacious ind at its heart. He opened the fridge and retrieved some eggs, spinach, and tomatoes.

    In a few minutes, he whipped up a delightful, healthy breakfast: a spinach and tomato omelet apanied by a serving of whole-grain toast and a refreshing ss of freshly squeezed orange juice.

    As he sat at the ind, savoring each bite, Zachary found sce in the peaceful atmosphere of the kitchen. Its tranquility provided a wee respite from the mor and frenzy ofst night''s game. The chirping of birds outside and the warm sunlight streaming through the windows painted a serene scene that further calmed his mind.

    Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he remembered the system notification that had sounded a few times over the past few days.

    The memory of the faint chime resonating in his mind quickly returned to him. It had dinged again after the game the previous night, probably informing him of a new mission. But with all the excitement and the presence of his teammates and coaches, he hadn''t checked the messages. He had been too preupied to think about it until now.

    Zachary finished his breakfast and cleaned up quickly. Now that he had some time to kill and was settled alone, he decided to summon the system interface. The kitchen''s calm ambiance provided the perfect backdrop for him to focus and engage with the system.

    He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, willing the system interface to appear. Within moments, a translucent blue screen materialized before his eyes, disying several menus. He quickly scanned through them until he found the ones rted to the new missions under the GOAT Missions tab.

    ****

    GOAT MISSIONS

    #NEW MISSION: 2018-19 English Premier League Challenge

    ->The system has detected that the user is part of the Liverpool squad that will y the 2018-19 Premier League season. The system has designed an associated mission for the event.

    -----

    ->The user needs to ept the mission first to stand a chance of winning rewards afterpleting the milestones below.

    -----

    *Milestone 1: y 65% of the fixtures in the 2018-19 Premier League season. The user must be part of the starting eleven or a ying substitute in at least 25 of the total 38 Premier League matches.

    *Milestone 2: Help your teammates be the 2018-19 Premier League Champions.

    *Milestone 3: Provide the most assists in the 2018-19 Premier League season.

    *Milestone 4: Be the top scorer of the 2018-19 Premier League season.

    *Milestone 5: Be the Premier League''s best yer for the 2018-19 season.

    *Milestone 6: Surpass Andrew Cole''s and n Shearer''s record of 34 goals in a single Premier League season.

    *Milestone 7: Help your teammates achieve an unbeaten run throughout the 2018/19 Premier League. The user must work hard to ensure Liverpool doesn''t lose even a single match from the beginning to the end of the season.

    -----

    Rewards:

    Milestone 1pletion reward: 5,000 Juju points

    Milestone 2pletion reward: 20,000 Juju points

    Milestone 3pletion reward: 70,000 Juju points

    Milestone 4pletion reward: 70,000 Juju points

    Milestone 5pletion reward: 100,000 Juju points

    Milestone 6pletion reward: A Random Technique Upgrade Token

    Milestone 7pletion reward: A dosage of SS-grade mental-conditioning elixir.

    -----

    NB: There will be additional rewards if the user realizes any other milestones that can unlock hidden missions.

    -----

    ->The user can choose not to ept the mission.

    *ept *Reject

    -----

    *Punishment if none of the milestones has been achieved after the stipted time (In case the user epts).

    -> Minus 250,000 Juju-points

    *The user has toplete at least one milestone before the tournament ends to escape the penalty.

    -----

    Remarks: Greatness is achieved by those who push beyond limits and redefine excellence.

    ****

    Zachary''s eyes lit up as he read through the mission details. As always, the system recognized the importance of the next stage of his career and wanted to motivate him. The rewards were enticing, promising significant enhancements to his abilities and overall profile.

    Just then, he noticed another mission, already marked aspleted. Intrigued, he tapped on it to reveal the details.

    ****

    #HIDDEN MISSION COMPLETE: Debut Brilliance

    Objective: Put up an incredible performance in your debut match for Liverpool.

    Status: Completed (Rating: SS)

    Rewards: SS-grade vitality-enhancing elixir

    ****

    A smile spread across Zachary''s face as he read the rewards for the Debut Brilliance mission.

    Although his body had already grown immune to the effects of the SS-grade vitality-enhancing elixir, meaning he couldn''t use it to enhance his attributes, he could still keep the potent elixir for future use as it was also a potent medicine that could heal any injuries almost instantaneously. The realization of having such a powerful remedy at his disposal gave him a sense of security and preparedness.

    As Zachary returned his focus to the new 2018-19 Premier League Challenge mission, he couldn''t help butpare it to his previous achievements.

    The rewards for this mission were much less than those he acquired when he won the World Cup with Ivory Coast a few weeks ago. It made sense, though; Liverpool was already a dominant force in the Premier League, fiercelypeting with Manchester City for titles.

    The system must have deemed the task of helping Liverpool win the league easier, hence the fewer rewards. But Zachary was not discouraged. He knew there were future seasons to look forward to, times when Liverpool might be in a pinch, and he would reap more rewards from the system.

    Satisfied with his reflections, Zachary got up from the kitchen table. The serenity of the morning and the quiet ambiance of his mansion had given him a moment to gather his thoughts and n his next steps. He returned to his bedroom, therge windows offering a view of the well-manicured garden outside.

    He quickly donned a cap and a fresh Nike tracksuit, feeling thefortable fabric against his skin. He then slipped on his sneakers as his thoughts shifted to the day''s agenda.

    First on the list was heading to Melwood to begin a more meticulous post-match recovery routine. The club''s state-of-the-art recovery facilities were second to none, and he intended to make the most of them.

    As he left his bedroom, he took a moment to appreciate his surroundings. The modern design and luxurious furnishings of his new mansion in Woolton were a far cry from his humble beginnings. The journey up to this point had been long and challenging, but moments like these made it all worthwhile. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    He walked downstairs, his footsteps echoing in the spacious hallway. The mansion was quiet, almost eerily so, but it was a quiet he weed. It allowed him to focus, to center himself, and to remain focused on football.

    Pausing at the front door, he took a deep breath before stepping outside. The crisp morning air filled his lungs, revitalizing him. He was eager to head to Melwood and kick-start his post-match recovery routine.

    This time, he decided not to call Ray, Liverpool''s yer liaison, to drive him to Melwood. With time to kill and reassurances from his teammates about the safety of moving alone around Liverpool, he chose to take a bus. He wanted to experience more of the city that would be his home for the next few years.

    As he left his mansion in Woolton, he basked in the glorious noon sun that enveloped the neighborhood in aforting warmth. The tranquil surroundings offered a perfect start to his day, a soothing contrast to the bustling city life of Turin that he had been ustomed to.

    Strolling along the leafy streets, he savored the peace and the asional friendly acknowledgment from passersby. Woolton''s historical charm and suburban tranquility cast a spell on him, making him feel right at home.

    When he reached the bus stop on Allerton Road, he was greeted by the first small group of fans. Liverpool supporters were known for their passion and loyalty, but they also respected their yers'' privacy. As Zachary approached, a couple of fans recognized him. They exchanged smiles and gave him a nod of appreciation.

    One young boy, holding a Liverpool scarf, shyly asked for an autograph, which Zachary dly provided. Another fan, wearing a Mohamed Sh jersey, requested a quick selfie, and Zachary obliged, knowing how much these moments meant to the supporters.

 Chapter 692 The Day After Victory

    Chapter 692 The Day After Victory

    Once on the bus, Zachary took a seat by the window. As the bus moved through the city, he observed the diverse neighborhoods, each with a unique character. The vibrant cultural scene was evident in the street art and the lively atmosphere of the local markets. He passed the historic Penny Lane, made famous by The Beatles, and marveled at the rich history intertwined with modernity.

    Amidst this breathtaking urban panorama, Zachary found himself lost in reflection. From his humble beginnings in Bukavu, DR Congo, to his triumphant journey with Juventus and nownding a spot with Liverpool, each step had been a monumental part of his football career. And for what next, Liverpool, with its rich football heritage and ardent fan base, felt like the perfect ce for him to continue his career.

    As the bus neared Melwood, the training ground loomed into view, a beacon of cutting-edge excellence. Anticipation coursed through Zachary as he envisioned the hard work, trials, and triumphs that awaited him within those state-of-the-art facilities.

    The bus reached the final stop near Melwood at around 1:15 PM. Zachary got off andpleted the rest of the journey on foot. Upon arriving at the training ground, he was immediately greeted by the familiar hum of activity.

    Despite the team returningte from their away match at Selhurst Park, the Melwood training ground was bustling with movement. The atmosphere was vibrant, a testament to the club''s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence.

    Zachary walked towards the entrance and saw a few of his teammates already at the facility. Jordan Henderson and James Milner were engaged in a light-hearted conversation near the entrance, both looking surprisingly energetic despite the previous night''s exertions. They greeted Zachary warmly, their camaraderie palpable.

    "Great game yesterday, Zach!" Henderson called out with a thumbs-up.

    "Wee to Liverpool, mate," Milner added with a grin. "That was some debut."

    "Thanks, guys," Zachary replied, smiling. "I still can''t believe it myself."

    Henderson chuckled. "Get used to it, Zach. I''m sure you''ll soon be a fan favorite with performances like that."

    Milner also nodded. "How did you sleep? Must have been tough getting back sote."

    "Not bad, actually. Managed to get a few hours in," Zachary said.

    "You''ll have to get used to this," Milner encouraged. "Tight schedules for away games are part of being a Premier League yer."

    After some more light-hearted banter, Zachary parted with the two yers and continued into the building, where he was met by some of the coaching staff. Pep Lijnders, one of Klopp''s trusted assistants, was discussing tactics with another coach but paused to give Zachary an encouraging nod.

    "Good afternoon, Zachary. Fantastic jobst night," Lijnders said. "How are you feeling today?"

    "Feeling good, thanks. Ready for whatever''s next," Zachary replied.

    "That''s the spirit," Lijnders said, patting him on the back. "Keep up the good work. We''re counting on more outstanding performances from you."

    Zachary thanked him and headed towards the cafeteria for lunch. His stomach rumbled, reminding him that he had only eaten a light breakfast since the previous night. The cafeteria was bustling with activity, a testament to the club''s focus on proper nutrition and recovery.

    The aroma of freshly prepared food wafted through the air, and Zachary''s mouth watered as he approached the serving area. He selected a nutritious meal: turkey breast, brown rice, roasted sweet potatoes, and a side serving of mixed berries. It was the perfect bnce of protein, carbs, and vitamins to help his body recover.

    As he sat down to eat, a few more teammates joined him. Virgil van Dijk and Roberto Firmino took seats across from him, all looking rxed and in good spirits.

    "Good Afternoon, Zach," van Dijk said. "How''s the first day as a Liverpool hero?"

    "Feels pretty surreal," Zachary admitted. "But I''m loving it."

    Firmino grinned. "You should. Two goals on debut? Not many can say they''ve done that."

    "Thanks, Bobby," Zachary said. "It was a team effort. Couldn''t have done it without you guys."

    Van Dijk nodded approvingly. "That''s the right attitude. Keep working hard, and you''ll enjoy more nights likest night."

    Theyughed and shared stories about the previous night''s game, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie. Zachary felt more and more like a valued member of the team. After his meal, he made a beeline for Liverpool''s cutting-edge recovery center.

    As Zachary entered the recovery center, he was greeted by a serene yet focused environment. He saw the already familiar state-of-the-art technology, from hydrotherapy pools and cryotherapy chambers to top-of-the-line physiotherapy equipment in the room. The air was filled with the low hum of machines and the quiet conversations of yers and staff.

    A few of his teammates were already there, immersed in their recovery routines. Joe Gomez was in one of the hydrotherapy pools, his imposing frame rxed in the warm water. Nearby, Andrew Robertson was receiving a massage, his face a picture of contentment as the therapist worked on his muscles.

    Zachary nodded to them in greeting before moving to the cryotherapy chamber. The extreme cold would help reduce inmmation and muscle soreness umted during the intense match against Crystal Pce. He stepped into the chamber, the icy air biting at his skin, and stayed there for the rmended duration, focusing on his breathing to endure the cold.

    After the cryotherapy session, he moved to one of the massage tables, feeling every knot in his muscles unraveling beneath the therapist''s expert touch. Thebination of treatments was tailored for his quick recovery, ensuring he''d be in top form for the following training sessions and uing games.

    The recovery session ended with a blissful soak in the hydrotherapy pool. The warm water and gentle jets worked wonders on Zachary''s muscles, leaving him feeling utterly refreshed.

    As he left the recovery center, he checked the time on his phone and noted that it was already past 2:00 PM, meaning he had less than an hour to rx before attending Klopp''s post-match tactical review meeting.

    He went to the yer lounge area, where he found a quiet corner to spend his free time. Pulling out his phone, he dove into thetest sports news, particrly intrigued by the results of the other Premier League games over the weekend.

    Manchester City had continued their superb form, demolishing Huddersfield with a 6:1 victory. Brighton pulled off a surprise, defeating Manchester United 3:2, while Chelsea edged out Arsenal in a thrilling 3:2 win.

    As Zachary read through the results, he noted how the Premier League table was already shaping up. Liverpool was at the top, ahead of Manchester City on goal difference. Both teams had six points, but Liverpool had a superior goal difference of eightpared to Man City''s seven.

    Reading these updates gave Zachary a sense of both excitement and urgency. Thepetition was fierce, and maintaining their lead would require consistent performance. The realization fueled his determination, making him more eager for the uing tactical review.

    As the time ticked towards 3:00 PM, Zachary finally put away his phone and walked to the tactical briefing room. He found the atmosphere in the room a mix of focused anticipation and camaraderie. His teammates were already gathered, chatting quietly among themselves. But the room soon fell silent as J¨¹rgen Klopp entered, exuding his usual blend of intensity and charisma.

    "Good afternoon,ds," Klopp began, his voice steady andmanding. "First, let me say congrattions on a fantastic winst night. You yed with heart, skill, and determination. Exactly what we need to see."

    A round of apuse filled the room, the yers exchanging smiles and nods of appreciation. Klopp''s praise was always motivating, and moreover, it set a positive tone for the meeting.

    "Now," Klopp continued, "let''s dive into the tactical review. We did many things right, but there''s always room for improvement. That''s what makes us better every day."

    He walked to the screen at the front of the room and started disying clips from the match. The first highlight was the penalty won by Sadio Man¨¦ in the first half.

    "Sadio, great work to win that penalty," Klopp said. "You showed excellent movement and awareness to create that opportunity. And Milner, well taken."

    He reyed the buildup to the penalty, emphasizing the intery between Man¨¦ and Milner. The yers watched intently, absorbing the details.

    "Now, let''s talk about our passing," Klopp said, moving to another clip. "We need to make it faster and more precise. Watch this sequence¡ªtoo many touches and not much movement off the ball. We have to be quicker, more decisive."

    "We need fewer touches¡ªcontrol the ball with one touch and pass with the next. Additionally, we need more movement off the ball. yers like Gini, Naby, and Hendo, your movement is crucial. Create space and give options to the ball carrier. And Trent, Robbo¡ªpush up the wings, stretch their defense. Always be ready to ovep and provide width."

    He pointed to the screen, showing specific examples where the team could have executed these principles better. "Watch here. Too static, not enough runs into space. If we move more, it forces their defense to react and opens up gaps we can exploit."

    The clip showed a moment when Liverpool''s attack slowed down due to hesitancy andck of quick passing. Klopp paused the video at critical moments, pointing out where yers could have made better decisions.

    "Roberto!" Klopp then addressed Firmino. "You had a couple of good chances but failed to convert. You must improve and be more clinical. When you''re one-on-one with the keeper, don''t hesitate. Trust your instincts and finish strong."

    Firmino nodded, understanding the importance of Klopp''s advice. The manager''s feedback was direct but constructive, aimed at improving the abilities of the yers and the team.

    "Zachary," Klopp said, turning his attention to him, "your debut was outstanding. Your positioning, decision-making, and those goals¡ªexceptional work, truly."

    The room apuded, making Zachary feel a warm flush of pride. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "But," Klopp continued, "we can always improve. You have great vision and ball control. Use that to help us transition faster. Look for those quick passes that can break the lines. And defensively, keep working on your positioning to close down spaces."

    Absorbing Klopp''s advice, Zachary nodded eagerly. Klopp''s blend of praise and constructive criticism fueled his determination to reach new heights.

    As the meeting went on, Klopp''s passion and tactical insight shone through as he delved into more areas for improvement. He meticulously analyzed each yer''s performance and offered tailored feedback to help elevate their game. His determination to ensure the team''s continuous growth was palpable in every word he spoke.

    Finally, as the clock ticked toward 4:30 PM, Klopp concluded the tactical review with a few powerful remarks. "Remember, we''re up against the best," he emphasized. "Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham¡ªthey''re formidable. But so are we. If we stick to our game, stay focused, and back each other up, there''s nothing we can''t achieve."

    Looking ahead, Klopp outlined the ns for the uing week. "Our next match is against Brighton on Saturday, the 25th," he announced. "I hope everyone''s been prioritizing recovery and gearing up for the busy schedule. Tomorrow, expect a light training session. Wednesday and Thursday, we''ll fine-tune our tactics and game n for Brighton. Then¡ªon Friday, we''ll polish everything up in a final session. I want us sharp and hungry to grab those three points."

    The yers left the meeting room with renewed energy and a clear understanding of their goals. Zachary was among them, feeling even more determined to excel at Liverpool.

 Chapter 693 The Drive for Greatness and Match Day Anticipation

    Chapter 693 The Drive for Greatness and Match Day Anticipation

    The schedule for Zachary and his teammates intensified over the next three days as they prepared for Liverpool''s next game, a home match against Brighton & Hove Albion. Zachary, determined to maintain his ster form, dove headfirst into the intense training regimen.

    His days always started early, at around 6:00 AM. Each morning, he rolled out his yoga mat in the serene ambiance of his spacious bedroom in Woolton. He would go through his yoga routine, stretching the muscles still sore from the previous day''s exertions. Afterward, he would enjoy a light but nutritious breakfast before heading to Anfield.

    The training sessions under J¨¹rgen Klopp were grueling but invigorating. Klopp''s relentless drive and passion for the game were always infectious. The team repeatedly worked on quick passing drills, focusing on reducing touches and increasing the pace of their y.

    Throughout the training sessions over the three days, Klopp emphasized the importance of movement off the ball, instructing yers like Georginio Wijnaldum, Naby Keita, and Jordan Henderson to create more space and provide options for the ball carrier. He also pushed the full-backs, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson, to stretch the opposition''s defense with ovepping runs.

    Following the field sessions, Zachary would head to the gym for strength and conditioning under the watchful eye of Andreas Kornmayer, Liverpool''s head of fitness and conditioning. Kornmayer''s sessions were meticulously nned to maintain and enhance the yers'' physical resilience. Zachary continued working on various exercises, from weightlifting to plyometrics, designed to build explosive power and stamina.

    In the afternoons, Zachary would attend one-on-one video sessions with the club''s analysts. They meticulously reviewed his past performances, breaking down every movement, pass, and shot. The analysts provided insights and pointed out areas for improvement, helping Zachary refine his game further.

    Driven by his ambition to be one of football''s greats, Zachary would also avail extra time for personalized training. After the regr practice sessions in the evening, he would stay back on the turfs to practice free-kicks and other individual skills. The quiet solitude of the empty training ground allowed him to focus entirely on honing his technique to unbelievable levels. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Dinner at Melwood was always a wee reprieve, offering a chance to refuel with dishes like baked chicken breast, sweet potato mash, and plenty of vegetables. The camaraderie among teammates during these meals helped strengthen their bond. Then, by 9:30 PM, Zachary would return to his mansion, ready to rest and recharge for the next day.

    The three days passed just like that, and before he knew it, Friday arrived, bringing a much-needed rest day for the team. But even then, Zachary didn''t waste his time. With Liverpool''s match against Brighton just a day away, he spent Friday morning at Melwood doing more personalized training and going through physiotherapy sessions to ensure his body was in peak condition.

    The hours flew by, and only after finishing his lunch did Zachary decide to rest in the yer lounge. But just as he was leaving the cafeteria, his phone buzzed with a call from Kristin, his PA.

    "Hi, Zachary," Kristin''s cheerful voice came through. "I''ve finished organizing everything. The paperwork is done, and I''ll begin transferring your important items, like your medals and des, to Liverpool tomorrow. I''m coordinating with Ray, and we should be able to handle everything without any challenges."

    Zachary felt a wave of relief and gratitude. "Thank you, Kristin. You''ve been amazing. I''ll take you out to properly express my gratitude when you return to Liverpool."

    Kristinughed lightly. "I''ll hold you to that. Oh... and I''ve spoken to my grandfather about your intention to build an academy on your grandmother''s property. He''s on board and even promised to contribute financially. We can start nning the project and bring in the stakeholders from Bukavu as soon as you''re ready."

    "Thank you again, Kristin. You''re a lifesaver," Zachary said, feeling a surge of excitement about the academy project. "Could you organize a proposal for the project and send it to me as soon as possible?"

    "Of course," Kristin replied, her tone professional. "I''ll get started on it right away."

    The conversation then turned to Zachary''s experience in Liverpool, from settling into his new mansion to bonding with his teammates. Throughout the call, Kristin''s encouraging words fueled his confidence. Then, as they wrapped up, Kristin wished Zachary luck for the uing game against Brighton.

    After ending the call, Zachary felt a surge of motivation. He realized that talking to Kristin had be something he genuinely looked forward to, and a bright smile lit up his face. Roberto Firmino, who was leaving the cafeteria, gave him a puzzled look and asked what had him grinning.

    Zachary quickly regained hisposure, mustering a solemn expression. "Just hyped for the game tomorrow," he replied. "Can''t wait to take on Brighton."

    Firmino nodded understandably. "I know the feeling all too well." They shared augh, silently acknowledging their mutual anticipation. They then headed to the yer lounge area, ready to spend the rest of the afternoon together.

    As the sun dipped below the horizon, Zachary sat down to savor an early dinner that included sulent lean turkey, refreshing quinoa sd, and mouthwatering roasted vegetables. While enjoying this feast, he sharedughs and stories with his teammates, deepening their bond through mutual goals.

    By 6:30 PM, he bid farewell to thest few yers at Melwood, feeling the excitement and anticipation for the uing big game.

    Since he didn''t have his own car yet, Ray kindly offered him a ride back to his mansion again. During the journey, they engaged in light-hearted conversation, with Ray regaling him with amusing anecdotes about Liverpool''s rich history and passionate fanbase.

    Zachary arrived home by 7:15 PM and settled in for a rxing evening. He indulged in his favorite sports manga, asionally sipping orange juice and savoring nutritious snacks.

    Time flew by, and as 9:30 PM approached, Zachary''s phone buzzed with a message from Klopp: "Rest early,ds. Be ready for tomorrow."

    Zachary smiled, marveling at how seriously Klopp took his job, even reminding his yers to rest early on the nights before match days. Feeling a surge of anticipation for the game, he began centering himself by recalling some of the tactics he had honed with his teammates over the past few days.

    With a focused mind, Zachary headed to the bathroom and took a quick shower, letting the warm water rx his muscles and clear his thoughts. He reyed Klopp''s tactical advice, visualizing the passes, movements, and strategies they had practiced. His mind buzzed with the anticipation of executing those ns on the field.

    After drying himself off, Zachary jumped into bed, feeling rxed and invigorated. As he settled under the covers, he closed his eyes, allowing the calmness to wash over him. With the thought of ying under the enthusiastic Anfield crowd, he let sleep carry him into dreams of victory.

    The night passed uneventfully, and morning arrived. Zachary woke upte, savoring the rare chance to sleep in.

    He followed his usual morning routine, including a gentle yoga session to stretch his muscles, a nutritious breakfast of oatmeal with fresh berries and a protein shake, and freshening up with a long, hot shower. The routine helped him focus and shake off any lingering grogginess.

    He then spent the rest of the morning lounging at home, reading a book, and asionally ncing at his phone to check thetest sports news. The tranquility of his new mansion in Woolton, with its expansive rooms and serene ambiance, made for a perfect pre-match retreat.

    At around midday, Ray arrived to drive him to Melwood. Zachary appreciated Ray''spany, especially his easygoing nature and wealth of stories about Liverpool that always lightened the mood. The drive through Liverpool was smooth, the city buzzing with the anticipation of match day.

    When they arrived at Melwood, Zachary was greeted by the familiar buzz of activity. Inside, the atmosphere was charged with the usual pre-match excitement. Zachary joined his teammates for lunch, the camaraderie evident as they shared light-hearted banter and discussed the uing match. The meal was carefully prepared to provide optimal nutrition: grilled turkey breast, sweet potato mash, and plenty of roasted vegetables.

    When they arrived at Melwood, Zachary was greeted by the familiar buzz of activity. Inside, the atmosphere was charged with the usual pre-match excitement. Zachary joined his teammates for lunch, the camaraderie evident as they shared light-hearted banter and discussed the uing match. The meal was carefully prepared to provide optimal nutrition: grilled turkey breast, sweet potato mash, and plenty of roasted vegetables.

    After lunch, the team headed to the tactics room for Klopp''s pre-match address. The room was filled with the hum of anticipation as the yers took their seats, their attention focused on therge screen at the front.

    Klopp entered, his presencemanding respect and attention. He greeted the yers with a broad smile, his energy infectious.

    "Alright,ds," he began, his voice carrying a mix of warmth and authority. "Today we face Brighton. They''ve shown they can be a tough side, so we need to be at our best. Before we delve into the tactics, let''s look at the starting line-up."

    He clicked a remote, and the line-up appeared on the screen. Zachary''s heart raced as he scanned the list, and a wave of excitement washed over him when he saw his name in the starting eleven. This would be his first start for Liverpool.

    Klopp continued, "Congrattions to those starting today. Zachary, you''ve earned your spot. Let''s make the most of it."

    Zachary nodded, a mix of pride and determination surging through him. He observed the line-ups and noted that they would shape up in Liverpool''s custom 4-3-3 formation, with him partnering with James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum in midfield. His hopes soared as he started visualizing how he would fit into the squad, picturing the fluid movements and intricate passes that would characterize their y.

 Chapter 694 Game Day Rituals

    <span style="disy:none">Chapter 694 Game Day Rituals

    The atmosphere in the tactical briefing room was tense but focused. The yers, including Zachary, leaned forward in their seats, their eyes fixed on Klopp as he moved through the game n and tactics.

    The starting line-ups disyed on the big screen highlighted Liverpool''s 4-3-3 formation, with Zachary partnering James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum in midfield. Klopp''s voice filled the room,manding attention as he outlined how the team would shape up on defense, during transitions, and while on the attack.

    As Klopp continued, Zachary''s mind continued racing, visualizing how he would fit into the team''s strategy. His high game intelligence worked like the best of charms, and he could almost feel the rhythm of the game, the ebb and flow of their coordinated movements.

    The minutes shed by, and before anyone knew it, 3:00 PM arrived. Klopp wrapped up the briefing with a few more encouraging words. "Give it your all,ds. Another resounding victory today keeps us at the top of the table. Let''s make it happen."

    The yers dispersed to begin their final game preparations. Zachary, Roberto Firmino, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Sadio Man¨¦, and several other yers on the starting line-up headed to the cafeteria for a light snack. They needed to keep their energy levels high without feeling bloated during the intense game. The menu included oatmeal with berries, a mix of nuts, and hydration drinks to keep them fueled and ready.

    After the snack, Zachary parted ways with his teammates and made a beeline for the yer lounge. He spent the next hour rxing and mentally preparing for his first start for Liverpool. He visualized his movements on the pitch, the passes he would make, and the tackles he would need to execute.

    As the clock ticked towards 4:15 PM, Zachary donned the official tracksuit provided by the club and packed his bag with his football gear, including his boots, shin guards, and other essentials. He put on his headphones, letting the music center him, and exited the yer lounge.

    He soon arrived in the parking lot and began chitchatting with his teammates as they boarded the bus for the short journey from Melwood to Anfield.

    Soon enough, the bus, escorted by police, was moving through the streets of Liverpool. Zachary looked out the window, taking in the sights of the city. Fans lined the streets, waving and cheering as the bus passed by. The energy was palpable, sending a thrill through Zachary''s veins.

    Inside the bus, the atmosphere was a mix of concentration and camaraderie. Some yers listened to music, others chatted quietly, and a few exchangedst-minute tips and encouragement.

    As they gradually approached Anfield, the atmosphere outside the bus became even more explosive. The iconic stadium loomed ahead, and the crowd''s roar could already be heard. Fans held up banners and scarves, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation as they lined the streets.

    The bus eventually pulled into the stadium''s parking lot, and the yers disembarked, greeted by the resounding cheers of the fans.

    Zachary felt a surge of adrenaline as he stepped off the bus. This was it. His first start for Liverpool, under the watchful eyes of thousands of passionate supporters.

    He waved to some of the fans, taking in their infectious enthusiasm as they yelled out his name. The cacophony of chants and cheers echoed in the air, filling Zachary with pride and determination.

    Following his teammates into the stadium, they walked through the tunnel leading into the heart of Anfield. The walls were adorned with iconic photographs and memorabilia, capturing the storied history of Liverpool FC.

    Each step forward seemed to pulse with the energy of past glories and legendary yers. The air was thick with anticipation, the distant roar of the crowd a constant reminder of the stakes.

    Soon enough, they arrived in the dressing room. Zachary stepped inside and took a moment to absorb his surroundings.

    The dressing room at Anfield was a blend of modern luxury and tradition. The walls were painted in Liverpool''s signature red, adorned with the club''s crest and motivational quotes from legendary figures. The space was meticulously organized, with each yer''s kit meticulously arranged at their respective spots. Personalized lockers,plete with nametes, housed their gear and personal items.

    Zachary''s eyes roamed over the room. He saw his name above a locker, his kit with the iconic jersey number 8 hanging pristine and ready. He felt a rush of excitement as he approached it, the weight of the moment settling in.

    Around him, his teammates were already getting into the zone. Virgil van Dijk was methodically taping his ankles while James Milner offered somest-minute advice to Roberto Firmino. Sadio Man¨¦ and Mohamed Sh shared a quiet conversation, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

    Minutes stretched on, and after donning their warm-up gear, the team headed to the field for their pre-match dynamic warm-up. The moment they stepped onto the pitch, the roar of the Anfield crowd hit them like a wave.

    The sight of the iconic Kop stand, packed with fervent supporters, sent a thrill through Zachary. He jogged out with his teammates, stretching and performing various drills under the watchful eyes of Klopp and the coaching staff. The warm-up was intense but focused, with each yer getting into the rhythm and mindset required for the game.

    Once the warm-up wasplete, they returned to the dressing room to make theirst-minute preparations. Soon enough, the room buzzed with nervous energy and calm preparation. yers were stretching, donning their red match jerseys, or engaging in brief, focused discussions about the game n.

    Zachary could feel the team''s collective focus, each yer mentally preparing for the battle ahead. He also began his pre-match routine, slipping into his match jersey, the iconic number 8, with a sense of reverence. The fabric felt like a second skin, each piece of gear perfectly fitted to his form.

    Heced up his boots, the familiar ritual grounding him even as his excitement mounted. The buzz of the crowd outside grew louder, a constant reminder of the fans eagerly awaiting their performance.

    Zachary took a deep breath, centering himself. His mind reyed the tactics they had drilled over the past few days, visualizing his role on the pitch and how he would contribute to the team''s sess.

    Just in time, Klopp took center stage in the room with amanding presence thatmanded immediate attention. "Alright,ds, gather around," he said, his voice steady and inspiring. The yers formed a tight circle, their focus entirely on their manager.

    "We''ve gone over the game n, and I know you''re all ready. Remember, quick passes, reduce the touches, and keep the movement fluid. Trent and Andy! Exploit the nks. Gini, Milner! Distribute the ball quickly. Bobby, stayposed in front of the goal. Make every shot count."

    He turned to Zachary, his eyes locking onto his with intensity. "Zach, you''ve got this. y your game, but remember the team. You''re starting for a reason. Show them why."

    The words resonated deeply with Zachary, fueling his determination. Klopp''s final words were a mixture of strategy and motivation, urging the team to give their all. "This is our house. Let''s show them what it means to y for Liverpool. Give it everything you''ve got."

    With Klopp''s words echoing in the yers'' minds, they dispersed toplete their final preparations. Those who needed to make ast stop at the washrooms did so swiftly, and those who hadn''t finished donning their boots finalized their preparations.

    Zachary used the time to ensure his boots were properlyced up, methodically tightening eachce while centering himself. He took a few deep breaths, visualizing the game ahead and the role he would y.

    Finally, as the clock ticked towards 6:16 PM, the yers filed out of the dressing room with a resounding cheer that echoed their collective determination. Zachary''s excitement spiked, his heart pounding as he followed his teammates through the tunnel. The walls vibrated with the crowd''s energy above, and the atmosphere was charged with anticipation.

    They soon lined up before the exit, and Zachary briefly nced at their opponents, the Brighton yers dressed in their striped blue and white kits. They all looked sharp and eager, ready to give it their all.

    Zachary soon turned away as the referee began the final checks of the yers'' boots and other essentials. The tension was palpable, the anticipation almost tangible in the air.

    As the clock pointed to 6:20 PM, the referee finally led the two teams onto the pitch. The crowd''s cheers and chants hit a crescendo, an explosion of sound that seemed to shake the very foundations of Anfield.

    The famous Kop stand was a sea of red, with fans waving scarves and banners, singing their hearts out in anticipation of the action just about tomence. The energy was infectious, and Zachary felt a rush of adrenaline as he stepped onto the field. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    The sight was breathtaking. The perfectly manicured grass, the towering stands filled with passionate supporters, and the sheer magnitude of the stadium allbined to create a scene that felt almost surreal. Although it was still daylight, the floodlights were already on, casting a brilliant light over the pitch to ensure every corner was evenly illuminated and enhancing the vibrant atmosphere.

    Zachary could feel the history and tradition of Liverpool FC coursing through him as he lined up with his teammates for the pre-game routines. The chants of "You''ll Never Walk Alone" reverberated through the stadium, a powerful reminder of the legacy he was now a part of. He nced at his teammates, each focused and ready, and felt a deep sense of camaraderie and unity.

    Like always, Zachary took a deep breath, the noise from the crowd fading into the background as his mind zeroed in on the task at hand. This was his moment, his chance to prove himself and contribute to Liverpool''s pursuit of glory once again.

 Chapter 695 Commanding the Midfield

    Chapter 695 Commanding the Midfield

    The referee blew the whistle at exactly 6:30 PM, kick-starting the eagerly awaited match between Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion.

    Roberto Firmino, Liverpool''s center-forward, already positioned at the center spot, booted the ball and guided it back towards his midfield. Georginio Wijnaldum swiftly picked it up before ying it towards the left nk to find Andrew Robertson, Liverpool''s left-back.

    By then, the Brighton yers were already flooding forward, with Glenn Murray, their center-forward, leading the charge to high press. But Andrew Robertson remainedposed, ying the ball to Joe Gomez in defense.

    As Gomez received the ball, Zachary immediately ran back into Liverpool''s defensive midfield pocket of space, making himself avable for his teammate. And just as expected, Gomez spotted him and yed the ball to Zachary.

    Zachary, as usual, received the ball with meticulous control, deftly taking it away from Yves Bissouma, one of Brighton''s central midfielders. Klopp''s words shed into his mind, urging him to transition quickly into offense. He looked up the field and immediately spotted Mohamed Sh initiating a spirited run down the right nk.

    Zachary didn''t hesitate, and before any opponent could close him down, he unleashed a lofted pass with the outside of his boot, aiming for the unmarked pocket of space just ahead of Sh.

    Zachary''s incredible passing skills were evident as the ball curled and descended just in time for Sh to chest it forward, beyond the reach of Ga?tan Bong, Brighton''s left-back.

    Sh swiftly initiated a foot race, leaving the defenders in his wake before cutting into the pitch and sprinting towards the box. Leon Balogun, Brighton''s center-back, charged forward to stop the attack. But Sh remainedposed, taking the defender on, turning and shifting before unleashing a low drive towards the inside of the near post.

    The ball was destined for the back of the. But fortunately for Brighton, Mathew Ryan, the goalkeeper, stretched fully and managed to get his fingertips to graze the ball. He deflected it from its intended path and saved his team from conceding a goal in the 2nd minute.

    But the danger was still looming for Brighton as the ball deflected off the goalpost and rebounded into the box, attracting attention from the nearby yers. Sh tried to go for it, but Shane Duffy, Brighton''s other center-back, was faster, booting the ball away to clear the danger.

    Duffy''s clearance, though, wasn''t the best, and the ball only traveled low towards the left wing, where Sadio Man¨¦ intercepted it. Man¨¦ controlled it deftly before swiftly ying it into the middle to find Zachary, who had already rushed into an unmarked pocket of space close to the edge of the final third.

    Zachary felt a surge of adrenaline as he received the ball. His SSS-grade Ball Control was immediately on full disy as he elegantly skipped past Dale Stephens, Brighton''s defensive midfielder, with a simple change of pace and only two touches.

    Moreover, his SSS-grade spatial awareness was already working wonders, and he was aware of all the positions of his teammates and opponents. He took only a split instant to decide his next move and yed the ball to his left, aiming to connect back with Sadio Man¨¦, who was about to rush past a defender and race towards the box.

    Zachary''s timing and passing showcased his incredible football instincts again as the ball glided just inches away from the outstretched foot of the defender before arriving in the sprinting path of Sadio Man¨¦.

    Mane did not disappoint, quickly taking it in his stride before rushing into the box. Mathew Ryan, Brighton''s keeper, scrambled to close him down, but Man¨¦ had other ns.

    Man¨¦ yed the ball into the middle to find the unmarked Roberto Firmino, who turned away from his marker and pulled the trigger. He fired the ball past the defender and into the top right corner to put Liverpool ahead in the 3rd minute.

    The cheers around the stadium hit a crescendo as Firmino raced off to celebrate Liverpool''s first goal for the evening. The energy was electric, with fans chanting and waving scarves in a sea of red. Zachary''s heart pounded with excitement and pride as he joined his teammates in the celebration, sharing high-fives and encouraging words.

    -----

    Meanwhile, the rest of Anfield was also on fire just after Roberto Firmino opened the scoring for Liverpool against Brighton & Hove Albion in the 3rd minute. The stands erupted with fans waving red gs and chanting excitedly, celebrating their team''s great start.

    But it wasn''t just the fans who were thrilled. The matchmentators, Conor McNamara and Danny Mills, were also going hyper and couldn''t hide their excitement.

    "Firmino scores and Liverpool takes an early lead in the 3rd minute. And what a brilliant build-up that was!" McNamara eximed.

    "Absolutely, Conor. You have to credit the vision and execution from the midfield. Zachary''s involvement was crucial there. His pass to Man¨¦ was perfectly timed, and Man¨¦''sposure to find Firmino was top-notch," Danny Mills added, his voice brimming with admiration.

    "Zachary has once again proven himself a fantastic addition to this Liverpool side. His awareness and precision are incredible. He spotted Man¨¦''s run and delivered that pass with pinpoint uracy," McNamara continued.

    "Indeed, it''s not just about the assist; it''s about his decision-making and incredible passing. He can spot things that other yers find hard to spot on the field and make those decisive passes, and that''s why he''s fitting in perfectly with Klopp''s system," Mills noted.

    -----

    Thementators'' voices soon faded into the background as the game restarted. Zachary''s heart pounded with even more anticipation after his pivotal role in the opening goal. Fueled by this momentum, he was more determined than ever to contribute further to his team''s efforts.

    On the other side, Brighton, hungry for an equalizer, surged forward, but Liverpool''s yers, imbued with relentless energy, were ready to meet them head-on.

    The midfield trio of Zachary, Milner, and Wijnaldumbined seamlessly with the front three of Mohamed Sh, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Man¨¦. They pressed high, closed down passingnes, intercepted passes, and quickly regained possession, disrupting Brighton''s rhythm. The ball was soon back in Liverpool''s control, and they moved it around efficiently, dictating the proceedings with confidence. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Zachary continued relying on his SSS-grade fitness to remain integral to Liverpool''s machinery. He wasn''t dribbling much, but his performance was ster.

    Always finding unmarked pockets of space in midfield, he received passes from his teammates and unleashed through balls to the forwards. His one-touch football was on full disy, showing another dimension of his game as he controlled the midfield like a true maestro. And with him as the engine, Liverpool''s attack became even more lethal as the minutes ticked by.

    During the 8th minute, Zachary linked up with James Milner in midfield, then unleashed an overhead ball over the Brighton defense, finding Mohamed Sh on the right nk. Sh, ever the magician, drove towards the box and sent a low cross into the area.

    Roberto Firmino slid in, hoping to score, but Brighton''s keeper made a crucial save, deflecting the ball out of y for a corner kick. Undeterred, Liverpool continued their relentless pressure, attacking vigorously and creating several half chances.

    By the 23rd minute, their efforts finally bore fruit. Trent Alexander-Arnold initiated a move with a stunning cross-field pass from the right nk, finding Sadio Man¨¦ on the opposite side of the pitch.

    The pass took most Brighton yers out of the equation, allowing Man¨¦ to control the ball and drive towards the box unchallenged. Man¨¦, everposed, cut towards the box before unselfishly squaring the ball to Zachary, who was arriving at the edge of the area.

    Zachary sensed a Brighton defender closing in as he received the ball. But he remainedposed, and with a deft touch, he controlled the ball midstride and then sted it past the defender. His technique was immacte, sending the ball curling on an incredible trajectory before grazing the post and finding the back of the.

    It was just the 24th minute, but the score was already 2:0 in favor of Liverpool.

    The stadium erupted in cheers as Zachary''s teammates swarmed him in celebration. Contentment and pride washed over him as he had taken another step toward cementing his ce on the Liverpool side.

    It was his third goal for Liverpool, yet he had only made his debut in the previous game against Crystal Pce. Happiness surged through him, but amidst the euphoria, he mentally warned himself to keep his feet firmly on the ground. This was just the beginning, and he knew he needed to continue putting up more performances like this for Liverpool.

    Soon enough, the game continued after the brief celebrations, with Liverpool maintaining dominance and dictating the tempo. Zachary, now even more confident on the ball, orchestrated y from midfield.

    Hisposure and vision allowed Liverpool to dominate possession, with the team holding over 75% of the ball. The front three of Sh, Firmino, and Man¨¦ were sharper than ever, while the defense stood solid and unyielding.

    Liverpool moved like a well-oiled machine against Brighton, passing with precision and pressing with intensity. The whole of Anfield could feel the growing certainty of another thrashing by Liverpool as the minutes ticked by.

 Chapter 696 A Maestros Masterclass

    Chapter 696 A Maestro''s Masterss

    The clock gradually ticked into the 32nd minute, yet Liverpool''s dominance over Brighton remained unyielding.

    Zachary, exuding confidence, received a precise pass from Georginio Wijnaldum. As he controlled the ball, his mind whirred with possibilities. Zachary quickly surveyed the field, noting James Milner making a run. Trusting his instincts and honed decision-making abilities, Zachary knew he needed to act swiftly.

    Lightning-fast thoughts shed through his mind as he recognized Milner''s intention long before the veteran fullymitted. "Milner is making a run. I need to find that gap."

    With swift footwork followed by a deft touch, he skipped past a Brighton midfielder and released the ball perfectly into Milner''s stride.

    The seasoned veteran drove forward, his experience shining through as he connected with Zachary''s well-timed through ball. Milner thenid it off to Sadio Man¨¦, who, with his characteristic agility, unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box.

    However, the Brighton goalkeeper rose to the asion and stretched fully. He parried the shot away with an outstretched hand, denying Man¨¦ what would have been a spectacr goal.

    The game then continued, and three minutester, Brighton tried to w their way back into the game with a counter-attack. Fortunately for Liverpool, the Red''s defense, marshaled by the imperious Virgil van Dijk, stood resolute.

    Van Dijk effortlessly intercepted the final ball to the Brighton center-forward, hisposure a testament to his defensive prowess. He quickly passed it to Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right nk, whose pinpoint uracy quickly shone as he found Zachary Bemba in midfield with a lightning-fast release.

    Zachary connected with the pass and immediately tried to exhibit his vision andposure again. He noted a number 11 red shirt on the move through the right nk, and with a brilliant through ball, he threaded it perfectly to Mohamed Sh. The Egyptian forward sprinted towards the goal, but to the relief of the Brighton defense, he was narrowly gged offside.

    The proceedings then moved forward, and by the 38th minute, Liverpool''s relentless pressure earned them a corner. Trent Alexander-Arnold showcased his trademark passing precision by delivering a curling cross into the box.

    Chaos erupted in the box as yers of both teams went for the ball.

    Brighton tried to defend, but Zachary Bemba disyed his aerial prowess and leaped high above the defenders before nting a header towards the goal. The crowd immediately held its breath as his attempt sailed just over the bar, a narrow miss that left Anfield buzzing with excitement.

    The game then continued at a high temp, and as the 42nd minute approached, Zachary was again at the heart of Liverpool''s attacking y. Intercepting a stray Brighton pass, he quickly initiated a fast break by unleashing a fast-time pass to Milner.

    Milner, always reliable, found Sh. The Egyptian winger, known for his deadly finishing, cut inside and aimed a curling shot towards the far post. The ball whizzed past the goal, just inches from nestling into the.

    More minutes ticked by, and as the clock struck 45 minutes, Brighton''s struggle to cope with Liverpool''s pace and intensity was even more evident.

    Zachary Bemba, still orchestrating y from midfield, executed a quick one-two with Wijnaldum. Then, spotting Man¨¦ making a darting run into the box, Bemba delivered a perfectly weighted pass into the forward''s sprinting path just before he could be offside.

    Zachary''s impressive passing was mirrored by Man¨¦, who controlled the ball with sublime skill and slotted it past the Brighton keeper with a clinical finish to find the back of the. Anfield erupted in celebration as Liverpool extended their lead to 3-0, with Zachary registering his first assist for that match.

    The halftime whistle blew soon after, and the teams retreated to their respective dressing rooms. The break was brief, and soon, the second halfmenced with Liverpool continuing from where they left off in the first half. They relied on impressive fast-paced midfield touches and exceptional wing y by Sh and Man¨¦ to apply even more pressure on Brighton.

    By the 52nd minute, they had the opponents boxed into their half, holding on for dear life. And just as well, Zachary and Wijnaldum againbined brilliantly to control the midfield, creating space for the forwards. Sh, receiving the ball on the edge of the box, unleashed a powerful shot. However, the ball was deflected for a corner, another opportunity for Liverpool to press their advantage.

    Alexander-Arnold stepped up to take the corner, delivering a precise cross that found the towering figure of van Dijk. The Dutchman''s header was on target, but the Brighton keeper made a crucial save, pushing the ball back into the box.

    Leon Balogun, one of the Brighton center-backs, quickly booted the ball away from the area. But the danger was far from over for Brighton, as the just-intercepted ball fell to Zachary.

    Zachary was as confident as ever as he met the ball with a first-time swing of his boot, attempting a long-range shot from the edge of the box. However, the ball sailed just over the crossbar, and he could only ce his hands behind his head, regretting the missed opportunity.

    The game continued, and by the 62nd minute, Liverpool made their first substitution. Naby Keita came on for James Milner, immediately integrating into the midfield trio.

    Keita''s energy and dynamism ensured that Liverpool maintained their high tempo and control over the game. And only three minutester, in the 65th minute, hebined with Zachary Bemba, who showcased his exceptional talent again.

    Intercepting a pass, Keita found Zachary, who immediately dribbled past two Brighton yers with a simple side-step and a change of pace. Then, with the crowd cheering him on, he sent a precise pass over the midfield, hoping to find Sh on the right wing. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Sh effortlessly connected with the ball before cutting into the pitch and towards the box with a blistering pace. He then delivered a low cross to Firmino, who uncharacteristically missed and failed to connect. He could only turn his head and watch the ball sh past him and towards the other side of the box.

    Fortunately for Liverpool, the attacking passage of y was not over as Man¨¦ was already sprinting towards the far post to finish the move. The Senegaleseforward found the back of the with aposed touch, making it 4-0 for Liverpool.

    Buoyed by another goal, Liverpool''s dominance continued into the 72nd minute. It was clear to anyone watching that Brighton''s defense was under siege, struggling to contain Liverpool''s relentless attacks.

    In the meantime, Zachary continued to dictate the y, his vision and passing uracy on full disy even as the game approached its closing stages. He continued feeding Sh and Man¨¦ with abrupt and well-timed through passes, splitting the Brighton defense again and again.

    -----

    As the match entered its final 10 minutes, Coach J¨¹rgen Klopp watched intently from the sidelines, his eyes following every move with renewed satisfaction and admiration. His yers showed no signs of slowing down. The energy and intensity were palpable on the field, a testament to the team''s relentless spirit and tactical discipline even though they were already ahead by four goals.

    In the 82nd minute, Klopp''s attention was again drawn to Zachary Bemba, who had remained a revtion throughout the match. Winning the ball in midfield, Bemba drove forward, his movements exuding boundless confidence and immacte control.

    He exchanged a quick one-two with Keita as he circumvented the defenders and rushed towards the Brighton box like the wind. Dale Stephens, the opposing defensive midfielder, tried to close him down. But Zachary effortlessly stepped past him with a simple change of pace before threading a pass to Alexander-Arnold, who had made a forward run.

    Alexander-Arnold received the pass with a touch of finesse and immediately pulled the trigger from the edge of the box. He fired a shot past the keeper''s outstretched arms and into the top corner to score another goal for Liverpool during the 82nd minute.

    Anfield erupted in celebration as Liverpool made it 5-0, with Bemba notching his second assist for the match. Klopp''s smile widened, his belief in the young midfielder''s potential further solidified.

    By the 85th minute, Liverpool''s high-pressing game continued to suffocate Brighton, allowing them no space to maneuver. Klopp marveled at the team''s cohesion and discipline, attributes he had drilled into them tirelessly.

    Klopp also repeatedly noted Zachary''s relentless energy and precise passing that kept the pressure on the visitors. His influence on the game was undeniable, orchestrating y and breaking down Brighton''s attempts to build any meaningful attack.

    Klopp could see the embodiment of his footballing philosophy in Zachary''s performance. The young midfielder was not just ying; he was conducting a symphony, with each pass and move adding to the harmony of Liverpool''s gamey. The coach felt a deep sense of pride watching his new signing dictate the tempo, his vision and technical skills shining brightly repeatedly again and again.

    The closing minutes soon passed, and as the final whistle blew in the 94th minute, the scoreboard read Liverpool 5-0 Brighton. It was a dominant performance, with Zachary Bemba emerging as the undisputed star of the match.

    Klopp pped enthusiastically, his heart swelling with pride. Zachary''s vision,posure, and technical skills had been instrumental in Liverpool''s victory, contributing significantly with a goal, two assists, and numerous key ys. Alongside Milner and Wijnaldum, he had controlled the midfield, creating many chances and helping Liverpool maintain over 75% possession.

    Walking onto the pitch, Klopp embraced his yers, his words of praise and encouragement resonating deeply. When he reached Bemba, he gave him a firm handshake and a pat on the back.

    "Outstanding performance, Zachary," Klopp said, his eyes twinkling with approval. "You yed like a true maestro out there. Keep it up."

    "Thank you, Coach," Bemba replied, his face beaming with pride and determination.

    -----

 Chapter 697 Sunday Triumphs and Transitions

    Chapter 697 Sunday Triumphs and Transitions

    The gentle morning breeze whispered through the open window, rousing Zachary from his slumber. The digital clock on his bedside table glowed a steady "7:05 AM," marking the start of another day.

    Despite having yed over 90 grueling minutes in Liverpool''s intense game against Brighton, he felt a surprising surge of energy coursing through his veins. The memory of his goal and two assists in his second game¡ªand first start¡ªfor Liverpool the previous evening brought a contented smile to his lips. It was already promising to turn into a good Sunday morning, and he intended to savor it.

    Zachary swung his legs out of bed, his muscles surprisingly supple despite the previous night''s exertions. The early morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over his spacious bedroom. He moved purposefully, his body slipping into the rhythm of his customary morning routine.

    First, a yoga session on the mat by the window, each pose stretching out the knots and easing the tension from his muscles. The routine left him invigorated, his breath deep and even.

    After a quick shower, he headed to the kitchen, where the enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling eggs quickly filled the air. Zachary prepared a hearty breakfast and soon savored each bite as he reminisced about the triumph of the previous evening. The house was quiet, a peaceful counterpoint to the roaring stadium he had left behind just the day before.

    As he finished his morning meal, his phone vibrated on the countertop, jolting him from his reverie. He picked it up and nced at the screen. A wide smile spread across his face as he saw Kristin''s name, and he quickly swiped to answer.

    "Hey, Kristin!" he greeted, his voice warm with affection.

    "Zach! Good morning! I couldn''t wait to call and congratte you onst night''s performance," Kristin''s bubbly voice came through the speaker, brimming with excitement.

    "Thanks, Kristin. It was an incredible night. My mind is still reying all the incredible moments from the game," Zachary replied, leaning back in his chair.

    "You were amazing! A goal and two assists in your first start? That''s fantastic!" she gushed.

    "Yeah, it felt good out there. How''s the shifting going, by the way?" Zachary asked, steering the conversation towards the task he had entrusted to her.

    "Ray and I are on it. We''re transporting most of your stuff today, and we should be able to finish by tomorrow," Kristin reported confidently.

    "You''re a lifesaver, Kristin. I always know I can count on you," Zachary said, his tone sincere.

    "Anything for you, Zach. We''ve got everything under control," she assured him.

    They chatted for a few more minutes, catching up on small details and sharing jokes before ending the call. Zachary felt a deep sense of gratitude for Kristin''s unwavering support. cing his phone back on the table, he decided not to linger at his mansion in Woolton.

    Instead, he called Ray Haughan, Liverpool''s liaison officer. Ray had been driving him around since his arrival in Liverpool, ensuring he could focus on settling into his new environment without the added stress of navigating a new city.

    Ray was right on time, and soon they were cruising towards Melwood, Liverpool''s training ground. The brisk morning air kept thempany as Zachary''s mind drifted to the exciting season ahead and the tough challenges looming ahead.

    He mulled over Liverpool''s uing fixtures, with away games at Leicester and Tottenham on the cards. Sandwiched between those matches was an international break, during which Zachary would jet off to join his Ivorian teammates for the AFCON qualifiers. His schedule was tighter than ever.

    The drive flew by, and soon, they pulled up at Melwood. Zachary quickly delved into his recovery routine, effortlessly disying his top-notch physical fitness. His endurance, a product of years of dedicated training and the system''s enhancements made light work of the recovery session. By lunchtime, he feltpletely refreshed, as if he hadn''t yed a grueling game the day before.

    After freshening up, he made a beeline for the cafeteria, where he enjoyed a sumptuous lunch, the hearty meal fueling his body for the rest of the day. He chatted andughed with some of his teammates, the camaraderie a new cherished aspect of his life at Liverpool.

    He soon finished his meal and left the cafeteria. But as he was headed towards the yer lounge to catch the afternoon Premier League games, his phone rang again. This time, it was Emily, his agent. He picked up, her familiar voice congratting him on yet another ster performance.

    "Good afternoon, Zachary!" she said. "Congrats upon another wonderful performance yesterday."

    "Thanks, Emily. It means a loting from you," Zachary replied, appreciating her unwavering support.

    "Zach, I''m back in Liverpool, and we need to meet," Emily''s tone turned solemn.

    "Sure, where do you want to meet?" Zachary asked, knowing they needed a quiet ce away from the fanfare.

    "How about Jurys Inn Liverpool? It''s conveniently located near Melwood and offers quiet meeting rooms for booking," Emily suggested.

    "Perfect. I''ll see you there in about an hour, around 2:00 PM," Zachary agreed.

    "I''ll book a private room and see you at 2:00," Emily confirmed. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    After ending the call, Zachary couldn''t help but wonder what Emily had in store for him this time. He continued to the yer lounge and spent the next half hour browsing sports news.

    The headline that caught his eye was Wolves holding Manchester City to a 1-1 draw. This meant Liverpool was now safely leading the Premier League table with nine points. The news filled him with a sense of pride and excitement. It was a promising start, and Zachary felt a growing anticipation for the journey Liverpool was embarking on.

    The minutes ticked by as he browsed the news, and soon it was 1:35 PM. Zachary called Ray and asked if he had time to give him a ride to Jurys Inn.

    "Of course, Zach. It''s my job to get you where you need to be," ever the caring liaison officer, Ray, replied.

    "Thanks, Ray. I appreciate it," Zachary said, inwardly promising himself to get a car soon. He couldn''t keep relying on Ray whenever he needed to go somewhere.

    Momentster, they set off from Melwood, heading for Jurys Inn. The familiar Liverpool streets offered a moment of tranquility as they drove past icondmarks like Anfield Stadium and the bustling Albert Dock. Soon enough, the weing facade of Jurys Inn came into view, its modern architecture standing as a beacon of calm in the vibrant cityscape.

    "Thanks for the ride, Ray," Zachary said as they arrived, offering a grateful smile.

    "Anytime, Zach. I''ll be around if you need anything," Ray replied, nodding and watching as Zachary entered the hotel.

    Inside, the lobby was tastefully decorated, exuding a professional yet inviting ambiance. A few guests nced in Zachary''s direction, recognizing the newly signed Liverpool star, but they respected his space, allowing him a moment of privacy. Zachary quickly called Emily to check if she had arrived.

    "I''m already here. Wait in the lounge; I''lle and get you," Emily''s voice came through promptly.

    Zachary went straight to the lounge, noting thefortable seating and the quiet buzz of activity around him. Momentster, Emily appeared, her dark brown hair tied in a ponytail and her dark bluedy''s suit highlighting the color of her eyes. She greeted him with a warm smile.

    "Thanks foring, Zach. I know you''re busy," she said, her tone professional and friendly.

    "No problem, Emily. What''s on your mind?" Zachary replied, eager to hear what she had to say.

    Emily led him to one of the hotel''s private meeting rooms. The room was well-appointed, with plush seating and a professional ambiance that set the stage for their discussion. Once seated, Emily got straight to the point.

    "Your endorsement contract with Audi is about to expire, and they''re very keen on renewing it," she began, her eyes locking onto his with a determined gleam.

    "Given your recent achievements¡ªjoining Liverpool from Juventus, winning the World Cup with Ivory Coast, and being a favorite for the Ballon d''Or¡ªAudi wants to offer you a significant renewal. They''re proposing a five-year contract worth ¡ê15 million annually," Emily exined, her voice steady and confident.

    Zachary raised an eyebrow, impressed by the offer. "That sounds substantial. It''s much more than what they were paying me! What do they expect from me?"

    "Same as before," Emily said with a smile. "As a global brand ambassador for Audi, you''ll be expected to participate in major advertising campaigns, including TVmercials, print ads, and social media promotions. You''ll also need to appear at high-profile events and auto shows, driving theirtest models and representing the brand."

    Zachary listened intently, considering themitment. He was not daunted by the responsibilities Audi expected of him and was satisfied with the marypensation. But he still asked if Audi was offering any other privileges.

    Emily smiled, a hint of excitement in her eyes. "Oh, there are! On top of the financial package, you''ll have ess to a lineup of the newest Audi vehicles, including their top-of-the-line luxury and sports models. I''ve just found out that they are nning to present you with a customized Audi R8 V10 Plus, an Audi RS7 Sportback, and thetest Audi Q8. Each car wille with personalized features befitting your stature as a global football icon."

    Zachary leaned back in his chair with a thoughtful expression. Yet he was also excited. The thought of receiving more free cars from Audi instead of buying his own was appealing.

    This was the beauty of being a sessful star¡ªpeople andpanies were always eager to gift you whatever you needed, and you didn''t have to spend your own money. He smiled at Emily and said, "This sounds like a fantastic opportunity. I''m ready to continue working with Audi."

    Emily''s smile widened, clearly pleased. "I''ll finalize the paperwork and have it ready for you to sign as soon as possible. The Audi team will be thrilled to continue working with us."

    With the business aside, they began talking about other things, like how Zachary was settling in Liverpool and if he was facing any challenges. Time passed, and they eventually wrapped up their conversation. Zachary felt quite rxed yet pumped up because of the Audi deal. They got ready to leave the private meeting room, but Emily suddenly said something that caught him byplete surprise.

    "I have some personal news," she said, her eyes sparkling with joy. "I''m getting married inte October, and I would love for you to be there."

    Zachary''s thoughts nked out momentarily. He wondered when Emily had managed to find her other half when she was always so busy. For some reason, he didn''t feel good after hearing that she would be getting married. But he forced a smile on his face and congratted her. "That''s wonderful news, Emily. I''m really happy for you."

    "Thank you, Zach," she replied, beaming. "I''ll send you all the details soon."

    As they walked out of the hotel together, Zachary couldn''t shake the strange feeling in his chest. He had always seen Emily as a constant in his life, someone dedicated solely to his career. Her getting married was a reminder that life was moving forward, bringing changes and new beginnings that he could least expect.

 Chapter 698 A Hectic Schedule in Liverpool

    Chapter 698 A Hectic Schedule in Liverpool

    The next few days were a whirlwind for Zachary as he once again dove headfirst into the intense, targeted tactical training sessions at Melwood with his Liverpool teammates.

    The historic training grounds buzzed with energy and determination, each session meticulously designed to sharpen their skills and strategies. Every drill and scrimmage pulled Zachary deeper into the rhythm of his new life, a life that was both exhrating and exhausting.

    Liverpool''s worsening August weather didn''t dampen his spirits. Rain or shine, Zachary embraced the challenge. The relentless pace of training and theplexity of the team''s tactics pushed him to his limits. Yet, with every passing day, he felt a growing sense of belonging. The initial awkwardness of being the newly signed star yer faded, reced by a fierce resolve to prove his worth.

    Mornings at Melwood began early, the sun barely peeking over the horizon as Zachary arrived. The smell of freshly cut grass and the sight of his teammates going through their pre-training rituals created an atmosphere of harmony and a purpose to win. Warm-ups led into drills, each more demanding than thest, under the watchful eyes of Klopp and his coaching staff.

    Klopp''s passion was infectious, his tactical insights invaluable. The German manager''s ability to break downplex strategies into understandable chunks helped Zachary to seamlessly integrate into the team''s ying style.

    Afternoons often involved sessions aimed at enhancing team chemistry and understanding. Zachary worked tirelessly on improving coordination with his teammates and learning their movements and preferences. The midfield he was now part of, alongside seasoned veterans James Milner and Jordan Henderson, required a delicate bnce of skill and intuition. Zachary knew his ability to adapt and mesh with their ystyles would be crucial for the team''s continued sess. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Off the pitch, life was equally hectic but also rewarding. Kristin, his efficient and ever-resourceful personal assistant, had returned to Liverpool with some of his invaluable belongings from Turin. Their meetings, often over dinner, were a wee blend of business and catching up.

    Kristin, always prepared, surprised Zachary with aprehensive proposal for constructing a football academy in Bukavu, DR Congo. Her dedication to the project was evident, and Zachary couldn''t help but admire her drive and meticulous nning. The academy was a dream of his, a way to give back to his roots andmemorate the memory of his grandma, and seeing it begin to take shape filled him with a sense of pride and purpose.

    As the days flew by, training and meetings became a routine. Before Zachary knew it, it was Friday, August 31, 2018, the eve of the away game against Leicester City. The anticipation was palpable.

    That morning, Zachary and his teammates had a light practice session to polish their tactics. The atmosphere was lighter, the pressure subtly shifting from training to execution. Then, at eleven, they gathered for Klopp''s pre-match tactical briefing.

    Seated in the meeting room, Zachary felt a mix of nerves and excitement. Klopp, with his characteristic enthusiasm, outlined the game n. He dissected Leicester''s style of y, highlighting crucial yers like Demarai Gray, James Maddison, and Ben Chilwell. And finally, when Klopp named Zachary in the starting line-up, a surge of pride and responsibility washed over him. He was ready.

    After the tactical briefing, the team headed to the cafeteria for a nutritious lunch. Conversations buzzed with game talk, each yer contributing insights and strategies. Zachary found himself amid tactical discussions, absorbing every detail. The spirit was strong, and the team united to relentlessly pursue victories. As lunch wrapped up, Zachary left Melwood in high spirits, his mind already on the game.

    Back at his mansion in Woolton, Zachary spent the rest of the day resting. The spacious, luxurious surroundings afforded him a wee contrast to the grit and grind of training, offering a serene space to rx and refocus. He knew the importance of conserving his energy for the match. The evening passed in a blur of light stretching, meditation, and an early night to bed.

    Saturday then dawned with a buzz of excitement. The weekend thrill of Premier League football was in the air as Zachary joined his teammates early in the morning as they traveled to Leicester. The journey was filled with quiet anticipation, each yer mentally preparing for the battle ahead.

    Later in the day, they finally arrived at the King Power Stadium, and the team was met with a sea of Leicester blue. The stadium hummed with pre-match excitement, the fans eager for the sh. Zachary felt a rush of adrenaline as he stepped onto the pitch for the warm-up. The atmosphere was electric, the stakes high.

    At 1:30 PM, the whistle blew, and the game against Leicester Citymenced. Zachary took his ce in the midfield alongside Milner and Henderson, forming a formidable unit. The early minutes were a tense back-and-forth, both teams vying for control.

    But as the clock ticked into the 9th minute, the proceedings intensified as Liverpool''s strategy came to life. Zachary''s deft footwork and precise passes orchestrated the build-up that led to Sadio Man¨¦''s opening goal. The stadium erupted in cheers, the sea of red celebrating as Liverpool took an early lead.

    The goal celebration was brief as there was still a game to win. Liverpool then dominated the y, their confidence growing with each passing minute. Zachary''s influence on the game remained palpable, his presence a constant thorn in Leicester''s side. He continued initiating attacks against Leicester, and during the 31st minute, a foul against him just outside the box presented another golden opportunity.

    Zachary naturally stepped up to take the free kick with his trademarkposure. The stadium held its breath as he struck the ball with his trademark skill and precision, sending it soaring over the wall and into the to make it 2-0.

    From there on, Liverpool''s momentum was unstoppable, and during the 44th minute, a cross from Milner found Firmino, who headed it home to extend the lead to 3-0. The halftime whistle then blew with Liverpool firmly in control.

    The second half was a masterss in dominance, with Liverpool maintaining their grip on the game. In the 59th minute, a swift counter-attack saw Zachary linking up with Sh and Man¨¦, culminating in another goal for Liverpool. The scoreline read 4-0, with Zachary registering his second goal on the afternoon for Liverpool.

    Leicester eventually managed to pull one back in the 72nd minute, but it was a mere constion. The final whistle blew with the scoreboard showing 4-1 in favor of Liverpool. The traveling fans erupted in celebration, their cheers echoing through the stadium. Zachary felt a surge of aplishment; he had maintained his form and contributed significantly to the team''s victory.

    The journey back to Melwood was filled withughter and solidarity, the bus practically vibrating with the buoyant spirits of the Liverpool team. The 4:1 victory against Leicester City not only solidified their position at the top of the Premier League table but also bolstered the morale of every yer. Zachary was still buzzing from his two-goal performance and couldn''t help but revel in the shared joy and sense of aplishment.

    As the team arrived at Melwood, the sun was already sinking towards the western horizon, casting long shadows across the training ground. Zachary exchanged farewells with his teammates, each goodbye apanied by a pat on the back or a shared grin. It was a moment of unity, a silent acknowledgment of their collective effort and sess.

    Ray, Liverpool''s yer liaison officer, was waiting to take him back to his mansion in Woolton. The drive was a quiet contrast to the earlier celebration, a peaceful transition from the public triumph to private reflection. Once home, Zachary sank into his favorite armchair, his body grateful for thefort. He spent the evening unwinding, catching up on sports news, and reliving the match highlights.

    The next three days at Melwood were also a testament to Zachary''s unwavering dedication. Each morning, he arrived early, ready to take advantage of the club''s top-notch recovery facilities. The focus was on muscle maintenance and injury prevention, all crucial aspects of maintaining peak performance throughout the season. Zachary underwent various recovery sessions, each designed to rejuvenate his body, especially after the taxing match.

    In addition to recovery, Zachary engaged in individual training sessions. Under Klopp''s meticulous guidance, he worked on areas identified for improvement. It was a period of intense but rewardingbor, each session a step towards honing his skills and enhancing his game. The coaching staff''s expertise and the high-quality facilities at Melwood provided the perfect environment for growth.

    By Wednesday, Zachary''s focus shifted towards the uing international break. He meticulously nned his preparations, ensuring he would be at his best for the Ivory Coast National Football team.

    Thursday morning eventually arrived with a sense of anticipation. Zachary, apanied by Kristin, his ever-efficient PA, made their way to join the national team. Kristin''s presence was a constant source of support, her organizational prowess ensuring that every detail was meticulously nned and arranged.

 Chapter 699 From Club Glory to National Pride

    Chapter 699 From Club Glory to National Pride

    The radiant Ivorian sun bathed the Abidjan City in a warm, golden glow as Zachary''s ne descended towards the F¨¦lix Houphou?t Boigny International Airport. The skyline, with its mix of modern high-rises and traditional buildings, stretched out below, showcasing the vibrant spirit of the capital.

    The conditions were the best they could ever be, with gentlete afternoon light embracing the surroundings as the ne touched down at around three. Stepping off the aircraft, Zachary was greeted by an electrifying wave of excitement that rippled through the airport.

    The Ivorian fans, thrilled by Zachary''s arrival, erupted in cheers, their enthusiasm reverberating through the terminal. Security personnel swiftly moved in to maintain order, ensuring the fans'' exhration didn''t escte into chaos.

    Meanwhile, airport officials, recognizing Zachary''s stature as one of the world''s best footballers, provided him with VIP treatment. They expedited his passage through the airport, whisking him through customs and baggage im with seamless efficiency. Kristin, ever at his side, coordinated every detail, her presence a calming influence amid the frenzy.

    Outside, in the bustling parking lot, Lorenzo Rardo awaited them. The bodyguard, who had arrived in Abidjan days earlier to ensure everything was in ce, greeted Zachary with a warm, enthusiastic embrace.

    "Wee back, champ!" Lorenzo eximed, his Italian ent adding a touch of familiarity to the greeting.

    "Thanks, Lorenzo. It''s good to be here," Zachary replied, his smile reflecting the friendship he already shared with his trusted bodyguard and friend.

    The greetings soon ended, and with Lorenzo at the wheel, they navigated the busy streets of Abidjan, heading towards Zachary''s residence in the suburbs.

    The drive was a blend of catching up and enjoying the city''s sights, a ce Zachary hade to appreciate deeply over the years. Upon arriving at his residence, he quickly settled in, grateful for thefort and tranquility after the long journey.

    The night passed, and the following morning, Friday, 7th September, dawned crisp and clear. Zachary enjoyed breakfast at home before joining his Ivorian National Football teammates for their final preparations before the first AFCON qualifier against Rwanda.

    The training ground was abuzz with activity andughter. Zachary''s teammates¡ªNics P¨¦p¨¦, Serey Di¨¦, Wilfried Zaha, Eric Bailly, and others¡ªweed him with open arms and hearty smiles.

    "Zachary! Good to see you, man!" P¨¦p¨¦ called out, pulling him into a friendly embrace.

    10:23

    "It''s great to be back with you guys," Zachary replied, his spirits lifted by the warm reception.

    "Zachary! Good to see you, man!" P¨¦p¨¦ called out, pulling him into a friendly embrace.

    "It''s great to be back with you guys," Zachary replied, his spirits lifted by the warm reception.

    Herv¨¦ Renard, the Ivorian Coach, approached with a broad smile. "Zachary, it''s always a pleasure to have you with us. Let''s get to work. We must show Rwanda what we''re made of."

    "Absolutely, Coach. I''m ready," Zachary said, his determination evident.

    What followed was a day filled with rigorous training sessions, team meetings, and tactical briefings. Zachary immersed himself in the practice, his focus unwavering as they fine-tuned their strategies. The bonding activities with his teammates were just as crucial, fostering a sense of unity and mutual trust that would be essential on the field.

    Saturday evening arrived with a sense of purpose as the Ivorian team boarded a flight to Kigali, Rwanda. The atmosphere was electric, a mix of anticipation and confidence. As reigning World Champions, the pressure was immense, but so was their determination. The team arrived in Kigali and checked into their hotel, a luxurious haven where they could rest and limatize before the big game.

    Sunday, 9th September, then dawned with a renewed sense of focus. The team spent the morning surveying the match venue, the Stade Amahoro, and making their final preparations. By then, the atmosphere around the team was already charged, with the yers mentally and physically ready for the uing challenge.

    Time ticked away, and clock hands in Kigali soon pointed to the 3:30 PM mark. The whistle blew, and the game against Rwandamenced.

    The Stade Amahoro was packed with enthusiastic fans, their energy palpable. Zachary felt the familiar rush of adrenaline as he stepped onto the pitch. The match kicked off with a roar of excitement, and from the first whistle, the Ivorian team showcased their dominance.

    Zachary''s performance was once again nothing short of spectacr. He controlled the midfield with his usual finesse, orchestrating ys with a maestro''s touch.

    Eventually, in the 18th minute, he intercepted a pass and drove forward, effortlessly weaving through defenders. Spotting Wilfried Zaha making a run, Zachary delivered a precise through ball that split the defense. Zaha didn''t disappoint, slotting the ball into the to give Ivory Coast the lead.

    The stadium erupted, and Zachary was swarmed by his teammates in celebration. The first goal set the tone for the match. Jonathan Kodjia doubled the lead with a powerful header from a corner kick, and Nics P¨¦p¨¦ added a third with a brilliant solo effort.

    In the 65th minute, Zachary got his moment. After a swift counter-attack, he found himself in space just outside the box. With a deft touch, he maneuvered past a defender and unleashed a curling shot that flew past the goalkeeper, sealing a 4-0 victory for Ivory Coast.

    As the final whistle blew, the sense of triumph was overwhelming. The Ivorian fans, though outnumbered, made their presence felt, their cheers echoing through the stadium. Zachary, drenched in sweat but brimming with satisfaction, acknowledged the fans'' support, his heart swelling with pride.

    The celebrations in the locker room were joyous but short-lived for Zachary. With responsibilities at Liverpool beckoning, he opted to stay in Kigali for the night before returning to Ennd. As the evening settled in, Zachary, Kristin, and Lorenzo made their way to their hotel, a luxurious oasis in the heart of Kigali.

    After a refreshing shower, Zachary headed down to the hotel restaurant. Kristin was already seated at a corner table, her casual dress highlighting her natural beauty. She looked up as he approached, her eyes lighting up with a smile.

    "Hey, you clean up well," she teased, her tone yful.

    "Thanks, you look amazing," Zachary replied, feeling a warmth that had little to do with the tropical climate.

    They ordered dinner, and as they ate, their conversation flowed easily. They reminisced about the past, recalling Zachary''s time at Rosenborg and his journey to Juventus. Kristin''s insights and memories added depth to the stories, herughter and warmth slowly and slowly pulling at Zachary''s heartstrings.

    "Hey, rememberst year''s Champions League final when you scored the winner?" Kristin''s eyes sparkled with the memory.

    Zachary grinned, "How could I ever forget? That was one of the most thrilling moments of my career. The aftermath of the victory was crazy, with journalists constantly bombarding me with interviews. But you were there, handling everything like the pro you are."

    Kristin blushed slightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Just doing my job," she said modestly. "But it''s been an incredible journey, hasn''t it?"

    "It really has," Zachary agreed, his gaze lingering on her. "And I ''m d you''ve been there to support me all the way."

    There was a brief pause, a moment when the air seemed to thicken with unspoken feelings. Zachary felt a connection, something that had long been growing beneath the surface, now bing undeniable. Kristin looked away, her cheeks slightly flushed, and Zachary sensed the same hesitation, the same budding emotion.

    As dinner wound down, they lingered over dessert, their conversation meandering from football to personal aspirations and dreams. Zachary couldn''t help but open up in a way he rarely did, sharing thoughts and feelings he usually kept guarded. Kristin listened intently, her presence aforting and grounding force.

    Later, as they returned to their rooms, the hotel''s quiet corridors amplifying the soft sounds of their footsteps, Zachary felt a sense of peace. He paused outside his door, turning to Kristin.

    "Thanks for tonight. It was...nice," Zachary said, the words feeling inadequate for the depth of his feelings.

    "It was. Goodnight, Zachary," Kristin replied, her smile warm and genuine. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Goodnight, Kristin," he said softly, watching as she walked to her room.

    After settling inside his suite, Zachary sat by the window, gazing at the Kigali skyline. The day''s events reyed in his mind¡ªthe victory, the camaraderie, and the unexpected growing connection with Kristin. His life was a whirlwind of football and fame, but in the quiet moments, he would yearn for something more, something deeper.

    The following morning, with the first light of dawn casting a golden glow over Kigali, Zachary was eager to begin his journey back to Liverpool. The brief interlude had been a much-needed chance to gather his thoughts and revitalize his spirit. As they boarded the flight, Kristin''s presence beside him felt reassuring, a steady anchor in the ever-changing seas of his life.

    Liverpool awaited, with its challenges and triumphs, but Zachary felt a renewed sense of purpose. The journey from club glory to national pride had been seamless, each experience enriching the other. And as the ne ascended, leaving Kigali behind, Zachary couldn''t help but look forward to the future.

    Amidst the soaring skies, a sense of deep contentment washed over Zachary. The path before him seemed clear, brimming with both challenges and opportunities. His primary goal was to continue delivering his best for Liverpool, contributing towards more victories for his new club.

 Chapter 700 Unstoppable Momentum

    Chapter 700 Unstoppable Momentum

    Zachary''s return to Liverpool on Monday, 10th September 2018, was filled with renewed energy and purpose.

    Fresh off a triumphant performance in Rwanda, where he had yed a pivotal role in Ivory Coast''smanding 4-0 win to kickstart their African Cup of Nations qualification campaign, he felt unstoppable.

    The flight back had given him time to reflect, but also to refocus. His mind was already locked on Liverpool''s relentless schedule, where the next few weeks would be a crucial period for both the club and his personal ambitions.

    The moment his feet touched English soil, the Premier League''s fast pace beckoned him. The luxury of downtime was nonexistent¡ªLiverpool FC was a machine under J¨¹rgen Klopp, a finely tuned outfit chasing greatness.

    Zachary knew that there was no time to bask in the glow of past victories. The demands of the Premier League and Champions League were brutal, but for a yer of his caliber, it was the perfect tform to shine.

    As the days passed, Zachary quickly settled into the familiar rhythm at Melwood, Liverpool''s historic training ground. His body, still fresh from international duty, was ready for the grind of Premier League football.

    Klopp and his staff were already hard at work, preparing for their next battle¡ªan away trip to face Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley, a tricky fixture against a side known for their dynamism and attacking prowess.

    The preparations were intense, as they always were. Klopp''s tactical meetings were abination of animated energy and deep analysis. The German manager had an infectious enthusiasm, which trickled down to every yer in the squad.

    Zachary, still rtively new to the club, continued feeling the hunger and boundless team spirit of his teammates. The high-intensity pressing game that Liverpool had mastered was both physically demanding and exhrating. Each training session was designed to build the team''s cohesion, sharpening the intricate counter-attacking ys and defensive structures that had be Liverpool''s hallmark.

    By Friday night, the team was ready. Zachary felt the growing tension but also a quiet confidence in the dressing room. They had prepared well, and everyone knew their role. Tottenham at Wembley would be tough, but Liverpool, riding a wave of early-season form, felt invincible.

    Saturday, 15th September, arrived with a crisp London breeze as Liverpool traveled to Wembley for their showdown against Spurs. The stadium, an iconic fortress of English football, was filled to the brim with passionate fans, the atmosphere crackling with energy. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    The sense of asion was unmistakable; both teams were battling for position near the top of the Premier League table. Spurs, under Mauricio Pochettino, had be a formidable side in recent years, their attack spearheaded by the relentless Harry Kane and the dazzling feet of Christian Eriksen.

    Zachary felt the familiar rush as he walked out onto the pitch. Wembley''s grandeur was overwhelming, but he wasser-focused. This was why he had joined Liverpool: to y in the biggest games, to face the toughest opponents, and to chase trophies.

    The match started at a blistering pace, with both teams looking to seize control.

    The first half was an intense, physical battle in midfield, where Zachary found himself constantly breaking up Tottenham''s y while trying to link up with the likes of Mohamed Sh and Sadio Man¨¦ in attack. Liverpool''s pressing game suffocated Spurs early on, forcing them into mistakes.

    In the 39th minute, Liverpool struck first. A corner from James Milner was met by Georginio Wijnaldum, whose header was tipped onto the bar by Spurs goalkeeper Michel Vorm. However, in the scramble that followed, the ball crossed the line¡ªLiverpool were 1-0 up. The traveling Liverpool fans erupted in celebration, their red res lighting up the Wembley stands.

    The second half saw Liverpool tighten their grip on the game.

    Zachary, ying with his usualposure and vision, started pulling the strings in midfield. His ability to break between the lines opened up space for Sh and Firmino to exploit. Then, in the 54th minute, Zachary delivered a pinpoint pass to Sadio Man¨¦, who darted down the left nk and delivered a low cross. Firmino was there to tap it in, doubling Liverpool''s lead to 2-0.

    Spurs did manage to pull one back through Erik Lamte in the game, but it was Zachary who put the result beyond doubt in the 85th minute. A well-worked move saw Man¨¦ pick him out at the edge of the box. With a quick shift onto his right foot, Zachary curled the ball into the top corner, leaving Vorm stranded.

    The 3-1 scoreline was a fitting reflection of Liverpool''s dominance.

    After the final whistle, the Liverpool yers embraced each other. The victory was significant¡ªWembley had always been a tricky ground, but they had emerged victorious once again.

    Zachary felt the adrenaline still coursing through him as they walked back down the tunnel. Klopp''s animated voice echoed down the corridor, already talking about what they had done well and what could be improved.

    With the win against Spurs behind them, attention immediately shifted to Europe. Paris Saint-Germain, one of Europe''s elite, would being to Anfield for the first game of Liverpool''s Champions League campaign.

    Zachary had always dreamed of these nights¡ªAnfield under the lights, the deafening roar of the Kop, and the buzz of anticipation that filled the stadium long before kickoff.

    On the evening of Tuesday, 18th September, Zachary could feel the weight of history as he walked onto the hallowed Anfield turf. The Kop was in full voice, singing "You''ll Never Walk Alone" as the yers lined up for the Champions League anthem.

    PSG, boasting the likes of Neymar, Kylian Mbapp¨¦, and Edinson Cavani, were no strangers to big European nights. This was going to be a test of Liverpool''s mettle.

    The game exploded into life right from the start. Daniel Sturridge, starting in ce of Firmino, put Liverpool ahead in the 30th minute, heading in from an Andrew Robertson cross. A James Milner penalty just before halftime gave Liverpool a 2-0 lead, but PSG struck back through a clinical finish from Thomas Meunier.

    Zachary was then in the thick of the action throughout the second half, controlling the tempo in midfield and ying with a sense of urgency that reflected Liverpool''s attacking intent. In the 58th minute, he received the ball near the halfway line and quickly surged forward, gliding past two PSG defenders before threading a pass through to Firmino, who calmly slotted it past Alphonse Are.

    Then, as PSG began to push forward in search of an equalizer, the game opened up, allowing Liverpool to exploit the space.

    In the 77th minute, Zachary''s moment came. A quick counterattack saw Sh break down the right wing. His cross was met by Zachary, who finished with aposed strike, putting the game beyond PSG''s reach. The final score of 5-2 was a resounding statement to Europe: Liverpool were back and hungry for Champions League glory.

    With the Champions League victory behind them, Liverpool''s attention returned to domestic matters. The fixture list was relentless, with Southamptoning to Anfield just four dayster. Zachary, now in the form of his life, was eager to continue his scoring streak.

    On Saturday, 22nd September, Liverpool''s relentless pressing once again proved too much for their opponents. Southampton struggled to keep up with the pace and intensity of Klopp''s side.

    Goals from Firmino, Sh, and Zachary ensured afortable 3-0 victory. Zachary''s goal, a powerful shot from outside the box, further cemented his reputation as one of the Premier League''s most dangerous midfielders.

    The atmosphere around Liverpool was electric. Every win was pushing them closer to their ultimate goal: Premier League glory. And yet, the challenges kepting.

    In midweek, Chelsea arrived at Anfield for an EFL Cup sh. It was a game filled with drama and excitement. Despite Chelsea''s resistance, Liverpool edged out a 3-2 win, with Zachary scoring a crucial goal to keep their domestic cup hopes alive.

    Just dayster, on Saturday, 29th September, Liverpool traveled to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea once again, this time in the Premier League. Stamford Bridge had always been a difficult ground for Liverpool, but this time, Zachary and his teammates were determined to leave with all three points.

    The game was a tight affair, with both sides exchanging blows throughout. Chelsea''s Eden Hazard caused problems with his dribbling, but Liverpool''s defense held firm.

    In the 68th minute, Zachary found space on the edge of the box and unleashed a curling shot that sailed into the top corner, giving Liverpool a 2-1 lead. It was a lead they would not relinquish, as they left London with another important victory.

    As September came to an end, Liverpool''s schedule showed no signs of letting up. A crucial Champions League tie against Napoli awaited them at the intimidating Stadio San Paolo. The atmosphere in Naples was as hostile as ever, with the passionate Italian fans creating a cauldron of noise.

    The game itself was a tense, tactical battle. Napoli, managed by Carlo Ancelotti, were well-organized and difficult to break down. Liverpool struggled to find space in the first half, with Napoli''s defense standing strong. However, Zachary, undeterred by the pressure, continued to push forward, driving his team with his tireless energy.

    As the clock ticked towards full time and the score remained locked at 1-1, it seemed as though a draw was inevitable. But in the 93rd minute, Liverpool won a free kick just outside the box.

    Zachary, known for his precision in dead-ball situations, stepped up.

    The stadium fell silent as he lined up his shot, the pressure of the moment hanging in the air. With one swift strike, he curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner. The roar from the traveling Liverpool fans echoed around the stadium as Zachary''s teammates mobbed him in celebration.

    The 2-1 victory in Naples was a hard-fought win, but it was one that sent a clear message: Liverpool were ready to take on Europe''s best once again.

    After the intense match against Napoli, Liverpool returned home with a sense of aplishment. But there was no time to rest.

    The Premier League''s biggest challenge was right around the corner: Manchester City. Pep Guardi''s side had been Liverpool''s main rival for the title, and every encounter between the two had the air of a final.

 Chapter 701 The Calm before the Storm

    Chapter 701 The Calm before the Storm

    By the time the Liverpool squad touched down at John Lennon Airport on Thursday morning, the adrenaline from their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Napoli had already begun to fade.

    The journey back from Naples had been quiet and businesslike, the yers fully aware that their Champions League triumph was now part of history. The road ahead was even tougher¡ªManchester City awaited them at Anfield on Sunday.

    As soon as they returned to Liverpool, the real work began.

    The next three days would be critical. Manchester City wasn''t just another Premier League team. They were the reigning champions, a well-oiled machine under Pep Guardi, and arguably Liverpool''s biggest threat to Premier League glory. With just two points separating them at the top of the table, the game at Anfield would set the tone for the season toe.

    Thursday''s training session at Melwood was intense. J¨¹rgen Klopp, always animated, was more focused than usual, his energy crackling in every word he delivered.

    Zachary Bemba, already in his training gear, was among the first to hit the pitch, his mind locked on the task ahead. There was little time to dwell on the sess in Naples. City''s visit loomedrge, and he could feel the weight of the uing sh pressing down on him.

    The drills were sharp, designed to tighten the press that had be Liverpool''s trademark.

    Klopp and his assistants pushed the team hard, ensuring that every yer knew their role. They practiced the high press relentlessly, focusing on the transitions from defense to attack.

    City, with their slick passing and fluid movement, would try to dominate possession, but Klopp had no intention of letting them settle into their rhythm.

    Zachary was in the thick of it. His role, as always, was to link midfield and attack, to exploit any gaps that City''s defense might leave behind. Klopp emphasized how vital it would be to press high and disrupt Kevin De Bruyne''s influence in midfield. The Belgian was City''s conductor, and stopping him meant stopping City.

    By Friday, the intensity had ratcheted up even further. Klopp held extended tactical meetings, using every tool at his disposal to prepare his yers for the test ahead. The match would be more than just a physical battle¡ªit would be a tactical chess match between two of football''s greatest minds: Klopp and Guardi.

    "City will press high, but we''re better at it," Klopp said, pacing around the tactical board as his yers sat in silence. "De Bruyne is key for them, but we have the weapons to hurt them. Zachary, Gini, Henderson¡ªyou''ll need to close him down early. Don''t let him find space."

    Zachary nodded, fully focused. He knew his role inside out. His recent form had made him one of the Premier League''s most dangerous yers, but he was never one to rest on hisurels. He thrived on challenges, and Sunday would be the ultimate test.

    Saturday passed in a blur of final preparations. The tactical sessions were shorter, but no less intense. Klopp drilled his instructions into every yer, and by the evening, the squad was ready. It was only when Zachary returned to his home in Woolton, just after 5:30 PM, that he finally had a moment to himself.

    The evening felt eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the intensity of Melwood.

    After showering, Zachary made his way to the living room, settling into the familiarfort of his sofa. The weight of the uing match pressed on his mind, but he tried to rx, flicking through channels on the television.

    His attention soon fell on the Manchester United vs. Newcastle United game. The rivalry between Liverpool and United had always added an extra dimension to watching their games, but Zachary''s thoughts were elsewhere.

    His eyes were on the screen, but his mind was on City. The way they moved, the way they controlled games, the way De Bruyne could cut defenses open with a single pass. He couldn''t help but imagine what the battle would be like on the Anfield pitch the next day.

    When the match ended, Zachary switched to thete Premier League show, which was dedicated almost entirely to previewing Liverpool''s uing sh with Manchester City. He leaned forward, watching intently as the pundits dissected the match from every angle.

    "Tomorrow''s game at Anfield is shaping up to be the biggest of the season so far," one of the pundits dered. "Liverpool are sitting top of the table with a perfect seven wins from seven. But City are right behind them, two points adrift. A win for Pep Guardi''s men, and they''ll leapfrog Liverpool to take first ce."

    The camera panned to another pundit, a former Premier League midfielder. "Liverpool have been relentless so far. Sh, Mane, and Firmino are back to their best, but the yer who''s really stood out for me is Zachary Bemba. Eight Premier League goals already, and it''s not just the goals¡ªhe''s been the link between midfield and attack, providing that extra dimension to Klopp''s side. City will need to find a way to stop him."

    Zachary smirked as he listened to the analysis. He''d always been humble about his own abilities, but the acknowledgment from pundits only added fuel to the fire burning within him.

    The pressure was mounting, but he thrived on it.

    The program shifted its focus to Manchester City''s style of y, with clips of their recent matches showing how De Bruyne and David Silva orchestrated their attacking moves.

    "City will dominate possession tomorrow," the pundit continued. "But the key will be whether they can break down Liverpool''s press. Last season, Klopp''s high press caused City all sorts of problems, especially at Anfield. This is going to be a real tactical battle between two of the best managers in the game."

    As the preview ended, Zachary leaned back on the sofa, his mind racing through the various tactical scenarios.

    He visualized himself on the pitch, breaking up City''s attacks, threading passes to Sh and Mane, and striking when the opportunity presented itself. He had been in fine form all season, but this match would require something extra.

    After dinner, Zachary spent the rest of the evening unwinding, trying to put the game to the back of his mind.

    But it wasn''t easy. The gravity of the situation was impossible to ignore. The entire football world would be watching. He had yed in big games before, but this one had the feel of a title decider, even though it was only October.

    As the clock ticked closer to 10:00 PM, Zachary decided it was time to call it a night. He needed to be well-rested for whaty ahead. After brushing his teeth and changing into his nightwear, he slipped into bed, staring at the ceiling as the thoughts continued to whirl around his mind.

    He thought of the roar of the Kop, the deafening noise that would greet City as they walked onto the Anfield turf. He thought of Guardi, pacing on the touchline, urging his team forward, and Klopp, with his trademark fist pumps, whipping the crowd into a frenzy. He could see De Bruyne floating in between the lines, trying to carve open Liverpool''s defense. He could picture Sh and Mane breaking at lightning speed, terrorizing City''s backline.

    Zachary closed his eyes, willing himself to sleep. He had done all he could to prepare. Tomorrow, it would all be about execution. The work had been done on the training pitch¡ªnow it was time to make it count. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Sunday, 7th October, then dawned with a cool breeze sweeping over Liverpool. The city buzzed with anticipation as the clock ticked down to the biggest match of the season so far. Kick-off was set for 4:30 PM, and the entire footballing world had its eyes on Anfield.

    Zachary arrived at Melwood just after 9:00 AM, greeted by the familiar sight of his teammates already preparing for the day.

    The morning was calm, allowing the yers time to mentally prepare, rx, and focus on the task ahead. Some yers listened to music, others stretched, and a few went through light training to keep themselves loose.

    Zachary, always one for quiet reflection, spent the morning in solitude. He stretched in one of the smaller rooms at the training facility, mentally reying the instructions Klopp had given.

    He visualized himself on the pitch, pressing De Bruyne, threading passes to Mane and Sh, and keeping City''s midfield under control. The stakes were high, but Zachary thrived in moments like these.

    At lunchtime, the team gathered for a meal, but there was little talk of the game. The air was thick with unspoken anticipation. Each yer knew their role, and there was no need for overanalysis. By now, everything that needed to be said had been said. It was simply about execution.

    By 2:30 PM, the team bus was ready to depart from Melwood to Anfield. The journey was a short one, but it was a crucial part of the pre-match ritual. The bus ride allowed the yers to mentally transition from the calm of the morning to the intensity of match day.

    As the bus wound through the streets of Liverpool, Zachary nced out the window, watching the sea of red scarves, gs, and banners that lined the streets leading up to Anfield. The city was alive with anticipation.

    The fans knew what was at stake, and the yers could feel their energy.

    The iconic sight of Anfield soon came into view, towering over the neighborhood like a fortress. The streets were packed with fans, waving and chanting, their belief palpable. Anfield was a fortress, and today, it would be their greatest weapon.

 Chapter 702 A Lightning Start

    Chapter 702 A Lightning Start

    Zachary could hear the thunderous chants loud and clear, even before they entered Anfield.

    The fans had turned out in full force, knowing that this game wasn''t just about three points. This was a battle for supremacy at the top of the Premier League.

    Seven games in, Liverpool was unbeaten, sitting on 21 points. But City, just two points behind, were breathing down their necks, and a win for Guardi''s side would flip the table and hand them the advantage.

    The tension was intense, but it wasn''t the kind of tension that brought nerves. For Zachary, it brought focus. The electricity in the air heightened his senses, sharpened his mind, and as the bus finally pulled up to the stadium, he felt his pulse quicken.

    Anfield was already buzzing, the noise echoing off its famous red-brick walls. The crowd was ready, and as Zachary stepped off the bus, he could feel the weight of their expectations bearing down on him. But it wasn''t a burden¡ªit was fuel.

    Zachary followed his teammates into the stadium, the chants from outside filtering through the concrete walls. He could hear the familiar roar of the Kop, already in full voice. Every song, every chant carried belief, a belief that Anfield was unbreachable, that no team coulde here and walk away with points.

    But today''s opponent was Manchester City¡ªa juggernaut under Pep Guardi, whose slick passing and ruthless efficiency had made them one of the most feared teams in Europe.

    City''s squad was brimming with talent¡ªKevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, David Silva, Sergio Ag¨¹ero, and Raheem Sterling were all ready to test Liverpool''s resolve.

    In the dressing room, Zachary methodically pulled on his warm-up kit, blocking out the noise from the crowd. His focus was on the task at hand.

    Klopp had been clear all week about the game n: press high, disrupt City''s rhythm, and strike with speed. It was a strategy tailor-made for Liverpool''s aggressive style of y, one that had served them well against City in the past.

    As heced up his boots, Zachary felt the familiar surge of adrenaline. The team talk woulde soon, but he didn''t need any more motivation. He knew what this game meant¡ªnot just for the league table, but for the pride of the club, the city, and the fans.

    By 3:30 PM, the teams emerged from the tunnel for their warm-ups. The roar of the Kop was deafening, a wall of sound that shook Anfield to its core. Zachary jogged onto the pitch with his teammates, feeling the energy surge through him. The fans were relentless, chanting and singing, their belief in the team evident with every word.

    As Zachary stretched and passed the ball around, his eyes asionally drifted toward the other end of the pitch, where Manchester City''s yers were warming up. He watched as Kevin De Bruyne moved effortlessly through drills, as David Silva orchestrated the rhythm of their warm-up, as Ag¨¹ero darted in and out of cones with his trademark sharpness.

    They looked ready. Sharp, focused, and hungry for a win. But Zachary wasn''t intimidated. He trusted his teammates. He trusted Klopp. And he trusted himself.

    As the warm-up concluded and the clock ticked closer to kick-off, both teams returned to the dressing rooms for final preparations. The noise from outside continued to filter through the walls, a constant reminder of the thousands of fans waiting for them to step onto the pitch.

    Klopp stood at the front of the dressing room, his arms folded, his expression intense. The yers sat in silence, their attention fully on their manager.

    There was no need for a long speech¡ªeverything had already been said in the days leading up to the match. But Klopp, as always, had a way of injecting energy into the room with just a few words.

    "Remember who we are," Klopp said, his voice steady but filled with passion. "This is our house, and nobodyes here and takes points from us. Go out there, fight for each other, and make the fans proud."

    Zachary felt the fire ignite inside him. This was it. This was what they had been preparing for all week.

    He nced around the room at his teammates¡ªSh, Mane, Firmino, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Van Dijk. They were ready. They were a unit, a family. And today, they would show Manchester City why Anfield was the most feared ground in Ennd.

    At exactly 4:30 PM, the referee''s whistle pierced the air, and the game began with a ferocious tempo.

    Manchester City, true to their style, immediately looked to dominate possession. They moved the ball fluidly from the back, ying diagonal and square passes between their defenders and midfield, trying to draw Liverpool out and create space.

    But Liverpool was ready. With the thunderous support of Anfield behind them, they surged forward with Klopp''s signature high press, closing down spaces and putting City under immediate pressure.

    Mohamed Sh and Sadio Mane were relentless in their pursuit of the ball, forcing City''s defenders to scramble.

    In just the third minute, the press paid off. Sh closed down Benjamin Mendy on the left nk, forcing him to rush a pass.

    Mendy, under pressure, sent a blind ball into midfield. It was a fatal mistake. Georginio Wijnaldum was there, intercepting the pass with ease. Without hesitation, he turned and yed the ball forward to Zachary.

    Zachary, now in possession, felt the stadium pulse with anticipation. Everything was in front of him. The City defense was caught off guard, their midfield scrambling to recover. Fernandinho rushed to close him down, but Zachary had already decided what he was going to do.

    With a quick shift of his body, Zachary dummied to the left, tricking Fernandinho into lunging. As the Brazilianmitted, Zachary pushed the ball past him with the outside of his boot and elerated. He surged forward, leaving Fernandinho trailing in his wake.

    Ahead of him, the City defense was stretched. Sh was already on the move, darting between Laporte and Stones, angling his run toward the box. Zachary''s vision was clear. He spotted the gap and yed an inch-perfect through ball, splitting the City defense with surgical precision.

    Sh didn''t break stride. The ball fell perfectly at his feet as he entered the box, and with Ederson rushing out to close him down, Sh remained calm. With a deft chip, he lifted the ball over the onrushing keeper.

    Time seemed to slow as the ball floated through the air before nestling into the back of the.

    Anfield erupted like a volcano as Mohamed Sh''s delicate chip sailed home. The noise was deafening¡ªthousands of Liverpool fans roared in unison, a sea of red scarves and gs waving as they celebrated their team''s lightning-fast start.

    The opening goal hade in just the 3rd minute, and it sent shockwaves through the stadium.

    Zachary sprinted toward Sh, a broad grin spreading across his face. His perfectly timed through ball had cut Manchester City''s defense wide open, and Sh had done the rest with his sublime finish.

    The Liverpool yers swarmed their Egyptian talisman, celebrating wildly in front of the Kop.

    Klopp, on the sidelines, couldn''t musk his joy. He leapt into the air, pumping his fists as he celebrated with his assistants. His characteristic smile stretched from ear to ear as he turned to the crowd, urging them to raise the volume even more.

    Across the pitch, Pep Guardi''s reaction was starkly different. The Manchester City manager, known for his intensity and tactical perfectionism, was furious. He immediately spun toward his yers, arms outstretched, gesticting wildly. His face was flushed with frustration.

    Guardi paced the technical area, hands on his head, shouting instructions to his team. He knew that Liverpool''s high press had already caused damage, and if City didn''t adjust quickly, the game could slip away from them. "Move the ball! y better football!" he demanded, pping his hands, trying to instill urgency into his yers.

    The City yers exchanged quick nces, knowing that they had to respond fast. Guardi''s frustration was palpable, but his mind was already working on the adjustments needed to wrestle control back from Liverpool.

    When y restarted, Manchester City came out with renewed focus. Their passing, which had been hurried and imprecise under Liverpool''s early pressure, tightened up.

    City began to assert more control, shifting the ball from side to side with their familiar precision. De Bruyne and David Silva, City''s maestros in midfield, began to drop deeper, looking to pull the strings and bypass Liverpool''s press.

    But Klopp''s men were relentless. Zachary, in particr, was a untiring on and off the ball. He pressed high, constantly harassing City''s midfielders, forcing them into ufortable positions.

    Every time De Bruyne or Silva received the ball, Zachary was there, snapping at their heels, cutting off passingnes, and disrupting their flow. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    In the 10th minute, City found some space. A neatbination between Silva and Mahrez sent Raheem Sterling sprinting down the right wing, his pace electrifying the crowd.

    Sterling''s eyes darted toward Sergio Ag¨¹ero, who was lurking in the box, ready to pounce. But just as Sterling whipped in the cross, Joe Gomez came sliding in with a perfectly timed block, sending the ball out for a corner. The City fans groaned as another opportunity slipped away.

 Chapter 703 Alissonâ€™s Punch and Liverpoolâ€™s Surge

    Chapter 703 Alisson¡¯s Punch and Liverpool¡¯s Surge

    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Hoping to catch Liverpool off guard, City rushed to take the corner quickly. David Silva jogged over and swung a dangerous ball into the crowded penalty area.

    The ball looped through the air, spinning viciously as both sets of yers battled to win the aerial duel. Bodies shed in the box, arms jostled for position, and for a split second, it seemed like City might capitalize.

    But Liverpool''s towering presence in goal, Alisson Becker, was having none of it. With a leap that showcased his incredible reflexes andmand of the area, Alisson surged forward, punching the ball clear of the penalty box and away from immediate danger.

    As the ball soared out of the crowded box, itnded near the left side of the pitch where Sadio Mane, alert and ever-predatory, was already in position. Mane''s eyes lit up, his instincts kicking in as he sprinted toward the loose ball.

    The City defense, still trying to regain their shape after the corner, wasn''t prepared for what came next.

    Mane controlled the ball with a deft touch, turning sharply and elerating down the wing with a burst of speed that sent Liverpool''s fans into a frenzy.

    He nced up, immediately spotting Mohamed Sh cutting in from the right and Zachary Bemba charging through the center, both making aggressive runs into City''s half.

    It was the perfect scenario for Klopp''s counter-attacking philosophy: City, disorganized and spread too thin, were about to feel the full force of Liverpool''s transition y.

    Mane surged forward like a bullet train, his feet moving like a blur as he darted past Kyle Walker, City''s right-back, who had rushed forward for the corner and was now desperately trying to recover. But Mane was too fast, too sharp, and in a blink, he had already cut inside toward the center of the pitch.

    Just as Walker caught up, Mane sent a low, quick pass toward Sh, who had positioned himself near the edge of City''s penalty area.

    Sh, marked closely by Laporte, had little time to maneuver, but the Egyptian Footballing King showed his intelligence, using a simple feint to draw Laporte in before cushioning the ball back to Zachary, who had sprinted into a dangerous pocket of space at the top of the box.

    Zachary, always a few steps ahead of the defense, knew exactly what to do. As the ball arrived at his feet, he nced up.

    Manchester City''s defense was scrambling, but none of them had positioned themselves well enough to stop him. He could see Sh making a run to his right, Mane on his left, and the disorganized City backline was toote to recover.

    Instead of passing again, Zachary took the ball in stride and, with one fluid movement, slipped past the lunging Fernandinho. The Brazilian hadmitted himself too soon, and Zachary''s first touch glided past him, leaving him off bnce.

    In that moment, Anfield collectively held its breath.

    Now just inside the box, with space opening up, Zachary had a clear view of goal. He could hear the roar of the crowd urging him forward, feel the energy of the stadium rising like a wave, but he kept his focus on the task at hand.

    Ederson, City''s goalkeeper, rushed off his line, trying to close the gap.

    Zachary didn''t hesitate. He took one more step and struck the ball cleanly with his left foot, sending it low and hard toward the bottom corner.

    Ederson stretched, but the ball was perfectly ced, just out of his reach. It kissed the inside of the post and rolled into the.

    For a moment, there was a stunned silence. Then Anfield exploded.

    The roar was deafening, a wall of noise that seemed to shake the very foundations of the stadium. Fans leaped from their seats, arms raised in triumph, as red scarves twirled above heads like banners of victory.

    Zachary was immediately mobbed by his teammates¡ªSh, Mane, Firmino, all rushing toward him, their faces lit with pure joy. They had executed a perfect counterattack, and now, Liverpool were 2-0 up in just the 12th minute.

    Zachary felt his heart pounding in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he high-fived Mane and embraced Sh.

    The celebrations were wild but controlled¡ªthere was still a long way to go, but this was a statement. Liverpool were here to dominate, and City, for all their brilliance, had been sliced apart by the Reds'' sheer pace and precision.

    Klopp, on the sideline, was all grins. He jumped, fists pumping in the air as he turned to the Kop, whipping them into an even louder frenzy.

    His n was working perfectly¡ªpress City hard, force mistakes, and hit them on the break. So far, it was Liverpool at their very best.

    Across the pitch, Pep Guardi stood motionless for a moment, his arms folded tightly against his chest. His brow furrowed as he processed what had just happened. His team had been caught cold, and now they were two goals down. He shouted instructions to his yers, urging them to stay calm and regroup, but the damage had been done.

    As the game restarted, Manchester City still came out with renewed aggression, showcasing their unwavering team spirit even while two goals down.

    Guardi''s team, known for their resilience and ability to dominate possession, weren''t about to roll over. They pushed higher up the pitch, trying to wrestle control away from Liverpool.

    De Bruyne, frustrated by the early goals, dropped even deeper to dictate y, while Sterling and Mahrez hugged the touchlines, looking to stretch Liverpool''s defense.

    In the 18th minute, City nearly pulled one back. De Bruyne found space in midfield and threaded a perfect ball through to Sergio Ag¨¹ero, who darted between Van Dijk and Gomez. Ag¨¹ero''s first touch was immacte, setting him up for a shot just inside the box.

    The City fans held their breath, waiting for the to bulge. But Alisson, quick off his line, rushed out to meet the Argentine striker, closing the angle brilliantly.

    Ag¨¹ero fired low, but Alisson got down quickly, making a crucial save with his legs. The ball ricocheted out to Mahrez, who tried to curl it into the far corner, but Van Dijk, as calm as ever, threw himself in front of the shot, blocking it with his chest before clearing the danger.

    The City fans groaned again, their frustration growing. Another opportunity had slipped away, and Liverpool''s defense remained imprable.

    After that, the tempo of the game remained frantic, with City desperately trying to w their way back into the match. But Liverpool''s defense, led by Van Dijk and the tireless Joe Gomez, was resolute. They blocked crosses, intercepted passes, and nullified Ag¨¹ero''s threat. Every time City found space, there was a red shirt closing it down.

    Zachary, in midfield, was a constant thorn in City''s side. He pressed high, forcing City''s midfielders into mistakes, and when Liverpool had possession, he was always looking to drive forward, creating opportunities for Sh and Mane to exploit. His energy was infectious, and his ability to glide past defenders made him one of the most dangerous yers on the pitch.

    City, despite their best efforts, couldn''t find a way through. The whistle blew for halftime with the scoreline still 2-0 in favor of Liverpool.

    Anfield blew up with excitement, the fans standing and apuding as the yers walked off the pitch. Liverpool had dominated the first half, but everyone knew that City, wounded and angry, woulde back stronger in the second.

    In the Liverpool dressing room, the energy was still intense despite the lead. The yers were ted with their performance, but they also knew that the job wasn''t done yet. Klopp, his face flushed with excitement, stood in the middle of the room, his voice booming with intensity.

    "We yed a good game!" Klopp said, pacing back and forth, his eyes alight with passion. "Our press was good and our counterattacking lethal. We''ve got them on the ropes, but listen, we can''t let up now. They''re going toe at us even harder in the second half, and we have to be ready."

    Klopp gestured toward the tactical board, where City''s formation was drawn out. "They''re going to try to push more yers forward, try to get De Bruyne and Silva on the ball more. We can''t give them space. Zachary, Gini, Hendo¡ªyou''ve been brilliant so far, but we need more of that intensity. Close them down, stop them from dictating the y."

    Zachary nodded, his mind sharp and focused. He had yed a key role in the first half, and he knew his work was far from over.

    Klopp''s eyes scanned the room, locking onto each yer. "Sadio, Mo, Bobby¡ªwe hit them on the counter again, and they''re done. When they push forward, there will be gaps. Be ready to exploit them."

    The yers listened intently, their faces determined. Klopp''s words were like fuel, igniting their desire to finish what they had started.

    "Remember," Klopp continued, his voice growing softer but more intense. "Anfield is our home, our fotress, and nobodyes here and takes points from us. Go out there, finish the job, and make our fans proud."

    The yers stood, ready for battle once more. Zachary,cing up his boots again, felt the fire in his chest burning even brighter. The job wasn''t done, but they were halfway there.

 Chapter 704 Pepâ€™s Fury and the Second Half Plan

    Chapter 704 Pep¡¯s Fury and the Second Half n

    Inside the Manchester City dressing room, the atmosphere was tense, suffocating under the weight of Pep Guardi''s fury.

    The normally meticulous manager, who thrived on tactical brilliance and perfection, was pacing back and forth, his face flushed with anger.

    His words fired off in rapid session, almost like a machine gun, each sentence sharper and more critical than thest. His yers, many of whom were considered some of the best in Europe, sat in silence, absorbing the full force of their manager''s frustration.

    Pep''s high standards had been shattered by their first-half performance, and he wasn''t going to mince his words.

    Manchester City was down 2-0 to a rampant Liverpool side at Anfield, and it was uneptable to the man who had spent his career building dynasties at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and now Manchester City. This wasn''t the City he envisioned, and he was letting his yers know it.

    "Amateurs!" Pep spat, his arms gesturing wildly, eyes ring at his yers. "We''re ying like amateurs out there! You give Liverpool two goals in 12 minutes, and you expect to win at Anfield? How many times have we talked about this? They will press! They will counter! And you, you y right into their hands. Twice!"

    He stopped pacing and stood in front of his yers, who looked more like schoolchildren being admonished by a headmaster than world-ss footballers. Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Raheem Sterling, and Sergio Ag¨¹ero sat silently, avoiding eye contact with their manager, knowing that there was no excuse for what had happened.

    Pep''s voice was quieter now but no less intense. "Liverpool didn''t surprise us with anything. We knew exactly how they were going to y. We knew they would press, we knew they would counter, but we didn''t respond."

    "You give away the ball in dangerous areas¡ªFernandinho, what were you doing? Sterling, you lose it up front and don''t track back. And where is the movement? Where is the energy? We are ying too slow! Too predictable! Liverpool has the best counterattack in the world, and we gift them two goals like it''s Christmas!"

    The yers remained silent, absorbing each blow.

    The stakes were monumental.

    City hadn''te to Anfield to roll over, but Liverpool''s energy and aggression had left them shell-shocked. This was not just any game¡ªit was a showdown between the two best teams in Ennd. This game could shape the rest of the season.

    Pep inhaled sharply, trying to calm his tone but still seething beneath the surface. "They are faster than us, yes. They are pressing better than us, yes. But we are better with the ball. We move it faster. We control the game. You let them control it in the first half. That is uneptable. That ends now."

    Pep''s mind, always working, quickly shifted from fury to action. He had seen enough from the first half and knew adjustments were necessary if City were going to w their way back into this match.

    He turned to Raheem Sterling, who had struggled to impose himself in the first half against his former club. The winger had been expected to use his pace to stretch Liverpool''s defense, but instead, he had been shackled by Joe Gomez''s relentless defending. Pep had seen enough.

    "Raheem," Pep said, gesturing to the winger, "you''re off. Leroy, you''re on."

    Sterling''s face tightened in frustration, but he knew it wasing. He had been ineffective, and Pep wasn''t one to hold back when something wasn''t working. Leroy San¨¦, City''s dynamic German winger, was now the man Pep would rely on to change the game.

    "Leroy," Pep continued, his voice gaining a tactical sharpness, "Switch with Mahrez, and y on the right wing when you step on the pitch. Remember to stay wide, always wide. Pin Robertson back. Use your speed to stretch them. Every time you get the ball, I want you running at him. Make him ufortable."

    San¨¦ nodded, his face serious, knowing that this was a moment where his impact could change the trajectory of the game.

    Pep then turned to the rest of his squad. "Listen to me. This is not over. We are Manchester City. We have been the best team in Ennd for two seasons because we y our football. We control the game with the ball."

    "In the second half, we are not ying Liverpool''s game. We are ying our game. Move the ball faster¡ªone or two touches, no more! If we sit and watch them, they will destroy us. But if we move it quickly, we break through their press."

    His instructions were clear. City would not abandon their style of y; instead, they would intensify it.

    The n was simple but precise: they would dominate possession, use San¨¦''s and Mahrez''s speed on the nks to pin back Liverpool''s full-backs, and exploit the space left by Liverpool''s high press. But it had to be fast.

    Liverpool''s counter-press was lethal, and any sloppy y in midfield would lead to another devastating counterattack.

    "Watch Zachary," Pep warned, his eyes scanning the room. "He''s been all over the pitch, controlling the transitions. If we let him run, we''ll never get back into the game. Fernandinho, I want you on him. Don''t give him an inch. You shut him down. Silva, De Bruyne, you need to push higher and keep Sh and Mane from getting the ball in space. If we lose it in dangerous areas, they will punish us again."

    Pep paused, his voice softening as he prepared his final push to rally the troops. "We are not out of this. They are 2-0 up, but that doesn''t mean anything if we y our football. If we do what we do best, we can turn this around. It''s just two goals. Score one, and we are back in it."

    The yers, still quiet but now more focused, began to nod in agreement. They knew Pep''s expectations, and they knew they were capable of more. They had been down before.

    This was a team of champions, a team that had broken records and was already starting to redefine Premier League dominance. But they had to prove it once again.

    Pep''s eyes burned with determination as he looked at his yers. "We are City. We fight until the end. You go out there, and you make them feel us. You move the ball faster, you keep pressing, and we will get back into this game. Now go out there and show them who we are."

    The team rose from their seats, their mood shifting from quiet frustration to focused resolve. They had been outyed in the first half, but they weren''t going to let the game slip away without a fight.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 705 The Second Half Battle for Supremacy

    Chapter 705 The Second Half Battle for Supremacy

    As the second half kicked off, Anfield was bustling with anticipation, but there was an underlying tension in the air.

    Liverpool had taken a 2-0 lead in the first half, a scoreline that sent the Kop into delirium. But Manchester City¡ªdangerous, relentless, and fresh off Pep Guardi''s halftime tirade¡ªwere not out of the game yet.

    Guardi''s words had echoed in the City dressing room, firing up his yers for what was bound to be an intense 45 minutes.

    As City pushed forward, Liverpool braced for the inevitable surge. The visitors had something to prove, and if there was any team capable of wing back from two goals down at Anfield, it was Manchester City.

    The intensity with which City started the second half was immediately apparent. Their pressing was sharper, their movement quicker, and their intent clear: get back into the game as fast as possible.

    Kevin De Bruyne, now ying higher up the pitch, was dictating the tempo, pulling the strings in midfield as he shifted the ball between the lines.

    In the 61st minute, City''s persistence paid off. The build-up to the goal was quintessential Guardi¡ªpatient, probing, and calcted.

    City started the attack deep in their own half, with Ederson ying a short ball to Fernandinho, who quickly moved it out wide to Aymeric Laporte. The Frenchman, under pressure from Sh, calmly found De Bruyne in midfield. The Belgian maestro turned swiftly, evading Jordan Henderson''s pressing with a deft touch, and drove forward with purpose.

    De Bruyne spotted Riyad Mahrez making a diagonal run from the right nk, cutting inside and past Andrew Robertson. With surgical precision, De Bruyne sliced a pass through the Liverpool defense, splitting Robertson and Van Dijk, and finding Mahrez in space just outside the box.

    Mahrez didn''t hesitate¡ªhe quickly cut back onto his left foot, drawing Van Dijk toward him, before lofting a delicate cross into the area.

    Sergio Ag¨¹ero, lurking near the penalty spot, timed his run perfectly. The Argentine striker anticipated the flight of the ball, ghosting in between Joe Gomez and Robertson.

    As the cross floated in, Ag¨¹ero leapt into the air, contorting his body to meet the ball with the outside of his right foot. The connection was perfect¡ªa shing strike that rocketed past Alisson and into the top corner.

    "GOAL!" roared thementator as the ball hit the back of the. "Sergio Ag¨¹ero does it again! City are back in this at 2-1, and you just knew Ag¨¹ero wouldn''t miss from there!"

    The City fans erupted, their voices finally piercing the atmosphere at Anfield. Ag¨¹ero ran toward the corner g, arms outstretched in celebration as his teammates swarmed around him. Guardi, on the touchline, pumped his fist with a mix of relief and determination. The deficit had been halved, and City now had a lifeline.

    As for Liverpool, the pressure was mounting. The Kop, usually a bastion of confidence, quieted slightly, realizing that the game was far from over.

    The game continued after the celebrations, and with the score now 2-1, Manchester City''s hunger for an equalizer grew even more intense. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Guardi''s men swarmed forward like a pack of wolves, sensing vulnerability in Liverpool''s defense. City''s fluid passing and quick transitions began to stretch the Reds, who were struggling to regain theposure they had shown in the first half.

    Kevin De Bruyne continued to be the orchestrator, pulling Liverpool''s midfield out of shape with his clever movement and visionary passing. Every time he touched the ball, danger loomed.

    Riyad Mahrez and Leroy San¨¦, now ying on opposite wings, pinned Liverpool''s full-backs deep, preventing them from joining the attack.

    Seeing the shift in momentum, J¨¹rgen Klopp knew he needed to act. In the 65th minute, he called for a substitution, bringing off Roberto Firmino and recing him with Daniel Sturridge.

    Klopp''s thinking was clear: Firmino, who had worked tirelessly pressing from the front, was beginning to tire, and Sturridge''s fresh legs would help maintain the high press and disrupt City''s build-up from the back.

    But even with Sturridge''s introduction, City continued to dominate possession, moving the ball with dizzying speed. Fernandinho and Bernardo Silva harassed Zachary Bemba every time he tried to receive the ball, denying him the space to dictate Liverpool''s attacks. Liverpool were being pinned back, forced to absorb wave after wave of pressure.

    Time passed, and in the 72nd minute, City came agonizingly close to leveling the score. After a slick passing move, San¨¦ found himself in space on the left wing. He swung in a teasing cross, and Gabriel Jesus, who hade on to rece Ag¨¹ero, rose to meet it. His header was powerful, but it shed inches wide of the post. Anfield held its breath.

    Klopp, pacing furiously on the sidelines, knew his side was hanging on. Every time City advanced, the crowd grew more anxious. Liverpool''s defensive line was holding firm, but the pressure was relentless.

    The game continued following the same script, and as the 79th minute approached, City''s persistence finally paid off.

    It started, once again, with Kevin De Bruyne. Picking up the ball in midfield, De Bruyne spotted a gap in Liverpool''s defensive shape. With a quick nce up, he threaded a perfectly timed pass into the path of Riyad Mahrez, who had peeled away from Robertson on the right nk.

    Mahrez took the ball in stride, his first touch immacte as he drove toward the byline. Robertson tried to close him down, but Mahrez was too quick, cutting inside onto his stronger left foot. With a quick nce up, Mahrez whipped in a vicious cross toward the penalty area, aiming for Gabriel Jesus.

    Van Dijk, ever themanding presence, rose above Jesus and powered the ball clear with a thundering header. But the clearance only went as far as Leroy San¨¦, who had ghosted into space on the edge of the box.

    San¨¦ didn''t hesitate. The German winger took one touch to set himself before unleashing a venomous strike from a tight angle.

    The ball flew through a sea of bodies, arrowing toward the bottom corner. Alisson, despite his best efforts, couldn''t get down fast enough.

    "GOAL! Leroy San¨¦!" thementator screamed as the ball hit the back of the. "City have their equalizer, and it''s game on at Anfield!"

    Anfield was stunned. San¨¦''s strike was a hammer blow to Liverpool''s hopes of afortable win, and the City yers celebrated wildly. Guardi clenched his fists, shouting encouragement to his yers as they rushed to restart the game.

    At 2-2, the momentum was firmly with Manchester City. Liverpool, who had looked sofortable in the first half, were now on the back foot. City''s dominance in midfield was suffocating, and their control of the game was bing more evident with each passing minute.

    With the score tied at 2-2 and just over 10 minutes remaining, it looked like the match was destined to end in a draw. Both teams were battling for control, but neither side could find a breakthrough. The tension was really intense as the game entered its final stages.

    But just as the match seemed to be heading for a stalemate, an opportunity presented itself¡ªone that Liverpool could not pass up.

    It was the 92nd minute, deep into stoppage time, when Manchester Cityunched what they thought would be their final attack.

    De Bruyne, once again at the heart of it, yed a clever ball to San¨¦, who darted down the left nk. The German winger crossed the ball into the box, aiming for Jesus, but Alisson came out to im it confidently. With a quick throw, Alisson set Liverpool off on a counterattack that would define the game.

    The ball found its way to Sturridge, who flicked it on to Sadio Mane. Mane, using his blistering pace, charged up the right wing, carrying Liverpool''s hopes with him. Mohamed Sh sprinted alongside him, while Zachary Bemba surged forward through the center, knowing this was their moment.

    Mane threaded a pass to Sh, who exchanged a quick one-two with Zachary to break through City''s tiring defense.

    The fluidity of the movement was breathtaking¡ªCity''s yers could barely keep up as the Reds tore through them with lightning speed.

    The pace of the counterattack was beyond measure, and as Zachary received the return pass from Sh, he found himself just outside the box, with Ederson rushing out to close him down.

    But instead of shooting, Zachary looked up and spotted Sturridge in space, running towards the far post. With a simple,posed pass, Zachary yed the ball across and square to his teammates.

    Sturridge,pletely unmarked, made no mistake. With one touch, he fired the ball into the bottom corner, sending Anfield into absolute chaos.

    "GOAL! Daniel Sturridge!" screamed

    thementator. "Liverpool have won it in the 93rd minute! It''s 3-2 to the Reds, and Anfield is erupting!"

    The Liverpool yers piled on top of Sturridge, the crowd in frenzy as the Kop roared in celebration. Klopp, fists pumping the air, sprinted down the touchline, his jubtion clear for all to see.

    City, who had worked so hard to w their way back into the game, were now shell-shocked. They had thrown everything at Liverpool, only to be undone by a devastating counterattack in the dying moments.

 Chapter 706 The Sweet Taste of Victory

    Chapter 706 The Sweet Taste of Victory

    As the final whistle blew at Anfield, the stadium erupted into a frenzy. The Kop roared in jubtion, scarves twirling above heads, songs ringing out in celebration of another famous victory.

    Liverpool had done it¡ªthey had defeated Manchester City 3-2 in a pulsating match that had tested every ounce of their resolve. The team was now eight games unbeaten in the Premier League, sittingfortably at the top of the table with 24 points.

    Below them, City and Chelsea were stuck on 19 points, left trailing as the Reds continued their relentless march toward glory.

    On the pitch, the Liverpool yers embraced each other, their faces lit with the joy of triumph. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Zachary Bemba, who had yed a pivotal role in the win, was hugged tightly by his teammates. Hisst-minute assist for Daniel Sturridge''s winning goal in the 93rd minute had sealed the victory and sent Anfield into ecstasy. The adrenaline from the match still coursed through him, but there was a sense of satisfaction knowing that the hard work had paid off.

    "What a game, eh?" Virgil van Dijk said, pping Zachary on the back. The towering Dutch defender had been a rock at the back, constantly battling City''s attacking threats.

    Zachary grinned. "We fought hard for this one. Everyone gave everything."

    Nearby, J¨¹rgen Klopp stood at the edge of his technical area, his trademark smile spreading across his face. The German manager, known for his boundless energy and passion, took a moment to soak in the atmosphere before heading toward the Manchester City bench.

    Pep Guardi, ever the sportsman, was already making his way toward Klopp. Despite the defeat, Guardi was gracious as always, offering his hand. His face, however, betrayed a mix of frustration and admiration. This was the second time his team had been undone at Anfield in recent memory, and though they had fought valiantly, they couldn''t stop Liverpool''s relentless attacking prowess.

    "Congrattions, J¨¹rgen," Guardi said, shaking Klopp''s hand firmly. "You''re lucky to have someone like Zachary in your team. He''s a game-changer."

    Klopp chuckled, patting Pep on the back. "I know, Pep. I know. But hey, you''ve got a team full of them as well. This one could have gone either way."

    Pep smiled but nodded slightly, clearly still digesting the loss. "We''ll meet again. This season isn''t over."

    With that, the two managers parted, each heading back toward their respective squads. Klopp, now beaming, moved across the pitch to congratte his yers one by one. He found Zachary near the halfway line, shaking his hand and pulling him into a quick embrace.

    "You were brilliant today, Zachary. Absolutely brilliant. That assist at the end? Beautiful. We needed that win, and you helped make it happen."

    Zachary smiled, humbled by Klopp''s words. "Thanks, boss. It was a team effort. Everyone worked their socks off."

    "And that''s why we''re winning. Keep that attitude, and we''ll be unstoppable," Klopp said, pping his hands together before moving on to the next yer.

    The proceedings moved forward quickly, and as the yers began to leave the pitch and head toward the tunnel, the post-match interviewsmenced. Klopp, always the animated presence in front of the cameras, was his usual exuberant self as he discussed the game.

    "What a match! What an incredible fight from both teams!" Klopp said, his eyes wide with enthusiasm as he spoke to the media.

    "We knew City woulde at us in the second half. They are a world-ss team, and they showed that today. But we stayed strong. It wasn''t easy, but I''m so proud of my boys. They fought for every ball, and in the end, we deserved the win. Thatst-minute goal from Sturridge was special. Zachary, Mane, Sh¡ªall of them¡ªjust brilliant."

    When asked about the significance of the win and Liverpool''s unbeaten run, Klopp''s smile grew even wider. "It''s a great feeling to be top of the table. But let''s be clear: this is just the start. Eight games in, we have a long, long way to go. But yes, we''ll enjoy this moment. Our fans deserve it."

    On the other side, Pep Guardi was equallyposed, though there was a clear sense of disappointment in his tone. "It''s always tough to lose, especially in a game like this. We made mistakes in the first half, and when you''re up against a team like Liverpool, they punish you for those mistakes. In the second half, we responded well, and I think we showed our quality. But that''s football. Sometimes, even when you y well, things don''t go your way."

    When asked about Zachary''s performance, Guardi was full of praise. "Zachary is an exceptional yer. We knew he''d be a threat, and today he showed exactly why he''s considered one of the best midfielders in the world right now. He controls the game, he has vision, and when the game opens up, he can hurt you. Liverpool are lucky to have him."

    -----

    Meanwhile, as the match concluded and the yers began to leave the stadium, the post-match analysis show kicked off with the usual cast of pundits discussing the significance of Liverpool''s win.

    Former Premier League yers Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher were seated in the studio, breaking down the tactical nuances of the match.

    "What a performance from Liverpool," Carragher began, a broad grin on his face. "This team is something special. Klopp has them ying with such intensity, and to beat City in a game like that takes some serious guts. They''ve got everything this season¡ªpace, power, creativity¡ªand Zachary Bemba, my word, what a yer he''s be. He''s pulling the strings in midfield even better than prime Steven Gerrard."

    Gary Neville, seated beside him, nodded in agreement. "It''s difficult to argue with that. As much as it pains me to see Liverpool doing this well, they''re the real deal. Thatst goal? The way they broke forward so quickly¡ªit was ssic Klopp football. And you have to give credit to Sturridge for the finish, but the build-up was all about Zachary. He''s a special talent."

    "And City?" Carragher added, "You can''t count them out. Pep''s got them ying some unbelievable football, but today Liverpool had the edge. This title race is going to be something else."

    -----

    As the post-match activities wound down, the Liverpool squad returned to Melwood, their training ground, to part ways before heading home. Zachary sat quietly on the bus, feeling the weight of exhaustion beginning to settle in. It had been a grueling game, but the sweet taste of victory made it all worth it.

    The bus ride to Melwood was enjoyable. yers joked, shared stories about key moments in the match, and savored the thrill of victory. Roberto Firmino, sitting next to Zachary, leaned over with a grin.

    "Thatst counterattack? Pure magic. They didn''t see iting."

    Zachary smiled, still riding the high of the match. "It was all about timing. We made the runs, and everything just fell into ce."

    When they arrived at Melwood, the yers said their goodbyes and returned to their homes for some much-needed rest. Zachary drove back to his mansion in Woolton, his thoughts drifting between the game and the future challenges ahead. He arrived home, freshened up, and slid into bed, exhaustion finally taking over as he drifted into a deep sleep.

    The following morning, Zachary woke upter than usual. It was a well-deserved rest, given the physical toll of the previous day''s match.

    He stretched his limbs, feeling the familiar ache of a battle well-fought, before heading downstairs to grab a simple breakfast.

    The house was quiet, a stark contrast to the intensity of Anfield just the day before. Zachary spent his morning lounging, allowing his body to recover before heading to Melwood for some post-match recovery work.

    As it was a day off from training, there was no pressure, but he wanted to make sure he maintained his fitness and aided his recovery using the club''s top-notch facilities.

    When Zachary arrived at Melwood, however, he noticed something odd. His teammates were all smiles, and there was an unusual buzz of excitement in the air. As he made his way toward the training ground, several of the coaches congratted him, though they didn''t specify why.

    Roberto Firmino caught up with him in the hallway, a wide grin stered on his face. "Congrattions, amigo! Looks like you''re in for a big one!"

    Zachary raised an eyebrow, confused. "What are you talking about?"

    Firmino''s grin widened. "You haven''t heard yet? You''re on the Ballon d''Or shortlist, man! You and the usual suspects¡ªSh, Mane, me, and a few others. But you, my friend, are one of the favorites."

    Zachary paused, letting the news sink in. Of course, he had expected to be on the shortlist after a ster year with Juventus, Ivory Coast, and now Liverpool, but hearing it confirmed still gave him a surge of pride.

    He had helped Juventus win both the Serie A and the Champions League before leading Ivory Coast to World Cup glory. His current performances for Liverpool were only the icing on the cake.

    "That''s incredible," Zachary replied, a humble smile forming on his lips. "But I wouldn''t be here without my teammates. It''s always a team effort to put up great performances and win trophies."

    "Come on, man! You''ve been on fire all year. You deserve it," Firmino said, patting him on the back. "But it''s not just you. The club''s got four of us on the list. Sh, Mane, me, and now you. Liverpool''s dominating this year."

    Zachary nodded, feeling a deep sense of pride. The recognition was well-deserved, not just for him, but for the entire team. They had been ying some of the best football in Europe, and the Ballon d''Or shortlist was a testament to their collective brilliance.

    As Zachary made his way toward the recovery facilities, the reality of the situation hit him.

    He had been nominated for football''s highest individual honor, an award that every yer dreamed of winning. But even though the recognition was incredible, Zachary wasn''t about to lose focus. He knew that to maintain his level, he needed to keep working hard, keep pushing himself to improve.

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